Sen. James Sanders

Maddy summaryThis bill requires certain bars and restaurants to provide tap water to customers upon request at no cost. It applies to businesses with retail licenses for on-premises alcohol consumption, excluding those operating vessels, railroad cars, or aircraft. The water must meet all federal and state purity standards and be served in containers of at least eight ounces per serving. The law would take effect 30 days after becoming official.

Relates to establishing expanded construction mentorship opportunities for small business enterprises where there is privity of contract between a small business enterprise and a subcontractor or contractor working on an authority public works contract.

Enacts the "fairness in cooperative homeownership act"; regulates the submission and determinations of applications for ownership of cooperative apartments.

Enacts the "packaging reduction and recycling infrastructure act" to require companies selling, offering for sale, or distributing packaging materials and products to register with a packaging reduction organization to develop a packaging reduction and recycling plan; makes related provisions.

Relates to establishing the "340B prescription drug anti-discrimination act"; prohibits pharmaceutical manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers from discriminating against covered entities and New York state pharmacies based on participation in the drug discount program authorized by section 340B of the federal public health service act.

Maddy summaryS 1181 creates a temporary 11-member task force to examine why New York City disability retirees are excluded from the Variable Supplements Fund (VSF) program, which provides retirement benefit supplements to police and fire retirees. The task force will investigate this eligibility issue, hold public hearings, and issue recommendations within one year. It includes appointments from the governor, legislature leaders, city officials, and representatives of affected retirees. The bill does not change the VSF program directly but mandates a formal review to address longstanding concerns about fairness for disability retirees.

Relates to the application of certain provisions relating to commercial financing; provides that liability shall not be imposed on a provider if the actual annual percentage rate charged by the provider differs from the estimated annual percentage rate disclosed by the provider acting in good faith.

Designates all agents employed by the city of New York police department in the titles of traffic enforcement agent I and traffic enforcement agent II as peace officers.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3698) requires licensed check cashers to file suspicious activity reports with the superintendent of banks. It directly affects check cashing businesses by expanding existing reporting requirements - previously applied to banks - to include these entities. The key mechanism is an amendment to the Banking Law (Section 371), which authorizes the superintendent to create rules mandating these reports. The bill does not change current requirements for banks or other financial institutions but adds check cashers to the list of entities required to report suspicious transactions.

Establishes a private right of action for deed theft; provides that victims of deed theft may maintain an action against a deed thief or a bank that provides a loan that assists in the commission of deed theft; authorizes victims of deed theft to recover actual damages, treble damages and attorneys' fees; defines terms.