Sen. Robert Jackson

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Affordable Housing Relief Fund Program in New York State to help preserve existing low-income rental buildings that are facing financial trouble. The program provides forgivable loans to property owners and non-profit organizations to cover essential repairs, debt restructuring, and other costs needed to keep these buildings safe and affordable. Eligible properties must already be subject to affordability agreements, and the loans have zero interest with no monthly payments, becoming fully forgiven after ten years if the building remains affordable. If a property is sold or stops meeting affordability rules within that decade, the recipient must repay the funds. The Housing Trust Fund Corporation will manage the program, set application criteria, and report annually to the legislature on how the money is used.

Establishes the "tenant opportunity to purchase act"; prevents the displacement of middle and lower-income tenants in New York and preserves affordable housing by providing an opportunity for tenants to own or remain renters in the properties in which they reside.

Requires the inspection of non-fireproof buildings every three years; requires compliance with the New York city housing maintenance code and the New York city construction codes; requires those dwellings not in compliance with such code at the time of inspection to make repairs or improvements necessary to comply with such standards within six months of such inspection, or a lien shall be placed upon the dwelling.

Establishes a Black Leadership Institute within the state university of New York as an initiative for Black leaders in higher education with a mission to retain and grow from within SUNY a greater proportion of Black professionals at SUNY campuses; creates an eight member advisory council.

Prohibits naming dependent children under the age of 18 living in the same household with a parent or guardian in petitions to recover possession of real property and eviction warrants; seals any records pertaining to dependent children under the age of 18 living in the same household with a parent or guardian who were residing on or removed from such property.

Ensures that boards of elections provide adequate notice to each voter before and after a board cancels the voter's registration or places such voter in inactive status.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new apprenticeship program in New York specifically for residents living in public housing managed by municipal authorities. The program would allow these residents to learn painting trade skills, such as surface preparation, color matching, and safety procedures, while also developing general workplace abilities like scheduling and cost estimation. A key provision ensures that applicants cannot be rejected solely based on their criminal history, aiming to broaden access to training. The state Department of Labor would oversee the program in partnership with local housing authorities, and details on how to apply would be posted on the department's website.

Establishes the "Not on our dime!: Ending New York funding of Israeli settler violence act" to prohibit not-for-profit corporations from engaging in unauthorized support of Israeli settlement activity; allows for recovery of a civil penalty by the state attorney general; creates a private right of action for violations.

Provides that any person who has been injured by reason of any violation of any such rules, regulations or policies as the superintendent may promulgate may bring an action in his or her own name; assert a counterclaim; or, if an action is commenced by the mortgagee or anyone acting on its behalf, bring a third party claim, against either the mortgagee and/or the mortgage servicer to enjoin any violations thereof; authorizes damages; makes related provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends state law to strengthen consumer protections for health club memberships by requiring clubs to accept cancellations within ten business days of receiving notice. It mandates that contracts include clear notices about cancellation rights, which apply during an initial three-day cooling-off period and under specific circumstances such as death, significant disability, moving more than 25 miles away, or if services are discontinued. The legislation also updates refund timelines to ten business days and expands the methods through which members can cancel, including via website, email, phone, mail, or in person. Additionally, it adjusts cancellation windows for contract renewals, allowing members to cancel annual renewals within fifteen business days and monthly renewals within three business days after the renewal takes effect.