Asm. Michael Benedetto

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state, county, and local transportation agencies to design all publicly funded road projects - including construction, reconstruction, and major maintenance - to safely accommodate all users (drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders) through "complete street" principles. It applies to projects receiving both federal and state funding under transportation department oversight, excluding routine resurfacing but including projects with a 10+ year lifespan. The law mandates agencies consider factors like traffic volume, population density, and community input when planning, rather than automatically prioritizing vehicles. It does not change existing project approvals but sets new standards for how projects must be designed.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) - companies that manage prescription drug coverage for insurers - from owning, operating, or controlling pharmacies directly or indirectly. It applies to all entities (including corporations and associations) currently violating this rule, requiring them to sell their pharmacy holdings within three years. The law defines "pharmacy benefit manager" using an existing public health law definition. This creates a clear separation between PBMs and pharmacies, aiming to prevent conflicts of interest in drug pricing and patient care.

Relates to decreasing the length of the suspension period applicable to certain individuals who lose their jobs due to a labor dispute, such as a strike, and who seek to obtain unemployment insurance benefits; decreases the suspension period from two consecutive weeks to one week; provides that the waiting period and suspension period shall be served concurrently.

Provides additional requirements for approval of charter school applications; applies additional prohibitions to charter schools; requires certain financial disclosures by charter schools; requires charter schools to comply with provisions relating to construction, repair or demolition of school facilities; relates to admission of students.

Establishes the civil right to counsel in eviction proceedings in New York state; creates the New York state office of civil representation; requires that covered individuals be given notice of such right to counsel.

Permits an exception from registration for nonresident pharmacies in cases of a specific patient need or a declared public health emergency under certain conditions.

Maddy summaryBill A 8094 outlines specific disciplinary procedures for bus drivers and driver's assistants in school districts located in Westchester, Putnam, Nassau, and Suffolk counties. Generally, these districts must adhere to the terms of existing collectively bargained agreements for disciplinary actions. However, if a superintendent certifies "egregious misconduct" that poses a clear and present danger to children, an expedited fact-finding process must be completed within five business days. If a driver experiences wage loss during this expedited process and is later exonerated or the superintendent's determination is found improper, they are entitled to punitive damages.

Enacts the "Empowering People in Rights Enforcement (EMPIRE) Worker Protection Act"; relates to the delegation of state enforcement authority to private actors; authorizes an affected employee, whistleblower, representative organization or an organizational deputy to initiate a public enforcement action on behalf of the commissioner for certain provisions of the labor law, or any regulation promulgated thereunder.

Provides protections for telecommunications tower technicians, including requiring certain trainings during work hours without a loss of pay; requires certain reporting by bidders for telecommunication contracts.

Creates the state office of the utility consumer advocate to represent interests of residential utility customers including a proposed change of rates, charges, terms and conditions of service, the adoption of rules, regulations, guidelines, orders, standards or final policy decisions.