Asm. Stefani Zinerman

Maddy summaryThis bill designates East Harlem, also known as "El Barrio," as a cultural district by amending the state's arts and cultural affairs law. The legislation defines the district's boundaries as the area between East 96th and 125th Streets, bounded by Fifth Avenue and the East River. Once designated, the Council on the Arts is authorized to provide grants, technical assistance, and other support to cultural institutions within this specific region to promote its cultural significance. The law also allows the council to designate additional cultural districts in the future, provided they are compact, contiguous areas with a shared cultural heritage.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the membership rules for the State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council to include a representative for agricultural producers. It changes the council's composition from fifteen to sixteen members and adjusts the number of seats for fire service officials, architects, engineers, and other stakeholders to eight. The amendment ensures that one appointed member specifically represents agricultural interests, giving farmers a formal voice in state fire and building code decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Staff Sergeant Alex R. Jimenez New York State Military Immigrant Family Legacy Program to help military members and their families with immigration issues. The program establishes liaisons within the Department of Veterans' Services and the Office for New Americans to connect eligible individuals with legal resources and guidance on obtaining citizenship or other immigration relief. These liaisons will coordinate with federal agencies, local organizations, and attorneys to assist service members, veterans, and reserve component members who have served honorably. The legislation also requires annual reports to track the program's activities and the number of people assisted.

Prevents the displacement of call center workers who provide call center services for the government in certain circumstances; provides protections for call center workers when contracts with call center contractors are terminated; requires new call center contractors to hire existing call center workers; protects collective bargaining agreements.

Expands the definitions of surplus agricultural products and processed products for the purposes of the Nourish New York program to include certain milk and other non-alcoholic farm produced beverages.

Expands the definition of mental health care provider to include licensed mental health counselors and licensed marriage and family therapists, for purposes of certain sex offenses committed during a treatment session, consultation, interview, or examination.

Establishes a captive insurance program for commuter vans, black cars, ambulettes and paratransit vehicles, small school buses, and charter buses that are engaged in the business of carrying or transporting eight to twenty-four passengers for hire; pre-arranged for-hire vehicles and accessible vehicles; defines terms.

Directs the state commission of correction to promulgate rules and regulations for strip searches in correctional facilities which at a minimum include a requirement that no fewer than two staff members shall be present for any strip search.

Relates to creating the health emergency response data system, which collects information and statistical data relating to public health emergencies in order to assist the department of health, other government entities, health care providers, and the public in understanding and responding to public health emergencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates November 26th of every year as Sojourner Truth Day in New York State. It achieves this by adding the new commemoration to the official list of state days of recognition found in the executive law. The change allows schools and other organizations to observe the day in honor of the abolitionist and women's rights activist.