Creates the state office of the utility consumer advocate to represent interests of residential utility customers.
Asm. Andrew Hevesi
Sponsored bills
Relates to the appointment of a child advocate.
Relates to the modification of the procedure for interviews of parole applicants and to the disclosure of parole applicant records.
Enacts the "safe staffing for quality care act" to require acute care facilities and nursing homes to implement certain direct-care nurse to patient ratios in all nursing units; sets minimum staffing requirements; requires every such facility to submit a documented staffing plan to the department on an annual basis and upon application for an operating certificate; requires acute care facilities to maintain staffing records during all shifts; authorizes nurses to refuse work assignments if the assignment exceeds the nurse's abilities or if minimum staffing is not present; requires public access to documented staffing plans; imposes civil penalties for violations of such provisions; establishes private right of action for nurses discriminated against for refusing any illegal work assignment.
Relates to licenses to purchase, store or use certain compounds; $50 fee.
Establishes the "interstate insurance product regulation compact" to regulate certain insurance products among member states and to promote and protect the interest of consumers of individual and group annuity, life insurance, disability income and long term care insurance products.
Relates to establishing the paint stewardship program, minimizing the public sector involvement in the management of post-consumer paint, and negotiating agreements to collect, transport, reuse, recycle, and/or burn for energy recovery at an appropriately licensed facility post-consumer paint using environmentally sound management practices.
Provides a tax credit for farmers who use qualified biodiesel fuel for the sole operation of their farm equipment.
Relates to the use of oral medications by optometrists.
Prohibits persons who have been convicted of animal cruelty from working at an animal shelter; makes such violation a class A misdemeanor.