Asm. Judy Griffin

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New York's penal law to increase penalties for sex trafficking. It upgrades sex trafficking (for adults) and sex trafficking of a child from a class B felony to a class A-II felony under sections 230.34 and 230.34-a, respectively. These changes directly affect individuals convicted of these offenses, resulting in harsher sentencing. The bill makes no other policy changes and focuses solely on elevating the felony classification for these crimes.

Implements automatic market rate increases for child care assistance such that assistance will be equal to the applicable payment rate established by the department.

Prohibits the sale of flavored smokeless tobacco within five hundred feet of a public or private elementary or secondary school; defines "flavored smokeless tobacco"; authorizes the commissioner to impose a civil penalty for violations.

Amends the definition of "small group" for purposes of health insurance policies and contracts to fifty employees or fewer; repeals provisions requiring the superintendent to conduct an impact study.

Enacts the "missing vulnerable veterans at risk program act" to establish a missing vulnerable veterans at risk program to provide a comprehensive and coordinated approach to the problem of missing vulnerable veterans at risk.

Provides for school district employees who have been provisionally appointed to a position for at least nine months without an exam being offered for such position to receive a permanent appointment in such position.

Prohibits the use of most artificial intelligence in classrooms prior to high school except for AI used for diagnostic purposes or explicit instruction interventions for students with disabilities.

Provides that where a person who meets the requirements for an enhanced exemption for property owned by senior citizens purchases real property after the levy of taxes, such person may file an application for exemption to the assessor within thirty days of the transfer of title to such person for such exemption.

Maddy summaryBill A 8584 establishes an annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) for a wide range of human services programs, effective April 1, 2025. This adjustment is designed to help programs account for inflation by indexing payment rates, contracts, or other reimbursements to the previous July's Consumer Price Index - Urban (CPI-U). It directly affects services funded by agencies such as the Office of Mental Health, Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, and Office of Addiction Services and Supports. The bill specifies that this COLA will be the primary inflation-related increase applied, replacing other similar adjustments.

Exempts the conveyance of real property for open space, parks, or historic preservation purposes to any not-for-profit tax exempt corporation operated for conservation, environmental, parks or historic preservation purposes from the state real estate transfer tax and the additional tax on real estate transfers of residential real property where the consideration is one million dollars or more.