We also negotiated major changes reducing the governor’s ill advised emphasis on testing and instead, allow the Board of Regents, not the governor, to develop the specifics of fair teacher evaluations.

Other highlights of the 2015 State Education Budget include:

• $9.2 billion for New York City Schools, which is roughly $505 million more than last year;
• $75 million in grants for struggling schools;
• $20 million in grants, including aid for libraries, teacher centers and bilingual education;
• $2.3 million to support a rate increase for 4201 schools for a total of $98.5 million;
• Additionally, the budget protects last year’s pre-K investment in New York City.

Schoolyard Ribbon Cutting

PS 208 Principal Nakoley Renville welcomed Assemblywoman Weinstein as the school’s ecstatic teachers and students cut the ribbon at their brand new school yard and playground.

Assemblywoman Weinstein sponsored legislation (A1323B), awaiting the governor’s signature that would require hospitals to notify and offer to meet with a patient’s designated caregiver to discuss a plan of care prior to the patient’s discharge or transfer to another facility.

Importantly, the bill would require a hospital to offer to adequately train the designated caregiver in certain aftercare tasks upon a patient’s discharge to his or her current residence.

A bill (A2607), awaiting the Governor’s signature and sponsored by Assemblywoman Weinstein would provide two automatic free transfers for riders using pay-per-ride Metrocards.

• Provide a refund to veterans for the fee they paid to have a veteran’s notation added when they renewed their driver’s license or non-driver ID. (A6557–awaiting governor’s signature)

• Allow consumers to fill their prescriptions at an in-network neighborhood pharmacy, instead of being forced by pharmaceutical companies looking to drive up their profits to their own out-of-state mail-order programs. (A6194–passed Assembly only)

• Bring greater accountability to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey by appointing a chief ethics officer, strengthening the power of the agency’s inspector general, establishing a whistleblower program and hiring a single Executive Director who will make decisions with regards to the interests of both States. (A8298–passed both houses)

• Ensure our children are safe by requiring all gun owners to either secure their firearms in a location inaccessible by children or render the firearm incapable of firing, when out of their immediate possession. (A53-A–passed Assembly only)

• $171.4 million for non public schools

• $250 million in aid to non-public schools for past due mandated services

• A $4.5 million increase for “After 4pm Busing” for schools, bringing the total state allocation to $12.6 million; a 50% increase in funding over last year

Assemblywoman Weinstein will continue to fight for all schools and teachers, so they can continue to provide a quality education to students throughout New York.

The advocate would serve as an independent supporter and appear on behalf of New York consumers in state and federal regulatory proceedings, as well as judicial review proceedings concerning rates and conditions of public service utilities.

In other states where such an office exists residential consumers have seen drastic savings in comparison to the actual amount of funding that goes to these offices. The creation of an advocate with the powers allotted in this bill would give New York utility customers a voice at the table and hopefully save them a considerable amount of money.

Assemblywoman Weinstein proudly supported the Budget, which included some of the strongest and comprehensive ethics laws for public officials of any state; including increased disclosure of outside income, improved transparency and accountability, and strengthening the ban on campaign funds for personal use.

Additionally, the Assemblywoman voted in favor of legislation (A7704) that would strip taxpayer-funded pensions from public officials convicted of corruption.