Maddy summaryThis bill requires New York state and local governments to stop paying salaries to elected officials who are indicted for crimes directly related to their public duties. The law defines these crimes as felonies involving the theft of public funds, offenses committed while serving in office, or actions taken to gain personal profit through the misuse of official power. Once an indictment is filed, the official's employer must withhold their salary and notify the individual, but the withheld funds must be returned within sixty days if the charges are dismissed, the official is acquitted, or they are found not guilty. Conversely, if the official pleads guilty or is convicted of the related crimes, the withheld salary payments will not be returned and will instead be deposited into the employer's general fund. The legislation also mandates that courts and grand juries promptly inform the relevant public employers of indictment filings, guilty pleas, and trial verdicts involving these specific charges.
Sponsored bills
Relates to amending state construction and commodity contracts to provide equitable relief to contractors who have sustained unanticipated expenses by reason of construction materials price escalations.
Provides for increased independence of the office of state inspector general; requires annual reports to the legislature on the activities of the office.
Relates to conducting investigations into the administration and enforcement of the New York state uniform fire prevention and building code and the New York state energy conservation construction code by counties.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a formal process for citizens to ask state agencies to create, change, or cancel specific rules. To qualify for a mandatory response, a petition must include detailed information about the proposed rule changes, the legal basis for them, and the public benefits they would provide, and it must be signed by at least one hundred residents. If an agency receives a qualifying petition, it must either issue a notice to begin the official rule-making process or provide a written explanation for denying the request within 180 days. The law also requires agencies to keep a public record of these petitions and post notices on their websites to inform the public about how to submit requests and comment on them.
Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens penalties for individuals who ignore orders to fix violations of New York's fire prevention and building codes. It applies to property owners, builders, contractors, and other parties involved in construction or maintenance. For non-emergency violations, the law sets fines that increase over time, starting at up to $1,000 per day and rising to at least $50 per day after 360 days of non-compliance. For conditions deemed an imminent threat to safety, the bill introduces tiered fines based on repeat offenses, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 per day depending on whether it is the first, second, or third violation. The legislation allows for imprisonment of up to one year in addition to monetary penalties for these offenses.
Maddy summaryThis bill directs the New York State Secretary of State to apply to the federal government for permission to switch the state from Eastern Time to Atlantic Time. The legislation also amends state laws to update the official time zone and daylight saving time schedules, which would shift the state's standard time one hour earlier. However, the bill includes a condition that the federal application will only take effect if neighboring states Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania pass matching legislation to adopt Atlantic Time. If those states do not enact similar laws, this bill will not change New York's time zone.
Relates to the provision of regulatory information to small businesses through the establishment of a small business regulatory nexus by certain agencies.
Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Integrity in Government Act, strengthens the Committee on Open Government by expanding its membership, operational powers, and ability to enforce transparency laws. It adds new members to the committee, including representatives from the news media and local governments, and establishes specific rules for their appointment and compensation. The legislation also grants the committee new authority to investigate violations of public access laws, subpoena witnesses, and issue orders to stop government agencies from meeting in closed executive sessions if probable cause of a violation is found. Additionally, the bill creates a formal appeals process for individuals denied access to public records or meetings, requiring the committee to resolve these appeals within a set timeframe.
Maddy summaryThis New York bill proposes to exempt basic school supplies from sales tax during a specific window each year, aiming to reduce costs for students and families. The exemption applies to items such as backpacks, textbooks, pens, and notebooks, provided each item costs less than $110. To qualify for the tax break, purchases must occur within the 15-day period starting on the 15th day before Labor Day and ending on Labor Day itself. Additionally, the legislation requires cities and counties that impose local sales taxes to exclude these school supply purchases from their local tax rates during this designated timeframe.