Establishes a state SNAP minimum benefit program to provide a minimum amount of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits that is higher than the amount of federal SNAP benefits.
Sen. Pete Harckham
Sponsored bills
Establishes the rental assistance payment standard pilot program where the owner of a housing accommodation shall be entitled to charge and collect a rent equal to the maximum amount that the rental assistance program prescribes for like housing accommodations, subject to rent reasonableness calculations.
Provides alternate education and experience requirements for mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychoanalysts licensed prior to 06/24/2027, to be issued privilege to diagnose and develop assessment-based treatment plans; removes fees for application for such diagnostic privileges.
Relates to establishing the housing access voucher program; provides that the commissioner of the division of housing and community renewal shall implement a program of rental assistance in the form of housing vouchers for eligible individuals and families who are homeless or who face an imminent loss of housing; provides that the commissioner shall designate housing access voucher local administrators in the state to administer the program.
Establishes the position of Catskill park coordinator within the department of environmental conservation to build partnerships between the department and other state agencies, municipal governments, businesses and nonprofit entities that will develop a community-based tourism strategy for the forest preserve to help fortify the regional economy and to coordinate implementation of the public access plan and other approved or adopted Catskill park-wide plans.
Maddy summaryThis bill makes permanent a law that presumes certain lung disabilities in volunteer firefighters are work-related, without requiring them to prove a direct connection to their duties. It directly affects volunteer firefighters who develop specific lung conditions, streamlining their access to benefits. The key provision removes a temporary expiration date (previously set for June 2025), ensuring the presumption remains in effect indefinitely. This change simplifies the process for affected firefighters to receive benefits under the volunteer firefighters' benefit law.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new "Office of Addiction and Mental Health Services" in New York by merging the existing Office of Mental Health and Office of Addiction Services and Supports. It integrates care for individuals with mental health conditions, substance use disorders, or both under one office, replacing outdated references to previous agencies. The office will be led by a single commissioner with dual authority, supported by two deputy commissioners focused on addiction and mental health services, respectively. This structural change aims to streamline service delivery and coordination for people seeking treatment for co-occurring conditions.
Establishes the Take A Look medical and dental workforce employment tour pilot program which is a campaign to promote and market the health care workforce employment and career opportunities in the following economic development regions: central, north country, western, finger lakes, capital region, mohawk and southern tier.
Enacts the "all electric ATVs act"; requires a study to be conducted on the feasibility of installing electric ATV charging stations along all state-maintained trails where use of ATVs is permitted, with the goal to have 100% all electric ATVs within the state by 2035; increases the weight limit of ATVs to 2 thousand pounds dry weight; amends fee schedules for registration of ATVs; directs a portion of funds collected from registration of electric ATVs to be donated to the federal EPA.
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.