Sen. Tom O'Mara

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 7415) allows individuals aged 60 and older to hunt deer using a crossbow during a designated special archery season. It amends hunting regulations to add a new eligibility category for crossbow hunting, specifically for seniors, replacing previous restrictions that limited crossbow use to younger hunters. The law requires the state environmental department to create regulations for this season and establish documentation rules to verify a hunter's age eligibility. The policy takes effect June 1, 2026, and directly affects older adult hunters in New York State.

Relates to wage claims for manual workers; establishes an exception is provided from certain legal relief for instances of when payment is made within fourteen calendar days after the end of the week in which the wages were earned.

Authorizes the village of Bath, in Steuben county to adopt and amend local laws imposing a tax on persons occupying a room for hire in any hotel in an amount not to exceed 2% of the per diem rental rate for each room; provides for the expiration and repeal of such provisions on September 1, 2027.

Amends the offense of murder in the second degree to include when a person knowingly distributes fentanyl or any substance containing fentanyl and as a result of such distribution causes the death of another person; establishes the crime of aggravated criminal sale of a controlled substance resulting in serious physical injury.

Relates to procedures relating to driving while ability impaired by drugs; defines impairment and intoxication; updates procedures for field testing of drivers suspected of being under the influence of drugs to include the use of oral/bodily fluid tests; provides that refusal to submit to such field tests is specified to be a traffic infraction; makes related provisions.

Relates to criminal penalties for possession, theft, or sale of stolen firearms, shotguns and rifles; makes technical corrections to section 155.42 of the penal law.

Allows retired state police officers to serve as police officers for local police departments without diminution of retirement benefits; empowers the superintendent of state police to approve such service.

Establishes the crime of doxing a police officer, peace officer, or state officer when a person knowingly makes restricted personal information about a police officer, peace officer, state officer, or a member of the immediate family of such officer, publicly available with the intent to threaten, intimidate, or incite the commission of a crime of violence against the police officer, peace officer, state officer, or a member of the immediate family of such officer; or with the intent and knowledge that the restricted personal information will be used to threaten, intimidate, or facilitate the commission of a crime of violence against the police officer, peace officer, state officer, or a member of the immediate family of such officer; requires the posting of bail.

Relates to an exemption from the prohibition of alcohol sales within a certain distance from a church, for a certain property located in the village of Hammondsport, county of Steuben.

Grants school districts the ability to implement telehealth school-based mental health clinics; establishes the student mental telehealth reimbursement fund; relates to funding the student mental telehealth reimbursement fund.