Education & Human Services News August 13, 2019
Child Victims Act Temporary Revival of Civil Claims Goes into Effect Tomorrow
On February 14, Governor Cuomo signed into law the Child Victims Act, which revises procedural requirements for certain types of lawsuits in order to provide victims of child sexual abuse with greater access to justice later in life. The Child Victims Act also temporarily revives civil claims that would otherwise be unable to be pursued due to their statute of limitations having already expired. The temporary revival window allows victims a chance to seek justice in light of the fact that many instances of child sex abuse are not disclosed until adulthood and, therefore, existing survivors who are older have been denied their day in court simply due to the nature of abuse inflicted. This temporary revival window will go into effect on Wednesday, August 14, and will last for a period of 1 year.
Governor Releases Report on Paid Family Leave
Earlier today, Governor Cuomo announced that New York’s Paid Family Leave provided more than 8 million workers across the State access to job-protected, paid time off and over 128,000 people used the benefit statewide in 2018. Of the 8 million workers covered, over 2 million had no previous coverage or protection under the federal Family & Medical Leave Act. Click here to view the full report.
New Advocacy Group Forms to Support Children & Families
Last week a number of organizations announced the formation of Raising New York, a diverse statewide coalition of parent, early childhood, education, civil rights, business, and health organizations dedicated to increasing the number of children who are on track for school readiness. Raising NY is led by a steering committee that includes Advocates for Children of New York, The Business Council of New York State, Center for Children’s Initiatives, The Children’s Agenda, The Committee for Hispanic Children and Families, CUNY Early Childhood Professional Development Institute, Docs For Tots, Early Care & Learning Council, The Education Trust–New York, The New York Immigration Coalition, Prevent Child Abuse New York, Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy, United Way of Buffalo & Erie County, and United Way of New York City.
Comptroller Report Looks at Incidents of School Violence
According to a report released earlier this month by State Comptroller DiNapoli, New York State public and charter schools, with a combined student population of nearly 2.7 million, reported more than 32,000 violent and disruptive incidents in the 2017-18 school year (SY), including assaults, bomb threats and sexual offenses. “Violence of any kind has no place in our schools and the public rightly demands that school officials take the necessary steps to protect all students and faculty from threats,” DiNapoli said. “In order to learn effectively, students need to feel safe. Sadly, many students and faculty are confronted with violent and disruptive activity on a regular basis. My office recently completed a series of audits looking at the programs New York has in place to keep our school children out of harm’s way. We found much work needs to be done. We will continue to examine and report on the issues that most affect New York’s schools and education.”
Legislative Spotlight
The following bills were signed into law:
New Requirement to Secure Furniture in Place
This law requires certain entities, including child day care centers and foster care boarding home or group homes, to take measures to securely anchor to the floors or walls all items of large furniture and all electronic appliances capable of being tipped over due to design, height, weight, stability or other features, using angle-braces, anchors or other anchoring devices. Any item of furniture or electronic device that cannot be so anchored must be removed from the facility. If a violation occurs, a written notice will be provided and the operator of the facility must current the violation immediately. If the violation is not corrected, OCFS may take enforcement action.
Effective Date: February 9, 2020
Prohibits Crib Bumpers
This law prohibits the sale of certain non-mesh crib bumper pads and restricts their use in child care facilities and places of public accommodation, unless a medical professional has determined a bumper pad is medically necessary for a particular child.
Effective Date: October 12, 2019
Authorizes Stop-Arm Cameras on School Buses
This law authorizes school districts to install stop-arm cameras on school buses in order to catch drivers who unlawfully pass a stopped school bus and ensure the safety of New York’s students.
Effective Date: September 5, 2019 and shall expire December 1, 2024
Creates a Buffalo Speed Camera Program
This law creates a demonstration speed camera program for the City of Buffalo. The program allows the City of Buffalo to enforce speed limits in school zones using cameras that record speeding violations in real time without the need for a police officer at the scene. The City can then use this evidence to impose liability on the owner of the vehicle for the speeding violation.
Effective Date: September 6, 2019 and shall expire 5 years after such effective date
Clarifies Reporting Requirements for Child Abuse
Last year a bill was signed into law (Chapter 363 of the Laws of 2018) that required numerous entities including public schools, nonpublic schools, Special Act School Districts, state supported schools, state operated schools, charter schools, BOCES, and school bus drivers to report allegations of child abuse in an educational setting. This law is a chapter amendment that corrects an inequity by ensuring this requirement includes bus drivers employed by private schools.
Effective Date: August 13, 2019
Creates a Maternal Mortality Review Board
This law establishes a Maternal Mortality Review Board to examine maternal mortality in New York and develop strategies to improve health outcomes for pregnant women and new mothers. According to the sponsor’s memo, New York currently ranks 30th out of 50 states in its maternal death rate.
Effective Date: August 1, 2019
New York State Register
Child Care Market Rates
The Office of Children and Family Services issued a notice of adoption to adjust child care market rates in accordance with the results of the most recent cost of care market survey. New York State is required to establish payment rates for federally-funded child care subsidies that are sufficient to ensure equal access for eligible children. The market rates that are being replaced are based on a survey conducted in 2017-18 and as a result, continuing to maintain the existing 2015 rates could result in subsidized families losing equal access for eligible children to child care arrangements, or being unable to find appropriate child care.
To Eliminate Requirement That Victims of Domestic Violence Apply for Public Assistance to Pay for Cost of Shelter and Services
The Office of Children and Family Services issued a notice of emergency adoption to eliminate the requirement that victims of domestic violence apply for public assistance to pay for cost of shelter and services. These regulations are necessary to effectuate changes in state law and to comply with federal laws and regulations pertaining to the provisions of services for victims of domestic violence, and to avoid the loss of federal Family Violence Prevention Services Act (FVPSA) funding. It is expected that these will be adopted as a permanent rule.
Quarterly Index
Click here to view NYS Register Quarterly Index for January-June 2019.
Funding Opportunities
The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) supports Access and Visitation Program efforts, through approved services delivered in safe settings, to help separated and divorced families of all income levels achieve improved parenting opportunities and develop abilities that enable both custodial and noncustodial parents to fulfill their responsibility to raise their children.
Due August 14, 2019
Mentorship in Medicine and Other Health Professions
The Department of Health (DOH) has announced funding to support activities and approaches designed to contribute toward the reduction of barriers by promoting an increase in the number of economically disadvantaged and underrepresented minority students who elect to pursue careers in medicine and health related professions to become physicians and other health care professionals. Not-for-profit, governmental entities and tribal organizations are eligible to apply.
Due August 22, 2019
New York State Age-Friendly Planning Grant Program
The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) seeks applications from counties to support Governor Cuomo’s priority of promoting policies and programs that bolster New York State’s position as the first age-friendly state in the nation. The Age-Friendly Planning Grant Program will build upon the State’s successes and offer funding within each Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) Region of $800,000 total to fund age-friendly planning and activities as well as $200,000 total to support Age Friendly Centers of Excellence.
Due August 30, 2019
2019-20 Title I School Improvement Grant 1003 Basic
Section 1003 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) requires that State Education Agencies allocate funds to Local Education Agencies (LEAs) for Comprehensive Support and Improvement schools (CSI), Targeted Support and Improvement schools (TSI), and Target Districts to develop a plan that will meet the progress goals in their 2019-20 District Comprehensive Improvement Plan (DCIP) and 2019-20 School Comprehensive Education Plan(s) (SCEP) and thereby improve student performance. These funds are to be used to support planning and implementation of school improvement activities as required in the ESEA. The following districts/schools The following districts/schools are eligible for 2019-20 Section 1003 Basic School Improvement funding: for 2019-20 Section 1003 Basic School Improvement funding:
- Title I Target Districts
- CSI Schools
- TSI Schools
Due August 31, 2019
2020-2024 Smart Scholars Early College High School (SS-ECHS)
Through the creation of Smart Scholars ECHS Programs consisting of partnerships between public school districts, BOCES, and eligible institutions of higher education (IHEs), historically underrepresented and/or economically disadvantaged students in Grades 9-12 will be provided additional counseling and academic support and college courses which will be used to both meet the high school graduation/Regents diploma requirements and earn a minimum of 24 and up to 60 transferable college credits or an associate degree at no cost to their families. Public school districts or BOCES must serve as the applicant/fiscal agent for this grant program. An exception will be made for applications from IHEs that currently serve as lead fiscal agent in an existing Smart Scholars ECHS partnership. Those IHEs may serve as the applicant/fiscal agent for new projects proposed under this RFP, in which case they must be named on the cover page as the applicant (i.e., Research Foundation may be designated as fiscal agent but is not allowed to be named the lead applicant).
Due September 4, 2019
Empire State After-School Program
The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), in consultation with the New York State Education Department invites eligible school districts and not-for-profit community-based organizations to submit proposals for the establishment and/or expansion of quality after-school programs for the Empire State After-School Program (ESAP). The New York State Fiscal Year 2019-20 State Budget appropriates $10 million to establish and/or expand Empire State After-School Programs. ESAP grant funds shall only be used to supplement, and not supplant, current local expenditures of federal, state or local funds on after-school programs and the number of students served in such programs from such sources. For example: an after-school program funded by OCFS that currently has 100 student participants and proposes to serve an additional 50 students will only be allowed funding through this RFP for those additional 50 students. Applicants funded under this RFP will be required to provide an assurance that the applicants will partner with state and local law enforcement in gang prevention and education initiatives.
Due September 6, 2019
Availability of capital grant(s) to establish up to 350 new Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) slots in counties throughout New York State. These new slots will be placed in areas that do not currently have OTP Services, or have limited capacity.—Priority will be given to those bidders seeking to establish an OTP in a county(ies) with the highest percentage of county residents seeking OTP services outside the county.— Bidders must submit a proposal(s) for a minimum of 100 OTP slots per site, up to a maximum total of 350 OTP slots.—Eligible Applicants are OASAS community-based voluntary agencies that operate one or more OASAS-certified program(s), hospitals that operate one or more OASAS-certified program(s), and Local Governmental Units (LGUs) that operate one or more OASAS certified program(s).
Due September 12, 2019
Healthy Neighborhoods Preventive Health Cornerstones – Reissue
The New York State Department of Health (DOH) is re-issuing this Request for Applications (RFA)entitled “Healthy Neighborhoods Preventive Health Cornerstones” to solicit applications to participate in the NYSDOH Healthy Neighborhoods Program (HNP). The HNP is designed to provide preventive environmental health services to targeted geographic areas. These areas sometimes include environmental justice communities and are usually home to at-risk populations including low-income and often minority families, living in homes and neighborhoods with a disproportionate number of residential hazards. The funds will provide the resources needed to address significant public health issues in targeted areas to provide a healthier home environment for the citizens of New York State.
Due September 13, 2019
School Year 2019-2020 Additional Grants for the Expanded Prekindergarten (EPK Round 4)
The purpose of Additional Grants for Expanded Prekindergarten for Three- and Four-Year Old Students is to increase the availability of high quality prekindergarten placements for high need children and schools within New York State. All public school districts are eligible to apply. Due to the highly competitive nature of this grant, a strong preference for funding will be given to high need districts, especially those that currently do not offer a state funded prekindergarten program. Click here to see the press release from the Governor.
Due September 18, 2019
The New York State Department of Health (Department), as the single State agency for the Medicaid program, is seeking a contractor to conduct annual cost studies to determine actual direct and indirect costs incurred by public school districts and counties (preschools) for medical care, services, and supplies, including related special education services furnished to children with disabilities. In addition, this contractor will operate a certified public expenditure (CPE) reimbursement methodol ogy for public school districts and counties for services delivered under the Preschool/School Supportive Health Services Program (collectively, “SSHSP”).
Due September 20, 2019
Apprenticeship Expansion Grant (AEG- 2) Request for Applications (RFA)
The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) is making up to $3.7 million in funding available to increase employment opportunities for approximately 800 apprentices with a focus on underrepresented populations. These apprentices will enter into trades in high-demand occupations, with a focus on the emerging fields of Advanced Manufacturing, Healthcare, and Information Technology, as well as other in-demand occupations. Please note that this solicitation focuses on promoting the expansion of NYS RAs and as such, RAs in the field of construction are not eligible for funding under this RFA unless the trade is to be used for the upkeep and maintenance of a facility owned by the business entity employing the apprentice, such as plant maintenance trades.
Due April 30, 2020
Coming Up
Board of Regents Monthly Meetings
- 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)
Upcoming NYSED State Board Meetings
- Landscape Architecture: August 14, 2019 (New York City)
- Peer Review Oversight Committee: August 14, 2019 (Albany)
- Professional Engineering, Land Surveying and Geology: September 11, 2019 (Albany, New York City, Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo, via video)
- Acupuncture: September 16, 2019 (New York City)
Justice Center Regional Conferences
The New York State Justice Center will be holding regional conferences across New York State. Each session is targeted for different audiences including provider agency representatives under the jurisdiction of the Justice Center, individuals receiving services, families, peer advocates and other interested stakeholders. The following are upcoming:
- Friday, October 4, 2019- New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), 187 Northern Concourse, Syracuse, NY 13204
- Thursday, October 24, 2019- Shirley A. Chisholm State Office Building, 55 Hanson Place, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Senators to Host Yonkers Town Hall
On Thursday, August 15, 2019 Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Education Committee Chair State Senator Shelley Mayer will be hosting a town hall for residents to hear about the achievements and challenges of the 2019 Legislative Session. Attendees will have an opportunity to hear from the State Senators about legislation that was passed this year in Albany and how it will impact local communities. Opportunity for Q&A to follow.