Asm. Joe DeStefano

Restores the legislative checks and balances to any emergency declaration that exceeds forty-five days; ensures judicial due process rights for any action that impairs fundamental constitutional rights by limiting the powers of the governor to suspend laws during a state disaster emergency; requires a specification and explanation of which municipalities are affected by such suspension of laws.

Includes nonconsensual use of bodily fluids and matter in harassment in the first degree and aggravated harassment in the first degree; includes strikes, shoves and kicks in aggravated harassment in the first degree.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new dual licensing program for facilities serving both mental health and addiction treatment needs. It allows facilities to obtain licenses simultaneously from both the Office of Mental Health and the Office of Addiction Services and Supports, rather than seeking separate licenses. The key provision requires the two commissioners to jointly develop this licensing program through new rules and regulations. This change directly affects facilities providing integrated mental health and addiction services, streamlining their regulatory process.

Requires a certificate of merit in actions for damages, contribution or indemnity arising out of alleged negligence of a professional licensed pursuant to the education law; establishes a party in an action for medical, dental or podiatric malpractice may not omit the name of certain experts in responding to a request; limits judgments for past and future damages in an action to recover damages for dental, medical or podiatric malpractice; limits compensation for noneconomic damages suffered by an injured plaintiff in any personal injury action to $250,000.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires certain public water systems (serving at least 15 year-round residents or 25 regularly) to identify lead service lines connecting water mains to properties. It defines "lead service line" broadly, including galvanized pipes downstream of lead lines or where lead connectors are used. Water systems must obtain property owner or occupant consent for free inspections, with a 30-day response window; if consent isn't received, occupants may provide consent. Inspections must occur within 60 days of consent, focusing solely on identification, not removal, of lead service lines.

Relates to enacting the Justice for Nursing Home Victims act; creates a nursing home resident COVID-19 compensation program to provide full compensation to any nursing home resident or their statutory beneficiary when COVID-19 caused or contributed to such resident's death; provides the responsibilities of a nursing home during a pandemic; provides for the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof.

Relates to the definition of drug-related paraphernalia; clarifies that drug-related paraphernalia shall not impact substances that are not considered controlled substances.

Allows residents who are employed by employers based in another state to obtain property/casualty or liability coverage under a policy issued to their employer in that state.

Repeals certain provisions establishing a fee for background checks on certain firearm and ammunition purchases; removes such fees as a source of funds for the background check fund.

Eliminates provisions exempting employees with disabilities from the minimum wage law; provides that laws or minimum wage orders that authorize an employer to pay a wage that is less than the minimum wage are valid provided that under such laws or orders an employee with a disability is paid the same wage as an employee in a comparable position that does not have a disability.