Asm. Jessica González-Rojas

Maddy summaryBill A 2619 establishes specific rights for residents and cooperatives in ground lease residential cooperative apartment buildings. Upon the expiration of a ground lease, the cooperative must dissolve, and residents are converted to tenants, with rental leases offered under existing tenant protection laws. The bill also allows cooperatives to encumber their interest in the ground lease, requiring ground lease owners to provide reasonable cause for refusal if consent is needed. Additionally, it grants ground lease residential cooperatives a right of first refusal to purchase the ground lease real property if the owner decides to sell it.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates mandatory minimum prison sentences for certain offenses, replacing them with judicial discretion to determine appropriate sentences based on individual circumstances. It requires courts to provide written explanations for sentencing decisions and mandates that pre-sentence reports include analysis of incarceration costs to the state. Defendants gain expanded access to pre-sentence reports used in sentencing decisions, and judges must consider rehabilitation and community safety goals rather than fixed minimum terms. The law applies to felony sentencing under New York's penal and criminal procedure laws, directly affecting judges, defendants, and the state correctional system.

Authorizes the commissioner of corrections and community supervision to discipline certain employees for acts of serious misconduct; defines serious misconduct; establishes procedures for such disciplinary action; prohibits employees who have been removed for serious misconduct from being placed on the eligible list after such removal.

Directs the independent developmental disability ombudsperson program to establish a service delivery structure based in New York state that includes a toll-free telephone hotline, an interactive website, and availability of in-person, telephone and email access to ombudsperson program staff or volunteers; to provide assistance for navigating and completing processes; to assist individuals in filing and preparing appeals; to assist individuals with any problems encountered; and to educate individuals on their rights and responsibilities with respect to access to services provided by the office for people with developmental disabilities and care coordination provided by health homes serving individuals with developmental disabilities or services provided by other providers.

Enacts "Cecilia's act for rights in the sex trades"; decriminalizes certain prostitution offenses; amends provisions relating to prosecution of such offenses and vacating judgments.

Establishes the "Supporting Families Together act"; repeals certain provisions of law relating to civil and criminal penalties for mandated reporters.

Relates to providing information to patients and the public on hospital rule-based exclusions; requires the commissioner of health to collect from each hospital a list of its hospital rule-based exclusions and publish such information on the department's website.

Relates to the imposition of sales and compensating use taxes with respect to certain aircraft; repeals provisions relating to the exemption from sales and compensating use taxes of general aviation aircraft, and machinery or equipment to be installed on such aircraft.

Provides that the court shall not reduce jury awards as excessive in employment discrimination actions unless the court finds exceptional circumstances which compel the conclusion that the jury was influenced by partiality, prejudice, mistake or corruption or that remittitur or additur is necessary to avoid a complete miscarriage of justice.

Grants employees access to personnel records; requires notice of negative information in such records and an opportunity for a review; permits employee to include certain information in personnel records.