Asm. Sarahana Shrestha

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $1.2 billion permanent fund to improve wages and benefits for New York's childcare workforce. It directly affects licensed childcare providers that accept families using the state's Child Care Assistance Program, requiring them to use at least 75% of funds for direct caregivers (like teachers), 10% for administrators, and the rest for program quality or expansion. The fund mandates that providers meet a new minimum compensation scale (developed with worker input) aiming to align childcare wages with public school educators. The Office of Children and Family Services will distribute funds based on factors like serving high-need children, underserved communities, and enrollment, with annual reporting requirements.

Relates to creating a new acquisition fund for community land trusts located in New York state; provides that moneys of the fund shall be expended solely to carry out the affordable home ownership development program exclusively for community land trusts; defines community land trusts.

Maddy summaryBill A 1615, known as the "area speed limits act," modifies the process by which cities, villages, and certain towns establish speed limits on local highways and roads. The bill removes the current requirement for these local legislative bodies to base new speed limits on specific engineering considerations and factors. It also eliminates the need for these speed limits to be certified by a licensed professional engineer. This change grants local governments more direct authority in setting area speed limits within their jurisdictions.

Relates to the standards of monthly need for persons in receipt of public assistance; provides for an increased monthly allowance for persons and families residing in shelters.

Enacts the "Wandering Officers Act" prohibiting provisional or permanent appointment of a person as a police officer if such person has previously been fired as a police officer from any jurisdiction within or without the state, if such person left a position as a police officer either while under an investigation or while being the subject of a disciplinary action which could result in termination from any jurisdiction within or without the state, or if such person resigned while criminal charges were pending stemming from actions committed while on duty as a police officer in any jurisdiction within or without the state.

Establishes application processing and review requirements for reprieves, commutations and pardons by the governor; requires the governor to provide: a written notification that the application has been received; a receipt number that the applicant can then use to check on the applicant's application status; guidelines for supplementing the application with additional or updated information; and a notification when a decision is made on the application; requires quarterly reports to the legislature regarding reprieves, commutations and pardons.

Provides practical support for access to abortion care including, but not limited to, reimbursement for ground and air transportation, lodging, meals, childcare, translation services, and doula support.

Enacts the HOPE pilot program; allows households to apply for multiple food and anti-poverty benefits simultaneously online; enables families to work with nonprofit and government agencies to enact action plans to boost their long-term self-sufficiency.

Establishes the universal child care act to provide for the establishment and funding of universal child care in the state of New York; establishes a universal child care taskforce to help implement universal child care in the state and repeals certain provisions of the social services law relating thereto; establishes the permanent child care workforce pay equity fund; establishes a universal child care public option pilot program to provide universal child care in at least twenty locations throughout the state; makes an appropriation therefor.

Provides voting membership to existing non-voting rider representatives on the MTA Board, provides for enhanced representation of MTA riders with disabilities.