Sen. Mark Walczyk

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts farm vehicles from paying the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (MCTD) supplemental registration fee. It directly affects farmers and farm vehicle owners registered under Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 401(13) within the MCTD area. The key mechanism is amending Sections 499-a and 499-b of the Vehicle and Traffic Law to explicitly state that farm vehicles are not subject to this fee upon registration or renewal. The change removes an existing fee requirement for this specific vehicle type. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Directs NYSERDA to develop a geothermal education and outreach program to provide guidelines, planning, and financial support for qualified school districts that wish to convert to a geothermal energy system as their primary source of energy.

Requires no less than two percent of all state competitive grants for water quality infrastructure projects to be awarded to municipalities located in the Adirondack park and Catskill park.

Renames the Governor Mario M. Cuomo bridge the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Tappan Zee bridge; directs the commissioner of transportation to provide for the installation and maintenance of adequate signing of the state highway system.

Enacts the "learning for work act"; establishes the youth apprenticeship program and the enhanced regents professional diploma; appropriates moneys therefor.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows school districts to create policies enabling homeschooled students to try out for and join their district's interscholastic sports teams. It requires these students to meet the same academic, health, and behavioral standards as enrolled public school students - including annual academic checks, health exams, and age requirements - and limits participation to their district of residence. Parents must provide transportation, and districts may set additional academic eligibility rules. The policy is optional for school boards, not mandatory.

Establishes the electronic open auction public bond sale pilot program for counties, cities, towns, villages and school districts; provides such provisions shall remain in effect for 3 years.

Relates to creating a school resource officer program to permit the employment of retired law enforcement officers and provide grants to school districts and non-public schools for such purpose.

Requires 12.5% of profits generated from a solar or wind energy system to be paid to a taxing jurisdiction or land owner under certain agreements for the installation and use of such solar or wind energy system, in addition to other PILOT or other payments required under such agreement.

Increases certain penalties for certain crimes relating to criminal possession of a weapon or firearm; relates to the release of information to the public, schools or law enforcement pertaining to youthful and adolescent offenders; establishes the crime of criminal solicitation of a minor in a violent felony; repeals certain provisions relating to disclosure of law enforcement arrest or booking photographs of an individual.