Asm. Lester Chang

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new licensing requirement for organizations that manage payments for personal care services (fiscal intermediaries), effective April 1, 2027. It requires these entities to apply for a license, submit annual reports on costs and service details, and register personal assistants in a confidential state registry. The law directly affects fiscal intermediaries currently contracting with social services departments or health plans, mandating they meet specific standards for compliance, cultural competency, and financial reporting. It repeals outdated provisions while establishing new oversight mechanisms to ensure transparency in how funds for personal care services are managed.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires courts to consider bail for specific offenses targeting schools or students, including threats of mass harm, aggravated harassment, or terroristic threats against school districts, staff, or students. It amends criminal procedure law to mandate bail consideration when a defendant is charged with these offenses while already out on release or awaiting arraignment for a related crime. Prosecutors must show reasonable cause the defendant committed the offense, but courts may still release defendants on their own recognizance if the alleged harm (like minor property damage) is deemed negligible and unrelated to other criminal activity. The bill directly affects defendants charged with these school-targeted offenses during pretrial proceedings.

Requires the board of elections to check all registered voter's citizenship and lawful permanent resident status; requires all voters to show government issued identification to vote.

Maddy summaryThis 2004 bill requires the Public Service Commission to hold public hearings at least 90 days before deciding on utility rate increases, fees, rentals, or charges. The hearings must occur in the specific area affected by the proposed increase, allowing residents to share comments and ask questions directly to both the utility company and the commission. It applies to all utility rate changes and mandates this public input step before any approval decision. The law took effect 90 days after enactment, with necessary rule changes allowed before that date.

Requires fire insurance for any building where bicycles with electric assist are repaired, sold, rented, or stored for repair, sale or rental; requires insurance coverage of at least one million dollars and an additional one hundred thousand dollars per tenant if tenants reside in such building.

Requires the notification of a public utility company's or municipality's customers when the supply rate increases by at least forty percent and to notify such customers of bill assistance programs by posting on the utility company's website.

Extends the period during which the empire state digital gaming tax credit may be claimed to 01/01/2032; 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; allows unused credits to be rolled over to the following tax year.

Maddy summaryBill A 5757 grants disabled veterans seven free days of sporting activity in New York State. These veterans, regardless of residency, would be exempt from fees normally required for licenses or permits under the environmental conservation law. The commissioner of environmental conservation is responsible for defining what constitutes a disability for this program and for adopting necessary rules and regulations for its implementation.

Maddy summaryBill A 7798 establishes a three-year moratorium on new unfunded mandates from the state legislature, meaning the state cannot require local governments (counties, cities, towns, school districts, or special districts) to fund new programs or services without providing matching funds. It defines an "unfunded mandate" as any state law causing a local government to incur over $10,000 annually in net costs or $1 million statewide. The bill also creates 11 regional mandate relief councils (covering all New York state regions) to review existing mandates, help local governments manage costs, and provide recommendations. These councils will operate under specific guidelines, though the bill exempts mandates required by federal law, court orders, or immediate public safety threats. The moratorium and councils aim to reduce financial strain on local governments from state-imposed requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill criminalizes hiding, damaging, or destroying a human body or body part when someone expects it might be used as evidence in a legal case, such as a criminal investigation or autopsy. It specifically defines this as a class E felony, punishable by up to four years in prison. The law explicitly excludes funeral directors, embalmers, and organ donation activities from this rule, as these are covered under existing public health laws. The bill also adds this offense to lists of crimes affecting bail decisions, but its core purpose is to protect evidence integrity in legal proceedings.