Asm. MaryJane Shimsky

Provides alternate education and experience requirements for mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychoanalysts licensed prior to 06/24/2027, to be issued privilege to diagnose and develop assessment-based treatment plans; removes fees for application for such diagnostic privileges.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the previous limit of 10 visits or 30 days for physical therapists to treat patients without a physician referral. It directly affects licensed physical therapists and their patients, allowing ongoing treatment without a referral as long as three requirements are met: therapists must refer patients if symptoms suggest other care is needed, communicate with the patient’s primary care provider during treatment, and provide written notice to patients about potential insurance coverage issues without a referral. The bill requires therapists to document patient notification with a signed form. These changes aim to streamline access to physical therapy while ensuring patient safety and insurance clarity.

Authorizes people who transport a severely disabled person as an eligible person to receive disabled person plates; defines who qualifies as eligible persons.

Enacts the bucks for boilers act, which creates a program to aid in transition of housing units to electric heat pumps and other high energy efficiency upgrades.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes permanent a 2006 law that creates a presumption: volunteer firefighters diagnosed with certain lung disabilities (like cancer or respiratory illnesses) are automatically considered to have incurred those conditions during firefighting duties. It directly affects volunteer firefighters in New York who develop these specific lung conditions while serving. The key change removes the previous expiration date (June 30, 2025), ensuring the presumption remains in effect indefinitely. This simplifies the process for eligible firefighters to access benefits by shifting the burden of proof to the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill mandates that all public and private schools in the state include instruction on the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and its aftermath as part of required civic education courses. It affects all students over age eight in the state's schools by requiring teachers to cover this event alongside other historical topics like slavery, the Holocaust, and human rights issues. The law directs education regents to develop curriculum guidelines and authorizes school commissioners to enforce compliance, including withholding funding for noncompliance. The policy requires schools to integrate this topic into existing civic education frameworks without specifying teaching methods or materials.

Directs the department of environmental conservation to develop and implement a tree planting pilot program in the ten zip codes in the state with the highest incidence of asthma.

Establishes a co-navigation services program for persons who are deaf-blind to provide services to a person who is deaf-blind that assist the person to physically access the person's environment and to make informed decisions, including providing visual and environmental information or sighted guide services and assisting with communication accessibility by communicating in the preferred language and communication mode of the person who is deaf-blind.

Relates to the assault of physicians providing direct patient care; provides that assault of physicians shall be assault in the second degree, a class D felony.

Directs the commissioner of health to approve courses for eligible physicians, nurses and other staff that covers risk management strategies in emergency department visits for individuals with a developmental or intellectual disability; provides a premium reduction for physicians who complete such risk management strategies course.