Assemblywoman Russell works to restore cuts made to the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities

Issue is crucial to our most vulnerable New Yorkers and their families

            Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell (D-Theresa) announced that a bill she sponsored that would restore up to $90 million to the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) to help nonprofits who work with some of New York’s most vulnerable residents has passed the Assembly (A.6692-C).

            “The services provided with OPWDD funding are vital – cuts cannot be absorbed without causing real pain and suffering to families and individuals who rely on them,” Assemblywoman Russell said. “This legislation goes beyond budgeting – it involves an understanding that if these cuts are not restored, the quality of life for those with developmental disabilities will be diminished.”

            An oversight discovered by the federal government earlier this year forced New York State to pay back $1.1 billion in “overpayments” for services provided to the developmentally disabled. Negotiations with the federal government allowed the state to reduce that amount by more than half to $500 million, reducing the financial burden on OPWDD providers. However, this is what ultimately led to $90 million in OPWDD funding being cut from the final 2013-2014 state budget, well short of what is needed to provide services to those who are most in need.

The final 2013-14 state budget created a workgroup to find savings in OPWDD. The goal is to determine if a restoration of less than $90 million would allow nonprofits to continue to provide the services needed. For instance, if the workgroup found $20 million in savings, then a restoration of $70 million would be needed – not necessarily $90 million. A savings amount has not yet been determined.

“I am proud to join my colleagues in support of this bi-partisan legislation,” Assemblywoman Russell said. “Solving our fiscal issues is never easy, but forcing our most vulnerable populations to suffer the consequences must be taken especially seriously.”

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