Sen. Cordell Cleare

Provides that an applicant for the cooling assistance component of the home energy assistance program shall not be required to demonstrate that the household contains at least one person with a documented medical condition that is exacerbated by extreme heat to be eligible for a cooling assistance component benefit.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 5249) automatically grants Medicaid eligibility to workers participating in strikes or labor disputes, ensuring they maintain health coverage during the strike period. It directly affects striking employees who would otherwise lose Medicaid due to employment status, without requiring them to reapply. Key provisions include limiting coverage strictly to the duration of the strike, prohibiting the consideration of personal resources (like savings) when determining eligibility, and allowing temporary "presumptive eligibility" through health department processes. The bill requires the Health Commissioner to create implementing regulations for eligibility rules and covered services.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New York's real property tax law to provide tax abatements (reductions in property tax bills) for households where the head of household has a disability. It sets specific income limits: households with disability-related benefits like SSI or SSDI must have combined income under $29,000, while others face a $50,000 threshold, all based on federal disability benefit guidelines. Municipalities can maintain existing local tax abatement rules without new public hearings. The policy directly affects low-to-moderate-income disabled residents and their households seeking property tax relief.

Directs the commissioner of health to provide authorizations to all fiscal intermediaries that timely submit a request for authorization prior to January 1, 2026; details information required for such authorizations; makes related provisions.

Establishes a tax credit for individuals who serve or are employed as a direct support professional, or direct care worker, up to five thousand dollars for taxpayers who make less than fifty thousand dollars and phased out for individuals who make over one hundred thousand dollars.

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.

Maddy summaryS 377 requires New York's six human services agencies (mental health, developmental disabilities, addiction services, disability assistance, children's services, and aging) to adjust funding rates annually starting April 1, 2025, based on inflation. The adjustment uses the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) to ensure reimbursement rates for covered programs keep pace with rising costs. It applies to specific services like mental health clinics, developmental disability supports, addiction treatment, and disability assistance programs, replacing all other cost-of-living increases for these services. The bill aims to maintain stable funding for service providers without requiring new legislative action each year.

Provides for the remote conduct of certain practices and procedures including meetings and notarizations utilizing electronic and/or audio-visual technologies.

Establishes the "reciprocal enforcement of claims on unpaid or reduced state entitlements act" which requires a report on delinquent funds owed to the state by the federal government as a result of the federal government's nonpayment in contravention of a court decision and the withholding and appropriation of federal funds in an amount equal to.

Relates to establishing the commission on African American history and achievement to develop and recommend school curriculum that incorporates the contributions and achievements made by African Americans.