Asm. Chris Eachus

Maddy summaryThis bill updates a state law to include Doodletown Brook in Rockland County as an eligible inland waterway for the local waterfront revitalization program. By adding this specific brook to a list of other designated creeks and streams, the legislation allows communities near Doodletown Brook to access funding and resources previously reserved for other waterways. The change is administrative in nature, simply expanding the definition of qualifying areas without altering the underlying rules or funding amounts of the program.

Enacts "Melanie's law"; relates to orders of protection; allows courts to issue orders of protection for immediate family members or household members of the named victims, regardless of age.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows local governments in New York to exclude the costs of emergency medical services from the cap on their real property tax increases. By making this change, municipalities would have more flexibility to raise taxes specifically to fund emergency medical care without hitting the overall spending limit. The law is set to take effect for the 2025 fiscal year and will remain in force until June 15, 2030.

Removes certain requirements on what the office of children and family services can determine to be an appropriate staff/child ratios for family day care homes, group family day care homes, school age day care programs and day care centers.

Maddy summaryThis bill grants retroactive membership in the New York City Employees' Retirement System to Ryan D. O'Connor, a former transit authority employee who missed joining the plan due to reasons beyond his control. It allows him to be treated as if he joined the system on his original start date and enroll in Tier IV, provided he submits a written request within one year of the law's effective date. The city of New York will cover all past service costs associated with this change, and any contributions O'Connor made will not be refunded.

Provides that the thruway authority shall issue permits for ambulances and fire vehicles exempting such vehicles from paying tolls on the thruway when engaged in an emergency operation.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates how the state calculates payment rates for federally qualified health centers to better reflect their actual operating costs. It requires the health department to analyze cost data from the previous five years, taking into account factors like the scope of services, staffing needs, and technology expenses. Starting in April 2025, the department must issue new payment rates based on this analysis, explicitly removing previous caps on payments as long as they remain eligible for federal funding. The law also changes how future rate adjustments are made, shifting from a standard Medicare index to a specific market basket measure for periods after September 2025.

Permits the rendering of an estimated bill from a utility corporation or municipality under certain circumstances; requires each utility corporation and municipality within six months to submit to the commission a model procedure for the calculation of estimated bills that incorporates best practices and technology and accounts for any barriers to the use of actual meter readings.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes creating a peer support program specifically designed for first responders to help them access mental health resources. It would establish a system where trained individuals within the first responder community provide support to their colleagues facing emotional or psychological challenges. The legislation aims to integrate these peer support services into existing mental health frameworks to better address the unique stressors faced by emergency personnel. Currently, the bill is in the legislative process and has been referred to committees for further review.

Enacts the "New York wildlife crossing act"; directs the department of transportation and the New York state thruway authority to identify sites along all highways, thruways and parkways in the state where wildlife crossings are most needed to increase public safety and improve habitat connectivity and create a priority list of wildlife opportunity areas where federal grant monies may be available to implement the top five projects identified.