Sen. Peter Oberacker

Maddy summaryThis bill classifies emergency medical services (EMS) as "essential services" for the purpose of qualifying for state aid. It directly affects municipalities and EMS providers by changing their eligibility to apply for state financial assistance. The key provision amends the General Municipal Law to explicitly state that EMS provided under specific conditions shall be deemed essential services when seeking state aid. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment. This is a procedural change to state aid eligibility criteria, not a new funding program.

Enacts "the combating campus antisemitism act"; prohibits the granting of tuition assistance awards to any student who has knowingly engaged in promoting antisemitism in a manner that is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action and is likely to incite or produce such action, that constitutes "true threats"; makes related provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 6624) provides a New York state tax credit equal to the cost of fishing and hunting licenses for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers. Specifically, it covers the cost of "small and big game licenses" and fishing licenses for these volunteers, as defined by existing benefit laws. The tax credit directly affects eligible volunteer emergency service workers who pay for these licenses. It does not provide free licenses but reimburses the cost through a tax credit. The bill amends environmental conservation law to add this provision, effective immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3453) increases penalties for repeat domestic violence offenses by adding a 10-year lookback period for prior convictions. It creates a new "aggravated harassment in the first degree" offense specifically for individuals who commit harassment against someone they live with or are in a domestic relationship with, after a prior harassment conviction within the last decade. The bill also amends related offenses like assault, strangulation, and menacing to include stricter penalties when the perpetrator has a prior conviction for similar crimes and is part of the same household or family as the victim. These changes directly affect repeat offenders in domestic relationships, making certain offenses class E or D felonies instead of lower-level charges. The bill focuses on holding repeat domestic violence perpetrators accountable through enhanced sentencing.

Directs the commissioner of health to conduct a study to identify, analyze, report, and medically combat new or previously unseen opiate/opioid compounds found in overdose patients in New York state for the purpose of establishing more efficient overdose medical treatment protocols.

Extends provisions relating to establishing the stretch limousine passenger safety task force; authorizes the stretch limousine passenger safety task force to continue to hold public hearings and meetings to review the actions taken by the state and to publish a report of its findings.

Prohibits a municipality from relocating migrants from such municipality to another municipality in New York unless and until a resolution authorizing the relocation has been adopted by the governing bodies of both the municipality to which the migrants are to be relocated and the county in which the receiving municipality is located; mandates written notice prior to location; provides for a fine for violations.

Maddy summaryS 6842 adds specific protections against anti-Semitism to New York's human rights law and hate crimes statute. It defines anti-Semitism to include actions like demonizing Jewish people, spreading false conspiracy theories about Jewish communities, or blaming Jewish individuals for societal issues. The bill requires state agencies to use this definition when reviewing discrimination complaints based on Jewish religious practice, heritage, or ethnicity. Violent acts motivated by anti-Semitism that cause injury or property damage will now be classified as hate crimes under New York law.

Maddy summaryThis bill reclassifies resisting arrest as a class E felony (a serious criminal charge) instead of a misdemeanor. It directly affects individuals who resist arrest, as they will now face felony charges rather than minor penalties, and police officers, who must now make an arrest instead of issuing a court date (appearance ticket) for this offense. Key provisions include amending the penal law to upgrade the offense level and changing criminal procedure rules to eliminate appearance tickets for resisting arrest cases. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a religious exemption allowing children to attend school without required vaccinations if their parent, guardian, or legal custodian holds genuine and sincere religious beliefs opposing the vaccines. It directly affects families seeking to exempt their children from vaccination requirements for school attendance. The key provision amends public health law to require schools to accept such religious exemptions without demanding a certificate, while still reporting immunization status for exempt children. The exemption covers vaccines for diseases like measles, polio, and pertussis, as specified in existing law. This changes school vaccination policy by adding a religious exception to the current immunization requirements.