Enacts the "utility penalty adjustment"; adjusts utility penalties to account for inflation; increases such penalties and ties them to inflation after January 1, 2025.
Requires the council on the arts to have members from each of the ten regions of the state; allows members appointed prior to the effective date to complete the natural end of their term before appointments shall be made in accordance with such requirement.
Maddy summaryThis bill directs the state education commissioner to create uniform guidelines for diapering and toileting students in public schools. The new rules would require schools to provide safe, accessible facilities and necessary supplies to maintain a sanitary environment for these activities. The legislation applies to a wide range of institutions, including public school districts, special education schools, and private schools serving students with disabilities. The changes are set to take effect eighteen months after the bill becomes law, allowing time for schools to prepare.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Agriculture and Markets Law to rename the existing Young Farmer Advisory Board to the Beginning Farmer Advisory Board, thereby broadening its scope to include a wider range of new farmers. The legislation expands the board from twenty to twenty-five members, adding specific seats for organic farmers, veterans, and representatives from underrepresented groups while adjusting appointment processes for the general public and service providers. Key provisions require board members to be actively involved in agriculture rather than strictly under a certain age, mandate biennial reports on policy issues affecting new farmers, and establish committees to develop projects supporting this community. The advisory board will continue to advise state agencies on policies related to agriculture, focusing on areas such as land access, capital, and business planning for beginning farmers.
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.
Requires each institution within the state university of New York and the city university of New York offering in-person student instruction to have at least one vending machine making emergency contraception available for purchase.
Requires the department of health to publish a report on the incidence of tick-borne illnesses annually on the department's website; requires the department to submit an annual report to the governor and the leaders of the legislature; requires the superintendent of financial services to review the status of health insurance coverage for the treatment of Lyme disease and other tick-borne related diseases and to submit a report to the governor and the leaders of the legislature.
Requires medical records to be made available to patients in an electronic format through a web portal and in a format that allows patients to save records to their own device.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state department to share specific documents regarding the closure or suspension of adult care facilities with state leaders, local government officials, and community boards. To ensure transparency, the department must also publish a summary of violations, affected groups, and the operator's care plan on its website thirty days before a hearing. These shared materials are generally protected from public disclosure during the review period, and the law applies to all facility closures occurring on or after its effective date.
Defines therapeutic agriculture for the purposes of community gardens as the use of agricultural activities as a means of promoting physical, mental and emotional well-being, rehabilitation and therapy for certain individuals.
