Provides protections for telecommunications tower technicians, including requiring certain trainings during work hours without a loss of pay; requires certain reporting by bidders for telecommunication contracts.
Maddy summaryThis bill (A 2177) removes the cost of emergency medical services (EMS) from the property tax levy limit that local governments (like cities and towns) must follow. It directly affects municipalities that fund EMS services, allowing them to cover these costs without triggering the tax cap. The key change adds a specific exemption in law, so EMS expenditures no longer count toward the maximum tax levy allowed under current rules. This provides local governments with more budget flexibility for essential emergency response services.
Requires the developmental disabilities advisory council to submit an annual report to the governor, temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly on the activities of the council, and to make such report public.
Includes entities that provide employment or services to formerly incarcerated persons in the preferred source exemption for purposes of state purchasing.
Authorizes the department of transportation to establish and implement a state memorial sign program to memorialize persons who died due to injuries sustained in a fatal motor vehicle crash on state highways.
Maddy summaryThis bill (A 7235) requires New York state agencies with over $10 million in annual construction/service contracts to establish voluntary mentorship programs connecting minority and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs) with established contractors. It mandates that these programs focus on practical business development to help MWBEs compete for state contracts and subcontracts, particularly when there's an existing contractual relationship ("privity of contract") between the MWBE and a contractor on a state project. The bill updates existing laws to ensure mentorship opportunities are structured around commercially useful connections and provides technical assistance for MWBEs to secure necessary bonds. It directly affects MWBEs seeking state contracting opportunities and state agencies managing public works contracts.
Requires general hospitals to provide language assistance services; requires general hospitals to develop a language assistance program to ensure meaningful access to the general hospital's services and reasonable accommodation for all patients who require language assistance.
Relates to employment of persons and veterans with disabilities by the state; provides up to five thousand positions may be filled by persons with a physical or mental disability and up to two thousand positions may be filled by disabled veterans and veterans with disabilities.
Provides that the thruway authority shall issue permits for ambulances and fire vehicles exempting such vehicles from paying tolls on the thruway when engaged in an emergency operation.
Creates the state office of the utility consumer advocate to represent interests of residential utility customers including a proposed change of rates, charges, terms and conditions of service, the adoption of rules, regulations, guidelines, orders, standards or final policy decisions.
