Plugged In @ Hinman Straub – Feb. 26, 2016

Coverage of Albany and New York State government – February 26, 2016

What’s Inside 

  • Senate, Assembly Release Revenue Projections
  • Comptroller Releases Review of Executive Budget Proposal
  • Governor Announces Administration Appointments
  • Governor Announces Alcoholic Beverage Control E-Commerce Task Force
  • Governor Announces Consumer Protections for ESCO Customers
  • Senate IDC Releases Affordability Plan for Seniors
  • Pay Raise Commission Holds Organizational Meeting
  • Governor Announces STEM Scholarships for High School Seniors
  • Regents Discuss Timeline for Revised Learning Standards
  • Queens Assemblywoman Dies at 76
  • Political Update
  • Coming Up

 

Senate, Assembly Release Revenue Projections

On Thursday, the Assembly and the Senate released their respective revenue forecast reports for the state’s upcoming fiscal year.

The Assembly’s Economic and Revenue Report projects $552 million more in revenue than the Governor projects. The Senate’s Economic and Revenue Report estimates that the state will collect $498 million more than the Governor has projected.

The release of these reports is a key step in the budget adoption process. The next step is the Governor and the two houses of the Legislature reaching agreement on a state revenue projection, which is the amount that the state can spend in the state’s 2016-17 fiscal year.

 

Comptroller Releases Review of Executive Budget Proposal

On Wednesday, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli released his annual analysis of the Governor’s proposed $154.6 billion spending plan for 2016-17. The Comptroller finds that the state’s financial position continues to improve, but his analysis raises concerns about articular aspects of the budget proposal.

The Comptroller notes that the Division of Budget projects potential budget deficits of around $2.6 billion annually during the three fiscal years ending in SFY 2019-20, and that the Executive Budget proposes multiyear spending in certain areas (such as the MTA) but provides few details on how these projects will be funded.

The analysis also finds that the budget proposal “would increase the Thruway Authority’s dependence on State resources in the coming years, while leaving questions unanswered regarding financing of the Thruway’s long-term capital and operational needs.” With respect to state borrowing, the Comptroller notes that the budget would increase state-supported debt by almost $10 billion dollars over the next five state fiscal years.

 

Governor Announces Administration Appointments

Earlier today, Gov. Cuomo announced the following Administration appointments:

  • Jamie Malanowski as Senior Speechwriter for the Executive Chamber;
  • Matthew Pennello as Special Assistant for Legislative Affairs;
  • Melissa Quesada as Director of Latino Affairs;
  • Mary Beth Woods as Executive Director of the Workers’ Compensation Board;
  • Justin Bernbach as Chief Government Affairs & Community Relations Officer at the MTA;
  • John Lockwood as Special Counsel to the Commissioner for Ethics, Risk and Compliance for the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS); and
  • Peggy Rodriguez as the Governor’s Regional Representative for the Mohawk Valley.

Governor Announces Alcoholic Beverage Control E-Commerce Task Force

On Wednesday, Gov. Cuomo announced the launch of the Alcoholic Beverage Control E-Commerce Task Force, which he has tasked with developing “a clear framework for regulating sales of alcoholic beverages through third party providers.” The task force’s goals are to “help increase sales, provide more consumer choices, and assist small craft beverage manufacturers that often lack significant marketing resources.”

The task force will be led by State Liquor Authority Chair Vincent Bradley. The task force, which includes alcohol industry representatives and e-commerce industry representatives, will hold its first meeting on Monday, Feb. 29 in Manhattan.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“This task force will continue our efforts to modernize laws in order to encourage investment and expand opportunities for small businesses and craft retailers across this state.”

 

Governor Announces Consumer Protections for ESCO Customers

On Tuesday, Gov. Cuomo announced that the Public Service Commission (PSC) has adopted new rules to protect consumers from unfair business practices by retail energy service providers, known as ESCOs, after the PSC found that many ESCOs were overcharging for electric and gas service, or were failing to deliver on promises for savings and clean energy.

The new rules, prohibit ESCOs from signing up new customers unless they guarantee their prices are equal to or lower than utilities’ full-service plans, or guarantee that 30% or more of their product comes from renewable sources like wind and solar. The PSC will also make it easier to revoking ESCO’s authority to do business in the state if they are found in violation of State regulations.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“We have zero tolerance for these unscrupulous companies, whose business model is to prey on ratepayers with promises of lower energy costs only to deliver skyrocketing bills. These actions will root out these bad actors and protect New Yorkers from these unfair and dishonest tactics.”

 

Senate IDC Releases Affordability Plan for Seniors

On Monday, the Senate’s Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) released the Seniors First agenda, which is intended to improve quality of life and health care issues for the elderly. (Read the full report here.)

The report, which is based on a quality-of-life and affordability survey taken by over 4,500 seniors, recommends:

  • maintaining rent protections for seniors and persons with disabilities through the SCRIE and DRIE programs;
  • creating the “New York State Secure Choice Savings Program”, a new retirement savings program;
  • establishing a State Senior Heating Assistance Program (SHEAP) to assist New York’s seniors in paying their utility costs;
  • creation of a Utility Consumer Advocate Office “to give seniors a voice in the utility rate-setting process”;
  • incentivizing long-term care insurance purchases;
  • protecting seniors from all too common financial exploitation; and
  • enacting a Paid Family Leave program “to ensure seniors receive the in-home care they need.”

 

Pay Raise Commission Holds Organizational Meeting

On Monday, the state Commission on Legislative, Judicial, & Executive Compensation held its first meeting. The Commission is tasked with examining, evaluating and making recommendations with respect to compensation for state legislators and state officials.

The seven commissioners agreed to hold a public hearing in New York City on March 10, in Albany on March 23, and in Syracuse sometime in April, at an uncertain future date. The Commission’s report is due by November 15. If the Commission recommends salary increases, they would take effect in January 2017.

Last year, the Commission recommended a pay increase for the state’s judges over the next four years.

 

Governor Announces STEM Scholarships for High School Seniors

On Wednesday, Gov. Cuomo announced that the New York State Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Incentive Program application is now available for high school students who will be entering college this coming fall. The program provides a full SUNY or CUNY tuition scholarship to students in the top 10% of their high school graduating class if they major in a STEM field and work in a STEM job in New York State for five years after graduation.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“The STEM Incentive awards not only give this state’s top high school students access to a first rate education, but it ensures that they and their talents remain in New York to help build our burgeoning high tech economy.”

Information on how to apply for the scholarship is here.

 

Regents Propose Timeline for Revised Learning Standards

On Monday, the state Board of Regents said that its transition from the Common Core standards to its own, modified set of learning standards will take the next 18 months, and will not be reflected on state tests until the spring of 2019.

Under the Regents proposal, state officials will appoint committees (which will include parents, teachers and business representatives) to further review the Common Core, solicit public comment, and revise the standards. The Board of Regents would vote on the changes to the standards in November 2016, giving school districts the spring and summer of 2017 to revise their curriculums and train teachers.

State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia said that the timeline should be flexible to ensure that school districts that need more time to implement the changes will get it. The goal is to avoid the backlash and criticism that arose when the Common Core standards and curriculum were “rushed” into place.

 

Queens Assemblywoman Dies at 76

Assemblywoman Barbara Clark (D-Queens), who was first elected to the Assembly in 1986, passed away on Monday night.

Her death leaves a vacancy in the 33rd Assembly District, which includes Bellerose, Cambria Heights, Hollis and St. Albans. Unless Gov. Cuomo calls a special election in the near future, this vacancy will be filled in the November elections.

 

Political Update

Progressive Elective Officials Network Launched

Last weekend, a group of almost 100 elected officials from around the state met in Albany to launch the New York State Progressive Elected Officials Network (NYSPEN), an organization created to help liberal politicians work together. NYSPEN is affiliated with Local Progress, the national network for progressive elected officials.

According to the group, its purpose is to “empower local elected officials through trainings on public policy and leadership skills, to provide policy support and coordinate efforts to pass progressive policies across regions and geographies, to unite elected officials to advocate on issues of shared interest at the state level, and to provide opportunities for networking and shared solidarity.”

Winners & Losers

Each week, City & State New York publishes a list of the week’s political “winners” and “losers.”  Read this week’s list here.

 

Coming Up

The Senate will be in session Monday through Wednesday next week. The Assembly will meet on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. The Assembly will not hold session on Monday so that members can attend Barbara Clark’s funeral services.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) holds its next meeting on March 17.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) holds its next meeting on March 22.

The State Board of Elections (SBOE) holds its next meeting on March 24.

The state’s 2016-17 fiscal year begins on April 1.

New York’s Presidential Primary is April 19, as are the special elections for the 9th Senate District (to replace Dean Skelos), the 59th AD (to replace Roxanne Persaud), the 62nd AD (to replace Joe Borelli) and the 65th AD (to replace Sheldon Silver).