Sen. Joe Addabbo

Provides that bicycle operators and the businesses affiliated with such operators shall be liable for such operator's failure to carry an identification card or certain other violations regarding the use of a bicycle for commercial purposes; changes violations for the failure to carry an identification card or certain other violation procedures and fines by a commercial bicycle operator.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the monthly pension benefits for surviving spouses of retired New York public employees from fifty percent to one hundred percent of what the deceased partner would have received. The change applies to several retirement systems, including those for city employees, teachers, police, firefighters, and board of education staff, and takes effect on September 1, 2025. Under the new rules, a surviving spouse who chose a lifetime benefit option for their partner will receive the full amount of the pension starting either in September 2025 or the month after the partner's death, whichever occurs later.

Relates to requiring the use of project labor agreements for large scale construction projects under the state university construction fund; provides an exception to such requirement may be granted; provides that the fund may require every contractor become party to a project labor agreement.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires school districts in Westchester, Putnam, Nassau, and Suffolk counties to follow the disciplinary procedures agreed upon in collective bargaining contracts when punishing bus drivers and their assistants. Under the new rules, districts must generally respect existing union agreements before taking adverse action against these employees, unless a superintendent certifies that the behavior involved egregious misconduct posing a clear and present danger to student safety. In cases where such a certification is made, the bill mandates an expedited fact-finding process that must be completed within five business days. Additionally, if a driver or assistant is later found innocent or if the superintendent's decision was improper, they are entitled to punitive damages for any lost wages incurred during the process.

Relates to adult-use cannabis advertising and marketing; requires advertisements only be placed where seventy-five percent of the audience is reasonably expected to be twenty-one years of age or older, as determined by commercially available reliable, up-to-date audience composition data; provides that all requirements for warnings to be included in audio only advertisements shall not exceed more than fifteen percent of an advertisement's total time.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes specific restrictions on who can receive personal and home care services under Medicaid in New York. It repeals a rule that previously required individuals to need assistance with more than two daily activities or, for those with dementia, supervision with more than one daily activity to qualify. The change allows people with fewer daily living challenges to become eligible for these services if a physician determines they are cost-effective and appropriate. Additionally, the bill clarifies that individuals must be able to make their own choices about the type of care they receive or have a designated representative do so. These updates take effect immediately upon becoming law.

Enacts the "packaging reduction and recycling infrastructure act" to require companies selling, offering for sale, or distributing packaging materials and products to register with a packaging reduction organization to develop a packaging reduction and recycling plan.

Relates to the issuance of arrest warrants upon a youth; provides for the police officer to make a reasonable effort to notify the parent or other person legally responsible for the care of such youth or with whom the youth is domiciled that the youth has been arrested; provides that the police officer need not notify the parent or other person legally responsible when such youth is not also a juvenile offender and the notification would endanger the health and safety of such youth; amends provisions relating to sexually exploited children to include persons under the age of nineteen.

Relates to the automatic identification of elderly pharmaceutical insurance coverage program enrollees who are eligible for HEAP and automatic enrollment of such eligible enrollees in HEAP.

Establishes the clean fuel standard of 2024; provides such standard is intended to reduce greenhouse gas intensity from the on-road transportation sector, with further reductions to be implemented based upon advances in technology.