Sen. Robert Jackson

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 4105) would allow licensed commuter vans in New York City to pick up passengers from the street in specific neighborhoods: Manhattan Community District 2, Queens Community District 12, and several Brooklyn districts (5, 9, 16, 17, and 18). Currently, such vans can only accept prearranged rides, but this bill creates a limited program permitting street hails in those areas while banning pickups at airports. The city commission must report annually on the program's impact and effects by February 1, 2028, and thereafter. It directly affects licensed commuter van operators in those designated zones.

Maddy summaryBill S 4521, known as the "criminal forfeiture process act," replaces the existing process for the criminal forfeiture of property. It directly affects individuals whose property is linked to specific felony offenses, such as controlled substance, cannabis, prostitution, or driving under the influence crimes, and prohibits civil forfeiture under this article. The bill requires a criminal conviction for property to be forfeited, with the forfeiture proceeding taking place as part of the criminal trial. It also includes provisions to protect the rights of "innocent owners" and "secured interest holders" of property that might otherwise be subject to seizure.

Maddy summaryBill S 7021 establishes a new retirement service credit for members of New York State public retirement systems who serve as volunteer firefighters or emergency service providers. Eligible members can receive one year of service credit for every five years of volunteer service, up to a maximum of three years of credit for fifteen years of service. To qualify, members must have at least five years of existing credited service and will pay a portion of the cost, calculated as three percent of their compensation for the twelve months preceding the application. The bill requires volunteer service to be certified by the agency and applications to be submitted before retirement.

Relates to responsibility for cable bills after a disconnection or downgrade in service; provides that customers requesting a disconnection or downgrade in service shall only be liable for services incurred up to the date the disconnection or downgrade is effective.

Requires the principal of any high school to allow any local trade union, upon request, to enter the school for the purpose of trade union recruitment, including, but not limited to: making presentations; disseminating literature; and answering questions by students.

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.

Relates to the conversion to condominium ownership for the preservation of expiring affordable housing in the city of New York; provides expanded homeownership opportunities from the conversion of certain residential rental buildings to condominium status by property owners that commit to preserve the inventory of expiring affordable housing in the city of New York.

Defines the practice of certified registered nurse anesthetist; requires collaboration with a licensed physician qualified to determine the need for anesthesia services; requires licensing; defines qualifications.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 8159, modifies disability retirement provisions for security hospital treatment assistants and other qualifying safety and security officers. It establishes presumptions for certain medical conditions, making it easier for these officers to qualify for performance of duty disability retirement. Specifically, if an officer contracts HIV, tuberculosis, or hepatitis after potential exposure to bodily fluids from confined individuals, it is presumed to be duty-related. Similarly, heart disease resulting in disability or death is presumed duty-related if the officer passed an entry physical without prior heart issues. These presumptions mean the condition is considered work-related unless proven otherwise by competent evidence.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New York public school districts (except New York City) to employ certified school psychologists and licensed school social workers to provide mental health services. It amends education law to mandate these professionals as part of required school mental health services, including evaluations, assessments, and interventions for students' mental health needs. The law specifies these roles must be in addition to staff required under federal special education law (IDEA), directly affecting every public school district and all students attending those schools. The bill defines the scope of services, including confidentiality protocols and school environment recommendations, without altering existing health service requirements.