Sen. Cordell Cleare

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Division of Criminal Justice Services to create a "human trafficking interceptors program" in collaboration with law enforcement and other agencies. The program aims to identify and assist human trafficking victims through coordinated efforts. Key provisions require the Division to develop guidelines and adopt necessary rules to operate the program, with immediate implementation allowed before the bill's effective date. The law directly affects the Division of Criminal Justice Services and its partner agencies, focusing on practical steps to address trafficking. It does not change existing laws but mandates a new operational framework for victim assistance.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New York school districts to implement age-appropriate hate crime awareness curriculum. It directs the education commissioner, with input from the Division of Human Rights, to develop content covering discrimination, religious intolerance (including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia), and positive actions for inclusion. Schools may integrate this into existing social studies or other curricula, without requiring statewide uniformity. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new separate license category for natural hair styling in New York, distinct from cosmetology licenses. It specifically covers services like braiding, twisting, weaving, and locking hair (but excludes hair coloring, chemical treatments, or cutting as primary services). To obtain a license, applicants must complete a maximum 40-hour training program focused on health/safety and demonstrate braiding skills, with requirements offered in the applicant's preferred language. The law aims to recognize natural hair styling as a culturally distinct practice requiring its own licensing pathway.

Increases the state discretionary buying threshold without a formal competitive process for certain commodities from certain businesses, including construction services.

Requires information on resources for domestic violence and human trafficking victims to be posted in public restrooms and other areas of public buildings which shall be deemed appropriate by the office and task force on human trafficking.

Directs the commissioner of housing and community renewal, in consultation with the director of the budget and the commissioner of taxation and finance, to conduct a study to examine the efficacy of the creation of a statewide affordable housing agency whose sole mission is to directly build affordable housing utilizing state funds and employing residents of the state to accomplish such construction of affordable housing.

Repeals the tax exempt status of private universities that received real property tax exemptions of one hundred million dollars or more during the prior fiscal year.

Relates to the promulgation of rules and regulations establishing minimum standards for the construction or improvement of correctional facilities and the care, custody, correction, treatment, supervision, discipline, and other correctional programs for all persons confined in such facilities; allows counties flexibility in establishing minimum staffing ratios.

Establishes the Terry Cooper autopsy accountability act requiring autopsy reports to include all photographs of the body, microscopic slides, and post-mortem x-rays taken by, at the direction of, or reviewed by the person performing the autopsy.

Enacts the New York state nursing shortage correction act; creates statewide nursing recruitment incentive and retention pilot initiatives; establishes the New York state nursing recruitment incentive and retention account.