Asm. Joe DeStefano

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New York school districts to create policies enabling home-schooled students to try out for and join district interscholastic sports teams. It requires these students to meet the same academic, health, and behavioral standards as enrolled public school students, including annual academic verification and age/eligibility rules. Home-schooled students would only be eligible to participate with their district of residence and must arrange their own transportation. The policy is optional for school districts and does not mandate participation.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific segment of Interstate 87 (from Yonkers to Guilderland) as the "General Colin Powell Thruway" for commemorative purposes. It does not change the highway's official name or affect transportation operations, as the signage will be ceremonial only. The bill requires the transportation commissioner to install and maintain commemorative signs along this route. This is a symbolic honor for General Colin Powell, with no policy or regulatory changes to the highway system.

Relates to creating autism teams in hospitals; requires the department of health to design a pilot program to develop one "autism team" who may be called upon should a patient with autism come to a hospital; provides that members of the autism team shall be knowledgeable about autism and communication difficulties many people with autism have and advise physicians and other staff on how to communicate with patients with autism.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a residency requirement for assistant district attorneys (ADAs) in New York State. It amends the Public Officers Law to state that ADAs are no longer required to live within the specific county where they work. The change directly affects current and future ADAs, allowing them to reside anywhere in the state while serving in their role. The law change takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Criminalizes the act of engaging in any scheme, plan or pattern to transport an undocumented immigrant from any location outside of New York state to a location within New York state with the intent of dropping such person off in any municipality or federal property located wholly within New York state boundaries or to transport an undocumented immigrant from any location within New York state to another location within New York state with the intent of dropping such person off in any municipality or federal property located wholly within New York state boundaries.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 8971) creates a process to assess how New York schools teach Italian American heritage history. The state education commissioner must survey school districts on topics like which grades cover this history, curriculum used, and challenges faced. An advisory committee of appointed experts will then review the survey results and recommend improvements to K-12 curriculum and teaching resources. The committee must submit recommendations within two years and disband after that, with the entire process expiring three years after enactment. The bill directly affects school districts and state education officials, but does not mandate specific curriculum changes.

Requires the use of a fire-resistant blanket, bag or container when charging a bicycle with electric assist or an electric scooter; requires sellers of such vehicles to include a fire-resistant blanket, bag, or container with the sale of each e-bike or e-scooter; establishes fines.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public schools to inspect and test every automated external defibrillator (AED) device at least once a month. School staff members must hold valid certification in AED operation to perform these inspections, following both manufacturer guidelines and government standards. If an AED fails to meet standards during inspection, it must be replaced immediately through the school's emergency health care provider. Schools must also keep written records of all inspections and tests, submitting them annually to the state health commissioner. The law applies directly to all public schools and their designated staff responsible for AED maintenance.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans to cover annual electrocardiogram (EKG) tests and their interpretation for children under 19 years old. It directly affects insured children and their families by mandating this specific preventive heart screening as part of standard pediatric care. The key provision adds EKG coverage as a required service at each well-child visit, with more frequent testing allowed if a physician orders it based on clinical judgment. This policy change ensures insurance coverage for this heart screening without requiring additional patient costs, applying to all policies issued after the bill's effective date.

Adds to the penalties for the underage use of cannabis the office of cannabis management contacting the person's parents and/or guardians and such person and their parents and/or guardians attending a cannabis diversion program.