Lawmakers in Mental Hygiene committee urge 7.8% COLA for direct‑care workers, stress crisis‑response planning

At a joint session of the New York State Legislature's Mental Hygiene Joint Conference Committee, lawmakers said they broadly support a 7.8% cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) for direct‑care workers and urged continued work on crisis intervention services, including legislation commonly called Daniel's Law.

The committee co‑chairs opened by reviewing subcommittee procedures, including that co‑chairs determine parliamentary matters, alternates may participate but cannot vote unless designated to fill an excused vacancy, no proxy voting is permitted, and that no report shall be filed except upon an affirmative vote of a majority of each House delegation. Sierra Stevenson and Ankeisha Murray were named as the recording secretaries for the Assembly and Senate, respectively. Agencies listed for future budget discussion included the Department of Mental Hygiene, the Office of Addiction Services and Supports, the Office of Mental Health, the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, and the Justice…