Asm. Harry Bronson

Extends paid family leave benefits to certain construction employees who shall be eligible for family leave benefits if they were employed for at least twenty-six of the last thirty-nine weeks by any covered employer which is signatory to a collective bargaining agreement; relates to the effectiveness thereof.

Relates to the determination of a verifiable shortage of licensed mechanics by the commissioner of labor for purposes of the issuance of a temporary elevator mechanic license, continuing education requirements for elevator mechanic's and accessibility lift technician's licensees, and authorizing the commissioner of labor to impose civil penalties for the employment or use of unlicensed mechanics; repeals certain provisions of the labor law related to the inspection of elevators and conveyances; amends the effectiveness of such related provisions.

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.

Directs the division of criminal justice services to promulgate safety standards and training requirements for the protection of law enforcement staff against biological hazards posed by spitting of persons in custody.

Requires advertisements to disclose the use of a synthetic performer; imposes a $1,000 civil penalty for a first violation and a $5,000 penalty for any subsequent violation.

Amends procedures required for the custodial interrogation of children to provide additional protections and for taking juveniles and sixteen and seventeen year olds into custody.

Repeals managed long term care provisions for Medicaid recipients; establishes provisions for fully integrated plans for long term care including PACE and MAP plans.

Enacts the "gender identity respect, dignity and safety act"; relates to the treatment and placement of incarcerated individuals based upon gender identity; requires that incarcerated individuals in state and local correctional facilities who have a gender identity different from their assigned sex at birth be addressed and have access to commissary items, clothing and other materials that are consistent with the person's gender identity; establishes that incarcerated individuals shall be presumptively placed in a correctional facility with persons of the gender that most closely aligns with such person's self-attested gender identity unless the person opts out of such placement.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the definitions and requirements for organizations that provide fiscal intermediary services within the consumer directed personal assistance program. It establishes a new category of "Fiscal intermediary" alongside the existing "Statewide fiscal intermediary," allowing certain entities, like those with Department of Health contracts or independent living centers, to operate in this role. These new fiscal intermediaries will have the same status as the Statewide fiscal intermediary and can directly contract with managed care plans and other programs. The bill also removes the procurement process requirement for the Statewide fiscal intermediary and streamlines registration rules for these service providers.