Asm. John Lemondes

Authorizes local municipalities and political subdivisions to have final say on if a renewable energy power plant can be sited in such municipalities' or political subdivisions' jurisdiction; establishes conflict of interest standards for approving the siting of a renewable energy power plant in a local municipality or political subdivision; requires the office of renewable energy siting and electric transmissions establish a database to collect and display host agreements and land contracts for renewable energy power plants; establishes contract standards concerning the forfeiture of mineral rights for the siting of renewable energy power plants; regulates the conduct of businesses engaged in the conduct of selling renewable energy power plants.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows students in New York State schools to earn physical education credits by completing state-approved lifeguard certification training courses. It requires the Board of Regents to create rules enabling these courses to count toward the mandatory physical education requirements. The policy directly affects high school students who complete approved lifeguard training programs, potentially reducing the need for separate physical education classes. The change applies only to courses meeting state standards for lifeguard certification, not general physical education instruction.

Provides for a personal income tax deduction for student loan payments not in excess of five thousand dollars; excludes any payment not in excess of five thousand dollars made by an employer, employee, or on behalf of an employee that is directly deducted from the employee's wages through payroll and administered by a third-party platform that facilitates direct payments to educational institutions or related loan servicers on behalf of students such amount from an employee's New York state gross income; further excludes any contribution not to exceed five thousand dollars to a tuition program under section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code made through payroll deduction and facilitated by an employer or a third-party platform that facilitates direct payments to such programs on behalf of employees from the employee's New York state gross income.

Provides protections for telecommunications tower technicians, including requiring certain trainings during work hours without a loss of pay; requires certain reporting by bidders for telecommunication contracts.

Requires reporting of statewide training hours allocated to each firefighter; requires such report shall identify the fire department or district providing the training.

Authorizes the department of transportation to establish and implement a state memorial sign program to memorialize persons who died due to injuries sustained in a fatal motor vehicle crash on state highways.

Relates to employment of persons and veterans with disabilities by the state; provides up to five thousand positions may be filled by persons with a physical or mental disability and up to two thousand positions may be filled by disabled veterans and veterans with disabilities.

Provides that the thruway authority shall issue permits for ambulances and fire vehicles exempting such vehicles from paying tolls on the thruway when engaged in an emergency operation.

Establishes the New York state cryptocurrency and blockchain study task force to provide the governor and the legislature with information on the effects of the widespread use of cryptocurrencies and other forms of digital currencies and their ancillary systems, including but not limited to blockchain technology, in the state.

Authorizes the Onondaga county sheriff's department, in the county of Onondaga, to offer the optional twenty year retirement plan to deputy sheriffs Brittany E. Dorn, Noah C. Hunt, Daniel D. Lorenzini, Gordon J. Lopez, Tre C. Fesinger, and Christopher L. Van Dusen.