Sen. Robert Jackson

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits child care assistance programs from requiring parents or caretakers to earn a minimum wage to qualify for support. By removing this earnings threshold, the legislation allows eligible families to receive child care aid regardless of their specific income level. The change applies immediately to parents and caretakers who meet other standard eligibility criteria for assistance.

Relates to establishing discount programs for low-income senior citizens and individuals with a disability; provides that utilities, waterworks corporations, telephone corporations and cable television companies shall create discount programs that provide a 10 percent discount to low-income senior citizens and individuals with a disability; defines terms.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public water systems serving specific residential areas to identify and inspect for lead service lines. It defines a covered water system as one serving at least fifteen connections or regularly providing water to twenty-five year-round residents. The law mandates that these systems offer free inspections and outlines a process where, if a property owner does not respond within thirty days, consent can be obtained from other adult occupants living on the property. Additionally, the bill allows water systems to take steps authorized by local codes to secure access if consent is initially refused, while ensuring that non-owner occupants are not held liable for consenting to the inspection.

Provides for adjustment of the maximum income threshold for eligibility for the senior citizen rent increase exemption (SCRIE), disability rent increase exemption (DRIE), senior citizen homeowners' exemption (SCHE), and disabled homeowners' exemption (DHE) by any increase in the consumer price index (CPI).

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that medical services offered at school-based health centers be provided directly to eligible students rather than through managed care programs. It mandates that these specific services continue to operate outside of the standard managed care system used for medical assistance recipients. The change ensures that care delivered in schools bypasses the usual managed care structure, though the bill has been substituted by another version and remains under consideration.

Requires manufactured home park owners to provide a written justification for rent increases in excess of three percent of the current rent; provides that increases in costs to justify such rent increase for ordinary maintenance or repair to meet the warranty of habitability obligations must be shown to be necessary.

Requires the commissioner of health to promulgate regulations requiring that the addition of, decertification of, or changes in the method of delivery of perinatal services by a general hospital be subject to an application under article 28 of the public health law that requires review and approval by the council.

Repeals provisions relating to resolutions of disputes in the course of collective negotiations with certain deputy sheriffs to provide such deputy sheriffs with the same interest arbitration scope as municipal police officers.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the Freedom of Information Act to set stricter deadlines for government agencies responding to public records requests. It requires agencies to acknowledge receipt of a request within five business days and mandates that most responses be completed within thirty days, with a maximum extension of sixty days for complex cases. The legislation also clarifies that agencies cannot deny requests simply because they are large or require significant staff time, provided they can hire outside help to fulfill them. Additionally, the bill mandates that agencies accept and respond to requests via email and ensures their websites allow for online submission of these requests. These changes aim to make the process more efficient and transparent for citizens seeking government information.

Requires entities responsible for the provision of vital services to coordinate and work expeditiously to restore service whenever such service is interrupted; includes gas as a vital service.