2016 NYS Assembly Significant Legislation

AGING

Rent Increase Exemption Reapplication Forms establishes a reapplication short form for individuals who have been receiving the Senior Citizen Rental Increase Exemption (SCRIE) or Disabled Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) for five consecutive benefit periods with no change of address or income. The short form would allow these individuals to certify that their eligibility information has not changed. (A.6702-A / S.8063; Chapter 442)

SCRIE and DRIE Exemption Continued Following Income Windfall allows a head of household, who has been dropped from the SCRIE or DRIE program due to a non-recurring item of income, to make rent payments at their previous frozen rent amount after the year of eligibility. Under the bill, no more than three such rent increase exemption re-calculations would be permitted. (A.8228-A / S.6214-A; Chapter 343)

DRIE Program to Recognize Postal Service Disability Pension includes the receipt of a disability pension from the United States Postal Service as a way to demonstrate disability for the purposes of eligibility for the DRIE program. (A.8679 / S.623; Chapter 392)

Adult Day Program Oversight removes the requirement that a social adult day program be the recipient of a grant from the State Office for the Aging (SOFA) in order to be subject to SOFA's rules and regulations. This bill would ensure that all social adult day programs operating in the state are subject to SOFA's oversight. The legislation also requires SOFA to submit a report by the end of the year to the Governor and Legislature on the estimated costs and benefits of establishing uniform standards and requirements for social adult day programs. (A.9130 / S.7161; Veto 288)

Elder Abuse Prevention requires that the State Office for the Aging, in consultation with the Office of Children and Family Services, to conduct a public education campaign regarding elder abuse. The campaign could focus on the signs and symptoms of elder abuse, where suspected elder abuse can be reported, and contact information for programs that can provide help. The campaign also would include printed, audio, video, electronic, and other media, as well as public service announcements or advertisements. (A.9143-A / S.6923; Chapter 455)

Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities Program reformulates the matching fund requirement for securing state support through the state's Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCS) Program. Under the bill, the matching funds requirement would be reduced from 100 percent of state support to 25 percent in order to establish a more realistic expectation of the matching contributions that could be provided by low and moderate income populations that make up the communities served by NORCS. (A.10201 / S.7851; Chapter 245)

AGRICULTURE

Financial Support for Farms establishes a Farm Investment Fund to provide grants of up to $50,000 to eligible farmers to help small farms modernize their equipment and farming practices. (A.2417-C / S.3678; Veto 232)

Food Processor License Fee waives the license fee for food processing establishments operating in kitchen incubator facilities. (A.7650 / S.5863; Chapter 367)

Trail Promotion expands the trail program that established farm trails, apple trails, and cuisine trails in order to promote the state's many high quality food products. (A.7988-B / S.5720-B; Chapter 314)

Industrial Hemp updates the state's Industrial Hemp Pilot Research Program with changes that have been allowed by the federal government involving the sale distribution, transportation and processing of industrial hemp. (A.9310-A / S.6960-A; Chapter 256)

Prohibiting Misbranding of Fish prohibits the misbranding of escolar or oil fish as tuna, albacore tuna or white tuna. Escolar has a significantly lower market value than tuna and may cause digestive illnesses in many consumers but is not prohibited to be sold in its own right. (A.1231-B / S. 6842-B; Chapter 300)

Agriculture District Law Update streamlines the process for creation and review of agricultural districts. The bill will authorize the Department of Agriculture and Markets to regularly update information and assistance available to counties undergoing District review and provide assistance to the Department of Taxation and Finance in training local assessors and other officials who determine agricultural assessments and tax levies. The legislation also will clarify agricultural definitions for farm woodland and impermanent structures used for grapes or hops to ensure that local assessors are aware of what qualifies for tax exemptions or reduced assessments. (A.8082 / S.4851-A; Chapter 35)

ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG ABUSE

Substance Use Screening and Intervention Training requires the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services to develop training materials for health care providers and qualified health professionals to enable the implementation of the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment Program. The bill aims to enhance the process of screening individuals for alcoholism and chemical dependency. (A.885; Passed Assembly)

Substance and Alcohol Free Living for Substance Abuse Recovery establishes the Sober Living Task Force to create best practice guidelines for sober living residences in order to illustrate the most appropriate and effective environment for persons recovering from a chemical dependency. (A.7054-A; Passed Assembly)

Legislation to Combat Heroin and Opioid Crisis

Insurance Coverage for Substance Use Recovery clarifies the health insurance coverage determination process for treatment for individuals struggling with a substance use disorder. The bill also would require that health insurance coverage includes a five day emergency supply of substance use disorder treatment medications, such as Buprenorphine and Vivitrol, and that they be available without prior authorization unless otherwise required by Medicaid.

The legislation also extends the Heroin and Opioid Addiction Wraparound Services Demonstration Program for an additional two years and requires the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services to establish best practices for such services. The measure also increases from 48 to 72 hours the maximum time an individual, who is incapacitated as a result of alcohol or substance use, can be held at a treatment facility. In addition, the bill also requires that upon discharge from a health care facility arrangements must be made to ensure the patient continues to receive treatment. (A.10725 / S.6137; Chapter 69)

Social Workers Permitted to Administer Narcan clarifies that social workers and other licensed professionals who cannot otherwise dispense medication will not be precluded from administering an opioid antagonist in the event of an emergency. The measure directs the Health Department to compile quarterly data reports on overdoses and Narcan use. The bill also directs hospitals to implement policies and procedures to ensure discharge patients who have or appear to have a substance use disorder are appropriately identified, assessed and referred to treatment, and requires hospitals to implement discharge protocols to help plan and coordinate further treatment for the patient. (A.10726 / S.8138; Chapter 70)

Pain Management Drugs: Subscriber Training requires prescribers of pain medications to undergo three hours of continuing education every three years on pain management and palliative care and also mandates insurance coverage for a minimum 14-days of inpatient treatment without prior authorization. The bill also restricts to seven days an initial opioid prescription for acute pain, and it limits the copay if additional medication is needed for the same underlying issue. Pharmacists also must provide educational materials to consumers upon dispensing of a controlled substance. (A.10727 / S.8139; Chapter 71)

BANKS

Pension Advancement Loan Industry Study directs the Department of Financial Services (DFS) to examine the licensure, limits on fees and interest and disclosure practices relating to financial institutions that provide pension loan advancements. The bill would require DFS to report to the Governor and Legislature its findings, conclusions and recommendations, including any policy or legislative recommendations, concerning the practice of pension loan advancements. (A.986-A; Passed Assembly)

Lack of Banking Services in Low-Income Communities directs DFS to conduct a comprehensive study focused on whether low-income communities have adequate access to banking products and services. The bill aims to addresses past discriminatory banking policies that have left low-income communities underserved by financial institutions and vulnerable to the exorbitant banking fees charged by check casher services. (A.5980-A; Passed Assembly).

Small Business Online Lending Study requires DFS to study and report about online small business lending products and platforms that originate from lenders licensed by the state or are advertised to the state's small businesses. The bill would examine whether online lending to small businesses involves a process that is responsible and transparent enough to ensure fairness. (A.10440; Passed Assembly.)

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

Child Care for Late Shift Workers requires local social services districts to provide child care subsidies to eligible families who work the late shift in order to allow them eight hours of daytime sleep. (A.775-B; Passed Assembly)

Child Care Study directs the Office of Children and Family Services to study the availability of child care for low-income, working families and report its findings to the Governor and Legislature within one year of the bill's enactment. (A.1083 / S.1422; Veto 263)

Child Care Provider Qualifications Disclosure allows child care providers to also submit qualifications beyond those required for licensure to the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) to be posted on OCFS's website where parents may view them. (A.1864 / S.742; Veto 230)

Child Care and Afterschool Program Listing establishes an online listing and map of child care and afterschool programs on the website of the Council on Children and Families. The bill aims to help parents locate high quality child care programs in their community. (A.1869-A; Passed Assembly)

Child Care Provider Payments for Absences requires social services districts to reimburse child care providers for a minimum number of child absences of up to 12 days within a six month period. The bill aims to ensure child care providers remain financially viable. (A.6568-A; Passed Assembly)

Child Care Reimbursement Rate requires home-based child care providers to be reimbursed at the infant rate for children up to two years of age. (A.7191-A; Passed Assembly)

Illegal Day Care Services requires the Office of Children and Family Services to periodically review advertisements for illegal day care, and investigate any illegal providers that are identified. (A.7451-A / S.1706-A; Veto 264)

Child Care Program Performance Disclosure requires child care providers in the City of New York to post prominently in their facility their performance summary cards, which are issued by the city's Departments of Health and Mental Hygiene, and include inspection results, violation history and program information. (A.8182-A / S.5676-A; Chapter 513)

Actual Cost of Child Care Analysis requires the Office of Children and Family Services to implement a cost estimation model to determine the actual cost of providing child care, and compare such findings to the market rate. Under the bill, this cost analysis of child care services would be conducted every two years and its findings provided to the Governor and Legislature. (A.9900-A / S.7426-A; Passed Assembly)

Childhood Advisory Council Established in Statute codifies the Early Childhood Advisory Council, and directs its members to promote awareness and encourage investments by the business community in order to establish a high quality early childhood care system. (A.9902-A / S.7427-A; Chapter 415)

Protective Services Worker Maximum Case Load Limit requires the Office of Children and Family Services to establish maximum caseloads for child protective services workers that do not to exceed 15 active cases per worker per month. (A.10506 / S.2691; Veto 301)

Age Eligibility for Homeless Youth Services Raised increases the maximum age of youth that may be served by runaway and homeless youth programs from 21 to under 25 years old. (A.10145; Passed Assembly)

LGBT Training for Runaway Youth Programs requires that employees of runaway and homeless youth programs receive training in issues facing LGBT youth. (A.4989; Passed Assembly)

Family Court/Visitation allows for sibling contact and visitation when siblings are not placed together in foster care. (A.9759 / S.6859; Chapter 242)

CITIES

Stone Wall National Monument authorizes the City of New York to discontinue the use of Christopher Park and convey such parklands to the United States to be used for park, monument, historic, or recreational purposes. This legislation is necessary to allow for Christopher Park to be designated the Stonewall National Monument by President Barack Obama. (A.9454 / S.6891; Chapter 33)

Partial Hospital and Charity Water/Sewer Rates Reduction extends until September 1, 2018 a long standing full or partial reduction in water and sewer charges offered to certain hospitals and other charitable organizations in New York City. (A.9825 / S.7109; Chapter 273)

CODES

Criminalizes Female Genital Mutilation criminalizes the conduct of individuals who knowingly facilitate female genital mutilation. This bill makes it a class A misdemeanor for anyone to intentionally assist in the commission or attempted commission of female genital mutilation. (A.47-A / S.3484-A; Chapter 49)

Prohibits Courts from Interfering with Medically Assisted Drug Treatments prohibits a court from requiring the use of any specified type or brand of drug during the course of medically prescribed drug treatments for individuals addicted to heroin and other opioids. (A.9313-C / S.6874-A; Chapter 67)

Bans the Possession of Machetes adds machete to the penal law's definition of a deadly weapon. Under the bill, individuals who use a machete as a weapon could face a charge of a class A misdemeanor. (A.8214-B / S.3199-B; Chapter 269)

Clarifying the Definition of Gravity Knife changes the definitions of switchblade and gravity knives so as to conform to the definitions found in the United States Code. This change will save thousands of New York workers from being saddled with records for carrying cutting equipment that is necessary for their jobs, around their homes and to perform other lawful tasks. (A.9042 / S.6483; Veto 299)

Testing of Rape Kits establishes a procedure for the processing and maintenance of all sexual offense evidence kits surrendered to the police and tested at a forensic laboratory. The bill would require that all law enforcement agencies send the evidence kit for testing within 10 days, and each laboratory must process the kit within 90 days. The legislation also calls for the retroactive testing of sexual offense evidence kits within 120 days of the effective date of this measure.

In addition, the forensic labs and the law enforcement agencies will be required to issue a report indicating how many kits they have in their possession, the number that have been processed, and the length of time between when the kit was received and tested. The legislation addresses the need to prevent any backlog of sexual offense evidence kits in New York State. (A.10067-A / S.8117; Chapter 500)

Suffolk County Court Youth Part Program directs the Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) to create a felony youth part demonstration program in Suffolk County to provide restorative and intensive care support services through OCFS to 16 and 17 year old juvenile delinquents. It also requires OCFS to conduct a two year study on the program, to evaluate the program's effectiveness and whether it should be replicated, and report its findings to the Legislature and the Governor. (A.10291 / S.6864-A; Veto 282)

Off-hours Arraignment permits arraignments to take place in a designated alternate court when the town or village court to which the matter would normally be brought is not in session. This legislation would make the arraignment process more prompt and better able to accommodate the task of assigning court appointed counsels, ensure the availability of qualified lawyers and expedite the delivery of justice. (A.10360 / S.7209-A; Chapter 492)

State Takeover of Indigent Legal Services Costs phases in state reimbursement to counties of their costs for indigent defense services, beginning in 2018. State reimbursement would ensure that indigent defense services are adequately funded and counties across the state would be relieved of this significant financial burden. The bill also provides the Office of Indigent Legal Services with new rulemaking and regulatory authority to help ensure quality indigent legal services statewide. (A.10706 / S.8114;Veto 306)

Releasing Domestic Violence Victims from Service Contracts permits victims of domestic violence to break service contracts with telephone, cable, and television providers without incurring a cancellation fee when they provide a copy of an order of protection, a domestic incident report, a police report or a signed affidavit. (A.274-A; Passed Assembly)

Public officials Financial Disclosure requires every person who is a statewide elected official or candidate, state employee, member of the Legislature or a political party chair to file a financial disclosure statement with the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) or the Legislative Ethics Commission.

Under the bill, a person who fails to file a financial disclosure statement is a subject to a civil penalty of up to $40,000. The legislation also provides that when JCOPE or the Legislative Ethics Commission makes a referral to an "appropriate prosecutor," such a violation may be prosecuted as a class A misdemeanor. (A.1080 / S.4684; Passed Assembly)

Victims of Domestic Violence Privacy Protection requires insurance companies to allow victims of domestic violence to provide an alternate mailing address to receive health insurance related information and would prohibit insurance companies from disclosing to the policy holder where such victim, or the child or children of such victim, is receiving health services. (A.1358; Passed Assembly)

Protecting Victims of Human Trafficking increases access to safe houses and social and legal services for victims of human trafficking. It also provides an affirmative defense to persons charged with prostitution. (A.2953; Passed Assembly)

Discretionary Sentencing for Victims of Domestic Violence authorizes a judge to use discretion in sentencing and resentencing defendants who proved that they were victims of domestic violence. (A.4409-B; Passed Assembly)

Clarifying Statutes Related to Rape brings the elements of rape in line with other unlawful sexual acts by removing the penetration requirement in the rape statute. The bill also expands the definition of rape to include oral and anal sexual contact, which are currently known as "criminal sexual acts."(A.4959-A; Passed Assembly)

Surrendering Weapon in Domestic Violence Cases requires a court to direct the immediate surrender of handguns and long arms to a law enforcement agency upon a conviction of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. This legislation was affirmed by the recent Supreme Court decision in Voisine v. United States. (A.5257; Passed Assembly)

Increased Law Enforcement Transparency increases transparency and accountability by requiring the records of routine police activity and certain law enforcement interactions with the public be maintained. Under the bill, the court's chief administrator would be required to compile and publicly publish data on misdemeanor and petty offenses charged in all courts by county, and the data would be available on the Office of Court Administration website on a monthly basis and provided to the Governor and the Legislature in an annual report.

The bill also requires the chief of every police department, each county sheriff, and the superintendent of state police to promptly report to the Division of Criminal Justice Services any arrest-related death. Under the measure, the division will be required to post this information on a monthly basis on its website and also provide the data to the Governor and the Legislature in an annual report. (A.7698-A; Passed Assembly)

Sets Limits on Legislators' Outside Income restricts the outside income of legislators to services actually rendered and to 40 percent of the annual salary of New York State Supreme Court Justices. The bill also establishes rules for work performed, referral fees, conflict of interest, campaign contributions and communications with journalists. (A.9535; Passed Assembly)

Seals Records in Misdemeanor Marijuana Drug Possession Cases establishes that a previous conviction of possession of marijuana in the fifth degree, possession of less than 25 grams of marijuana burning in public view, will not result in an increase in the maximum fine for a subsequent marijuana possession conviction.

The bill adds possession of marijuana in the fifth degree to the list of offenses for which sealing of records is required upon conviction. The legislation also establishes that any individual convicted of this offense, prior to the passage of this measure, may motion the court to seal the record. Both the district attorney and the court can motion to leave the record unsealed if the interests of justice require it. (A.10092; Passed Assembly)

CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION

Crack Down on Mislabeling Fur-Bearing Products increases the fines for selling at retail mislabeled clothing containing fur and faux fur. It has been found that there are stores that sell fur products that are not in compliance with the labeling requirements of current state law. Under the bill, a new fine of up to $1,000, a $500 increase, could be imposed on first time violators, and repeat offenders could face a maximum penalty of $2,000, up from $1,000. (A.1047 / S.7815; Chapter 252)

Gift Cards and Certificates Fee Restrictions prohibits the assessment of retroactive fees and monthly service fees before a gift card or certificate reaches its 25th month of dormancy. The bill also bans the sale of any gift card or certificate with an expiration date of earlier than five years from the date the card was issued or the date when the card's funds were last replenished. (A.7610-E / S. 4771-E; Chapter 329)

Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate establishes the Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate to strengthen the ability of residential utility consumers to have their interests represented and their voices heard in all state and federal regulatory proceedings involving electric, natural gas, internet, cable TV, telephone and wireless communication services. Under the bill, the advocate would be appointed by the Governor to a six-year term, subject to the Senate's confirmation process, to ensure the advocate is truly an independent and an effective voice of utility consumers. (A.180-A; Passed Assembly)

Deployed Military Exempt from Contract Cancelation Fee authorizes active duty military personnel who are deployed out of a service area to cancel utility contracts and recurring payments without being assessed a termination fee. (A.7717-A / S. 4786-A; Chapter 164)

Deceased Consumer Termination Fee Prohibited bans any early termination fee placed on an individual for canceling a service contract with any telephone, cellular telephone, television, internet, energy, or water services company in the event that the person who the service contract belonged to has deceased. The bill also would establish a maximum civil fine of up to $1,000 for companies who fail to comply with the law. (A.8630-A / S.6485; Chapter 331)

Telemarketing Caller I.D. Information Accuracy requires all telemarketers and auto-dialing services in the state to transmit valid caller identification information over the phone to any consumer who has a caller identification service with the stipulation that the information transmitted is accurate. The bill would ensure that only information that correctly identifies an incoming caller is displayed on a caller I.D. device in order to protect consumers from fraudulent telemarketing activity and scams. (A.9457-A / S.6809-B; Chapter 484)

CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS

School Energy Efficiency designates New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, in collaboration with the New York Power Authority, the Long Island Power Authority, the State Education Department, and other stakeholders, as the lead agency in developing the School Energy Efficiency Collaboration Program to provide technical support and assistance to public schools on energy efficiency. (A.5991-A / S.4386-A; Chapter 403)

Internet Access to Public Authorities' Open Meetings requires the state's public authorities to broadcast open meetings via the internet, to the extent practicable. (A.9998 / S.7157; Chapter 319)

Meeting Public Interest Essential for Cable Merger Approval makes permanent the public interest review standard for reviewing cable corporation mergers or acquisition. The bill requires a cable corporation to show that a proposed merger or acquisition is in the public interest in order for the Public Service Commission to approve the transaction. (A.7786-A; Passed Assembly)

Natural Gas Leak Reporting requires the classification of all reported leaks of natural gas by gas corporations. The bill also mandates the Department of Public Service to make such information available to any municipal or state official with a responsibility for public safety, and it requires the Public Service Commission to investigate the need for additional winter surveillance of gas pipelines and the impact an extended frost season has on pipelines. (A.5083-D; Passed Assembly)

Towns Empowered to Decide Fate of Gas Pipelines authorizes towns to pass resolutions allowing or prohibiting pipelines to be constructed within the boundaries of the town. (A.10468; Passed Assembly)

Nonprofit Organizational Reforms amends the Nonprofit Revitalization Act of 2013 to include changes to the definition of "independent director" and "related party transaction." The bill also modifies the corporation committee requirements for the oversight of conflict of interest and whistleblower policies. (A.10365-B / S.7913-B; Chapter 466)

Pet Interment allows for the interment of pet cremated remains in certain cemeteries, other than religious cemeteries, where the interment is incidental to the burial of human remains and where authorization has been provided in a written statement from the cemetery. (A.2647 / S.2582; Chapter 330)

CORRECTION

Sex Offender Registrants Residence and Domicile clarifies the Sex Offender Registry Law by defining "residence" and directs the Division of Criminal Justice Services to develop a notification procedure for mandatory reporting by offenders who have multiple residences. (A.1819-A / S.1608-A; Veto 229)

Posting Parole Appeal Decisions on Web Site requires decisions from the Parole Appeals Unit to be published on the agency's web site. (A.1984 / S.6806; Chapter 231)

Translation Services for Inmates Appearing Before the Parole Board requires the Department of Correction and Community Supervision to provide a deaf language interpreter and/or a certified or credentialed English language interpreter for certain inmates in connection with their appearance before the parole board. (A.5548 / S.992; Chapter 473)

Notifying Next of Kin of Inmate Death requires the Department of Corrections and Community Services to be responsive to the inquiries made by a deceased inmate's next of kin and to provide the inmate's family with a preliminary death certificate. (A.7500-A / S.5427-A; Chapter 447)

Annual Training Related to Mental Health requires all new staff of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) to receive a full curriculum of mental health-related training when assigned to a mental health treatment unit. The bill also requires that all DOCCS staff receive training each year in the identification of, and care for, inmates with mental illness. (A.9162 / S.6380-A; Chapter 20)

Strengthens Prohibition on Shackling Pregnant Prisoners strengthens the prohibition against shackling women in labor by prohibiting the use of wrist restraints on a pregnant woman during transportation, child birth or during a postpartum period of eight weeks. (A.9163 / S.6695; Chapter 17)

Notification Upon Sex Offender Change of Address directs the division of criminal justice services to notify the appropriate local law enforcement agency within 48 hours of the receipt of a change of address, or enrollment, attendance, employment or residence at an institution of higher education by a sex offender. (A.9239 / S.7252; Chapter 456)

Inmate Medical Form to Disclose Medical Information requires the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) to provide all inmates with a medical authorization and mental health treatment information consent form. Under the bill, the consent form would be kept in an inmate's medical file and available to authorized persons. Consent forms also would be available in prison libraries. (A.9406 / S.6892; Veto 244)

Crime Victim Statements Preservation requires the statements made by victims to the state board of parole be permanently maintained in the parole file so that such a statement is always available for the board to consider during their deliberations on whether to grant parole. (A.9696 / S.7224; Chapter 130)

Prohibits Fees for Certain Records establishes free-of-charge access to clinical mental health records to government agencies providing protection and advocacy services to disabled individuals. (A.9117 / S.6622; Chapter 453)

Parole Officer Duties requires that within the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision only certain duties may be performed by a parole officer. (A.10190 / S.7862; Veto 293)

Inmate Death Certificate requires a single death certificate for an inmate who has died under the custody of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision be provided by the county at no charge. (A.10200 / S.7853; Chapter 323)

Pregnant Women in Solitary Confinement restricts the placement of pregnant inmates in the Special Housing Unit to those exceptional circumstances when any other housing option would create an unacceptable risk to other inmates or staff. (A.1347 ; Passed Assembly)

Reporting on Demographics by Board of Parole requires the state board of parole to track and report statistical information on the demographics of people appearing before the board, including age, gender, race, ethnicity, region of commitment and other factors. (A.2943 ; Passed Assembly)

Permitting Personal Phone Calls for Inmates permits a telephone call by an inmate upon admission into solitary confinement and monthly thereafter. (A.4620 ; Passed Assembly)

Female Inmate Rehabilitation Programs requires that rehabilitation programs for female inmates in state correctional facilities be equivalent to those provided to male inmates elsewhere in the state. (A.7363 ; Passed Assembly)

Aging Prison Population Study authorizes a study by the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to examine the treatment of aging prison populations. (A.7407-A ; Passed Assembly)

Office of the Correctional Ombudsman establishes the office of the correctional ombudsman to create public oversight of the department of corrections and community supervision in order to achieve transparency, fairness, impartiality and accountability in our state correctional system. (A.9939 ; Passed Assembly)

Attorney Access to Mental Health Records grants attorney access to an inmate's mental health records for the purpose of representing an inmate in a disciplinary hearing, including for cases involving involuntary psychiatric hospitalization or treatment proceedings. (A.5431 ; Passed Assembly)

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Cider, Beer and Wine Centers for Enthusiasts creates a regulatory mechanism for the establishment of support centers that assist individuals who wish to make custom, homemade cider, beer or wine for their own personal use. Under the bill, cider, beer and wine makers, who often lack sufficient workspace and other resources to pursue their hobby, will have shared access to manufacturing space, storage facilities and processing equipment at these centers.

The skills acquired and the products developed from making cider, beer and wine as a hobby often propel these enthusiasts to become manufacturers which increases the demand for grown in New York agriculture products and supports the state's economic development and job creation efforts. (A.1100-B / S.1227-B; Chapter 422)

Farm Cideries to Expand Product Line allows for farm cideries to sell beer, wine, and liquor manufactured by any New York State licensed operation, including farm operations. (A.5580 / S.5341; Chapter 327)

State Liquor Authority Strengthened clarifies the term "for cause" in reference to the State Liquor Authority's (SLA) ability to more quickly revoke a license of problem establishments that have deliberately mislead the SLA or expanded the scope of their business operations beyond the initial SLA licensing agreement. (A.6857-A / S.4085-B; Chapter 336)

Expands Authorization of Farm Beer, Spirits and Wine Sales permits farm breweries to sell wine and spirits manufactured by a licensed farm winery or farm distillery. The bill also authorizes farm wineries to sell beer and spirits by a licensed farm brewery or farm distillery. (A.7960-A / S.5707-A; Chapter 328)

Beer, Wine, Spirits License for Seasonal Bars authorizes the State Liquor Authority (SLA) to establish a pro rata license fee schedule for the licensing of seasonal bars. Under the bill, the SLA would be permitted to calculate license fees based on the number of months a seasonal bar is in operation. (A.9954 / S.1487; Chapter 423)

Restore New York Program Enhanced provides the Empire State Development Corporation with greater flexibility in administering Restore New York in order to allow new uses of reconstructed buildings at eligible locations. (A.10257 / S.7285; Chapter 151)

Updating the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law lessens burdensome requirements for businesses in the industry. The bill allows for better distribution of product such as wine growlers from farm wineries and the sale of gift wrapping at a profit. The legislation also would reduce both licensing paperwork for craft manufactures and permitting requirements for solicitors. In addition, the measure would authorize Sunday alcoholic beverages sales between 10 a.m. until 12 p.m., and for the state's upstate region, businesses will have the option to apply for a permit to sell from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., 12 times per year. (A.10728 / S.8140; Chapter 297)

EDUCATION

Statewide Lead Testing of School Drinking Water mandates every school district building and the state's 37 Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) buildings not deemed to be lead free in accordance with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act to conduct periodic first-drawn tap testing of their potable waters systems for lead. The legislation requires the Department of Health (DOH) and the State Education Department (SED) to establish regulations on testing protocols concerning school tap water testing and monitoring.

The measure also requires parental notifications when lead is found in school drinking water and provides funding to school districts assist with testing and building remediation costs. Under the bill, SED and DOH are required to report to the Governor and Legislature by December 1, 2016 the results of the lead testing and solutions to lead remediation. (A.10740 / S.8158; Chapter 296)

Education Funding Increase provides a total of $24.7 billion in the 2016-17 SFY for General Support of Public Schools, an overall increase of $1.4 billion, or 5.9 percent, over the 2015-16 SFY. This budget bill also increases Foundation Aid by $627 million with $100 million of that investment earmarked for Community Schools. The enacted budget provides $434 million to fully restore funding for the Gap Elimination Adjustment, and in keeping with the Assembly's commitment to promote the achievement of all students, the budget earmarks $20 million for the My Brother's Keeper Initiative to implement the Board of Regents recommendations to improve outcomes for boys and young men of color. (A.9006-A / S.6406-A; Chapter 54)

Funding Availability Expanded for Full Day Kindergarten spreads over five years the availability of state funds to help school districts transition from half-day kindergarten to full day kindergarten, which is critical to the state's efforts to strengthen early childhood development throughout New York. (A.8692-B ; Passed Assembly)

Monitors for East Ramapo Public Schools directs State Education Department to appoint up to three state monitors to the East Ramapo Central School District and provide $3 million in supplementary funding to enhance and improve education opportunities for the public school students of that school district. (A.10723 / S.8131; Chapter 89)

Teacher Evaluation Deadline Extensio extends the deadline, from September 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016, for when school districts must submit documentation approved by the State Education Department that demonstrates it has fully implemented the standards and procedures for conducting annual teacher and principal evaluation plans. (A.10741 / S. 8159; Chapter 73)

Mayoral Control of NYC Schools Extension extends the current provisions of law that authorizes the City of New York's mayor to operate and manage the city's school district for one year, until June 30, 2017. (A.10741 / S.8159; Chapter 73)

ELECTION LAW

Lobbying, Ethics and Campaign Finance Reforms strengthens the political process by better defining how political action committees (PACs) and independent expenditure committees (IECs) can operate. The bill also expands the requirement that lobbyists disclose their source of funding and clients.

To enhance disclosure of the sources of funding for certain lobbyists, the measure includes new reporting requirements for entities publishing issue ads, increases penalties for flagrant lobbying violations and establishes strict prohibitions on coordination between candidates, PACs and IECs. The legislation also protects communications with journalists.

Additionally, the bill requires individuals who provide political consulting services to elected officials and who have other clients with business before the state or a locality to register with the state and disclose their clients. This legislation addresses concerns raised by the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court's Citizen United decision. (A.10742 / S.08160; Chapter 286)

Limited Liability Company Campaign Contribution Reform closes the Limited Liability Company (LLC) loophole by requiring campaign contributions from a LLC not exceed $5,000, which currently is the standard limit for contributions made by corporations. The bill also would require LLC contributions to disclose the identity of all LLC owners. Under the legislation, the contributions from the LLC's owners must be recorded as a proportion of the LLC's total contributions and be publicly disclosed. (A.6975-C ; Passed Assembly)

Voting by Mail Authorized permits no-excuse absentee voting by mail. Under the bill, voters could cast their ballots without being required to meet the narrow criteria that currently apply to voters requesting absentee ballots. No-excuse absentee voting by mail is currently permitted in at least 25 states. (A.3874-B ; Passed Assembly)

Voting Before Election Day provides for early voting, permitting voters to vote in person eight days prior to election day, including during evening and weekend hours. The bill would require early voting poll sites in every county with the number of sites per county tailored to the voting population. (A.8582-B ; Passed Assembly);

Online Voter Registration modernizes voter registration, improves the communication between local boards of elections and allows qualified New Yorkers to register to vote or update their registration from any computer, smart phone, tablet or other portable device with internet access. (A.10370; Passed Assembly)

Electronic Election Records permits boards of elections to replace paper voting lists currently used at poll sites with electronic poll books, ensuring that the most up-to-date information is available for voters and poll workers, including votes cast previously in the same election through early voting or absentee ballots. (A.8608-A",2016);?>; Passed Assembly)

Voter Rights Protection requires the actions of local boards of elections be pre-cleared by the state Attorney General's Civil Rights Division to ensure that they do not have a discriminatory effect based on race or ethnicity. The new process would replace U.S. Justice Department review of such actions in certain counties, which was suspended after an unfortunate ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court that significantly weakened the Voting Rights Act. (A.10712 ; Passed Assembly)

Undeliverable Mail Check requires annual mail check notices, sent by the boards of elections, to include postal instructions that will ensure undelivered notices are returned to the boards of elections. The forwarding information from the notices can then be used to update voter records. It is estimated that under the provisions of this legislation the collective total dollar savings for all county boards of elections would be $1 million. (A.7817 / S.6818; Chapter 44)

Elect U.S. President by Popular Vote continues the state's support for a compact to elect the president by national popular vote system, which will take effect when a majority of the nation's states vote to adopt similar legislation. (A.6044 / S.5478, Chapter 421)

Electronic Filing of Political Communications permits political communications, such as posters, flyers and buttons, to also be filed electronically with the New York State Board of Elections. The bill provides another filing option to the current requirement that post-election reports, which are required to include a campaign's political communications, must be mailed to the state board of elections. (A.10105 / S.7090; Chapter 139)

Special Ballots for Emergency Responders provides emergency responders with the opportunity to vote by special ballot prior to a special, primary or general election in the event of a declared emergency. (A.9919 / S.6833-A; Chapter 485)

Enacts the Voter Friendly Ballot Act establishes specifications to create a ballot layout that is straightforward, clear and simple in order to make voting easier and voter's choices more accurate. (A.3389-B ; Passed Assembly)

Political Party Housekeeping Account Reform prohibits the use of funds designated for a party committee to maintain a permanent headquarters, staff and carrying out ordinary activities (housekeeping) from being used to support or oppose a candidate. The bill also requires these funds to be kept in a segregated account and prohibits the transfer or contribution of such funds to another account unless the account is also segregated and intended for housekeeping purposes only. (A.7392 ; Passed Assembly)

Political Communications Expenditure Disclosure requires the disclosure of the names of the individuals and political committees that paid for such political communications involving print, digital, visual or audio. (A.4286-B; Passed Assembly)

Uniform Election Night Procedure Act provides uniformity and clarity relating to the closing down of poll sites at the end of an election night. (A.7925; Passed Assembly)

State and Federal June Primary Date brings the state into compliance with federal law relating to the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act and saves additional funding by combining non-presidential federal and state primary elections to be held in June. (A.9108; Passed Assembly)

Limit on Election District Voters Raised increases the number of voters in an election district to 2,000 and provides for the possibility of additional committee representation within an election district. Under the provisions of the bill and with the use of optical scanners, municipalities will be able to consolidate election districts and reduce election costs because districts will no longer be limited to 1,150 voters, the maximum number of voters each of the old mechanical machines could accommodate. (A.4189 ; Passed Assembly)

Expands Definitions for "Political Action Committee" and "Independent Expenditure Committee" defines "independent expenditure committees" and "political action committees" in Election Law, and clarifies the allowable contributions and spending for both types of committees. (A.7397; Passed Assembly)

Constitutional Amendment for 17 Year Olds Voting in Presidential Primary permits 17 year olds to vote in a presidential primary if they will be 18 at the succeeding general election. (A.504 ; Passed Assembly)

ENERGY

Rates for Charging Clean Vehicles requires combination gas and electric corporations to file a tariff with the Public Service Commission for the residential charging of clean vehicles, including electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen vehicles. (A.9574-A ; Passed Assembly)

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

Bans Use of Harmful Chemicals in Children Products prohibits the sale of children's products containing chemicals that are harmful to human health. Among the toxic chemicals this bill bans from merchandise sold for children's use are Lead, Arsenic, Benzene, Vinyl Chloride, Toluene and Mercury.

In addition, the bill directs the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to post on its web site a list of chemicals that are a risk to human health and are found in items meant for children. The bill would require manufacturers of children's products to notify retailers when the merchandise they are selling contains one of the DEC listed chemicals. (A.5612-A ; Passed Assembly)

Liability Coverage for Petroleum Facility and Transport Operations establishes increased financial surety provisions for petroleum-related facilities and railroads. The bill would ensure that in the event of an environmental accident involving crude oil, sufficient financing is available from companies that process, store or transport petroleum to cover cleanup and remediation costs. The legislation would address the significant financial burden communities experience from environmental disasters, which frequently inflict extensive and costly property damages, severe injuries and loss of life. (A.7625 ; Passed Assembly)

Tick Borne Disease Prevention requires the Department of Environmental Conservation to prepare recommendations that identify the best practices available for tick prevention and management in order to combat such tick borne illnesses as Lyme disease. (A.8110-A ; Passed Assembly)

Climate Change Protection enacts the New York State Climate and Community Protection Act, which will initiate a range of protective and preventative measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gases and advancing the development of green technologies. The bill aims to reduce the incidences of extreme weather events as well as safeguard the environment, public health and the well-being of the state economy. (A.10342 ; Passed Assembly)

GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES

Prostate Cancer Prevention allows all public employees four hours of excused leave for the purpose of being screened for prostate cancer. (A.409-B / S.8107; Chapter 96)

Equal Pay requires the state to provide equal pay for equivalent work with "bona fide" exceptions (e.g. seniority) allowed. The bill also directs the president of the Civil Service Commission to submit an annual report about existing wage disparities and mandates the governor provide monies to correct any wage disparities within the state workforce. (A.437-A ; Passed Assembly)

Proposed Health Plan Changes Notification to Retirees requires a public corporation to give a 90-day notification of any proposed health insurance amendments to retirees and their beneficiaries. (A.639-A / S.2448-A; Veto 265)

Work Place Safety requires the president of the Department of Civil Services to submit to the Governor, the Temporary President of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly a summary of how certain state agencies will prevent workplace injuries from reoccurring. (A.2905-A / S.2842-A; Veto 267)

Wage Disparity Evaluation directs the Department of Civil Service to study and publish a report that evaluates and addresses wage disparities involving job titles segregated by sex, race and/or national origin. (A.5008-A ; Passed Assembly)

Transit Authorities' Contract Dispute Resolution requires employee contract disputes to be referred to a public arbitration panel to resolve impasses in collective bargaining negotiations involving the New York City Transit Authority, Metropolitan Transit Authority, Upstate Transit Authorities, Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority, Capital District Transportation Authority and the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority. (A.5303 ; Passed Assembly)

Binding Arbitration Resolution for New York Power Authority Labor Contracts requires the New York State Power Authority and any recognized public employee organization to use binding arbitration to resolve impasses in collective bargaining negotiations. (A.6175 ; Passed Assembly)

Law Enforcement Personnel Retirement Option establishes an optional 20 year retirement plan to county correction officers and deputy sheriffs with a 1/60th final average salary incentive for every year beyond 20 years of service, up to 15 years. (A.6612-B / S.4001-B; Veto 271)

Deadline Set for Disability Benefit Filing establishes a five year accidental disability deadline for firefighters in the New York State and Local Police and Fire Retirement System to file a disability benefit application for certain cancers. (A.7146-A / S.5012-A; Veto 236)

World Trade Center Disability Claim Deadline extends the registration and filing date to September 11, 2018 for claims related to qualifying health conditions linked to their participation in the World Trade Center rescue, recovery or cleanup operations. (A.7958-C / S.5745-C; Chapter 326)

Accidental Death Benefit Increase for Spouses of Fallen Police Officers provides a cost of living adjustment of three percent on any special accidental death benefit received by line-of-duty widows or widowers. (A.9200-A; / S. 7179-A; Chapter 347)

Retirement Application Process Streamlined removes the need for a retirement application to be notarized. (A.9348 / S.7212; Chapter 123)

Retirement Military Service Credit authorizes a member of a state public retirement system with at least five years of credited service and who was honorably discharged from the military to buy a military service credit of up to three years. (A.9531 / S.7160; Chapter 41)

Health Insurance Buyout Program allows a New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) participating employer to collectively bargain for a health insurance buyout program. The bill would ban the Civil Service Commission from denying employees from participating in insurance buyout programs because their spouse is also enrolled in NYSHIP. The measure would end this discriminatory practice that favors employees with spouses who have private health insurance plans. (A.9715 / S.7120; Veto 251)

Recourse for Discriminated Public Employees creates a private right of action for public employees who are discriminated against regarding compensation based on sex, race, or national origin. (A.9754 ; Passed Assembly)

Alternative Work Schedules in the State Work Forces requires the Department of Civil Services to examine alternative and flexible work schedules and submit an annual report that details the effects of implementing alternative work schedules and flexible work hours within state agencies. Under the bill, the department's report would be provided to the Speaker of the Assembly and the Temporary President of the Senate (A.9870 / S.7374; Veto 252)

Time Limit to Transfer between Retirement Systems Eliminated removes the time limit required for employees to transfer between retirement systems. (A.10003-A / S.7386-A; Chapter 438)

Employer Retirement Contribution Amount extends the current interest rates for the purpose of calculating interest and contributions to the state retirement system through June 30, 2017. Under the bill, the current seven percent annual rate of interest would continue to be used by the City of New York and the other retirement systems regulated by the state for the purpose of computing an employer's contribution amount to those systems. (A.10372 / S.7594-A; Chapter 83)

New Firefighter Disability Retirement Benefit creates a new accidental disability retirement benefit for New York City firefighters who either join the Fire Pension Fund after June 15, 2016 or who joined before that but elected to be covered under this new plan. The legislation would provide firefighters an accidental disability benefit that is equal to three quarters of the final average salary or an ordinary disability retirement benefit equal to 33 1/3 of the final average salary. This measure also provides a COLA after five years of retirement, and requires employees to make a five percent contribution. (A.10567 / S.8015; Chapter 298)

Labor Contract Extension and Pay Raise implements a one year contract agreement between the Executive and the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services Unit that is represented by the New York State Public Employees Federation. Under the bill, a two percent retroactive salary increase will be provided to information technology professionals, nurses, accountants, lawyers, engineers, physicians and other employees within the unit. (A.10653 / S. 8015; Chapter 233)

Employment Contract for State Police Personnel implements the collectively bargained terms and conditions of employment and benefits for two years for investigators, senior investigators, and investigative specialists in the Division of State Police including a salary and holiday pay schedule. (A.10682 / S.8092; Chapter 234)

GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS

Domestic Violence Victim Protections protects domestic violence victims from employment discrimination. This bill prohibits employers from discriminating against victims of domestic violence. Under the bill, violations would be subject to the existing penalties in the Human Rights Law to remedy discrimination based on race, religion and gender. For each offense, violators could face a civil penalty of up to $50,000, and a maximum penalty of $100,000 for violations that are willful, wanton or malicious. Attorney's fees, for certain proceedings, also could be awarded to employees who prove they were discriminated against by their employer. (A.272 ; Passed Assembly)

Crime Victim Court Appearance Compensation allows crime victims to receive travel reimbursement to attend court proceedings. This bill defines the term "necessary court appearance" for the purpose of determining crime victim compensation from the Office of Victims Services. (A.1097-A / S.2034-A; Veto 228)

Analysis Required for Consultant Service Work vs. State Employees requires a cost benefit analysis to be completed before state agencies enter into contracts for consultant services. This bill requires, unless certain conditions exist, that before a state agency enters into a contract for consultant services anticipated to cost more than $750,000 in a 12 month period, the state agency must conduct a cost comparison review to determine whether the services to be provided by the consultant can be performed at equal or lower cost by utilizing state employees. (A.2499-A ; Passed Assembly / S.6810A; Rules)

Victim Compensation for Domestic Partners ensures domestic partners of homicide victims may seek the same awards as spouses from the state Office of Victim Services for actual out-of-pocket losses and counseling expenses. (A.3694-A ; Passed Assembly)

Preventing Fraud and Upholding Integrity establishes a post completion certificate for companies participating in the Minority- and Women-Owned-Business Enterprise Program (MWBE). Under the bill, the certification would be used to confirm an MWBE company has fulfilled all of its contractual responsibilities. The bill addresses incidences of fraud, misuse of funds and criminal conduct that have undermined the MWBE program's mission to increase the participation of disadvantaged individuals in public contracts. (A.5243-E ; Passed Assembly)

Gender Expression Non-discrimination Act (GENDA) adds gender identity or expression to the existing prohibitions against discrimination in the state's Human Rights Law. This bill also adds crimes that were motivated by a victim's gender identity or expression to the list of offenses that are subject to harsher potential penalties under the state's Hate Crime Law. (A.4558-B ; Passed Assembly).

Medical Professionals Emergency Access to Patients permits people in need of home health care to receive such care in times of emergencies. Under the bill, local emergency management plans would be required to include procedures for allowing medical professionals to access home-bound patients where access may otherwise be limited. (A.9381-A / S.6692-B; Veto 279)

Emergency Evacuation of People with Disabilities assists localities in preparing for and responding to disasters by requiring counties with local emergency management plans to maintain a confidential registry of people of all ages with disabilities who might require assistance and shelter during a disaster. Under the bill, inclusion in the registry would be optional. (A.2658-A ; Passed Assembly)

Parking Garage Safety requires the state's uniform fire prevention and building code to include standards for the periodic inspection of parking structures to ensure the structure is safe. (A.9614-A / S.7669; Veto 250)

Appeals of Court Rulings on Freedom of Information Law expedites the appeals process when a trial court's ruling favors an information request made under the Freedom of Information Law by limiting to 60 days, under most circumstances, the time agencies would have to appeal judgments against them. (A.9711-A / S.6865-A; Chapter 487)

Safeguarding Water Supplies from Terrorism protects the state's water supplies by providing enhanced protection from terrorists by requiring water suppliers in this state to undergo a vulnerability assessment analysis related to terrorist and cyber-terrorism attacks. These security assessments will be reviewed by various state agencies, including the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, the Health Department and the Division of State Police. (A.10129 / S.7601; Chapter 516)

Code Enforcement Certification establishes minimum training and examination requirements to qualify for code enforcement officer certification. The bill also provides a mechanism to revoke such certifications. (A.10235-A ; Passed Assembly)

Procurement Process Transparency updates the procurement policies for state agencies, including requiring state agencies to participate in a system maintained by the Comptroller to compile vendor responsibility information. The bill aims to bring more accountability and transparency to the procurement process. (A.10688;\ / S.7893; Veto 295)

Bans Automatic Denials to Information Requests establishes that the automatic and blanket denial to requests for records that are filed under the Freedom of Information Law is prohibited. The bill also would clarify that law enforcement records can be exempt from disclosure but only if the disclosure of the information would interfere with an investigation or court proceeding. (A.4468 ; Passed Assembly)

HEALTH

Save Lives from Opioid Overdose requires any pharmacy with 20 or more locations in the state to pursue or maintain a non-patient-specific standing order to dispense a potentially lifesaving opioid antagonist, such as the drug Naloxone, without a prescription. The other option provided by the bill is to require a pharmacy to register with the Department of Health as an Opioid Overdose Prevention Program. (A.9078-B / S.6348-B; Chapter 65)

Compile Opioid Overdose Data requires all statewide overdose information, not just fatal overdose data, to be included in the Department of Health's (DOH) report that will be posted annually on DOH's website no later than the first day of October. The report's information will identify by each of the state's regions where the dispensing of opioid antagonists is occurring in order to better identify the areas that are experiencing high rates of overdoses. This data will allow DOH, other state and local health agencies and the public to pursue actions that will more effectively prevent and reduce overdoses and save lives. (A.9251-A / S.6516-A; Chapter 66)

Breast Cancer Screening requires that information about the potential dangers of dense breast tissue and the availability of screening for this health condition be added to Department of Health's Healthcare and Wellness Education and Outreach Program. (A.5510-B / S.7369-A; Chapter 402)

Bronx Asthma Study directs the Department of Health to conduct a study of the high incidence of asthma in the Bronx and provide the Governor and the Legislature with a remedial plan to address this health concern. (A.7137 / S.1165; Veto 262)

Lyme Disease adds a Lyme and tick-borne disease awareness and prevention initiative to the state's Health Care and Wellness Education Program. (A.8106-A / S.5803-A; Chapter 167)

Identifying Human Trafficking in Health Care Settings requires hospitals, public health centers, diagnostic and treatment centers and outpatient departments to establish and implement written policies and procedures for the identification, assessment and treatment or referral of persons suspected of being victims of human trafficking. (A.8650-B S.6835-B; Chapter 408)

Patient Rights Strengthened requires every hospitals' statement of patient rights and responsibilities to include a patient's right to be held harmless from surprise bills, designate a caregiver under the CARE Act, and view both a list of the hospital's standard charges and also the health plans the hospital participates in. (A.9188-B S.6347-B; Chapter 241)

Epinephrine Injections authorizes, but does not mandate, public venues such as restaurants, youth organizations, sports leagues, theme parks, sport arenas, day care and educational facilities to stock and administer epinephrine auto-injectors in an emergency to individuals who appear to experience anaphylactic symptoms. (A.9357 / S.6800; Chapter 373)

Vendor Authorization for Women Infants and Children Program provides that every vendor under the Women, Infant and Children Program (WIC) would be permitted to sell any product covered under WIC, including specialty infant formula, unless barred by state or federal regulations. (A.9648-A / S.8077; Chapter 518)

Confidential HIV Research Data Sharing Permitted authorizes disclosure of HIV related medical information to qualified researchers who have received approval from a human research review committee established and approved by the state's Public Health Law or a federally approved institutional review board. (A.9834 / S.7505; Chapter 461)

Reuse of Unused Prescription Drugs establishes a program related to the donation, re-dispensing and reuse of unused prescription drugs at the institutional level. The bill addresses the significant number of prescribed drugs that annually go unused in a hospital setting and could be made available for patients who are unable to afford the cost of prescription drugs. (A.9905-B / S.5903-A; Chapter 480)

End the Epidemic: HIV Testing and Treatment removes the requirement for informed consent for administering an HIV test by instead requiring that individuals be verbally advised that an HIV test is being administered. Though, no test would be performed over a patient's objection. Under the legislation, physicians or nurse practitioners would be allowed to issue a non-patient specific order to allow registered nurses to test for syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. The measure also would authorize a non-patient specific order for a seven day starter pack of post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for preventing HIV to be dispensed by a pharmacist. (A.10724 / S.8129; Chapter 502)

Domestic Violence Victim Detection and Treatment requires general hospitals to establish policies and procedures for the identification, treatment and referral of confirmed or suspected cases of domestic violence. (A.1232-A Passed Assembly)

Increasing Colon Cancer Awareness requires the Department of Health to establish a program to promote patient education regarding colon cancer. The bill also would provide taxpayers with the option of contributing to the Colon Cancer Education Fund through their income tax return. (A.1295-A Passed Assembly)

Sexually Transmitted Disease Treatment allows a health care practitioner who diagnoses a person has having a sexually transmitted disease to prescribe, dispense, furnish, or otherwise provide prescription antibiotic drugs to that person's sexual partner or partners without examining these individuals. (A.2170-B Passed Assembly)

Universal Health Care requires the Department of Health to establish and implement a publicly funded, comprehensive, universal, single-payer health care coverage program for the benefit of all the state's residents. (A.5062-A; Passed Assembly)

E-Cigarettes Banned Where Smoking Prohibited adds electronic cigarettes in state laws that prohibit smoking in public places. The bill also exempts from the Clean Indoor Air Act retail stores that are primarily dedicated to electronic cigarette sales. (A.5955-B; Passed Assembly)

Protecting a Woman's Right to Reproductive Decision Making prohibits the state from denying a woman's constitutionally protected right to obtain an abortion as established by the United States Supreme Court in the decision Roe v. Wade. (A.6221; Passed Assembly)

Airport Facilities Must Accommodate Nursing Women requires the airport manager of an airport terminal operated by a municipality or airport district, with more than one million passengers annually, to provide a room behind the airport security screening area for women to express breast milk. (A.7989; Passed Assembly)

Protecting Ambulance Patients Personal Information prohibits employees or members of an ambulance or a first responder service from disclosing, selling, transferring, or exchanging a patient's identifying information to any person or entity for marketing purposes. (A.8226-A; Passed Assembly)

Safe Health Care Staff and Patient Ratios requires adequate staff to patient ratios be maintained in the operation of various health care facilities to ensure patient safety and the delivery of high quality care. (A.8580-A; Passed Assembly)

Patient Certification for Medical Marijuana allows physician assistants and nurse practitioners, with appropriate training and acting within the scope of their practice, to certify that a patient can be treated with medical marijuana. (A.9510 ; Passed Assembly)

Public Listing of Authorized Medical Marijuana Physicians requires that the Department of Health (DOH) to publicly disclose on the DOH website, in searchable form, the contact information of practitioners who are registered with DOH to treat patients with medical marijuana unless such practitioners request that such information not be disclosed. (A.10123;Passed Assembly)

Maternal Depression establishes that when a maternal depression screening is provided by a pediatric provider, the "patient" is the child and the service is covered if the provider is in the child's health plan network. (A.10066; Passed Assembly)

HIGHER EDUCATION

DREAM Act establishes the NYS DREAM Act to create a DREAM Fund, administered by a newly created DREAM Fund Commission to provide scholarships to college-bound students who are the children of immigrants. The bill also allows undocumented students to be eligible for TAP, scholarships, and opportunity programs if they meet certain criteria. The measure also permits undocumented individuals to open a New York State 529 family tuition account and to designate a beneficiary on an account if they have a taxpayer identification number. (A.4311-A; Passed Assembly)

Conversion Therapy Banned prohibits mental health professionals from engaging in sexual orientation change efforts, also known as conversion therapy, with a patient under 18 years of age. (A.4958; Passed Assembly)

Professional License Review Process Accelerated expedites the review of licensure applications and permits the issuance of temporary practice permits for military spouses who possess out-of-state professional licenses in equivalent occupations. The bill aims to reduce unnecessary delays in the review of such licensure applications, and for these military spouses, the legislation also lowers the initial license fee by one-half. (A.4394-A / S.2947-A; Chapter 299)

Testing Animals Available for Adoption requires higher education research facilities that use cats or dogs as a part of their testing/research to release, if possible, the animals for adoption after the testing/research is complete. (A.8261-A / S.98-A; Chapter 240)

Contributing State Tax Return to NY Tuition Savings Program authorizes taxpayers to directly deposit all or a portion of their personal income tax refund, with a minimum of $25, to the New York State College Choice Tuition Savings (529) Program. (A.9118 / S.6942; Chapter 454)

Dispensing Medications by Home Health Aide provides an exemption to the Nurse Practice Act to allow advanced home health aides to perform certain nursing tasks, including administering medication, under the direct supervision of a licensed registered nurse. (A.10707 / S.8110; Chapter 471)

CUNY/SUNY Capital Funding provides in the 2016-17 SFY Budget an additional $50 million in capital funding, $20 million for CUNY and $30 million for SUNY, to fund critical maintenance or expansion projects. (A.10741 / S.8159; Chapter 73)

HOUSING

Mitchell-Lama Dissolution Moratorium prohibits for four years any urban rental company created under the Mitchell-Lama Housing Program from dissolving in order to allow the New York State Homes and Community Renewal, in consultation with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation, to conduct a study on the preservation, sustainability, reform, and growth of the Mitchell-Lama Housing Program. (A.3682; Passed Assembly)

Additional Information on Mitchell-Lama Buyouts directs the annual report on Mitchell-Lama housing, that is prepared by the Division of Housing and Community Renewal and currently shared with the Legislature, to also be provided to the State Comptroller and the Attorney General both of whom are required by law to provide oversight to the Mitchell Lama Program. The bill also would require information about any Mitchell-Lama entity that has voluntarily dissolved in the preceding calendar year or has filed a notice of intent to dissolve in the current calendar year be included in the report. (A.7973; Passed Assembly / S.8150; Rules)

Curtailing the Inappropriate Use of Preferential Rents allows landlords to readjust the rent of a unit receiving preferential rent only upon the apartment's vacancy so long as the vacancy is not the result of the landlord's failure to maintain the unit in a habitable condition. The bill would eliminate a provision in the law that also permits landlords to raise the rent when the current lease expires. Preferential rent is rent that is less than the maximum legal rent per unit. (A.3809-A; Passed Assembly / S.2828-B; Housing)

MCI Rent Increase Eligibility Includes J-51 Tax Abatement Filing requires owners of rent stabilized buildings who apply for a major capital improvement (MCI) rent increase to first apply to receive J-51 tax abatement benefits. Under the bill, these building owners could still receive an MCI rent increase if their application for J-51 benefits is denied, but not if such denial was because of the owner's untimely or improperly completed application. (A.3957-A; Passed Assembly)

Eliminate Vacancy Bonus repeals existing laws that authorize landlords to increase the rent of a rent regulated apartment because of a vacancy. These rent increases can vary, but are currently authorized to be as high as 20 percent. This vacancy bonus in the current law provides a significant incentive for landlords to drive tenants out of rent regulated apartments and into a housing market where the availability of affordable housing units is very limited. (A.5567; Passed Assembly / S.951; Housing)

Major Capital Improvement Surcharges establishes major capital improvements (MCI) as a surcharge which would be an addition to the legal regulated rent and be specifically designated and billed as such. The legislation also would terminate the surcharge once the MCI costs have been recouped. (A.6054-A; Passed Assembly / S.4423-A)

Illegal Advertising of Certain Dwelling Units Prohibited prohibits the advertisement for the occupancy or use of a dwelling unit within a class A multiple dwelling for other than “permanent residence purposes,” as defined in the Multiple Dwelling Law. Violators would be subject to civil penalties of up to $1,000 for a first violation, up to $5,000 for a second violation, and up to $7,500 for a third and/or subsequent violations. In New York City, the Mayor's Office of Special Enforcement would be charged with enforcing these provisions. (A.8704-C / S.6340-A; Chapter 396)

NYC Housing Agency Bonding Authority Increased authorizes the New York City Housing Development Corporation to increase the maximum aggregate principal amount of its outstanding notes and bonds from $11.25 billion to $12.5 billion. (A.10562 / S.7895; Chapter 470)

Certain Housing Related Bond Authority Raised increases the bonding authority of New York State Housing Finance Authority by $2.5 billion to a maximum aggregate of $24.2 billion. The bill also raises the maximum bonding authority of SONYMA to $1 billion, an increase of $200 million. In addition, the legislation would authorize that mortgages financed under SONYMA's Neighborhood Revitalization Program would be issued to persons having incomes of up to 150 percent of the latest maximum income limits allowed under the Internal Revenue Code. (A.10668 / S.7413-A; Chapter 163)

New York State Community Restoration Fund authorizes the State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA) to establish and administer the “New York State Community Restoration Fund” Under the bill, SONYMA would create a subsidiary corporation to use available funds to acquire mortgage notes and properties in communities affected by foreclosures and in need of neighborhood revitalization.

The legislation would allow eligible institutions to use awarded funds to acquire, purchase, or sell residences and/or mortgage notes in order to keep homeowners in their homes, rehabilitate distressed properties or demolish dilapidated homes or assist in the creation of affordable housing. (A.10730 / S.8141; Chapter 72)

INSURANCE

Health Insurance Coverage Must Include Prosthetics requires health insurance companies to cover the costs of prosthetic devices, including repair and replacement costs, when they are necessary for rehabilitative and habilitative purposes. (A.1178-C; Passed Assembly)

Insurance Coverage for Prescription Drug Supply Under 30-Days provides coverage for a pharmaceutical claim of less than a 30-day supply of a prescription drug for patients enrolling in medication synchronization programs. The legislation also establishes a pro-rated cost-sharing rate for prescriptions that are dispensed for less than a 30-day supply in order to help synchronize the covered individual's chronic medication. (A.4036-A; Passed Assembly)

Task Force on Disasters creates a 23-member task force to examine how insurers who write homeowners and commercial property and casualty insurance policies respond to disasters. The bill would require the task force to examine how the state and local agencies, such as the Department of Financial Services, and the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, can better assist claimants following such disasters and study whether policyholders and communities have adequate insurance. (A.4172; Passed Assembly)

Investigating Homeowners and Commercial Property Insurance Claims requires insurers of homeowners and certain commercial property and casualty insurance policies to investigate claims arising from a declared disaster or emergency in accordance with regulations established by the Superintendent of Financial Services. The bill also would require that within 15 business days, upon receiving all items that the insurer requested from the claimant, the insurer must accept or reject the claim and issue their decision in writing to the claimant. Under the bill, a one-time extension of an additional 15 business days to continue the investigation would be provided to the insurer, who would be required to pay the claim no later than three business days from the day the settlement is reached. (A.4458; Passed Assembly)

Bans Discriminatory Practices for Determining Auto Insurance Eligibility prohibits all motor vehicle insurance companies operating in the state from basing premiums, rates, or the issuance or renewal of a policy on an individual's education or occupation. (A.6834; Passed Assembly)

Establishes Windstorm Deductible Standards requires Department of Financial Services (DFS) to establish regulations providing standards for hurricane windstorm deductibles. Under the bill, DFS would create, to the greatest extent possible, uniformity in the operation of these deductibles with respect to what triggers such a weather event. (A.7537-A; Passed Assembly)

Prescription Drug Formulary Change requires health insurance plans, which provide essential health benefits under the federal Affordable Care Act, not to remove a prescription drug from a formulary during the enrollment year. This bill also would require that plans with a drug formulary containing two or more tiers of drug benefits with different deductibles, copayments or coinsurance, may not move a drug to a tier with higher patient cost sharing during the enrollment year. The legislation also bans any new or additional formulary restrictions during the enrollment year and ensures that health care plans may move a prescription drug to a tier with a larger copayment, coinsurance and different deductible if an AB-rated generic equivalent drug is added to the formulary at the same time. (A.7707; Passed Assembly)

Auto Repair Shop Choice requires insurers to notify policyholders in a written repair estimate of their right to have their vehicle repaired at the shop of their choice. (A.7738-A / S.5639-A; Chapter 236)

Contraception Coverage Mandate requires health insurance policies to include coverage of contraceptive drugs, devices, and products, as well as voluntary sterilization procedures, contraceptive education and counseling and related follow up services. This bill also would prohibit any cost-sharing requirements or other restrictions or delays with respect to this coverage. (A.8135-B; Passed Assembly)

Advisory Board to Help Grow Insurance Industry establishes a state insurance advisory board within the Department of Financial Services (DFS) to assist in the development and growth of the insurance industry. The 17 member board would be appointed by the superintendent of DFS to consider ways to grow the insurance industry throughout the state in order to increase the availability of diverse and affordable insurance products for New Yorkers. (A.10267-A / S.7536-A; Chapter 515)

Health Insurance Prior Authorization Requirement Exemptions expands the current health insurance prior authorization exception for surgical and invasive procedures to include concurrent symptoms and side effects. The bill would give medical providers the flexibility needed to treat patients suffering from such symptoms as nausea, low platelet count, allergic reactions or other such symptoms when it is related to a medical treatment that received prior authorization from the patient's health insurance company. Often the treatment of these symptoms, which can frequently occur as side effects during covered medical procedures, also must receive prior authorization in order to be covered under health insurance. (A.10268-A; Passed Assembly)

Insurance Policy Cancelation Notice requires health insurers to provide a 30 day advance notice to third-parties designated by a senior citizen when a policy cancellation is being implemented for non-payment of premium. (A.10269 / S.2268; Chapter 424)

Insurance Consumer Protections permits the Superintendent of Financial Services to take certain actions against an insurer if the superintendent determines that the insurer's surplus to policyholders is not adequate in relation to the insurer's outstanding liabilities or to its financial needs. The bill also authorizes actions to be taken against the operations of insurance companies that are determined by the superintendent to be deemed to be hazardous to the insurer's policyholders, creditors or to the general public. (A.10442; Passed Assembly)

Resolving Medical Emergency Services Cost Disputes establishes that hospital charges for emergency services are subject to the independent dispute resolution process. Under the bill, if a health insurer submits a dispute regarding the hospital's charge, the health insurer will pay a reasonable amount for the services directly to the hospital as determined by a third-party mediation firm jointly contracted by both the hospital and insurer to resolve billing disputes. (A.10470; Passed Assembly)

Insurance Coverage for Opioid Abuse Treatment requires insurers to cover a minimum of one opioid abuse-deterrent opioid analgesic drug per opioid analgesic active ingredient. The bill would help reduce the occurrence of addictions and enhance the treatment of individuals struggling to overcome opioid dependency by ensuring that abuse-deterrent drugs approved by the FDA are accessible to patients. (A.10478 / S.6962-A; Veto 283)

Breast Cancer Screening Access Expanded prohibits cost-sharing, including deductibles, copayments and coinsurance, for screening and diagnostic imaging for the detection of breast cancer with diagnostic mammograms, breast ultrasounds and MRIs. The bill also would extend the hours for screening mammography services and provide New York City public employees with four hours of paid leave for annual breast cancer screenings which is currently available to state and other municipal workers. (A.10679 / S.8093; Chapter 74)

Long-Term Care Insurance Study directs the Department of Financial Services (DFS) to study and report on the availability of long term care insurance coverage in this state. The findings of DFS's study would be submitted, one year after the bills effective date, to the Governor and the leaders of the Legislature. It will examine such concerns as the health care needs of the state's growing elderly population, the current condition of the long term care insurance market and providing coverage with benefits that are reasonable in comparison to the premiums charged. (A.10711 / S.6802; Veto 281)

JUDICIARY

Guidance for Court Appointed Guardian requires the language in a court order of appointment to identify persons entitled to be notified of an incapacitated person's death and the funeral arrangements. The measure also allows the order to identify people who should be notified of the incapacitated person's transfer to a medical facility and also the individuals who are entitled to visit such person. (A.3461-C / S.5154; Chapter 98)

Child and Spousal Support Enforcement in Supreme Court aligns enforcement of child or spousal support orders in Supreme Court with Family Court by removing the requirement to exhaust all other enforcement remedies before seeking contempt in Supreme Court against a person who fails to pay child or spousal support. (A.7253 / S.5189; Chapter 365)

Information Provided to Federal Court for Jury Pool Development broadens the types of information New York State would provide to federal courts. Under the bill, New York State would provide federal courts with information that is consistent with the type of records currently provided to state courts, which includes persons receiving unemployment and public assistance benefits and also a list of persons who file state tax returns. (A.9273 / S.7196; Chapter 284)

Statute of Limitations for Superfund Fund Site Claims expands the statute of limitations to three years in order to permit personal injury suits involving harm or injury caused due to exposure to substances found in an area designated as a Superfund site. (A.9568-A / S.6824-A; Chapter 128)

Family Court Orders of Protection extends for two additional years the current authority of referees and judicial hearing officers to determine orders of protection in family court that are heard ex-parte or on default. (A.9686 / S.7351; Chapter 48)

Public Official Pension Benefit Forfeiture amends the state constitution to provide that certain state and local public officers convicted of a felony involving breach of public trust be subject to forfeiture of pension benefits. (A.10739-A / S.8163; Passed both Houses - First Passage)

Maintenance Mandated on Zombie Properties requires the maintenance of vacant and abandoned (Zombie) properties. Under the bill, most lenders would be required to engage in good faith negotiations during mandatory settlement conferences in residential foreclosure proceedings. These lenders would be directed to inspect and maintain Zombie properties prior to and during residential foreclosure process. The measure also would create a Zombie property registry, establish a hotline to report such properties and authorize an expedited process for residential foreclosures on Zombie properties. (A.10741 / S.8159; Chapter 73)

Translating Orders of Protection requires orders of protection and temporary orders of protection issued in family court, or in family offenses in criminal court or in matrimonial actions, to be translated by an interpreter into the native language of the involved parties. (A.162; Passed Assembly)

Access to Child Custody and Visitation Forensic Reports provides for uniform access to court ordered forensic mental health evaluation reports and underlying data by litigants, their counsels and the child's attorney in custody and visitation cases. (A.290 ; Passed Assembly)

Plain Language in Consumer Contracts increases the monetary threshold that triggers the plain language requirements of the General Obligation's Law from the current $50,000 to $250,000. In 1977, when the Plain Language Law was first enacted, $50,000 covered all consumer contracts but in today's economy that threshold is not sufficient to cover many contracts. (A.1152; Passed Assembly)

Tenants' Have Right to Call for Police or Emergency Assistance provides that victims of domestic violence and crime victims have the right to request police and emergency assistance without penalty or reprisal resulting from enforcement of a local nuisance ordinance. The bill would protect the right of tenants to request assistance without fear of losing their housing. (A.1322 ; Passed Assembly)

Statute of Limitations for Toxic Tort Claims Extended increases the length of time within which an individual may bring a legal action for the injury caused by a specific toxic substance. (A.4441 ; Passed Assembly)

Manufactured Home Rent Increases permits manufactured home owners to challenge unjustified rent increases and provides guidance for evaluating the increased rates. (A.6269 ; Passed Assembly)

Commencing a Guardianship Proceeding requires the petitioner for appointment of a guardian for an incapacitated person to identify all other persons who may be able to manage the affairs of such incapacitated person and prevents the petitioner from commencing a guardianship proceeding for the primary purpose of resolving a bill collection dispute. (A.6510-A ; Passed Assembly)

Spousal Support in Family Court Proceedings authorizes Family Court to order spousal support when issuing temporary or final orders of protection. The bill would expand Family Court's authority to issue child support in family offense proceedings to also include orders of spousal support in recognition of the financial barriers that prevent victims of domestic violence from fleeing their abusers. (A.7032-A ; Passed Assembly)

Vacating Unlawful Arbitration Judgements requires arbitrators to follow existing law by allowing an award to be voided if the arbitrator failed to follow the Laws of New York State. (A.9993 ; Passed Assembly)

Consumer Contract Arbitration Venue clarifies that the place of trial or arbitration, involving consumer contract proceedings, may take place in the county where the consumer resides, notwithstanding any contractual provision to the contrary. (A.9995 ; Passed Assembly)

LABOR

Minimum Wage Raised to $15 increases the minimum wage to $15 across the state in staggered intervals. The hourly wage will be increased for workers in New York City employed by large businesses having 11 employees or more, to $11 at the end of 2016, then by $2 each year thereafter, to reach $15 by 2018. For those workers employed by small businesses having fewer than 10 workers within the City of New York, the minimum wage would rise to $10.50 by the end of 2016, with additional annual increases of $1.50 each year thereafter, to reach $15 by 2019.

For workers in Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester Counties, the enacted budget would raise the minimum wage to $10 by the end of 2016, then by an additional $1 each year until reaching $15 an hour by 2021. For workers in the rest of New York State, the minimum wage would increase to $9.70 at the end of 2016, then by additional annual increases of .70 each year until reaching $12.50 on 12/31/2020, with incremental annual increases thereafter to reach $15 on an indexed schedule. (A.9006-C / S. 6406-C; Chapter 54)

Wage Discrimination establishes that paying different wages between employees on the basis of sex, race, or national origin is discriminatory and an unlawful employment practice. (A.6937 ; Passed Assembly)

Paid Family Leave provides a multi-year phase-in for up to 12 weeks of paid leave benefits for workers who have been employed for at least six-months to care for an infant, a family member with a serious health condition, or to ease the burden placed on families when earners are called into active military service. Benefits will begin in 2018 at 50 percent of an employee's average weekly wage, capped to 50 percent of the statewide average weekly wage. Once fully implemented in 2021, the benefit will be 67 percent of the employee's average weekly wage and capped to 67 percent of the statewide average weekly wage. (A.9006-C / S.6406-C; Chapter 54)

Closes Loophole on Wage Violators prohibits contractors and subcontractors who have been debarred for wage violations on federal public works projects from bidding on New York State public works contracts. This bill would eliminate an oversight in current state law that permits federally debarred contractors who have been cited for wage violations to bid on state public works contracts. (A.5414 ; Passed Assembly)

Reproductive Health Discrimination Banned prohibits employers from discriminating or taking any retaliatory personnel action against an employee based upon their or their dependent's reproductive health decisions. The bill also would establish a private right of action to allow victims of discrimination involving reproductive health decisions to file a lawsuit against such discriminatory actions by an employer. (A.1142-A ; Passed Assembly)

Unemployment Benefits: Work Search Efforts requires the Department of Labor's unemployment insurance work search regulations to take into consideration the need for claimants to provide child care for their children. The bill would ensure that unemployment insurance claimants, who are providing child care for their children, are able to satisfy the standards for proof of work search efforts and are not to be denied unemployment insurance benefits if otherwise qualified. (A.4780 ; Passed Assembly)

Acupuncture Health Benefits Recognized by Workers' Comp Program authorizes the care and treatment of injured workers by licensed or certified acupuncturists under the state's workers' compensation program. (A.2462-A / S.7531-A; Veto 212)

Effectiveness of Workforce Preparation Programs requires the Department of Labor to establish a wage data clearinghouse for the purposes of assessing the outcomes and effectiveness of workforce preparation programs. Used in conjunction with other data, this data will inform state and local policy makers and potential students about the success of various education pathways and career training programs. (A.9933 ; Passed Assembly)

Elevator Maintenance Requirements creates guidelines and standards for the inspection and maintenance of elevators and other automated people moving devices. The bill also establishes required licenses and certifications to ensure that only qualified individuals are authorized to certify the safety of these devices. (A.1787-C ; Passed Assembly)

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

Vehicles for Hire Regulation authorizes municipalities to regulate livery and transportation network companies, such as Uber and Lyft, vehicles. (A.1205-C / S.3538-B; Veto 269)

Volunteer Emergency Service Disability Benefit increases weekly benefits paid to permanently, totally, disabled volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers. (A.5133-C / S.1000-D; Chapter 401)

Municipal Finance Transparency enacts the Private Activity Bond Act of 2016, which includes new reporting requirements for more transparency on how bonds are allocated. (A.10255 / S.7637; Chapter 82)

MENTAL HEALTH

Service Delivery Implementation Plan informs stakeholders about the efforts of the Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) to implement a plan to transform the way OPWDD delivers support and services for persons with developmental disabilities. To better engage these stakeholders, the bill requires OWPDD to post on its website quarterly updates of the progress being made in the implementation of the plan. (A.10053-A / S.7644-A; Chapter 250)

NYS ABLE Savings Account Program Administrator accelerates the implementation of the New York State Achieving Better Life Experience Savings Account Program (NY ABLE) by authorizing the Comptroller to enter into a contract with the current administrator of the NYS College Choice Tuition Savings Program for the purpose of also administering the NY ABLE Savings Account Program. (A.10206 / S.7882; Chapter 149)

Recruiting and Retaining Professional Staff directs the Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) to study the recruitment and retention of professionals to work with persons with developmental disabilities and report its findings to the Governor and the Legislature by November 1, 2016. Under the bill, OPWDD's study is asked to focus on the causes of the high vacancy and turnover rates among the staff of non-profit providers who deliver support and services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The study also will address the resources necessary to both maintain a quality workforce and provide support to professionals in the field. (A.10409 / S.7677-A; Veto 215)

Retaining Dependent Eligibility for Military Service Members allows a dependent of a military service member to retain eligibility for developmental disability services regardless of leaving the state. Under the bill, a dependent who has been determined eligible to receive developmental disability services and remains a legal resident of the state will retain eligibility for those services. (A.10461-A / S.6915-B; Chapter 488)

Criminal Records Access allows the developmental centers of the Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) to access criminal history records. This information is necessary to help ensure that staff has complete and accurate information upon which to make care and treatment decisions, as well as to help ensure the health and safety of individuals receiving the services provided by OPWDD. (A.10556 / S.7410-A; Chapter 209)

RACING AND WAGERING

Fantasy Sports provides for the registration, regulation, and taxation of interactive fantasy sports contests in New York State. The bill provides protections for consumers and new revenue for education in the state. (A.10736 / S.8153; Chapter 237)

Private Control of Horse Racing Association permits the transfer of the New York Racing Association, Inc. board of directors from public to private control. (A.10429 / S. 7918-A; Delivered to Governor)

NYRA Reorganization Board Extension extends the current New York Racing Association, Inc. Reorganization Board for another year, until October 2017. (A.10741 / S.8159; Chapter 73)

SMALL BUSINESS

Servicing Revolving Loan Fund Programs allows the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) to administer the Regional Revolving Loan Trust Fund Program, Minority and Women Revolving Loan Trust Fund Program, Micro Enterprise Revolving Loan Trust Fund, and Commercial District Revolving Loan Trust Fund in a manner consistent with the Small Business Revolving Loan Fund Program. The bill will provide ESDC with greater flexibility to meet changing market requirements while also administering the state's revolving loan fund programs that were established to benefit small businesses. (A.7517-A; Passed Assembly)

Micro and Micro Seed Loans requires the state's Small Business Revolving Loan Fund to designate a certain percentage of its remaining principal or further appropriations for micro loans and micro seed loans. (A.6621-B / S.570-C; Chapter 254)

Online Small Business Program Information establishes a comprehensive website that features all of the state's existing programs that help small businesses and minority- and women- owned businesses access capital. (A.9591-A / S.6959-A; Chapter 249)

Online Lending Education Campaign establishes the development and implementation of a small business online lending education and outreach campaign to increase public awareness of the potential costs associated with obtaining loans from online marketplace lenders. (A.10259-A / S.7285; Chapter 463)

SOCIAL SERVICES

National Human Trafficking Hotline Poster requires the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) to display statewide the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline poster and to make the poster available to other agencies for posting. The poster's message tells human trafficking victims what they can do to get help. Under the bill, OTDA would be required to display the poster on their website and also in such public places as highway rest stops, bus stations, truck stops, airports, hospitals and urgent care facilities. (A.4967-A / S.4732-A; Chapter 311)

Local Consolidated Services Plan Approval requires that when a local social services district amends their consolidated services plan, to either increase co-payments or lower eligibility for child care subsidies, they must first submit it to the local advisory board for approval. (A.1861-C; Passed the Assembly)

Public Assistance Work Limitations provides factors and requirements to be considered and followed when a local social service districts' health care practitioner's diagnosis differs from a treating health practitioner when determining if an individual has a work limiting disability for public assistance. (A.9006-A / S.6406-A; Chapter 54)

TOURISM, PARKS, ARTS, AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT

Mixed Martial Arts Sport Legalized authorizes the New York State Athletic Commission to regulate professional mixed martial arts events in the State of New York. The bill would establish a governing authority to ensure the sport is conducted with integrity and the highest level of priority is given to the safety of the fighters. The legislation requires fight promoters to provide accident insurance to cover medical or hospital services and an insurance policy with a minimum $1 million benefit to cover the rare cases of life threatening brain injuries. (A.2604-C / S.5949-A; Chapter 32)

Crack Down on Automated Computerized Ticket Purchasing increases civil penalties and creates a new criminal penalty within the arts and cultural affairs law for the use of ticket purchasing software, also known as "bots." The bill bans the use of any machine, device, computer program or computer software that navigates or runs automated tasks on retail ticket purchasing websites in order to bypass security measures to purchase tickets. Under the bill, violators would face a $500 minimum and $1,500 maximum civil penalty for each offense, and could be charged with a class A misdemeanor which carries a sentence of up to one year in jail. (A.10713 / S.8123; Chapter 472)

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation Funding provides $7.3 billion in the 2016-17 SFY Budget for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) 2015-19 Capital Plan over four years, $950 million in additional funding for the MTA's Second Avenue Subway project, and $400 million over four years for the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program.

The bill also allocates $27 billion, a $1.04 billion increase, to the Department of Transportation's Five-Year Capital Plan including $860 million to the state's Highway and Bridge Program; $100 million for non-MTA downstate and upstate transit systems; $50 million for rail projects statewide; and $30 million for the Airport Improvement and Revitalization Program (Air99). (A.9008-C / S.6408-C; Chapter 58)

Rail Safety authorizes the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish and oversee a program to coordinate the inspection of traffic-control signals interconnected with highway-rail at-grade crossing warning systems in order to improve rail/highway traffic crossings.

The legislation also would impose penalties upon railroad companies for certain railroad safety violations and conform the state's program of railroad bridge inspections to the federal railroad bridge inspection standards. The measure also would establish a definition for railroad grade crossings that is consistent with federal regulations.

Under the bill, penalties for repeat violations at railroad grade crossings would be increased and DOT is directed to establish a public awareness and education campaign regarding the new penalties. (A.10714 / S.8119; Chapter 501)

Boating While Intoxicated Penalties requires that a court consider prior DWI convictions when sentencing a defendant for a boating while intoxicated offense. (A.1597-A / S.3785-A; Chapter 239)

Vehicle Inspections to Examine Window Transparency expands the items to be inspected during annual motor vehicle safety inspections to include windows composed of, covered by, or treated with any material having a light transmittance of less than 70 percent. (A.4106 / S.6034-A; Chapter 444)

School Bus Safety directs the Department of Motor Vehicles to design and implement, in conjunction with the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, the Departments of Education and Transportation, the Division of the State Police, and the State Comprehensive School Bus Driver Safety Training Council, a school bus motorist education program. Under the bill, the program would educate motorists of the dangers of passing stopped school buses in order to reduce the number of such violations and to promote school bus safety. (A.458; Passed Assembly)

Sanitation Vehicles adds sani-vans and waste collection vehicles engaged in the collection of refuse and/or recyclable materials on a public highway in the definition of a "hazard vehicle." The bill also would require motorists to drive at an appropriate reduced speed when approaching hazard vehicles engaged in a hazardous operation. (A.7763-B / S.426-B; Chapter 293)

Strengthening Upstate Transit Systems establishes an Upstate Transit Funding Board within the Department of Transportation to study and make specific recommendations about ensuring public transit's growth, stability and financial sustainability. (A.8202-A / S.8045; Chapter 240)

Taxicab Permit Processing authorizes municipalities within the Capital District Transportation District to enter an agreement with the Capital District Transportation Authority for the CDTA to administer the processing of taxicab driver permits and taxicab registrations and licenses. (A.9878-A / S.7359; Chapter 258)

VETERANS AFFAIRS

School Property Tax Exemption for Cold War Veterans expands the Cold War Veterans' Exemption to property taxes levied by local school districts. The bill would allow school districts to conduct a public hearing regarding the property tax exemption and after a public hearing, the governing body of the school district may pass a resolution to provide the exemption. Under the legislation, qualified Cold War veterans living within a school district that has passed such a resolution would have the same property tax exemption from their school district as they receive from their other municipal tax districts. (A.3379 / S.2210-B; Chapter 253)

Veteran School Property Tax Exemption permits municipalities with a population of one million or more, after holding public hearings, to adopt a local law to grant eligible veterans an exemption from their school property taxes. (A.9688 / S.7121; Chapter 332)

Connecting Veterans to Division of Veteran's Affairs directs local social services departments across the state to provide an applicant or recipient of public assistance benefits the contact information of the Division of Veteran's Affairs to ensure that our veterans receive the proper assistance they need. (A.8641-B / S.7983-B; Chapter 407)

Military Sexual Trauma Information on State Agency Websites requires the dissemination of information to veterans on the treatment of Military Sexual Trauma and directs the Office of Mental Health and Division of Veterans' Affairs to post the information on their websites. (A.1945; Passed Assembly)

Military Sexual Trauma Recovery Assistance directs the Division of Veterans' Affairs to develop a plan that includes benefits to assist veterans who experienced Military Sexual Trauma while on active duty or during military training. The bill also requires county and city veterans' service agencies to provide information on programs to assist these veterans. (A.7260; Passed Assembly)

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