Sen. Cordell Cleare

Maddy summaryThis bill gives New York's Board of Regents final authority to approve or deny all new and renewed charter school proposals. Charter schools seeking approval must resubmit their applications to the Board of Regents after addressing its feedback, and the Board must make a final decision within 30 days (or the proposal is automatically approved). It directly affects charter school applicants and entities by shifting the final approval decision from local authorities to the state Board of Regents, requiring all modifications to satisfy the Board's recommendations before approval. The bill does not change the process for charter school operations, only the final approval step for new or renewed charters.

Enacts the "cannabis adult-use transition act"; increases the number of members on the state cannabis advisory board from thirteen to seventeen voting appointed members; provides that an eligible registered organization shall be authorized as a registered organization adult-use cultivator processor distributor retail dispensary upon approval of an application to the office of cannabis management that must be available to such registered organizations no later than August first, two thousand twenty-five and remain available thereafter; provides that the office must approve or deny such application within thirty days of its submission or it shall be deemed approved; makes related provisions.

Provides for the regulation of indoor and outdoor worksites with temperature protection standards and education, training and reporting requirements to ensure that employers provide safe conditions for their employees.

Requires institutions and local correctional facilities to adhere to certain standards regarding the surveillance of incarcerated individuals and detainees, and access to such surveillance recordings.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 6678) allows school districts, charter schools, and cooperative educational services to optionally incorporate music and art into prekindergarten programs. It does not require schools to add these subjects, but permits them to do so if they choose. The law would take effect 90 days after enactment, with no specific funding or implementation details provided. The bill is currently referred to the Education committee.

Maddy summaryS 6500 establishes a merit time allowance credit program for eligible individuals in local correctional facilities (those serving one year or less sentences or awaiting trial). Participants earn one 24-hour credit for every four days of successful involvement in approved educational, vocational, work, or rehabilitative programs. These credits directly reduce their sentence time and are transferable to state facilities if convicted of a felony. The program requires voluntary participation, prohibits using non-participation as evidence against individuals, and mandates facilities to maintain and transfer credit records.

Ensures free speech on all college and university campuses within the state; creates a cause of action for those who have their freedom of speech infringed upon by a college or university.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3749) repeals a specific provision - paragraph (e) of subdivision 3 of section 2853 - in New York's Education Law. It removes the exact language of that paragraph without adding new requirements or altering other parts of the law. The bill directly affects the legal text of the Education Law but does not change any current policies, programs, or services. The change is purely procedural, eliminating one specific clause from the existing statute.

Maddy summarySenate Bill S 7563 requires all schools to conduct monthly inspections of their Automated External Defibrillator (AED) equipment. These inspections must be performed by staff certified in AED operation, following manufacturer and government standards. If an AED is found to be faulty, it must be replaced with a new device through the school's emergency health care provider. Schools must also keep written records of all maintenance and testing, submitting them annually to the Commissioner of Health.

Directs the commissioner of agriculture and markets, in consultation with the commissioner of the office of temporary and disability assistance, to establish a grant program to provide funding to emergency food providers to purchase prepared meals from New York restaurants and deliver them to families in need.