Sen. Steve Rhoads

Maddy summaryThis bill makes personnel records for police officers, firefighters, correction officers, and probation officers confidential by default. It prohibits public access to these records (used for performance reviews or promotions) without the officer's written consent, except under strict court orders. Judges must review requests for access, require a clear factual showing, and allow affected officers to be heard before granting access. The law explicitly allows prosecutors, law enforcement agencies, and courts to access records for official duties without consent.

Relates to the disclosure of law enforcement personnel records; provides that law enforcement personnel records shall be considered confidential and not subject to inspection or review without the express written consent of such law enforcement officers except as mandated by lawful court order.

Maddy summaryS 5374 amends New York's penal law to increase the felony classification for assaults targeting specific public safety personnel. It raises assault on police officers from a class D to a class C felony under Section 120.05, elevates assault on peace officers to a class B felony (from class C) under Section 120.08, and upgrades aggravated assault on police to a class A felony (from class B) under Section 120.11. These changes directly affect individuals convicted of assaulting police officers, firefighters, or emergency medical personnel. The bill makes the penalties for these specific crimes more severe by moving them to higher felony classifications. The legislation takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Establishes the crime of doxing a police officer, peace officer, or state officer when a person knowingly makes restricted personal information about a police officer, peace officer, state officer, or a member of the immediate family of such officer, publicly available with the intent to threaten, intimidate, or incite the commission of a crime of violence against the police officer, peace officer, state officer, or a member of the immediate family of such officer; or with the intent and knowledge that the restricted personal information will be used to threaten, intimidate, or facilitate the commission of a crime of violence against the police officer, peace officer, state officer, or a member of the immediate family of such officer; requires the posting of bail.

Increases the penalties for certain crimes involving tampering with a witness or intimidating a victim or witness; increases the penalty for tampering with a witness in the third degree and intimidating a victim or witness in the third degree to class D felonies; increases the penalty for tampering with a witness in the second degree and intimidating a victim or witness in the second degree to class C felonies.

Provides that the display of symbols of Nazi Germany in a public location in a manner that is likely to cause another person to feel harassed, annoyed, threatened or alarmed, or to incite violence, shall be aggravated harassment.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a tax credit allowing taxpayers to offset 50% of licensing or relicensing fees paid to state or federal agencies for hydroelectric power projects. It directly affects businesses and developers subject to taxes under specific sections of the tax code (articles 9, 9-A, 22, and 33). The credit can be applied against income taxes, with unused portions carried forward to future tax years if it reduces taxes below minimum thresholds. The bill modifies multiple tax code sections to implement this credit and its carryover rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds veterans to the list of protected classes under New York's housing discrimination law. It prohibits landlords, property owners, and housing providers from refusing to rent, sell, or lease housing accommodations based solely on a person's veteran status. The law applies to both publicly-assisted housing (Section 1) and general housing, land, or commercial space (Section 2). These changes take effect immediately upon enactment.

Provides that in the event child protective services receives a duplicate report on an open case that has not been founded, indicated or referred to services, such duplicate report shall merge with the open case and remain open an additional thirty days for further investigation.

Requires the department of education to develop school health and mental health professionals to student ratios in public schools for students who do not receive services pursuant to the individuals with disabilities education act.