Asm. Linda Rosenthal

Authorizes the New York state environmental facilities corporation to award grants and loans to community water systems and non-community water systems for water quality projects that relate to the removal of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Provides grounds for attachment; relates to procedures where employees may hold shareholders of non-publicly traded corporations personally liable for wage theft; relates to rights for victims of wage theft to hold the ten members with the largest ownership interests in a company personally liable for wage theft; relates to penalties for certain wage violations.

Relates to the taking of wildlife without a permit; takings may only be done subject to regulations promulgated by the department; regulations shall incorporate the recommendations of the most recent guidelines on euthanasia of the American Veterinary Medical Association; provides that the taking method selected shall be the least stressful, quickest and most painless to the animal available while protecting human health and safety.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state certificate for employers who achieve a gender pay gap of 10% or less between women and men performing equivalent work (same or comparable roles requiring similar skill, effort, responsibility, and working conditions). Private and public sector employers meeting this standard would receive a certificate from the labor department, which must be posted publicly on the department’s website. Employers may also display the certificate on their own websites or premises. The law takes effect 90 days after enactment.

Prohibits the taking of zoo, petting zoo, carnival or circus animals; provides that violations shall be punishable by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than two thousand dollars.

Requires real estate brokers and online housing platforms using virtual agents and AI tools to conduct a disparate impact analysis to assess the actual impact of any such virtual agent; requires such individuals to submit a summary of the most recent disparate impact analysis to the attorney general's office; requires online housing platforms using virtual agents to provide an option to communicate with a human representative; makes certain provisions requiring anti-discriminatory measures for virtual agents and AI tools.

Prohibits a person convicted of "Buster's Law" from owning or possessing a companion animal unless authorized by court order, after appropriate psychiatric or psychological testing.

Requires certain documents and forms to be provided in the twelve most common non-English languages spoken by limited English proficient immigrants of five years or less according to the American community survey, as published by the United States census bureau.

Relates to the general civil penalty of the environmental conservation law; provides that in addition to the fines, such person may be enjoined from continuing such violation and any permit or certificate issued to such person may be revoked or suspended, or a pending renewal application may be denied.

Directs the New York state energy research and development authority to establish a ride clean rebate program for electric assist bicycles and electric scooters; defines terms; provides a fifty percent rebate for eligible purchases.