Asm. Catalina Cruz

Enacts the "faith-based affordable housing act" for development on residential land; defines terms; provides that each village, town, and city shall allow the construction and occupation of residential buildings on any covered site up to the specified densities; provides that all residential buildings constructed pursuant to this section in a town, village, or city with fewer than one million inhabitants shall set aside twenty percent of the residential floor area for households earning an average of eighty percent of area median income; outlines the densities for New York city; makes related provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 7339) requires most health insurance plans in New York to cover fertility preservation services when a medical treatment (like cancer therapy) may cause infertility. It directly affects insured individuals undergoing treatments that risk reproductive health, such as chemotherapy or surgery. Key provisions mandate coverage for standard fertility preservation (e.g., egg or sperm freezing) with possible deductibles, while prohibiting insurers from denying coverage based on health conditions like anticipated infertility or personal characteristics (age, gender identity, sexual orientation). The law applies to comprehensive medical insurance policies and takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes New York's parole process by requiring the state board of parole to consider specific factors before granting release. It mandates evaluation of rehabilitation efforts (like programs, therapy, and work assignments), release plans (including housing, jobs, and support services), and deportation status, while prohibiting decisions based mainly on victim statements or prior criminal records. Parole denials must include detailed written explanations, and the board must report quarterly to lawmakers with demographic data on denied cases (excluding individual identities). These changes aim to standardize parole decisions and increase transparency.

Maddy summaryBill A-304 requires all pharmacies to maintain emergency contraception in stock. It directly affects pharmacies and patients seeking emergency contraception, ensuring immediate access without requiring a prescription. The bill defines "emergency contraception" as FDA-approved over-the-counter drugs used to prevent pregnancy after intercourse, dispensed per professional standards. Pharmacies must keep these specific medications available, with the law taking effect 60 days after enactment.

Includes bonus in the definition of wages for purposes of the labor law when the formula under which a bonus is determined is available to the employer or when the amount of a bonus has been declared; relates to the forfeit of wages.

Maddy summaryThis bill restores a 20-year service requirement for normal retirement benefits for New York City police officers, reversing a 2012 change that raised the requirement to 22 years. It directly affects NYPD police/fire members under the New York City Police Pension Fund, allowing them to qualify for normal retirement benefits after 20 years of service instead of 22. The key mechanism amends three sections of the Retirement and Social Security Law to specify that NYPD officers meet the service threshold at 20 years (for normal retirement), while other groups like correction/sanitation officers remain at 22 years. The bill makes this change effective immediately without altering age requirements or early retirement rules.

Enacts the "voting integrity and verification act of New York (VIVA NY)"; provides that each voter is entitled to the use of an individual, voter verifiable paper ballot of the voter's vote and the opportunity to mark it.

Relates to the former crime of loitering for the purpose of engaging in a prostitution offense; expunges criminal records for persons previously convicted of such crime; directs the chief administrator of the courts to provide information regarding such expungement; adds language to identify that the crime of loitering for the purpose of engaging in a prostitution offense is no longer in law.

Relates to audio-visual coverage of judicial proceedings by the media; allows the judge or justice presiding over a proceeding to exercise discretion to prohibit or limit filming or photographing of particular participants; defines terms; provides limitations on audio-visual coverage.

Relates to regulation of PFAS as a toxic air pollutant; requires the department to ensure certain process operations use appropriate control technology for PFAS emissions; establishes a fence line monitoring program to monitor PFAS emissions in disadvantaged communities, to provide public reports, and related duties.