Enacts the "packaging reduction and recycling infrastructure act" to require companies selling, offering for sale, or distributing packaging materials and products to register with a packaging reduction organization to develop a packaging reduction and recycling plan.
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.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires consumer debt collectors to obtain a state license before collecting debts from individuals in New York. It establishes specific rules for obtaining a license, including the need to pay fees, post a surety bond, and maintain proper records. The legislation also sets out prohibited actions for collectors and outlines penalties for those who violate the new standards. Certain entities, such as banks, attorneys, and non-profit credit counseling agencies, are exempt from these licensing requirements.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands the list of school safety activities eligible for funding under the state's omnibus school violence prevention grant program. It specifically authorizes money to support anti-violence education programs that offer trauma support, counseling, and empowerment activities for students affected by gun violence. To qualify for these funds, the programs must be run by nonprofit organizations, provide evidence-based services, and include clear goals and assessment methods to measure their effectiveness. The legislation also clarifies that any funded program cannot use firearms for training or demonstrations.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits hospitals from restricting licensed medical professionals from sharing accurate health information or providing necessary care related to pregnancy complications, such as miscarriage management or ectopic pregnancies, when doing so is medically appropriate. It specifically bars hospitals from limiting a doctor's ability to explain diagnoses, treatment options, and risks, or from stopping care in emergency situations where delaying treatment could endanger a patient's life or cause permanent harm. The law also protects healthcare workers from being fired, disciplined, or discriminated against if they provide services consistent with these protections, while allowing hospitals to limit care only when it is required to ensure patient safety. Additionally, the state health department must create and publish online guides to help medical staff understand these new rules.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits lenders and other financial service providers from requiring customers to sign a confession of judgment as part of a contract. A confession of judgment is a legal clause that allows a creditor to obtain a court judgment against a debtor without a full trial if the debt is not paid. The law applies to financial products and services regulated by the state's superintendent of financial services, excluding those already overseen by federal agencies or other state consumer protection bodies. By banning this specific clause, the legislation aims to ensure that consumers must participate in a standard legal process to resolve disputes over unpaid debts. The changes will take effect 90 days after the bill becomes law.
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.
Prohibits the sale of certain products that contain regulated perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances; requires manufacturers of products containing PFAS to provide notice of such fact to persons that offer the products for sale or distribution; provides penalties for violations.
Ensures that construction and fabrication done off of a public work site for specific use only in a public work project be compensated at the prevailing wage rate.
