Rep. Chris Eachus

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1724, "Hunger-Free Campus Act") creates a grant program to address student food insecurity at public colleges and universities. It requires qualifying campuses to meet specific standards - including establishing student-inclusive task forces, providing SNAP enrollment assistance, operating food pantries, and hosting awareness events - to earn "hunger-free campus" designation. Public institutions meeting these criteria receive competitive grants to fund food security initiatives like meal vouchers, pantry access, and SNAP outreach. The program mandates annual student hunger surveys and requires a two-year report to state leaders detailing grant usage, student impacts, and recommendations for future funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 5040) requires New York school districts to be reimbursed for actual costs incurred when students attend boards of cooperative educational services (BOCES) programs. It directly affects school districts that send students to shared regional educational programs. The key provision mandates reimbursement for "any actual expense" related to student participation in these cooperative programs. The bill takes effect immediately upon appropriation of funds by the state budget, with a 45-day delay if funding isn't approved by the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3108) mandates a study to examine the financial effects of shifting New York's education funding from property taxes to income taxes. The New York State Department of Education and Taxation and Finance must analyze fiscal impacts across different regions, identify current inequities in education funding, and develop transition recommendations. The study's results, including policy suggestions, must be published within one year of the bill's effective date.

Requires instruction in arts and music education to be incorporated into curriculums for all public school students; requires school districts to ensure that appropriately certified teachers are providing such education; authorizes rules and regulations consistent with such provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes when county election committees must hold their annual organizational meeting. Instead of meeting on a fixed date (September 17), committees must wait until one day after the June primary results are officially certified, with a maximum deadline of October 6. It directly affects county committees responsible for local election administration, ensuring they convene only after primary results are confirmed but before the October deadline. The existing committee continues to operate until the new meeting concludes.

Provides that state aid payments due for prior years shall be paid either from funds available in the general support for public school appropriation as a result of the deduction of excess payments of aid; or within the limit of the appropriation designated therefor.

Provides for monetary penalties for the intentional violation of the open meetings law by any member of a public body who participates in a meeting with the intent and purpose of violating the provisions of the open meetings law.

Requires electric vehicles, including motor vehicles, bicycles with electric assist and electric scooters, to have an automatic cutoff switch; defines automatic cutoff switch.

Directs the division of criminal justice services to develop information on the safe storage of firearms to be provided to parents of school children.

Designates unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle in the third degree as a class E felony; designates unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle in the second degree as a class D violent felony offense; designates unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle in the first degree as a class B violent felony offense.