Need-to-Know News: Feb. 3, 2012

Updates from Us

LAC State Policy Director Tracie M. Gardner testified before the Joint Public Hearing on Public Protection this week to present the recommendations of the NY ATI/Reentry Coalition. Read the full recommendations here, or see video of the hearing. The New York Observer is featuring a profile of LAC Board Member Doug Liman in anticipation of his new show on MTV.

Also in this issue:

• Headlines on Our Issues
• From Our Partners

Read More →

LAC Testifying in Albany on Criminal Justice Budget Today

LAC State Policy Director Tracie M. Gardner is in Albany today, testifying before the Joint Public Hearing on Public Protection. As a leader in the NY ATI/Reentry Coalition, LAC is presenting the coalition's recommendations on the criminal justice portion of Governor Cuomo's budget proposal.

See live video of the hearing here.

Read More →

Correction: Budget Analysis

Because of an error on our part, an earlier version of our article titled "Our Analysis of Governor Cuomo’s 2012-2013 Budget" used incorrect figures for the governor's appropriations for the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services. The governor's budget proposed an addition -- not a cut -- of $1.5 million in aid to localities. His total cuts to OASAS added up to $562,400, not $3,562,400.

Please see the updated version of our budget analysis for a chart with the correct OASAS figures.

LAC apologizes for the error and any inconvenience it has caused.

Read More →

Need-to-Know News: Jan. 27, 2012

Updates from Us

Finalized its recommendations to fully include mental health and substance use disorder services within the Essential Health Benefits framework of the Affordable Care Act. If your organization would like to sign on to the recommendations, please contact Sherie Boyd at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Drafted comments on the Essential Health Benefits Bulletin released by the Department of Health and Human Services last month. To sign on to the comments, please contact Sherie Boyd at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) before the Jan. 31 deadline; we also encourage you to use our comments as a template to submit your own. Submitted a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius — on behalf of more than 75 national, state and local groups in the SUD and MH communities — asking for the data HHS used to develop the Essential Health Benefit Bulletin, and for more time for organizations to provide comment.

Also in this issue:

• Headlines on Our Issues
• From Our Partners

Read More →

Need-to-Know News: Jan. 20, 2012

Updates from Us

After an analysis of Governor Andrew Cuomo's new budget plan, we were pleased to issue a statement this week supporting the proposal as a sensible path for New York State in answering the needs of people with HIV, people with addiction and mental health issues, and people involved in the criminal justice system.

Also in this issue:

• Headlines on Our Issues
• From Our Partners

Read More →

Analyzing Governor’s Budget, LAC Finds Much to Praise

NEW YORK, January 18, 2012 -- The Legal Action Center is pleased to support Governor Andrew Cuomo's budget plan for 2012-2013, which provides a sensible path for New York State to meet the needs of people with HIV, people with addiction and mental health issues, and people involved in the criminal justice system.

After an analysis of the budget proposal, released yesterday, LAC is pleased to report that the governor has closed an estimated $3.5 billion deficit without significant reductions or cuts in criminal justice, addiction or HIV services.

Read More →

Need-to-Know News: Jan. 13, 2012

Updates from Us

Marsha Weissman, the Director of the Center for Community Alternatives (CCA), was presented the 2012 Sara Tullar Fasoldt Leadership and Humanitarian Award by Robert Maccarone, the State Director of the Office of Probation and Correctional Alternatives, on January 12 for her outstanding leadership and significant contributions to the field of community corrections. Several LAC staff members were present for the ceremony. We again want to congratulate Marsha for her much deserved recognition. Paul Samuels, LAC's Director and President, and Gabrielle de la Gueronniere, LAC's Director of National Policy, were quoted in an online article in Addiction Professional, discussing the parity requirements for behavioral health under the Affordable Care Act's Essential Benefits Package and the need to monitor implementation of the requirements at the state level. The National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) sent out an e-mail letting members and those on its e-mail list know about LAC's recent report, "Legality of Denying Access to Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) in the Criminal Justice System." The e-mail also reminded readers that NADCP's board issued a board resolution last July stating that Drug Courts must not impose blanket prohibitions against the use of MAT by their participants and that decisions whether to allow the use of MAT must be based on an individualized assessment of the clinical and medical needs of each participant, the interests of the public and the administration of justice. Several LAC employees discussed the long-term challenges confronting individuals with felony convictions on an episode of last week's 219 West, a TV show on CUNY-TV in which students at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism examine news stories from around New York City.

Also in this issue:

• Headlines on Our Issues
• From Our Partners

Read More →