For Immediate Release: April 1, 2019

Contacts:         Elysia Murphy, emurphy@cccnewyork.org (212) 673-1800 x18

Raysa S. Rodriguez, rsrodriguez@cccnewyork.org (212) 673-1800 x17

CCC applauds the Governor and State legislature for reaching an agreement and adopting a budget for the State’s fiscal year 2019-2020 that includes important legislative reforms. Among these are the passage of The DREAM Act, The Child Victims Act, bail reform, the Comprehensive Contraceptive Coverage and Reproductive Health Acts, and codification of the Affordable Care Act and the New York State Health Exchange. We know that these legislative victories will provide critical supports and protections for immigrant youth, survivors of sexual assault, women, and New Yorkers living in poverty.

The State 2019-2020 Adopted Budget also includes increased resources that promote youth justice, educational equity, maternal health, and adequate representation of all New Yorkers. Among these investments are Raise the Age (RTA) implementation funds, continued diversion and respite resources to protect at-risk youth (PINS), increased education aid, rate increases for some Early Intervention providers and funding for Census 2020 outreach.

CCC is deeply disappointed, however, that the budget agreement does not go far enough in investments in services for young children with developmental delays and disabilities, fails to create a statewide rental subsidy to tackle family homelessness, and continues to underfund preventive services that strengthen families. Moreover, the budget agreement has a disproportionate harmful impact on New York City’s children and families in need with significant cost-shifts to the City in the areas of public health and public assistance and family shelter. CCC looks forward to continuing to work with both the Governor and the State Legislature to make progress in these areas in the year ahead.

Citizens’ Committee for Children is an independent multi‐issue child advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure every New York City Child is healthy, housed, educated and safe. For more information on CCC, visit cccnewyork.org.