Asm. William Colton

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.

Requires any hospital that provides birthing services to provide written, educational material containing information about premature newborn infants.

Enacts the "assuring college campus and educational safety and support (ACCESS) act" relating to harassment of students and applicants at educational institutions; describes the circumstances under which harassment at educational institutions is an unlawful discriminatory practice; describes the circumstances under which an educational institution is deemed to have permitted harassment; describes additional circumstances under which a college or university is deemed to have permitted harassment.

Relates to the powers and duties of the advisory council of the justice center for the protection of people with special needs; adds additional duties relating to investigations of allegations of abuse and neglect.

Requires insurer to respond within thirty days of a written request from an insured for their health plan documents, including copies of most recent group or individual contracts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires contractors working on qualifying construction or demolition projects in cities with over 1 million residents to recycle at least 50% of the waste generated (by weight), measured after the law takes effect. It applies specifically to projects like multi-unit residential buildings, larger commercial structures, and major demolitions, excluding hazardous materials like asbestos or lead-contaminated waste. Contractors must document compliance within 30 days of project completion and face fines for non-compliance, with a phased approach starting at 25% for projects permitted within one year of enactment. The law aims to reduce landfill use by integrating recycling requirements into existing waste management systems for large urban projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers with 20 or more full-time permanent employees to create a written workplace violence prevention program. The program must include specific measures to address risks like abusive conduct and bullying, such as conflict resolution training and clear reporting systems. Employers must provide annual training to all employees on identifying, reporting, and preventing workplace bullying and abusive conduct, including how to use safety procedures and access the prevention program. It directly affects covered employers across New York State and applies to all workplace settings where such risks exist. The law mandates these changes to reduce incidents of workplace violence and improve employee safety.

Relates to observance of all religious holidays by institutions within the state university and the city university of New York; includes the Asian Lunar New Year within the definition of such holidays.

Relates to excluding renewable energy pilot projects and certain energy system-related payments in lieu of taxes from tax cap calculations, and to the establishment of a distributed generation energy development program that provides a single forum for state-level appeals for proposed distributed generation energy facilities.