New York Laws
Article 19 - Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse
19.15 - Programs of the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services.

(a) With the advice of the advisory council on alcoholism and
substance abuse services, and with the assistance of any
interdepartmental council or committee heretofore or hereafter
established that shall be charged with the responsibility for
interdepartmental cooperation and program development in alcoholism,
substance abuse, and chemical dependency, the commissioner shall
promote, establish, coordinate, and conduct programs for prevention,
diagnosis, treatment, aftercare, rehabilitation, and control in the
fields of alcoholism, alcohol abuse, substance abuse, substance
dependence, and chemical dependence in cooperation with such other
federal, state, local, and private agencies as are necessary and, within
the amount made available by appropriation therefor, implement and
administer such programs.
(b) The commissioner shall cooperate with, guide, and assist political
subdivisions, local agencies, local governmental units, community
service boards, and/or providers of services in the development and
periodic review of local comprehensive plans and programs for alcoholic,
alcohol abusing, substance abusing, substance dependent and chemically
dependent persons and their families and approve such plans and
programs.
(c) The activities described in subdivisions (a) and (b) of this
section may be undertaken in cooperation and agreement with other
offices of the department and with other departments or agencies of the
state, local or federal government, or with other organizations and
individuals, including, but not limited to, the research institute on
addictions as established in article one hundred five of the education
law.
(d) The commissioner shall provide for the development of systems and
programs through which individuals in the state's public and private
work force who abuse or are dependent on alcohol and/or substances, and
their families or significant others are identified and referred for
assistance, ensuring that these systems and programs shall provide
emphasis upon the special needs of working women.
(e) The commissioner shall implement a program of alcoholism,
substance abuse, and chemical dependence prevention and treatment
services adapted to the needs and interests of young people, including
the children of alcoholic and/or substance abusing persons.
(f) Reports. (1) The commissioner shall make an annual report to the
governor and the legislature by March first of each year assessing the
progress in implementing the programs and policies contained in this
title and including an accounting of the amounts, sources and uses of
funds expended for alcoholism and substance abuse services and for
prevention and education.
(2) The office shall on or before the first day of April in each year
file a written report with the governor, the temporary president of the
senate and the speaker of the assembly summarizing the results of any
special system or program directed at the special needs of women and
children affected by alcoholism, alcohol abuse, substance abuse,
substance dependence, or chemical dependence. Such report shall include
but not be limited to a statistical analysis of the effectiveness of
such programs initiated by the office together with suggested
legislation deemed necessary or proper for the implementation of new
programs or future success and development of existing programs.
(g) The office shall study, investigate, and recommend to the governor
and the legislature methods of increasing third party payments for

programs treating persons who abuse or are dependent on alcohol and/or
substances, and their families.
(h) The office shall administer community and school based alcoholism,
substance abuse, and chemical dependence prevention and education
programs.
(i) The commissioner shall develop plans, and cause to be promoted,
programs and services related to compulsive gambling education,
prevention and treatment consistent with section 41.57 of this chapter.
He or she shall take all actions that are necessary, desirable, or
proper to implement the purposes of this chapter and to carry out the
purposes and objectives of the department within the amounts made
available therefor by appropriation, grant, gift, devise, bequest or
allocation from the problem and compulsive gambling education,
prevention and treatment fund established under section ninety-nine-i of
the state finance law, as amended by section one of part Y of chapter
sixty-three of the laws of two thousand three.