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On March 10th, less than a week after our Family Empowerment Day, Senate and Assembly leaders released their own budget proposals known in the Capitol as "One-House Budgets." These can be understood as counterproposals to the Governor's own budget proposal that was released back in January. The one-house budgets reflect months of advocacy, budget hearings, press cycles, lobbying and other factors that influence what the legislature decide to keep, add, or remove from their own budget proposals. If an issue is included in both, that is a very positive sign and means the issue still has a fighting chance of it making it through three-way negotiations into the final budget due April 1st.
Counted among those influencing this process are of course US! FTNYS and our network have made our presence known here in Albany in the lead up to the one-houses being released through our participation in coalitions, advocacy days, press engagement, legislative engagement, call-ins, take actions, and of course our Family Empowerment Day Rally and March. We are proud to report that for many of our issues, that hard work has paid off!
Below is a summary of what's in, what's out and what we still have a chance of being included in the final enacted budget due in less than two weeks. If a proposal is preferred, it will be green. If we are unwary of it, it will be yellow. If we do not support it, it will be red.
What's in:
Healthy Minds Healthy Kids Home and Outpatient Rate Proposal (CFTSS, HCBS, Clinics)
Senate: $200M for clinics and other children's behavioral health services
Assembly: $16M for children's behavioral health through Medicaid
Note: This funding includes Family and Youth Peer Support for Medicaid/CHP.
Targeted Inflationary Increases for Community Behavioral Health programs (formerly COLA):
Senate: 7.8% increase for overall rates and contracts, specifies that workers are provided at least a 4% wage increase.
Assembly: 7.8% increase for overall rates and contracts, says that workers must be paid first before operational costs and executives.
Note: This funding includes Family and Youth Peer Support for 1650 and Medicaid/CHP.
Raise the Age + Youth Justice Innovation Fund:
Senate: Includes $25M for the creation of the fund as we outlined in our bill, removes NYC exclusion from Raise the Age implementation dollars.
Assembly: Does not create YJI Fund, Adds $100 million in new RTA funds for an intensive probation supervision program for youth under 18, $30 million for ATIs limited to youth charged in Youth Part, removes NYC exclusion from Raise the Age implementation dollars.
Note: Take action using this link in favor of the Senate proposal.
$30M Child and Family Wellbeing Fund:
Senate: Not included.
Assembly: Adds $50M for the creation of the Communities Helping Improve Lives Daily (CHILD) fund under the department of state for primary prevention services.
Notes: We are tentatively supportive of this but want to see the structure we propose in our white paper and in our bill language included in the final budget.
Working Families Tax Credit
Senate: Included!
Assembly: Included!
Note: The Governor's proposal significantly increases the state child tax credit and expands eligibility for the full credit to very low-income tax filers with children, but fell short of the recommendations from her Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council (CPRAC). Both the Assembly and Senate goes further by also increasing the credit amount of the ESCC to $1,600 per child per year for all children 0-18 via the Working Families Tax Credit.
More Child Poverty Proposal:
There's a lot to list here, so in the interest of space, more child poverty related proposals currently in play can be seen in this draft We CAN End Child Poverty Campaign sign-on letter including baby bucks, the Housing Access Voucher Program, increased public assistance, child care and more. If you have authority on behalf of an organization, sign on use this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfMO0UgUfK_1cIoXmocyc71GcQcOIDGaXtdsD2-RgVkxi6NVg/viewform.
What's not in:
Coverage Parity between Medicaid and Commercial Insurance:
Senate: Not included
Assembly: Not Included
Note: This proposal would require commercial plans to cover Family and Youth Peer Support.
Behavioral Health Medicaid Managed Care Carveout:
Senate: Not included
Assembly: Not Included
State Aid to Localities (1650) for Family and Youth Peer Support:
Senate: Not included
Assembly: Not Included
Take actions!
Targeted Inflationary Increases for Community Behavioral Health programs (formerly COLA):
Please make calls now to request support for the 7.8% inflationary increase in rates and contracts for behavioral health.
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins
(518) 455-2585
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie
(518) 455-3791
Your Senator: https://www.nysenate.gov/find-my-senator
Your Assemblymember: https://nyassembly.gov/mem/search/
Message
“Please support a 7.8% inflationary increase in rates and contracts for mental health and substance use disorder staff and operations in the final budget. Without this additional funding, countless adults, children, and families will not get the services and support they desperately need.”
CALL NOW! Healthy Minds Healthy Kids Home and Outpatient Rate Proposal:
Governor Hochul:
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins: (518) 455-2585
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie: (518) 455-3791
Senate Mental Health Chair Samra Brouk: 518-455-2215
Senate Mental Health Chair Jo Ann Simon: 518-455-5426
Call-In Script
Introduction: Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I am a constituent from [Your City/Town]. I am calling today to urge [Senator/Assemblymember] [Last Name] to prioritize youth mental health in the upcoming state budget.
Key Ask: I am asking for their support of a $200 million investment in youth mental health to ensure that children and teens can access the mental health care they need, regardless of their insurance provider.
Why It Matters:
· Youth mental health is in crisis. Rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide among young people have skyrocketed, and too many families struggle to access timely care.
· The $200 million investment will expand access to services—including school-based mental health supports, community providers, and crisis intervention services—so kids can get help before they reach a crisis.
Closing Ask: Will [Senator/Assemblymember] [Last Name] support this investment in the final budget?
Personal Impact (Optional): If comfortable, share a personal story about why this issue matters to you—whether as a parent, educator, provider, or advocate.
Thank You: Thank you for your time and for prioritizing the mental health needs of New York’s children. I appreciate your leadership on this critical issue.
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