Some state legislators are working with Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office to work on a deal which would call for tighter oversight of the release of patients from four institutions for the disabled and mentally ill which are set to close. On Tuesday, the state Senate passed legislation that would put a three-year moratorium on the closing of the facilities, which would include the Broome Development Center in Binghamton. The legislation, dubbed the Freeze Unsafe State Closures Act, is also expected to be approved by the Assembly. Now the Assembly and Senate are working to drop the legislation in exchange for an assurance that the state would help there be more communication with the community upon the patients’ release. They also want to make sure that patients can be transferred to other facilities that are nearby as part of the closures. According to state officials, the reductions in facilities come because of a federal mandate, and the state could lose as much as $500 million if it does not comply with the mandate.
