Asm. Kwani O'Pharrow

Maddy summaryBill A 7568, known as the "school libraries curation guidance act," requires the state librarian to provide guidance on library material curation to all school library systems. This guidance will include standards to ensure library materials present a wide range of viewpoints, prohibit censorship, and provide access to developmentally relevant content for all students. It also outlines procedures for librarians to regularly review and remove materials based on factors like relevance, condition, and demand. The state librarian will maintain and publish a list of school library systems that adopt policies meeting these minimum standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New York's social services office to implement an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) system by June 21, 2027, replacing paper checks for programs like food assistance and cash benefits. It mandates using standard commercial electronic payment technology, including chip-based cards, to deliver benefits securely and efficiently. The policy directly affects state recipients of social services and the agency managing benefit distribution, shifting from physical vouchers to digital transfers. The law also requires the office to upgrade the system as soon as possible after the deadline.

Requires a stay of certain foreclosure proceedings where the mortgagor has applied for coverage under the New York state homeowner assistance fund or any local program administering federal emergency mortgage assistance program funds; allows such foreclosure proceedings to proceed against a mortgagor who has caused significant damage to the property.

Authorizes the assessor of the town of Babylon to accept an application for exemption from real property taxes from Phoenix Houses of Long Island, Inc.

Designates all agents employed by the city of New York police department in the titles of traffic enforcement agent I and traffic enforcement agent II as peace officers.

Provides that in the event child protective services receives a duplicate report on an open case that has not been founded, indicated or referred to services, such duplicate report shall merge with the open case and remain open an additional thirty days for further investigation.

Adjusts the taxable income of individuals who were forced to withdraw funds from certain retirement accounts due to damage of primary residences following Superstorm Sandy to ensure such individuals were not penalized for withdrawing such funds.

Enacts the "COVID-19 injured workers' protection act"; establishes a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presumption for public employee death benefits where a member was required to physically report to work; did in fact physically report to work as of March first, two thousand twenty; contracted COVID-19; and where the applicable head of the member's retirement system or such system's medical board determines COVID-19 to have been a significant contributing factor in the member's death.

Requires every general hospital to report within seven days to the US consumer product safety commission with any report of any examination or inquiry prepared with respect to any death or serious injury occurring to a child determined to be caused by either a children's product or a durable juvenile product.

Provides that contract cost adjustments in the middle of contract terms for school districts transportation contracts shall be at no additional cost to the state, locality or school district unless such amendment is necessary to comply with the statewide transition to zero-emission buses and provided that it has been established by the contractor that there has been at least an equivalent increase in the amount of such contractor's cost of operation.