BILL NUMBER: S3669B
SPONSOR: PERSAUD
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act establishing a targeted inflationary increase for designated
persons
 
PURPOSE:
This bill would establish a 2.7% targeted inflationary increase for
designated human services programs including several programs not
included in prior cost-of-living adjustments nor in the SFY 2025-2026
Enacted Budget.
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 2026-2027
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, disability advocacy programs (DAP), and Supplemental Nutrition
Program (SNAP) Outreach program.
OCFS: NY Learning and Enrichment After-School Program (LEAPS), residen-
tial 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, Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home
Visiting (MIECH-V), 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 6 establishes reporting requirements for local government
units and direct contract providers.
Subparagraph 7 establishes recoupment powers.
Section 2 provides an immediate effective date with the bill taking full
force on and after April 1, 2026.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
As provided in previously enacted budgets, New York State has issued
cost of living increases (COLAs)and, in the case of the SFY 2026-2027
budget, a "targeted inflationary increase" (TII), to specified human
service contracts and programs. However, the prior human services
provider/contractor COLAs and SFY 2025-2026 TII have not applied to
every human services program or worker in New York State. Many human
services workers are held at wages that are not conducive to their own
health and wellbeing. This has made it challenging for human services
provider organizations to hire and retain qualified staff. It also
creates challenges within multi-service agencies when some staff receive
state-provided increases, while others do not.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2025: S3669A Referred to Finance
 
FISCAL IMPACT ON THE STATE:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
April 1, 2025.