Asm. Jo Anne Simon

Relates to returnable bottles; adds noncarbonated soft drinks, certain noncarbonated fruit or vegetable juices, coffee and tea beverages, carbonated fruit beverages and cider to the definition of "beverage"; provides that beginning April 1, 2027, the handling fee will be six cents for each beverage container accepted by a deposit initiator from a dealer or operator of a redemption center; directs the multi-agency bottle bill fraud investigation team to submit a report on findings of pervasive bottle redemption fraud in New York state.

Maddy summaryBill A 520 creates a tax credit allowing New York landowners to deduct 25% of real property taxes paid on land enrolled in forestry stewardship or habitat conservation programs. To qualify, land must be at least 25 contiguous acres, inspected by DEC-certified biologists, and committed to a 5-year conservation agreement with the Department of Environmental Conservation. The credit is capped at $10,000 annually per taxpayer and applies to personal income and business franchise taxes. Landowners must follow approved conservation plans and record agreements with local authorities to maintain eligibility.

Requires school districts to collect and annually report to the department of education certain information regarding manifestation determination reviews (MDRs) conducted during the prior school year; requires certain disaggregated information to be publicly reported regarding MDRs.

Requires all insurance policies and health maintenance organization contracts to provide coverage for maternity patients and their newborns for hospital stays of at least 48 hours following childbirth by natural delivery and 96 hours following childbirth by caesarean section; provides such coverage for patients who are recipients of medicaid.

Provides for a working families tax credit; directs quarterly prepayment of the credit; provides for a sliding reduction in the credit for incomes which exceed a certain threshold.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates special "epilepsy awareness" license plates for New York residents who choose to purchase them. Owners pay a $25 annual fee on top of regular registration, with all fees deposited into a new "epilepsy awareness fund." The fund finances research and education programs about epilepsy, including scientific studies and public awareness initiatives on seizure prevention and first aid. These programs are managed by the state health department under established public health law.

Relates to capital program plans; provides that the MTA shall submit to the MTA capital program review board two capital program plans on or before January 31, 2031 and every fifth year thereafter; provides that all future capital program plans be submitted January 31 of the required years.

Establishes a recycling program for containers of adult-use cannabis sold in New York; requires such containers to be made of at least fifty percent recycled materials.

Establishes the New York Health program, a comprehensive system of access to health insurance for New York state residents; provides for administrative structure of the plan; provides for powers and duties of the board of trustees, the scope of benefits, payment methodologies and care coordination; establishes the New York Health Trust Fund which would hold monies from a variety of sources to be used solely to finance the plan; enacts provisions relating to financing of New York Health, including a payroll assessment, similar to the Medicare tax; establishes a temporary commission on implementation of the plan; provides for collective negotiations by health care providers with New York Health.

Relates to the use of injurious physical force by public servants; directs the commissioner of criminal justice services and the commissioner of health to prescribe standards for the use of physical force and for devices and substances used in the exercise of physical force.