Sen. Luis Sepúlveda

Requires employment and consumer dispute arbitrations to be submitted to neutral third party arbitrators; establishes prohibited arbitration agreements and provisions; requires disclosure of information by certain arbitrators.

Prohibits the use of a victim's DNA collected from sexual offense evidence kits from being added to the state DNA identification index or other databases or being used in certain actions.

Relates to providing more predictable and stable schedules for employees in low-wage occupations; provides that an employer shall pay an employee for at least 4 hours at the basic minimum hourly wage for each day an employee reports for work as instructed but is given less than four hours of work.

Increases the penalties for leaving the scene of an accident involving an electric scooter without reporting in the first and second degrees; creates the offenses of leaving the scene of an accident involving a bicycle with electric assist without reporting in the first and second degrees.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New York State anti-discrimination laws to include height and weight as protected characteristics. It directly affects employers, housing providers, public accommodation operators, and employment agencies by prohibiting them from discriminating against individuals based on these traits in hiring, housing, and access to services. The legislation also bans harassment related to height or weight and restricts the use of job advertisements that limit opportunities based on these physical attributes, with limited exceptions for bona fide occupational qualifications and federal requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the time limits for filing civil lawsuits related to child sexual assault, incest, and the use of children in sexual performances. It allows victims to seek compensation for physical or psychological injuries at any time, even if years have passed since the abuse occurred. The law applies to cases involving offenders who were under eighteen years old at the time of the incident and does not require a prior criminal conviction to proceed. Additionally, the bill revives specific lawsuits that were previously dismissed because the filing deadline had expired, giving those plaintiffs a window to restart their legal claims.

Establishes confirmatory adoptions providing for the adoption of children born as a result of assisted reproduction; allows for more than two persons to be named parents of a child; establishes presumed parentage and provides for the challenge and adjudication thereof; repeals certain provisions relating thereto.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Access to Representation Act, would guarantee the right to legal counsel for certain low-income individuals facing immigration proceedings in New York. It directly affects non-citizens and citizens with disputed status who are detained or subject to removal, as well as those with a significant connection to the state. Under the proposed law, eligible individuals would receive ongoing legal representation from designated providers starting from their first court appearance or as soon as possible thereafter. The program would be administered by the New York State Office for New Americans, which would set income limits and oversee the delivery of legal services.

Provides that certain communications made without malice regarding an incident of sexual assault, harassment or discrimination shall be deemed privileged; provides that a prevailing defendant in an action brought against such defendant for making a communication that is privileged shall be entitled to attorney's fees and costs for such defense.

Enacts the student journalist education act to protect student speech at educational institutions unless such speech is libelous, an invasion of privacy, or incites students to commit an unlawful act, violate school policies, or to materially and substantially disrupt the orderly operation of the school.