Establishes through the department of health a drug checking services program to allow individuals to bring drugs or controlled substances and have them tested for contaminants, toxic substances, or hazardous compounds; requires the department to establish public health surveillance of the unregulated drug supply; provides exemptions for participants in the drug checking program from certain controlled substance offenses.
This bill (A 1568) prohibits landlords and housing providers from refusing to rent or sell housing to tenants solely because they were involved in past, current, or ongoing landlord-tenant court cases (summary proceedings under Article 7 of the Real Property Law). It adds this specific history to New York’s anti-discrimination law, making such refusal an unlawful practice - except when a tenant failed to comply with a court order. The law applies to all housing providers, including those managing publicly-assisted housing and new developments, and covers both direct refusals and misleading statements about neighborhood changes tied to these cases.
Directs the licensing authority in each county to process firearms license applications for victims of domestic abuse who have been issued an order of protection within 14 days of receiving the application.
Establishes the reentry assistance program; provides for eligible incarcerated individuals to receive a monthly stipend upon release from a state correctional facility; makes an appropriation of $25,000,000.
This bill waives fees for non-driver identification cards for three specific groups: incarcerated individuals, crime victims needing replacement cards lost in crimes, and people with incomes below 200% of the federal poverty line. To qualify for the income-based waiver, applicants must provide proof like tax returns, employer letters, or wage statements from the previous year. The bill directly affects low-income residents, formerly incarcerated people, and crime victims who need identification cards but cannot afford standard fees. It modifies existing law to expand fee exemptions without creating new government programs or altering other ID requirements.
This bill (A 5399) amends New York's penal law to establish that a person is legally incapable of consenting to sexual acts if they are a witness, victim, suspect, or person of interest in a law enforcement investigation while a police officer or law enforcement official is involved in that investigation. It specifically creates a legal presumption of incapacity during the active investigation period for these individuals when interacting with law enforcement personnel participating in the case. The law includes an exception: if a prior sexual relationship existed before the investigation began, the person is not deemed incapable of consent. This change directly affects law enforcement officers and individuals involved in ongoing investigations, clarifying consent status under these specific circumstances.
Authorizes the commissioner of corrections and community supervision to discipline certain employees for acts of serious misconduct; defines serious misconduct; establishes procedures for such disciplinary action; prohibits employees who have been removed for serious misconduct from being placed on the eligible list after such removal.
This bill requires a 7.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for specific human services programs starting April 2026. It applies to providers under New York’s offices of mental health, developmental disabilities, and addiction services, including programs like supported housing, crisis services, and substance abuse treatment. The COLA must be used to fund at least a 1.7% targeted salary increase for eligible staff at local providers and direct contract agencies. The adjustment replaces other inflation-based increases for these programs, except for federal pandemic relief funds.
This bill (S 6662) expands legal protections by making assaults against specific healthcare personnel a more serious offense under New York's penal law. It directly affects medical providers (like doctors and nurses), hospital employees, and volunteers - such as registered nurses, nurse practitioners, certified nursing assistants, ambulance personnel, and hospital volunteers - as defined in public health law. The key change adds these individuals to the list of protected persons, making it a crime to assault them with intent to prevent them from performing their duties. The law also specifies that causing physical injury to these protected individuals during their work constitutes a punishable offense.
Relates to the definition of "direct relationship" for the purposes of article 23-A of the correction law regarding licensures and employment of persons previously convicted of one or more criminal offenses.
