Albany, NY – Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon (D-119) is proud to announce a host of co-sponsored legislative achievements have passed in the Assembly Chamber. Together, the legislative package seeks to expand upon the mental health services available to correctional officers and emergency dispatchers, strengthen the State’s public safety laws related to drone use, improve the State’s ability to investigate crimes online, expand both access to and knowledge of the State’s veterans’ services, provide educational home visiting outreach programs to pregnant and parenting families, and to provide licensing deadline extensions to child care providers.

“These initiatives reflect our commitment to meeting our residents where they are, and providing them the tools, protections, and support they deserve. I am proud to have co-sponsored each of these bills and look forward to seeing the Senate carry this work across the finish line.”

The bills now head to the Senate where they await further consideration.

Public Safety
Extending to Correctional Officers and Emergency Dispatchers the Same Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Benefits and Services Already Afforded to Police and Firefighters (A.3549)

Like all our first responders, correctional officers and emergency dispatchers work daily under incredibly stressful conditions and often experience traumatic situations which can be devastating and lead an individual to suffer from PTSD and other related conditions that require treatment. Currently, however, many corrections officers and emergency dispatchers are not entitled to the same treatment and services from their employing agency, municipality, or county, that are already afforded to police officers and firefighters. Co-Sponsored by Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon, and introduced by Assemblymember Angelo Santabarbara, Assembly Bill A.3549 seeks to require expanded access to the mental health benefits and services related to the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) already in place and afforded to law enforcement officers and firefighters by requiring the expansion of existing benefit and service coverage to all correctional officers and emergency dispatchers.

“As I’ve said before and will continue to say again, behind every badge and every first responder is an individual who is carrying a weight that most of us will never be able to fully comprehend,” said the Assemblywoman. “While not first responders, our dedicated correctional officers and lifesaving emergency dispatchers are faced with tremendous challenges, and experience heartbreak, danger, and trauma in the service of our protection day-in and day-out. I am proud to co-sponsor this Act that will ensure that all these individuals receive the mental health and PTSD services and care they need and that their service deserves.”

This act received unanimous support in the Assembly Chamber and now awaits further consideration in the Senate’s Committees on Civil Service & Pensions as well as Finance.

Mandating Social Media Platforms Comply with a Search Warrant Within 72 Hours of Receipt from Law Enforcement (A.8022A)

Co-sponsored by Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon to help further protect our youth on social media and residents from those engaged in criminal activity, Assembly Bill A.8022A will require all social media platforms with at least one million users to comply with a search warrant issued by law enforcement within 72 hours of receiving such warrant. Criminal activity endangering the public knows no boundaries. On social media, individuals can readily obtain illicit substances and engage in other forms of illicit activities, such as trafficking, sextortion, and exploitation, in direct violation of New York State and Federal Law. In the motivating case of 16 year old Avery Ping, who tragically passed away in December 2024 due to an overdose caused by narcotics purchased through social media, it was discovered that law enforcement had already been investigating the seller, issuing a warrant for the dealer’s social media account through which the purchase was made eight weeks before Avery’s death. Had the platform been legally required to respond to the warrant for information in a timely manner, taking over 20 days to provide an initial and insufficient response in this and many similar cases, this tragic accident may have been prevented, and is the purpose of this legislation.

“Social media platforms have long operated without adequate accountability to the law enforcement agencies working to keep our children and communities safe. The threats we’re exposed to on social media are not abstract, crime is turning digital, and the dangers are real, they are urgent and can be fatal if not prevented. I am proud to co-sponsor this legislation, which establishes a clear, enforceable standard: comply with a valid search warrant within 72 hours or face real consequences.

Key provisions of the law include:

• Requiring all social media platforms with at least one million users to establish streamlined processes to allow law enforcement agencies to contact such platforms, and to provide, at a minimum, continuous availability of such processes to law enforcement agencies.
• Requires platform operators to comply with a search warrant within 72 hours after receipt.
• Establishes civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation and establishes the Court’s ability to obtain any such other and further relief as the Court may deem proper, including preliminary relief.
• Provides the Court the ability to provide reasonable extensions to the time of compliance when an operator has shown good cause for the extension and it has been shown that an extension would not cause an adverse investigatory result.

This legislation received unanimous support in the Assembly and now awaits further consideration in the Senate Codes Committee.

Prohibiting Drone & Uncrewed Aircraft Operation Over Critical Infrastructure and School Grounds (A.4944)

Under current law, there are no flight restrictions on the operation of drones or uncrewed aircraft over school grounds or critical infrastructure sights (ie: power plants, petroleum & chemical refineries and storage facilities, clean water infrastructure, etc). Recognizing the substantial security risks posed by rapidly evolving drone technology, and the ability of drones to be readily equipped with surveillance technologies to further bad actors nefarious purposes, this legislation, co-sponsored by Assemblywoman Buttenschon, seeks to officially prohibit the operation of all uncrewed aircraft, including drones, over school grounds or critical infrastructure.

“Given the rapid evolution of drone technology, ensuring that unauthorized individuals cannot fly drones over school grounds or our critical infrastructure sights is a common-sense security measure,” said Assemblywoman Buttenschon.

Key provisions of the proposal include:

• Establishing the crime of unlawfully operating an uncrewed aircraft over school grounds or critical infrastructure, a Class B misdemeanor.
• Increases penalties for repeat offenders to a Class A misdemeanor.
• Provides exemptions for legitimate unmanned aircraft use by governments, law enforcement agencies, and their designees, or an operator otherwise granted explicit written consent from the chief facility administrator.

This Act received unanimous support in the Assembly and is now awaiting further consideration in the Senate Codes Committee.

Veterans’ Affairs
Establishing a New York State Veterans’ and Service Member Law Guide (A.8089)

As a Member of the Assembly Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Assemblywoman Buttenschon has witnessed advocates testify before the Committee many times, stating that they have had a difficult time finding updated information on the rights and benefits available for veterans, service members, and their families, and as a result have spent countless hours searching for clarifying information in several publications and websites. Co-sponsored by Assemblywoman Buttenschon, the purpose of this legislation is to help veterans, military families and their advocates more easily find and understand the state laws and benefits directly applicable to them by developing and providing a compilation booklet of all relevant statutes in one convenient and easily accessible place.

“Our veterans served our country, now we must make it easier for us to serve them,” said Buttenschon. “Available electronically or in print, this booklet will do just that, putting every right, benefit, and protection New York State offers into a single, easy-to-use resource so that no veteran ever misses out on what they have earned.”

Passing unanimously in the Assembly, this act now awaits further consideration in the Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security, and Military Affairs, and in the Committee on Finance.

Authorizing the Department of Veterans’ Services to Coordinate the Development of Educational Materials for Veterans Regarding the Accessibility to Home and Community Based Services (A.7627)

New York has the 6th highest veteran population in the country, and recent studies estimate that 80% of veterans will have some need for long-term care services and supports in their lifetime. To address this development, and to reduce difficulty in navigating access to needed services, this legislation, co-sponsored by Assemblywoman Buttenschon and introduced by Assemblywoman Paula Kay (D-100) seeks to improve upon efforts to inform veterans about the availability of home and community-based services (HCBS), authorizing the Department of Veterans Services to coordinate with relevant offices in the Federal Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the New York State Department of Health and the State Office of the Aging to disseminate educational resources to veterans and their families regarding the availability of and accessibility to home and community-based services including but not limited to the federal Veteran-Directed Home and Community Based Services program (VD-HCBS).

“Many of our veterans are beginning to age, and as they age, we must be there to support them,” Buttenschon said. “The Home and Community Based Services available to veterans provide reliable care designed to meet an individual’s health needs right in their own homes and communities, keeping our friends, our family, and our neighbors active and living in their preferred place to receive the care they have earned.”

This act received unanimous support in the Assembly Chamber and is now awaiting further action in the Senate Committee on Veterans Services, Homeland Security, and Military Affairs.

Healthcare
Increasing Awareness and Outreach Efforts Related to Home Visiting Programs for Pregnant and Parenting Families (A. 6029)

Co-sponsored by Assemblywoman Buttenschon, the purpose of this legislation is to increase awareness and outreach efforts to those pregnant and parenting families that may be eligible for home visiting services. Home visiting programs provide family support to parents and families from pregnancy until the time the child enters kindergarten, including information and support about parenting, children's health and development, and explaining healthy coping strategies for stressful parenting situations. These programs have been proven to demonstrably improve outcomes for children and their families. According to the New York State Citizen Review Panels' 2017 annual report, "Harness the Power of Home Visiting; A Proven and Cost-Effective Tool to Prevent Child Maltreatment," "only 5% of potentially eligible children are receiving home visiting." This bill would serve to make families aware of this important resource and provide a bridge to help people get connected to the appropriate home visiting services that are available to them.

“Home visiting programs have been proven to improve outcomes for mothers, for infants, and for families. However, with such underutilization, we must work to inform pregnant and parenting families across the State about these services, what is available, who is eligible, and how to access them in order to ensure these programs reach every family who may be in need.”

This act additionally received unanimous Assembly support and now awaits consideration in the Senate Committee on Women's Issues.

Childcare
Providing an Extension of Time for Providers to Make Necessary Accommodations to Achieve Licensing (A.6078)

Introduced by Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter and Co-sponsored by Assemblywoman Buttenschon, this legislation aims to make the creation of child day care centers more efficient by improving the licensing process. Currently, prospective providers are subject to an inspection of the potential child day care facility within 90 days of filing for a license. If the inspection finds the facility in need of modification or accommodation to meet licensure requirements, then the prospective provider only has what remains of that 90-day period to remedy any issues, regardless of scope or cost. If the prospective provider fails to remedy the issue within that period, the entire licensing process restarts. This legislation would remedy this issue by extending that 90-day period to allow prospective providers to fix any issues noted during inspection without having to completely restart the licensure process and would allow the Office of Children and Families to grant additional extensions as necessary.

“One of the biggest obstacles between a willing provider and an open door is red tape,” said the Assemblywoman. “This bill takes a practical step to allow providers the time they need to make the necessary accommodations to meet licensing requirements without restarting the process, saving them time and money that could otherwise be spent growing the supply of much needed child care for families across the state.”

This bill further received unanimous support in the Assembly and awaits further consideration in the Senate Committee on Children and Families.