Asm. Jen Lunsford

Maddy summaryBill A 3350 requires nursing homes to inform their residents about their right to seek legal assistance. It specifically mandates that a statement be provided to patients regarding their right to legal counsel when applying for Medicaid and/or Medicare benefits. This bill amends the public health law to ensure nursing home residents are aware of this option during the benefit application process.

Prohibits the sale of foods containing synthetic color additives in schools except under certain circumstances off and away from the premises or on premises at least a half hour after the end of the school day.

Establishes a statewide person-centered mental health services work group to improve statewide mental health planning and outcomes to achieve a person-centered, prevention-first integrated and tiered system of care for holistic health and wellness.

Enacts the "choice in responsible gaming act"; requires mobile sports wagering operators to establish default betting limits on their platform and to notify authorized sports bettors of their ability to opt-out of the default betting limits.

Establishes the comprehensive sexual and reproductive health program to provide funding to providers whose primary function is to facilitate access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care services and information for low-income, uninsured and underinsured individuals and provide support to providers to facilitate access to care, fund uncompensated care, and support community awareness of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care services across New York state.

Authorizes members or officers of the state police who were previously firefighters receive credit for such previous firefighter service for the purposes of retirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases short-term disability benefits for New York workers. It phases in higher weekly benefit rates (from 50% to 67% of average weekly wage) and extends maximum leave duration (from 8 to 12 weeks) over several years, starting in 2018. The changes apply to employees needing short-term disability leave due to illness or injury, directly affecting both workers and their employers who provide these benefits. The bill maintains a cap based on the state average weekly wage and allows the superintendent of financial services to delay increases if needed.

Maddy summaryBill A 8469 authorizes terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis within hospitals and nursing homes. These healthcare facilities must permit such use, but they are required to prohibit smoking or vaping as consumption methods. Patients must present a valid medical cannabis registry identification card, and facilities can reasonably regulate storage, such as requiring a locked container. Facilities must also include the use in patient medical records and develop written guidelines for its implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises the minimum daily fee for temporary court interpreters from $25 to $110. It requires town and village courts to cover any compensation exceeding $110 per day for these interpreters. The bill also mandates that courts appoint certified interpreters for deaf or hard of hearing individuals in legal proceedings, with temporary appointments allowed only if certified interpreters aren't immediately available. These changes apply to all courts handling legal cases involving deaf or hard of hearing people.

Prohibits the use of the term "excited delirium" as a diagnosis, label, or cause of death on death certificates, autopsy reports, police reports or any report, policy or procedure by a public agency or contractor; defines excited delirium.