Sen. Lea Webb

Requires every board of elections to employ a minimum of four full time employees in addition to the appointed commissioners within four years and shall employ two of those full time employees within two years; and two additional employees for every twenty thousand active registered voters beyond forty thousand active registered voters.

Maddy summaryThis bill asks the Governor of New York to officially recognize May 22, 2024, as the International Day for Biological Diversity within the state. It serves as a formal acknowledgment of the importance of protecting the variety of life in New York's ecosystems, including its plants, animals, and fungi. The resolution does not change laws or allocate funding but instead directs the Governor to issue a proclamation highlighting the global biodiversity crisis and the state's role in conservation. By adopting this measure, the legislature aims to raise public awareness about environmental issues without implementing new regulatory requirements.

Prohibits the sale of lithium-ion batteries used in micromobility devices, bicycles with electric assist or limited use motorcycles unless such batteries are manufactured in accordance with certain standards and specifications; provides a civil penalty; authorizes district attorneys, county attorneys, and corporation counsel to have concurrent authority to seek the relief.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands telehealth reimbursement rules to ensure remote medical visits are paid at the same rates as in-person appointments for most services. It specifically allows for payment of additional provider types and audio-only phone consultations, provided federal funding supports these changes. The legislation also clarifies that certain facility fees are not required for telehealth since no physical clinic space is used. Mental health and addiction services will continue to be reimbursed at full in-person rates unless the state commissioner determines a specific service is unsuitable for remote delivery.

Requires the commissioner to establish Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history and civic impact curriculum or instructions for school districts.

Provides that NYSERDA shall establish a program to provide rebates or new lithium-ion batteries for powered mobility devices at reduced cost or no cost to certain individuals; sets standards for lithium-ion batteries provided pursuant to the program; requires NYSERDA to submit an annual report on such program.

Requires micromobility devices, mopeds, and bicycles with electric assist to have a red tag attached to the charging cord which states to unplug when not in use.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates January 30th annually as "Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution" to honor Fred Korematsu, a civil rights activist who challenged the Japanese American internment during World War II. The legislation amends New York State's executive law to add this specific date to the official list of state commemorative days alongside other recognized holidays. By updating the legal text, the bill ensures that government agencies and schools can officially observe this day to acknowledge the importance of civil liberties. The change takes effect immediately upon passage, adding a new entry to the existing calendar of state observances without altering the dates or names of other holidays.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state fire administrator to update hazardous materials emergency response training to include specific guidance for incidents involving lithium-ion batteries. The legislation defines these batteries as storage units using lithium ions within a carbon graphite nickel metal-oxide substrate and mandates that the training curriculum address this technology. By adding this requirement to the existing specialized training program, the bill aims to ensure first responders are better equipped to handle fires or accidents involving these increasingly common power sources.

Directs the department of state, in consultation with the division of homeland security and emergency services and the New York state energy research and development authority, to develop and maintain safety resources, information, and protocols in regard to fire hazard prevention relating to, but not limited to, lithium-ion batteries, second-use lithium-ion batteries, bicycles with electric assist as defined in section one hundred two-c of the vehicle and traffic law, mopeds, and micromobility devices.