Asm. Bill Conrad

Establishes the teachers' fossil fuel divestment act; requires the New York state teachers' retirement system to divest the retirement system of any stocks, securities, equities, assets, or other obligations of corporations or companies included on an exclusion list of coal producers and oil and gas producers.

Enacts the "Supervising Upcoming Professionals for Practice in Official Roles in Therapy (SUPPORT) act"; provides that for licensure as a clinical social worker, an applicant may satisfy the experience requirements under supervision of a mental health practitioner who has been granted the privilege to diagnose and develop assessment-based treatment plans under article one hundred sixty-three of the education law.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state education department to contract with a non-profit organization for a three-year program starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The program aims to address public school teacher recruitment and retention challenges. It requires state funding approval and would directly affect public school districts and educators. The department would manage the contract to implement specific recruitment and retention strategies.

Establishes a person is guilty of assault in the second degree when such person intends to cause physical injury to an employee of New York state or any of its political subdivisions or of a public authority or a public benefit corporation while such employee is performing such employee's duties.

Relates to persons designated as peace officers; designates members of the security force employed by Catholic Health Network and Kaleida Health as peace officers.

Exempts adolescent offenders who displayed a shotgun, rifle or deadly weapon in furtherance of the underlying offense, or who were illegally in possession of a loaded firearm, from those authorized to be removed to family court.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3257) exempts school districts' costs for purchasing BOCES (Boards of Cooperative Educational Services) programs and services from the state's real property tax levy cap. It directly affects school districts in New York that use BOCES for shared educational services like special education or technical training. The key provision adds a new exemption to the tax levy calculation, meaning these costs will no longer count toward the district's annual tax limit. This change simplifies budgeting for districts relying on BOCES, as they won't need to adjust other spending to stay within the tax cap when purchasing these services.

Provides for automatic voter registration and pre-registration for persons applying for certain department of motor vehicles documentation, and for persons applying for or re-enrolling in Medicaid; allows individuals to decline such automatic registration and pre-registration.

Relates to protecting the communication rights of individuals with disabilities; provides that each person with a disability has the right to communicate in their preferred manner.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases weekly financial benefits for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers injured in the line of duty. It raises permanent total disability payments from $600 to $1,200 per week and updates temporary total disability rates, with the current rate at $800 per week for injuries occurring after July 2025. Permanent partial disability payments also increase, with rates rising from $95 to higher amounts depending on the injury date. The changes apply directly to volunteers who suffer work-related injuries affecting their ability to work. The bill amends Sections 8, 9, and 10 of the Volunteer Firefighters' Benefit Law.