Budget Summary
Staff Contact: Ken Pokalsky
The State Legislature completed action this week on a reported $121.7 billion state budget for Fiscal 2009.
According to the Division of Budget, the final agreement cuts $1 billion from state agency spending (resulting in a state operations increase of just 1 percent); $828 million of savings within the state’s health care budget (including pharmaceuticals, insurance, nursing homes, home care and others) resulting in a 1.2 percent increase in state Medicaid spending, excluding the local cap; a 2 percent ($270 million) reduction in local assistance programs (excluding local school aid); and one year delay in extending middle class STAR rebates (a savings of $354 million).
The final budget also includes about $950 million in new revenue measures, including nearly $700 million in new business taxes and fees.
Major spending initiatives included a $1.75 billion increase in state funding for elementary and secondary schools; funding for the expansion of Child Health Plus to cover an additional 70,000 uninsured children; a total of $1.6 billion in “economic development” capital; and nearly $6 billion of capital funding for SUNY and CUNY senior colleges and community colleges.
The Business Council has prepared a narrative summary of budget provisions of interest to Business Council members, which is available from our web site by clicking here. We encourage you to follow up with Business Council staff if you need any additional information, or if you would like to discuss any of these budget provisions in detail.
Executive Order on State Energy Plan
Staff Contact: Heather Briccetti
Governor Paterson has issued an Executive Order to re-establish the state’s energy planning process. The text of the Executive Order is available here. 
The Order creates an eleven member board, comprised mostly of state agency heads, to be chaired by Paul DeCotis, the Governor’s Deputy Secretary for Energy.
The Board’s directive is to develop long-term energy policy objectives; do demand forecasts for up to ten years for electricity, natural gas, coal and petroleum; assess existing energy infrastructure; project energy prices; assess the cost and benefits of alternative energy sources; consider the impact of energy markets on economic development; evaluate environmental justice aspects of the state’s energy systems; and make recommendations for legislative and administrative measures to implement the state’s energy policies.
The Board is directed to issue a draft plan by March 31, 2009 and a final plan by June 30, 2009. The Board is charged with doing updates every three years.
HR Legislative Day-April 15th
Staff Contact: Tom Minnick
For those Business Council members interested in a review of New York State labor standards’ for employers, a focused look at issues related to the employment of, a discussion of the ins and outs of offering student internships, and the fundamentals of our state’s unemployment insurance process, you should consider attending our Annual Human Resources (HR) Day, to be held April 15 in Albany
Registration is easy through our on-line registration feature, available here. The program (agenda available here) will be held at the Legislative Office Building. Lunch and free parking are part of the registration.
All Business Council members are encouraged to participate.
Setback for Broadwater Project
Staff Contact: Heather Briccetti
Governor David Paterson announced yesterday that the Broadwater project – a floating liquid natural gas terminal proposed for Long Island Sound - violates the Coastal Zone Management Act and is therefore inconsistent with the values and uses of the Sound. The Department of State found the proposed LNG terminal to be "inconsistent" with state coastal zone management policies.
Broadwater Energy had hoped to have the facility in operation in 2011, taking on super-cold liquefied natural gas from tankers, heating it to return it to a gaseous state, then shipping west via a new 25 mile-long pipeline to have been laid on the Sound floor.
This announcement came despite the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s unanimous decision last month to approve the project and the Long Island Power Authority commissioned report finding that the billion cubic feet of additional gas from Broadwater would have saved New Yorkers a total of $14.8 billion in natural gas and electricity costs between 2010 and 2020.
Washington Update
Staff Contact: Maggie Moree
H-1B Visa Cap Reached on Day 1, F-1 Visa Extensions Granted
As expected, the H-1B Visa cap was reached the first day visas were available. One small window of opportunity came from the Department of Homeland Security which released an interim final rule extending the period of Optional Practical Training (OPT) from 12 to 29 months for qualified F-1 non-immigrant students. The extension will be available to F-1 students with a degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics who is employed by businesses enrolled in the E-Verify program.
Another aspect of the rule responds to the situation in which an F-1 student’s status and work authorization expires before he or she can begin employment under the H-1B visa program. The interim final rule addresses this problem by automatically extending the period of stay and work authorization for all F-1 students with pending H-1B petitions.
Business
Council Meeting Schedule
- Tort Reform Tax Day Breakfast Meeting
April 15, 2008
8:30 to 10:00 am
The Business Council of New York State Office
152 Washington Avenue
Lower Level Conference Room
Albany, NY
Registration contact: Janet Carroll
- Construction Industry Council and Department of Labor Meeting
April 24, 2008
1:00 to 3:00 pm
The Business Council’s Corporate Woods Offices
12 Corporate Woods Blvd.,
Albany, NY
Registration contact: Janet
Carroll
Business Council Events for 2008
Human Resource Conference & Legislative Day
April 14 – 15, 2008
State Capitol and Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY
Last chance to be a part of this important day. Labor Department personnel will cover topics including the unemployment insurance process, meal & rest period requirements in New York State, employer deductions from paychecks, paid and unpaid internship situations, the employment of minors, call-in pay and more.
Annual Conference on State Taxation
May 13 – 15, 2008
Gideon Putnam
Saratoga Springs, NY
Commissioner Robert Megna scheduled to speak at the Conference. Complete program is now available. Room reservations can be made directly with the Gideon Putnam Resort & Spa at the discounted conference rate of $144. Call the Gideon at 518.584.3000.
Spring Environment Conference & Green Business Expo
June 3, 2008
Crowne Plaza Albany Hotel
Albany, NY
First “Green Business” Expo and Conference
Annual Homeland Security Congressional Exchange
June 18 – 19, 2008
Washington, DC
Join us in Washington, DC for the 2008 Annual Congressional Exchange
First Annual Business Council Member Golf Classic
July 23, 2008
Leatherstocking Golf Course, The Otesaga Hotel
Cooperstown, NY
Baseball Hall of Famer, Dave Winfield to speak. Registration information will be available soon. If you are interested in Sponsorships, contact Ellen Muir.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to
contact the Conference Development Department.
Phone: 1-800-358-1202
Online: www.bcnys.org/events.htm
Email: Events@bcnys.org
