Sen. Luis Sepúlveda

Maddy summaryThis law requires hospitals and birthing centers to allow expecting and new mothers to have their doulas present during delivery and post-delivery care. The bill defines a doula as a designated support person and prohibits facilities from denying access to them once admitted. This change ensures that individuals receiving perinatal services can maintain their chosen support system without interference from the healthcare facility.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the state's school violence prevention grant program to specifically fund anti-violence education initiatives. It allows schools to receive money for programs that provide trauma support, counseling, and education for students affected by gun violence, as long as these programs are run by nonprofit organizations and exclude any firearm training. To qualify, the funded programs must set clear goals, outline a timeline, and use specific methods to measure progress in reducing violence. The legislation also broadens the list of eligible safety activities to include safe corridors, diversity programs, and collaborative efforts with law enforcement or community groups.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows physician assistants to officially serve as primary care practitioners within Medicaid managed care plans. By amending state social services law, it expands the list of qualified medical providers that managed care organizations must include when arranging access to care for participants. The legislation updates legal definitions to explicitly recognize physician assistants alongside physicians and nurse practitioners for these specific roles. Although the bill passed the legislature, it was vetoed by the governor and did not become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies the rules for validating legal documents like property deeds and oaths that are signed outside of New York State but within the United States. It allows various officials, such as judges, mayors, and notaries, to perform these acknowledgments in other states or territories, and it simplifies the paperwork needed to record these documents in New York. Specifically, the law removes the requirement for a separate certificate of conformity when a notary or other designated officer from the location where the document was signed performs the act. Additionally, the bill updates procedures for oaths and affirmations taken outside the state to ensure they are treated as valid if accompanied by the proper certification.

Enacts the "New York wildlife crossing act"; directs the department of transportation and the New York state thruway authority to identify sites along all highways, thruways and parkways in the state where wildlife crossings are most needed to increase public safety and improve habitat connectivity and create a priority list of wildlife opportunity areas where federal grant monies may be available to implement the top five projects identified.

Conforms the definition of an incarcerated individual with a serious mental illness to the definition of "person with a serious mental illness" in the mental hygiene law.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New York City to use specific alternative project delivery methods, such as design-build and construction manager build, for public works projects. It applies these methods to large infrastructure projects involving water, sewer, or coastal resiliency, as well as to renovations of cultural institutions and public libraries. The legislation requires that all contracts using these methods be awarded through open, competitive processes and must include project labor agreements that bind all contractors and subcontractors to specific labor standards. Additionally, the bill clarifies that public employees will review project completion while maintaining contractors' primary responsibility for performing the work correctly.

Increases the number of traffic-control signal photo violation-monitoring devices that may be installed in New York city to six hundred intersections; extends certain provisions authorizing photo-monitoring devices until December 1, 2027.

Repeals the rebates for stock transfer tax paid; dedicates funds of the stock transfer tax fund and stock transfer incentive fund to various funds; establishes the safe water and infrastructure action program.

Establishes the COVID-19 livery vehicle recovery act; provides any entity issuing for-hire vehicle licenses shall, for a minimum of one year upon the effective date of this act, allow for the renewal of livery vehicle licenses which expired during the COVID-19 pandemic, under the same vehicle type requirement that existed at the time of expiration unless the livery vehicle owner opts to renew at the current requirement; provides that livery vehicle owners seeking a renewal of an expired license during this open window shall not be penalized, such as through additional charges or fees.