Asm. Joe DeStefano

Maddy summaryThis bill requires school districts in cities with over 1 million residents to establish dedicated schools for students with dyslexia and related phonemic language learning differences. These schools must use multi-sensory sequential phonics techniques in all elementary and secondary grades. Additionally, teachers at these schools must complete at least 20 hours of specialized training in this teaching method. The law directly affects dyslexic students in large-city school districts and mandates specific instructional approaches. It takes effect July 1 following enactment.

Provides for increased participation in state contracts and subcontracts by certified minority and women-owned business enterprises; relates to certain performance and payment bond requirements.

Directs the department of environmental conservation, in conjunction with the department of health and the department of labor, to establish the municipal asbestos abatement grant program to provide financial assistance to municipalities for the abatement of asbestos in vacant and/or abandoned commercial properties; makes a $15,000,000 appropriation therefor.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a five-year pilot program in New York to provide hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to veterans diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries or post-traumatic stress disorder. The program, managed by the state health commissioner, requires participating providers to submit annual reports on costs, effectiveness, and improvement suggestions, with a final evaluation report due by December 2031. Veterans must be New York residents with a diagnosis from an authorized medical professional (such as a physician or nurse practitioner) and receive therapy using FDA-approved devices. The bill defines key terms like "hyperbaric oxygen therapy" and specifies eligibility criteria without expanding existing healthcare coverage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers to pay minimum wage for any time over one hour during a split shift when an employee is not working (e.g., during a long break between work periods). It directly affects hourly workers with split shifts, such as those working morning and afternoon shifts with an extended unpaid break. The key provision mandates that this non-working time be counted as "worked" time for minimum wage purposes, ensuring pay for the full duration of the shift. The bill is pending in the Labor Committee and has not yet become law.

Includes aggravated threat of mass harm, making a threat of mass harm, aggravated harassment in the second degree, harassment in the first degree, menacing in the third degree, menacing in the second degree, menacing in the first degree, and aggravated harassment in the first degree in being eligible for bail; makes aggravated threat of mass harm and making a threat of mass harm eligible to be considered hate crimes; increases the penalties for aggravated threat of mass harm and making a threat of mass harm.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits health care workers, including nurses and unlicensed assistive personnel, to their regularly scheduled work hours without mandatory overtime. Exceptions allow longer shifts only during declared emergencies (like natural disasters or public health crises), federal/state emergency declarations, or when completing an ongoing medical/surgical procedure. It specifically excludes doctors, residents, and security staff from this definition. The law aims to protect patient safety by preventing excessive staff fatigue through concrete scheduling limits. Employers cannot use on-call time to bypass these restrictions.

Establishes the offenses of menacing a police officer or peace officer in the first degree and menacing a police officer or peace officer in the second degree; relates to circumstances under which an officer is not required to issue an appearance ticket; makes conforming changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits offering or providing payment beyond reimbursement of actual expenses for donating human eggs used in scientific research. It specifically bans "valuable consideration" (like cash payments) while allowing reimbursement for documented costs such as travel, housing, lost wages, and direct medical expenses from donation-related illness. Institutions accepting egg donations must maintain records of reimbursed expenses and obtain donor certifications confirming no prohibited payments were made. The law excludes infertility treatments and classifies violations as a class E felony.

Directs the secretary of state to develop and implement an adopt-a-rural-cemetery program for the purposes of improving, repairing, and maintaining cemeteries in rural communities which are registered with and overseen by the division of cemeteries; allows municipalities to opt in to the program.