Sen. Peter Oberacker

Maddy summaryS 1959 requires New York's corrections department to submit a detailed report 365 days before closing any prison or correctional facility, including justification for the closure. The legislature must review this report and can request additional information. If the legislature determines the closure is unjustified, it cannot proceed without approval by a majority vote in both the Assembly and Senate. This bill directly affects state correctional facilities and shifts decision-making authority for closures to the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires electric and gas utility companies in New York to provide customers with a $100 credit for each 24-hour period their power is out for 24 hours or more. It directly affects residential and commercial customers who experience extended outages. The credit is automatically applied to the customer's future bills, reducing charges until the credit amount is fully used, without requiring customers to request it or pay upfront. The credit applies only to outages exceeding one full day and cannot be paid out as cash.

Enacts the voter registration integrity act; requires a birth certificate, passport, certificate of naturalization or citizenship, evidence of New York state residency, or any other documentation that the board of elections determines establishes United States citizenship.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1866) establishes a statewide "green alert" system for missing military members who have opted in and suffer from mental health conditions like PTSD or traumatic brain injury. It requires law enforcement to verify a member's military status, condition, and safety risk before activating the alert, which would then be broadcast through media and highway signs. The system includes privacy safeguards under HIPAA, an opt-out option for military members, and mandates coordination between state agencies and law enforcement. Alerts remain active only until the member is found or the designated notification period ends.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 8488) allows students in New York schools to earn physical education (PE) credits by completing state-approved lifeguard certification training courses. It directs the Board of Regents to create rules enabling schools to count such training toward required PE credits. The policy directly affects students in public schools who complete certified lifeguard programs, replacing traditional PE instruction for credit purposes. The change applies only to courses meeting New York State’s lifeguard training standards.

Maddy summaryS 1449 removes the 35-year maximum age limit for taking civil service exams to become a police officer or environmental conservation officer in New York State. This change directly affects applicants over 35 who wish to enter these specific state or local government roles. The bill amends Section 58 of the civil service law by deleting the age cap from eligibility requirements. Existing exceptions (such as military service time counting toward age or specific Buffalo police hiring scenarios) remain unchanged.

Relates to the justified use of physical force; removes requirement that a person facing an imminent physical threat must retreat; provides immunity from civil and criminal liability.

Enacts "Lorraine's Law"; increases from twenty-four to sixty months, the time for which reconsideration for parole for a violent felony offense shall be determined.

Expands agricultural tourism to include, but not be limited to, the production and processing of grapes, grains or other crops used to create alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in an on-farm brewery, winery, cidery, meadery or distillery, the production and processing of fiber such as sheep or alpaca wool, and the production of processed food commodities, including but not limited to ice cream, jams, baked goods and similar items.

Establishes the division of the crime victims' statewide advocate to represent crime victims' and witnesses' legal interests during discovery and trial and assist with victim compensation applications.