In an effort to provide the developmentally disabled with the support they need, Assemblymember Harry Bronson (D-Rochester/Chili/Henrietta) announced that he helped pass legislation that would restore up to $90 million to the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) to help nonprofits who work with New York’s vulnerable people (A.6692-C).

“I’ve been fighting to restore funding to OPWDD to protect our most vulnerable citizens from day one,” said Assemblymember Bronson. “People with developmental disabilities and their families have enough to manage without having to worry about how cuts to OPWDD funding will affect services.”

This year, New York was ordered by the federal government to pay back $500 million for services to individuals with developmental disabilities. As a result, there was a proposed cut of $120 million to OPWDD. This year’s state budget restored $30 million of the proposed cut, which still left a significant gap in funding for organizations that serve the developmentally disabled.

“By restoring this vital funding we’ll ensure people with disabilities get the care they rely on for a better overall well-being,” said Assemblymember Bronson.

A working group has already been established to come up with saving recommendations without impacting services or programs. The legislation for this agreement says that if the savings found by the working group does not equal $90 million, the balance would be appropriated to OPWDD during this budget year, noted Bronson.