April 18, 2024

As previously reported, three Article VII final budget bills were printed early this morning.  Below please find updates of interest to NYS Council members on each.  We await the release of the all-important Health Article VII and Appropriation bills which will speak to the final budget outcomes of the NYS Council’s leading priorities.

Revenue Final Budget Bill

Please see attached budget chart created by RMS related to the final Revenue budget bill.  Of note, the final Revenue bill does not include the MCO Tax proposed by the Senate/Assembly in their one house budget/resolution that would place a tax on Managed Care/Health Plans to generate billions in funding for the Medicaid program.  It is possible that some language related to this tax or concept could be included in the final Health or other budget bills which we have yet to see.

Also, note changes to the state adult use Cannabis and medical Cannabis products taxes in the final Revenue bill, similar to proposals in the Executive budget.

Public Protection General Government Final Budget Bill

Part M – Establish Paid Prenatal Leave to provide eligible pregnant employees the ability to take up to 40 additional hours of leave in a 52 week calendar period for prenatal medical appointments in addition to New York’s current 12 weeks of Paid Family Leave. Leave for prenatal visits could be taken in hourly increments. The proposal shall not be construed to require an employer to pay an employee for unused paid prenatal leave upon termination, resignation, retirement or other separation from employment. This will take effect on and after January 1, 2025. – INCLUDED

Part N Increases Short-Term Disability Leave Benefits to increase the maximum weekly payment for eligible employees on short term disability from $170 to two-thirds of an employee’s average weekly wage, capped at two-thirds of the Statewide Average Weekly Wage (SAWW) by 2029 for the first twelve weeks of disability.- OMITTED

Part O – Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act to protect the mental health and safety of children from addictive algorithmic feeds used by social media platforms. – OMITTED

Part P – Child Data Protection Act to prohibit websites from collecting, using, sharing, or selling personal data of anyone under the age of 18, unless they receive informed consent or when doing so is strictly necessary for the purpose of the website – OMITTED

Note, it is possible we could see Part N, O and/or P in another budget bill so we will monitor remaining bills for these as they are printed. 

Transportation Economic Development Environment Final Budget Bill

Part EE- No Cost Sharing for Insulin to require insulin drug coverage is not subject to a deductible, copayment, coinsurance, or any other cost sharing requirement. This would take effect on January 1, 2025, and would apply to any policy or contract issued, renewed, modified, altered, or amended on or after such date.- INCLUDED

Part HH-Strengthening Mental Health Parity Enforcement to raise the penalties that the Department of Financial Services would impose on an authorized insurer, and any representative thereof, that violates any mental health or substance use disorder provision or the federal Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 to up to $2000 per violation. – OMITTED