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2024 Budget Advocacy Timeline & Next Steps
As we continue advocating together in our fight to strengthen supports and services for people with I/DD and secure equitable wages for direct care staff, we have planned numerous grassroots opportunities to participate throughout the budget season. In addition to rallies on February 12 and March 27 (details to follow), we are coordinating a weekly presence at the Capitol. Each week will target a different region of the state, which will help us conduct unified meetings with legislators, and sustain our message at the capitol throughout budget development process. If you are unable to attend during your region's scheduled week, feel free to join us for one that works. Please complete this form to confirm your availability.
Below is our advocacy timeline for this year's budget season, and our complete budget advocacy toolkit. TAKE ACTION by sending your one-click advocacy letter to Governor Hochul.
December-January
- Outreach to Governor and Legislators - Virtual Forums, Meetings, Letters, etc.
- December 19 – Hearing on Health Care Workforce in NYC
- Mid-January - Executive Budget Release (Adjust Budget Priorities)
February
- Week of February 5 - Capital Region Legislative Visits
- February 12 - Statewide Rally
- February 12 & 13 - Legislative and Policy forum with The Arc New York, NY Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation, and Developmental Disabilities Alliance of Western NY (DDAWNY) - Save-the-Date coming in early December.
- Week of February 26 - Hudson Valley Legislative Visits
March
- Week of March 4 - Central NY/North Country/New York City Legislative Visits
- Week of March 11 - Western NY Legislative Visits
- Week of March 18 - Long Island Legislative Visits
- Mid-March - Senate and Assembly One-House Budget Bills Released (Adjust Budget Priorities)
- March 27- Statewide Rally (tentative)
- March 31 - Budget due at 11:59:99 PM
Advocacy Toolkit:
If you have not done so already, check out The Arc New York's Facebook page for pictures of the Nov. 15 Capitol Rally, and share via your social media networks. There was a great sense of energy and unity among all who attended, but we're just getting started.
White House Discussion on HCBS Investments through ARPA
The White House is convening a discussion of national and state leaders on Tuesday, December 12, at 11 AM, to explore the outcomes of funding for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) as a result of American Rescue Plan utilized by all 50 states. Watch the 90-minute discussion live here on Tuesday.
Assembly Hearing To Shape 2024 Health Care Priorities
A legislative hearing will be held December 19 to help identify the greatest needs in New York's health care sector and how to address the ongoing workforce shortage. Health care workers, providers and stakeholders from across the state will have the opportunity to submit testimony to lawmakers about issues, including staffing, education, and healthcare costs. The announcement from the Assembly Standing Committees On Health, Mental Health, People With Disabilities, Higher Education, and Labor can be found here. You can read more in a Spectrum News story highlighting the hearing, healthcare spending and the current state of the workforce here.
The Arc New York Testimony on Expanding the Definition of a Public Assistance Household
The Arc New York supports SSA’s Expansion of Public Assistance Household definition to include Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a key and well-utilized safety net program for low income households.
- We strongly encourage SSA to expand the definition in which any other (as opposed to every other) member receives public assistance for both simplification and equity reasons;
- urge SSA to enter into data-sharing agreements with state agencies who administer SNAP to confirm SNAP participation and ease verification burdens on SSI recipients;
- and ask SSA to consider expanding Public Assistance Households further, in future rule-making, to include receipt of Medicaid.
You can read the full testimony here and access the proposed rule and other comments here.
The State Master Plan for Aging Survey
The New York State Department of Health (DOH) and New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) are asking for input on a statewide public survey to help shape the state’s Master Plan for Aging (MPA) strategies and priorities. Older adults, individuals with disabilities, and those who provide care for older New Yorkers and people with disabilities are encouraged to take this survey and share their input on how the MPA can best serve their needs.
You can complete the survey on behalf of yourself or an individual from your family or community that you would like to represent. There are opportunities to provide additional comments specific to the workforce, the needs of people with I/DD, or areas that are pertinent to you and/or the person you are representing should you select “other”. You can complete the survey online here and access the survey in multiple languages through the MPA portal.
The Arc of the United States Selects New CEO
The Arc of the United States has named Katherine (Katy) Neas as its new CEO. Katy brings more than 35 years of experience in disability policy and public and nonprofit leadership to the role. She joins The Arc from the U.S. Department of Education, where she served as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. You can read the full announcement here.
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