Sen. Steve Rhoads

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits commercial octopus farming for human consumption within the state. It bans any person from raising octopus in controlled aquaculture settings (like farms) where the purpose is food production, while explicitly exempting wild-caught octopus and research activities unrelated to commercial farming. Violations carry daily fines of up to $1,000 per offense. The law takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Prohibits the formation of a subsidiary of a public authority without prior approval of the legislature; allows the formation of a subsidiary of a public authority without prior approval of the legislature if such public authority files a written notice sixty days prior to the organization of such subsidiary with the governor and the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands disability retirement eligibility for New York City Transit Authority employees who participated in World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations after September 11, 2001. It provides these employees with a disability retirement allowance equal to 75% of their final average salary if they become incapacitated due to injuries sustained during those operations. The bill also ensures applicants can use the standard medical review process for disability claims under existing retirement law. It directly affects NYC Transit Authority workers with 9/11 response-related injuries, creating a specific pathway for disability benefits.

Requires an operator of a covered platform with at least one million users to ensure that its covered platform provides a process to allow law enforcement agencies to contact such covered platform, which shall provide continuous availability of such process; provides that an operator of a covered platform with at least one million users shall comply with a search warrant within seventy-two hours of receipt under certain circumstances; provides that a court may extend the time for compliance with a search warrant under certain circumstances.

Requires the office of victim services to publicize programs offered by the office and to include certain information in annual reports to the governor and the legislature and to make such reports public on the office's website.

Establishes the senior center council for the purposes of providing a forum for discussion of challenges facing senior centers across the state and developing solutions; supports sharing of information regarding efficient and effective operation of senior centers in different areas around the state; encourages the spread of methods and programs with proven effectiveness; creates an environment for peer-to-peer support for senior centers across the state; offers recommendations for how the state can support senior centers and lower barriers to effective service delivery; offers recommendations on existing services and cost effective measures to ensure the long-term sustainability and viability of senior centers in all areas of the state; repeals certain provisions of law relating thereto.

Establishes an "operation SNUG" program within the division of criminal justice services which provides grant awards to reduce, prevent or respond to gun violence.

Establishes a program for specific individuals to become complex care assistants and provide private duty nursing services to certain Medicaid enrollees.

Relates to the taxation of vapor products; provides for the licensing of vapor products distributors; imposes certain tax return filing requirements on vapor products distributors; provides for enforcement powers.

Establishes an optional twenty-five year retirement plan for certain public safety dispatchers, public safety telecommunicators, 911 operators, communications officers, police communication technicians, emergency services operators and emergency services dispatchers employed by the state, or a county or municipal emergency services department.