Sen. Julia Salazar

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution asks Governor Kathy Hochul to officially recognize June 2024 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in New York State. The measure does not create new laws or change existing policies but serves as a formal acknowledgment of the community's history and achievements. It highlights key milestones such as the 55th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots and recent legal victories for LGBTQIA+ rights. The bill is purely ceremonial and affects only the state's official calendar and public recognition of the month.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate resolution that formally recognizes former Senator Neil D. Breslin as the recipient of the President Pro Tempore and Senate Majority Leader's Legislative Legacy Award. The document highlights his extensive career in public service, including his 13 terms in the New York State Senate, his leadership roles in ethics and insurance committees, and his advocacy for vulnerable populations. It also lists specific laws he sponsored that improved access to healthcare and prescription drug coverage for New York residents. The resolution concludes by directing that a copy of the text be sent to Senator Breslin to honor his contributions to the state.

Expands who may visit local correctional facilities to include accompanying staff of legislative members and members of the department of corrections and community supervision requested by a legislative member.

Requires public agencies to establish preliminary license application procedures to determine whether an applicant for a license would be ineligible for such license based on criminal history; establishes time frames for public agencies to respond to such applications; requires public agencies to report information regarding granting licenses annually.

Provides for including uncles, aunts, nephews, and nieces in the definition of "family member" in relation to regulations pertaining to rights of family members to succeed in certain cases to the rights of certain tenants.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the State Commission of Correction by increasing the number of members from three to nine. The new commission will include representatives appointed by the governor, the speaker of the assembly, the temporary president of the senate, and the correctional association, with specific requirements that at least one member be a formerly incarcerated person, a public health professional, a behavioral healthcare professional, or an attorney specializing in prisoner rights. All members must serve full-time without holding other salaried public positions, and they will serve staggered five-year terms to ensure continuity. The legislation also clarifies that the appointing authority for each member can remove them for cause after a hearing.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the New York State Department of Health to create a comprehensive report analyzing how hospital closures affect healthcare access across the state. The report must include detailed data on hospital locations, bed availability, patient demographics, financial conditions, and travel times, while also consulting with public health experts and community leaders. Based on these findings, the department will identify "distressed healthcare zones" and update this designation every three years to guide future healthcare funding and service approvals. The final report is required to be published online by April 1, 2025, and must be written in clear language accessible to the general public.

Provides that for the purposes of educational leave, an eligible incarcerated individual shall include an incarcerated individual who is within two years of being an eligible incarcerated individual.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows licensed creative arts therapists to bill Medicaid directly for services they provide to patients. It updates existing state laws to include creative arts therapists alongside mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists as eligible providers for Medicaid-covered care. The legislation clarifies that this change does not alter the professional scope of practice for these therapists but simply enables them to receive payment directly from the Medicaid program. The bill would take effect approximately 90 days after it is signed into law.

Relates to rechargeable battery recycling; adds a battery used as the principal electric power source for an electric scooter or bicycle with electric assist to the definition of "rechargeable battery"; provides that a battery manufacturer may not sell, offer for sale, or distribute rechargeable batteries in the state unless the battery manufacturer is implementing or participating under an approved plan; allows a city with a population of one million or more to enforce through its own agencies.