Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton

Maddy summaryThis bill allows property/casualty insurance companies to deliver certain notices (like policy updates or coverage evidence) electronically instead of by mail, under specific conditions. It directly affects policyholders receiving insurance notices and insurers managing policy communications. The key provision requires electronic notices to meet standards set by New York's state technology law, and permits delivery to an electronic address not listed in the policy. It amends Insurance Law §3458 and Vehicle & Traffic Law §313 to enable this change. The bill passed the Senate and is now in the Assembly for review.

Relates to the topics of the course required to be taken by practitioners certifying patients as eligible for medical cannabis; establishes the endocannabinoid system awareness program; requires the office of cannabis awareness and the department of health to publish information about the endocannabinoid system awareness program on their websites.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New York's state education commissioner to study recess practices in public and charter schools for kindergarten through sixth grade. The study will survey schools on key details like how many offer recess, its duration and frequency, whether it's indoors or outdoors, supervision levels, barriers to providing it, and if it includes both structured and unstructured play time. The commissioner must submit a report by December 31, 2025, to state officials and publish it online. This is a data-gathering measure with no immediate policy changes; it simply requires a comprehensive review of current recess policies in elementary schools.

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents juvenile offenders from being transferred to adult criminal court if they possessed a loaded firearm while committing a crime, keeping them in the family court system instead. It specifically adds a new condition where the mere possession of a loaded gun during the offense is enough to stop the transfer, regardless of whether the gun was used to threaten anyone or cause injury. The law applies to cases where the prosecutor cannot prove that the defendant caused significant physical injury, displayed a weapon to further the crime, or committed specific sexual offenses. By making this change, the bill ensures that juveniles with loaded firearms but without other aggravating factors remain under the jurisdiction of family courts rather than facing adult prosecution.

Provides that when a drug is designated or rescheduled by the federal government, it shall be deemed scheduled under NYS law automatically, without further action by the commissioner.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Disability Care Providers Fund to support organizations that serve individuals with developmental disabilities. It allows New York state taxpayers to voluntarily contribute money to this fund by making an optional election on their personal income tax return, though these contributions do not reduce the amount of tax owed. All money raised through this process will be held in a special account and spent only on programs and services for disability care providers, with annual reports required to show how the funds are used.

Directs the power authority of the state of New York to make low-cost power and energy services available to providers of services for individuals with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities.

Authorizes the governor to deploy non-state resource providers to the northern emergency management assistance compact and the international emergency management assistance compact.

Enacts the "Empowering People in Rights Enforcement (EMPIRE) Worker Protection Act"; relates to the delegation of state enforcement authority to private actors; authorizes an affected employee, whistleblower, representative organization or an organizational deputy to initiate a public enforcement action on behalf of the commissioner for certain provisions of the labor law, or any regulation promulgated thereunder.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands retirement service credit eligibility for various law enforcement officers in New York State, including those in the Department of Environmental Conservation, regional state park police, university police, and the New York Waterfront Commission. It requires these officers to be automatically covered by the state police retirement provisions and grants credit for their previous police service when calculating retirement benefits. The legislation also provides additional service credit for state university police officers who meet specific training and service requirements. These changes will take effect on July 1, 2026, and apply to officers entering or re-entering service after specified dates.