Prohibits unfunded mandates in medicaid; provides that a provision of law which is determined to be an unfunded mandate according to this new section of law shall cease to be mandatory and become voluntary in operation; defines "law" as a statute, executive order of the governor, or rule or regulation; provides such prohibition does not apply to laws in full force and effect prior to the effective date of the section.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A4625
SPONSOR: Sempolinski TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to the prohibition
on unfunded mandates in medical assistance; and providing for the repeal
of such provisions upon expiration thereof
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would temporarily eliminate new unfunded mandates on local
governments that are imposed under the Medicaid prograrh.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. The social services law is amended by adding a new section
368-g that prohibits any additional unfunded mandates to be imposed on
local governments through the Medicaid program. Any law either contained
in or pursuant to Article 5 of Title XI of the Social Services Law that
is determined to result in increased expenditures by any political
subdivision will have to be accompanied by either. a matching increase
in local aid or the elimination of an existing mandate which results in
at least equal savings to the locality.
Section 2. This act shall take effect and shall expire and be deemed
repealed.
JUSTIFICATION:
Local governments across New York State are in the midst of passing
budgets that will contain double-digit property tax increases. A driving
force behind these tax increases are the costs associated with State
unfunded mandates that have been imposed under the Medicaid program in
recent years. Such mandates require local governments to pay 25 percent
of the cost of these programs. While providing needed health care cover-
age is important, local governments should not be shouldered with the
responsibility of paying for these programs.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: A.2391
2021-22: A.8279
2019-20: A.5795
2017-18: A.5003
2015-16: A.5201
2013-14: A.6019
2011-12: A.3687
2009-10: A.6521
2007-08: A.2741
2005-06: A.11031
2005: A.743
2003-04: A.1285
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None to the State.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect April 1, 2026 and shalt expire March 31.
2028.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4625
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 4, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SEMPOLINSKI -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to the prohibition
on unfunded mandates in medical assistance; and providing for the
repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The social services law is amended by adding a new section
2 368-g to read as follows:
3 § 368-g. Prohibition on unfunded mandates. 1. Any provision of law
4 that is contained in or enacted pursuant to this title and determined in
5 accordance with this section to be an unfunded mandate shall cease to be
6 mandatory in effect and shall become voluntary in operation.
7 2. A provision of law that is contained in or enacted pursuant to this
8 title which requires one or more county or city social services
9 districts to expend funds or to take actions requiring the expenditure
10 of funds shall be deemed an unfunded mandate if such provision of law
11 results in an aggregate net increase in necessary direct expenditures by
12 the social services districts of the state. Any such aggregate net
13 increase in expenditures shall be offset by: (a) monies provided to the
14 social services districts for the specific purpose of funding such
15 provision of law; and (b) decreases in expenditures expected to result
16 from other provisions of law enacted concurrently therewith that repeal,
17 reduce or modify existing mandates on social services districts.
18 3. For purposes of this section, the term "law" shall mean a statute
19 enacted by the legislature, or executive order issued by the governor,
20 or a rule or regulation promulgated by a state agency, department,
21 board, bureau, officer, authority or commission.
22 4. Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, the
23 following types of laws shall not be considered unfunded mandates:
24 (a) those necessary to comply with federal law;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07514-01-5
A. 4625 2
1 (b) those for which the aggregate net increase in required direct
2 expenditures by a social services district is less than twenty thousand
3 dollars;
4 (c) those that have been requested through a home rule message or
5 other resolution of the affected social services district, or which have
6 been accepted by the affected social services district;
7 (d) those reapportioning responsibilities between or among social
8 services districts;
9 (e) those arising from an executive order of the governor exercising
10 their emergency powers;
11 (f) those applicable to both government and non-government entities in
12 the same or a substantially similar manner; and
13 (g) those in full force and effect prior to the effective date of this
14 section, including any provision of law that extends or reauthorizes
15 such a law.
16 § 2. This act shall take effect April 1, 2026 and shall expire and be
17 deemed repealed March 31, 2028.
