Asm. Alec Brook-Krasny

Maddy summaryBill A 8197 aims to protect Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients from benefit theft due to skimming devices. It directly affects SNAP recipients by enhancing security and all retail food stores that accept SNAP benefits. The bill mandates that these stores display warning signs about EBT/SNAP skimming fraud at public entrances. Additionally, it requires all businesses accepting SNAP benefits to install and use chip-enabled point-of-sale terminals for EBT transactions. Non-compliant businesses may face civil penalties, though provisions for financial assistance to small businesses for equipment upgrades are included.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes New York's First Home Savings Program, creating tax-advantaged savings accounts for first-time home buyers. It directly affects New York residents who have never owned a primary residence (including those with mobile homes but excluding those who claimed home tax deductions), allowing them to save for purchasing a home in the state. Key provisions include tax incentives under state law, strict rules defining "first-time buyer" status, and requirements that funds be used only for qualified home purchases (houses, condos, or co-ops) within New York as a primary residence. Withdrawals for non-qualified purposes face penalties, while exceptions exist for death, emergencies, or military service. The program is managed by the state comptroller and requires accounts to be held at approved financial institutions.

Enacts the Northeast Regional Health Insurance Compact Act directing the governor to invite the governors of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania to participate in a Northeast Regional Health Insurance Compact Summit along with their respective health and insurance regulators, to discuss the feasibility of creating a Regional Health Insurance Collaborative that allows residents of participating states to purchase qualified health insurance plans offered in any member state.

Ensures Medicaid spending results in real access to medical care by increasing transparency in Medicaid managed care network adequacy reviews and safeguarding continuity of care in light of recent major provider network withdrawals.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state, county, school district, and other public employers (including community colleges and public benefit corporations) to provide employees with up to 8 hours of paid leave annually to volunteer as poll workers during elections. The leave is excused (not deducted from other leave) and must be granted for election-related duties. Employers must establish simple guidelines for requesting and approving the leave, but the bill explicitly states it won't override existing collective bargaining agreements or employee benefits. The policy directly affects public employees who wish to serve as poll workers without losing pay or accrued leave time.

Prohibits electric, gas, telephone, cellular telephone, television, internet, energy, water services or any other utility providers from imposing additional fees related to administrative surcharges, fees for non-use or any other charges to customers living at their primary residence who are over sixty-five years of age or who have a developmental disability.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1358) adds a religious exemption to school vaccination requirements in New York State. It allows children whose parents hold "genuine and sincere religious beliefs" opposing vaccinations to attend school without providing immunization certificates. The bill modifies public health law to remove the certificate requirement for these children and requires health providers to report immunization status for exempt students. It directly affects families seeking religious exemptions for school enrollment, while maintaining existing school notification procedures for non-exempt children. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a certification program for employers to become "recovery ready workplaces" (RRWs), directly affecting employers across all industries and their employees with substance use disorders (SUDs). To earn certification, employers must implement specific measures including onsite naloxone availability, mandatory training for supervisors on SUDs and prevention, workplace stress reduction strategies, and comprehensive health coverage for SUD treatment equal to physical health care. The program requires collaboration with unions and recovery organizations, along with policies ensuring confidentiality and reasonable accommodations for employees in recovery. Certification criteria also mandate connecting with local recovery resources and assessing workplace culture to support employees seeking treatment.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows home-schooled children residing in a school district to participate in that district's interscholastic sports and driver's education programs. It requires home-schooled students to meet all standard course or activity requirements and pay any applicable fees. The law applies only to districts offering these specific programs, and students cannot simultaneously attend another school within the same district. This change directly affects home-schooled students seeking athletic or driver's education opportunities in their residential district.

Designates the crime of disruption or disturbance of a religious service, funeral, burial or memorial service as disruption or disturbance of a religious service, funeral, burial or memorial service in the second degree and adds the crime of disruption or disturbance of a religious service, funeral, burial or memorial service in the first degree as a class E felony.