Sen. Pam Helming

Maddy summaryThis bill requires hospitals and other health care facilities to report any allegations of sexual offenses committed by health care practitioners against patients to both the state Department of Health and the Department of Education within 30 days. It directly affects health care facilities and licensed practitioners (such as doctors, nurses, and therapists) covered under Education Law Title 8. The law mandates that reports include specific details like the practitioner’s license information, the nature of the incident, any criminal convictions, and the facility’s actions taken. These reports aim to improve oversight of professional misconduct while ensuring both departments can take appropriate action.

Requires any court which holds a special proceeding to recover real property to establish an escrow account where the tenant shall submit any owed rent into such account.

Directs the commissioner of health to contract with an independent entity to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the existing methodology used to determine payment for early intervention screenings, evaluations, services and service coordination; directs recommendations on reimbursement methodology as well as needs under the program.

Maddy summaryS 212, the Veterans' Memorials Preservation Act, requires public entities (such as cities, towns, schools, and state agencies) to preserve existing veterans memorials - like monuments, plaques, or parks dedicated to military service. The bill prohibits altering, destroying, or restricting access to these memorials without reasonable necessity, and mandates that entities maintain them in good condition. It directly affects all government bodies that own or manage such memorials, ensuring they remain publicly accessible and unchanged unless safety or preservation needs require exceptions. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all visitors entering New York correctional facilities to undergo body scanning before entry, and mandates that incarcerated individuals be scanned upon intake and after visits. It specifies that facilities must offer alternative screening methods for medical reasons or if someone declines scanning, though visitation may be denied for non-medical refusal. Regulations will define when scanning is required, including accommodations for medical needs and prohibiting harassment for choosing alternatives. The law takes effect immediately, with related public health law changes set to be repealed alongside it.

Establishes a person is guilty of arson in the first degree when such person intentionally damages a building or motor vehicle by causing an explosion or a fire and when such explosion or fire is accelerated by use of ignitable liquid or flammable gas.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates multiple taxes on health insurance in New York State, directly affecting consumers and health insurance companies. It phases out four specific taxes over time, including the $1.1 billion annual "covered lives assessment" on insured individuals, a 9.63% surcharge on hospital services, a $350 million flat tax on commercial insurance policies, and a $149 million tax on insurance companies. Key provisions gradually reduce these taxes: for instance, the insurance company tax drops from 1.75% to 0.37% by 2030 and is eliminated entirely after 2031. The legislation aims to lower health insurance costs by removing these taxes, which the bill states collectively cost consumers over $5 billion annually in 2018.

Maddy summaryS 5931 delays the enforcement of regulations requiring truck manufacturers to sell more zero-emission vehicles. It prevents the Department of Environmental Conservation from implementing rules that would have forced manufacturers to increase zero-emission truck sales before January 1, 2027. The bill directly affects medium- and heavy-duty truck manufacturers by extending the timeline for compliance. This policy change postpones the effective date of the advanced clean trucks rules without altering the 2027 deadline.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows members of the Red Knights International Motorcycle Club residing in the state to obtain special license plates displaying the club's name. To qualify, applicants must prove membership and pay a $30 annual fee in addition to standard registration costs. The state requires a $6,000 surety bond for plate production unless 200 orders are received within two years, at which point the bond requirement is lifted. The bill directly affects club members seeking these specialized plates and modifies how such plates are issued under vehicle and traffic law.

Directs the Office of the New York State Comptroller to conduct a study on the feasibility of automatically returning unclaimed funds held by such office to the rightful owners of such funds; requires a report of its findings and legislative recommendations.