Judgment unanimously vacated, petition dismissed and matter remitted to respondent for further proceedings, in accordance with the following memorandum: Petitioner is an inmate at Auburn Correctional Facility, where he is receiving mental health services at an Office of Mental Hygiene satellite unit. Beginning in March 1988, petitioner made a series of requests to review his mental health record. It is undisputed that petitioner is a "qualified person” (Mental Hygiene Law § 33.16 [a] [7]) who is eligible to gain access to his clinical record pursuant to Mental Hygiene Law § 33.16, and that he has been authorized and permitted to inspect that record at the satellite unit. Petitioner also requested a copy of the record for his personal use, but respondents denied that request for the period of his incarceration on the basis of institutional concerns. This proceeding was commenced seeking judgment declaring that petitioner is entitled to obtain the copy during his incarceration and directing respondents to provide it to him. Supreme Court dismissed the petition, and this appeal followed.
Access to the clinical record is, under all circumstances, subject to the provisions of subdivision (c) of Mental Hygiene Law § 33.16 (Mental Hygiene Law § 33.16 [b] [l]-[4]). Paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of section 33.16 specifically provides: "Subject to the provisions of subdivision (c) of this section, upon the written request of any qualified person, a
Here, petitioner was denied access to his record when the facility refused to permit him to have a copy, but he was never informed of his right to obtain review by the clinical record access review committee, and such review has not yet been had (see, Mental Hygiene Law § 33.16 [c] [4]). Accordingly, this matter is not ripe for judicial review (see, Mental Hygiene Law § 33.16 [c] [5]). It must be remitted to the correctional facility so that the appropriate procedures may be followed. (Appeal from judgment of Supreme Court, Cayuga County, Contiguglia, J. — art 78.) Present — Dillon, P. J., Boomer, Green, Pine and Balio, JJ.
