Sen. Pat Fahy

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution requests Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim February 28, 2025, as Rare Disease Day in New York State. It aims to raise public awareness of rare diseases, which affect approximately 1 in 10 New Yorkers, and aligns with the national observance of Rare Disease Day to highlight ongoing efforts in diagnosis, research, and treatment support. The resolution does not create new laws but serves as a symbolic gesture to encourage broader recognition of these conditions.

Maddy summaryThis resolution requests Governor Hochul to officially designate April 30, 2025, as "Denim Day" in New York State. It supports an annual awareness event established to combat sexual violence and challenge victim-blaming attitudes - originating from a 1999 Italian court case where a rape victim was blamed for wearing tight jeans. The resolution highlights statistics on sexual violence affecting women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities. As a commemorative resolution, it does not create new laws but formally recognizes a community awareness initiative.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (J 142) asks Governor Hochul to officially designate May 11-17, 2025, as Police Week in New York State, aligning with National Police Week. It does not create new laws or policies but formally honors law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. The resolution highlights the sacrifice of over 20,000 U.S. officers since 1791 and seeks to raise public awareness about officer safety. It directly affects the Governor (as the recipient of the request) and New York residents, who would observe the designated week. The resolution is purely ceremonial and does not impose any legal requirements.

Enacts the "crash victims bill of rights"; requires accident reports to be delivered to victims of accidents or their next of kin; requires victim impact statements to be delivered at traffic infraction hearings by injured parties or their next of kin; requires employers to grant leave of absence to employees delivering a victim impact statement at a traffic infraction hearing; directs the superintendent of financial services to conduct a study and complete a report on certain automobile crash information.

Relates to prohibiting the exclusion of coverage for losses or damages caused by exposure to lead-based paint; provides that no insurer licensed or permitted by the superintendent to provide liability coverage to rental property owners shall exclude coverage for losses or damages caused by exposure to lead-based paint.

Relates to parole eligibility for certain incarcerated persons age fifty-five or older if they have served at least fifteen years of their sentence or sentences.

Maddy summaryThis New York state bill (S 141) establishes a right to free legal help for eligible immigrants facing removal proceedings in New York. It directly affects income-eligible non-citizens detained in New York, those with strong New York ties (like being a state resident or having a case heard there), or those transferred from New York to federal immigration detention. The law requires the state to provide ongoing legal representation starting when a case begins (e.g., upon receiving a "Notice to Appear") and covers all immigration court stages, including appeals. Legal services must be provided by state-designated providers to individuals earning up to 200% of the federal poverty level.

Requires the consideration of complete street design for certain transportation projects which receive federal or state funding; authorizes the department to compile and make publicly available guidance and reference material related to consideration of complete street design.

Prohibits the use in an industrial plant of any product or substance that contains perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, including vats, conveyor belts, molds, ovens, pans, pots, chemicals used as mold releasers, lubricants, seals and coatings.

Requires all agencies to submit to the committee on open government a log of all freedom of information law requests for each year in which they received or have pending a request for records; requires the committee on open government to publish, on one webpage, all freedom of information law request logs it receives.