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<P><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT face=Arial><FONT
color=#000080><B><U>Senate Majority Defeats Timothy’s Law</U></B>:</FONT></FONT>
</FONT><FONT face=Arial color=#000080>After several days of non-stop
negotiations around parity legislation, the Senate leadership ended discussions
earlier this evening, choosing to pass S.7296-A rather than Timothy’s Law. The
O’Clair’s have rejected that controversial bill (saying “It isn’t Timothy’s
Law”), as it represents what would be the weakest parity law in the nation. A
collection of carve-out and exemption language from states like Arkansas and
Mississippi, the bill excludes chemical dependency, employers with 50 or fewer
employees, and the vast majority of mental health diagnoses.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000080 size=3>Over the past few days, there has been substantial
movement towards a new Assembly version of Timothy’s Law, A.11694. Quite similar
to the original Timothy’s Law, the new bill differs in two ways. First, it would
exempt sole proprietors from mandatory coverage, so that people who pay for only
their own insurance, and have no employees, would not have to take parity-based
coverage if they did not want it. Secondly, and more importantly, the bill
created a tax relief provision for all small businesses that provide health
insurance to their employees. Addressing the concerns of small businesses, the
Assembly offered $50 million in tax relief to resolve the perceived, albeit
unproven, issue.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000080 size=3>With the right kind of coverage attached to the
right kind of protection for employers, activity around the bill was fast and
furious. But, by the time the issue reached the floor of the Senate, the final
vote was quick and infuriating. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000080 size=3>As debate on S.7296-A began, long-time friend and
Timothy’s Law supporter Senator Tom Duane made a motion to amend the bill,
replacing the contents of that bill with the original Timothy’s Law bill,
A.8301/S.5329, which passed the Assembly in March. As noted below, the debate
was as passionate as it was painful. With Donna and Tom O’Clair, joined by
mental health advocates and Assembly sponsor Paul Tonko watching from the Senate
Gallery, several original Senate co-sponsors of Timothy’s Law took to the
microphone to bash their own bill. Democratic Senators turned towards the
gallery and apologized to the O’Clairs for the Senate's collective failure to
pass Timothy’s Law.</FONT><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><BR
style="PAGE-BREAK-BEFORE: always" clear=all></SPAN></P>
<P><FONT color=#000080 size=3>But at the end of the day, session will end
without Timothy’s Law. Even though the bill the Senate passed fails to serve
about 70% of the people who would be reached by Timothy’s Law, and doesn’t even
cover PTSD (so survivors of September 11<SUP>th</SUP>, as well as victims of
sexual predators would not get the help they need), leaders have deemed their
work to be done. </FONT></P></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial><FONT
color=#000080><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U></U></B></FONT></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial><FONT
color=#000080><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U>“I’m Sorry.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I’m very sorry.”</U></B> – At
approximately <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:time Hour="20"
Minute="15">8:15 p.m.</st1:time>, on the last night of the Regular Legislative
Session, Senator Eric Schneiderman, Deputy Minority Leader in the New York State
Senate, turned to Tom and Donna O’Clair, who were seated in the Senate Gallery
and said, “I’m sorry.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I’m very
sorry.”</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080>Senator Schneiderman and his colleagues in the Senate Minority,
led by Senate Minority Leader David Paterson, had just unsuccessfully tried to
prevent the Senate from ensuring that no action would be taken on Timothy’s Law
this year.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial color=#000080>In
a spirited debate, despite the best attempts of Senate Democrats, this vote
failed, along strict party lines.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Although we cannot provide you with an exact list of those who voted in
favor or in opposition to this amendment at this time, the information will be
forthcoming shortly.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial color=#000080>We
can, however, share with you some excerpts from the debate.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080>Senator Libous began the debate by explaining his legislation,
S.7296-a, on the floor, by noting that the Senate had promised to pass mental
health parity legislation this Session, and promising that the Senate would
indeed pass it tonight.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He noted,
incorrectly, that this bill (S.7296-a) covers children with Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He
went on to say that his legislation (S.7296-a, not S.5329, which is also his
legislation) would “protect the rights of small businesses” by exempting
employers with 50 or fewer employees.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080>Shortly after that, Senator Duane rose to introduce his amendment,
amending S.7296-a with Senator Libous’ other legislation, S.5329, or Timothy’s
Law.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In an impassioned speech on
the matter, Senator Duane summed the entire debate up in one simple phrase when
he noted, “This is a life and death issue.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>It was a life or death issue for Timothy, it ruined the life of his
family.”</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080>Senator Schneiderman continued where Senator Duane stopped,
commenting on the fact that S.7296-a allows an insurance company to nullify such
a law merely by having an actuary issue a report saying that mental health
parity would increase premiums by 2% or more.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>To this, he stated, “We’re passing a law
that, I assure you, will never apply to one person in the state.”</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080>Senator Liz Krueger also spoke on the amendment, imploring her
colleagues to support it, noting that the legislation which served as the
amendment (S.5329, Timothy’s Law) had already been introduced, and that, “54
members of this chamber are already on record, committed to the bill that is now
Senator Duane’s amendment before us.”</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial color=#000080>At
this point, debate on the amendment ceased, the vote was taken, and in the end,
the Senate Majority voted against Timothy’s Law, ensuring that the bill would
not be passed during the Regular Legislative Session.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Senator Libous himself voted against the
amendment, in essence, voting against his own bill.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Almost every member of the Senate
Minority voted in favor of this amendment, in essence, voting for Timothy’s
Law.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A full list of the vote will
be provided as soon as MHANYS can obtain it.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial color=#000080>It
was then that debate on S.7296-a began.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>In his remarks on the bill, Senate Minority Leader David Paterson noted
that, “It is almost as if we are going back 30 years and questioning if mental
illness exists at all.”</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial color=#000080>He
went on to note that, “I think, in many ways, in this legislation (S.7296-a), we
are blaming the victim.”</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080>When Senate Minority Leader David Paterson finished his eloquent
address, the true importance of the matter being discussed in the Senate Chamber
came to light.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In a rare move,
Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno offered debate on a bill on the
floor.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080>After noting that, “This is not political grandstanding in any
way…This is about taking a giant step forward to create parity for those who
have a mental illness of any kind,” Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno defended
this legislation that would discriminate against the majority of New Yorker’s
living with mental illness.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080>Senator Bruno made mention of compromise legislation that had been
offered by the Assembly, and endorsed by the O’Clair family, which would have
enacted Timothy’s Law and provided small businesses with up to a 3% tax credit
to offset any premium increases which they may experience.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In response to this, he stated
emphatically that the Senate would not do a bill that had tax credits in
it.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He went on to note that they
would not do it tonight, or over the summer, or next year, due to the fact that
it was irresponsible to pass tax credits while the state was facing such a large
budget deficit.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080>Later, while explaining her vote against S.7296-a, Senator Liz
Krueger made mention of the fact that the Senate Majority had recently
introduced and passed legislation that would have provided a $665 million tax
credit to small businesses.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The tax
credit being discussed in the compromise version of Timothy’s Law was estimated
to be between $47 and $96 million.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial><FONT
color=#000080>In explaining his vote in support of S.7296-a, Senator John
DeFrancisco stated that to have passed the amendment (S.5329, Timothy’s Law),
“would be irresponsible.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080>Senator DeFrancisco remains to this day a co-sponsor of S.5329,
and has spoken in support of the measure to advocates on multiple
occasions.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial><FONT
color=#000080>Senator Libous, who felt compelled to explain his vote in support
of S.7296-a and against the amendment, his own piece of legislation, S.5329,
stated, “The amendment is fuzzy.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080>During his explanation, Senator Libous also confused an earlier
statement he had made, that this legislation was not political and should not be
partisan, by comparing Timothy’s Law and mental health and substance abuse
parity to two of the most controversial, partisan, and strictly political issues
of our day.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Senator Libous noted
quite clearly that mental health parity, “… is an issue similar to abortion, the
death penalty and others.”</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080>However, upon explaining his vote in support of the amendment,
while at the same time echoing a number of his colleagues on both sides of the
aisle in saying that S.7296-a will not pass the Assembly, Senator John Bonacic
made possibly the most prescient statement of the evening when he made one
simple observation.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial><FONT
color=#000080><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Senator Bonacic said,
“It’s not over yet.”</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
color=#000080> </FONT></o:p></P><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
face=Arial><FONT color=#000080>And it is not over, please continue to watch as
MHANYS promises to keep you updated in the upcoming days and weeks about what
you can do to help make Timothy’s Law a reality this year.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We thank all of you for helping us get
to this point.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We thank Senate
Minority Leader David Paterson, Senator Thomas Duane, Senator Liz Krueger and
Senator Eric Schneiderman and their colleagues for their comments on the floor
and their continued support of Timothy’s Law.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We thank Assemblyman Paul Tonko,
Assemblyman Peter Rivera, Assemblyman Pete Grannis and their colleagues in the
Assembly for all of their hard work<SPAN
class=584443003-23062004>.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
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