Asm. Jaime Williams

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens New York's Kendra's Law (assisted outpatient treatment program) by making it permanent and adding specific oversight requirements. It requires program coordinators to monitor treatment compliance, ensures timely service delivery, and mandates an educational pamphlet explaining the petition process in plain language. The law directly affects individuals court-ordered into outpatient treatment for serious mental illness, community mental health providers, and court staff handling petitions. Key changes include eliminating the program's automatic expiration and clarifying duties for directors of community services to investigate reports and coordinate care.

Relates to the issuance of arrest warrants upon a youth who is still in high school; provides for the police officer to make a reasonable effort to notify the parent or other person legally responsible for the care of such youth or with whom the youth is domiciled that the youth has been arrested; provides that the police officer need not notify the parent or other person legally responsible when such youth is not also a juvenile offender and the notification would endanger the health and safety of such youth; amends provisions relating to sexually exploited children to include persons under the age of nineteen.

Relates to school climate and codes of conduct on school property and disciplinary action following violation of such codes of conduct; makes conforming amendments.

Exempts service as a farm laborer where such service is an internship granting college course credit from the definition of employee and employment for the purposes of certain workers' compensation benefits.

Establishes that any person who knowingly engages in a repeated course of cyberbullying of a minor is guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars, or by a period of imprisonment not to exceed one year, or both.

Relates to a state transportation plan; requires such plan include a minimum twenty-year forecast period at the time of adoption, assessing long-range needs spanning such period, including a forecast of highway pavement and bridge conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires school districts in cities with over 1 million residents to establish dedicated schools for students with dyslexia and related phonemic language learning differences. These schools must use multi-sensory sequential phonics techniques in all elementary and secondary grades. Additionally, teachers at these schools must complete at least 20 hours of specialized training in this teaching method. The law directly affects dyslexic students in large-city school districts and mandates specific instructional approaches. It takes effect July 1 following enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New York residents aged 70 or older to request an automatic exemption from jury service without needing to prove physical or mental incapacity, undue hardship, or extreme inconvenience. To qualify, individuals must submit proof of age (via mail, fax, email, or in person) to the commissioner of jurors. The exemption applies to the entire jury service period, replacing previous requirements that applicants justify their request. It directly affects seniors receiving jury summonses and takes effect September 1 following enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts the location of new cannabis retail stores and on-site consumption facilities. It prohibits new licenses for storefronts within 500 feet of school grounds (including all entrances/exits in mixed-use buildings) and within 200 feet of houses of worship (including all entrances/exits in mixed-use buildings). These rules apply only to new licenses issued after the bill's effective date. The law directly affects cannabis businesses seeking to open new locations in the state.

Relates to an increase in punishment for certain actions against on-duty auxiliary police officers such as criminally negligent homicide, assault or menacing of such officer.