Asm. Jo Anne Simon

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $1.2 billion permanent fund to improve wages and benefits for New York's childcare workforce. It directly affects licensed childcare providers that accept families using the state's Child Care Assistance Program, requiring them to use at least 75% of funds for direct caregivers (like teachers), 10% for administrators, and the rest for program quality or expansion. The fund mandates that providers meet a new minimum compensation scale (developed with worker input) aiming to align childcare wages with public school educators. The Office of Children and Family Services will distribute funds based on factors like serving high-need children, underserved communities, and enrollment, with annual reporting requirements.

Requires the return of all or a part of the financial assistance provided for a project where the project has material shortfalls or material violations; prevents the use of funds, financial incentives, subsidies or tax exemptions for projects already in development.

Provides that the tax levy limit shall be equal to a zero percent increase over the prior year tax levy when the difference between the total amount of taxes levied for the prior year less the tax levy limit results in a negative number.

Requires motorists to exercise care to avoid colliding with any domestic or companion animal; increases fines and penalties for causing such injury and for leaving the scene of injury to certain animals without reporting.

Relates to procedures relating to driving while ability impaired by drugs; defines impairment and intoxication; updates procedures for field testing of drivers suspected of being under the influence of drugs to include the use of oral/bodily fluid tests; provides that refusal to submit to such field tests is specified to be a traffic infraction; makes related provisions.

Relates to the term "income" for purposes of the school tax relief exemption; adds 401(k) and 403(b) accounts to the list of eligible income deductions when determining Enhanced STAR eligibility.

Legalizes adult possession and use of certain natural plant or fungus-based hallucinogens; grants certain protections for individuals lawfully using such hallucinogens; removes such hallucinogens from the list of schedule I controlled substances; makes related provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes New York law to extend the deadline for landlords to return security deposits from 14 to 30 days after a tenant moves out. Landlords must now provide a written explanation for any retained deposit and return the remaining balance within 30 days. If they fail to meet this new deadline, they forfeit the right to keep any portion of the deposit. The bill directly affects residential tenants and landlords in New York state.

Decreases the frequency of lock-down drills in schools; directs that such drills shall be implemented with a trauma-informed approach; permits parents to opt their children out of such drills.

Enacts the "community solar opportunity and local approval reform (Community SOLAR) act"; authorizes municipalities to establish standards for distributed generation energy facilities.