2026 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing - Mental Hygiene
February 4, 2026
9:30AM
Hearing Room B, Legislative Office Building, Albany

Transcript Pending
Testimony
Dr. Ann Marie T. Sullivan, M.D.
Commissioner
New York State Office of Mental Health

Dr. Chinazo Cunningham
Commissioner
New York State Office of Addiction Services and Support

Willow Baer
Commissioner
New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities

Maria Lisi-Murray
Executive Director
New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs

Courtney David
Executive Director
NYS Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors

Glenn Liebman
CEO
Mental Health Association in NYS (MHANYS)

Nathan McLaughlin
Executive Director
National Alliance on Mental Illness

Shameka Andrews
Community Outreach Coordinator
Self-Advocacy Association of NYS

Ashley Miles
Member
Fountain House

Kayleigh Zaloga
President & CEO
NYS Coalition for Children’s Behavioral Health

Jim Karpe
Parent
Coalition for Self-Direction

Dr. Natalie Ferguson
Parent/ Assistant Director of Nursing
Advocate

Mike Alvaro
President
New York Disability Advocates

Christopher J. Palega
Parent
Advocate

Toni Smith
State Director
Drug Policy Alliance

Harvey Rosenthal
VP of Public Policy
Alliance for Rights and Recovery

Stephanie Bazell
Senior Policy Attorney
New York County Defender Services

Donald Nesbit
Executive VP
Local 372 - NYC Board of Education Employees

Emma Fabian
Executive Director
New York State Harm Reduction Association

Emil Slane
Executive Director
Association for Community Living

Erik Geizer
CEO
The Arc New York

Lauri Cole
Executive Director
NYS Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare

Khadijah Abdul Aziz
Youth Public Policy Coordinator
Families Together in New York State

Gavin T. Walters
Executive Director
Dwyer Coalition for Military Veterans & Families Inc.

Dr. Angelia Smith-Wilson
Executive Director
Friends of Recovery-New York

Alexis Pleus
Founder & Executive Director
Truth Pharm, Inc.

Jihoon Kim
President & CEO
InUnity Alliance

A. Maria Mendez
Founder/CEO
NYS Association of CASAC Professionals