S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
8184
I N S E N A T E
April 16, 2018
___________
Introduced by Sen. ORTT -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend part C of chapter 57 of the laws of 2006, relating to
establishing a cost of living adjustment for designated human
services programs, in relation to the inclusion and development of
certain cost of living adjustments and to providing funding to
increase salaries and related fringe benefits to direct care workers,
direct support professionals and clinical workers employed by not-for-
profits funded by the office for people with developmental disabili-
ties, the office of mental health and the office of alcoholism and
substance abuse services
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivisions 3-b and 3-c of section 1 of part C of chapter
57 of the laws of 2006, relating to establishing a cost of living
adjustment for designated human services programs, as amended by section
1 of part Q of chapter 57 of the laws of 2017, are amended to read as
follows:
3-b. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, beginning
April 1, 2009 and ending March 31, 2016 and beginning April 1, 2017 and
ending March 31, [2018] 2019, the commissioners shall not include a COLA
for the purpose of establishing rates of payments, contracts or any
other form of reimbursement, provided that the commissioners of the
office for people with developmental disabilities, the office of mental
health, and the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services shall
not include a COLA beginning April 1, 2017 and ending March 31, [2019]
2023.
3-c. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, beginning
April 1, [2018] 2019 and ending March 31, [2021] 2022, the commissioners
shall develop the COLA under this section using the actual U.S. consumer
price index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) published by the United
States department of labor, bureau of labor statistics for the twelve
month period ending in July of the budget year prior to such state
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15156-01-8
S. 8184 2
fiscal year, for the purpose of establishing rates of payments,
contracts or any other form of reimbursement.
§ 1-a. Subdivision 3-e of section 1 of part C of chapter 57 of the
laws of 2006, relating to establishing a cost of living adjustment for
designated human services programs, as added by section 2 of part Q of
chapter 57 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:
3-e. (i) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision 3-b of this
section or any other inconsistent provision of law, and subject to the
availability of the appropriation therefor, for the programs listed in
paragraphs (i), (ii), and (iii) of subdivision 4 of this section, the
commissioners shall provide funding to support (1) an overall average
three and one-quarter percent (3.25%) increase to total salaries for
direct care staff, direct support professionals for each eligible state-
funded program beginning January 1, 2018; and (2) an overall average
three and one-quarter percent (3.25%) increase to total salaries for
direct care staff and direct support professionals, and clinical staff,
INCLUDING POSITION CODE 351 RELATING TO MEDICAID SERVICE COORDINATION,
for each eligible state-funded program beginning April 1, 2018; (3) AN
OVERALL AVERAGE THREE AND ONE-QUARTER PERCENT (3.25%) INCREASE TO TOTAL
SALARIES FOR DIRECT CARE STAFF AND DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS, AND
CLINICAL STAFF, INCLUDING POSITION CODE 351 RELATING TO MEDICAID SERVICE
COORDINATION, FOR EACH ELIGIBLE STATE-FUNDED PROGRAM BEGINNING APRIL 1,
2019; (4) AN OVERALL AVERAGE THREE AND ONE-QUARTER PERCENT (3.25%)
INCREASE TO TOTAL SALARIES FOR DIRECT CARE STAFF AND DIRECT SUPPORT
PROFESSIONALS, AND CLINICAL STAFF, INCLUDING POSITION CODE 351 RELATING
TO MEDICAID SERVICE COORDINATION, FOR EACH ELIGIBLE STATE-FUNDED PROGRAM
BEGINNING APRIL 1, 2020; (5) AN OVERALL AVERAGE THREE AND ONE-QUARTER
PERCENT (3.25%) INCREASE TO TOTAL SALARIES FOR DIRECT CARE STAFF AND
DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS, AND CLINICAL STAFF, INCLUDING POSITION
CODE 351 RELATING TO MEDICAID SERVICE COORDINATION, FOR EACH ELIGIBLE
STATE-FUNDED PROGRAM BEGINNING APRIL 1, 2021; AND (6) AN OVERALL AVERAGE
THREE AND ONE-QUARTER PERCENT (3.25%) INCREASE TO TOTAL SALARIES FOR
DIRECT CARE STAFF AND DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS, AND CLINICAL STAFF,
INCLUDING POSITION CODE 351 RELATING TO MEDICAID SERVICE COORDINATION,
FOR EACH ELIGIBLE STATE-FUNDED PROGRAM BEGINNING APRIL 1, 2022. For the
purpose of this funding increase, direct support professionals are indi-
viduals employed in consolidated fiscal reporting position title codes
ranging from 100 to 199; direct care staff are individuals employed in
consolidated fiscal reporting position title codes ranging from 200 to
299; and clinical staff are individuals employed in consolidated fiscal
reporting position title codes ranging from 300 to 399, SPECIFICALLY
INCLUDING POSITION CODE 351 RELATING TO MEDICAID SERVICE COORDINATION.
(ii) The funding made available pursuant to paragraph (i) of this
subdivision shall be used: (1) to help alleviate the recruitment and
retention challenges of direct care staff, direct support professionals
and clinical staff employed in eligible programs, INCLUDING MEDICAID
SERVICE COORDINATION; and (2) to continue and to expand efforts to
support the professionalism of the direct care workforce. Each local
government unit or direct contract provider receiving such funding shall
have flexibility in allocating such funding to support salary increases
to particular job titles to best address the needs of its direct care
staff, direct support professionals and clinical staff, INCLUDING MEDI-
CAID SERVICE COORDINATION. Each local government unit or direct contract
provider receiving such funding shall also submit a written certif-
ication, in such form and at such time as each commissioner shall
prescribe, attesting to how such funding will be or was used for
S. 8184 3
purposes eligible under this section. Further, providers shall submit a
resolution from their governing body to the appropriate commissioner,
attesting that the funding received will be used solely to support sala-
ry and salary-related fringe benefit increases for direct care staff,
direct support professionals and clinical staff, INCLUDING MEDICAID
SERVICE COORDINATION, pursuant to paragraph (i) of this subdivision.
Salary increases that take effect on and after April 1, 2017 may be used
to demonstrate compliance with the January 1, 2018 funding increase
authorized by this section, except for salary increases necessary to
comply with state minimum wage requirements. Such commissioners shall be
authorized to recoup any funds as appropriated herein determined to have
been used in a manner inconsistent with such standards or inconsistent
with the provisions of this subdivision, and such commissioners shall be
authorized to employ any legal mechanism to recoup such funds, including
an offset of other funds that are owed to such local governmental unit
or provider.
(iii) Where appropriate, transfers to the department of health shall
be made as reimbursement for the state share of medical assistance.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall be deemed to
have been in full force and effect on and after April 1, 2018; provided,
however, that the amendments to section 1 of part C of chapter 57 of the
laws of 2006 made by sections one and one-a of this act shall not affect
the repeal of such section and shall be deemed repealed therewith.