[NYAPRS Enews] Fight SSI & COLA Cuts! Come to Regional Forums, 1/27 NYAPRS Leg Day!

[Matt Canuteson]

NYAPRS Note: We are pleased to provide you with a draft schedule of the
11th Annual NYAPRS Legislative Day in Albany on January 27th 2009.

The Governor's budget proposal includes drastic cuts to people's SSI
payments, 1% cut to the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), and even a
delay and cut to the previously agreed upon SHU Bill mandating treatment
alternatives to solitary confinement. 

We need to stand tall in the midst of these challenges!

To help NYAPRS members across the state prepare to advocate this
session, we will be holding the following regional  Legislative Day Prep
meetings across the state in the coming weeks: 

*         January 5  Jamestown 12:30pm-2:30pm at Passages-The Resource
Center, 712 West 8th Street 

*         January 6  Buffalo  10:00am-12:00pm at The Restoration
Society/Englewood Drop-In Services at 66 Englewood Avenue

*         January 6  Rochester  1:30pm-4:00pm at the Mental Health
Coalition 320 N. Goodman Street

*         January 8   White Plains  1pm-4pm at White Plains Public
Library, 100 Martine Avenue

*         January 12  Syracuse  1:30pm-3:30pm at Onondaga Case
Management, 220 Herald Place

*         January 20   Binghamton  1pm-4pm at Broome County Public
Library, 185 Court Street

Forums have already been held in New York City, Long Island, and the
North Country. 

Don't forget to make your legislative appointments for January 27th as
soon as possible. 

See you soon at the prep meeting nearest you, and again on the 27th in
Albany! More than ever, this is the year to make our voices heard!

 

 

 

NYAPRS 11th Annual Legislative Day Schedule

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Hart Auditorium The Egg Albany, NY

 

Program Schedule

 9:30 am              Breakfast, Check-In   Hart Auditorium The Egg

10:00 am             Welcome:   NYAPRS Co-Presidents Robyn Krueger,
William Sullivan; Public Policy Co-Chairs Carla Rabinowitz, Ray Schwartz

10:05 am             Presentations on This Year's Legislative Priorities

Budget Agenda

1.   "Protecting The Community Safety-Net": Fight To Restore The SSI and
1% COLA Cut

2.	Advancing the Employment of New Yorkers with Disabilities:
Supporting the Medicaid Infrastructure Grant & PROS Employment Funding

3.   Supporting the Expansion of Peer Recovery Centers in New York

4.   Promoting Community Mental Health Housing: Supporting 1,500
Supported Housing Slots  

5.   Keeping The Promise: Restoration of SHU Implementation Funding 

6.   Ensuring Access To Medicine: Restoring Medicare Part-D Wraparound
Coverage, Exempting Antidepressants from the Preferred Drug Program 

7.   Restoring Advocacy and Support Services for Adult Home Residents 

8.   Supporting the Restructuring of NY's Sex Offender Management
Program 

Legislative Agenda

1.   Making Timothy's Law Permanent 

2.   Stopping The Discrimination Against Parents with Psychiatric
Disabilities

 

10:50am              Presentation of Awards

*         Syracuse-Post Standard and The Journal News, Public Education
/Media Awards 

*         Jeannie Straussman, Lifetime Achievement Award 

*         Diana Ritter, Chair, NYS Most Integrated Setting Coordinating
Council, Public Policy Leadership Award 

11:00 am              "Protecting The Disability Safety Net"

*         Overview 

*         Restoration of SSI Cut 

*         Restoration of 4th Quarter COLA Cut 

11:30 am             Featured Speakers

*         Secretary for Health and Human Services Joe Baker

*         OMH Commissioner Michael Hogan 

*         Assembly Mental Health Committee Chair Peter Rivera 

*         Senate Mental Health Committee Chair TBA

Noon                    Lunch provided by NYAPRS   

1:00 pm               "Protect the Disability Safety Net" Press
Conference and/or Rally

1:30 pm               Meet with Your Legislators

4:00 pm               Re-group at Your Buses, Return Home






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