Asm. Rebecca Seawright

Relates to proceedings in family court; requires all transcripts of proceedings or hearings in family court shall be provided to the parties within five days of such proceeding or hearing; requires attorneys for children shall meet monthly with both parents or guardians and submit a report, including, but not limited to each meeting, the non-confidential, substantive portion of any meetings and any communications with the parties and the child or children; increases the compensation of assigned counsel from $158 to $200 and the total amount of reimbursement from $10,000 to $20,000; authorizes the right of a trial by jury for matters of fact in family court proceedings.

Relates to the creation of a crime database of all convictions in New York state of animal cruelty, fighting, neglect, abandonment and mistreatment; makes such crime database available to all law enforcement entities, district attorneys, duly incorporated humane societies, societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals, dog or cat protective associations and animal control officers.

Provides for the remote conduct of certain practices and procedures including meetings and notarizations utilizing electronic and/or audio-visual technologies.

Relates to protecting the communication rights of individuals with disabilities; provides that each person with a disability has the right to communicate in their preferred manner.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes the deadline for voters to switch political party affiliations to vote in an upcoming election. It requires that any change of party enrollment must be postmarked by the United States Postal Service at least 25 days before a primary, general, or special election, and received by election officials no later than 20 days before the election. Voters who want to change parties to participate in a specific election must meet this postmark deadline to have their new affiliation count for that vote. The bill does not alter the current requirement that changes take effect 25 days after receipt, but clarifies that the postmark date determines the effective timeline. This directly affects voters seeking to switch party affiliation to vote in an upcoming election.

Establishes an Alzheimer's disease outreach and education program for medical and non-medical professionals to promote earlier identification of Alzheimer's and to provide information and other assistance in finding community support for caregivers.

Establishes the small business crime prevention services program to provide small businesses with information on strategies, best practices and programs offering training and assistance in prevention of crimes in and around the premises of small businesses or otherwise affecting small businesses, including but not limited to: assault, arson and other violent felony offenses; robbery, burglary, theft, identity theft counterfeiting, check and credit card fraud and other fraud; and vandalism, graffiti and other property damage; provides that information on eligibility and applications for financial assistance be made available to small businesses; authorizes the New York state urban development corporation to provide loans, loan guarantees, interest subsidies and grants to small businesses, municipalities, not-for-profit corporations or other organizations for the purpose of preventing crimes against small businesses or on the premises or in the vicinity of small businesses; makes related provisions.

Directs the commissioner of the office of addiction services and supports, in consultation with the director of the state office for the aging, to develop comprehensive substance use disorder prevention, education and treatment demonstration programs for senior citizens.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how parking violation notices are handled in New York. It requires hearing examiners to provide written decisions explaining the legal basis for each ticket's outcome (guilty or not guilty) and gives drivers the option to request a hearing for each individual ticket. The bill also mandates that the state surcharge must be paid unless a hearing officer dismisses the ticket based on specific merits presented by the driver. These changes aim to increase transparency and fairness for drivers contesting parking violations.

Requires each school district to provide interventions and special curricula for children with dyslexia or other phonological learning differences or disabilities.