Asm. Phil Ramos

Establishes the New York Health program, a comprehensive system of access to health insurance for New York state residents; provides for administrative structure of the plan; provides for powers and duties of the board of trustees, the scope of benefits, payment methodologies and care coordination; establishes the New York Health Trust Fund which would hold monies from a variety of sources to be used solely to finance the plan; enacts provisions relating to financing of New York Health, including a payroll assessment, similar to the Medicare tax; establishes a temporary commission on implementation of the plan; provides for collective negotiations by health care providers with New York Health.

Maddy summaryThis bill significantly expands eligibility for judicial diversion programs, allowing individuals charged with a broader range of offenses to participate if they have a "qualifying diagnosis." This diagnosis includes serious mental disorders, other mental health disorders causing severe functional impairment, or substance use disorders. While most Class A felonies and Class B sexual offenses are generally excluded, the bill establishes a new "diversion part" in each county. It also redefines "treatment" within these programs to include evidence-based interventions outside of carceral settings.

Allows for treatment costing less than $1,500 to be done without prior approval, and more clearly defines the list of "pre-authorized procedures" as a floor on treatment as opposed to its current status as a ceiling; allows non-network providers of testing to be compensated at the provider network rate negotiated by the carrier.

Waives the registration fee and service charge for distinctive plates for volunteer firefighters and members of volunteer ambulance services where the applicant has attended twenty-five percent or more of the emergency calls for the previous year.

Prohibits trustees and members of a board of education from having a family member who works for the same board of education or school district as the trustee or member.

Provides that bi-weekly salary installment payments and allowances shall not be withheld for members of the state legislature if the governor has submitted certain legislation which is not necessary for the effective implementation of the appropriation bill or bills and legislative passage of the budget has not occurred prior to the first day of any fiscal year.

Requires high schools in grades nine through twelve to provide a course in financial literacy; requires students to complete such course as a condition of graduation.

Requires all public school districts, charter schools and non-public schools in the state that participate in the national school lunch program or school breakfast program as provided in the national child nutrition act to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to the student.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the handling fee paid to redemption centers for processing empty beverage containers. Starting April 1, 2025, the fee rises from 3.5 cents to 6 cents per container, with future adjustments tied to annual minimum wage changes in New York State or federal law. The fee compensates centers for collecting, sorting, and packaging containers, and must be adjusted each year based on the percentage increase in the applicable minimum wage rate. It directly affects dealers and operators of redemption centers who handle beverage container returns. The fee cannot be reduced from previous amounts or conditioned on purchases, and adjustments follow specific wage-linked formulas.

Prohibits the sale or promotional distribution of machetes to minors; defines machete as a large heavy knife with a broad blade, used primarily for cutting brush or vegetation.