Sen. Luis Sepúlveda

Maddy summaryS 176 creates a new civil legal remedy allowing individuals to sue when their constitutional or legal rights are violated by government officials or public entities acting under government authority. It directly affects anyone whose rights are deprived by such actors, including victims of police misconduct, discriminatory policies, or other state-sponsored violations. Key provisions include allowing lawsuits for damages and attorney fees (even if the case settles without a court judgment), removing common defenses like "good faith" or "unclear law," and requiring public entities to cover their employees' legal costs. The law sets a three-year deadline for filing claims and applies to both state and federal rights violations.

Relates to the definition of "direct relationship" for the purposes of article 23-A of the correction law regarding licensures and employment of persons previously convicted of one or more criminal offenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates an interstate compact allowing states to join together to fund prizes for medical treatments that successfully cure diseases. It establishes a commission to award these prizes, set pricing for cures, and collect royalty fees from non-participating states based on estimated five-year public health savings. The royalties are capped at the actual healthcare cost savings the cure would generate, ensuring fees align with real public health benefits. Only states that formally join the compact ("compacting states") would directly manage the program, while non-participating states would pay royalties on cures developed under the system.

Relates to requiring building condition surveys to be conducted on public school buildings constructed prior to 1950 every other year and a visual inspection in alternate years.

Relates to appeals of parole determination, including parole release interviews, parole decisions by the board and petitions regarding release decisions.

Waives Unemployment Pandemic Benefits repayments in whole or in part if the payment of such pandemic unemployment assistance was without fault on the part of the claimant and such repayment would be contrary to equity and good conscience.

Enacts the "fair college admissions act"; prohibits legacy admissions policies at colleges and universities in New York; declares such policies and practices to be discriminatory and inequitable.

Maddy summaryS 3968 requires merchants (like stores) to include a specific disclosure in any written or spoken communication attempting to settle a civil case related to alleged shoplifting. The notice must clearly state that the settlement involves a larceny claim, explain the civil liability amounts ($1,500 max for unrecovered merchandise plus penalties), clarify that civil penalties are separate from criminal charges, and state that refusing the settlement doesn’t prevent criminal prosecution. Merchants who fail to include this notice face strict liability for actual damages, triple the settlement amount sought, and legal costs. This law applies immediately to all future settlement attempts involving larceny-related civil actions.

Enacts the tropical rainforest economic & environmental sustainability act requiring that companies contracting with the state do not contribute to tropical forest degradation or deforestation directly or through their supply chains; establishes the supply chain transparency assistance program to assist small and medium-sized businesses and minority and women-owned businesses in achieving compliant supply chains.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 5795) creates Excelsior Scholarships specifically for low-income students enrolled in public Juris Doctor (JD) or Master of Laws (LLM) programs at New York State public universities. It provides tuition assistance covering up to $5,500 per year (or actual tuition, whichever is less) for students with family adjusted gross income at or below $125,000 annually. To qualify, students must maintain full-time enrollment (12 credits/semester), complete required credits yearly, and not have full tuition covered by other aid like federal Pell Grants. The scholarship lasts up to the standard program duration (e.g., 3-4 years for JD programs) and applies to tuition only, after other financial aid is applied.