NYATEP'S ADVOCACY AGENDA
2025 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
During a time where New York is facing a significant labor shortage, we must eliminate the barriers that hinder New Yorkers from getting a job or advancing into higher wage employment.Â
Investing in skills training and supportive services are critical to our economic recovery. Improved policy can support low income New Yorkers gain access to family sustaining employment and provide businesses a trained pipeline of skilled workers.
RECOMMENDATIONSÂ
Office of Strategic Workforce Development
NYATEP is advocating for the final enacted budget to include annual funding for the office and specifically dollars allocated to fund scaling effective job training, coaching, supportive services (transportation, childcare, etc.) and employment activities. Workforce Development is critical to the State’s ability to realize its economic development investments.
Recommendation 1:Â
Annually Fund the Office of Strategic Workforce Development.
Recommendation 2:
Spend down the current funding to those that have fit the criteria, applied and been accepted.
Income Disregard Eligibility
The FY 2023-24 Enacted State Budget included a one-time income disregard for individuals whose income doesn’t exceed the 200% federal poverty level (FPL) and completing an approved employment program can retain full public assistance benefits for six months for purposes of mitigating a “benefits cliff.” While we are in support of the Income Disregard, NYATEP and our members are concerned that the language limits the number of people participating due to the 200% FPL cap.
Recommendation:
For the 2025-2026 Executive Budget please remove the following language that states a recipient’s total income shall not be more than 200% of the federal poverty level or increase the FPL to 400%.
As written, the language limits the number of participants that are on a career pathway to benefit from this income disregard.
(New) New Yorker Opportunities
The Hochul Administration responded to the 2023 influx of (New) New Yorkers by identifying more than 18,000 job openings with nearly 400 employers willing to hire migrants and asylum seekers who have attained legal work status in the United States. This has been a priority issue for New York City and other key parts of New York State.
Recommendation 1:
The State to expand the allowable credentials for these individuals to enter the workforce in New York State and help them fill the thousands of jobs that are desperately needed.Â
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Recommendation 2:
To alleviate restrictions that may have been implemented preventing them from being previously considered.
RECENTLY RELEASED REPORTS
State of the Workforce Report
