The Assembly and Senate have both added our communities’ requested funding for an increased Human Services Inflationary Investment of 7.8%. In the One House Senate Bill, a 4% increase is specifically earmarked for staff. There is no guarantee that this will be in the final budget but it strengthens the ability to negotiate a higher than 2.1% funding increase that was in the Governor’s Executive Budget.
There are several other noteworthy initiatives in the one house bills including rejection of the Governor’s language around AOT and inpatient commitment as well as an Assembly add for the mandatory use of incident review panels. In addition, the Senate has proposed adding $22 million in funding for Daniel’s Law Demonstration Projects.
We thank the leadership of the Senate and Assembly for hearing our concerns and we will continue to push the 7.8% and that this funding be utilized specifically as part of the Human Services Inflationary Investment.
Make your voices heard tomorrow at the MHANYS/AFSP Mental Health Matters Day at the Empire Convention Center in Albany.
Register at www.mhanys.org
