Asm. Harry Bronson

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New York school districts to use existing private transportation contractors from other districts to transport their students, a practice known as "piggybacking," if doing so results in cost savings and meets safety standards. It authorizes school boards to enter into these agreements with the commissioner's approval and defines the types of transportation contracts and vehicles covered under the new rules. Additionally, the legislation updates legal definitions related to school buses, drivers, and motor carriers, while requiring annual reviews of bus driver driving records to ensure safety compliance. The changes directly affect school districts, transportation contractors, and drivers involved in student transportation logistics.

Enacts the "NY broadband resiliency, public safety and quality act" to provide for oversight of the resiliency, public safety and quality of broadband and voice over internet protocol service.

Establishes the "no severance ultimatums act", which prevents employers from giving coercive ultimatums to employees or former employees relating to severance agreements.

Establishes a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender veterans coordinator in order to support the unique needs of, advocate for, and celebrate the service of such veterans.

Relates to the calculation of the homestead exemption amount; relates to the indexing of the homestead exemption for housing value changes; increases the amount of the motor vehicle exemption; limits the homestead exemption available to bankruptcy debtors to one exemption per household; increases the motor vehicle exemption available in bankruptcy proceedings.

Prohibits governmental entities from entering into agreements to house individuals in immigration detention facilities; requires governmental entities to terminate existing contracts for the detention of individuals in immigration detention facilities.

Removes the exclusion of part-time employees from certain definitions relating to employment and expanding the definition of employer; removes certain exclusions for employer notice requirements for the closing of a facility; removes the discretionary reduction of penalties for employers for certain acts or omissions concerning notice requirements for mass layoffs, relocations or employment loss; removes the maximum time period for determining back pay and other liabilities for certain employees who experience employment loss; allows the attorney general to take certain action to assist certain employees in receiving back pay and other liabilities; requires employers to pay severance to employees when there is a plant closing, relocation, or mass layoff.

Establishes the office of special investigation for work-related fatalities; provides direction for coroners and medical examiners when dealing with such fatalities.

Enacts the accelerate solar for affordable power (ASAP) act to set a new target for distributed solar energy capacity and direct the public service commission to advance reforms to the utility interconnection process to ensure timely and cost-effective integration of new distributed energy resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a program to help school districts and eligible public buildings (like housing or hospitals) with structures over 20,000 square feet reduce energy costs through mechanical insulation upgrades. It requires free, qualified energy audits to identify needed insulation work and provides competitive grants covering 50% to 75% of approved insulation costs for HVAC systems, piping, and equipment. Grants are issued on a first-come basis after an approved audit, with the program to be implemented within one year of enactment. The law defines specific requirements for qualified contractors and insulation standards to ensure energy savings.