Asm. Steve Hawley

Prohibits employers from retaliating against employees for confronting an individual to prevent a theft or the unlawful taking of goods, wares, or merchandise; does not prohibit employers from training or re-training employees on policies against confrontation of theft.

Permits alternate members of certain planning boards and zoning boards of appeals for any reason the town board deems necessary pursuant to local law, rule, regulation or ordinance.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the maximum percentage of state budget surplus that can be deposited into the tax stabilization reserve fund from 2% to 4% of the state's annual revenue target ("norm"). It directly affects how the state manages budget surpluses and potential shortfalls: if tax revenues fall below the norm, funds can be drawn from the reserve to cover the gap, with repayment rules remaining unchanged. The key mechanism allows more surplus money to be saved in the reserve fund during years of budget surpluses, while still permitting the remaining surplus to be used for tax reductions. The change takes effect three years after the bill becomes law.

Maddy summaryBill A 3673 amends the civil service law concerning qualifications for municipal police officers. This bill removes the current maximum age requirement for individuals applying to become municipal police officers, which was previously set at 35 years old with some exceptions. As a result, individuals over the age of 35 would be eligible to apply for these positions. The minimum age requirement of 20 years old for applicants remains in place.

Provides a tax credit in the amount of certain fees charged in connection with loans under the federal home loan guarantee program to national guard and reserve veterans.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends election law to explicitly include attempting to register as a voter when not a U.S. citizen as a form of false registration. It makes such attempts a class E felony, directly affecting individuals who knowingly try to register without U.S. citizenship. The key provision expands the existing false registration definition to specifically cover lack of citizenship as a disqualifier. The law does not change voter eligibility requirements but strengthens penalties for attempting registration while knowing one lacks citizenship.

Provides that state departments, offices, agencies, and authorities are prohibited from imposing any fees, surcharges, or taxes that have not been approved by the state legislature.

Relates to being a good samaritan; adds "reasonable intervention" as a reason to be protected from liability; provides that a person may use physical force when and to the extent that such person reasonably believes that reasonable intervention is necessary to maintain order, but may use deadly physical force only when such person reasonably believes that reasonable intervention is necessary to prevent death or serious physical injury; appropriates $500,000 for public service announcements and community-based training programs aimed at educating people about the legal protections and responsibilities of being a good samaritan.

Requires a certificate of merit in actions for damages, contribution or indemnity arising out of alleged negligence of a professional licensed pursuant to the education law; establishes a party in an action for medical, dental or podiatric malpractice may not omit the name of certain experts in responding to a request; limits judgments for past and future damages in an action to recover damages for dental, medical or podiatric malpractice; limits compensation for noneconomic damages suffered by an injured plaintiff in any personal injury action to $250,000.

Allows residents who are employed by employers based in another state to obtain property/casualty or liability coverage under a policy issued to their employer in that state.