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Legislative Bulletin: Lawmakers Set to Begin Post-Budget Legislative Work

Senate Finance Committee to Consider TBI-DD Integration Bill on Tuesday

Lawmakers in the Assembly and Senate are set to return from their extended recess next week to kick off their post-budget legislative work. On Tuesday morning, the Senate Finance Committee will meet to consider A.1425 (Jenne)/S.517 (Young), one of LeadingAge NY’s priority bills that would allow individuals with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) sustained after the age of 21 to access developmental disabilities (DD) services. We are continuing to strongly support this legislation, which would enable those with a TBI living in urban, underserved, or rural areas, where caregiver shortages and a lack of TBI community resources often lead to placement into nursing homes, to receive the support and services they need. Click here to send your legislators a pre-written letter, Facebook post, or tweet urging them to support the bill and here to review LeadingAge NY’s memo of support.

In addition to the TBI-DD integration bill, LeadingAge NY remains focused on a number of other priorities for the remainder of session and urges you to continue engaging your lawmakers on them:

  1. SSI Increase for ACFs
  2. Role of the Nurse in ACFs
  3. Affordable Independent Senior Housing Assistance Program (LeadingAge NY and a coalition of housing organizations and advocates have developed a sign-on letter for members of the Assembly Housing Committee urging them to co-sponsor this legislation. We encourage you to share the letter with your Assembly representatives as well.)
  4. CCRC Revitalization Act
  5. CCRC Cybersecurity Regulations Exemption (Introduced at LeadingAge NY’s request, S.7940 (Seward) would exempt continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) from the onerous cybersecurity regulations adopted by the Department of Financial Services (DFS) in March 2017.)
  6. Staffing Ratios

LeadingAge NY to Hold CCRC Advocacy Day on May 8th

To help build momentum for the CCRC Revitalization Act and cybersecurity bill, LeadingAge NY is enlisting all CCRC members to participate in an in-district advocacy push over the coming weeks and join us in Albany for an Advocacy Day on Tues., May 8th. More information about our Advocacy Day is forthcoming; in the meantime, we encourage you to contact your legislators and schedule a time to meet in the district, either in their office or on your campus. (They are typically in their districts on Thursdays and Fridays during session.)

During your meetings, LeadingAge NY encourages you to educate your lawmakers about the CCRC model, the challenges you face, and why you think reforms are important to your organization and their community. Then, ask them to sign on as a co-sponsor of the CCRC Revitalization Act and to sponsor or co-sponsor the cybersecurity legislation. Additionally, while you have their attention, be sure to ask them to oppose the unfunded staffing ratios mandate and thank them for rejecting the food waste mandate proposed in the Executive Budget.

LeadingAge NY has prepared the following materials to assist your organization in its advocacy. Please feel free to share these with your legislators and all meeting participants:

Thank you for your advocacy, and we hope to see you in Albany on May 8th!

DOH and NYSOFA Issue Survey on Barriers and Gaps in State’s Long Term Care System

This morning, Department of Health (DOH) Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker and New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) Acting Director Greg Olsen issued a joint letter seeking participation in a survey on barriers and gaps in the state’s long term care system. The survey is designed to assist the new Long Term Care Planning Council, announced during Governor Cuomo’s 2018 State of the State Address, in its examination of the system and effort to “prepare for the emerging needs of New York State’s growing aging population.” Click here to access the survey, which should be completed by Mon., June 18th. Members are encouraged, once they have submitted their responses, to forward the link to other providers, organizations, caregivers, and care recipients as well.

Action Alert: Thank Congress for Increased Federal Investments in Affordable Housing

Attention all housing members! LeadingAge National and other members of the Campaign for Housing and Community Development Funding have issued a call for advocates to contact their congressional representatives to thank them for the housing funding increases included in last month’s FY 2018 spending package. As LeadingAge NY previously reported, the bill provided significant increases for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) housing programs, including $105 million for new construction under the Section 202 Housing for the Elderly Program; an expansion of the Rental Assistance Demonstration program to include Section 202 communities with Project Rental Assistance Contracts (“RAD for PRAC”); a $15 million increase for Service Coordinators; full funding for Project-Based Rental Assistance; and increases for Section 811 Housing for Persons with Disabilities, homeless assistance, public housing, and voucher programs. Please call and engage with your members of Congress on social media to thank them for championing these investments, and urge them to continue the progress and allocate more for affordable senior housing in next year’s spending package.

House Speaker Paul Ryan Announces Retirement

Finally, House Speaker Paul Ryan announced on Wednesday that he will not run for re-election in November, citing a desire to spend more time with his family. His retirement comes ahead of what is increasingly expected to be a difficult midterm environment for Republicans and leaves House Republicans with the task of electing a new conference leader. Ryan, currently serving his tenth term in the House, was first elected Speaker in 2015.

Contacts:

Ami Schnauber, aschnauber@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8854

Jeff Diamond, jdiamond@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8821