Education & Human Services News April 9, 2019

Headlines

Governor Cuomo Announces Selection of Attorneys to Help Immigrants Across the State

Governor Cuomo announced the selection of 19 experienced, dedicated immigration attorneys to serve as full-time legal counsels in all regions of the state to provide free services to immigrants that need assistance.

These attorneys will work in conjunction with the Office for New Americans’ Opportunity Centers across the state. According to the press release, these Legal Counsels will travel within their regions to meet the needs of immigrants in their communities, and services will be available at legal clinics at community-based organizations within each region. Direct representation for clients in need of assistance will be available, and ONA Legal Counsels will also conduct legal seminars and workshops. Grantees will provide translation and interpretation services for non-English-speaking new American clients. The attorneys will be located in the following regions:

  • Capital Region – Women’s Bar Association Legal Project, Inc. (2 attorneys)
  • North Country – Frank H. Hiscock Legal Aid Society (2 attorneys)
  • Mohawk Valley – Frank H. Hiscock Legal Aid Society (2 attorneys)
  • Central New York – Frank H. Hiscock Legal Aid Society (2 attorneys)
  • Southern Tier – Journey’s End Refugee Services (2 attorneys)
  • Finger Lakes – Journey’s End Refugee Services (2 attorneys)
  • Western New York – Journey’s End Refugee Services (2 attorneys)
  • Hudson Valley – Catholic Charities Community Services, Archdiocese of New York (2 attorneys)
  • Long Island – New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) (1 attorney)
  • New York City – New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) (2 attorneys)

Call for Community Partner as Lead Organization for Integrated Care for Kids’ Application

The New York State Department of Health (DOH) is seeking proposals from a qualified health care entity to serve as the Lead Organization with DOH’s Medicaid Office on their response to The Integrated Care for Kids (InCK) Notice of Funding Opportunity issued by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI). This opportunity with CMMI is available at the following website: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=312759. Proposals must be submitted to [email protected] no later than Tuesday, April 23, 2019 5:00 PM EST.

New York State Register

Substance Use Disorder Residential Rehabilitation Services for Youth

The Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services has issued a notice of adoption to make various technical corrections relating to the treatment and recovery of persons ages eighteen (18) and under in the OASAS system. Corrections include updating provisions consistent with treatment developments and technical gender language.

Preliminary Procedure for Article 3 JD Intake, Retitled to: Probation Services for Article 3 Juvenile Delinquency (JD)

The Division of Criminal Justice Services has issued a notice of adoption to update existing rules to reflect services that will be performed by Probation departments as a result of Raise the Age law. The Raise the Age (“RTA”) law became effective October 1, 2018. Recognizing the need for updated and newly drafted regulations in this area, the Division of Criminal Justice Service (“DCJS”) Office of Probation and Correctional Alternatives (“OPCA”) convened a probation practitioner workgroup and performed a thorough review of existing regulations to assess the impact of RTA legislation on probation practice. In addition to staff from DCJS, workgroup members included representatives from the New York State Council of Probation Administrators (NYSCOPA) and New York State Probation Officers’ Association (NYSPOA) as well as probation professionals from throughout the state. Several comments were received from the public. The adopted regulations reflect the work of this workgroup and public comment.

New Rule 359: Role of Probation in Youth Part of Superior Court

The Division of Criminal Justice Services has issued a notice of adoption to update existing rules to reflect services that will be performed by Probation departments as a result of Raise the Age law. The passage of the Raise the Age legislation becoming effective October 1, 2018 establishes a new Youth Part of Superior Court and a newly established statutory role for probation departments to provide Voluntary Assessment and Case Planning services to Adolescent Offenders and Juvenile Offenders with matters before this court. This new Part 359 – Role of Probation in Youth Part of the Superior Court addresses the role for Probation in this legislation.

In addition, the Division of Criminal Justice Services also issued a notice of adoption for the following services which will be performed by probation departments as a result of Raise the Age Law.

  • Case Record Management
  • Investigations and Reports
  • Probation Supervision
  • Graduated Sanctions and Violations of Probation, Retitled to: Graduated Responses

Execution by Registered Professional Nurses of Non-Patient Specific Orders to Administer Immunizations

The State Education Department issued a notice of emergency adoption and proposed rule making  to conform the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education to current immunization standards in order to enhance the protection of the public health by expanding access to immunizations for infants, children and adults, as permitted by section 6909 of the Education Law, effective for the 2018-2019 influenza season and current measles outbreaks in New York State.

Section 6909 of the Education Law allows registered professional nurses to administer immunizations pursuant to non-patient specific orders issued by a licensed physician or a certified nurse practitioner in accordance with the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education. The proposed amendment will authorize more registered professional nurses to immunize infants, children and adults against additional infectious diseases, in accordance with current recommendations from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Public comment will be received for 60 days and the emergency rule will expire June 9, 2019.

NYS Part-Time Scholarship (PTS) Award Program

The Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) has issued a notice of emergency rule making to implement the NYS Part-Time Scholarship (PTS) Award Program so that awards can be processed for eligible scholarship applicants. The statute provides for tuition benefits to college-going students pursuing their undergraduate studies at a community college at the State University of New York or the City University of New York. Decisions on applications for student financial aid programs are customarily made prior to the beginning of the term. Therefore, it is critical that the terms of the Program as provided in the regulation be effective immediately in order for HESC to begin processing scholarship applications.

New York State Masters-in-Education Teacher Incentive Scholarship Program

The Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) has issued a notice of emergency rule making to implement the New York State Masters-in-Education Teacher Incentive Scholarship Program so that awards can be processed for eligible scholarship applicants. The statute provides for tuition benefits to college-going students attending a New York State public institution of higher education who pursue a graduate program of study in an education program leading to a career as a teacher in public elementary or secondary education. Decisions on applications for this Program are made prior to the beginning of

the term. Therefore, it is critical that the terms of the program as provided in the regulation be effective immediately so that students can make informed choices and in order for HESC to process scholarship applications in a timely manner.

Legislative Spotlight

Prohibits a Child Less Than Ten Years of Age from Being Left Unattended in a Motor Vehicle

Both houses passed a bill (S.2497/A.1851) that would prohibit parents, guardians or other person legally charged with the care or custody of a child less than ten years old to knowingly or recklessly, under conditions that present a substantial health or safety risk, leave a child unattended inside a motor vehicle. Further, this bill would provide a fine for any violation of this law at $50 for a first offense, $100 for a second offense within 18 months, and $250 for a third or subsequent offense within 18 months.

 Extends Anti-Discrimination Protections of Human Rights Law to Cover Public as well as Private Schools

The Senate and Assembly passed a bill (S.4901/A.3425) that would amend the Human Rights Law so that its antidiscrimination provisions which afford protection against discrimination, harassment and bullying for members of protected groups, apply to public educational institutions including any public school, board of cooperative education services, public college or public university, and not just to private schools.

Reporting of Child Abuse in an Educational Setting (Chapter Amendment)

Last year a bill was signed into law (Chapter 363 of the Laws of 2018) that requires all schools including school districts, public schools, nonpublic schools, Special Act School Districts, state supported schools, state operated schools, charter schools, BOCES, and school bus drivers and their supervisors to report allegations of child abuse in an educational setting.

Both houses passed a chapter amendment (A.5842/S.273-A) that would clarify this law applies to school bus drivers employed by a school and to provide that persons employed by an 853 school have complied with the reporting requirements if they have reported the incident to the statewide central register of child abuse and maltreatment.

 Increases the Age to Purchase Tobacco Products

The Senate and Assembly passed a bill (A.558-A/S.2833) that would increase the purchasing age for tobacco products from eighteen to twenty-one.

 Governor Cuomo stated: “This year I proposed raising the minimum age for tobacco sales to 21 to help stamp out teen smoking and protect New Yorkers. The lifelong health effects of tobacco cannot be overstated and in New York we are committed to doing everything in our power to keep tobacco products out of the hands of young people. I commend the Assembly and now the Senate, including Senator Diane Savino and Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal, for joining us in this effort, and I look forward to signing this lifesaving legislation.”

 Adoption By A Petitioner Where Such Petitioner’s Parentage Is Legally-Recognized

Both houses passed a bill (A.460/S.3999) that would explicitly codify in statute that a petition to adopt, where the petitioner’s parentage is legally-recognized under New York State law, shall not be denied solely on the basis that the petitioner’s parentage is already legally-recognized. According to the sponsors memo, this bill ensures that same-sex couples’ access to such adoptions could not be restrained by future court decisions

Funding Opportunities

2019-2026 NYS Pathways in Technology Early College High School (NYS P-TECH) Program

The New York State Pathways in Technology Early College High School (NYS P-TECH) Program will prepare thousands of New York students for high-skills jobs of the future in technology, manufacturing, healthcare, and finance. The model incorporates a six-year program that combines high school, college, and career training and will be targeted to academically and economically at-risk students. The project seeks to fund regional partnerships that respond to the greatest need for enhanced access to post-secondary opportunity for students and the potential to build a local talent pipeline for industries with a favorable job outlook. Each partnership will include K-12, higher education, and business/employer partners. A New York State public school district or a BOCES must serve as the fiscal agent/applicant for each application.

Due April 10, 2019

Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP)

The primary objective of the Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) is to provide a broad range of services to New York State residents who, because of educational and economic circumstances, would otherwise be unable to attend a postsecondary educational institution. Each HEOP institution must ensure that HEOP students are provided with sufficient academic support services, tuition assistance, supplemental financial assistance, and full need packaging to enable them to successfully complete the institutional components required for graduation. The Notice of Intent (NOI) is not a requirement for submitting a complete application by the application date; however, NYSED strongly encourages all prospective applicants to submit an NOI to ensure a timely and thorough review and rating process. A non-profit applicant’s NOI will also help to facilitate timely review of its prequalification materials.

Applications due April 19, 2019

New York State Religious and Independent Schools, Professional Development Resource Centers

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) State Office of Religious and Independent Schools is seeking proposals to establish three (3) regional Professional Development Resource Centers. The regional Professional Development Resource Centers (PDRC) will work in collaboration with the Education Department to provide professional development to religious and independent school teachers and leaders. Bidders may include Local Education Agencies, Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), public or private institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), and not-for-profit and for-profit organizations or agencies.

Due April 26, 2019

NYS Charter School Stimulus Fund Grants

The State University of New York, on behalf of the Charter Schools Institute, is accepting applications from eligible charter school applicants for grants connected with facility projects. The Charter Schools Institute will notify all charter authorizers and charter resource associations that the RFP is available on the Institute website at www.newyorkcharters.org/new-york-state-stimulus-fund-grants/. Please make all inquiries by email. The University reserves the right to make no award.

Due April 26, 2019

Family Support Services

Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD)

Various Developmental Disabilities Regional Offices are pleased to announce the availability of funding to provide supports and services to families that care for a family member with a developmental disability living at home. The goal of family support services is to assist families to remain intact for as long as they desire and avoid unnecessary out of home placement.

Finger Lakes – Due April 17, 2019

Central New York – Due April 26, 2019

Broome – Due April 26, 2019

New York State AmeriCorps 2019 Formula Pool

The New York State Commission on National and Community Service (hereafter “the Commission”) seeks applicants for 2019-20 AmeriCorps formula grant funding. The Commission is a governor-appointed commission with a diverse, non-partisan body of, among others, representatives of business, labor, education, government, human service agencies and community-based organizations. The Commission directs national service policy for the state and directly administers funding awarded by the Corporation for National and Community Service (hereafter “the Corporation” or “CNCS”)[1] to support New York State AmeriCorps programs.

Due May 2, 2019

Coming Up

The NYS Board of Regents will meet on May 6-7, 2019.

The State Education Department announced the following State Board Meetings:

The Senate Standing Committee on Higher Education will hold a public hearing to explore ways to review oversight over for-profit schools in order to better inform students, parents and consumers about for-profit education schools on April 10, 2019 at 10:00 AM in Albany.