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GOVERNOR PATAKI, SENATOR BRUNO, SPEAKER SILVER ANNOUNCE DETAILS ON AGREEMENT TO EXTEND KENDRA'S LAW

Groundbreaking Treatment Program to Continue Providing Services to Those in Need

Governor George E. Pataki, Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver today announced final details on legislation that will extend New York's Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) law, for another five years. The measure, known as Kendra's Law, was first enacted in 1999 and is currently scheduled to expire on June 30, 2005. It is named in memory of Kendra Webdale, who was murdered by being pushed in front of a subway train by a man with a history of mental illness and hospitalizations.

"Today's agreement will not only allow Kendra's law to continue, but it will allow the program to function more efficiently and effectively," Governor Pataki said. "While we would have liked to have made the law permanent, this extension will ensure that this important law continues. As I've said before, the results are clear and both clinicians and advocates agree -- Kendra's Law works and now it will continue to work for New Yorkers."

Kendra's Law established a process for identifying individuals with mental illness who, in view of their treatment history and circumstances, are likely to have difficulty living safely in the community without supervision and initiates a court-ordered regiment of treatment. The agreement reached today by the Governor, Senate and Assembly will allow it to continue, with some changes that will allow the program to operate more efficiently, for the next five years.

Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno said, "The large majority of people affected by Kendra's Law believe the measure has been a success. We have been studying the effects over the past five years, and today we have strengthened the law that will continue to protect all New Yorkers. It is important to monitor the mentally ill and provide them with the help they need."

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said, "As I said in 1999, this legislation is about compassion and public safety. It was our hope then that the law would be an effective tool for families and caregivers who struggle to ensure that individuals with mental illness do not become a threat to themselves or others. Now, in extending the law, it is appropriate for us to examine how it is working and whether any additional legislative improvements are necessary. I applaud Assembly Mental Health Committee Chair Peter Rivera, Codes Committee Chair Joe Lentol and the advocate groups, including the family of Kendra Webdale, for the hard work that has resulted in this legislation."

Sharon E. Carpinello, R.N., Ph.D., Commissioner of the Office of Mental Health (OMH) said, "Thanks to Governor Pataki's leadership, we can continue the successes of the past five years under Kendra's Law. Since 1999, Kendra's Law has resulted in improved access to mental health services, improved coordination of service planning, and significant reductions in harmful behaviors such as arrests, incarcerations, homelessness and hospitalizations."

The AOT program is designed to protect the public and individuals with mental illness by ensuring that individuals with a mental illness and a history of hospitalizations or violence are safely and effectively treated in community-based services appropriate to their needs. The law also ensures that local mental health systems give these individuals priority access to case management and other services necessary to ensure safe and successful community living.

From the program's 1999 implementation through June 1, 2005, over 7,000 New Yorkers with serious mental illness have received enhanced services and follow up care to ensure compliance with treatment and a safe opportunity for recovery. A report on AOT and its results was published by OMH in March 2005 and is available online at www.omh.state.ny.us/omhweb/kendra_web/finalreport/

The agreement reached today extends the expiration date from the original Kendra's Law for another five years, strengthens the AOT program's oversight by requiring an annual submission of program data, and will allow an external research organization to evaluate the program's implementation and effectiveness. It also makes the petition process more family friendly.

In addition to AOT, Kendra's Law addresses the need to ensure that people with mental illness, who are moving from hospitals or correctional facilities to the community receive necessary psychiatric medications and other needed services without interruption. The law's statewide medication grant program enables counties to provide people who are discharged from psychiatric hospitals, state prisons or county jails with psychiatric medication they may need while they are applying for Medicaid.

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