Albany, N.Y., February 4—State Senator Tom O'Mara (R,C-Big Flats), Ranking Member on the Senate Finance Committee, is again joining legislative colleagues in Albany this week to continue a monthlong series of joint Senate-Assembly hearings on Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed 2026-2027 New York State budget. 

On Wednesday, the hearing is examining the governor’s specific proposals for Mental Hygiene.

Courtney David, Executive Director of the NYS Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors, NYS Mental Health Association CEO Glenn Liebman, National Alliance on Mental Illness Executive Director Nathan McLaughlin testified before the panel earlier today and faced questioning from legislators, including O’Mara, on a range of concerns and issues.

“Thank you for the great work that you do throughout the state and in our local communities,” O’Mara said in addressing the panel.

O’Mara pointed to one area of great concern: initiatives to strengthen suicide prevention efforts in rural communities and regions like those he represents across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes. It’s a concern that he, along with area legislators Senator Pam Helming and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano have been working closely on for the past several years with Corning resident and Steuben County Legislator Joseph Tobia, particularly an effort to create a statewide Rural Suicide Prevention Council. Tobia and his wife, Elisa, lost their son Matt to suicide in August 2021.

A 2023 report found that the suicide rate in rural New York was twice that of urban New York and is increasing at a significantly greater rate. The suicide rate increased 17% in rural areas of the state between 2019 and 2020, according to the report.

O’Mara focused additional questioning on a proposal by Governor Kathy Hochul to “establish a framework to allow clinics to provide mental health and substance use services under a single, jointly-issued license,” noting that “nearly 60 percent of people receiving substance use treatment also have co-occurring mental health conditions, yet services are often split across separate systems.”

O’Mara asked the panel their thoughts on the governor’s proposal and the overall direction of the effort, as well as what, if any, changes should be made to it. 

Members of the panel agreed with the need to address the licensure issue and the overall direction of the governor’s proposal.

[Watch Senator O'Mara's questioning of the panel HERE]

Senator O'Mara has served as the Ranking Member on the Senate Finance Committee since 2021. 

"We welcome this year’s budget hearings, at this critical time, for direct input and critique on a range of policy areas that will decide the short- and long-term future and strength of our local communities and economies.” said Senator O’Mara, who represents the 58th Senate District comprised of Chemung, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, and Yates counties, and a part of Allegany County.