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Friday, 20 June 2008 |
· DSP OVERTIME BILL FLYING THROUGH NYS LEGISLATURE
· BOARD GOVERNANCE BILLS
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ACTION ALERT: NYSACRA News & Views
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Issue No. 27-08
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June 20, 2008
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Open Your Eyes! Watch it Now!
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NYSACRA Calendar
Executive Positions
Action Center
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Greetings NYSACRA Members!
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· DSP OVERTIME BILL FLYING THROUGH NYS LEGISLATURE
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In the waning days of the NYS Legislature, there are a few bills that would have a devastating impact on providers ability to staff services. NO DSP OVERTIME A. 11481-a (by Assemblyman Tim Gordon) / S. 8547 (Rules) would prevent mandatory overtime of more than 16 hours consecutively worked. This bill was amended last night to include a bare minimum "emergency" clause that states, "except in cases of extraordinary emergency including fire, flood or danger to life or property". There are still many unclear aspects of the bill. This bill does not address the base problem faced by all developmental disability providers; staffing shortages. Surely no employer wants to have DSP employees work longer than 16 hours consecutively, and providers don't have such policies. That situation doesn't serve anyone well, not the person receiving services, the employee or the employer. However, emergencies do arise and safety is paramount.
WHAT CAN YOU DO? 1. Please send us a paragraph that succinctly states how an OT ban would impact your agency staffing situation. 2. Contact your State Senator and Assembly Member TODAY and tell them you oppose A.11481-A / S. 8547, and the devastating impact it would have on the services you provide. Involve your parent networks, ask them to explain how this would be a step backwards in a system already affected by staffing shortages, and puts at risk the ability to ensure adequate staffing for the safety and welfare of people receiving services.
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· BOARD GOVERNANCE BILLS
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There are two other bills, one recently introduced and passed last night, A. 11499 / S. 8047-a, would require boards to adopt policies and guidelines with regard to: 1. the establishment of executive compensation, including but not limited to requirements that a comparability analysis be utilized and documented, and that the full compensation package be disclosed to and approved by the board; 2. full disclosure of potential conflicts of interest by board members; and; 3. operating procedures in the event of emergency situations affecting the health or safety of individuals with disabilities served by the agency or the fiscal viability or integrity of the agency. The bill would also mandate that OMR establish minimum training requirements for agency boards. The other board governance bill, A. 11430 (Rivera), would mandate that board members of providers be listed on the OMR website along with executive compensation; this bill has no Senate sponsor, yet. NYSACRA will keep you updated in the next few days regarding these and any other legislative activity. |
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