Asm. Jo Anne Simon

Establishes the rural suicide prevention council to identify barriers to mental health and substance use treatment and prevention services and other policies, practices, resources, services, and potential legislation that aim to reduce death by suicide and suicide attempts and acknowledge the demographic and cultural differences in rural communities; makes related provisions.

Requires the office of victim services to publicize programs offered by the office and to include certain information in annual reports to the governor and the legislature and to make such reports public on the office's website.

Enacts "the construction reporting pay act"; provides that each laborer, worker or mechanic in the employ of a contractor who by request or permission of an employer reports for work on any day shall be paid no less than four hours at the prevailing rate of wages.

Requires contracting agencies to contact minority and women-owned business enterprises when such enterprise is listed on a utilization plan and when a contract is awarded; mandates that the contractor use such enterprise identified on the utilization plan, unless such enterprise cannot perform or is no longer state certified.

Directs the office of victim services, in consultation with the office for the prevention of domestic violence, to establish a statewide supervised visitation initiative including culturally sensitive services that provide language access for those who need it and that are affordable for those with limited means to pay; requires the submission of regular assessments and reports.

Provides additional support to children with complex needs under the jurisdiction of the state; requires data collection regarding children under the jurisdiction of the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the commercial farming of octopuses in the state for human consumption. It defines "aquaculture" as farming aquatic organisms under controlled conditions and explicitly excludes wild-caught octopuses and research-related farming. The law bans any person from engaging in octopus farming for food, with violations subject to fines up to $1,000 per day and offense. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryBill A 8248 streamlines the New York City Department of Investigation's (NYC DOI) access to records concerning children and vulnerable persons. It removes existing requirements for state agencies, such as the Department of Social Services or Justice Center, to give prior approval before the NYC DOI can access identifying information in child abuse or vulnerable persons reports. The bill explicitly grants the NYC DOI broader access to these records for its investigations, including those probing allegations of improperly conducted investigations by local child protective services. These changes aim to enhance the NYC DOI's ability to conduct investigations within its legal authority.

Maddy summaryBill A 5846 provides remedies for disruptions during early voting or Election Day voting, directly affecting voters and the Boards of Elections. It mandates that if voting at a polling place or district is delayed for over 15 consecutive minutes, the Board of Elections must extend the voting timeframe to compensate for the lost time. This extension can happen on the same day or a subsequent voting day, potentially at alternative locations. The bill also requires the Board of Elections to widely publicize any such remedial actions taken, though they can vote to waive the extension under specific, documented circumstances.

Relates to the contents of emergency response plans required to be submitted to the public service commission by electric corporations; requires such plans to include details of staffing, equipment, and ability to perform toward certain standards; requires the public service commission to establish a time-based restoration schedule.