Asm. Sarahana Shrestha

Establishes the New York Health program, a comprehensive system of access to health insurance for New York state residents; provides for administrative structure of the plan; provides for powers and duties of the board of trustees, the scope of benefits, payment methodologies and care coordination; establishes the New York Health Trust Fund which would hold monies from a variety of sources to be used solely to finance the plan; enacts provisions relating to financing of New York Health, including a payroll assessment, similar to the Medicare tax; establishes a temporary commission on implementation of the plan; provides for collective negotiations by health care providers with New York Health.

Maddy summaryThis bill significantly expands eligibility for judicial diversion programs, allowing individuals charged with a broader range of offenses to participate if they have a "qualifying diagnosis." This diagnosis includes serious mental disorders, other mental health disorders causing severe functional impairment, or substance use disorders. While most Class A felonies and Class B sexual offenses are generally excluded, the bill establishes a new "diversion part" in each county. It also redefines "treatment" within these programs to include evidence-based interventions outside of carceral settings.

Allows for treatment costing less than $1,500 to be done without prior approval, and more clearly defines the list of "pre-authorized procedures" as a floor on treatment as opposed to its current status as a ceiling; allows non-network providers of testing to be compensated at the provider network rate negotiated by the carrier.

Requires public employers who opt out of providing paid family leave benefits to provide parental leave in the alternative at the same pay rate and amount of time as paid family leave.

Provides that for the purposes of educational leave, an eligible incarcerated individual shall include an incarcerated individual who is within two years of being an eligible incarcerated individual.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires drivers to yield the right of way to pedestrians and cyclists using multi-use trails when those trails cross roadways within a crosswalk. It directly affects drivers at trail-roadway intersections and trail users (including bicyclists) who cross roadways. The key provision mandates that vehicles stop for trail users in contiguous crosswalks, treating them like pedestrians under traffic law. The bill defines "multi-use trail" broadly to include state, local, or private recreational paths maintained for non-motorized transport. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Provides for a personal income tax deduction, once every three years up to six hundred dollars, for the testing of potable well water by a certified laboratory.

Establishes the baby bucks allowance to provide income to eligible participants for the last three months of pregnancy and the first 18 months of the child's life; excludes income received from the baby bucks allowance for purposes of supplemental nutrition assistance program eligibility.

Relates to establishing the tenancy deposit protection program; requires the commissioner of housing and community renewal to establish a program to hold security deposits in third-party accounts and create a dispute resolution process regarding the withholding of security deposits.

Provides that bi-weekly salary installment payments and allowances shall not be withheld for members of the state legislature if the governor has submitted certain legislation which is not necessary for the effective implementation of the appropriation bill or bills and legislative passage of the budget has not occurred prior to the first day of any fiscal year.