Asm. Steven Raga

Establishes a four-day workweek pilot program for state employees; requires the division of the budget and the state department of civil service to identify state agencies or other jobs in the performance of any function of state government for which a four-day workweek is feasible and beneficial for at least sixty percent of state employees employed in such agency or job in the performance of such function of state government, and to implement a four-day workweek for such state employees.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans in New York to cover specific pre-term labor care. It mandates coverage for home nursing visits to monitor expectant mothers diagnosed with pre-term labor (between 20-36 weeks of pregnancy), administration of Makena medication by nurses, and counseling services for emotional support. These services are required for individuals who have experienced pre-term labor, miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss within a month of birth. The law applies to all health insurance policies providing hospital, surgical, or medical coverage, directly affecting insurers and pregnant people with these specific needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits law enforcement agencies from using or contracting for DNA phenotyping, which predicts physical traits (like eye color or ancestry) from DNA samples, in criminal investigations or prosecutions. It bans all evidence derived from this technology from being used as reasonable cause for arrest or in court, and requires existing DNA phenotyping data held by police to be destroyed immediately. Any conviction linked to such evidence becomes eligible for legal review. The law directly affects police departments, prosecutors, and criminal court proceedings by eliminating a specific investigative tool.

Requires health insurance for state officers and employees who receive health insurance benefits from the state to take effect immediately upon employment.

Establishes the Take A Look medical and dental workforce employment tour pilot program which is a campaign to promote and market the health care workforce employment and career opportunities in the following economic development regions: central, north country, western, finger lakes, capital region, mohawk and southern tier.

Enacts the "New York emergency expedited temporary work permit act" to allow asylum seekers to apply for and be granted temporary work permits while their federal immigration status is being determined.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers with 20 or more full-time permanent employees to create a written workplace violence prevention program. The program must include specific measures to address risks like abusive conduct and bullying, such as conflict resolution training and clear reporting systems. Employers must provide annual training to all employees on identifying, reporting, and preventing workplace bullying and abusive conduct, including how to use safety procedures and access the prevention program. It directly affects covered employers across New York State and applies to all workplace settings where such risks exist. The law mandates these changes to reduce incidents of workplace violence and improve employee safety.

Provides for the award of regents scholarships and loan forgiveness for nurses on the same terms as physicians; applies to registered professional nurses as defined in section 6903 of the education law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public schools in any New York city with a population over one million to offer Halal food options during lunch. It directly affects students and families who follow Halal dietary practices by ensuring accessible meal choices that meet religious requirements. The law would take effect 120 days after enactment, mandating schools to implement this change through necessary menu adjustments and rule updates before the deadline.

Requires the commissioner of education to establish and enforce rules and regulations to incorporate at least a three credit course devoted to the instructional techniques necessary for effective literacy instruction which shall include delivering structured, systematic, explicit, evidence-based instruction aligned with the science of reading for prospective teachers.