Sen. Zellnor Myrie

Maddy summaryThis bill mandates the installation of working smoke detectors in shared areas like hallways, lobbies, and stairwells of multi-unit apartment buildings. It applies to most multi-family residences but excludes properties managed by public housing authorities that already meet federal safety standards. The law requires these alarms to be audible in common spaces and allows for battery-operated devices. Additionally, the bill clarifies that a failure to install these detectors does not breach property warranties or void fire insurance policies.

Directs the commissioner of health to establish guidelines for onsite opioid overdose response capacity in community centers; defines "community center".

Enacts the "New York city teleworking expansion act"; provides that each agency shall establish a policy and program to allow employees to perform all or a portion of their duties through teleworking to the maximum extent possible without diminished employee performance; defines the term "telework" to mean to perform normal and regular work functions on a workday that ordinarily would be performed at the agency's principal location at a different location, thereby eliminating or substantially reducing the physical commute to and from such agency's principal location.

Provides for the designation by a general hospital of persons to identify infectious disease processes, conduct surveillance and epidemiologic investigations, and develop plans to prevent and control the transmission of infectious agents within general hospitals.

Requires the advisory council on maternal mortality and morbidity to undertake a review of the cesarean births at hospitals in the state; requires two licensed midwives to be on the advisory council.

Limits the amount of rent increases for residential ground lease cooperative apartment buildings; establishes certain rights upon the expiration of such leases.

Establishes a captive insurance program for commuter vans, black cars, ambulettes and paratransit vehicles, small school buses, and charter buses that are engaged in the business of carrying or transporting eight to twenty-four passengers for hire; pre-arranged for-hire vehicles and accessible vehicles; defines terms.

Permits a candidate who was depicted in materially deceptive media in a political communication to seek injunctive or other equitable relief prohibiting the publication of such materially deceptive media unless certain disclosures are provided; establishes an affirmative defense.

Provides that the court shall not reduce jury awards as excessive in employment discrimination actions unless the court finds exceptional circumstances which compel the conclusion that the jury was influenced by partiality, prejudice, mistake or corruption.

Amends the constitution to delete the requirement that registration for purposes of voting be completed at least ten days before election day; provides that laws be made to adequately safeguard against deception in the exercise of the right of suffrage.