Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal

Requires child protective services to orally and in writing disclose certain information to parents and caretakers who are the subject of a child protective services investigation; requires such oral and written disclosure to contain certain information regarding the rights of the person under investigation.

Relates to clarifying which entities handle the reporting of pregnancy loss; the responsibilities of health care providers and penalties for not protecting the identities of individuals who suffered a pregnancy loss.

Relates to the time period during which absentee ballots shall be mailed or delivered after an application for such ballot is received by the board of elections.

Requires the office for the prevention of domestic violence to conduct a study on domestic violence in the transgender community with a focus on Black transgender women.

Prohibits any local police department, county sheriff's office, the division of the state police or any agency that employs a peace officer in this state from participating in the 1033 federal excess property program for the purposes of receiving lethal or offensive weapons.

Maddy summaryThis New York bill prohibits openly carrying a rifle or shotgun in a visible manner on public property. It defines "openly carries" as carrying the firearm in a way that makes it visible to others. The law includes 15 specific exemptions, such as for hunters with permits, law enforcement officers, military personnel on duty, individuals on private property with permission, and those participating in historical reenactments or biathlon events. These exemptions allow open carry under defined circumstances while banning it for the general public in most public settings.

Requires the establishment of a composting program at the state university of New York, the city university of New York and institutions subject to the jurisdiction of SUNY or CUNY.

Maddy summarySenate Bill S 7954 amends the requirements for organizations providing fiscal intermediary services in the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program. It expands the definition of "fiscal intermediary" to include more entities, such as certain service centers for independent living, granting them equal status to the statewide fiscal intermediary. These newly defined fiscal intermediaries can contract directly with managed care plans and must provide culturally and linguistically competent services. The bill also removes the specific procurement process for a single statewide fiscal intermediary, aiming to offer consumers more choice in these services.

Maddy summaryS 377 requires New York's six human services agencies (mental health, developmental disabilities, addiction services, disability assistance, children's services, and aging) to adjust funding rates annually starting April 1, 2025, based on inflation. The adjustment uses the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) to ensure reimbursement rates for covered programs keep pace with rising costs. It applies to specific services like mental health clinics, developmental disability supports, addiction treatment, and disability assistance programs, replacing all other cost-of-living increases for these services. The bill aims to maintain stable funding for service providers without requiring new legislative action each year.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits home care aides to 12-hour shifts without their explicit consent. It prohibits employers from requiring overtime beyond this limit, and any agreement for longer shifts must be voluntarily provided in writing for each specific instance. The law protects aides from retaliation, including dismissal or penalties, for refusing excessive hours or reporting violations. Exceptions only apply during true emergencies after exhausting all staffing options, and even then, overtime cannot exceed four hours without consent.