BILL NUMBER: S3669
SPONSOR: PERSAUD
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act in relation to establishing a targeted inflationary increase for
designated programs
 
PURPOSE:
This bill would establish a 7.8% targeted inflationary increase for
designated human services programs including a number of programs not
included in prior cost-of-living adjustments.
In addition, it provides for automatic inclusion of new, renamed or
recategorized human services programs and requires state agencies to do
a five-year lookback to ensure that any uncovered program is captured.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 establishes a targeted inflationary increase for SFY 2025-2026
and empowers agency commissioners and directors to adjust state
contracts accordingly.
Subparagraph 2 establishes a rate of 7.8%.
Subparagraph 3 provides that the targeted inflationary increase shall
include all other cost of living type increases including new
inflation or trend factors. Subparagraph 4 establishes eligible
programs and adds various programs that have not received a prior cost-
of-living-adjustment. Added programs (by agency) include:
OPWDD: costs of Independent Living Centers program to be administered in
conjunction with the State Education Department.
OASAS: addiction treatment centers.
OTDA: NYS Supportive Housing Program, Solutions to End Homelessness
Program, and Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP) Outreach program.
OCFS: Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECH-V)
(LEAPS), residential and nonresidential domestic violence services, and
preventative services.
SOFA: New York Connects program, Naturally Occurring Retirement Communi-
ties (NORCS), Neighborhood Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities
(NNORCS), and social adult day programs.
DOH: rape crisis programs and Medicaid transportation program. OVS:
crime victim services program.
Subparagraph 5 provides for the automatic inclusion of new, renamed or
recategorized human services programs and adds a five-year lookback for
state agencies to comply with.
Subparagraph establishes reporting requirements for local government
units and direct contract providers.
Subparagraph establishes recoupment powers.
Section 2 provides an immediate effective date with the bill taking full
force on and after April 1, 2025.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
As provided in previous enacted budgets, New York State has issued cost
of living increases (COLAs) to specified human service contracts and
programs as delineated in previous budget Article VII language. Howev-
er, the prior human services provider/contractor COLAs, and the current-
ly proposed targeted inflationary increase (SFY 2025-2026 HMH Part FF)
have not applied to every human services program or worker in New York
State. Because of this, many human services workers across the state
have not benefitted from the provider COLA nor will they benefit from
the proposed targeted inflationary increase (SFY 2025-2026 HMH Part FF).
Instead, many human services workers are held at wages that are not
conducive to their own health and wellbeing. This has made it challeng-
ing for human services provider organizations to hire and retain quali-
fied staff. It also creates challenges within multi-service agencies
when some staff receive state-provided increases, while others do not.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPACT ON THE STATE:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
April 1, 2025.