Sen. Luis Sepúlveda

Maddy summaryThis bill requires election commissioners and key election board staff to complete mandatory training. New appointees must finish a 30-hour initial course within six months of starting their role, and all staff must complete a three-hour annual refresher by June 1 each year. The state board of elections designs and delivers all training, including web-based options for annual sessions. Failure to complete training triggers written notice to county legislators, city councils, and local party chairs. The law affects all county election boards and their designated staff responsible for election operations.

Requires entities which operate a system of shared electric bicycles or scooters to impose penalties for failure of an operator or borrower to return a shared electric scooter or bicycle to a proper location.

Requires school districts to collect and annually report to the department of education certain information regarding manifestation determination reviews (MDRs) conducted during the prior school year; requires certain disaggregated information to be publicly reported regarding MDRs.

Enacts the "New York state agency BIPOC asset management and financial institution strategy act" to ensure the promotion of equity, diversity, and inclusion within the state pension system and the New York city pension system's investments by mandating a minimum allocation of assets to BIPOC asset managers, BIPOC financial institutions, and BIPOC financial or professional service firms; addresses disparities in investment opportunities and fosters economic growth within BIPOC communities, aligning with best practices in investment management and bolstering the financial well-being of New York City and state and residents thereof (Part A); relates to fair investment practices by investment advisers within the state of New York (Part B).

Maddy summaryS 8596 prohibits civil arrests (such as for debt collection) of voters while they are traveling to, at, or returning from polling places in New York, directly affecting voters during election activities. The bill requires law enforcement to obtain a judicial warrant for any arrest in these situations and mandates that officers identify themselves and provide warrants to polling staff if entering a polling place. It also creates reporting requirements for law enforcement actions near polls and allows voters to sue for violations, with courts empowered to issue protective orders.

Requires all letters granted to personal representatives contain restrictions on compromising any cause of action arising from the death of the decedent.

Directs the division of criminal justice services to establish a statewide public database covering every local police department, each county sheriff's office, the division of the state police and every agency that employs a peace officer in this state, which shall compile the names of any police or peace officer who has had their employment terminated due to misconduct.

Relates to mercantile establishments and the defense of lawful detention; sets requirements that the release from detention shall not be conditioned on signing of any documents or agreements; provides if anything is signed a copy must be provided to the individual or their parent or guardian.

Requires the department of education to study and report on the self-identified ethnicity and multilingual status of all licensed social workers and provide such report to the governor and legislature no later than one year after the effective date of this act.

Prohibits local, state and federal law enforcement officers from wearing any mask or personal disguise while interacting with the public in the performance of their duties; excludes certain protective masks.