Asm. Catalina Cruz

Maddy summaryThis bill waives the $25 processing fee for criminal history background checks required by mentoring programs operated by not-for-profit corporations. It requires these programs to collect fingerprints but eliminates the standard fee they would otherwise pay to the state. The exemption applies specifically to formal mentoring programs matching youth with adult volunteers for developmental support, as defined in the law. This directly affects qualifying not-for-profit mentoring organizations seeking background checks for volunteers or staff.

Provides for automatic voter registration and pre-registration for persons applying for certain department of motor vehicles documentation, and for persons applying for or re-enrolling in Medicaid; allows individuals to decline such automatic registration and pre-registration.

Relates to protecting the communication rights of individuals with disabilities; provides that each person with a disability has the right to communicate in their preferred manner.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes the deadline for voters to switch political party affiliations to vote in an upcoming election. It requires that any change of party enrollment must be postmarked by the United States Postal Service at least 25 days before a primary, general, or special election, and received by election officials no later than 20 days before the election. Voters who want to change parties to participate in a specific election must meet this postmark deadline to have their new affiliation count for that vote. The bill does not alter the current requirement that changes take effect 25 days after receipt, but clarifies that the postmark date determines the effective timeline. This directly affects voters seeking to switch party affiliation to vote in an upcoming election.

Directs the commissioner of the office of addiction services and supports, in consultation with the director of the state office for the aging, to develop comprehensive substance use disorder prevention, education and treatment demonstration programs for senior citizens.

Restricts a law enforcement officer from initiating a traffic stop for certain violations of the vehicle and traffic law; provides for the suppression or exclusion of evidence obtained in violation of such provisions; relates to the duties of the division of criminal justice services making certain information pertaining to traffic stops public.

Enacts the "local, community and ethnic media commitment act"; requires state agencies to publish certain information in local, community and ethnic media; defines local, community and ethnic media; requires the office of general services to develop and maintain a list of local, community and ethnic media outlets.

Establishes protections for adults sixty years of age or older, or at least the age of eighteen and who, because of mental or physical impairments, are unable to manage their own resources or protect themselves from financial exploitation without assistance from others.

Authorizes the dispensing of abortion medication under certain conditions; requires insurance policies providing coverage for contraception to provide coverage for abortion medication.

Requires cultural awareness and competence training for medical professionals, including two hours of course work or training encompassing minority healthcare issues; provides an exemption for certain individuals; requires hospitals and facilities to request documentation of the completion of training from employees and prospective employees.