Sen. Jeremy Cooney

Maddy summaryThis bill expands disability retirement eligibility for New York City Transit Authority employees who participated in World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations after September 11, 2001. It provides these employees with a disability retirement allowance equal to 75% of their final average salary if they become incapacitated due to injuries sustained during those operations. The bill also ensures applicants can use the standard medical review process for disability claims under existing retirement law. It directly affects NYC Transit Authority workers with 9/11 response-related injuries, creating a specific pathway for disability benefits.

Requires contracting agencies to contact minority and women-owned business enterprises when such enterprise is listed on a utilization plan and when a contract is awarded; mandates that the prime contractor use such enterprise identified on the utilization plan, unless such enterprise cannot perform or is no longer state certified.

Relates to the statute of limitations for certain deed theft actions; revives such actions otherwise barred by the existing statute of limitations and states who may bring such actions; grants trial preference to such actions; directs the chief administrator of the courts to promulgate rules for the timely adjudication of certain revived actions.

Establishes an "operation SNUG" program within the division of criminal justice services which provides grant awards to reduce, prevent or respond to gun violence.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases short-term disability and family leave benefits for eligible New York workers. It phases in higher weekly benefit rates (from 50% to 67% of average weekly wage) and extends maximum benefit periods (from 8-10 weeks to 12 weeks) over time, starting in 2018. These changes apply to employees taking leave for disability or qualifying family care needs under New York's workers' compensation law. The bill requires employers to maintain health benefits during leave and prohibits retaliation for taking leave. The superintendent of financial services may delay benefit increases if needed to maintain program stability.

Relates to the taxation of vapor products; provides for the licensing of vapor products distributors; imposes certain tax return filing requirements on vapor products distributors; provides for enforcement powers.

Provides additional support to children with complex needs under the jurisdiction of the state; requires data collection regarding children under the jurisdiction of the state.

Requires the consideration of complete street design for certain transportation projects which receive federal or state funding; authorizes the department to compile and make publicly available guidance and reference material related to consideration of complete street design.

Maddy summaryThis bill mandates that all drivers complete a 30-minute work zone safety education module as part of their pre-licensing course before obtaining a driver's license. The required curriculum covers identifying construction zones, understanding traffic control devices like signs and flaggers, legal obligations to yield to emergency vehicles, and consequences of speeding violations in work zones. The Department of Motor Vehicles must develop this curriculum in consultation with transportation officials, safety experts, and industry representatives, while ensuring the material is available in both in-person and online formats. Completion of this training will be documented on each applicant's licensing record and verified through a dedicated exam question.

Adds parcels of land to the list of premises which are exempt from the provisions of law which generally restrict manufacturers/wholesalers and retailers from sharing an interest in a liquor license.