Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services

The enacted budget made no changes to the State Operations portion of the Executive Budget (analysis as of March 30, 2006).

The 30 day amendments to the Executive Budget recommend the following changes (analysis as of February 8, 2006):

·        Adds appropriation language which enables funding from the Executive Direction Program’s Credentialing Services Account, to be utilized for services and expenses related to the credentialing of compulsive gambling counselors.

The Executive Budget recommends (analysis as of January 25, 2006):

·        A year end workforce of 963 FTEs, an increase of 9 FTEs from the adjusted SFY2005-06 level.  The adjusted level includes a decrease of 2 FTEs in the Executive Direction program during 2005-06.  Increases in 2006-07 include:  2 FTEs in the Community Treatment Services Program; 2 FTEs in Executive Direction; and 5 FTEs in Institutional Services.

·        An All Funds increase of $4.2 million (5.4%).

·        Full operation of all 13 ATCs.

·        Collaboration with the new Office of Medicaid Inspector General in the area of Medicaid regulatory compliance.  $9 million in related savings is projected.  This collaboration may entail the transfer of staff to OMIG to implement, although there are no references to such transfers in the budget documents.  According to the Senate budget analysis, 2 FTEs will be transferred to OMIG.  During SFY 2005-06 $100,000 was transferred to OMIG.  This should be explored at statewide labor-management.

·        An increase of $1 million for contractual services in the non-personal services appropriation for Executive Direction program which may indicate new contracting out.  This should be questioned in statewide labor-management.

·        Various cross-agency collaborations are proposed:

o       $5.3 million in combined funding with OCFS for a demonstration project to reduce the incidence of foster care placements by appropriately assessing and screening family members for alcohol and other drug use and by encouraging their entry into OASAS programs. The Assembly identifies $340,000 for this program for staff and nonpersonal service costs (State Operations, most likely in the Institutional Services Program). 

o       $6 million in combined funding with the Division of Parole ($3 million in OASAS) in a pilot initiative to forge re-entry linkages to chemical dependence and other support services (Aid to Localities budget)

o       $2 million for OASAS’ collaboration with institutions of higher education to combat underage drinking (Aid to Localities budget)

o       $2 million to work with OMH on a co-occurring disorder pilot program (Aid to Localities budget)

o       $2.3 million to work with NYC Department of Homeless Services to pilot at least 3 medically supervised out-patient detoxification units in homeless shelters (Aid to Localities budget)

o       OASAS and DOH will implement a demonstration program to provide hospitals and community-based chemical dependence providers with financial incentives to reduce chemical dependence relapse rates (no funding amount specified).

·        A three year COLA for human services voluntary providers (2.5% in 2006-07, $4.1 million).

·         $2 million for a new Veterans’ Enhanced Treatment Services to develop 50 residential treatment beds for veterans (Aid to Localities budget).

·        $2 million to implement four pilot programs for an outpatient treatment alternative for youth at-risk of placement in the child welfare and/or juvenile justice systems (Aid to Localities budget).

·        Article VII language provides for the transfer of existing audit & investigative employees from various State agencies (DOH, OMRDD, OMH, and OASAS) to OMIG.  Additionally it states that the employees and Officers will be transferred without further examination or qualification, and will retain their respective civil service classification and status. The Article VII bill creating OMIG does not provide the normal civil service “transfer of function” provisions that govern the transfer of employees from other agencies to OMIG.  This issue should also be addressed at statewide labor-management.