Sen. Rachel May

Creates a single, streamlined process whereby a facility or program operating both a pre-kindergarten program and a daycare program may apply for and receive any certification, licensing, or other requirement otherwise necessary to operate a pre-kindergarten program or daycare program under the laws of the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a requirement that parents or caretakers must earn a minimum wage or work a minimum number of hours to qualify for state child care assistance. It directly affects low-income families seeking child care support, eliminating a barrier that previously disqualified them based on earnings or work hours. The law amendment explicitly prohibits any minimum earnings requirement for those otherwise eligible under existing child care assistance rules. This change would allow more families to access child care support without needing to meet specific work or income thresholds.

Relates to penalties for failure to comply with maintenance and reporting of vacant and abandoned properties, and reporting and release of information; provides for the sharing of information between municipalities; provides for enforcement for failure to report on abandoned and vacant properties.

Maddy summaryBill S 1062 directs the Council on the Arts to develop specific criteria and guidelines for establishing state-designated arts and cultural districts. These districts are defined as geographic areas within cities, towns, or villages with a concentration of arts or cultural facilities. Local governments, or multiple governments jointly, can apply for this designation based on criteria that may include attracting artists, encouraging job development, fostering tourism, and enhancing local cultural development. Once designated, these districts would receive state-supported assistance from the Department of Economic Development, such as technical support for grants and marketing expertise.

Directs the department of public service to adjust each utility corporation's residential fixed charge upon such corporation's filing with the department of an amendment of rate schedules, to recover only the fixed costs and operation and maintenance expenses directly related to metering, billing, service connections and the provision of customer service.

Creates a legislative task force on outdoor environmental education and recreation that will benefit residents of New York state by fostering stewardship and conservation of the environment, and an appreciation of the importance of the wise use of natural resources as well as acknowledgment of the health benefits of time spent in nature.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 353) changes the process for appointing New York's Medicaid director. It requires the governor to appoint the director, but mandates Senate confirmation for the position. This directly affects the state's Medicaid leadership structure by shifting appointment authority from current procedures to a governor-with-Senate-approval model. The bill takes effect January 1st following enactment.

Expands health care services provided by telehealth to include services delivered through a facility licensed under article twenty-eight of the public health law that is eligible to be designated or has received a designation as a federally qualified health center, including those facilities that are also licensed under article thirty-one or article thirty-two of the mental hygiene law.

Establishes a three-year pilot hospital medical debt relief program to provide hospital medical debt relief to eligible residents of the state utilizing a not-for-profit organization to identify, acquire and cancel medical debt of such eligible residents directly from health care providers in the state.

Establishes a right of action for the deprivation of constitutional rights; provides for compensatory damages, punitive damages, injunctive and declaratory relief, and reasonable attorney's fees.