Sen. Peter Oberacker

Maddy summaryS 2714 creates a five-member Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Control Board to address the MTA's fiscal crisis. The board, appointed by the governor with input from legislative leaders, must approve all major MTA projects and financing before the authority can commit funds or incur debt. Key provisions require the board to verify sufficient funding commitments - such as revenue projections or collateral - before approving projects, and to coordinate with the state comptroller within a seven-day review window. This bill directly affects the MTA's ability to fund infrastructure projects, aiming to ensure long-term fiscal stability and protect taxpayers from unsustainable costs.

Maddy summaryS 282 requires election boards to publicly post online images of all completed ballots after an election, while removing any personal identifying information like names or addresses. This applies directly to election officials who manage ballot processing and storage. The bill mandates this release immediately after elections, making ballot images accessible to the public through online platforms. It does not change voting procedures or eligibility but increases transparency around how ballots are handled.

Establishes the crimes of deceptive wearing of a mask and aggravated deceptive wearing of a mask; makes such crimes a class B misdemeanor and a class A misdemeanor, respectively.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 299) allows school districts with a combined wealth ratio of 35% or less to create a reserve fund. The fund can cover expenses that would otherwise push the district over its tax levy limit without needing voter approval. Districts must return unused funds to the general budget within four years if they’re not needed for future tax-compliant spending. It directly affects low-wealth school districts seeking to manage budget constraints under existing tax cap rules.

Establishes a rental assistance loan-to-grant program to assist landlords of small rental properties who have lost rental income due to the inability of the landlords' tenants to pay rent during the COVID-19 state disaster emergency; provides for the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 224) amends New York's penal law to upgrade the felony classifications for unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle (from E to D felony for third degree, D to C for second degree, and C for first degree). It also adds these specific fleeing offenses to the list of crimes subject to bail eligibility determinations under criminal procedure law. Under the changes, courts must evaluate whether a defendant charged with such fleeing offenses (third, second, or first degree) should be released on bail or held, considering factors like "harm to an identifiable person or property" as outlined in sections 510.10, 530.20, and 530.40. This affects individuals charged with these fleeing offenses during bail hearings.

Lowers the required service life threshold for consolidated local street and highway improvement program capital projects from ten years to five years.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3300) repeals New York's Clean Slate Act, which previously allowed certain criminal records to be sealed or expunged. It directly affects individuals with past arrests or convictions that were dismissed, ended in a favorable termination, or resulted in sealed records under the Clean Slate Act. The repeal removes legal protections that prevented employers, landlords, and others from asking about or considering these sealed records during job applications, housing searches, or credit decisions. As a result, individuals who qualified under the Clean Slate Act would no longer have those records shielded from such inquiries.

Provides that when a person is convicted of two or more felony counts and at least one of which is an offense defined in article 265 of the penal law involving the possession or use of an illegal firearm, rifle or shotgun, the sentences must run consecutively.

Maddy summaryBill S 147 mandates changes to the disclosure of law enforcement disciplinary records. It requires law enforcement agencies to redact "unsubstantiated" complaints (where evidence is insufficient to determine misconduct) and "unfounded" complaints (where credible evidence shows no misconduct occurred). These redactions apply to records concerning police officers, peace officers, firefighters, and firefighter/paramedics. This bill changes the previous "may redact" option to a "shall redact" requirement for these types of complaints and technical infractions before public disclosure.