Asm. Linda Rosenthal

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New York's Executive Law to authorize punitive damages specifically for victims of sexual harassment in employment and housing discrimination cases. It directly affects individuals who have experienced sexual harassment by requiring employers or housing providers found liable to pay punitive damages beyond compensatory damages. The key provision adds "punitive damages, in cases of sexual harassment only" to the remedies available under the law, while maintaining a $10,000 cap for punitive damages in housing discrimination cases. This change clarifies that victims can seek punitive damages through court actions after filing administrative complaints, without needing to exhaust all administrative remedies first.

Relates to the disposition of abused farm animals; provides that convicted individuals and those in their households or those who aided or abetted in the unlawful acts or should have known or knew of such acts may not be entitled to any monies generated from the sale of the farm animals which were the basis of such conviction.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends oversight procedures for limited profit housing companies operating state- or municipally-aided projects. It clarifies when the housing commissioner or local supervising agency can intervene if a company fails to follow laws, endangers public interest, or harms tenants, lienholders, or investors. Key provisions require agencies to file a court petition to stop violations or appoint a court manager (receiver) if needed, with the company given 20 days to respond. The court must then quickly review the case without strict legal formalities and can issue orders or appoint a manager to protect affected parties. This directly affects housing companies, their tenants, and financial stakeholders involved in subsidized housing projects.

Relates to the disclosure of information on the fiscal health of a condominium, cooperative apartment building or cooperative community to prospective buyers, current owners and the condominium board or the cooperative board.

Prohibits real property that has converted from a limited-profit housing company to a housing development fund company from being eligible for a shelter rent tax abatement.

Establishes an unemployment bridge program and an unemployment bridge program fund to provide wage replacement to workers that do not qualify for unemployment insurance or other worker wage assistance programs and who have lost a major source of income due to lost work (Part A); establishes the "Digital Ad Tax Act (DATA)" creating a tax on digital advertising services (Part B).

Protects canids by requiring animals which could be coyotes or wolves be submitted for a genetic test to determine genetic makeup; provides for the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof.

Permits the use of photo speed violation monitoring systems in New York city for the purposes of enforcement of license plate obstruction, concealment, and/or distortion; extends provisions permitting the use of speed cameras in certain school zones.

Requires owners to provide prospective lessees with notification where lead-based paint or lead contaminated dust has been found and any and all abatement measures that have been taken in the rental unit.

Requires certain school staff members to be trained in the Heimlich maneuver and requires at least one such trained person to be present when and where students eat meals.