Senate’s One-House Budget Proposal Includes Funding for Daniel’s Law, Schools and Rochester Community Investments

State Sen. Samra Brouk says the New York State Senate’s Democratic majority budget proposal includes several investments aimed at strengthening mental health services, supporting working families and increasing funding for Rochester-area programs.

NYS Senator Samra Brouk - D, Rochester

The Senate approved its “one-house” budget resolution Thursday, outlining the chamber’s priorities as negotiations begin with the Assembly and Gov. Kathy Hochul over the final state spending plan.

Brouk said the proposal reflects input gathered from residents during her annual Rochester-area budget forum and through meetings with constituents throughout the legislative session.

“We secured significant wins for our district and state in this year’s New York State Senate One House Budget,” Brouk said in a statement. “In spite of the federal administration’s devastating cuts to critical programs that impact every single New Yorker, the Senate prioritized the health, education and financial security of our residents.”

Mental health and Daniel’s Law

The Senate plan includes $15 million to expand pilot programs tied to Daniel’s Law, legislation first introduced by Brouk in 2021 following the death of Daniel Prude.

The law is intended to create a statewide system where trained mental health professionals respond to behavioral health emergencies rather than police.

New York previously invested $8 million in pilot programs and created a Behavioral Health Crisis Technical Assistance Center. Earlier this year, Rochester’s Person-in-Crisis response team received $2 million as part of the initiative.

The Senate proposal would expand crisis prevention programs statewide.

Health care and workforce support

The budget resolution also includes several health-related initiatives, including:

• A 4% cost-of-living increase for mental health and human services workers

• $10 million for state-operated Assertive Community Treatment teams to assist individuals with severe mental illness

• $270 million for the State-Share Healthcare Stability Fund, which includes support for Upstate CINERGY nursing home partnerships

• Expansion of Medicaid coverage for licensed creative arts therapists

• $300 million for health care facility capital grants

• $350,000 for the Veterans Mental Health Training Initiative

The proposal also includes protections for the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program, which supporters say helps hospitals and clinics reduce prescription drug costs for patients.

Support for children and families

The Senate budget proposal includes new spending aimed at schools, child care and family services.

Among the provisions are a minimum 2% increase in Foundation Aid for school districts, $500 million for a child care worker retention program and $105 million for community schools, including those in the Rochester City School District.

Lawmakers also proposed $180 million for Learning and Enrichment After-School Program Supports (LEAPS), intended in part to address the potential loss of more than 1,000 after-school program slots in Monroe County.

Additional funding includes:

• $18.5 million for diaper access programs

• $15 million for the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program (WIC)

• $14.1 million for library materials aid and $10 million for library operating aid

Investments in Rochester and upstate communities

The Senate plan also includes $40 million in new aid for the City of Rochester and changes to the $225 million Monroe-Rochester Initiative, allowing funds to be used for public safety and security equipment.

Other proposed investments include:

• $200 million for an Energy Affordability Program aimed at lowering utility costs

• $75 million for the Environmental Protection Fund

• $100 million for lead pipe remediation projects

• $22 million for emergency food programs, including Nourish NY and Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance

• $3 million for the Double Up Food Bucks program

The budget also proposes increasing the volunteer firefighter and ambulance worker tax credit to $600.

Lawmakers also included $8 million for public broadcasting stations, including Rochester-based WXXI Public Broadcasting Council.

Next steps in negotiations

The Senate’s one-house budget represents one step in the state’s annual budget process. Negotiations will now take place between the Senate, the Assembly and Hochul’s administration before lawmakers approve a final state budget.

The state budget is typically due April 1, the start of New York’s fiscal year.