Asm. Scott Bendett

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 4693) requires health insurers to provide minimum coverage periods for substance use disorder treatment. It mandates at least seven days of detoxification coverage and thirty days of rehabilitation services under all applicable insurance plans. The law amends specific sections of the insurance code to enforce these minimums, directly affecting health insurers and their policyholders seeking addiction treatment. The bill sets concrete coverage standards without altering broader insurance benefits or costs.

Allows victim impact statements in New York state be video recorded; requires that the members of the parole board and all presiding commissioners for such hearing review all relevant victim impact statements prior to the conduct of a parole hearing and to sign a written attestation confirming that they have done so.

Requires fashion sellers to carry out environmental due diligence for the portions of their business related to wearing apparel, footwear or fashion bags, including wearing apparel, footwear or fashion bags produced as a private label; establishes a fashion remediation fund.

Provides that candidates who have provided firefighting service may deduct up to a maximum of six years from their age for purposes of meeting the age requirements.

Maddy summaryBill A 2699 regulates the sale and possession of Kratom. It prohibits the sale or provision of Kratom to individuals under 21 years of age, with civil penalties for sellers who violate this rule. Businesses selling Kratom must post age restriction signs and verify a purchaser's age using specified identification documents, with provisions for electronic transaction scans. The bill also mandates the Commissioner of Health to conduct a study on Kratom's potential health risks and benefits.

Adds assault of a highway worker, motor vehicle investigator and motor vehicle inspector to the crime of assault in the second degree; defines such terms.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises the maximum age for provisional or permanent appointment as a police officer in certain government departments from 35 to 40 years old. It directly affects applicants for competitive civil service positions in the Department of Environmental Conservation, county, city, town, village, housing authority, or police district police forces. The key change modifies the age requirement for the written examination date, allowing applicants up to age 40 to qualify instead of the previous 35-year limit. This adjustment applies broadly across eligible departments, with specific exceptions for military service time or existing employees under limited circumstances.

Provides milk dealers and agricultural food product transporters with electronic toll collection devices free of charge; requires the department of transportation to reimburse the thruway authority and the metropolitan transportation authority for costs incurred in providing such toll collection devices.

Directs the department of economic development to study methods for keeping small retail businesses within the state and create a pilot program to train and counsel small business owners and potential small business owners; appropriates $210,000 therefor.

Establishes a service learning, internship or independent study program for students interested in working with individuals with developmental disabilities; mandates such program shall consist of a work component with verifiable activities related to individuals with developmental disabilities as determined by the state university trustees, and an academic component related to such activity that will be completed through either a written report or journal, or other written assignment as determined by the state university trustees.