Sen. Nathalia Fernández

Directs the office of children and family services to establish a center for fatherhood initiatives to issue grants to initiatives regarding the promotion and advancement of fatherhood, including but not limited to all underserved fatherhood groups to help expand opportunities to improve parenting knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy.

Establishes the mental health educational opportunity program and the mental health higher educational opportunity program to provide additional educational opportunities for students at certain universities and colleges in the state to enroll in academic programs that lead to a degree or degrees required for licensure in any of the mental health professions.

Relates to conducting a study on the access of state public libraries and library systems to capital funding; provides the department of education, in consultation with the dormitory authority, the office of the state comptroller, and the public library systems of the state, shall assess and report on the capital needs of such public library systems, including public libraries and association libraries.

Requires practitioners to discuss certain risks with a patient who is being prescribed a schedule II controlled substance or an opioid analgesic; requires the department of health to develop practitioner guidelines.

Enacts the "Shepherd Patterson notification act"; requires a physician who treats a minor patient with a medical condition that may cause a disability to provide certain educational information to such patient's parents or guardians indicating such minor is entitled to a free and appropriate public education as defined under section five hundred four of the federal rehabilitation act of nineteen hundred seventy-three; makes related provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3053) requires the New York State Bridge Authority to install specific climb deterrent fencing on all bridges it manages. The fencing must include features like welded wire mesh panels, tightly spaced wires, and spike collars to prevent climbing and grip. It applies to all bridges under the Authority’s jurisdiction and mandates this installation in construction contracts for new bridge work. The law takes effect three years after enactment, with immediate rule changes permitted to implement it.

Maddy summaryThis bill guarantees ovarian cancer survivors can access necessary genetic testing without insurance restrictions. It requires coverage for specific tests including BRCA1/BRCA2 gene analysis, Lynch syndrome screening, and other mutation tests as determined by a doctor. Insurers cannot impose frequency limits or deny these tests based on a patient’s cancer history. The law directly affects survivors needing ongoing monitoring for inherited cancer risks, ensuring they receive medically appropriate genetic screenings.

Establishes fetal and infant mortality review boards to study fetal and infant mortality and morbidity and make recommendations on policies, best practices, and strategies to reduce fetal and infant mortality and morbidity.

Relates to the sale and possession of self-defense spray devices in the state; removes the requirement that only authorized dealers and pharmacists could sell such devices; provides that no more than two self-defense spray devices may be sold at any one time to a single purchaser; repeals certain provisions of law relating thereto.

Provides for the award of reasonable attorneys' fees in FOIL proceedings if the person is successful and in open meeting proceedings to the successful petitioner and against the public body.