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Bill

S 4431

Provides for a right of health maintenance organization enrollees to continue to receive services from a provider who disaffiliates

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Leroy Comrie

Expands the Disability Services helpline to assist planning visits to public facilities, coordinating accessibility accommodations and providing facility contact offices.

REFERRED TO INSURANCE
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Bill Summary · S 4431

Summary of S 4431 (Introduced May 19, 2025)

Note on discrepancy: The bill’s formal title referenced in the request suggests a provision on health maintenance organization (HMO) enrollees and provider disaffiliation. The introduced text, however, concerns expanding the Information and Referral Services helpline within the Division of Disability Services. This summary reflects the introduced content as provided.

Purpose and scope

  • The bill expands the Information and Referral Services helpline within the Division of Disability Services (Department of Human Services) to assist individuals in planning visits to state or county public facilities by coordinating accommodations for in-person engagements.
  • It supplements Title 26 of the Revised Statutes and includes an appropriation to implement the expansion.

Key provisions

  • Expanded helpline duties (new or expanded capabilities):
    • Provide information on which state and county facilities have disability ramps and assist in connecting individuals to sign language interpreters, hearing loop technology, and other accessibility aids available at facilities.
    • Provide information on policies related to service animals.
    • Address questions or complaints concerning accessibility challenges.
    • Offer guidance for planning visits, navigating public spaces, and understanding rights and available resources.
  • Facility coordination requirements:
    • State and county public facilities must designate an existing office to oversee visit accommodations arranged through the hotline.
    • Designated offices must be accessible to hotline staff to assist with on-site coordination of requested accommodations.
    • The contact information for designated offices must be publicly available.
  • Interagency coordination and publicity:
    • The Division of Disability Services must consult with state and county agencies to determine necessary information and assistance to provide via the expanded helpline.
    • Development of strategies to publicize the helpline to ensure awareness and effective use.
  • Funding:
    • Appropriation of $100,000 to the Division of Disability Services to implement the provisions.
  • Effective date:
    • The act takes effect on the first day of the sixth month after enactment.

Who is affected

  • Individuals with disabilities or accessibility needs seeking to navigate state and county public facilities.
  • State and county facilities, which must designate coordination offices and publicize contact information.
  • Agencies coordinating disability services and accessibility accommodations.

Legislative and procedural context

  • Status: Referred to the Senate Insurance Committee.
  • Introduced in the Senate on May 19, 2025 (sponsor: Leroy Comrie, primary).
  • Prior referrals on February 4, 2025 are noted (to Insurance).
  • Related bills (past sessions) include several assembly and senate companions and related accessibility/ disability service measures.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Improves access to accommodations for public facility visits, potentially reducing barriers for people with disabilities.
  • Creates a formal process and point of contact within facilities for arranging accommodations.
  • Requires coordination across multiple state and county agencies and publicizing the helpline to ensure utilization.
  • Minor state fiscal impact ($100,000 appropriation) to implement the program expansion.

Related information

  • Related or companion bills exist in prior sessions (e.g., A 3759 and other listed numbers) that address disability services and accessibility topics.

If you would like, I can align this summary more closely with the bill’s official title or compare it explicitly to the HMO-rights-language mentioned in the header.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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