2013 NYS Assembly Significant Legislation

Current as of: January 22, 2014

AGING

SCRIE and DRIE Outreach Programs requires municipalities that administer the Senior Citizen Rental Increase Exemption (SCRIE) and the Disabled Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) programs to conduct community awareness forums to ensure individuals who may be eligible are aware that they can apply for both of the programs' benefits. (A.1859; Passed Assembly)

Protecting Seniors from Financial Exploitation requires the Department of Financial Services (DFS) to establish guidelines for reporting suspected financial exploitation of the elderly. Under the bill, DFS would develop guidelines for such protections with the State Office of Aging, the state attorney general, financial industry representatives, senior groups and the state's district attorneys. (A.1783-B; Passed Assembly)

Financial Fraud Protection Option for Seniors establishes a financial exploitation prevention program for seniors to voluntarily participate in. Under the bill, seniors would authorize their banking institution to report to law enforcement or adult protective services instances of suspected financial exploitation. The legislation requires DFS to develop such a mandatory reporting program that seniors can opt into in order to protect themselves from financial fraud. (A.7345-B; Passed Assembly)

Disclosure of Professional Titles Suggesting Senior Expertise requires advertisements that use a professional title as an indication of a certain expertise in senior citizen matters to disclose the source of the title. The bill would address the unscrupulous practice of deceiving seniors by using fictitious professional titles when marketing products to elderly consumers. (A.1787; Passed Assembly)

AGRICULTURE

The Dine: Pride of New York Program establishes The Dine: Pride of New York Program to promote restaurants that use New York-grown food products. The bill would authorize the Department of Agriculture and Markets to create a program to promote restaurants with menus that include at least 15 percent of New York-grown food ingredients. (A.2702 / S.2146 Veto)

The Shop: Pride of New York expands The Shop: Pride of New York Program to promote wholesale and retail sellers that offer New York grown and/or processed food items. Under the bill, the Department of Agriculture and Markets would establish on its departmental website a link to the Shop: Pride of New York Program that will include the name, location and hours of operation of food sellers that meet the program's requirements and a brief description of their business. (A.3802 / S.2774-A; Veto)

New York Food Promotion creates the Strategic Farm and Food Product Development Coordinating Council, which would seek to identify agricultural products that are in demand by consumers and food businesses and have the potential to be growth industries for farmers. (A.2701 / S.2152; Veto)

Establishes Food Safety Board creates an advisory board to improve food safety protection and inspection programs within the Department of Agriculture and Markets. The board would be comprised of nine members who would advise the Agriculture and Markets Commissioner about establishing, updating and enforcing food safety regulations. (A.4125; Passed Assembly)

Ban on Devocalization of an Animal prohibits the removal of a dog or cat's vocal chords for non-medical reasons. Under the bill, violators would face fines or incarceration and may be required to forfeit ownership of their pet. The legislation also would require the suspension or revocation of a veterinarian's license if convicted of performing an illegal devocalization. (A.1204; Passed Assembly)

Farmland Tax Assessment Cap reduces the current 10 percent property tax assessment cap on farmland to two percent. Under the bill, farmland tax assessments could only be increased by two percent above the previous year's total assessment. (A.165 / S.1952; Chapter 385)

Sustainable Farming and Food Production Study requires the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets and Economic Development to study and develop a long-term strategy for supporting farming and food production in New York State. The study would examine the many market components and dynamics that affect the food supply line, including economic trends, food consumption needs, land usage and other factors. (A.728 / S.2147; Veto)

Local Pet Sale Laws authorizes local governments to regulate the sale of pets in their communities in order to help protect the health and safety of animals, prevent unwanted pets and overpopulation and encourage pet adoptions. (A.740-A S.3753; Chapter 553)

Pet Dealer Oversight strengthens governmental oversight of pet dealers that fail health and safety inspections. The bill authorizes administrative hearings to be held for pet licensees who fail to correct deficiencies in their operations after being cited for three violations of the health and safety laws. The administrative hearings would determine whether a pet dealer license should be suspended or revoked. (A.1205-A /S.3955-A; Chapter 256)

Dog Control Officer Training establishes and implements training requirements for dog control officers for municipalities across the state. Under the bill, training for dog control must include instruction on the humane handling of animals, laws regarding dog licensing and seizure and the identification and notification requirements of dog owners. (A.1657-E / S.3537-D; Passed Assembly)

Farm to Seniors establishes a Farm-to-Senior program to promote the purchase of New York farm products by senior centers and other institutions for the aging. (A.2700 / S.2149; Veto)

Reimbursement for Cost of Animal Care assists animal shelters in recovering the costs they incur while caring for seized animals once owned by individuals convicted of certain animal cruelty and animal fighting offenses. Under the bill, a district attorney could petition the court for a judgment to require the seized animal's former owners to reimburse the organization that cared for their animals. (A.5113-A / S.2665-B; Chapter 531)

Pet Lemon Law Strengthened provides stronger protections to consumers when purchasing a pet. Under the bill, animals with medical problems could be returned to the seller within six months, up from the current 14 days. It also would mandate that the name of the pet broker be disclosed, which would be an addition to the current requirement that the breeder be named. The bill increases the minimum fine to $150 from $50 for individuals who violate the laws that regulate the sale of pets. (A.5114-B / S.3723-B; Chapter 251)

Obesity Prevention promotes New York-produced fruits and vegetables in areas of high incidences of obesity to combat adult and childhood obesity. The bill also directs the Cornell Cooperative Extension to develop obesity and respiratory disease prevention programs. (A.6628 / S.2438; Chapter 530)

Food Retailer Licensing Requirements streamlines and simplifies the state's licensing process for retail food chains by requiring only one application to be submitted for all the chain's stores. The bill also would save time and money for the food chain's operators. (A.7759 / S.4302-A; Chapter 260)

Community Gardens expands the powers and duties of the Office of Community Gardens to better assist local garden projects and organizations. (A.3743 / S.2372; Chapter 528)

ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG ABUSE

Adequacy of Veterans Treatment Programs requires the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) and the Division of Veteran Affairs to review programs operated by OASAS that provide treatment, rehabilitation, relapse prevention, and recovery services to ensure they are adequately meeting the needs of New York State's veterans. (A.1347 / S.910; Chapter 358)

Expansion of Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency Screening requires OASAS in consultation with the Department of Health (DOH) to develop training materials for health care providers and qualified health professionals to help with the implementation of the screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment programs. (A.1610; Passed the Assembly)

Compulsive Gambling Assistance requires the Commissioner of OASAS to create educational materials regarding compulsive gambling. Under the bill, such materials would be provided to individuals who place themselves on a voluntary self-exclusion list. The bill would also require the commissioner, in consultation with the New York State Gaming Commission, to establish a compulsive gambling education program for the prevention of problem gambling. (A.2243-A; Passed the Assembly / S.3394-A; Finance)

Problem Gambling Awareness requires gambling facilities to post signs in a prominent manner and within reasonable proximity to every exit and entrance of a gambling facility that describe where and how to get help for compulsive gambling. (A.2270-A / S.4721-A; Chapter 507)

Problem Gambling Education requires OASAS in consultation with the State Education Department (SED) to develop a curriculum on adolescent problem gambling. Provisions included in the bill would allow each individual school district to decide whether they would like to offer the program. This initiative would be made available on the websites of OASAS and SED. (A.2313 / S.4499; Chapter 551)

Prescription Drug Abuse Information requires the Commissioner of OASAS in consultation with DOH to utilize and make available educational materials on the prevalence of prescription drug abuse to pharmacists who may distribute them with any prescribed controlled substance. (A.7837; Passed Assembly)

Statewide Evaluation of Legal and Illegal Gambling authorizes and directs the Commissioner of OASAS to conduct a social impact study on problem gambling. (A.7836; Passed Assembly)

BANKS

Community Banking Program expands the number of banks permitted to participate in the Community Bank Deposit Program by increasing to $20 million the maximum amount of funds an individual community bank may have on deposit and be eligible to take part in the program. This bill would permit more banks to be involved in this program which has proven to be very effective at supporting and promoting local economic activity. (A.3236-B / S. 2494; Chapter 495)

Credit Union Membership expands the qualification for membership into credit unions in order to create parity with federal credit unions in the areas of investing and incidental powers. (A.3510 / S.2089; Veto)

Prized Linked Savings Accounts authorizes financial institutions throughout the state to utilize promotional offers to provide incentives for banking customers to save money. (A.7341 / S.5145; Veto)

Ban on Unsolicited Mail-Loan Check prohibits lending institutions from issuing mail- loan checks that are sent without a request or application from the consumer. In addition to eliminating the confusion consumers can experience upon receiving such checks, the bill would require the transaction fee and interest rate, as well as any additional information that the Superintendent of the Department of Financial Services may require, to be printed on the mail-loan check. (A.2792; Passed Assembly)

Senior Free Banking Withdrawal Expansion ensures that banking consumers over the age of 65 are able to make an adequate number of withdrawal transactions at no charge. The bill would increase the number of no cost withdrawal transactions from eight to 12. (A.3073; Passed Assembly)

ATM Fee Disclosure brings the state into conformity with current provisions of federal law regarding automatic teller machine (ATM) disclosures. The bill would eliminate certain requirements that ATMs carry a physical disclosure of potential ATM fees while continuing other fee notifications to the consumer. (A.6234 / S.4363; Chapter 199)

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

Cordless Blinds prohibits the use of corded blinds in certain public child care facilities in order to remove the threat of strangulation or other harms caused by window covering cords. (A.812-A; Passed Assembly / S.3678-A; Rules)

Independent Office of the Child Advocate establishes the independent Office of the Child Advocate to oversee publicly funded programs serving children. The office would investigate and examine particular systemic issues and report to the Governor and Legislature with analysis and policy recommendations. (A.2676; Passed Assembly / S.5778; Rules)

Child Care Waiting List requires local social services districts to maintain waiting lists of persons applying for child care subsidies, including information about the length of time on a waiting list, slots available and income levels of such families. The bill would establish such provisions in order to help ensure adequate funding appropriations for child care assistance. (A.2581; Passed Assembly / S.1424; Rules)

Notification of Change of Placement ensures the safety of children in foster care by requiring local social services districts, when changing the placement of a child, to notify the child's attorney within 10 days of the new placement unless such a change was necessary because of an emergency. The bill requires the local district to notify the attorney for the child and the attorney for the other involved parties within five days of an indicated child abuse report involving the foster child or another child in the home. (A.2599-B; Passed Assembly / S.4081-B; Rules)

Definition of Severe and Repeated Abuse clarifies the definition of severe and repeated abuse of children. The bill would exclude whether diligent efforts were made by the local social services district, prior to the initial finding of abuse, as proof of severe or repeated child abuse in parental termination proceedings. (A.2600 / S.4082; Chapter 430)

Permanency Planning in JD and PINS Proceedings adds permanency planning to juvenile delinquency (JD) and persons in need of supervision (PINS) proceedings in order to ensure the person's immediate enrollment in school, parental notification of the proceedings and the continuation of attorney representation. (A.2601; Passed Assembly / S.4083; Children and Families)

Violation of Court Orders for JDs and PINS Youth establishes court procedures to determine whether a violation of court orders occurred during an adjournment in a JD or PINS proceeding. (A.2602-B; Passed Assembly / S.3831-A; Children and Families)

Notification of Change in Child Care Eligibility requires local social services districts to notify the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) 60 days prior to lowering the eligibility for child care subsidies or raising the co-payment for families receiving subsidies. OCFS would then have 20 days to notify child care providers and union representatives of the change. (A.3498-A / S.5743; Veto)

Foster Care Re-Entry allows JDs and PINS to re-enter foster care until the age of 21 if there is no reasonable alternative for care. (A.7339-A / S.4529-B; Veto)

Best Practices for Adult Protective Services directs OCFS to develop standards of best practice for the provision of adult protective services and distribute them for use in local social services districts. (A.7642 / S.5324-A; Chapter 408)

CODES

SAFE Act the Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act contains several gun safety measures including:

the prohibition on the sale and possession of high capacity ammunition magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds and the sale and possession of assault weapons;
requiring background checks for ammunition purchases;
recertification of pistol permits every five years;
background checks by licensed gun dealers in private sales of all firearms, rifles and shotguns;
requiring mental health professionals to report a patient that is likely to commit serious harm to themselves or others;
the surrender of any firearm upon the issuance of an order of protection;
safe storage to protect children and increased penalties for possession of a firearm on school grounds or school buses; and
increased criminal penalties for use of illegal guns and murder of a first responder who is engaged in his or her duties. (A.2388 / S.2230; Chapter 1)

Criminal Background Information Brochure directs Department of Criminal Justice Services to publish a brochure describing the resources available to the public for gathering criminal background information. The brochure will be distributed to youth services organizations that have registered with the Megan's Law database. (A.185-A; Passed Assembly)

Victim Notification directs district attorneys to submit names and the contact information of victims to the Commissioners of the Office of Mental Health and the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities in order to notify victims about the discharge from custody of persons found incapacitated to stand trial. (A.196/ S.3034; Chapter 7)

Restitution for Funds allows a volunteer fire company to seek restitution for funds expended for the purposes of restoration, rehabilitation or cleanup of the site of arson. (A.392-A / S.337-A; Chapter 356)

Venue of Cases expands the venue for certain classes of cases against the state. Current law restricts venue to Albany for proceedings against certain state entities. This bill would permit parties to commence the proceedings in the judicial district where they live or have their principle place of business as well as in Albany. (A.479/ S.165; Passed Assembly)

Child-Sensitive Arrests directs the superintendent of state police to develop and institute child-sensitive arrest policies and procedures for instances where police are arresting an individual who is a parent, guardian or other person legally charged with the care or custody of a child. (A.1507; Passed Assembly / S.1416; Children and Families)

Undetectable Knives prohibits possession, manufacture, transportation or shipment of an undetectable knife which is designed for use as a weapon and which cannot be detected by a metal detector. (A.2092 ; Passed Assembly / S.4784; Codes)

Gravity Knives establishes that the possession of a gravity knife, which has a blade contained in its handle, and which opens by the force of inertia or gravity, would constitute criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree only if the defendant has intent to use the knife against another individual. (A.2259-A; Passed Assembly / S.3686; Codes)

Killing Police Animal increases the penalty, from a class A misdemeanor to a class E felony, for intentionally killing a police work dog or horse during the performance of its duties and under the supervision of a police officer. (A.2596-A / S.1079-A; Chapter 162)

Aggravated Assault on Children, Jay-J's Law expands the time frame from three to 10 years for which previous convictions of an assault on a child younger than 11 can be considered, increasing what would otherwise be a class A misdemeanor to a class E felony. (A.2623-A / S.5869; Chapter 172)

Counterfeit VIN Numbers prohibits the manufacture, production or reproduction of a counterfeit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) with the intent to defraud. (A.3180-A / S.2098-A; Chapter 186)

Rape is 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.3339-A; Passed Assembly)

Domestic Partner Crime Victims' Compensation expands eligibility for those who receive crime victim compensation awards to include a domestic partner and provides access to counseling for surviving family members of homicide victims. (A.4024; Passed Assembly / S.215; Crime and Correction)

Discovery establishes the power of a court to order disclosure by the prosecution of relevant evidence that is shown to be material to preparation of the defense, irrespective of whether the prosecution intends to introduce such evidence at trial. (A.3801; Passed Assembly / S.4089-A; Rules)

Assault on Prosecutors increases the penalty for causing physical injury to a person who is a prosecutor (district attorney or assistant district attorney) from a class A misdemeanor to a class D felony, punishable by a determinate sentence of up to seven years in prison. (A.5210-A / S.4160-A; Chapter 259)

Task Force on Human Trafficking extends until 2017 the Interagency Task Force on Human Trafficking. The bill also broadens representation on the task force and requires annual reports. (A.5538-A; Passed Assembly)

Retired Law Enforcement creates an exemption to allow qualified retired New York and federal law enforcement officers to possess large-capacity ammunition devices and assault weapons. (A.6356-A/S.4536-A; Chapter 98)

Serious Offense adds certain domestic violence offenses to the list of "serious offenses" for which possessing a firearm, rifle or shotgun would be illegal and constitute a class A misdemeanor. (A.6390; Passed Assembly)

Fireworks legalizes the sale, use and possession of certain types of sparkling devices in all areas of the state except for New York City. (A.6695-A/S.4718-A; Veto)

Marijuana Decriminalization reduces the penalty for possession of a small amount of marijuana that is possessed in a public place and open to public view from a class B misdemeanor to a civil violation. Possession of marijuana in a public place that is burning would still be a class B misdemeanor. (A.6716-A; Passed Assembly / S.3105-A; Codes)

Fingerprinting allows a judge to order a fingerprint obtained in the course of an investigation be compared against the state and/or national fingerprint identification system. (A.6915; Passed Assembly)

Jury Selection amends the procedure used in local criminal court for selecting a jury by allowing the courts to call more than six jurors for examination. (A.7181/S.5125; Chapter 287)

Mortgage Fraud creates the crime of residential mortgage fraud in the first (class E felony) and second degree (class A misdemeanor). (A.7395; Passed Assembly / S.5251; Codes)

Staging a Motor Vehicle Accident establishes the crime of "staging a motor vehicle accident" in the first (class E felony) and second degree (class D Felony). (A.7989; Passed Assembly)

Women's Equality Act provides several measures to improve the quality of the lives of women in New York State. These measures include:

strengthening the laws on pay equity;
requiring all businesses, regardless of size, to comply with sexual harassment laws;
allowing for the recovery of attorney's fees in sex discrimination cases;
requiring employers to make reasonable accommodations for pregnant women;
clarifying that an individual protected by an order of protection cannot be arrested for violating such order;
prohibiting landlords from discriminating based on domestic violence victim status;
banning employers from discriminating based on whether an employee or prospective employee has children;
studying the effects of source of income discrimination in housing;
permitting a temporary order of protection to be issued through the use of video conferencing if an undue burden prevents a victim from getting to court;
strengthening laws against human traffickers, streamlining access to services for victims and requiring law enforcement personnel to be trained in the identification of trafficking victims; and
amending the public health law to protect access to reproductive health services. (A.8070; Passed Assembly)

Treatment of Juveniles amends the Criminal Procedure Law to allow criminal court judges to treat 16 and 17-year-olds who are charged with prostitution or loitering for the purposes of prostitution as persons in need of supervision ("PINS"). It also provides that if such an individual is convicted of or pleads guilty to such a charge, the judge must substitute a youthful offender adjudication. (A.8071-A / S.5839-A; Chapter 555)

CONSUMER AFFAIRS

Novelty Lighter Ban prohibits the retail sale of novelty lighters, which are frequently equipped with musical sounds and flashing lights and shaped to look like miniature toys, such as automobiles, tractors or popular cartoon characters. The bill would authorize law enforcement agencies to seize banned lighters, impose penalties on offenders and establish a toll-free telephone hotline number to accept reports of possible violations. (A.1011/ S.933-A; Chapter 359)

Utility Consumer Advocate creates the State Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate. Under the bill, an independent advocate would have the authority to appear on behalf of New York consumers in state, federal and judicial regulatory review proceedings that concern rates charged and services provided by public service utilities. (A.6239; Passed Assembly)

Credit Privacy Employment Act prohibits employers from using a credit report as a basis for making decisions to hire, fire, promote or establish conditions of employment. (A.7056; Rules)

Rental Car Collision Coverage Extender continues provisions authorizing car rental companies to provide collision damage waivers to rental car customers. It also requires car rental companies to make consumers aware that their personal automobile insurance policy coverage may also provide collision coverage to rental vehicles. (A.7819 / S.4218; Chapter 82)

CORPORATIONS

Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) Reform creates the Long Island Office of the Department of Public Services to oversee LIPA and its service provider, increasing accountability and transparency. It requires the development of an emergency response plan and provides certain cost savings measures for LIPA. (A.8073/ S.5844; Chapter 173)

Non-Profit Revitalization Act of 2013 clarifies, updates and streamlines the laws relating to not-for-profit (NFP) corporations and reduces unnecessary and outdated burdens on NFPs. The bill enhances governance and oversight to prevent fraud and improve public trust. (A.8072 / S.5845; Chapter 549)

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Hearings requires the MTA to hold hearings in each of the counties affected by fare or major service changes. The hearing requirement does not apply to standard seasonal or holiday adjustments in service. (A.31/ S.776; Veto)

Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) No Fare Program extends LIRR current fare exemption program to police officers employed by the towns in Suffolk County. (A.1457 / S.1855; Chapter 182)

Public Service Commission (PSC) Complaint Process requires PSC to consider complaints regarding the duration of outages when the PSC is being petitioned to open an investigation. The bill also requires the PSC to post an online form with instructions describing how to request an investigation. (A.5556/ S.4925; Chapter 521)

New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Report directs the NYCTA and MTA to report to the Governor and the Legislature on all transportation service reductions and eliminations that have occurred since January 1, 2008. (A.6249/ S.5025; Veto)

Telephone Numbers for Victims of Domestic Violence requires telephone service providers to issue a new telephone number to victims of domestic violence at no cost to the customer. (A.6381/ S.4442; Chapter 202)

Port Authority Noise and Land Use Study requires the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to conduct a noise and land use compatibility study on the authority's land surrounding its airport terminals. (A.7697 / S.3841; Veto)

CORRECTIONS

Terms of Probation Sentences and Pre-Sentence Reports authorizes judicial discretion in determining the length of probationary supervision sentences. Under the bill, a judge would be required to consider an individual's prior criminal history, degree of culpability and the risk level they pose to public safety. For New York City cases, the measure also waives pre-sentence investigations and written reports for persons serving an agreed upon sentence of less than one year. (A.4582-B / S.4664; Chapter 556)

Protecting Victims of Domestic Violence allows employees of state prisons to more effectively monitor individuals in their custody or under their supervision by granting them access to the statewide database of open warrants and orders of protection. (A.7690 / S.4248; Chapter 368)

Ensuring Medical Care for Incarcerated Juveniles authorizes local correctional facilities to provide medical services to inmates under the age of 18 when there is an absence of a consenting parent or guardian. (A.5008-B / S.5426; Chapter 437)

Interstate Compact for Juveniles extends the state's participation in the Interstate Compact for Juveniles which oversees, supervises and coordinates the interstate movement of juvenile delinquents, non-adjudicated juveniles and runaways. (A.4105 / S.3180; Chapter 335)

Substitute Jail Designations authorizes attorneys employed by the State Commission of Correction to issue substitute jail designations when a jail becomes unfit or unsafe for the confinement of inmates. (A.7695 / S.4378; Chapter 133)

Legislative Visits to Correctional Facilities permits certain personnel to accompany legislators on visits to state correctional facilities. (A.7385 / S.4929; Chapter 234)

Board of Parole Chairman's Powers clarifies that the Chairman of the Board of Parole is responsible for the day to day administrative functions and operations of the board. (A.7970 / S.4371-A; Chapter 135)

Certificates of Relief requires the court, as well as the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, to issue a Certificate of Relief when an offender has completed all the necessary requirements in order to help promote the individual's rehabilitation and successful reentry and reintegration. (A.2204; Passed Assembly / S.316; Crime Victims, Crime and Correction)

Preventing HIV requires the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to provide information to inmates upon their release about the availability of free HIV testing, counseling and treatment in the community to which they are being released. (A.3496; Passed Assembly / S.1407; Crime Victims, Crime and Correction)

Educational Opportunities for Inmates requires the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to establish academic programs to prepare all inmates to complete the General Equivalency Diploma (GED) and provides inmates with an opportunity to complete a GED before release on parole, conditional release, post release supervision or presumptive release. (A.4106; Passed Assembly / S.1327; Crime Victims, Crime and Correction)

Authority to Hold Mentally Ill Inmates in Psychiatric Center continues the Central New York Psychiatric Center's authority to provide appropriate treatment to inmates transferred to their facility for a mental health emergency. (A.4583; Passed Assembly / S.5763; Crime Victims, Crime and Correction)

Prevents Discrimination Based on Criminal Record prohibits employers, creditors and licensing agencies from taking any discriminatory action against a person whose criminal charges have been adjourned in contemplation of dismissal. (A.4589-A; Passed Assembly)

Availability of Visitation Rules for Correctional Facilities requires the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to make available on their website the individual rules and restrictions relating to visitation for each of its 60 correctional facilities. (A.4606; Passed Assembly / S.1413; Crime Victims, Crime and Correction)

Employment Discrimination ensures that employers do not automatically disqualify applicants based only on a criminal conviction. (A.4887; Passed the Assembly / S.3357; Rules)

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

START-UP NY fosters job creation and new businesses in the state through START-UP NY (SUNY Tax-free Areas to Revitalize and Transform Upstate NY), a new program that will partner institutions of higher learning with start-ups and new businesses in the state. Under the bill, eligible businesses that are accepted into the program will not pay taxes for 10 years, providing an incentive for companies to choose New York to open a business and to create jobs. The measure also would provide flexibility for businesses under the Excelsior Jobs Program by easing burdensome restrictions while balancing the goal of maximizing job growth opportunities in the state. (A.8113 / S.5903; Chapter 68)

Workforce Training for Manufacturing increases training opportunities for persons wishing to receive advanced manufacturing training through eligible programs approved by the Empire State Development Corporation. (A.7673; Passed Assembly)

Streamlining Health Department and Liquor Authority Regulations assists businesses through the elimination of duplicative regulations by both the Department of Health and the New York State Liquor Authority. The bill would remove a reference to "unintentional acts" in the law in order to reduce minor violations under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law. (A.7166 / S.352; Chapter 224)

Reduce Underage Drinking expands community service requirements for minors using a fake identification card in the purchase of an alcoholic beverage. The bill would increase community service from 30 hours to 60 hours for a second violation, and 30 hours to 90 hours for a third violation. (A.2530-B / S.4101-A; Chapter 257)

Alcoholic Beverage License Exemptions provides exemptions, under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law, to eligible businesses seeking a license for the sale of alcoholic beverages in the absence of community objections. (A.7965-B / S.5739-C; Chapter 241) (A.4834 / S.4534; Chapter 192) (A.7992 / S.5823; Veto)

Alcohol Beverage Manufacturing Productivity Increased creates an exemption from the brand label registration fee for distilled spirits produced in small batches and revises the standards used in approving brand labels for products that are regulated by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law. (A.8046 / S.5832; Chapter 354)

Cider License creates a Farm Cidery License to encourage the growing market of cider production and provide an additional outlet for New York State grown apples. The bill would ensure that the state can successfully compete in the niche market to meet the ever growing demand for cider. This legislation is modeled after the state's Farm Brewing and Farm Winery Laws. (A.8047 / S.5833; Chapter 384)

Pending Alcohol Sales Permits continues temporary permits for the sale of alcohol when an application is pending. The bill would extend to October 12, 2014 the ability of the New York State Liquor Authority (NYSLA) to issue temporary permits outside the City of New York to eligible businesses that have an application to sell alcohol before the NYSLA. (A.7121 / S.4913; Chapter 122)

Marketing New York State Products authorizes licensed persons to sell wines produced within 20 miles of an authorized New York State farm market stand. The bill seeks to increase outlets and revenue sources for the state's wineries. (A.1512 / S.267; Chapter 355)

EDUCATION

Increased School Aid Formula Funding for the SFY 2013-2014 Budget increases General Support for public schools by $992.16 million over the previous school year, including $936.61 million more in funding for formula based aids. This is a 4.71 percent increase over the previous school year. (A.3007-D / S.9057-D; Chapter 57)

Maintain School Aid for Districts Damaged by Hurricane Sandy permits distribution of full state aid to a community stricken by a catastrophic event. The bill holds school districts financially harmless if a school lost up to 10 days during the 2012-13 school year and is unable to be in session for the state mandated 180 days due to a federal declaration of a natural disaster, state disaster emergency or certain other exceptional events. (A.3007-D / S.2607-D; Chapter 57)

Transportable Classroom Units Report requires the chancellor of the New York City school district to compile an inventory, issue a written report and develop recommendations on minimizing the number of transportable classroom units within the school district. (A.3007-D / S.9057-D; Chapter 57)

Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) Plans continues APPR into future school years unless a school district and its collective bargaining units agree to a new or amended APPR plan by September 1, of each school year. The legislation also required that if a district and its collective bargaining units representing classroom teachers and building principals failed to approve an APPR plan by May 29, 2013, the State Education Commissioner (SED) would conduct an arbitration proceeding for such district and its collective bargaining units. Under the bill, the commissioner held a proceeding for the New York City school district and imposed an APPR plan for its teachers on June 1. (A.3007-D / S.9057-D; Chapter 57)

City-wide Council on English Language Learners Membership Expansion (New York City) allows parents of students who had been in an English Language Learners (ELL) program within the past two years to be eligible to serve as voting members on the City-wide Council on English Language Learners (CCELL). Currently, only parents with students presently enrolled in the ELL program are permitted to serve on the CCELL. (A.833 / S.2283; Chapter 103)

Syracuse Joint Schools Construction Board authorizes Phase II of the Syracuse City School District citywide construction projects. The bill would authorize spending of $300 million for up to 20 projects on existing school buildings. (A.4772-C / S.3435-C; Chapter 459)

K-2 Testing prohibits the use of state assessments for students enrolled in kindergarten through second grade, except for diagnostic purposes. The bill limits school districts use of assessments for Annual Professional Performance Reviews of classroom teachers to various district, regional or BOCES developed assessments. As an alternative to an assessment, the bill also would permit the use of school-wide measures of student growth or achievement or a district-wide student growth goal setting process. (A.6593-A; Passed Assembly/ S.4764)

Preschool Special Education Program, 4410 Audits establishes greater oversight of the state's 4410 programs. The bill would require that when a child is placed in a special education program, where the special education provider also conducted the child's evaluation, the school district's Committee on Preschool Education would indicate in writing whether such a placement is appropriate.

The bill also would require the Commissioner of SED to promulgate regulations and establish criteria for executive directors of 4410 programs. In addition, the state Comptroller would be required to audit expenses reported to SED by each 4410 provider by 2018 and authorizes SED to study alternative funding methodologies for the audit program. (A.7302-A / S.5568-A; Chapter 545)

Prohibits the Release of Personally Identifiable Information authorizes parents/legal guardians of students or students over the age of 18 to request that a student's personally identifiable information and/or biometric record not be disclosed to any third party. The bill would prohibit SED and schools receiving the request from disclosing such information except in cases where they are required to do so by law, a court order, subpoena, state or federal audits, and evaluations for health or safety emergencies. (A.7872-A; Passed Assembly)

Study on Carbon Monoxide Detectors in Schools requires SED to study the cost of installing hard-wired carbon monoxide detectors in public school and BOCES buildings and to submit a report of its findings to the Governor and Legislature on or before July 31, 2014. (A.7433-A / S.5489-A; Chapter 543)

Closing Schools on Holidays authorizes boards of education or trustees to determine whether schools should be closed on holidays or religious or cultural days of observance when student attendance is likely to be exceptionally low in order to save educational resources. (A.7756; Passed Assembly)

ELECTION LAW

Greater Voter Participation institutes early voting by establishing a 15-day period for general elections and eight days for primaries and specials. Under the bill, each local Board of Elections (BOE) must designate at least four polling places for voters to cast an early ballot, in addition to a site at the local BOE, for a total of at least five polling places. During the early voting time frame, polls would be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each week day and at 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday. Ballots cast during the early voting period will be counted at the close of the polls on Election Day and included in the election night tally. (A.689-A; Passed Assembly)

2013 Fair Elections Act establishes an optional public financing system for election campaigns for statewide offices, state legislative offices, and constitutional convention delegates. The legislation would create the position of an independent enforcement counsel, appointed by a five-member Fair Elections Board, who would be charged with enforcing all campaign finance laws, rules and regulations. The bill also would require expanded disclosure of political campaign expenditures and communications. (A.4980-C; Passed Assembly / S.4705; Elections)

Absentee Ballot Deadlines requires the Board of Elections to accept applications for absentee ballots up to the day before an election. (A.1880; Passed Assembly)

Pre-registration allows 16 and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote and allows 17-year olds to vote in a primary election if they will be 18 years of age on the day of the general election. (A.2042-A; Passed Assembly / S.1992-A; Elections)

National Popular Vote enacts the agreement among the states to elect the president of the United States by national popular vote. (A.4422; Passed Assembly / S.3149; Elections)

Candidates as Poll Watchers prohibits a candidate from serving as a poll watcher in an election district in which they appear on the ballot. (A.5075; Passed Assembly)

Absentee Ballots for Blind or Visually Impaired requires absentee ballots be printed in Braille and large-print. (A.6195-A; Passed Assembly / S.4135-A; Elections)

Notice Requirement for Village Elections simplifies the notice requirements for party nominating caucuses in village elections while ensuring sufficient notice to village residents. (A.412; Passed Assembly / S.4671; Elections)

Absentee Ballots in Village Elections requires absentee ballot applications for village elections to conform to the absentee ballot requirements of the state Board of Elections. (A.5065; Passed Assembly / S.3553; Elections)

ENERGY

NY Sun Act 2013 directs the Public Service Commission (PSC), in consultation with the New York State Energy Research and Development Administration, to modify the state's existing energy programs in order to expand more effectively the availability of sun generated renewable energy to New Yorkers. The bill requires the PSC to provide up to $150 million in new financial incentives for 10 years to encourage and promote the development and use of solar photovoltaic generating systems throughout the state. (A.5060-D; Passed Assembly)

Indian Point Power Plant Study requires the state Energy Planning Board to conduct a study, by March 31, 2014, on the potential closure of the Indian Point Power Plant and its impact on the environment and the state and local economies. (A.1038; Passed the Assembly / S.1645; Energy)

Green Jobs, Green-New York Program Eligibility Expanded authorizes renewable energy systems, including solar, wind and micro-hydroelectric generating equipment to be eligible for financing under the Green Jobs Green-New York program. (A.1245 / S.1111; Chapter 386)

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

Proper Thermostat Disposal requires manufacturers to establish a collection program for mercury thermostats. The bill would establish collection standards and require manufacturers that fail to meet the standards to implement, with the approval of the Department of Conservation (DEC), a financial collection incentive initiative. It also would prohibit the sale of thermostats unless the manufacturer is listed on DEC's website as complying with the program's requirements and clarify the ban on the comingling of mercury-added thermostats with solid waste or recyclable materials. (A.8084 / S.1676-A; Chapter 550)

Ban on Shark Finning prohibits the possession and sale of certain types of shark fins. The bill would ban the illegal shark fin trade in order to protect sharks from being overfished. (A.1769-B / S.1711-B; Chapter 171)

Ban Eurasian Boar prohibits the possession, sale and release of Eurasian boar, commonly known as feral pigs. The bill would ban this invasive species which is known to carry and transmit several dangerous diseases. In addition, feral pigs have demonstrated destructive behaviors and are a threat to the state's livestock, pets, native plants and wildlife. (A.3767-A / S.5733; Chapter 417)

Hydrofracking Ban establishes a moratorium on certain types of natural gas drilling involving hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as "fracking" until May 15, 2015, while a comprehensive health impact assessment is being conducted. (A.5424-A; Passed Assembly)

Safe Pharmaceutical Disposal Procedures requires DEC to establish a pilot program for the proper disposal of pharmaceutical and over the counter drugs to prevent accidental ingestion and/or environmental harm. (A.5465; Passed Assembly)

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction requires DEC to establish rules and regulations that restrict greenhouse gas emissions and to implement the new emission limits by 2050. Under the bill, current emission levels must be reduced by 80 percent. (A.6327; Passed Assembly)

Environmental Justice establishes a permanent environmental justice advisory group and an interagency coordinating council. (A.3569; Passed Assembly)

Children Chemical Exposure Prevention prohibits the sale of certain children's products containing dangerous chemicals and encourages the use of safer chemical alternatives. (A.6328; Passed Assembly)

Flame Retardant Prohibition bans the use of certain chemical flame retardants on residential upholstered furniture to limit the exposure of households and firefighters to potentially harmful flame retardant chemicals. (A.6557; Passed Assembly)

Climate Change Impact Awareness requires certain permits and state funding programs to include consideration of the impact of climate change and extreme weather events as part of the application process. (A.6558; Passed Assembly)

GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES

Comparable Worth amends the state's Civil Service Law to establish a fair and non-biased wage structure for state employees and employees of political subdivisions of New York regardless of sex, race or national origin. The bill requires the president of the Civil Service Commission to submit to the Legislature and Executive a list of those segregated titles for which wage disparities exist. (A.1729; Passed Assembly) (A.753; Passed Assembly)

Pay Inequality Review directs the president of the state Civil Service Commission to study and publish a report evaluating the existence of wage disparities related to job titles segregated by sex, race, or national origin in public service. (A.881; Passed Assembly)

Bump and Retreat provides bump and retreat rights to classes of workers within civil service who currently do not have such protections. (A.7218; Passed Assembly)

Surviving Spouse Benefit extends a cost-of-living increase of approximately three percent for all line-of-duty widows, widowers or children of deceased members of certain police and fire personnel for fiscal year 2013-14. (A.5576 / S.4257; Chapter 196)

Statutory Rate of Interest establishes the statutory rate of interest used by the New York City Employees' Retirement System, Teachers' Retirement System, Board of Education Retirement System, Police Pension Fund and Fire Department Pension Fund at seven percent per year. The statutory rate is used in determining retirement system liabilities for the purpose of calculating employer contributions. (A.2296/ S.2145; Chapter 3)

Management/Confidential Employees Commission establishes a special commission on compensation for state employees that are designated managerial or confidential. Every four years, the commission would make recommendations regarding the salaries of these employees. (A.246 / S.2953; Veto)

NYC Firefighter Training requires the City of New York to provide all fire officers with a minimum of 40 hours of field training and classroom instruction in the city's fire code. The bill also requires 40 hours of field training and classroom instruction in the building and construction codes and local ordinances. (A.6579 / S.4650; Veto)

World Trade Center Disability adds public employees, who were previously excluded, to the protections of the World Trade Center Disability Law. The bill addresses the injuries or illnesses these employees experienced that would have met the law's definition of a "qualifying condition," as a result of rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations due to the September 11, 2001 attacks. The measure would clarify ambiguous phrasing in the definition of "qualifying condition," and it extends the filing deadline to September 11, 2014. (A.7803-A / S.5759-A; Chapter 489)

Binding Arbitration establishes the Financial Restructuring Board for Local Governments and establishes criteria for "financially eligible municipalities." The bill would allow a public employee organization and a financially eligible municipality to jointly request that the Financial Restructuring Board resolve an impasse instead of a public arbitration panel. It also would extend the current binding arbitration law for three years and establishes a process for such an arbitration panel to make a determination as to whether a municipality is "fiscally eligible." (A.5172 / S.5865/ Chapter 67)

GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS

Constitutional Amendment to Reform the Redistricting Process creates an independent redistricting commission to draw the district lines for the Assembly, Senate and Congress and requires that new district lines be drawn to protect the voting rights of minority populations in each district. The bill also mandates extensive public hearings statewide and the disclosure of all the commission's relevant data and draft plans to ensure the public's involvement in the redistricting process.

In addition, the legislation establishes voting rules in both the commission and in each house of the Legislature to ensure that minority party conferences participate fully in the process of drawing new lines. This measure will go before voters in November 2014 (A.2086 / S.2107; Delivered to Secretary of State)

Limit State Agency Appeals of FOIL Violation Judgments limits the time a state agency would have to file an appeal of a court judgment requiring the agency to disclose the information requested under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) to 30 days. (A.5306, Passed Assembly)

State Land Inventory requires the Office of General Services to create and maintain an inventory of statutory land transfers that contain reverter clauses, to ensure the terms of the land usage agreements are being followed. (A.5172-B / S.5314; Veto #205)

Open and Transparent Access to Public Records enhances access to public records under FOIL. The bill would prevent categorical or blanket denials by a government entity and require such entities to provide specific justification for denying access to records requested under FOIL. The bill would prohibit the denial of disclosing court records for reasons of interference with judicial proceedings if the judge (not the agency) overseeing the case, approves access to the documents requested. It also would clarify that records cannot be withheld solely because they relate in some manner to an investigation or criminal proceeding. (A.5170, Passed Assembly)

Expanding FOIL and Protecting Identity Privacy clarifies that the name of a retiree in a public employees' retirement system is subject to disclosure under FOIL while, at the same time, protecting the names of the beneficiaries. (A.5171; Passed Assembly)

Identity Protection prohibits a person or business from creating forms that require consumers to file unnecessary personal and other identifying information with a government agency that will be available for public inspection. (A.6112; Passed Assembly)

Domestic Violence Workplace Discrimination prohibits employers from discriminating against domestic violence victims and also requires the employers to make accommodations to victims, such as when he or she must be absent from work for a reasonable time. (A.898; Passed Assembly)

Domestic Violence Housing Discrimination establishes that the denial of housing and other accommodations to victims of domestic violence is an unlawful discriminatory practice. (A.5387; Passed Assembly)

Employees with Disabilities allows state employees the right to seek damages in state court for violations of their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. (A.828; Passed Assembly)

Discrimination Against People with Service Animals clarifies that a person engaged in training a dog to aid a person with a disability has the same rights and privileges as a person with a disability. (A.5788; Passed Assembly)

Disaster Safety for Individuals with Disabilities requires counties to maintain voluntary registries of people who may be in need of special assistance in the event of an emergency disaster. (A.6432; Passed Assembly)

Disabled Discrimination Protections clarifies that places are included in the definition of place of public accommodation in the state Executive Law regardless of whether the place is owned or operated by a state or local government or a private individual or entity. This bill would make it clear to individuals with disabilities that it is unlawful for a state or local government entity to discriminate against them under both state and federal law. (A.2070; Passed Assembly)

GENDA protects transgender people under the Human Rights Law by prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity or expression. (A.4226; Passed Assembly)

Immigrant Assistance Services requires providers of immigration assistance services to register with the Department of State and be certified in order to provide immigrant assistance services. (A.158 / S.786-A; veto)

Providing Veteran Businesses Opportunities for Success provides service-connected disabled veteran-owned businesses and veteran-owned businesses increased opportunities in state contracting. (A.5553; Passed Assembly / S.3038; Rules)

Healthy and Green Procurement Act promotes the state's purchase of green products by expanding the definition of "cost" in the procurement process to include raw materials, production, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, use, and any indirect public health and environmental costs. (A.6046; Passed Assembly)

Expanding Diversity and Ethnicity Groupings in State Data Collection requires the demographic information collection process of every state agency, board, or commission, to utilize separate collection categories and tabulations to include all major Asian and Pacific Islander demographic and ethnic groupings. (A.1186-A; Passed Assembly)

Emergency Evacuation Plans for Individual with Disabilities requires every high-rise building owner to establish and maintain an emergency evacuation plan for the building's disabled occupants and visitors. (A.6445; Passed Assembly)

Ensuring Access to Public Meetings for the Hearing Impaired requires organizers of public meetings to provide an interpreter for individuals with hearing impairments when requested and when practical. (A.2826; Passed Assembly)

Tornado Safety Warning System requires the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to issue a report that provides recommendations on the implementation of a tornado warning system. (A.7633 /S.5790; Chapter 379)

Waiving State Copyright Claims for Public Records increases access to government records that are required to be disclosed under the Freedom of Information Law by waiving government copyrights as a reason for not disclosing a document. Under the bill, the waiver would not apply in cases where the records reflect artistic creation or scientific or academic research or if the body intends to sell the record to the public. (A.1700, Passed Assembly)

Requiring Deposits on Plans and Specifications for Contracts authorizes state agencies to waive deposits that are currently paid by bidders who wish to obtain copies of plans and specifications for public works projects. Under the bill, the waiver could be used when such documents are provided electronically or are requested by certified minority and women-owned business enterprise firms. (A.6896; Passed Assembly)

Crime Scene Clean-up Awards for Family Members of Homicide Victims authorizes the Office of Victim Services to make awards for crime scene clean-up. The bill would allow a surviving spouse, child, or stepchild of a homicide victim to be eligible to receive funds to pay for a crime scene clean-up in cases where he or she shared a residence with the victim. (A.6899 / S.4345; Chapter 119)

Relocation Expense Awards permits the Office of Victim Services to include members of a crime victim's household in the category of those eligible for awards to cover relocation expenses. (A.6900 /S.4344; Chapter 261)

Disaster Preparedness Response improves the state's ability to prepare and respond to disasters by authorizing new rules and regulations in order to implement the state Fire and Mobilization and Mutual Aid Plan. The measure would permit non-monetary gifts for use in disaster preparedness and responses, and requires that a list of such donors be maintained in a public database. (A.7971 / S.5787; Chapter 101)

HEALTH

Criminalization of Bath Salts adds other substituted cathinones (bath salts) to Schedule I of the controlled substance schedule in order to conform to the federal Controlled Substances Act. (A.717-A / S.3469; Chapter 341)

Synthetic Marijuana Banned criminalizes the sale and possession of synthetic marijuana and adds several chemical compounds used to manufacture synthetic marijuana to the schedule of controlled substances, making the sale and possession punishable by imprisonment, a fine or both. (A.1451-A; Passed Assembly)

Blind and Visually Impaired Patients requires hospitals to provide blind or visually impaired patients with pre-admissions information and discharge plans as an audio recording on a compact disc or other audio format. (A.746-A; Passed Assembly / S.328-A; Rules)

Certification of Central Service Technicians requires the credentialing of individuals functioning as central service technicians in hospitals and diagnostic and treatment centers. (A.878-A / S.697-A; Chapter 177)

Access to Clotting Protein Deficiency Treatments requires Child Health Plus plans to cover outpatient blood clotting factor products and other treatments and services furnished in connection with the care of hemophilia and other blood clotting protein deficiencies in children. (A.962-A / S.2186-A; Chapter 428)

Safe Disposal of Controlled Substances designates pharmacies as controlled substance safe disposal sites pursuant to regulations provided by the Commissioner of the Department of Health (DOH). (A.1101-B / S.3944-B; Chapter 343)

Smoking at Hospitals and Nursing Homes prohibits smoking outdoors on the grounds of hospitals and nursing homes and within 15 feet of an entrance or exit. Nursing home residents and their guests would be authorized to smoke in designated areas under certain conditions. (A.1115-A / S.1987-A; Chapter 179)

Pain Management and Palliative Care requires physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, and other specialists that prescribe or dispense pain medication, to complete course work or training regarding pain management and palliative care every four years in accordance with regulations developed by DOH in consultation with SED. (A.1124; Passed Assembly / S.2947; Rules)

Hepatitis C Testing requires certain health care practitioners to offer Hepatitis C testing to individuals born between 1945 and 1965 who receive inpatient health services in a hospital or non-emergency, outpatient primary care, diagnostic treatment center or hospital. (A.1286-A / S.2750-A; Chapter 425)

Police Work Dog Confinement allows police departments to apply for a waiver from the mandatory 10 day quarantine period for police dogs who bite a person in the course of their official duty, if such dog has up-to-date records of being vaccinated for rabies. (A.1287-A / S.1993-A; Chapter 163)

Breast Cancer Mapping authorizes funding from the Breast Cancer Research and Education Fund to be used for research initiatives involving the geographic variations and mapping of breast cancer cases in the state. (A.1935-A / S.3768; Chapter 106)

Public Food Service Health Inspections requires DOH to establish a system for grading inspection results for public food service establishments. The measure also requires DOH to post inspection results on the department's website for the most recent three years. (A. 2116-C / S.2375-B; Chapter 529)

Safe Patient Handling creates a statewide Safe Patient Handling Task Force to develop recommendations for policies in hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities. Each facility would then create a Safe Patient Handling committee to develop and implement a facility-appropriate policy. (A.2180-B; Passed Assembly / S.1123-B; Finance)

Pulse Oximetry Screening for Newborns requires caregivers to perform a pulse oximetry screening for critical congenital heart defects in newborns. (A.2316-B / S.270-B; Chapter 184)

Weight Control Education and Outreach authorizes DOH to conduct public education and outreach on the short term and long term adverse health risks to adults and children who become overweight, obese or underweight. (A.2893 / S.2439; Chapter 519)

Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Sports and Health establishes the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Sports and Health within the DOH. The council would disseminate information on fitness, sponsor activities that promote health, physical fitness and sports development, establish recommendations for employee fitness programs and assist in the development of school health and physical education. (A.4818 / S.2316; Veto)

Lupus Education and Prevention creates an education and outreach program on lupus within DOH as well as a Lupus Advisory Council. (A.3141-A; Passed Assembly / S.2777-A; Rules)

Pesticide Use at Camps prohibits the application of pesticides to any playground, turf, athletic or playing fields in children's overnight or summer day camps. (A.4841-C; Passed Assembly / S.5288-C; Rules)

Clinical Laboratory Tests adds optometrists to the list of professionals authorized to perform certain clinical laboratory tests without a clinical laboratory permit provided that such tests are used as part of the overall treatment of their patients. (A.6724-B / S.5539; Chapter 444)

Notification to Patients Relating to Observation Services requires hospitals to notify patients, verbally and in writing, within 24 hours, when they are placed in observation services, which is different than entering a hospital as an admitted patient. The bill also mandates that patients be notified that there may be fiscal implications associated with observation status. (A.7257-A / S.3926-A; Chapter 397)

Electronic Death Registration System authorizes DOH to design, implement and maintain an Electronic Death Registration System. This system would be used for the purposes of collecting, storing, recording, transmitting, amending, correcting and authenticating information, as needed and appropriate, to complete a death registration. (A.7500-A / S.4668-B; Chapter 352)

DOH Oversight of the Transition to Managed Long Term Care ensures that the state provides oversight of the enrollment, quality, adequacy and cost of care as health plans take on many of the roles formerly held by the state under the traditional Medicaid fee for service system of care. (A.7636 / S.3912-A; Chapter 396)

Vision Care in School-Based Health Centers authorizes up to five pilot programs throughout the state to provide vision care services to Medicaid managed care enrollees. Under the bill, such vision services must be provided in school based health centers that are in a partnership with a charitable foundation that agree to provide eye glass frames and lenses free of charge. (A.7342-A / S.5117-A; Chapter 449)

Increasing Access to STD Treatment allows a health care practitioner, per the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to prescribe, dispense, furnish, or otherwise provide prescription antibiotic drugs to the partner of the infected individual for sexually transmitted infections. (A.1919-A; Passed Assembly)

HIGHER EDUCATION

SUNY / CUNY Community College Aid Increased in Budget provides increases in base aid to SUNY and CUNY community colleges by $150 per full-time equivalent (FTE) student. (A.3003-E/ S.2603-E; Chapter 53)

Support to Community College Child Care Centers Increased in Budget restores support to community college Child Care Centers to $1.7 million, a $653,000 increase, at SUNY and $1.4 million, a $54,000 increase at CUNY. (A.3003-E / S.2603-E; Chapter 53)

Support to Higher Education Opportunity Programs in Budget provides a three percent increase in funding for the following opportunity programs: Education Opportunity Program (EOP): $21.7 million, a $632,430 increase; Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge (SEEK) program: $18.9 million, a $551,340 increase; College Discovery: $909,500, a $26,500 increase; Liberty Partnerships: $12.9 million, a $376,260 increase; Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP): $25.0 million, a $728,040 increase; Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP): $11.1 million, a $324,030 increase; and Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP): $8.4 million, a $245,520 increase. (A.3003-E / S.2603-E; Chapter 53)

Support to SUNY Health Science Centers in Budget provides $87.8 million for the three SUNY Hospitals, an increased support of $27.8 million. (A.3000-E / S.2600-E; Chapter 53)

NYS DREAM Act creates the New York Dream Fund Commission and the New York Dream Fund. The bill would allow undocumented students to receive state financial aid and scholarships if they meet certain criteria and authorizes SUNY and CUNY trustees to provide state-aided programs, scholarships or other financial assistance and access to educational opportunity programs to undocumented students. The measure also allows undocumented individuals who have a taxpayer identification number to open a New York 529 family tuition savings account. (A.2597; Passed Assembly/ S.2378; Higher Education)

Licensure of Behavior Analysts and Certification of Behavior Analyst Assistants establishes the practice of applied behavior analysis, provides for the licensure of behavior analysts and establishes the certification of behavior analyst assistants. (A.6963-B / S. 4862-B; Chapter 554)

Licensure of Perfusionists establishes the practice of perfusion as a licensed profession. A perfusionist is a highly trained individual who is responsible for managing a patient's physiological status as a member of a cardiothoracic surgical team. (A.526-B; / S.5353-A; Chapter 409)

Pharmacists Administering Meningitis Vaccine allows licensed pharmacists to administer the meningococcal disease vaccination to individuals with non-patient specific prescriptions from a physician or nurse practitioner. (A.7324-A /S.4881-A; Chapter 274

HOUSING

Mitchell-Lama Bills

Affordable Housing Eligibility expands the criteria for eligibility into Mitchell-Lama housing by allowing households that make 125 percent or less of the relevant threshold (area's median income or eight times the rental cost) to qualify whether or not they have two or more dependents, which the law currently requires. (A.5438 / S.226; Chapter 474)

Mitchell-Lama Income Eligibility raises tenant income limitations from seven times the rental cost to eight times the rental cost, and for individuals with three or more dependents, from eight times the rental cost to nine times the cost in order to establish eligibility for participation in the program. (A.6569; Passed Assembly)

Rent Increases for Mitchell-Lama Buildings requires the owner to demonstrate maintenance of essential services before an approval of rent increases in Mitchell-Lama buildings is granted. (A.454; Passed Assembly / S.207; Housing)

Unique and Peculiar Rent Increases protects tenants in Mitchell-Lama developments that have dissolved and become rent regulated by prohibiting an owner from applying for a special rent increase based on the "unique and peculiar" nature of the change in status. (A.1128; Passed Assembly)

Notice of Buy-Out requires the owner of Mitchell-Lama housing to provide notice to tenants of a buy-out no less than 12 months prior to the date of dissolution. (A.6568; Passed Assembly)

Preserving Affordable Housing encourages housing companies to remain in the Mitchell-Lama program by allowing investors to receive a greater return on their investment than is currently allowed by statute. The measure also grants greater protections for tenants in buildings whose owner withdraws from the program by subjecting their apartments to rent stabilization even if constructed after 1974. (A.6570; Passed Assembly)

Rent Regulation Bills

Vacancy Increase reduces the amount a landlord could increase the rent on a vacated apartment from 20 percent to 7.5 percent. (A.5178; Passed Assembly)

Rent Guidelines Board requires the New York City Council to confirm the mayor's appointees to the New York City Rent Guidelines Board. The bill also expands the types of experience required for an individual to be appointed to a rent guidelines board. (A.104-A; Passed Assembly / S.208-A; Housing)

Codification of Grimm and Cintron requires an owner of a rent-regulated unit to comply with an order issued by the Division of Housing and Community Renewal more than four years prior to an overcharge complaint. The bill would establish that a complaint of fraud must be reviewed by the Division of Housing and Community Renewal regardless of whether the fraud began more than four years prior to the complaint. The measure codifies two important court decisions, known as Grimm and Cintron, that reaffirmed the rights of tenants in cases involving rent overcharging. (A.748; Passed Assembly)

Former Section 8 Buildings extends eviction and rent protections to those tenants living in former federal project-based Section 8 buildings, even if the building had been constructed after 1974. (A.5828; Passed Assembly)

Alternative Hardship Exemption extends from three to six years the length of time a landlord must own the rental property before it is eligible for an alternative hardship rent adjustment. (A.2181; Passed Assembly / S.523; Housing)

Landlord Recovery for Personal Use limits a building owner's ability to recover a rent-regulated apartment for personal use. (A.5177; Passed Assembly)

Automatic Vacancy Increases prevents a rent guidelines board from adjusting rent without legislative authorization when there has not been a vacancy for a period of years. (A.991; Passed Assembly / S.1806; Housing)

Preferential Rent protects tenants with preferential rent agreements from exorbitant rent increases when the lease is renewed. (A.5473; Passed Assembly / S.1775; Housing)

Major Capital Improvements requires authorization of rent surcharges for major capital improvements (MCI) to cease when the cost of the improvement has been recovered. (A.5373; Passed Assembly / S.1493; Housing)

Unreasonable Rent Increases reduces a landlord's MCI rent increase by the total amount of tax abatement benefits received under the J-51 program. (A.5827; Passed Assembly)

Vacancy Decontrol repeals vacancy decontrol laws that permit landlords to remove apartments from regulation by charging rent at or above $2,500 per month. (A.1585; Passed Assembly / S.1167; Housing)

Other significant Housing bills

Disabled Tenants provides current public housing tenants the right to move to a unit on a lower floor upon a vacancy, if the unit is the same size or smaller than the tenant's current unit, and the tenant or another legal occupant has a condition affecting mobility. (A.1742; Passed Assembly / S.2184; Housing)

NYCHA Real Property Public Review Act requires that any disposition of land or buildings by the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) be subject to New York City's Uniform Land Use Review Procedure. (A.6964; Passed Assembly / S.4641; Cities)

Increased Tenant Representation on NYCHA Board expands the size of the NYCHA board from five to seven members, including adding two additional tenant representatives and authorizes a salary for only the chair. The measure sets a new equitable per diem compensation for board members only (not the fulltime chair) to reflect the time they actually perform board-related duties. (A.4874-A / S.3754-B; Chapter 96)

Tenant Approval requires transfers of land owned by a housing authority to be approved by the resident advisory boards that represent tenants who would be impacted by the disposition of any lands, buildings, structures, or facilities owned, leased or otherwise in the control of a housing authority. (A.6595; Passed Assembly)

Real Property Tax Exemption allows certain housing redevelopment companies that have their tax exemptions extended by the local legislative body to continue to pay taxes at the same rate they have done over the life of the project. (A.5900-A / S.3443-A; Chapter 478)

Home Mortgage Assistance Program authorizes the State of New York Mortgage Agency to originate second mortgage loans to help borrowers with down payment and/or closing cost assistance under certain circumstances. The measure also updates the definition of "government sponsored enterprise" to include Ginnie Mae. (A.7833 / S.4399-A; Chapter 151)

Extension of 7-A Housing Program expands the existing 7-A Housing Program, which allows independent administrators to manage and rehabilitate abandoned property, by allowing additional buildings into the program. The bill also clarifies provisions of the program. (A.7834-B / S.5465-A; Chapter 455)

Housing and Economic Development Initiatives authorizes the New York State Housing Finance Agency, State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA) and SONYMA Mortgage Insurance Fund to continue to finance and insure bonds for certain affordable housing projects for two years. (A.7137 / S.4400; Chapter 152)

New York City Housing Development Corporation increases the bonding authority of the New York City Housing Development Corporation from $10.25 billion to $11.25 billion. (A.7405 / S.5082; Chapter 284)

INSURANCE

Hurricane Sandy: Homeowners Bill of Rights requires insurers to provide property owners with an easy-to-understand disclosure notice detailing their coverage in the event of a catastrophic occurrence; how and when to file a claim; their rights if a claim is denied or a settlement offer is insufficient; and where and how to obtain coverage for catastrophic events. In addition, insurers would be required to inform potential policyholders about which flood zone the property to be insured is located in and the availability of insurance coverage against floods and other disasters.

The bill also directs the State Department of Financial Services to create a Consumer's Guide on Insuring against Catastrophic Losses and requires insurance companies to inform property owners where it can be obtained so they can be better educated and understand their rights. (A.2287; Passed Assembly)

Hurricane Sandy: Requiring Prompt Processing of Claims establishes claim and settlement standards for insurance companies to follow when a disaster strikes. The bill tightens the timeframe requirements for insurers to respond to claims resulting from disasters and emergencies.

Under the measure, insurance companies are required to begin investigating settlement claims in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Department of Financial Services and to notify property owners within 15 business days as to whether their claim has been accepted or rejected, including their right to appeal if it has been rejected. If a claim has been accepted, insurers would be required to pay it within three business days. (A.1092; Passed Assembly)

Expands Iran Divestment Act prohibits New York insurance carriers from including in their financial reserves investments in companies that are determined by the Office of General Services to be investing in Iranian energy sector. The objective of the bill is to both discourage investments in Iran's energy sector and help make certain that the investments of domestic insurers are financially sound.

The Iran Divestment Act, sponsored by Speaker Silver and signed into law last year, conforms New York State's procurement practices to authorization granted by the federal government. It allows states to use their procurement powers towards halting the development of nuclear weapons in Iran. (A.6855 / S.5083; Chapter 481)

Continuing Health Insurance for Freelancers allows the Freelancers Union, subject to the approval of the Department of Financial Services, to establish its own health insurance plan in order to continue providing health insurance coverage to its members, their spouses, and their dependents through December 31, 2014. The Freelancers would be required to include in its plan the essential health benefits required under the Federal Affordable Care Act, create an appeals process if the plan denies a claim, and maintain statutory reserve requirements. (A.6519-A / S.4526-B; Chapter 203)

Reducing Disruption when Health Insurers Discontinue Policies reduces the disruption to both consumers and the health insurance market when an insurer discontinues a group of policies. The bill would require these insurers to submit for approval a market withdrawal plan to the Department of Financial Services and to discontinue the policies on their renewal dates. (A.7295; Passed Assembly / S.4328; Rules)

JUDICIARY

Medical Insurer Recoveries amends the General Obligation Law to clarify that medical insurers and HMOs are prohibited from double-recovering from plaintiffs or defendants in litigation for monies that they have expended, and for which they have already collected premiums. (A.7828-A / S.5715; Chapter 516)

Consumer Credit Fairness Act addresses abusive debt collection practices with provisions that require court clerks to mail to defendants pending consumer credit actions and mandate that court filings include more information about the debt targeted in a lawsuit. The bill also would lower the statute of limitations for consumer credit transactions from six years to three. (A.2678; Passed Assembly)

Electronic Voting in Assembly and Senate amends the constitution to establish a "paperless legislature" so members of the state Legislature can vote on bills electronically. (A.7868 / S.4417; Delivered to the Secretary of State)

Hydrofracking Leases requires leases for oil, gas and mineral rights to contain the signatures of all owners of the real property. Under current law, persons who own a small percentage of the property can lease the entire parcel without the consent of other owners. (A.841; Passed Assembly)

Frivolous Lawsuits Against Public Participation requires the costs and attorney fees resulting from a frivolous lawsuit involving public petition and participation to be reimbursed. (A.856; Passed Assembly)

Uniform Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act establishes uniform procedures for interstate adult guardianship cases. (A.857 / S.2534; Chapter 427)

Age Limit for Judges amends the state constitution to permit Supreme Court justices and Court of Appeals judges to serve until 80 years of age. The bill will go before voters in November. (A.4395 / S.886-A; Final Passage, Delivered to the Secretary of State)

Wrongful Foreclosures requires foreclosure plaintiffs to file a certificate of merit that ensures that the plaintiff has the legal right to bring a foreclosure claim before the court. The legislation also would prevent the plaintiff from evading existing laws requiring court-supervised mandatory settlement conferences. (A.5582-A / S.4530; Chapter 306)

Orders of Protection protects domestic violence victims from being charged with or prosecuted for violating orders of protection issued on their behalf. (A.6547-B / S.5605; Chapter 480)

Order of Protection Interpreters helps non-English speaking parties understand the essential terms of an order of protection by requiring the court to state the terms on the record and having them interpreted when a court appointed interpreter is present. (A.1084; Passed Assembly)

City Court Judges establishes and increases resources for city courts to address the need for additional full and part time judges, depending on caseloads and demographics. (A.6552-B / S.4043-B; Chapter 548)

Sexual Assault establishes a rebuttable presumption that custody to or visitation with certain convicted sexual offenders is not in the child's best interest when the child was conceived as a result of the sexual offense. (A.7188-A / S.5069-A; Chapter 371)

Acknowledgment of Paternity extends the time period for minors to apply to rescind their paternity acknowledgement in court. (A.7375 / S.4644-C; Chapter 402)

Domestic Abuse recognizes economic abuse as a form of domestic abuse and permits an order of protection to be granted on that basis. (A.7400 / S.5821; Chapter 526)

Increased Access to Federal Benefits permits children artificially conceived after the death of a parent born to have access to federal survivor's benefits including veteran's benefits. (A.7461; Passed Assembly / S.4779-A; Judiciary)

Child Protective Services Court Proceedings facilitates placement of abused and neglected children with familial resources as an alternative to stranger foster care placement by providing for greater notice to and clear avenues for participation by parents, legal guardians and relatives in a child protective proceeding where these adults are not charged with the underlying child abuse or neglect. (A.7623; Passed Assembly / S.5203; Rules)

Reporting on Foreclosures directs county clerks to update the Office of Court Administration, on a quarterly basis, regarding any surplus moneys resulting from the sales of foreclosed properties. (A.7953-A; Passed Assembly / S.5750; Rules)

Expediting Sandy-related Litigation allows storm-devastated home and business owners an accelerated path in litigation against their insurers to enforce their policy's contractual rights. (A.5570; Passed Assembly)

LABOR

Raise the Wage to $9 increases the current hourly minimum wage of $7.25 to $8.00 on December 31, 2013. Under the bill, the minimum wage will be raised again to $8.75 in 2014 and to $9.00 an hour in 2015. (A.3007 / S.2607; Chapter 57)

New York State Fair Pay Act makes it an unlawful employment practice for an employer to discriminate between employees on the basis of sex, race and/or national origin by paying different wages. (A.5958; Passed Assembly)

Treatment for Injured Workers authorizes certified physical therapist assistants to provide treatment and care to injured workers under the Workers Compensation Law. (A.7293; Passed Assembly)

Prevailing Wages for Building Service Workers expands prevailing wage protections to workers employed to provide building service work for the benefit of public utilities. (A.7482; Passed Assembly)

Leaves of Absence for Volunteer Emergency Service Responders authorizes leaves of absence for volunteer emergency service responders from their places of employment during a declared state of emergency. The bill also protects these responders from employer retaliation that is related to such absences. (A.4099 / S.1604 Veto)

Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act deems farm laborers "employees" under the New York State Labor Relations Act. The bill would grant collective bargaining rights, overtime, a day of rest and other worker rights to farm workers. Under the legislation, workers' compensation, disability, and unemployment benefits would also be available to farm workers. (A.1792-A; Passed Assembly)

Increased Protections for Independent Contractors requires independent contractors to be compensated for their work within a reasonable amount of time, in accordance with a written agreement, and afford them the same compensation guarantees as traditional employees. (A.5472; Passed Assembly)

Expand Whistleblower Protections prevents retaliation against employees who disclose an illegal business activity while also ensuring that former employees are protected from retaliatory actions. The bill would increase the effectiveness of the state's current whistleblower laws. (A.5696-A; Passed Assembly)

Protects Child Performers includes child performers who are employed as runway or print models under the protections afforded to other minors that are employed as actors, actresses, dancers, musicians, comedians, singers, stunt persons or other performers. (A.7787 / S.5486; Chapter 411)

Adjusts New York Youth Tax Credit reduces the number of hours of part-time work needed by certain employees in order for employers to qualify for the New York Youth Works tax credit from 20 to 10 hours. The program helps provide youth an opportunity to gain job skills and access to careers at an early age while also securing a qualified workforce for New York. (A.7928-A / S.4762-A; Chapter 536)

Unemployment Benefit Raised increases the current maximum unemployment weekly benefit from $405 to $420 in 2014. This will be part of a schedule established to provide regular increases until the benefit reaches $450 in 2018. Thereafter, the maximum benefit will be based on a percentage of the state's average weekly wage beginning at 36 percent in 2019 and incrementally adjusted until it reaches 50 percent in 2026. (A.3007-D / S.2607-D; Chapter 57)

Workers' Compensation Benefit Increase provides worker protections that would raise the minimum worker compensation benefit payment from the Workers' Compensation Fund from $100 to $150 and continues deposits into the Aggregate Trust Fund to ensure that claimants receive benefits or payments due as a result of sustaining an on the job injury. (A.3007-D / S.2607-D; Chapter 57)

LIBRARIES

Library Card Information requires school districts outside of New York City to distribute informational materials about the local public library to students enrolled in the school district upon the request of the local public library. (A.3560-A / S.2018-A; Chapter 247)

Conservation/Preservation Grant Program eliminates the conservation/preservation grant program for the Big Eleven research libraries and redistributes the funding to increase the statutory amount available for these research libraries through the formulas in Education Law. (A.4664-B / S.2586-B; Chapter 362)

Electronic Books authorizes and directs the Commissioner of SED to study and develop a comprehensive plan for increasing access to and lending of electronic books in public libraries and library systems across the state. (A.7615; Passed Assembly)

Economic Impact Study of Public Libraries requires the Empire State Development Corporation, in consultation with the State Education Department, to conduct a study on the economic impact of public libraries and public library systems in the state at least once every five years beginning on January 1, 2015. (A.7666-A; Passed Assembly)

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

Paperless Local Governments permits the legislation of local governing bodies to "age" electronically on the desks of its members. The bill will help local governments keep pace with technology, use less paper and reduce operational costs. (A.472 / S.4085; Chapter 426)

Sewage Facility Debt Limit Exemption continues the ability of counties, cities, towns and villages to exclude, from their municipal constitutional debt limit, any indebtedness related to sewage facilities until 2024. This measure will go before voters in November. (A.3632 / S.4065; Final Passage, Delivered to the Secretary of State)

Municipal Entities Subject to Comptroller Audit provides explicit authority to the Office of State Comptroller to audit entities created by and under the control of another municipal entity, such as Local Development Corporations (LDCs). (A.3633; Passed Assembly)

"Piggy Back" Authorization expands the piggybacking authorization enacted last year to clarify that municipalities may piggyback onto contracts that have been awarded to the lowest responsible bidder or awarded based on best value. Under the bill, a municipality would be able to take advantage of the cost savings available in group purchases by participating in contracts let by other municipalities. This bill also clarifies which federal purchasing programs local governments can take advantage of involving piggybacking. (A.5119-A / S.3766-A; Chapter 497)

Re-Payment of Inter-Fund Advances for Sandy extends the repayment time of the inter-fund advances that were made to municipalities for expenses related to Sandy. (A.5549 / S.4725; Chapter 421)

Reserve Fund Transfer for Sandy Costs allows municipalities impacted by Sandy to transfer money between reserve funds for expenses related to rebuilding and recovery. Under the bill, such transfers must be reimbursed to the original reserve fund within five years. (A.5550 / S.4726; Chapter 422)

Small Business Loan Fee Exemptions in Counties Hit by Sandy authorizes counties in the Hurricane Sandy federal disaster area to grant exemptions for filing fees related to federal Small Business Administration Disaster Loans. (A.6725-A /S.4554-A; Chapter 350)

IDA Funding Exemption for Retail permits industrial development agency (IDA) funding to be used for certain retail projects in areas affected by disaster emergencies. The bill provides an exemption to the ban, enacted in this year's budget, which prohibits the use IDA funds for retail business ventures. Under the bill, the exemption would apply to counties that have had an Executive emergency declaration, such as Hurricane Sandy, and where the project involves property that was damaged or was devastated economically by the disaster. (A.8025 / S.5776; Veto)

MENTAL HEALTH

Direct Care Employee Credentialing Program creates a three year pilot program for the credentialing of direct care support staff at state-operated and voluntary providers licensed or certified by the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). (A.7313-A / S.5102-A; Veto)

Restoration of $90 million for OPWDD Non-Profit Agencies directs the Commissioner of OPWDD and the Director of the Division of Budget to restore $90 million in cuts to not-for-profits serving individuals with developmental disabilities using federal funding and other cost-saving actions. These funding restorations will be based on recommendations made by a workgroup comprised of government officials, mental health care providers and advocates of people with developmental disabilities. (A.6692-C / S.4777-D; Chapter 349)

Expansion of Jonathan's Law allows information obtained through Jonathan's Law to be further disseminated to a health care provider, a behavioral health care provider, law enforcement (if it is believed that a crime has been committed) or the recipient's attorney. The measure also requires that a cover letter describing who the records can be shared with accompany any records that are released. (A.4100 / S.3802; Chapter 395)

Legal Services for Nursing Home Residents with Mental Illness authorizes Mental Hygiene Legal Services to provide legal assistance to patients or residents who have a serious mental illness, have been discharged directly to a nursing home from a mental hygiene facility and currently receive mental health services. (A.190; Passed Assembly / S.801; Finance)

Advocacy for Inmates with Mental Illness provides attorneys representing inmates with mental illness access to inmates' mental health records, such as testimony from an Office of Mental Health clinician, for purposes of administrative hearings related to prison disciplinary charges in state correctional facilities. (A.6531; Passed Assembly)

Developmental Disabilities Ombudsman Program establishes an advocacy program for individuals with developmental disabilities to ensure the protection of their rights and provide assistance navigating the managed care system. (A.6962-A; Passed Assembly / S.4885-A; Finance)

RACING AND WAGERING

Racetrack and OTB Rebate Programs permits thoroughbred and harness racetracks as well as regional off-track betting corporations (OTB) to offer long term rebates and fan appreciation benefits. (A.2329-A / S.2443-A; Chapter 472)

Qualifications for NYS Gaming Commission requires that experience in compulsive gambling be taken into consideration when appointing the members of the New York State Gaming Commission in order to reduce the risks associated with problem gambling. (A.2268; Passed the Assembly)

New York Bred Only Races allows any association or corporation licensed to conduct harness horse race meetings at which pari-mutuel betting is permitted to run races which are limited to New York bred horses. (A.7617-A; Passed the Assembly / S.2901; Rules)

Casino Gambling Constitutional Amendment amends the state constitution to authorize no more than seven non-Indian gaming facilities in New York State. This measure will go before voters in November. (A.8068 / S.5898; Final Passage, Delivered to the Secretary of State)

Upstate New York Gaming Economic Development Act authorizes up to four casino licenses in three regions with no more than two licenses being issued for a region. It also establishes new crimes regarding gaming, authorizes 1,000 video lottery terminals at Nassau and Suffolk OTBs, regulates out-of-state advance deposit wagering entities, and ratifies the Oneida Settlement Agreement. (A.8101 / S.5883; Chapter 174)

REAL PROPERTY TAXATION

Tax Rebate for Buildings Hit by Sandy authorizes New York City to provide a rebate of real property taxes to the owners of residential and commercial properties that were red-tagged by the Department of Buildings as a result of the effects of Hurricane Sandy. The amount of the rebate is equal to two-thirds of the portion of the annual tax on an eligible real property that is attributable to the assessed valuation of the improvements on the property. (A.7995 / S.3702-B; Chapter 250)

Superstorm Sandy Assessment Relief Act authorizes eligible municipalities to provide assessment relief for property which was catastrophically damaged by Superstorm Sandy.

The bill would permit municipalities, who opt into the program, to reassess properties damaged by the storm on the 2012 assessment roll based upon their post-storm condition, even though the damage occurred after the 2012 taxable status date. It also would authorize municipalities to bond for 10 years to cover the cost of this relief program. (A.8075 / S.4859; Chapter 424)

Yogurt Industry Waste Disposal permits anaerobic digester equipment to be eligible for the agriculture storage property tax exemption. The legislation would encourage the installation and continued use of digesters on farms to aid in the disposal of agriculture waste, such as whey, a byproduct of the yogurt industry. Under the bill, farmers will receive a real property tax break for using digesters, which dispose of waste in an environmentally friendly way and also generate renewable electricity. Digesters allow farmers to produce electricity that can be used on the farm and made available to other utility consumers through net-metering. (A.7982 / S.4770-A; Chapter 272)

SMALL BUSINESS

Minority and Women Business Enterprises (MWBEs) allows advocates to act as a liaison for an MWBE company to ensure MWBEs have access to technical, managerial, financial and other support. (A.1986; Passed Assembly)

Entrepreneurship Program streamlines and updates the current Entrepreneurship Assistance Centers program in order to more effectively teach the principles of entrepreneurship to minority group members, women, individuals with a disability and dislocated workers. Under the bill, the program also would provide instruction about best business practices and information on the availability of other forms of entrepreneurship support. (A.2585; Passed Assembly)

Small Businesses and MWBEs Support Directory creates an online directory of technical and financial assistance and other relevant programs to support small, minority and women owned business. (A.4169; Passed Assembly)

Innovative Energy and Environmental Technology Grants provides capital grants of up to $100,000 to small businesses to encourage and support early stage innovative energy and environmental technology company development in the state. The bill also authorizes the Urban Development Corporation, in consultation with the New York State Energy Research Development Authority and DEC, to develop criteria to be used in evaluating grant applications. (A.5536-A; Passed Assembly)

Small Business and Energy Advocacy Program improves the state's business climate by establishing a program of small business energy assistance and advocacy in order to assist small businesses in accessing energy conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy programs that are available through public and private sources. (A.6640-A; Passed Assembly)

Small Business Crime Prevention Establishes the Small Business Crime Prevention Services Program to provide small businesses with information on strategies, best practices and training programs that can help prevent crimes that are specific to small businesses. The program would address crimes such as assault, arson, other violent felony offenses, robbery, burglary, theft, identity theft, fraud and property damage. (A.6931; Passed Assembly)

Small Business Report requires the Division of Small Business to compile an annual report on the status of small and micro businesses in the state. Under the bill, such a report would include information on the impact of state and local regulations and the analysis of those regulations. (A.7483 / S.5669; Chapter 451)

SOCIAL SERVICES

OTDA Reporting on Homelessness Prevention Efforts requires the Commissioner of the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to submit to the Governor and Legislature a detailed report of the efforts of each local social services district to identify, prevent and address homelessness. (A.1744; Passed Assembly)

Four Year College to Count as Public Assistance Work Requirement allows participation in a four year post-secondary education program to count as work participation for purposes of an individual's public assistance employment requirement. This bill also would permit a resource exemption of $1,400 in a separate bank account to be used for four year post-secondary education. (A.3473; Passed Assembly / S.1419; Social Services)

Income and Resource Exemptions for Public Assistance Eligibility extends for two years (until 2015) the current exemptions for income and resources when calculating an individual's eligibility for public assistance. (A.6959 / S.5066; Chapter 282)

Child Support Enforcement Methods extends for two years, until 2015, the provision of law that authorizes the state to suspend the driver's license of an individual who is delinquent in child support payments. (A.6960 / S.4246; Chapter 87)

TOURISM, PARKS, ARTS, AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT

Boating Safety Certificate requires individuals born on or after May 1995 to hold a Boater Safety Certificate in order to operate a mechanically powered watercraft. The bill would expand the current law, which requires anyone under the age of 18 to hold a Boater Safety Certificate in order to lawfully operate a vessel that is powered by a motor. The bill phases in the boater safety certification requirement so that eventually all vessels will be operated by certified boaters in order to protect the state's waterways from reckless and unsafe boaters. (A.3471-A / S.1639-A; Chapter 361)

French and Indian War Commemoration extends the authorization for the French and Indian War 250th Anniversary Commemoration Commission. Under the bill, the commission would be expanded until 2014 in order to give counties, cities, towns and villages additional time to fully commemorate the state's role in this historic event. (A.5625; Passed Assembly)

Ticket Sales Law Extender extends the state's current law governing the sale of tickets to places of entertainment until May 14, 2014. (A.6415 / S.4319; Chapter 28)

Snow Mobile Noise Emissions requires all snow mobiles to be operated with mufflers that do not exceed certain noise levels. (A.2734-B / S.3335-B; Chapter 473)

TRANSPORTATION

Ignition Interlock Requirements strengthens ignition interlock requirements, including expanding the minimum time that ignition interlock devices must be installed on vehicles driven by motorists convicted of driving under the influence. Under the bill, this time period could be reduced if an interlock device is actually installed for at least six months. In addition, the measure makes it a class E felony to drive with a conditional license while intoxicated or impaired. (A.2285-A / S.5859; Chapter 169)

Distracted Driving Violations suspends the drivers' licenses of probationary and young drivers who are convicted of using hand-held mobile phones or personal electronic devices while driving. (A.7739 /S.5656; Chapter 91)

No U-Turns Near Schools prohibits motorists from making U-turns near school buildings, entrances and exits. (A.6647-A /S.3528-A; Chapter 249)

Speed Cameras in New York City authorizes the City of New York to establish a five-year demonstration program for the use of speed cameras in up to 20 school speed zones. (A.4327-A / S.4459-A; Chapter 189)

School Bus Safety establishes a "school bus motorist education program" to educate motorists about the dangers of passing stopped school buses in order to reduce the number of violations and promote school bus passenger safety. (A.99; Passed Assembly)

Accident Reports requires the Department of Motor Vehicles, when processing accident reports, to give priority to reports involving serious physical injury or death. This will assist in the identification of accident locations that are in need of improvement. (A.2206; Passed Assembly)

Seat Belts in Rear Seats prohibits any person from riding in the rear seat of a motor vehicle unless they are properly restrained by a seat belt. (A.6657; Passed Assembly)

Helmets for Horse Riders increases the age of persons required to wear helmets when riding horses on public highways to include 14, 15, 16 and 17-year-olds and increases the penalty for violations to a maximum $250 fine. (A.1890 /S.2007; Chapter 246)

VETERANS AFFAIRS

Health Information Portals requires the Division of Veterans' Affairs to maintain mental health, substance abuse and physical disabilities information on its website. (A.587 / S.2673; Chapter 48)

Instructional Program for American Military History requires the Director of the Division of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) in consultation with the Director of the NYS Military Museum and Veterans Resource Center, to establish a veteran speaker education program. The DVA would develop and circulate an informational pamphlet with a general overview of the veteran speaker education program to school districts. (A.1601-A / S.5030; Chapter 183)

Real Property Owned by Veterans Organizations authorizes municipalities to extend the real property exemption for real estate owned by veterans' organizations to portions of the property which are used by the general public for weddings, receptions, dinners, and dances. This measure would allow municipalities to grant an exemption on this portion by local law after a public hearing. (A.2283 / S.936; Chapter 243)

Military Occupations Correlation requires the Division of Veterans' Affairs to promote and ensure access to an Internet connection that will help translate veteran military occupations and skills to civilian jobs. (A.4168 / S.4402; Chapter 263)

State Cold War Certificate authorizes the state to present the men and women who served honorably during the Cold War with a State Cold War Certificate to recognize their contributions. (A.5890 / S.2574; Chapter 477)

Accreditation of Directors of County and City Veterans' Service Agencies requires directors of county and city veterans' service agencies to become accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Under the bill, any director of a county or city veterans' service agency hired after the effective date of this measure would have 18 months to take all necessary steps to become accredited. (A.6221-C / S.5825; Chapter 198)

Veterans Employment Act requires the New York State Department of Civil Service to develop a list of qualified veterans to fill temporary staffing needs of state agencies. (A.7761 / S.5504-A; Chapter 557)

Expansion of the Alternative Veterans' Tax Exemption expands the veterans' alternative tax exemption so that it could apply to taxes levied by local school districts. The legislation would require districts to conduct a public hearing regarding the tax exemption, and after the hearing the governing body of the school district could pass a resolution to provide the exemption. Under the bill, eligible veterans living within the school district that passed the resolution would have the same tax exemptions from their school districts as they receive from their local tax district. (A.565 / S.1199; Chapter 518)

Expansion of Services Available to Veterans requires all subdivisions of the state to inquire, when dealing with a client or customer, whether he or she or a family member is a veteran and then to inform veterans and their families of the services and opportunities made available by the Division of Veterans' Affairs. Any new forms created after the effective date of this act would contain the following questions: "Have you served in the United States Armed Forces?" and "Has someone in your family served in the United States Military?"(A.3348; Passed Assembly)

Military Sexual Trauma requires the Director of the Division of Veterans' Affairs to develop plans for assistance and benefits for veterans who experienced military sexual trauma while on active duty or during military training. (A.7086; Passed Assembly)

Interagency Council for Service-Disabled Veterans establishes the NYS Interagency Council for Service-Disabled Veterans to identify the needs of service-disabled veterans. The measure also defines the powers and responsibilities of the council and requires an annual report. (A.6213-A; Passed Assembly)

Disabled Veterans Civil Service Credit amends the state constitution to allow a person who has received an appointment through the civil service system to be entitled to additional credit if the individual was classified as a veteran with disabilities after the initial appointment or promotion. This measure will go before voters in November. (A.4359 / S.1562; Final Passage, Delivered to the Secretary of State)

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