Sen. Patrick Gallivan

Prohibits the diminution of health insurance benefits of public employee retirees and their dependents or reducing the employer's contributions for such insurance; defines employers to include the state, municipalities, school districts, and public authorities and commissions.

Maddy summaryThis bill waives the $200 biennial registration fee for basic life support first response agencies, including volunteer ambulance services that provide emergency medical care without patient transport. It directly affects these agencies by removing a cost requirement for maintaining their registration under New York's public health law. The key provision amends existing law to exempt these specific agencies from paying the fee when applying for or renewing their registration certificate. The change applies immediately upon enactment and simplifies administrative costs for these community-based emergency response providers.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes personnel records for police officers, firefighters, correction officers, and probation officers confidential by default. It prohibits public access to these records (used for performance reviews or promotions) without the officer's written consent, except under strict court orders. Judges must review requests for access, require a clear factual showing, and allow affected officers to be heard before granting access. The law explicitly allows prosecutors, law enforcement agencies, and courts to access records for official duties without consent.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the previous 10-visit or 30-day limit for licensed physical therapists treating patients without a physician referral. It directly affects physical therapists and their patients, allowing extended treatment without referral while adding new requirements: therapists must refer patients if symptoms suggest conditions outside their scope, maintain communication with primary care providers during treatment, and provide written notice to patients about potential insurance coverage issues without a referral. The law mandates this notice be documented in patient records. Patients may face uncovered costs if treatment occurs without a referral, as insurers typically require one for coverage.

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.

Provides a personal income tax credit in the amount of any fishing and/or hunting fees paid by members of the United States armed forces in active service.

Relates to authorizing small business tax-deferred savings accounts for the purpose of improving facilities of such business and for procurement of machinery or equipment.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 3144, expands the required service area for accessible paratransit transportation. It mandates that accessible buses be available within a service area measuring three miles from any bus line operated by a transportation authority or its subsidiaries. This provision applies to both existing requirements for a percentage of accessible buses and the mandate for 100% accessible fixed-route buses, aiming to ensure broader geographical access for transportation-disabled persons, including those in wheelchairs.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds veterans to the list of protected classes under New York's housing discrimination law. It prohibits landlords, property owners, and housing providers from refusing to rent, sell, or lease housing accommodations based solely on a person's veteran status. The law applies to both publicly-assisted housing (Section 1) and general housing, land, or commercial space (Section 2). These changes take effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryS 2645 expands New York's first-degree murder definition to include killings of emergency responders (like firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, or nurses) during their official duties, provided the defendant knew the victim was in that role. This new provision (subdivision 1-a, paragraph (a)(ii-a)) directly affects individuals who commit such killings, elevating the charge from second-degree murder. The key mechanism requires the defendant to have known the victim was performing emergency services at the time of the killing. The bill does not change existing murder definitions related to sexual offenses, which were already covered under prior provisions (subdivision 1(a)(vii)).