Relates to an increase in punishment for certain actions against on-duty auxiliary police officers such as criminally negligent homicide, assault or menacing of such officer.
Relates to school climate and codes of conduct on school property and disciplinary action following violation of such codes of conduct; makes conforming amendments.
Establishes a state SNAP minimum benefit program to provide a minimum amount of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits that is higher than the amount of federal SNAP benefits.
Establishes the rental assistance payment standard pilot program where the owner of a housing accommodation shall be entitled to charge and collect a rent equal to the maximum amount that the rental assistance program prescribes for like housing accommodations, subject to rent reasonableness calculations.
Relates to returnable bottles; adds noncarbonated soft drinks, certain noncarbonated fruit or vegetable juices, coffee and tea beverages, carbonated fruit beverages and cider to the definition of "beverage"; provides that beginning April 1, 2027, the handling fee will be six cents for each beverage container accepted by a deposit initiator from a dealer or operator of a redemption center; directs the multi-agency bottle bill fraud investigation team to submit a report on findings of pervasive bottle redemption fraud in New York state.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends New York's penal law to explicitly include displaying a swastika in public view as a form of aggravated harassment in the first degree. It specifically targets acts like placing swastikas on billboards, aerial displays, or similar methods visible to uninvited audiences. The change expands the existing definition of aggravated harassment to cover this specific act, making it a criminal offense under the law. The bill directly affects individuals who publicly display swastikas in ways that could intimidate or harass others.
Establishes a sea level rise mitigation and adaptation plan for cities with a population of one million or more to be implemented by the department of environmental conservation; requires a sea level rise vulnerability and adaptation report to be submitted.
Enacts the Health Care Nondiscrimination Act; requires insurance coverage and health plans to implement equality and non-discrimination between licensed health care providers; requires fee parity between different classes of licensed providers providing the similar or like-kind services; requires practitioners to discuss and refer or prescribe non-pharmacological treatment alternatives before prescribing an opioid treatment; allows any licensed health care provider to perform certain services, including certifying disability and employment by school districts; provides for enforcement and penalties.
Maddy summarySenate Bill S 491 expands the definition of unlawful discriminatory practice in public accommodations. It specifically includes the wearing of religious attire, clothing, or facial hair in accordance with a person's religion under the protected characteristic of "creed." This means that owners, managers, or employees of public places cannot refuse services or deny accommodations to individuals based on these religious practices.
Deems home instruction which is compliant with the provisions of article 65 of the education law and the home instruction requirements prescribed in the commissioner of education's regulations to be substantially equivalent in amount and quality to the instruction given to students of like age and attainments at the public schools of the city or district where the student resides.
