Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) brought petitions to Albany this week requesting support for a two percent pay increase for direct service professionals in the final state budget. This bump in funding would give these professionals a well-deserved raise, while ensuring that people with developmental disabilities receive better services to improve their quality of life.

“Direct service professionals who work with the developmentally disabled have been getting squeezed out of the budget process recently. The two percent increase these compassionate workers are requesting is reasonable and overdue,” said Hawley. “As we wrap up the state budget, I’ll be working to ensure that these workers receive the compensation and respect they deserve.”