Relates to arbitration organizations; requires private arbitration organizations involved in fifty or more consumer arbitrations per year to collect, publish at least quarterly, and make available to the public in a computer-searchable database certain information relating to such arbitrations; prohibits financial conflicts of interest.
Prevents an agency, department, division, commission, bureau or any other entity under the authority of the executive department from contracting, subcontracting or hiring any third party during a hiring freeze.
Enacts the "food safety and chemical disclosure act"; prohibits certain food additives and food color additives; provides that in an action to enforce compliance, the recognition by the federal food and drug administration of any of these substances as safe may not be alleged as a defense; establishes requirements for the reporting of GRAS (generally recognized as safe) substances.
Maddy summaryThis bill sets new rules for New York's Medicaid inspector general when auditing healthcare providers' billing for medical assistance payments. It defines key terms like "overpayment" and "clerical error," requires auditors to follow specific standards, and limits how they can spread audit findings to all claims (extrapolation) for minor, isolated errors. Providers must receive detailed audit reports explaining findings and have the right to submit supporting documentation before final decisions. The bill also mandates annual reporting on audit activities to state officials, including how many audits used extrapolation and their financial impact.
Enacts the "bird safe buildings act" directing the commissioner of general services to incorporate practices and strategies to reduce bird fatality resulting from collisions with certain state-owned or state-leased buildings, and for other purposes; requires the commissioner to develop a design guide that includes features, methods and strategies, and best practices for reducing bird fatalities.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits schools in the state from using timeout boxes, closets, or any secluded physical enclosures to isolate children. It defines these restricted areas as any room or structure where a child is separated from others, such as wooden or padded rooms. The law applies to a wide range of educational settings, including public schools, charter schools, private schools for students with disabilities, and various preschool programs. By banning these isolation practices, the legislation aims to prevent the use of secluded spaces for disciplinary purposes in educational environments.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state-funded program to provide health insurance coverage to New Yorkers who lose eligibility for federal subsidies due to their immigration status. It establishes a new state premium assistance program that offers financial help equivalent to federal tax credits for lawfully present individuals who are currently ineligible for federal aid. Additionally, the legislation expands eligibility for existing state coverage to include more noncitizens and increases income limits for pregnant individuals and their newborns, with some provisions funded directly by state money regardless of federal approval.
Authorizes the bureau of funeral directing, under the direction of the commissioner of health to investigate claims brought against any person, firm or corporation relating to moneys paid in connection with agreements for funeral merchandise or services; provides that the bureau of funeral directing has the legal authority to investigate and, after due process, levy fines and sanctions on any unlicensed individuals and/or unregistered entities that are falsely acting as or representing themselves to be licensed and/or registered funeral directors and/or funeral firms in violation of the public health law.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies court filing rules for certain sexual offense claims. It exempts two specific types of cases from needing detailed legal descriptions: claims involving sexual offenses against children (including incest or child sexual performances), and claims involving sexual offenses against adults aged 18+. The exemption applies to court filings alleging physical or psychological injury from these acts, reducing the required specificity in the initial legal documents. The law applies immediately to new cases, pending cases, and some previously dismissed cases that are currently being appealed.
Creates, in addition to the existing sanction of criminal contempt of court, the remedies of labor law civil penalties and employee's right to bring civil action for unlawful discharge, penalty or discrimination on account of the exercise by an employee of a juror's right to be absent from employment by reason of jury service.
