Plugged In @ Hinman Straub – January 8, 2020

Special Edition: State of the State

  • Governor’s State of the State Address
  • 2020 Legislative Session Begins
  • Assembly Speaker Announces Leadership and Committee Assignments
  • Barclay Elected Assembly Minority Leader
  • Previously Announced State of the State Proposals
  • Coming Up

Governor’s State of the State

The Governor delivered his 2020 State of the State address covering a wide range of issues. Some issues were discussed during his speech, some were contained in an accompanying briefing book, and many were previously announced in the weeks leading up to the address. Highlights of the Governor’s address and briefing book are below:

Highlights from the Governor’s Address

Environmental Issues

  • Fighting Climate Change by passing the $3 Billion Restore Mother Nature Bond Act which aims to reduce flood risk and revitalize critical fish and wildlife habitats by connecting streams and waterways, right-sizing culverts and dams, restoring freshwater and tidal wetlands, reclaiming natural floodplains, restocking shellfish populations and upgrading fish hatcheries, preserving open space, conserving more forest areas, replanting more trees, reducing contamination from agricultural and storm water runoff, and expanding renewable energy. 
  • Grow New York’s Green Economy by expanding the electric vehicle industry in New York, convening a task force to grow the electric vehicle sector, electrifying upstate transit fleets, expanding electric vehicle charging stations, and foster expansion through green economy tax credits. The Governor also discussed generally, a proposal to strengthen New York’s offshore wind position.
  • Expanding Renewables by increasing solar, wind and storage capacity by more than 1,000 Megawatts and focusing on transmission improvements.

Tax Issues

  • Cutting Taxes on Small Businesses by lowering the tax rate on small corporate taxpayers, defined as less than 100 employees and less than $390,000 in income, from 6.5 percent to 4 percent.
  • Cutting Middle Class Taxes by reducing the tax rate from 6.85 to 6.09 for taxpayers in the $40,000 to $150,000 bracket and reducing the tax rate to 6.41 for taxpayers in the $150,000 to $300,000 bracket.

Economic Development Issues

  • Continue Success in Economic Development by investing in a tenth round of the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative.
  • Continue Success in Local Revitalization by investing $100 million in a fifth round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative.

Infrastructure Investments

  • Ensure Cellular Coverage Across New York by launching a comprehensive plan to put New York on a path to full cellular service coverage. Details of the plan include naming a State Cellular Coverage Director at Empire State Development to develop “wireless coverage implementation plans.” For areas determined to have insufficient coverage, regulatory action will be taken to promote private infrastructure investments.

Labor Issues

  • Guarantee Paid Sick Leave by mandating businesses with five to ninety-nine employees provide their employees at least five days of job protected paid sick leave per year and businesses with 100 employees or more will provide at least seven days of paid sick leave per year. Smaller businesses with four or fewer employees will guarantee five days of job-protected unpaid sick leave to their employees every year.
  • Protecting Workers in the Gig Economy by introducing legislation to make sure all of New York’s workers have necessary benefits and protections. The address and briefing book were short on details, but, during the speech the Governor specifically mentioned independent contractor status as an issue that needs to be corrected.

Social Justice Issues

  • Enacting a Comprehensive Recreational Marijuana Program by coordinating with surrounding states and legalizing and regulating adult-use.

Public Safety Issues

  • Pass the New York Hate Crime Anti-Terrorism Act. The Governor plans to put forward legislation that would will create a “domestic act of terrorism motivated by hate” crime as a new A-1 class felony punishable by up to life in prison without parole.

Education Issues

  • Ensure State Aid is Distributed in an Equitable Manner by requiring that state education funds are funding the neediest schools within the districts.
  • Expand Free College Tuition to the Middle Class by raising the Excelsior Scholarship income eligibility threshold from $125,000 to $150,000 of adjusted gross family income for New York’s families.

Democracy Protection Issues

  • Implement Automatic Voter Registration. Not much detail was provided for his proposal, but, it is expected that the legislature will pass their own version tomorrow.
  • Ensure Every New Yorker is Counted in the upcoming Census by providing up to $20 million to assist with additional Census outreach. The State will provide grants to and work with more than sixty counties and local governments to identify “trusted voices” and not-for-profit organizations that can focus on engaging “hard to count” communities, including those with high immigrant populations, children under 5 years old, and seniors.
  • Simplify New York’s Court System by working with Chief Judge Janet DiFiore to implement the program outlined by the Chief Judge earlier this year.
  • Require Public Officials to Disclose Tax Returns by passing the “Nothing to Hide Act” which will require every New York Elected Official to submit their tax returns for public scrutiny.

Highlights from the Briefing Book

As has become practice, the Governor issued a briefing book to accompany his address. Some of the issues included in the briefing book were repeats from previous years, some were touched on by the Governor without any detail, and some went completely unmentioned. Highlights include a proposal to streamline the MWBE certification process, a host of agriculture issues including a proposal to expand the use of locally produced food in school lunch meals, proposals to enact E-bike legislation and strengthen wage lien laws, creation of a SUNY Global Cannabis Center for Research, proposals to protect children in foster care, and proposals to support new immigrants.

Education proposals include expansion of pre-kindergarten programs, support for certain after-school programs, and advanced placement course access. Higher education proposals featured in the briefing book include for-profit college transparency proposals, expanding student enrollment in SNAP benefits, and ending abusive student loan debt collection practices.

Many of the health care proposals contained in the briefing book were previously released in the weeks leading up to the Governor’s address. Proposals not released early include an expansion of protections from surprise medical billing and a proposal to ensure the Department of Health’s Office of Professional Medical Conduct has tools to investigate, discipline, and monitor physicians, physician assistants, and specialist assistants licensed in New York. The Governor also included a proposal to launch a statewide initiative to preserve antibiotics, expedite resistance detection through cutting-edge laboratory technology, and enhance response through advanced digital health solutions. The Governor did not spend a significant amount of time addressing the budget gap, Medicaid cuts that were already implemented, or the cuts that will be discussed in the future.

For more details on the proposals not discussed directly, please refer to the briefing book attached here.

2020 Legislative Session Begins

Legislative leaders convened their houses for the 2020 Legislative Session earlier today, prior to Governor Cuomo delivering his State of the State address this afternoon. Legislative leaders gaveled in the Assembly and Senate for proceedings that were largely ceremonial. In the Assembly, Speaker Carl Heastie and newly-elected Minority Leader Will Barclay made brief opening remarks, as did Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Senate Minority Leader John Flanagan in the Senate.

2019 brought significant changes to the Legislature, with the Senate majority shifting to Democratic control. The Assembly and Senate passed a number of policy measures championed by progressive advocates over the years, including driver’s licenses for undocumented persons, bail reform, initiatives to combat climate change, the Dream Act, and election reform among more than 900 bills that passed both houses. In his State of the State speech Wednesday, Governor Cuomo made frequent calls for continued action on progressive issues.

2020 is an election year for legislators in both houses, with a number of incumbents facing primaries as well as a number of announced retirements. Control of either chamber is not likely at issue, as Democrats now hold substantial majorities in both houses.

Lawmakers now face a $6 billion projected budget deficit, and the Governor’s presentation of his Executive Budget proposal is due later this month. The real work of the Senate and Assembly will commence shortly, and hasten after the Executive Budget is released.

Assembly Speaker Announces Leadership and Committee Assignments

The Assembly Speaker announced leadership and committee assignment changes, precipitated by Assemblywoman Titus’ election to a judgeship in Queens County. All posts listed below.

LEADERSHIP

Speaker Carl E. Heastie

Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes

Chair, Ways and Means Helene E. Weinstein

Deputy Speaker Catherine Nolan

Assistant Speaker Félix W. Ortiz

Speaker Pro Tempore Jeffrion L. Aubry

Chair, Committee on Committees Vivian E. Cook

Assistant Speaker Pro Tempore N. Nick Perry

Deputy Majority Leader Phil Ramos

Assistant Majority Leader David F. Gantt

Majority Whip William Colton

Deputy Majority Whip José Rivera

Assistant Majority Whip Michael Miller

Chair, Majority Conference Steven Otis

Vice Chair, Majority Conference Erik M. Dilan

Secretary, Majority Conference Rebecca A. Seawright

Chair, Majority Program Carmen E. Arroyo

Chair, Majority Steering Barbara Lifton

Vice Chair, Majority Steering Patricia Fahy (formerly held by McDonald)

Chair, House Operations Ron Kim

Chair, Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force Maritza Davila

STANDING COMMITTEES

Chair, Aging Harry B. Bronson

Chair, Agriculture Donna A. Lupardo

Chair, Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Linda B. Rosenthal

Chair, Banks Thomas J. Abinanti (formerly held by Zebrowski)

Chair, Children & Families Ellen Jaffee

Chair, Cities Edward C. Braunstein

Chair, Codes Joseph R. Lentol

Chair, Consumer Affairs Michael G. DenDekker

Chair, Corporations, Authorities & Commissions Amy Paulin

Chair, Correction David I. Weprin

Chair, Economic Development Robin Schimminger

Chair, Education Michael Benedetto

Chair, Election Law Charles D. Lavine

Chair, Energy Michael Cusick

Chair, Environmental Conservation Steve Englebright

Chair, Ethics & Guidance Jo Anne Simon (formerly held by Simotas)

Chair, Governmental Employees Peter J. Abbate, Jr.

Chair, Governmental Operations Kenneth Zebrowski (formerly held by Titus)

Chair, Health Richard N. Gottfried

Chair, Higher Education Deborah J. Glick

Chair, Housing Steven Cymbrowitz

Chair, Insurance Kevin A. Cahill

Chair, Judiciary Jeffrey Dinowitz

Chair, Labor Marcos A. Crespo

Chair, Libraries & Education Technology Sean Ryan

Chair, Local Governments Fred W. Thiele, Jr.

Chair, Mental Health Aileen M. Gunther

Chair, Oversight, Analysis & Investigations John T. McDonald III (formerly held by Abinanti)

Chair, Racing & Wagering J. Gary Pretlow

Chair, Real Property Taxation Sandy Galef

Chair, Small Business Al Stirpe

Chair, Social Services Andrew Hevesi

Chair, Tourism Daniel J. O’Donnell

Chair, Transportation William B. Magnarelli

Chair, Veterans Affairs Didi Barrett

 TASK FORCES & LEGISLATIVE COMMISSIONS

Chair, Administrative Regulations Review Dan Quart

Chair, Farm, Food & Nutrition Michaelle C. Solages

Chair, Government Administration David Buchwald

Chair, New Americans Victor M. Pichardo

Chair, People with Disabilities Phil Steck

Chair, Reapportionment Robert J. Rodriguez

Chair, Rural Resources Angelo Santabarbara

Chair, Science & Technology Latrice Walker (formerly held by Fahy)

Chair, Skills Development & Career Education Walter T. Mosley

Chair, State-Federal Relations Nily Rozic

Chair, Women’s Issues Aravella Simotas (formerly held by Walker)

Barclay Elected Assembly Minority Leader

New York Assembly Republicans on Tuesday elected Will Barclay of Pulaski to serve as the party’s leader, making Barclay the first Central New Yorker in at least 115 years to serve as Assembly minority leader. Barclay will replace long time Minority Leader Brian Kolb.

Previously Announced State of the State Proposals

A significant number of proposals were announced in the weeks leading up to the State of the State address and many were included in previous issues of Plugged In @ Hinman Straub. Provided here as a reminder, the previously announced proposals listed in the order in which they were announced are as follows:

Ban on gun sales to those convicted of out of state crimes – the 1st proposal of the 2020 State of the State agenda: Preventing individuals from receiving New York State gun licenses if they commit a crime in another state that is similar to a crime that would disqualify them from owning a gun in New York State. New York law currently prohibits individuals from obtaining a gun license if they commit certain New York misdemeanors that are deemed “serious offenses.” However, the law does not prohibit individuals from obtaining a New York gun license after committing comparable misdemeanors in another state.

 Ban fentanyl analogs and MAT expansion – the 2nd proposal of the 2020 State of the State agenda: legislation banning fentanyl analogs by making them subject to the same criminal sale or possession penalties as other controlled substances. The legislation will empower the New York State Health Commissioner to ban any new fentanyl analogs that have been added to the federal schedule of controlled substances. The Governor will also propose a series of actions to expand access to medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorder in hard to reach communities.

MAT expansion proposals include the following:

  • Expansion of the Medication Assisted Treatment and Emergency Referrals (MATTERS) Program: Governor Cuomo proposes expanding a pilot that provides MAT to patients identified with Opioid Use Disorder in Emergency Departments.
  • MAT Telemedicine Program: The Governor proposes improving access to MAT by connecting emergency departments with doctors who can prescribe buprenorphine through telehealth.
  • Expanding Access to Telehealth and Mobile Clinics: The Governor will direct OASAS to continue to expand access to these resources in underserved communities across the state by adding 10 new mobile clinics, one in each economic development zone statewide. In addition, in order to ensure access to addiction treatment in every region of the state, the Governor will direct OASAS to develop telehealth capacity by funding equipment for at least one addiction treatment program in each county across the state.
  • Expanding Access to Medication Assisted Treatment in Correctional Settings: Governor Cuomo will direct DOCCS to expand access to Medication-Assisted Treatment by providing buprenorphine in the 7 facilities currently offering methadone. In addition, the Governor will direct DOCCS to seek national certification and accreditation to operate an Opioid Treatment Program, creating the Nation’s first state corrections-operated OTP in the country.

Automatic manual recounts in close elections – the 3rd proposal of the 2020 State of the State Agenda: Legislation triggering automatic manual recounts in close elections and establishing uniform recount procedures.

Closing the rape intoxication loophole – the 4th proposal of the 2020 State of the State Agenda: Closing the rape intoxication loophole. The Governor will advance a proposal to clarify that a victim’s ability to consent is jeopardized whether they were voluntarily or involuntarily intoxicated.

Ban on single-use Styrofoam containers – the 5th proposal of the 2020 State of the State Agenda: Prohibiting the distribution and use of expanded polystyrene, commonly known as Styrofoam, single-use food containers. The proposal also bans the sale of expanded polystyrene packaging materials known as packing peanuts. Additionally, the bill would authorize the State Department of Environmental Conservation to review and take action to limit or ban other packaging material upon a finding of environmental impact.

Lowering prescription drug prices – the 6th proposal of the 2020 State of the State agenda includes a three part plan to lower prescription drug costs. Elements of the plan include:

  • Capping co-payments for insulin – the proposal will cap co-payments for insulin at $100 per month.
  • Granting DFS additional enforcement authority over spikes in drug costs – the proposal will empower the State Department of Financial Services to investigate significant spikes in prescription drug prices and call on manufacturers to show a reasonable justification for these sudden increases or face fines and pay restitution to harmed consumers.
  • Lowering prescription drug cost by importing Canadian drugs – the proposal will create the Prescription Importation Commission to work with insurers, consumers, health care providers, and other stakeholders to identify any potential consumer savings from importing drugs from Canada.

 Advancing strong Net Neutrality protections – the 7th proposal of the 2020 State of the State Agenda: Advancing the strongest statewide net neutrality protections in the United States. As part of this proposal, the Governor will introduce legislation to prevent the blocking, throttling and paid prioritization of online content. The legislation will also prohibit so-called “zero-rating” practices, which penalize consumers for accessing content or applications that are not preferred by their internet provider. The legislation will also codify into law Governor Cuomo’s 2018 Executive Order mandating that state government entities may not enter into contracts with internet service providers unless they follow net neutrality principles.

Protecting consumers from abusive debt collectors – the 8th proposal of the 2020 State of the State agenda: protecting New York consumers from predatory and abusive debt collectors. The proposal would require debt collectors that contact New Yorkers to be licensed by the State Department of Financial Services. The proposal will also codify a Federal Trade Commission rule that prohibits confessions of judgment.

Cracking down on retailers who sell illegal cigarettes – the 9th proposal of the 2020 State of the State agenda – cracking down on retailers that illegally sell untaxed cigarettes and other tobacco products in New York State. Under the Governor’s proposal, retailers who acquire untaxed cigarettes from other states or other sources and sell them illegally in New York would face possible closure. The Governor is also proposing strengthening penalties and fines for retailers that sell tobacco products to people under 21 years of age.

Eliminating the “pink tax” – the 10th proposal of the State of the State: eliminating the pink tax by prohibiting gender-based pricing discrimination for substantially similar or like kind goods and services. The legislation will require certain service providers to post price lists for standard services; businesses that violate the law would be subject to civil penalties.

Sex offender registry of online platform usernames – the 11th proposal of the State of the State: preventing convicted sex offenders from using social media accounts, dating apps and video game chat functions to exploit children. Specifically, the proposal would require all sex offenders to affirmatively disclose their screen name for each social media account or dating/gaming app they are on to the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), as opposed to just giving the email address they use for those accounts. DCJS will send this list to any provider that the offender discloses, and the provider will be required to review this data, develop policies on how to use it, and release this policy publically to their users.

Make the Buy American Act permanent – the 12th proposal of the State of the State: making the “New York Buy American” Act permanent. The “Buy American” Act requires all structural steel and structural iron used in all state road and bridge construction projects with contracts worth more than $1 million to be made in America. The current law is set to expire April 2020.

High speed rail – the 13th proposal of the State of the State: convening outside experts to reexamine and rethink strategies to bring high-speed rail to New York. A panel of engineers will reexamine past high-speed rail plans, question and rethink past assumptions and methods, and recommend a new plan for how to build high-speed rail in New York.

Transparency in healthcare costs – 14th proposal of the State of the State: increasing transparency in healthcare costs. Under the proposal, the Department of Health, the Department of Financial Services and the New York State Digital and Media Services Center will be directed to create a website, called NYHealthcareCompare, where New Yorkers can compare the cost and quality of healthcare procedures at hospitals around the state.

Ban online sale of vapor products – the 15th proposal of the State of the State: banning all flavored nicotine vaping products including menthol flavors and vaping advertisements aimed at youth. The proposal would also authorize the Department of Health to regulate the sale of chemicals used in vaping-related products and ban the sale of vaping product carrier oils deemed to be a public health risk. The proposal would prohibit the online, phone and mail order sale of e-cigarettes; only registered retailers would be allowed to purchase e-cigarettes using those methods.

Legalize gestational surrogacy – the 16th proposal of the State of the State: lifting New York’s ban on gestational surrogacy. The proposal will establish criteria for surrogacy contracts that would provide protections for surrogates and parents and streamline the “second parent adoption” process.

Combatting nuisance calls – the 17th proposal of the State of the State: a comprehensive proposal to fight incessant robocalls or nuisance calls. The proposal would require telecommunications companies to deploy technology that allows customers to block suspected robocalls. The proposal will also require providers to adopt technology that warns consumers about potential robocalls and scams, including those not originating from New York numbers. The proposal would also increase financial penalties against companies who do not comply with New York’s “Do Not Call Law.”

Banning untraceable guns – the 18th proposal of the State of the State: banning untraceable “ghost guns” by requiring firearm parts be sold only to authorized buyers, requiring the same eligibility requirements as a completed firearm and that all major parts receive a serial number.

Growing New York’s craft beverage industry – the 19th proposal of the State of the State: growing New York’s craft beverage manufacturing industry by reforming prohibition-era laws that will remove barriers to new investments. The proposal will make it easier for movie theaters to sell alcoholic beverages and modernize New York’s Alcoholic Beverage Control law to help higher education institutions train the next generation of the craft beverage workforce.

Passing an inclusive Equal Rights Amendment Act – the 20th proposal of the State of the State: passing the first-in-the-nation inclusive Equal Rights Amendment to establish sex, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes.

Expanding Access to Financial Services – the 21st proposal of the State of the State: expanding access to safe and affordable financial services.

  • Excelsior Banking Network – The Governor will propose creating the Excelsior Banking Network to provide $25 million in new seed funding over five years for New York’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund – or CDFI Fund – to be used in accordance with State criteria to expand financial inclusion and access to affordable bank accounts and credit products. CDFIs are local financial service providers with locations throughout New York State, and often are the sole provider of banking and other financial services in low-income communities that are not served by traditional banks and financial institutions.
  • Statewide Office of Financial Inclusion and Empowerment – The Governor will propose the creation of a statewide Office of Financial Inclusion and Empowerment to meet the financial services needs of low- and middle-income New Yorkers across the state. Based at the State Department of Financial Services, the Office will maintain a centralized list of financial services counseling providers – across housing, student loan, debt and general financial literacy – throughout the State and coordinate state and local services aimed at expanding access to credit and enhancing financial empowerment. The Office will also incubate new programs to expand access to safe and affordable banking services, credit and financial education; coordinate public-private partnerships; and foster provision of high-quality, low-cost financial products statewide.

Preserving 4,000 Acres of Land in the Mid-Hudson Valley – the 22nd proposal of the State of the State: preserving 4,000 acres of open space in the Mid-Hudson Valley. These acquisitions will expand seven different state parks, adding new trails and viewpoints, as well as conserving valuable ecological corridors. The acquisitions represent an investment of $20.6 million in state funding from the Environmental Protection Fund and Hudson Highlands Conservation Act.

Investments in Unmanned Aerial System Experimentation and Test Facility – the 23rd proposal of the State of the State: investing $9 million to establish a small unmanned aerial system, or sUAS, experimentation and test facility at Griffiss International Airport in Rome, Oneida County. This “skydome” will be a year-round indoor sUAS research facility that will support the safe experimentation of drone technology and techniques, including secure command and control, vehicle-to-vehicle communication, autonomy, sense-and-avoid, and other techniques that will enable applications such as emergency management services, damage assessment and recovery search and rescue.

Investments in Rochester Downtown Innovation Zone – the 24th proposal of the State of the State: expansions of three industry-leading high technology companies in the City of Rochester that will further grow the Finger Lakes regional economy as part of the Governor’s continued commitment to growing the high-tech ecosystem in and around Rochester’s Downtown Innovation Zone.

Protecting Lake George Waters – the 25th proposal of the State of the State: protecting the health of Lake George’s waters. New York will provide an additional $9.4 million in grants to the Village of Lake George in Warren County to repair and upgrade its wastewater collection infrastructure and preserve the water quality and natural beauty of Lake George. The $9.4 million will be provided by the State in addition to a $3 million Water Infrastructure Improvement Act grant and a DEC-funded $2.5 million Water Quality Improvement Project grant, filling a budget gap in the project and bringing total state investment to $14.9 million. The remaining cost of the project will be covered by a zero-interest loan from the Environmental Facilities Corporation. This investment will result in a total savings to village taxpayers of nearly $25 million.

Rebuilding the Mid-Station Lodge at Whiteface Mountain – the 26th proposal of the State of the State: a $14 million project to build a new Mid-Station Lodge at Whiteface Mountain Ski Resort replacing the structure that was destroyed by fire on November 30, 2019. The Olympic Regional Development Authority will begin constructing the new lodge this spring.

Transferring Pier 76 Tow Pound to Hudson River Park for Reuse – the 27th proposal of the State of the State: effectuating the long deferred transfer of Pier 76 from its use as a tow pound for the NYPD to the control of the Hudson River Park Trust to integrate into the park complex. The nearly 250,000 square foot tow pound is located along the waterfront in Manhattan, across from the new Javits Center, Hudson Yards, and the High Line.

Transforming Buffalo’s North Aud Block – the 28th proposal of the State of the State: transforming Buffalo’s North Aud Block at Canalside based on community and stakeholder input.

Reimagine the Iconic Erie Canal – the 29th proposal of the State of the State: a $300 million plan to reimagine the Erie Canal by creating recreational activities on the Canal to boost tourism, mitigating flooding, enhancing irrigation and recreational fishing and restoring wetlands. The Governor is recommending the New York Power Authority Board, which now oversees the Canal Corporation as a subsidiary, approve the $300 million investment over the next five years at the board’s January meeting.

Empire Station Complex in Manhattan – the 30th proposal of the State of the State: creating the Empire Station Complex – a 21st century transit complex on Manhattan’s West Side. During a speech at the Association for a Better New York, the Governor announced the plan to transform the existing Penn Station site, integrate the soon-to-be completed Moynihan Train Hall and acquire the block south of Penn Station to create an expanded, remodeled and interconnected train and subway complex. The plan creates new, larger terminals, and will increase track and train capacity by 40 percent – addressing the underlying and most critical problem at the busiest transit hub in the Western Hemisphere.

Workforce Training Center in Syracuse – the 31st proposal of the State of the State: creating a comprehensive education and workforce training center to meet science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics job demand in Syracuse. The multipurpose facility will house a regional high school and a worker training and apprenticeship program administered by SUNY Empire State College and in partnership with other local colleges and universities.

Expanding New York’s $175 Million Workforce Development Initiative – the 32nd proposal of the State of the State proposal: expanding on New York’s historic $175 million Workforce Development Initiative to meet emerging job demand. The Governor put forward a series of plans, including new workforce training centers and programs that will retrain and prepare people for new jobs. By expanding the Workforce Development Initiative to target emerging industries, the State will ensure that employers are able to find and hire qualified workers with in-demand skills in New York.

Banning Sex Offenders from MTA Transit Systems – the 33rd proposal of the State of the State: banning repeat and high-risk sexual offenders from accessing the MTA subway, bus and rail systems. The Governor will advance legislation authorizing the MTA to issue orders prohibiting individuals who commit repeat sex-related violations of the MTA code of conduct, or who are high-risk sex offenders (Level 3), from using MTA transportation services for a period of three years. This proposal is in response to a number of recent MTA incidents involving repeat sex offenders.

Strengthening Relationship between Local Police and the Communities They Serve – the 34th proposal of the State of the State: strengthening the relationship between local police and the communities they serve. 

Coming Up

Plugged In @ Hinman Straub will return to its regular Friday distribution beginning next week January 17.

The Board of Regents will hold their next meeting on January 13th and 14th.

The Assembly will hold a public hearing to discuss changes the STAR rebate program on January 14.

The Senate Racing Committee will hold a public hearing on the economic impact of the three unused downstate casino licenses on January 22.

JCOPE will hold its next meeting on January 28.

The Legislative Commission on Rural Resources will hold a public hearing to examine the effectiveness of current flooding emergency and mitigation efforts, and to discuss the need for future assistance due to the increase in extreme weather events on January 28.