Senate Disabilities Committee advances package of bills on employment, oversight and family supports for people with developmental disabilities

Albany, N.Y. — The New York State Senate Disabilities Committee, chaired by Senator Pat Fahey, advanced a package of bills on May 27, 2025, addressing employment, oversight and family engagement for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The committee referred most measures to the Senate Finance Committee or to the Senate calendar for further action.

The most substantive debate touched on Senate Bill S28B (sponsor: Senator Skoufis), a measure to eliminate subminimum wage provisions that allow lower wages for workers based on age or disability. Senator Pat Fahey, chair of the Senate Disabilities Committee, said there is a planned transition timeline so the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) can coordinate moves to other employment “so that, again, we do no harm.” The committee voted to report the bill to Senate Finance.

Committee members also advanced a bill from Senator Ramos to establish a task force to promote competitive, integrated employment for people with disabilities; that bill was reported to the calendar. Several other bills were moved with limited floor discussion, including measures to create advisory bodies and reporting requirements intended to increase family input and system oversight.

A bill by Fahey to create a Blue Ribbon Commission to study New York’s service-delivery system for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities was reported to Senate Finance after the committee recorded its assent. A separate set of measures would formalize family and group-home families working groups and require the Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council (DDAC) to submit an annual report to the Legislature and the governor.

The committee spent more time on a Parker-sponsored bill (S6115) that would allow OPWDD to install video cameras at the entrances and exits of facilities it operates. An OPWDD staff member, identified in the hearing as Greg, provided a cost estimate: “We have estimated that, cost for this bill would be about $2,400,000.” Committee members clarified that the measure contemplates exterior cameras at OPWDD-licensed facilities, including state-operated and many not-for-profit-run residences, and that installation would be a capital expense to be phased in and appropriated by the Legislature if enacted.

Other bills advanced included measures on dyslexia curricula in schools, creation of a statewide residential families committee to solicit input from residents and families about community residences and intermediate care facilities, and a bill directing school districts to establish parent advisory councils on special education. Committee members discussed the difference between existing Committees on Special Education (which focus on individual student plans) and the proposed advisory councils, which are intended as districtwide forums to elevate parental concerns; representatives said the bill would be permissive in composition and could have minimal fiscal impact but might require modest assistance from school staff depending on local resources.

Votes at a glance

- S28B (Skoufis) — Amend Labor Law to eliminate subminimum wage for employees based on age or disability. Action: Reported to Senate Finance. Vote: motion moved; no recorded numerical tally in transcript. Notes: Committee discussion emphasized a phased transition coordinated with OPWDD to avoid harm to current employees.

- S4511 (Ramos) — Establish task force to promote competitive, integrated employment. Action: Reported to the calendar. Vote: Motion recorded as moved; transcript records motion by Senator Prasad, seconded by Senator Weber.

- S4841 (Fahey) — Establish Blue Ribbon Commission on future of service delivery system for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Action: Reported to Senate Finance. Vote: Ayes recorded; clerk announced the ayes prevailed.

- S6115 (Parker) — Permit OPWDD to place video cameras at facility entrances/exits. Action: Reported to Senate Finance. Vote: Motion moved and seconded; transcript includes OPWDD cost estimate of about $2,400,000 and notes that the expense would require appropriation and be treated as capital spending. Coverage: exterior entrance/exit cameras for OPWDD-licensed facilities, including not-for-profit operators.

- S6780 (Jackson) — Amend Education Law for curricula for students identified as dyslexic or with phonological learning differences. Action: Reported to Education. Vote: Motion moved; transcript records 3 ayes and 1 “without recommendation.”

- S7484A (Mayer) — Establish a statewide residential families committee within the DDAC to solicit feedback on community residences and intermediate care facilities. Action: Reported to the calendar. Vote: Motion moved and seconded.

- S7793 (Fahey) — Require the Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council to submit an annual report on activities. Action: Reported to the calendar. Vote: Motion moved and seconded.

- S7794 (Bakke) — Establish a statewide group home families working group within OPWDD to solicit feedback from residents and families/guardians. Action: Referred to Finance. Vote: Motion moved; transcript indicates reports would be sent to legislative leaders, the governor and the commissioner.

- S7826 (Fahey) — Direct school districts to establish parent advisory councils on special education. Action: Reported to the calendar. Vote: Motion moved; transcript discussion noted the measure could have a minimal fiscal impact dependent on local staff resources and that the councils are intended to complement, not replace, individual Committees on Special Education.

Speakers quoted in this report are named as they appeared in the committee record.

Ending

Committee Chair Pat Fahey closed the session after completing the day’s agenda; items referred to Senate Finance or placed on the calendar will return to committees for further review, fiscal analysis or floor scheduling.