Stabilizes electric costs for New York consumers; restricts unreasonable rate and fee increases; establishes additional auditing and enforcement authorities.
Asm. Steve Stern
Sponsored bills
Establishes the nine member distributed generation for community solar siting commission to examine the reasons for delays in the siting of community solar projects, identify those causes and examine solutions to accelerate development; makes related provisions.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 25-year retirement plan for firefighters employed by New York State's Division of Military and Naval Affairs, specifically airport firefighters (apprentice through level III) and training safety officers. Eligible members can retire after 25 years of creditable service - including prior work with organized fire departments and wartime service after World War I - receiving a pension equal to half their final average salary. Members must elect to join the plan within one year of the bill's effective date. The plan serves as an alternative to existing retirement options under state law.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates designated parking spaces at New York state buildings and facilities for Purple Heart recipients - veterans wounded or killed in combat. It requires state agencies to provide up to two accessible parking spots per facility, located near entrances with permanent 5-7 foot high signs and special markings. Recipients must show a permit from the DMV to use these spaces, which must meet ADA standards and may be marked as tow-away zones. The bill aims to provide convenient, visible parking access for Purple Heart veterans at state properties.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the MTA to create a half-fare program for eligible New York State veterans using public transportation. It applies specifically to veterans who are New York residents, honorably discharged from U.S. military service, and possess a valid New York veteran ID card. The MTA must establish the program but cannot fund it from its regular operating or capital budgets; instead, it can only implement it using state funds specifically allocated for this purpose. The bill defines "veteran" clearly and mandates that the program be implemented with state appropriations.
Provides that the submission of claims for services provided by home care agencies shall be done on forms approved by the centers for Medicare and Medicaid services.
Provides for insurance coverage of comprehensive annual medical examinations for firefighters due to their increased risk for cancer and cancer-related diseases.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends New York's Penal Law to explicitly include animal fighting under the definition of criminal activity for enterprise corruption charges. It adds "section three hundred fifty-one of the agriculture and markets law relating to animal fighting" to the list of offenses that qualify as criminal activity in enterprise corruption cases. This change directly affects prosecutors and courts handling cases where animal fighting is part of a larger criminal enterprise, allowing such cases to be prosecuted under enterprise corruption statutes. The key mechanism is a technical update to the legal definition, not a new policy or funding measure.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows property and casualty insurance companies to deliver certain notices electronically instead of by mail. It specifically applies to notices related to insurance contracts under vehicle and traffic law, such as policy changes or coverage evidence. The law requires electronic notices to meet state technology law standards and permits delivery to an electronic address not listed in the policy. This change directly affects insurance policyholders and companies by expanding how they receive legally required notifications. The bill makes electronic delivery legally valid for these specific notices, replacing the previous requirement for physical mailing.
Maddy summaryThis bill makes permanent a 2006 law that creates a presumption: volunteer firefighters diagnosed with certain lung disabilities (like cancer or respiratory illnesses) are automatically considered to have incurred those conditions during firefighting duties. It directly affects volunteer firefighters in New York who develop these specific lung conditions while serving. The key change removes the previous expiration date (June 30, 2025), ensuring the presumption remains in effect indefinitely. This simplifies the process for eligible firefighters to access benefits by shifting the burden of proof to the state.