Legislation will restore funding cuts in this year’s budget
(Long Island, NY) Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci (R,C,WF,I-Huntington Station) applauded yesterday’s announcement that a tentative agreement has been reached to restore funding for the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). Under the terms of the deal, cuts enacted in the state budget will be reversed, either through management efficiencies or an influx of cash. The Legislature will act next week on legislation to restore the funding.
“Many of these individuals are among the most vulnerable in our society, and we have a responsibility to ensure they receive the proper care and support,” said Lupinacci. “Fortunately, all sides have found the courage to do the right thing and take up this proposal to provide meaningful assistance for OPWDD. I want to thank Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg and many of my colleagues in the Assembly who have worked hard to restore this funding.”
Lupinacci is a co-sponsor of this bi-partisan legislation put forward by Weisenberg. If the savings from other cuts fall short of the $90 million needed to restore full funding, state funds will be used to make up the difference.
“Providing these much-needed funds for the most vulnerable in our society isn’t a partisan issue, but an issue of doing what’s right. When the budget was passed, my Assembly Republican colleagues and I offered an amendment to restore this funding. While it took longer than it should have to get this money back, I’m glad an agreement was reached,” concluded Lupinacci.
