NYAPRS Note: Lots of news expected this week in Governor Cuomo’s budget proposal for the coming new fiscal year including capital and housing increases for nonprofits serving ‘vulnerable populations,’ NY/NY IV housing for currently homeless individuals or those with disabilities, unspecified criminal justice initiatives and a proposed minimum wage hike. We’re also tracking the appointment of a new Assistant Secretary for Health to oversee the ‘O’ agencies and the possibility of a pathway to an OMH and OASAS merger.
Join us for a NYAPRS Member Webinar this Thursday afternoon that will provide a NYAPRS Budget First Look, details about the NYAPRS February 25th (note date change) Legislative Day/Session Advocacy Agenda and an update on our advocacy on state Managed Care Readiness Initiatives. Briana will be sending you a formal announcement with details about the exact time and call-in information along some draft advocacy materials later this morning. Stay tuned!
- NYS Budget Reports
In the last few days, NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo’s administration has been issuing a set of statements providing some advance information about initiatives that will be contained in his FY 2015-16 NYS Budget. The Governor will provide formal details during this Wednesday’s combined State of the State/State Budget release, 2 events that have been merged after the cancellation of the January 7 State of the State due to the January funeral rites for his father, Governor Mario Cuomo.
Budget watchers will be looking for how the Governor proposes to deploy the $5 billion state share of recent federal settlements with banks and insurance companies found to be engaged in errant practices.
Included in the centerpiece 10 part “New York State of Opportunity Agenda”, according to Administration news releases and media coverage are:
- One-Time $50 Million Nonprofit Infrastructure Capital Investment Program that will make “targeted investments in capital projects to “improve the quality, efficiency, accessibility, and reach of nonprofit human services organizations”, focusing apparently on job creation and affordable housing programs. Grants will be awarded through a competitive process, with priority given to nonprofits with state contracts that provide direct services in high-need communities, particularly smaller nonprofits and nonprofits that lack access to other capital funding opportunities. The program is the first undertaking of the new Office of Faith-Based Community Development Services that will be headed up by Karim Camara, current Assemblyman and chair of the state Legislature’s Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Caucus.
- $183 Million for NY/NY IV Housing Program: $183 million of settlement funds to support a new NY/NY IV program to create 5,000 new supportive housing units for populations requiring additional support
- $486 Million in Housing for Vulnerable New Yorkers: $229 million in capital resources for 2015-16 to continue the 5 year House NY program to create and preserve 14,300 affordable housing units; $257 million for construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing, revitalization of neighborhoods, as well as encouraging community renewal activities; improvements to public, seniors and veterans housing; and low-cost financing and access to capital through Community Development Financial Institutions.
- $220 Million Increase in Homeless Services: over the next several years, includes funding for New York City rental assistance and other programs that address the City’s growing homeless population.
- Minimum Wage Hike: a proposal to raise the minimum wage to $11.50 an hour in New York City and $10.50 an hour in the rest of the state
- Increase the proportion of state Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise contracts to 30%
- College Loan Forgiveness Program that will help eligible NYS residents who graduate from college and continue to live in the state to pay nothing on their student loans for the first two years out of school
- Also look for economic development (regional grants, property tax break, broadband expansion) and education proposals.
Other Initiatives:
- Criminal Justice: the Governor is considering requiring automatic state reviews when grand juries fail to indict in police brutality cases, the possibility of requiring that special prosecutors, not local district attorneys, handle suspected cases of police brutality, raising the age for criminal responsibility from 16 to 18 within 3 years, the shifting of non-violent offenders to new facilities and training to judges and the creation of a new court level for youths who commit violent offenses.
- Pay Raises: Cuomo is proposing that state lawmakers be paid two different rates, based on whether they moonlight on the side or only work full-time as legislators; state agency commissioners will also see pay hikes
There’re few details as of now…stay tuned for this Wednesday’s budget release and our Thursday afternoon webinar.
- Cuomo Administration staff changes include new:
- Top aide William Mulrow, who’s being described as more of a ‘bridge builder’ than predecessor Larry Schwartz
- Budget director Mary Beth Labata, current first deputy budget director who succeeds Robert Megna and
- Assistant Secretary of Health Tracie M. Gardner who previously served as Co-Director of Policy for the Legal Action Center where she conducted and coordinated the Center’s New York State public policy advocacy in the areas of substance use disorders, criminal justice and HIV/AIDS. Among the agencies she will oversee are OMH, OASAS, OCFS and SOFA.