Asm. Marianne Buttenschon

Provides for the protection of the air quality at licensed day care centers and head start day care centers funded pursuant to federal law; requires the office of children and family services to consult with the commissioners of environmental conservation and health regarding the air quality and environmental hazards that may be involved with any new day care center or head start day care center; requires such office to consult with the department of health if any new environmental or environmental health hazard arises.

Establishes a task force to be called the "office of asylum management" to study, evaluate, and develop recommendations relating to the management of asylum seekers in this state; requires reporting to the governor and the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new criminal offense called "aggravated rape" under New York law. It defines aggravated rape as sexual intercourse committed with intent to cause serious injury while armed with a deadly weapon, or involving specific vulnerable victims (like children under 13 or those unable to consent). Conviction for aggravated rape or first-degree rape becomes a class A felony, and offenders must serve their full minimum sentence before release. The law directly affects defendants convicted of these specific sexual offenses, changing both the offense definition and sentencing requirements.

Relates to the practice of acupuncture and the exemption that a person who does not otherwise possess the credentials or qualifications required for the practice of acupuncture may engage in the practice of auriculotherapy or "ear acupuncture" subject to certain restrictions.

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.

Establishes a license to sell liquor at retail for consumption on premises in a cigar lounge; defines "cigar lounge"; requires cigar lounges to provide written notification warning employees of the dangers of exposure to tobacco smoke.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a New York state tax credit for small businesses hiring disabled workers. Small businesses with 100 or fewer employees can claim a $5,000 credit per disabled employee (up to $25,000 per business annually), provided the employee works 35+ hours weekly for six months and the employer verifies the employee meets the statutory disability definition. The credit is capped at $5 million total per year, with unused credits carried forward for up to three years. It directly affects small business employers in New York who hire eligible disabled residents, aiming to incentivize their employment through tax relief.

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new felony crimes for reckless endangerment of emergency service personnel, including firefighters, police officers, and building inspectors. It defines "reckless endangerment in the second degree" as knowingly altering a building without a required permit, violating building or fire codes in a way that impedes exit, and this conduct results in injury to an emergency service person during an emergency evacuation. The crime becomes "first degree" if the same actions lead to the death of an emergency service person or if the offender has a previous conviction for this offense within ten years. These offenses are classified as Class E and Class D felonies, respectively.

Enacts the "dollars for diesels act"; directs the commissioner of environmental conservation, in consultation with the New York state energy research and development authority, to establish and administer a program to provide financial incentives to owners of heavy- and medium-duty diesel-powered vehicles of a model year two thousand ten or older to retire and replace such vehicles with new heavy- or medium-duty diesel-powered vehicles of model year two thousand twenty-four or newer that meet or exceed applicable emission standards.