Sen. Jamaal Bailey

Maddy summarySenate Bill S 5639 requires that all students graduating from public or private high schools in New York State be provided with a voter registration application form. School districts are responsible for distributing these forms and transmitting any completed applications to the appropriate board of elections within specified timeframes. The bill also establishes rules for processing applications, maintaining neutrality regarding party enrollment, and protecting voter privacy. The State Board of Elections and the Commissioner of Education are tasked with implementing and overseeing this program.

Requires a police officer to provide the consequences of refusal to submit to a chemical test for the purpose of determining the alcoholic and/or drug content of the blood, both orally and in writing in such person's preferred language, and by an interpreter if necessary.

Provides for the formation of mutual holding companies by certain domestic mutual property/casualty insurers and the reorganization in connection therewith of a domestic mutual property/casualty insurer into a domestic stock property/casualty insurer.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 332) changes how courts handle misdemeanor convictions for eligible young people. It requires courts to automatically classify as "youthful offenders" any youth convicted of a misdemeanor with no prior criminal record or youthful offender status. This classification prevents a permanent criminal record and blocks prison sentences longer than four years. The law applies to misdemeanor cases occurring after its effective date, with courts also having discretion to grant youthful offender status in other eligible cases.

Relates to the time period during which absentee ballots shall be mailed or delivered after an application for such ballot is received by the board of elections.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the time landlords in New York City can recover costs for major building improvements (like roof, plumbing, or heating upgrades) from 12 to 12.5 years for buildings with over 35 units, while keeping the 12-year period for smaller buildings. It limits annual rent increases tied to these improvements to 2% per year, requires landlords to notify tenants of the temporary increase amount and effective date, and mandates that work must be verified as completed before increases take effect. The changes apply to buildings with 35+ units and specifically exclude cosmetic repairs or operational costs from qualifying for these rent adjustments. Landlords must also disclose tenant harassment history and ensure no hazardous building violations exist before approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits the New York State Insurance Superintendent's authority to create or enforce suitability requirements for term life insurance policies (which have no cash value). It requires that suitability assessments for such policies only consider a consumer's age and annual income, prohibiting any additional factors. The bill nullifies existing regulations (like 11 NYCRR Part 224) that conflict with this rule, directly affecting insurance agents, companies selling term life insurance, and consumers purchasing these policies in New York. It aims to increase term life insurance availability by reducing regulatory barriers.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New York's hate crime definition by adding "solicitation or facilitation" of specific violent offenses to the list of acts that qualify as hate crimes. It directly affects prosecutors, courts, and victims of crimes like assault, stalking, sexual abuse, kidnapping, and terrorism when motivated by bias. The key change modifies the penal law to include these actions - such as urging someone to commit a listed crime or helping plan it - as punishable hate crimes. This applies to the full range of offenses previously defined as "specified offenses," including violent and hate-motivated acts. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Requires principals be informed of the physical address of the probation office where such principal must report and the telephone number for such office.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New York's Power Authority to create a small business development program specifically for construction trade businesses meeting size and ownership criteria (independently owned, under $10 million in annual revenue). Eligible small businesses enrolled in the program can compete for up to five years for designated authority contracts, with initial contracts capped at $1.5 million and potential future contracts at $5 million. The program includes provisions for capacity-building assistance, guidance during contract performance, and help obtaining bonding for contracts. Participation is limited to businesses selected by the Power Authority, which sets all eligibility criteria, contract designations, and selection standards.