With Another Legislative Session in the Books , It ’ s Time to Move Advocacy Efforts to the Local Front
One Voice
With Another Legislative Session in the Books , It ’ s Time to Move Advocacy Efforts to the Local Front
Jeff Diamond Administrative Assistant
Session Highlights
The 2016 Legislative session has come to a close and a number of LeadingAge
New York ’ s priority issues have reached their conclusion . Several of the bills we supported passed both houses of the Legislature and nearly all the bills we opposed were defeated . We would not have had these successes if it weren ’ t for your advocacy efforts . Thank you for all of your help !
Final updates on our key advocacy issues :
1 . Nurse Staffing Ratios : A . 8580-A ( Gunther )/ S . 782 ( Hannon ), which its advocates dubbed the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act , would create specific staffing ratios for nurses and other direct-care staff in hospitals and nursing homes at a cost of approximately $ 1.06B to nursing homes state-wide . Outcome : While the nurse staffing ratios bill passed in the Assembly , it remained in the Senate Rules Committee . It ’ s most likely that this bill will be taken up again next year so we will focus on educating lawmakers this summer and fall . Thank you to all of our members who took part in numerous advocacy initiatives throughout the year to help us defeat this bill . In total , 594 letters in opposition were sent to members of the Legislature .
2 . Advanced Home Health Aide Legislation : The Governor and legislative leaders negotiated an advanced home health aide bill , A . 10707 ( Glick )/ S . 8110 ( LaValle ), that would authorize Advanced Home Health Aides ( AHHAs ) to perform advanced tasks under the supervision of a registered nurse and pursuant to an authorized practitioner ’ s ordered care , effective in 2018 . Outcome : Passed both the Senate and Assembly , and is expected to be signed into law by the Governor . LeadingAge New York was successful in advocating for the removal of language that would have required staffing ratios . We will be working with the state in the year ahead to implement this important legislation .
3 . SSI Increase for ACFs : A . 10224 ( Brindisi )/ S . 7333 ( Serino ), which would implement an increase in the SSI rate for ACFs by $ 7.50 per day , phased in over two years . If passed , the first $ 2.50 per day increase would happen on Jan . 1 , 2017 , and then again on April 1 , 2017 . The third and final $ 2.50 increase would occur on April 1 , 2018 . Outcome : Passed in the Senate and remained in the Assembly Ways and Means Committee . Passage of the bill in the Senate sends a strong message as we work to get an SSI increase in next year ’ s budget .
4 . Memorandum of Understanding ( MOU ) for Housing : Nearly $ 2 billion was approved in the state budget for affordable housing programs . The funds cannot be released until the Governor and legislative leaders agree on a plan for how to spend the funds .
( See Another Legislative Session on page 45 )
43 Adviser a publication of LeadingAge New York | Summer 2016