AGING

STAR Extension - This new law allows local governments to grant senior citizens a five-day extension to pay their real property taxes and remain eligible for the STAR program. (Chap. 161)

Free ID Cards for Persons 62 or Older on SSI Benefits - This new law requires the DMV to issue non-driver ID cards free of charge to persons 62 years or older receiving SSI benefits who have no drivers’ licenses or whose drivers’ licenses are surrendered or expired. (Chap. 575)

BANKS

Home Equity Theft Prevention Act - This new law enacts the Home Equity Theft Prevention Act. The law will protect home owners from unknowingly transferring their home’s equity and title to another person.

CONSUMERS

Authorizes Physical Therapy Treatment To Be Rendered Without Referral - This change in law will allow access to physical therapy treatment without a referral in certain instances.

Anti-Phishing Act of 2006 - This new law establishes the Anti-Phishing Act of 2006 to allow the attorney general, or any persons engaged in the business of providing Internet access, to bring a civil action against "phishers". The new law defines, phishers as individuals who send e-mail messages to unsuspecting Internet users falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into disclosing private information that could be used for identity theft. (Chap. 64)

Private Information Disposal - This new law requires businesses to take appropriate steps in the disposal of personal identifying information to reasonably ensure no unauthorized person will have access to personal information contained in the record. (Chap. 65)

Right to "Freeze" Consumer Credit Reports - This new law will guard against identity theft by providing consumers with the ability to prohibit access to the personal information maintained in their consumer credit reports unless they expressly consent to it, thus preventing identity thieves from taking out new loans and credit in their name. (Chap. 63)

Magazine Renewal Notification - This change in law will require all magazine subscription renewal notices sent to existing subscribers to indicate the month and the year of the subscription’s expiration. The new law aims to protect magazine readers from unnecessarily renewing magazine subscriptions that have not expired. (Chap. 204)

Earlier Sunday Beer Purchase - This change in law will allow for consumers to purchase beer after 8:00 a.m. on Sundays, instead of after 11 a.m. (Chap. 312)

CRIME

Crime of Incest - This new law closes a loophole in the law that provided lenient treatment to offenders who assaulted children who were related to them. (Chap. 320)

Sex Offender Internet Notification - This change in law will expand the distribution of information on Level two offenders (moderate risk of re-offense) by posting it on the internet. The law also permits notification concerning Level 1 (low risk) offenders to schools and other institutions serving vulnerable populations. (Chap. 106)

Loss of Parental Rights - This change in law will allow for the termination of parental rights on the grounds of homicide of a parent or a sibling of the child. (Chap. 460)

EDUCATION

Whistle Blower Protections, School Employees - This new law provides protections to school employees who, having reasonable cause to suspect that fiscal practices violate the law, report this information. The measure would protect whistleblowers from civil liability and retaliation from their employer or other employees. (Chap. 118)

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

Hazardous Substance Spills Reporting - This new law requires the DEC to notify communities affected by hazardous spills within 48 hours of the department being notified of the problem. (Chap. 616)

GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS

Disaster Preparedness Plans to Include Pets - This new law would require local disaster plans to encompass household pets including evacuation, transportation and shelter. (Chap. 677)

Emergency Services Revolving Loan Cooperation - This change in law encourages regional cooperation by authorizing applicants to apply jointly for funding from the Emergency Services Revolving Loan Fund and increases the loan amounts available to joint applicants. (Chap. 72)

MENTAL HEALTH

Children’s Mental Health Act of 2006 - This new law establishes the Children’s Mental Health Act of 2006. Requires the State to develop a Children’s Mental Health Plan containing short-term and long-term recommendations to provide comprehensive, coordinated mental health prevention, early intervention, and treatment services for children through age 18. (Chap. 667)

TRANSPORTATION

Prior Out of State Convictions - This law would require that prior out-of-state convictions for DWI and DWAI be given the same weight as a prior conviction for the equivalent violation in NYS, when determining penalties for a DWI or DWAI conviction in NYS. (Chap. 231)

BWI/BWAI Penalties - This new law makes the penalties for Boating While Intoxicated (BWI) and Boating While Ability Impaired (BWAI) convictions the same as those imposed for equivalent DWI or DWAI convictions. (Chap. 151)

VETERAN’S AFFAIRS

Small and Medium-sized Business Relief - This new law will provide financial assistance to small and medium businesses that have been adversely affected by the absence of an owner, manager or key employee called to active military duty. (Chap. 164)

Veterans Tuition Awards Program - This change in law would extend the date for eligible veterans to apply for state college tuition assistance. Under the law, veterans will have until September 1, 2008 to file an application form for the Vietnam, Persian Gulf and Afghanistan Tuition Assistance Program. (Chap. 208)

Transfer of the Real Property Tax Exemption In Cases of Veterans Moving Within the Same Municipality - This change in law will allow municipalities to adopt a local law or ordinance allowing the assessor to transfer and prorate a real property tax exemption granted a veteran when the veteran sells property receiving the exemption and purchases property within the same municipality. (Chap. 166)