Asm. MaryJane Shimsky

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New York's social services office to implement an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) system by June 21, 2027, replacing paper checks for programs like food assistance and cash benefits. It mandates using standard commercial electronic payment technology, including chip-based cards, to deliver benefits securely and efficiently. The policy directly affects state recipients of social services and the agency managing benefit distribution, shifting from physical vouchers to digital transfers. The law also requires the office to upgrade the system as soon as possible after the deadline.

Requires a public housing authority to file in the office of the commissioner of housing and community renewal and with the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly a physical needs assessment every five years; defines "physical needs assessment".

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits candidates and officeholders from using campaign funds to pay settlement fees, fines, or penalties related to sexual harassment civil or criminal cases. It directly affects political candidates and elected officials who face legal action involving sexual harassment allegations. The key provision amends election law to explicitly add "payment of any settlement fees, fines or penalties assessed against the candidate in connection with a criminal or civil action involving allegations of sexual harassment" as an ineligible campaign expense. This change clarifies that campaign funds cannot cover costs tied to sexual harassment legal resolutions, separate from other allowable expenses like travel or childcare. The bill takes effect 60 days after becoming law.

Establishes the East of Hudson watershed road salt reduction task force, pilot plan and test program to conduct a comprehensive review of road salt contamination and road management best practices within the East of Hudson watershed.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes permanent a 2022 law that grants "preferred source status" to businesses providing employment to certain persons (like veterans or individuals with disabilities) when those businesses bid on state government contracts. It removes the original 3-year expiration date from the 2022 law, ensuring the preferred status remains in effect indefinitely. The provision directly affects state government contractors who employ these specific groups, giving them priority in procurement processes. It does not create new eligibility criteria but extends the existing rule permanently. The law applies to new contracts issued after the effective date, not to existing contracts or requests for proposals.

Establishes the "education equity act" which provides language assistance to parents or guardians who have children enrolled in public school and whose primary language is not English; defines terms; creates an annual language assistance plan to assess language needs in the district; requires the department of education to establish web pages detailing the rights of parents to translation services in each covered language; requires annual reports by each school district to the local board of education.

Enacts the "state and local clean energy partnership", directing the public service commission to establish a standard New York state community choice aggregation program for all utility service territories.

Requires businesses that make an automatic renewal offer or continuous service offer to provide a link on any public website it maintains for cancellation of such service.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New York's enhanced STAR property tax exemption by adding distributions from thrift savings plans (established before 1984) to the list of income types excluded from the eligibility calculation. It affects homeowners applying for the enhanced STAR exemption, who must now exclude these distributions when determining their income for tax purposes. The bill also requires applicants who didn’t file tax returns to submit a detailed statement to the state department outlining their unreported income sources and amounts. These changes apply to exemption applications for tax years beginning in 2019 and later.

Provides that every policy which provides coverage for hospital, surgical or medical care or provides reimbursement for laboratory tests or diagnostic X-rays shall provide coverage for testing of familial dysautonomia, Canavan's disease and Tay-Sachs; provides that in order to maintain the confidentiality of persons tested, receipt of acknowledgement from the testing facility shall be deemed sufficient evidence of testing.