Capital Tonight has learned that in her State of the State address scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul will propose a new Office of Service and Civic Engagement (OSCE) to be housed within the office of the lieutenant governor. 

“Gov. Hochul and I realized there needs to be a statewide service and engagement effort,” Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado told Capital Tonight.

The office will take a page from Americorps, but broaden out its approach by partnering with both the State University of New York and City University of New York. The goal is to create a corps of both paid positions and volunteers who will fill service needs wherever they may be: nursing homes, schools, parks, farms and cities.

The new office may also touch on the lieutenant governor’s work fighting racism and antisemitism.

“The loneliness epidemic post-COVID 19; the rise of hate and intolerance born of discrimination; extreme partisanship and divisiveness; all of this must be combatted in the name of service, compassion and mutual understanding,” Delgado said. 

The new office will work hand-in-hand with the current Service Commission, which operates out of the Office of Children & Family Services (OCFS).

While the new office will have a budget, Delgado wouldn’t offer specifics. However, he did say that administration will be looking to hire someone to lead it. 

“In the first year, the focus is, first and foremost, bringing in a chief service officer. This individual will develop a holistic plan across the state in partnership with volunteer and nonprofit organizations,” he explained. “The action plan will be put together over the course of this first year.”