Increases the number of judges in family court to 67; adds twelve additional judges to the civil court of the city of New York; adds additional family court judges to Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Erie, Jefferson, Nassau, Rensselaer, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester counties.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands the New York veterans tuition awards program to include all resident veterans, regardless of whether they served in active combat. Currently, eligibility is limited to those who served in specific conflicts like the Vietnam or Persian Gulf wars and received certain expeditionary medals. The change removes the requirement for combat service, allowing any New York resident who served in the U.S. armed forces under honorable conditions to qualify for tuition assistance. The program provides funding equivalent to up to eight full-time semesters of study at approved colleges or vocational schools, with the award amount based on the lower of state university tuition or the actual cost charged by the institution.
Expands the options for shell color and roof color of petroleum bulk storage tanks to either white or beige/cream or which limits volatile emissions to the same or to a greater extent as a shell color and roof color of white or beige/cream as determined by the department of environmental conservation.
Prohibits utility corporations from imposing late fees, interest, or penalties during an investigation by the commission; allows retroactive late fees, interest, or penalties if a determination is made in favor of such utility corporation; prohibits utility services from being terminated during an investigation by the commission; requires utility corporations to notify customers of investigations; requires notice to the general public.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits employers, educational institutions, and other organizations from requiring individuals to submit copies of their own criminal history records obtained from the Division of Criminal Justice Services. By removing this requirement, the legislation aims to reduce barriers for people seeking licenses, jobs, or enrollment in schools who have already undergone the official background check process. The law also strengthens existing protections against discrimination based on criminal convictions by establishing a legal presumption that excludes prior incarceration records from evidence in negligence lawsuits. These changes take effect approximately 120 days after the bill becomes law, ensuring a transition period for affected entities to adjust their hiring and admission procedures.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes changing the state constitution to allow the legislature to adjust the number of Supreme Court justices in each judicial district based on population. Under the new rules, the number of justices could be increased if a district's population grows, with a limit of one justice for every fifty thousand people, or decreased if the population shrinks, provided the total does not fall below the current authorized number. The amendment also clarifies that judges from specific county courts in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island would serve as Supreme Court justices within their respective districts. Because this change requires a constitutional amendment, the bill must be published for three months before the next general election and approved by voters.
Authorizes courts to hold evidentiary hearings for a temporary order of protection in certain circumstances; grants superior court judges the authority to issue a temporary order of protection when an action is pending in a local criminal court in certain circumstances.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows towns and villages to set a new rule requiring their local justices to be licensed attorneys. Under the proposed change, a local government would need to vote by a majority to adopt this requirement, which would apply to anyone serving as a justice after the next election following the law's passage. The bill does not force every community to adopt this rule but gives them the option to raise the educational and professional standards for their judicial officers. It takes effect on January 1st of the year after the bill becomes law.
Authorizes the state inspector general to receive and investigate complaints of sexual assault in correctional facilities and other places operated by the department of corrections and community supervision for the confinement of persons; requires the state inspector general to establish protocol and procedures for such reports and investigations.
Prohibits the use of intoxication of the victim as a defense in sex crimes where the victim is under the influence of any drug, intoxicant, or other substance to a degree which rendered the victim temporarily incapable of appraising or controlling such person's conduct and such condition was known or reasonably should have been known to a person in the actor's situation.
