Authorizes all municipalities, with the consent of the county and the governing body of such municipality, to join a county self-funded or self-insured health plan; requires certification.
Maddy summaryThis bill, "Nick's Law," increases penalties for drivers who flee the scene of an accident resulting in death. It upgrades the offense to a class B felony punishable by fines up to $30,000 (previously a lower misdemeanor or felony level). The law directly affects drivers who fail to stop and report after causing a fatal accident, distinguishing this scenario from lesser violations like not exchanging insurance information. Key provisions include specific fine tiers based on severity (e.g., $750-$1,000 for injury, $30,000 max for death) and clarify that fleeing a fatal accident is treated as a serious felony. The bill amends vehicle and traffic law sections and criminal procedure law to reflect these enhanced penalties.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires all visitors and incarcerated individuals to undergo body imaging scans at New York correctional facilities - visitors before entry and inmates upon intake and after visitation. It mandates that facilities use specific scanning equipment defined in public health law, with regulations established by state or New York City health authorities. The bill also requires alternative screening methods for people unable to use scanners due to medical reasons, while allowing facilities to deny visitation for non-medical refusal. This policy directly affects visitors, inmates, and correctional facility staff through new screening procedures.
Maddy summaryBill A 7431 prohibits sex offenders from residing within 1,350 feet (a quarter mile) of schools, playgrounds, parks, or buildings providing child day care. It directly affects individuals classified as sex offenders under New York law, applying as long as they maintain that classification. The key provision establishes a fixed geographic restriction around these locations, replacing previous vague language with a specific distance limit. This policy change requires parole and probation officers to formally notify offenders of the restriction in writing and orally. The bill takes effect for sex offenders convicted or released on or after its effective date.
Prohibits the passage of bills by the legislature between the hours of midnight and eight o'clock a.m. unless 2/3 of the legislature is present; requires two-thirds approval for messages of necessity.
Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1358) adds a religious exemption to school vaccination requirements in New York State. It allows children whose parents hold "genuine and sincere religious beliefs" opposing vaccinations to attend school without providing immunization certificates. The bill modifies public health law to remove the certificate requirement for these children and requires health providers to report immunization status for exempt students. It directly affects families seeking religious exemptions for school enrollment, while maintaining existing school notification procedures for non-exempt children. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.
Establishes the New York state school resource officer program; provides for grants for school resource officers (Part A); relates to peace officers who are retired police officers employed by a school district as a school resource officer (Part B); allows retired police officers to be employed by a school district as a school safety officer, school security officer or any other substantially similar position for an annual salary of $50,000 or less to continue to receive their full retirement benefit (Part C).
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New York school districts to purchase or lease only zero-emission school buses (electric or hydrogen-powered with no tailpipe emissions) when buying new vehicles by July 2027. It also mandates that all components and final assembly of these buses and their charging infrastructure must be made in the U.S. unless a waiver is granted for cost or feasibility reasons. Districts facing financial hardship may receive up to two years to comply after a cost-benefit analysis, and the law includes protections preventing workforce displacement for transportation employees during the transition. The full transition to zero-emission school buses must be completed by July 2047, or when all state vehicle fleets meet this standard, whichever comes later.
Maddy summaryThis bill (A 9571) increases family leave benefits under New York's workers' compensation law, directly affecting eligible employees taking leave for medical care, bonding with a newborn, or military family exigencies. It gradually raises weekly benefit percentages (from 50% to 67% of average weekly wage) and extends maximum leave duration (from 8 to 12 weeks) over time, with specific phased-in dates starting in 2018. Covered employers must provide these enhanced benefits while maintaining health insurance coverage during leave. The changes apply to employees meeting eligibility criteria under the law, with the Superintendent of Financial Services retaining limited authority to delay increases.
Maddy summaryThis bill provides a full exemption from real property taxes, special district charges, and assessments for the primary residences of certain disabled veterans. To qualify, a veteran must have been discharged under honorable conditions, possess a qualifying disability or be a discharged LGBT veteran, and be rated as permanently and totally disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The exemption also applies to land used for housing units modified to accommodate the veteran's disability needs, provided the veteran meets all other statutory requirements. This change directly affects eligible veterans by removing their home's tax liability while leaving other existing veteran exemptions intact.
