Sen. Gustavo Rivera

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits landlords, lessors, sub-lessors, and grantors from requiring tenants to pay broker fees as part of the rental process. It directly affects residential tenants by eliminating a common cost added to rent applications or lease signings. The law allows landlords to still charge for background checks and credit checks but bans all other fees like broker commissions before or at the start of a tenancy. Exceptions apply to specific housing types, including retirement communities, assisted living facilities, and certain cooperative housing arrangements. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Requires police departments and agencies to provide district attorneys' offices access to such departments' and agencies' electronic record systems for discovery purposes.

Maddy summarySenate Bill S 7954 amends the requirements for organizations providing fiscal intermediary services in the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program. It expands the definition of "fiscal intermediary" to include more entities, such as certain service centers for independent living, granting them equal status to the statewide fiscal intermediary. These newly defined fiscal intermediaries can contract directly with managed care plans and must provide culturally and linguistically competent services. The bill also removes the specific procurement process for a single statewide fiscal intermediary, aiming to offer consumers more choice in these services.

Enacts the "Equal Access to Health and Human Services for Limited English Speaking Individuals Act"; directs certain state agencies to provide language assistance services for persons seeking family assistance, health or labor services; requires record keeping; requires free translation for 22 languages.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits home care aides to 12-hour shifts without their explicit consent. It prohibits employers from requiring overtime beyond this limit, and any agreement for longer shifts must be voluntarily provided in writing for each specific instance. The law protects aides from retaliation, including dismissal or penalties, for refusing excessive hours or reporting violations. Exceptions only apply during true emergencies after exhausting all staffing options, and even then, overtime cannot exceed four hours without consent.

Establishes the "reciprocal enforcement of claims on unpaid or reduced state entitlements act" which requires a report on delinquent funds owed to the state by the federal government as a result of the federal government's nonpayment in contravention of a court decision and the withholding and appropriation of federal funds in an amount equal to.

Establishes the universal child care act to provide for the establishment and funding of universal child care in the state of New York; establishes a universal child care taskforce to help implement universal child care in the state and repeals certain provisions of the social services law relating thereto; establishes the permanent child care workforce pay equity fund; establishes a universal child care public option pilot program to provide universal child care in at least twenty locations throughout the state; makes an appropriation therefor.

Maddy summaryS 4639 requires New York state agencies receiving opioid settlement funds to submit detailed annual reports by November 1st, starting one year after initial deposits. These reports must publicly display on government websites as dashboards, showing baseline funding, specific fund usage (including recipient names, amounts, and program details), effectiveness metrics for reducing substance use disorders, and how funds complement rather than replace other funding. The bill also prohibits government entities from pursuing lawsuits over claims already settled under New York's statewide opioid agreement. It directly affects agencies administering opioid settlement funds and the opioid settlement advisory board.

Maddy summaryS 3601 allows certified dietitians and nutritionists to order therapeutic diets - including specialized nutrition support like tube feeding - in hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities. The bill expands their scope of practice to include prescribing, managing, and monitoring these diets, removing prior requirements for physician orders. Facility medical directors or governing bodies must confirm the professional’s competency before they can provide these services. The law takes effect 180 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires police departments to create written policies banning the use of sustained auditory dispersal tools, such as long-range acoustic devices or sonic weapons that emit loud, sustained sounds (over 90 decibels) likely to cause hearing damage. It defines these prohibited tools as devices emitting sustained tones or non-verbal sounds at dangerous decibel levels, while excluding standard verbal communication devices used properly under 90 decibels. Violations allow affected individuals to sue for $1,000 per incident or actual damages, plus punitive damages based on factors like decibel levels and medical harm. The policy applies directly to all police agencies and their officers in the state.