Asm. Angelo Santabarbara

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New York's Penal Law to explicitly include animal fighting under the definition of criminal activity for enterprise corruption charges. It adds "section three hundred fifty-one of the agriculture and markets law relating to animal fighting" to the list of offenses that qualify as criminal activity in enterprise corruption cases. This change directly affects prosecutors and courts handling cases where animal fighting is part of a larger criminal enterprise, allowing such cases to be prosecuted under enterprise corruption statutes. The key mechanism is a technical update to the legal definition, not a new policy or funding measure.

Excludes fundraising from consideration in appropriating state aid and reimbursement for services to volunteer ambulance companies, including regional emergency medical councils.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts bottled water from sales and use taxes under specific conditions. It temporarily exempts bottled water sold through vending machines for $1.50 or less (coin-only machines) or $2 or less (other payment methods) until May 31, 2025. The bill also permanently adds "bottled water" to the list of tax-exempt items alongside water delivered via pipes. This directly affects retailers selling bottled water in vending machines within these price tiers and their customers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurers to automatically approve preauthorization requests for specific medical services when healthcare professionals (like doctors or nurses) have received approval for at least 90% of similar requests in the past six months. It directly affects healthcare providers who work with participating insurers and ensures insurers must pay for covered services without delay or reduction once automatic approval is granted. Key provisions include annual reviews (by November 15th) to maintain approval status, a 30-day notice period before rescinding approvals, and a guarantee that insurers cannot deny payment for services covered under the automatic approval. The law aims to reduce administrative delays for providers while maintaining insurer oversight through retrospective reviews.

Establishes a voluntary registry of individuals with autism, Alzheimer's or dementia who may be at risk of wandering away from home; creates a standardized form available that may be submitted to local law enforcement agencies by family members and caregivers of such individuals that would include identifying information and may include a photograph of the registrant.

Prohibits the New York Department of State from issuing a certificate of dissolution and filing a judgment or final order of dissolution for the pension fund for employees of the former St. Clare's Hospital in the city of Schenectady, county of Schenectady, until an investigation and/or audit by the New York State Department of Health, the New York State Attorney General or the New York State Comptroller has been conducted to ascertain whether there was any impropriety in the handling and management of funds in such pension plan.

Authorizes emergency medical technicians to administer certain vaccines pursuant to non-patient specific orders and under the authority of an emergency medical services director after receiving appropriate training; authorizes physicians and certified nurse practitioners to prescribe and order a non-patient specific order to an emergency medical technician to administer certain vaccines; provides for the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof.

Directs school districts to establish parent advisory councils on special education to advise on matters that pertain to the education and safety of students with disabilities, and meet regularly with school officials to participate in the planning, development, and evaluation of the school district's special education programs.

Relates to the use of locomotive horns at private highway-rail grade crossings; establishes use of locomotive horn in the locomotive engineer's sole judgment, is appropriate in order to prevent imminent injury, death, or property damage.

Directs the commissioner of health to approve courses for eligible physicians, nurses and other staff that covers risk management strategies in emergency department visits for individuals with a developmental or intellectual disability; provides a premium reduction for physicians who complete such risk management strategies course.