Asm. Marcela Mitaynes

Provides for the creation and maintenance of digital records for each incarcerated individual which includes all medical records, including but not limited to mental health records and results of drug or alcohol tests, work records and evaluations, conduct records and programming records.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds "caste" to New York's existing anti-discrimination protections in employment, housing, and public accommodations. It defines "caste" as a hereditary social hierarchy based on birth that restricts opportunities, and prohibits discrimination against individuals because of their caste in hiring, housing, and public services. The law amends existing sections of the executive law to explicitly include caste alongside other protected characteristics like race, gender, and disability. It directly affects people in New York who experience caste-based discrimination in workplaces, housing, or public spaces. The key mechanism is updating anti-discrimination statutes to include caste as a protected category, making such discrimination unlawful under current enforcement frameworks.

Enacts the "Customer Savings and Reliability Act" in relation to regional affordable gas transition plans to guide an orderly, affordable, and equitable right-sizing of the utility gas system in a manner that aligns with climate justice and emissions reduction provisions.

Establishes a local authorities searchable subsidy and economic development benefits database; relates to the obligations of certain industrial development agencies and local development corporations.

Includes correctional facilities and local correctional facilities as publicly-assisted housing accommodations for purposes of the division of human rights; defines correctional facilities and local correctional facilities.

Maddy summaryBill A 8529 updates the language used in various New York State laws by replacing the terms "American Indian" with "Indigenous peoples" and "Indian" with "Indigenous." This bill amends several existing statutes, including those related to arts and cultural affairs, cannabis, economic development, and education. The changes primarily affect how certain groups are formally identified in contexts such as defining minority business enterprises and collecting ethnic demographic data. The bill aims to modernize the terminology used in official state documents and classifications.

Establishes a task force to conduct a comprehensive study on the presence of educator diversity in the state, state actions taken to promote educator diversity, and how the state can encourage new initiatives to enhance and promote educator diversity in New York; provides for the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof.

Enacts the "NYCHA utility accountability act"; requires the NYCHA to provide a rent reduction to tenants who experience a disruption in utility service.

Relates to the standards of monthly need for persons in receipt of public assistance; provides for an increased monthly allowance for persons and families residing in shelters.

Establishes application processing and review requirements for reprieves, commutations and pardons by the governor; requires the governor to provide: a written notification that the application has been received; a receipt number that the applicant can then use to check on the applicant's application status; guidelines for supplementing the application with additional or updated information; and a notification when a decision is made on the application; requires quarterly reports to the legislature regarding reprieves, commutations and pardons.