Legislative Bulletin: Lawmakers to begin passing budget bills this weekend

Almost Final Budget

On Wednesday evening, the governor and legislative leaders announced that they had reached a budget agreement. The announcement included the following agreements:

minimum wage increase from $7.25/hour to $9.00/hour over three years, beginning with $8.00 by the end of 2013, $8.75 by the end of 2014, and $9.00 by the end of 2015;
$1.125 billion in new tax cuts to middle class families over three years, including a $350 tax credit for middle class families in 2014;
$800 million in tax relief for New York businesses over three years; and
a permanent tax credit for the hiring of Veterans, and $181 million in tax credits over three years for businesses that hire youth.

In spite of their stated “budget agreement” only half of the budget bills have been printed to date, and we are still waiting to see the final bills related to Medicaid, health and housing. The leaders and staff have been working nearly around the clock over the last few days and we do expect to see the final bills printed by late tonight. The Legislature is trying to get the budget passed well in advance of the April 1 deadline due to the upcoming Passover and Easter holidays.

Legislators returned home yesterday and are scheduled to return to Albany this weekend to begin passing the budget bills. We will continue to monitor the process and will send members an initial summary of the details of most importance to aging services providers on Monday morning. We will follow that with a more thorough budget analysis at the end of next week. In the meantime, please contact Ami Schnauber if you have any questions, concerns or have received any feedback from your legislators.

Attention ACF/AL Members!

LeadingAge New York will host its annual Adult Care Facility (ACF), Assisted Living Program (ALP) and Assisted Living Residence (ALR) Advocacy Day in Albany on Tues., April 23. We will be meeting with key lawmakers and staff in the Legislature and Department of Health to address the following agenda items:

providing DOH with recommendations to update and streamline regulations as well as proactive solutions to improve the survey and CON/application processes;
advancing our proposal to allow nurses to perform certain functions in ACF and AL settings;
ensuring that prior year’s funds for ACFs are finally distributed;
urging for the implementation of last year’s ALP reforms as well as new reforms to the ALP to best position it for a managed care environment; and
encouraging the passage of proposed legislation that requires and provides for ACFs to get reimbursed for conducting criminal history record checks.

Meeting materials and other information will be made available on the ACF/AL Advocacy Day website, soon. To register, click here. For questions or concerns, please contact Alyssa Lovelace at 518-867-8844.

Support your PAC!

A well-funded PAC allows us to support candidates and lawmakers who oppose cuts to long term care, senior housing and services, and enables us to be involved in both the legislative and political process. Help us raise our voices in the Legislature by supporting our PAC – contribute today!

A very special thank you to this year’s Founders Club Members, who have contributed $1,000:

Loren Ranaletta, president/CEO, Episcopal SeniorLife Communities
Stuart C. Kaplan, CEO, Selfhelp Community Services, Inc.
David Gentner, president and CEO, Wartburg
Mary Francis Barrett, CEO, Hebrew Hospital Home of Westchester
Michael N. Rosenblut, president and CEO, Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation
Michael Keenan, president and CEO, Good Shepherd Communities

Ready to play golf?

In addition to the PAC’s annual fund-drive, the PAC will also be hosting its annual golf tournament on Mon., May 20 at the Saratoga Spa Golf Course!

This year’s format includes a later shot-gun start at 11:45 a.m. for the 18-hole tournament, and a 1:30 p.m. pro-clinic and 9-hole tournament for those of us who might need a little more practice. Join us at the 19th hole for a cocktail reception, prizes and giveaways when you’ve finished your round.

Click here for registration and sponsorship information.