Sen. Nathalia Fernández

Maddy summaryThis bill adds interest earned on state opioid settlement funds to the designated opioid settlement fund. It amends state finance law to explicitly include both the principal settlement money and its interest in the fund, as defined under mental hygiene law. The change ensures all money from the statewide opioid settlement - including accrued interest - remains in the fund until directed by future law or budget. This is a technical clarification to the fund's composition, not a new policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New York State Park Police as an independent law enforcement agency under the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner. It ensures the park police operate separately from the New York State Police while allowing coordination on training, emergencies, and other shared concerns. The bill formalizes this structure by amending existing law to create the agency and define its operational independence.

Requires that procedures for placements on, and removals from, the list of persons self-excluded from gambling includes procedures that allow a person to submit requests electronically; requires such procedures to ensure parity between electronic and non-electronic requests with respect to record retention and transmission of requests to licensed gaming facilities and mobile sports wagering platforms.

Provides parity to durable medical equipment providers by requiring Medicaid managed care organizations to reimburse such providers at no less than one hundred percent of the medical assistance durable medical equipment fee schedule for the same service or item.

Limits the reimbursement amount of certain overpayment claims and reviews where such overpayment was due to the provider's submission of records which were not in accordance with program requirements at the time but which were in accordance with current requirements as a result of changes to guidelines or regulations.

Relates to providing information to patients and the public on hospital rule-based exclusions; requires the commissioner of health to collect from each hospital a list of its hospital rule-based exclusions and publish such information on the department's website.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New York's official definition of "eating disorder" in mental health law to explicitly include avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), alongside existing conditions like anorexia and bulimia. It directly affects individuals diagnosed with ARFID by ensuring they qualify for mental health services, insurance coverage, and prevention programs previously limited to other recognized eating disorders. The key mechanism amends two laws: updating the definition in the Mental Hygiene Law (Section 30.02) and requiring the state's eating disorders awareness program to cover this newly included condition. This change ensures ARFID is formally recognized in medical and mental health practice under state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires building owners in New York City to submit biannual certification (in January and July) proving cooling towers were inspected, tested, cleaned, and disinfected according to health rules. It mandates weekly microbial testing during use and requires immediate cleaning if unsafe levels are found. Owners face increased penalties: $2,500 for a first violation, $7,000 for repeat offenses, and up to $12,500 if violations cause serious injury or death. The law directly affects all commercial and residential building operators with cooling towers, focusing on preventing health risks from contaminated water systems.

Authorizes the commissioner of the office of mental health, and the office of addiction services and support to jointly establish a single set of licensing standards and requirements for the construction, operation, reporting and surveillance of integrated behavioral health services.

Permits licensed insurance agents, brokers, adjusters, consultants, and intermediaries to carryover up to five hours of continuing education credit per biennial licensing period.