Asm. Catalina Cruz

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a requirement that applicants must pass an exam to become a licensed master social worker in New York. It directly affects individuals seeking this specific license by removing the examination step from the qualification process. The key provision eliminates Section 7704(d) of the Education Law, which previously mandated the exam. As a result, applicants will no longer need to pass a test to qualify for the license, simplifying the licensing pathway. The change takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legal framework for safe injection sites in New York, creating a program approved by the Department of Health to provide overdose prevention services. It directly affects people who use drugs (participants), community health organizations operating the sites, and local communities through designated locations. Key provisions require sites to offer sterile equipment, overdose monitoring, naloxone access, referrals to treatment, and language-accessible education, while mandating annual reporting on participant numbers and services. The bill also provides legal immunity from arrest or penalties for participants, staff, and property owners who follow approved protocols, ensuring these sites operate without criminal or civil liability.

Creates a wholesale prescription drug importation program which complies with federal standards and regulations for the purpose of generating substantial savings for consumers.

Requires public schools in any city with a population over one million that have students practicing a religious faith with specific dietary restrictions to offer food options which meet such dietary restrictions upon the students' request.

Enacts The New Deal for CUNY; increases the ratio of faculty and mental health counselors to full-time students; requires that certain amounts of tuition be replaced by federal, state, and city funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 479, "45 saves lives") requires employers with 20+ employees to provide one paid day off every ten years for workers aged 45 or older to get a colonoscopy. It applies to employees working 20+ hours weekly (excluding independent contractors) and prohibits retaliation for using this leave. Employers must grant the leave without affecting other existing benefits, and the law takes effect 90 days after enactment. The policy directly supports workplace health screenings for a common preventive care need.

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.

Provides for the establishment of a forty-five dollar fee for all motions made in pending proceedings and for ex parte applications in the surrogate's court.

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.

Implements automatic enrollment for the tax abatement program for rent-controlled and rent-regulated property occupied by senior citizens; provides for a check box for a taxpayer to opt-out of data sharing and automatic enrollment on their tax return.