Asm. Jen Lunsford

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3956) requires all newborns in New York to be screened for cytomegalovirus (CMV) using a specialized blood spot or urine test within the first 21 days of life. It directly affects every newborn and their parents, as parents may opt out of the screening. The law mandates screening via dried blood spot or urine PCR testing, with the health commissioner allowed to approve alternative equivalent tests through regulations. The bill amends Public Health Law to add this requirement, effective 180 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3742) requires all high schools to keep opioid antagonists (like naloxone) available for emergency overdose treatment and to have at least one trained employee present during all school hours and after-school activities. The law mandates schools to acquire the medication, designate a staff member who completed approved training in its use, and ensure that employee oversees storage and administration. It directly affects high schools, students, and staff by establishing a concrete protocol for responding to opioid overdoses on school grounds. The bill takes immediate effect upon enactment and does not include exemptions for school activities.

Establishes the reentry assistance program; provides for eligible incarcerated individuals to receive a monthly stipend upon release from a state correctional facility; makes an appropriation of $25,000,000.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes specific eligibility restrictions for Medicaid home care services in New York. It repeals a provision requiring individuals seeking home care to meet strict activity-of-daily-living criteria (like needing assistance with multiple tasks) or dementia-related supervision levels. The change directly affects Medicaid recipients needing home care services, particularly those with dementia or Alzheimer's who previously faced these barriers. The policy shift simplifies eligibility by eliminating these prior requirements for people applying on or after October 1, 2020. The bill modifies New York's social services law to broaden access to home care services under Medicaid.

Relates to women's health in correctional facilities; establishes a women's health education program; requires HIV and STD testing to be offered to incarcerated individuals; provides pregnant incarcerated individuals with access to prenatal vitamins as well as a specialized diet tailored to pregnancy needs; requires a study and report on women's health in prison.

Authorizes the creation of a distinctive brain tumor awareness license plate; creates the brain tumor research and support fund; provides that moneys of the brain tumor research and support fund may be expended to offset costs associated with medicaid fee for service coverage of tumor treating fields therapy.

Relates to the New York state district attorney and indigent legal services attorney loan forgiveness program; allows absence because of uniformed service, maternity/paternity, FMLA, or due to compensable injury to be creditable time.

Establishes clean energy goals of reducing the annual total of vehicle miles traveled within the state by 20% by the year 2050; requires state and local highway projects to comply with reductions to vehicle miles traveled targets.

Regulates the use of artificial intelligence in the provision of therapy or psychotherapy services by prohibiting the use of artificial intelligence to assist in providing supplementary support where the session is recorded or transcribed unless the patient is informed of the specific purpose of such use and consents of such use; establishes penalties for violations of such provisions; excludes religious counseling, peer-support, and self-help materials and educational resources from such provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends Medicaid eligibility for infants from under age one to under age three, directly benefiting low-income infants and their families. It sets income eligibility at 200% of the federal poverty level (based on household size) and ensures children receiving in-patient medical care at age three remain covered until their treatment ends. The law also automatically extends coverage to infants born to parents already receiving medical assistance. These changes update New York's social services law to align with federal Medicaid rules for infant care.