Sen. Rachel May

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 859 (the "robocall prevention act"), limits unsolicited robocalls to New York residents and requires phone companies to provide free call-blocking technology. It bans most robocalls unless made with a resident's prior consent, for emergencies, by labor organizations to members, or as permitted by regulations. Telephone service providers must offer free call mitigation technology that blocks unwanted robocalls while allowing emergency calls to go through. The law directly affects New York residents receiving calls and all telephone service providers operating in the state.

Requires insurers to provide insurance coverage for treatment of rare diseases, life-threatening conditions or diseases, degenerative and disabling conditions, or diagnoses involving medically fragile children, by a provider of the patient's choice.

Establishes the climate change adaptation cost recovery program to require companies that have contributed significantly to the buildup of climate-warming greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to bear a share of the costs of needed infrastructure investments to adapt to climate change; mandates that projects funded by the program require compliance with prevailing wage requirements; requires that contracts for funded projects contain a provision that the structural iron and structural steel used or supplied in the performance of the contract or any subcontract thereto shall be produced or made in whole or substantial part in the United States, its territories or possessions; makes additional provisions; establishes the climate change adaptation fund.

Prohibits conflicts of interest among board of elections employees; prevents a board of elections employee from remaining on the board of elections payroll while also a candidate for an office who has an election overseen by the board at which they are employed; allows for a member to remain on the board until 90 days before the general election if there is no primary for such office.

Removes the lifetime ban on jury duty for convicted felons; provides that if convicted of a felony, such person has completed all sentencing requirements to such conviction, including any required term of imprisonment, probation, or community supervision.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the state Council on the Arts to create specific criteria and guidelines for establishing designated arts and cultural districts in cities, towns, or villages. These districts are defined as geographic areas with a high concentration of arts and cultural facilities, and the bill allows multiple local governments to apply jointly if a district spans their shared boundaries. The Council must develop standards that evaluate whether a district attracts artists and businesses, encourages job growth, draws tourism, boosts property values, and supports local cultural education and preservation. Additionally, the Department of Economic Development is tasked with providing state-supported assistance, such as technical help for grant applications and marketing expertise, to certified districts.

Relates to providing information to patients and the public on policy-based exclusions; requires the commissioner of health to collect from each health care facility a list of its policy-based exclusions and publish such information on the department's website.

Requires a utilization review agent to follow certain rules when establishing a step therapy protocol; requires that the protocol accepts any attestation submitted by the insured's health care professional stating that a required drug has failed as prima facie evidence that the required drug has failed.

Requires new construction that includes dedicated off-street parking to provide electric vehicle charging stations and electric vehicle ready parking spaces.

Directs the commissioner of health, in consultation with the office of mental health and other relevant stakeholders, to develop guidance and standards for routine maternal depression screenings, referrals, diagnosis and treatment, and to provide training and materials on issues related to maternal depression.