Sen. Tony Palumbo

Maddy summaryS 503 allows courts to admit evidence of a defendant’s prior sexual offenses in current sexual offense cases, provided the evidence is relevant to issues like motive, intent, or a common pattern. The court must first determine that the evidence’s value outweighs its potential to unfairly prejudice the defendant. Prosecutors must disclose such evidence to the defense at least 15 days before trial, including witness details or testimony summaries. This bill applies to all pending cases after its effective date, aligning with federal evidence standards for similar crimes.

Establishes the "New York's Own combat veterans healthcare choice program act" to establish tax free savings accounts to pay the healthcare costs of combat veterans on active duty during Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom, until covered by the federal government; directs the division of military and naval affairs to establish a registry of Afghanistan and Iraq veterans.

Provides for a phased decrease of excise taxes and sales taxes and petroleum business taxes on diesel motor fuel and motor fuel when the average price of motor fuel in the state exceeds $2.25 per gallon; authorizes cities having a population of one million or more and counties to adopt local laws limiting taxes on diesel motor fuel and motor fuel.

Requires the commissioner of education, in consultation with the commissioner of health, to develop a bleeding control kit program which requires bleeding control kits to be installed in easily accessible areas of schools; requires training of personnel to use bleeding control kits in the event of an injury to another person.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates fire marshals working in the Long Island Rail Road Company's Office of Fire Marshals as peace officers when performing fire-related duties under relevant laws. It specifically grants them the authority to investigate fires, extinguishment efforts, and fire hazards, but only for matters connected to fire prevention and safety. The bill explicitly states that this designation does not permit these officers to carry or possess firearms without a separate license issued under New York's penal law. The change directly affects LIRR fire marshals in their official fire investigation roles. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Requires proportionally equivalent appointees of both the majority and minority houses of the legislature in all legislatively enacted workgroups, task forces, commissions, councils, advisory boards, committees and any other legislatively enacted and appointed groups or workgroups; requires that the number of appointees by the legislature shall be proportionally equivalent to the number of appointees by the governor.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 4123) ensures healthcare providers can continue using independent dispute resolution (IDR) to challenge payment rates from insurers. It directly affects doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers who are not contracted ("non-participating") with health insurance plans. The bill amends criteria that IDR entities must use when setting fair payment rates, requiring them to consider factors like provider qualifications, usual charges for similar services, regional rates for non-participating providers, and service complexity. These changes clarify how disputes over payment rates will be resolved, maintaining access to the IDR process.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New York's paid family leave program to include bereavement leave for employees experiencing fetal death, stillbirth, or an infant declared medically not viable to survive. It amends workers' compensation law to explicitly add these circumstances as qualifying reasons for leave under the "bereavement" provision, requiring employees to provide a fetal death certificate, stillbirth certificate, or death certificate as proof. The policy applies to all eligible employees covered under the state's paid family leave system, effective January 1, 2025. It does not create new benefits but extends existing leave protections to these specific pregnancy-related losses.

Relates to claim settlement practices when an insurer refuses to pay or is delaying payment of a settlement; provides a policyholder a private right of action against such insurer doing business in the state who has refused or delayed payment of an insurance claim.

Establishes the intent of the legislature to generally defer to parental choices regarding the care, custody and control of their children; mandates that the death of a parent shall be a factor when considering a grandparent's standing to receive visitation or custody; directs that costs be payable by an unsuccessful petitioner where a contest was brought in bad faith.