Asm. Rebecca Seawright

Provides that arbitration awards in consumer and employment disputes, where the arbitration is conducted pursuant to a contract, shall include all issues in dispute and the arbitrator's findings of fact and conclusions of law.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "First Responder Peer Support Program Act" to create a statewide grant program for peer-to-peer mental health support services. It directly affects first responders - including firefighters, police officers, EMTs, 911 operators, and correctional officers - by providing funding for local programs offering trauma-informed training and mental health resources. Key provisions include requiring standardized training on trauma, suicide prevention, and resilience; mandating strict confidentiality for participants; and prohibiting disclosure of personal information to employers. Grants are allocated to eligible local entities, with annual reports tracking program use without identifying individuals.

Prohibits mandatory arbitration agreements in consumer and employment contracts; repeals existing provisions prohibiting mandatory arbitration clauses in certain consumer contracts.

Clarifies the standard of care for animals held in or being transported by animal shelters including the length of time and conditions such animal may be exposed to.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new pathway for foreign-trained dentists to obtain a New York license. It allows dentists licensed outside the U.S. (who can't qualify for licensure by endorsement) to receive a limited permit to practice under supervision in federally qualified health centers serving underserved populations, provided they have at least five years of dental experience. After completing five years of practice under this limited permit, they may apply for full licensure. The permit is valid for one year (renewable annually during a residency or preceptorship) and requires passing a competency exam. This directly affects international dentists seeking to practice in New York, particularly in areas with dental health shortages.

Requires the office of court administration, clerks, and all other records custodians to develop policies and procedures to ensure no identifying information or documentation relating to name change actions or sex designation change actions is visible or retrievable in any electronic database maintained by the state of New York or a subdivision thereof.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 9571) increases family leave benefits under New York's workers' compensation law, directly affecting eligible employees taking leave for medical care, bonding with a newborn, or military family exigencies. It gradually raises weekly benefit percentages (from 50% to 67% of average weekly wage) and extends maximum leave duration (from 8 to 12 weeks) over time, with specific phased-in dates starting in 2018. Covered employers must provide these enhanced benefits while maintaining health insurance coverage during leave. The changes apply to employees meeting eligibility criteria under the law, with the Superintendent of Financial Services retaining limited authority to delay increases.

Permits local governments to extend the existing clergy residential property tax exemption to include clergy residing in co-ops; clarifies that the clergy property tax exemption shall not affect eligibility for certain other tax abatements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires large grocery suppliers (those with over $6 billion in annual sales) to offer the same pricing terms to all retailers buying similar volumes of covered goods (like packaged foods, excluding alcohol and gasoline). It mandates that suppliers disclose anonymized pricing terms to smaller grocers within 14 days of a request, ensuring transparency about deals offered to major chains. The law prohibits suppliers from refusing sales to smaller retailers based on store type (e.g., convenience stores vs. supermarkets) if it creates unfair price differences. It directly affects small independent grocers and their suppliers, aiming to prevent large retailers from leveraging buying power to charge smaller competitors higher prices for the same products.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a uniform priority system for domestic violence survivors applying to public housing. It requires local housing authorities to give these applicants the same waiting list priority as other vulnerable groups (like the disabled, elderly, or homeless) if they either face ongoing domestic violence in their current home or have left due to abuse without stable replacement housing. The bill specifies that among applicants with equal priority status, selection will be based on application date and time. It references the existing legal definition of "victim of domestic violence" from social services law and applies immediately to all new applicants on waiting lists.