Asm. Chris Eachus

Requires the commissioner of health to promulgate rules and regulations requiring nursing homes and residential health care facilities to test all residents of such nursing homes and residential healthcare facilities for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Prohibits fraudulent absentee ballot drop-off boxes or receptacles by making it a felony for anyone other than the board of elections to erect, display or maintain an absentee ballot drop-off box or receptacle.

Increases the handling fee paid by a deposit initiator to a dealer or operator of a redemption center from three and one half cents to five cents per container; decreases the amount of quarterly payments a deposit initiator must pay the commissioner of taxation and finance from eighty to forty-seven percent of the balance of initiator's refund value account; provides for registration as a redemption center.

Requires the department of education to develop school health and mental health professionals to student ratios in public schools for students who do not receive services pursuant to the individuals with disabilities education act.

Establishes the Hudson Valley power authority to own and operate electricity service and to create or acquire one or more wholly owned subsidiaries or membership interests in subsidiaries; establishes energy observatory corporations for studying and enabling effective community governance of power authorities; makes related provisions.

Relates to the salaries of certain teachers and aides employed by boards of cooperative educational services; puts limits on certain administrative and clerical expenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a tax credit for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers to cover the cost of fishing and hunting licenses. Eligible residents must have served as active volunteers for 12 consecutive months and paid fees for licenses, tags, or permits under environmental conservation law. The credit reduces their state income tax, with any excess carried forward to future tax years. It applies to taxable years beginning January 1, 2026, and directly affects volunteer emergency responders who purchase these licenses.

Establishes the home care jobs innovation program and the home care jobs innovation fund to identify, develop and support projects throughout the state designed to increase the number of individuals who become home care workers and to increase the employment retention of individuals who are employed as home care workers; provides for the granting of awards to such projects; makes an appropriation therefor.

Provides that entities soliciting a recurring contribution to a political campaign, political committee, party committee, or not-for-profit or for-profit entity shall receive the affirmative consent of the contributor at the time of arrangement of the recurring contribution; provides for refund of recurring contributions; provides penalties for violations.

Requires the parole board to provide notice to the crime victim or victim's representative that a parolee or releasee is being discharged or released.