Asm. Andrew Hevesi

Maddy summaryThis bill allows prosecutors to introduce evidence that a defendant has committed a prior sexual offense during a current sexual assault trial. The law permits judges to admit this past conduct to prove specific facts like intent, identity, or a common pattern of behavior, rather than just to show the defendant has a bad character. However, the judge retains the power to exclude such evidence if its negative impact on a fair trial outweighs its usefulness in proving the case. The definition of a "sexual offense" under this rule includes various crimes listed in the state penal code, and the changes take effect immediately upon signing.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New York state agencies that collect demographic data to create separate categories for White, Middle Eastern, and North African populations. It mandates that these groups be listed individually, including specific nationalities like Egyptian, Iranian, and Palestinian, while also allowing respondents to select multiple categories. Agencies must publish this updated data online by December 2025, with certain departments given an additional year to comply. The law applies to all relevant state entities except for labor, criminal justice, mental health, and disability assistance offices, which are exempt until two years after the bill becomes effective.

Allocates the Amistad commission to work alongside the department of education and on behalf of students in the state; repeals certain provisions relating to the Amistad commission; requires schools in the state to provide curriculum relating to Black history, slavery, and race.

Enacts the "schools impacted by gross highways (SIGH) act"; prohibits the commissioner of education from approving the plans for the erection of any new schoolhouse within five hundred feet of a controlled-access highway unless the commissioner of education determines that space limitations are so severe that there is no other site to erect such new schoolhouse, and there are adequate engineering controls to address air quality; makes related provisions.

Requires that every court, and every public board, commission, institution, or officer having powers or charged with duties in relation to abandoned, delinquent, destitute, neglected or dependent children who shall receive, accept or commit any child shall provide and keep a record showing if such child has a developmental disability; requires a study of the number of children in foster care who have a developmental disability.

Provides for medicaid reimbursement for ambulance services when treatment in place is administered and/or when transportation is provided to alternative health care settings instead of a general hospital.

Requires a utilization review agent to follow certain rules when establishing a step therapy protocol; requires that the protocol accepts any attestation submitted by the insured's health care professional stating that a required drug has failed as prima facie evidence that the required drug has failed.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts the presence of specific chemicals in menstrual products sold or distributed within the state. It defines "restricted substances" to include items like lead, mercury, formaldehyde, and various phthalates, prohibiting their use as intentionally added ingredients starting on the effective date. The law also establishes a timeline for setting lower safety thresholds for these chemicals, requiring the Department of Health to propose regulations within a year and review them every five years. Manufacturers of tampons, pads, cups, and other menstrual hygiene products must comply with these limits to sell their goods in the state.

Requires the display of certain labels and warnings on gas stoves sold, displayed for sale, or offered for sale at retail to a consumer in this state; authorizes the department of state to adopt regulations regarding the placement and format of such labels; provides for penalties; authorizes the attorney general to enforce such provisions.

Relates to school climate and codes of conduct on school property and disciplinary action following violation of such codes of conduct; makes conforming amendments.