NYAPRS’ First Look at Hochul Executive Budget Proposal
5.4% COLA, Up to $3,000 in Bonuses, Minimum Wage Hike
988 Hotline with Expanded Crisis Services; Homeless Outreach Teams
More Funding for Housing, Chief Disability Officer; Criminal Justice Reforms
NYAPRS is very pleased to share details as we currently understand them of Governor Hochul’s Budget proposal for fiscal years 2022-23. There’s a great deal to like here.
The 5.4% COLA represents a major victory. To be clear: the COLA can be used for both workforce and agency operating costs and the measure does not include the $500 million investment sought by our coalition.
We are especially pleased to see that the funding for 9-8-8 will not only pay for the hotline but to boost crisis services given the anticipated growth in demand.
While we are encouraged by the creation of the Chief Disability Officer post, we hope the Governor will sign legislation restoring the Office of Advocacy for the Disabled. We look forward to beginning work on a newly revised 2022 Olmstead Plan.
We look forward to getting more details about the proposal to establish 20 NYS/NYC teams to reach homeless individuals living on the streets; we want assurance that this will be done in a voluntary fashion.
We’re very impressed with Governor Hochul’s leadership style and the unprecedented level of investments she is making to increase community supports for New Yorkers with major mental health challenges.
We’re once again very pleased to collaborate with MHANYS’ Glenn Liebman on this analysis.
INCREASES FOR COMMUNITY AGENCIES/WORKFORCE
Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)
The Executive Budget includes a 5.4 percent COLA to human services providers in FY 2023. The COLA applies to voluntary operated providers of services for OPWDD, OMH, OASAS, OCFS, OTDA, and SOFA. The COLA will provide immediate fiscal relief to providers, giving them the option to offer more competitive wages to their staff to permanently address workforce recruitment and retention issues and better support the individuals they serve.
Healthcare and Mental Hygiene Worker retention bonuses
Up to $3,000 bonuses going to workers earning less than $100,000 who remain in their positions for one year, and pro-rated bonuses for those working fewer hours. For current employees, up to 6 months of previous employment will be included in the calculation for this bonus.
Minimum Wage
$40.7 million in State funds to support minimum wage increases for staff at not-for-profits licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized by OPWDD, OMH, and OASAS.
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CRISIS SERVICES
Support the Federal Creation of a 988 Crisis Hotline, Increased Crisis Services
$35 million in FY2023, increasing to 60 million in FY2024, to support the implementation of the 988 Crisis Hotline in New York State; and legislation to authorize expanded supports and services and ensure the continuation of current suicide prevention call center resources.
Strengthen Suicide Prevention to Combat Increased Mental Health Challenges due to the Pandemic
The Executive Budget will enhance mental health and suicide prevention programs available for youth and families experiencing a mental health crisis. This includes an investment of $10 million to fund then expansion of the Home-Based Crisis Intervention (HBCI) program and the establishment of a Mental Wellness Community Workforce.
Establish Safe Options Support Teams
OMH will partner with NYC to reach homeless individuals living on the streets by establishing 20 new teams of mental health professionals performing Critical Time Intervention, an evidence-based practice to help connect people to housing and services.
We continue to oppose the use of coercion, including in the current or other possible regarding Kendra’s Law.
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HOUSING
Increase Support for Existing Residential Programs
The Executive Budget makes a two-year commitment of an additional $104 million – $65 million in FY 2023 and $39 million in FY 2024 – for existing community-based residential programs and includes legislation to extend property pass-through provisions to include OMH’s supported housing.
Supportive Housing Across All Populations Beyond Mental Health
$1.5 billion for the construction of 7,000 supportive housing units and rehabilitation of 3,000 supportive housing units throughout the State, toward the creation of 20,000 units over 15 years
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CRIMINAL JUSTICE
NYAPRS is very pleased that the Governor is supporting a Jails to Jobs Initiative and the passage of Clean Slate legislation and are looking forward to the enactment of the Treatment not Jails Act.
VETERANS’ MENTAL HEALTH
Expand the Joseph P. Dwyer Program Statewide
$7.7 million to expand the Joseph P. Dwyer Peer- to-Peer Veterans’ Support Program statewide, providing vital peer support and counseling services to veterans who are transitioning from military service to civilian life.
CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS
The Executive Budget will bolster mental health services for children and families by continuing to integrate behavioral health services into pediatric primary care visits through the Healthy Steps program, investing an additional $7.5 million in Residential Treatment Facilities (RTFs) for children, and continuing expansion of other children’s community mental health services.
CHP Behavioral Health
The Executive Budget invests $11 million in FY 2023 growing to $44 million in FY 2024 in mental health and other critical services for children in the Child Health Plus Program. These investments will align the services provided to children in CHP with the services received by children in Medicaid.
ADDRESSING ADDICTION AND THE OPIOID CRISIS
The Executive Budget provides
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an increase of $402 million (56 percent) in operating and capital support for OASAS to enhance prevention, treatment and recovery programs targeted toward addiction services, residential service opportunities, and primary prevention activities consistent with state opioid settlement agreements; and
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invests more than $100 million in new resources from the Opioid Stewardship Tax and litigation settlements with pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors.
The Executive Budget increases New York State’s commitment to critical initiatives, including:
Expand Mobile Treatment Services for Opioid Addiction
The Executive Budget will expand access to Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) by investing in mobile methadone services, including additional mobile treatment vehicles and telehealth equipment, to provide increased access to these life-saving services.
Combat the Opioid Epidemic Using a Public Health Approach.
OASAS will collaborate with the Department of Health to enhance harm-reduction services, health monitoring, and evidence-based community interventions to fight the opioid epidemic. The State’s efforts will be bolstered by the creation of a Division of Harm Reduction within OASAS.
Opioid Stewardship Investments.
$200 million to invest these funds in new initiatives to combat the opioid crisis including harm reduction initiatives by both OASAS and DOH, expanding access to naloxone and buprenorphine, creating a public awareness campaign, and implementing a program to help uninsured and underinsured individuals receive treatment and medication.
Establish a Certification for Recovery Residences.
The Executive Budget will create a voluntary certification process for recovery- supportive housing to help ensure that safe housing is available for individuals who have completed their substance use disorder treatment. This certification would incorporate inspection, record keeping and operational standards for recovery home; increase the availability of recovery housing units; and ensure a high quality of housing and services.
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DISABILITY POLICY
The Justice Center
$850,000 for the Justice Center to bolster its IT capabilities, create a data analytics group, and purchase automation equipment to streamline their processes.
Create an Office of the Chief Disability Officer (CDO)
Governor Hochul will create the Office of the Chief Disability Officer to serve as an advocate for the needs of persons with disabilities and ensure the opportunity to exercise all the rights and responsibilities accorded to the citizens of this state and accorded to persons with disabilities, which will include addressing the multiple factors preventing more people with disabilities from finding meaningful employment. The Budget commits 3 FTEs in the Office for its launch. The proposal takes some major steps here. NYAPRS continues to look to Governor Hochul to sign into law a bill that would restore the Office of the Advocate for the Disabled.
Disability Advocacy Program (DAP)
The Executive Budget doubles Executive support for the DAP program from $2.6 million to $5.3 million, supporting the legal representation of disabled individuals seeking Federal disability benefits under SSI or SSDI.