Education & Human Services News March 10, 2020

COVID-19 Updates for Schools & Child Care Providers

Click on the following links for recently issued guidance and feel free to contact Hinman Straub with any questions:

 Comptroller Releases Audit on Children Placed in Custody of Relatives or Guardians

Last week, State Comptroller DiNapoli released an audit that found the state Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) is not doing enough to ensure adequate protections are in place for children who are placed in the custody of relatives or another suitable person outside the foster care system. As a result, the Comptroller is recommending that OCFS:

  • Develop procedures for monitoring local districts’ handling of direct placement cases;
  • Develop procedures for county supervision of children in direct placement to ensure greater consistency across the state;
  • Establish minimum standards for the safety of children in direct placement; and
  • Correct the errors identified in the direct placement data and implement ways to prevent and detect input errors to ensure that information in CONNECTIONS is complete and accurate. 

Application Period Now Open for Round 3 of NYFIRST Medical School Grants

Governor Cuomo announced last week the application period is now open for the third round of the New York Fund for Innovation in Research and Scientific Talent, or NYFIRST. The $15 million medical school capital-funding program encourages the recruitment and retention of exceptional life science researchers through grants to support establishing or upgrading laboratories, and by providing working capital to cover costs for staff and specialized equipment. Applications and guidelines for the third cohort are now available at https://esd.ny.gov/ny-first-program.

Additional Census Funding Announced for Not-for-Profits

Governor Cuomo announced that up to $5 million in second round census funding will be made available to nonprofits, including faith-based nonprofits, that are participating in the New York State Complete Count Census campaign. The funding will help fund nonprofits in their efforts to reach at-risk and hard-to-count communities and ensure they are counted during the 2020 Census. Applications may be submitted for a thirty day period that ends on March 26; nonprofits can apply for pre-qualification here.

Smart School Plans Approved

Last week the Smart Schools Review Board met for the fourteenth time to consider investment plans submitted by school districts and special education schools as part of the $2 billion Smart Schools Bond Act. A summary of the plans is available here.

Legislative Spotlight

The following bills passed the Assembly:

  • Smart Schools Review Board. 7119 Benedetto/S.1347 Serino. This bill sets set a minimum frequency of meetings for the Smart Schools Review Board.
  • Use of Opioid Antagonists By Public Accommodations. A7812-A Rosenthal L/No Same as. This bill expands the list of entities authorized to possess, distribute, and administer an opioid antagonist to reverse an opioid-related overdose to those covered under the Good Samaritan law.

The following bills passed the Senate:

  • Study on Guidance Counselors. A6433 Crespo/S 311 Felder. This bill directs the commissioner of education to study and report on the services provided by guidance counselors to public school students.
  • Veteran Career Assistance Program. A8816 D’Urso/ S3471-A Brooks. This bill requires the director of the Division of Veterans Affairs to collaborate with SUNY and CUNY, in order to develop a Veteran Career Assistance Program.
  • New York Farm School and School Garden Fund. A1209-A Hunter/S3804-A May. This bill creates a fund which will provide schools the resources to build school gardens, purchase gardening equipment, and educational materials. Revenue from this fund will give students hands on experience in agriculture and promote consumption of local products.
  • Young Farmer Apprentice Program. A7104-A Buttenschon/S.3873-A May. This bill authorizes BOCES to establish an agriculture program for students. This program will encourage, educate young farmers, and help sustain New York’s agriculture industry.
  • Professionals in Camps. A3074 Abinanti/S.3834 Metzger. This bill authorizes summer camps to hire licensed social workers, physical therapists, psychologists, athletic trainers, mental health care professionals, occupational therapists and other licensed professionals to provide services.
  • Underrepresented Teachers Of Tomorrow Teacher Recruitment and Retention Program. S7647 Persaud/No Same as. This bill establishes the underrepresented teachers of tomorrow teacher recruitment and retention program to provide awards to attract and retain underrepresented teachers in underrepresented schools.

New York State Register

March 4, 2020

  • Prohibition on the Sale of Electronic Liquids with Characterizing Flavors. The Department of Health issued a notice of emergency rule making to prohibit the sale of electronic liquids with characterizing flavors.
  • Tuition, Fees and Charges. The State University of New York issued a notice of emergency rule making to authorize the waiver of admission application fees for military veterans and their spouses.

February 26, 2020

  • Implement Statutory Requirements to Include Enhanced Background Checks, Annual Inspections, Annual Training and Safety. The Office of Children & Family Services issued a notice of emergency adoption and revised rule making to implement statutory requirements to include enhanced background checks, annual inspections, annual training and safety.
  • Annual Professional Performance Reviews of Classroom Teachers and Building Principals. The State Education Department issued a notice of emergency rule making to implement changes to annual teacher and principal evaluations included in last year’s budget.
  • Requirements for Chiropractic Education Programs and Education Requirements for Licensure As a Chiropractor. The State Education Department issued a notice of adoption to conform educational requirements for the profession of chiropractic to the national pre-professional education standards.
  • Physical Education Requirements for a Diploma and Transfer Credits for Students Earning Credit in an Educational Program. The State Education Department issued a notice of adoption to implement educational components of Raise the Age legislation.
  • Permit Physicians Licensed in Another State or Territory to Provide Medical Services to Athletes and Team Personnel in New York. The State Education Department issued a notice of adoption to permit physicians licensed in another state or territory to provide medical services to athletes and team personnel in New York
  • Profession of Registered Dental Assisting. The State Education Department issued a notice of adoption to implement a chapter amendment for a bill passed last year in relation to dental assisting.
  • Practice of Psychology, Social Work and Mental Health Practitioner Professions. The State Education Department issued a notice of proposed rule making to define acceptable settings for the supervised practice of an applicant for licensure as a psychologist, social worker or mental health practitioner completing the experience for licensure. These regulations also provide an exemption from licensure for certain individuals employed in certain settings to practice psychology, mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, creative arts therapy and psychoanalysis, under a qualified supervisor, licensed and registered to practice in New York.
  • Composition of the Professional Standards and Practices Board for Teaching (PSPB). The State Education Department issued a notice of proposed rule making to require the PSPB to have at least four members who are practicing, certified school building or district administrator.
  • Term Limits for Members of the Advisory Committee on Long-Term Clinical Clerkships. The State Education Department issued a notice of proposed rule making to remove the two term limit for committee members to most effectively advise the Board of Regents and the Department.

Funding Opportunities

Doctors Across New York Physician Loan Repayment and Physician Practice Support Programs Cycle VII

The New York State Doctors Across New York (DANY) initiative includes several programs collectively designed to help train and place physicians in underserved communities, in a variety of settings and specialties, to care for New York’s diverse population. The DANY Physician Loan Repayment (PLR) and Physician Practice Support (PPS) programs make funds available to help recruit physicians to and encourage them to remain in medically underserved areas of the state. Funding is provided in exchange for a physician’s commitment to work in an underserved area for a three-year period (DANY service obligation period).

Due April 2, 2020

Investigator Initiated Research Projects (IIRP) and Innovative, Developmental or Exploratory Activities (IDEA) in Stem Cell Research (Rd 6)

The purpose of the Investigator Initiated Research Projects (IIRP) and Innovative, Developmental or Exploratory Activities (IDEA) in Stem Cell Research (Rd 6) Request for Applications (RFA) is to stimulate and support basic, applied (mechanistic, technological), pre-clinical and clinical scientific investigations on any aspect of stem cell biology that will lead to a better understanding of the unique properties of stem cells and allow their utilization to treat disease.

Due April 28, 2020

State Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes Program (SCAHC Program) & State Fiscal Year 2019-20 Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes for Nonpublic Schools and Day Camps (SCAHC – for Nonpublic Schools and Day Camps)

This program is designed to boost safety and security at New York’s nonprofit organizations at risk of hate crimes or attacks because of their ideology, beliefs, or mission. In support of this effort, $25 million has been made available through this competitive grant program to eligible nonpublic nonprofit schools, nonprofit day care centers, nonprofit community centers, nonprofit cultural museums and nonprofit residential camps as described under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such Code which demonstrate a risk of a hate crime due to their ideology, beliefs or mission. Applications will be accepted for up to $50,000 per facility. Eligible organizations may submit up to five applications for a maximum total request of $250,000.

Due March 16, 2020

Nutrition Outreach and Public Education Program III

The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) is requesting applications from eligible organizations for the provision of a statewide nutrition outreach and public education program (NOEP). The goal of this RFP is to provide nutrition outreach and public education services in all 62 NYS counties, with particular attention to high risk areas and high risk populations in each county. The objective of the NOEP is to increase participation in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other federal and state-funded food assistance programs, including but not limited to the School Lunch and School Breakfast Program, the Summer Food Service Program, Child and Adult Care Feeding Program, and Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).

Due April 6, 2020

SNAP Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention (SNAP-Ed) II

The NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) announces the availability of funding for the provision of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Program (SNAP-Ed) activities targeted to adults and youth eligible for and/or receiving SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp program.

Due May 24, 2019

P-12 Schools: Green and Clean Energy Solutions Program

The P-12 Schools Initiative encourages schools to lower energy use and utility bills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the leading contributor to climate change. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis dependent on resource availability until December 31, 2022.

Coming Up

Board of Regents Meetings

  • April 6 – 7 (Monday and Tuesday)
  • May 4 – 5 (Monday and Tuesday)
  • June 8 – 9 (Monday and Tuesday)
  • July 13 – 14 (Monday and Tuesday)

NYSED State Board Meetings

Legislative Hearings

N/A