Sen. Robert Jackson

Authorizes owners of mobile barber shops to obtain barber shop owner's licenses provided that they can furnish proof of title, possession, registration and driver's license authorizing operation of the vehicle to be used to operate the mobile barber shop and proof of proper layout, adequate equipment for the shop, sanitary conditions in the shop and good moral character.

Requires every city or county social services district to provide a wearable or mobile phone-based panic button to each employee whose job responsibilities necessitate direct interaction with clients in a client's home.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires election boards to extend voting time at affected polling places or districts if voting is disrupted for over 15 consecutive minutes. If disruptions occur, the board must toll the voting clock during the delay and extend voting time proportionally afterward, or schedule additional voting on the next available day if same-day extension is impractical. The board must also publicly notify voters, candidates, media, and community groups about the extended hours through multiple communication channels. This directly affects voters at disrupted locations, election officials managing polling operations, and candidates needing to coordinate with affected districts.

Prohibits the sale of playground surfacing materials that contain PFAS, PAHs or lead; prevents sellers of playground surfacing materials that contain PFAS, PAHs or lead from being held in violation when relying in good faith on a certificate of compliance provided by the manufacturer; provides penalties for violations.

Establishes an "operation SNUG" program within the division of criminal justice services which provides grant awards to reduce, prevent or respond to gun violence.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases short-term disability and family leave benefits for eligible New York workers. It phases in higher weekly benefit rates (from 50% to 67% of average weekly wage) and extends maximum benefit periods (from 8-10 weeks to 12 weeks) over time, starting in 2018. These changes apply to employees taking leave for disability or qualifying family care needs under New York's workers' compensation law. The bill requires employers to maintain health benefits during leave and prohibits retaliation for taking leave. The superintendent of financial services may delay benefit increases if needed to maintain program stability.

Requires railroad corporations to inform the division of homeland security and emergency services, department of environmental conservation and department of transportation about freight rail trains transporting hazardous materials prior to traveling on tracks within the state.

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.

Relates to the taxation of vapor products; provides for the licensing of vapor products distributors; imposes certain tax return filing requirements on vapor products distributors; provides for enforcement powers.

Clarifies that the statutory damages available for certain wage violations are not punitive in nature and are designed to be liquidated damages rather than penalties or to compensate workers for the employer's failure to prevent wage theft and for the harm to employees that results from such failure.