Sen. Jessica Ramos

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the State University of New York (SUNY) board of trustees from the list of entities authorized to approve charter school applications in New York. It specifically deletes SUNY's role as a "charter entity" in education law, leaving only local school district boards (with geographic limits) and the Board of Regents as approval authorities. The change streamlines the charter school approval process by eliminating SUNY as a potential reviewer, affecting how new charter schools and school conversions are evaluated.

Enacts the good jobs guarantee program to provide workforce training and opportunities for employment for residents of New York state to secure high paying jobs through the acquisition of job skills.

Requires instruction in civic education for grades 5 through 12 including instruction on the NYS constitution; federal, state and local government; civic literacy; methods of public participation; and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

Establishes local wage enforcement authority in the city of New York; authorizes the city of New York to establish a minimum wage that is higher than the statewide minimum wage.

Relates to an increase in punishment for certain actions against on-duty auxiliary police officers such as criminally negligent homicide, assault or menacing of such officer.

Enacts the "faith-based affordable housing act" for development on residential land; defines terms; provides that each village, town, and city shall allow the construction and occupation of residential buildings on any covered site up to the specified densities; provides that all residential buildings constructed pursuant to this section in a town, village, or city with fewer than one million inhabitants shall set aside twenty percent of the residential floor area for households earning an average of eighty percent of area median income; outlines the densities for New York city; makes related provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits retail businesses from requiring employees to perform "human billboard" activities - such as holding signs or wearing branded clothing outside stores for advertising - when outdoor temperatures reach 90°F or higher. It directly affects retail employees who might otherwise be asked to stand outdoors in extreme heat for promotional purposes. The law defines "retail business" as entities selling consumer goods (like clothing or groceries) and specifies "extreme temperatures" as 90°F+ measured outdoors. The prohibition takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Relates to school climate and codes of conduct on school property and disciplinary action following violation of such codes of conduct; makes conforming amendments.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state-funded transportation subsidy to help public school students access private water safety instruction courses. It allows eligible K-12 students in public schools to use the subsidy for transportation to qualified private facilities offering water safety programs, provided there are no more than 10 such facilities within 2.5 miles (in cities over 1 million) or 5 miles (outside those cities) of their school. The subsidy is optional for schools and requires students to provide proof of enrollment in an approved program. The state education department will establish regulations covering eligible transportation types (like school buses or public transit), parent transportation eligibility, and subsidy distribution methods. The bill takes effect 90 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryBill S 7617, known as the "Safer Consumption Services Act," allows the Department of Health to approve entities to establish overdose prevention center programs. These programs provide hygienic spaces for individuals to consume preobtained drugs, staffed by healthcare professionals or trained personnel. They offer sterile supplies, overdose prevention education, administer first aid, and provide referrals to substance use disorder treatment and other services. The bill grants immunity from criminal, civil, or administrative penalties to participants, program staff, and property owners solely for their good faith involvement in an approved program.