Asm. Charles Lavine

Maddy summaryThis bill expands approved driver education providers in New York to include licensed driving schools (after commissioner approval), alongside high schools and colleges. It requires classroom instruction to be taught by instructors approved by both the state education department and motor vehicle commissioner. School districts may now contract with licensed driving schools for behind-the-wheel training, and students in these courses may operate vehicles under supervision without a license during instruction. The bill specifically allows two religious schools to offer driver education in certain locations during non-school hours, but its primary focus is adding driving schools to the approved provider list.

Enacts "Francesco's law" which establishes violations for the failure to safely store rifles, shotguns, and firearms in the presence of a minor or a prohibited person; requires the office of gun violence prevention to collect and analyze statistical and other information and data with respect to injuries or deaths of minors resulting from failure to safely store a firearm, rifle, or shotgun.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires large group health insurance plans in New York to cover acupuncture services when prescribed by qualified healthcare providers (as defined under Education Law §8211). It applies to plans covering physician office services or comprehensive medical coverage, mandating coverage for acupuncture treatments but allowing reasonable cost-sharing like deductibles or co-pays. The law does not require full coverage without cost-sharing, only that plans include acupuncture as a covered service under specified conditions. It affects insurers offering large group plans and patients relying on such coverage for acupuncture treatments. The bill takes effect 90 days after enactment for new or renewed policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Town of Huntington to transfer approximately 9.7 acres of parkland to the Huntington African American Museum for use as an exhibit and event space. To ensure public access is maintained, the town must replace the value of the land given up by purchasing new parkland or funding improvements to existing recreational facilities. The transfer is only permitted if the town has first satisfied any federal requirements regarding the conversion of government-funded lands. The legislation takes effect immediately upon passage.

Directs the department of transportation and every municipality, locality and public authority that distributes road salt to construct a salt shed within ten years.

Establishes a 13 member veteran suicide mortality review board to serve as the statewide entity responsible for the multidisciplinary review of suicide deaths among veterans by identifying trends and systemic factors contributing to veteran suicide; assessing gaps in services, access to care, and institutional practices; developing evidence-based recommendations for prevention and policy improvement; and promoting collaboration among relevant state, local, and federal agencies.

Requires the display of certain labels and warnings on gas stoves sold, displayed for sale, or offered for sale at retail to a consumer in this state; authorizes the department of state to adopt regulations regarding the placement and format of such labels; provides for penalties; authorizes the attorney general to enforce such provisions.

Establishes visiting policies for incarcerated people, to provide incarcerated people opportunities for personal contact with relatives, friends, clergy, volunteers and other persons to promote better institutional adjustment and better community adjustment upon release.

Establishes the "accountability of costs for data centers act"; requires each electric corporation, gas corporation and municipality to establish an independent classification of service for large energy use facilities that is separate and distinct from other classifications of service; authorizes the department of public service to develop financial surety requirements.

Maddy summaryBill A 3459 amends existing financial services law regarding civil penalties for fraud or misrepresentation. It removes the requirement that such fraud or negligent misrepresentation of a material fact, concerning financial products or services, must be "intentional." This change broadens the scope of actions that could incur civil penalties for individuals or entities offering financial products and services. The bill directly affects those who provide financial products and services by adjusting the criteria for actionable offenses.