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 MOST-INTEGRATED SETTING BILL AWAITS GOVERNOR
PATAKI’S SIGNATURE
ALBANY - June 20, 2002
ADAPT protesters paid a visit to
Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno’s Capitol Office to demand passage of
the “most-integrated setting” bill. The Majority Leader emerged from
his office, talked with the protesters, and ensured them and the media that he
would put the bill on the Senate floor for a vote at 2:00 PM. Majority Leader
Bruno kept his word. He personally introduced the bill and ushered its
unanimous passage through the Senate. Senator Maziarz was the Senate sponsor of
the bill.
The Assembly passed the bill
unanimously on June 12, 2002. Assembly member Kevin Cahill, Chair of the
Assembly Task Force on People with Disabilities, authored the bill. It will
establish a policy-making state council to develop and implement a
comprehensive “most-integrated setting” plan consistent with the
Olmstead U.S. Supreme Court decision. The disability community is now waiting
for Governor Pataki to sign the bill into law. The Governor or the Assembly can
call the bill up at any time before the end of the calendar year. Governor
Pataki will then have 10 days to act. Advocates anticipate that the bill will
be called up some time before Election Day 2002. |
