Sen. Lea Webb

Establishes the rural suicide prevention council to identify barriers to mental health and substance use treatment and prevention services and other policies, practices, resources, services, and potential legislation that aim to reduce death by suicide and suicide attempts and acknowledge the demographic and cultural differences in rural communities; makes related provisions.

Maddy summaryS 118 creates a searchable public database of existing dementia and Alzheimer's disease support programs for elderly individuals (60+). The office of aging, working with the health department, will develop criteria to identify successful programs and maintain the database on its website. The database will include program names, descriptions, contact details, and service areas to help elderly individuals, families, and caregivers find local resources. It requires annual updates to ensure the information remains current and accessible. This bill directly affects elderly persons with dementia/Alzheimer's and the service providers offering support in community settings.

Establishes an optional twenty-five year retirement plan for certain public safety dispatchers, public safety telecommunicators, 911 operators, communications officers, police communication technicians, emergency services operators and emergency services dispatchers employed by the state, or a county or municipal emergency services department.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the Vestal Central School District to set up a special savings account specifically for paying insurance claims. The law permits the district to use money from this fund to cover losses, lawsuits, or judgments related to risks they are required to insure, provided they do not already have a separate reserve for those same issues. By adding Vestal to a list of other school districts, the measure gives the district the legal authority to manage its own insurance finances without needing special approval for each expense. The changes take effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Chenango Forks Central School District to establish an insurance reserve fund to help cover specific insurance claims and legal judgments. The legislation amends state law to allow this district, along with several other named school districts, to set aside money for losses related to risks they are required to insure, such as liability claims. It clarifies that funds from this reserve cannot be used for losses already covered by other existing reserve funds or for specific excluded risks listed in state insurance laws. By taking effect immediately, the bill provides a direct mechanism for the district to manage financial risks associated with insurance without needing further legislative approval for this specific purpose.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the city of Ithaca to implement a program that holds vehicle owners financially responsible for traffic signal violations committed by drivers using the vehicle with their permission. The program would allow the city to install photo monitoring cameras at up to twelve intersections to automatically capture evidence of red light or stop sign violations. If a violation is recorded, the registered owner receives a notice and may be assessed a fine of up to $50, plus an additional $25 if they fail to contest the charge within the specified time. The bill includes protections such as excluding the violation from the owner's driving record, not using it for insurance purposes, and allowing owners to contest liability by proving the vehicle was stolen or that the driver was convicted of the violation.

Provides that beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year, certain graduate students shall be required to pay 25% of all current and future mandatory university fees; provides that in the 2027-2028 academic year and thereafter, no mandatory university fees shall be charged to certain graduate students and adjunct staff, with the exclusion of the graduate student association student activity fee.

Relates to the provision of breast pumps and related collection and storage materials to certain incarcerated nursing birth parents who are confined in or committed to an institution or local correctional facility with or without their child subject to specific time limitations; requires institutions and local correctional facilities to provide pumps and related materials to such incarcerated birth parents; requires the commissioner of corrections and community supervision to issue an annual report on data relating to incarcerated birth parents.

Relates to requiring the establishment of automatic payment plans; requires utility companies headquartered in New York to establish a statewide program to provide eligible participants with affordable payment plans.

Establishes the underrepresented teachers of tomorrow teacher recruitment and retention program to attract and retain underrepresented certified teachers in schools which have an underrepresentation of underrepresented certified teachers; provides for grants and procedures for applying for such grants and eligibility requirements for fund distribution.