Asm. Tony Simone

Provides that an accusatory instrument or supporting deposition consisting of factual allegations by a deponent with limited English proficiency is not sufficient unless accompanied by a sworn statement from an interpreter affirming the accuracy of the English interpretation.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New York's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to establish air quality standards for specific harmful pollutants like benzene, mercury, and formaldehyde by December 2027. It requires major pollution sources (factories emitting 10+ tons/year of toxic pollutants) to include these standards in their permits starting in 2028 and mandates fenceline monitoring near disadvantaged communities. The law ensures standards are based on health science and considers community proximity to pollution sources, directly affecting industrial facilities and communities near them.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the rules for when courts must order HIV testing in specific criminal cases. It requires that any court-ordered test be completed within 48 hours of the initial filing of the case documents. If a defendant misses this deadline, the court must order a new test to be administered. Additionally, the bill ensures that defendants receive information about HIV testing and medical treatment following guidelines set by the health commissioner.

Provides additional protections for sensitive health information; requires all health information networks, electronic health record systems, and health care providers to provide patients with a right to restrict the disclosures of such patient's health information; defines terms; provides for exceptions.

Prohibits the idling of any passenger vehicle, with certain exceptions, for more than 3 consecutive minutes; establishes the first violation is a warning and subsequent violations of such section are traffic infractions punishable by a fine of $150.

Requires health care plans and payors to have a minimum of twelve and one-half percent of their total expenditures on physical and mental health annually be for primary care services.

Prohibits public employers from diminishing health insurance benefits provided to Medicare-eligible retirees and their Medicare-eligible dependents or the contributions such employer makes for such health insurance coverage below the level of such benefits or contributions made on behalf of such retirees and dependents by the public employer as of December 31, 2021.

Requires food service establishments to permit the use of reusable beverage and food containers provided by customers when requesting a beverage refill or requesting leftovers from a partially consumed meal to be packaged and post signs to inform customers that they are permitted to do so.

Enacts the "packaging reduction and recycling infrastructure act" to require companies selling, offering for sale, or distributing packaging materials and products to register with a packaging reduction organization to develop a packaging reduction and recycling plan; makes related provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows liquor store owners to use business credit or debit cards to pay wholesalers for alcohol inventory. It defines these cards as those issued directly to the business for commercial use and excludes cards where the manufacturer or wholesaler has a financial interest. The law requires invoices to clearly show both the base price and any additional fees charged by the card issuer, ensuring the business owner bears the full cost of the transaction. Manufacturers and wholesalers are not required to accept these cards but must offer them on equal terms to all retailers if they choose to do so.