Asm. Pat Chludzinski

Enacts the New York automobile insurance fraud and premium reduction act; provides that this act is aimed at reducing insurance fraud and thus lowering the cost of insurance premiums; provides a provision for compensation to a person that reports insurance fraud to the authorities; further provides that this act also increases the penalty for insurance fraud; appropriates $3,100,000 therefor.

Permits judicial discretion based on dangerousness when issuing a securing order; allows for limited pre-trial detention upon such a determination; extends the time period for discovery from twenty to forty-five days; permits the immediate issuance of a bench warrant for failure to appear for certain principals charged with hate crimes; places restrictions on when appearance tickets may be issued.

Authorizes electronic court appearances for criminal matters, excluding jury trials, in all counties in the state; authorizes electronic appearances for criminal matters where the court determines a personal appearance would be impractical, unsafe or excessively burdensome; authorizes sentencing to a period of incarceration to be conducted via electronic appearance for defendants who are already incarcerated.

Provides for a personal income tax deduction for school supplies paid for out-of-pocket by K-12 teachers in public and nonpublic schools, up to $500 per year.

Eliminates provisions exempting employees with disabilities from the minimum wage law; provides that laws or minimum wage orders that authorize an employer to pay a wage that is less than the minimum wage are valid provided that under such laws or orders an employee with a disability is paid the same wage as an employee in a comparable position that does not have a disability.

Requires instruction in arts and music education to be incorporated into curriculums for all public school students; requires school districts to ensure that appropriately certified teachers are providing such education; authorizes rules and regulations consistent with such provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New York's family court procedures to tighten when youth court cases may be transferred to family court. It requires courts to deny such transfers if defendants caused serious injury, displayed weapons (including firearms), or committed certain sexual offenses as defined in criminal law. The bill repeals section 725.15 of the criminal procedure law and updates victim notification rules for dispositional hearings. These changes directly affect youth defendants, family courts, and prosecutors handling cases involving minors.

Provides for certain presumptions for reckless driving and the implementation of a reckless driving and vehicular violence awareness component of the pre-licensing course for driver's licenses.

Directs the public service commission in consultation with NYSERDA to conduct a full cost benefit analysis of the technical and economic feasibility of renewable energy systems in the state of New York and to compare such directly with other methods of electricity generation within nine months after the effective date and every four years thereafter.

Permits contracts for the purchase of rock salt or sodium chloride mined or hand harvested in Canada to be awarded as if such rock salt or sodium chloride was mined or hand harvested in the United States.