Last Chance to Advocate on Key Issues Before Session Ends!
End-of-Session Advocacy Push and Bill Updates
Time is running out to contact your lawmakers before the end of session! Only one day remains, and there are still a number of important issues that we would like to see addressed. Legislators need to hear from you TODAY. Please call them directly to discuss our priorities (outlined in last Friday’s Legislative Bulletin), and let them know how your organization and those you serve will be impacted.
Several of LeadingAge NY’s priority bills advanced in the Legislature yesterday:
- ALP CON Process: A.7727-A (Lupardo)/S.5840 (Hannon), legislation which would convert the Assisted Living Program (ALP) from a competitive solicitation process to a certificate of need (CON) process that awards beds based on demonstrated community need and allow existing ALP providers to add up to nine beds through an expedited process, passed the Senate. Having passed the Assembly last week, the bill now heads to the Governor’s desk for approval. This is an important victory that we would not have achieved without your advocacy. Thank you!
- Capital Funding for Assisted Living Programs: A.1612-A (Magnarelli)/S.6319 (Hannon), a bill which would enable ALPs to access Vital Access Provider (VAP) and Health Care Facility Transformation Program funds allocated in this year’s budget, passed the Senate yesterday. In the Assembly, it remains in the Health Committee. You can encourage your lawmakers’ support for this bill by clicking here.
ACTION ALERT: Urge the Assembly to Pass Affordable Senior Housing and Services Program Bill!
Yesterday, LeadingAge NY’s housing with services legislation, S.5141-B (Little), passed the Senate unanimously for the second time. The bill would establish an Affordable Senior Housing and Services Program with its own rules and scoring criteria and provide for optional basic healthy aging services for senior housing residents. While the Senate has continued to pursue agreement on the bill, recalling and amending it to address concerns, the Assembly has not acted. It is currently stuck in the Ways and Means Committee, and we need to put pressure on the Assembly to move it forward.
Please call your Assemblymember TODAY and ask them to work with their colleagues to get this legislation passed before session ends. To further amplify our message, we have written a series of posts for you to send to your lawmakers on Facebook and Twitter. We encourage you to share these with whoever manages social media for your organization.
Sample Tweets
Thank you [@legislator] for supporting S.5141-B to help seniors age in place. [@legislator], now’s your turn! #SupportOurSeniors
.@NYGovCuomo, follow [@legislator]’s lead and support S.5141-B to help seniors age in place! #SupportOurSeniors
.[@legislator] Help NY seniors age in place! Support S.5141-B to address demand for safe, affordable housing. #SupportOurSeniors
.@NYGovCuomo Help NY seniors age in place! Support S.5141-B to address demand for safe, affordable housing. #SupportOurSeniors
.[@legislator] 10,000 Americans turn 65 every day. Help NY seniors age in place and support S.5141-B! #SupportOurSeniors
.@NYGovCuomo 10,000 Americans turn 65 every day. Help NY seniors age in place and support S.5141-B! #SupportOurSeniors
Sample Facebook Posts
Thank you [@legislator] for supporting S.5141-B to help seniors age in place. [@legislator] and @GovernorAndrewCuomo, now’s your turn! #SupportOurSeniors
[@legislator] and @GovernorAndrewCuomo, please help New York’s seniors age in place! Support S.5141-B to address the rising demand for safe, affordable housing. #SupportOurSeniors
With 10,000 Americans turning 65 every day, the demand for safe, affordable senior housing is on the rise. [@legislator] and @GovernorAndrewCuomo, please help New York’s seniors age in place and support S.5141-B! #SupportOurSeniors
Thank you for your advocacy on this important bill.
Contacts: Ami Schnauber, aschnauber@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8854 or Jeff Diamond, jdiamond@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8821