Asm. Karl Brabenec

Maddy summaryBill A 5554 changes where certain application fees are deposited within the state budget. It requires that fees paid for operating certificates, which are necessary for mental hygiene service providers, be directed into the mental illness anti-stigma fund. Previously, these fees were deposited into the state's general fund. This bill ensures that funds collected from these applications specifically support efforts to combat the stigma surrounding mental illness.

Relates to providing loan forgiveness for agriculture educators who provide didactic instruction to students about agriculture, food, and natural resources.

Provides for insurance premium reductions for successful completion of a fraud prevention course, known as the New York auto fraud prevention program.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts the location of new cannabis retail stores and on-site consumption facilities. It prohibits new licenses for storefronts within 500 feet of school grounds (including all entrances/exits in mixed-use buildings) and within 200 feet of houses of worship (including all entrances/exits in mixed-use buildings). These rules apply only to new licenses issued after the bill's effective date. The law directly affects cannabis businesses seeking to open new locations in the state.

Relates to the limit upon real property tax levies by local governments; exempts real property owned by a city, town or village from taxes for infrastructure, road maintenance, snow removal, capital projects, consent order and smart growth initiative expenses and any extraordinary expenses required to respond to public health emergencies and pandemics.

Prohibits the legislature from recessing after the start of the state fiscal year until it has passed a budget; allows recess during such period for public holidays.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 6564) requires drivers to create a center rescue lane when emergency vehicles (with red lights and audible signals) approach. It directly affects all drivers operating vehicles on roadways, mandating they move to the roadway edges to clear a center lane for emergency vehicles. Key provisions specify drivers must move to the right edge on single-lane roads, or create a center lane by moving left/right on multi-lane roads (e.g., leftmost lane drivers move left, rightmost move right). The bill updates existing law to clarify lane creation in gridlock and ensures emergency vehicles can pass safely without stopping. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Requires the office of temporary and disability assistance promulgate regulations and create policies to encourage married adults or two adult households when determining the standard of need for eligibility for public assistance programs; and to exempt certain income and resources for such adults and households.

Establishes tuition awards for members of the reserved armed forces of the United States; provides eligibility for such tuition benefit shall be determined by the education services offices of the division of military and naval affairs; restricts such tuition benefit to legal residents of the state; establishes a tuition award account.

Establishes the crime of forcible touching of a correction officer; increases criminal penalties for certain sexual offenses committed against correction officers when such correction officer is acting in the course of such correction officer's employment.