Sen. James Skoufis

Relates to creating the health emergency response data system, which collects information and statistical data relating to public health emergencies in order to assist the department of health, other government entities, health care providers, and the public in understanding and responding to public health emergencies.

Maddy summaryBill S 7729 requires children attending public, private, or parochial schools in the state to receive age-appropriate immunization against rotavirus. This bill amends the public health law to add rotavirus to the list of mandatory immunizations for children between two months and eighteen years old. Parents or guardians are responsible for ensuring their children receive this vaccine from a health practitioner. Schools are prohibited from admitting or allowing children to attend for more than fourteen days without proof of this and other required immunizations. If parents cannot afford a private health practitioner, the immunization can be administered free of charge by a county health officer.

Requires the governor to meet with the assembly and with the senate once a month for the purpose of answering questions relating to the strategic direction, financial status and general governance of the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New York's penal law to explicitly include displaying a swastika in public view as a form of aggravated harassment in the first degree. It specifically targets acts like placing swastikas on billboards, aerial displays, or similar methods visible to uninvited audiences. The change expands the existing definition of aggravated harassment to cover this specific act, making it a criminal offense under the law. The bill directly affects individuals who publicly display swastikas in ways that could intimidate or harass others.

Relates to the availability of opioid reversal agents; requires the department of health to make available any formulation and dosage of opioid reversal agents approved by the federal food and drug administration.

Requires disclosure to the department of audit and control of annual employment reports for non-charitable, non-profit entities that are qualified as an exempt organization or entity by the United States Treasury under I.R.C. 501(c)(3) and (4) and that receives more than twenty-five percent of their total annual revenue from state funds.

Establishes a civil cause of action for employees who are subjected to an abusive work environment; provides employers shall be vicariously liable for such work environment.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new class E felony offense for aggravated harassment specifically targeting survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault. It makes it illegal to harass someone with the belief they are a survivor of such trauma, elevating certain harassment to felony status. The law directly affects survivors by providing stronger legal protection against targeted harassment, and it applies to anyone who commits such harassment knowing the victim's status. The provision defines the crime and sets the penalty without altering existing definitions of harassment.

Establishes the professional practice of community midwifery; defines as the management in the home, birth center, or community setting, of normal pregnancies, child birth, and postpartum care, including newborn evaluation, resuscitation and referral for infants; sets requirements for license and practice.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires cable television companies to provide new written information to subscribers at the time of initial sign-up. Specifically, companies must describe the required equipment, explain where subscribers can buy that equipment retail, and list compatible retail options that work with their system. The requirement applies directly to cable subscribers who are signing up for service, ensuring they understand equipment choices before committing. The law defines "equipment" broadly to include devices like modems used for data transmission. This policy change aims to increase transparency about equipment options without restricting consumer choices.