Smithtown Notebook: Assembly Aims to Restore 4201 School State Funding, Flanagan Supports Women's Health Services

Assembly, Senate Budget Resolutions Aim to Restore State Funding to 4201 Schools

With Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s April 1 budget submission approaching, the assembly and senate voted on their one-house budget resolutions last week, said Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick, R–Smithtown. Fitzpatrick said a key component of both the senate and assembly’s resolutions was the restoration of funds to the 11 state 4201 schools.

11 schools throughout New York State for the deaf, blind and physically challenged, commonly known as 4201 schools, are in danger of losing state funding with Cuomo’s proposed budget.

Fitzpatrick said Cuomo’s budget proposal would cut funding to the 4201 schools and force children into schools within the community’s school district.

“It [Cuomo’s budget proposal] was a $98 million shift to the school districts, basically changing the formula so that the students would have to go to their school district to see if they would be willing to fund their tuition at a 4201 school, which means a lot of them would probably not be given the permission to do that but the district would stay in house with that program,” he said.

Flanagan in Support of Stronger Women’s Health Services

State Sen. John Flanagan of the 2nd Senate District, announced Thursday, March 17 that he, along with 23rd Assembly District Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer, are sponsoring legislation in favor of stronger women’s health services to be provided by insurance companies.

The legislation will force insurance companies to cover costs of testing for women with dense breast tissue, women with high risks of breast cancer diagnosis and breast density information will be included in radiologist reports given to patients after mammograms.

“Women throughout our state should have the right to access all relevant medical information and our state has an obligation to make sure that those rights are protected,” Flanagan said in a statement Thursday. “This law will make sure that all tools are available to women so that any breast cancer can be caught and treated early and lives can be saved.”

 
Upcoming Town Meetings

The town has two meetings set for this week – the Board of Zoning Appeals will meet at the Smithtown Senior Center on Tuesday, March 22 at 7 p.m., and the town board will meet on Thursday, March 24 at 7 p.m. at the Smithtown Senior Center.