Asm. Marianne Buttenschon

Maddy summaryThis bill requires hospitals and healthcare providers to share complete electronic medical records with insurance plans' utilization review agents. It mandates that records be shared electronically for individual care reviews and claim processing only, not for billing audits or historical analysis. Health plans must prioritize data security, follow privacy laws, and cannot request duplicate information already in the shared records. The law also restricts plans from routinely demanding full medical records or diagnosis codes during reviews, limiting requests to only necessary information. It directly affects hospitals, healthcare providers, and health insurance plans operating in New York.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New York's criminal procedure law to clarify when courts can issue orders of protection for harassment victims during criminal cases. It specifies that courts may issue temporary protection orders while a case is pending and must state reasons for issuing or denying final protection orders after sentencing. The bill sets new maximum durations for these orders based on offense type: up to 8 years for felony convictions (10 years for certain sexual assault cases), 5 years for class A misdemeanors (6 years for sexual assault), and 2 years for other offenses. These changes directly affect courts handling criminal cases, defendants convicted of harassment-related crimes, and victims seeking legal protection.

Allows courts to consider whether a principal poses a current physical danger to the safety of any crime victim, person or the community when determining bail.

Amends the definition of "developmental disability" to include an inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of the disability.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows retired members of New York state retirement systems to change their designated beneficiary if that beneficiary has been convicted of a family offense (as defined in state law) and the retired member was the complainant in the case. Retired members have 180 days from the beneficiary's conviction date to submit a written request to the retirement system to make this change. Once received, the retirement system will update the beneficiary or recalculate benefits accordingly. The comptroller must notify retired members about this provision and can create rules to implement it, working with domestic violence and criminal justice agencies.

Allows certain judges, justices, and criminal prosecutors who are duly licensed to possess a concealed firearm, to carry such concealed firearm in court, where no magnetometer or security personnel is present.

Provides annual vehicular access for New York state's active volunteer firefighters and active volunteer ambulance workers and their immediate family at any state park or recreational facility.

Establishes the shovel-ready housing program under which certain municipalities, at their option, may pre-authorize parcels of property for the construction of housing; establishes a shovel-ready community tax rebate for taxpayers residing in municipalities that opt-in to the shovel-ready housing program; provides for annual apportionment to municipalities that have certified participation in the shovel-ready housing program.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes clear rules for Medicaid coverage of specialized medical equipment called "complex rehabilitation technology" (e.g., customized wheelchairs, adaptive seating) for individuals with severe disabilities like spinal cord injuries or cerebral palsy. It defines "complex needs patients," sets strict requirements for suppliers (including accreditation, on-site evaluations, and repair services), and mandates Medicaid to create proper billing procedures. The bill ensures reimbursement rates account for the high costs of these devices and requires managed care organizations to follow these rules. Its goal is to guarantee reliable access to necessary equipment for qualifying patients.

Establishes the professional practice of community midwifery; defines as the management in the home, birth center, or community setting, of normal pregnancies, child birth, and postpartum care, including newborn evaluation, resuscitation and referral for infants; sets requirements for license and practice.