Asm. Harvey Epstein

Prohibits payment card networks from assessing penalties against small businesses or financial intermediaries who fail to comply with the credit card surcharge notice requirement; declares any clause of a contract, agreement, or arrangement in violation of such provision void.

Establishes in the city of New York a bicycle lane safety program to enforce certain restrictions on the use of bicycle lanes and/or protected bicycle lanes by means of bicycle lane photo devices.

Prohibits police and other governmental entities from creating fake electronic communication service accounts, or from collecting or using an individual's account information; establishes a private right of action for a violation of such provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits landlords, lessors, sub-lessors, and grantors from requiring tenants to pay broker fees. It directly affects residential tenants by preventing landlords from charging them for brokerage services related to lease applications or tenancy. The law allows landlords to still charge for background and credit checks, but bans all other upfront fees like broker commissions. Exceptions apply to certain senior living communities and cooperative housing corporations under specific conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the state constitution to allow lawmakers to change or remove tax exemptions for private colleges and universities. Currently, exemptions for properties used by educational institutions are protected, but this bill specifically removes that protection for private higher education. The key provision changes constitutional language to state that exemptions for private college real estate "may be altered or repealed." This would directly affect private colleges and universities that currently receive property tax breaks on their buildings and land. The bill is a constitutional amendment requiring Senate approval and a future legislative session before taking effect.

Authorizes the secretary of state to appoint a person from the utility intervention unit within the consumer protection division to serve on the state energy planning board.

Authorizes an insurer to pay a claim for reimbursement made by a provider using a credit card, virtual credit card or electronic funds transfer payment method that imposes on the provider a free or similar charge to process the payment; defines "virtual credit card" as a single-use series of numbers linked to a fixed dollar amount and provided by an insurer to a provider for the purpose of paying a claim for health care services performed by the provider; makes related provisions.

Codifies the disparate impact standard in the human rights law; provides that in cases of alleged housing discrimination, an unlawful discriminatory practice may be established by a practice's discriminatory effect.

Removes certain requirements on what the office of children and family services can determine to be an appropriate staff/child ratios for family day care homes, group family day care homes, school age day care programs and day care centers.

Requires the department of civil service to allow municipalities to post municipal employment positions on the department of civil service's state jobs website; requires such municipal employment opportunities to be posted in a format searchable by municipality and employment position type.