Asm. Sam Berger

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New York's criminal procedure law to allow bail for defendants charged with "aggravated cruelty to animals" as defined under agriculture law §353-a. It specifically adds this offense to existing lists of crimes where bail eligibility is authorized, alongside other offenses like third-degree weapon possession. The change directly affects individuals facing criminal charges for severe animal cruelty, ensuring they may qualify for bail under the same standards as other eligible offenses. The bill makes no changes to the crime itself or its penalties, only to bail eligibility procedures. It became effective immediately upon enactment.

Prohibits the manufacture, modification, sale, transfer, equipping, use, or operation of a robotic device or an uncrewed aircraft equipped or mounted with a weapon within the state.

Provides that the course consisting of classroom driver training and highway safety instruction that is required of driver's license applicants shall be not more than six hours instead of five.

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.

Prohibits certain surcharges on certain credit or debit card transactions in the city of New York; provides that no agency or department of the city of New York, or any tribunal located therein, shall be authorized to impose a surcharge on a holder who elects to use a credit or debit card in lieu of payment by cash, check, or similar means to pay any fine, civil penalty, or fee owed.

Establishes Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as school holidays, with dates established by religious law and tradition; allows for school districts and municipalities with a population of less than fifty thousand to opt into the recognition of such holidays.

Lowers the blood alcohol concentration required for driving while intoxicated from .08 of one per centum to .05, and for aggravated driving while intoxicated from .18 per centum to .12.

Maddy summaryThis bill restores a 20-year service requirement for normal retirement benefits for New York City police officers, reversing a 2012 change that raised the requirement to 22 years. It directly affects NYPD police/fire members under the New York City Police Pension Fund, allowing them to qualify for normal retirement benefits after 20 years of service instead of 22. The key mechanism amends three sections of the Retirement and Social Security Law to specify that NYPD officers meet the service threshold at 20 years (for normal retirement), while other groups like correction/sanitation officers remain at 22 years. The bill makes this change effective immediately without altering age requirements or early retirement rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new licensing requirement for organizations that manage payments for personal care services (fiscal intermediaries), effective April 1, 2027. It requires these entities to apply for a license, submit annual reports on costs and service details, and register personal assistants in a confidential state registry. The law directly affects fiscal intermediaries currently contracting with social services departments or health plans, mandating they meet specific standards for compliance, cultural competency, and financial reporting. It repeals outdated provisions while establishing new oversight mechanisms to ensure transparency in how funds for personal care services are managed.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires courts to consider bail for specific offenses targeting schools or students, including threats of mass harm, aggravated harassment, or terroristic threats against school districts, staff, or students. It amends criminal procedure law to mandate bail consideration when a defendant is charged with these offenses while already out on release or awaiting arraignment for a related crime. Prosecutors must show reasonable cause the defendant committed the offense, but courts may still release defendants on their own recognizance if the alleged harm (like minor property damage) is deemed negligible and unrelated to other criminal activity. The bill directly affects defendants charged with these school-targeted offenses during pretrial proceedings.