Asm. Andrew Hevesi

Enacts the PTSD awareness and rehabilitation act to require PTSD screening, provide trauma-informed education, and implement evidence-based rehabilitation programs to ensure incarcerated individuals receive proper support for mental health challenges.

Authorizes the state inspector general to receive and investigate complaints of sexual assault in correctional facilities and other places operated by the department of corrections and community supervision for the confinement of persons; requires the state inspector general to establish protocol and procedures for such reports and investigations.

Relates to the former crime of loitering for the purpose of engaging in a prostitution offense; expunges criminal records for persons previously convicted of such crime; directs the chief administrator of the courts to provide information regarding such expungement; adds language to identify that the crime of loitering for the purpose of engaging in a prostitution offense is no longer in law.

Relates to audio-visual coverage of judicial proceedings by the media; allows the judge or justice presiding over a proceeding to exercise discretion to prohibit or limit filming or photographing of particular participants; defines terms; provides limitations on audio-visual coverage.

Maddy summaryThis bill automatically grants Medicaid eligibility to workers participating in strikes or labor disputes, directly affecting those who would otherwise lose coverage during such work stoppages. It requires Medicaid coverage to be limited to the duration of the strike, with no requirement to count personal resources toward medical costs. The health commissioner must establish regulations for eligibility, covered services, and a process for temporary "presumptive eligibility" based on preliminary information from qualified entities. The policy change takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryBill A 8499 establishes new eligibility criteria for performance of duty disability retirement for certain New York City Transit Authority employees. It specifically applies to members of the New York City Employees' Retirement System who participated in World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations. If these members become physically or mentally incapacitated due to an injury from their World Trade Center duties, they would receive a disability retirement allowance equal to three-quarters of their final average salary. The bill also allows these members to use a specific medical review procedure for their pension applications.

Enacts into law components of legislation that relate to live event ticket sales; establishes an annual professional reseller renewal fee; requires professional ticket resellers to provide their New York state ticket reseller license number as a condition of utilizing an online resale marketplace to resell tickets (Part A); provides criteria for when a purchaser may obtain a full refund of the amount paid for a ticket (Part B); relates to resale requirements for tickets; requires that if a licensee or other ticket reseller doesn't have possession of the ticket, then they shall have a written contract to obtain the offered ticket at a certain price from a person or entity in possession of the ticket or from a person or entity who has a contractual right to obtain such ticket, and tickets to the event have been placed on sale by the venue or entity hosting the event or its authorized agent before the licensee or reseller can advertise the sale of the tickets (Part C); relates to unlawful charges in connection with tickets; permits reasonable charges for costs actually rendered or otherwise in connection to customer support, technological and software infrastructure, and actual operational costs for sales away from the box office; defines terms (Part D); relates to the availability of tickets for sale to the general public; defines a term (Part E); relates to the resale of tickets included in a subscription or season ticket package (Part F); extends the effectiveness of certain provisions relating to tickets to places of entertainment (Part G).

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a tax exemption for sales and installation of geothermal heat pump systems in both residential and commercial buildings. It exempts from sales tax the equipment and installation services for systems that use ground or groundwater for heating, cooling, and hot water - excluding recreational facilities. The exemption applies to residential systems (defined in new paragraph 47) and commercial systems (defined in new subdivision mm) under New York's tax law. Local governments may choose whether to apply these exemptions, as the bill modifies existing tax code provisions to include them.

Expands the health department's review of correctional health services by including a biennial study of health care staffing at facilities operated by the department of corrections and community supervision.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "abortion access fund" to support individuals seeking abortion services. It allows New York taxpayers to voluntarily contribute to the fund via their state income tax returns starting in 2027 (without reducing their tax liability), with the tax form including a dedicated line for this purpose. Funds will be used to cover financial and logistical barriers for abortion access, supporting nonprofits providing services like medical care and transportation. The bill includes strong privacy protections, prohibiting the state from requiring nonprofits to share personally identifying information about patients or staff. The comptroller must annually report on fund usage, including disbursement details and financial plans.