Plugged In To Education

December 18, 2023

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

What’s Inside

Board of Regents Advances Budget and Legislative Priorities for the 2024-25 School Year
Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council (CPRAC) Releases 2023 Progress Report
OMH Reissues Community Mental Health Loan Repayment Program
Governor Hochul Announces $20.3 Million to Support SNUG Street Outreach Programs in 14 Communities Across New York State
State Funding Will Create 248 Units and 435 Beds of Permanent Supportive Housing and 18 Units and 46 Beds of Emergency Housing
New York State Department Of Labor Encourages Employers To Take Pledge To Protect Youth Workers
Governor Hochul Announces $17.7 Million to Expand HealthySteps Program Statewide
Attorney General James Stands Up For College Athletes Against Anticompetitive NCAA Rule
Funding Opportunities
State Register
Coming Up

Board of Regents Advances Budget and Legislative Priorities for the 2024-25 School Year

The New York State Board of Regents outlined its budget and legislative priorities for 2024 earlier this month, focusing on supporting lifelong learning opportunities, providing a P-20 continuum in education, and advancing equity in education for all students. Specifically, priorities include:

An additional $1.6 billion in State Aid for the 2024-25 school year
$20.3 million for IT System Needs
Stabilizing Cultural Education Revenue
$1.4 Million to Update the Learning Standards
$1.7 Million for Charter School Office
$11.1 Million for Opportunity Programs in Higher Education
Support for Career and Technical Education (CTE)
Teacher Recruitment Pipeline
Funding for Assessment Translations
$70.5 million to Provide Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE) to Students with Disabilities until Age 22
$2 Million to Support the Post-Secondary Success of Students with Disabilities
$2 Million for New York State Summer School for the Arts and scholarships

Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council (CPRAC) Releases 2023 Progress Report

The seventh meeting of New York State’s Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council was held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 6, 2023 in Albany. The Council’s responsibilities include providing analyses of child poverty in New York, making policy recommendations for reducing child poverty by 50 percent over ten years, and measuring and reporting on progress towards that goal. At the meeting, the 2023 progress report was presented, including data reviewed to date, and committee work currently underway. It is expected that each committee will have an initial set of recommendations for consideration by the CPRAC statutory members in 2024, and that the work of the committees will continue to discuss implementation strategies as well as other strategies to reduce child poverty in New York State. It is also expected that CPRAC statutory members will aim to develop proposed packages or combinations of policies for recommendation in 2024 that data analyses indicate could reduce child poverty in New York by 50% by 2031.

OMH Reissues Community Mental Health Loan Repayment Program

The 2023-24 Office of Mental Health (OMH) Budget included a $5 million expansion to the Community Mental Health Loan Repayment Program (CMHLRP) for licensed mental health professionals, with specific designations for priority mental health assignments to address critical staffing shortages. These funds will support a minimum of 500 awards for additional titles working in eligible mental health programs. NYS OMH has reissued the OMH Community Mental Health Loan Repayment Program (CMHLRP) as a result of technical changes. Question & answer were also posted last week.

Governor Hochul Announces $20.3 Million to Support SNUG Street Outreach Programs in 14 Communities Across New York State

Governor Kathy Hochul announced $20.3 million to support SNUG Street Outreach programs in 14 communities across New York State. These grant awards to 16 different community-based organizations and hospitals fund outreach workers, hospital responders, social workers and case managers who are credible messengers and work to reduce shootings and save lives. New York State’s SNUG program uses a public health approach to address gun violence by identifying the source, interrupting transmission, and treating individuals, families and communities affected by the violence.

State Funding Will Create 248 Units and 435 Beds of Permanent Supportive Housing and 18 Units and 46 Beds of Emergency Housing

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that more than $55 million has been awarded to six projects in the Bronx, Monroe, Montgomery, and Ulster counties that will create 248 units and 435 beds of permanent supportive housing and 18 units and 46 beds of new emergency housing for families and individuals who have experienced homelessness. The grants—awarded through a competitive process by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program—are an important component of Governor Hochul’s $25 billion, comprehensive Housing Plan, which was initially adopted as part of the FY 2023 Budget.

New York State Department Of Labor Encourages Employers To Take Pledge To Protect Youth Workers

The New York State Department of Labor announced a proactive initiative urging employers statewide to protect youth workers by taking the ‘Youth Worker Pledge’. As part of this program, NYSDOL encourages employers in industries such as hospitality, restaurants, fast food, manufacturing, food processing, construction, farming and landscaping to participate. The pledge supports compliance with labor laws and fosters a safe and supportive work environment.

Governor Hochul Announces $17.7 Million to Expand HealthySteps Program Statewide

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that more than $17.7 million was awarded to expand HealthySteps, an evidence-based program that pairs behavioral health professionals with pediatric teams to provide early childhood mental and physical health care in a pediatric setting. Administered by the state Office of Mental Health, the additional funding will help create 46 new pediatric sites next year, with a goal of expanding the program to 224 sites by 2027. HealthySteps is an evidence-based program that pairs pediatric physicians with child development specialist to provide universal services for children up to the age of 3 and their families in pediatric healthcare settings.

Attorney General James Stands Up For College Athletes Against Anticompetitive NCAA Rule

New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a federal antitrust lawsuit challenging the NCAA’s transfer eligibility rule as part of a bipartisan coalition of seven attorneys general. The lawsuit alleges that the NCAA rule is an illegal restraint on college athletes’ ability to market their labor and control their education. The rule requires college athletes who transfer among Division I schools to wait one year before competing in games. While the NCAA began automatically exempting first-time transfers from the regulation in 2021, it has continued to enforce the rule for subsequent transfers with limited exceptions.

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 Office of Indigent Legal Services announced the availability of funds and is soliciting proposals from New York State counties outside of New York City to establish a model Family Representation Office (“Model Office”) to provide legal representation to parents in child protective proceedings under New York Family Court Act Article 10 and termination of parental rights proceedings (“state intervention cases”). The intent of this Request for Proposals (“RFP”) is to improve the quality of legal services provided to parents in Family Court matters under County Law Article 18-B by establishing a Model Office that will implement standards and best practices in state intervention cases as established in ILS’ Standards for Parental Representation in State Intervention Matters. Due December 22, 2023

The NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) announced the availability of funds for Connecting Youth to Mental Health Supports for non-profit agencies and tribal organizations serving at-risk youth and/or young adults from historically underserved, racial and ethnic minoritized populations, and/or LGBQIA+ groups, including those in rural areas. Due January 4, 2024

The NYS Department of Health AIDS Institute (NYSDOH AI), Division of HIV, STD, HCV Prevention, Office of LGBTQ Services announces the availability of $12,000,000 annually in New York State (NYS) funds to provide services to address key social determinants of health impacting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, (LGBTQI+) Individuals, Families, and Communities. Due January 4, 2024

The NYS Department of Health, Bureau of Child Health, announces the availability of $1,000,000 annually in funds to support a Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) Program Center of Excellence (COE). The CYSHCN COE will promote a standard of excellence for the implementation of local CYSHCN programs, administered through local health departments (LHDs) state-wide through the provision of training, technical assistance, and family engagement. Due January 5, 2024

The NYS State Education Department released the 2023-2024 Statewide Universal Full-Day Prekindergarten (SUFDPK) Expansion Grant for New York State school districts to further increase the availability of directly and collaboratively implemented prekindergarten programming. All public school districts are eligible to apply. However, preference for the 2023-2024 awards will be awarded as bonus points to districts who serve a high level of economically disadvantaged students. Due January 19, 2024

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

The NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) announces the availability of capital funds for the expansion of child, adolescent, and adult inpatient psychiatric units, including specialty psychiatric units for the treatment of individuals dually diagnosed with mental health disorders and developmental disabilities across New York State. Due February 5, 2024

The NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) has released this targeted request for proposals (RFP) to solicit competitive applications to fund one (1) post-adoption program for families who meet Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) eligibility requirements and are residing within any of the five (5) boroughs of New York City (NYC). Due February 5, 2024

The NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) announces the availability of funds for the development of one (1) Older Adult Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team: one (1) size 48 capacity team in the Bronx. The ACT team will serve older adults who have Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and have not been successfully engaged by the traditional mental health treatment and rehabilitation system in NYS. Due February 6, 2024

The NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) announces the release of this request for proposals (RFP), which provides funding from the New York State William B. Hoyt Memorial Children and Family Trust Fund (Trust Fund). This initiative is designed to support community-based family resource and family strengthening programs with the goal of preventing abuse/maltreatment and/or preventing the recurrence of abuse/maltreatment; and improving outcomes for families at risk of or experiencing child abuse and other forms of family violence. Due February 12, 2024

The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) has released details for the next round of Higher Education Capital (HECap) matching grant program to provide matching capital grants to finance capital projects and equipment purchases by independent institutions of higher learning in NYS. Due March 22, 2024

State Register

State Education Department

Licensure of Licensed Behavior Analysts and Certification of Behavior Analyst Assistants (Emergency)
School Food Service Programs and Bidding Exemptions for Purchasing New York State Food and
Milk (Emergency)
Licensing Examinations in the Profession of Public Accountancy (Emergency & Proposed)
Academic Intervention Services (Adopted)
Occupational Therapists’Authority to Provide Treatment for a Limited Time Without a Referral (Adopted)
Registration of Curricula and Professional Study in Veterinary Medicine (Proposed)
Delegation of the Board of Regents Authority Regarding Charter Revisions (Proposed)
CTE and Media Arts Course Flexibility for the IAAP and CTE Pathways to High School Graduation
(Proposed)
Charter School Financing (Proposed)
Mental Health Practitioners’ Diagnostic Privilege (Revised/Proposed)

State University of New York

State University of New York Tuition and Fee Schedule (Emergency)

Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance

Standard Utility Allowances (SUAs) for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (Emergency)

Coming Up

2024 Regents Meeting Dates

January 8 – 9 (Monday and Tuesday)
February 12 – 13 (Monday and Tuesday)
March 11 – 12 (Monday and Tuesday)
April 15 – 16 (Monday and Tuesday)
May 6 – 7 (Monday and Tuesday)
June 10 – 11 (Monday and Tuesday)
July 15 – 16 (Monday and Tuesday)
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)

The Assembly will hold a public hearing to assess the various housing needs across New York State on December 18.

The Assembly will hold a public hearing on charitable gaming on December 18.

The Assembly will hold a public hearing to examine the status of the health care workforce in New York State on December 19.

The Assembly will hold a public hearing on meeting the needs of New York’s homeless veterans on December 19.

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.