Asm. Charles Lavine

Establishes the retail worker safety act requiring retail worker employers to develop and implement programs to prevent workplace violence; directs the department of labor to produce a model workplace violence prevention training program; requires employers to provide training on such programs; requires the installation of panic buttons at certain workplaces or wearable or mobile phone-based panic buttons to be provided.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires motor vehicle dealerships to receive full and fair payment from their franchisors for all warranty-related work, including repairs, diagnostics, and parts. It mandates that payments for approved claims be made within thirty days and sets a specific method for calculating compensation based on the rates dealers charge their own customers for similar non-warranty services. The law also establishes a process for dealers to declare their reimbursement rates and limits exclusions to items like wholesale parts, tires, and routine maintenance. By defining "reasonable compensation" and outlining dispute resolution steps, the bill aims to ensure dealers are not underpaid for services performed under manufacturer warranties.

Maddy summaryThis bill mandates that all public colleges and universities in the state provide menstrual products free of charge in their restrooms. The law requires schools to stock these items in school buildings without charging students for them. It applies immediately to every public institution of higher education within the jurisdiction.

Eliminates court surcharges and fees and probation and parole surcharges and fees; eliminates the requirement that a parolee or releasee receiving a merit termination of sentence be financially able to comply with an order of restitution; eliminates the requirement that a person receiving a discharge of sentence be financially able to comply with an order of restitution and the payment of certain surcharges or fees (Part A); prohibits mandatory minimum fines for penal law and vehicle and traffic offenses (Part B); mandates that courts engage in an individualized assessment of a person's financial ability to pay a fine prior to imposing a fine (Part C); eliminates the availability of incarceration as a remedy for a failure to pay a fine, surcharge, or fee, lifts and vacates existing warrants issued solely on a person's failure to timely pay a fine, surcharge or fee and ends existing sentences of incarceration based on such failure (Part D); vacates existing unsatisfied civil judgments based on a person's failure to timely pay a surcharge, or fee (Part E); prohibits the collection of a fine, restitution or reparation from the funds of an incarcerated person; prohibits the payment of court fines, mandatory surcharges, certain fees, restitution, reparation or forfeitures from the earnings of prisoners (Part F); vacates existing unpaid surcharges, DNA databank fees, crime victim assistance fees, sexual offender registration fees, supplemental sex offender victim fees, or probation or parole supervision fees; repeals certain provisions of law relating to restrictions on remitting such fees (Part G).

Maddy summaryThis bill allows water utilities to access state funding for projects that repair or upgrade water quality infrastructure. It defines eligible recipients as municipalities, public utilities, and other organizations that build projects benefiting their customers with a clear public purpose. The legislation also clarifies how these funded improvements are treated for tax purposes, ensuring that any tax savings from the funding are used to lower water rates for customers.

Prohibits public employers from diminishing health insurance benefits provided to retirees and their dependents or the contributions such employer makes for such health insurance coverage below the level of such benefits or contributions made on behalf of such retirees and dependents by the public employer as of December 31, 2021.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road to give up their legal ability to claim immunity from lawsuits, making them subject to the same federal railroad laws that apply to other rail companies. It also extends these rules to any other commuter railroads owned by New York municipalities, covering areas like worker safety, retirement benefits, and discrimination. The changes apply immediately and cover any current lawsuits against these railroads.

Provides that the amount of a STAR real property tax savings may not be less than the amount of the STAR real property tax savings from the previous year.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes permanent a provision within the volunteer firefighters' benefit law that covers disabilities caused by heart disease or malfunctioning coronary arteries. By extending the existing temporary coverage, which was set to expire in June 2025, the legislation ensures that volunteer firefighters who suffer these specific health issues remain eligible for benefits indefinitely. The law applies only to injuries that occur after the bill takes effect and does not change the fundamental rules for how these benefits are calculated or awarded.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises the sales price threshold for residential real estate transactions that trigger an additional one percent sales tax from one million dollars to a higher amount adjusted for inflation. It directly affects buyers and sellers of homes, condominiums, and cooperative apartments in New York State by changing when this specific tax applies. The law automatically updates the dollar limit each year based on the Consumer Price Index to maintain its value over time. This change takes effect on April 1st of the year following the bill's enactment.