Sen. Jamaal Bailey

Maddy summaryS 2301 increases civil penalties for public utility companies that fail to comply with New York's public service laws. It raises the maximum penalty from $100,000 to $2 million per violation for standard utilities, and for combination gas/electric companies, it adds a penalty based on 0.02% to 0.04% of their annual intrastate gross operating revenue (whichever is greater than the dollar amount). The bill specifies that continuing violations are treated as separate offenses but not per day, and applies to the companies themselves and their officers, agents, and employees. This directly affects major utility providers operating in New York State.

Establishes a voluntary registry of individuals with autism, Alzheimer's or dementia who may be at risk of wandering away from home; creates a standardized form available that may be submitted to local law enforcement agencies by family members and caregivers of such individuals that would include identifying information and may include a photograph of the registrant.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the New York State Autism Council, a 16-member body to coordinate autism-related efforts. The council includes state agency representatives, family advocates, parents of children with autism, and regional specialists, directly serving families and providers of autism support services across New York. Key provisions require the council to approve autism awareness programs, develop family education initiatives, coordinate biomedical research sharing, and oversee funding for approved programs and services. It also directs state funds toward approved autism programs, awareness projects, and research, with a cap limiting research spending to 10% of allocated funds annually. The council must submit an annual report to the governor with recommendations for improving autism services.

Maddy summaryS 4799 creates a legal right for New Yorkers to sue fossil fuel companies that contributed to climate change through their activities. It applies to companies that emitted at least one billion metric tons of greenhouse gases from 1989 until the bill's effective date, excluding public utilities and government entities. The bill establishes new provisions in state law, including definitions and a "right of action," to enable lawsuits for climate-related damages like health impacts and property loss. This would allow individuals and communities to seek compensation for harms directly linked to fossil fuel emissions.

Relates to providing funding for transitional programs for students from English-speaking Caribbean countries who are not eligible for limited English proficiency programs.

Creates a public umbilical cord blood banking program within the department of health to promote public awareness of the potential benefits of public cord banking, to promote research into the uses of cord blood, and to facilitate pre-delivery arrangements for public banking of cord blood donations.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the placement of wind turbines within 1,500 feet of any residential area or commercial shopping district in New York City. It directly affects developers and property owners seeking to install wind turbines in these specific city zones. The key provision creates a mandatory buffer zone around residential and commercial areas, banning turbine construction, location, and operation within that distance. The law would take immediate effect upon passage.

Enacts The New Deal for CUNY; increases the ratio of faculty and mental health counselors to full-time students; requires that certain amounts of tuition be replaced by federal, state, and city funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1651) amends New York's general business law to regulate how physicians dispense hearing aids. It prohibits licensed physicians (including otolaryngologists) from selling hearing aids for profit and requires them to provide free repairs or service on any hearing aid they dispensed. The law applies specifically to physicians who currently dispense hearing aids, mandating compliance with additional sections of the law regarding their practice. The bill does not affect general not-for-profit organizations, as its focus is solely on medical professionals' hearing aid dispensing practices.

Enacts the "Velmanette Montgomery YouthBuild act"; sets program requirements; authorizes grants to eligible YouthBuild participants; establishes application requirements.