Asm. Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits state and local registrars from charging any fees to issue certificates of still birth or fetal death. Under the new rules, these documents will be provided free of charge, removing the previous requirement to pay a fee similar to those for standard birth or death certifications. The change applies to all individuals requesting these vital records and takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes changing how Family Court judges are selected in New York City, shifting the process from appointment to election. Under the new system, judges would be chosen by voters in specific districts within the city's counties rather than being appointed by the mayor. The proposal also sets a ten-year term for these elected judges, aligning their selection method with that of civil court judges while criminal court judges would remain appointed. If passed, the bill would require a constitutional amendment and a public vote to take effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes changing how judges are selected for New York City's Family Court and the city-wide courts handling civil and criminal cases. Under the new plan, Family Court judges would be elected by voters in specific districts, while judges for the civil and criminal courts would be appointed by the mayor. The legislation also allows for the possibility of merging the civil and criminal courts into a single entity if requested by the mayor and city council. This change would replace the current system with a mix of direct voter elections and executive appointments for judicial roles.

Enacts the reproductive health care facilities and religious worship access act; provides that the crime of criminal interference with health care services or religious worship shall be established by the mens rea of knowingly injuring, intimidating or interfering with a person obtaining or providing or assisting in obtaining or providing reproductive health services or a place of religious worship; includes in the definition of such crime engaging in a course of conduct or repeatedly committing acts within twenty-five feet of the premises of a reproductive health care facility or a place of religious worship; defines such premises; provides for a civil cause of action for any person harmed by conduct constituting such a crime.

Amends the eligibility criteria for game development companies by changing the yearly timeframe structure, lowering the dollar threshold per production, and removing the in-state cost incurred threshold to accurately fit current digital gaming industry models.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public water systems serving specific residential areas to identify lead service lines within their networks. It defines a "covered water system" as one serving at least fifteen service connections or twenty-five year-round residents, and it mandates that these systems conduct free inspections to determine if lead pipes are present. To facilitate these inspections, the law allows water systems to seek consent from property owners and, if owners do not respond within thirty days, to accept consent from adult occupants like tenants. If access is still denied, the water system may take legal steps authorized by local codes to secure entry, while ensuring that non-owner occupants are not held liable for consenting to the inspection.

Provides for the licensure of school psychology practitioners; authorizes the use of the title "licensed school psychology practitioner" to licensed or exempt individuals; defines practice of licensed school psychology practitioners; sets forth requirements for professional licensure (including educational attainment, experience, exam and fee); provides for issuance of limited permits under specified circumstances; identifies exempt persons.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates how the state calculates payment rates for federally qualified health centers to better reflect their actual operating costs. It requires the health department to analyze cost data from the previous five years, taking into account factors like the scope of services, staffing needs, and technology expenses. Starting in April 2025, the department must issue new payment rates based on this analysis, explicitly removing previous caps on payments as long as they remain eligible for federal funding. The law also changes how future rate adjustments are made, shifting from a standard Medicare index to a specific market basket measure for periods after September 2025.

Conforms the definition of an incarcerated individual with a serious mental illness to the definition of "person with a serious mental illness" in the mental hygiene law.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for how government meetings can be held online, primarily affecting public bodies like city councils and county boards. It requires these groups to create clear written plans for remote participation, ensuring that elected officials generally attend in person while allowing appointed members to join remotely if needed. The legislation also mandates that all online meetings be recorded with closed captions, made available on official websites, and advertised with specific details about how the public can view or join them. Additionally, the bill clarifies that during declared emergencies, officials may relax the requirement for members to be physically present if holding an in-person meeting is not feasible.