ee Pais a ee ‘STATE OF NEW YORK mae SENATOR hi ry _ALIANY OFFICES: igh March 9, 2015 Honorable Dean Skelos ‘Temporary Presiden & Majority Leader New York State Senate Capital Room 330 Albany. New York 12247 ear Senator Skelos: ‘The Joint Legislative Budget Hearings on the Executive Budget have concluded and members of the Senate Democratic Conference analyzed testimony from a wide varity of stakeholders, ncluding State agencies, advocates, service providers and concemed constituents. After serious consideration of the Executive Budget submission, the Senate Democratic Conference makes the following recommendations as our budget priorities for State Fiseal Year (SFY) 2015-2016. These proposals should be included in the inal Enacted Budget for SFY 2015-16. The value of these budget priorities are balanced, consistent with the SFY 2015-16 financial plan, and responsibly within the recently agreed to revenue consensus. A the oust, our conference is pravely concemed abou the Executive's attempts to legislate policy though is appropriation bills. Ths proposal ases serious questions and is something our Conference as well as the other Conferences in the Senate and Assembly continue to review: While we agree on many of the policy positions themselves, itis important to ensure thatthe constitutional limits on the Executive's powers are not exceeded. Accordingly, in order 10 reserve the legislature's right inthis regard, this eter will not adress the policy proposals that may not properly belong in the budget proces. On these issues, our Conference has staked out ‘lear postions tat inthe ease of ethics reform for example, are even stronger than what is included inthe Executive's budget proposals. Therefore, we look forward to advancing these issucs atthe appropriate time. Our primary responsibility as legislators is to represent Our constituents and preserve the constitutional powers vesed inthe legislative branch ofSenator Dean Skelos March 9, 2015 government. Failure to ensure reasonable limitation on Executive authority would signal an irreversible abrogation of our constitutionally guaranteed legislative responsibility Education The Budget must recognize and adequately address issues reyarding education funding, from universal pre-kindergarten through college. Early investment in our youngest New Yorkers pays dividends not justin the education realm, but also in concrete economic, social, and cultural terms. Teachers cannot be made scapegoats for the ills of our education system. The timely creation of an education redesign team comprised of all stakeholder isthe best way to diseuss and bring about real reforms to beter al stunts, The overall State Aid propasal should provide tan increase to Foundation Aid, address the harmful effects ereated by the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA), and acknowledge the obligations due under the CFE lawsuit. The increases should first target high-need urban, suburban, and high-need rural school districts. Specific increases forthe Big Five city school districts also are necessary this fiscal year. Our Conference recommends the following: ‘+ Include $2 billion in additional funding for the overall education budget; ‘= Reinstute growth aid for districts where enrollment has incressed; ‘+ Increase the BOCES cap on salaries from $30,000 to $5',000; provide funding in a similar manner for Special Services Aids ‘Increase funding by 4.8% for Special Act School Disticts that instruct our most vullierable students, include tuition indexing for Special Act Schools and 853 schools; + Increase funding to 4201 schools by 4.8%; * Allow Special Act schools and 4201 schools to create reserve funds to enable cash flow management ‘+ Provide additional funds for schoo! districts with an increasing number of unaccompanied minors and require the State Education Derartment to ensure that those students are receiving appropriate services; ‘+ Restore $40 million in funding forthe Teacher Centers; ‘+ Fund Library Aid at the 2010 census and increase library construction funds by $14 million; and + Increase Adult Literacy funds by $10 million. Ethies thas become clear that now, more than ever, the State government ust work towards restoring the public's faith in its government. A system of full publi Financing of election campaigns‘Senator Dean Skelos March 9, 2015) ‘would help o level the playing field for those who wish to un for public office, but otherwise could not afford it. The Senate Democratic Conference has always understood the importance of cthies reform, and in the past, has introduced some of the most aggressive policies to date Enaeting reforms appropriately to be considered in the budget process would have a tremendous ‘impact in restoring the public's (rust in our state government Economie Development Micro, small, and medium businesses are major components of the local, state, anc national ceanomy. As New York moves forward in its economie recovery, i is vital that we support those innovators and entrepreneurs. To help accomplish tha objective, any budget proposal should: + Provide $1.5 billion in new capital funding for infiastructure to promote jobs and ‘economie development statewide: ‘© Support $110 million in capital funding for a new round of NYSUNY 2020 and NYCUNY 2020 grants. including $55 million foreach university system; Direct $50 million in new funding forthe Small Business Revolving Loan Fund, targeted to businesses that have had difieuly accessing regular eredit markets and offers regular and miero-loans pursa ‘Increase funds by $5 million for the Minority- and Women-Owned Business Development and Lending Program, which is administered by Empire State Development; + Provide increased finding to promote the goul of ensuring that every New Yorker has access to high-speed broadband service, including underserved and unserved ‘communities in both urban and rural areas; and ‘+ Provide $50 million for Community Development Financial Institutions program, to provide credit. banking services, and investment capita, that are vital tothe revitalization ‘of low and moderate income communities and neighborhoods throughout the state, while leveraging federal and other banking investments Health ‘The SFY 2015-16 Executive Budget provides $28 billion in capital funding for the Health Care Facility Transformation Program. Within this capital appropriation is $1.9 billion for the ‘tansformation of health delivery in Kings County. Oneida County, and essential health care providers in defined and isolated geographic regions of the state. Selection of the projects and distribution ofthese funds would be a the sole discretion ofthe Commissioner of Health,Senator Dean Skelos March 9, 2015 The final budget should amend the Executive Budget language to ensure an allocation of $700 million in capital dollars for Kings County health care transformation. Furthermore the Enacted Budget must ensure the allocation of $1.2 billion in capital funding from the SFY 2014-15 Enacted Budget to improve the financial viability and increased efficiency of healthcare institutions through infrastructure improvemtens in Brooklyn, and in communities throughout the State, Also, language should be included chat provides for a more comprehensive and inclusive seleetion process to allow input from various members ofthese communities, in order to result in detailed projects that meet the health care needs of the communities. The Senate Democratic Conference recommends the following: ‘© Reject the following proposal: (© To consolidate 41 public health programs into $ appropriation pools. In addition, the budget should restore all 41 programs to the SFY 2014-15 Enacted levels and provide an additional $21.3 million in funding; © 15% percent reduction to Roswell Park Cancer Insitute and provide an ‘additional $15.5 million in funding: © Anicle VII language that would authorize the Deparment of Health to establish up to 5 private equity demonstration projects; (© Article VII languaye that would eliminate the requirement for the Department ‘of Health to conduct audits of hospital residents working hours; (© Toeliminate the physician profile website; © Toreduce the Medicare Patt B and Part C cost sharing amounts; © Toachieve savings by requiring 340-B providers to bill managed care plans al the acquisition cost: © To repeal prescriber prevails in Fe, for Service Medicaid; (© Regarding limited service elinis and urgent care centers; and ‘© Eliminate the spousal refusal Article VII language. ‘+ The Budget should not make permanent the Medicaid Global cap, rather it should be extended for two years; ‘© Amend the Article VIL language that would permanently eliminate the tend factor for various health care providers and repeal these rend factors for two years; ‘+ Reappropriate $1.2 billion forthe Capital Restructuring Refinance Program; ‘The Budge should provide Funding for programs including © Community Health Advocates. $5 million; Managed Care Consumer Assistance Program, $1.96 million; ‘American Red Cross, $3.3 million; End of AIDS taskforce recommendations, $17 million for implementation; Increase $2 million for Healthy Eating and Physicel Activity; and Inecease $17 million for Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance.‘Senator Dean Skelos March 9, 2015 Higher Education New York's public higner edueation institutions are increasingly dependent upon tuition revenue, The loss of state tax dollar support forces CUNY and SUNY to compete in an unfair environment for faculty, research dollars and other resources. During such a time, it is unjustifiable to institute a program that would withhold 10% of base aid to ferce improvements already taking place. We should be iavesting in these valuable institutions. The Endowment Fund for Higher Fat sector, and could be used to address the needs of colleges and their students without harmful rami ion ican unprecedented investment in the future of the higher education ions. We should take this opportunity to support our students and colleges to ensure the fuure of New York Site. As such, the Senate Democratic Conference recommends the following: ‘© Create the Endownent Fund for Higher Education using $300 million of the settlement Funds for student financial assistance, providing academic and financial advising, offering, required courses, child care and elder care services, developing programs to address student loan debt. iting full-time faculty, and various other uses; Reject performance-based funding language from the CUNY and SUNY appropriations: + Approve the DREAM Act ‘Restore and expand funding by 15% for child care and Opportunity Programs, including, SEEK and College Discovery, the EOP and EOC at SUNY; and CUNY's ASAP; CUNY LEADS. and HEOP; ‘© Increase EOCs by $5 million; (©. Increase ATTAIN by $10 million; and EOC Capital by $20 million, ‘© Increase College Base Aid by $250 per FTE for both CUNY and SUNY community colleges: ‘© Increase the maxirum TAP award to $6.500, raise the maximum income eligibility limit (Gependent and independent students) and reinstate Graduate TAP; ‘© Increase cxtical maintenance by $181 million for CUNY and $400 million for SUNY lover the next five years: ‘© Restore $18.6 million in legislative addition to SUNY hospital funding; and ‘© Increase CUNY rental aid by $2.9 million.Senator Dean Skelos March 9, 2015: Human Services ‘The human services budget shovld address the needs of New York’s most vulnerable citizens ‘and reflect that reality. With that principle in mind, the Senate Democratic Conference would recommend the following: Aging + Increase funding by $21 million for the Community Services for the Elderly Program that provides non-medical community-based services w frail, low-income seniors to help them remain in their homes. There are currently over 7,000 seniors awaiting services. across the sate; ‘+ Increase the New York State SSI rate by $5 per day and provide a commensurate increase in the Personal Needs Allowance for residents of Adult Care Facilities; ‘+ Restore $1.1 million forthe following senior programs that have been eliminated: © NY Statewide Senior Action Council, Inc-for the patients rights hotline and advocacy project, Reach Out and Read resource center, Hebrew Home at Riverdale. Riverdale Senior Center. Emerld Isle Meals on Wheels, Greater Whitestone Taxpayers and Civic Associaton Senior Center, Flushing Senior Center serving Mitchell Linden Community, North Flushing Senior Center at College Point, and Lifespan Elder Abuse Prevention Program; + Include (© $8.2 millon for the NY Connects Program: and ‘© $126.5 million forthe Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage Program. Social Services = Tnclude: (© $17.3 million for the Advantage Afterschool Program; © $794 million for child care subsidies; * anadditional $100 million wo serve agproximatey 13,000 children who are: eligible and currently on waiting lists © $30 million for the Summer Youth Employment Program; * an additional $193 millon in funding to allow for an extra 10,000 program slots to meet demands © A2% cost of living adjustment increase for foster care and adoptive parents, as well as direct care. direct eare support workers, and clinial staff, beginning AprilSenator Dean Skelos March 9, 2015 1, 2015. Expand upon the proposal to ensute the funding allocated is sufficient to ‘cover the state and local share of COLA costs previously enacted by the State; 3635 millon for Child Welfare Services; $275,000 for employment training for the legally blind; ‘$20 million for the Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies; ‘$12.1 million for Community Optional Prevention Services (COPS); 827 million of che JP Morgan settlement funds to cover a portion of the eosts for the cap on tent for individuals diagnosed with HIV or AIDS who are receiving, housing assistance or emergency shelter aid, up 10 30% of household income; and (© $25 million for the New York State Office for New Americans to inetesse the assistance provided 0 young people seeking Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and 10 provide help for those seeking Deferred Action for Parental ‘Accountability + Increase: ‘© $3 million for Settlement Houses; ‘©. Funding for Runaway and Homeless Youth Assistance (RHYA) by $2.4 million or use in providing addtional shelter beds, long-term transitional living beds, and support services: ‘©. Funding by $3 million forthe Nurse Family Partnership Program; (© Funding by $14 million forthe Pay for Success Program specific to the Nurse Family Partnership Initiative; and ‘© Kinship Caregiver/ Navigator program funding by $1 million, Restore: ‘©. $28.2 million in funding for TANF Initiatives; ‘©. Funding of $1.3 million forthe Youth Development Program; and ‘© Funding for Safe Harbor Programs. ‘Fully reimburse federally funded Emergency Assistance for Families. Labor & Workforce Iv is critical for the Enacted Budget to address properly the needs of public and private sector employees. While the State’s unemployment rate has dropped, the State must pay additional attention to keeping and preserving good paying jobs, supporting critical workforce training, and promoting efficient public services that employ diligent public emsoyees, The Senate Democratic Conference has stood by the right for fiir pay and understands the importance of raising the minimum wage for the lowest wage earners. We believe the proposedSenator Dean Skelos Maich 9, 2015: ‘minimum wage increase is to be applauded but that the Executive Budget should go a step further by providing yearly increases indexed to inflation, as well 9§ local control. Until the Governor's minimum wage proposals are accepted and implemented, our Fair New York plan can serve as a bridge between the current minimum wage and the anticipated increase. These ditional measures will ensure thatthe minimum wage truly meets the needs of New Yorks wage eamers. Our Conference rejects the continued efforts to undermine the competitive civil service system using temporary. non-competitive positions to handle critical state services. Additionally, we support the rights of curent employees to maintain current work in any structural shils among agencies, such as a shared services agreement between the Department of ‘Transportation and the Thruway Authority. The Senate Democratic Conference recommends the following: # Add to the Governor's minimum wage proposal @ yearly increase, indexed to the ‘Consumer Price Index; and allow forlocal contol; ‘Unless and until the implementation of an increased minimum wage occurs, include $900 million from the settlement monies to fund the Low Wage Worker Stimulus. This ‘measure would provide 1a eelieFto working New Yorkers; + Include $5 million in funding forthe Youth Build Program; ‘Increase the Department of Labor's budget by $20 million to support new enforcement FTES to address wage theft; ‘© Restore $12.6 million in labor initiatives and waining programs cut in the Executive Budget, ‘+ Eliminate the authority to he provisional, non-competitive eivil service employees in the Oftice of information Technology Services and Department of Health; ‘+ Ensure that all current Management'Confidential titles, including those represented in union tiles in 2009-2010, as well as employees who were MIC tiles in 2009-2010 and ‘are now represented in union titles, are covered by the M/C pay parity proposal; + Require any changes in work among public employees in the Department of Transportation and the Thruway Authority to occur pursuant to collective bargaining with employee representatives; and ‘© Support the expansion of the State's Urban Youth Job Tax Credit Program, however provisions must be included to allow all existing credit recipients and localities in the Youth Works Job Tax Program to continue to participate in the Program and receive State tax credits.Senator Dean Skelos March 9, 2015 ‘Mental Hygiene The SFY 2015-16 Executive Budget continues to build onthe transformation of service delivery that began as part of the SFY 2014-15 Enacted Budget and proposes to reduce the number of beds in State operated facilities and transfer those savings into community based services throughout New York State. The SFY 2015-16 Enacted Budget should ensure that all savings achieved through the reduetion of beds at State operated facilites be reinvested into community based services for metal hygiene agencies, The Senate Democratic Conference recommends the following: ‘= Include an additional $10 million for public education and awareness, treatment prevention, and residential programs targeted at heroin or opiate abuse; ‘Include $5 million for comprehensive problem gambling prevention initiatives: and ‘+ Extend for one year the Adicle VII language authorizing facility directors of State ‘operated facilities to use patent funds to pay for treatment and care costs. General Government & Local Assistance ‘A strong and enduring partnership between cities, towns and state government is essential to a healthy and expanding ceonomy. It gives local governments the ability to provide world-class ‘education and municipal services, and ensures safe streets and neighborhoods. This type of partnership is extremely necessary to assist loeat governments in maintaining local roads and Vital infrastructure, This is fundamental 1 our state's economic success and competitiveness. The following budgetary considerations would provide cites and towns with much needed funds to deliver vital services that are critical to our overall economic growth, and would ensure that today’s municipal overreliance on the property tax will not deepen: ‘Increase AIM by 10% for local governments with the greatest needs; ‘+ Provide further AIM assistance to those localities that meet the challenge to consolidate costs and improve local efficiencies inthe coming years; ‘+ Exempt capital equipment purchases and capital projects from the tx cap, giving local governments more flexibility to invest in loca infrastructure; ‘= Repurpose the $150 million appropriation (Special Infrastructure Account) for municipal restructuring for local yovernment assistance statewide and reimbursing municipalities tor prior year consolidation and or shared service agreements; © Restore VLT Impact Aid; Restore § 2 million to Community Dispute Resolution Centers;Senator Dean Skelos March 9, 2015; ‘+ Provide $50 milion for Body Cameras program that would reimburse local and State law cenforeement agencies for the purchase of such dovices and additional monies to provide for associated expenses including storage services. The Division of Criminal Justice Services is the State Ageney to supervise this program atthe State and local level: and ‘Provide $300 million for Capita Infrastructure Bank program that would provide funding {or major capital investments not otherwise covered by other State programs. Public Protection The Executive Budget proposes to raise the aye of adult criminal responsiblity to 18 years of age to provide appropriate treatment to minors charged with crimes. The Enacted Budget must include language explaining how this provision will be efficiently implemented, The Office of Court Administration needs funding 10 implement the provisions of the “Raise the Age” ‘compaign. Additionally, this Conference recommends the following: ‘© Provide additonal monies from the OILS Account to cover all counties for indigent counsel at arraignment and possibly fund the Defenders Association; ‘Increase finding by 5.5% for Domestic Violence Centers to cover increased costs; ‘+ Include funding to restore existing Altemative to Incarceration program cuts and increase funding for culturally sensitive community based and other youth engagement programs; and ‘© Include additional monies Prisoners Legal Services. ‘Access to supportive housing and Affordable Housing is the most suecessful and cost-effective solution to ending homelessness. At this time, the number of homeless families and single individuals has increased at an alarming rate in the city of New York. As primarily outlined in ‘our surplus! settlement fund proposal, the Senate Democratic Conference wants to take action on this issue and propose the following: + Increase funding for NY/NY IV by $540 million to build an additional 30,000 now housing units for low income New Yorkers. HIV/AIDS rent cap, substance abuse, and mental hygiene programs; ‘+ Fully find New York “Mixed Income” Housing Program in the amount of $400 millon for affordable housing for households; 0Senator Dean Skelos March 9, 2015 ‘+ Provide $100 miltion in additional funding to provide legal counsel for indigent New ‘Yorkers in housing court ‘= Ensure tha the Office of Rent Administration and the Tenant Protection Unit receives additional operating funding; $15 million to ORA with an understanding that $5 Million yors to TPU ‘© Provide additional ste support in the amount of $400 million for New York City Housing Authority wo make repairs, ‘Include $50 million for the Middle Income Repairs and Revitalization program in New York State: and * Fully fund State Low Income Housing Tax Credit, Housing Trust Fund, Affordable Home Ownership Development, and Urban Initiatives Program at $250 million to build, acquite/rehabititate or improve homes for low and moderate income families and provide grants 1 construct or renovate low-income housing preservation and community renewal activities in distressed neighborhoods. ‘Agriculture & Environment Sewage and wastewater treatment facilities in New York State are deteriorating. Almost all of| ‘New York's residents rely on these facilities to treat sewage and wastewater from their homes and businesses. ‘Treating wastewater adequately is essential for public health and economic development. This issue is of extreme importance to the Senate Democratic Conference. ‘Consistent with our surplus! settlement proposal, we woul: ‘© Fully support the adition of $800 million in capital funding for clean water and ‘wastewater infrast ‘© Reject the proposed $36 million transfer of Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative proceed 10 the Gener Fund! Utilize increased Real Estate Transfer Tax revenue to fully fund the Environmental Protection Fund; ‘© Extend and reform the Brownfield program; ‘© Fully restore funding for Centers of Excellence in Children's Environmental Health; ‘+ Fully restore and adequately fund Aid to Localities agricultural programs; ‘= Increase capital funding for farmland protection by $150 million; and ‘© Fully fund Urban Parks and Park Improvements at $125 million to improve the quality of green spaces in densely populated neighborhoods where park access and safe, modern amenities are often spars. ture projects;Senator Dean Skelos March, 2015 Taxes and Revenue ‘The US and New York State economies have continued to recover fram the “Great Recession.” However, real waye growth sill has been relatively weak both in the nation and the state Furthermore. continuing long-term trends, fundamental components of maintaining an aeceplable middle class standard of living such as quality health care and higher education are becoming increasingly unaffordable or unattainable, We strongly believe itis vital that working families across all regions of the state obtain conerete and immediate tx relief in this SFY 2015- 16 State Budget. Our recommendations regarding Stale taxes and revenue include: ‘© Support reform af NYC corporate taxes inthe Executive Reverue Bill (S.2009, Part QQ) 8s proposed by Mayor DeBlasio; Support inclusion of the Real Property Tax Relief Credit (°Cireuit Breaker”) withthe following modifications: (© Increase the maximum renters credit to $750 upstate and to $1000 for downstate regions; + Increase the rent equivalent tax percentage from 13.75% to 20%; ‘+ Support provisions ofthe Revenue Bll (S.2009, Part OO) which expand electro at VLT facilities by redefining the term video lotery gaming (VLG). We have serious coneems about Part Il of the Revenue Bill authorizing mul-agency data sharing 10 enhance enforcement ctivities. The Office of the State Comptrolier has also expressed ‘concerns about this proposal, The Executive Budget propases to allow member agencies to submit agency data wo the shared data base even if other state laws specifically prohibit the sharing or disclosure of such data; ‘+ Restore the Sate tax debt threshold required to suspend NYS driver licenses to $10,000 from the proposed $5,000 in Part EE of the Revenue bill; + Review all existing State tax expenditures in order to determine if they are not ‘economically efficient and directly promote job and wage growth; and ‘Amend the existing NYS Real Property Tax Law for school districts experiencing issues ‘of incongruent property valuations to establish a special equalization rate for the purpose ‘of determining its State operating and building ad Transportation Capital expenditures in transportation have a tremendous economic multiplier effect and the existence of adequate critical infastructure serves as an economic driver. This year's budget shows that significant investments are required t finance the New York State Department of | 2Senator Dean Skelos March 9, 2015 ‘Transportation and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority 5-year Capital Plans at levels safiient to improve state of good repair and perm sound regional development. In addition to supplementary funding for these Capital Plans, the Democratic Conference puts forth the following budgetary and legislative recommendations: ‘+ Increase funding for the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program by using $200 rillion of bank settlement proceeds to make a significant impact on local road and bridge capital needs: ‘+ Provide $200 millon for deficient bridge emergency repair to assist with remedying the many structurally deficient and functionally obsolete bridges: ‘+ Renew and increase the Extreme Weather Program, to $100 million for local ‘governments assistance: ‘© Dedicate $20 milion of federal highway funding fr bike and pedestrian infrastructure, ‘providing consisteney forthe Transportation Alternatives Program that DOT has in plac ‘+ Provide $175 million of the bank settlement proseeds to invest in nom-MTA transit capital, addressing long-term needs. Permit non-MTA. downstate operators to use their ‘817 million in “surplus” aid for a year-to-year increase in operating assistance to reflect inflationary growth: ‘Link upstate transit aid (PTOA) to a more reliable funding stream thet adjusts to changing, economic conditions; + Provide funding for the construction of the new Tappan Zee Bridge, as well as for the ‘Tappan Zee Bridge's Bus Rapid Transit service (@ provide the Lower Hudson Valley ‘with affordable, environmentally-fiendly transit opportunities; ‘+ Oppose sweeps of the MMTOA fund, to increase MTA's self-sufficiency and provide greater financing leverage. and reduce a portion of the state's burden to assist in completing is five-year capital program; ‘+ Increase transparency in DOT Capital Plan and MOU process. The entire legislature should atthe very least review the five-year capital plan and MOU before voting: ‘= Restore the State's historical contribution of $45 million for student fares, 2 $20 million increase trom the current contibution level: and ‘Fulfill the State's promise to NYC to fund a 38% share of rehabilitation costs for roads and bridges and to fully reimburse $40 million forthe costs of maintenance of State~ ‘owned arterial highwaysSenator Dean Skelos March 9, 2015 Veterans Providing service members and veterans of our armed forces with the services they need to live full and dignified lives isof the utmost importance. Ensuring that all of our veterans are housed, employed, and receiving the legal services they need should be top priorities. Therefore, our Conference recommends the following: + Fund female veterans homelessness prevention, and employment assistance initiatives: + Increase funding for Veterans’ Regional Advocacy centers by $1 millon; Fully fund the Defenders Association request for $3 million which includes $1 million for Defense of Veterans; and ‘+ Increase funding forthe number of FTE Veteran Counselor postions te support returning veterans and ensuring benefit accessibility, The inereased number of 2ositions and new centers would ensure qualified veterans are able to receive appropriate documentation and refeeal services from Veteran Counselors which would include New York City in the program, ‘Thank you for your consideration Ser, , LZ, i le due. (leusine m So Senay Anda SevansConka~S Sear a Rreger Lender Some Denar Cofonce Ramng Meme Senate Fance Comite ©: Govemor Andrew M. Cuomo ©: Speaker Carl F. Heastie