Rep. Steve Stern

Enacts the "cannabis supply chain integrity and anti-inversion act"; prohibits any act or omission involving illicit cannabis; provides penalties for such cannabis inversion.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Civil Air Patrol members to take paid leave from their employers during emergencies or when assigned by the U.S. Air Force. It directly affects CAP members who need to respond to declared emergencies or Air Force missions. Key provisions require employers to grant leave upon written notice from a unit commander, but they may deny it if the absence would cause undue hardship to their business. Employees must later provide documentation confirming their emergency service to their employer.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3223) would allow eligible veterans to fish for free in all state parks managed by state agencies. It specifically covers veterans who served on active duty with an honorable discharge, including those with qualifying conditions or specific LGBT veteran status as defined in existing law. The state office responsible for parks would need to create rules to implement this free access, with the policy taking effect 90 days after enactment. The bill is currently pending in committee review and has not yet become law.

Enacts "Francesco's law" which establishes violations for the failure to safely store rifles, shotguns, and firearms in the presence of a minor or a prohibited person; requires the office of gun violence prevention to collect and analyze statistical and other information and data with respect to injuries or deaths of minors resulting from failure to safely store a firearm, rifle, or shotgun.

Designates records and information relating to a patient who has been deceased for a period of fifty years or longer as historic records no longer subject to privacy protections; provides that such provisions shall not be construed as requiring a facility to retain records for any particular length of time.

Provides that court records in a proceeding under articles 77, 78 and 81 of the mental hygiene law shall not be perused, examined, disclosed, taken or copied by any other person than a party, the attorney or counsel of a party, the guardian, the court evaluator or the court examiner except by order of the court, or the office of the attorney general.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires large group health insurance plans in New York to cover acupuncture services when prescribed by qualified healthcare providers (as defined under Education Law §8211). It applies to plans covering physician office services or comprehensive medical coverage, mandating coverage for acupuncture treatments but allowing reasonable cost-sharing like deductibles or co-pays. The law does not require full coverage without cost-sharing, only that plans include acupuncture as a covered service under specified conditions. It affects insurers offering large group plans and patients relying on such coverage for acupuncture treatments. The bill takes effect 90 days after enactment for new or renewed policies.

Requires an annual statement of wage parity hours and expenses to be accompanied by an independent accountant's report on applying agreed upon procedures on the annual compliance statement of wage parity, hours and expenses prior to payments for home care services by government agencies.

Establishes the "accountability of costs for data centers act"; requires each electric corporation, gas corporation and municipality to establish an independent classification of service for large energy use facilities that is separate and distinct from other classifications of service; authorizes the department of public service to develop financial surety requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the definition of "period of war" for a veterans' property tax exemption to include recent military service. It adds specific conflicts: the Global War on Terrorism (starting September 11, 2001), and U.S. military operations in Somalia (1992-1994), Bosnia (1995-2004), and Kosovo (1999-1999) to the existing list. Veterans who served during these newly defined periods will now qualify for the tax exemption. The change directly affects veterans whose service falls within these added conflict dates. The bill amends existing law to clarify which military service periods count for the exemption.