NY A04731

Amends Mental Hygiene Law Section 7.09 to require the Commissioner of Mental Health to promulgate rules and regulations prohibiting the co-mingling of adolescent and adult patients in residential facilities operated by the Office of Mental Health and programs with operating certificates.

Rules and regulations must address age-specific concerns and needs of patients, including protocols for appropriate age and program separation in residential and treatment settings.

Requires regulations to establish preventive and remedial actions including incident reporting procedures to prevent abuse or maltreatment, and security requirements to ensure health and safety of adolescent and adult patients.

Commissioner must promulgate regulations within 120 days of the act's effective date and must submit required rules to the Governor, Senate Temporary President, and Assembly Speaker for review 30 days prior to promulgation.

Act takes effect immediately upon enactment.