FINANCE

NEW YORK STATE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE — The state's top mental health official defended the Governor's proposed 2025-2026 budget during a joint legislative hearing Wednesday, detailing over $18.5 million in new spending on Assisted Outpatient Treatment and proposed changes to involuntary commitment criteria that drew sharp questioning from lawmakers concerned about unintended consequences. Commissioner Ann Marie Sullivan of the Office of Mental Health told the Senate Finance and Assembly Ways and Means committees that the budget represents a continuation of historic investments in mental health services, including $1.5 million for maternal mental health screening in OB-GYN offices and $12 million to expand the Safe Options Support initiative, which has housed 884 previously unsheltered individuals since its 2022 launch. But the hearing revealed significant tensions over two key proposals. Sen. Samra Brouk, chair of the Senate Mental Health Committee, pressed Sullivan on the timing of proposed AOT changes, noting that a $1 million study on AOT's efficacy is not due until 2026. "It seems somewhat premature to be moving forward with changes to something that we have put a million dollars towards studying," Brouk said, asking whether researchers could share preliminary findings earlier. Assemblywoman Jo Anne Simon raised concerns about the proposed expansion of involuntary commitment criteria, which would allow commitment of individuals unable to provide for essential needs like food, clothing, or shelter due to mental illness. She cited a recent New York City report showing that 50 percent of individuals brought into hospitals under the mayor's new standards were not retained, suggesting the expansion could sweep in homeless individuals without serious mental illness. "Where are you going to put them?" Simon asked, noting that psychiatric bed occupancy is currently 80-82 percent statewide but that private hospital beds have not been fully restored since COVID. Sullivan insisted the involuntary commitment change targets "a very small, select group of individuals" at substantial risk of physical harm—such as those in freezing temperatures without adequate clothing—and does not equate homelessness with commitment. She noted that current occupancy rates provide sufficient capacity for the expected small increase in admissions. Simon also pressed Sullivan on Medicaid managed care, arguing that for-profit plans are profiting from carved-in outpatient behavioral health services without improving care. She said a carveout could save the state over $400 million. Sullivan deferred to the Department of Health, which manages managed care benefits, but noted that OMH monitors timely payments and has cited plans for violations. The hearing, held February 5 in Albany, was the fifth of 14 budget hearings scheduled by the joint fiscal committees. Additional testimony from the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, Office of Addiction Services and Supports, and the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs was scheduled to follow. NEW YORK STATE MENTAL HYGIENE BUDGET HEARING FOCUSES ON WORKFORCE, RURAL GAPS, AND INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT EXPANSION Albany — The New York State Legislature's joint Finance Committee hearing on the 2025-2026 mental hygiene budget revealed significant tensions between executive budget proposals and legislative demands for greater investment in workforce support and rural service expansion. Office of Mental Health Commissioner Sullivan defended the administration's 2.1 percent targeted inflationary increase for mental health providers, but faced pointed questioning from multiple legislators who argued the figure falls short of actual inflation rates and fails to adequately support the workforce caring for vulnerable populations. "Why aren't we doing better for them?" asked Sen. Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, the Senate's ranking member on the issue, noting that actual inflation reached 2.9 percent. She argued a 7.8 percent increase would be more appropriate. Commissioner Sullivan countered that the budget allocates $68 million for the targeted increase plus $8 million for minimum wage, and noted that over the past three years an additional 13 percent COLA was provided through other mechanisms. The hearing also highlighted geographic disparities in mental health services. Sen. Oberacker invited Commissioner Sullivan to visit his rural 51st Senate District, describing it as "a desert" for mental health services, and pointed to decommissioned state facilities that could be repurposed. Commissioner Sullivan expressed openness to the visit and emphasized the importance of prevention and "mental wellness" terminology. On involuntary commitment law changes, Assemblyman Sempolinski expressed support for expanding the criteria from "likelihood to result in serious harm" to "substantial risk of physical harm," arguing it would enable more people to receive needed services. Commissioner Sullivan explained that expanded commitment would trigger comprehensive hospital services, wraparound support, and housing assistance upon discharge. The budget includes $10 million for clubhouse and Youth Safe Spaces expansion, with approximately 36 new Youth Safe Spaces expected. However, Commissioner Sullivan acknowledged the locations have not yet been determined, pending a request for proposals process. Sen. Fernandez raised concerns about co-occurring disorder treatment and questioned whether the $1.1 million maternal mental health investment would include cultural competency training for obstetricians. Commissioner Sullivan confirmed that training would address cultural issues and referenced a Department of Health report showing 70 percent of maternal deaths were preventable. On the 988 suicide and crisis hotline, Commissioner Sullivan reported the line expects over 400,000 calls this year, with 92-93 percent now answered in New York State. About 10 percent of calls result in Mobile Crisis Team referrals, while many others are resolved through phone counseling averaging 20 minutes. The hearing revealed broad legislative support for mental health expansion but persistent disagreement over whether proposed funding levels adequately address workforce retention, rural service gaps, and the downstream costs of inadequate mental health care in the criminal justice system. NEW YORK — The state Office of Mental Health defended its implementation of a billion-dollar mental health investment during a joint legislative budget hearing Wednesday, with Commissioner Sullivan detailing progress on housing, crisis services, and workforce recruitment while facing skeptical questions from lawmakers about whether the state is moving fast enough to address homelessness and mental illness. Chairwoman Liz Krueger of the Senate Finance Committee pressed Sullivan on discharge planning, noting that involuntary hospital admissions often result in patients being released the same day with no care plan. Sullivan responded that new state regulations—passed two weeks ago—now require hospitals to develop comprehensive discharge plans for complex cases and coordinate with community providers. "We have to make sure that individuals who need those complex services get them," Sullivan said. The hearing revealed significant progress on some fronts: the state has placed 884 individuals in permanent supportive housing, opened 1,200 housing units from the billion-dollar budget with 2,000 more coming online this year, and recruited 70 psychiatrists, 140 nurse practitioners, and 600 other clinicians through a loan repayment program. The state now operates over 50,000 housing units for mental health clients and has invested $350 million over four years upgrading housing stipends. But Krueger challenged the adequacy of these efforts, noting that New York City can only place about one-fourth to one-fifth of people approved for supportive housing. She also highlighted a funding disparity: older supportive housing contracts pay providers $2,500 annually per person for services, while newer OMH contracts pay $25,000—making it impossible for underfunded providers to accept people with severe needs. A sharp disagreement emerged over forensic bed capacity. The City of New York testified it needs 500 forensic beds for individuals awaiting competency restoration, but Sullivan estimated the statewide need at only 100 to 150 beds. The state plans to open 50 forensic beds this year with 100 more to follow. Sen. Rolison raised concerns about fragmentation across state agencies, asking whether a cabinet-level coordination position would help providers navigate multiple funding sources. Sullivan suggested regional coordination meetings and hospital-community partnerships were more effective than top-down restructuring. Sen. Weber questioned whether the $8 million allocation for the Joseph P. Dwyer veteran peer-to-peer program—distributed with a $100,000 minimum per county—adequately addresses unmet need, and raised concerns about long wait times for school-based mental health services and shortages of bilingual providers. The hearing underscored a central tension in New York's mental health strategy: while the state has made substantial investments and opened new services, the pace of implementation and the adequacy of funding for existing providers remain contentious issues as lawmakers prepare to finalize the 2025-2026 budget. NEW YORK STATE LAWMAKERS PRESS MENTAL HEALTH OFFICIALS ON IMPLEMENTATION PACE, HOUSING EXPANSION Albany — State legislators sharply questioned mental health officials on Wednesday about the slow rollout of programs and housing units despite billions in recent investments, with several lawmakers expressing skepticism about the administration's push for involuntary commitment changes before fully deploying proven community-based solutions. At a joint legislative hearing on the 2025-2026 executive budget for mental hygiene, Senate Chair Liz Krueger and other lawmakers challenged Office of Mental Health Commissioner Sullivan on why 2,000 to 3,000 supportive housing units remain in the pipeline despite a $1 billion investment that previously yielded 3,500 units. The state currently operates 50,000 supported housing units statewide. "What do you need to act more swiftly to get those supportive housing beds online quicker?" Krueger asked, noting that SOS teams have successfully placed 884 individuals in permanent housing, demonstrating the Housing First model's effectiveness. Assemblywoman Chandler-Waterman of Brooklyn opposed involuntary commitment proposals, comparing them to "mass incarceration" and "the new stop-and-frisk," and citing the death of Daniel Prude during a police mental health response. She urged full implementation of Daniel's Law, a behavioral health crisis response framework completed a year early with $1 million in investment. Meanwhile, the Office of Addiction Services and Supports reported significant progress, with overdose deaths declining 17 percent statewide between 2023 and 2024—saving approximately 900 lives. Commissioner Cunningham announced that OASAS has distributed nearly $400 million in opioid settlement funds, more than any other state, and has distributed over 250,000 naloxone kits and nearly 22 million fentanyl test strips through an online portal. Assemblyman Palmesano pressed Sullivan to meet with Joe Tobia, a constituent whose son died by suicide and who sits on the Governor's Suicide Prevention Council, to address a vetoed Rural Suicide Prevention Council bill. Palmesano noted that rural suicide rates are double those in urban areas. Assemblywoman Simon raised concerns about unmet mental health needs among children, citing a study showing only one in four children needing outpatient behavioral health services receive them. She questioned what new Medicaid rate and workforce investments are being made to address the gap, particularly post-COVID. The Office for People With Developmental Disabilities announced $850 million in ongoing rate increases for not-for-profit providers and a 2.1 percent targeted inflationary increase, part of nearly $4 billion invested in the system since 2022. Acting Commissioner Willow Baer highlighted $25 million for regional disability health clinics and $75 million for modernizing the Institute for Basic Research. The hearing underscored legislative frustration that despite substantial funding increases, implementation remains incomplete and community-based solutions have not been fully deployed before the state pursues more restrictive approaches. NEW YORK STATE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE EXAMINES 2025-2026 MENTAL HYGIENE BUDGET WITH FOCUS ON OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY SERVICES Albany — State Senate and Assembly members questioned two key mental hygiene agency leaders on Tuesday about the allocation of opioid settlement funds, workforce compensation, and service gaps during a joint legislative hearing on the 2025-2026 Executive Budget. OASAS Commissioner Cunningham defended the agency's transparency efforts on opioid settlement funds, noting that 36 percent of state dollars flow through OASAS with detailed public tracking of allocations. The agency has overseen a 17 percent reduction in overdose deaths, he said, attributing the decline to harm reduction initiatives including expanded naloxone kits, fentanyl test strips, and syringe exchange programs. However, Assemblyman Steck pressed Cunningham on the timeline for releasing $290 million in reappropriated opioid settlement funds—more than 60 percent of the $500 million received—expressing frustration that the commissioner could not provide a specific schedule. Steck also questioned the agency's response to emerging substance use issues, including sports betting addiction among young men, kratom proliferation, and methamphetamine treatment gaps. OPWDD Acting Commissioner Baer highlighted a $850 million rebase of residential provider rates, representing an average 13 percent increase, and reported that providers have already increased direct support professional wages by $4 to $7 per hour in some regions. He stated New York operates no waitlist for certified residential opportunities, attributing service gaps to staffing shortages and facility renovation needs rather than capacity constraints. Sen. Fahy raised concerns about dental care access, noting the Capital Region has lost three of four Medicaid dental providers, leaving only the Center for Disability Services. Baer responded that OPWDD is piloting mobile anesthesia services to dental clinics to serve patients with sensory sensitivities and proposing up to five new disability clinics statewide. Sen. Fernandez questioned whether recovery services funded through opioid settlement dollars would be sustained when those funds expire. Cunningham said multiyear initiatives were built into existing funding to address sustainability concerns. The Governor's proposed 2.1 percent COLA increase drew criticism from Assemblyman Sempolinski, who noted it falls short of inflation rates and creates planning uncertainty for providers. Baer defended the increase as building on the $850 million rebase investment. Sen. Oberacker proposed repurposing decommissioned Department of Corrections facilities for long-term substance use treatment and highlighted practical barriers to recovery, including difficulty obtaining identification documents needed to access services. He invited commissioners to tour his rural district to discuss collaborative approaches. NEW YORK STATE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE EXAMINES 2025-2026 MENTAL HYGIENE BUDGET AMID WORKFORCE CONCERNS State lawmakers questioned mental hygiene agency officials on February 5 about the adequacy of proposed funding increases for disability and addiction services, with particular focus on whether investments will translate into higher worker pay and improved service availability in underserved areas. The Office for People with Developmental Disabilities is proposing an $850 million rebase exclusively for nonprofit providers, with Acting Commissioner Baer emphasizing that the majority of costs for these organizations go to frontline staff. However, several senators expressed skepticism about whether the 2.1 percent inflationary increase will address critical workforce shortages. Sen. Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick noted that nonprofit provider agencies face a 17 percent vacancy rate and 35 percent annual turnover among Direct Support Professionals, while advocates are requesting a 7.8 percent COLA increase. Sen. Helming raised concerns that rural communities lack robust provider systems despite agency claims, citing constituent complaints about lengthy waits for children's services and insurance delays. She also pressed for local health department access to real-time opioid death data, a request the OASAS commissioner said falls under the Department of Health's purview. Sen. Persaud expressed strong opposition to mandatory overtime practices in residential facilities, reporting that workers are required to work 2.5 shifts, which she said compromises service quality. Acting Commissioner Baer noted that overtime in state-operated facilities has decreased 24 percent this year following recruitment of 3,000 new employees. OASAS Commissioner Cunningham reported a 17 percent decrease in overdose death rates in New York State—the first decline in years—and announced $3 million in additional funding for street outreach teams focused on individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. The hearing also addressed housing shortages, with Acting Commissioner Baer noting that OPWDD has opened 900 integrated supportive housing apartments and spends $70 million annually on housing subsidies. However, multiple lawmakers indicated that current housing options remain inadequate for individuals with developmental disabilities. Sen. Mayer questioned whether regional field offices are adequately staffed, citing constituent complaints that no one answers phones. Acting Commissioner Baer said all regional offices have in-person staff and a 24-hour call center, but suggested constituents work through care coordination organizations. The hearing underscored tensions between agency claims of progress and legislative concerns that proposed funding increases may not keep pace with inflation, workforce needs, or service demand in rural and underserved areas. New York State lawmakers sharply criticized the 2025-2026 Executive Budget's mental hygiene provisions during a joint legislative hearing Wednesday, with particular focus on inadequate wage increases for direct support professionals and ongoing crises in residential services for people with developmental disabilities. Senator Tom O'Mara, the Senate Ranking Member, led the criticism, noting that the proposed 2.1 percent cost-of-living adjustment for direct service professionals falls short of New York area inflation of 4.3 percent and core inflation of 4.7 percent. He pointed out that the minimum wage increase of 3.3 percent exceeds the DSP increase, and that minimum wage has risen 25 percent over six years while DSP COLAs have not kept pace. "We're losing ground to the minimum wage increase," O'Mara said, warning that group homes are closing across the state because providers cannot compete for workers. OPWDD Acting Commissioner Baer defended the budget, citing nearly $4 billion invested across the service system over four years, a 13 percent rate enhancement increase statewide, and $38 million to keep providers caught up to minimum wage increases. She stated that providers are now offering up to $26 per hour competitively in their regions. Assemblyman Palmesano, a former direct care worker, reported that Arc chapters in Western New York have closed 90 residential beds over the past two years. Assemblyman Burdick cited estimates of 5,000 to 7,000 people on waiting lists for group homes in the Mid-Hudson region and noted two vacant group homes in Westchester County, including one in North Salem vacant for over five years. Chairwoman Liz Krueger pressed Commissioner Baer on group home closures, seeking clarification on whether sites with existing residents are actually being closed or transferred to other providers. She expressed concern about disrupting families dependent on services in specific geographic areas. On substance use treatment, OASAS Commissioner Cunningham described investments in street outreach teams, with a new RFP funding $31 million more for this work targeting those with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. She noted that opioid settlement funds are distributed over 18 years with decreasing dollar amounts and that there are no clawback provisions for unused allocations. Assemblywoman Gallagher raised concerns about the speed of the CDPAP transition, asking whether seven weeks is adequate time for people with serious disabilities. Commissioner Baer noted that 9,000 people in the OPWDD system are also receiving CDPAP services but declined to opine on the adequacy of the timeline, noting she does not oversee that program. The hearing underscored ongoing tensions between the Legislature and the Executive over workforce compensation and service capacity in New York's disability and substance use treatment systems. NEW YORK STATE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE — State mental hygiene agencies faced pointed questions about service delays, workforce challenges, and oversight gaps during a joint legislative budget hearing on the 2025-2026 Executive Budget proposal on Wednesday. The Office for People with Developmental Disabilities acknowledged it does not track the number of individuals on informal waiting lists for services, prompting Sen. Fahy to request that data. Assemblyman Santabarbara, whose son has spent years seeking residential placement, echoed concerns about the lack of transparency on waiting lists and aging-out populations. OPWDD Acting Commissioner Baer highlighted a $50 million SUNY investment in microcredentialing for Direct Support Professionals and noted New York leads the nation in DSP participation in the NADSP credentialing program. However, he resisted calls for a dedicated deputy commissioner for self-direction, arguing the agency already has sufficient staff managing the 35,000 people enrolled in that program. The Office of Addiction Services and Supports faced scrutiny over problem gambling monitoring and opioid settlement fund spending. Sen. Liu questioned whether OASAS treats gambling addiction as a potential problem rather than a real one, pressing for specific data on casino-related impacts. Sen. Bynoe flagged Nassau County's spending of only 10-15 percent of its $90 million in opioid settlement funds, with the county accruing over $3 million in interest while families struggle with addiction. The Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs reported substantiating nearly 4,000 abuse and neglect cases in the past year and preventing over 300 violent criminals from working with vulnerable populations. Acting Executive Director Maria Lisi-Murray introduced a new "Category 4" investigation approach focusing on systemic facility issues rather than individual workers, representing about 5 percent of investigations. She also highlighted expanded training for first responders, with over 200 participants trained in 2024. Sen. Fahy raised concerns about investigation timeliness and workers remaining off payroll for extended periods pending case resolution. Lisi-Murray described new expedited processes, including early case review and early exoneration of uninvolved staff, but acknowledged that investigation duration varies widely, particularly when criminal cases are pending. The hearing revealed ongoing tensions between protecting vulnerable populations and supporting the direct care workforce, with legislators seeking greater transparency on service delays and more aggressive oversight of settlement fund spending. NEW YORK STATE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE — A joint legislative hearing on the 2025-2026 Executive Budget for mental hygiene services revealed sharp disagreements over workforce funding and highlighted a fiscal crisis in county competency restoration programs. The Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs reported retaining 40 percent of alleged abuse and neglect cases for internal investigation while returning 60 percent to oversight agencies, with the ability to conduct unannounced site visits and quality audits to identify systemic problems. But the most contentious testimony centered on workforce compensation. Glenn Liebman, CEO of the Mental Health Association in New York State, argued that the Governor's proposed 2.1 percent increase is inadequate, amounting to just $12 more per week for a direct care worker earning $30,000 annually. He called for a 7.8 percent increase to match inflation over the past four years and highlighted a stark disparity: nonprofit benefit packages are capped at 27 percent of salary, compared to 65.5 percent for state workers. The organization faces a 30 percent annual turnover rate. Courtney David, representing the New York State Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors, presented a fiscal emergency: Warren County's competency restoration costs skyrocketed from $14,000 in 2019 to $1.6 million in 2024—a 10,000 percent increase—after the state shifted 100 percent of costs to counties in 2020. She said the policy has diverted hundreds of millions of dollars from local systems over four years, with individuals languishing in state forensic facilities for up to 10 years at $1,300 per day. Sen. Samra Brouk, the Mental Hygiene Committee chair, expressed strong support for workforce increases and discussed her bill to tie funding to inflation. Sen. Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, the ranking Republican, advocated for student loan forgiveness programs to recruit workers to underserved areas. Chairwoman Krueger raised concerns about national reports of health insurance companies denying mental health coverage despite parity laws, asking whether New York faces similar problems. Liebman confirmed the state continues fighting the same parity violations despite Timothy's Law being on the books for nearly 20 years. The hearing also featured emotional testimony from Julie LeClair Neches, a NAMI board member and psychologist whose daughter Alix died at 25 after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder in college. Neches credited Governor Hochul's mental health initiatives with helping her daughter and noted that Alix's advocacy for peers continued even during manic episodes. New York State legislators heard urgent testimony on Wednesday that the 2025-2026 executive budget fails to adequately fund mental health services despite significant budget surpluses, with advocates warning that children and families are being left behind while the state faces a deepening mental health crisis. At a joint legislative hearing on mental hygiene, Kayleigh Zaloga, president and CEO of the New York State Coalition for Children's Behavioral Health, delivered the most pointed criticism, stating that three out of four children who qualify for behavioral health services cannot access them. She noted that the state has billions in tax receipts over projections, is proposing to send $1 billion annually into a rainy day fund, and is increasing Medicaid by $1.5 billion from a managed care tax—yet none of this is being invested in behavioral health. "Every mentally ill adult was a sick child who didn't get the help that they needed," Zaloga said, calling for a $195 million investment in outpatient services and cost-of-living adjustments of 7.8% for providers. Ron Richter, CEO of JCCA, highlighted a specific gap: his agency loses nearly $1 million annually caring for young people over 21 due to Medicaid eligibility rules, with at least a dozen youth waiting for state placements. He said the budget does not address youth with intensive mental health needs, despite rising rates of psychosis and severe depression. On a different front, Joseph Tobia, a Steuben County legislator and suicide survivor, testified in support of S3610, the Rural Suicide Prevention Council bill, which would investigate suicide deaths to identify systemic failures. Tobia shared the story of losing his son to suicide in August 2021 after his family was repeatedly denied mental health services. He noted that rural suicide rates in New York are twice as high as urban rates. The bill passed both chambers last year but was vetoed by Governor Hochul. Sen. Tom O'Mara, a cosponsor, said the legislature would continue pushing to include such measures in the budget. Glenn Liebman, a mental health policy expert, advocated for enforcement against managed care organizations that violate mental health parity rules, citing an Attorney General's report on "ghost providers." He opposed expanding Kendra's Law involuntary commitment, arguing instead for community services, discharge planning, and workforce development. Paige Pierce of Families Together in New York State testified that family peer support programs—which employ people with lived experience—are cost-effective but struggling due to low Medicaid reimbursement rates and decades-old Aid to Localities funding levels. The hearing underscored a central tension: while the Governor has increased mental health funding in recent budgets, advocates say it remains insufficient to address waitlists, workforce shortages, and gaps in services for children and rural communities. NEW YORK STATE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE HEARS TESTIMONY ON MENTAL HYGIENE BUDGET GAPS Albany — The New York State Senate Finance Committee heard testimony Wednesday on significant funding and structural gaps in the state's mental hygiene and disability services systems during a joint legislative hearing on the 2025-2026 executive budget. Testimony revealed a stark wage disparity in disability services: nonprofit Direct Support Professionals earn $17.23 per hour statewide, while state-operated OPWDD facilities pay $25 to $27 per hour for identical work. Eric Geizer, CEO of The Arc New York, the state's largest disability services provider, warned that this disparity is forcing experienced staff to leave nonprofit agencies for state positions, leading to group home closures in rural areas. "Long-time staff are leaving people they've supported for years because they can go to a state-operated home down the road and make 30 percent more for the exact same work," Geizer testified. He called for a 7.8 percent inflationary increase, a wage commission to establish fair compensation standards, and return of rate-setting authority to OPWDD from the Department of Health, which he said takes six months to approve rate adjustments. Sen. O'Mara (R-Corning) expressed frustration about recurring annual discussions of the same staffing crisis without legislative action. "It's frustrating sitting here for the number of years I have, dealing with this issue over and over and over, and there seems to be unanimity among this Legislature of what should be done. Yet every year we're back here talking about the same thing," he said. A licensing restriction emerged as another critical barrier. Ron Richter, director of a residential agency, testified that Article 29-I licensure limits Medicaid billing to clients under 21, despite many residents having dual diagnoses of serious emotional disturbance and intellectual developmental disabilities. Chairwoman Krueger indicated willingness to explore legislative solutions, calling the age-21 cutoff "really poorly thought through." In children's mental health services, advocates called for $195 million in new investment and a 7.8 percent COLA increase. Kayleigh Zaloga noted that school-based mental health clinics, while beneficial, are not viable in all schools due to low rates and insufficient commercial insurance coverage. Joe Tobia, whose son died by suicide, advocated for improvements to pending suicide prevention legislation, including an immunity clause for data collection, extended council terms, and cost estimates on bills. He emphasized the need to follow the "path" of individuals who died by suicide to identify service gaps. Kevin Ryan of Self-Advocacy of New York State highlighted the durable medical equipment crisis, noting that his colleague has been unable to get her wheelchair repaired since October, leaving her unable to leave her home for extended periods. He called on the state to implement Governor Hochul's promise to increase wheelchair access through higher rates and expanded repair coverage. The hearing underscored persistent structural inequities in New York's mental hygiene system, with lawmakers signaling openness to legislative solutions but expressing frustration about year-after-year delays in addressing known problems. NEW YORK STATE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE — Mental health and disability service advocates testified before the Legislature on Wednesday that proposed budget increases fall short of addressing a deepening staffing crisis, with providers warning that inadequate wages are forcing dedicated workers to leave the field. The joint hearing on the 2025-2026 Executive Budget for mental hygiene revealed stark disparities between inflation and state funding. Service providers reported that despite recent investments, they remain 20 percent behind inflation accumulated over two decades. The Arc's representative testified that direct support professional wages have fallen from twice the minimum wage a decade ago to just 10 percent above it today. Governor Hochul's proposed 2.1 percent cost-of-living adjustment drew criticism from multiple testifiers, who noted it falls short of the 2.9 percent inflation rate and requested a 7.8 percent increase instead. New York Disability Advocates reported a 17 percent staff vacancy rate and 35 percent turnover rate despite recent increases. The Association for Community Living, which operates 95 percent of mental health housing programs, reported statewide vacancy rates averaging 30 percent and turnover near 50 percent, requesting an additional $230 million investment. School-based substance abuse counselors face similar pressures. Only 236 SAPIS (substance abuse prevention and intervention specialists) serve over 900,000 New York City students, with some counselors stretched across four or five schools. Union representatives requested $6 million to hire 48 additional SAPIS and reach 24,000 more students. Mental health advocates testified against forced treatment provisions in the budget. Harvey Rosenthal of the Alliance for Rights and Recovery cited data showing 4 percent of the mental health community is violent while 11 percent are victims, and noted that 40 percent of New York City mental hygiene arrests involved people ineligible for admission. He highlighted the success of voluntary peer-led programs like INSET, which engaged 83 percent of people who would otherwise face court orders. Sen. Persaud expressed strong support for DSP wage advocacy, citing constituent advocacy for adequate compensation. Legislators signaled bipartisan support for wage increases, though the hearing revealed persistent tension between proposed funding levels and actual operational costs facing service providers across the state. NEW YORK — Advocates for substance use disorder treatment and mental health services urged state lawmakers on Wednesday to reject expanded involuntary commitment measures and instead invest billions in community-based programs, during a joint legislative hearing on the 2025-2026 mental hygiene budget. Tom Culkin, a formerly incarcerated person in recovery and member of the Treatment Not Jails Coalition, testified that New York's criminal justice system fails to rehabilitate people with addiction. He cited stark statistics: 274,000 arrests in the state resulted in only 52 diversions to mental health court, while incarceration costs $150,000 per person annually compared to treatment alternatives. Culkin advocated for expanding treatment courts and streamlining access to substance use disorder services. Harvey Rosenthal and Ruth Lowenkron, representing mental health advocacy organizations, directly opposed the Governor's push for expanded Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) and involuntary commitment. Rosenthal argued that coercive measures are ineffective and that county officials have admitted they use AOT orders primarily to move people to the front of service waiting lists. Both advocates called for implementing incident review panels—mandated in statute since 2014 but never implemented—to examine what goes wrong in mental health crises. Dr. Angelia Smith-Wilson, executive director of Friends of Recovery-New York representing 260,000 people in recovery, called for an additional $1 billion in funding for the Office of Addiction Services and Supports, arguing the agency is dramatically underfunded compared to other mental hygiene agencies. She noted that while opioid overdose deaths have declined 17 percent statewide, the decrease is not equitable across Black and brown communities. Jihoon Kim of InUnity Alliance, representing over 200 community-based organizations, criticized the proposed 2.1 percent funding increase as "woefully inadequate," calling instead for a 7.8 percent increase to address inflation and workforce shortages that are causing existing programs to struggle. Assemblywoman Jo Anne Simon pressed testifiers on how to balance public safety concerns with avoiding coercive approaches, noting that recent violent incidents involving people with mental illness have fueled political pressure for involuntary commitment expansion. Rosenthal countered that such incidents represent a tiny minority but receive disproportionate media coverage. Testifiers also advocated for wage increases for direct support professionals, implementation of peer-led crisis response programs, and expanded access to mental health services including creative arts therapy. Ms. Davis of the Licensed Creative Arts Therapy Advocacy Coalition noted that allowing licensed creative arts therapists to become Medicaid providers would cost only $2 million annually while expanding access to psychotherapy for hard-to-reach populations including young children and non-English speakers. The hearing reflected deep disagreement between advocates prioritizing voluntary, community-based services and policymakers concerned about public safety in the wake of high-profile incidents. NEW YORK — Mental hygiene advocates and state officials testified before the Joint Legislative Committee on Finance on Wednesday that while the state's $1 billion mental health budget allocation represents progress, critical gaps remain in recovery services funding and community-based infrastructure. Dr. Smith-Wilson of the Office of Addiction Services and Supports requested sustained investment in recovery services, noting that New York State currently has only 31 recovery community organizations despite a four-year-old request to place one in every county. She emphasized that recovery is a lifelong commitment distinct from episodic treatment, and highlighted that the state's 3,000+ certified peer recovery advocates have proven effective at inspiring treatment entry and supporting long-term recovery. However, a critical sustainability crisis looms: recovery funding currently relies heavily on time-limited opioid settlement funds, with two-year disbursements to community organizations set to expire in March 2025. Dr. Smith-Wilson called for making recovery funding permanent in the state budget. Jihoon Kim, representing 200 community-based providers through Friends of Recovery and formerly deputy secretary overseeing mental hygiene in the Governor's office, offered a skeptical assessment of the $1 billion allocation. He testified that the majority of funds are directed toward housing projects that will take years to materialize, leaving existing community-based services underfunded. Kim cited bureaucratic inefficiencies and inadequate rates for critical services like Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) teams, which serve high-acuity individuals. Ms. Davis of the Licensed Creative Arts Therapy Advocacy Coalition advocated for a $2 million investment to on-board 2,000+ existing licensed creative arts therapists across the state. She emphasized the effectiveness of art therapy for trauma-affected children, particularly those with disabilities or who are nonverbal—a population she said receives insufficient attention in budget discussions. Assemblywoman Griffin raised concerns about unspent opioid settlement funds sitting in county coffers, particularly in Nassau County, while recovery organizations struggle with funding gaps. Assemblywoman Simon characterized the $2 million LCAT investment as "a drop in the bucket" and urged inclusion of the Governor's vetoed creative arts therapy bill in the budget. The hearing, held February 5, underscored tensions between funding new initiatives and stabilizing existing community-based services, with legislators pressing witnesses on sustainability, equity in fund disbursement, and the distinction between treatment and long-term recovery support.