Sen. Jake Ashby

Maddy summaryThis bill allows firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical personnel (first responders) diagnosed with work-related PTSD by a licensed psychiatrist to request paid sick leave starting from their diagnosis date. It requires employers to grant this line-of-duty sick leave without reducing accrued sick or vacation time, and compensates first responders at their regular pay rate for missed work hours. The bill also prohibits employers from taking adverse actions (like discipline or demotion) against first responders who use this leave. Smaller municipalities will receive state reimbursement for the costs, and affected employees will get retroactive sick leave restoration from their diagnosis date.

Requires enhanced federal medical assistance percentage funds be directly shared with the counties and the city of New York; requires the comptroller examine and audit all funds received from the enhanced federal medical assistance percentage and the distributions made to counties and the city of New York.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state-funded grant program to create peer support networks for health care workers, directly affecting hospitals, clinics, and other health care facilities that apply for funding. It appropriates $10 million to provide grants (capped at $250,000 per entity) to eligible organizations to develop peer-to-peer mental health programs focused on issues like PTSD and suicide prevention. The program requires standardized training for peer volunteers and administrative staffing, while prohibiting the collection of personal health data from workers seeking support. The law mandates that grant recipients follow state-established standards for program implementation and ensures privacy protections for participants.

Deems home instruction which is compliant with the provisions of article 65 of the education law and the home instruction requirements prescribed in the commissioner of education's regulations to be substantially equivalent in amount and quality to the instruction given to students of like age and attainments at the public schools of the city or district where the student resides.

Establishes a weekend child day care assistance program to provide for child day care at a child care provider for New York army and air national guard members on drill weekends.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1866) establishes a statewide "green alert" system for missing military members who have opted in and suffer from mental health conditions like PTSD or traumatic brain injury. It requires law enforcement to verify a member's military status, condition, and safety risk before activating the alert, which would then be broadcast through media and highway signs. The system includes privacy safeguards under HIPAA, an opt-out option for military members, and mandates coordination between state agencies and law enforcement. Alerts remain active only until the member is found or the designated notification period ends.

Maddy summarySenate Bill S 5837 increases the state tax credit available to active volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers. Beginning January 1, 2027, the individual credit will rise from $200 to $1,200 for resident taxpayers who have served for the entire taxable year. For two qualifying spouses filing a joint return, the credit will be $2,400. This bill also removes the previous restriction that prevented volunteers from claiming this credit if they also received a real property tax exemption for their service. The credit is refundable if it exceeds the taxpayer's tax liability.

Establishes a New York state English as a new language teaching assistance program for certain undergraduate and/or graduate students in a program leading to a career as a teacher in primary or secondary education.

Relates to paratransit services; directs that an applicant for recertification submit correspondence from a licensed physician in lieu of an in-person assessment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3794) requires all New York schools to accept credits earned in educational programs operated by the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) as valid transfer credits. It directly affects students enrolled in OCFS-run programs and the schools they attend or transfer to. The law mandates that schools must accept these credits regardless of other rules, ensuring coursework completed at OCFS facilities counts toward graduation requirements. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.