Asm. Gary Pretlow

Establishes family literacy programs for economically disadvantaged families living in poverty areas or areas with low-performing public schools; provides for competitive matching grants to establish a comprehensive program; requires commissioner of education to submit an annual report to the governor and legislature.

Makes provisions with respect to affordable housing within the city of Yonkers; provides funds of twenty-five thousand dollars in the affordable housing development account for new construction of affordable housing within the city of Yonkers and acquisition of existing housing stock cooperatives, condominiums and fee simple multi-family housing where appropriate.

Requires county clerks to designate one newspaper or journal for the publication of every notice and advertisement of judicial proceedings in the county.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New York's scholarship and loan forgiveness programs to include dentists and podiatrists on identical terms as physicians. It modifies existing education law to award Regents scholarships for dental and podiatric students and extends the physician loan forgiveness program to cover dentists and podiatrists who agree to practice in designated shortage areas. Participants must work in underserved regions for 12 months per year of funding received, with specific service requirements and reporting obligations. The policy directly affects dental and podiatric professionals seeking financial assistance for education or debt relief in New York State.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits banks from delaying or holding funds from state-issued checks (such as state tax refunds or government payments). It directly affects state agencies that issue checks and individuals or businesses receiving those payments. The key provision adds a new rule to banking law requiring banks to immediately deposit state check funds, rather than holding them. The law takes effect 30 days after enactment, ensuring state payments reach recipients without bank delays.

Relates to reimbursement for ambulance services; requires insurers to submit payments directly to ambulance providers who are in-network or, for out-of-network ambulance providers, requires the issuance of a joint check to the insured specifying both the insured and the ambulance provider as payees.

Provides that any person who provides information to the attorney general, a district attorney or the insurance frauds bureau concerning a fraudulent insurance transaction or with information about a fraudulent insurance transaction that is about to take place may be entitled to an award of forty percent of the action or claim relating to such fraudulent action.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New York's veterinary medicine law to explicitly exclude equine pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy from the definition of "practice of veterinary medicine." It clarifies that administering this therapy for horses does not require a licensed veterinarian. The change directly affects equine therapy providers who previously may have needed veterinary licensing to offer this specific treatment. The law now allows non-veterinarians to provide equine PEMF therapy without it being considered veterinary practice.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits businesses from placing or maintaining billboards advertising alcoholic beverages within 1,000 feet of any public or private elementary or secondary school, or playgrounds adjacent to such schools. It defines "billboard" broadly to include any stationary advertising device (like signs, posters, or displays) meant to attract drivers or pedestrians. The law takes effect one year after enactment, directly affecting alcohol advertisers and billboard operators near school zones. It does not restrict other forms of advertising or apply to non-billboard signage.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals an existing mental health law section and replaces it with new rules for when mental health professionals (like doctors, psychologists, and social workers) must report patients who pose serious, immediate danger to themselves or others. It allows these professionals to disclose such dangers directly to the endangered person (if identifiable), law enforcement, and community service directors, with all disclosures documented in the patient's record. Community service directors must then report limited non-clinical details (like name) to criminal justice services solely to determine if a person's license (under penal law) should be suspended or if they're ineligible for firearm possession. The law also protects professionals from liability for good-faith disclosure decisions and explicitly excludes malice or intentional misconduct from this protection.