Plugged In To Education

October 31, 2023

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

What’s Inside

  • Governor Hochul Announces Launch of New Hotline and Online Form to Report Hate and Bias Incidents
  • Assemblymember Lavine’s Bill Banning Corporal Punishment in Schools Signed into Law
  • Governor Hochul Signs Legislation to Protect New York Children Attending Youth Camps from Sexual Predators
  • First-Ever Summit Dedicated to Helping More High School Students Fill Out Their Financial Aid Forms
  • New York’s Regional School Food Infrastructure Grant Program Launched
  • Policies & Directives
  • Funding Opportunities
  • State Register
  • Coming Up

Governor Hochul Announces Launch of New Hotline and Online Form to Report Hate and Bias Incidents

Governor Kathy Hochul, in conjunction with the New York State Division of Human Rights’ Hate and Bias Prevention Unit, announced the launch of a new telephone hotline and online form allowing New Yorkers to report hate and bias incidents directly to HBPU. Alongside this announcement, HBPU encourages to all New Yorkers to contact the Unit if they or someone they know has experienced an incident involving hate or discrimination. The announcement comes as Jewish, Arab, Muslim, and other communities across New York State and around the country face prejudice and violence in the aftermath of the horrific violence in Israel and Gaza.

Assemblymember Lavine’s Bill Banning Corporal Punishment in Schools Signed into Law

Last week, Governor Hochul signed a bill into law banning the use of corporal punishment in schools in the State of New York. The new law prohibits teachers, administrators, officers, employees or agents of any school within the state from using the practice, which had been prohibited in public schools but not explicitly barred in all private schools. “Physical punishment in educational settings is abhorrent and I am pleased that New York is protecting our children by outlawing its use. Students must learn in a safe environment” Lavine said.

Governor Hochul Signs Legislation to Protect New York Children Attending Youth Camps from Sexual Predators

Governor Kathy Hochul signed important legislation for families sending their kids to select camps. The new law directs the New York State Department of Health to require operators of children’s non-regulated camps to search the national sex offender database before hiring an employee or volunteer. Legislation S.6063/A.4117 amends current New York law to require single-purpose day camps and camps regulated by DOH to conduct a national sex offender registry search through the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) public database.

First-Ever Summit Dedicated to Helping More High School Students Fill Out Their Financial Aid Forms

Governor Kathy Hochul convened the State University of New York, City University of New York, the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, the New York State Education Department, and the Higher Education Services Corporation for the first-ever FAFSA Completion Strategy Summit. The summit, held in Albany, brought together key stakeholders, including high school guidance counselors, to discuss changes to the federal aid application, while strategizing ways to increase the FAFSA completion rate in New York State, which hovers around 50 percent.

New York’s Regional School Food Infrastructure Grant Program Launched

Governor Kathy Hochul announced $10 million is available through Round 1 of New York’s Regional School Food Infrastructure Grant Program. The program will support projects in New York schools that improve meal preparation and distribution for Kindergarten through Grade 12 students. Administered by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, the Regional School Food Infrastructure Grant Program will provide the resources schools need to aggregate, store, process, and prepare farm products, and make it possible to cook fresh, nutritious, scratch made meals for school children. It will also encourage workforce development by providing training to schools, communities, and students for culinary arts, food processing, safe food handling and storage, logistics, delivery, and more, based on community need. Proposals are due on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at 3:00 pm. For more information on the program, project eligibility, and how to apply, visit here.

Policies & Directives

Office of Children & Family Services

Funding Opportunities

The Dormitory Authority of NYS announced the Nonprofit Infrastructure Capital Investment Program to make targeted investments throughout the State in capital construction projects that will improve or maintain the quality, efficiency, accessibility of such nonprofit human services organizations that serve New Yorkers. NICIP is offered through a rolling application period on a first come, first served basis.

The NYS Department of Health, Office of Gun Violence Prevention, is pleased to announce the availability of $2,500,000 annually for two years in New York State funding for a qualified organization for Gun Violence Prevention through Community-led Youth-based Programs to support grassroots community-based organizations that create and maintain local, safe spaces for youth in neighborhoods experiencing the highest rates of gun violence across NYS. These spaces will allow youth, aged 12-24 years old, to gather and engage in tailored, culturally relevant supports, including therapeutic assistance, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) programs, arts and expression activities, recreational training, competitive activities, and organized sports. Due November 8, 2023

The NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) is providing one-time funding of $49,500 to OMH providers to expand access to specialized interventions in Mental Health Outpatient Treatment Rehabilitative Services (MHOTRS) programs (formerly known as Article 31 Clinics) for underserved populations. In 2022, NYS MHOTRS programs served over 350,000 individuals according to Medicaid claims data. Of those individuals, many presented with a variety of high-risk or specialized needs. NYS is committed to supporting programs to hire, retain, and continually train a skilled workforce to meet the varied, complex and unique needs of individuals and families seeking treatment and support via MHOTRS programming. Due November 8, 2023

The NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH), Bureau of Perinatal, Reproductive and Sexual Health (BPRASH), announces the availability of up to $3 million annually to support the Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) initiative throughout New York State (NYS). The purpose of the Sexual Risk Avoidance Education initiative (SRAE) is to develop, enhance, and expand prevention programs aimed at delaying the onset of adolescent sexual activity, preventing sexual abuse, coercion, and decreasing the incidence of adolescent pregnancy. Due November 9, 2023

To ensure a more resilient food supply chain, the State will fund the Farmers’ Market Resiliency Grant Program. Grant funds must be used to increase farmers’ markets’ resiliency, which may be through the development and enhancement of the farmers’ markets’ infrastructure, online sales and/or delivery capabilities across the state. Projects to support this goal may include but are not limited to developing services, paying expenses, and managing the awarded project activities. Due November 15, 2023

The NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) announces a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the development and operation of 7 Enhanced Young Adult Housing programs located throughout New York State for young adults with a serious mental illness (SMI). Each opportunity consists of Apartment Treatment units (5 or 10) and 20 scattered-site supportive housing units. The target population for all seven programs is young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 with serious mental illness who are coming from an institutional setting or community residence, leaving foster care, or are homeless. Some individuals may have a co-occurring substance use disorder (SUD) and be at various stages of recovery. Due November 16, 2023

The NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets announced the Urban Farms and Community Gardens Grant Program to provide funding a competitive process to support the development and expansion of community gardens, school gardens, and urban farms across the state. Due December 1, 2023

The NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) has released a request for proposals (RFP) to solicit applications from qualified applicants to increase the state’s capacity to support and strengthen families and to promote the permanency and well-being of children through Permanency Resource Centers. Programs should be designed to meet the unique needs of post-adoptive, post-guardianship, and kinship families with a goal to maintain and support children residing in permanent households. Due December 4, 2023

The NYS State Education Department released a request for proposals for the New York State Smart Scholars Early College High School (SS-ECHS) Program to create partnerships between public school districts, BOCES, and eligible institutions of higher education (IHEs). Due December 5, 2023

The NYS Department of Health AIDS Institute (NYSDOH AI), Division of HIV/STD/HCV Prevention, Office of Population Health and Prevention Programs, announces the availability of $7,294,000 annually in New York State (NYS) funds to address social determinants of health (SDOH) and health disparities by funding programs that promote HIV/STI/Hepatitis C (HCV) prevention and sexual health and wellness services for communities of color through the implementation of sexual health, health equity, and SDOH frameworks. Due December 7, 2023

The NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets invites eligible entities to apply for funding through the NYS Regional School Food Infrastructure Grant Program to encourage the use of fresh New York State farm products in meal preparation for K-12 school children, reduce food insecurity, increase market opportunities for New York State producers, and strengthen the resiliency of our state’s food system. Due January 24, 2024

State Register

Office of Children and Family Services

Department of Health

Coming Up

The Senate will hold a public hearing to conduct oversight of the Family Court throughout the State, including its resources, operations, and outcomes on November 1.

Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council meetings:

  • November 9, 2023
  • December 6, 2023

Board of Regents meetings:

  • November 13 – 14 (Monday and Tuesday)
  • December 11 – 12 (Monday and Tuesday)

State Board meetings:

  • Optometry: January 5, 2024 (New York City & Rochester)
  • Nursing: January 11, 2024 (New York City, Rochester, Albany)
  • Occupational Therapy: January 11, 2024 (New York City)
  • Dentistry: January 19, 2024 (New York City)
  • Public Accountancy: January 24, 2024

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.