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style="FONT-SIZE: 42pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-font-width: 80%"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Timothy’s Law Campaign<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Working for health insurance parity for mental health and
addiction treatment services.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman"><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:address
w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">737
Madison Avenue</SPAN></st1:Street><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">,
<st1:City w:st="on">Albany</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">New York</st1:State>
<st1:PostalCode w:st="on">12208</st1:PostalCode></SPAN></st1:address><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>518-432-0333<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>fax 518-434-6478
www.TimothysLaw.org<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 36pt; mso-no-proof: yes">PRESS RELEASE</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 36pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
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<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Timothy O’Clair<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">May 5, 1988 - March 16,
2001<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Timothy’s Law Campaign Executive
Committee<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Tom O’Clair<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">American Foundation for Suicide
Prevention<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Alcohol and Substance Abuse Providers of <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">New York</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType></st1:place><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Coalition for the
Homeless<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Families Together in <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">New York</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType></st1:place><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><st1:place w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">Long
Island</SPAN></st1:place><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">
Recovery Advocates<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Mental Health Association in <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">New York</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType></st1:place><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">National <st1:City w:st="on">Alliance</st1:City> on
Mental Illness in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">New
York</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType></st1:place><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">National Association of Social Workers – NYS
Chapter<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">New
York</SPAN></st1:State></st1:place><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">
Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation
Services<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">New York State Coalition for Children’s Mental
Health Services<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">New
York</SPAN></st1:PlaceName><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType></SPAN></st1:place><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">
Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">New
York</SPAN></st1:PlaceName><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType></SPAN></st1:place><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">
Psychiatric Association<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">New
York</SPAN></st1:PlaceName><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType></SPAN></st1:place><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">
Psychological Association<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">New
York</SPAN></st1:PlaceName><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType></SPAN></st1:place><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">
Rehabilitation Association<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">Schuyler</SPAN></st1:PlaceName><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceName></SPAN></st1:place><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Caslon540 BT'; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">
for Analysis and
Advocacy<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></TD></TR></TABLE></v:textbox><?xml:namespace
prefix = w ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" /><w:wrap
type="square"></w:wrap></v:shape><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">For Release: <SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 4"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 3"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">June 24, 2006<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 5"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">TIMOTHY’S LAW AGREEMENT
REACHED BETWEEN NYS ASSEMBLY AND SENATE<I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><o:p></o:p></I></FONT></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: right"
align=right><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Continuing their advocacy beyond the point at which the NYS Legislature
was to have finished the 2006 Legislative Session on Thursday, Timothy’s Law
advocates were elated to hear of an agreement between the NYS Assembly and
Senate on Friday evening as the Legislature worked to close down for the regular
session.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>After more than 4 years of
constant advocacy in which Timothy’s Law supporters from around the state worked
to end discrimination in insurance coverage for mental health and addiction
needs, a law to end that discrimination is finally in sight.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>“I find it very fitting and appropriate that on the eve of what would
have been his graduation from high school, the NYS Legislature has reached an
agreement to pass legislation to end discriminatory health insurance policies
that led to the suicide of my son, Timothy, in 2001,” said Tom O’Clair,
Timothy’s father and Co-Chair of the Timothy’s Law Campaign.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As Mr. O’Clair has maintained for years,
he is simply doing Timothy’s work.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>“What a graduation present this is for Timothy, and what a great day it
is for New Yorkers with mental health needs,” O’Clair said.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>The agreement requires health insurance policies sold in NYS, not exempt
under Federal law, to provide at least 30 inpatient days and 20 outpatient
visits for mental health treatment.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Perhaps more importantly, co-payments for accessing such services will be
equalized with other co-payments for physical health needs included in a
policy.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This will bring to an end
the exorbitant co-payments, often in excess of $50 per visit, commonly required
to access mental health services.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Affected insurance plans will have to cover conditions in a manner
comparable to the insurance state employees and state legislators have access to
under the Empire Plan.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Small
employers of 50 or fewer employees will be held harmless from any potential
premium increases.</FONT><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>People working for large employers will receive unlimited mental health
benefits for the treatment of bipolar disorder, major depression, panic
disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anorexia, bulimia, schizophrenia /
psychotic disorders, attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorders, disruptive
behavioral disorders and pervasive developmental disorders.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Small employers would have the option to
purchase this same coverage.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>The legislation will expire 3 years from enactment and require the NYS
Insurance Department to conduct a cost analysis.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Paige Pierce, Co-Chair of the Timothy’s Law Campaign, noted, “This
movement to enact Timothy’s Law has been an incredible grassroots effort with
people from throughout the entire State of <st1:State w:st="on">New
York</st1:State>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Presently, parity
laws exist in 35 other states and include 9 million Federal employees and
retirees.”</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>In noting this accomplishment, members of the Timothy’s Law Campaign
pointed to the fact that they did not get all that they were hoping for in this
agreement, specifically because the agreement failed to include coverage for
those with addiction.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>O’Clair,
Pierce, and other advocates will return in September when the Legislature is
expected to fulfill its promise to pass Timothy’s Law.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>The Timothy’s Law Campaign would like to thank all Members of the NYS
Assembly who have voted for and supported Timothy’s Law over the past 4 years,
but specifically Assemblymembers Paul Tonko, Alexander (Pete) Grannis, Peter
Rivera, Donna Lupardo, Joel Miller, and of course Assembly Speaker Sheldon
Silver and Minority Leader James Tedisco for their stalwart support.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>In addition, the Timothy’s Law Campaign thanks all Members of the NYS
Senate who supported and pushed for passage of Timothy’s Law, especially
Senators Thomas Libous, Thomas Duane, Thomas Morahan, and of course Senate
Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and Minority Leader David Patterson.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Lastly, the Timothy’s Law Campaign would like to thank the staff from
both the Assembly and Senate who often go unrecognized, who have spent countless
hours working to enact meaningful reform of NYS law to end discrimination in
health insurance for New Yorkers with mental health needs.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>-30-</FONT></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>