Sen. James Skoufis

Maddy summaryThis bill asks Governor Kathy Hochul to officially designate March 20, 2026, as Behavior Analysis Day in New York State. The resolution recognizes the history and importance of behavior analysis as a scientific field that studies how behavior works and develops skills through positive reinforcement. It highlights the profession's growth since New York began licensing behavior analysts in 2014 and aligns the state observance with the global celebration of World Behavioral Analysis Day. The bill does not change laws or funding but serves as a formal acknowledgment of the field's contributions to education and healthcare.

Maddy summaryThis bill asks the Governor of New York to officially designate March 2026 as Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder Awareness Month. It directly affects the state government and individuals living with NMOSD, a rare autoimmune disease that can cause vision loss, paralysis, and other neurological symptoms. The resolution directs the Governor to issue a proclamation recognizing the month, aligning with national awareness efforts to improve public understanding and support for those affected by the condition.

Relates to the creation of an innovative housing initiative for persons with a developmental disability who wish and are able to safely reside in such a setting; directs the division of housing and community renewal to establish guidelines for the dissemination of disclosure materials for the offer and sale of interests in residential environments formed under the innovative housing initiative; creates an exemption from certain filing requirements for residential environments that are formed as cooperative interests in realty for persons receiving services under the innovative housing initiative.

Amends policies and procedures to improve access to palliative care and hospice services; directs implementation of hospice-palliative care health system demonstration projects.

Enacts the "Anthony Amoros law"; requires an automobile auctioneer, retail dealer or individual seller to disclose missing or non-functioning airbags in vehicles for sale.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 707) requires managed long term care plans in New York to include specific data in annual reports to the state Department of Health, replacing previous biannual reporting. It mandates detailed metrics on service utilization (like hours of personal care), expenditures (broken down by service type), complaint resolution rates, timely access to care, and rebalancing efforts shifting care from nursing homes to home-based settings. These reports must be published annually on the Department’s website in an interactive format for public comparison, covering statewide and regional data. The changes directly affect managed care plans (which provide long-term care services), the Department of Health (which collects and publishes the data), and enrollees (whose care quality and access are measured).

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the fourth Thursday in March as "Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day" in New York State. It adds this date to the existing list of official commemorative days in the state's law, which already includes days honoring figures like Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks. The bill does not create new programs or funding - it simply establishes a recognized day to honor the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African American military aviators in U.S. history. The designation applies statewide to all government and educational institutions.

Relates to the certification of registered nurse anesthetists; provides that for such certification an applicant shall file an application, be licensed as a registered professional nurse, have satisfactorily completed educational preparation for the administration of anesthesia by an accredited entity and pay a fee; specifies who may represent themself as a registered nurse anesthetist.

Prohibits the public service commission from approving a rate increase that entails a return on equity for capital projects that is above the prevailing ten-year treasury rate plus one percent.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens penalties for property crimes committed at places of religious worship and cemeteries. It directly affects individuals who damage or steal property at churches, mosques, synagogues, and other religious sites, as well as those who desecrate burial grounds. The legislation creates new felony charges for damaging or stealing religious property regardless of its monetary value, while also raising the monetary thresholds for cemetery desecration offenses from misdemeanors to felonies in more serious cases. Additionally, the bill increases the sentencing severity for repeat offenders who commit cemetery desecration within a five-year period. These changes aim to provide stronger legal consequences for crimes targeting sacred spaces and burial sites.