The New York State Insurance Department (Department) will conduct public hearings in Rochester, Newburgh and New York City [or a Long Island Location] to gather information about limited benefits health insurance plans, which provide less than comprehensive hospital/medical coverage. The goal is to ascertain how these policies are marketed by insurers and producers, assess what disclosures are made regarding the services they cover, evaluate what (if any) advantages these policies provide, and determine whether additional oversight and regulation is required to protect consumers.

The cost of healthcare has increased in recent years, impacting the cost of health insurance. As a result of these rising costs, 16% of New Yorkers are uninsured. Serious illness or injury can mean catastrophic medical bills and lead to personal bankruptcy. Many consumers and small businesses searching for affordable coverage purchase limited benefits health plans as a means of insuring against potential liability. These limited benefits health plans may provide a false sense of security. If injury or illness occurs and an insured files a claim, they may find that they have less coverage than they thought.

In addition, the marketing and sales of these policies may add to the confusion. Many limited benefits plans are solicited via the Internet and through television commercials. Some of the advertisements imply that the policies provide comprehensive or major medical coverage, and fail to disclose exclusions and policy limits. The sales are completed via the Internet or telephone without the benefit of a written application, circumventing specific disclosures required by governing New York law. Department investigations also have revealed that some policies are sold through telemarketing firms using unlicensed agents, which runs afoul of the New York Insurance Law.

The Department also has found that some insurers issue limited benefits health plan policies as group coverage through invalid associations. Consumers must join the association for an additional fee in order to be eligible to purchase the coverage. While New York law permits the issuance of group insurance to valid associations, some associations are formed or maintained for the primary purpose of obtaining insurance, which is not permitted in New York.

The purpose of the hearings is to gather information from the public about limited benefits health plans, and to hear any concerns that the public may have about these products and related sales and marketing practices. The Department welcomes input from consumers and consumer representatives, business groups, chambers of commerce, insurance companies and their trade associations, insurance producers and their trade associations, senior citizen organizations, academics, members of the general public and any other interested parties. Oral and written testimony should focus on solicitation of limited benefits plans, disclosures of benefits and limitations, or the advantages and disadvantages of purchasing these products. In addition, testimony may focus on the impact to consumers when invalid associations market and sell limited benefits health plan policies, and whether new regulations or legislation is required to restrict or prohibit such policies.

Information about the hearings is available at the Department’s website, www.ins.state.ny.us. Testimony can be scheduled and written testimony submitted through the website.

Written comments for the hearing record also may be submitted to Limited Benefits Health Plans Hearings, Public Affairs Bureau, New York State Insurance Department, 25 Beaver Street, New York, NY 10004, or e-mailed to [email protected] with the subject line “LIMITED BENEFITS HEALTH PLANS HEARINGS.” The Department will accept comments for up to 15 business days after the final public hearing.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Department will provide a reasonable accommodation, including interpreter services for the hearing impaired, at no charge to any covered individual wishing to testify at these hearings, provided that such a request is received at least five business days prior to the particular hearing date and either communicated in writing to Limited Benefits Health Plans Hearings, Public Affairs Bureau, New York State Insurance Department, 25 Beaver Street, New York 10004, or by calling the Department at (212) 480-5262.

The hearings will be webcast live. The hearings are scheduled as follows:

PURSUANT to the Open Meetings Law, the New York State Civil Service Commission hereby gives public notice of the following:

Please take notice that the regular monthly meeting of the State Civil Service Commission for September 2009 will be conducted on September 16 commencing at 10:00 a.m. This meeting will be conducted at New York Network, Suite 146, South Concourse, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY. Directions and parking information available at (www.nyn.suny.edu).

For further information, contact: Office of Commission Operations, Department of Civil Service, Alfred E. Smith State Office Bldg., Albany, NY 12239, (518) 473-6598

The Town of Clarkstown is soliciting proposals to provide annual financial audit services for the Town of Clarkstown Deferred Compensation Plan ("the Plan") for the years ended December 31, 2009 through December 31, 2014.

A copy of the proposal questionnaire may be obtained from: Edward J. Duer, Comptroller, Town of Clarkstown, l0 Maple Ave., New City, NY l0956

All proposals must be submitted not later than ninety (90) days from the date of publication.

Pursuant to the Public Lands Law, the Office of General Services hereby gives notice to the following:

Notice is hereby given that the Glens Falls Armory, located at 47 Warren Street, in the City of Glens Falls, County of Warren, is no lnger usefule for the Divisioin of Military and Naval Affairs State program purposes and has been declared abandoned to the Commissioner of General Services for sale or other disposition as unappropriated State land.

For further information, contact: Robert M. VanDeloo, Jr., Office of General Services, Bureau of Land Management, 26th Fl., Corning Tower, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12242, (518) 474-2195

Pursuant to Section 30-a of the Public Lands Law, the Office of General Services hereby gives notice to the following:

Notice is hereby given that the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation has declared that the porperty situate, lying and being in the City of Rochester, County of Monroe, and State of New York, and known as that portion of abandoned Owasco River Railway, Inc. Right of Way, formerly The New York Central Railroad Co., Ontario Branch Right of Way, lying between railroad chaining stations 480+285.25± containing approximately 18.5 acres as shown on Railroad Valuation Map 90, portion of Sheets 91, 92 and 93. is no longer useful for State program purposes and has been declared abandoned to the Commissioner of General Services for sale or other disposition as unappropriated State land.

For further information, contact: Thomas Pohl, Esq., Office of General Services, Legal Services, 41st Fl., Corning Tower, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12242, (518) 474-8831 phone, (518) 473-4973 fax

Pursuant to 42 CFR Section 447.205, the Department of Health hereby gives public notice of the following:

The Department of Health proposes to amend the Title XIX (Medicaid) State Plan for non-institutional services to comply with enacted statutory provisions. The following significant changes are proposed:

Non-Institutional Services

• Effective on or after September 1, 2009, the Department of Health will review claims for expenditures made by or on behalf of local public school districts, and state operated/state supported schools, which operate pursuant to Articles 85, 87 or 88 of the Education Law, for medical care, services and supplies which are furnished to children with handicapping conditions or such children suspected of having handicapping conditions. If approved by the Department, payment of claims for such services will be made in accordance with the Department's approved medical assistance fee schedules pursuant to section 368-d of the Social Services Law.

• Effective on or after September 1, 2009, the Department of Health will review claims for expenditures made by counties and the city of New York, for medical care, services and supplies which are furnished to preschool children with handicapping conditions or such preschool children suspected of having handicapping conditions. If approved by the Department, payment of claims for such services will be made in accordance with the Department's approved medical assistance fee schedules pursuant to section 368-e of the Social Services Law.

There is no estimated annual change to gross Medicaid expenditures attributable to this clarification.

Copies of the proposed state plan amendments will be on file in each local (county) social services district and available for public review.

For the New York City district, copies will be available at the following places:

New York County 250 Church Street New York, New York 10018

Queens County, Queens Center 3220 Northern Boulevard Long Island City, New York 11101

Kings County, Fulton Center 114 Willoughby Street Brooklyn, New York 11201

Bronx County, Tremont Center 1916 Monterey Avenue Bronx, New York 10457

Richmond County, Richmond Center 95 Central Avenue, St. George Staten Island, New York 10301

The public is invited to review and comment on this proposed state plan amendment.

For further information and to review and comment, please contact: Philip N. Mossman, Department of Health, Bureau of HCRA Operations & Financial Analysis, Corning Tower Bldg., Rm. 984, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12237, (518) 474-1673, (518) 473-8825 (FAX), [email protected]

Each year, in order to maintain its eligibility to administer certain federal funds for affordable housing and community development, New York State must prepare an Annual Action Plan and submit it to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Annual Action Plan describes, for one specific Program Year, the State’s proposed use of available federal and other resources to address the priority needs and specific objectives in the Consolidated Plan; the State’s method for distributing funds to local governments and not-for-profit organizations; and the geographic areas of the State to which it will direct assistance.

The Plan also describes New York State’s planned use of approximately $86 million in federal fiscal year 2010 funds for: the NYS Community Development Block Grant Program ($47 million); the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (approximately $34 million); the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Program ($1.9 million); and the Emergency Shelter Grants Program ($3.2 million).

New York State encourages public participation in the development of its Annual Action Plan. To provide an opportunity for that participation, New York State invites interested persons to review and comment on the draft Annual Action Plan for 2010 during an upcoming public comment period.

This 30-day public comment period will begin on Thursday, September 10, 2009 and extend through close of business on Friday, October 9, 2009.

Beginning on September 10, 2009, New York State’s draft Annual Action Plan for 2010 may be viewed on and downloaded from the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) website at www.nysdhcr.gov. In addition, copies can be requested by e-mail ([email protected]) or by calling 1-866-ASK-DHCR (275-3427).

Comments should be mailed to: NYS DHCR, Attention: Brian McCarthy, 38-40 State Street, Albany, New York 12207 or e-mailed to [email protected]. Comments must be received by close of business Friday, October 9, 2009.

The New York State Department of State (DOS) is required by Federal law to provide timely public notice for the activity described below, which is subject to the consistency provisions of the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended.

The United States Department of the Interior, Army Corps of Engineers - New York District has determined that the proposed activity complies with and will be conducted in a manner consistent to the maximum extent practicable with the approved New York State Coastal Management Program. The consistency determination and accompanying public information and data is available for inspection at the New York State Department of State offices located at One Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Avenue in Albany, New York.

In F-2009-0611 DA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - New York District, is proposing to perform maintenance dredging of the existing Intracoastal Waterway federal navigation channel at Moriches Bay, Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County.

The proposal involves the following: maintenance dredging, by pipeline dredge, of the existing channel at two sections near the Moriches Inlet. Dredging will maintain the channel dimensions of 100' W x -6' MLW plus an additional 2' allowable overdepth, as has been performed in the past. Dredging will only occur in the areas where shoaling has occurred.

The proposal as described, will remove approximately 70,000 cubic yards of sand, to be placed along the Atlantic Ocean Beach shoreline at Cupsogue County Park, or at an upland disposal site along the bayside of Cupsogue County Park.

Any interested parties and/or agencies desiring to express their views concerning the above proposed activity may do so by filing their comments, in writing, no later than 4:30 p.m., 15 days from the date of publication of this notice, or September 10, 2009.

Comments should be addressed to the Division of Coastal Resources and Waterfront Revitalization, New York State Department of State, One Commerce Plaza, Albany, New York 12231. Telephone (518) 474-6000; Fax (518) 473-2464.

This notice is promulgated in accordance with Section 306(d)(14) of the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended.

A meeting of the New York State Board of Real Estate Appraisal will be held on Friday, September 18, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at the Department of State, Alfred E. Smith State Office Bldg., 80 South Swan Street, 10th Floor Conference Room, Albany, NY, and 123 William Street, 19th Floor Conference Room, NYC, NY.

Should you wish to attend or require further information, please contact Debra Campana, Board Coordinator, at [email protected] or 518-473-6155. Please always consult the Department of State website (www.dos.state.ny.us/about/calendar.htm) on the day before the meeting to make sure the meeting has not been rescheduled.

Pursuant to Section 9-0505 of the Environmental Conservation Law, the Department of Environmental Conservation hereby gives Public Notice for the following:

Sealed bids for 645.5 MBF more or less of Norway spruce, 0.1 MBF more or less of hard maple, 1 cord more or less of firewood located on Chenango Reforestation Area No. 5; Stands D-5 and D-6, will be accepted at the Department of Environmental Conservation, Contract Unit, 625 Broadway, 10th Fl., Albany, NY 12233-5027 until 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009.

For further information, contact: Robert Slavicek, Supervising Forester, Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Lands and Forests, Region 7, 2715 State Hwy. 80, Sherburne, NY 13460-4507, (607) 674-4036