What we’ve learned is that the Senate is accepting the Governor’s 5.4% COLA and projecting an additional 5.4% for next year. The Assembly’s proposal to increase the COLA to 11% remains on the table. The final number will be reached via 3 way negotiations between the two houses and the Hochul Administration. We’ll continue to advocate with all 3 parties for the highest COLA possible within this year’s final budget agreement. Sorry for my confusion. Please stay tuned for more details.
From: Harvey Rosenthal <harveyr@nyaprs.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2022 8:14 PM
To: Harvey Rosenthal <harveyr@nyaprs.org>
Subject: Correction on Senate COLA Proposal;
The NYS Senate has released its one house resolution. At first look, it provides for the following:
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Adds another 5.4% COLA to the Governor’s 5.4% COLA for a total of 10.8%. The Assembly has proposed an increase of 11%.
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Does not accept the Governor’s 3 amendments to Kendra’s Law and extends it for one year only. The Governor and Assembly have proposed a 5 year extender. The Assemlby had only accepted one of the Governor’s amendments, allow physicians to give virtual testimony with patient consent.
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Adds $22 million to support 200 additional OMH state operated inpatient beds.
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Adds an additional $5 million for the Crisis Intervention Demonstration Program
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Modifies the Governor’s 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline system by “modifying reporting metrics and ensuring call centers are established in-house.”
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Creates a new proposal to create a crisis intervention team demonstration program to assist law enforcement officers in responding to crisis situations involving individuals with mental illness and/or substance use disorder (S.4748).
More details as we get them.