Asm. Rebecca Kassay

Enacts the "food retail establishment subsidization for healthy communities act" (FRESH Communities); provides loans, loan guarantees, interest subsidies and grants to businesses, municipalities, not-for-profit corporations or local development corporations for the purpose of attracting, maintaining or permitting the expansion of food retail establishments in underserved areas.

Establishes a statewide person-centered mental health services work group to improve statewide mental health planning and outcomes to achieve a person-centered, prevention-first integrated and tiered system of care for holistic health and wellness.

Enacts the "choice in responsible gaming act"; requires mobile sports wagering operators to establish default betting limits on their platform and to notify authorized sports bettors of their ability to opt-out of the default betting limits.

Authorizes members or officers of the state police who were previously firefighters receive credit for such previous firefighter service for the purposes of retirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases short-term disability benefits for New York workers. It phases in higher weekly benefit rates (from 50% to 67% of average weekly wage) and extends maximum leave duration (from 8 to 12 weeks) over several years, starting in 2018. The changes apply to employees needing short-term disability leave due to illness or injury, directly affecting both workers and their employers who provide these benefits. The bill maintains a cap based on the state average weekly wage and allows the superintendent of financial services to delay increases if needed.

Includes in the class E felony of vehicular assault in the second degree, the causing of serious physical injury while operating a vehicle with suspended, revoked or no license; creates the crime of vehicular homicide.

Prohibits the transportation of dogs in the back of a motor vehicle intended for any load unless such space is enclosed or has side and tail racks to a height of not less than forty-six inches extending vertically from the floor; the motor vehicle has installed means of preventing the dog from being ejected; or the dog is cross-tethered to the vehicle or is protected by a secured container or cage, in a manner which will prevent the dog from being ejected from the motor vehicle; imposes fines for violations.

Requires insurers to provide insurance coverage for treatment of rare diseases, life-threatening conditions or diseases, degenerative and disabling conditions, or diagnoses involving medically fragile children, by a provider of the patient's choice.

Repeals managed long term care provisions for Medicaid recipients; establishes provisions for fully integrated plans for long term care including PACE and MAP plans.

Provides additional documentation a tenant may provide to demonstrate that such tenant or a member of such tenant's household has been a victim of domestic violence for purposes of permitting the termination of residential lease by victims of domestic violence.