Golden and Malliotakis Announce Legislative Efforts to Restore Funding for New York’s Disabled Community

Albany – State Senator Martin J. Golden (R-C-I, Brooklyn) today is announcing legislation, S. 4777, that he has introduced in the State Senate that would appropriate funds to the Office of People with Developmental Disabilities for the support of various programs. Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-C-I, Brooklyn/Staten Island) is a co-sponsor of the legislation, A. 6692-A, introduced by Assemblyman Weisenberg (D-Long Island).

This legislation would appropriate $90 million, or the necessary amount, for the purpose of funding OPWDD nonprofit services. A workgroup would be created that will evaluate the adopted budget and review any funding shortfalls related to the full restoration of the $90 million reduction. The New York State Budget Director would be authorized to deposit sufficient funds to make up for these funds designated for OPWDD programs.

Senator Marty Golden stated, “As I said the day we voted on the 2013-2014 New York State budget, that vote was not the end of the conversation related to the budget of the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities. The people of our state in most need, and their families, deserve the chance for us to provide the very best programs to meet their needs, and provide a respectable quality of life. This legislation will guarantee that the services available will not be affected by the budget cuts.”

“This year’s state budget failed to support New York’s most vulnerable citizens, falling well short of its necessary commitment to the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities,” said Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis. “I joined my Assembly Minority colleagues in advancing an amendment to restore these critical funds, and this legislation is the next step in our fight to make state government do the right thing for developmentally disabled New Yorkers and their families. We will not give up until this funding is restored so that our local care providers can continue providing crucial programs and services in our community.”