Section 22.03. Patient rights; notice to all patients of their rights

(a)  Notwithstanding  any  other  provision  of  law including but not
  limited to the election law, no person's rights  as  a  citizen  of  the
  United States or of the state of New York shall be forfeited or abridged
  because  of such person's participation in chemical dependence programs,
  treatment facilities or services. Such participation shall  include  but
  is  not  limited to the certification as substance dependent of a person
  to the  care  and  custody  of  the  office  under  previously  existing
  provisions  of  law.  The  fact,  proceedings, application, or treatment
  relating to a person's participation in  chemical  dependence  programs,
  treatment  facilities, or services shall not be used against such person
  in any action or proceeding in any court.
    (b) Immediately upon the  admission  of  any  patient  to  a  chemical
  dependence program, service, or treatment facility, the director of such
  program,  service, or facility, or his or her designee, shall inform the
  patient in writing of his or her status, including the section  of  this
  chapter  under  which  he  or  she is admitted, and of his or her rights
  under this article.
    (c) The director of every chemical  dependence  program,  service,  or
  treatment facility shall post copies of a notice in a form and manner to
  be  determined by the commissioner, at places throughout the facility or
  program where such notice  shall  be  conspicuous  and  visible  to  all
  patients, stating the following:
    1.  a  general  statement  of the rights of patients under the various
  admission or retention provisions of this article; and
    2. the right of the patient to  communicate  with  the  director,  the
  board of visitors, if any, and the commissioner.