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COME TO ALBANY on MONDAY MARCH 13 to PUSH for THE COLA and
HOSPITAL ALTERNATIVES at ���������� RESCHEDULED ALBANY LEGISLATIVE DAY!

The NYS Assembly, Senate, and Governor’s office came together last week to agree on “a two-year revenue that is $800 million above the Executive Budget estimates.”

Both houses are poised to release their separate ‘one house bills’ in the next week or so as to how they propose to spend these additional dollars. Both houses will then convene joint budget committee meetings for each area of the budget, including our mental hygiene ‘table.’. Ultimately, leaders from both houses and the Governor’s Office will reach a final budget deal by April 1.

The bottom line: ���������� members and other advocates for ����������ers with mental health, substance use and trauma-related challenges and the services they receive must go all out in the coming weeks to influence what’re in the one house bills and in the final agreement.

Every other group will be looking to capture these funds so we have to be the loudest!

 PLEASE JOIN A LARGE RALLY IN THE CAPITAL THAT ���������� IS ORGANIZING in ALBANY WITH OUR ALLIES AND COLLEAGUES ON MONDAY MARCH 13, which is the rescheduled date from what would have been last week’s Legislative Day.

Join ���������� members and friends from across ���������� State to come to Albany to advocate for this year’s priorities, including

• an 8.5% Cost of Living Adjustment, $500 million investment and housing increases for community mental health services

• increased funding for housing first, peer support, crisis diversion and mental health first responder initiatives

• rejection of coercive legislative and budget proposals

• passage of Daniel’s Law, Treatment not Jails, Clean Slate criminal justice reform legislation

Our Annual Legislative day will once more feature presentations from advocates and prominent state officials, a roleplay of a typical legislative meeting, a rally, news conference and a round of meetings with state legislators. Breakfast and lunch will be provided as well.

Draft Schedule for the Day

9:30 am             Breakfast, Check-In (get your issue paper packets and hats)
10:00 am           Welcome; Presentations on This Year’s Legislative Priorities
11:00 am           Featured Speakers, Award Presentations, Advocacy Role Play
Noon                 Lunch provided by ����������
1:00 pm             New Conference, Capitol Rally
1:30 pm             Meet with Your Legislators
4:00 pm             Re-group at Your Buses, Return Home

Contact Luke Sikinyi, Public Policy Director, for questions: LukeS@����������.org
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