Sen. James Sanders

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits selling or distributing lasers exceeding one milliwatt of power. It directly affects retailers and distributors of high-powered lasers, with exceptions for lasers mounted on firearms or used under licensed educators. The law makes violating this rule a class A misdemeanor offense. The bill takes effect 90 days after enactment.

Establishes the "New York public banking act"; authorizes municipal and other local governments to form and control public banks through the ownership of capital stock or other ownership interests, and to loan or grant public funds or lend public credit to such public banks for the public purposes of achieving cost savings, strengthening local economies, supporting community economic development, and addressing infrastructure and housing needs for localities.

Establishes the paired testing program and compliance fee to determine if any real estate broker, real estate salesperson or employee or agent thereof is using unlawful discriminatory practices; creates the paired testing program fund.

Requires climate change instruction within the current established science curriculum; requires such instruction be taught in grades one through twelve.

Establishes the New York State social housing development authority as a public benefit corporation to increase the supply of permanently affordable housing in the state through the acquisition of land and renovation or rehabilitation of existing real property, and through the construction of new, permanently affordable housing.

Maddy summaryBill S 2240 removes the lifetime ban that prevents individuals with felony convictions from serving on a jury. It amends existing judiciary law to eliminate the automatic disqualification for past felony convictions. However, the bill clarifies that anyone currently serving a term of incarceration for a felony would still be excused from jury service while incarcerated. This change allows eligible citizens who have completed their sentences to participate in jury duty.

Requires diversity, inclusion and elimination of bias training for physicians, physician assistants and nurses as part of continuing medical education requirements; establishes such training shall be a biennial requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 5522) creates paid sick leave for police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics who test positive for or show symptoms of a pandemic virus (defined as a WHO-classified virus triggering a state emergency). It requires employers to grant this leave at the employee's regular pay rate without reducing accrued sick leave, and prohibits retaliation for using it. The state will reimburse municipalities with under 1 million residents for these costs. The leave applies only during declared pandemic emergencies under state law.

Maddy summaryS 5670 establishes the JFK Innovation Center near JFK Airport in Queens as a public-private partnership between New York state agencies and private companies. The center directly supports startups developing SmartCities (using sensors for efficient urban management) and CleanTech (environmentally focused innovations like energy efficiency and sustainable solutions). Key provisions include providing capital awards to startups addressing issues like airport efficiency and coastal flooding, requiring diversity in hiring, allowing companies to pilot new technologies on-site, and creating jobs through economic development. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a New York State 1332 innovation program under a federal waiver, providing health insurance coverage for New Yorkers under age 65 with household incomes between 133% and 250% of the federal poverty level who don't qualify for Medicaid or employer-sponsored insurance. It requires coverage for essential health services, including access to cancer centers (at Medicaid reimbursement rates), dental, vision, and support for chronic illnesses. Eligibility excludes those eligible for Medicaid, the Child Health Insurance Program, or affordable employer coverage. The program is subject to federal approval and aims to fill coverage gaps for this specific income group.