CCC Testimony: New York State Senate Finance Committee and Assembly Ways and Means Committee Hearing on the New York State Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Human Services Executive Budget Proposals

Published February, 2014

CCC submitted testimony about the impact the Governor’s Executive Budget would have on children and families at the February 4, 2014 joint Senate/Assembly Hearing on the Executive Budget for State Fiscal Year 2014-2015.

CCC’s testimony commended the Governor for his plan to Raise the Age of criminal responsibility in New York and make New York a leader in juvenile justice.

Given the budget surplus, CCC’s testimony urged the Governor and the Legislature to adopt a budget that goes further to meet the needs of New York’s children and families. For example, CCC suggested restoring state reimbursement for child protective and preventive services, increasing funding in the Child Care Block Grant, increasing funding for runaway and homeless youth, and funding post-adoption services as well as services for sexually exploited youth. CCC also urged the Legislature and Governor to increase Family Court resources, including 20 new Family Court Judges.

CCC also urged the legislator to enable New York City to implement a short-term, modest tax increase on the wealthiest residents to pay for an expansion of full day universal pre-kindergarten to every four-year old and after-school programs to every middle school student.

CCC’s testimony also focused on areas of concern related to child welfare, early childhood education, juvenile justice, income support, housing and homelessness, and youth services.