Asm. Harvey Epstein

Enacts the "Michael K. Williams law" to establish a grant program to incentivize counties and municipalities to reduce prison populations; makes an appropriation therefor.

Relates to tax on sales of motor fuel and petroleum products and makes conforming changes; repeals provisions relating to manufacturing gallonage for purposes of the imposition of certain taxes; repeals provisions relating to reimbursement; repeals provisions relating to a utility credit or reimbursement; repeals provisions relating to an aviation fuel business which services four or more cities; repeals provisions relating to services rendered with respect to certain property; repeals provisions relating to fuel sold to an airline for use in its airplanes.

Relates to securing payment of wages for work already performed; creates a lien remedy for all employees; 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.

Maddy summaryThis bill replaces New York's existing criminal forfeiture process with a new "Criminal Forfeiture Process Act." It applies specifically to property seized in connection with certain felony drug offenses, prostitution, driving under the influence, or property seized during hot pursuit of a felony suspect. Key changes include requiring courts to hold prompt hearings after seizure, mandating notice to all known property owners (including "innocent owners" who didn't know their property was used in crime), and making forfeiture proceedings part of the criminal trial rather than a separate civil case. The law also clarifies that contraband or stolen property must be disposed of or returned per state law, and prohibits civil forfeiture.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a statewide "purple alert system" to rapidly notify the public when a domestic violence victim (who has voluntarily opted in) goes missing. It requires law enforcement to report such cases to a designated state coordinator, who then activates the alert through participating media, highway message signs, and other channels. The system mandates strict privacy protections (including HIPAA compliance) and includes specific protocols for verifying cases, issuing alerts, and terminating them once the victim is found or the case resolves. The alert system directly affects participating domestic violence victims, law enforcement agencies, and media entities that volunteer to broadcast the alerts.

Authorizes certain persons confined in institutions operated by the department of corrections and community supervision to apply for a sentence reduction.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 5199) ensures that New York residents with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status maintain Medicaid benefits even if the federal government ends those programs. It directly affects TPS beneficiaries and DACA recipients in New York by preventing the state from canceling their Medicaid coverage due to changes in federal immigration designations. Key provisions require the state health department to: (1) keep Medicaid benefits active for TPS/DACA recipients if federal programs end, and (2) extend eligibility to former TPS/DACA recipients who meet all other Medicaid requirements except immigration status. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Requires the board of elections to establish an electronic system allowing absentee voters to monitor the status of their ballot and to correct an unaccepted ballot.

Authorizes and directs the commissioner of environmental conservation to conduct a study on food waste initiatives and to provide recommendations based on the study's findings.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the daily allowance for trial and grand jurors in New York's unified court system from $40 to $72 per day. Employed jurors earning less than $72 daily will receive the difference between their wages and $72. Employers with over 10 staff cannot withhold the first $72 of a juror's wages for the first three days of service. The change applies to all jurors serving in the state's courts and takes effect 30 days after enactment.