Asm. Andrew Hevesi

Maddy summaryThis bill automatically qualifies children with elevated venous blood lead levels (at or above 5 mcg/dl) for early intervention services by adding this condition to the legal definition of "disability" in public health law. It directly affects young children under three years old who are identified with lead levels meeting this threshold during medical screenings. The key mechanism amends Public Health Law to include elevated blood lead levels as a qualifying condition, eliminating the need for separate evaluations to access services. This change ensures children exposed to lead - known to cause developmental delays - receive timely support without administrative barriers.

Establishes reporting requirements for out of state entities provide reimbursement of health care costs and penalties for failing to comply with such reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 4764) eliminates two existing provisions: the excise tax on medical cannabis sales and the medical cannabis trust fund (a dedicated funding program). It directly affects medical cannabis businesses and patients by removing the tax they pay and ending the dedicated funding stream. The bill repeals specific sections of the tax law (Section 490) and state finance law (Section 89-h), taking effect immediately upon passage.

Expands eligibility for tax abatement for rent-controlled and rent regulated property occupied by persons with disabilities to include individuals who do not meet the non-medical qualifications for SSDI and SSI but, by reason of the individual's disability, the individual is not able to engage in substantial gainful activity as that term is defined by the federal social security administration.

Directs the department of corrections and community supervision to conduct a comprehensive study on deaths in correctional facilities within New York state to provide data-driven insights and recommendations to improve prison conditions, healthcare, and policies to prevent future tragedies.

Authorizes the empire state development corporation to develop a public awareness campaign promoting businesses located in New York state with an emphasis on small businesses and the need to shop in downtown local areas; requires the creation of the Buy New York Online Networking Directory to connect purchasers with businesses located in New York.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New York's Penal Law to explicitly include animal fighting under the definition of criminal activity for enterprise corruption charges. It adds "section three hundred fifty-one of the agriculture and markets law relating to animal fighting" to the list of offenses that qualify as criminal activity in enterprise corruption cases. This change directly affects prosecutors and courts handling cases where animal fighting is part of a larger criminal enterprise, allowing such cases to be prosecuted under enterprise corruption statutes. The key mechanism is a technical update to the legal definition, not a new policy or funding measure.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new criminal offense called "endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree" for individuals who knowingly or recklessly create a serious risk of physical injury or long-term harm to a child under 17. It specifically applies when someone causes physical injury to a child under 7, or has prior convictions for certain crimes involving children under 17. The offense is classified as a class E felony, carrying more severe penalties than the existing "second degree" offense (a class A misdemeanor). The law directly affects caregivers, parents, or others responsible for children's safety who fail to prevent serious harm.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires drivers to pass bicycles and pedestrians safely on roads outside New York City. In towns and cities with under one million residents, drivers must move to another lane if possible when overtaking a cyclist or pedestrian, or maintain at least a three-foot distance if lane changes aren't feasible. If neither option is safe, drivers must only proceed if it's reasonable under current road conditions. The law applies specifically to vehicles overtaking cyclists or pedestrians on the same side of the road in non-NYC areas.

Provides that the weekly benefit which the disabled employee is entitled to receive for disability commencing: on or after January first, two thousand twenty-eight shall be fifty percent of the employee's average weekly wage but shall not exceed fifty percent of the state average weekly wage; on or after January first, two thousand twenty-nine shall be fifty-five percent of the employee's average weekly wage but shall not exceed fifty-five percent of the state average weekly wage; on or after January first, two thousand thirty shall be sixty percent of the employee's weekly average wage but shall not exceed sixty percent of the state average weekly wage; and on or after January first of each succeeding year, shall be sixty-seven percent of the employee's average weekly wage but shall not exceed sixty-seven percent of the state average weekly wage.