[NYAPRS Enews] NY Senate Pushes for 8.5% Cost-of-Living-Adjustment (COLA), Daniel's Law Pilot, and Clean Slate

[Luke Sikinyi]

NYAPRS Note: The New York State Senate has released their One House budget for this year. We are excited to see this budget includes additional funding to increase the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) from 2.5% to 8.5%, as well as $10 Million for a Daniel's Law Pilot Program and $1 Million to implement the Clean Slate Act! See below for highlights from the Senate's One House budget and look out for more information as negotiations continue!

Mental Health, Office of
State Operations (S.4000-B)
* The Senate modifies the Executive All Funds recommendation of $2.7 billion as follows:
-Adds $130 million to support an 8.5 percent Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA).
-Adds $10 million to establish a Daniel's Law Pilot Program. The Pilot Program would support new and existing programs that respond to the needs of individuals involved in a mental health crisis. Funding would be used to establish the utilization of best practices, create reporting requirements, and incentivize local governments to improve services related to mental health crisis awareness and response.
- Adds $5 million in Legislative grants.
-$3 million to support workgroups to study and issue recommendations on suicide prevention in LGBTQ+, Black, and Latina children and youth.
-Adds $1.06 million to support Comprehensive Care Center for Eating Disorders.
-Adds $300,000 for the Veteran's Mental Health Training Initiative.

Capital Projects (S.4004-B)
* The Senate modifies the Executive All Funds recommendation of $1.5 billion as follows:
o Carves out up to $9 million to support beds operated by Fountain House Inc.
Article VII Proposal (S.4007-B)
* NEW PART ZZ
- The Senate advances language to create workgroups to study and issue recommendations on suicide prevention in LGBTQ+, Black, and Latina children and youth.
* NEW PART HHH
- The Senate advances language to create a workgroup to study and issue recommendations on implementing Daniel's Law, and create a pilot program to support non-police, trauma-informed, community-led responses to mental health, alcohol, and substance use crises.

Mental Hygiene, Department of
State Operations (S.4000-B)
* The Senate modifies the Executive All Funds recommendation of $600 million as follows:
o Adds $500 million appropriation to support 8.5 percent COLA. Article VII Proposal (S.4007-B)
* PART DD -- The Senate modifies the Executive proposal to provide a 2.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment by increasing the cost-of-living adjustment to 8.5 percent and indexing future cost-of-living adjustments to the consumer price index (Part of S.1291).

People with Developmental Disabilities, Office for
State Operations (S.4000-B)
* The Senate concurs with the Executive All Funds recommendation of $2.4 billion.
Aid to Localities (S.4003-B)
* The Senate modifies the Executive All Funds recommendation of $4.9 billion as follows:
o Adds $290 million to support an 8.5 percent Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA).

Criminal Justice Services, Division of
-$1 million to support implementation of Clean Slate Act.

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