Sen. Lea Webb

Requires the department of transportation to establish a central registry of reports, audits, plans and public inspections regarding freight rail operators, rail cars and freight lines or routes and rights of way.

Increases the minimum wage outside of New York city and the counties of Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester; repeals certain provisions of law relating to exceptions to minimum wage increases.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New York's tuition assistance program to include students experiencing homelessness, directly affecting homeless students seeking financial aid for higher education. It modifies eligibility criteria to align with federal definitions under the McKinney-Vento Act and requires a standardized verification process for homelessness status across all tuition assistance programs. The bill also clarifies that homeless students cannot be considered "emancipated" for aid purposes solely based on their homelessness status. These changes aim to streamline access to financial aid for homeless students while ensuring consistent federal-aligned verification.

Provides for the regulation of indoor and outdoor worksites with temperature protection standards and education, training and reporting requirements to ensure that employers provide safe conditions for their employees.

Extends the period given to certain applicants for public assistance benefits to request a fair hearing on a determination of their ability to participate in work activities from ten days to sixty days or within sixty days of receipt of a work activity assignment.

Relates to establishing discount programs for veterans; provides that utilities, waterworks corporations, telephone corporations and cable television companies shall create discount programs that provide a 10 percent discount to veterans; defines terms.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 4105) would allow licensed commuter vans in New York City to pick up passengers from the street in specific neighborhoods: Manhattan Community District 2, Queens Community District 12, and several Brooklyn districts (5, 9, 16, 17, and 18). Currently, such vans can only accept prearranged rides, but this bill creates a limited program permitting street hails in those areas while banning pickups at airports. The city commission must report annually on the program's impact and effects by February 1, 2028, and thereafter. It directly affects licensed commuter van operators in those designated zones.

Maddy summaryBill S 7021 establishes a new retirement service credit for members of New York State public retirement systems who serve as volunteer firefighters or emergency service providers. Eligible members can receive one year of service credit for every five years of volunteer service, up to a maximum of three years of credit for fifteen years of service. To qualify, members must have at least five years of existing credited service and will pay a portion of the cost, calculated as three percent of their compensation for the twelve months preceding the application. The bill requires volunteer service to be certified by the agency and applications to be submitted before retirement.

Relates to responsibility for cable bills after a disconnection or downgrade in service; provides that customers requesting a disconnection or downgrade in service shall only be liable for services incurred up to the date the disconnection or downgrade is effective.

Relates to instruction concerning traffic stops in pre-licensing courses to provide drivers with their responsibilities when stopped by a law enforcement officer.