Plugged In To Education

June 25, 2024

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

What’s Inside

  • Governor Hochul Announces $20 Million Awarded to Help Refugees Find and Maintain Employment
  • Rockefeller Institute Announces Public Hearings on Foundation Aid
  • Attorney General James Announces Funding to Combat Youth Vaping Epidemic
  • HESC Announces the Opening of the NYS Math and Science Teaching Incentive Program Application
  • Governor Hochul Announces Funding for SUNY Community Colleges to Prepare the Health Care Workforce, Meet Student Mental Health Needs
  • Guidance Issued to Combat Discrimination in Affordable Housing Insurance
  • New Law Requiring Paid Break Time for Breast Milk Expression Took Effect on June 19
  • Guidance
  • Funding Opportunities
  • State Register
  • Coming Up

Governor Hochul Announces $20 Million Awarded to Help Refugees Find and Maintain Employment

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that $20 million has been awarded to 17 community-based organizations that help refugees become employed while adjusting to their new homes in New York. The Refugee Support Services Program, which is funded by the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement, continues to be a fundamental part of the state’s successful efforts to resettle refugees in communities across New York. The Refugee Support Services Program provides services including addressing barriers to employment, such as social and cultural adjustment, job search skills, work experience, and English proficiency. Transitional services are also provided to ensure continued employment and to enhance opportunities for advancement.

Rockefeller Institute Announces Public Hearings on Foundation Aid

New York State’s Enacted State Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget called for the Rockefeller Institute to conduct a study to assess the State’s Foundation Aid education funding formula and discuss potential modifications to how the formula works. As part of the study, researchers at the Rockefeller Institute are collecting feedback from the public and education stakeholders, including school families, teachers, staff, administrators, school boards, appointed and elected officials, education researchers and experts, and education-focused support and advocacy organizations.

As part of this process, the Rockefeller Institute will be hosting the following public hearings:

  • July 16, 2024- New York City
  • July 25, 2024- Western New York
  • July 30, 2024- Long Island
  • August 8, 2024- Central New York
  • August 14, 2024- Capital Region

There is also an opportunity to submit written comment.

Attorney General James Announces Funding to Combat Youth Vaping Epidemic

New York Attorney General Letitia James has been delivering regional announcements regarding the historic $462 million multistate settlement she secured from JUUL Labs Inc. (JUUL) for its role in the youth vaping epidemic. New York state will receive a total of $112.7 million through this settlement, which Attorney General James will distribute to every county, Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), and the five largest cities in the state to support programs that will help reduce and prevent underage vaping.

The settlement funds will be used for evidence-based measures to combat underage vaping and e-cigarette addiction. Counties and BOCES must dedicate the settlement funds they receive to programs in five categories:

  • Public education campaigns to prevent e-cigarette use among young people.
  • Community, school, and university-based anti-vaping programs.
  • Vaping cessation services in communities, schools, and colleges.
  • Enforcement of vaping laws and regulations.
  • Public health research into e-cigarette use among young people and the effectiveness of anti-vaping programs.

Click here to see the regional announcements and amounts: North Country, Mohawk Valley, Hudson Valley, Western New York, Southern Tier, Capital Region, Finger Lakes, Central NY, New York City, and Long Island.

HESC Announces the Opening of the NYS Math and Science Teaching Incentive Program Application

The New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) announced the opening of the NYS Math and Science Teaching Incentive Program application for the 2024-25 academic year. This program offers scholarships to cover the cost of tuition for full-time undergraduate or graduate students who commit to pursuing careers as math and science teachers in secondary education (grades 7-12). The NYS Math and Science Teaching Incentive Program aims to address the critical need for qualified math and science teachers in New York State.

Governor Hochul Announces Funding for SUNY Community Colleges to Prepare the Health Care Workforce, Meet Student Mental Health Needs

Governor Kathy Hochul announced $8 million in recurring annual funding for the State University of New York’s 30 community colleges — the first increase in nearly a decade — to advance health care and mental health goals for New York State and the SUNY system. $5 million will be used to support investments by community colleges to increase enrollment in and completion of health care educational programs, supporting the Governor’s goal of increasing the State’s health care workforce by 20 percent over the next 5 years. The remaining $3 million will be used to expand mental health support for SUNY students, which is consistently identified as a critical campus need.

Guidance Issued to Combat Discrimination in Affordable Housing Insurance

Governor Kathy Hochul announced new guidance informing insurers that they are prohibited from inquiring about or making coverage decisions based on a property’s status as an affordable housing development or on the level or source of a tenant’s income within the building, such as government assistance. The guidance from the New York State Department of Financial Services follows legislation secured by Governor Hochul as part of the FY 2025 Budget to prohibit discrimination in insurance based on tenants’ source of income or the existence of affordable dwelling units within the building.

New Law Requiring Paid Break Time for Breast Milk Expression Took Effect on June 19

Governor Kathy Hochul announced a new law requiring employers to provide 30 minutes of paid break time for employees to express breast milk went into effect last Wednesday. This mandate applies whenever employees have a reasonable need to express breast milk and extends up to three years following childbirth.

Guidance

Department of Health

CMS

CMS released Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage of peer support services.

Funding Opportunities

The NYS Office of Mental Health announced the availability of funds for the expansion of a Youth Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team in the Central, Hudson River and Western New York OMH regions. The Youth ACT team serve children/youth with Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED), who are returning home from inpatient settings or residential services, at risk of entering such settings, or have not adequately engaged or responded to treatment in more traditional community-based services. Due June 26, 2024

The NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets announced the availability of funds for the 2024 Farm- to-School Competitive Grants Program to help Kindergarten through Grade 12 schools connect with local farmers, increase the use of locally grown food on school menus, and improve student health, while providing increased economic benefits to New York’s farmers. Due June 27, 2024

The NYS Department of Health, Division of Program Development and Management, Bureau of Social Care and Community Supports announced the availability of funding for the MRT Health Homes Supportive Housing Program that will provide permanent rental subsidies and housing tenancy services to provide housing for vulnerable homeless Medicaid members. Due June 27, 2024

Governor Hochul announced up to $90 million for municipal swimming facilities in underserved communities through NY SWIMS to facilitate the renovation and construction of municipal swimming facilities in underserved communities across the state. Due July 12, 2024

The NYS Office of Mental Health announced the availability of funds to support the implementation of the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Initiative. It is anticipated that OMH will make up to 18 awards across the state, contingent upon availability of funding. This funding is specifically targeted for Community Oriented Recovery and Empowerment (CORE) Services providers designated to provide Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR) to fully implement the IPS model of supported employment. Due July 24, 2024

Governor Hochul announced the launch of Round XIV of the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative. The Consolidated Funding Application is due July 31, 2024

The NYS Department of Labor issued a Request for Applications (RFA) for the Reemployment Training Grant (RTG) Program to secure the services of eligible organizations that can assist by providing occupational skills training commensurate with regional priorities to unemployed/underemployed individuals to qualify them for full-time or part-time employment or if currently employed, a higher level of employment. Due August 2, 2024

The NYS Department of Labor issued a Request for Applications (RFA) for Employee Retention and Advancement Training (ERAT) to provide occupational skills training, commensurate with regional priorities, to incumbent workers who are currently in low and middle-skills occupations, leading to job advancement and retention. Due August 2, 2024

The NYS Department of Health AIDS Institute (NYSDOH AI), Division of HIV/STD/ HCV Prevention Office of Population Health and Prevention Programs, announced the availability of State funds to support HIV/STI/HCV Prevention and related services for Women and Girls. This procurement will identify service providers to develop and/or enhance comprehensive HIV/Sexually Transmitted Infections/ Hepatitis C programs through the implementation of proven high impact prevention strategies and innovative interventions for Women and Girls with a focus on communities of color (Black, Latino/Latinx, Native American/ Indigenous people, and Asian populations). Due August 7, 2024

The NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets (the “Department”) announced the availability of funds for the FreshConnect CSA for SNAP Grant Program. The FreshConnect CSA for SNAP program will allow SNAP participants to access the popular Community Supported Agriculture model by partially subsidizing the cost of weekly share purchases. Due August 27, 2024

The NYS Department of Labor (NYSDOL) announced the Teacher Residency Program (TRP) to partially or fully fund master’s degrees for teacher residents who are enrolled in a residency program registered with the New York State Education Department (NYSED). These residents must be graduate-level PK-12 teacher candidates who will complete a residency within a New York State (NYS) public school district, private school, charter school, or Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) program. Due August 30, 2024

State Register

State Education Department

  • Albert Shanker National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification Grant Program (Emergency)

Office of Children and Family Services

  • Expansion of Eligibility for Child Care Assistance Program (Adopted)

State University of New York

Department of Taxation and Finance

  • Fuel Use Tax on Motor Fuel and Diesel Motor Fuel and the Art. 13-A Carrier Tax Jointly Administered Therewith (Proposed)

Higher Education Services Corporation

  • New York State District Attorney and Indigent Legal Services Attorney Loan Forgiveness Program (Proposed)

Coming Up

2024 Regents Meeting Dates

  • 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)

State Board Meetings

  • Public Accountancy: July 24, 2024
  • Medical Physics: September 5, 2024
  • Medicine: September 6, 2024
  • Professional Engineering, Land Surveying and Geology: September 12, 2024
  • Acupuncture: September 16, 2024 (New York City)

OTDA Meetings

  • August 1, 2024, 1:00 p.m.: HEAP Block Grant Advisory Council (BGAC)
  • August 7, 2024, 1:30 p.m.: Homeless Housing and Assistance Corporation (HHAC)

Not-for-Profit Contracting Advisory Committee (NFPCAC)

  • July 16, 2024
  • September 17, 2024
  • November 19, 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.