November 29, 2024

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! This year as always I am thankful for friends, family and community. Whether celebrating together or lifting each other up during difficult times, our community consistently demonstrates remarkable kindness and commitment. I'm grateful for the teachers who inspire our students, the first responders who stand ready to keep us safe, the small business owners who are the economic heartbeat of our community, and every resident who contributes to our shared community.

As the year comes to a close, I’m hard at work to ensure that the 41 bills I passed during the 2024 legislative session are signed into law. I’m also happy to share that so far 20 of my bills have been signed into law by Governor Hochul - several of which were signed just this week. These include laws to deter crime and increase healthcare access. One of the best ways I can serve you is by passing impactful legislation.

Please follow me on my Assembly Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts or visit my Assembly website to stay updated on my legislative happenings. If there is anything you have questions about, or that my office can assist you with, please email me at paulina@nyassembly.gov or call (914) 723-1115.

Sincerely,
Amy Paulin
NYS Assembly 88th District

Nu-Way Cleaners Honored as a Historic Business

Congratulations Nu-Way Cleaners and Tailors on being honored as part of the New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry. I was proud to nominate you for the registry. As a local White Plains business serving the community in the exemplary way you have for over 100 years, this honor is well-deserved!

HHREC Honors Those Standing Up to Anti-Semitism and Hate

I was pleased to attend the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center’s event celebrating their important work for our community and recognizing honorees R. Derek Black and Elisha Wiesel. The NYS Assembly is proud to have secured over $200,000 in NYS funding to support HHREC’s work. Thank you HHREC for teaching the lessons of the Holocaust and that all people have a right to be treated with dignity and respect.

Pelham Art Center Studio Night Shines

Pelham Art Center’s Studio Cafe 90s Party was a shining moment for the Center, celebrating with music, dancing, and art. Thank you Pelham Art Center for all you do for the arts and our community!

New Rochelle NAACP Dinner Celebrates Local Leaders

I proudly joined the New Rochelle Branch of the NAACP for their Freedom Fund Dinner, celebrating the efforts of local leaders in the fight for civil rights in our community. The New Rochelle branch was founded in 1923, just 14 years after the National Association was created and focuses on education, housing, and political leadership. The event was a testament to the enduring legacy of the NAACP and also a reminder of the work that remains to be done in the ongoing fight for freedom and equality for all.

Veterans Day

On Veterans Day we honor the bravery and sacrifice of those who have served in our armed forces to defend our country and freedoms. Thank you Scarsdale Mayor Arest and the Village of Scarsdale Board of Trustees, Scarsdale American Legion, the Edgemont/Scarsdale Girl Scouts, Scarsdale Boy Scouts Troop 4, the Scarsdale Fire Department, Scarsdale Police Department, and Scarsdale residents for this expression of gratitude to our veterans.

Kristallnacht Anniversary Commemoration

I spent a meaningful and somber afternoon at the Holocaust Memorial in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where we commemorated the anniversary of Kristallnacht, and honored the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust.

Pamplemousse Project Grants to Charitable Organizations

Congratulations to The Pamplemousse Project’s latest grant recipients, 914Cares, Yes She Can, and YWCA White Plains & Central Westchester. It was wonderful to celebrate the achievements of these amazing organizations, as well as The Pamplemousse Project – which donates 100% of its profits back to charitable organizations such as these which support our community.

FOUR BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW!

II’m excited to announce that just this week four more of my bills were signed into law! This now brings my 2024 total to 20 bills signed into law out of the 41 bills I authored and passed in the Assembly and Senate.

Chapter 543 of 2024 mandates that cell phone carriers limit or disable service to stolen cell phones. Any robbery has the potential to turn into something violent. We need to keep our officers and residents safe, and this new law is a commonsense step in that direction. If robbers know they won’t be able to use the phones they steal, there’s no reason to steal them.

Ch. 520 of 2024 increases the number of physician assistants (PAs) that can be supervised by a physician. It further provides that PAs may prescribe and order non-patient specific orders for certain immunizations and treatments and write medical orders for durable medical equipment. During the pandemic, under the Governor’s executive orders, PAs were given greater latitude to treat patients. Patients, hospitals and clinics throughout New York benefitted from the increased access to care during that time. By modernizing practice guidelines for PAs, this law will increase the number of providers available to treat patients, expanding access to quality care across the State.

Ch. 476 of 2024 expands access to radiology services by authorizing the intravenous administration of contrast media by a radiographer when done under the direct supervision of a licensed physician, certified nurse practitioner, or licensed physician assistant. By allowing physician assistants and nurse practitioners to supervise the administration of IV contrast media, we’re cutting down unnecessary delays in care for procedures like MRIs and CT scans. This will allow radiologic technologists to work more efficiently, give New Yorkers high quality and timely care, and allow physicians to focus on critical patient care. This is a commonsense way to address the healthcare workforce shortage and increase healthcare access.

Ch. 474 of 2024 provides Medicaid coverage for remote ultrasound scans and remote fetal non-stress tests. While NYS Medicaid provides coverage for telemedicine services, coverage of remote ultrasound scans and remote fetal non-stress tests has been ambiguous. This new law clarifies and codifies that remote ultrasound scans and remote fetal non-stress tests are fully covered by Medicaid. We know how important prenatal care is to positive maternal health outcomes. We also know how important telemedicine is for those who live in healthcare deserts or who struggle with cost barriers. This new law will help take away those barriers, enhance access to care, and ultimately improve health outcomes for New York’s mothers and babies.

• City & State: Paulin ranked number 5 in 2024 Hudson Valley Power 100
• PoliticsNY: Paulin included in Power Players in Health Care list
• News10 ABC, Rockland News & Mid Hudson News: Paulin bill fights for requiring firearm seizure in domestic violence cases
• Governor’s Office: Paulin supports regulations to lower drug costs
• Governor's Office: Paulin’s legislation to help lower maternal mortality rate is signed into law
• SUNY News: Paulin supports SUNY nursing fellowship education program

Westchester County’s Annual Holiday Gift Drive

The Drive runs through Monday, December 16, collecting gifts and monetary donations to provide a brighter holiday for more than 1,000 children in Westchester who are in foster care, and receiving other protective and preventive social services.

There are six drop box locations throughout Westchester, accessible during business hours, where new, unwrapped toys, appropriate for newborns through 21-year-olds can be donated. (Please, no stuffed animals or violent toys). Learn more here.

Quit Smoking

Free workshops available.

Arts Alive 2025 Applications Now Open!

ArtsWestchester grants reach every part of the County and make possible an extraordinary array of cultural activities. These grants help cultural organizations grow and support individual artists in the creation of new work. Applications are due Tuesday, December 17. Learn more.

Westchester's Winter Wonderland

Westchester's Winter Wonderland Drive-thru Holiday Light Extravaganza returns to Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla, offering an unforgettable and affordable holiday experience for the whole family! Open most days from Saturday, November 23, through Tuesday, December 31, the event features dazzling light displays, including a 125-foot pixel wall, the enchanting Ice Queen, and stories brought to life via the OtoCast App. Tickets are $37 per car, and reservations are required. Special themed nights like Taylor ‘Swiftie’ Night on Nov. 27 and Princess Night on Dec. 4 add to the magic. For tickets and details, visit www.wwinterwonderland.com.

FAFSA is Live!

FAFSA® season is officially here! The 2025–26 FAFSA form is now live. Head to fafsa.gov to start your form today.

Meet Suzu! She's available for adoption at the Humane Society of Westchester.

Suzu is a 10-month-old dog with lots of love to give. She's athletic, friendly, funny, playful, curious and intelligent, good with other dogs, and she's looking for a forever home where she can be the queen of the castle. Suzu is a friendly girl who loves meeting new people. She has a lot of energy and would do best in an active home that can give her lots of exercise and playtime. She's an intelligent girl who is always curious about the world around her. If you're looking for a fun, furry and funny friend, come and meet Suzu!

If you'd like to set up an appointment to meet Suzu, please visit the Humane Society of Westchester website to complete an adoption application https://humanesocietyofwestchester.org/adopt-a-dog/. Once your application is submitted, please call the shelter at 914-632-2925 to meet Suzu!