Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York lawmakers have announced a deal made on the State budget, agreed upon by both Houses.

Under the 2018 budget, ride sharing programs like Lyft and Uber will now be able to operate across the state.

The Department of Motor Vehicles will have broad oversight of rideshare companies and will ensure compliance with all laws, rules, and regulations required as part of the Transportation Network Companies’ (TNC) operational license.

TNC companies will be required to maintain minimum insurance coverage levels of $1.25 million while a TNC driver is traveling to pick up a passenger and until the drop-off is completed.

The state will also establish minimum standards to ensure passenger safety, including mandatory background checks, ongoing monitoring for traffic safety, anti-discrimination protections, and zero-tolerance drug and alcohol policies.

The 2018 budget also raises the age of criminal responsibility to 18-years-old and ensures that “young people who commit non-violent crimes receive the intervention and evidence-based treatment they need.”

New York was previously one of only two states in the nation that automatically processed all 16- and 17-year-olds as adults in the criminal justice system, no matter their offense.

The new measures will be phased in over time, raising the age of juvenile delinquency from age 16- to 17-years-old beginning on Oct. 1, 2018, and subsequently raising the age of criminal responsibility to 18-years-old on Oct. 1, 2019.

The budget increases Education Aid by $1.1 billion, bringing the new Education Aid total $25.8 billon.

Also, the new budget begins middle class tax cuts, saving taxpayers $250 on average next year, and 6 million New Yorkers $700 annually when fully effective.

Medicaid State share funding has increased to $23.5 billion and the state and $200 million has been invested to fight the opioid epidemic.

Click here for more information about the budget.