Sen. Peter Oberacker

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 8485) expands New York's criminal impersonation law to specifically include impersonating a firefighter. It makes it a class E felony to pretend to be a firefighter (or wear their uniform without authorization) while obstructing emergency personnel during life-threatening situations like fires, explosions, or toxic gas incidents. The law directly affects individuals who falsely pose as firefighters to interfere with emergency responses. This amendment clarifies that such impersonation during critical emergencies will be prosecuted under the same felony charge as impersonating police or federal officers.

Prohibits state agencies from promulgating rules, regulations or any form of guidance requiring individuals under the age of eighteen who are not exhibiting COVID-19 related symptoms, as defined by the centers for disease control and prevention, to wear a mask or face covering in a public place or while participating in any recreational or organized sporting activity.

Gives state income tax credit to volunteer firefighters and members of a volunteer ambulance corps in good standing up to $2500; must be in good standing for a minimum of five years and maintain continued eligibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes peregrine falcons from New York's endangered species list and directs the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to create regulations for their use in falconry. It directly affects licensed falconers who currently cannot legally use peregrine falcons due to their protected status. The key mechanism requires the DEC to issue specific rules governing the training, handling, and use of peregrine falcons in the sport of falconry. This change allows falconry practitioners to legally participate in the sport using peregrine falcons under the new DEC regulations.

Maddy summaryS 583 establishes New York's "Farmland for a New Generation" program to support farmland access and transfer. It creates a statewide resource center (with American Farmland Trust) and regional navigators (through Cornell Cooperative Extension) to help new farmers find affordable land, assist existing farmers in succession planning, and aid landowners in connecting with farmers. The program also provides financial assistance for conservation easements and farm transitions. Funding for these services is allocated from state appropriations to the Department of Agriculture and Markets.

Relates to designating certain medical providers employed by a municipal police department, while deployed with the special weapons and tactics team, as peace officers.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 283) reclassifies attacks against law enforcement officers and graffiti as hate crimes under New York law. It expands the definition of hate crimes to include offenses committed "because of actual or perceived employment as a law enforcement officer" and adds "making graffiti" (specifically under penal law section 145.60) to the list of acts considered hate crimes. This change means that when someone commits assault or vandalism targeting officers or creates graffiti, prosecutors can pursue enhanced penalties under hate crime statutes. The law directly affects individuals committing these acts and changes how such offenses are legally categorized, without altering existing penalties for the underlying crimes.

Requires the notice to crime victims of case disposition to inform the victim of the right to attend interviews between the board of parole and the incarcerated individual in cases where the final disposition includes a felony defined in article one hundred twenty-five of the penal law that results in the commitment of the defendant to the custody of the department of corrections and community supervision for an indeterminate sentence; requires the board of parole to review victim impact statements, failure to review such statements shall make a hearing by the board of parole invalid.

Requires that a minimum of ten percent of the labor hours of the total construction workforce employed by all contractors and subcontractors performing work pursuant to a construction contract shall be performed by a person or persons participating in a certified apprenticeship program; makes technical amendments.

Prohibits state funding of any degree-granting institution of higher education if such institution permits terrorist organizations or activities in support of such organizations on campus; prohibits any student group or organization of receiving funding from the degree-granting institution if such group or organization directly or indirectly promotes, encourages, advocates, or engages in any terrorist advocacy or activities on campus.