Sen. Andrew Gounardes

Prohibits the diminution of health insurance benefits of public employee retirees and their dependents or reducing the employer's contributions for such insurance; defines employers to include the state, municipalities, school districts, and public authorities and commissions.

Establishes an unemployment bridge program and an unemployment bridge program fund to provide wage replacement to workers that do not qualify for unemployment insurance or other worker wage assistance programs and who have lost a major source of income due to lost work (Part A); establishes the "Digital Ad Tax Act (DATA)" creating a tax on digital advertising services (Part B).

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the previous 10-visit or 30-day limit for licensed physical therapists treating patients without a physician referral. It directly affects physical therapists and their patients, allowing extended treatment without referral while adding new requirements: therapists must refer patients if symptoms suggest conditions outside their scope, maintain communication with primary care providers during treatment, and provide written notice to patients about potential insurance coverage issues without a referral. The law mandates this notice be documented in patient records. Patients may face uncovered costs if treatment occurs without a referral, as insurers typically require one for coverage.

Prohibits publicly traded pharmacies with twenty or more stores in this state from establishing or enforcing quotas for duties performed by pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, including evaluating or measuring the number of prescriptions filled, services rendered, programs offered and revenue obtained.

Establishes the Early Learning Child Care Act to impose a payroll tax on certain employers for the purposes of addressing child care affordability, accessibility, and quality for families with children under five years of age; establishes the early learning child care fund; establishes the early learning child care program to provide subsidies to covered children to attend early learning child care programs; establishes the New York state child care board.

Maddy summaryS 4898 updates New York's civil service law to classify members of the state militia holding appointed or employed positions as "public employees." This directly affects those militia members, bringing them under standard civil service protections and procedures previously excluded from the definition. The key change amends the legal definition in the civil service law to include militia roles, removing a prior exclusion. This ensures these personnel are treated like other public employees under relevant state laws, though they remain excluded from specific provisions in sections 210 and 211 of the law.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 3144, expands the required service area for accessible paratransit transportation. It mandates that accessible buses be available within a service area measuring three miles from any bus line operated by a transportation authority or its subsidiaries. This provision applies to both existing requirements for a percentage of accessible buses and the mandate for 100% accessible fixed-route buses, aiming to ensure broader geographical access for transportation-disabled persons, including those in wheelchairs.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 7644, creates the "Paid-In Act" by exempting used books from state sales tax when purchased for $100 or less per item. It directly affects buyers of secondhand books, such as students or thrift store shoppers, by reducing their purchase costs on qualifying items. The key provision amends tax law to add "used books, including secondhand purchases" to the list of tax-exempt items, with the $100 limit applying per book. This change takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Enacts a highway use tax on fuel-efficient vehicles which get at least 30 miles per gallon; requires the installation of an on-board unit to record miles travelled; reimburses vehicle owners for gas tax through a credit against highway tax; deposits moneys into the dedicated highway and bridge trust fund.

Authorizes the commission on ethics and lobbying in government to provide a training course concerning anti-sexual harassment training for lobbyists; requires lobbyists to complete the course annually.