Asm. Carrie Woerner

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New York police officers from using chemical agents, such as pepper spray or tear gas, against minors under the age of 18 in any circumstance. It requires all police departments to update their use-of-force policies to explicitly ban such chemical agents when interacting with minors. The law takes effect immediately and directly affects police officers and departments across New York, as well as minors under 18 who may encounter law enforcement. This change modifies existing policy requirements without altering other aspects of police conduct.

Modifies the requirements for the New York state science, technology, engineering and mathematics incentive program for when an award gets converted to a student loan.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New York health insurance policies covering maternity care to include doula services as a standard benefit. It applies to all individual and group health insurance plans providing maternity coverage, directly affecting insurers and people receiving maternity care. The law mandates that coverage must include doula services alongside hospital stays (48 hours after vaginal birth, 96 hours after C-section), while prohibiting duplicate payments for services already provided by midwives or physicians. Insurers must cover doulas without additional cost to policyholders as part of existing maternity care requirements.

Relates to permitting certain not-for-profit corporations engaged in engineering for certain conservation efforts to do business or provide professional engineering, land surveying, or professional geology services in the state.

Enacts the overdose prevention and recovery act; directs that at least twenty percent of funds from the opioid stewardship fund shall be invested in recovery services and supports; requires an annual report to the legislature regarding funds distributed from the opioid stewardship fund; makes the opioid stewardship fund permanent.

Enacts the "Supervising Upcoming Professionals for Practice in Official Roles in Therapy (SUPPORT) act"; provides that for licensure as a clinical social worker, an applicant may satisfy the experience requirements under supervision of a mental health practitioner who has been granted the privilege to diagnose and develop assessment-based treatment plans under article one hundred sixty-three of the education law.

Provides that dental insurance coverage shall include coverage for night guards; defines dental night guards; provides that dental night guards shall be covered under Medicaid.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases fines for violating public health laws. It raises penalties for nursing home and hospital operators from $3,000 to $5,000 per violation, with repeat offenses or violations causing harm now carrying up to $10,000 or $20,000 fines. Excess fines collected beyond $2,000 per violation go to a patient safety center, while nursing home fines over $10,000 fund quality improvement programs for nursing homes. The changes apply directly to healthcare facilities and their operators under New York's public health and social services laws.

Provides that the division of criminal justice services shall give preference when awarding grant funds to any law enforcement agency to law enforcement agencies who are accredited by the law enforcement agency accreditation council.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New York school districts to be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred when conducting studies mandated by the education department for reorganization approvals. It directly affects school districts undergoing mergers, consolidations, or annexations that qualify for state aid under existing law. The key provision mandates reimbursement for these required studies, with the funding condition dependent on a state appropriation being made. If no appropriation exists at the bill's effective date, reimbursement begins 45 days after funding is secured.