Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton

Maddy summarySenate Bill S 7954 amends the requirements for organizations providing fiscal intermediary services in the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program. It expands the definition of "fiscal intermediary" to include more entities, such as certain service centers for independent living, granting them equal status to the statewide fiscal intermediary. These newly defined fiscal intermediaries can contract directly with managed care plans and must provide culturally and linguistically competent services. The bill also removes the specific procurement process for a single statewide fiscal intermediary, aiming to offer consumers more choice in these services.

Excludes the five state-run veterans homes from assessments on their gross receipts received from all patient care services and other operating income; directs the Commissioner of Health to apply to the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services for any necessary waivers pursuant to federal law and regulation.

Establishes a moratorium on the adoption and/or implementation of certain local laws or ordinances, or certain rules or regulations, by a city with a population of one million or more, related to achieving certain reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

Enacts the overdose prevention and recovery act; directs that at least twenty percent of funds from the opioid stewardship fund shall be invested in recovery services and supports; requires an annual report to the legislature regarding funds distributed from the opioid stewardship fund; makes the opioid stewardship fund permanent.

Provides that health regulations may not be waived under the hospital-home care-physician collaboration program without publication and opportunity for public comment; prohibits waiver of an applicant's obligation to meet public need, character and competence, or financial feasibility requirements.

Establishes the universal child care act to provide for the establishment and funding of universal child care in the state of New York; establishes a universal child care taskforce to help implement universal child care in the state and repeals certain provisions of the social services law relating thereto; establishes the permanent child care workforce pay equity fund; establishes a universal child care public option pilot program to provide universal child care in at least twenty locations throughout the state; makes an appropriation therefor.

Provides for the review of a suitable child care plan to be presented by the petitioning parent for the period of deployment, including but not limited to, reasonable notice by deploying parent to other parent of deployment, procedures for parents to make out of court arrangements regarding custody and visitation during deployment; prohibits an order of permanent custody without deployed parent's consent; makes related provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the NYPD to grant permanent lieutenant or sergeant rank to detectives who serve more than 18 months in temporary commander or supervisor roles within the detective bureau. It applies directly to detectives temporarily assigned to lead detective squads. The commissioner must automatically make this permanent appointment after the 18-month period, with salaries determined by the mayor. The change takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates New York's Veteran Student Loan Forgiveness Program, providing eligible veterans with up to $10,000 annually toward student loan debt for up to five years (capping at $50,000 total). It directly affects New York resident veterans who: graduated from a New York college/university, hold student loans from that degree, work full-time in New York, agree to reside in the state for five years, and have no prior federal loan forgiveness. Priority is given to veterans with a 40%+ disability rating from military service or documented economic hardship. The program is funded through state appropriations, with awards disbursed competitively based on established eligibility rules.

Provides that recovery of wages due to a clerical error by the employer or vendor of the employer is prohibited if such clerical error did not result in an overpayment or other inaccuracy in the amount of wages paid or the time in which wages were dispersed.