Asm. William Colton

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 7714) gives New York utility consumers the right to choose between analog and digital meters at no cost. It directly affects all electricity, water, and gas consumers (including tenants and building owners) by requiring utilities to: - Provide 90 days' written notice before installing digital meters; - Allow consumers to decline digital meters or request analog replacements without fees or penalties; - Replace digital meters with analog ones within 10 days if a consumer has health concerns related to radiofrequency radiation (or 30 days otherwise). Utilities must also track consumer choices for three years and comply with group decisions in multi-unit buildings where 50%+ of residents opt out.

Excuses prospective jurors from jury service if they are a full-time caregiver responsible for the care of a person with a mental or physical condition that causes such person to be incapable of caring for themself.

Establishes the crime of doxing a police officer, peace officer, or state officer when a person knowingly makes restricted personal information about a police officer, peace officer, state officer, or a member of the immediate family of such officer, publicly available with the intent to threaten, intimidate, or incite the commission of a crime of violence against the police officer, peace officer, state officer, or a member of the immediate family of such officer; or with the intent and knowledge that the restricted personal information will be used to threaten, intimidate, or facilitate the commission of a crime of violence against the police officer, peace officer, state officer, or a member of the immediate family of such officer; requires the posting of bail.

Directs local law enforcement agencies in municipalities authorizing an auxiliary police force by local law to provide retirement service identification cards to auxiliary police officers who retire with 10 or more years of service or who are injured in the course of duty and unable to continue duty due to such injury.

Establishes the downstate New York power authority to own and operate electricity service and acquire the distribution facilities formerly owned by any downstate utility corporation.

Relates to the purchase of zero-emission buses and the procurement of electric-powered buses, vehicles or other related equipment and infrastructure; requires public utilities to have infrastructure, capacity, facilities, and transmission and distribution systems needed to supply power for the charging of zero-emission buses and provides a tariff for charging of electric buses.

Enacts the manufacturer disclosure and transparency act requiring prescription drug manufacturers to notify the attorney general of arrangements between pharmaceutical manufacturers resulting in the delay of the introduction of generic medications.

Waives Unemployment Pandemic Benefits repayments in whole or in part if the payment of such pandemic unemployment assistance was without fault on the part of the claimant and such repayment would be contrary to equity and good conscience.

Requires institutions of higher education to implement a policy that documentation of an individualized education program (IEP) is sufficient proof that a student enrolled in or admitted to an institution of higher education has a disability.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a statewide process for cities, towns, and villages to review applications for cell towers and wireless facilities. Municipalities without existing rules must hold public hearings within 90 days of an application and issue a decision within 62 days, while requiring applicants to notify nearby residents and pay fees for permits and technical reviews. The law sets standards for review, including considerations for historic areas, scenic locations, and aesthetics, and defines key terms like "wireless facility" to guide the process. Municipalities may adopt stricter rules than the state minimum if they choose.