Sen. Leroy Comrie

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 5361) requires health insurers in New York to reimburse licensed behavioral health providers (under public health or mental hygiene laws) for ambulatory behavioral health services at a minimum rate equivalent to what the state's Medicaid program (Medical Assistance) pays for similar services. It applies to all health insurance policies covering medical, major medical, or comprehensive coverage, including group plans and health maintenance organizations. Insurers may negotiate higher rates with providers but cannot pay less than the Medicaid-equivalent rate established under the Ambulatory Patient Group (APG) methodology. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, for all new or renewed policies.

Creates the office of expungement and automatic sealing within the division of criminal justice services to oversee the sealing and expungement of certain convictions.

Creates a caregiver support program for grandparents and other older adult relative caregivers who are providing primary care for children aged 18 and under either formally or informally to provide technical assistance, counseling and other resources.

Prohibits a developer from using or displaying the seal of an architect or landscape architect on the developer's plans unless such architect or landscape architect has overseen and approved the development and creation of the plans; provides penalties for violation; and provides an enforcement mechanism.

Provides that, to the extent practicable, any incarcerated individual who is receiving mental health services or participating in a mental health program shall not have the time spent participating in such mental health services or programs deducted from any other activity time such incarcerated individual receives.

Relates to creating annual reporting obligations by municipal housing authorities to the authorities budget office with respect to state-funded activities of such municipal housing authorities.

Requires certain candidates to file a statement attesting to the veracity of statements regarding the candidate's educational history, and service, employment and residency record; provides for the filing of amended statements; provides penalties.

Grants a combat veteran tax credit for entrepreneurs to provide a five hundred dollar tax credit to combat veteran entrepreneurs who create a business in New York state.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the Long Island Rail Road's existing weekend reduced fare program to include East New York station. It requires the LIRR to provide the same reduced weekend fare for all trips entirely within New York City, specifically including travel between East New York station and other NYC locations (preventing riders from losing the discount due to trains passing through Nassau County). The law makes it unlawful for the LIRR to exclude these East New York-to-NYC or NYC-to-East New York trips from the reduced fare program. The policy change takes effect January 1 following enactment.

Prohibits foreign banking corporations from issuing payday loans; defines payday loans as any transaction in which a short-term cash advance is made to a consumer in exchange for: a consumer's personal check or share draft, in the amount of an advance plus a fee, where presentment or negotiation of such check or share draft is deferred by agreement of the parties until a designated future date; or a consumer's authorization to debit the consumer's transaction account, in the amount of the advance plus a fee, where such account will be debited on or after a designated future date.