State Senate committee advances wide slate of public-health and social-services bills; chair says budget still unresolved

A state Senate committee on Monday advanced a broad package of bills affecting public health, long-term care and social services while the committee’s chair warned the Legislature still lacks a budget.

The committee reported proposals ranging from the Primary Care Investment Act to changes in penalties for adult care facility violations and a five-year plan to address lead in school water. "We still don't have a budget," the chair said at the start of the meeting, adding the panel planned “at least two if not three more” meetings to move remaining agenda items.

Why it matters: The bills, many of them previously considered in the Senate in earlier sessions, would alter how New Yorkers access primary care and emergency insulin, how nursing-home closures are handled, and how the state tracks lead in school drinking water. Several measures would expand Medicaid-covered services and adjust enforcement penalties; many were reported to committee or moved to a later committee for fiscal review.

Notable items advanced

- Primary Care Investment Act (bill 16-34A): The chair described the bill as a way to increase spending on primary care so chronic conditions are identified earlier and systemwide costs fall over time. Senator Ryan moved the bill and Senator Gonzales seconded; the motion was reported to first reading.

- Penalties for safety violations in adult care facilities: An amendment discussed by the chair changes the top penalty from $1,000 per day to up to $2,000 total, aligning penalties with other public health law violations. The chair said the language specifically targets institutions causing direct physical harm to residents; the bill was reported to first reading.

- Emergency insulin program (bill 19-17A): The committee reported a bill to create non-patient-specific emergency insulin orders so people in acute need can receive insulin. The measure was sent to finance.

- Limited nursing services at adult care facilities (SB 3,184): The bill would allow certain facilities to arrange limited nursing services without altering a facility’s designation. Motion carried; sent to first reading.

- Office of the State Medical Indemnity Fund (SB 33-64): The bill would create an office, an ombudsperson and an advisory panel for a state medical indemnity fund; it was reported to finance.

- Nursing-home closure process (SB 42-75): The proposal would formalize community involvement and procedural steps for nursing-home closures; reported to first reading.

- Medicaid for complex care assistance (SB 44-62B): The measure expands Medicaid coverage to pay for complex care assistance services for family caregivers of medically fragile children; reported to finance.

- Personal needs allowance increases (SB 47-44B): The bill would raise amounts residents receive from facilities (nursing homes from $55 to $200; behavioral health settings from $35 to $89); reported to finance.

- Lead in school water reporting (SB 95-39): The committee reported a bill requiring the Department of Health to adopt a more transparent reporting system for lead in school water and to issue a five-year mitigation plan; sent to finance. A committee member urged action: "Keep the lead out of the water," the member said.

Votes and procedure: Most items were advanced by voice vote or unanimous consent; the transcript records repeated "Aye" and "Without rec" responses but does not include roll-call tallies or named vote records for each measure. Where a bill was moved to a later committee (finance or higher education), committee staff will prepare the fiscal documentation required for further consideration.

What’s next: The bills reported to first reading will appear on the Senate calendar for further consideration; those referred to finance or higher-ed committees will await fiscal review. The chair said additional committee meetings are expected as work continues on the budget and remaining legislation.