Asm. Keith Brown

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a 18-member task force to review and improve safety in school transportation. The task force, appointed by state leaders and including education stakeholders, school bus drivers, and agency heads, will study existing safety laws, bus stop practices, pedestrian safety, and protocols for drivers (including substitutes). It must issue recommendations within 18 months on measures like retrofitting buses, using sensor technology, and curbing illegal passing of school buses. The bill does not implement new safety rules but establishes a review process to inform future policy. (Procedural bill; expires 24 months after enactment.)

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the permissive use of marijuana for volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services (EMS) employees who perform safety-sensitive tasks, such as driving fire apparatus, rescue operations, or providing emergency medical care. It requires fire agencies to implement drug testing (including preemployment, random, and cause-based tests) to ensure these employees are not impaired by cannabis, following federal standards. Additionally, volunteer firefighters or EMS staff using medical cannabis must immediately report prescriptions to their agency, which will then assess their fitness for duty with a medical director. The law directly affects volunteer safety personnel in fire and EMS agencies, prioritizing public and workplace safety by restricting cannabis use in critical roles.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts community colleges from paying the metropolitan commuter transportation mobility tax. It amends tax law to explicitly include community colleges in the list of educational institutions already exempt from this tax, alongside public schools, libraries, and other educational entities. The change directly affects community colleges by removing this specific tax burden from their operations. The bill makes a clear, concrete policy adjustment without altering broader tax structures or creating new requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that when raffle tickets are sold online, the sale is considered to occur at the physical location of the authorized organization (or its games of chance lessor), not where the buyer is located. It updates existing rules to ensure online raffle sales comply with the requirement that raffles must be conducted within a municipality where the organization is based or in a contiguous county. The bill directly affects authorized organizations selling raffles online, requiring them to operate within the geographic restrictions tied to their physical base. It does not change the underlying rules for raffle locations but specifically addresses the jurisdiction for internet sales. The policy change takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires local governments (counties, cities, towns, villages) and their public bodies (like boards and commissions) to use web-based videoconferencing for meetings under specific conditions. Key provisions mandate that meetings must include closed captioning, maintain physical locations for public attendance, require written procedures for remote participation, and ensure recordings are posted online with transcripts upon request. It also requires public notice detailing videoconferencing options, accessibility features (like ASL interpretation), and locations where the public can attend. The bill establishes a "municipal hybrid meeting trust fund" to support implementation and expires July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new crime in New York law: "harassment of a first responder," punishable as a serious misdemeanor. It directly affects anyone who approaches within 25 feet of a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or emergency medical personnel (including volunteers) while they are performing their duties, after being verbally warned to stop. The law prohibits this behavior when the person intends to block the responder’s work, threaten them with harm, or repeatedly cause them serious emotional distress without a legitimate reason. The penalty applies to actions that interfere with critical emergency services during active operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill mandates that the state police conduct annual active shooter drills in the state Capitol building and the legislative office building. All occupants of these buildings - including staff, legislators, and visitors - must participate in the drills. The requirement applies to both locations and specifies that drills must occur at least once each year, with no additional details on drill structure or frequency beyond the annual minimum.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a 50% property tax exemption for real estate used as a licensed child day care facility, as defined by state social services law. The exemption is optional for local governments - counties, cities, towns, or school districts must pass a local law to adopt it after a public hearing. Property owners operating qualifying day cares would see their tax bill reduced by half, but the exemption ends if the property stops being used for child care. Localities may also choose to limit the exemption to less than 50% through separate local laws.

Maddy summaryBill A 5187 expands the definition of hate crimes to include offenses committed against law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services personnel. It amends existing law to classify an offense as a hate crime if the perpetrator intentionally targets an individual based on their actual or perceived employment in these roles. This means that crimes motivated by bias against these public safety workers could be prosecuted as hate crimes. The bill also provides specific definitions for who qualifies as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or emergency medical services personnel.

Grants volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians academic credit at state operated institutions of the state university of New York and the senior colleges of the city university of New York to the extent of three academic credits per year, and 6 credits in the aggregate; provides that no fee, tuition or other charge shall be assessed against a volunteer firefighter or emergency medical technician who qualifies for such credit; directs the board of trustees of the state university and the city university of New York to adopt necessary procedures.