Sen. Joe Addabbo

Establishes the crime of forcible touching of a correction officer; increases criminal penalties for certain sexual offenses committed against correction officers when such correction officer is acting in the course of such correction officer's employment.

Requires the principal of any high school to allow any local trade union, upon request, to enter the school for the purpose of trade union recruitment, including, but not limited to: making presentations; disseminating literature; and answering questions by students.

Defines the practice of certified registered nurse anesthetist; requires collaboration with a licensed physician qualified to determine the need for anesthesia services; requires licensing; defines qualifications.

Requires additional disclosures from lobbyists including: campaign contributions to elected officials; existing business relationships or associations with public officials; and the names of family members of a public official to whom the lobbyist, or their employer, paid compensation of over $500 in the preceding calendar year and the amount of compensation paid; provides for the disposition of campaign funds.

Improves transparency in the insurance claims process; regulates insurance adjusting professionals; institutes licensing standards for insurance professionals; ensures timely responses to insurance claims; enhances policyholder protections.

Maddy summaryS 656 requires new homes built with certain New York state or federal financial assistance to include basic accessibility features for people with disabilities. It mandates step-free entrances, 36-inch wide interior doors, environmental controls at accessible heights (15-48 inches above floor), and specific bathroom requirements including grab bar reinforcements and minimum clear floor space. The law applies to detached single-family homes, ground-floor townhouses, or ground-floor units in buildings with three or fewer units. Exclusions cover sites with physically unreasonable constraints and certain mortgage-backed loans (like FHA or Fannie Mae). Violations carry civil penalties of $50-$500 per offense.

Relates to establishing the crime of coercive control; provides that a person is guilty of coercive control when such person engages in a course of conduct against a member of such person's same family or household, without the victim's consent, which results in limiting or restricting, in full or in part, the victim's behavior, movement, associations or access to or use of such victim's own finances or financial information; provides that coercive control is a class E felony.

Prohibits the manufacture, modification, sale, transfer, equipping, use, or operation of a robotic device or an uncrewed aircraft equipped or mounted with a weapon within the state.

Requires that public schools provide instruction on climate change, including but not limited to identifying the causes and impacts of climate change on individuals, environments and communities, and learning to evaluate solutions.

Establishes graduate tuition assistance program awards; sets amounts of such awards; provides for restrictions on such awards; makes related provisions.