Asm. Aron Wieder

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance policies to cover cochlear implants and backup devices for patients with hearing loss. It mandates that insurance plans provide backup devices not only during the initial implantation but also when patients receive upgrades or replacements of their implants after several years. The coverage applies to all comprehensive medical insurance policies and is exempt from annual deductibles and coinsurance requirements. This legislation directly affects individuals with cochlear implants and their health insurance providers by ensuring continuous access to necessary backup equipment throughout the patient's treatment.

Relates to certain crimes of interference with access to places of religious worship; expands interference to include groups of two or more people demonstrating or preparing to demonstrate one hundred feet outside of places of religious worship.

Establishes the rare disease advisory council to identify best practices, raise awareness regarding rare diseases, evaluate barriers to access to care, and to make recommendations to the legislature and the governor.

Renames the block grant for child care to the early childhood fund; requires the office of children and family services administer such fund; expands who qualifies for guaranteed child care assistance.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New York's military law to allow uniformed members of the New York National Guard who have received duty orders to ride for free on public transportation, including subways, buses, trains, ferries, and toll roads. The provision requires service members to be in uniform or present a valid duty order or certificate to qualify for the free passage. The changes apply to existing organized militia members and take effect 30 days after the bill becomes law.

Maddy summaryBill A 8082 establishes a new retirement service credit for members of public retirement systems who have served as volunteer firefighters or emergency service personnel. Eligible members can receive one year of service credit for every five years of volunteer service, up to a maximum of three years of credit for fifteen years of service. To qualify, members must have at least five years of other credited service and pay a fee equivalent to three percent of their compensation for the twelve months prior to application, for each year of credited volunteer service. This credit can be applied towards special twenty or twenty-five year retirement plans.

Expands the eligibility period for indigent legal service attorneys to receive certain loan forgiveness; increases loan reimbursement for certain attorneys who work in legal services with indigent clients.

Allows parents or guardians of children classified as either physically handicapped or developmentally disabled to submit transportation requests to their school district by July 1st.

Dissolves the Rockland county drainage agency and transfers its powers to the Rockland county highway department; repeals provisions relating to creating a stream control act for the county of Rockland and defining its powers and duties.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the time period for filing mechanic's liens on construction projects. For most projects, the deadline increases from eight months to eighteen months after work completion. For single-family homes, the deadline rises from four months to twelve months. It also sets a 90-day window for retainage claims and allows real estate brokers to file liens within 18 months of the final payment due date (but no later than five years after the first payment).