Sen. Rob Rolison

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2313) grants New York veteran employees the right to request an unpaid leave of absence from work on Veterans Day (November 11) each year. To qualify, veterans must provide written proof of service to their employer by October 15 and be a New York resident. Employers may deny the leave only if it causes undue hardship to business operations, and the leave must be taken as unpaid time or deducted from existing paid leave. The law does not override collective bargaining agreements or affect veterans covered by other specific laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new criminal offense called "vehicular homicide" for drivers who cause another person's death through reckless conduct showing extreme disregard for human life. It directly affects drivers whose actions - like severe speeding or ignoring traffic signals - result in fatalities, even if they didn’t intend to cause death. The law classifies vehicular homicide as a class B felony, the same penalty as second-degree murder in New York, making it a serious criminal charge. This change would replace or add to existing laws for deaths caused by negligent or reckless driving.

Directs the commissioner of the office of mental health to create and operate a law enforcement, first responder, active and non-active-duty service members and veteran informational mobile application.

Establishes the child victims act fund which provides grant awards in reimbursement to public school districts and voluntary foster care agencies located within the state who have been named as defendants in certain child sexual abuse legal cases and in which it can be demonstrated by the public school district or voluntary foster care agency that no insurance policy for the covered period can be located after a good-faith effort to do so has been made, there was a monetary judgment issued or settlement agreement with regard to such action and where it can be demonstrated by the public school district or voluntary foster care agency that payment in full of such judgment or settlement would put a substantial burden on the district's or agency's ability to execute its mission and negatively impact its existing student population.

Establishes the shovel-ready housing program under which certain municipalities, at their option, may pre-authorize parcels of property for the construction of housing; establishes a shovel-ready community tax rebate for taxpayers residing in municipalities that opt-in to the shovel-ready housing program; provides for annual apportionment to municipalities that have certified participation in the shovel-ready housing program.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the deadline for certain organizations to provide fiscal intermediary services - such as managing payments for home care programs - from April 1, 2025, to July 1, 2025. It requires subcontractors working with the statewide fiscal intermediary to register with the state department within 30 days of being selected. The change directly affects entities currently offering these services, ensuring they can continue operating under the new timeline while meeting registration requirements. The law takes effect immediately but applies retroactively from April 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryS 2714 creates a five-member Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Control Board to address the MTA's fiscal crisis. The board, appointed by the governor with input from legislative leaders, must approve all major MTA projects and financing before the authority can commit funds or incur debt. Key provisions require the board to verify sufficient funding commitments - such as revenue projections or collateral - before approving projects, and to coordinate with the state comptroller within a seven-day review window. This bill directly affects the MTA's ability to fund infrastructure projects, aiming to ensure long-term fiscal stability and protect taxpayers from unsustainable costs.

Expands eligibility for the New York state excelsior scholarship award to certain applicants enrolled on a part-time basis or in a BOCES or other approved vocational program; provides criteria for eligibility, and limits on amounts and durations for any such awards.

Determines that disability compensation or benefits received by veterans from the United States department of veterans affairs are not to be treated as income or resources for purposes of determining eligibility for means-tested programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 224) amends New York's penal law to upgrade the felony classifications for unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle (from E to D felony for third degree, D to C for second degree, and C for first degree). It also adds these specific fleeing offenses to the list of crimes subject to bail eligibility determinations under criminal procedure law. Under the changes, courts must evaluate whether a defendant charged with such fleeing offenses (third, second, or first degree) should be released on bail or held, considering factors like "harm to an identifiable person or property" as outlined in sections 510.10, 530.20, and 530.40. This affects individuals charged with these fleeing offenses during bail hearings.