Asm. Joe DeStefano

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $10,000 tax deduction for adoptive parents who legally adopt a child with special needs. It directly affects taxpayers who become the legal parents of a child under 21 with a significant physical, mental, or emotional condition that, per the Office of Children and Family Services, creates a major obstacle to adoption. The deduction can be applied each year the taxpayer maintains legal parenthood of the child. The policy change applies to taxable years starting January 1, 2025.

Requires instruction in owning and operating a business including, but not limited to, basic financial literacy necessary for sound financial decision-making, leadership, management, communication, budgeting, savings, credit, debt, insurance, taxation, and other issues associated with owning and operating a business.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New York to create a special license plate displaying "Fire Police" for eligible individuals. It allows current fire police members or their spouses to request this plate upon application, providing proof of membership. The plate would be issued like a standard plate, requiring payment of the regular registration fee plus a one-time $10 service charge. The state must ensure the fees collected cover the costs of designing and manufacturing these plates before issuing them.

Provides for the reimbursement of the ticket price of unused one-way, round trip or multi-trip tickets purchased for use on the Long Island Rail Road or the Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company if returned within one year.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New York's bingo regulations to allow minors under 18 to participate in licensed bingo games **only when accompanied by an adult**. It directly affects minors and bingo operators, prohibiting minors from operating or assisting with bingo games (though those aged 16+ may perform non-gaming tasks like serving food). The key provision replaces a prior ban on minor participation with an adult-supervision requirement for play. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Authorizes the town of Hempstead, in the county of Nassau, to establish a speed limit of less than 30 miles per hour on certain highways in the community of East Atlantic Beach.

Establishes a fine reimbursement credit for taxpayers fined for operating a bar or restaurant during the COVID-19 pandemic in the amount of such fine.

Maddy summaryThis bill streamlines background checks for prospective child care employees and volunteers by allowing the New York State Education Department to share their fingerprints and criminal history records directly with the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). It applies to individuals already cleared under education law for child care roles, removing previous barriers to sharing data between agencies. The law permits the Education Department to forward cleared applicants' records to OCFS for final background checks, and then enables OCFS to receive future criminal history updates directly from the state's criminal justice system. This eliminates duplicate checks and ensures OCFS has timely information to approve hires under safety regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill mandates seat belt use for all passengers and requires drivers of commercial vehicles (including charter buses and taxis/liveries carrying more than eight people) to conduct pre-trip safety briefings and maintain safety belt functionality. It directly affects commercial vehicle operators and passengers aged 8+ in these vehicles, with exemptions for school buses and specific vehicle types. Key provisions include civil fines up to $50 for non-compliance, regular safety belt inspections, and requirements for educational materials on seat belt use. The law aims to implement safety measures recommended by the NTSB following a 2023 collision, focusing on reducing passenger injuries in commercial transport.

Maddy summaryMelinda's Law protects non-abusive parents who report domestic violence from losing custody of their children. It requires courts to consider whether a parent reported abuse before removing children, treating them as "not at fault" if they reported it and are not neglectful. The law prevents abusers from threatening to have children taken away as leverage to control the non-abusive parent. It applies to cases where domestic violence - defined to include emotional, psychological, or physical abuse - has occurred, with specific court procedures to verify reports. This directly affects parents in domestic violence situations seeking to report abuse without fear of child removal.