Asm. Anna Kelles

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 the green transition authority to promote the transition of the for-hire vehicle and other state industries to environmentally sustainable practices and increase universal accessibility of for-hire vehicles, paratransit services, and taxi services statewide; establishes a for-hire vehicle improvement surcharge for each for-hire transportation trip conducted in a transportation network company vehicle or by a high-volume for-hire service; makes an appropriation therefor.

Requires instruction in civic education for grades 5 through 12 including instruction on the NYS constitution; federal, state and local government; civic literacy; methods of public participation; and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

Relates to the money deposited as bail by charitable bail organizations; removes maximum authorized amount of money allowed to be deposited by such organizations.

Enacts the "election workers and polling places protection act" to protect poll watchers, election officials, voters and physical property being used as a polling place or by the board of elections.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 2627) creates a state program to help municipalities improve water quality in lakes managed by local lake associations. The program requires the environmental department to work with municipalities and lake associations to identify water quality issues, determine solutions, and establish best practices, plus provide grants for remedial actions. It directly affects municipalities and lake associations managing water bodies within their communities, with funding dependent on annual appropriations. The bill establishes a new grant program but does not change existing water quality laws.

Provides practical support for access to abortion care including, but not limited to, reimbursement for ground and air transportation, lodging, meals, childcare, translation services, and doula support.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New York police officers from using chemical agents, such as pepper spray or tear gas, against minors under the age of 18 in any circumstance. It requires all police departments to update their use-of-force policies to explicitly ban such chemical agents when interacting with minors. The law takes effect immediately and directly affects police officers and departments across New York, as well as minors under 18 who may encounter law enforcement. This change modifies existing policy requirements without altering other aspects of police conduct.

Provides for the award of reasonable attorneys' fees in FOIL proceedings if the person is successful and in open meeting proceedings to the successful petitioner and against the public body.

Establishes the universal child care act to provide for the establishment and funding of universal child care in the state of New York; establishes a universal child care taskforce to help implement universal child care in the state and repeals certain provisions of the social services law relating thereto; establishes the permanent child care workforce pay equity fund; establishes a universal child care public option pilot program to provide universal child care in at least twenty locations throughout the state; makes an appropriation therefor.