Rep. Brian Cunningham

Maddy summaryThis bill requires every New York City public school to have at least one certified assistant principal. It specifies that assistant principals must oversee school safety and operations when the principal is absent and may be required to attend training to address educational needs or improve school performance. The law directly affects NYC schools, administrators, and staff by establishing minimum staffing standards for school safety and management. The bill aims to ensure consistent supervision and support across all schools in the city school district.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires landlords to maintain habitable housing conditions before pursuing rent collection or eviction. Specifically, landlords cannot file such cases if there are unresolved violations of housing codes (like lack of heat, water, or rodent infestations) that have existed for five days or more in the apartment or building common areas. If violations exist, landlords must file an affidavit claiming the violations were recorded incorrectly or not addressed by authorities, and courts can dismiss the case if these claims are false or violations are proven. The law directly affects landlords seeking legal action and tenants facing eviction or rent demands.

Designates certain employees of public utilities, municipal utilities, electric corporations, gas corporations, water corporations, steam corporations, telecommunications corporations, and cable television companies as first responders during a declared state disaster emergency.

Prohibits public utilities from passing along the cost of site investigation and remediation efforts on to rate payers; requires each public utility with more than seventy-five thousand customers to submit to the public service commission an annual report containing a description of any expenses that may not be included or incorporated in the public utility's operating expenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state correctional facilities to provide incarcerated individuals with free voice communication services, including calls made to and from their families or legal representatives. The legislation mandates that these services cannot be replaced by in-person visit programs and prohibits facilities from generating revenue from communication services. It also ensures that existing contracts for communication services must end by March 31, 2026, while new contracts are subject to the free service requirement starting April 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all general hospitals to install metal detectors at every public entrance as part of their workplace violence safety and security plans. The law mandates that hospitals develop and regularly update comprehensive security measures, which can include employee training, increased staffing, and various engineering controls like barriers and lighting systems. Hospitals must share detailed summaries of their security plans with employees and union representatives, while also providing information on how to report workplace violence incidents. The legislation takes effect immediately, aligning with the implementation timeline of related workplace violence assessment laws.

Establishes a New York state prison labor board to ensure that all labor programs comply with the requirements of the labor law and are for the purpose of promoting successful rehabilitation, reentry and reintegration into the community and not for the purpose of earnings or cost-savings which inure to the benefit the state or any private individual or corporation; prohibits the department of corrections and community supervision from unfairly attaching, garnishing or disbursing the funds of incarcerated individuals where such individuals have not requested disbursement; requires that all interest accumulated on incarcerated individuals' funds be credited to such individual's accounts; eliminates the preferred status of the department of corrections and community supervision regarding commodities and services furnished by the correctional industries program; repeals certain provisions of the state finance law relating to such preferred status.

Relates to increasing the earnings limitation for positions of public service; increases the earnings limitation from $35,000 to $65,000 in 2027 and thereafter.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires sellers to provide lead-based paint test reports to buyers before selling residential properties built before 1978. It directly affects home sellers, buyers, and real estate agents in New York for properties constructed prior to 1978, which are most likely to contain lead paint. The key mechanism mandates a one-time inspection and disclosure of test results before title transfer, with reports added to a state registry for future buyers. This complements existing laws by standardizing disclosure across all residential sales, not just rentals, ensuring buyers receive clear information about potential lead hazards. The law does not replace buyer due diligence or existing seller responsibilities.

Prohibits the knowing sale, offer for sale, or delivery of xylazine to persons under the age of 21 and without proof of the intended use for institutional, veterinary, or scientific purposes.