A 6904 New York Assembly · 2025 Regular Session

Adds Down syndrome to the definition of developmental disability and expands such definition to include certain individuals below the age of ten

This bill amends New York's mental hygiene law to automatically include Down syndrome as a qualifying condition under the definition of developmental disability for Medicaid eligibility. It adds Down syndrome to a list of specific conditions (alongside cerebral palsy, autism, and others) that now qualify individuals for Medicaid without needing separate assessments. People with Down syndrome who meet income and other standard Medicaid criteria will automatically qualify under this change. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Mar 18, 2025 Last action Mar 18, 2026
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What changed between versions

A6904 A6904A · 3 edits
MINOR
This bill updates New York's mental hygiene law to formally include Down syndrome in the definition of developmental disabilities. It also introduces a new provision for children under ten, allowing them to be recognized as having a developmental disability based on high future probability or age alone, without needing to prove a current 'substantial handicap'.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of eligibility for developmental disability services to explicitly include individuals with Down syndrome and lowers the age threshold for automatic eligibility to under ten years old.
ELIGIBILITY

Added Down syndrome to the list of conditions that qualify as a developmental disability under state law.

Created a new rule allowing individuals under age ten to be deemed to have a developmental disability if they have a high probability of meeting criteria later in life, removing the immediate requirement to prove a 'substantial handicap' for this age group.

Established an automatic eligibility rule for all children under age four who meet other developmental criteria, regardless of whether they currently show a substantial handicap.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Amendments
2
Mar 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
PRINT NUMBER 6904A
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO MENTAL HEALTH
lower
Jan 7, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH
lower
Mar 18, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH
lower
1 primary · 14 co-sponsors

Sponsors