Sen. Jessica Ramos

Provides employers with a tax credit in an amount not to exceed 20% of expenses incurred in providing day care services to the children and wards of its employees and in training persons employed by the taxpayer or a third party provider rendering such services; provides that to receive such credit the facility or program rendering day care services must be licensed.

Requires that in civil claims under the child victims act, adult survivors act, or a civil sex trafficking claim any insurer who may provide liability coverage for a claim shall, upon request from the claimant or claimant's attorney, provide information regarding each known policy of insurance; provides that a person bringing a civil claim in a sex trafficking case need not disclose their immigration status.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends New York City's on-demand E-hail paratransit pilot program until March 2027, expanding it to include 1,200 additional Access-A-Ride paratransit users. It requires the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to add these new users by March 2026, selecting them to represent diverse demographics (age, disability, location, and usage patterns). The pilot allows enrolled users to book immediate rides via smartphone app or phone, with fares matching standard bus/subway rates and no limits on ride duration or frequency. The MTA must also report on ridership, usage, and costs by April 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill imposes a tax on sugary drinks based on their sugar content per 12-ounce serving. Distributors (like manufacturers and wholesalers) pay the tax, which is added to the retail price: no tax for drinks with ≤7.5g sugar/12oz, $0.01 per ounce for 7.5-30g, and $0.02 per ounce for ≥30g. Revenue from this tax funds a "community health equity fund" as specified in the bill's abstract. The tax applies to most nonalcoholic beverages containing added sugars, excluding medical drinks, milk, natural fruit/vegetable juices, and water.

Relates to requiring a certificate of merit in proceedings to recover possession of real property; requires the petition shall be accompanied by a certificate, signed by the attorney for the petitioner, certifying that the attorney has reviewed the facts of the case and that, based on consultation with representatives of the petitioner identified in the certificate and the attorney's review of pertinent documents, there is a reasonable basis for the commencement of such action; provides that where a petitioner willfully fails to provide copies of required papers and documents the court may dismiss the petition without prejudice.

Makes migrant youth under the age of 25 who are receiving runaway and homeless youth services eligible to receive housing vouchers under the family homelessness and eviction prevention supplement ("FHEPS") program.

Requires at least one full-time guidance counselor to be employed in each elementary, intermediate, middle, junior and senior high school throughout the state; sets duties of guidance counselors.

Requires school districts and charter schools to establish a task force to make recommendations on model curriculum or instruction on the political, economic, and social contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual people, in an appropriate place in the curriculum of middle school and high school students.

Grants immunity from liability and professional retaliation against a law enforcement employee who intervenes against police misconduct committed by another member of law enforcement.

Maddy summaryBill S 358 aims to expand eligibility for personal and home care services funded by Medicaid. It removes specific functional assessment criteria, which currently require individuals to need assistance with a certain number of daily living activities to qualify. This includes removing particular requirements for those with dementia or Alzheimer's diagnoses. The bill directly affects individuals seeking to receive in-home care services through the Medicaid program by making it easier to meet eligibility standards.