Plugged In To Education

July 31, 2024

Coverage of updates in lower education, higher education & human services.

What’s Inside

  • Governor Hochul Announces $350 Million in Direct Financial Assistance to Low- and Moderate-Income Families Across New York
  • Governor Hochul Announces $15 Million to Fund Suicide Prevention Services for At-Risk Youth
  • New York State Department of Health Announces Submission of 1115 Waiver Amendment That Will Provide Continuous Eligibility for Medicaid and Child Health Plus to Children Under Age Six
  • State Education Department Appoints Shawn Farr as Fiscal Monitor for the East Ramapo Central School District
  • DiNapoli: Tax Cap Remains at 2% for 2025
  • 2023 Report on the Implementation of the NYS Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law Now Available
  • New York State Department of Health Announces Additional Funding to Continue Efforts to Improve and Expand Physician Diversity
  • Accepting Applications
  • Funding Opportunities
  • State Register
  • Coming Up

Governor Hochul Announces $350 Million in Direct Financial Assistance to Low- and Moderate-Income Families Across New York

Governor Kathy Hochul announced New York State is delivering approximately $350 million in supplemental payments to low- and moderate-income families statewide through the Empire State Child Credit program. More than 1 million families will receive this financial assistance without any need to apply, as each eligible family will receive a direct payment of up to $330 per child. Eligible taxpayers do not need to do anything to receive this one-time additional payment. Taxpayers who received an Empire State Child Credit of at least $100 on their 2023 state tax returns will receive a check in the mail. The Tax Department will begin mailing checks in the first week of August and continue for several weeks.

Governor Hochul Announces $15 Million to Fund Suicide Prevention Services for At-Risk Youth

Governor Kathy Hochul announced five conditional awards totaling $15 million over five years to help community-based service providers to develop innovative programs that will help reduce suicide risk among youth from historically underserved populations. Administered by the Office of Mental Health, the state funding through the Connecting Youth to Mental Health Supports program will help develop programs and suicide prevention strategies among racial and ethnic minority populations and LGBTQ+ groups, including those in rural areas. Grant recipients with their total award amount over five years include:

  • Contact Community Services Inc., Onondaga County; $2.9 million
  • Child Center of New York, New York City; $3.4 million
  • John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, Erie County; $2.9 million
  • Access: Supports for Living Inc., Orange County, $2.9 million
  • Comunilife Inc., Nassau County, $2.9 million

New York State Department of Health Announces Submission of 1115 Waiver Amendment That Will Provide Continuous Eligibility for Medicaid and Child Health Plus to Children Under Age Six

The New York State Department of Health announced the recent submission of an 1115 Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) waiver amendment to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which, when approved, will allow the State to offer children under age six continuous eligibility in Child Health Plus and Medicaid, effective January 2025. The waiver amendment would make New York the fourth state to offer continuous eligibility for health insurance to children under six, along with Oregon, Washington, and New Mexico. The amendment application is currently posted for a 30-day federal public comment period. Comments will be accepted June 27 through July 26 on CMS’s website here.

State Education Department Appoints Shawn Farr as Fiscal Monitor for the East Ramapo Central School District

New York State Education Department Commissioner Betty A. Rosa announced that she has appointed Shawn Farr to serve as Fiscal Monitor for the East Ramapo Central School District. Mr. Farr will work closely with Dr. Shelley Jallow, the district’s academic monitor; district staff; and the Department to ensure the district is able to successfully implement its Long-Term Strategic Academic and Fiscal Improvement Plan and achieve long-term fiscal stability.

DiNapoli: Tax Cap Remains at 2% for 2025

Property tax levy growth will be capped at 2% for 2025 for local governments that operate on a calendar-based fiscal year, according to data released by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. This figure affects tax cap calculations for all counties, towns, and fire districts, as well as 44 cities and 13 villages. “Allowable tax levy growth will be limited to 2% for a fourth consecutive year,” DiNapoli said. “The rate of inflation has decreased since the highs of 2022, but local governments are still facing higher prices for goods and services, moderating sales tax revenue collections, and an end to federal pandemic aid. Local officials should consider these issues as they budget for the coming year.”

2023 Report on the Implementation of the NYS Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law Now Available

The Department of Environmental Conservation issued their second annual report on the implementation of the NYS Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling law. The New York State Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling law was passed in 2019 and took effect on January 1, 2022, requiring large businesses and institutions that generate an annual average of two tons or more of wasted food per week to donate edible food to the maximum extent practicable and to recycle remaining food scraps when there is a viable organics recycling facility with capacity within 25 miles.

New York State Department of Health Announces Additional Funding to Continue Efforts to Improve and Expand Physician Diversity

The New York State Department of Health announced this year’s $4.89 Million investment in Diversity in Medicine programs to support 950 students in 18 programs across New York State. The programs help students become physicians, improve access to care and eliminate health disparities. Additionally, the state is supporting medical school scholarships for 23 students covering state tuition for a year. Diversity in Medicine Programs are managed by the Associated Medical Schools of New York (AMSNY) to increase equitable representation in health professions.

Accepting Applications

Empire State Service Corps

Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado along with the State University of New York (SUNY) announced the launch of the Empire State Service Corps to promote paid civic and service opportunities. SUNY Students are encouraged to apply here for 500 paid civic and service Internships. Participating SUNY students engage in paid community service work for 300 hours over the course of a year. Assignments could include tutoring in high-need K-12 schools, taking climate action working with leading State agencies, disaster relief and mitigation after severe weather events, working as a student success coach with an organization, and support for regional food banks and SNAP outreach to address food insecurity.

NYS Licensed Social Worker Loan Forgiveness (LSWLF) Program

The Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) is accepting applications for the NYS Licensed Social Worker Loan Forgiveness (LSWLF) Program for licensed social workers working in critical human service areas. The maximum award under this Program is $26,000 or the applicant’s actual eligible student loan indebtedness at the time eligibility is established, whichever is less. The application deadline is August 16, 2024.

Funding Opportunities

As part of the Governor’s NY SWIMS initiative, the NYS Office of Parks and Recreation announced the Connect Kids to Swimming Instruction Transportation Grant, a new reimbursement grant program for expenses related to transportation to swimming instruction. The applicant must cover all upfront-initial costs related to the approved transportation to swimming instruction travel. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis in the order they are received, while funding is available.

The NYS Department of Labor issued a Request for Applications (RFA) for the Reemployment Training Grant (RTG) Program to secure the services of eligible organizations that can assist by providing occupational skills training commensurate with regional priorities to unemployed/underemployed individuals to qualify them for full-time or part-time employment or if currently employed, a higher level of employment. Due August 2, 2024

The NYS Department of Labor issued a Request for Applications (RFA) for Employee Retention and Advancement Training (ERAT) to provide occupational skills training, commensurate with regional priorities, to incumbent workers who are currently in low and middle-skills occupations, leading to job advancement and retention. Due August 2, 2024

The NYS Department of Health AIDS Institute (NYSDOH AI), Division of HIV/STD/ HCV Prevention Office of Population Health and Prevention Programs, announced the availability of State funds to support HIV/STI/HCV Prevention and related services for Women and Girls. This procurement will identify service providers to develop and/or enhance comprehensive HIV/Sexually Transmitted Infections/ Hepatitis C programs through the implementation of proven high impact prevention strategies and innovative interventions for Women and Girls with a focus on communities of color (Black, Latino/Latinx, Native American/ Indigenous people, and Asian populations). Due August 7, 2024

The Bureau of Refugee Services (BRS) of the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Services to Older Refugees Program to provide assistance to older refugees aged 60 and above for the purpose of accessing available mainstream aging services in their communities. Due August 23, 2024

The NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets announced the availability of funds for the FreshConnect CSA for SNAP Grant Program. The FreshConnect CSA for SNAP program will allow SNAP participants to access the popular Community Supported Agriculture model by partially subsidizing the cost of weekly share purchases. Due August 27, 2024

The NYS Department of Labor (NYSDOL) announced the Teacher Residency Program (TRP) to partially or fully fund master’s degrees for teacher residents who are enrolled in a residency program registered with the New York State Education Department (NYSED). These residents must be graduate-level PK-12 teacher candidates who will complete a residency within a New York State (NYS) public school district, private school, charter school, or Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) program. Due August 30, 2024

The New York State Department of Health (the Department or NYSDOH), Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities Prevention (OMH-HDP) is seeking applications to implement its Latino Health Outreach Initiative (LHOI or the “Initiative”). Since inception in 2007, OMH-HDP’s LHOI has worked to reduce barriers to health care and improve health care system access for Latinos in New York State. The LHOI has supported numerous projects translating data into solutions to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities experienced by Latino populations. Due September 4, 2024

The Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) announced funding for seven Infant Toddler (IT) Regional Resource Centers, including infant and early childhood mental health consultant (IECMHC) Regional Services, and seeks to award contracts to qualified not-for-profit organizations that demonstrate the ability to provide the services described in this RFP. Due September 10, 2024

The Office of Mental Health, with the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, is seeking proposals from not-for-profit organizations to operate Enhanced Step-Down Programs. These programs are for Adults with Co-Occurring Mental Health and Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities. They must include a specialized model of critical time intervention and transitional housing to support safe discharges from inpatient units and emergency departments. OMH intends to award five programs throughout the State serving: New York City, Western New York, Central New York, Hudson River, and Long Island. Due September 25, 2024

State Register

Education Department

  • Supervisor Requirements for Wholesalers Transfilling Medical Oxygen (Emergency)
  • Completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by Seniors Enrolled in School Districts (Emergency/Proposed)
  • Extending Flexibility for Incidental Teaching (Emergency/Proposed)
  • Flexibilities for Supplementary Certificate/Supplementary Bilingual Education Extension Requirements (Emergency/Proposed)
  • Special Education Due Process Hearings (Emergency/Proposed)
  • Extending the Validity Period of Emergency COVID-19 Certificates (Emergency/Proposed)
  • Dispensing Self-Administered Hormonal Contraceptives (Adopted)
  • Albert Shanker National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification Grant Program (Adopted)
  • Student and Parent Notification of Advanced Coursework (Adopted)
  • Administration of Injectable Medications by Pharmacists for the Treatment of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder (Adopted)
  • School Safety Plans (Adopted)

Office for People with Developmental Disabilities

State University of New York

  • State Basic Financial Assistance for the Operating Expenses of Community Colleges Under the Programs of SUNY and CUNY (Emergency/Proposed)
  • State University of New York Tuition and Fee Schedule (Emergency/Proposed)

Coming Up

2024 Regents Meeting Dates

  • August – Recess
  • September 9 – 10 (Monday and Tuesday)
  • October 7 – 8 (Monday and Tuesday)
  • November 4 – 5 (Monday and Tuesday)
  • December 9 – 10 (Monday and Tuesday)

State Board Meetings

  • Public Accountancy: July 24, 2024
  • Medical Physics: September 5, 2024
  • Medicine: September 6, 2024
  • Professional Engineering, Land Surveying and Geology: September 12, 2024
  • Acupuncture: September 16, 2024 (New York City)
  • Mental Health Practitioners: September 20, 2024

OTDA Meetings

  • August 1, 2024, 1:00 p.m.: HEAP Block Grant Advisory Council (BGAC)
  • August 14, 2024, 1:30 p.m.: Homeless Housing and Assistance Corporation (HHAC)

Not-for-Profit Contracting Advisory Committee (NFPCAC)

  • September 17, 2024
  • November 19, 2024

Rockefeller Institute Hearings on Foundation Aid

  • August 8, 2024- Central NY
  • August 14, 2024- Capital Region

Plugged In to Education is prepared by Hinman Straub P.C. and is intended to keep our clients informed about news and Legislative and regulatory developments that may affect or otherwise be of interest to them. The comments contained herein do not constitute legal opinion and should not be regarded as a substitute for legal advice. If you prefer not to receive these updates, please alert us so we may remove you from our distribution list. © Hinman Straub P.C. 2020. All rights reserved.