[Timothy's Team] Timothy's Team Update - This Week's Events on Long Island, White Plains

Tue May 2 16:48:30 EDT 2006

Dear Timothy's Law Supporters,

After a wonderfully successful march and rally in Binghamton (see coverage
below), the Timothy's Law Campaign is now ramping up efforts to demonstrate
the strong grassroots support Timothy's Law has from folks on Long Island
and in Westchester County.  Tom O'Clair will be at all of the events taking
place this week and the event taking place over the weekend as well.

May 4th - Meetings with Senators from Long Island

Following below, and attached to this e-mail, is information relating to the
meetings scheduled with Senators on Long Island coming up.  While a couple
of the meeting have yet to be confirmed, we hope that if you live in the
district of one of the Senators listed below, that you will consider
attending a meeting with that Senator to support Timothy's Law.

Meet With Your Senator, Show Your Support For Timothy's Law (S.6735-a)

Meetings with Senators from Long Island have been scheduled to demonstrate
the support for Timothy's Law on Long Island.  Following below is a list of
the meetings scheduled with each Senator and the coordinator for that
meeting.  To participate, contact the coordinator of that event.  If you
don't know who your Senator is, go to
<http://nymap.elections.state.ny.us/nysboe/>
http://nymap.elections.state.ny.us/nysboe/.

Senator Charles Fuschillo

2:00 p.m. on May 4th 

30 South Ocean Avenue

Freeport, NY

To attend, contact Paule Pachter at  <mailto:legiscmte at yahoo.com>
legiscmte at yahoo.com or 516-822-6111 x252

Senator Kenneth LaValle

2:00 p.m. on May 9th

325 Middle Country Rd, #4

Selden, NY

To attend, contact Jason Reis  <mailto:jreis at mhasuffolk.org>
jreis at mhasuffolk.org or 631-226-3900

Senator Carl Marcellino May 4th (2 meetings)

250 Townsend Square

Oyster Bay, NY

10:00 a.m. - To attend, contact Janet Ulrich at
<mailto:lift4kids at verizon.net> lift4kids at verizon.net or 631-264-5438

10:30 a.m. - To attend, contact Paule Pachter at
<mailto:legiscmte at yahoo.com> legiscmte at yahoo.com or 516-822-6111 x252

Senator Michael Balboni

2:30 p.m. on May 4th

151 Herricks Road, Suite 202

Garden City Park, NY

To attend, contact Janet Susin at  <mailto:jasusin at optonline.net>
jasusin at optonline.net or 516-627-0887 

Senator Kemp Hannon

Meeting time not finalized

224 Seventh St., Suite 200 Garden City, NY

To attend, contact Diane Lang at  <mailto:familygig at aol.com>
familygig at aol.com or 516-541-9792

Senator John Flanagan

Meeting time not finalized

260 Middle Country Rd. #203

Smithtown, NY

To attend, contact Rich Timo, RTimo at familyres.org or (631) 273-1300

Senator Dean Skelos

Meeting time not finalized

55 Front Street

Rockville Centre, NY

To attend, contact Marcia Feuer at  <mailto:mfeuer at mhanc.org>
mfeuer at mhanc.org or 516-489-2322 x1313

May 5th - Rally for Timothy's Law in White Plains

Flyer is attached

WESTCHESTER RALLY FOR TIMOTHY'S LAW

What is Timothy's law?

Timothy's Law is a bill (A. 2912-A / S. 6735-A) that would require health
insurers and HMO's (health maintenance organizations)  

 in New York State to provide coverage for mental illness and chemical
dependency equal to that which is provided for other medical conditions.

  It would end the discrimination.

FRIDAY, MAY 5

12:00 - 1:00 PM

RENAISSANCE PLAZA

WHITE PLAINS

(the fountains at the intersection of Mamaroneck Ave. and Main St.)

It's time to END the DISCRIMINATION!,36 other states have parity laws! 

For more information please contact Eva Dech or Dally Sanchez of the
Westchester Independent Living Center at 682-3926

May 7th - NAMI's Walk for Mental Health, Featuring Timothy's Law, at Jones
Beach

On Sunday, May 7th, thousands of people will gather for a Walk for Mental
Health, featuring Tom O'Clair and advocating for passage of Timothy's Law.
The Walk will take place at Jones Beach, Field #5.  Check in is at 9:00
a.m., kick-off at 10:00 a.m.  The event will feature live entertainment,
face painting and clowns.  Additional details are available at
http://www.timothyslaw.org/Three%20great%20reasons%20flyer%20for%20agencies.
pdf.

Future Timothy's Law Events Around the State

Additional events in support of Timothy's Law are being planned for Utica,
Rockland County and an event in the Capital Region.  For more information,
go to  <http://www.timothyslaw.org/events.php>
http://www.timothyslaw.org/events.php.

Following below is the coverage from just one of Binghamton's major
television stations, all of which covered the Binghamton Timothy's Law march
and rally on the 6:00 and 11:00 news on April 21st.

Timothy's Law Rally
Binghamton's NBC Affiliate, News Channel 34        April 21, 2006

If you were in downtown Binghamton, you might have noticed a large group of
people walking down Court Street with picket signs towards the State Office
Building for a rally there. 

NewsChannel 34's Peter Quinn has more on their push to pass a law requiring
health insurance companies to treat people who are mentally ill as long as
they need it. 

The group knows what it wants. Right now, under many health insurance
programs, people who are mentally ill can't get the treatment they need. The
Assembly's version of the bill, known as Timothy's Law, was approved last
month and it would change that. 

Lupardo says, "It basically ends the discrimination that people who are
seeking mental health services face, because there is limited coverage for
people who have mental illness. What we are trying to do is have mental
health insurance parody, it's equality. It treats mental illness on a par
with physical illness." 

Timothy's Law is named after 12 year-old Timothy O'Clair of Schenectady who
committed suicide five years ago after he didn't get the mental care he
needed. His father spoke today. 

O'Clair says, "We had fought for four and a half years to get him the level
and the amount of mental health care and treatment that he needed to deal
with his mental health issues. But, due to limits imposed by the insurance
industry we weren't able to bring it to him." 

The rally's purpose was to put pressure on the Senate to also pass Timothy's
Law. 

Now, the State Senate does have its own version of the bill. Actually, it's
sponsored by State Senator Tom Libous who used to chair the Mental Health
Committee. Under the Senate's version, it would require health insurers to
treat people who are mentally ill or who have other biological disorders..
However, it does not span out as far as the Assembly's version. 

Libous says, "The Assembly bill is much too broad. It goes way too far. And,
it's not a bill that's business-friendly either. It would really put a lot
of small businesses in jeopardy. But, having said that, I think the Senate
bill, if the Assembly would be willing to compromise and talk with the
Senate, which they are not willing to do, we could have a very good mental
health parody bill on the books." 

Libous says insurance costs would increase under the Assembly's version
because it's so broad and includes treating pedophiles, people who have
disorders from drinking too much caffeine, and those who used cocaine for a
long time. People at the rally say it's time for Timothy's Law to become law
before another tragedy happens. 

Another note about the Senate's version, Libous says it's comparable to what
other states have. 

HAVE A FRIEND WHO YOU THINK MIGHT WANT TO JOIN TIMOTHY'S TEAM?  

Refer A Friend	
Friend's Name: 	 	
Friend's Email: 	 	
Your Name: 	 	
Your Email:	  	

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