Audit reports for the New York State and New York City entities listed below issued on October 10, 2026

Click on the text highlighted in COLOR to access the audit.

Department of State – Office for New Americans: Connecting and Providing Immigrants With Legal Services (2023-S-35)

The Office for New Americans (ONA) offers New Americans help with accessing and navigating free services and supports through its grants and contracts with a statewide network of not-for-profit community-based providers. Through nine grant-funded programs, grantees provide referrals to legal service providers and assist New Americans with naturalization applications and citizenship interviews. Auditors identified several areas that ONA should address to improve its ability to connect and provide New Americans with legal services. For example, ONA lacks adequate information to assess and estimate potential unmet need and grantees’ ability and capacity to meet it. Auditors also found limitations in the quarterly reports that ONA requires from grantees that make them difficult to use and compare, as well as inconsistencies in grantees’ reported numbers that represent potential inaccuracies and/or lack of understanding about how to report their activity.

New York City Administration for Children’s Services & New York City Department of Youth and Community Development – Identifying, Reporting, and Providing Services for Youth at Risk of Sexual Human Trafficking in New York City (Follow-Up) (2025-F-14)
The 2014 federal Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act requires the screening of children within the child welfare system for potential sex trafficking, timely reporting of sex trafficking incidents to law enforcement, and data collection on sex-trafficked and at-risk youth. A prior audit, issued in June 2022, examined whether New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) and Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) identify, report on, and provide services for victims of child sex trafficking and those at risk of child sex trafficking. The audit found that ACS officials failed to support that they ensured staff and providers screened children to identify sex-trafficked victims or at-risk youth, and that DYCD does not have procedures requiring its providers to screen youth for indicators of trafficking. ACS and DYCD officials have made limited progress in addressing the issues identified in the original audit report. Of the initial report’s nine audit recommendations, two (addressed to DYCD) were implemented, three (two addressed to ACS and one to DYCD) were partially implemented, and four were not implemented (two addressed to each ACS and DYCD).

State Education Department – English Language Learners Programs (Follow-Up) (2025-F-28)
School districts are required to provide English as a New Language (ENL) service to all eligible English Language Leaners (ELLs) and are required to make Bilingual Education (BE) programs available in all home languages spoken by 20 or more ELLs of the same grade and home language districtwide. A prior audit, issued in September 2024, examined whether the State Education Department (SED) is adequately overseeing whether school districts are providing services to ELLs as required. The audit found school districts lacked BE programs and certified BE teachers, could not consistently provide sufficient documentation to support that ELLs completed the identification process and received required ENL services, and did not always submit accurate data to the Student Information Repository System or share information regarding ELL transfer students. SED officials have made significant progress in addressing the issues identified in the original audit report. All seven of the initial report’s audit recommendations were implemented.

State Education Department (Preschool Special Education Audit Initiative) – William T. Dillon Child Study Center at St. Joseph’s University, New York: Compliance With the Reimbursable Cost Manual (2024-S-21)
William T. Dillon Child Study Center (Dillon Center) at St. Joseph’s University, New York is a New York City-based organization authorized by the State Education Department (SED) to provide Integrated Special Class education services to children with disabilities who are between the ages of 3 and 5 years (referred to as SED preschool cost-based programs). For the audit scope, Dillon Center reported approximately $1.3 million in reimbursable costs for the SED preschool cost-based programs. Auditors identified $392,884 in reported costs that did not comply with requirements.

Olympic Regional Development Authority – Security Over Critical Payment Systems (2025-S-23)
The New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority’s (ORDA) mission is to bring economic and social benefits to the Adirondacks and Catskills by managing venues that offer recreational and athletic opportunities. ORDA is subject to New York State Office of Information Technology Services policies and standards. To process credit cards, ORDA must follow the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). Auditors identified areas where ORDA could improve its overall governance of information technology, compliance with PCI DSS requirements, and certain security controls in place to minimize the various risks associated with unauthorized access to its systems and data, and communicated the details of these findings in a confidential report to ORDA officials.

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New York State Paid Family Leave regulation update: Construction employees

Effective January 1, 2027, the Paid Family Leave (PFL) law will include a new eligibility standard for certain construction employees who work for covered employer(s) that are under a collective bargaining agreement. The NYS Workers’ Compensation Board (Board) plans to propose amendments to the PFL regulations to help implement this change and align the regulations to the law.

This proposal will be published in the State Register and on the Board’s website. A Subject Number will be issued when it is published.

Questions?

Email: regulations@wcb.ny.gov.

Selected items posted on the Internet during the week ending August 7, 2026 which may be of interest to readers and reported here by NYPPL pro bono

AI Data Readiness Guide This guide identifies the essential components of AI-ready data governance and offers practical advice for implementing an effective data program. DOWNLOAD

Capital Planning in the Public Sector: Constraints, Community and Countermeasures This guide examines how state and local governments approach capital planning when budgets are constrained and infrastructure needs continue to grow. DOWNLOAD

From Days to Hours: How Chicago’s 43rd Ward Delivered Faster Constituent Services at Scale Chicago’s 43rd Ward transformed constituent services with a unified digital workflow, cutting response times from days to hours while dramatically increasing case resolutions and resident engagement. READ NOW

Deferred Maintenance and Its Impact on Communities This eBook examines the problem of deferred maintenance for America's infrastructure, considers ways to identify deferred maintenance issues early and explores options for addressing them quickly. DOWNLOAD

Making Sense of AI in Public Services A practical guide for public sector leaders choosing between generative AI tools, chatbots, and agentic AI. DOWNLOAD

How Branded Communications Can Improve Government Billing Learn how consistently branded communications can increase constituent trust, improve engagement and support stronger government billing. DOWNLOAD

Applied Intelligence: How High-Performance Workstations Are Driving Public Innovation AI innovation starts with the right infrastructure. Learn how high-performance workstations help government agencies process data faster, protect sensitive information and power AI-driven outcomes. Download the paper to discover practical strategies for modernizing your technology foundation. DOWNLOAD

New York State may not prohibit access to certain Grievance Committee proceedings and records without making specific, on-the-record findings justifying confidentiality

After the Grievance Committee* informed Plaintiffs-Appellees that any resulting proceedings against twenty-one prosecutors would remain confidential, Plaintiffs-Appellees brought a 42 U.S.C. §1983 action contending that Section 90(10) of the New York Judiciary Law, which by default seals and mandates confidentiality of attorney grievance matters, violates their First Amendment right of access as applied to their complaints.

A federal District Court had ruled that a First Amendment presumption of access attaches to formal disciplinary hearings in the Second Department to records necessary to understand those hearings and to the final dispositions by the Grievance Committee. As  Section 90(10) impermissibly interferes with that right, the District Court found the New York State statute to be unconstitutional as applied against Plaintiffs-Appellees’ complaints. 

On appeal, the United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, [Second Circuit] explained that, despite the State’s contentions otherwise, Plaintiffs-Appellees’ claims are ripe and abstention, pursuant to O’Shea v. Littleton, 414 U.S. 488 (1974), is unwarranted.

The Second Circuit said that it concluded that the experience and logic test supports a qualified, presumptive First Amendment right of access to formal disciplinary hearings,  including "all pertinent records, and select dispositions of the Grievance Committee". 

The Second Circuit also held that New York State may not prohibit Plaintiffs-Appellees’ access to such proceedings and records pertaining to their complaints without making specific, on-the-record findings justifying confidentiality and affirmed the judgment of the District Court.

* Attorney Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts [“Grievance Committee”], which is one of three such committees for the Second Department.

Click HERE to access the Second Circuit Court's decision posted on the Internet.

New York State Department of Civil Service issues Attendance and Leave Memoranda updates

The New York State Department of Civil Service has published Attendance and Leave Memoranda for certain holiday available to State Officers and Employees on August 6, 2026,:

• Advisory Memorandum 2026-04 - Designation of Floating Holidays in Lieu of Election Day and Lincoln's Birthday for Contract Year 2026–2027

and

• Transmittal Memorandum No. 52 - 2027 Calendar of Legal Holidays and Days of Religious Significance

The Text of Advisory Memorandum 2026-04 will be found by clicking:
Advisory Memorandum 2026-04

If you wish to print Advisory Memorandum 2026-04; a version in PDF format is available at Advisory Memorandum 2026-04 PDF

The Text of Transmittal Memorandum No. 52 will be found by clicking 
Transmittal Memorandum No. 52

If you wish to print Transmittal Memorandum No. 52 a version in PDF format is available at Transmittal Memorandum No. 52 PDF

To view previous Attendance and Leave bulletins issued by the New York State Department of Civil Service, visit: https://www.cs.ny.gov/attendance_leave/index.cfm

Governor Kathy Hochol announces the ratification of five-year labor agreements with four CSEA collective bargaining units

 

On August 8, 2026, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the ratification of five-year labor agreements with each of the four bargaining units represented by the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA). In total, CSEA represents more than 55,000 New York State employees in a wide variety of roles. The agreements run from April 2, 2026 until April 1, 2031. Each agreement was overwhelmingly approved by CSEA members.

 

“Every day, dedicated CSEA members perform essential work to keep New York moving, and these agreements recognize those efforts while also serving as a fair deal for New York’s taxpayers,” Governor Hochul said. “Our valued public servants are the backbone of a strong Empire State, and I thank the members and leadership of CSEA for their dedication in continuing to help and serve their fellow New Yorkers.”

 

CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan said, “I thank Governor Hochul for working with CSEA to reach an agreement that reflects the value of our members and the vital services they provide. Every day, more than 55,000 CSEA members keep our roads safe, care for our most vulnerable neighbors, maintain our parks and campuses, protect our communities and deliver the public services New Yorkers depend on. This contract is an investment in them and in the future of our state.”

 

The ratified contracts each include the following raises across the five years of the agreement: 4.5 percent, 4 percent, 3.5 percent, 3 percent, and 3 percent. Boosts to location pay and several other unit-specific payments are also included in the contracts. Members also will gain 20 hours of paid pre-natal leave and an increase in the cap for sick leave accumulation. The agreements also include reasonable updates to health insurance that will reduce costs for members by eliminating certain co-pays and providing incentives to use in-network providers.

 

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New York Health Policy Monitor

New York Health Policy Monitor (August 04, 2026) New legislative proposals advance Medicaid coverage mandates for school-based behavioral health and establish standardized electronic prior authorization. New York Health Policy Monitor · August 4, 2026

Prepared by Isaac Michaels, DrPH · August 04, 2026 About New York Health Policy Monitor is published by I.H. Michaels, LLC, an independent health policy and data analytics practice. The publication is informational and does not constitute legal or policy advice. For questions, pricing for organizations, or data services inquiries, contact: info@ihmichaelsllc.com New legislative proposals advance Medicaid coverage mandates for school-based behavioral health and establish standardized electronic prior authorization. Lawmakers have introduced a series of legislative proposals focused on expanding Medicaid coverage mandates and standardizing utilization review processes. The active bills currently sit in the Assembly Health Committee and propose structural alterations to coverage parameters and operational standards for health care plans. Key measures include a proposed mandate for Medicaid to cover applied behavior analysis therapy when delivered during school hours, expanding access points for autism spectrum disorder treatment. Concurrently, new legislation would require the Department of Health and the Department of Financial Services to establish standardized electronic prior authorization protocols for all health care plans, aiming to codify utilization review pathways. Additionally, legislators proposed a rare kidney disease screening pilot program that would operate in at least two geographic regions to target at-risk populations. If implemented, this program would direct the state to utilize community-based outreach and specific diagnostic screening tools to evaluate the scalability of broader permanent initiatives. Past Week at a Glance 3 Health Bills Referred to Assembly Committee Priority Items Coverage Expansions & Utilization Standards Driven by: A11624, A11623 Why it matters: These proposals would simultaneously expand Medicaid coverage requirements for behavioral health therapies in schools while imposing new technological standardization mandates on prior authorization processes for insurers. Suggested action: Evaluate existing prior authorization software platforms for adaptability to potential new state standards and model the financial impact of expanded school-based applied behavior analysis coverage. Topics: Medicaid & Managed Care, Behavioral Health / Substance Use Affected Entities and Corresponding Policies ABA Providers: A11624 Clinical Laboratories: A11655 Community Health Centers: A11655 Department of Health: A11655 Health Care Plans: A11623 Health Care Providers: A11623 Medicaid Managed Care Organizations: A11624 School Districts: A11624 Key Policy Actions Assembly Committee A11624: Mandates Medicaid coverage of applied behavior analysis therapy for autism spectrum disorder rendered during school hours Topics: Public Health / Prevention Sponsor: Kalman Yeger (Assembly — Democrat, New York City) Co-sponsors: 0 Status: Assembly Committee Action Date: July 29, 2026 Summary: Requires Medicaid coverage of applied behavior analysis therapy for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder rendered during school hours in certain schools. Affected Entities: Medicaid Managed Care Organizations; ABA Providers; School Districts Practical Implications: If enacted, this measure would mandate Medicaid reimbursement for applied behavior analysis therapy for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder delivered during the school day. Medicaid Managed Care Organizations would need to adjust coverage policies, while ABA Providers could see expanded service utilization and billing opportunities within educational settings. Source: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A11624/ A11623: Requires the development of standards for an electronic prior authorization program for health care services Topics: Public Health / Prevention Sponsor: Kalman Yeger (Assembly — Democrat, New York City) Co-sponsors: 0 Status: Assembly Committee Action Date: July 29, 2026 Summary: Requires the commissioner of health and the superintendent of financial services to develop standards for an electronic prior authorization program for the utilization review of health care services. Affected Entities: Health Care Plans; Health Care Providers Practical Implications: If enacted, this measure would require health care plans and providers to adapt to new standardized electronic prior authorization processes for utilization review. Organizations could face initial administrative integration burdens but may ultimately experience streamlined coverage determinations. Source: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A11623/ A11655: Establishes a rare kidney disease screening pilot program for at-risk populations Topics: Public Health / Prevention Sponsor: Yudelka Tapia (Assembly — Democrat, New York City) Co-sponsors: 0 Status: Assembly Committee Action Date: July 29, 2026 Summary: Establishes a rare kidney disease screening pilot program within the department of health to operate in at least two counties or regions in the state, targeting at-risk populations, to improve early diagnosis of RKD, connect patients with treatments and care, and evaluate the effectiveness and scalability of state-based RKD screening initiatives. Affected Entities: Department of Health; Community Health Centers; Clinical Laboratories Practical Implications: If enacted, this bill would direct the Department of Health to launch a screening pilot program for rare kidney diseases in at least two regions. Clinical Laboratories and Community Health Centers in selected areas could see increased demand for urinalysis and genetic testing services as outreach initiatives target at-risk populations. Source: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A11655/ Methodology: This newsletter is generated from structured legislative and regulatory data (as of August 03, 2026) and reviewed for completeness, internal consistency, and non-speculative language. Co-sponsor counts reflect the total number of legislators listed as co-sponsors across both the Assembly and Senate. Click to Subscribe to this newsletter. This publication is informational and does not constitute legal or policy advice. © 2026 I.H. Michaels, LLC 3100 Rosendale Road, Niskayuna, NY 12309