Sen. Pete Harckham

Addresses non-covered dental services by prohibiting insurers from including in a contract or agreement with a dentist requirements to set fees or require approval fees for services not covered under a person's dental plan; prohibits medical expense indemnity corporations, dental expense indemnity corporations and health service corporations from including in a contract or agreement with a dentist requirements to set fees or require approval fees for services not covered under a person's dental plan.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors Jillian Hanesworth and Augustus Clarke for winning the 2024 Sports Emmy Award in the Short Film category. The bill formally recognizes their work on the film "Still Here," which highlights the resilience of Buffalo following the 2022 mass shooting and blizzard. It directs the legislative body to pause its proceedings to acknowledge their achievement and mandates that a copy of the resolution be sent to them. The measure serves as a public commendation of their specific contribution to the NFL 360 series rather than altering any laws or policies.

Ensures that certain members of the New York Air National Guard, New York Army National Guard, New York Naval Militia, and New York Guard who participated in World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations are honored for their service and afforded veteran status under New York state law.

Establishes an Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) leadership institute within the state university of New York as an initiative for Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) leaders in higher education with a mission to retain and grow from within SUNY a greater proportion of Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) professionals at SUNY campuses; creates an eight member advisory council.

Declares that a law authorizing a child to be removed from their parent or guardian based on the parent or guardian allowing their child to receive gender-affirming care is against the public policy of this state; relates to forum in domestic relations cases.

Adds hazardous air quality to the state definition of a disaster; requires explicit inclusion of air quality emergency preparedness in local comprehensive emergency management plans with an action plan and annual inventory of air quality emergency resources.

Directs the commissioner of the division of criminal justice services to study gender disparity in sentencing outcomes and make a report to the governor and the legislature of his or her findings, conclusions and recommendations.

Authorizes the department of environmental conservation to independently add to the lists of prohibited and regulated invasive species on an emergency basis pending review by the department of agriculture and markets in consultation with the New York invasive species council.

Directs the commissioner of corrections and community supervision to study gender disparity in resources provided to incarcerated individuals and make a report to the governor and the legislature of his or her findings, conclusions and recommendations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New York State Bridge Authority to install special anti-climbing fencing on all bridges it manages. The fencing must be designed to prevent people from gripping or finding footholds, utilizing features like welded wire mesh and spike collars. The law mandates that construction contracts for these bridges include the installation of this safety equipment, with the commissioner overseeing the process. The requirement will take effect three years after the bill becomes law and applies to any new construction contracts started after that date.