Asm. Demond Meeks

Establishes an unemployment bridge program and an unemployment bridge program fund to provide wage replacement to workers that do not qualify for unemployment insurance or other worker wage assistance programs and who have lost a major source of income due to lost work (Part A); establishes the "Digital Ad Tax Act (DATA)" creating a tax on digital advertising services (Part B).

Provides for the employment of school nurses for the inspection of pupils attending certain public schools; relates to school districts and boards of cooperative educational services.

Requires the superintendent of the state police to establish uniform investigatory standards when there is a shooting of a civilian by a police officer.

Relates to the issuance of arrest warrants upon a youth who is still in high school; provides for the police officer to make a reasonable effort to notify the parent or other person legally responsible for the care of such youth or with whom the youth is domiciled that the youth has been arrested; provides that the police officer need not notify the parent or other person legally responsible when such youth is not also a juvenile offender and the notification would endanger the health and safety of such youth; amends provisions relating to sexually exploited children to include persons under the age of nineteen.

Relates to school climate and codes of conduct on school property and disciplinary action following violation of such codes of conduct; makes conforming amendments.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 4999) prohibits the retail sale of tobacco products with non-tobacco flavors (like fruit, mint, chocolate, or menthol) and accessories that add such flavors. It directly affects all licensed tobacco retailers, businesses, and vendors operating under New York's tax law. Violations carry a civil fine of up to $500 per incident, and the law explicitly bans law enforcement from stopping or questioning people about purchasing or possessing these products. The policy aims to restrict flavored tobacco access while defining "characterizing flavor" broadly to cover any distinct non-tobacco taste.

Eliminates criminal and civil penalties for possession of controlled substances; establishes the drug decriminalization task force to develop recommendations for reforming state laws, regulations and practices so that they align with the stated goal of treating substance use disorder as a disease, rather than a criminal behavior.

Requires a liability insurer that has an opportunity to settle a claim at or within the policy limits, and refuses to do so, to be liable for any verdict in excess of the insurance policy limits; prohibits the insurer from recovering such excess judgment from the insured.

Increases the minimum wage outside of New York city and the counties of Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester; repeals certain provisions of law relating to exceptions to minimum wage increases.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New York's social services law to provide targeted assistance for people with medically diagnosed HIV infection. It requires social services districts to ensure individuals with HIV who are homeless or facing homelessness pay no more than 30% of their income toward rent, and to provide emergency shelter, transportation, or nutrition assistance when needed to maintain independent living. The bill also mandates districts to help with eligibility documentation, arrange home visits for interviews, and refer to specialized resources, while creating a statewide online resource hub for HIV-related services. Funding rules are updated to allow full reimbursement for HIV-related emergency shelter costs (up to 110% of fair market rent) and necessary transportation/nutrition payments. The policy directly affects low-income New Yorkers living with HIV who face housing instability.