Fiscally Speaking
New York State Office of Mental Health's 2012-2013 Enacted Budget
The Office of Mental Health's (OMH) final 2012/13 Enacted Budget includes $3.536 billion in All Funds Appropriations, which represents a net year to year decrease of $35 million.
| 2012/13 OMH Enacted Budget All Funds – Appropriations |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| State Operations | Aid to Localities | Capital | |
| 2011/12 Available | $2,051,226,000 | $1,298,434,000 | $220,874,000 |
| Net Executive Changes | ($10,159,000) | $0 | ($31,209,000) |
| 2012/2013 Executive | $2,041,067,000 | $1,298,434,000 | $189,665,000 |
| Net Legislative Changes | $5,000,000 | $2,200,000 | $0 |
| 2012/13 Enacted | $2,046,067,000 | $1,300,634,000 | $189,665,000 |
Aid to Localities
OMH's Local Assistance appropriations totaling $1.3 billion in the 2012/13 Enacted Budget bills were increased from the Executive Budget Recommendation by $2.2 million for the following:
- Continuation and expansion of the Veterans Training Initiative to be conducted by the New York State Medical Society ($165,000), the New York State Psychiatric Association ($165,000) and the National Association of Social Workers New York State Chapter ($170,000);
- North Country Behavioral Healthcare Network ($100,000);
- Veterans peer-to-peer pilot programs ($800,000); and
- Demonstration programs for counties impacted during SFY 2011-12 by the closure of state-operated hospitals licensed under section 7.17 of the Mental Hygiene Law ($800,000).
The final Budget accepted the Executive proposal to achieve $96.8 million in Local Assistance cost savings measures offset by growth in resources to support residential units already in development opening, reinvestment in community based alternatives and funding for the nursing home litigation settlement and adult homes. The Budget continues support for OMH reforms underway while controlling spending by promoting efficiencies, restructuring program funding models, reinvesting under-utilized resources into long-term, cost-effective solutions and implementing targeted reductions. For detailed information on the OMH Local Assistance budget actions, please refer to the 2012-13 Enacted Budget Highlights: Aid to Localities 
(163 kb).
In addition, the final OMH Budget included Article VII legislation to:
- Eliminate the 2012/13 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for human services agencies and extend the statute for an additional year through March 31, 2016.
- Reauthorize the statutory authorization for the Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP) for an additional four years through June 30, 2016.
- Extend the statutory language for the recovery of exempt income from residential programs for the periods from January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2013 for programs located outside of the city of New York, and from July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2013 for programs located within the City of New York.
- Authorize the integration of health and behavioral health services by the Department of Health, the Office of Mental Health, the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services or the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities by permitting two or more of the commissioners to jointly establish operating, reporting and construction requirements.
State Operations
OMH's State Operations appropriations of more than $2.0 billion in the 2012/13 Enacted Budget were increased by $5 million from the Executive Recommendation for the following:
- $3.9 million for the rejection of most of the Executive's Article VII proposal which would have generated cost savings in the Sex Offender Treatment Program (SOTP) by returning certain non-compliant or assaultive respondents to the custody of the Department of Correctional Services and Community Supervision (DOCCS);
- $1.1 million for the rejection of the Executive's Article VII proposal which would have allowed for the provision of restorative mental health services in local jails for certain felony defendants deemed incompetent to stand trial.
The final Budget achieves roughly $28 million in personal service and non-personal service savings related to actions which include the implementation of administrative efficiencies, the restructuring of service capacity, and the annualization of negotiated collective bargaining savings. These savings are offset by growth for modest inflationary increases to base operations, anticipated growth in the OMH SOTP census, and fringe benefit rates. For detailed information on OMH State Operations budget please refer to the 2012-13 Enacted Budget Highlights: State Operations (96 kb) .
In addition, the final OMH Budget included Article VII legislation to:
- Authorize OMH to close, consolidate, reduce, transfer or otherwise redesign state-operated services with proper advance notice. Such funds may be reinvested into community-based services at the determination of the Commissioner.
- Consolidate the three New York City-area Children's Psychiatric Centers into a singular New York City Children's Center.
- Authorize OMH and the State Education Department to enter into an agreement to develop educational programming for children in OMH-operated facilities.
- Combine OMH's Mental Health Services Council and New York State Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services' Council into a singular Behavioral Health Services Advisory Council.
- Amend the Sex Offender Management & Treatment Act to: 1) establish a process to temporarily return certain respondents to the custody of DOCCS; and 2) allow psychiatric examiners to testify in hearings by electronic appearance.
- Authorize certain incapacitated felony defendants under section 730 of the Criminal Procedure Law receive restorative mental health services in outpatient settings at the consent of a local District Attorney.