Asm. Ken Blankenbush

Creates a cyber security enhancement fund to be used for the purpose of upgrading cyber security in local governments, including but not limited to, villages, towns and cities with a population of one million or less; restricts the use of taxpayer moneys in paying ransoms in response to ransomware attacks.

Requires age verification for internet pornography websites; imposes a $50,000 penalty per day for violations; provides exemptions for news organizations.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts New York state resident veterans certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or Department of Defense as receiving disability payments for war-related injuries from paying tolls on the New York State Thruway. It amends two laws: the Public Authorities Law to allow the Thruway Authority to create rules for this exemption, and the Vehicle and Traffic Law to explicitly prohibit toll charges for qualifying veterans. The exemption applies only to veterans with disabilities incurred during wartime, as verified by federal agencies. The Thruway Authority must implement these changes by the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows property and casualty insurance companies to deliver certain notices electronically instead of by mail. It specifically applies to notices related to insurance contracts under vehicle and traffic law, such as policy changes or coverage evidence. The law requires electronic notices to meet state technology law standards and permits delivery to an electronic address not listed in the policy. This change directly affects insurance policyholders and companies by expanding how they receive legally required notifications. The bill makes electronic delivery legally valid for these specific notices, replacing the previous requirement for physical mailing.

Increases the applicable percentage of the child tax credit allowed in the empire state child tax credit from thirty-three percent to forty-five percent; prescribes how such payment or refund should be made based on amount.

Provides that a person is guilty of criminal mischief in the third degree when such person intentionally damages property of another person to promote or suppress a political ideology, or otherwise as an expression of political ideology.

Provides that the election of chief and assistant chief by a fire department may be on the same day as the day of election of the fire department's election of administration officers.

Requires the commissioner of environmental conservation to promote education in hunting, fishing and outdoor education in high school physical education courses.

Enacts the New York automobile insurance fraud and premium reduction act; provides that this act is aimed at reducing insurance fraud and thus lowering the cost of insurance premiums; provides a provision for compensation to a person that reports insurance fraud to the authorities; further provides that this act also increases the penalty for insurance fraud; appropriates $3,100,000 therefor.

Permits judicial discretion based on dangerousness when issuing a securing order; allows for limited pre-trial detention upon such a determination; extends the time period for discovery from twenty to forty-five days; permits the immediate issuance of a bench warrant for failure to appear for certain principals charged with hate crimes; places restrictions on when appearance tickets may be issued.