Executive Budget Released!
1. Executive Budget
This week, Governor Hochul released her proposal for the Fiscal Year 2024-25 New York State Budget. CSEA staff have been combing through page-by-page to identify provisions that impact members. There are a number of wins for CSEA members in this proposal, including:
- Removing the 5-day salary withholding for state employees, which will provide additional money up front for new hires.
- Creating 125 new inpatient beds, which will be operated by the Office of Mental Health (OMH).
- Increasing Medicaid funding, which will channel additional funds to our state-operated hospitals.
There are also significant funding increases to the state agencies where our members work, including the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Office of General Services (OGS), Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), and the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS).
Unfortunately, there are also several proposals in this budget that would harm our members. CSEA will be working diligently to oppose these proposals and ensure that they are not included in the final budget. These proposals include:
- Allowing the Governor to close up to five DOCCS facilities.
- Removing the “hold harmless” provision that ensures that our school districts do not get a cut in funding year-over-year.
For more information, we’ve published a summary of the executive budget on the CSEA website. You can access the summary here. CSEA will be presenting our union’s positions on the budget proposal at the Joint Legislative Budget Hearing on Workforce Development and Labor, which will be held on January 30.
2. Waiving “Under the Hood” Test for Bus Drivers
On Wednesday, Governor Hochul announced that school bus driver applicants will be exempt from the engine compartment component of the Commercial Driver License (CDL) road test, also called the “under the hood” component. This will make it easier to get a CDL at a time when school bus drivers are desperately needed. During the road test, applicants will still be required to perform the remaining elements of the CDL vehicle inspection skills test. This new CDL classification, which is set to expire November 27, 2024, will restrict licensees to driving only school buses and only in New York State.
3. Governor Calls Special Election in AD-77
On Thursday, Governor Hochul announced that a special election will be held to fill the vacancy in the 77th Assembly District, which encompasses parts of the Bronx. The vacancy was created by the resignation of Assemblymember Latoya Joyner, who left office earlier this month. The election will be held on Tuesday, February 13, the same day as the special election to replace George Santos in New York’s 3rd Congressional District.
4. Government Shutdown Avoided
On Thursday, Congress passed a short-term funding bill to avert a partial government shutdown that was set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, January 20. The measure extends the two-part funding deadlines to March 1 and March 8, continuing the same levels of funding from last year. House Speaker Mike Johnson faces mounting opposition from members of his party, who object to any compromise with Democrats and are demanding significant spending cuts. This short-term spending agreement may put Johnson’s speakership in peril, as a previous short-term spending bill was the catalyst for ousting previous Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
5. Next Week
Legislative budget hearings will begin in earnest next week, including hearings on transportation, health, and public protection. The legislature will also be in session for three days next week, meeting on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
6. PEOPLE Rewards Update
All PEOPLE contributors should have received an email from AFSCME regarding PEOPLE Rewards. AFSCME is transitioning away from rewards points and they are set to expire March 1, 2024. To redeem your points prior to the expiration, AFSCME has included detailed instructions on how to login to access the PEOPLE Rewards online store. Click here for instructions.
7. CSEA Legislative Toolkit
We’re encouraging members to get the word out about our union’s 2023 legislative successes. Click on icons below for informational documents that you can print, share, and post on social media to spread the news!
Ambulance Direct Payments:
Bumping, Retreating and Rehiring Rights:
Civil Service Exam Announcements:
School Workplace Violence Prevention Programs:
Counting Provisional Time Toward Probation: