Requires the office for people with developmental disabilities to create a staffing plan for workforce emergencies when experiencing staffing shortages

• Democratic12
• Republican3

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Patricia Fahy says this is needed

The Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, in addition to coordinating and certifying supports and services for individuals with developmental disabilities, also is a provider of these services. Several years of stagnant funding has led to staffing shortages at state operated homes and facilities. More than 90 state operated facilities are temporarily suspended or in the process of closing. Hundreds of New Yorkers are facing displacement. For many individuals, this is detri- mental for their personal growth and relationships that they have devel- oped with their housemates and direct care staff. According to the 2019 National Core Indicators Staff Stability Survey report, the annual turnover rate of DSPs in New York State is 36.2%. At the Senate Disabilities Committee hearing on workforce issues in Septem- ber 2021, OPWDD testified that in 2019, 11.5% of all staff hours are overtime hours. The State must take immediate action to address workforce shortages by creating an emergency staffing plan which is triggered by more than 10% vacancies in direct care and clinical staff in any region. OPWDD already has emergency plans for snow and natural disasters, as well as imple- mented an emergency staffing plan during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The low level of staffing warrants an emergency staffing plan to be developed and implemented as necessary to keep individuals with disabilities living fulfilling and meaningful lives.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.