Asm. Ken Zebrowski

Maddy summaryThis bill requires sex offenders to list specific online information when registering with the state, including their internet accounts and the websites they use. It also mandates that offenders update their registration within ten days if they change their address, employment status, or any of their online identifiers. The law includes a $10 fee for submitting these updates, though failing to pay the fee does not prevent the state from accepting the new information. These changes aim to improve the accuracy of public records by ensuring online activity is tracked alongside physical locations.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes permanent a provision within the volunteer firefighters' benefit law that covers disabilities caused by heart disease or malfunctioning coronary arteries. By extending the existing temporary coverage, which was set to expire in June 2025, the legislation ensures that volunteer firefighters who suffer these specific health issues remain eligible for benefits indefinitely. The law applies only to injuries that occur after the bill takes effect and does not change the fundamental rules for how these benefits are calculated or awarded.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows school districts to receive additional state building aid to help pay off debt from tax certiorari bonds used for school construction. To qualify, a district must have issued a bond with a total value higher than its general fund spending in the year before it started receiving bond money. The district must submit specific financial documents to the state commissioner to verify the debt and receive the aid, which is calculated based on a formula involving the district's building aid ratio and its debt payments. This change applies to debt service payments made starting in the 2023-2024 school year and continues for future years.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the ability for certain properties to receive tax exemptions if they are being used in violation of local zoning laws. It directly affects owners of real estate who might have previously claimed tax breaks while operating their properties against zoning regulations. The key mechanism is a specific amendment to the Real Property Tax Law that explicitly lists zoning violations as a condition that disqualifies a property from exemption status. By taking effect immediately upon enactment, the change ensures that non-compliant properties must pay full taxes rather than benefiting from special exemptions.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises the maximum amount of money justice courts can handle in small claims cases from $3,000 to $5,000, excluding interest and costs. It also updates the fees required to file these claims, increasing the cost for smaller claims from $10 to $15 and for larger claims from $15 to $20. The changes apply to individuals and businesses filing suits in justice courts for monetary recovery or property disputes within the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows individuals who owe a court-ordered real property tax refund to pay it back in installments over a period of up to five years. Under the new rules, a judge must grant this payment plan if the person requesting it asks for one, removing the previous requirement for the parties to agree on the arrangement. The legislation also eliminates the option for courts to charge interest on these installment payments. These changes take effect on January 1st of the year following the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates two new felony crimes for actions that endanger firefighters, police officers, and other emergency workers during building fires or evacuations. It specifically targets individuals who alter or partition buildings without permits in ways that block escape routes, resulting in injury or death to these service members. The offense is charged as a class E felony if it causes injury, and as a more serious class D felony if it causes death or if the person has a prior conviction for the same crime.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases fines and potential jail time for drivers who pass a stopped school bus. It raises the monetary penalties for first, second, and third or subsequent offenses within a three-year period and expands criminal charges to include causing injury or death while violating the law. Specifically, it makes causing serious injury to a child passenger while speeding past a school bus a crime and classifies causing death under these circumstances as criminally negligent homicide. The changes apply to all drivers operating motor vehicles in violation of the school bus passing rule.

Requires a municipality to give notice to an adjacent municipality of the adoption or amendment of certain zoning ordinances or local laws that affect parcels of land within 500 feet of the adjacent municipality.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows school districts and boards of cooperative educational services to create special reserve funds specifically for paying other post-employment benefits, such as healthcare, that employees are entitled to after leaving their jobs. The legislation defines these benefits and permits these entities to fund the reserves through budget appropriations, taxes, or transfers from existing funds, provided a public hearing is held before moving money. It also requires strict financial reporting and prohibits governing board members from using the funds for any purpose other than covering these specific post-employment obligations. Additionally, the bill repeals two existing legal sections and amends education law provisions regarding how costs are allocated to certain school districts.