Asm. Anna Kelles

Prohibits the formation of a subsidiary of a public authority without prior approval of the legislature; allows the formation of a subsidiary of a public authority without prior approval of the legislature if such public authority files a written notice sixty days prior to the organization of such subsidiary with the governor and the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits town, city, or county industrial development agencies from waiving taxes that would otherwise be paid to school districts. It directly affects school districts by ensuring they receive all taxes that would have been collected from properties or developments under these agencies' jurisdiction. The key provision requires agencies to collect all applicable taxes instead of entering into agreements that replace tax payments with alternative payments. This change ensures school districts maintain their regular revenue streams from local development activities.

Provides for automatic voter registration and pre-registration for persons applying for certain department of motor vehicles documentation, and for persons applying for or re-enrolling in Medicaid; allows individuals to decline such automatic registration and pre-registration.

Relates to protecting the communication rights of individuals with disabilities; provides that each person with a disability has the right to communicate in their preferred manner.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1966) expands New York's animal cruelty law to include wildlife animals - such as deer, birds, or other non-insect species - as protected under the law, alongside companion animals. It directly affects wildlife by adding them to the list of animals covered by cruelty provisions, meaning intentional harm to these animals could now be prosecuted under the law. The key mechanism amends the law to define "wildlife" per environmental conservation law, while explicitly maintaining exemptions for lawful hunting, trapping, fishing, pest control, and other authorized activities. This change does not alter existing legal activities like hunting or pest management but extends cruelty protections to wildlife for the first time under this specific statute.

Updates the membership, powers, duties and procedures of the commission on forensic science; establishes the scientific advisory committee, the social justice, ethics, and equity assessment committee and the forensic analyst license advisory committee; makes conforming changes.

Enacts the "fair pay for home care act" relating to minimum wages applicable to home care aides; provides for a minimum wage of 150% of the applicable statewide or regional minimum wage.

Relates to the content and procedure for certification by pharmacists of patients using medical cannabis; allows a pharmacist employed by a registered organization and responsible for supervising the dispensing of medical cannabis within a cannabis dispensing facility to recommend and certify patients upon consultation within such dispensing facility.

Maddy summaryThis New York bill (A 107) establishes that animals are sentient beings capable of feeling pain, stress, and fear, and declares it the state's policy to treat animals humanely. It directly affects how animal cruelty cases are handled in court by defining animals as legal victims of cruelty crimes, requiring courts to treat them as such. The law mandates that animals be protected from unnecessary pain or fear caused by humans, shifting legal recognition from animals as property to beings deserving of humane treatment under the law. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Authorizes the dispensing of abortion medication under certain conditions; requires insurance policies providing coverage for contraception to provide coverage for abortion medication.