Sen. Pete Harckham

Establishes the retail worker safety act requiring retail worker employers to develop and implement programs to prevent workplace violence; directs the department of labor to produce a model workplace violence prevention training program; requires employers to provide training on such programs; requires the installation of panic buttons at certain workplaces or wearable or mobile phone-based panic buttons to be provided.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific stretch of State Route 35 in Westchester County as the "Westchester Purple Heart Highway." The designated section runs from its intersection with U.S. Route 202 eastward to State Route 100 in the town of Somers. While the state transportation commissioner will install signs for this new name, the law explicitly states that the official route number will not change and the designation is purely ceremonial. This change affects drivers and local signage in the area but does not alter traffic laws or road infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the expiration date of the Mercury Thermostat Collection Act from January 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026. The legislation directly affects the program established by the act, which manages the collection of mercury-containing thermostats. By amending the existing environmental law, the bill ensures the program continues to operate for one additional year. The change takes effect immediately upon approval.

Extends paid family leave benefits to employees who perform construction, demolition, reconstruction, excavation, rehabilitation, repairs, renovations, alterations, or improvements for multiple employers pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement who shall be eligible for family leave benefits if they were employed for at least twenty-six of the last thirty-nine weeks by any covered employer which is signatory to a collective bargaining agreement.

Provides immunity from prosecution for certain individuals engaged in prostitution who are victims of or witnesses to a crime and who report such crime or assist in the investigation or prosecution.

Requires police officers to take temporary custody of firearms for not less than one hundred twenty hours when responding to reports of family violence.

Directs utilities to study the potential health risks and effects of smart meters including, but not limited to, the risks and effects of the installation of such smart meters, and recommended safe practices associated with the use of smart meters; requires utilities to report their findings to the public service commission; requires the public service commission to prepare a comprehensive report to the governor and legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the harvesting of horseshoe crabs in New York waters for commercial use or biomedical applications, such as blood collection. It allows exceptions only for bona fide scientific research or educational purposes at public or non-profit institutions. The law takes effect on January 1, 2025, and removes the state's ability to issue permits for taking these crabs while maintaining protections for other crab species.

Directs the commissioner of health to establish guidelines for onsite opioid overdose response capacity in community centers; defines "community center".

Enacts the "beauty justice act"; provides for the regulation of ingredients in personal care products and cosmetics; prohibits the sale of personal care products and cosmetic products containing certain restricted products.