Asm. Phara Souffrant Forrest

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits landlords, lessors, sub-lessors, and grantors from requiring tenants to pay broker fees. It directly affects residential tenants by preventing landlords from charging them for brokerage services related to lease applications or tenancy. The law allows landlords to still charge for background and credit checks, but bans all other upfront fees like broker commissions. Exceptions apply to certain senior living communities and cooperative housing corporations under specific conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the state constitution to allow lawmakers to change or remove tax exemptions for private colleges and universities. Currently, exemptions for properties used by educational institutions are protected, but this bill specifically removes that protection for private higher education. The key provision changes constitutional language to state that exemptions for private college real estate "may be altered or repealed." This would directly affect private colleges and universities that currently receive property tax breaks on their buildings and land. The bill is a constitutional amendment requiring Senate approval and a future legislative session before taking effect.

Expedites MTA capital project improvement, construction, reconstruction, or rehabilitation by establishing a process for utility relocation necessary for such project.

Provides protections for telecommunications tower technicians, including requiring certain trainings during work hours without a loss of pay; requires certain reporting by bidders for telecommunication contracts.

Relates to including outpatient care provided by creative arts therapists in certain insurance policies covering care for other mental health services.

Authorizes the department of transportation to establish and implement a state memorial sign program to memorialize persons who died due to injuries sustained in a fatal motor vehicle crash on state highways.

Establishes a reproductive health services training and education grant program to train licensed providers and interns or residents who are employed by a hospital or otherwise enrolled in an accredited graduate medical education program in the performance of abortion and related reproductive health services; establishes the reproductive health training and education fund.

Maddy summaryBill A 5320 expands tuition assistance eligibility in New York to include students experiencing homelessness, aligning with federal McKinney-Vento Act standards. It requires the state to adopt a uniform verification method for homelessness status using the same federal guidelines applied to student financial aid. The bill also clarifies that homeless students (classified under federal foster care or McKinney-Vento criteria) cannot be considered "emancipated" for aid purposes, ensuring they retain eligibility without requiring parental control relinquishment. This directly affects homeless students seeking state tuition assistance under New York’s education law.

Prohibits the use of aversive conditioning which includes any procedure which causes obvious signs of physical pain, including but not limited to hitting, pinching and electric shock; prohibits the use of any procedure or punishment which denies a vulnerable person reasonable sleep, shelter, bedding, bathroom facilities and any other aspect expected of a humane existence; defines terms.

Expands eligibility for the tuition assistance program by restoring eligibility to graduate students; makes optional semesters, quarters or terms eligible for awards.