The Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) plans, develops, and regulates the state's system of chemical dependence and gambling treatment and prevention service providers. The agency inspects and monitors these programs to ensure quality of care and compliance with state and national standards. The State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2009-2010 State Budget provides for approximately $700 million for the programs administered by OASAS. The purpose of this hearing is to review OASAS implementation of programs funded through the SFY 2009-2010 State Budget as well as the overall impact of the Budget on these programs.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible. In the absence of a request, witnesses will be scheduled in the order in which reply forms are postmarked.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee's interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

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Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on the impact of the 2009-2010 State Budget on the programs of the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail it to: