Attached is the OPWDD $90 million restoration bill. As the bill indicates, the actual appropriation can be reduced by federal funds and efficiencies which do not “diminish or impair services.” It is difficult or impossible to determine how much, in the end, will actually be restored as there are a number of factors influencing the outcome.
The bill does not restore the cuts to providers. It does hold the promise of keeping the money in the OPWDD system for new services. While we advocated for a more straightforward version of the bill, in the end we had to accept the version that would be signed by the Governor.
The passage of this legislation means much more than just a restoration for our field and our continued advocacy will be important in the days, months and years to come.
Wini
Winifred S. Schiff
Associate Executive Director for Legislative Affairs
INTERAGENCY COUNCIL
of Developmental Disabilities Agencies, Inc.
150 West 30th Street, 15th floor
New York, NY 10001
o – 212-645-6360
c – 917-750-1497
wini@iacny.org
www.iacny.org