Asm. Dana Levenberg

Maddy summaryThis bill allows drivers charged with most traffic violations (excluding repeat speeding offenses) to electronically submit a guilty plea and pay fines online instead of appearing in court. It requires defendants to submit an online application detailing the charge, waiving their right to a court hearing, and agreeing to pay the fine under penalty of perjury. The fine remains "tentative" until fully paid online through a court-prescribed method. This change applies to violations under New York's Vehicle and Traffic Law and aims to streamline processing for eligible cases.

Enacts the "forensic rehabilitation act" relating to the custody of individuals following a verdict or plea of not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes New York's parole process by requiring the state board of parole to consider specific factors before granting release. It mandates evaluation of rehabilitation efforts (like programs, therapy, and work assignments), release plans (including housing, jobs, and support services), and deportation status, while prohibiting decisions based mainly on victim statements or prior criminal records. Parole denials must include detailed written explanations, and the board must report quarterly to lawmakers with demographic data on denied cases (excluding individual identities). These changes aim to standardize parole decisions and increase transparency.

Enacts the "internet service outage consumer protection act"; requires every internet service provider operating in this state to issue a prorated bill credit to consumers for any internet service outage lasting more than one hour.

Requires that all human services contracts between any public entity and a human services provider stipulate that the public entity will pay no less than 150% of the higher of: the otherwise applicable minimum wage in the state or any otherwise applicable wage rule or order and that the necessary amounts have been appropriated to ensure payment of such minimum wage.

Requires the department of health to review claims for expenditures for early and periodic screening, diagnosis and treatment and other health services, care and supplies which are furnished to eligible children and pre-school children regardless of whether such children have handicapping conditions, are suspected of having handicapping conditions or have an individualized education plan; requires the department of health to apply for all necessary federal approvals regarding such expenditures.

Enacts the "voting integrity and verification act of New York (VIVA NY)"; provides that each voter is entitled to the use of an individual, voter verifiable paper ballot of the voter's vote and the opportunity to mark it.

Expands the applicability of the assessment exemption for living quarters for parent or grandparent to include living quarters constructed or reconstructed before the effective date of the section providing such exemption.

Allows industrial development agencies to make grants to municipalities for open space preservation, parkland improvements and conservation easements where the municipal governing body finds that the grant encourages tourism or otherwise improves quality of life.

Relates to audio-visual coverage of judicial proceedings by the media; allows the judge or justice presiding over a proceeding to exercise discretion to prohibit or limit filming or photographing of particular participants; defines terms; provides limitations on audio-visual coverage.