PEF statement on Governor Hochul's State of the State address

ALBANY, NY (01/09/2024) (readMedia)-- Following Governor Kathy Hochul's State of the State address on Jan. 9, 2024, PEF President Wayne Spence issued the following statement:

"After a decade of neglect, Governor Kathy Hochul has made rebuilding the state workforce a priority. She embraced the tenets of PEF's "Fund Our Future" initiative by negotiating union contracts that support the workforce, establishing a paid parental leave program for our members, adding additional beds to provide state-supported mental health services, and enacting significant civil service reforms designed to rebuild state services and the workforce. PEF supports the vision expressed in today's State of the State address, and hopes the governor continues to improve Tier 6 of the State pension plan to attract and retain the skilled professionals needed to deliver quality services. We look forward to seeing the Governor's Executive Budget proposal and working with her and our partners in the Senate and Assembly to enact a budget that meets the financial needs of the state and provides the services New Yorkers want and deserve."