Asm. Paula Kay

Maddy summaryThis bill expands approved driver education providers in New York to include licensed driving schools (after commissioner approval), alongside high schools and colleges. It requires classroom instruction to be taught by instructors approved by both the state education department and motor vehicle commissioner. School districts may now contract with licensed driving schools for behind-the-wheel training, and students in these courses may operate vehicles under supervision without a license during instruction. The bill specifically allows two religious schools to offer driver education in certain locations during non-school hours, but its primary focus is adding driving schools to the approved provider list.

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.

Repeals certain provisions of law relating to the use of tax funds collected by the county of Orange, which permits Orange county to distribute all of its sales and compensating use taxes to the municipalities thereof.

Provides a filing extension for the "enhanced" STAR exemption to initial applicants provided that such applicants have not been granted such extension before and such applicants are otherwise entitled to the exemption.

Requires each utility to take appropriate safety precautions regarding electrical hazards, including developing plans to promptly de-energize downed wires within two hours of notification of the location of such downed wires from a municipal emergency responder and promptly secure such wires within six hours in the case of events that are not considered emergencies.

Requires notices of liability issued for nonpayment of tolls to be uniform in form and content and contain information on monetary penalties, the public authority issuing the notice of liability and the rates, fees, or charges applicable to nonpayment of tolls.

Establishes a 13 member veteran suicide mortality review board to serve as the statewide entity responsible for the multidisciplinary review of suicide deaths among veterans by identifying trends and systemic factors contributing to veteran suicide; assessing gaps in services, access to care, and institutional practices; developing evidence-based recommendations for prevention and policy improvement; and promoting collaboration among relevant state, local, and federal agencies.

Requires the display of certain labels and warnings on gas stoves sold, displayed for sale, or offered for sale at retail to a consumer in this state; authorizes the department of state to adopt regulations regarding the placement and format of such labels; provides for penalties; authorizes the attorney general to enforce such provisions.

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.