SAMPLE LETTER FOR LEGISLATORS

 

[DATE]

 

 

The Honorable [Legislator’s full name]

[Street Address]

Albany, NY [ZIP]

 

Re: New York State Budget FY ’25–‘26

 

Dear [Assembly Member/Senator + last name],

 

I am writing to you today as a/an [advocate, program director, executive director, etc.] at [your organization].

 

New York’s domestic violence programs are in an existential crisis. Several factors are occurring simultaneously to create a serious, unsustainable situation – one that is making it impossible for DV programs to meet the needs of survivors and their families. While the crisis has been worsening since the Pandemic, challenges became even more acute when the federal administration announced in January that it is likely to modify the availability and/or allowable uses of the federal funding streams DV programs rely upon the most.

 

It is critical for the Governor and Legislature to act now to support the needs of domestic violence survivors and their families, as well as the not-for-profit and community-based advocacy organizations that support them, by implementing the following appropriations recommendations in your chamber’s one-house budget bills:

 

1.     Create a $200 million DV Services Transformation and Stabilization Program to systemically change New York’s method of funding DV programs into a more innovative, sustainable, trauma-informed and survivor-centered system.

2.     Increase the Governor’s earmark in the Aid to Localities (ATL) Budget for the state Office of Victim Services (OVS) (page 1040) by $50 million to support the next round of three-year Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) contracts with victim assistance providers;

3.     Stabilize the DV sector’s diminishing workforce and infrastructure by providing a 7.8% increase on the total value of all NYS contracts with primary purpose domestic violence programs that are licensed by the state Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS);

4.     Earmark $9.6 million of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding for non-residential
DV services to meet demand and account for inflation increases over the last 25 years;

5.     Maintain the Governor’s $12.8 million appropriation for rape crisis programs in the ATL budget
and,

6.     Maintain the Governor’s $14.46 million appropriation for child advocacy centers in the ATL budget

 

More information about these requests is available on the accompanying document. Please contact me at [phone number or email], or Joan Gerhardt, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy at the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, at jgerhardt@nyscadv.org, with questions.

 

Thank you for your time.

 

Sincerely,

[Your name and title]

 

 

 

 

NYSCADV’S 2025-2026 Budgetary Priorities

 

 

$200 Million for a DV Services Transformation and Stabilization Program

 

New York’s domestic violence programs are in an existential crisis. Several factors are occurring simultaneously to create a serious, unsustainable situation – one that is making it impossible for DV programs to meet the needs of survivors and their families. While the crisis has been worsening since the Pandemic, challenges became even more acute when the federal administration announced in January that it is likely to modify the availability and/or allowable uses of the federal funding streams DV programs rely upon the most.

 

It is critical for the Governor and Legislature to act now to transform New York’s DV service delivery model – moving away from its near total reliance on federal funding streams, ensuring DV services are sufficiently funded so all victims continue to receive survivor-centered, trauma-informed care; and ultimately ensuring the long-term continuity and sustainability of DV services across the state.

 

The goal of the program would be to fundamentally restructure New York’s DV service delivery system to expand DV programs’ capacity to support DV victims, with a goal of significantly lowering the number of requests for DV services that cannot be fulfilled each year. Program funding would be used to:

·       support development of a more innovative, sustainable, trauma-informed and survivor-centered system;

·       provide planning grants to DV programs and support the participation of local DV programs and the statewide DV coalition in system transformation efforts without disruption; and,

·       ensure local DV programs can continue their life-saving supports for all DV victims, in compliance with New York State law, even if federal funding is no longer available or if significant restrictions are placed on the use of federal funding.

 

FY’25-‘26 Executive Budget: Aid to Localities (S.3003/A.3003)

 

1)     Increase Victim Services Appropriation by $50 Million to Address Federal VOCA Shortfall

Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding is the largest funding source supporting New York’s crime victims, enabling thousands of New Yorkers to access shelter, housing, legal assistance, counseling and more. NYSCADV supports the Governor’s appropriation of $100 million to support 2025-2028 contracts with victim service providers. However, more will be needed to sustain victim services if state VOCA grants continue their decline. To ensure the continuity and accessibility of DV services in New York, we ask the Legislature to increase the Governor’s appropriation by $50 million, for a total of $150 million in the FY’25-’26 budget.

 

2)     OTDA: Provide $9.6 Million for Non-Residential DV Services to Meet Current Demand
In the last five years, the number of DV survivors seeking non-residential services (e.g., service referrals, counseling, legal advocacy and financial empowerment assistance) has increased 63%. Yet the Executive Budget maintains flat funding at $3 million, the same level set 25 years. NYSCADV urges the Legislature to increase this set-aside to $9.6 million in recognition of the increased demand for services and years of inflation.

 

3)     DCJS: Maintain Governor’s $12.8 Million Appropriation for Rape Crisis Programs
The Executive Budget doubles funding for rape crisis centers so they can enhance hospital and community services, expand geographical coverage, support culturally responsive programming and improve access to advocates. NYSCADV supports this funding level and asks the Legislature to maintain it.

 

4)     OCFS: Maintain Governor’s $14.46 Million Appropriation for Child Advocacy Centers
NYSCADV support this earmark for Children’s Advocacy Centers which coordinate the investigation, treatment and prosecution of child abuse cases by utilizing multi-disciplinary professional teams.

FY’25-’26 Executive Budget: Health and Mental Hygiene (S3007/A3007)

 

1)     Part T: Support Legislation and Funding to Increase SAFE Exam Access for Rape Victims
NYSCADV supports this legislation requiring all hospitals to provide access to trained medical forensic examiners for sexual assault survivors and a corresponding $2 million appropriation to support the work and potentially expand telehealth capacity.

 

2)     Part EE: Modify Legislation to Enhance Protections for DV Survivors from Involuntary Commitment
Under Governor Hochul’s proposal, individuals can be involuntarily committed if medical personnel believe the survivor is at substantial risk of physical harm if they are unable to provide for their essential needs, such as “safety or shelter.” This could have the unintended consequence of justifying involuntary commitment in such instances where a DV survivor’s inability to obtain shelter or services could be construed as an inability to provide for their own essential needs, causing substantial risk to themselves (e.g., access to an abuser who could harm them.) NYSCADV urges the Legislature to revise this language to enhance protections for DV survivors.

 

3)     Part FF: Increase Targeted Inflationary Increase to 7.8% and Make OCFS-Licensed DV Programs Eligible for It: The Governor announced plans to address the impacts of inflation on certain human services workers. But once again, her proposal excludes DV advocates from the mix. DV advocates – many of whom are women, people of color and/or LGBTQ+ – do not earn equitable, living wages, yet have been excluded from prior state COLAs and bonuses. New York State must value the critical work of DV advocates and staff by providing a 7.8% increase on the total value of their State contracts. This will ensure DV programs can increase staff wages and address inflationary increases related to benefits, maintenance, utilities, food, supplies, transportation and insurance.

FY’25-’26 Executive Budget: Public Protection and General Government (S3005/A3005)

 

1)     Part A §§ 15, 16 and 17: Support Two-Year Extensions of Certain Laws Set to Expire
NYSCADV supports the Governor’s proposed two-year extensions of New York’s mandatory arrest laws, the use of closed circuit TV and other protective measures for child witnesses, and maximum lengths for criminal Orders of Protection.

2)     Part D: Omit Creation of Misdemeanor DV Crime in One-House Budget Bills
NYSCADV shares the Governor’s goal to keep guns out of the hands of DV abusers by finding an easier way to inform the FBI of convicted abusers who should be unable to purchase or possess firearms. The root causes of New York’s challenges in reporting such information to the FBI, however, have not been identified. Rather than creating a new crime, which could result in many unintended consequences for DV survivors and individuals from marginalized communities, and may not actually resolve the problems, NYSCADV urges the Legislature to omit this proposal from their one-house budget bills and, instead, work with stakeholders to identify the root causes of New York’s failure to submit information to the FBI and, if needed, revise statutory provisions to simplify New York’s process for providing information to the FBI.

 

3)     Part F: Support Elimination of Statute of Limitations for Sex Trafficking Cases
NYSCADV supports this proposal to allow survivors, who often experience significant trauma in coming forward due to fear, manipulation and stigma, the opportunity to seek justice and hold perpetrators accountable even if the crime occurred years ago.

4)     Part G: Support Expansion of Victim Services under State’s Victim Compensation Program
NYSCADV supports increasing the maximum reimbursement rate for funeral expenses to $12,000. In addition, NYSCADV supports the proposal to eliminate consideration of contributory conduct in cases involving the death of a victim. However, we urge the Legislature to eliminate such consideration in all victim compensation cases, not just those involving the death of a victim.

 

5)     Part H: Support Funding and Proposal to Increase Reimbursement for Cost of Forensic Rape Exams and Expand HIV Treatment for Rape Victims
NYSCADV supports this proposal to make it easier for hospitals and Child Advocacy Centers to recoup Forensic Rape Exam expenses at higher levels and allow survivors of rape to receive a full month of HIV post-exposure treatment, rather than just one week.

 

6)     Part I: Support Removal of DSS Credibility Assessments of DV Survivors Seeking Public Assistance
NYSCADV supports the Governor’s proposal permitting individuals seeking public assistance to self-attest to their status as a DV victim to obtain waivers from certain public assistance requirements.

7)     Part J: Support State Agency Requirement to Develop GBV And The Workplace Policies
NYSCADV supports this proposal to clarify that all state agencies issue a Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace Policy and identify a DV liaison to ensure agency compliance. Proposed amendments to OPDV’s enabling statute are not needed, however, as OPDV is already statutorily required to develop such a policy.

 

8)     Part M: Support Protections for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities Against Trafficking
NYSCADV supports this proposal to strengthen criminal penalties for traffickers who intentionally advance or profit from the prostitution of someone with an intellectual disability.

 

Dated: February 14, 2025