Priorities

Facts on Autism
New York Patriot Plan I & II
Assemblyman Roy McDonald’s Rural Recovery Action Plan 2008

Facts on Autism

  • More then a decade ago autism affected 1 in every 500 children, recent reports determine that one in every 150 children is affected, that is a total of 1 to 1.5 million Americans having autism.
  • Unable to estimate the number of autism cases in New York among children without a state-wide registry (A-7942, Rivera P).
  • Over the last decade, autism among children is the fast-growing impairment, in the United States the number of children diagnosed with autism has increased by 500%
  • The New York Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities serves 16,000 persons with ASD in some capacity and provides roughly 4,200 persons with ASD residential care.
  • Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) can be reliably diagnosed by age three, new research is allowing for the ability to diagnose as early as 6 months of age.
  • New York has been sending children with ASD to residential schools out of state due to the lack of proper facilities in-state. In recent years, number of children attending out of state residential facilities has decreased.
  • Many parents claim that there is a severe lack of school choices for children diagnosed with ASD.
  • New York State Department of Education has discussed expanding autism-related services this includes the first ever college-preparation residential school in New York for students (ages 12-21) diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome.

AUTISM LEGISLATION in OTHER STATES

New Jersey

In 2006-2007 Legislative session, the state of New Jersey signed a bill into law that developed a statewide registry of autism diagnoses.

  • The establishment of the New Jersey Adults with Autism Task Force
  • Statewide system of early intervention services for eligible infants and toddlers from birth through age two.

South Carolina

  • On 6/7/2007 passed “Ryan’s Law,” which requires health insurance plans to provide coverage for the treatment of ASD. Also forbids insurers from refusing, treatment or restricting coverage based solely on an individual being diagnosed with ASD.

2007-2008 NYS Legislation Related to Autism

  • (A. 7942/S. 5469) Establishing an Autism Spectrum Disorder reporting system to improve the current knowledge and understanding of autism and to properly plan for and provide services to children with autism.
  • (A. 4437) Creates the Infantile Autism Biomedical Research Act.
  • (A. 539-A/S. 3121) Requires health insurers to provide full coverage for the prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders.
  • (A. 6096-A/S. 3176-A) Enacts the “Better Focus on Autism Now Act of 2007”
  • (A. 7687/S. 5078) Establishes the task force on adults with autism within the Office of Mental Retardation and Development Disabilities. Vetoed by the Governor on June 22, 2007.
  • (A. 9512/S. 6527) Directs the Commissioner of Health to establish a program for the early screening of toddlers for Autism Spectrum Disorders.
  • (A. 8496-A/S. 5610-A) Provides for gifts on tax returns for autism awareness and research
  • (A. 6947/S. 4012) Creates the New York State Autism Council; the council shall consist of sixteen members, and establishes the duties of the council.
  • (A. 8316/S. 5811) Directs a study of the incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorders in New York and an evaluation of state and local programs for persons diagnosed with ASD.
  • (A. 7911-A/S. 5473-A) Directs the Commissioner of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities to publish and distribute to first responders a booklet on persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Signed into law by the Governor on August 1, 2007.
  • (A. 8503/S. 5674) Provides for the Autism detection, education, and mapping program.
  • (A. 8600/S. 5607) Provides tax credit for a certain amount of money expended on the care of a qualifying disabled child.

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PATRIOT PLAN IV PROPOSALS

PATRIOT FAMILY SUPPORT FUND

  • Introduce legislation to allow a person or a business filing a NYS Income Tax return, to deduct for tax purposes, a donation to a tax exempt “Patriot Family Support Fund.”

PERFORMANCE DUTY DISABILITY RERTIREMENT BENEFITS

  • Introduce legislation that provides pervades performance of duty disability for state and local government employees who are members of a military or reserve component and are injured in a combat theater or combat zone of operations.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WAIVER

  • Waive business unemployment insurance due to members of the National Guard and Guard Reserves who are ordered to federal or state active duty for more than 30 days.

EXEMPT MILITARY PAY SUBJECT TO NYS INCOME TAX

  • Military income exemptions: If you are a permanent resident of NYS your federal active duty income tax is not subject to state taxes if you meet all three of the following conditions.
    • Maintain a permanent address in NYS AND serve on a Federal active duty outside NYS for 90 days or longer during the tax year. (May pro-rate portion of time spent in NYS during the tax year to be subject to income tax.)
    • Maintain a permanent place of abode outside NYS for the entire year.
    • Maintain an abode in NYS other than their permanent address while serving on the federal active duty orders.
    • NOTE: Barracks, bachelor quarters, assigned on board a vessel count as a permanent abode

Active duty income also is not subject to tax if the service-member was in a foreign country for at 450 days during any period of 548 consecutive days. (Current rules.)

PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS

  • Introduce legislation to allow additional official military documentation besides the DD- 414 to be eligible for the Veterans Real Property Tax Exemption.

HOME LOAN GUARANTEE

  • Expand Federal home loan guarantee for VA qualified NYS National Guard and Reserve veterans by enacting legislation that would provide a NYS tax credit for the extra .75% difference in funding fee charges between VA active duty veterans and eligible guard and reserve veterans.

AFFORDABLE HOMKE OWNERSHIP FOR DISABLED VETERANS

  • Introduce legislation that will make the Affordable Home Ownership Development Program available to home buyers who are service related disable veterans. This legislation directs the Affordable Housing Cooperation, when determining awards under the Affordable Home Ownership Program, to provide a preference to applications based upon the extent to which the home buyer is a disabled veteran, defined as those with a federal VA disability rating of 40% or higher.

VETERANS ASSISTED FORWARD COMMITMENT MORTAGAGES

  • Introduce legislation authorizing SONYMA to purchase Veterans Assisted Forward Commitment Loans from banks, which would further assist veterans in purchasing homes with low down payments and at favorable interest rates.

VETERANS HOMES, REHABILITATION AND LAND OWNERSHIP ASSOSTANCE LOANS

  • Authorizes the New York State Housing Finance Agency (HFA) to provide purchase and rehabilitation assistance loans to honorable discharge New York State veterans of up to 20% of the value of the home, which could be combined with another primary mortgage to assist with closing costs and the down payment. The home must be owner occupied, and the loan will secured by a second lien on the property.
  • This bill would also qualify veterans to use the loans to purchase real property for the purpose of building a home by making available a loan of up to 20% of the value of the home for rehabilitation and repair, or up to $40,000 for the purchase of unimproved real property.
  • Rehabilitation loans when combined with a primary mortgage could exceed the current market value of the home if the rehabilitation would increase that value enough to that loan.

CHILD CUSTODY AND DIVIRCE PROCEEDINGS

  • The possibility of probability of a military parent being deployed should not be a factor in s child custody determination when a suitable child care plan is presented.

NYS NATIONAL GUARD/RESERVE EDUCATION BENEFITS FOR SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS

  • Surviving dependant family members of NYS military personnel who die on state federal active while performing official duties, shall receive free tuition, room, and board at SUNY or CUNY institution of higher learning.

MILITARY MEDICA AND NYS EMT QUALIFICATIONS

  • Introduce legislation to establish that persons who have completed the Army’s Advanced Individual Training course for Health Care Specialist (medic, MOS 91 W), Navy Corpsman training for Field Medical Service Technician (NEC 8404), or Air Force Para Rescue (AFSC-IT2X1) to be automatically granted certification as an EMT in New York State.

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Assemblyman Roy McDonald’s
Rural Recovery Action Plan
2008

  1. County Reimbursement of State Sales Tax : Return 25% of the total 4% of state sales tax collected back to rural counties for:
    • Infrastructure & Economic Development - Funds to help development and infrastructure projects (roads, bridges & dams, water & sewer, utilities).
    • Fire, EMS, & Senior Care - funds to assist Emergency Medical Services, Volunteer Fire Departments, and Senior Care Agencies.
  2. Support for Fire & EMS : Increase the New York State Emergency Service Revolving Loan Program by $10 million and ass a provision giving rural counties / or rural towns a separate designated category on the application and consideration for approval.
  3. Rural STAR & Enhanced STAR Excelsior Program : Increase the exemption for owner-occupies primary residences in rural counties to $60, 265 and $90, 150 for owner-occupies primary residences of senior citizens in rural counties.
  4. Medical Takeover : Immediate takeover of the Medical program for all counties designated rural.
  5. Empire Zone Expansion & Agricultural Empire Zones : Every rural county will be granted Rural Empire Zone Status designations and receive double the standard acreage designated for standard Empire Zone status.
  6. Distance Makes a Difference : Permanent 50% cut back of state sales tax on gasoline in rural counties.
  7. Utility Cooperatives : Rural schools that voluntary opt into utility cooperatives will receive increased return of state STAR revenues.
  8. Environmental Protection & Open Space : A higher percentage of funds from the Environmental Protection Fund targeted for rural counties and/or towns’ environmental protection and open space initiatives.
  9. Agricultural Tourism & Marketing : Increase the amount of funds designated for rural tourism in rural counties and/or towns including funding dedicated to the “I Love NY” and “Pride of New York” campaigns.

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