Sen. James Sanders

Provides for unpaid leave of absence for victims of domestic violence; permits victims of domestic violence to take an unpaid leave of absence for twenty days from employment to address on-going domestic violence; defines "address on-going domestic violence"; contains provision to protect the individual's job position and benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 5570) allows voters to submit absentee ballot applications electronically via email, fax, or an online system established by the state board of elections, without needing to follow up with a paper copy. It requires election boards to accept these electronic submissions as valid originals and mandates them to advertise email/fax options and provide links to the online system. Applications must be received by the 10th day before an election for electronic submissions (or the day before for in-person delivery). The bill directly affects voters requesting absentee ballots and election boards processing these applications, streamlining the submission process while maintaining deadlines.

Authorizes the New York state department of financial services to oversee the planned closing of bank branch offices by federally chartered banking organizations.

Establishes a civil cause of action for employees who are subjected to an abusive work environment; provides employers shall be vicariously liable for such work environment.

Requires a purchaser of any firearm, rifle or shotgun to submit to a mental health evaluation and provide the seller with such purchaser's approval to purchase such firearm.

Prohibits persons under the age of twenty-one years from possessing or using cannabis except for patients certified pursuant to article three of the cannabis law; provides for the seizure of such cannabis from a person under age twenty-one and the imposition of civil penalties, community service, or both for violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all schools to create and enforce anti-harassment policies with specific provisions. It mandates schools to provide safety transfers for students who experience harassment, apply disciplinary measures for harassers, and post policies in the ten most common languages spoken in the district. Schools must train staff and students on preventing harassment, and principals must ensure policies are distributed to all staff, students, and parents. The bill also creates annual public reporting requirements, including yearly statistics on harassment incidents and safety transfers, published on the education department’s website.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state social services agency to distribute food stamp applications to all state-funded food pantries and soup kitchens starting in 2026. It mandates quarterly reports to the governor and legislature detailing which emergency feeding programs received applications and how many were distributed. The law directly affects food pantries and soup kitchens that receive state funding, ensuring they have access to food stamp application materials. The reporting requirement begins January 1, 2026, and the bill takes effect 90 days after enactment.

Directs the commissioner of the office of general services to erect a monument to be known as the "New York state African slavery and freedom memorial" in the Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza to memorialize victims of the African Holocaust, the Holocaust of Enslavement, the Black Holocaust, or the enslavement of Black people and to celebrate the universal values of freedom, democracy and human rights for all people.

Enacts the economic development performance review act; prescribes the functions and purposes of the special evaluation program bond act; requires state agencies involved in economic development activities to prepare an annual comprehensive performance review of their programs.