Assemblyman Al Stirpe (D-Cicero) announced that the Assembly state budget proposal includes measures to combat addiction as well as protect families, seniors and those with developmental disabilities.

“Our state has always made significant strides in protecting the rights and services of all New Yorkers,” said Stirpe. “We have to take a stand and ensure that everyone has the support they need in times of need, and the Assembly budget proposal lends them a helping hand.”

Combating the heroin epidemic

In order to address the scourge of heroin and opioid addiction that has devastated families across the state, the Assembly budget proposal invests in treatment and preventative measures to help those directly affected by substance abuse.

The budget proposal provides $240 million to support a variety of heroin and opioid treatment prevention programs, including funding for family support navigators, peer supports, recovery clubhouses and community coalitions. The proposal also funds inpatient beds in treatment facilities and expands access to medication-assisted treatment. Further, it funds 24/7 crisis centers, which are intended to provide immediate intervention and connections to treatment.

Protecting seniors

The Assembly rejects executive budget proposals that threaten Office for the Aging programs such as Community Services for the Elderly (CSE) and NY Connects. The executive budget proposal consolidated transportation funding into CSE and limited Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) enrollment to only individuals eligible for nursing home-level care, but the Assembly instead restores discrete appropriations and protects counties from additional costs by restoring the local match waiver for part of the funding. The Assembly also provides a $2 million increase in CSE funding to improve access to these vital services. Additionally, the Assembly dedicates specific funding for NY Connects in the Medicaid program, so if federal funding expires the program can continue.

“Thousands of family caregivers rely on federal funding to stay afloat. Diminished federal funding would leave them with reduced wages, disrupted work schedules and limited resources,” said Stirpe.

Supporting those in need

The Assembly’s budget also restores $18.4 million to the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), which supports direct care workers. In addition, the Assembly provides $45 million to support the first year of a six-year plan to create a living wage for direct care workers who provide much-needed care for individuals with disabilities. And, it restores $1.5 million for the Disability Advocacy Program (DAP) that provides much need assistance in navigating the federal disability benefits system.

Helping families

The Assembly recognizes the importance of providing training and other support programs so more New Yorkers can provide for their families and get ahead. The Assembly proposes to restore:

• $8.9 million for Facilitated Enrollment to expand accessibility of subsidies for child care, allowing more families to stay employed while their children are cared for;
• $4 million for Advanced Technology Training and Information Networking (ATTAIN) labs, which provide technology and access to education and workforce development training;
• $2.8 million for Career Pathways, which helps train low-income young adults for jobs in high-growth sectors;
• $800,000 for Adult Career and Continuing Education Services (ACCESS), which helps provide adults with meaningful career opportunities; and
• $334,000 for SUNY/CUNY child care programs, to expand access to affordable child care.

The Assembly’s budget also allocates an additional $10 million for the New York State Attorney General’s Foreclosure Prevention Services Network to help hardworking families stay in their homes.