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Welcome and Happy Holidays!We are pleased to bring you the second edition of Plugged In @ Hinman Straub. Since our last edition, much has occurred in Albany as the Governor prepares for his 2008-2009 Executive Budget submission. We would also like to offer our heartfelt thanks and appreciation for letting us be a part of your team and to wish you well during the upcoming holiday season. As 2007 comes to a close, we look forward to continuing our strong working relationship. As always, please feel free to contact us with any feedback you may have. To learn more about Hinman Straub, please visit our website. Looking Ahead to 2008...Earlier this year, Governor Spitzer and the Legislature enacted a series of budget reforms, designed to make the process more timely and transparent. One of the major provisions contained in Chapter 1 of the Laws of 2007, requires the staff of the Governor, the Legislature and the State Comptroller to each prepare "quick start" budget reports, detailing State receipts and disbursements for the prior, current and ensuing fiscal years. Quick Start Reports Division of the Budget, Senate Finance Committee, Assembly Ways and Means Committee New York State Assembly Mid-Year Update New York State Senate Financial Information Review, November 2007 New York State Comptroller Report on Estimated Receipts and Disbursements 2008-09 Budget Town Hall MeetingsThe Division of Budget is conducting a series of town hall meetings around the State to present the challenges facing the State in the upcoming budget and to get public input before the budget is prepared. Click here for more information. 2008-2009 Departmental Budget PresentationsThe Division of Budget held a series of hearings in October focusing on various aspects of the 2008-2009 budget. Click below to view the agency presentations. Click here for more information. Hinman Straub Government Relations Department Welcomes Tracy Lloyd and Mara GinsbergTracy Lloyd, a seasoned and experienced senior legislative staff member with more than two decades of experience, will join Hinman Straub P.C.'s Government Relations Department early in 2008. Mr. Lloyd has worked for Senator Dean Skelos, Deputy Majority Leader, since 1985, serving as his Chief of Staff for the last seven years. During his tenure in the Senate, Mr. Lloyd worked on a variety of budgetary and legislative issues, making him a valuable addition to Hinman Straub. Additionally, Mara B. Ginsberg, Esq. will join the firm's Government Relations Department starting in December. Previously, Ms. Ginsberg served as Vice President of Government Affairs for AmeriChoice of New York & UnitedHealthcare of New York, where she was responsible for leading the legislative and regulatory health policy agenda. Prior to that, she was employed as Counsel for the NYS Office of Cyber Security & Critical Infrastructure Coordination and also served as Deputy Director and Counsel for the NYS Office for Technology. Earlier in Ms. Ginsberg's career, she served in the legal departments of the NYS Department of Law, the NYS Education Department and the NYS Commission of Correction. Ms. Ginsberg is also the Founder and President of To Life!, a nonprofit organization that provides free breast cancer education and support services to individuals in and around the Capital District. Hinman Principal Joins Governor’s StaffBruce Gyory, a principal at Hinman Straub since 1983 has left the firm to join Governor Spitzer’s office as a Senior Policy Advisor. Click here for more information. New Administration Appointments AnnouncedGovernor Eliot Spitzer and Lieutenant Governor David A. Paterson recently announced the following appointments to the Executive Chamber:
Click here for more information. The Future of Sentencing on New YorkThe New York State Commission on Sentencing Reform, which was created by Governor Spitzer to review the State's sentencing structure and practices, issued its preliminary report on October 15, 2007. Click here for more information. Indigent Care ReformOn November 14, the Indigent Care Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), the 13 member group appointed by the Commissioner of Health and the Chairs of the Senate and Assembly Health Committees, held its last meeting to discuss proposed reforms to the Hospital Indigent Care Pool. The meeting reviewed findings and objectives and included a presentation of draft recommendations for reform. A final report final will be issued in December. Click here to view the PDF from the TAC Meeting. New Office of Public HealthHealth Commissioner Richard F. Daines, M.D. has created a new Office of Public Health to bring the department's public health resources together under a single umbrella. Guthrie Birkhead, M.D., has been appointed Deputy Commissioner of the new office. Dr. Birkhead has served as director of both the Center for Community Health and the AIDS Institute. Dr. Birkhead will be the Department of Health's (DOH) chief public health physician and will be responsible for the following areas:
Click here for more information. Preschool Education Task Force FindingsThe Temporary Task Force on Preschool Special Education recently issued its recommendations. Consisting of 15 members representing school districts, providers, counties and State agencies, the Task Force is co-chaired by the Education Department and the Division of Budget and was created to examine the preschool education system and to examine strategies for improving the quality of service delivery. Click here for more information. Governor Spitzer Nominates the Honorable Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick as Associate Judge of the Court Of AppealsGovernor Eliot Spitzer recently nominated Judge Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick to continue her service as an Associate Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals when her current term of office expires on December 31, 2007. Click here for more information. Upcoming Legislative Public HearingsClick here for the New York State Legislature Public Hearing Calendar. |
Article Listing
Looking Ahead to 2008... 
Resource Links
10/24/07 Edition of Plugged In |