Asm. Anna Kelles

Maddy summaryThis bill preserves healthcare providers' access to independent dispute resolution for payment disagreements with insurers. It updates fee determination rules to require resolution entities to consider factors like provider training, usual charges for similar services, regional rates, and case complexity when setting fair reimbursement. The changes directly affect doctors, hospitals, and insurers by clarifying how payment disputes over services will be resolved. The law ensures providers can challenge underpayment claims using these specific, transparent criteria. It does not create new payment standards but maintains existing dispute resolution access.

Enables prosecutors to access orders of protection issued in association with sealed prior domestic violence cases if the offender commits a new domestic violence offense.

Creates the office of the correctional ombudsperson to achieve transparency, fairness, impartiality and accountability in New York state correctional facilities; relates to reports by coroners; designates investigators of the office of the correctional ombudsperson as peace officers; authorizes the attorney general to investigate the alleged commission of any criminal offense committed by an employee of the department of corrections and community supervision in connection with their official duties; relates to the confidentiality of certain records; includes the office of the correctional ombudsperson records within the definition of public safety agency records; makes related provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 4886) creates a $2,000 refundable tax credit for New York taxpayers who experience the stillbirth of a child. It directly affects eligible parents who would have claimed the child as a dependent under federal tax law and have a stillbirth certificate issued under public health law. The credit is refundable (meaning it can result in a payment even if no tax is owed) and applies to taxable years beginning January 1, 2025. The bill requires a certificate of stillbirth from the public health law to qualify, but does not change dependency rules.

Relates to paratransit services; directs that an applicant for recertification submit correspondence from a licensed physician in lieu of an in-person assessment.

Requires SUNY and CUNY campuses to hire energy management, materials management, and sustainability education and engagement employees at each SUNY and CUNY campus in numbers proportionate to campus size.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 106) increases monthly financial standards for public assistance eligibility and home energy grants in New York State. It doubles the current monthly need standards for households (e.g., a single-person household jumps from $158 to $316) and home energy grants (e.g., from $14.10 to $28.20) starting July 1, 2025, for all public assistance recipients. The bill also establishes annual cost-of-living adjustments based on federal Social Security data. These changes directly affect low-income individuals and families receiving state public assistance benefits.

Relates to the use of antipsychotic medications in nursing homes; imposes limits as to time and documentation; requires informed consent under certain circumstances.

Authorizes the commissioner of labor and the workers' compensation board to issue stop-work orders; establishes procedure for the issuance of such orders; establishes penalties for failure to comply with such orders.

Provides for the regulation of indoor and outdoor worksites with temperature protection standards and education, training and reporting requirements to ensure that employers provide safe conditions for their employees.