Between April 2008 and November 2009 New York State spent over $62 million on contracts with temporary employment agencies to fill vacant positions in various state agencies. The Department of Health alone has spent over $13 million on temporary employees. The purpose of this hearing is to examine the regulatory oversight and approval process for hiring temporary employees; the costs associated with these hires including the premiums paid to outside temporary employment agencies; and, to obtain information on the length of time these workers are employed.

Oral testimony will be by invitation only. Any persons invited to testify or wishing to present pertinent written testimony to the Committee at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form by February 26, 2010. It is important that the enclosed reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to 15 minutes duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee’s interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

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Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on New York State Agency Use of Temporary Employees are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail, e-mail or fax it to: