Joint Sign on Letter to the Gov. Re Nonprofits’ Client Confidentiality
Re: Urgent Action Needed to Protect Nonprofits’ Client Confidentiality
Dear Governor Hochul,
We, the undersigned 239 nonprofit organizations and individuals from across the state, ask you to act quickly to change State contract language that threatens the security of vulnerable communities and impedes the delivery of essential safety net programming.
Legal Services Coalition Praises Judiciary Budget as Step to Addressing Staffing Crisis, Access to Justice
On Wednesday, November 27, the New York Unified Court System released their budget submission for SFY 2026, which included a significant increase in funding for civil legal services. The budget submission highlighted the increases in civil legal services funding as a priority: “The UCS is committed to meeting the critical needs of low-income and underrepresented New Yorkers. The FY 2026 Budget includes an increase of $45.5 million, for a total budget of $150 million.”
Non-profits across the state disappointed in veto of bill to improve contracting process
Call on the Governor to address delays in upcoming Executive Budget
Governor Hochul vetoed a bill on Friday that would have begun to address the unacceptably slow contract and procurement process faced by non-profit organizations that contract with New York State. The bill (S.4877 Mayer / A.2740B Paulin) would have added more oversight to the state’s process of contracting with not-for-profit organizations, including establishing clear contract payment schedules and reimbursement of interests for failing to meet these timelines, ultimately improving the delivery of essential services to the most vulnerable New Yorkers.
NYLSC and NYCON’S Joint Letter to the Gov. Re Contract Reform Bill
Dear Governor Hochul:
We, the undersigned organizations, understand that you have called up S.4877-A (Mayer) / A.2740-B (Paulin) and we strongly urge you to sign it into law. This important measure will begin to make necessary improvements to the contracting process in New York State. Its enactment would indeed strengthen New York’s not-for-profit network as they prepare for the fight of a lifetime to protect civil rights and ensure that vital safety net benefits continue.
Legal Services Coalition urges Governor Hochul to sign measure to protect New York homeowners and preserve affordable housing
The New York Legal Services Coalition recently submitted a letter urging Governor Hochul to sign S.7297C (Kavanagh)/A.7636C (Solages) into law, which will codify the Homeowner Protection Program (HOPP), New York’s only statewide foreclosure program. The bill passed both chambers this session. The governor has until the end of the calendar year to act on the legislation.
NYLSC Letter to the Gov. Re HOPP Codification Bill
Support for S.7297C / A.7636C - Codification of the HOPP Program
September 27, 2024
Dear Governor Hochul:
I write on behalf of the New York Legal Services Coalition to respectfully urge your approval of S.7297C (Kavanagh)/A.7636C (Solages), which will codify the Homeowner Protection Program (HOPP).
Round up: Salary, Infrastructure key to closing New York’s Access to Justice Gap, Court Hears
Earlier this week, the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals and the State of New York, Hon. Rowan D. Wilson, held a statewide public hearing to evaluate the continuing unmet civil legal services needs in New York and to assess the level of resources necessary to meet those needs.
Chief Judge’s 2024 Hearing on Civil Legal Services in New York
Read the written testimonies submitted by the New York Legal Services Coalition and its members for the Chief Judge’s 2024 Hearing on Civil Legal Services in New York.
Nonprofits Call on Governor Hochul to Sign Contracting Reform Legislation
Over 200 nonprofits join sign on letter led by New York Legal Services Coalition and the New York Council on Nonprofits
July 30, 2024 – A sign on letter was delivered to Governor Hochul today, urging her to sign S4877-A (Mayer) / A2740-B (Paulin) into law. This important measure would provide much-needed reforms to the state’s process of contracting with not-for-profit organizations and ultimately improve the delivery of services to the most vulnerable New Yorkers.
Legal Services Coalition Celebrates Passage of Contracting bill
A bill to begin to address contracting issues in New York State -- S.4877-A (Mayer) / A.2740-B (Paulin) – recently passed both chambers of the legislature.
NYLSC Announces New Board
Leadership Reflects on Final Budget’s Impact on Civil Legal Services, Names Policy Priorities
The New York Legal Services Coalition (NYLSC) recently elected its leadership for the coming year. The Coalition has also been actively engaged on the final state budget and advocacy priorities for the end of session.
Last-minute ‘sweep’ undermines low-income New Yorker’s Access to Justice, according to the New York Legal Services Coalition
Governor, Legislature assure legal community it is a one-time occurrence
In a last-minute move during budget negotiations, lawmakers have agreed to a one-time, $55 million “sweep” from the Interest on Lawyer Accounts (IOLA) Fund to cover the cost of the state’s foreclosure prevention program (HOPP) at $40m and eviction prevention services at $15m. The proposal was put forth by the Governor in the final hours of negotiations. While legislators pushed back -- given that IOLA funds are not tax levy dollars, and the sweep would reduce the net amount of funds available to provide civil legal aid to low-income New Yorkers -- the move was ultimately agreed to so that critical programs were fully funded.
RENEWED NYS BUDGET ‘SWEEP’ OF IOLA FUNDS WOULD BE DISASTROUS
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – April 17, 2024. A late breaking proposal from Governor Kathy Hochul would ‘sweep’ $55 million from the Interest on Lawyers Account Fund (IOLA). The initial executive budget proposed a sweep of $100M from IOLA to the general fund, which was rescinded in the 30-day amendments on February 15. This diversion of non-taxpayer dollars has been resurrected.
Civil Legal Service Community Thanks Governor For Rescinding Proposed ‘sweep’ Of Funds Earmarked To Help Low-income New Yorkers Access Justice
February 16, 2024
The civil legal services community applauded Governor Hochul for rescinding the proposed ‘sweep’ of $100 million earmarked to support low-income New Yorkers’ civil legal needs into New York’s the General Fund. The sweep of the Interest on Lawyers Account (IOLA) was originally proposed in the executive budget and was rescinded in the 30-day amendments released late in the day on February 15.
Wage gap between state-funded attorneys, government peers is driving an employment crisis in New York’s Civil Legal Services
Proposed “sweep” in the Executive Budget would put Civil Legal Services further at risk
NYLSC’s Statement on FY 2025 Judiciary Budget Request:
Albany, NY - December 4, 2023
Civil Legal Services Targeted for 3% COLA and Other Increases in Judiciary Budget Request
NYLSC’s testimony to the Chief Judge’s 2023 hearing on Civil Legal Services:
Pay Equity for Advocates Serving Historically Disadvantaged Communities
This testimony is respectfully submitted on behalf of the New York Legal Services Coalition (NYLSC). Our Coalition consists of almost 50 member organizations providing vital legal services in every Judicial District of the State of New York.