Legislative Bulletin: Lawmakers Reach Final Budget Agreement
Lawmakers Reach Final Budget Agreement
Earlier this week, Governor Cuomo and lawmakers reached a final budget agreement for State Fiscal Year 2015-16, which is effective for the period April 1, 2015 through March 31, 2016. The $141.6 billion plan reflects the fifth consecutive year of 2 percent or less growth in overall spending. Click here to read LeadingAge NY’s budget summary that includes items most important to members. Please note that we will issue a comprehensive budget document early next week.
Our budget successes would not have been possible without the support from our membership. Between January and March, nearly 200 LeadingAge NY members connected with lawmakers nearly 500 times! Now that a final agreement has been reached, we urge you to call your lawmakers and thank them for their support during the budget process. And thanks to all of you who made this year’s budget advocacy efforts a great success!
What’s in store for the remainder of the Legislative Session?
- Legislation: With budget negotiations behind us, we now move to the legislative part of session, when lawmakers will focus primarily on considering legislation. Legislators are currently on recess and will return on Tues., April 21. We will soon be asking members to engage with their lawmakers on particular bills, including legislation pertaining to nurse staffing ratios in residential health care facilities. Please keep an eye on your inbox for advocacy alerts in the coming weeks!
- Adult Care Facility (ACF)/Assisted Living (AL) Advocacy Day: LeadingAge NY will host an ACF/ AL Advocacy Day on Tues., April 21. We will meet with the Department of Health and legislative leaders to discuss key member priorities, including: enhancing the role of the nurse in ACFs; the need for an increase SSI Congregate Level 3 benefits in next year’s budget; the upcoming transition of the Assisted Living Population (ALP) population into managed long term care and related needed reforms; the impact of the federal HCBS settings rule in ACF and AL settings; and addressing the backlog of applications for Aid and Attendance benefits for veterans. Click here to register for the ACF/AL Advocacy Day.
Are You Registered to Golf in the LeadingAge NY PAC Tournament?
The snow is nearly melted and Spring is here; which means it’s almost golf season! The LeadingAge NY PAC will host its annual golf tournament on Mon., May 18 at Ballston Spa Country Club. All sponsorship levels, including tee-signs, are still available for purchase. Click here to register or become a sponsor.
Due to the Passover and Easter holidays and with lawmakers on break, the Legislative Bulletin will be on hiatus until Fri., April 17. If you have any questions or concerns related to the State budget or legislative session, please contact Alyssa Lovelace or Ami Schnauber at 518-867-8383.
Contact: Alyssa Lovelace, alovelace@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8844.