Asm. Angelo Santabarbara

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the New York Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Treatment, Training and Research Council within the executive department. The council will coordinate state services for individuals with ASDs (affecting approximately 1 in 110 children), their families, and healthcare providers by developing a statewide policy plan and reviewing agency initiatives. Key mechanisms include holding annual community forums across New York State, submitting annual policy updates to the governor and legislature, and requiring agencies to align with the council's coordinated approach. The council will include state agency leaders, appointed experts in ASDs, and family representatives to address gaps in early intervention, post-education services, and research coordination identified by prior state reports.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 6630) creates the "Expanded In-Home Services Funding Act" to increase state funding for in-home care services for elderly residents. It allocates $42 million specifically to eliminate waitlists for essential services like meal delivery, housekeeping, personal care, and transportation, while ensuring counties have resources to meet growing demand. The bill establishes a five-year pilot program to test new service models (including tele-health and volunteer transportation networks), with a designated portion of funds prioritized for rural counties facing the highest need. Annual reports will track fund usage, waitlist reductions, and improvements in senior well-being, as required by the bill's provisions.

Establishes a sales tax holiday for food and non-alcoholic beverages sold at a restaurant, diner, or cafe licensed under article twenty-C of the agriculture and markets law during the second full week of February and the third full week of August.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New York's wildlife hunting regulations to allow crossbow use for certain hunting activities. It removes a previous prohibition banning 12-13 year olds from hunting with crossbows (repealing section 11-0929's specific language) and adds technical specifications for crossbows, including minimum 14-inch arrows, 100-pound draw weight, and safety requirements. The bill affects hunters, particularly youth hunters and crossbow users, by expanding hunting methods for deer and bear during designated seasons. It repeals outdated provisions while establishing new rules for crossbow use under the environmental conservation law.

Creates a wholesale prescription drug importation program which complies with federal standards and regulations for the purpose of generating substantial savings for consumers.

Relates to establishing the COVID-19 children scholarship; provides that children whose parent, primary caretaker or sibling died or was disabled as a result of contracting COVID-19 shall be eligible for such scholarship.

Requires institutions and local correctional facilities to adhere to certain standards regarding the surveillance of incarcerated individuals and detainees, and access to such surveillance recordings.

Prohibits the public service commission from approving a rate increase that entails a return on equity for capital projects that is above the prevailing ten-year treasury rate plus one percent.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New York's mental health commissioner to create a public anti-stigma education program targeting the general public and specific underserved groups, including Black, Latina/Latino adolescents, LGBTQ+ individuals, Asian descent communities, veterans, and rural residents. The program must reduce stigma about mental health and substance use disorders, improve understanding of symptoms and treatments, and provide clear information on accessing resources through social media, radio, print, and community forums. It mandates collaboration with community stakeholders and consumer advocates to ensure culturally appropriate materials. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Provides for loan forgiveness for social workers who commit to work in counties with less than two hundred thousand population, or towns which have a population of less than one hundred fifty persons per square mile for the duration of the award.