NY A04046

Requires commissioners of six state agencies (mental health, developmental disabilities, addiction services, temporary and disability assistance, children and family services, and aging) to establish an annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) effective April 1, 2023, for designated human services programs.

COLA amount shall equal the Consumer Price Index for Urban consumers (CPI-U) from the previous July as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, subject to budget director approval and available appropriations.

COLA is inclusive of all other cost of living increases and inflation factors, prohibiting agencies from applying any additional separate cost of living adjustments or trend factors effective April 1 of each fiscal year.

Specifies detailed lists of eligible programs and services across all six agencies, including mental health clinics, developmental disability services, addiction treatment programs, nutrition assistance, foster care programs, and elderly services.

Requires local government units and direct contract providers receiving COLA funding to certify in writing that funds are used first for recruitment and retention of non-executive direct care staff and critical non-personal service costs before any executive compensation increases; allows agencies to recoup misspent funds.