Asm. Vivian Cook

Enacts the "community financial services access and modernization act"; modernizes existing statute to reflect the full scope of financial services available at neighborhood "check cashing" establishments; provides for a comprehensive regulatory framework for the delivery of the expanded financial services currently being offered.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the laws governing wrongful death lawsuits to clarify exactly what types of money can be awarded to the surviving family members of a deceased person. It explicitly allows juries or courts to grant compensation for funeral costs, medical bills incurred before death, grief, and the loss of financial support, guidance, and companionship. The legislation also defines who is eligible to receive these damages, including spouses, domestic partners, children, parents, and individuals who stood in a parent-like role to the deceased. Additionally, the bill sets specific rules for how the awarded money must be shared among eligible survivors based on their individual losses and outlines how legal fees and other expenses are handled.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the membership rules for the State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council to include a representative for agricultural producers. It changes the council's composition from fifteen to sixteen members and adjusts the number of seats for fire service officials, architects, engineers, and other stakeholders to eight. The amendment ensures that one appointed member specifically represents agricultural interests, giving farmers a formal voice in state fire and building code decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new rules for automobile brokers, requiring them to maintain a permanent physical location for their business and update their registration within thirty days if that address changes. It mandates that written contracts between brokers and consumers must include specific details such as the vehicle description, total price, estimated delivery date, and a clear statement that the broker cannot charge fees from both the buyer and the dealer. Additionally, the law requires these contracts to be easily cancellable with a full refund processed within ten business days if the final price exceeds the estimate by more than five percent or if the car is not delivered within thirty days of the estimated date. The legislation also enforces stricter advertising standards and requires that all mandatory contract terms be printed in bold, twelve-point type to ensure they are clearly visible to consumers.

Expands the definition of mental health care provider to include licensed mental health counselors and licensed marriage and family therapists, for purposes of certain sex offenses committed during a treatment session, consultation, interview, or examination.

Relates to creating the health emergency response data system, which collects information and statistical data relating to public health emergencies in order to assist the department of health, other government entities, health care providers, and the public in understanding and responding to public health emergencies.

Establishes the people with disabilities access to programs commission to examine, evaluate and make recommendations for new laws with respect to how the state should streamline eligibility requirements and processes for its programs and services to assist people with disabilities.

Repeals the rebates for stock transfer tax paid; dedicates funds of the stock transfer tax fund and stock transfer incentive fund to various funds; establishes the safe water and infrastructure action program.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires motor vehicle dealerships to receive full and fair payment from their franchisors for all warranty-related work, including repairs, diagnostics, and parts. It mandates that payments for approved claims be made within thirty days and sets a specific method for calculating compensation based on the rates dealers charge their own customers for similar non-warranty services. The law also establishes a process for dealers to declare their reimbursement rates and limits exclusions to items like wholesale parts, tires, and routine maintenance. By defining "reasonable compensation" and outlining dispute resolution steps, the bill aims to ensure dealers are not underpaid for services performed under manufacturer warranties.

Eliminates court surcharges and fees and probation and parole surcharges and fees; eliminates the requirement that a parolee or releasee receiving a merit termination of sentence be financially able to comply with an order of restitution; eliminates the requirement that a person receiving a discharge of sentence be financially able to comply with an order of restitution and the payment of certain surcharges or fees (Part A); prohibits mandatory minimum fines for penal law and vehicle and traffic offenses (Part B); mandates that courts engage in an individualized assessment of a person's financial ability to pay a fine prior to imposing a fine (Part C); eliminates the availability of incarceration as a remedy for a failure to pay a fine, surcharge, or fee, lifts and vacates existing warrants issued solely on a person's failure to timely pay a fine, surcharge or fee and ends existing sentences of incarceration based on such failure (Part D); vacates existing unsatisfied civil judgments based on a person's failure to timely pay a surcharge, or fee (Part E); prohibits the collection of a fine, restitution or reparation from the funds of an incarcerated person; prohibits the payment of court fines, mandatory surcharges, certain fees, restitution, reparation or forfeitures from the earnings of prisoners (Part F); vacates existing unpaid surcharges, DNA databank fees, crime victim assistance fees, sexual offender registration fees, supplemental sex offender victim fees, or probation or parole supervision fees; repeals certain provisions of law relating to restrictions on remitting such fees (Part G).