Asm. Jen Lunsford

Maddy summaryThis bill allows licensed pharmacists in New York to order and administer specific diagnostic tests, directly affecting pharmacists and patients seeking convenient testing. It authorizes pharmacists to perform FDA-authorized tests for conditions like COVID-19, flu, RSV, strep throat, HbA1c, hepatitis C, and HIV. The law expands pharmacists' scope of practice to include these tests under federal "waiver" requirements, without requiring additional physician oversight. The provision expires on July 1, 2028, as noted in the bill's text.

Relates to providing access to the workers' compensation system, timely and meaningful wage replacement benefits, and medical treatment; relates to improving efficiency of the system and cost savings.

Requires the cannabis control board to provide notice to state legislative representatives upon receipt of application for an adult-use cannabis retail dispensary or on-site consumption license in their district.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds "red cross vehicle" to New York's definition of authorized emergency vehicles under the Vehicle and Traffic Law. It specifically includes vehicles owned or leased by the American Red Cross (or its chapters), clearly marked with the Red Cross emblem. The bill clarifies that operators of these vehicles do not gain all emergency driving privileges granted to other authorized vehicles under Section 1104. The change directly affects Red Cross emergency response operations by legally recognizing their vehicles as authorized emergency vehicles for specific purposes.

Requires pharmacies to provide prescription drug readers or other means of access to individuals who disclose they have difficulty seeing or reading standard print labels on prescription drug containers; defines "prescription drug reader" to mean a device which is capable of audibly conveying information contained on the label of a prescription drug; makes exceptions.

Adds xylazine to the depressants designated as controlled substances with the exception of use in cattle or other nonhuman species if approved by the federal food and drug administration.

Establishes a civil cause of action for employees who are subjected to an abusive work environment; provides employers shall be vicariously liable for such work environment.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals Section 2307 of New York's Public Health Law, which previously addressed individuals knowingly infected with venereal disease. The repeal removes legal provisions that could have led to prosecution of people with certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs) who were aware of their status. The law takes immediate effect, preventing any future prosecutions or legal actions under the repealed section. This change directly affects individuals previously covered by this specific public health law provision, though it does not alter other STI-related laws or public health practices.

Establishes community literacy programs and the community literacy fund to provide grants to non-profit organizations that assist adults in reading, writing, math, English language proficiency, and problem-solving skills.

Provides for the licensing of professional and clinical music therapists encompassing the assessment, evaluation, and the therapeutic intervention and treatment of mental, emotional, developmental and behavioral disorders through the use of music.