Directs the secretary of state to develop and implement an adopt-a-rural-cemetery program for the purposes of improving, repairing, and maintaining cemeteries in rural communities which are registered with and overseen by the division of cemeteries; allows municipalities to opt in to the program.
Requires local phone companies to provide customers with a cost free option to block certain information-access services; provides such service shall not be included in the telephone company's rate base; requires the public service commission to promulgate rules and regulations relating thereto.
Directs the commissioner of corrections and community supervision to establish contraband screening at correctional facilities including canines at the entrances and a third-party secure vendor mail program.
Deems home instruction which is compliant with the provisions of article 65 of the education law and the home instruction requirements prescribed in the commissioner of education's regulations to be substantially equivalent in amount and quality to the instruction given to students of like age and attainments at the public schools of the city or district where the student resides.
Directs the commissioner of health and the president of the New York state energy research and development authority (NYSERDA) to study and make recommendations on the impacts of electric vehicles on personal medical devices.
Authorizes the posting by each municipality of turtle crossing signs on local roads located within such municipality; empowers the state commissioner of transportation to develop and implement rules and regulations authorizing municipalities to post turtle crossing signs on local roads located within the municipality.
Relates to providing loan forgiveness for agriculture educators who provide didactic instruction to students about agriculture, food, and natural resources.
Maddy summaryThis bill changes the penalty for rape in the first degree from a class B felony to a more serious class A-II felony. It applies to all situations covered under current law, including cases involving forcible compulsion, victims unable to consent due to physical helplessness, or victims under 11 or 13 years old (with additional age requirements for the perpetrator). The key change is the upgrade in felony classification, which typically results in longer prison sentences. This policy shift directly affects individuals convicted of first-degree rape under New York's penal code. The bill does not alter the definition of the crime itself, only the severity of the punishment.
Maddy summaryThis bill (A 6564) requires drivers to create a center rescue lane when emergency vehicles (with red lights and audible signals) approach. It directly affects all drivers operating vehicles on roadways, mandating they move to the roadway edges to clear a center lane for emergency vehicles. Key provisions specify drivers must move to the right edge on single-lane roads, or create a center lane by moving left/right on multi-lane roads (e.g., leftmost lane drivers move left, rightmost move right). The bill updates existing law to clarify lane creation in gridlock and ensures emergency vehicles can pass safely without stopping. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends New York's affordable housing law to add a preference category for "service related disabled veterans" in home ownership development programs. It directly affects veterans who served honorably in the military, have a 40%+ disability rating from the VA or DoD related to service, and meet specific documentation requirements. The key change requires housing programs to prioritize these veterans when serving the lowest-income households or ensuring long-term affordability. This policy update modifies eligibility criteria without altering program funding or structure.
