Asm. Keith Brown

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1358) adds a religious exemption to school vaccination requirements in New York State. It allows children whose parents hold "genuine and sincere religious beliefs" opposing vaccinations to attend school without providing immunization certificates. The bill modifies public health law to remove the certificate requirement for these children and requires health providers to report immunization status for exempt students. It directly affects families seeking religious exemptions for school enrollment, while maintaining existing school notification procedures for non-exempt children. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a certification program for employers to become "recovery ready workplaces" (RRWs), directly affecting employers across all industries and their employees with substance use disorders (SUDs). To earn certification, employers must implement specific measures including onsite naloxone availability, mandatory training for supervisors on SUDs and prevention, workplace stress reduction strategies, and comprehensive health coverage for SUD treatment equal to physical health care. The program requires collaboration with unions and recovery organizations, along with policies ensuring confidentiality and reasonable accommodations for employees in recovery. Certification criteria also mandate connecting with local recovery resources and assessing workplace culture to support employees seeking treatment.

Requires the commissioner of the office of addiction services and supports to require mental health evaluations for participants in substance use disorder treatment programs and to promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate such requirement.

Provides for the establishment and operations of a dedicated opioid rehabilitation facility and the personal needs allowance for residents of a dedicated opioid rehabilitation facility; relates to the diversion of certain defendants to a mandatory opioid rehabilitation facility; provides for the establishment of a dedicated opioid rehabilitation facility and the provision of corrections officers to such facilities.

Maddy summaryBill A 3631 allows New York schools to use state or local funds to purchase whole or reduced-fat New York milk (defined as milk produced, processed, and distributed within New York State) for student meals or sales. It requires the Education Commissioner to notify schools about the provision and mandates a report after two years tracking school participation, milk consumption changes, and state promotion efforts. The bill expires if federal school lunch rules change to permit whole/reduced-fat milk generally or if updated federal dietary guidelines allow it. This policy directly affects public schools in New York seeking to support local dairy producers through school meal programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows home-schooled children residing in a school district to participate in that district's interscholastic sports and driver's education programs. It requires home-schooled students to meet all standard course or activity requirements and pay any applicable fees. The law applies only to districts offering these specific programs, and students cannot simultaneously attend another school within the same district. This change directly affects home-schooled students seeking athletic or driver's education opportunities in their residential district.

Provides for instruction in food and agriculture in schools using a curriculum established by the commissioner of education in consultation with the commissioner of agriculture and markets.

Requires the education department, in consultation with the department of health, to develop and adopt a comprehensive fentanyl education, awareness, and recognition program for all public, charter, and private schools in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill officially designates "The Empire State" as the formal nickname for New York. It achieves this by adding a new section to the state laws that explicitly states this name. The change takes effect immediately upon passage and applies to the state as a whole.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the red-spotted newt, also known as the eastern newt, as the official state amphibian of New York. It achieves this by adding a new section to the state laws that formally recognizes the species with its scientific name. The change takes effect immediately upon passage and serves primarily as a symbolic designation rather than altering legal protections or management rules.