Asm. Tony Simone

Expands health care services provided by telehealth to include services delivered through a facility licensed under article twenty-eight of the public health law that is eligible to be designated or has received a designation as a federally qualified health center, including those facilities that are also licensed under article thirty-one or article thirty-two of the mental hygiene law.

Enacts the "New York city teleworking expansion act"; provides that each agency shall establish a policy and program to allow employees to perform all or a portion of their duties through teleworking to the maximum extent possible without diminished employee performance; defines the term "telework" to mean to perform normal and regular work functions on a workday that ordinarily would be performed at the agency's principal location at a different location, thereby eliminating or substantially reducing the physical commute to and from such agency's principal location.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legal right to counsel for eligible immigrants in New York during immigration proceedings. It applies to income-eligible non-citizens or those with significant New York ties (like residents or cases tied to NY courts) facing removal or detention under federal immigration law. The New York State Office for New Americans will administer the program, providing initial consultations and ongoing legal representation starting when a case begins (e.g., upon receiving a "Notice to Appear") and continuing until the case concludes. Legal services must be offered regardless of the proceeding's location, including federal immigration courts outside New York.

Relates to establishing the housing access voucher program; provides that the commissioner of the division of housing and community renewal shall implement a program of rental assistance in the form of housing vouchers for eligible individuals and families who are homeless or who face an imminent loss of housing; provides that the commissioner shall designate housing access voucher local administrators in the state to administer the program.

Prohibits the use of biometric surveillance technology by law enforcement; establishes the biometric surveillance regulation task force; provides for the expiration and repeal of certain provisions.

Maddy summaryBill A 8527 amends the tax law concerning sales tax on racehorses sold through claiming races within the state. Currently, sales tax is applied only to the portion of the sale price that exceeds any prior purchase price for the same horse within the same calendar year. This bill removes that specific exemption, making the *entire* sale price of a racehorse sold through a claiming race subject to sales tax. This change directly affects buyers and sellers of racehorses by broadening the sales tax base for these transactions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that batteries used in electric-assist bicycles and electric scooters must be tested and approved by specific accredited laboratories, such as Underwriters Laboratories or labs meeting international ISO/IEC standards. It mandates that these batteries display a certification seal from an approved lab, including those accredited under ISO/IEC 17025 or participating in the OSHA NRTL program. The law directly affects battery manufacturers and sellers of e-bikes and e-scooters, who must ensure compliance before selling or using these devices. The requirement takes effect immediately upon passage.

Enacts the building up immigrant legal defense or BUILD act to provide competitive workforce development and capacity building grants to eligible entities that are seeking to expand access to representation for individuals facing deportation by increasing the workforce and strengthening the legal services infrastructure needed to provide such representation.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 7365) requires New York's Medicaid program to cover medically tailored meals and medical nutrition therapy for eligible beneficiaries. It directly affects Medicaid recipients with chronic conditions who need assistance with daily living activities, such as those managing diabetes or heart disease. The law defines covered services as nutritional assessments, counseling, and prescribed meals provided by certified dietitians or nutritionists, ordered by a healthcare provider. Coverage must align with federal funding rules and focus on disease management. The bill mandates the Health Commissioner to implement regulations within 180 days of enactment.

Updates the definition of the term "reusable bag", as used in the environmental conservation law, to specify minimum material and durability standards.