Asm. Ed Braunstein

Requires the public service commission to develop a formula for the calculation of a residential water cost index; requires each water-works corporation and municipal water system serving one thousand customers or more to calculate and submit to the public service commission its residential water cost index; requires the public service commission to publish a report on the residential water cost index of each applicable water-works corporation and municipal water system.

Relates to establishing an abatement and exemption from real property taxes for capital improvements to reduce carbon emissions; establishes an energy efficiency improvement board to approve the abatements and exemptions.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates Diwali (the 15th day of Kartika in the Hindu calendar) as a mandatory statewide school holiday, requiring all public schools to close on this date each year. It directly affects public schools across New York State by adding Diwali to the list of required non-scholastic days, alongside existing holidays like Asian Lunar New Year and legal holidays. The bill amends education law to specify that schools "shall not be in session" on Diwali, aligning with the current structure for other recognized cultural holidays. This change applies statewide, though Section 2 specifically references New York City public schools. The policy creates a consistent calendar requirement for all public school districts without altering existing transportation or instructional day rules.

Directs the department of public service to prepare a written report on the affordability of water services for commercial and residential customers within 180 days of effectiveness; requires an updated report to be submitted one year after the initial report.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 9211) requires New York State hospitals to conduct mandatory newborn screening for Gaucher disease, a rare inherited metabolic disorder. It directly affects all newborns in New York by adding Gaucher disease to the state's required newborn screening panel under public health law. The key mechanism is amending Section 2500-a of the public health law to include Gaucher disease screening as a standard test. This policy change ensures early detection of the condition, enabling timely medical intervention for affected infants.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state-mandated health care disparities data collection system under New York's Public Health Law. It requires health insurers and healthcare entities (like hospitals and nursing homes) to annually collect and submit data on health outcomes related to race, ethnicity, sex, primary language, disability status, and sexual orientation. The collected data will be compiled into an annual consumer guide, integrated with existing health plan shopping guides, to help individuals compare how well health plans address disparities. The guide must present data clearly and facilitate public access to this information at no cost.

Prohibits certain charges to residential consumers in connection with the purchase of zero emissions credits from the New York State Research and Energy Development Authority and attributed to the continued operation of the nuclear powered generating facility or facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill divides New York City Police Department Precinct 109 into two separate subdivisions: "Flushing South" and "North Shore - College Point, Whitestone, Clearview and Bay Terrace." It directly affects residents and operations in these specific neighborhoods by reorganizing police coverage. The commissioner will determine boundaries and allocate resources to support both subdivisions. This is a procedural administrative change, not a policy with broader implications.

Enacts the "New York small contractor relief act"; defines terms; authorizes a small contractor captive insurance company to purchase, and the New York state insurance fund shall be authorized and directed to provide, reinsurance and retrocession reinsurance for such captive insurance company, on either a quota share arrangement or facultative arrangement at a rate to be determined by the board of the fund; provides that a small contractor captive insurance company organized pursuant to this article shall not refuse to issue, renew or cancel a policy of any qualified small construction contractor based upon geographic location or line of business engaged in by such contractor; makes related provisions.

Maddy summaryBill A 1434 creates a new monthly excise tax on commercial data collectors for gathering consumer data from New York residents. This tax applies to for-profit entities that collect information on more than one million individual New York consumers per month, excluding basic contact or transaction-related credit card details. The tax rate is tiered, increasing progressively based on the number of New York consumers whose data is collected beyond the one-million threshold. The bill also defines "consumer data" and "New York consumer," and allows for a tax credit if an identical tax is paid to another state for the same consumer.