2020 NYS Senate Preliminary Legislative Wrap Up

PRELIMINARY
LEGISLATIVE
WRAP UP 2020
Andrea Stewart-Cousins
Senate Majority Leader and
Temporary President
PRELIMINARY
2020 LEGISLATIVE WRAP UP
Andrea Stewart-Cousins Senate Majority Leader and Temporary President

Table of Contents
Legislative Wrap Up Summary .................................................................................................................................................................................................1
Senate & Assembly Bill Tally ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Public Hearings & Forums ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 9
Aging ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................11
Agriculture ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................13
Alcoholism and Substance Abuse .............................................................................................................................................................................................17
Banks ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 20
Budget and Revenue ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 23
Children and Families ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 26
Cities ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 29
Civil Service and Pensions .........................................................................................................................................................................................................31
Codes ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 33
Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business ........................................................................................................................................................ 39
Consumer Protection ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 42
Corporations, Authorities and Commissions ............................................................................................................................................................................ 46
Crime Victims, Crime and Corrections ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 52
Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation ......................................................................................................................................................................55
Domestic Animal Welfare .........................................................................................................................................................................................................58
Education .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 62
Elections .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 67
Energy and Telecommunications .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 73
Environmental Conservation .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 79
Ethics and Internal Governance ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 87
Finance ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 89
Health ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 101
Higher Education .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 110
Housing, Construction and Community Development ........................................................................................................................................................... 115
Insurance ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 119
Internet and Technology .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 122
Investigations and Government Operations ............................................................................................................................................................................ 125
Judiciary .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 131
Labor ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 139
Local Government .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 146
Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities ...................................................................................................................................................................... 156
New York City Education ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 158
Racing, Gaming and Wagering ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 160
Social Services ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 164
Transportation ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 167
Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs ................................................................................................................................................................. 182
Women’s Issues ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 185

2020 Legislative Wrap-Up Summary
In its second year, the Senate Democratic Majority continued to advance a historic agenda in the most
active two-year legislative period in recent memory, despite the unprecedented challenges posed by
the coronavirus pandemic. The Senate passed legislation to ease the burden on renters struggling from
the sharp economic downturn caused by the pandemic, institute significant common sense reforms to
policing that keep both the public and law enforcement safe, combat the opioid crisis, ensure the safety
of passengers and drivers in limousines, and make it easier for New Yorkers to vote.
Election Reform. The Senate expanded on its 2019 work to make it easier for New Yorkers to vote
safely in the manner that is most convenient for them. The Senate acted to help all citizens become and
remain registered to vote by passing automatic voter registration (S.8806, by Senator Gianaris), which
eligible citizens interacting with a number of State and local agencies will be registered or have their
registration updated without having to make a special request or fill out separate paperwork. The Senate
also improved the new early voting system by passing legislation to ensure that each county’s most
populous municipality contains a polling place (S.8782, by Senator Breslin). The Senate also took steps
to improve absentee balloting procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic by allowing for electronic
absentee ballot applications (Ch. 91, by Senator Myrie), classifying the risk of contracting disease as
a valid excuse for absentee voting (Ch. 139, by Senator Biaggi), clarifying the deadlines for receipt
of non-postmarked ballots (Ch. 140, by Senator Gianaris), and by making it easier for voters to find
out about and fix problems that might prevent their absentee ballots from being counted (Ch. 141, by
Senator Myrie).
Limousine Safety. The Senate wrapped up an important piece of business left over from the 2019
session by passing a sweeping package of legislation to improve the safety of for-hire vehicles and
limousines, in response to devastating crashes in Long Island and in Schoharie. The Senate passed
legislation to mandate drug and alcohol testing for for-hire vehicle drivers (Ch. 2, by Senator Metzger),
to establish the Stretch Limousine Passenger Safety Task Force (Ch. 3, by Senator Kaplan), to increase
penalties for traffic infractions committed by limousine operators (Ch. 4, by Senator Gaughran), to
improve safety reporting (Ch. 5, by Senator May), to tighten stretch limousine safety requirements (Chs.
6 and 10, by Senator Kennedy), to strengthen seatbelt requirements in taxis and livery vehicles (Ch. 8,
by Senator Hoylman), to allow DOT to impound unsafe limousines (Ch. 9, by Senator Kennedy), and to
require limousines to use GPS technology (Ch. 11, by Senator Gaughran).
Combating the Opioid Crisis. The Senate continued its focus on combating the ongoing opioid
crisis in New York State. The Senate adopted numerous recommendations following the release of the
report of the Joint Task Force on Opioids, Addiction, and Overdose Prevention. Chief among these
were “Stephen’s Law,” to notify families when patients do not show up for care (S.4741B, by Senator
Harckham), legislation to bar insurers from denying life insurance coverage to those with an overdose
reversal drug prescription (S.3159A, by Senator Harckham), a bill to allow partial filling of prescriptions
to prevent overdoses (S.7115, by Senator Rivera), and a bill to authorize the use of opioid antagonists by
public accommodations (Ch. 148, by Senator Harckham).
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Police Reform. Following the tragic death of George Floyd and the sustained nationwide protests that
formed in response, the Senate reconvened to enact first in the nation, wide-ranging police transparency
and accountability reforms. Most significantly, the Senate passed legislation to repeal Civil Rights Law
§ 50-a, which made it nearly impossible to disclose police disciplinary records (Ch. 96, by Senator
Bailey). The Senate also passed legislation to collect demographic data of arrestees (Ch. 102, by Senator
Hoylman), create an Office of Special Investigation within the Office of the Attorney General (Ch. 95,
by Senator Bailey), strengthen reporting requirements for use-of-force incidents (Ch. 101, by Senator
Bailey), establish a statutory right to record police officers (Ch. 100, by Senator Parker), ensure that
arrestees in need of medical attention get it (Ch. 103, by Senator Bailey), criminalize certain chokeholds
used by law enforcement (Ch. 94, by Senator Benjamin), and prohibit false 911 calls (Ch. 93, by Senator
Parker). Additionally, the Senate passed the Protect Our Courts Act to ensure that immigrants traveling
to and from courts cannot be detained (S.425A, by Senator Hoylman).
COVID-19. In response to the global coronavirus pandemic, the Senate passed significant pieces of
legislation to help fight the virus and the economic devastation left in its wake. In early March, the
Senate passed legislation appropriating emergency funds and giving the government the flexibility
needed to fight the crisis (Ch. 23, by Leader Stewart-Cousins). The Senate also ensured that workers
under quarantine receive sick leave benefits (Ch. 25, by Senator Ramos).
The Senate returned to session in May to pass additional legislation to address the crisis. Because of
court closures, the Senate extended the window for survivors of child sexual abuse to file suit against
their abusers under the Child Victims Act (Ch. 130, by Senator Hoylman). The Senate passed the
Emergency Rent Relief Act (Ch. 125, by Senator Kavanagh) to provide emergency funding for tenants
with economic hardships and the Tenant Safe Harbor Act (Ch. 127, by Senator Hoylman) to prohibit
evictions that would have been due to the coronavirus. The Senate advanced legislation to eliminate
unemployment forfeit days to alleviate the hardship of New Yorkers put out of work due to the pandemic
(Ch. 97, by Senator Martinez). The Senate also protected New York’s schools by ensuring that they are
not penalized financially for closures (Ch. 107, by Senator Carlucci). Lastly, the Senate made sure that
people covering their faces to ensure the safety of others are not targeted for prosecution under out-of-
date loitering laws (Ch. 98, by Senator Bailey).
Small Business. The Senate Majority continued its focus on helping small businesses navigate an
unprecedented hostile economic climate. It passed legislation to require the Empire State Development
Corporation to post information on small business programs on its website (S.4429, by Senator Parker)
and to require the Division of Small Business to publish a compliance guide to help make sure that
owners and operators know about changes in the law (S.6800A, by Senator Metzger). The Senate
passed legislation to help small businesses protect themselves by establishing the Small Business Crime
Prevention Services Program (S.7123, by Senator Persaud)1. The Senate also helped small businesses
recover from the pandemic by allowing Industrial Development Agencies to provide State Disaster
Emergency Loans of up to $25,000 and grants of up to $10,000 to small businesses (Ch. 109, by Senator
May).
2
Property Taxes. The Senate Majority continued to pursue property tax relief and fairness, passing bills
to protect property tax payers, end abuses, and lay the groundwork for further reforms. The Senate
passed reforms to the 485-A tax incentive program to eliminate loopholes and ensure that unqualified
applicants aren’t unfairly shifting their own tax burdens to other community members (S.5254B, by
Senator Breslin). The Senate acted on legislation creating a Real Property Exemption Task Force, to take
a comprehensive look at tax exemptions and whether they should be continued or reformed (S.3679A,
by Senator Harckham). Responding to the COVID-19 crisis, the Senate also passed legislation ensuring
that farm properties can continue to qualify for agricultural tax status despite not meeting normal sales
thresholds due to the pandemic emergency (S.8464A, by Senator Metzger). The Senate also passed
legislation allowing localities to defer property tax payments or create installment payment plans
(S.8138B, by Senator Martinez), giving localities an additional tool to help New Yorkers struggling with
the economic consequences of the pandemic.
3
BUDGET
Throughout the budget process, the Senate achieved significant and wide-ranging wins for New Yorkers
in a vast range of policy areas. The Senate passed a balanced and fiscally sound budget, with record aid
for education and with restorations of significant proposed cuts to the healthcare system. Highlights are
listed below, arranged by subject area.
Agriculture. The Enacted Budget included an amendment to the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act
to clearly define “immediate family member,” to clarify that administrative, executive, and professional
employees on a farm are not subject to the day of rest or overtime requirements, and to clarify that
supervisors cannot be in the same bargaining unit as rank-and-file laborers (Chapter 58, Part II). The
Enacted Budget also included a provision to increase the discretionary limit for food purchases by
school districts from $50,000 to $100,000 (Chapter 58, Part JJ).
COVID-19 Emergency Powers. As part of the Budget, the Senate authorized the Executive to utilize
a series of unilateral powers to deal with the unprecedented financial strain and uncertainty facing the
State during the pandemic. Most notably, the Adopted Budget allows the Division of Budget (DOB)
to reduce appropriations if it determines the budget is imbalanced. Similarly, the Enacted Budget
also allows the Executive to delay certain aid to localities payments if it determines the budget is
imbalanced. Besides the general budgetary powers to close deficits and impose budget reductions, the
Adopted Budget also allows the Executive to better manage cash flow and revenue shortfalls by: a)
allowing the general fund to temporarily borrow money from special revenue funds, and conversely for
the general fund to shift funds into special revenue funds if necessary, b) authorizing the State to issue
up to $8 billion in short-term operating budget, c) authorizing the Dormitory Authority and the Urban
Development Corporation to enter into a $3 billion line of credit in the upcoming fiscal year and loan
those funds to the State, and d) exempting from the Debt Reform Act all debt issued in the fiscal year,
except for the provision requiring debt terms to be no longer than 30 years (Chapter 56, Part JJ).
Education. The Enacted Budget blocked the Executive’s proposed cuts to Foundation Aid, ensuring
every school district receives the same amount of funding as in School Year (SY) 2019-20. The total
Foundation Aid for SY 2020-21 is $18.4 billion. The Enacted Budget also rejected the Executive
proposal to consolidate ten expense-based aid categories into Foundation Aid. Total School Aid for
2020-21 totals $27.9 billion, an increase of $104 million over 2019-20 levels.
The Enacted Budget included several other education-related funding gains, including:
● $849 billion in pre-kindergarten funding;
● $107 million for private schools for the blind and deaf:
● $94.1 million for support of public libraries, $1.5 million over the Executive Budget;
● $55 million for Empire State After School Grants;
● $30 million to support STEM instruction in nonpublic schools;
● $14.3 million for teacher resource and computer training centers;
● $10 million for student mental health support grants to school districts and
$1 million for civics curriculum; and
● $7.8 million for adult literacy programs, including a legislative restoration of $1.5 million.
4
The Senate negotiated for education policy changes to benefit students throughout the State:
● Modifying the provision that encourages New York City students to visit sites that educate on
the Holocaust to also include African American cultural centers and historical landmarks, Native
American museums, Asian American museums, and cultural centers, Latino American museums,
center for women, LGBTQ historical landmarks, and American historical landmarks and
monuments (Chapter 56, Part A);
● Authorizing the establishment of the Syracuse Comprehensive Education and Workforce
Training Center (Chapter 56, Part B).
● Authorizing a monitor system over the Rochester City School District and providing the district
with spin-up aid (Chapter 56, Part C).
Energy. The Enacted Budget included the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community
Benefit Act, which creates a new Office of Renewable Energy Siting to issue siting permits for large-
scale renewable energy projects. The Act also creates the NYSERDA “Build-Ready” program that will
identify sites that are ready for private renewable energy developers (Chapter 58, Part JJJ).
Environmental Conservation. The Enacted Budget originally included $3 billion for an Environmental
Bond Act to fund programs and projects related to flood risk reduction, open space and recreation,
climate change mitigation, resilient infrastructure, and environmental justice. However, on July 30,
Governor Cuomo announced that the Environmental Bond Act would not be included on the November
2020 ballot due to financial constraints caused by COVID-19 (Chapter 58, Parts QQ and RR). The
Enacted Budget also included a permanent ban on high-volume hydraulic fracturing in New York
(Chapter 58, Part WW), as well as a ban on polystyrene food packaging and packing peanuts beginning
in 2022 (Chapter 58, Part PP).
Health. In the Enacted Budget, the Senate codified a provision limiting out-of-pocket expenses for a 30-
day supply of insulin to be capped at $100 (Chapter 56, Part DD). The Senate also protected hospitals
by restoring $69.7 million in funding for the Indigent Care Pool to ensure that hospitals serving a higher
member of the uninsured and underinsured receive more proportionate funding, provided additional
resources for providers impacted by the removal of the transition collar for the Indigent Care Pool, and
advanced new initiatives from Health + Hospitals to achieve possible savings (Chapter 56, Part KK).
The Senate also expanded access to telehealth in the Medicaid program to ensure that more New Yorkers
can connect with their physical and mental health care providers (Chapter 56, Part HH). As part of the
Budget package, the Senate also codified tobacco and vaping control regulations, including a prohibition
on the retail sale of vapor products, a prohibition the public display of tobacco products, electronic
cigarettes, or vapor product advertisements near schools, and increasing the general penalties for selling
tobacco or vape products to minors (Chapter 56, Part EE).
5
The Enacted Budget also contained several suggestions from the Medicaid Redesign Team:
● Right-sized funding in the Indigent Care Pool to ensure hospitals that serve higher numbers
of the uninsured and underinsured also receive more proportionate funding.
● Maintained core funding for safety net hospitals that provide essential care to overlooked
and marginalized communities.
● Invested in new pilot programs in social determinants of health to address critical needs
before the point of costly hospitalization.
● Addressed the rapid growth in long term care by creating assessment processes that will
ensure those most in need will continue to receive community based long term care when
possible.
● Authorized a new transportation broker system that will embed quality metrics into the
Medicaid transportation program.
● Approved innovative healthcare delivery programs that fully implement value-based
payment methods for some of the highest risk populations in New York State.
● Enhanced program integrity measures to protect valuable Medicaid resources from fraud,
waste, and abuse.
Higher Education. The Enacted Budget rejected the proposed extension of the so-called rational
tuition plan that would have authorized tuition increases at SUNY and CUNY (Chapter 56, Part D).
Furthermore, the Enacted Budget includes $400 million for the State share of a new Strategic Needs
Capital Matching Program: $200 million to SUNY state-operated colleges and $200 million to CUNY
senior colleges for expansion projects at a 2:1 match.
Additionally, the Adopted Budget included a complete restoration of the Executive’s cut to the
Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) at CUNY. The Enacted Budget also maintains
funding to Opportunity Programs assisting low-income and minority students, including Educational
Opportunity Centers (EOC), the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), Educational
Opportunity Programs (EOP), the Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP), the Collegiate
Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP), the Foster Youth Initiative, and the Search for
Education, Elevation, and Knowledge (SEEK) opportunity program.
Housing. The Adopted Budget featured significant investments for housing, including the restoration
of $20 million for Statewide Foreclosure Prevention Services and additional funding for the F&D
Housing Development Program for improved farm worker housing.
Labor. The Adopted Budget featured significant investments in unemployment insurance (UI)
administration and in spending authority for the disbursement of increased UI claims in response to
the economic crisis and resulting mandatory business closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This
additional funding includes $1.05 billion for UI administration in order to hire 500 additional staff
to process the exponential increase in new UI claims, and to facilitate upgrades to the Department of
Labor’s (DOL) phone and online infrastructure to handle this increase in new UI claims. Additionally,
the Adopted Budget included over $60 billion in appropriation authority to allow DOL to disburse
UI funding to approved claimants. These measures helped to ensure that newly and previously
unemployed New Yorkers would have access to vital UI funding during this time of unprecedented
crisis.
6
Revenue. The Adopted Budget included several changes relating to tax and revenue policy due to the
constrained fiscal environment caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Notable changes include a one-
year extension of the Hire-a-Vet tax credit, which will provide additional time to review any potential
changes that may be necessary to ensure the maximum utilization of this credit. In addition, the
Excelsior Tax Credit was extended and, more importantly, enhanced for certain “green projects” as
defined. Certain modifications and a one-year extension was authorized for the Film Tax Credits as well.
Lastly, as it pertains to the Income Verification Program (IVP) for the Enhanced STAR exemption, the
Adopted Budget re-opened the IVP enrollment period and authorized the mailing of checks to qualified
late enrollees who failed to enroll in a timely manner.
Transportation. The Adopted Budget authorized the use of e-bikes and e-scooters, subject to various
safety and local government regulations (Chapter 58, Part XX). The MTA was given emergency
financial management powers to deal with COVID-19 related losses, including the ability to issue
operating deficit bonds and borrow funds from the capital plan lockbox (Chapter 58, Parts LLL and
MMM).
7
2020 Senate and Assembly Bills Tally

2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
Senate Bill Introductions 8,398 6,616 8,073 6,812 7,156 6,008 6,894 6,001
Senate Bills Reported to Calendar 1,018 1,830 2,143 2,228 2,013 1,909 1,700 1,655
Senate Bills Passed* 796 1,555 1,542 1,895 1,752 1,637 1,457 1,408
Senate Bills Died on Calendar 222 275 601 335 263 281 242 255
Assembly Bill Introductions 10,041 8,434 9,673 8,524 9,444 8,294 9,019 8,321
Assembly Bill Reported to Calendar 828 1,259 1,576 1,258 1,386 1,255 1,415 1,229
Assembly Bills Passed 581 1,099 1,113 998 1,041 1,065 817 1,071
Assembly Bills Died on Calendar 247 160 423 269 345 187 268 158
Bills Passed Both Houses 413 935 641 606 618 718 658 650
Bills Passed by Democratic
Conference Members* 714 1,383 210 151 147 149 124 106
Bills Passed by Republican
Conference Members* 82 172 1,160 1,475 1,409 1,342 1,146 1,118
*Includes Assembly bills handed down to the Senate Third Reading Calendar.
8
2020 Public Hearings & Forums
1. Hearing of the Senate Committees on Housing, Construction & Community Development and
Investigations & Government Operations. To review proposed legislation regarding enforcement of
housing and building codes and related matters, including the issues, findings, and recommendations
in the report issued August 5, 2019, “Final Investigative Report: Code Enforcement in New York
State” (January 23, 2020).
2. Joint Roundtable of the Senate and Assembly Committees on Agriculture. Soil health in New York
State (February 5, 2020).
3. Hearing of the Senate Committee on Civil Service and Pensions. Exploring the idea of establishing a
civil service pipeline (February 21, 2020).
4. Hearing of the Senate Committee on Elections. To solicit views of interested parties on the New York
Voting Rights Act. (March 3, 2020).
5. Town Hall Conversation of the Senate Committee on New York City Education. COVID-19 and New
York City Schools (May 12, 2020).
6. Joint Hearing of the Senate Committees on Commerce, Economic Development & Small Business,
Finance, Agriculture, Banks, and Insurance; and the Assembly Committees on Small Business, Ways
& Means, Agriculture, Banks, and Insurance, the Assembly Office of State Federal Relations, and the
Assembly Task Force on Food, Farm and Nutrition Policy. Federal response to the economic impact
of the COVID-19 pandemic on small businesses in New York State (May 13, 2020).
7. Joint Hearing of the Senate Committees on Cities, Health, Labor, Local Government, and Women’s
Issues; the Assembly Committees on Cities, Health, Labor, and Local Governments, and the
Assembly Task Forces on Pacific Americans, Puerto Rican & Hispanic Americans, and Women’s
Issues; and the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus. Exploring solutions to
the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on minority communities (May 18, 2020).
8. Joint Hearing of the Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment,
the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, and Assembly Committee on Governmental Operations.
Evaluating constitutional provisions impacting redistricting in 2022 (July 15, 2020).
9. Joint Hearing of the Senate and Assembly Committees on Higher Education. How COVID-19 Has
Impacted Higher Education (July 28, 2020).
10. Joint Hearings of the Senate Committees on Health, Aging, and Investigations & Government
Operations and the Assembly Committees on Health, Aging, and Oversight, Analysis &
Investigation. Residential health care facilities and COVID-19 (August 3, 2020 and August 10,
2020).
9
11. Roundtable Discussion of the Senate Committee on Education. Discussion on school reopening
guidance issued by the Department of Health and the State Education Department (August 5, 2020).
12. Joint Hearing of the Senate Committees on Elections and Local Government and the Assembly
Committees on Election Law and Local Governments. Elections in a pandemic: a review of the 2020
primaries (August 11, 2020).
13. Joint Hearing of the Senate Committees on Health and Investigations & Government Operations;
the Assembly Committees on Health, Oversight, Analysis & Investigation; and the Administrative
Regulations Review Commission. COVID-19 and hospitals (August 12, 2020).
14. Joint Hearing of the Senate Committees on Labor, Investigations & Government Operations, and
Banks; and the Assembly Committees on Labor, Banks, and Oversight, Analysis, and Investigation.
Investigating the impact of COVID-19 on the workforce, including unemployment insurance,
workplace safety standards, and the impact of the federal Paycheck Protection Program on
maintaining employment (August 13, 2020).
15. Joint Hearing of the Senate Committee On Veterans, Homeland Security & Military Affairs and
the Assembly Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Exploring veteran-specific impacts of COVID-19
including, the provision of care at State veterans’ nursing homes, access to health and mental health
services, loss of employment opportunities, and ways to protect veterans from future adverse impacts
(August 14, 2020).
16. Roundtable Discussion of the Senate Committee on Judiciary. Discussion on the administration of
the New York State bar examination (August 18 , 2020).
17. Joint Hearing of the Senate Committees on Energy & Telecommunications, Environmental
Conservation, Corporations, Authorities & Commissions, Veterans, Homeland Security, &
Military Affairs, Local Government, and Cities; and the Assembly Committees on Corporations,
Authorities & Commissions, Energy, Environmental Conservation, Governmental Operations, Local
Governments, and Cities. To address the emergency storm response and customer communication by
utilities located in New York City, Long Island, Westchester County, and the greater Hudson Valley
after Tropical Storm Isaias (August 20, 2020).
18. Hearing of the Senate Committees on the Judiciary, Codes, and Housing, Construction and
Community Development. To examine the re-opening and operation of New York’s courts during the
COVID-19 pandemic (August 21, 2020).
19. Joint Hearing of the Senate Committees on Transportation and Corporations, Authorities &
Commissions and the Assembly Committee on Corporations, Authorities & Commissions. Impact
of COVID-19 on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Public Transportation (August 25,
2020).
10
AGING
Analyst: Tamara Frazier and Lonnie Threatte
(518) 455-2711
SIGNIFICANT BILLS THAT PASSED BOTH HOUSES
Reverse Mortgage Default Regulation and Notice Requirements

S.4408 (Gounardes, Addabbo, Carlucci, May, Parker) / A.5627 (Weinstein)
Requires lenders to notify the Department of Financial Services when engaging in foreclosure
proceedings against a reverse mortgage borrower. Establishes new requirements that must be adhered
to prior to a lender bringing a foreclosure action against a reverse mortgage borrower. This bill makes
reverse mortgage products safer for seniors by introducing stronger protective measures.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 56-2 (Flanagan, Gallivan)
Assembly Vote: 100-42
SIGNIFICANT BILLS THAT PASSED SENATE ONLY
Exempts Social Security/Pension Benefit Increases from Income Eligibility in EPIC

S.2187B (Bailey, Biaggi, Carlucci, Gaughran, Gounardes, Liu, May, Thomas) / A.3145C (Carroll)
Prevents increases in Social Security/Pension Benefit income that do not exceed the CPI from
disqualifying persons who have already been determined eligible from the Elderly Pharmaceutical
Insurance Coverage Program (EPIC).
Proponents: NYSUT
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Assembly Vote: None
Retroactive Reclassification for SCRIE and DRIE Applicants

S.2945B (Stavisky, Liu) / A.3780B (Rozic)
This legislation authorizes redeterminations for rent-controlled or rent-regulated property to be
retroactive to the date in which there was a permanent decrease in combined household income.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Assembly Vote: None
11
Statewide Increase in Maximum Income Eligibility Level for Senior and Disabled Homeowners
S.5557A (Stewart-Cousins, Biaggi, Carlucci, Kaplan, Liu, May) / A.3149A (Abinanti)
Legislation increases the statewide income eligibility threshold for property owners sixty-five years of
age and over and for people with disabilities and limited income from $29,000 to $50,000. This matches
a similar eligibility threshold currently in place for New York City.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 58-0
Assembly Vote: None
Creation of “Reimagining Long-Term Care Task Force”

S.8633B (May, Biaggi, Kaplan, Krueger, Liu, Metzger, Montgomery, Myrie) / A.10836 (Cruz)
Creates the “Reimagining Long-Term Care Task Force” to study the state of both home-based and
facility-based long-term care services in the state and to make recommendations on the potential models
of improvement to long-term care services for older New Yorkers.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 54-6 (Helming, Ortt, Akshar, Borrello, Jordan, O’Mara)
Assembly Vote: None
SIGNIFICANT BILLS THAT PASSED ASSEMBLY ONLY
None
SIGNIFICANT BILLS THAT DID NOT PASS EITHER HOUSE
None
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
None
HEARINGS AND FORUMS
None
12
AGRICULTURE
Analyst: Chris Amato
(518) 455-2464
Promotes New York Farm Products for Holiday Celebrations

S.2069 (Metzger, Helming, Jordan) / A.4153 (Gunther)
Authorizes the Department of Agriculture and Markets to promote the market and sale of New
York State farm products for holiday celebrations and decorations.
Proponents: New York Farm Bureau
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 61-0
Authorizes the State to Regulate Air Pumps at Gas Stations

S.4495A (Martinez, Funke, Skoufis) / A.5819A (Abbate)
Allows the Department of Agriculture and Markets to regulate air pumps located at gas stations.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 62-0
Extends Prohibition of Licensing Slaughterhouses in New York City

S.6252 (Gianaris) / A.8009 (Weprin)
Extends for an additional four years the prohibition against licensing slaughterhouses in New York City
that are within fifteen hundred feet of a residential dwelling.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 59-0
Chapter 135
Authorizes Manufacture and Sale of Ice Cream or Frozen Desserts Containing Liquor
S.7013 (May) / A.8732 (Lupardo)
Authorizes the manufacture and sale of ice cream or other frozen desserts made with liquor.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 61-0
Chapter 132
13
Preserves Agricultural Property Tax Assessment for Farmers Suffering Reduced Sales Due to
Covid-19
S.8464A (Metzger, May) / A.10464A (Gunther)
Preserves the eligibility of farmers for agricultural property tax assessment by accounting for effects of
Covid-19 pandemic on gross sales of farm products.

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Establishes a New York Food Supply Working Group
S.8561A (Metzger, Hoylman, May) / A.10607A (Lupardo)
Establishes a New York food supply working group to provide guidance and recommendations to
improve resiliency and self-reliance of the State’s farm and food supply.

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Increases Marketing of Regional Farmers’ Markets

S.251 (Kennedy, Helming, Jordan, Martinez, May, Metzger, Ritchie) / No Same As
Directs the Department of Agriculture and Markets to develop and facilitate regional farmers’ markets
with the goal of selling on a wholesale or bulk sales basis.

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 62-0
Assembly Vote: None
Establishes One-Stop Hotline for Farmers

S.4655 (Metzger, Ritchie, Helming, Jordan, Martinez, May) / A.6490 (Gunther)
Establishes a one-stop toll-free number, administered by the Cornell Cooperative Extension, for farmers
to access information and referral services for assistance in establishing and expanding farm and
agricultural related businesses.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 62-0
Assembly Vote: None
14
None
Requires Excess Food to Be Donated to Charitable Groups

S.4435 (Parker) / A.6011 (Pretlow)
Enacts the New York State Excess Food Act to require the donation of consumable excess food products.
Establishes an excess food fund composed of fines collected from violations of the Act.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Provides Tax Credit for Farmers Engaged in Carbon Sequestration

S.4875 (Metzger) / No Same As
Establishes a tax credit for farmers who maximize carbon sequestration potential through a “carbon
farming” land management strategy and directs the Department of Environmental Conservation to
develop regulations certifying the amount of carbon sequestered.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Creates Tax Incentive for Conversion of Agricultural Land to Renewable Energy Development
S.7603 (Metzger)/No Same As
Adds conversion of agricultural land for solar energy development to projects eligible for tax exemption
and removes oil and gas development projects from the list of eligible projects.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
15
Establishes Online Farm Employment Portal
S.8134 (Metzger) / A.10572 (Lupardo)
Authorizes the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Markets to establish and administer
an online portal to advertise and accept applications for farm employment.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
None
HEARINGS AND FORUMS
Joint Roundtable of the Senate and Assembly Committees on Agriculture. Soil health in New York State
(February 5, 2020).
Joint Hearing of the Senate Committees on Commerce, Economic Development & Small Business,
Assembly Task Force on Food, Farm and Nutrition Policy. Federal response to the economic impact of
the COVID-19 pandemic on small businesses in New York State (May 13, 2020).
Joint Hearings of the Senate Committees on Health, Aging, and Investigations & Government
Operations and the Assembly Committees on Health, Aging, and Oversight, Analysis & Investigation.
Residential health care facilities and COVID-19 (August 3, 2020 and August 10, 2020).
16
ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Analyst: Daniel Leinung, Jonathan Lang, and Carolyn Sheridan
(518) 455-2821, (518) 455-2722, (518) 455-2872
“Stephen’s Law” - Requires Facilities to Notify Patients That They May Designate An Emergency
Contact
S.4741B (Harckham, Biaggi, Carclucci, Kaplan, Kennedy, Krueger, Martinez, May, Metzger,
Ramos) / A.9536 (McDonald)
Requires every certified Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) facility to notify patients
of their right to identify individuals who should be contacted in case of emergencies. OASAS must
also develop guidelines to encourage certified treatment programs to work with patients to identify
individuals who can assist in their treatment and recovery and to identify those individuals who can
serve as an emergency contact.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 61-0
Authorizes Use of Opioid Antagonists In Public Accomodations

S.8259 (Harckham, Liu, May, Metzger, Rivera) / A.7182A (Rosenthal)
Expands the current authorization for entities that can possess, distribute and administer opioid
antagonists (such as Naloxone) to include restaurants, bars, retail stores, shopping malls, barber shops,
beauty parlors, theaters, sporting or event centers, inns, hotels and motels.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 61-0
Chapter 148
Recovery Living Task Force

S.4496 (Martinez. Mayer, Gaughran, Kaplan, Metzger, Parker) / A.6718 (Thiele)
Creates a “recovery living task force” that would establish best practice guidelines for recovery living
residences for persons recovering from a chemical dependency. The task force must issue a report within
one year after the effective date of the bill.
17
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 61-0
Assembly Vote: None
Bill of Rights for Individuals in Chemical Dependence Treatment Programs

S.4599 (Parker, Bailey, Carlucci, Hoylman, Kaplan, Metzger, Montgomery) / A.3119 (Ortiz)
Creates an explicit list of rights for patients receiving treatment in a chemical dependence program that
must be placed in conspicuous places throughout chemical dependency treatment facilities and given to
every patient upon intake.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 61-0
Assembly Vote: None
Collects Additional Data on Substance Abuse by Inmates

S.6288A (Sepúlveda, Biaggi, Brooks, Kaplan, Parker) / A.4943A (Rosenthal)
Adds additional reporting requirements regarding the care and treatment provided to inmates in
correctional facilities who have a history of alcohol or substance abuse or dependence. OASAS would
have to report the total number of individuals screened for and determined to have a substance abuse
disorder, which substances inmates are dependent upon and the treatment made available, and the
number of inmates currently receiving treatment for each substance.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 49-12
Assembly Vote: None
Requires Opioid Overdose Education Materials For Discharged Opioid Abuse Patients
S.6650 (Harckham, Biaggi, May, Metzger, Parker) / A.8541 (Braunstein)
Requires every patient being discharged from an inpatient facility operated or licensed by OASAS to
receive opioid overdose education and an opioid antagonist for take-home use.
Proponents: New York American College of Emergency Physicians

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 54-7
Assembly Vote: None
18
None
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
None
HEARINGS AND FORUMS
None
19
BANKS
Analyst: Elizabeth Nowicki
(518) 455-3588
Requires Commercial Financing Disclosure

S.5470B (Thomas, Carlucci, Kaplan, Liu, Myrie, Ramos) / A.10118 (Zebrowski)
Requires certain providers of commercial financing to disclose information regarding the amount,
pricing, and terms of the financing to borrowers.
Proponents: Innovative Lending Platform Association; JEDI; Lending Club

Opponents: PayPal; Secured Finance Network; Small Business Finance Association
Senate Vote: 43-17 (Akshar, Amedore, Borrello, Boyle, Funke, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Jordan,
Lanza, LaValle, Little, O’Mara, Ortt, Ritchie, Serino, Seward)
Requires 180 Days of Forbearance of Residential Mortgage Payments for Mortgagors

Demonstrating Financial Hardship
S.8243C (Kavanagh, Kaminsky, Addabbo, Carlucci, Comrie, Gianaris, Gounardes, Harckham,
Jackson, Kaplan, Kennedy, Little, Liu, Martinez, Metzger, Montgomery, Parker, Rivera, Savino,
Skoufis) / A.10351B (Rozic)
Requires New York state-chartered banks and state-regulated mortgage servicers to grant 180 days
of mortgage payment forbearance (plus an additional 180 day extension, if needed) to residential
mortgagors who are in arrears or on a trial plan or who have applied for loss mitigation and demonstrate
financial hardship during the NYS On PAUSE period. The bill allows a mortgagor who is granted
forbearance to:
(a) extend the term of the loan for the length of the forbearance, with interest waived for the term of the
forbearance and any late fees due to the forbearance waived,
(b) have the arrears accumulated during the forbearance be payable on a monthly basis for the remaining
term of the loan without any penalties or late fees due to the forbearance, or
(c) defer the arrears accumulated during the forbearance as a non-interest bearing balloon payment
payable at the maturity of the loan or when the loan is satisfied with any late fees accumulated as a result
of the forbearance waived, subject to the soundness of the lender.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 62-0
Chapter 112
20
Directs the Department of Financial Services to Study and Make Recommendations Concerning
Lending Practices by Financial Institutions to Landlords of Property with Small Business and/or
Rent-regulated Tenants
S.1476B (Hoylman, Bailey, Krueger, Liu, Sepúlveda)/A.3275B (Epstein)
Directs the Department of Financial Services (DFS) to prepare or have prepared a study to review the
process in which financial institutions provide loans to landlords acquiring or refinancing property that
includes rent-regulated and/or small business tenants. The study must examine and report trends in
predatory equity by criteria including type of lender and range of building sizes.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 53-7 (Akshar, Funke, Jordan, Lanza, O’Mara, Ranzenhofer, Tedisco)
SIGNIFICANT BILLS THAT PASSED THE SENATE ONLY
Requires the Inclusion of Information Concerning Repayment of Outstanding Loans in the

Standard Financial Aid Award Letter
S.4652 (Sanders, Liu) / A.1932 (Zebrowski)
Requires standard financial aid award letters to include the estimated cost of repayment of all
outstanding loans, including expected monthly payments.
Proponents: None
Opponents: Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities
Senate Vote: 60-0
Assembly Vote: None
Requires a Single Point of Contact for Borrowers with Delinquent Mortgage Loans
S.8761 (Sanders, Liu) / A.7513A (Perry)
Requires a lender or a mortgage servicer to establish a single point of contact for a borrower who is sixty
or more days delinquent on a mortgage and chooses to pursue a loan modification or other foreclosure
prevention mechanism.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Lanza, LaValle, Little, O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach, Serino, Seward, Tedisco)
Assembly Vote: None
Prohibits State-Chartered Banking Institutions from Investing in and Providing Financing for
Private Prisons
S.8722 (Benjamin) / A.7580B (Mosley)
21
This bill prohibits any State-chartered banking institution from providing financing for or investing
in the stocks, securities, or other obligations of any institution, company, or subsidiary that owns or
contracts with a government to manage or run a prison.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Assembly Vote: None
SIGNIFICANT BILLS THAT PASSED THE ASSEMBLY ONLY
None
SIGNIFICANT BILLS THAT PASSED NEITHER HOUSE
None
HEARINGS AND FORUMS
Joint Hearing of the Senate Committees on Labor, Investigations & Government Operations, and
Investigating the impact of COVID-19 on the workforce, including unemployment insurance, workplace
safety standards, and the impact of the federal Paycheck Protection Program on maintaining
employment (August 13, 2020).
22
BUDGET AND REVENUE

Analyst: Gabriel Paniza
(518) 455-3594
Allows Electronic Signatures on Authorizations to E-File Tax Documents by Tax Preparers

S.8832 (Liu, Gaughran) / A.7765A (Magnarelli)
Allows a client having their tax return e-filed by a tax preparer to electronically sign the authorization to
e-file that return, similar to how they are currently permitted to electronically sign the return itself. This
authorization would apply to all electronically filed tax returns and documents.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 57-3 (Borrello, O’Mara, Robach)
Chapter 167
Requires Information on Fossil Fuel Related Tax Expenditures and Sets a Five Year Expiration on
Such Expenditures
S.2649C (Krueger, Biaggi, Brooks, Carlucci, Gounardes, Hoylman, Kaplan, Liu, May, Metzger,
Montgomery, Myrie, Rivera, Salazar, Serrano) / A.6420 (Walker)
Requires the annual tax expenditure report to include an enumeration of all fossil fuel related tax
expenditures and requires such expenditures to expire in five years. All enacted fossil fuel related tax
expenditures would expire within five years of the effective date of this law, unless they were already
scheduled to expire sooner. The Legislature retains the ability to renew existing State fossil fuel related
tax expenditures. New fossil fuel related expenditures would be mandated to expire within five years of
their enactment, unless the Legislature chooses to specify a longer time frame.
Proponents: Environmental Advocates of New York

Opponents: None
LaValle, Little, Martinez, O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach, Serino, Seward)
Assembly Vote: None
23
Small Business Tax Credit for Employees with Disabilities

S.7296 (Addabbo) / A.8996 (Cusick)
This legislation creates a corporate franchise and income tax credit for businesses with less than 100
employees that hire a person with a disability. The credit equals $5,000 per employee, up to $25,000
per business. There is a $5 million statewide cap on the aggregate amount of credits claimed in any one
year, with taxpayer applications that exceed the cap treated as being applied for on the first day of the
subsequent year.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Add Back Capital Gains from Investments in Opportunity Zones

S.3401B (Gianaris, Ramos, Bailey, Hoylman, Jackson, Krueger, Montgomery, Myrie, Rivera,
Salazar) / A.10443 (Dinowitz)
This proposal would add back capital gains from investments in Qualified Opportunity Zones for State
and New York City corporate tax purposes.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Pass-through Manufacturer’s Zero Percent Tax Rate

S.4671A (Kaplan) / A.636B (Stirpe)
This bill phases in a 0% tax rate over three years for manufacturing firms that pay their New York state
taxes as pass-through income through the income tax as opposed to through the corporate franchise tax
system.
Proponents: Business Council, Unshackle Upstate

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
24
Allows for the Advance Payment of the State and City Earned Income Tax Credit
S.6259C (Benjamin, Liu) / A.8066B (Wright)
This bill creates an advance payment option for the State and New York City earned income tax credit
(EITC). Under the proposal, the EITC amount would be paid in four payments through the year, with the
final payment coming after the filing of taxes for the year.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
None
HEARINGS AND FORUMS
None
25
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

(518) 455-2711
Report Regarding Foster Care Placement and Recruitment of Foster Parents

S.222C (Benjamin, Addabbo, Bailey, Biaggi, Breslin, Brooks, Carlucci, Comrie, Gaughran,
Gianaris, Gounardes, Harckham, Hoylman, Jackson, Kaminsky, Kaplan, Kavanagh, Kennedy,
Krueger, Liu, May, Mayer, Metzger, Montgomery, Myrie, Parker, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera,
Salazar, Sanders, Savino, Sepúlveda, Serrano, Skoufis, Stavisky, Thomas) / A.1436C (Epstein)
Requires the Office of Children and Family Services to submit an annual report about the number of
youth placed in foster care settings and the recruitment of foster parents. This legislation is intended to
bring transparency to federal immigration policies that seek to place unaccompanied minors in the State
Foster Care system.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Video Recording of Juvenile Interrogations in Juvenile Delinquency Proceedings

S.6533 (Montgomery) / A.7970 (Frontus)
In cases where a child is subject to interrogation, this bill requires the entire interrogation to be video
recorded in a manner that is consistent with standards established by the Division of Criminal Justice
Services.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 50-8 (Akshar, Borrello, Gallivan, Helming, Jacobs, O’Mara, Ortt, Seward)
Prohibits a Party to an Order of Protection from Remotely Controlling any Connected Devices of
a Person Protected by Such Order
S.7926 (Bailey, Liu) / A.10039 (Rozic)
This bill prohibits any respondent to an order of protection from controlling connected devices that
affect the home, vehicle, or property of the individual being protected.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
26
Collection and Reporting of Data on Child Welfare Preventive Services

S.8421A (Persaud, Liu, Montgomery) / A.10513 (Hevesi)
Requires the OCFS to collect data from local social services districts (LSSDs) about the number of
children and families receiving preventive services to help the State support communities that are
disproportionately vulnerable to health, mental health, social, and economic challenges as a result of the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Prevents a Judge from Considering Certain Characteristics when Making a Determination in a

Child Custody Case.
S.432A (Hoylman, Biaggi, Carlucci, Liu, May, Sepulveda) / A.861A (Simotas)
Prohibits a court from considering the sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression
of the parties when determining the best interests of the child in making a custody determination. It
also prevents the court from prohibiting a party in a child custody proceeding from undergoing gender
reassignment.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 55-5 (Amedore, Borrello, Jordan, Ortt, Serino)
Assembly Vote: None
Adjournments in Contemplation of Dismissal and Suspended Judgments in Child Protective

Proceedings in the Family Court
S.6214 (Montgomery, Persaud) / A.1542 (Bichotte)
Expands judicial options for resolving child protective cases to facilitate settlement and resolution of
cases as it pertains to adjournments in contemplation of dismissal (ACODs) and suspended judgments
in child protective proceedings in Family Court. Clarifies and expands options for resolution of cases
via ACODs and brings clarity to the procedures for and consequences of the dispositional alternatives of
adjournments in contemplation of dismissal and suspended judgments
Proponents: The Center for Family Representation; Brooklyn Defenders Services; Legal Aid Society
Opponents: New York Public Welfare Association Inc.
Senate Vote: 47-13 (Akshar, Borrello, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Jordan, Lanza, O’Mara, Ortt, Ritchie,
Serino, Seward, Tedisco)
Assembly Vote: None
27
Enacts the Child Abuse Reporting Expansion Act

A.6662B (Wallace) / S.5711B (Holyman)
Requires that clergy members become mandated reporters of child abuse, with an exception for
information learned through confession or communication made in confidence as a professional spiritual
advisor.
Proponents: None
Opposition: None
Senate Vote: None
None
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
None
HEARINGS AND FORUMS
None
28
CITIES
Analyst: Chris Alexander
(518) 455-2486


Municipal Real Property Tax Program Extensions
S.8122B (Comrie, Addabbo, Carlucci, Gounardes, Hoylman, Kaplan, Kavanagh, Krueger, Liu,
Rivera, Skoufis) / A.10241A (Hyndman)
Extends the application and renewal windows for real property tax abatement and real property tax
exemption programs.

Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 62-0
Chapter 92
NYC Rainy Day Fund

S.8400 (Benjamin, Comrie, Hoylman) / A.9789 (Braunstein)
Authorizes the City of New York to establish a revenue stabilization fund, or Rainy Day Fund, and to
utilize said fund during times of economic crisis without violating municipal accounting standards set
forth in the Financial Emergency Act (FEA) for the City of New York.

Proponents: City of New York
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 59-3 (Lanza, Martinez, O’Mara)
Chapter 118

Expanded Recycling Program in New York City Parks
S.4337 (Serrano, Addabbo, Bailey, Hoylman, Krueger, Savino) / A.3395 (Colton)
Requires further expansion of New York City’s existing recycling program to ensure that every park,
playground, historic site, and other recreational facility has the necessary recycling bins and signage
directing visitors to recycle.

Proponents: Environmental Advocates of New York, New York State School Boards Association
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 58-1 (O’Mara)
Assembly Vote: None
29

None

SIGNIFICANT BILLS THAT PASSED NEITHER HOUSE
Vacant Commercial Property Tax

S.5952 (Jackson) / A.6997 (Rosenthal)
Imposes a fee on New York City property owners who allow their commercial property to remain vacant
for six months or more.

Proponents: New York City Mayor’s Office
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
UNRESOLVED ISSUES

Pied-a-Terre Tax
S.44A (Hoylman, Bailey, Benjamin, Biaggi, Brooks, Carlucci, Comrie, Gaughran, Gianaris,
Gounardes, Jackson, Kaplan, Kavanagh, Kennedy, Liu, May, Metzger, Myrie, Ramos, Rivera,
Salazar, Sanders, Sepúlveda, Serrano, Stavisky) / A.4540A (Glick)
Imposes an additional tax surcharge on non-primary residence class one and class two properties in New
York City.

Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
HEARINGS AND FORUMS

Joint Hearing of the Senate Committees on Cities, Health, Labor, Local Government, and Women’s
Issues; the Assembly Committees on Cities, Health, Labor, and Local Governments, and the Assembly
Task Forces on Pacific Americans, Puerto Rican & Hispanic Americans, and Women’s Issues;
and the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus. Exploring solutions to the
disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on minority communities (May 18, 2020).
Joint Hearing of the Senate Committees on Energy & Telecommunications, Environmental

Conservation, Corporations, Authorities & Commissions, Veterans, Homeland Security, & Military
Affairs, Local Government, and Cities; and the Assembly Committees on Corporations, Authorities &
Commissions, Energy, Environmental Conservation, Governmental Operations, Local Governments,
and Cities. To address the emergency storm response and customer communication by utilities located
in New York City, Long Island, Westchester County, and the greater Hudson Valley after Tropical Storm
Isaias (August 20, 2020).
30
CIVIL SERVICE & PENSIONS
Analyst: Jellisa Joseph
(518) 455-2825
Extends the September 11 Worker Protection Task Force Act

S.8129 (Gounardes) / A. 10249 (Pheffer Amato)
Extends the expiration of the September 11th Worker Protection Task Force Act to June 10, 2025. The
duties of the Task Force are also increased, requiring them to: study the average processing time for
disability claims and notices of participation; lack of coverage for public employees who participated
in cleanup, recovery or rescue efforts; the appeals process for claims; opportunities to synchronize the
federal and state programs; and methods for identifying all participants in the rescue, recovery and
cleanup efforts.
Proponents: AFL-CIO, DC 37
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
COVID-19 Death Benefit

S.8427 (Gounardes) / A.10528 (Abbate)
This bill provides a COVID-19 accidental death benefit to the beneficiaries of public employees who
died of the virus. Eligibility for the benefit is extended to individuals who physically reported to work
on or after March 1, 2020, contracted COVID-19 within 45 days of reporting to work, and subsequently
died with the virus as the cause of their death.
Proponents: CSEA, NYSNA, NYSUT

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 61-0
Chapter 89
Relates to Investment of Moneys of Retirement Funds in Foreign Equity Securities

S.5414F (Gounardes) / No Same As
This bill increases the permissible percentage of pension funds that retirement systems are allowed to
invest in foreign equity securities, from 10% to 20%.
Proponents: DC 37, NYSUT, Teachers’ Retirement System of the City of NY

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 57-3 (Borrello, Lanza, Ritchie)
Assembly Vote: None
31
Creation of an Annual Report Detailing the Race and Ethnicity of Individuals Who Take a Civil
Service Exam
S.5062 (Parker) / A.6692 (Ramos)
This bill directs the President of the Civil Service Commission to prepare an annual report detailing the
race and ethnicity of individuals who take a civil service exam approved by the Commission. The report
would be transmitted to the Legislature and be made available to the public on the department’s website.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
None.
HEARINGS & FORUMS
Hearing of the Senate Committee on Civil Service and Pensions. Exploring the idea of establishing a
civil service pipeline (February 21, 2020).
32
CODES
Analysts: Dorothy Powell and Chris Alexander
(518) 455-2850 and (518) 455-2486

Protect Our Courts Act
S.425A (Hoylman, Addabbo, Bailey, Benjamin, Biaggi, Breslin, Carlucci, Comrie, Felder,
Gaughran, Gianaris, Gounardes, Harckham, Jackson, Kaminsky, Kaplan, Kavanagh, Kennedy,
Krueger, Liu, Martinez, May, Mayer, Montgomery, Myrie, Parker, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera,
Salazar, Sanders, Savino, Sepúlveda, Serrano, Stavisky, Thomas) / A.2176A (Solages)
Prohibits civil arrests of parties to or witnesses in court proceedings, as well as their family and
household members, when that person is on their way to, attending, or returning from a court proceeding
that they are attending in good faith. The bill further establishes that violating this provision constitutes
contempt of court and false imprisonment, which could result in civil causes of action that can be
brought by either the arrested party or the Attorney General.
Proponents: Immigrant Defense Project, Action Together Rochester, Bethel Baptist Church WP, Make
the Road New York, Planned Parenthood Empire State, Sanctuary for Families, 32BJ SEIU, NYCLU,
Sanctuary for Families, UAW
Opponents: None
LaValle, O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach, Serino, Seward, Tedisco)
Police Statistics & Transparency (STAT) Act

S.1830C (Hoylman, Bailey Benjamin, Biaggi, Breslin, Carlucci, Comrie, Gianaris, Gounardes,
Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Liu, May, Montgomery, Myrie, Parker, Ramos, Rivera, Salazar,
Sanders, Savino, Sepúlveda, Serrano, Thomas) / A.10609 (Lentol)
Requires the court system to record data regarding crimes charged, the demographics of the defendants,
the dispositions, and certain procedural information. This bill additionally requires law enforcement
agencies to record and report to the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) certain data regarding
arrest-related deaths.
Proponents: Communities United for Police Reform; Justice Committee; Katal Center for Health, Equity,
& Justice; Law Enforcement Action Partnership; Legal Aid Society; Local 372; Retail, Wholesale and
Department Store Union
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-2 (Funke, Helming)
Chapter: 102
33
Special Investigator for Police-Involved Killings
S.2574C (Bailey, Benjamin, Biaggi, Breslin, Carlucci, Comrie, Gianaris, Hoylman, Jackson,
Kavanagh, Krueger, Liu, May, Montgomery, Myrie, Parker, Ramos, Rivera, Salazar, Sanders,
Savino, Sepúlveda, Serrano) / A.1601C (Perry)
Establishes a permanent Office of Special Investigation within the Office of the Attorney General for the
investigation of police-involved killings of civilians.

Proponents: Center for Constitutional Rights; Katal Center for Health, Equity, & Justice; Communities
United for Police Reform; Local 372; New York State Nurses Association; Retail Wholesale and
Department Store Union; Gathering for Justice, Justice Committee, Make the Road NY, Take on Hate,
Youth Represent
Opponents: NYC PBA, Police Conference of New York, Suffolk County PBA
Senate Vote: 45-17 (Akshar, Borrello, Boyle, Flanagan, Funke, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Jacobs,
Jordan, Lanza, LaValle, O’Mara, Ortt, Ritchie, Seward, Tedisco)
Chapter 95
Allows Court Fees to be Waived for Young Defendants

S.3457 (Montgomery, Bailey, Benjamin, Biaggi, Breslin, Gounardes, Jackson, Liu, Parker,
Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, Salazar, Sanders, Sepúlveda, Thomas) / A.5045 (Davila)
Allows defendants under the age of 21 at the time of the crime to have mandatory fees and surcharges
waived when there is a financial hardship.

Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 41-19 (Akshar, Amedore, Antonacci, Boyle, Funke, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Jordan,
LaValle, Little, O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach, Serino, Seward, Tedisco)
Chapter 144
Establishes the Law Enforcement Misconduct Investigative Office

S.3595C (Parker, Bailey, Breslin, Brooks, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Liu, May, Sanders,
Serrano) / A.10002B (Taylor)
Establishes the Law Enforcement Misconduct Investigative Office within the Department of Law, and
grants the Office of Attorney General (OAG) the jurisdiction to investigate all police agencies in the
State. The OAG would have the authority to investigate complaints and cases involving corruption and
abuse of office. The OAG would have the power to issue reports and make recommendations regarding
these cases.
Proponents: Local 372; Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union

Opponents: Police Conference of NY, Inc.
Senate Vote: 41-21 (Akshar, Amedore, Borrello, Boyle, Flanagan, Funke, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming,
Jacobs, Jordan, Lanza, LaValle, Little, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach, Serino, Seward, Tedisco)
Chapter 104
34
Gender Neutral Bathrooms
S.6479A (Salazar, Bailey, Biaggi, Carlucci, Gaughran, Jackson, Kaplan, Krueger, Liu, Myrie,
Ramos, Skoufis, Stavisky) / A.5240A (O’Donnell)
Requires all single occupancy bathrooms to be gender neutral in school districts, charter schools, SUNY,
CUNY, community colleges, restaurants, bars, mercantile establishments, factories, and State-owned or
operated buildings.
Proponents: NYSUT
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 52-8 (Akshar, Amedore, Funke, Griffo, Helming, Ortt, Seward, Tedisco)
Eric Garner Anti-Chokehold Act

S.6670B (Benjamin, Bailey, Biaggi, Breslin, Carlucci, Comrie, Gounardes, Hoylman, Jackson,
Kavanagh, Liu, Montgomery, Ramos, Salazar, Sanders, Savino, Sepúlveda, Serrano) / A.6144B
(Mosley)
Establishes the criminal offense of Aggravated Strangulation. A person is guilty of Aggravated
Strangulation when they commit the already-existing crime of criminal obstruction of breathing or blood
circulation or use a chokehold or similar restraint, when the action results in the serious injury or death
of another, and when they are a police officer or peace officer.

Senate Vote: 62-0
Chapter 94
Approval Memo 1
S.6758B (Kaminsky, Brooks, Gaughran, Kaplan, Martinez, Thomas, Boyle, Addabbo, Bailey,
Biaggi, Comrie, Serrano, Skoufis) / A.10803A (Englebright)
Establishes new criminal offenses for the illegal disposal of solid waste and construction and demolition
waste.
Proponents: Citizens Campaign for the Environment, New York League of Conservation Voters
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 57-3 (Akshar, Amedore, Griffo)
911 False Reporting

S.8492 (Parker, Bailey, Benjamin, Biaggi, Brooks, Comrie, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Liu,
Montgomery, Ramos, Savino, Serrano) / A.1531B (Richardson)
Establishes a private right of action for a member of a protected class when another person summons
a police or peace officer on them without reason to suspect a crime or an imminent threat to person or
property existed.
35
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 56-6 (Borrello, Helming, Jacobs, Jordan, O’Mara, Ortt)
Chapter 93
Requires New York State Police Officers to Wear Body Cameras

S. 8493 (Parker, Bailey) / A.8674A (Walker)
Establishes a body-worn camera program within the Division of State Police and requires all State Police
Officers to wear body cameras while on duty.

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 61-1 (Ortt)
Chapter: 105
Repeal of Civil Rights Law Section 50-a

S.8496 (Bailey, Sepúlveda, Benjamin, Biaggi, Breslin, Carlucci, Comrie, Gianaris, Hoylman,
Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Liu, May, Montgomery, Myrie, Parker, Ramos, Rivera, Salazar,
Sanders, Savino, Serrano, Stavisky) / A.10611 (O’Donnell)
Repeals Civil Rights Law § 50-a, which shielded the personnel and disciplinary records of police
officers, correction officers, firefighters and firefighter/paramedics from public disclosure.
Proponents: Communities United for Police Reform; Dow Jones; Katal Center for Health, Equity, &
Justice; Local 372; New York State Nurses Association; Citizens Union; Common Cause; League of
Women Voters; NYPIRG; Reinvent Albany; Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union; 1199 SEIU
Opponents: City Employees Union Local 237, Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association
Jacobs, Jordan, Lanza, LaValle, Little, O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach, Serino, Seward,
Tedisco)
Chapter 96

Elimination of Rape Intoxication Loophole
S.6679C (Biaggi, Carlucci, Gounardes, Jackson, Liu, Myrie, Sepúlveda) / A.8634C (Dinowitz)
Establishes that a person can be considered mentally incapacitated for the purposes of establishing a lack
of consent to sex acts when intoxicated, regardless of whether the victim is voluntarily or involuntarily
intoxicated.
Proponents: Cyrus Vance, Jr., District Attorney of New York County
36
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 59-1 (Savino)
Assembly Vote: None
Scott J. Beigel Unfinished Receiver Act

S.7762 (Kaplan, Hoylman, Biaggi, Brooks, Gaughran, Gounardes, Kavanagh, Liu, May, Thomas) /
A.9945 (Lavine)
Prohibits the possession of unfinished frames or receivers of firearms, rifles, or shotguns except by
licensed gunsmiths.
Proponents: Everytown for Gun Safety, Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence
Opponents: None
Assembly Vote: None
Jose Webster Untraceable Firearms Act

S.7763 (Hoylman, Kaplan, Biaggi, Gaughran, Gounardes, Kavanagh, Liu, May) / A.9903
(Rosenthal)
Establishes criminal penalties for the possession and sale of guns that do not bear a serial number.
Requires gunsmiths to add a serial number to all guns and register them with the Division of State
Police.
Proponents: Everytown for Gun Safety, Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence
Opponents: None.
Senate Vote: 43-17 (Akshar, Amedore, Borrello, Funke, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Jordan, Little,
O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach, Serino, Seward, Tedisco)
Assembly Vote: None
Prohibition on Racial Profiling

S.8495 (Benjamin, Bailey, Comrie, Harckham, Jackson, Liu, May, Parker, Ramos, Salazar,
Sanders, Sepúlveda, Serrano) / No Same As
Prohibits racial profiling by police and peace officers and requires every police department across the
state to develop written policies to address racial profiling in the department and to create procedures
that allow for the review of complaints of racial profiling by individuals who allege that they have been
the subject of racial profiling.
Proponents: Local 372

Opponents: Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association
Senate Vote: 62-0
Assembly Vote: None
37

Expands Record Sealing for Trafficking Victims
S.4981B (Ramos, Salazar, Bailey, Carlucci, Comrie, Gianaris, Gounardes, Hoylman, Jackson,
Krueger, Liu, Montgomery, Myrie, Parker, Rivera, Sepúlveda, Serrano, Stavisky) / A.6983B
(Gottfried)
Expands availability of record sealing for victims of human trafficking and requires confidentiality.

Proponents: Adhikaar, Brooklyn Defender Services, Center for Constitutional Rights, GMHC, Legal Aid
Society, New York State Defenders Association, New York City Bar Association, Sanctuary for Families
Opponents: None
Senate: None

UNRESOLVED ISSUES

Eliminating the Crime of Loitering for the Purposes of Prostitution
S.2253 (Hoylman, Salazar, Addabbo, Bailey, Benjamin, Biaggi, Breslin, Brooks, Carlucci, Comrie,
Gaughran, Gianaris, Gounardes, Harckham, Jackson, Kaminsky, Kaplan, Kavanagh, Kennedy,
Krueger, Liu, May, Mayer, Metzger, Montgomery, Myrie, Parker, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera,
Sanders, Savino, Sepúlveda, Serrano, Stavisky, Thomas) / A.654 (Paulin)
Eliminates the crime of Loitering for the Purpose of Engaging in Prostitution. This offense has typically
been used to charge individuals who dress or look unusual. Advocates argue that communities of color
and transgender individuals are targeted for enforcement of this offense.

Proponents: Bronx Defenders, Brooklyn Defender Services, Center for Constitutional Rights, Cornell
Law School, David Geffen Center for HIV Prevention and Health Education, GMHC, Legal Aid Society,
LGBTQ+ Democratic Clubs of NYC, NOW NYC, NY County Defender Services, Sanctuary for
Families
Opponents: None
Senate: None
Assembly: None

HEARINGS AND FORUMS
Hearing of the Senate Committees on Judiciary, Codes, and Housing, Construction and Community
Development. To examine the re-opening and operation of New York’s courts during the COVID-19
pandemic (August 21, 2020).
38
COMMERCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AND SMALL BUSINESS
Analyst: Jellisa Joseph
(518) 455-2825
Requires Publication of Information on Programs for Small Business and MWBES

S.4429 (Parker, Kennedy) / A.4921 (Blake)
Requires Empire State Development (ESD) to post information related to State programs providing
assistance to small businesses or minority and women-owned business enterprises (MWBE) on their
website. Gives ESD discretion to decide which programs to feature, as long as the posted information
includes program descriptions, the type of assistance offered, application information, and contact
information for the entity offering such aid on the ESD website.
Proponents: Business Council

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 57-0
Requires the Division of Small Business to Publish a Small Business Compliance Guide
S.6800A (Metzger) / A. 10769 (Stirpe)
Directs the Division of Small Business (DSB) to publish a guide of statutory and regulatory changes
that impact small business owners. Requires DSB to engage in a public awareness campaign designed to
ensure owners and operators are educated about changes in law and the best ways to comply.
Proponents: NFIB, Unshackle Upstate

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 58-0
Use of Innovative Techniques and Petitioning in Certain State Agencies

S.1265 (Gianaris) / A.6859 (Ortiz)
Authorizes the use of innovative techniques to expand access to public hearings. Creates a three-year
pilot program to allow the public to submit a petition to trigger a public hearing on a proposed rule in the
Workers’ Compensation Board and the Departments of Education, Environmental Conservation, Health,
Financial Services, Labor and Family Assistance.
Proponents: NFIB
39
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 61-0
Assembly Vote: None
Direct Interstate and Intrastate Cider Shipments
S.2827 (May) / A.2471 (Fahy)
Permits the interstate and intrastate direct shipment of cider, as currently allowed for wine.
Proponents: Farm Bureau; NYS Cider Association

Opponents: NYS Beer Wholesalers Association
Senate Vote: 61-1 (Amedore)
Assembly Vote: None
Establishes the Small Business Crime Prevention Services Program

S.7123 (Persaud) / No Same As
Establishes the small business crime prevention services program, within the Division of Small
Business, to provide small businesses with information on strategies, best practices, and programs
offering training and assistance in prevention of crimes in and around the premises of small businesses
or otherwise affecting small businesses. Authorizes ESD to provide loans to small businesses,
municipalities and not-for-profit corporations for the purpose of preventing crimes against small
businesses.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 58-0
Assembly Vote: None
Directs Certain Departments to Designate a Small Business Liaison

S.7357 (Kaplan) / A.10187 (McDonald)
Directs the Departments of Agriculture & Markets, Environmental Conservation, Labor, Transportation
and Taxation & Finance to designate an existing employee to serve as a liaison between small businesses
and the agency.
Proponents: Unshackle Upstate, NFIB

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 59-0
Assembly Vote: None
Directs ESD to Establish a Buy NY PPE Directory

S.8451 (Kaplan) / No Same As
Authorizes ESD to develop a public awareness campaign promoting in-State PPE manufacturing
businesses. The campaign must include an internet website with information about the various
manufacturing businesses and their available products on a Buy NY PPE directory with contact
information for the businesses. ESD must also post any incentives available on their website.
40
Proponents: MACNY
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 58-2 (Borrello, Ortt)
Assembly Vote: None
None
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
None
HEARINGS & FORUMS
Finance, Agriculture, Banks, and Insurance; the Assembly Committees on Small Business, Ways and
Means, Agriculture, Banks, and Insurance, the Assembly Office of State Federal Relations and the
41
CONSUMER PROTECTION
Analyst: Jessica Persaud
(518) 455-2718
Prohibits Price Gouging of Medical Supplies During a Public Health Emergency

S.8189 (Hoylman, Addabbo, Benjamin, Brooks, Carlucci, Comrie, Gaughran, Jackson, Kaplan,
Kennedy, Liu, May. Montgomery, Rivera, Sepúlveda, Skoufis) / A.10270 (Rozic)
Amends the price gouging statute to include essential medical supplies and services and other essential
goods and services used to promote the health or welfare of the public.
Proponents: Consumer Reports; Health Plan Association; NYPIRG; NYSUT; Office of the Attorney
General
Opponents: None
Chapter 90
Prohibits Auto-Renewals Without Consent and Disclosure of Terms

S.1475A (Hoylman) / A.3173 (Dinowitz)
Makes it unlawful for a business to make an automatic renewal to a consumer in New York without
presenting the terms in a clear and conspicuous manner, obtaining the consumer’s consent prior to
charging, and failing to disclose a cancellation policy.
Proponents: TechNet
Opponents: Magazine Media; Magazine Publishers of America; Direct Marketing Association; CTIA
Senate Vote: 59-0
Increases and Expands the Protections in New York’s Telemarketing Laws

S.6327 (Parker, Liu, May, Mayer, Metzger, Persaud) / A.7490 (DenDekker)
Increases and expands the protections of New York’s telemarketing laws by expanding the definition of
“telemarketing” to include not only sales calls but also text messages.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 61-1 (Flanagan)
Assembly Vote: None
42
Prohibits Price Gouging for a Drug Subject to a Shortage
S.3654 (Salazar, Carlucci)
Prohibits price gouging for drugs subject to a shortage, defined as any drug or medical product
intended for human use publicly reported as being subject to a shortage by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) on its website.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 59-1 (Flanagan)
Assembly: None
Clarifies the Definition of Imitation Weapon

S.35 (Hoylman) / A.7355 (Abinanti)
Strengthens New York’s law restricting the sale of authentic-looking toy guns (“imitation weapons”),
by clarifying the definition of excluded toy guns. Imitation weapons would not be toy guns if they are
translucent, predominantly white or some other bright color, and/or toy guns with identifying features
such as a manufacturer stamp or an attached laser pointer.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 44-16 (Akshar, Amedore, Borrello, Funke, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Jordan, Little,
O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Serino, Seward, Tedisco)
Assembly Vote: None
Prevents the Unnecessary Filing of Personal Identifying Information with Government Entities
that May Become Public Record
S.2121 (Sanders) / A.3349 (Englebright)
Limits the filing of unnecessary personal information with government entities. Restricts individuals or
businesses from creating an instrument containing personal identifying information that is to be filed
with or submitted to an agency, if the information is not relevant and necessary, or required by federal,
state, or local law, rule, regulation, or court rule.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None. Died on Third Reading
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
Expands the Unfair, Deceptive and Abusive Practices (UDAP) Statute

S.2407C (Comrie, Bailey, Biaggi, Gianaris, Gounardes, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger,
Liu, May, Montgomery, Myrie, Parker, Ramos, Rivera, Salazar, Sepúlveda, Skoufis, Thomas) /
A.679C (Niou)
43
Establishes standing for persons affected by prohibited or unlawful business practices and expands
prohibited acts to include unfair, unlawful, deceptive and abusive acts.
Proponents: African Communities Together; Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development,
Inc.; AARP New York; Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project; Brooklyn Community
Bail Fund; Carroll Garden Association; Center for NYC Neighborhoods; Community Service Society
(CSS);Consumer Reports; CAMBA Legal Services; DC 37 Municipal Employees Legal Services;
Empire Justice Center; Genesee Co-op Federal Credit Union; Law Professors Coalition; Legal Aid
Society; Legal Services NYC; Lower East Side Peoples Federal Credit Union; Make the Road NY;
Mobilization for Justice; National Association of Consumer Advocates; National Center for Law and
Economic Justice; New Economy Project; New York County Defender Services; New York Immigration
Coalition; New York Legal Assistance Group; New York State Attorney General; New Yorkers for
Responsible Lending; NYC Veterans Alliance; NYPIRG; Queens Volunteer Lawyers Project, Inc.;
Rockland Housing Action Coalition; Syracuse College of Law; Urban Justice Center; Vocal NY; Western
New York Law Center, Inc.;32BJ SEIU
Opponents: American International Group; American Property Casualty Insurance Association; Council
of Insurance Brokers of Greater New York; Garnet River; Greater NY Automobile Dealers Association;
Innovative Lending Platform Association; Lawsuit Reform Alliance of NY; Life Insurance Council of
New York; New York Insurance Association; NYS Creditors Bar Association; Professional Insurance
Agents of New York, et al; RBA and Multiple Organizations; RM Logistics; Unshackle Upstate;
Partnership NYC
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
The New York Privacy Act

S.5642 (Thomas, Carlucci, Kaminsky, May, Myrie) / A.8526 (Rosenthal L)
Enacts the New York Privacy Act to require companies to disclose their methods of de-identifying
personal information, to place special safeguards around data sharing, and to allow consumers to obtain
the names of all entities with whom their information is shared.
Proponents: NYCLU, Consumer Reports

Opponents: TechNYC, Internet Association
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
The Twenty-First Century Antitrust Act

S.8700 (Gianaris, May) / A.10870 (Dinowitz)
Expands the prohibition on the formation of monopolies in the Donnelly Act to unilateral actions or
practices that would restrain competition and trade, in addition to contracts and agreements.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate: None
Assembly: None
44
Licensing Debt Collection Agencies
S.2343A (Kavanagh) / A.7191B (Gunther)
Requires debt collection agencies to be licensed by the State.
Proponents: NYS Creditors Bar Association

Opponents: NYS Collectors Association
Senate: None
Assembly: None
Prohibits Price Gouging of Pharmaceuticals

S.141 (Carlucci, Benjamin, Gaughran, Gianaris, Hoylman, Jackson, May, Salazar) / A.6606
(Crespo)
Prohibits manufacturers or wholesalers of pharmaceuticals from selling products for an unconscionably
excessive price.
Proponents: AARP
Opponents: Association for Accessible Medicines; PhRMA Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers
of America
Senate: None
Assembly: None
Enacts the Consumer Litigation Funding Act

S.4555 (Kaplan, Ortt, Skoufis) / A.6764 (Magnarelli)
Regulates third-party litigation financing by the Department of State. This legislation establishes
contract requirements for consumer litigation financing companies, including requiring contracts to
contain a right of rescission.
Proponents: Lawsuit Reform Alliance of NY; NY Insurance Association

Opponents: None.
Senate: None
Assembly: None
HEARINGS OR FORUMS
None
45
CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND
COMMISSIONS
Analyst: Mobeen Bhatti
(518) 455-2045
Authorizes ESD to Assist Creation of Worker Cooperatives

S.2176 (Bailey) / A.10156 (Stirpe)
Authorizes ESD to provide loans, loan guarantees, and interest subsidies to facilitate the creation of
worker cooperatives that promote the continuation of existing micro-businesses with five or fewer full-
time employees.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 61-1 (Skoufis)
Rollback of Restrictions on Cemetery Mergers

S.7155 (Comrie) / A.9089 (Paulin)
Lifts several restrictions relating to location and size on mergers and acquisition of cemetery
corporations. Facilitates efforts by financially stable cemeteries to merge with or acquire cemeteries after
Cemetery Board approval.
Proponents: NYS Association of Cemeteries; City of Utica

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
State Disaster Emergency Loan Program through IDAs

S.8181A (May) / A.10294A (Stirpe)
Authorizes each Industrial Development Agency (IDA) to establish its own State Disaster Emergency
Loan Program in response to COVID-19. Allows IDAs to give interest free loans of up to $25,000 and
grants of up to $10,000 to small businesses or organizations during the period of the declared public
health emergency.
Proponents: National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 62-0
Chapter 109
46
Online Sale of Cemetery Lots
S.8408 (Comrie) / A7652A (Paulin)
Enables cemetery corporations to enter into contracts with third parties to develop an online platform to
sell lots and other services. Requires any fees collected by third parties to be set in the contract and to be
independent of the value of goods being sold to prevent commercial exploitation of burial lots.
Proponents: NYS Association of Cemeteries

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 62-0
Chapter 119
Food Retail Establishment Subsidization for Healthy Communities Act

S.584A (Kennedy) / Similar to A.7903 (Ortiz)
Authorizes the Empire State Development Corporation to provide loans, loan guarantees, interest
subsidies, and grants to businesses, municipalities, not-for-profit corporations, or local development
corporations for the purpose of attracting, maintaining, or permitting the expansion of food retail
establishments in underserved areas.
Proponents: Food Industry Alliance of New York State, Inc.; NYCOM.

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 53-7 (Akshar, Griffo, Little, Ranzenhofer, Serino, Skoufis, Tedisco)
Assembly Vote: None
MWBE Loans for Refinancing Debt

S.2296A (Sanders) / A.1819A (Bichotte)
Allows businesses receiving funds from the Minority and Women-Owned Business Development and
Lending Program to use those funds to refinance existing debt that has unreasonable terms such as
excessive interest rates and over-collateralization.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 62-0
Assembly Vote: None
Expands Service of Process to the Department of State Office in the City of New York
S.3348 (Hoylman) / A.3300 (Dinowitz)
Requires the Department of State to authorize appropriate persons at the New York City branch to accept
service of process so that service of process documents may be collected there in addition to Albany.
Proponents: New York State Trial Lawyers Association (NYSTLA)
47
Opponents: Business Council
Senate Vote: 46-14 (Akshar, Amedore, Borrello, Breslin, Funke, Griffo, Jordan, LaValle, O’Mara, Ortt,
Robach, Seward, Tedisco)
Assembly Vote: None
MTA Exemption from Reimbursement for State Governmental Services

S.3669 (Gianaris) / No Same As
Currently, the public authorities are charged for the recovery of state governmental costs for certain
services the State provides to such entities such as personal service costs, maintenance and operation
of state equipment and facilities, and other contractual services that are not otherwise reimbursed. This
legislation exempts Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) from this charge at a time when MTA
needs all of its funding to upgrade its services. The State had been charging MTA $4.9 million annually,
which has been waived since 2017 owing to funding shortages at MTA. This bill makes that waiver
permanent.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
LaValle, Little, O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach, Serino, Seward, Tedisco)
Assembly Vote: None
Notice to Unsuccessful MWBE Bidders

S.5338A (Comrie) / No Same As
Requires public authorities, public benefit corporations, and State agencies to provide an explanation
to each minority- or women-owned business enterprise (MWBE) that is unsuccessful in a bid for a
procurement contract no later than 30 days after the contract is awarded.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 57-0
Assembly Vote: None
North Shore Water Authority

S.6491B (Gaughran) / A.9674A (Lavine)
Creates a new public benefit corporation called the Water Authority of North Shore to take over the
water supply system in the northwest portion of the Nassau county, including the village of Sea Cliff,
portions of the village of Old Brookville, the village of Roslyn Harbor, the unincorporated hamlets of
Glenwood Landing and Glen Head, and the city of Glen Cove. The purpose of this authority would be to
protect, preserve, and enhance the quality and quantity of the water within its supply area.
Proponents: North Shore Concerned Citizens; Glen Head - Glenwood Civil Council.
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 58-2 (Kaminsky, Skoufis)
Assembly Vote: None
48
None
Attorney General and Comptroller Review for Property Disposition

S2759 (Comrie) / No Same As
Requires public authorities to seek approval from the Comptroller and Attorney General before
disposing of real property with an estimated fair market value exceeding $250,000 to a private entity.
Provides 90 days for the Attorney General or Comptroller to disapprove such sales.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Creates a Searchable Database of Deals

S.2815 (Comrie) / No Same As
Requires the Empire State Development Corporation (ESD) to create and maintain a searchable and
downloadable public database of all the economic development benefits and subsidies awarded by or
through ESD worth $10,000 or more and all tax credits or exemptions through any state agency.
Proponents: Civil Service Employees Association; Reinvent Albany.

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Unified Economic Development Budget and Database of Deals

S.3364 (Krueger) / A.8444 (Buchwald)
Requires the Division of Budget to provide information on any State tax expenditure, grants or loans,
or development assistance programs to promote business relocation in its annual tax expenditure report.
Requires use of a standardized application for development assistance.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Applies FOIL, Open Meetings Law, Financial Disclosure and a Code of Ethics to Regional
Economic Development Councils
S.4290 (Skoufis) / A.1596 (Abinanti)
Makes REDCs subject to the Freedom of Information Law and the Open Meetings Law sections of
49
the New York State Public Officers Law. Requires these entities to maintain and publish a record of all
proposals submitted to them through the consolidated funding application process. Subjects all members
of the REDCs to the Code of Ethics provisions provided in the Public Officers Law.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Local Development Corporation Accountability Standards

S.7855 (Liu) / No Same As
Clarifies the statutes governing public authorities to apply existing accountability standards, open
meetings law, and freedom of information requirements to local development corporations.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
Port Authority Reform: The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey turns 100 years old in 2021.
As it approaches its centenary, the Port Authority faces significant problems in planning, delivering and
maintaining infrastructure that is instrumental to economic growth in the region. Lack of governance
and operational inefficiency have seriously limited the Authority’s ability to deliver critical services.
There have been several attempts to institute wide scale reforms at the Authority since 2015; however,
for any changes to take effect, both New York and New Jersey statutes need to have identical language.
Therefore, any discussion has to be a six party negotiation. In the past years, it has been difficult to reach
a six-way agreement.
Reporting & Open Data: While most of the public authorities try to comply with reporting
requirements, their reporting mechanisms use outdated technology that make it harder for good
government groups and the public at large to adequately evaluate their performance or utilize the data
provided to develop creative solutions. Additionally, there is little standardization or control when it
comes to authorities’ reporting performance metrics. There is a continued need to update laws and direct
public authorities to report using means consistent with modern technological standards.
Disposal of Property by Public Authorities: There have several instances where public authorities
have applied the statute differently when complying with the requirements for disposition of property.
Additionally, there have been ongoing issues with reports and notices for such sales. The Authorities
Budget Office has requested additional authority to enforce and penalize violations of the requirements,
and the Comptroller’s office has asked for clearer language.
50
HEARINGS AND FORUMS

Joint Hearing of the Senate Committees on Transportation and Corporations, Authorities &
Commissions and the Assembly Committee on Corporations, Authorities & Commissions. Impact of
COVID-19 on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Public Transportation (August 25, 2020).
51
CRIME VICTIMS, CRIME & CORRECTIONS
Analyst: Chris Alexander
(518) 455-2486

Close to Home Act
S.724A (Montgomery, Bailey, Benjamin, Biaggi, Carlucci, Krueger, Liu, Mayer, Myrie, Ramos,
Rivera, Salazar, Sanders, Sepúlveda, Serrano) / A.6710A (Rozic)
Requires the Department of Correction and Community Supervision (DOCCS) to consider the current
residence of the children of incarcerated individuals when determining where to place those individuals.

Proponents: New York State Defenders Association, Osbourne Association
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 49-11 (Akshar, Amedore, Borrello, Boyle, Funke, Griffo, Helming, Jordan, Little, Ortt,
Ritchie)

Correctional Association of New York Oversight Authority
S.8046 (Sepúlveda, Carlucci, Hoylman, Liu, Myrie, Rivera, Sanders) / A.10194 (Weprin)
Codifies the authority of the Correctional Association of New York to access, visit, inspect, examine, and
provide general non-disciplinary oversight over State correctional facilities.

Proponents: Correctional Association of New York, Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC), John Jay College
Institute for Justice and Opportunity
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 38-22 (Akshar, Amedore, Borrello, Boyle, Funke, Gallivan, Griffo, Harckham, Helming,
Jordan, Lanza, LaValle, Little, O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach, Serino, Seward, Skoufis,
Tedisco)


None

None

Fair and Timely Release
52
S.497A (Rivera, Comrie, Hoylman, Jackson, Montgomery, Myrie, Parker, Ramos, Salazar,
Sanders, Sepúlveda, Serrano, Thomas) / A.4346A (Weprin)
Alters the standard used by the parole board in making release determinations by shifting focus from
the original conviction towards efforts made toward rehabilitation by the individual and any remaining
public safety risk that they may pose.

Proponents: Albany Social Justice Center, Brooklyn Community Bail Fund, Brooklyn Defender
Services, Citizen Action of New York, College and Community Fellowship, Correctional Association of
New York, Downstate Coalition for Crime Victims, Eric Forman Law Office, Hands of Hope Outreach
Ministries, MomsRising, NYCAIC HALTsolitary, Release Aging People in Prison, The Riverside
Church Prison Ministry, Vocal NY, Witness Against Torture
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None

Elder Parole
S.2144 (Hoylman, Comrie, Jackson, Krueger, Montgomery, Myrie, Parker, Ramos, Rivera,
Salazar, Sanders, Sepúlveda, Serrano, Thomas) / A.9040 (De La Rosa)
Grants parole consideration to individuals who are over the age of 55 and have served at least 15 years
of their sentence.

Proponents: Albany Social Justice Center, Brooklyn Community Bail Fund, Brooklyn Defender
Services, Citizen Action of New York, College and Community Fellowship, Correctional Association of
New York, Downstate Coalition for Crime Victims, Eric Forman Law Office, Hands of Hope Outreach
Ministries, MomsRising, NYCAIC HALTsolitary, Release Aging People in Prison, The Riverside
Church Prison Ministry, Union Theological Seminary, Vocal NY, Witness Against Torture
Opponents: NYS PEF
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
Humane Alternatives to Long-Term (HALT) Solitary Confinement Act

S.1623 (Sepúlveda, Addabbo, Bailey, Benjamin, Biaggi, Breslin, Brooks, Carlucci, Comrie, Felder,
Gaughran, Gianaris, Gounardes, Harckham, Hoylman, Jackson, Kaplan, Kavanagh, Krueger,
Liu, May, Mayer, Montgomery, Myrie, Parker, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, Salazar, Sanders, Savino,
Serrano, Stavisky, Thomas) / A.2500 (Aubry)
Restricts the use of segregated confinement in state prisons and county jails, limits the lengths of time
individuals can be held in segregated confinement, and establishes alternative rehabilitative measures
including the creation of residential rehabilitation units.
Proponents: Beacon Prison Action; Hour Children, Inc.; Indivisible Brooklyn; Just Leadership USA;
National Lawyers Guild New York City Chapter; New York City Jericho Movement; New York Lawyers
for the Public Interest; New York State Catholic Conference; NYCLU; NYS Mental Health Counselors
53
Association; NYS Psychological Association; Pace University Law School; Robert F. Kennedy Human
Rights; T’ruah; Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Poughkeepsie; Western NY Peace Center; Women
& Justice Project; Working Families
Opponents: Nassau County Sheriff’s Correction Officer Benevolent Association; New York City
Correction Officers Benevolent Association; New York State Sheriff’s Association; NYS PEF; NYS
Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, Inc.; Scientific Action and Advocacy Network
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None

HEARINGS AND FORUMS

None
54
CULTURAL AFFAIRS, TOURISM, PARKS

AND RECREATION
Analyst: Robert Habermann
518-455-2484
Historic Business Preservation Registry

S.7274B (Serrano, Gaughran) / A.8873A (O’Donnell)
Establishes a historic business preservation registry to serve as an educational and promotional tool to
recognize historic community-serving businesses as valuable cultural assets.
Proponents: Preservation League of NYS

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 142-0
Assembly Vote: 60-0
Reporting on the Alienation of Municipal Parkland

S.180 (Serrano) / A.3264 (Englebright)
Requires that municipalities authorized to alienate parkland file a follow-up report with the Office of
Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation attesting to compliance with the provisions of the alienation
statute.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 59-1 (Jordan)
Assembly Vote: None
Creating a Resident Curator Program for the Rehabilitation of At-Risk Structures

S.1558A (Serrano) / No Same As
Creates a Resident Curator Program within the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation
(OPRHP) authorizing the Commissioner to enter into a contractual lease agreement of up to 40 years
with a private individual or not-for-profit entity for the purpose of rehabilitating and maintaining at risk
and vacant OPRHP properties.
Proponents: Preservation League of NYS

Opponents: CSEA
Senate Vote: 61-0
Assembly Vote: None
55
Prohibits Littering on State Parklands
S.2494 (Serrano, Addabbo, Carlucci, Rivera) / A.9919 (O’Donnell)
Codifies regulations that prohibit the throwing of refuse on parklands and adjacent private lands. Makes
exemptions for the reasonable use of ashes, sand, salt, or other material for the purpose of reducing the
hazard of, or providing traction on, snow, ice, or sleet.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 61-0
Assembly Vote: None
Permits Farmers Markets in State and Local Parks

S.5822A (Metzger, Carlucci, Jordan, Martinez, May, Ritchie) / A.8294 (Barrett)
Permits the operation of farmers’ markets in state and local parks, if the markets do not harm the natural
environment or integrity of the park nor unduly burden nearby residents.
Proponents: Farm Bureau NY

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 61-0
Assembly Vote: None
Moves the Amistad Commission to the NYS Education Department

S.6445 (Jackson) / A.10052 (Taylor)
Moves the Amistad Commission from the Department of State to the NYS Education Department.
Expands the duties of the Amistad Commission to include increasing awareness of African-American
history by publicly recognizing schools doing an outstanding job teaching subjects related to the
African-American experience and offering grants to teachers who demonstrate exemplary practices
teaching subjects related to the African-American experience.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 57-0
Assembly Vote: None
Creates a Senior Trail Guide

S.7765 (Serrano, May, Gaughran, Metzger) / A.9927 (O’Donnell)
Directs the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and the Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC) to develop and post on its website a senior trail guide for walking
and hiking opportunities in the New York State park system and along public non-motorized multi-use
trails.
Proponents: AARP
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Assembly Vote: None
56
None
Establish State-Designated Arts and Cultural Districts

S.1425 (Serrano, Bailey, Comrie, Hoylman, Parker, Persaud, Ramos) / A.3723 (Gunther)
Directs the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to develop guidelines and criteria for
designating arts and cultural districts for which districts and communities may apply.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Free Use of Parks for Senior Citizens

S.2493 (Serrano, Bailey, Liu, Sanders, Savino, Stewart-Cousins) / No Same As
Provides for the free use of parks, recreation facilities and historic sites for senior citizens. Reduces the
age of a senior citizen, as defined in Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation law, from 65 to 62 years
of age.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Annual Funding for Empire State Games

S.3082 (Carlucci, Funke, Savino) / A.8188 (Cusick)
Directs the Commissioner of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) to fund
and revitalize the Empire State Games on an annual basis going forward.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
None
HEARINGS AND FORUMS
None
57
DOMESTIC ANIMAL WELFARE

(518) 455-2464
None
Requires Notification to Authorities of Animals Discovered on Vacant Property
S. 3412 (Martinez, Biaggi, Boyle, Funke, Krueger, May, Myrie, Serrano, Tedisco) / A.750
(Rosenthal)
Requires any person finding an animal on vacant property to contact authorities within six hours if the
animal appears abandoned.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 56-2 (Akshar, Amedore)
Assembly Vote: None
Authorizes Mandated Reporters to Report Animal Cruelty

S.3415A (Martinez, Biaggi, Boyle, Gaughran, Krueger, LaValle, May, Tedisco) / A.1211A (Glick)
Allows child abuse mandated reporters to report suspected animal cruelty.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 59-1 (Akshar)
Assembly Vote: None
Prohibits Sale of Dogs, Cats and Rabbits by Retail Pet Stores

S.4234A (Gianaris, Addabbo, Biaggi, Boyle, Brooks, Carlucci, Gaughran, Gounardes, Holyman,
Jackson, Kaminsky, Krueger, Liu, Martinez, Myrie, Ramos, Salazar, Serrano, Skoufis, Stavisky,
Thomas) / A.6298A (Rosenthal)
Prohibits the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in retail pet shops.
Proponents: ASPCA; Forgotten Felines; Humane Society of the United States; NYS Animal Protection
Federation; Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council; Reenies Rabbit Rescue; The League of Humane Voters
of NY; Animal Legal Defense Fund; Best Friends Animal Society; Companion Animal Protection
Society; Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association; NYS Humane Society; Voters for Animal
Rights
58
Opponents: American Kennel Club; Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP; People United to Protect Pet
Integrity
Senate Vote: 47-13 (Akshar, Amedore, Borrello, Funke, Griffo, Jordan, Lanza, Little, O’Mara, Ortt,
Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Seward)
Assembly Vote: None
Requires the Best Interests of a Pet to be Considered During Divorce Proceedings

S.6222 (Martinez, Gaughran) / A.1097 (Glick)
Requires a court to consider a pet’s best interests when awarding possession of the pet in a divorce or
separation proceeding.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 57-3 (Akshar, Funke, Ortt)
Assembly Vote: None
Prohibits the Slaughter of Retired Race Horses

S.7719 (Addabbo, Boyle, Gaughran, Helming, May, Sepúlveda) / A.9989 (Pretlow)
Prohibits the slaughter of retired racehorses, requires microchipping of all racehorses, and permits
taxpayers to contribute to the support of accredited racehorse aftercare facilities.
Proponents: NY Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Assn.; League of Humane Voters of NY

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Assembly Vote: None
None
Prohibits Slaughter of Horses for Human Consumption

S.5983B (Martinez, Addabbo) / A.7871A (Glick)
Prohibits any person from slaughtering or having another person slaughter a horse where that person
knows or should know that any part of the horse will be used for human consumption.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
59
Establishes Licensing Requirements for Non-Service and Non-Police Canine Trainers
S.7066 (Kaminsky) / A.1880 (Zebrowski)
Requires the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Markets to establish licensing and
educational standards for individuals providing canine training for non-service and non-police dogs.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Prohibits Certain Acts in Rodeos

S.7971 (Addabbo, Harckham) / A.8554 (Rosenthal)
Prohibits calf roping and the use of electric prods, bucking straps, and sharpened spurs in rodeos and
imposes penalties for violations.
Proponents: League of Humane Voters of NY

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Provides for Regulation of Animal Shelters

S.8029 (Martinez) / No Same As
Establishes licensing requirements, operating standards and recordkeeping requirements for animal
shelters.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Requires Animal Shelters to Report on Dog Bites

S.8039 (Kaminsky, Martinez) / No Same As
Requires animal shelters and animal rescue groups to disclose whether a dog over the age of four
months has bitten a person and broken the person’s skin; states that a documented bite history shall not
necessarily preclude a dog from being available for adoption.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
60
Prohibits Establishments Where Animals or Fowl Are Slaughtered for Food
S.8291 (Sepúlveda, Harckham, Mayer) / A.10399 (Rosenthal)
Prohibits operating establishments where animals or fowls are slaughtered or butchered for food.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Requires Slaughterhouses to Have Closed Circuit Cameras

A.9708 (Rosenthal L) / No Same As
Requires licensed slaughterhouses to have a closed circuit camera and television system in all areas with
live animals and establishes a reporting requirement for violations.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Allows Animal Welfare Organizations to Provide Assistance in Emergencies and Disasters

A.10531 (Lupardo) / No Same As
Provides for agreements between the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Markets and
animal welfare organizations for assistance in emergencies and disasters.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
None
HEARINGS AND FORUMS
None
61
EDUCATION
Analyst: Amanda Godkin
(518) 455-3586
Requires BOCES to Establish a Young Farmer Apprentice Program

S.3873A (May, Ritchie, Biaggi, Gallivan, Helming, Jordan, Krueger, Martinez, Metzger,
Montgomery) / A.7104A (Buttenschon)
Requires Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) to develop and oversee a young farmer
apprentice program where there is interest from the local school districts.
Proponents: Farm Bureau, NYS School Boards Association, NFIB

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 61-0
Bans the Use of Facial Recognition Technology in Schools

S.5140B (Kavanagh, Biaggi, Carlucci, Gaughran, Krueger, Liu, May, Metzger, Myrie, Ramos,
Salazar) / A.6787D (Wallace)
Bans the purchase or use of biometric identifying technology (facial recognition technology) in all
public, charter and nonpublic schools until July 1, 2022 or until the Commissioner of Education
conducts a study of the technology and authorizes its use, whichever is later.
Proponents: NYCLU, NYSUT, Alliance for Quality Education, Make the Road NY, Urban Youth
Collaborative, Immigrant Defense Project, Advocates for Children of New York, Center for Race
Inequality & the Law, Parent Coalition for Student Privacy, Long Island Latino Teachers Association,
Data for Black Lives, The Democracy Center
Opponents: NYS School Boards Association, Security Industry Association
Senate Vote: 46-14 (Akshar, Amedore, Funke, Gallivan, Griffo, Jordan, LaValle, O’Mara, Ortt,
Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach, Serino, Skoufis)
No Reduction in State Aid for School District Closures Related to COVID-19

S.7996B (Carlucci, Mayer, Addabbo, Comrie, Gounardes, Hoylman, Kaminsky, Kaplan, Krueger,
Liu, May, Metzger, Montgomery, Ramos, Skoufis) / A.10189A (Ortiz)
Specifies that school districts will not see a reduction of State aid for meeting less than 180 days, during
the 2019-20 school year, if the superintendent closes and believes that closing is in the best interest,
health, and safety of students/staff in response to COVID-19.
Proponents: NYSUT, NYS School Boards Association

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 62-0
Chapter 107
62
No Reduction in State Aid to Special Act Schools, 853 Schools, 4201 Schools, and 4410 Schools for
Closures Related to COVID-19
S.8014C (Harckham, Gaughran, Hoylman, Kaplan, Liu, Martinez, Metzger, Sepúlveda) / A.10193
(Abinati)
Specifies that Special Act schools, 853 schools, 4201 schools, and 4410 schools will not see a reduction
of State aid, during the 2019-20 school year, if schools were unable to operate for 180 days due to
COVID-19.
Proponents: NYSUT, NYS School Boards Association, District Council 37

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Extends the Deadline for Library Construction Projects That Could Not Be Completed Due to
COVID-19
S.8410 (Mayer, Addabbo, Carlucci, Comrie, Hoylman, Kaplan, Liu, May, Metzger, Skoufis) /
A.10465 (Ryan)
Extends the deadline to complete library construction projects for an additional 12 months where the
project was commenced between July 1, 2017 and July 1, 2019 and could not be completed due to
COVID-19.
Proponents: New York Library Association

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 62-0
Chapter 120
Establishes a Task Force on Educator Diversity in New York State

S.5808A (Montgomery, Jackson) / No Same As
Establishes a task force to review the presence of educator diversity, State actions taken to promote
educator diversity in New York State, and how New York State can encourage new initiatives.
Proponents: NYSUT, The Council of School Superintendents, NYS School Boards Association, Today’s
Students Tomorrow’s Teachers
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 57-0
Assembly Vote: None
Requires Instruction for Grades 6-12 on the Noose and Swastika as Symbols of Hate
S.6648 (Kaminsky, Addabbo, Biaggi, Brooks, Carlucci, Gaughran, Gounardes, Hoylman, Jackson,
Kaplan, Krueger, Liu, Martinez, Mayer, Myrie, Persaud, Salazar, Sanders, Skoufis, Thomas) /
A.8545 (Lavine)
63
Requires instruction, in grades 6-12 in all public, nonpublic and charter schools, on both the swastika as
an emblem of Nazi Germany and the noose as symbols of racism and intimidation.
Proponents: The Council of School Superintendents

Opponents: NYS School Boards Association
Senate Vote: 59-1 (Boyle)
Assembly Vote: None
Requires Guidelines for Grow Your Own Initiatives to Attract Underrepresented Candidates into
the Teaching Profession
S.7635 (Liu, Jackson, Mayer) / No same as
Requires the Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Department of Labor and the
Chancellors of SUNY and CUNY, to develop guidelines for Grow Your Own initiatives aimed at
attracting underrepresented candidates into the teaching profession.
Proponents: NYSUT, The Council of School Superintendents, NYS School Boards Association
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 57-0
Assembly Vote: None
Requires the Commissioner of Education to Annually Convene Statewide and Regional

Conventions of Underrepresented Teachers
S.7642 (Jackson, Mayer) / A.9730 (Hyndman)
Directs the Commissioner of Education to annually convene statewide and regional conventions to
bring together underrepresented educators and administrators to discuss experiences, best practices, and
provide for networking, mentorship opportunities, and support.
Proponents: NYSUT, The Council of School Superintendents, NYS School Boards Association
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 57-0
Assembly Vote: None
Underrepresented Teachers of Tomorrow Teacher Recruitment and Retention Program

S.7647 (Persaud, Jackson, Kennedy, May, Mayer) / No same as
Establishes the Underrepresented Teachers of Tomorrow Teacher Recruitment and Retention Program
to provide awards to attract and retain underrepresented certified teachers in schools that have an
underrepresentation of certified teachers who participated in My Brother’s Keeper, Teacher Opportunity
Corp, Higher Education Opportunity Program, Education Opportunity Program, a Grow Your Own
partnership program or other similar program.
Proponents: NYSUT, Council of School Superintendents, NYS School Boards Association

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-2 (Akshar, Ortt)
Assembly Vote: None
64
Allows School District Expenses Related to the Delivery of Materials to Students, Incurred During
COVID-19, to be Eligible for Transportation Aid Reimbursement
S.8585A (May, Bailey, Gaughran, Harckham, Hoylman, Liu, Martinez, Metzger, Myrie, Rivera) /
A.10757 (Stirpe)
Authorizes school districts to use school transportation aid to pay for the cost and expenses of
transporting and delivering meals, homework materials and any other school materials to students during
the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the Education Law, transportation aid is available to school districts
solely for expenses related to the transportation of students.
Proponents: NYSUT, NYS School Boards Association, District Council 37

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Assembly Vote: None
Permits Special Act School Districts and 853 Schools to Establish Reserve Funds
S.8623 (Mayer, Gaughran, Liu, Martinez, May) / A.10834 (Benedetto)
Permits Special Act School Districts (SASDs) and 853 Schools, which serve special needs students, to
establish a 4 percent reserve fund. Under current law, school districts are permitted to maintain a fund
balance in an amount equal to 4 percent of the district’s budget, but SASDs and 853 Schools are not
provided this same authorization.
Proponents: NYSUT, NYS School Boards Association, Lower Hudson Education Coalition
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Assembly Vote: None
Regional High School Advisory Council

No Same As / A.6594 (D’Urso)
State Education Department # 1
Directs the Commissioner of Education to establish a regional secondary school advisory council and for
such council to make recommendations regarding the establishment of regional high schools throughout
the State.
Proponents: None
Opponents: NYSUT
Senate Vote: None
Smart Schools Bond Act Review Board

S.1347 (Serino) / A.7119 (Benedetto)
65
Sets a minimum meeting frequency of at least once every three months for the Smart Schools Bond Act
Review Board and requires an announcement of the next meeting date at each meeting.
Proponents: NYS School Boards Association

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
School Suspension Bill

S.767B (Montgomery, Bailey, Benjamin, Biaggi, Carlucci, Comrie, Gianaris, Harckham, Hoylman,
Jackson, Kavanagh, Liu, May, Myrie, Parker, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, Salazar, Sanders,
Sepúlveda, Serrano) / A.1981B (Nolan)
Reforms current school disciplinary procedures to require restorative justice practices and other
interventions as part of district codes of conduct. Prohibits suspensions in grades pre-kindergarten
through grade three, and prohibits any suspension for willful disobedience including disruptive,
insubordinate or rowdy behavior, inappropriate language, behavior or gestures, or refusal to follow
directions.
Proponents: Alliance for Quality Education, Make the Road NY, NYCLU, Citizen Action, Urban
Youth Collaborative, District Council 37, The Legal Aid Society, Advocates for Children of New York,
Advancement Project, The Committee for Hispanic Children and Families, Inc.
Opponents: NYSUT, NYS School Boards Association, The Council for School Superintendents
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
HEARINGS AND FORUMS
Roundtable Discussion of the Senate Committee on Education. Discussion on school reopening

guidance issued by the Department of Health and the State Education Department (August 5, 2020).
66
ELECTIONS
Analyst: Liz Robins
(212) 298-5633
Automatic Voter Registration

S. 8806 (Gianaris, Biaggi, Carlucci, Hoylman, Kaplan, Liu, May) / A.8280C (Walker)
Establishes an automatic personal voter registration and pre-registration system integrated with
applications for services at certain participating agencies.
Proponents: Brennan Center for Justice; Center for Secure and Modern Elections; NYPIRG
Opponents: None
Required Early Voting Sites in Highest Population Municipalities in Each County

S.8782 (Breslin, Biaggi, Gaughran, Liu, May) / A.8610B (McDonald)
Requires that municipalities with the highest population in each county have at least one polling place
designated for early voting and if such municipality has public transportation routes, that polling place
must be located along such routes to the extent practicable
Proponents: NYPIRG
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 43-17 (Akshar, Amedore, Borrello, Boyle, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Jordan, LaValle,
Expanding the Definition of “Illness” for Purposes of Absentee Voting

S.8015D (Biaggi, Addabbo, Benjamin, Brooks, Carlucci, Comrie, Gaughran, Gianaris, Gounardes,
Harckham, Hoylman, Jackson, Kaminsky, Kaplan, Kennedy, Krueger, Liu, May, Mayer, Metzger,
Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, Savino, Sepúlveda, Serrano, Stavisky, Thomas) / A.10833
(Dinowitz)
Expands the definition of “illness” for the purposes of an excuse to vote by absentee to include instances
where a voter is unable to appear personally at the polling place because there is a risk of contracting
or spreading a disease that may cause illness to the voter or to other members of the public. Sunsets
January 1, 2022.
Proponents: New York State Elections Commissioner Association; New York State Conference of
Mayors and Municipal Officials; NYPIRG
Opponents: None
67
Senate Vote: 42-18 (Akshar, Borrello, Boyle, Funke, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Jordan, Lanza, LaValle,
Chapter 139; Approval Memo 4
Preventing Disenfranchisement of Absentee Voters Due to Error of the U.S. Postal Service
S.8799A (Gianaris, Biaggi, Carlucci, Liu, Metzger) / A.10808A (Bichotte)
Provides that any absentee ballot shall be presumed to have been timely mailed even if it does not bear
or display a dated postmark if such ballot was received and timestamped by the board of elections by the
day after Election Day. Expires on December 31, 2020.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Chapter 140
Providing Absentee Voters Notice and Opportunity to Cure Certain Deficiencies

S.8370B (Myrie, Biaggi, Carlucci, Comrie, Gianaris, Gounardes Hoylman, Liu, May, Ramos) /
A.10830 (Lavine)
Provides that certain deficiencies found in submitted absentee ballots can be cured, and the board of
elections must contact the voter to inform the voter of the process for curing the efficiency. Once the
ballot is cured, the ballot will be reinstated and canvassed.
Proponents: NYPIRG
Opponents: None
Chapter 141; Approval Memo 5
Authorizing Requests for Absentee Ballots Via E-mail & Adjusting Certain Timeframes
S8130D (Myrie, Carlucci, Comrie, Gounardes, Hoylman, Kennedy, Liu, May, Mayer, Metzger,
Rivera, Skoufis) / A.10516A (Simotas)
Permits voters to apply for absentee ballots using an electronic application, removes the requirement for
a wet signature, and permits mailed absentee ballots to be accepted if they are postmarked by the date of
the election rather than the day before. Sunsets December 31, 2020.
68
Proponents: New York State Elections Commissioner Association; NYPIRG
Opponents: None
Jacobs, Jordan, Lanza, LaValle, Little, Martinez, O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Robach, Serino, Seward,
Tedisco)
Chapter 91
Reducing the Time for Mailing Voter Registration Applications

S.2311 (Kavanagh, Gaughran, Liu, Skoufis) / A.116 (Buchwald)
Reduces the time for mailing and receipt of voter registration applications to the constitutional minimum
of ten days prior to Election Day.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 46-14 (Amedore, Borrello, Funke, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Jordan, O’Mara, Ortt,
Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Serino, Seward, Tedisco)
Assembly Vote: None
Designation of Colleges or Universities as Polling Places

S.4378A (Parker, Breslin, Carlucci, Gaughran, Gianaris, Liu, May, Montgomery, Persaus,
Stavisky) / A.5661 (Rozic)
Provides that whenever a contiguous property of a college or university contains three hundred or more
registrants, the polling place designated for such election district shall be on such contiguous property or
at a location approved by the college or university.
Proponents: None
Opponents: New York Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials
LaValle, Little, O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach, Seward, Tedisco)
Assembly Vote: None
Declining Nominations After Primary Elections

S. 5462A (May, Biaggi, Gounardes, Liu) / A.8205 (Niou)
Authorizes a candidate who has been designated for the nomination for public office by more than one
party, who does not receive one of such nominations at a primary election, to decline the additional party
nomination(s) at his or her option.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 47-11 (Akshar, Amedore, Flanagan, Funke, Griffo, Jordan, LaValle, Lanza, Robach,
Seward, Tedisco)
Assembly Vote: None
69
Authorizing New York City to Establish Electronic Voter Registration
S.6463 (Myrie, Biaggi, Carlucci, Gianaris, Gounardes, Hoylman, Kavanagh, Kruefer, Liu, Rivera,
Salazar) / A.8473 (Blake)
Authorizes the City of New York to establish an electronic voter registration transmittal system for City
residents unless such a statewide system is established.
Proponents: City of New York Office of the Mayor; NYPIRG

Opponents: None
Assembly Vote: None
Prohibition of “Faithless Electors” in 2020

S.6886D (Skoufis, Biaggi, Carlucci, Gaughran, Myrie) / A.10340B (Jacobson)
Requires electors to vote for the presidential and vice presidential candidate who received the highest
number of votes in the state in the 2020 election.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 42-18 (Akshar, Borrello, Boyle, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Jordan, Lanza, LaValle, Little,
Assembly Vote: None
Increasing Access to Early Voting in Long Island

S.6922 (Kaplan, Breslin, Gaughran, Persaud) / A.9791 (Lavine)
Increases the maximum amount of early voting poll places required from seven to ten and provides that
each town and city in Long Island must have at least one early voting polling place.
Proponents: NYPIRG
Opponents: None
Jacobs, Jordan, Lanza, LaValle, Little, O’Mara, Ortt, Ritchie, Robach, Serino, Tedisco)
Assembly Vote: None
Additional Requirements for Early Voting Poll Sites in High Population Areas
S.6923-A (Martinez, Biaggi, Breslin, Gaughran, Kaplan, Persaud) / A.9792 (Lavine)
Requires that cities or towns outside of New York City with a population greater than 100,000 have at
least one early voting polling place for every increment of 50,000 registered voters.
Proponents: NYPIRG
Opponents: None
Assembly Vote: None
70
Increasing Access to Early Voting for Medium Sized Cities and Towns
S.6925 (Biaggi, Breslin, Gaughran, Persaud) / No Same As
Requires that cities or towns with a population greater than or more than 50,000 but less than 100,000
have at least one early voting polling place within such a municipality’s boundaries.
Proponents: NYPIRG
Opponents: None
Assembly Vote: None
Exempts Public Schools from Early Voting Locations

S.6930 (Krueger, Kaminsky, Biaggi, Gaughran, Kaplan, Montgomery) / A.9655 (Galef)
Prohibits public schools from being designated as early voting polling locations. Strikes the prohibition
of designating poll sites at the same location at which alcoholic beverages are sold.
Proponents: NYPIRG; New York State School Boards Association

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 54-6 (Boyle, Flanagan, Gallivan, Griffo, Jacobs, LaValle)
Assembly Vote: None
Permitting Use of Alternate, Familiar, or Anglicized Name to be On Nominating Petitions and

Ballot
S.8465A (Liu) / A.10873 (Aubry)
Clarifies that the term “name” for purposes of nominating and designating a candidate for public office
or party position shall mean, in addition to the candidate’s formal name, an alternate, anglicized, or
familiar form of a name or nickname, even if it is not the formal name appearing on the candidate’s
voter registration form.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 58-2 (Akshar, Funke)
Assembly Vote: None
Uniformity Pertaining to Notice Requirements For Receipt of Specific Objections

S.6500 (May) / A.452 (Steck)
Requires statewide uniformity with regard to specific objections to nominating petitions.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
71
Permits Use of Voting Systems By Municipalities
S.7859 (Comrie) / A.1864 (Abinanti)
Requires the Board of Elections to, whenever possible, permit towns, villages, school districts, fire,
ambulance, water, sanitation, police, and other special districts to use voting systems to conduct
elections or for educational purposes.
Proponents: New York Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
None
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
None
HEARINGS AND FORUMS
Hearing of the Senate Committee on Elections. To solicit views of interested parties on the New York
Voting Rights Act (March 3, 2020).
Joint Hearing of the Senate Committees on Elections and Local Government and the Assembly
72
ENERGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Analyst: Robert Habermann
518-455-2484
Ending the Practice of “Cramming” on a Telephone Bill

S.2665 (Parker, Boyle, Felder, Montgomery, Myrie) / A.9624 (Jacobson)
Prohibits the practice of “cramming,” or the practice of placing unauthorized charges on a customer’s
telephone bill, when such fee, or charge, is imposed by a third party. The legislation codifies this
prohibition to prevent misleading or deceptive practices that sign-up customers for sweepstakes,
advertisements for information or entertainment services, 900 numbers, or fees that trigger an automatic
signup and are unauthorized charges on a telephone bill.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 59-0
Conspicuous Display of Expiration Date on Prepaid Calling Cards

S.2861 (Parker, Myrie, Persaud) / A.3327 (Dilan)
Requires that prepaid cellular telephone cards have the expiration date of the minutes printed in
conspicuous print, at least two times larger than any other print, and in 10 point font on the face of the
card.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 48-12 (Akshar, Borrello, Funke, Gallivan, Helming, Jacobs, Jordan, O’Mara, Ortt,
Ranzenhofer, Serino, Seward)
New Construction for Municipal Sustainable Energy Loans

S.6523A (Parker, Harckham, Gaughran, Liu, May, Mayer, Metzger) / A.7805C (Cusick)
Amends the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program to make eligible new
construction projects for the low-cost financing tool to fund energy efficiency and renewable energy
projects at commercial buildings.
Proponents: The City of New York Office of the Mayor, NYS Association of Counties
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
73
LIPA Management and Operations Audits
S.6868 (Gaughran) / A.8936 (Thiele)
Provides the Public Service Commission with the authority to order the Long Island Power Authority
(LIPA) to implement recommendations contained in the regular management and operations audit, if
such audit indicates a finding of fraud, abuse, or mismanagement by a service provider of the authority.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Moratorium on Utility Termination of Services

S.8113A (Parker, Addabbo, Carlucci, Comrie, Gaughran, Harckham, Hoylman, Kaplan,
Kavanagh, Liu, May, Metzger, Montgomery, Skoufis) / A.10521 (Mosley)
Suspends electric, gas, water, and telephone utility account terminations of any residential customer
during the pendency of the COVID-19 state of emergency and for 180 days after the expiry or lifting of
the state of emergency for those customers that have experienced financial hardship.
Proponents: Environmental Advocates of New York, Food & Water Watch, Natural Resources Defense
Council, NYPIRG, NYSUT
Opponents: The Business Council
Senate Vote: 58-4 (Funke, Helming, Lanza, Ortt)
Chapter 108
Study on Utility Time-Of-Use Plans

S.8724 (Parker, Gaughran, Liu, Metzger) / A.8517A (Colton)
Directs the Public Service Commission to study and report on the residential and commercial time-of-
use plans offered by gas and electric utilities.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 57-3 (Akshar, Lanza, Griffo)
Comprehensive Broadband Activity Act

S.8805 (Metzger, May, Gallivan, Bailey, Benjamin, Biaggi, Borrello, Boyle, Brooks, Carlucci,
Gaughran, Gounardes, Harckham, Helming, Hoylman, Jackson, Jordan, Kaminsky, Kennedy,
Krueger, Liu, Martinez, Mayer, Myrie, Ortt, Parker, Persaud, Rivera, Salazar, Savino, Sepulveda,
Serrano, Skoufis) / A.6679C (Ryan)
Requires the Public Service Commission to study, and hold hearings on, the availability, affordability,
and reliability of high-speed internet and broadband services. The PSC shall publish a detailed internet
access map of the State and shall work with internet service providers to prioritize access to broadband
for those communities that have experienced negative economic and social impacts due to a lack of
high-speed internet service.
74
Proponents: Communication Workers of America, NYS School Boards Association
Opponents: None
Protect Municipalities from LIPA Tax Certiorari Challenges

S.5122A (Gaughran, Flanagan, Kaminsky) / A.7786 (Stern)
Prohibits the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) from seeking relief in the form of a return of past year
tax payments, thereby limiting the financial hardship that local governments would endure in the event
of an adverse judgment.
Proponents: New York State School Boards Association

Opponents: LIPA, National Grid, the Long Island Federation of Labor, The Association for a Better
Long Island, the Long Island Builders Institute, IBEW, and The Business Council
Senate Vote: 57-5 (Funke, Kaplan, O’Mara, Ortt, Ritchie)
Assembly Vote: None
Release of Domestic Violence Victims from Utility Contracts

S.5322 (Parker, Carlucci) / A.9585 (De La Rosa)
Requires every utility corporation to allow a victim of domestic violence to opt-out of their utility
contract without charge. The customer must request the opt-out in writing and provide to the utility a
domestic violence incidence form, police report, order of protection, or signed affidavit from a licensed
medical professional or mental health care provider.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Assembly Vote: None
Cross-Utility Crediting for Community Solar

S.5627 (Parker, Addabbo, Bailey, Biaggi, Breslin, Brooks, Carlucci, Comrie, Gaughran, Gianaris,
Gounardes, Harckham, Hoylman, Kaplan, Liu, Martinez, May, Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Skoufis,
Stavisky, Thomas / A.7286 (Cusick)
Directs electric utilities to file a model tariff with the Public Service Commission (PSC) that allows
customers in one utility territory to subscribe to a community solar project in another utility territory.
Proponents: Solar Energy Industries Association, NYLCV, The Nature Conservancy

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 44-16 (Akshar, Amedore, Borrello, Boyle, Funke, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Jordan, Little,
O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Seward, Tedisco)
Assembly Vote: None
Pricing Transparency of Electric Utility Bills
75
S.7708 (Jackson) / No Same As
Imposes new requirements for utilities on what information needs to be included on electric bills for
residential and business customers.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 42-18 (Akshar, Amedore, Borrello, Funke, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Jordan, Lanza,
LaValle, Little, O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Serino, Seward, Tedisco)
Assembly Vote: None
Requires Voice Service Providers to Implement STIR/SHAKEN

S.5926B (Kaminsky) / A.7759C (Paulin)
Requires voice service providers to implement STIR/SHAKEN authentication framework within twelve
months to prevent illegal “spoofing” of caller ID information and sets a penalty schedule.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Enhances PSC Oversight Over Transfers and Mergers of Cable Systems

S.6466 (Parker) / A.7372 (Paulin)
Provides that the Public Service Commission (PSC) shall only approve the application for a merger
or transfer of ownership of any cable television system if the applicant cable television company can
demonstrate that such merger or transfer is in the public interest.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Requires Independent Audit of Private Water Company Rates

S.20 (Parker, Carlucci, Gaughran, Kaplan, Myrie) / A.4411 (Montesano)
Requires the Public Service Commission to retain an independent auditor to conduct audits of private
water utility companies prior to, and after, any changes to water rates.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
76
Robocall Prevention Act
S.3297D (Hoylman, Carlucci, Addabbo, Bailey, Biaggi, Breslin, Brooks, Comrie, Felder,
Gaughran, Gounardes, Harckham, Jackson, Kaminsky, Kaplan, Kavanagh, Kennedy, Krueger,
Liu, May, Mayer, Metzger, Montgomery, Myrie, Parker, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, Salazar,
Sanders, Sepúlveda, Serrano, Satvisky, Thomas) / A.675D (Niou)
Prohibits robocalls in New York State save for certain exemptions for emergency purposes, labor union
communication among members, as authorized by Department of Public Service regulations, or as given
by prior express consent of a called party. Requires that telephone service providers provide free call
mitigation technology to customers upon request.
Proponents: NYPIRG
Opponents: PRA Group, Inc.
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Requirement for Internet Service Quality Standards

S.7988 (Metzger) / A.10721 (Otis)
Directs the Public Service Commission to establish quality of service standards, minimum performance
levels, customer-specific credits, and reporting requirements that shall apply to each internet service
provider.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
NYS Net Neutrality Protection Act

S.8020 (Parker, Jackson) / A.10777 (Fahy)
Establishes internet neutrality principles and requires entities contracting for broadband internet access
to be compliant with net neutrality principles.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Nuclear Oversight Decommissioning Board

S.8154B (Harckham, Carlucci, Kaminsky, Krueger, May, Metzger, Skoufis) / A.10236B (Galef)
Requires a New York State decommission oversight board help to coordinate the retirement of
nuclear power plants in the state. The role of the decommissioning oversight board is to assist in the
coordination of state agency oversight of the decommissioning activities to ensure compliance with all
state laws and regulations. The board is made up of 21 members, including state agency heads and ten
appointed members representing impacted constituents.
77
Proponents: Alliance for a Green Economy, Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, Environmental
Advocates of New York, Grassroots Environmental Education, Riverkeeper, Sierra Club Atlantic
Chapter, Syracuse Peace Council, Westchester County Board of Legislators, Westchester-Putnam
Counties AFL-CIO Central Labor Body
Opponents: Business Council of New York State, Independent Power Producers of New York, Village of
Buchanan
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
None
HEARINGS AND FORUMS

78
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
(518) 455-2464
Subjects Waste From Oil and Gas Production to Regulation as Hazardous Waste
S.3392 (May, Kaminsky, Addabbo, Biaggi, Carlucci, Comrie, Gaughran, Gounardes, Harckham,
Hoylman, Jackson, Kaplan, Krueger, Liu, Martinez, Metzger, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, Sanders,
Serino, Serrano, Skoufis, Thomas) / A.2655 (Englebright)
Eliminates the exemption for wastes from oil and gas production from regulation as hazardous waste.
Proponents: Adirondack Mountain Club; Clean & Healthy New York; Environmental Advocates; Food
& Water Watch; League of Women Voters; Natural Resources Defense Council; NYPIRG; The Climate
Reality Project; 350 Brooklyn; Citizens Campaign for the Environment; Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter
Opponents: American Petroleum Institute
Senate Vote: 46-14 (Amedore, Borrello, Funke, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Jordan, O’Mara, Ortt,
Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach, Seward, Tedisco)
Chapter 133
Requires Supermarkets to Donate Excess Food

S.4176A (Harckham, Addabbo, Carlucci, Hoylman, Liu, Metzger, Persaud) / A.4398A (Abinati)
Requires supermarkets to occasionally donate their surplus food to a qualifying charity.
Proponents: Environmental Advocates

Opponents: NYS Trial Lawyers Assn.
Senate Vote: 48-12 (Akshar, Amedore, Borrello, Funke, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Ortt, Ritchie,
Robach, Serino)
Requires That Pesticide Application Notices be Printed in Both English and Spanish
S.5579A (Serrano, Liu) / A.5169A (Ramos)
Requires signs and notices pertaining to commercial and residential pesticide application to be printed in
both English and Spanish.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 55-5 (Borrello, Gallivan, Lanza, O’Mara, Ortt)
Chapter 145
79
Increases Protections for Streams
S.5612A (Harckham, Addabbo, Breslin, Carlucci, Comrie, Gaughran, Gounardes, Hoylman,
Jackson, Kaminsky, Kaplan, Kavanagh, Krueger, Martinez, May, Mayer, Metzger, Sanders,
Sepulveda, Serrano, Skoufis) / A.8349 (Ryan)
Adds streams classified by the Department of Environmental Conservation as “Class C” to the definition
of streams subject to Protection of Waters permit requirements. Class C streams have been determined
by the Department of Environmental Conservation to support fishing and propagation of fish, shellfish,
and wildlife, and may be suitable for primary and secondary contact recreation.
Proponents: Audubon NY; Environmental Advocates; NY League of Conservation Voters; NYPIRG;

The Climate Reality Project; The Nature Conservancy; Citizens Campaign for the Environment; Sierra
Club Atlantic Chapter
Opponents: Northeast Dairy Producers Assn.; NY Farm Bureau; NYS County Highway Superintendents
Assn; Business Council
Senate Vote: 43-17 (Akshar, Amedore, Borrello, Funke, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Jordan, Lanza, Little,
O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach, Seward, Tedisco)
Prohibits Use of Glyphosate on State-Owned Lands

S.6502A (Serrano, Biaggi, Carlucci, Hoylman, Kaplan, Liu) / A.732B (Rosenthal L)
Prohibits the application of pesticides containing glyphosate, a probable human carcinogen, on State-
owned property after December 31, 2021.
Proponents: Citizens Campaign for the Environment; Environmental Advocates; NYPIRG

Opponents: Bayer, US; NYS Chemistry Council; Northeast Dairy Producers Assn; NY Alliance for
Environmental Concerns; Responsible Industry for a Safe Environment; NYS Agribusiness Assn.
Senate Vote: 45-15 (Akshar, Amedore, Borrello, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Jordan, Lanza, Little,
O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Serino, Tedisco)
Establishes Criminal Offenses for Illegal Waste Disposal

S.6758B (Kaminsky, Brooks, Gaughran, Kaplan, Martinez, Thomas, Boyle, Addabbo, Bailey,
Biaggi, Comrie, Serrano, Skoufis) / A.10803A (Englebright)
Establishes new criminal offenses for the illegal dumping of solid waste, construction and demolition
waste and hazardous substances, and requires tracking of construction and demolition waste generated in
New York City.
Proponents: Citizens Campaign for the Environment; New York League of Conservation Voters
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 57-3 (Akshar, Amedore, Griffo)
80
Prohibits Certain Uses of Trichloroethylene
S.6829B (Kaminsky, Carlucci, Gaughran, Harckham, Holyman, Kaplan, Liu, Metzger, Rivera,
Serrano, Thomas) / A.8829A (Englebright)
Prohibits the use of trichloroethylene as a vapor degreaser, an intermediate chemical, a refrigerant, or an
extraction solvent or other manufacturing or cleaning process or use.
Proponents: Assoc. of Comparative and Environmental Toxicology Students; Clean & Healthy New
York; Great Neck Breast Cancer Assoc.; JustGreen Partnership; NY League of Conservation Voters;
NYPIRG
Opponents: Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute; Halogenated Solvents Industry
Alliance
Senate Vote: 49-11 (Akshar, Borrello, Funke, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, O’Mara, Ortt, Ritchie, Seward,
Tedisco)
Imposes Environmental Standards for Dredged Fill Material in Jamaica Bay

S.7295 (Addabbo) / A.9595 (Pheffer Amato)
Imposes heightened standards on dredged material used to fill borrow pits in Jamaica Bay.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 62-0
Prohibits Incineration of Firefighting Foam Containing PFAS Substances in Certain Cities

S.7880B (Breslin) / A.9952B (McDonald)
Prohibits the incineration of aqueous film-forming foam containing perfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl
substances in certain cities.
Proponents: Environmental Advocates; NYPIRG

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 62-0
Provides for Local Regulation of Mining in Counties With a Population of One Million or More
S.8026 (Kaminsky) / A.10001 (Thiele)
Authorizes counties with a population of one million or more with a primary source of drinking water
from a sole source aquifer to exercise concurrent authority with the Department of Environmental
Conservation to regulate mines and the reclamation of mines to protect the water.
Proponents: None
Opponents: NY Construction Materials Assn.
Senate Vote: 60-0
81
Bans Food Packaging Containing PFAS Substances
S.8817 (Holyman, Kaplan) / A.4739C (Fahy)
Bans the sale or use of food packaging containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances,
effective December 31, 2022.
Proponents: Citizens Campaign for the Environment; Consumer Reports; Earthjustice; Huntington
Breast Cancer Action Coalition; NY Sustainable Business Council; NYPIRG; Riverkeeper;
Environmental Advocates
Opponents: American Chemistry Council; American Forest & Paper Assoc.; Business Council; Food
Industry Alliance of NY; NYS Chemistry Council
Senate Vote: 48-12 (Amedore, Borrello, Funke, Gallivan, Helming, Jordan, Little, O’Mara, Ortt,
Ranzenhofer, Robach, Seward)
Requires De-Listing of Endangered and Threatened Species to be Based on Scientific Data

S.8750 (Kaminsky, Gaughran, Liu, Serrano) / A.4077A (Barrett)
Requires the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to independently evaluate the
population status of a species that is removed from the federal list of endangered and threatened species
prior to removing it from the State list.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 51-9 (Akshar, Amedore, Funke, Gallivan, Griffo, Jordan, O’Mara, Ortt, Ritchie)
Prohibits Hotels From Providing Single-Use Plastic Bottles

S.5282B (Kaminsky, Addabbo, Biaggi, Carlucci, Gaughran, Hoylman, Jackson, Kaplan, Krueger,
Liu, May, Metzger, Serrano) / A.7662B (Englebright)
Ban hotels from providing guests with small, single-use plastic bottles of personal care products.
Proponents: Citizens Campaign for the Environment; Clean & Healthy NY; Environmental Advocates;
JustGreen Partnership; NY League of Conservation Voters; NYPIRG; NYS Hospitality and Tourism
Assn.
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 42-18 (Akshar, Amedore, Borrello, Felder, Funke, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Jordan,
Lanza, Little, O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach, Seward, Tedisco)
Assembly Vote: None
Bans Sale or Use of Pavement Products Containing Coal Tar

S.6308A (Metzger, Kaplan, Krueger) / A.1304A (Rosenthal)
Prohibits the sale, offering for sale or application of pavement products containing coal tar. Pavement
products containing coal tar are a source of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are carcinogenic,
mutagenic, and teratogenic to humans.
82
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 44-16 (Akshar, Amedore, Borrello, Funke, Gallivan, Griffo, Jordan, Lanza, Little, Ortt,
Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach, Serino, Seward, Tedisco)
Assembly Vote: None
Exempts Certain Solar Energy Projects From Parkland Alienation Requirements

S.8635 (Harckham, Gaughran, May, Metzger) / No Same As
Exempts from alienation of parkland requirements the sale of airspace above vehicle parking areas for
construction of solar energy projects.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 55-5 (Griffo, Jordan, Lanza, Ritchie, Tedisco)
Assembly Vote: None
Establishes Additional Permit Review Requirements for Certain Electric Generating Facilities
S.8809A (Metzger, Bailey, Skoufis) / No Same As
Prohibits the Department of Environmental Conservation from issuing a new permit or permit
renewal for a fossil fuel-fired electric generating facility located in certain counties until the applicant
demonstrates that operation (i) is consistent with the State’s ability to meet the targets and goals in the
Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and (ii) does not negatively impact public health
or safety, agriculture, viewshed, noise pollution, tourism and recreational opportunities, community
character or environmental justice communities.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 44-18 (Akshar, Amedore, Borrello, Funke, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Jordan, LaValle,
Little, O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach, Serino, Seward, Tedisco)
Assembly Vote: None
Requires Study of Health Impacts of JFK and LaGuardia Airports

A.10121 (Griffin) / S.7305A (Gaughran)
Requires the Department of Health and other state agencies to conduct a study of the human health
impacts of JFK and LaGuardia airports.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
83
Prohibits Leasing of Certain State Lands for Gas Production

S.3569A (Serrano) / No Same As
Prohibits the lease of state forests, wildlife management areas, and unique areas for gas production.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Establishes a Low Carbon Fuel Standard for the Transportation Sector

S.4003A (Parker) / A.05262A (Woerner)
Establishes a low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) for fuels used by on-road vehicles. The LCFS is based on
the carbon intensity of the fuel, which is the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted over the full life-
cycle of the fuel.
Proponents: New York Clean Fuels Coalition

Opponents: Environmental Advocates
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Requires Review of Projects to Consider Impacts on Environmental Justice Communities

S.5540 (Stewart-Cousins) / A.06016 (Pretlow)
Requires environmental review of projects under the State Environmental Quality Review Act to
consider disproportionate or inequitable impacts on economically distressed and minority communities.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Establishes Bioheating Fuel Requirements for Heating Oil

S.6344-A (Kaminsky) / No Same As
Establishes phased-in increases of bioheating fuel percentage requirements for heating oil used in
buildings.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
84
Freshwater Wetlands Mapping
S.7366 (Harckham) / A.3658 (Englebright)
Expands permit jurisdiction of the Department of Environmental Conservation over freshwater wetlands
in the State and eliminates mapping of wetlands as a jurisdictional requirement.
Proponents: Audubon NY; Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter; Riverkeeper; NY League of Conservation
Voters; Environmental Advocates
Opponents: NY Farm Bureau; NY Builders Assn.
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Clarifies the Standing Requirement for Legal Challenges Under the State Environmental Quality
Review Act
S.7548 (Kavanagh) / A.07971 O’Donnell
Clarifies the standing requirement for legal challenges under the State Environmental Quality Review
Act by removing the judicially-imposed requirement that a petitioner show special injury different from
the public at large.
Proponents: Environmental Advocates; Riverkeeper; Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter

Opponents: NY Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials; NY Construction Materials Assn.
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Requires Producers of Packaging and Paper Products to Collect and Recycle Their Products
S.7718 (Kaminsky) / No Same As
Establishes the Extended Producer Responsibility Act requiring producers of packaging and paper
products to develop and implement programs for recycling and reuse of their products.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Prohibits Siting of Solid Waste Management Facilities Within One Mile of Schools
S.7777 (Breslin) / A.09842 (McDonald)
Prohibits the Department of Environmental Conservation from issuing a permit for a new solid waste
management facility if it will be located within one mile of a school and prohibits expansion of existing
facilities located within one mile of a school.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
85
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
Amendments to NYS Constitution Art. XIV

Three proposed amendments to Article XIV of the NYS Constitution (which requires that State-owned
Forest Preserve lands be forever maintained as wild forest lands) have been proposed to resolve long-
standing land use issues involving: (1) the Mt. Van Hoevenberg sports complex near Lake Placid
operated by the Olympic Regional Development Authority; (2) a checkerboard public/private ownership
pattern that prevents public access to Cathead Mountain in the Adirondack Park; and (3) the sale of
Camp Gabriels, a former correctional facility located in the Adirondack Park. Currently, there are no
sponsors in either house.
HEARINGS AND FORUMS

86
ETHICS AND INTERNAL GOVERNANCE
Analyst: Nic Rangel
(518) 455-7925
None
None
Requires Hearing Interpreters and Assistive Listening Devices at Public Hearings

S.2774C (Comrie) / A.8158 (Dickens)
Requires public officers and public bodies to make reasonable efforts to provide qualified interpreters for
the hearing impaired at public meetings and hearings, at no charge to the attendee.
Proponents: None
Opponents: NYCOM
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: 132 - 11
Creates a Non-Partisan Legislative Budget Office

S.3287 (Krueger, Biaggi, Gounardes, Hoylman, Jackson, Liu, May, Montgomery, Rivera, Salazar,
Serrano, Thomas) / A.01835 (Ortiz)
Establishes a new legislative budget office in the Legislature. The legislative budget office would be
non-partisan and would be a separate office from the finance offices maintained by each conference of
the Legislature. The Director would be chosen by consensus, and appointed by a 2/3rd majority vote by
each house. The legislature would fix the Director’s salary, and be authorized to remove the Director by
2/3rds vote of the members of either house.
Proponents: Citizens Union of the City of New York Coalition; Common Cause New York; League of
Women Voters of NYS; Reinvent Albany
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
87
Prohibits Sexual Harassment by Public Officers and Allows Penalties
S.3747A (Kennedy, Benjamin, Kaplan) / No Same As
Prohibits officers or employees of a state agency, members of the Legislature, or legislative employees
from committing sexual harassment while serving in their official capacity under the Public Officers
Law Code of Ethics.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Bans Lobbying by People Guilty of Sex Offenses, Sexual Harassment, or Discrimination

S.4512A (Krueger) / No Same As
Provides that people convicted of or who have pleaded guilty to sex offenses cannot be retained,
employed or designated to engage in lobbying for compensation. Further, a person found guilty of
sexual harassment under the human rights law against unlawful discriminatory practices law, or the
public officers code of ethics would be banned from being retained, employed or designated to engage in
lobbying for compensation for five years.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Prohibits Certain Public Servants from Being Paid for Services to a Public Authority
S.7555 (Kaminsky, Biaggi) / A.10104 (Solages)
Prohibits statewide elected officials, state officers and employees, members of the Legislature,
legislative employees, political party chairmen and municipal officers from receiving any pay or
compensation for legal services, consulting services, or any other contractual service from a state or
local authority if they have ties to a business or corporation.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
None
HEARINGS AND FORUMS
None
88
FINANCE
Secretary of Finance: Todd Scheuermann
518-455-2136
Enacted State Operations Budget Bill

S.7500C / A.9500C
The State Operations Enacted Budget Bill for State Fiscal Year 2020-21 included an All Funds
appropriation of $18.2 billion, an annual decrease of $1.87 billion or 9.3%. The State Operations All
Funds amount includes a $980 million budget balance reduction target to cover a General Fund receipts
shortfall due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the overall spending for State Operations, $14.3 billion is
for personal service costs, $5.0 billion is for non-personal service, and $8.11 billion is for fringe benefit
costs.
Jacobs, Jordan, Lanza, LaValle, Little, O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach, Serino, Tedisco)
Chapter 50
Enacted Legislature and Judiciary Budget Bill

S.7501 / A.9501
The Legislature and Judiciary Budget Bill for SFY 2020-21 included a total appropriation of $3.5 billion
for the Legislative Branch and Judicial Branch. The Legislature received an All Funds appropriation
of $248 million, an increase of 2% or $5 million compared to SFY 2019-20. The Office of Court
Administration (OCA), the administrative agency for the Judiciary, received a total appropriation of
$3.3 billion, an increase of $97 million or 3.1% compared to SFY 2019-20. This includes an All Funds
appropriation of $2.4 billion and a General State Charges (GSC) appropriation of $848 million.
Jacobs, Jordan, Lanza, LaValle, Little, O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach, Serino, Tedisco)
Chapter: 51
Enacted Debt Service Budget Bill

S.7502 / A.9502
The Debt Service Enacted Budget Bill for State Fiscal Year 2020-21 reflected the maximum estimated
debt service payments on outstanding bonds and new State-related bond issuance, which must reflect
the sale of variable-rate debt. The State Debt Service Budget bill provides the necessary appropriations
to fulfill legal requirements for the retirement and payment of interest on outstanding and new State-
supported debt. For SFY 2020-21, State debt service appropriations total $22.2 billion, with State debt
service disbursements projected at $5.8 billion. Comparatively, these appropriations for SFY 2019-20
totaled $10.15 billion with disbursements estimated at $5.77 billion.
89
Senate Vote: 55-1 (Jacobs)
Chapter 52
Enacted Aid to Localities Budget Bill

S.7503C / A.9503C
The Aid to Localities Enacted Budget Bill for State Fiscal Year 2020-21 included All Funds spending
of $61.3 billion, an annual decrease of $7.22 billion or 10.6%. The Aid to Localities All Funds amount
includes a $8 billion budget balance reduction target to cover a General Fund receipts shortfall due to
the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the overall spending for Aid to Localities, school aid accounts for $27.9
billion, $5.3 billion for the Essential Plan, $24.6 for Medicaid, $3.96 billion for transportation, $3.52
billion for Higher Education, $2.03 billion for the School Tax Relief Program, $8.94 billion for social
services, $4.3 billion for Mental Hygiene and $6.07 billion in other spending actions.
Jacobs, Jordan, Lanza, LaValle, Little, O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach, Sanders, Serino,
Tedisco)
Chapter 53
Enacted Capital Projects Budget Bill

S.7504C / A.9504C
The Capital Projects Enacted Budget Bill for State Fiscal Year 2020-21 included All Funds spending of
$14.7 billion, an increase of $2.3 billion or 22.8% over last year. The spending amount includes both
State and federal funds associated with capital projects funding.
Senate Vote: 39-22 (Akshar, Amedore, Borrello, Boyle, Flanagan, Funke, Gallivan, Gounardes, Griffo,
Helming, Jacobs, Jordan, Lanza, LaValle, Little, O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach, Serino,
Tedisco)
Chapter 54
Enacted Article VII Public Protection and General Government Budget Bill
S.7505B / S.9505B
The Public Protection Enacted Budget Bill for State Fiscal Year 2020-21 enacted into law major
components of legislation necessary to implement the state public protection and general government
budget.
Jacobs, Jordan, Lanza, LaValle, Little, Myrie, O’Mara, Ortt, Ramos, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach,
Salazar, Serino, Tedisco)
Chapter 55
90
Enacted Article VII Education, Labor and Family Assistance Budget Bill
S.7506B / A.9506B
The Education, Labor, and Family Assistance Enacted Budget Bill for State Fiscal Year 2020-21 enacted
into law major components of legislation necessary to implement the state education, labor, housing and
family assistance budget.
Senate Vote: 35-26 (Akshar, Amedore, Biaggi, Borrello, Boyle, Flanagan, Funke, Gallivan, Griffo,
Helming, Jacobs, Jordan, Lanza, LaValle, Little, Myrie, O’Mara, Ortt, Ramos, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie,
Rivera, Robach, Salazar, Serino, Tedisco)
Chapter 56
Enacted Article VII Transportation, Economic Development and Environmental Conservation

Budget Bill
S.7508B / S.9508B
The Transportation, Economic Development and Environmental Conservation Enacted Budget Bill for
State Fiscal Year 2020-21 enacted into law major components of legislation necessary to implement the
state transportation, economic development and environmental conservation budget.
Jacobs, Jordan, Lanza, LaValle, Little, O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach, Salazar, Serino,
Tedisco)
Chapter 58
Enacted Article VII Revenue Budget Bill

S.7509B / A.9509B
The Revenue Enacted Budget Bill enacted into law major components of legislation which are necessary
to implement the state fiscal plan for the 2020-2021 state fiscal year.
Jacobs, Jordan, Lanza, LaValle, Little, O’Mara, Ortt, Ramos, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Rivera, Robach,
Salazar, Serino, Tedisco)
Chapter 59
SIGNIFICANT BILLS THAT PASSED THE SENATE AND THE ASSEMBLY
Report on Summer Youth Employment Programs

S.1079 (Persaud) / A.6393 (Williams)
Requires the Department of Labor to produce a report regarding Summer Youth Employment Programs
(SYEP) funded by federal, state, and local appropriations. The report would include the total number
of jobs available, the nature of the jobs, the educational and professional experience offered, the career
paths available from the training provided, and the experience of SYEP participants.
91
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Establishes the Law Enforcement Misconduct Investigative Office

S.3595C (Parker, Bailey, Breslin, Brooks, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Liu, May, Sanders,
Serrano) / A.10002B (Taylor)
Establishes the Law Enforcement Misconduct Investigative Office within the Department of Law, which
grants the Office of Attorney General (OAG) the jurisdiction to investigate all police agencies in the
State. The OAG would have the authority to investigate complaints and cases involving corruption and
abuse of office. The OAG would have the power to issue reports and make recommendations regarding
these cases.

Senate Vote: 41-21 (Akshar, Amadore, Borrello, Boyle, Flanagan, Funke, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming,
Jacobs, Jordan, Lanza, LaValle, Little, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach, Serino, Seward, Tedisco)
Chapter: 104
Requires ESD to Publish and Maintain a List of Programs to Assist Small Businesses
S.7350 (Kaplan) / A.10119 (Stirpe)
Requires Empire State Development to maintain a centralized list for small business programs hosted by
state agencies and public authorities on their website. This list must include contact information for and
description of each program, and is for businesses with 50 or fewer employees.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 59-0
Relates to Payment in Construction Contracts

S.7664 (Breslin) / A.9117(Cusick)
Defines “substantial completion” as when the work required by the contractor with the public owner
is sufficiently completed so that the public owner may occupy or utilize the work for its intended use.
Provides that no later than 45 business days after the date when the project has reached substantial
completion, the public owner must submit to the contractor a written list describing all remaining
items to be completed by the contractor. The contractor, in turn, must provide within seven calendar
days a written list of items still awaiting completion to all subcontractors from whom the contractor is
withholding retainage.
Proponent: Business Council; Empire State Subcontractors Association; New York Electrical
Contractors Association Inc.; Subcontractors Trade Association
92
Opponent: New York City Mayor; NYS County Highway Superintendents Association; NYS School
Boards Association
Senate Vote: 60-0
Relates to Bond Anticipation Notes Issued in Calendar Years 2015 Through 2021
S.8417 (Krueger) / A.10492 (Thiele)
Provides local governments and school districts with an array of options to address financial challenges
caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Extends the bond anticipation note (BAN) renewal period from
five to seven years for BANs issued from 2015 to 2021. Provides flexibility through permitting local
governments and school districts to transfer money from reserve funds and temporarily make interfund
advances to pay for costs attributable to the pandemic.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 61-0
Chapter 157
Requires New York State Police Officers to Wear Body Cameras

S.8493 (Parker, Bailey) / A.8674A (Walker)
Establishes a body-worn camera program within the Division of State Police, which would require all
State Police Officers to wear cameras while on duty.

Opponents: None
Chapter 105
New York State Veterans’ Cemeteries

S.8791 (Brooks, Kaplan, Little, Liu, May) / A.10782 (Barrett)
Lowers the prerequisite of 15 years of maintenance and operation funds to 10 years to expedite and
encourage the establishment of a state run veterans’ cemetery.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Moratorium on Youths Aging Out Of Foster Care During a State Of Emergency

S.8834 (Montgomery) / A.10581B (Wright)
Authorizes former foster care youth who have been discharged from foster care to return to foster care
93
placement during the COVID-19 state of emergency without requiring such youths to file a motion
authorizing their return to foster care placement and places a temporary moratorium on aging out of
foster care during a state of emergency.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Creates a Temporary State Commission Concerning the Incidence of Asthma in the Bronx
S.1557 (Serrano) / A.1195 (Joyner)
Establishes a temporary state commission to study and make recommendations relating to the incidence
of asthma in the Bronx. The Commission must place particular emphasis on youth in communities with
unemployment levels exceeding 125% of the statewide level.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Assembly Vote: None
Requires a Five-Year Capital Plan for SUNY and CUNY

S.3548A (Stavisky, LaValle, Addabbo, Salazar, Skoufis) / A.1155A (Glick)
Requires the Governor to include five-year capital plans for CUNY and SUNY in the Executive
Budget. The capital plan will cover 100% of each system’s critical maintenance needs, including new
infrastructure or significant capital initiatives. In consultation with CUNY and SUNY, the Director of
Budget will develop a methodology for funding state-operated campuses’ critical maintenance needs.
If the capital plan cannot fund 100% of the critical maintenance needs, the Director of Budget will
develop a five-year capital plan that would annually reduce the overall facility condition index for each
university.
Proponents: NYSUT
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 59-0
Assembly Vote: None
Require Additional Training Certifications for Contractors Involved in Painting and Coating
S.3561A (Kennedy, Metzger) / A.2337A (Wallace, Ryan)
Mandates that contractors, subcontractors, and workers in state financed projects, including local
projects or projects by public authorities, involved in applying or removing industrial paints and coatings
meet certain certification standards by obtaining certification from the Society for Protective Coatings
(SSPC) or equivalent certifications from NACE International. The required level of certification depends
on the type of work that will be involved, including whether the work requires the removal of lead-based
94
paints and coatings, and the size of the work crew involved in industrial painting or coating. Contractors
must maintain up to date certifications during the progress of the project. Failure to meet the certification
requirements in this proposal would be ground for terminating a contract.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Assembly Vote: None
Establishes a New York Farm to School and School Garden Fund

S.3804A (May, Ritchie, Jordan, Harckham, Martinez, Metzger) / A.1209A (Hunter)
Establishes a New York Farm to School and School Garden Fund to allow residents to gift money on
their personal income tax forms to establish school gardens and purchase equipment and educational
materials to promote students’ consumption of local products.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 61-0
Assembly Vote: None
Provides for Electronic Notarization

S.4352B (Skoufis, Metzger) / A.4076B (Rozic)
Authorizes notarizations to be done electronically using video conference technology and includes a
procedure for identifying signers. Under the provisions of this bill, this process would be achieved by
video and audio conference, with people communicating simultaneously, seeing and speaking to each
other in real time. The transmission process must be also secure from interception by anyone other than
the people communicating. The technology used must also allow the notary to communicate with and
identify the signer of the document.
Proponent: Business Council of New York State; SIFMA;

Opponent: None
Senate Vote: 58-2 (Borrello, Griffo)
Assembly Vote: None
Increases Lifetime Cap and Individual Loan Cap of the Excelsior Linked Deposit Program
S.6165 (Sanders) / A.7688 (Schimminger)
Increases the lifetime cap on the maximum amount a borrower can loan under the Excelsior Linked
Deposit Program (ELDP) from $2 million to $5 million, and removes the $2 million individual loan cap.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 41-18 (Akshar, Borrello, Boyle, Flanagan, Funke, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Jordan,
LaValle, O’Mara, Ortt, Ritchie, Robach, Serino, Seward, Skoufis, Tedisco)
Assembly Vote: None
95
Provides Language Translation Services for 2020 Census Self-Reporting
S.6897A (Salazar, May, Montgomery) / No Same As
Authorizes the extension of any available State language translation services to state agencies and
localities, to aid individuals in self-reporting to the 2020 Census.
Proponents: Climate Reality Project

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 45 – 16 (Jacobs, Seward, Tedisco, Akshar, Helming, Jordan, Little, O’Mara, Robach,
Borrello, Funke, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Gallivan, Lanza, Ritchie)
Assembly Vote: None
Prohibits Law Enforcement Officers from Using Racial and Ethnic Profiling
S.8495 (Benjamin) / No Same As
Prohibits law enforcement officers from using racial and ethnic profiling. Provides the Attorney General
the authority to bring an action on behalf of the people for injunctive relief and/or damages against a law
enforcement agency that is engaging in racial profiling.
Proponents: Local 372

Opponents:Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association
Senate Vote: 62-0
Assembly Vote: None
Prohibits Temporary Emergency Assistance Increases From Affecting Public Assistance Eligibility
S.8739 (Persaud, Liu, May) / A.10743 (Hevesi)
Prohibits receipt of the temporary emergency increase in unemployment compensation benefits as
provided for by the federal CARES Act from affecting benefit eligibility for certain public assistance
benefits.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 49-11 (Borrello, Funke, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Jordan, Ortt, Ritchie, Serino, Seward,
Tedisco)
Assembly Vote: None
Equal Pay Disclosure with Respect to State Contracts

S.1482 (Hoylman, Addabbo, Biaggi, Brooks, Comrie, Jackson, Kaminsky, Krueger, Rivera,
Sepulveda) / A.7169 (Glick)
Requires State contractors to submit reports on the average pay of their workforce broken down
demographically and by job titles and the comptroller to aggregate the data and produce a report. The
Comptroller will also develop guidelines to assess the equal pay practices of contractors.
96
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None.
Authorizes Credit Unions to Participate in the Excelsior Linked Deposit Program and Raises the
Limit on the Amount Permitted to be on Deposit at Any Given Time
S.1461 (Sanders) / No Same As
The Linked Deposit Program (LDP) leverages low-interest loans to small and medium-sized businesses
in New York State from participating lenders, which are recipients of state deposits that earn a
comparably reduced rate of return. Allows credit unions to accept deposits and make loans pursuant to
the Excelsior LDP and pledge assets or other security to repay such moneys.
Proponents: None
Opponents: Independent Bankers Association of NY, INC.; New York Bankers Association
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Establishes the New York State Community Commission on Reparations Remedies

S.2904C (Sanders, Hoylman, Parker, Sepúlveda) / No Same As
Creates the New York State Community Commission on Reparations Remedies. This bill would
examine the institution of slavery in New York State.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Require Communications Contractors with the State to Provide Call Blocking Software to Their
Customers
S.3434 (Skoufis) / A.3481 (Steck)
Provides residents free access to software that blocks automated calls or calls that transmit false
caller identification information, and amends the State Finance Law to state that any bid for proposal,
competitive bidding process, or the awarding of a contract for information and communications
technologies with a State agency, public authority, or municipality, must include the provision for free
software that blocks automated calls or prevents calls with a false caller ID to all relevant telephone and
wireless cell customers.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
97
Establishing a Workplace Sexual Harassment Hotline
S.4313A (Biaggi, Carlucci, Hoylman, Salazar) / A.7374A (Niou)
Requires the State Division of Human Rights to establish a toll-free hotline for counsel and assistance to
victims of and to report instances of workplace sexual harassment.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Establishing an Income-Based Rent Relief Program During the COVID-19 Pandemic

S.8139 (Bailey, Biaggi, Hoylman, Kaplan, Liu, May, Metzger, Myrie, Parker, Ramos, Sanders,
Serrano, Stavisky) / A.10247 (Niou)
Suspends rent payments for certain tenants and provide forbearance on certain mortgage payments in
response to the outbreak of COVID-19. Any covered tenant that has lost earned income, has been forced
to close their place of business, or had their business activities substantially curtailed due to government
ordered restrictions resulting in a loss of income, shall only be responsible for 30% of their income or
their contractual rent, whichever is less, for 90 days following the effective date of the act.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Establishes the Coronavirus Pandemic Small Business and Not-for-Profit Organization Loan
Program
S.8169 (Jackson, Persaud) / A.10208 (Buchwald)
Authorizes the Department of Financial Services (DFS) to administer the newly established, coronavirus
pandemic small business and not for profit, organization loan program, and guarantee the repayment
of loans made by eligible banks and credit unions. Allows banks and credit unions to apply to DFS to
participate in this program. Eligible financial institutions that make loans under this program must notify
DFS in writing within one business day, detailing information about the borrower. Loans can be made
to affected businesses if: affected businesses are located in New York State; the loan(s) may not exceed
$75,000; the creditworthiness of the business may not be used to determine eligibility. No payment of
interest on the loan(s) would be due before the grace period or 180 days after the grace period. After the
grace period, the affected business must repay the loan(s) in three to six payments. This loan program
would stop taking applications after the coronavirus pandemic ends and will expire after all payments
are made.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
98
Authorizes Additional Bonds of the New York City Transitional Finance Authority Related to the
Epidemic Resulting from Spread of the Disease Known as COVID-19
S.8418 (Krueger) / A.10520 (Braunstein)
Authorizes the City of New York to issue up to $7 billion in debt to finance deficiencies in its budget
arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill would also allow the City to issue bonds secured by
federal or State aid dollars – without limitations to amount.
Proponents: Conference of Big 5 School Districts; NYS School Boards Association; and
Subcontractors Trade Association.
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Establishing a COVID-19 Accidental Death Benefit Presumption

S.8420 (Gounardes, Carlucci, Comrie, Hoylman, Jackson, Kaplan, Martinez, Metzger,
Montgomery, Rivera, Savino, Skoufis) / A.10247 (Abbate)
Establishes a COVID-19 presumption for public employee death benefits where a member was required
to physically report to work, contracted COVID-19, and was determined by the applicable head of
the member’s retirement system or such system’s medical board that COVID-19 would have been a
significant contributing factor in the member’s death.
Proponents: NYS Nurses Association, NYS AFL-CIO, NYS PEF, NYS School Boards Association,
NYSUT
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Prohibits Law Enforcement Agencies from Acquiring Equipment from the U.S. Military
S. 8515 (Ramos) / No Same As
Prohibits State and local law enforcement agencies from participating in federal programs which would
allow them to acquire equipment from the United States Military to use in daily operations.
Proponents: None
Opponents: Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Support for Human Service Providers During COVID-19

S.8680 (Persaud) / A.10727 (Hevesi)
Provides relief to human services providers in response to the outbreak of novel coronavirus,
COVID-19. All essential Human services workers would receive retroactive incentive pay, be provided
with personal protective equipment (PPE), and a three percent cost of living adjustment (COLA).
Human Service providers would be eligible for a 60% cash advance on 2021 contracts and have all debts
for state and local programs forgiven.
99
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Raising the Lower Age of Juvenile Delinquency Jurisdiction

S.8685 (Montgomery, Bailey, Krueger) / A.10727 (Jaffee)
Raises the lower age of juvenile delinquency jurisdiction from seven to twelve years of age and
establishes differential response programs for children under the age of twelve.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act of 2020

S.8802 (Salazar, Jackson, Gianaris, Hoylman, Myrie, Ramos, Rivera, Serrano) / A.10826 (Niou)
Establishes the Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act of 2020 to cancel rent for all tenants; provide cash
assistance to certain building owners who lost income due to the COVID-19 emergency; and establish a
Landlord Relief Fund to reimburse landlords for cancelled rents. Owners must sign a 5-year regulatory
agreement to get any cash assistance or reimbursement.
Support: Association of Tenants of Lincoln Towers; Citizen Action of NY; City of New York
Community Board 8 Manhattan; Housing Conservation Coordinators; Housing Rights Initiative; Make
the Road New York; Met Council on Housing; Socialist Alternative NYC; Tenants Association; 117
Tenant Association
Opposition: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
HEARINGS AND FORUMS
100
HEALTH
Analyst: Dan Leinung, Jonathan Lang, and Carolyn Sheridan
(518) 455-2821, (518) 455-2722, and (518) 455-2889
Ensures Affordable and Widespread Access to Insulin

S.6492B (Rivera, Carlucci, Gounardes, Harckham, Hoylman, Kaplan, Krueger, Liu, Mayer,
Metzger, Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Salazar, Sepulveda, Serrano) / A.8533B (Joyner)
Directs the Commissioner to develop a drug assistance demonstration program to provide access to
insulin and other life saving maintenance prescription medications for patients in need and allows
pharmacists to dispense emergency refills of expired insulin prescriptions.
Proponents: #Insulin4all; American Diabetes Association; Campaign for New York Health; Chinese-
American Planning Council; Democratic Socialists for Medicare for All; Health Care for All New York
and Multiple Organizations; Metro New York Health Care for All; New York #Insulin4all; Students for a
National Health Program; Uptown Progressive Action;
Opponents: Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans; Health Plan Association
Senate Vote: 59-1 (Boyle)
Authorization for Pharmacists To Administer a Future COVID-19 Vaccine

S.8182A (Hoylman, Addabbo, Benjamin, Carlucci, Kaplan, Lui, May, Montgomery, Rivera,
Sepulveda, Skouis) / A.10508A (Rules-Paulin)
Allows licensed pharmacists to administer an approved vaccine for COVID-19 ninety days after such
a vaccine is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Biologics
Evaluation and Research. Pharmacists are able to administer an immunization for COVID-19 by both
patient-specific or non-patient specific orders provided by licensed prescribers in New York State in
accordance with regulations promulgated by the commissioner of the State Education Department (SED)
in consultation with the State Board of Pharmacy.
Proponents: Community Pharmacy Association of NYS

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 62-0
Chapter 110
Study On Health Impacts of COVID-19 on Minority Populations

S.8245A (Parker, Bailey, Carlucci, Comrie, Hoylman, Kaplan, Kennedy, Liu, May, Metzger,
Montgomery, Sepulveda, Skoufis) / A.10517 (Rules-Aubry)
Requires the Department of Health to conduct a study on the health impacts of COVID-19 on racial and
ethnic minority populations in New York State.
101
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 59-3 (Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie)
Chapter 99
Annual Pandemic Emergency Plans For Residential Health Care Facilities

S.8289B (Salazar, Carlucci, Comrie, Hoylman, Liu, May, Metzger, Skoufis) / A.10394A (Lentol)
Requires every residential health care facility to prepare a pandemic emergency plan within 90 days of
the effective date of the bill and annu, ally thereafter. The plan must be made available on the facility’s
website and immediately upon request from a member of the public.
Proponents: None
Opponents: Leading Age NY
Senate Vote: 61-1 (Helming)
Chapter 114
Expands DOH Oversight Over Infectious Disease Outbreaks in Correctional Facilities

S.8315A (Rivera, Bailey, Biaggi, Carlucci, Hoylman, Jackson, Krueger, Liu, May, Metzger,
Montgomery, Myrie, Salazar) / A.10463A (Gottfried)
Expands the authority of the Department of Health (DOH) to review policies or practices of facilities
operated by the Department of Correction and Community Supervision (DOCCS) and all local
correctional facilities related to emerging infectious disease outbreaks. The authority also includes any
emerging infectious disease outbreak in a facility or among the general public, including the treatment
and prevention of the diseases among inmates and staff. In addition, the Commissioner of Health, in
consultation with the Commissioner of DOCCS and local officials must monitor the outbreak and ensure
that adequate personal protective equipment is available for staff and inmates and that inmates are not
inappropriately confined to their cells or placed in solitary confinement.
Proponents: Correctional Association of New York; Legal Action Center; Releasing Aging People in
Prison
Opponents: NYSAC
Senate Vote: 59-1 (Helming)
Ensures Cultural and Linguistic Competency in COVID-19 Contact Tracers

S.8362A (Serrano, Carlucci, Comrie, Hoylman, Liu, Rivera, Skoufis) / A.10447 (Joyner)
Requires that the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the New York City Health
and Hospitals Corporation, or any other New York City agency that hires people to perform contact
tracing pertaining to COVID-19 infections within the City of New York must hire tracers who are
representative of the cultural and linguistic diversity of the communities in which they serve to the
greatest extent practicable.
102
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 59-3 (Jacobs, Martinez, Ortt)
Chapter 115
Confidentiality of Contact Tracing Information

S.8450C (Rivera, Bailey, Benjamin, Biaggi, Carlucci, Comrie, Gianaris, Gounardes, Harckham,
Hoylman, Jackson, Kaminsky, Kavanagh, Kennedy, Krueger, Liu, May, Metzger, Myrie, Parker,
Persaud, Ramos, Salazar, Sepulveda, Serrano, Stavisky, Thomas) / A.10500C (Gottfried)
Requires that contact tracing information from the identification, monitoring and support of individuals
who have come in contact with an individual with a confirmed or probable diagnosis of COVID-19 be
kept confidential and that this information may not be disclosed except as necessary to carry out contact
tracing. A person waives this confidentiality if the person voluntarily discloses and provides a written,
informed and voluntary waiver to disclosure of the information. Any disclosure of contact tracing
information must be limited in scope as necessary to achieve the purpose of the disclosure.
Proponents: NDS Harlem et al; NYCLU; NYSUT; Surveillance Technology Oversight Project
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
The Jonah Bichotte Cowan Law for Pre-Term Labor Care

S.8525 (Montgomery, Gaughran) / A.2770C (Bichotte)
Requires Article 28 hospital facilities to provide certain care when an expectant mother presents with
concerns about being in pre-term labor. The mother, and any expecting mother that comes to a hospital
during pregnancy, must also be provided with an informational leaflet that includes a statement related
to the availability of Medicaid coverage for all income-eligible women and children regardless of
immigration status and information relating to pre-term labor and premature birth.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Cultural and Linguistic Diversity For Contact Tracers

S.8829 (Martinez, Metzger) / A.10567A (Jean-Pierre)
Requires that the Department of Health, a county department of health, or other entity that hires contact
tracers must hire contact tracers that are representative of the cultural and linguistic diversity of the
communities in which they serve to the greatest extent possible. Each county health department, except
New York City, must compile information regarding contact tracer worker diversity within the county,
and post this information on their website.
103
Proponents: NYCLU
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 56-4 (Borrello, Helming, O’Mara, Ortt)
Narrows Scope of Immunity Protections For Healthcare Providers During COVID-19 Disaster
Emergency
S.8835 (Sepúlveda) / A.10840 (Kim)
Amends provisions regarding health care facilities and professionals during the COVID-19 emergency.
This bill narrows the scope of the immunity protections originally included in Part GGG of the ELFA
bill (S.7506B) in the Adopted SFY 2020-21 budget by narrowing the scope of the health care services
that are granted immunity. Specifically, this bill:
1. Narrows the immunity provisions to ONLY apply to healthcare services for confirmed or
suspected COVID-19 patients by amending the definition of “healthcare services” to remove
the “catchall” that provided immunity to services provided to non-COVID patients during the
pandemic;
2. Narrows the scope of health care services that would be protected to only the diagnosis or
treatment of COVID-19 (instead of the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of COVID-19)
3. Requires the provider to be directly providing the health care services to the patient (instead of
providing or arranging for the services).
Proponents: None
Opponents: Associated Medical Schools of NY; Center for Disability Services; City of New York Office
of the Mayor; Continuing Care Leadership Coalition; Crouse Community Center; Greater NY Hospital
Association; HANYS; Leading Age NY; Medical Society of the State of New York et al; Memorial
Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; NYS Bar Association; Suburban Hospital Alliance; Upstate NY
Healthcare Coalition
Senate Vote: 45-15 (Akshar, Biaggi, Borrello, Funke, Griffo, Helming, Jordan, LaValle, Little, Martinez,
Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach, Salazar)
Chapter 134
Lactation Accommodations in Airports

S.1544 (Kennedy, Krueger, Liu, Sepúlveda) / A.8372 (Cruz)
Requires the terminal operator of a commercial airport owned by a municipality or local authority
(including the Port Authority), with more than one million enplanements a year (JFK, LaGuardia,
Buffalo, Albany, Rochester, and Syracuse airports), to provide a private room or location at each
terminal for members of the public to express breast milk. This area must contain a chair and an
electrical outlet, be separate from a bathroom, and located behind security screening areas. If the
terminal is new or substantially renovated, it must also include a sink in the lactation area. Airports
with fewer than one million but more than 10,000 enplanements per year (including the Port Authority
airports) must comply with these provisions if they replace, expand, renovate or build a new terminal.
104
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 62-0
Assembly Vote: None
Prohibits Making or Broadcasting of Images of Medical Treatment Without Prior Consent

S.1693B (Krueger, Addabbo, Biaggi, Carlucci, Hoylman, Kaplan, Lui, Metzger, Rivera, Serrano) /
No Same As
Requires that patients in health care facilities in New York State have the ability to control the depiction
of their own image or speech via express written consent prior to any broadcast of image or speech.
Exceptions are made when the broadcast is done to advance the health care treatment of the individual,
a quality assurance program, the education or training of health care personnel, or necessary security
purposes. If the broadcast is for education or training purposes, the patient would have the right to know
and to refuse to be broadcast. A person legally responsible for the patient may grant consent or refuse if
the patient is unable to do so.
Proponents: None
Opponents: Greater New York Hospital Association
Senate Vote: 59-1 (Lanza)
Assembly Vote: None
Opioid Antagonist Prescription Accompanying First Opioid Prescription Each Year

S.5150B (Harckham, Carlucci, Hoylman, Kaplan, Krueger, Metzger, Montgomery, Salazar) /
A.5603B (Braunstein)
Requires that the first opioid prescription of each year for use in a setting other than a general hospital,
nursing home, mental health facility, or hospice care, be accompanied by a prescription for an opioid
antagonist when any of the following risk factors are present:
(1) a history of substance abuse disorder;
(2) high dose or cumulative prescriptions that result in over 50 morphine milligram equivalents per day;
or
(3) concurrent use of opioids and benzodiazepine or nonbenzodiazepine sedative hypnotics.
Proponents: None
Opponents: Medical Society of the State of New York
Senate Vote: 54-7 (Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Jordan, Little, O’Mara, Ortt)
Assembly Vote: None
Limits Substitutions of Abuse-Deterrent Analgesic Opioid Drugs

S.6397 (Carlucci, Addabbo, Kaplan, Metzger, Parker) / No Same As
Ensures that if a prescriber indicates a patient should receive an abuse-deterrent formulation of an
opioid product, an insurer or the state Medicaid plan may not require the use of a non-abuse-deterrent
formulation before authorizing the use of an abuse-deterrent formulation and directs insurers to limit
cost-sharing for brand-name abuse-deterrent formulas to the lowest cost-sharing level applied to non-
abuse deterrent formulas.
105
Proponents: None
Opponents: Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans
Senate Vote: 59-2 (Biaggi, May)
Assembly Vote: None
Requires Reporting Of Lyme Disease After Autopsy

S.6415 (Harckham, Carlucci, Metzger) / No Same As
Requires any coroner, pathologist, medical examiner, or other person qualified to conduct an
examination of a deceased person to report to the Commissioner of Health if the deceased individual
was afflicted with lyme or other tick-borne diseases at the time of death.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 58-2 (LaValle, Serino)
Assembly Vote: None
Increases Access to Rescue Inhaler Devices for Emergency Treatment of Asthma

S.7335 (Rivera, Kaminsky, Bailey, Carlucci, Liu, Montgomery, Sepúlveda) / No Same As
Allows certain eligible persons or entities to purchase, acquire, possess and use rescue inhalers treatment
devices for emergency treatment of asthma, similar to provisions that currently exist in law for the
administration of epinephrine.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Assembly Vote: None
Requires Managed Long Term Care Plans to Reimburse Providers for PPE
S.8361 (Rivera, Biaggi, Carlucci, Comrie, Gaughran, Gounardes, Harckham, Hoylman, Jackson,
Kennedy, Krueger, Liu, May, Metzger, Montgomery, Myrie, Salazar, Sanders, Sepúlveda, Serrano,
Stavisky) / A.10451 (Gottfried)
Requires Managed Long Term Care Plans (MLTCPs) to reimburse home and community based long
term care providers or their fiscal intermediaries for expenses related to personal protective equipment
(PPE). The reimbursements would include expenses for PPE for direct care workers, care recipients, and
the acquisition of a 90-day supply of PPE.
Proponents: Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Association of NYS, NYS Association of Health
Care Providers, 1199 SEIU
Opponents: Leading Age NY, New York Health Plan Association
Senate Vote: 59-1 (Borrello)
Assembly Vote: None
106
Clarifies the Look-Back Period for Medicaid Eligibility of Home Care Services
S.8337 (Rivera, Biaggi, Carlucci, Gaughran, Gounardes, Hoylman, Kaplan, Kruger, Liu, May,
Metzger, Montgomery, Myrie) / A.10489 (Gottfried)
Clarifies the conditions of the 30-month look-back period to determine eligibility for Medicaid
community-based long term care services. The 30 month look-back period will apply to asset transfers
made on or after October 1, 2020, and several clarifications were made on the types of asset transfers
that would be allowable or non-allowable within the look-back period. The intent is to ensure that
Medicaid applicants will not be subject to a penalty if their assets were used on their behalf. This bill
also states that Medicaid applications with an immediate need for personal care or consumer directed
personal shall be expedited
Proponents: AARP New York; Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Association of New York State;
Medicaid Matters New York; New York StateWide Senior Action Council; NY Legal Assistance Group;
NYS Bar Association
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Assembly Vote: None
Infection Preventionists in Hospitals

S.5186A (Metzger, Carlucci, Funke, Jackson, Stavisky) / A.3705A (Gunther)
Requires any person employed as an infection preventionist (IP) at a general hospital to be certified. IPs
must meet the certification requirements within 36 months of the effective date of the bill.
Proponents: Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology

Opponents: HANYS
Senate Vote: None
Limits Use of Psychotropic Medications in Nursing Homes and Adult Care Facilities
S.5441 (Sepúlveda) / A.1033 (Gottfried)
Prohibits a health care professional from prescribing more than a 14-day order for psychotropic drugs to
a patient in a nursing home or adult care facility unless the patient (or their lawful representative) gives
informed written consent for the order.
Proponents: None
Opponents: New York State Psychiatric Association, Inc.
Senate Vote: None
107
Redacting the Name of Physicians Whose License Has Been Surrendered or Revoked from Birth
Certificates
S.6247 (Krueger, Metzger) / A.7514 (Simotas)
Allows a person over the age of 18 who lives outside of New York City, or their legal designee, or a
parent or legal representative of a person under the age of 18 living outside of New York City, to request
that the Department of Health (DOH) redact the name of a physician from a birth record when that
physician’s license is surrendered or revoked by the New York State Office of Professional Medical
Conduct.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate: None
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
New York Health Act

S.3577A (Rivera, Ramos, Addabbo, Bailey, Benjamin, Biaggi, Breslin, Carlucci, Comrie, Gianaris,
Gounardes, Harckham, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Kennedy, Krueger, Liu, May, Mayer,
Metzger, Montgomery, Myrie, Parker, Persaud, Salazar, Sanders, Sepúlveda, Serrano, Stavisky,
Thomas) / A.5248 (Gottfried)
Establishes the New York Health Plan (NYHP), a single-payer universal health plan, administered
by the Department of Health, whose members would be all NYS residents, regardless of immigration
status, income, age or employment status. Benefits would be entirely funded on a fee-for-service basis
and paid for by the State of New York. The NYHP would cover a comprehensive set of services that are
currently being covered under Medicaid and Medicare and all of the essential health benefits required
for coverage under the Affordable Care Act. There would be no cost-sharing costs for members to
pay, and every doctor in the State would be in-network (if they chose to participate in the program).
Private insurers would be prohibited from providing competing or duplicative coverage, but could offer
supplemental insurance plans (such as long-term care insurance, cosmetic surgery, infertility treatments,
etc.) that are not covered by NYHP. The NYHP would be funded through a mixture of existing federal
funding streams (Medicaid, Medicare, Child Health Plus, etc.), a new tiered payroll tax, and a tax on
investments.
Proponents: Grassroots Action New York; National Economic & Social Rights Initiative; New York
State Academy of Family Physicians; NY Statewide Senior Action Council; NYS Nurses Association;
Physicians for a National Health Program; Students for a National Health Program; SCO Family of
Services; Treatment Action Group; 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East
Opponents: American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees; DC 37; New York
State Association of Health Underwriters; Northeast Dairy Foods Association, Inc.; NYS Society of
Orthopaedic Surgeons; NYS Society of Plastic Surgeons; Police Conference of New York; Suffolk
County PBA; Unshackle Upstate
Senate: None
Assembly: None
108
Medical Aid in Dying
S. 3947 (Savino, Rivera, Hoylman, Biaggi, Brooks, Harckham, Jackson, Kaplan, Krueger,
Metzger, Montgomery, Ramos, Salazar, Sepúlveda) / A. 2694 (Paulin)
Allows a mentally competent, terminally ill patient to request a physician to prescribe medication that
may be self-administered by the patient to bring about his or her own death. A patient must be 18 years
or older and a NYS resident with a terminal illness (likely to die within 6 months). The bill includes
protections for any physician, pharmacist, or other health care professional from criminal liability if they
act in good faith in compliance with the law.
Proponents: Compassion and Choices of New York; NY Civil Liberties Union

Opponents: Colleen Barry; Long Island Coalition for LIFE, Inc.; New Yorkers for Constitutional
Freedoms; NY Alliance Against Assisted Suicide; NYS Right to Life; Patient Rights Action Fund, et al.
Senate: None
Assembly: None
Expansion of Medical Marijuana Program

S.5657B (Savino) / A.7467A (Gottfried)
Expands the medical marijuana program by expanding the list of conditions eligible for the program,
allowing for “smokeable” forms of medical marijuana, expanding the use of caregiver facilities,
allowing for registered organizations to have more dispensaries, allowing registered organizations
to contract out production and distribution processes, expanding lab testing, and creating medical
marijuana research licenses.
Proponents: Local 33 RWDSU, NYS AFL-CIO

Opponents: Medical Society of the State of New York
Senate: None
Assembly: None
HEARINGS AND FORUMS
Joint Hearing of the Senate Committees on Health and Investigations & Government Operations;
the Assembly Committees on Health, Oversight, Analysis & Investigation; and the Administrative
Regulations Review Commission. COVID-19 and Hospitals (August 12, 2020).
109
HIGHER EDUCATION
Analyst: Clayton Eichelberger
(518) 455-2706
Codifies the State University of New York Educational Opportunity Centers

S.4549 (Parker, Bailey, Liu, May) / A.9804 (Hyndman)
This bill codifies Educational Opportunity Centers (EOCs) into the State University of New York
(SUNY). Prior to this legislation, EOCs were solely the product of annual budget language and the
accompanying appropriation. EOCs offer adult learners the ability to receive a diploma or certification
and access higher education for the purpose of learning new career skills or to advance in their current
field.
Proponents: State University of New York (SUNY)

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Removal of 3.0 GPA Requirement to be Admitted into Graduate-Level Teacher Programs

S.7117 (Sanders, Gaughran) / A.9750 (Glick)
This bill removes the requirement that applicants admitted into a graduate-level teacher and leader
education program have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least a 3.0 in their
undergraduate program. This change only impacts applications to a teacher’s college; prospective
teachers would still need to satisfy existing requirements after graduation for certification.
Proponents: Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU); NYSUT

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 56-4 (Funke, Jordan, May, Ranzenhofer)
Mandatory Continuing Education for Professional Geologists

S.7986-A (Stavisky, Brooks) / A.10021-A (Englebright)
This bill aligns the continuing education requirements for the fields of professional engineers, land
surveyors, and professional geologists by mandating that individuals who are professional geologists
complete 36 hours of continuing education requirements for each triennial registration.
Proponents: New York State Council of Professional Geologists

Opponents: None
110
Allowing Licensed Pharmacists to Administer an Approved COVID-19 Vaccine
S.8182A (Hoylman, Addabbo, Benjamin, Brooks, Carlucci, Kaplan, Liu, May, Montgomery,
Rivera, Sepúlveda, Skoufis) / A.10508A (Paulin)
This bill would permit pharmacists to administer immunizations for a COVID-19 vaccine once such a
vaccine is developed. Under this bill, pharmacists would be able to administer an immunization for a
future COVID-19 vaccine by either patient-specific or non-patient specific orders. Allowing pharmacists
to administer a future COVID-19 vaccine would help ensure that New York State residents are able to
receive this important immunization conveniently at their local pharmacy.
Proponents: Community Pharmacy Association of NYS

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 62-0
Chapter 110
Authorizes SED to Renew Limited and Provisional Permits for an Additional Twelve Months due
to COVID-19 Pandemic
S.8632 (Stavisky) / A.10741 (Glick)
This bill authorizes the State Education Department (SED) to allow professionals whose limited and
provisional permits are set to expire to have additional time to work or practice under supervision of a
licensed professional in their field. Due to COVID-19, testing vendors that provide licensing exams have
in many cases not been able to open testing centers or allow for alternative online opportunities for all
individuals.
Proponents: State Education Department (SED); Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS);
National Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis; New York State Association for
Behavior Analysis; New York State Clinical Laboratory Association; New York State Podiatric Medical
Association; NYS Psychological Association; Suburban Hospital Alliance
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Cultural Awareness and Competence Training for Medical Professionals

S.2406A (Serrano, Bailey, Krueger, Montgomery, Rivera) / No Same As
This bill requires cultural awareness and competency training for medical professionals practicing in
the State who provide direct medical services to patients. Medical professionals would be required to
complete two hours of coursework or training on cultural awareness and competence in the provision
of medical services focusing on minority healthcare issues including ethnic, religious, linguistic, sexual
orientation and gender identity healthcare issues and their impact on minority healthcare.
111
Proponents: None
Opponents: Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA); New York State Academy of Family
Physicians
Senate Vote: 43-14 (Akshar, Amedore, Borrello, Flanagan, Funke, Griffo, Jordan, Lanza, LaValle,
O’Mara, Ortt, Ritchie, Serino, Tedisco)
Assembly Vote: None
Five-Year Capital Plans for SUNY and CUNY

S.3548A (Stavisky, LaValle, Addabbo) / A.1155A (Glick)
This legislation requires that beginning on April 1, 2021, and every fifth fiscal year thereafter, the
annual executive budget include a five-year capital plan for the State University of New York (SUNY)
and the City University of New York (CUNY). The five-year capital plan would provide for annual
appropriations that must cover 100% of the annual critical maintenance needs identified by SUNY and
CUNY.
Proponents: NYSUT; State University of New York (SUNY); City University of New York (CUNY)
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 59-0
Assembly Vote: None
SUNY and CUNY Report on Faculty Composition

S.4873A (Stavisky, Skoufis) / A.4363A (Glick)
This bill would direct both the SUNY and CUNY Boards of Trustees to report on the current
composition of faculty and academic advisers at four-year campuses and community colleges to the
Governor and Legislature. The report must break down data by 2012 numbers and current-year numbers
in regards to full-time tenured faculty, full-time tenure track faculty, full-time non-tenure track faculty,
and non-tenure part-time faculty.
Proponents: Higher Education Affiliates; NYSUT; State University of New York (SUNY); The
Professional Staff Congress
Opponents: None
Assembly Vote: None
Codifies the Smart Scholars Early College High School and Pathways in Technology (P-TECH)
Early College High School Programs
S.6537 (Montgomery, Mayer, Liu, May) / A.7501 (Benedetto)
State Education Department # 7
This bill codifies the NYS Smart Scholars Early College High School (ECHS) program and the NYS
Pathways in Technology (PTECH) Early College High School program into the Education Law.
Currently, these programs only exist in annual budget language with an accompanying appropriation.
Proponents: New York State School Boards Association; SED
112
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Assembly Vote: None
Opioid Training for Medical Professionals to Reduce Patient Opioid Abuse

S.7132 (Stavisky, Biaggi, Kaplan) / A.9067 (Rosenthal)
This bill requires mandatory continuing education in pain management treatment and in identifying
signs of substance use disorders for professions that deal with the physical and mental health of patients
. Professionals covered under this requirement would need to complete two hours of coursework or
training on ways to prevent or address substance use disorder in accordance with regulatory standards.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 61-0
Assembly Vote: None
Mandatory Reporting of Convictions, Misconduct, and Employment Actions; SED Process for
Temporary Suspension of Professional Licenses
S.6240A (Stavisky, Krueger) / A.1184A (Glick)
This bill would make several changes to the State Education Department’s (SED) process of mandatory
reporting of convictions, professional misconduct for licensed professionals including requiring many
professions registered, certified, or licensed by SED to report to the department any conviction of a
crime or professional misconduct within 30 days of either the judgment or adverse employment action.
This bill further allows SED to suspend a professional license, of an individual on a temporary basis if it
is determined that the public health, safety or welfare imperatively requires emergency action against a
professional license or registered entity.
Proponents: SED
Opponents: New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF); New York State United Teachers
(NYSUT)
Senate Vote: None
Authorizes Optometrists to Prescribe Certain Oral Medications

S.4035A (Bailey, Biaggi, Borrello, Funke, Hoylman, Serino, Skoufis) / A.1193C (Paulin)
This bill authorizes optometrists to prescribe certain oral medications and adds new education
requirements for optometrists. The bill provides that before using or prescribing oral pharmaceuticals,
an optometrist must be certified to prescribe diagnostic pharmaceutical agents and topical agents for the
treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension. To become certified optometrists have to complete a 40-
hour course, with at least 24 hours of live instruction, and pass an examination.
Proponents: New York State Optometric Association
113
Opponents: Albany County Medical Society; American Academy of Ophthalmology; Halogenated
Solvents Industry Alliance, Inc.; Medical Society of the State of NY (MSSNY); New York State
Ophthalmological Society
Senate Vote: None
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
Allows Non-CPAs to be Minority Owners

S.3842-D (Stavisky, LaValle, Addabbo, Comrie, Funke, Gounardes, Hoylman, Kaminsky,
Kennedy, Mayer, Ramos, Sepúlveda) / A.2919-C (Peoples-Stokes)
This bill would allow public accounting firms to incorporate in New York State with minority
ownership, of up to 49%, by individuals who are not Certified Public Accountants (CPAs). Licensed
CPAs must hold up to a simple majority of the ownership, above 51%. Firms must also keep CPAs in
control of the firm’s governance by having at least 51% of outstanding shares of stock of the corporation
are owned by CPAs, at least 51% of directors and officer positions are held by CPAs, and board
leadership held by CPAs.
Proponents: Business Council of New York State; Buffalo Niagara Partnership; NYC Chambers of
Commerce; NYS Society of Certified Public Accountants; The Capital Region Chamber of Commerce
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
HEARINGS AND FORUMS
Joint Hearing of the Senate and Assembly Committees on Higher Education. How COVID-19 Has
Impacted Higher Education (July 28, 2020).
114
HOUSING, CONSTRUCTION AND COMMUNITY

DEVELOPMENT
Analyst: Nic Rangel
(518) 455-7925
Mandates Mortgage Forbearance for COVID-19 Hardships

S.8243C (Kavanagh, Kaminsky, Addabbo, Carlucci, Comrie, Gianaris, Gounardes, Harckham,
Hoylman, Jackson, Kaplan, Kennedy, Little, Liu, Martinez, Metzger, Montgomery, Parker,
Rivera, Savino, Skoufis) / A.10351B (Rozic)
This bill requires allowing a forbearance on residential mortgage payments of up to 180 days for
mortgagors who can demonstrate financial hardship during NY on PAUSE.
Proponents: Amalgamated Bank

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 62-0
Chapter 112
Emergency Rent Relief Act of 2020

S.8419 (Kavanagh, Comrie, Hoylman, Kaplan, Montgomery, Rivera) / A.10522 (Cymbrowitz)
The Emergency Rent Relief Act of 2020 provides rental assistance vouchers to landlords on behalf
of tenants who experienced an increase in rent burden because of a loss of income as a result of the
COVID-19 pandemic through the New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR).
Proponents: Amalgamated Bank

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 61-0
Chapter 125
Ombudsperson for Local Code Enforcement Programs and Increases the Code Enforcement
Powers of the Secretary of the State
S.7287A (Bailey, Skoufis, Biaggi, Kavanagh, Rivera) / No Same As
This bill establishes a State Code Enforcement Ombudsperson office; increases the power and authority
of the Department of State to set standards for how many code enforcement officials each locality should
have; and authorizes the Secretary of the State to assign a monitor in a locality not meeting minimum
code enforcement standards.
115
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 40-20 (Jacobs, LaValle, Seward, Tedisco, Akshar, Flanagan, Helming, Jordan, Little,
O’Mara, Robach, Amedore, Borrello, Funke, Ortt, Serino, Boyle, Griffo, Landa, Ritchie)
Assembly Vote: None
Creates a Statewide Residential Rental Registry

S.7288A (Kavanagh, Skoufis, Biaggi, Rivera) / A.09615A (Zebrowski)
This bill requires the Secretary of State to create and administer a statewide rental registry and to
develop a public online database containing registration and code enforcement information.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 35-25 (Felder, Gaughran, Jacobs, LaValle, Seward, Tedisco, Akshar, Brooks, Flanagan,
Helming, Jordan, Little, O’Mara, Robach, Amedore, Borrello, Funke, Kaminsky, Ortt, Serino, Boyle,
Griffo, Lanza, Martinez, Ritchie)
Assembly Vote: None
Increases the Minimum Training Standards and Requirements for Code Enforcement Personnel
S.7291A (Persaud, Skoufis, Biaggi, Kavanagh, Rivera) / No Same As
This bill requires the Secretary of the State to promulgate rules and regulations pertaining to the
administration and enforcement of the Uniform Code. It also requires the minimum basic training
requirement for building safety instructors to be completed within 90 days from the date of appointment,
and within six months from the date of appointment for code enforcement officials, unless the individual
requests and receives a written extension from the secretary for good cause shown.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate: 47-13 (Seward, Tedisco, Akshar, Helming, Jordan, Little, O’Mara, Amedore, Borrello, Ortt,
Serino, Griffo, Ritchie)
Assembly Vote: None
Sets New Graduated Penalties for Repeat Uniform Code Violations

S.7292A (May, Kavanagh, Skoufis, Biaggi, Metzger, Rivera) / A.09633-A (Zebrowski)
The bill authorizes local governments to enact local laws prohibiting individuals with outstanding
orders of remedy or immediately hazardous violations from obtaining building or construction permits
and purchasing land bank properties. It also requires the Secretary of State to establish standards
and procedures by which someone would identify any outstanding orders of remedy or immediately
hazardous violations of the code on any property they own when they apply for building or construction
permits or apply to purchase land bank properties.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
116
Senate Vote: 41-19 (Jacobs, LaValle, Seward, Tedisco, Akshar, Flanagan, Helming, Jordan, Little,
O’Mara, Amedore, Borrello, Ortt, Serino, Boyle, Griffo, Landa, Martines, Ritchie)
Assembly Vote: None
Creates County Complaint Process Regarding Local Implementation of the Uniform Code
S.7300B (Skoufis, Biaggi, Kavanagh, Rivera) / A.09631-B (Zebrowski)
This bill creates a process for a county to submit notice to the Secretary of State that a locality
within the county responsible for its own code enforcement is not meeting the minimum standards of
administration and enforcement of the Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and the New York
state energy conservation construction code prescribed by the Secretary.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 62-0
Assembly Vote: None
None.
Housing Access Voucher Program

S.7628A (Kavanagh, Persaud, Bailey, Benjamin, Biaggi, Comrie, Gianaris, Gounardes, Hoylman,
Jackson, Kaminsky, Krueger, Liu, Montgomery, Myrie, Ramos, Rivera, Salazar, Savino,
Sepúlveda, Serrano) / A.09657A (Cymbrowitz)
This bill creates a new housing access voucher program in the New York State Homes and Community
Renewal (HCR) to provide a cash subsidy to eligible low income individuals and families that are
homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Proponents: Association of Tenants of Lincoln Towers; City of New York Community Board 8
Manhattan; Make the Road New York; UAW
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
Creates the NYCHA Construction and Preservation Fund Public Benefit Corporation
S.7755 (Kavanagh) / A.08888 (Cymbrowitz)
This bill creates a construction and preservation fund as a public benefit corporation, with exclusive
authority to lead construction and rehabilitation efforts necessary for the continued operation of the New
York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). The details of this proposal are still being worked out but we
expect it to gain momentum over the next few months.
117
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Establishes the State’s Obligation to “Affirmatively Further Fair Housing”

S.8096 (Kavanagh, Biaggi, Krueger, May, Sepúlveda, Stavisky) / No Same As
This bill adds an obligation to “affirmatively further fair housing” (AFFH) by state departments,
agencies or offices administering housing laws or housing programs, and by any localities receiving state
funds to administer programs and activities related to housing.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Creates the COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program

S.8140A (Kavanagh, Addabbo, Bailey, Benjamin, Biaggi, Brooks, Carlucci, Gaughran, Gounardes,
Harckham, Hoylman, Jackson, Kaminsky, Kaplan, Krueger, Liu, May, Mayer, Metzger, Myrie,
Parker, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, Salazar, Savino, Sepúlveda, Serrano, Skoufis, Stavisky, Thomas)
/ A.10248B (Cymbrowitz)
This bill establishes a COVID-19 emergency rental assistance program to provide vouchers to landlords
to cover rent missed by tenants who lost a significant amount of income because of the pandemic.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
HEARINGS AND FORUMS
Hearing of the Senate Committees on Housing, Construction & Community Development and
in the report issued August 5, 2019, “Final Investigative Report: Code Enforcement in New York State”
(January 23, 2020).
118
INSURANCE
Analyst: Elizabeth Nowicki
(518) 455-3588
Prohibits Life Insurance Discrimination Based on Opioid Blockers

S.3159A (Harckham, Biaggi, Carlucci, Kaplan, Martinez, May, Metzger, Parker, Ramos, Salazar) /
A.5952A (Rosenthal)
This bill specifies that no insurer or entity providing life insurance shall refuse to issue a life insurance
policy or annuity contract to an individual or change premiums or rates for such based solely on the
individual having been prescribed medication used to block the effects of opioids (e.g. Naloxone,
Narcan), unless the insurer’s action is based on sound actuarial principles or actual or reasonably
anticipated experience.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 61-0
Requires Insurers To Establish Group Fleet Policies For For-Hire Vehicles With A Seating
Capacity Of Not Less Than Eight Passengers
S.8437 (Liu) / A.9761A (Perry)
This bill requires insurers that issue policies of commercial risk insurance insuring against the losses
and liabilities arising out of the ownership of a motor vehicle to establish group fleet auto policies to
cover motor vehicles engaged in the business of transporting passengers for-hire with a seating capacity
of not less than eight passengers. This bill provides that such group fleet policies may be issued to (1)
any person, firm, association, corporation or other entity where the policy insures for-hire vehicles
owned by such person, firm, association, corporation or other entity or (2) an association that has
been in active existence for at least two years, that has been organized for purposes other than that of
obtaining insurance and whose members have the same trade or occupation, where the policy insures
the association’s members. The bill requires insurers to provide a multiple vehicle reduction to insureds
based on the number of motor vehicles that will be covered under such policy and to submit annual
reports to the Department of Financial Services identifying the number of policies eligible for such
discount and the number of policies to which such discount has been applied.
Proponents: None
Opponents: American Property Casualty Insurance Association; New York Automobile Insurance
Association; Progressive Casualty Insurance Company
119
Prohibits Gender Discrimination In Disability Insurance

S.3664B (Gianaris, Carlucci) /A.3024B (Glick)
This bill prohibits any insurer who is providing individual, group, or blanket disability insurance in New
York from charging different rates for premiums for such insurance on the basis of the gender of the
insured.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-1 (Ranzenhofer)
Assembly Vote: None
Requires a Study of Employee and Small Business Protections in the Payroll Services Industry
S.6728 (Breslin, Carlucci) / No Same As
This bill requires the Superintendent of the Department of Financial Services, in consultation with the
Commissioner of Taxation and Finance, to review the adequacy of employee protections and small
business employer protections in the payroll services industry and make recommendations regarding the
same. The bill requires the Superintendent to submit to the Governor and Legislature within 120 days of
the effective date of this legislation a report of DFS’s findings, conclusions, and recommendations. This
bill is responsive to concerns raised about the payroll services industry after MyHRPayroll, a payroll
services company, unexpectedly and abruptly ceased operations and left thousands of employees and
small businesses without funds to which they were entitled.
Proponents: National Payroll Reporting Consortium, Paycom

Opponents: None
Assembly Vote: None
Reduces Insulin Cost-Sharing Cap from $100 to $30 Per Month

S.8255 (Rivera, Carlucci, Gaughran, Hoylman, Kaminsky, Krueger, Liu, May, Metzger, Salazar) /
A.10821 (Niou)
As part of the FY2121 budget, legislation was adopted that would cap at $100 per month the cost-
sharing that insurance companies could impose on consumers per insulin prescription. This bill would
reduce that cost-sharing cap for each insulin prescription from $100 to $30 per month.
Proponents: American Diabetes Association

Opponents: New York Health Plan Association; New York State Conference of Blue Cross and Blue
Shield Plans
Senate Vote: 55-5 (Funke, Gallivan, Jordan, Robach, Seward)
Assembly Vote: None
120
None
None
HEARINGS AND FORUMS
121
INTERNET AND TECHNOLOGY
Analyst: Mobeen Bhatti
(518) 455-2045
None

Legal Recognition of Blockchain Signatures
S.4142 (Savino, Kaplan) / A.1683 (Vanel)
This bill recognizes a signature secured through blockchain technology as an electronic signature having
the same validity and effect as a signature affixed by hand. This bill also recognizes legal enforceability
of smart contracts; contracts made using underlying blockchain technology.
Proponents: Consumer Technology Association

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Assembly Vote: None
Allows Blockchain Companies to Get Excelsior Jobs Credit

S.6037A (Savino, Kaplan) / A.1398A (Vanel)
This legislation expands eligibility for the Excelsior Jobs Program to include companies that develop
distributed ledger technology (commonly known as blockchain technology). It would treat blockchain
developers the same as other software developers who are currently eligible for the tax credits.
Proponents: Consumer Technology Association

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Assembly Vote: None
Covid-19 Emergency Health Data and Technology Privacy Requirements

S.8448D (Thomas, Bailey, Carlucci, Gounardes, Hoylman, Liu, May, Metzger, Ramos, Stavisky) /
A.10583 (Rosenthal L)
This legislation requires entities that use technology for the collection and use of emergency health
data related to the Covid-19 public health emergency to get consent from individuals and to adequately
disclose certain information including the right to privacy, and entities that will have access to the data.
Proponents: Access Now, Common Sense, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer

Reports, Electronic Frontier Foundation, New York Civil Liberties Union, New America’s Open
Technology Institute and Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 55-5
Assembly Vote: None
122
None
Prohibits Municipal DNA Databases

S.6009 (Hoylman, Bailey, Comrie, Gounardes, Jackson, Krueger, Montgomery, Salazar,
Sepulveda) / A.7818 (Wright)
This legislation prohibits municipalities and other political subdivisions from establishing their own
DNA databases, and prohibits DNA from people other than those convicted of crimes from being
maintained in the statewide database. Currently, DCJS maintains a statewide DNA database but
municipalities (notably New York City) have also been maintaining their own databases which are not
subject to the regulations and protections governing the statewide database.
Proponents: Innocence Project and NYS Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; NYCLU;
Surveillance Technology Oversight Project; the Legal Aid Society
Opponents: NYPD
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Caps Third-Party Food Delivery Service Fees

S.8290 (Kavanagh, Gounardes) / No Same As
This legislation creates a maximum limit for the total fee that can be charged to a food service
establishment by a third-party food delivery service (such as Grubhub, Seamless, Postmates, Doordash,
etc.) for the use of their services, on each order made over the phone or internet. The bill sets that limit
at 10% of the purchase price of the order, excluding any taxes, gratuities or other fees.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
UNRESOLVED ISSUES

Data Privacy: Attempts to create enforceable data privacy legislation did not yield results this session.
Invasive data collection methods and the unrestricted sale of New York users’ personal information to
third parties around the world remain permitted under current law.
Algorithmic Bias: Businesses’ and public entities’ use of algorithmic decisionmaking have received
increased scrutiny, as civil rights groups have demonstrated that algorithms can reflect, preserve, and
perpetuate systemic societal biases. Various solutions have been discussed to oversee, regulate, or
restrict the use of algorithms to the extent that their use can lead to bias and discriminatory impacts.
123
Gig Worker Protections: The proportion of the workforce in the so-called “gig economy” instead
of traditional employment has grown considerably, with consequences for these workers’ social and
economic security and the assumptions underlying wage and benefit policies designed with traditional
employment in mind.
Internet Neutrality: The Mozilla v. FCC decision has given states considerable room to act in
the absence of federal net neutrality protections, rules preventing internet service providers from
manipulating access to online content. Several active Senate bills address the issue of net neutrality.

State Agency Cloud Services: Cloud services could enable state agencies to improve their data
management and service delivery significantly while decreasing costs. However, this requires flexibility
in existing procurement requirements as well as a comprehensive plan to shift existing infrastructure to
cloud services.
HEARINGS OR FORUMS

None.
124
INVESTIGATIONS & GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
Analysts: Gabriel Paniza and Shannon Owens
(518) 455-3594 and (518) 455-2576
Mandates Reasonable Accommodations for Animals Necessary to Alleviate Problems Caused by a

Disability
S.6172 (Martinez, Carlucci, Kaplan) / A.7331 (Dilan)
Division of Human Rights, Departmental Bill # 23
Makes it an unlawful discriminatory housing practice to deny reasonable accommodations for an
animal if a person with a disability can prove that the animal alleviates the symptoms or effects of their
disability.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 51-9 (Borrello, Griffo, Jacobs, Jordan, Lanza, O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Seward)
Chapter 137
Mandates the Disclosure of Disabled Tenants’ Rights to Reasonable Accommodations

S6220A (Benjamin, May) / A.8149A (O’Donnell)
This proposal would make it mandatory for all landlords in the State to inform disabled tenants of their
specific rights under the Human Rights Law. In addition, disclosure of these rights would be posted
conspicuously, in a form and manner determined by regulations, on all vacant accommodations available
for rent.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 45-15 (Amedore, Borrello, Funke, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Jordan, Little, O’Mara, Ortt,
Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Serino, Seward, Tedisco)
Allows Certain Complainants to Go to Court After Their Housing Complaint is Dismissed

S.6569 (Jackson, Biaggi) / A.9525 (Buchwald)
Division of Human Rights, Departmental Bill # 21
This legislation allows complainants that have had their housing cases dismissed for lack of probable
cause or jurisdiction by the Division of Human Rights the option to appeal the final order, or bring a de
novo action in court.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Lanza, LaValle, O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Seward, Tedisco)
125
Prohibits New York State from Selling or Displaying Symbols of Hate and Prohibits Their Sale at
the State Fair and any Other Public Fairs
S.8298B (Biaggi, Carlucci, Comrie, Gaughran, Gounardes, Hoylman, Jackson, Kaplan, Krueger,
Liu, May, Metzger, Rivera, Sepúlveda, Skoufis) / A.119B (Buchwald)
Prohibits New York State from selling or displaying symbols of hate, such as white supremacists
symbols or the Confederate Battle Flag, or any similar image, or tangible personal property, inscribed
with such an image in public buildings, unless the image appears in a book, digital medium, museum,
or serves an educational or historical purpose. The proposal also prohibits vendors from selling or
displaying symbols of hate on the fairgrounds of the New York State Fair and at any other publicly
funded fairs in New York State.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 57 – 3 (Helming, Lanza, O’Mara)
Assembly Vote: 141 – 0
Exempts Low Income Individuals from the License Suspension Program.

S.3836A (Krueger, Bailey, Carlucci, Liu, May, Metzger) / A.5633B (Weinstein)
Amends the license suspension program for delinquent tax debt to index the debt level to inflation,
exempt those on public assistance, supplemental security income, or those within 250% of the poverty
level, and create an exemption for taxpayers that can demonstrate that a suspension would pose a
hardship.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 47-14 (Akshar, Amedore, Antonacci, Flanagan, Gallivan, Griffo, Jacobs, Jordan, LaValle,
O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Seward, Tedisco)
Assembly Vote: None
Establishes a New Craft Beverage Special Events Permit

S.6653 (Skoufis, Metzger, Montgomery, Myrie, Persaud) / A.10066 (Woerner)
This proposal establishes a new temporary 24-hour New York craft beverage permit allowing all farm
alcohol producers to sell their products at a special event. This new permit would not be allowed for
events in New York City.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 61-0
Assembly Vote: None
126
Removes from Office Individuals Who Have Pled Guilty to Federal Crimes
S.6739 (Gaughran, Carlucci, Harckham, Kaplan) / A.8638 (McDonald)
This proposal expands the terms under which an official may be automatically removed from public
office by vacating an office if its incumbent enters a guilty plea in federal court for a felony or a crime
involving a violation of his oath of office. Under existing law, an incumbent is removed if they are
convicted of a felony, but in the federal system, unlike in State law, a conviction does not immediately
follow a plea of guilty.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Assembly Vote: None
Extends the Farm Workforce Retention Credit and Increases the Amount of the Credit
S.6773 (Metzger, Benjamin, Biaggi, Breslin, Comrie, Harckham, Hoylman, Jackson, Kennedy,
Krueger, Martinez, May, Montgomery, Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Salazar, Sanders, Sepúlveda,
Skoufis) / A.8760 (Lupardo)
This proposal increases the value of the farm workforce retention credit from $600 to $800 for tax year
2021 and would extend the credit to tax year 2022 and beyond, setting the value of the credit to $1,200
per farm employee for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2022.
Proponents: NY Farm Bureau

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 61-0
Assembly Vote: None
Defines State Employees for the Purposes of the Human Rights Law
S.6828 (Gounardes, Biaggi, Carlucci, Gaughran, Hoylman, Krueger, Liu, Mayer, Metzger, Rivera,
Skoufis) / A.8847 (Niou)
This proposal adds a definition of State employee to the Human Rights Law to include all officials or
employees of the Executive, Legislative, or Judicial branches of the State government, including persons
serving on the staff of any judges or elected officials.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 53-7 (Borrello, Helming, Jordan, Lanza, O’Mara, Ortt, Seward)
Assembly Vote: None
2020 Census Media Campaign

S.6883 (Parker, Kaplan, May, Montgomery) / No Same As
This legislation establishes a statewide media campaign, to inform the public on any 2020 Census self-
reporting services, requirements, and any other census-related activities or events. This proposal would
also require state agencies to provide links to 2020 Census events and information on all state agency
websites and social media accounts.
127
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 54 – 7 (Borrello, Funke, Gallivan, Jacobs, Jordan, O’Mara, Ortt,)
Assembly Vote: None
Disclose the Identity of LLC landlords of Public Entities

S.983 (Breslin, Carlucci, Skoufis) / A.3832 (McDonald)
This proposal mandates that the names and addresses of the natural persons making up an LLC that
owns property being rented by a State agency appear on the lease agreement.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Hate Crimes Analysis and Review Act

S.6066B (Hoylman, Ramos, Salazar, Comrie, Gounardes, Kaplan, Skoufis) / A.4315 (Glick)
This bill would require the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) to collect demographic
information regarding people arrested for and convicted of hate crimes, in addition to the already
collected demographic information of victims of hate crimes. DCJS would issue an annual report on hate
crimes including the demographic data, to be provided to the Executive and legislative leaders.
Proponents: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, New York City Anti-
Violence Project, New York Transgender Advocacy Group, Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts,
Pride Center of the Capital Region, Rainbow Access Initiative, Safe Horizons, SAGE, and several other
organizations.
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Clarifies Certain Provisions of Freedom of Information Law

S.6608B (Harckham, Biaggi, Lanza) / A.119B (Buchwald)
Specifies that only lists used for fundraising purposes that include a natural person’s name and
residential address may be exempt from disclosure under Freedom of Information Law (FOIL).
Additionally, the proposal allows for FOIL request responses from an agency, including a denial,
granting, or partial granting of a FOIL request, to constitute an official response from an agency,
providing clarification on time requirements relating to receiving a response from an agency on a FOIL
request.
Proponents: Common Cause New York, Citizens Union of the City of New York, League of Women
Voters of New York State, New York Public Interest Research Group, Reinvent Albany
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: 129 – 0
128
Proactive Publishing of Public Records Online

S.1630B (Skoufis, Gounardes, Hoylman, Krueger, Metzger, Parker, Serrano) / A.121A (Buchwald)
Requires agencies and the legislature to post information on the internet if it is determined that the
information is of a substantial interest to the public. Agencies and the Legislature would have the ability
to take down information previously posted if it was no longer of substantial interest to the public, or in
any cases where the legal retention period came to an end.

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Makes The Unauthorized Release of a Sealed Record by a Public Officer a Misdemeanor

S5802A (Benjamin) / A.34A (Perry)
Makes the unauthorized release of a sealed record by a Public Officer or their employee a class B
misdemeanor with certain circumstances exempted.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Bans Discriminatory Housing Advertising for all Homeowners and Ends Human Rights Law
Exemptions for Guilty Homeowners
S.6157 (Liu) / A.9526 (Buchwald)
Division of Human Rights, Departmental Bill #22
Ends the current exemption for owner occupied two family homes from the ban on discriminatory
housing advertisement; any homeowner found guilty of discriminatory housing advertisement would
now be covered by the ban on discriminatory housing practices under the Human Rights Law.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
HEARINGS AND FORUMS
Hearing of the Senate Committees on Housing, Construction & Community Development and
in the report issued August 5, 2019, “Final Investigative Report: Code Enforcement in New York State”
(January 23, 2020).
129
Joint Hearing of the Senate Committees on Health, Investigations & Government Operations,
Administrative Regulations Review Commission; the Assembly Committees on Health, Oversight,
Analysis & Investigation, and Administrative Regulations Review Commission. COVID-19 and
Hospitals (August 12, 2020).
safety standards, and the impact of the federal Payroll Protection Program on maintaining employment
(August 13, 2020).
130
JUDICIARY
Analyst: Kenan Kurt
(212) 298-5593
Power of Attorney Reform

S.3923A (Hoylman, Carlucci) / A.5630A (Weinstein)
This bill reforms the power of attorney law to make it easier to comply with the statutory short form
requirements, imposes timelines on third parties to accept a power of attorney form or provide reasons
for rejections, and authorizes the award of damages and attorney’s fees if a third party acts unreasonably
in rejecting an agent’s power of attorney
Proponents: NYS Bar Association, CaringKind, Long Term Care Community Coalition, NY Legal
Assistance Group, NYC Bar Association, Volunteers of Legal Service
Opponents: None
Little, O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Robach, Serino, Seward, Tedisco)
Right of Publicity
S.5959D (Savino, Benjamin, Biaggi, Carlucci, Gaughran, Harckham, Jackson) / A.5605C
(Weinstein)
This bill creates a right of publicity allowing a deceased person’s heirs to control the use of their name,
image and likeness for commercial purposes, provides protections against the unauthorized use of a
deceased performer’s digital replica in musical performances or fictional audiovisual works, and creates
a private civil cause of action for the unauthorized distribution of sexually explicit “deep fakes.”
Proponents: Actors’ Equity Association, Association of Talent Agents, SAG-AFTRA

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Revocation of Real Estate Licenses for Discrimination

S.6874A (Gaughran, Carlucci, Kaplan, Liu, Thomas) / A.8903A (Jean-Pierre)
This bill allows the Department of State to revoke or suspend the license of a real estate broker or
salesperson, or fine the licensee up to $1,000, for a violation of the Human Rights Law, including
housing discrimination.
Proponents: NYS Association of Realtors, Zillow Group

Opponents: None
131
Extension of Child Victims Act Revival Window
S.7082 (Hoylman, Biaggi, Brooks, Carlucci, Comrie, Gaughran, Harckham, Jackson, Kaplan,
Kennedy, Liu, Martinez, Metzger, Montgomery, Rivera, Salazar, Skoufis, Thomas) / A.9036
(Rosenthal)
The Child Victims Act opened a one-year “revival window” in which plaintiffs with previously time-
barred child sexual abuse claims could bring their suit no matter how long ago the abuse occurred. This
bill extended that window by one year to August 14, 2021.
Proponents: NYC Alliance Against Sexual Assault, Safe Horizon

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-2 (Funke, Little)
Chapter 130
Tenant Safe Harbor Act

S.8192B (Hoylman, Krueger, Mayer, Addabbo, Carlucci, Jackson, Kavanagh, Liu, Metzger,
Montgomery, Myrie, Rivera, Savino, Sepúlveda, Skoufis) / A.10290B (Dinowitz)
This bill protects residential tenants who suffered a financial hardship during New York on PAUSE (the
restrictions on business activity and non-essential gatherings imposed due to COVID-19) from eviction
for non-payment of rent due during the PAUSE. Landlords can still obtain a money judgment for the rent
due.
When the Governor signed this bill, he included an approval memo that clarified that tenants who
willfully withhold their rent without facing financial hardship are not protected by the bill and that
the protections only apply to nonpayment when businesses are required to be closed or non-essential
gatherings are postponed or cancelled.
Proponents: New Pride Agenda, New York Legal Assistance Group

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 39-23 (Akshar, Amedore, Borrello, Boyle, Felder, Flanagan, Funke, Gallivan, Griffo,
Helming, Jacobs, Jordan, Lanza, LaValle, Martinez, O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach,
Serino, Seward, Tedisco)
Chapter 127; Approval Memo No. 2
Establishes Juneteenth as a Public Holiday

S.8598 (Parker, Jackson, Bailey, Benjamin, Biaggi, Carlucci, Hoylman, Liu, May Sepúlveda,
Serrano) / A.10628 (Hyndman)
This bill designates June 19 as a public holiday, known as Juneteenth, under state law.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
132
Independent Redistricting Reform
S.8833 (Gianaris, Myrie) / A.10839 (Zebrowski)
This proposed constitutional amendment would reform the state constitution’s redistricting process
by repealing outdated and unconstitutional language, fixing the number of state senators at 63, and
eliminating differential voting requirements depending on partisan control of the Legislature. This is
the first passage of the constitutional amendment. To take effect, the next Legislature must also pass the
amendment and voters must approve the amendment in a statewide referendum.
Proponents: Common Cause New York, NYPIRG, Reinvent Albany

Opponents: Citizens Union, League of Women Voters of New York State
Prohibits the Use of Restraints on Children in Family Court

S.6534 (Montgomery, Bailey, Liu) / A.7528 (Gantt)
This bill bans the use of restraints, defined to include handcuffs, chains, and straitjackets, on children
under twenty-one in Family Court, unless the court determines on the record that the restraint is the
least restrictive alternative necessary to prevent physical injury to the child or another person, physically
disruptive courtroom behavior, or flight from the courtroom.
Proponents: Office of Court Administration, Legal Aid Society, NYC Bar Association, Lawyers for
Children, New York State Bar Association
Opponents: NYS Sheriff’s Association
Little, O’Mara, Ortt, Ritchie, Robach, Seward, Tedisco)
Assembly Vote: None
Private Right of Action for Payroll Processor Misconduct

S.6727B (Thomas) / No same as
This bill allows employees to recover up to three times the amount of a missed paycheck from a payroll
processing company when the payroll processing company intentionally prevents the distribution of the
employer’s payroll.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Assembly Vote: None
133
Securing Wages Earned Against Theft (SWEAT)
S.7256 (Ramos, Bailey, Biaggi, Gianaris, Gounardes, Hoylman, Jackson, Kaplan, Kennedy,
Krueger, Liu, Rivera, Salazar, Sanders, Stavisky) / A.9008 (Rosenthal)
In response to the difficulty of recovering wage claims when a business shuts down or transfers
ownership, this bill allows employees to place a lien on the employer’s property for the wage claim,
attach the employer’s assets during the pendency of the case, and removes procedural hurdles for direct
recovery from the business’s largest owners.
Proponents: Empire Justice Center, Flushing Workers Center, Legal Aid Society, National Center for
Law and Economic Justices, National Mobilization Against Sweatshops, NYS AFL-CIO, NYS Trial
Lawyers Association, Rochester Research Associates, 32BJ SEIU, UAW, Worker Justice Center of NY,
Writers Guild of America East
Opponents: Business Council, National Federation of Independent Businesses, NYC Hospitality
Alliance, NYS Association of Health Care Providers, Empire State Chapter of the Associated
Builders and Contractors, Hotel Association of New York City, NYS Latino Restaurant Bar & Lounge
Association
Assembly Vote: None
Mitigation of Damages in Commercial Leases

S.7053 (Liu) / A.8482 (Otis)
This bill requires commercial landlords to mitigate damages when tenants vacate premises in violation
of the terms of the lease by taking reasonable, good faith efforts to re-let the unit. This would reduce the
amount of damages owed by the tenant.
Proponents: None
Opponents: International Council of Shopping Centers, Inc.
Senate Vote: None
Prohibiting Sex Discrimination in the State Constitution

S.3249 (Salazar) / A.271 (Seawright)
This proposed constitutional amendment adds the word “sex” to the State Constitution’s
antidiscrimination clause.
Proponents: Downtown Women for Change

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
134
Equal Rights Amendment

S.517C (Krueger, Bailey, Benjamin, Biaggi, Breslin, Carlucci, Comrie, Harckham, Hoylman,
Jackson, Kaplan, Liu, May, Mayer, Metzger, Parker, Persaud, Salazar, Sanders, Sepúlveda,
Serrano, Stavisky) / No same as
This proposal enacts a self-executing Equal Rights Amendment to the State Constitution to
protect against the denial of equal rights and discrimination by government, providers of public
accommodations, and employers based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, disability, or sex
including pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender
expression.
Proponents: Equal Rights Coalition, Sexual Harassment Working Group, NYCLU

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Votes: None
State Government Integrity Commission

S.594A (Krueger, Metzger, Biaggi, Jackson, Gaughran, Mayer, May, Martinez, Skoufis, Ramos,
Myrie, Liu, Kaplan, Kaminsky, Brooks, Savino, Hoylman, Kennedy, Carluicci, Antonacci,
Amedore, Jordan, Boyle, Addabbo, Akshar, Bailey, Benjamin, Gounardes, Kavanagh, Rivera,
Salazar, Serrano, Stavisky, Thomas) / A.1282A (Carroll)
This legislation adds a new Article V-A to the State Constitution to create a State Government Integrity
Commission to oversee and enforce ethics and campaign finance laws.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Good Cause Eviction

S.2892B (Salazar, Stavisky, Bailey, Benjamin, Biaggi, Breslin, Gianaris, Gounardes, Harckham,
Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Liu, May, Mayer, Montgomery, Myrie, Ramos, Rivera,
Sanders, Sepúlveda, Serrano) / A.5030B (Hunter)
This bill strictly limits the ability of a landlord to remove a tenant from a housing unit. The bill would
apply to any residential housing except owner-occupied buildings with less than four units, sublets,
housing incidental to employment, or otherwise regulated units. It would prevent a landlord from
evicting a tenant without good cause, even if the tenant’s lease has expired. It also prohibits landlords
from imposing an unreasonable increase in rent on a tenant. Increases above three percent or 1.5 times
the rate of inflation, whichever is greater, would be presumptively unreasonable.
Proponents: Housing Justice for All, Rochester City Council, Westchester County Executive George
Latimer, 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East
135
Opponents: The Capital Region Chamber, Crest Group, Fairfield Properties, Jobco, Realty &
Construction, Inc., Long Island Association, Long Island Builders Institute, NY Capital Region
Apartment Association, NYS Association of Realtors, Inc., Tritec Real Estate Company, Inc. Zucaro
House Lifters
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Wrongful Death Damages

S.4006 (Hoylman, Addabbo, Akshar, Amedore, Bailey, Benjamin, Biaggi, Boyle, Comrie, Funke,
Gallivan, Gaughran, Gianaris, Gounardes, Harckham, Jackson, Kaminsky, Kaplan, Kennedy,
Krueger, Lanza, Little, Liu, Myrie, Ortt, Parker, Persaud, Ramos, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Salazar,
Sanders, Savino, Sepúlveda, Serrano, Skoufis, Stavisky) / A.5612 (Weinstein)
This bill expands the types of damages available to a plaintiff under a wrongful death claim to include:
grief or anguish caused by the death, and for any disorder caused by such grief or anguish; loss of love,
society, protection, comfort, companionship and consortium; and
loss of nurture, guidance, counsel, advice, training, and education resulting from the death.
Proponents: NY Public Interest Research Group, NYS Trial Lawyers Association

Opponents: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists District II, American Property
Casualty Insurance Association, BIG I NY, Greater New York Hospital Association, Healthcare
Association of New York State, Lawsuit Reform Alliance of NY, Medical Society of the State of New
York, MLMIC Insurance Company, New York Central Mutual Fire Insurance Company, New York City
Mayor’s Office, National Federation of Independent Businesses, NY American College of Emergency
Physicians, NY Insurance Association, NY Conference of Mayors, NYS Academy of Family Physicians,
Partnership for NYC, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, Suburban Hospital Alliance,
Upstate NY Healthcare Coalition, USAA
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Consumer Credit Fairness Act

S.4827E (Thomas, Bailey, Carlucci, Felder, Jackson, Kaplan, Krueger, May, Persaud, Ramos,
Sepúlveda) / A.6909E (Weinstein)
This bill shortens the statute of limitations on consumer credit transaction claims against a consumer
from six years to three years. It also requires additional notices to the consumer when filing a consumer
credit transaction claim and when moving for summary judgment, and requires specific information
about the account in issue in a consumer credit transaction complaint or application for default
judgment.
Proponents: DC 37, Receivables Management Association International, NYC Bar Association,

NYPIRG
Opponents: NYS Collectors Association
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
136
Class Action Reform
S.6334A (Hoylman) / A.8034 (Dinowitz)
This bill reforms class action lawsuits by providing guidelines for appointment of class counsel, setting
requirements for voluntary dismissal or settlement of class action, authorizing class actions for claims
involving statutory penalties or government parties, and relaxing the timeline for class certification.
Proponents: Office of Court Administration, NYS Bar Association, NYC Bar Association
Opponents: NY Conference of Mayors
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Suspension of Rent and Mortgage Payments During COVID-19

S.8125A (Gianaris, Addabbo, Bailey, Biaggi, Hoylman, Jackson, Kaminsky, Kennedy, Liu, May,
Metzger, Montgomery, Myrie, Parker, Ramos, Rivera, Salazar, Savino, Sepúlveda, Serrano,
Stavisky, Thomas) / A.10224A (Niou)
This bill waives three months of rent payments for residential tenants and small businesses that lose
income due to government actions in response to COVID-19, allows landlords whose tenants rent is
waived to also have a portion of their mortgage payments forgiven in proportion to the rent lost, and
automatically renews any lease expiring during those three months at the same rental rate as the current
lease.
Proponents: Art Dealers Association of America, Downtown Independent Democrats, Village of New
Paltz
Opponents: Buffalo Niagara Partnership, New York Capital Region Apartment Association, Unshackle
Upstate
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Executive Budgeting Reform

S.8198A (Biaggi, Skoufis, Rivera, Benjamin, Breslin, Carlucci, Comrie, Gounardes, Hoylman,
Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Liu, May, Metzger, Myrie, Parker, Ramos, Salazar) / A.9100A
(Gottfried)
This proposal amends the constitution to allow the Legislature to modify and substitute items of
appropriation in budget bills submitted by the Governor, subject to the Governor’s veto. It also requires
the Governor to submit budget bills separately and allows the Legislature to consider other appropriation
bills before acting on the governor’s appropriation bills.
Proponents: NYPIRG, Reinvent Albany

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Emergency Housing Stability and Displacement Prevention Act

S.8667 (Myrie, Bailey, Biaggi, Gianaris, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Liu, May, Parker,
Ramos, Rivera, Salazar, Serrano, Stavisky) / A.10827 (Reyes)
137
This bill prohibits the issuance or enforcement of any eviction, judgment of possession, foreclosure, or
money judgment for rent arrears against any residential or commercial tenant or lawful occupant for
the length of the COVID-19 state of emergency plus one year afterward. It also prohibits the filing of
any eviction action or action to recover rent against a residential tenant or lawful occupant for the same
period.
Proponents: Housing Justice for All, Association of Tenants of Lincoln Towers, Manhattan Community
Board 8, Make the Road New York, Met Council on Housing, NY Legal Assistance Group, Socialist
Alternative NYC
Opponents: NY Capital Region Apartment Association
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Diploma Privilege
S.8682A (Hoylman, Biaggi, Comrie, Gianaris, Gounardes, Harckham, Jackson, Kennedy, May,
Mayer, Metzger, Montgomery, Myrie, Parker, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, Salazar, Sepúlveda,
Stavisky) / A.10794 (Simon)
This bill waives the requirement that candidates for admission to the bar take and pass the Uniform Bar
Examination (UBE) for anyone who graduates from law school or would otherwise be eligible to take
the bar examination during the COVID-19 state disaster emergency. The waiver would be limited to
those candidates who intend to practice law primarily in New York.
Proponents: Association of Legal Aid Attorneys, Bronx Defenders, Brooklyn Defender Services, Legal
Aid Society, Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Legal Services Staff Association, National Organization
of Legal services workers, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, New York County Defender
Services, Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
None
HEARINGS AND FORUMS
Joint Hearing of the Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment, the
Senate Committee on the Judiciary, and Assembly Committee on Governmental Operations. Evaluating
constitutional provisions impacting redistricting in 2022 (July 15, 2020).
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LABOR
Analyst: Liz Robins
(212) 298-5633
Healthy Terminals Act

S. 6266D (Biaggi, Addabbo, Bailey, Benjamin, Breslin, Brooks, Carlucci, Comrie, Gaughran,
Gianaris, Gounardes, Harckham, Hoylman, Jackson, Kaminsky, Kaplan, Kavanagh, Kennedy,
Liu, Martinez, May, Mayer, Metzger, Myrie, Parker, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, Salazar, Sanders,
Savino, Sepúlveda, Serrano, Skoufis, Stavisky, Thomas) / A. 8142E (Hyndman)
This bill subjects airlines and airports operating under the jurisdiction of the Port Authority of New
York and New Jersey within the state to prevailing wage standards so workers in these specialized fields
receive fair wages and health benefits.
Proponents: 32BJ SEIU; New York State AFL-CIO

Opponents: Airlines for America; Business Council
Senate Vote: 51-9 (Akshar, Amedore, Borrello, Griffo, Helming, Jordan, LaValle, Serino, Seward)
Suspending Forfeiture of Unemployment Benefits During COVID-19 Emergency

S. 8275A (Martinez, Bailey, Brooks, Carlucci, Comrie, Gounardes, Hoylman, Jackson, Krueger,
Liu, May, Metzger, Ramos, Rivera) / A.10348A (Rosenthal L)
This bill suspends the forfeiture of unemployment benefits imposed due to a penalty for a prior willful
false statement or representation for the duration of the state of emergency due to the novel coronavirus
COVID-19.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 48-14 (Akshar, Borrello, Boyle, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Jacobs, Jordan, Lanza, Little,
O’Mara, Ortt, Savino, Tedisco)
Chapter 97
139
Emergency COVID-19 Sick Leave Act
S.8091 (Ramos, Carlucci, Kennedy, Krueger)/A.10153 (Nolan)
Governor Program #10
Enacts emergency sick leave for individuals subject to a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine
or isolation related to COVID-19.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 50-6 (Borello, Gallivan, Helming, Jacobs, Ortt, Robach)
Chapter 25
Expansion of Whistleblower Law for Health Care Employees

S.8397A (Savino, Biaggi, Carlucci, Comrie, Jackson, Kaplan, Liu, Metzger, Montgomery, Rivera,
Skoufis) / A.10326A (Reyes)
Prohibits health care employers from retaliating against employees where the employee discloses or
threatens to disclose to a news media outlet, or to a social media forum available to the public at large,
an activity, policy or practice of the employer or agent that the employee, in good faith, reasonably
believes constitutes improper quality of patient care or improper quality of workplace safety.
Proponents: New York State Public Employee Federation

Opponents: Greater New York Hospital Association
Senate Vote: 61-1 (Martinez)
Chapter 117
Requiring Public Employers to Adopt a Plan In Case of Communicable Disease Emergency

S.8617B (Gounardes, Bailey, Carlucci, Gaughran, Hoylman, Kaplan, Liu, May, Myrie, Ramos) /
A.10832 (Abbate)
Requires public employers to adopt a plan for operations in the event of a declared public health
emergency involving a communicable disease, including identification of essential personnel, needed
personal protective equipment, staggering work shifts, and providing necessary technology for
telecommuting.
Proponents: New York State AFL-CIO; New York State Public Employee Federation; New York State
United Teachers
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 58-2 (Akshar, Robach)
140
Extends WARN Notice Obligations to Give Notice to Localities
S.8748 (Mayer, Liu) / A.10674A (Otis)
Requires written notice requirements for mass layoffs to localities; includes a requirement to notify all
localities in the state where the employer remitted taxes in the current or previous year and each locality
that provides police, firefighting, emergency medical or ambulance services to real property where the
employer has a place of business.
Proponents: New York State AFL-CIO; New York State School Boards Association
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Establishing a Registry of Workplace Fatalities in the Construction Industry

S.8828 (Ramos) / A.5965A (De La Rosa)
Establishes a registry of workplace fatalities that the Department of Labor shall create and maintain. The
registry would contain information regarding all incidents in which an employee suffers a fatal injury
performing construction work.
Proponents: Mason Tenders’ District Council of Greater New York; New York State AFL-CIO
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 57-3 (Jordan, Ortt, Ranzenhofer)
Prevailing Wage at Certain Nuclear Power Plants

S.7846 (Harkham, Gounardes, Jackson) / A.10338 (Galef)
Provides that any entity with a contract to purchase, transfer, or lease Indian Point shall provide that
employees of the plant shall receive the prevailing wage rate, and that the Public Service Commission
shall not consent to the transfer, lease, or sale of the Indian Point power plant unless the current
workforce is maintained for as long as is feasible, with prevailing wage, and certain labor laws are
observed.
Proponents: AFL-CIO; Westchester-Putnam Counties AFL-CIO Central Labor Body

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 61-1 (O’Mara)
Expands Protections Under the Whistleblower Law

S.4396A (Ramos, Biaggi, Carlucci, Gounardes, Jackson, Kaminsky, Liu) / A.5631A (Weinstein)
Reforms the Whistleblower Law by expanding protection to employees who disclose or threaten to
disclose to a supervisor or to a public body an activity, policy, or practice of the employer which the
employee reasonably believes (a) is in violation of a law, rule or regulation, or (b) poses a substantial
and specific danger to public health or safety. The bill further extends protections to independent
contractors.
141
Proponents: New York State AFL-CIO; National Employment Lawyers Association – New York
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 42-18 (Akshar, Amedore, Borrello, Boyle, Funke, Gallivan, Helming, Jordan, LaValle,
Assembly Vote: None
No Wage Theft Loophole Act

S.5777 (Gounardes, Biaggi, Gaughran, Jackson, Krueger, Myrie, Sepulveda, Skoufis) / A.7841
(Simon)
Clarifies that there is no exception to liability for the unauthorized failure to pay wages, benefits, or
wage supplements. This is in response to a judge-made loophole in which certain judges have held no
unlawful deduction exists when a worker is not paid at all, on the theory that there were no wages to
claim a “deduction” from.
Proponents: New York State AFL-CIO; National Employment Lawyers Association – New York;
Catholic Migration Services; Center for Popular Democracy; Jewish Women’s Foundation of New York
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 50-10 (Akshar, Amedore, Borrello, Boyle, Funke, Gallivan, Jordan, O’Mara, Razenhofer,
Robach)
Assembly Vote: None
Prohibiting Payroll Deductions Made in Error

S.6726A (Ramos, Jackson) / No Same as
In response to the MyPayrollHR scandal, provides that recovery of wages due to a clerical error by the
employer, or vendor of the employer, is prohibited if it did not result in a wage overpayment or other
inaccuracy in the amount of wages paid, the time in which wages were dispersed, or another inaccuracy.
Proponents: New York State AFL-CIO

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 62-0
Assembly Vote: None
Prevailing Wages for Delivery and Hauling of Aggregate Supply Construction Materials
S.8334A (Mayer, Harkham, Liu, Metzger) / A.10626A (Bronson)
Provides that prevailing wages paid for construction work performed on public works projects must
also be paid for work involving the delivery to and hauling from such projects of aggregate supply
construction materials, as well as any return hauls, whether empty or loaded and any time spent loading/
unloading.

Opponents: Business Council; Empire State Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors; NFIB
Nat’l Fed of Independent Business; NY Construction Materials Association, Inc.; NYS Association of
Town Superintendents of Highways, Inc.; NYS County Highway Superintendents Association; Real
142
Estate Board of New York
Little, Martinez, O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Serino, Seward, Tedisco)
Assembly Vote: None
Incentivizing Full Compliance With WARN Notice Provisions

S.8692 (Mayer, Carlucci) / No Same as
Removes the provision of WARN providing that liability for back pay and other benefits is limited to
a maximum of sixty days of violation, and therefore permits liability for up to the full ninety days of
notice required under WARN.

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 54-6 (Amedore, Borrello, Funke, Jordan, Lanza, Ranzenhofer)
Assembly Vote: None
Establishing Partial Unemployment Insurance Benefits

S.5754 (Ramos, Gounardes, Hoylman, Jackson, Krueger, May) / A.446 (Stirpe)
Creates an unemployment insurance system that is based on the weekly earnings of a claimant rather
than the number of days the claimant worked during the week, such that unemployment claimants
working part time receive more generous benefits.
Proponents: New York State AFL-CIO; UAW Regions 9 and 9A; UI Coalition
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Prohibiting Employer Access to Personal Social Media Accounts

S. 5544A (Ramos, Jackson) / A.2479A (Dinowitz)
Prohibits an employer from requesting or requiring that an employee or applicant disclose any user
name, password, or other means for accessing a personal account or service through specified electronic
communications devices.
Proponents: New York State Public Employees Federation

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
143
Duty to Warn Employees of Potential Hazardous and Environmental Health Conditions in the
Workplace
S.8774 (Comrie) / A.10349 (Frontus)
Requires employers to inform employees and contract workers of known hazardous environmental and
health risks; requiring employers to mitigate those risks, including providing appropriate protective
equipment; and prohibiting retaliation.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Updating Penalties for Retaliation Under Workers’ Compensation Law

S.8775 (Comrie) / A.8147A (Pichardo)
Updates penalties for discriminating or retaliating against an employee for exercising his or her
rights under the Workers’ Compensation Law to increase civil penalties and make it explicit that such
discrimination or retaliation includes threatening to contact immigration authorities.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Paid Family Leave for Construction Workers

S.8776 (Comrie) / A.2277 (Pichardo)
Extends paid family leave benefits to employees who perform construction work pursuant to a collective
bargaining agreement who shall be eligible for family leave benefits if they were employed for at
least 26 of the last 39 weeks by any covered employer which is signatory to a collective bargaining
agreement.
Proponents: None
Opposition: Empire State Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors; National Right to Work
Committee; Business Council
Senate Vote: None
Employee Notification Upon Employee Infection of COVID-19

S.8239A (Ramos, Bailey, Biaggi, Carlucci, Montgomery, Myrie, Rivera, Skoufis) / A.10353A
(Aubry)
Requires employers to notify employees if they come into contact with other employees who have been
infected with a virus that is causing a public health emergency; prohibits employers from disclosing the
name of the infected employee.
144
Proponents: New York State School Boards Association
Opposition: None
Senate Vote: None
None
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
None
HEARINGS AND FORUMS
safety standards, and the impact of the federal Paycheck Protection Program on maintaining
employment (August 13, 2020).
145
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Analyst: Paul McCarthy
518-455-3598
Creates the Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment and Retention Task Force

S.7589B (Gaughran, Addabbo, Brooks, Kaplan, Skoufis) / A.9779A (Thiele)
Creates a task force to study firefighter recruitment and retention and to produce a report on such
recommendations.
Proponents: Association of Fire Districts of the State of NY, Inc.; FASNY; NYS Association of Fire
Chiefs
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Creates a Real Property Tax Exemption Task Force to Study and Assess the Various Types and
Classifications of Tax Exemptions
S.3679A (Harckham, Metzger) / A.3330A (Abinanti)
This bill provides for the creation of a real property tax exemption task force. The purpose of the task
force is to produce a report which looks at various aspects of tax exemptions in the state of New York
and whether such tax exemptions should be continued or reformed.
Proponents: NYS School Boards Association

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 43-19 (Akshar, Borrello, Boyle, Flanagan, Funke, Griffo, Jacobs, Jordan, Lanza, LaValle,
New Requirements for the Residential-Commercial Urban Exemption Program

S.5254B (Breslin, May) / A.8091A (Magnarelli)
In response to widely-reported abuses of the program, this bill closes loopholes in the residential-
commercial urban exemption program by limiting the types of commercial purposes that qualify for the
exemption, as well as placing other requirements on eligible properties.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 44-16 (Akshar, Amedore, Borrello, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Jordan, LaValle, Little,
O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach, Serino, Seward)
146
Allows Localities to Defer or Split Up Tax Payments During a State Disaster Emergency
S.8138B (Martinez, Addabbo, Carlucci, Comrie, Hoylman, Kaplan, Kavanagh, Kennedy, Krueger,
Liu, Metzger, Montgomery, Sepúlveda, Skoufis) / A.10252A (Stern)
This legislation authorizes local governments to split up or defer tax payments that are due to them
during the COVID-19 covered period, for up to 120 days after their normal due date.
Proponents: Grand Hyatt New York; Hotel Association of NYC; Washington Jefferson Hotel
Opponents: Council of School Superintendents (Amendment Requested); NYS School Boards
Association (Amendment Requested)
Senate Vote: 62-0
Increases the Revenue Threshold for Annual Audit of Fire Districts
S.8220 (Gaughran, Brooks, Kaplan) / A.10041 (Gunther)
This legislation raises the revenue threshold at which fire departments are audited annually from
$300,000 to $400,000. Under current law, if the fire district exhibits revenues above $300,000, an audit
is required.
Proponents: FASNY
Opponents: None
Building Permit Time Frame Extension for COVID-19
S.8236A (Gaughran, Addabbo, Carlucci, Comrie, Hoylman, Kaplan, Liu, Metzger, Skoufis) /
A.10409A (McDonald)
This legislation permits local governments to extend their building permits and active approvals for up
to 120 days during the COVID-19 state of emergency.
Proponents: NYCOM
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 62-0
Chapter 111
Additional Points and Emergency Response Protocols for Volunteer Firefighter and Volunteer
Ambulance Service Award Programs
S.8251B (Kaminsky, Brooks, Gaughran, Addabbo, Carlucci, Comrie, Harckham, Helming,
Hoylman, Kaplan, Kennedy, Liu, Martinez, Metzger, Skoufis) / A.10438A (Thiele)
This legislation allows Length of Service Award Programs (LOSAPs) to grant additional points to
volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers during the COVID-19 emergency.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 62-0
Chapter 113
147
Ensuring Early Voting Poll Sites in the Biggest Municipality in a County
S.8782 (Breslin, Biaggi, Gaughran, Liu, May) / A.8610B (McDonald)
Requires that municipalities with the highest population in each county to have at least one polling place
designated for early voting and if such municipality has public transportation routes, and that polling
place must be located along such routes to the extent practicable.
Proponents: NYPIRG
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 43-17 (Akshar, Amedore, Borrello, Boyle, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Jordan, LaValle,
The Adjudicating and Docketing of Consumer Affair Violations

S.8787 (Thomas) / A.8511A (Epstein)
This bill authorizes the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) to docket civil penalties and final
judgments reached against businesses who violate laws enforced by DCA.
Proponents: New York City Mayor

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 42-18 (Akshar, Amedore, Borrello, Funke, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Jordan, Lanza, Little,

Geographic Information System (GIS) Mapping for Strategic Planning and Municipal Study
Assistance
S.781 (Breslin, Gaughran) / No Same As
This bill allows a planning commission/planning board of municipalities to request assistance from the
Office of Information Technology Services to develop GIS mapping and/or conduct surveys as part of a
comprehensive review or study of floor space usage within its jurisdiction.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 62-0
Assembly Vote: None
Requires an Online Version of the Town Clerk’s Sign-Board

S.1146A (Carlucci) / No Same As
This bill would require an electronic version of a town clerk’s sign-board on the town’s website
(provided the town maintains a website).
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
148
Senate Vote: 46-16 (Akshar, Amedore, Borrello, Griffo, Helming, Jacobs, Jordan, Lanza, O’Mara, Ortt,
Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach, Serino, Seward, Tedisco)
Assembly Vote: None
Volunteer Firefighter and Ambulance Credits

S.1913 (Gaughran, Helming, Jackson, Kaplan, Kennedy, Thomas) / A.6712 (Stern)
Authorizes municipalities to offer real property tax credits to fire and ambulance volunteers who live in
one municipality but who serve in neighboring municipalities.
Proponents: NYSAC
Opponents: NYSSBA
Senate Vote: 61-1 (Little)
Assembly Vote: None
Volunteer Firefighter and Volunteer Ambulance Worker Death Benefits

S.3057 (Gaughran, Addabbo, Biaggi, Carlucci, Funke, Gounardes, Rivera) / A.550 (Cahill)
This bill would require volunteer firefighters’ death benefits to be paid to the beneficiaries within 90
days from when they apply, and for the workers’ compensation board to conduct outreach to assist
beneficiaries with the application process.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Assembly Vote: None
Authorizes Fees for Ambulance Services by Volunteer Fire Departments or Companies

S.3685B (Brooks, Little, Addabbo, Funke, Gallivan, Gaughran, Harckham, Helming, Kaplan,
Martinez, Thomas) / A.1778A (Jones)
This legislation would allow a volunteer fire department or volunteer fire company that provides
emergency and general ambulance services, including emergency medical services, to establish and
collect fees and charges for those services from the person served, at local option.
Proponents: Suffolk County Legislature; 2019- Association of Fire Districts of the State of NY, Inc.;
Firemen’s Association of the State of NY; NYCOM; NYS Association of Fire Chiefs
Opponents: Health Plan Association; NYS Volunteer Ambulance and Rescue Association, Inc.; United
NY Ambulance Network; 2019 – NYS Conference of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans: United New
York Ambulance Network
Senate Vote: 58-2 (Ranzenhofer, Skoufis)
Assembly Vote: None
Appointment of Additional Village Justices

S.3994 (Gaughran, Kaplan) / A.7491 (D’Urso)
This legislation provides that, upon unanimous resolution of the government board, a village may
appoint an additional associate justice, if so requested by the village justice, or in the event a village
justice or associate justice is absent or becomes unable to serve.
149
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Assembly Vote: None
Requires Notification to Adjacent Municipalities Under Certain Circumstances

S.4907 (Skoufis, Gaughran, Harckham) / A.2075 (Zebrowski)
Requires that a municipality notify adjacent municipalities of any public hearings scheduled for the
purpose of enacting a new local law or zoning ordinance that concerns property situated within 500
hundred feet of such bordering jurisdiction(s).
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: Passed Senate 43-19 (Akshar, Amedore, Borrello, Boyle, Flanagan, Funke, Gallivan,
Griffo, Helming, Jordan, Little, O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach, Serino, Seward, Tedisco)
Assembly Vote: None
Directs the State Board of Real Property Tax Services to Conduct a Study on Real Property Tax
Saturation
S.5312A (Harckham, Carlucci, Kaplan, Metzger, Skoufis) / No Same As
Directs the State Board of Real Property Tax Services to conduct a study on real property tax saturation
(the impact of high percentages of tax exempt real property in municipalities).
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 59-3 (Akshar, Antonacci, Flanagan)
Assembly Vote: None
Town Fire District Election Worker Compensation

S.5473A (Martinez, Boyle, Kaplan) / A.7721A (Griffin)
Increases the compensation of election chairmen, election inspectors, and ballot clerks to $70 or $100 in
town fire district elections.
Proponents: 2019- Association of Fire Districts of the State of NY, Inc.

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 56-3 (Griffo, Ortt, Ranzenhofer)
Assembly Vote: None
Increases the Maximum Contribution Period for Length of Service Award Program to 50 Years
S.5895 (Gaughran) / A.7276 (Stern)
Increases the number of years of service that a participant in a defined contribution plan or defined
benefit plan service award program may receive from 40 years to 50 years.
150
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 62-0
Assembly Vote: None

Relates to the Jurisdiction of a Coroner or Medical Examiner
No Same As / A.1823 (Pretlow)
Provides that when a death results from a criminal act, the medical examiner or coroner of the county
having jurisdiction to prosecute that crime shall have equal authority to investigate that death, even if
the crime victim died in another county. Under the current County Law, only the coroner or medical
examiner of the county where a death has occurred has jurisdiction to investigate that death.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly: 136-0
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
Green Development Home Tax Exemption

S.2900 (Kaplan, Ortt, Metzger) / A.49 (Cahill)
Establishes a green development neighborhood tax exemption in any municipality except New York City
to grant property tax exemptions on real property located within a green development neighborhood for
up to 10 years.
Proponents: None
Opponents: 2019 and 2018 – NYS School Boards Association (Amendment Requested)
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Unpaid Building Code Fines to be Treated as Unpaid Taxes, at Local Option

S.4175 (Gaughran, Carlucci, Skoufis) / A.1820 (Magnarelli)
This legislation authorizes municipalities to adopt a local law allowing for finally adjudicated unpaid
fines for building and fire code violations to be treated as unpaid real property taxes by adding the
unpaid fines to the tax roll of unpaid taxes.
Proponents: NYCOM
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None. Died on Third Reading
Assembly Vote: None
151
Apportionment of Local Legislative Bodies
S.4611A (Gaughran, May, Skoufis) / A.426B (Paulin)
Requires that any future apportionment of local legislative districts/representation be required to follow
the procedures set forth in the Municipal Home Rule Law (MHRL).
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Requires Representation from Labor and School Districts on IDA Boards

S.4720B (Mayer, Skoufis, Biaggi, Harckham, Krueger, Metzger, Savino, Stavisky) / No Same As
Requires that any future apportionment of local legislative districts/representation be required to follow
the procedures set forth in the Municipal Home Rule Law (MHRL).
Proponents: Greater NY Laborers-Employers Cooperation & Education Trust

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Permanent Extension of the Presumption Related to Lung Disabilities Under the Volunteer
Firefighters Benefit Law
S.5419 (Harckham, Biaggi, Brooks, Carlucci, Jacobs, Jordan, Kaplan, Skoufis) / A.7352
(Buchwald)
Makes permanent provisions creating a presumption relating to certain lung disabilities incurred by
volunteer firefighters
Proponents: Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY); NYS Association of Fire Chiefs
Opponents: NYCOM
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Exempts Taxes to Pay for Volunteer Firefighter Enhanced Cancer Disability Insurance from the
Tax Cap
S.5854 (Gaughran) / A.2227 (Cahill)
This legislation exempts from the tax cap any taxes levied by a municipality for purposes of paying for
enhanced cancer disability benefits for volunteer firefighters.
Proponents: Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY); NYS Association of Fire Chiefs
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
152
Authorizes All Cities and Towns Outside NYC to Establish Community Preservation Funds
S.7761 (Metzger) / A.10188 (Barrett)
Authorizes any city or town, except New York City, to establish community preservation funds. These
involve preserving open spaces; establishing parks, nature preserves, or recreation areas; preserving
agricultural land, etc. These are currently authorized on a case by case basis.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None.
Authorizes All Cities and Towns Outside NYC to Establish Community Preservation Funds
S.7761 (Metzger) / A.10188 (Barrett)
Authorizes any city or town, except New York City, to establish community preservation funds. These
involve preserving open spaces; establishing parks, nature preserves, or recreation areas; preserving
agricultural land, etc. These are currently authorized on a case by case basis.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
COVID-19 Benefits for Volunteer Firefighters and Ambulance Workers

S.8041A (Brooks, Martinez, Addabbo, Borrello, Boyle, Gallivan, Gaughran, Hoylman, Jordan,
Kaminsky, Kaplan, Kennedy, Little, May, Metzger, Ortt, Serino, Skoufis, Thomas) / A.10172
(Jean-Pierre)
Creates a presumption that COVID-19 exposure during a state of emergency by volunteer firefighters
and volunteer ambulance workers will be presumptive evidence that COVID-19 was contracted in the
line of duty, and permits related temporary or permanent disability benefits.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Increases Benefits for Volunteer Firefighters and Ambulance Workers

S.8086A (Brooks, Addabbo, Bailey, Harckham, Mayer, Metzger, Myrie, Parker, Persaud) /
A.10300A (McMahon)
This legislation increases permanent disability and temporary disability benefits available to both
volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
153
Sick Leave and Compensation for COVID-19 Injured/Disabled Employees

S.8117A (Martinez, Brooks, Gaughran, Hoylman, Kaminsky, Kennedy, Metzger, Thomas) /
A.10391 (Stern)
This legislation provides that if law enforcement personnel are exposed to COVID-19 and then test
positive for COVID-19, such test will be presumptive evidence that any total or partial disability or
death arising from COVID-19 was incurred in the line of duty.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Authorizes Localities to Issue a Moratorium on Tax Foreclosures and Tax Lien Sales
S.8413 (Benjamin, Carlucci, Comrie, Hoylman, Skoufis) / A.10518 (Galef)
This legislation authorizes localities to place a moratorium on tax foreclosures and tax lien sales during
the COVID-19 covered period.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Line of Duty Sick Leave for First Responders

S.8456 (Sanders) / A.10476 (Fall)
This legislation provides line of duty sick leave for first responders who are diagnosed with or display
symptoms of a pandemic virus.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Mandatory Firearms Training for Police Officers and Annual Re-Training

S.6540A (Bailey)/ A.5178A (Blake)
This legislation prohibits police officers from carrying or using a firearm during any phase of the
officer’s official duties unless the officer has satisfactorily completed a course of training that meets or
exceeds the minimum standards established by the Municipal Police Training Council.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
154
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
None
HEARINGS AND FORUMS
Joint Hearing of the Senate Committees on Elections and Local Government and the Assembly

155
MENTAL HEALTH & DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES
Analyst: Daniel Leinung, Jonathan Lang, and Carolyn Sheridan
(518) 455-2821, (518) 455-2722, (518) 455-2872
Prohibits OMH From Billing a Person for Care if the Payment Comes from Proceeds of a Lawsuit
Against OMH
S.4255 (Carlucci) / A.3402 (Gunther)
This bill provides that moneys awarded as damages or obtained by judgment or settlement as a result of
a court decision or settlement against officers or employees of the office of mental health (OMH) cannot
be used to pay for services provided by the State. Specifically, these assets shall not be considered assets
for purposes of determining whether or not there exists an inability to pay for services. Additionally,
these monies shall not be seized, offset or otherwise attached for the purposes of paying fees for services
rendered by the department of mental hygiene.
Proponents: NYS Trial Lawyers

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Frontline Workers Trauma Informed Care Advisory Council

S.8608A (Carlucci) / A.10629A (Rules-Gunther)
Establishes the Frontline Workers Trauma Informed Care Advisory Council (Council) that will track the
impact of COVID-19 associated collective trauma and the needs of frontline workers, develop training
opportunities for organizations that employee frontline workers, identify support resources for these
frontline workers, develop or identify a mechanism to inform and refer impacted frontline workers with
COVID-19 to behavioral health services.
Proponents: NYS Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 59-1 (Griffo)
Ambulatory Patient Group and Commercial Insurance Rates Workgroup

S.6694 (Carlucci, Harckham, Parker) / A.7935 (Gunther)
Directs the Commissioner of the Office of Mental Health (OMH) to collaborate with the Commissioners
of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services
(OASAS) to convene and jointly chair a workgroup to conduct an analysis on the ambulatory patient
group rates and commercial insurance rates for behavioral health services.
156
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 61-0
Assembly: None
Clarifies Notification Responsibilities for Certain Facilities Following a Patient Incident

A.9670 (Gunther) / No Same As
Requires OMH, OPWDD, and OASAS facilities to notify a qualified person of an incident involving a
patient within 24-hours of the incident occurring. Within ten days of the request of a qualified person,
the director must also provide them a copy of the written incident report, offer to hold a meeting to
discuss the incident, and provide a written report on the actions taken to address the incident - as was
the intent of the original legislation. This bill also adds a new provision giving the facility the ability to
provide reports electronically.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly: 138-0
NRESOLVED ISSUES
None
HEARINGS AND FORUMS
None
157
NEW YORK CITY EDUCATION
Analyst: Amanda Godkin
(518) 455-3586
None
None
None
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
Amends the Specialized High School Admission Process

S.1415 (Parker) / No Same As
This bill would phase out the specialized high school admission test (SHSAT) over a period of three
years. Once the SHSAT is fully eliminated, the admission to specialized high schools shall be offered
to public school students that: (i) are in the top 5-7% of their 8th grade class, based on assessments
determined by the New York City Chancellor; and (ii) rank in the top quarter of eighth graders in New
York City public schools. In addition, admission shall also be granted to students who have a minimum
grade point average of 3.7, via a random selection process for remaining slots.
Proponents: NYC Mayor’s Office, NYS School Boards Association

Opponents: Brooklyn Tech and Stuyvesant High School Alumni Associations
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
158
Transfers Oversight of Specialized High Schools to the NYC Chancellor and Removes the
Requirement that an Admission Test be Used for Acceptance into Specialized High Schools
S.8847 (Salazar, Jackson, Montgomery, Sepúlveda) / A.10731 (Mosley)
Effective January 1, 2022, this bill eliminates the state requirement (also known as the Hecht-Calandra
Act) that an admission test be used for acceptance into specialized high schools. The bill specifies that,
effective January 1, 2022, the New York City Chancellor will oversee all specialized high schools,
thus permitting the Chancellor to determine the admission criteria, which may or may not include an
admission test.
Proponents: Teens Take Charge

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly: None
HEARINGS AND FORUMS
Town Hall Conversation of the Senate Committee on New York City Education. COVID-19 and New
York City Schools (May 12, 2020).
159
RACING, GAMING AND WAGERING
Analyst: Paul McCarthy
518-455-3598
Implements Technical Changes to the Racing and Wagering Law

S.7639 (Addabbo) / A.9749 (Pretlow)
Implements technical changes regarding statutory references to the racing and wagering board to strike
references to the defunct board and instead refer to the Gaming Commission. The bill also makes
grammatical fixes in the law.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 59-1 (LaValle)

Aftercare for Retired Race Horses
S.7719 (Addabbo, Boyle, Gaughran, Helming, May, Sepúlveda) / A.9989 (Pretlow)
Creates new requirements with regard to the aftercare of retired race horses by prohibiting sending race
horses to slaughter, requires microchipping of all race horses, and permits taxpayers to contribute to the
support of accredited aftercare facilities.
Proponents: New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association; The League of Humane Voters of New
York
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Assembly Vote: None
Permits Alcoholic Beverages As Prizes In Games Of Chance

S.3009 (Funke, Ranzenhofer) / A.4605 (Pretlow)
This bill repeals language that explicitly prohibits the offering of any alcoholic beverage as a prize
in any game of chance, such as a raffle. The bill further provides that when a raffle awards any prize
containing alcohol, the minimum age for a person to play, operate, or assist in that raffle is increased
from 18 to 21.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Assembly Vote: None
160
Poker Permissible to Raise Money at Charitable Events
S.3301 (Brooks, Funke) / A.7307 (Cusick)
Authorizes licensed charitable organizations to conduct certain poker tournaments as licensed games of
chance fundraisers.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 58-2 (Krueger, LaValle)
Assembly Vote: None
Employees of Non-Profits Can Operate Games of Chance

S.4034 (Skoufis) / A.635 (Stirpe)
This bill permits employees of “authorized organizations” to operate games of chance. Existing law only
allows members of “authorized organizations” (i.e. charities) to operate games of chance, such as bingo,
raffles, and the like.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Assembly Vote: None
Codifies the Racing Fan Advisory Council in Statute

S.5476 (Addabbo) / A.4709 (Pretlow)
Codifies the existence of the “Racing Fan Advisory Council” which was previously created through a
resolution adopted by the New York State Gaming Commission.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 59-0
Assembly Vote: None
Interstate Compact on Anti-Doping and Drug Testing

S.6142 (Addabbo, Carlucci, Jordan) / No Same As
This bill authorizes the New York State Gaming Commission to enter into the Mid-Atlantic Drug
Compact), which promotes coordinated rulemaking on thoroughbred racing drugs and medications.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 58-0
Assembly Vote: None
161
Off-Track Betting (OTB) Special Reserve Fund
S.6359 (Addabbo, Jordan) / A.8203 (Pretlow)
Allows off-track betting corporations to set up special reserve funds to use as an alternative to current
capital acquisition funds.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Lanza, LaValle, O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Seward, Tedisco)
Assembly Vote: None

Requires Lottery Sales Agents to Return Previously Purchased Lottery Tickets to the Persons
Submitting Them for Verification of Prizes
No Same As / A.4464 (Pretlow)
Requires that any previously purchased lottery ticket submitted to a lottery sales agent for verification
must be returned to the customer, whether or not a prize was won on account of such ticket, in order to
deter fraud and stolen lottery tickets.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly: 138-1
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
Regulates Sports Betting in Casinos and on Mobile Devices

S.17D (Addabbo, Carlucci, Comrie, Funke, Gallivan, Gounardes, Jackson, Mayer, Persaud,
Ramos) / A.6113C (Pretlow)
Relates to regulation of sports betting and mobile sports wagering and implements a tax of 8.5% on
sports wagering gross revenue bets made in a casino and 12% on mobile devices, to be paid to the
commercial gaming revenue fund. $12 million initial license fee.
Proponents: NYSAC; 2019- Resort World Catskills and Multiple Organizations; Partnership for NYC
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Gaming Self-Exclusion Provisions

S.6389 (Addabbo, Biaggi) / No Same As
New York State Gaming Commission, Departmental Bill # 51
Relates to the self-exclusion provisions; provides for moneys forfeited by self-exclusion to be deposited
in certain gaming commission accounts.
162
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
Technical Fix to Fantasy Sports Legislation in Response to Court Ruling

S.8766 (Addabbo) / No Same As
This legislation responds to a recent court decision to provide technical fixes to previously enacted
interactive fantasy sports (IFS) legislation and clarify legislative intent.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
HEARINGS AND FORUMS
Senate Standing Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering Public Meeting. The Economic Impact of
the Three Unused Downstate Casino Licenses. February 12, 2020.
Roundtable Discussion of the Senate Committee on Judiciary. Discussion on the administration of the New York
State bar examination (August 18 , 2020).
163
SOCIAL SERVICES
(518) 455-2711
Expansion of OPDV Advisory Council and Repeal of Batterers Project

S.6665 (Benjamin, Kaplan) / A.8023 (Williams)
This bill adds the Commissioner of Homes and Community Renewal to the Domestic Violence Advisory
Board, and requires the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence to promote best practices for
abusive partner intervention. It also repeals sections of law pertaining to rehabilitating batterers which
remains unfunded.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 56-2 (Flanagan, Gallivan)
Authorization of SNAP benefits for Online Grocery Purchases

S.8247 (Kaminsky, Addabbo, Boyle, Felder, Gaughran, Gounardes, Hoylman, Kaplan, Kennedy,
Little, Liu, May, Ortt, Parker, Persaud, Sepúlveda, Thomas) / A.10673 (Hevesi)
This bill expands current law to allow Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients to
use SNAP benefits to purchase groceries from eligible online grocery retailers and have such groceries
delivered to the recipient.
Proponents: AARP, No Kid Hungry NY

Opponents: None
OTDA Report Regarding Sheltered and Unsheltered Homeless Population

S.8643A (Liu) / A.10566A (Hevesi)
This legislation requires the Commissioner of the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
(OTDA) to compile certain demographic data regarding the sheltered and unsheltered homeless
population during the COVID-19 state disaster emergency. The information collected must be published
in a report by county and posted on the website of each participating agency.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 59-1 (Funke)
164
OTDA Report on the Services Provided to Human Trafficking Survivors

S.8743A (Liu, Kaplan) / A.8645 (Hevesi)
This bill requires the Commissioner of the Office of Temporary Disability Assistance to submit a report
on the services provided to human trafficking survivors. The purpose of this report is to assess the
availability, utilization and necessity for such services.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Creating Waiting Lists of Families Requesting Child Care Assistance

S.7694 (Persaud, Krueger, Montgomery) / No Same As
This bill requires local social service districts to maintain waiting lists of eligible families who have
applied for child care assistance, yet did not receive such assistance. Each local social service district is
to provide such information annually to the Office of Children and Family Services with monthly data to
create a comprehensive report.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 50-10 (Ortt, Akshar, Funke, Ritchie, Borrello, Gallivan, Griffo, Lavalle, Jordan, Little)
Assembly Vote: None
Provides that receipt of PUA does not affect eligibility for SSI and SNAP
S.8739 (Persaud, Liu, May) / A.10743 (Hevesi)
Provides that an individual, who receives the federal Coronavirus temporary emergency increase in
unemployment compensation benefits, will not have it count towards their eligibility for Supplemental
Security Income (SSI) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 49-11 (Helming, Ortt, Serino, Funke, Ritchie, Borrello, Gallivan, Griffo, Seward, Tedisco,
Jordan)
Assembly Vote: None
165
Establishes a statewide restaurant meals program as part of SNAP

S.7290A (Persaud) / A.8764A (Reyes)
Authorizes the federal Restaurant Meals Program that allows elderly, homeless, and disabled
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients to purchase eligible prepared food items
at authorized SNAP restaurants.
Proponents: No Kid Hungry NY; NY Immigration Coalition, et al

Opposition: None
Senate Vote: None
None
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
None
HEARINGS AND FORUMS
None
166
TRANSPORTATION
Analyst: Daniel Ranellone
(518) 455-2852
Backseat Seat Belts for Adults

S.4336 (Carlucci, Metzger, Serrano) / A.6163 (Mosley)
This legislation provides that no person 16 years of age or over shall be a passenger in a motor vehicle
unless such person is restrained by a safety belt approved by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles
(DMV). Under current law, people 16 years of age or over are generally only required to wear seat belts
in the front seat.
Proponents: AAA of New York State; Mayor of the City of New York; Medical Society of the State of
New York; New York Insurance Association
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 54-8 (Akshar, Funke, Gallivan, Griffo, Jacobs, Little, Ortt, Ritchie)
Chapter 136
Licensure of Autocycles
S.4580C (Kennedy, Carlucci) / A.5390B (Lupardo)
This legislation permits individuals with Class D licenses (licenses that regular auto users generally
have) to operate autocycles in the state. Individuals with motorcycle licenses (Class M licenses) are still
allowed to operate autocycles, but the bill clarifies that an individual cannot use an autocycle to obtain a
Class M license on their road test. The bill otherwise continues the current law’s treatment of autocycles
as motorcycles.
Proponents: Polaris; Featherstonaugh, Wiley & Clyne

Opponents: None
Eliminates Driver’s License Suspensions for Failure to Pay/Appear

S.5348B (Kennedy, Bailey, Biaggi, Carlucci, Felder, Gianaris, Gounardes, Hoylman, Kaplan,
Krueger, Liu, May, Metzger, Montgomery, Myrie, Parker, Ramos, Rivera, Savino, Sepúlveda,
Serrano) / A.7463B (Hunter)
This legislation eliminates the Department of Motor Vehicles’ (DMV) ability to suspend driver’s licenses
and vehicle registrations for failure to pay a bill, answer a summons or appear in court. It also directs
DMV to create and offer payment or installment plans, and requires DMV to terminate existing license
and registration suspensions for failure to pay or appear. The legislation does not affect suspensions for
failure to pay the driver responsibility assessment, failure to pay child support, driving while intoxicated,
167
and vehicular homicide. It also preserves an existing provision empowering judges, the police, or DMV
to suspend a license and/or registration for “habitual or persistent violation” of state or local traffic laws,
and preserves courts’ ability to assess default judgments and use civil recovery mechanisms against
individuals who willfully refuse to pay.
Proponents: Driven By Justice Campaign

Opponents: None
Lanza, LaValle, Little, Martinez, O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach, Serrino, Seward, Tedisco)
Stretch Limo Reporting Website and Hotline

S.6185B (May, Biaggi, Breslin, Carlucci, Kaplan, Kennedy, Liu, Parker, Seward, Tedisco) /
A.8214B (Santabarbara)
This legislation requires DOT and DMV to establish or maintain a website and toll-free hotline for
reporting stretch limousine safety issues, and requires DOT to use such reports in informing policy
actions. DOT must also report on what it is doing with the safety issues reported by passengers. The
bill also requires stretch limousines to provide signage in a prominent location in the vehicle with the
website address and hotline number.
Proponents: Schoharie and Cutchogue victims’ families

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Assembly: 140-0
Chapter 5
Requires Motor Carriers to Conduct Pre-Employment and Random Drug and Alcohol Testing for
Large For-Hire Vehicles
S.6186B (Metzger, Biaggi, Breslin, Carlucci, Kaplan, Kennedy, Liu, Parker, Seward, Tedisco) /
A.712A (Paulin)
This legislation subjects any driver of a for-hire vehicle capable of transporting nine or more occupants
(including the driver) to pre-employment and random drug and alcohol testing in accordance with
federal procedures for commercial driver’s licenses. This testing requirement applies regardless of
whether or not the driver has a commercial driver’s license (CDL).

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Chapter 2
Requires Stretch Limos to Use Commercial GPS Devices

S.6187C (Gaughran, Biaggi, Breslin, Carlucci, Kennedy, Liu, Seward, Tedisco) / A.9058
(Santabarbara)
168
Requires stretch limousines to be equipped with commercial GPS devices, similar to the proposal for
charter buses to be equipped with commercial GPS. The three-way agreed language provides that the
requirement shall only take effect in the event that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) adopts standards on commercial GPS devices. There is a one-year compliance timeline after
NHTSA implementation.

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Chapter 11
Increases Penalties for Stretch Limos Making Illegal U-Turns

S.6188B (Gaughran, Biaggi, Breslin, Carlucci, Kaplan, Kennedy, Liu, Seward, Tedisco) / A.8172B
(Santabarbara)
This legislation increases financial and criminal penalties for stretch limousines that commit illegal
u-turns. Penalties are enhanced if passengers are in the vehicle during the offense.

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Chapter 4
Passenger Safety Task Force

S.6189C (Kaplan, Biaggi, Breslin, Carlucci, Kennedy, Liu, Parker, Seward, Tedisco) / A.131C
(Paulin)
This legislation creates a 11-member Passenger Safety Task Force to improve stretch limousine safety,
with DOT and DMV chairing the task force, the State Police, and two members each appointed by the
Governor, Assembly Speaker, and Senate Temporary President.
The task force is directed to examine how DOT and DMV communicate, consider establishing uniform
safety training for drivers, driver licensing, having a phase-out period for stretch limousines, and
evaluating various safety equipment changes and actions like anti-intrusion bars, carbon monoxide
detectors, speed restriction devices, and increased random site inspections.

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Chapter 3
Requires Stretch Limos to be Equipped with Seatbelts

S.6191C (Kennedy, Biaggi, Breslin, Carlucci, Gaughran, Kaplan, Liu, Parker, Seward, Tedisco) /
169
A.9057 (Paulin)
This legislation requires stretch limousines to be equipped with seatbelts for every passenger for which
the vehicle has been designed. Vehicles altered after January 1, 2021 must comply with the seatbelt
mandate, and all stretch limousines registered in the state must be retrofitted to include seatbelts by
January 1, 2023. DMV is charged with prescribing design standards for the seatbelts. The language
mandating roll-over protection devices and anti-intrusion bars that was part of the 2019 version was
removed in the two-way agreement.

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Chapter 10
Requires Stretch Limousine Operators to Have Passenger CDLs and Modifies the Definition of
“Sedan” to Eliminate Most Stretch Limousines
S.6192A (Kennedy, Biaggi, Breslin, Carlucci, Gaughran, Kaplan, Liu, Parker, Seward, Tedisco) /
A.8474A (Santabarbara)
This legislation requires stretch limousine operators who operate altered motor vehicles capable of
carrying nine or more passengers (including the driver) to obtain Passenger CDLs. Passenger CDLs are
commercial driver’s licenses, for which a driver must pass a written test and a skills test on the type of
vehicle that will be driven. This legislation also clarifies that stretch limousines capable of carrying nine
or more passengers, including the driver, are explicitly subject to State Department of Transportation
(DOT) bus inspections.

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Chapter 6
Authorizes DOT to Immobilize or Impound Stretch Limousines in Certain Situations

S.6193-C (Kennedy, Breslin, Carlucci, Gaughran, Kaplan, Liu, Tedisco) / A.9056 (Magnarelli)
This legislation allows DOT to immobilize or impound a stretch limousine if such vehicle is found to
have an out-of-service defect or a defect related to its horn (a B-rated defect), if DOT determines that
allowing the vehicle to leave the inspection area would be contrary to the public interest. It also clarifies
that a vehicle must be reinspected prior to release.

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Chapter 9
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Requires Stretch Limo Motor Carriers to Provide Additional Information
S.6604B (Sanders, Biaggi, Breslin, Carlucci, Kennedy, Parker) / A.9059 (Santabarbara)
This legislation requires motor carriers - companies that operate commercial motor vehicles - to provide
a list to the DMV of every altered stretch limousine designed to carry nine or more passengers, including
the vehicle identification number, registration number, and a list of all drivers who operate the limo
and whether they have passenger endorsed commercial driver’s licenses. Motor carriers are required to
verify the driver’s license status annually for each of their stretch limo drivers in this category.
Additionally, the legislation requires DMV to maintain and update its website at least once per year
regarding motor carriers that have stretch limos capable of carrying nine or more passengers that include
the carrier’s name, location and region of operation, whether the carrier complies with Article 19-A
(which includes special testing, background checks, and licensing for bus drivers), the number and
nature of the vehicle’s convictions, the number of miles traveled, and the number of drivers who are
validly licensed. Motor carriers are also required to disclose the number of accidents in the past year,
and the number of accidents and convictions per 10,000 miles.

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Chapter 12
Requires Passengers to Wear Seat Belts in For-Hire Vehicles

S.7134 (Hoylman, Biaggi, Breslin, Carlucci, Kennedy) / A.8990 (Magnarelli)
This legislation eliminates the front seat limitation for adult passenger seat belt use by mandating that
adult passengers (age 16 and over) wear seatbelts regardless of where they are seated in a for-hire
vehicle. The legislation also prohibits for-hire vehicle operators from operating their vehicle unless all
children age eight through 15 are wearing their seat belt.
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Chapter 8
FHV Seat Belt Law (S.7134) Chapter Amendment
S.7623 (Hoylman) / A.9646 (Magnarelli)
The current bill still prohibits minors who are age eight through 15 from being a passenger in a FHV
unless they are belted in, but changes the construct so that the FHV operator is no longer explicitly
prohibited from operating the vehicle if the passenger is not belted in. It also clarifies that a parent or
guardian who is at least 18 years of age and present in the vehicle is liable for the $50 fine if the child is
not belted in, and clarifies that the child cannot be issued the summons. The new bill also improves the
signage in taxicabs and liveries to clarify that law now requires passengers to buckle up, and requires the
signage to be posted in the City’s top two designated citywide limited English Proficiency languages,
and requires DMV to undertake a public education campaign to inform FHV drivers and local taxi and
limousine commissions with respect to the statutory changes.
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Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Chapter 38
MTA Capital Program Accessibility Transparency

S.6430 (Gounardes, Liu) / A.8127 (Dinowitz)
This legislation requires the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to develop criteria to
determine how to best prioritize subway station accessibility improvements when creating its capital
programs. The criteria must include, without limitation: citywide geographic coverage; transit transfer
options; annual ridership volume; census tract data for senior and disabled populations and percentage
of those populations in poverty; residential density of surrounding neighborhoods; and proximity to
medical centers, schools, parks, business districts, cultural hubs and senior centers. Finally, the bill
requires the criteria and methodology used to be made publicly available.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Electric Vehicle Parking / Charging Spaces

S.6836 (Metzger, Gaughran, Liu) / A.8608 (Paulin)
This legislation seeks to prohibit parking in spaces designated for electric vehicle charging by vehicles
that are not, or are incapable of, using the space to charge the vehicle. The bill also provides a 30-minute
grace period for electric vehicles stopped, standing, or parked in the space.
Proponents: Charge Point; Environmental Advocates of New York

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 57-3 (Gallivan, Lanza, Ortt)
Loss of Consciousness Chapter Amendment

S.6967 (Gounardes) / A.8983 (Carroll)
This chapter amendment to S.5225-A of 2019 makes several modifications. First, it seeks to limit the
automatic license suspension/denial provision to instances involving the regular medical updates to
DMV or upon receipt of evidence from a police agency, accident report, or medical professional’s
statement that a licensee has experienced lack of consciousness. It also limits DMV hearings in which
a motorist contests those automatic suspensions/denials so they are contingent upon submission of a
medical professional’s statement about the licensee’s physical condition, and provides that the denial/
suspension remains in effect until the DMV hearing or the DMV’s medical review unit determines that
the licensee’s suspension/denial should be lifted.
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Finally, the chapter amendment uses language reflecting the current regulatory structure for submission
of evidence of loss of consciousness from non-police and non-medical “other” sources (often concerned
family members), which involves DMV sending a letter to the licensee informing them of a proposed
denial or suspension with an offer to withhold the denial/suspension until after a DMV hearing if the
licensee so requests. If the licensee does not respond within 30 days, their license will be suspended/
denied. Similar to the existing regulation, the chapter amendment language provides an exception if
DMV deems the licensee’s further operation to be an “immediate hazard,” wherein their license would
be immediately denied/revoked pending the hearing process established for police/medical-based
reports.
Proponents: None
Opponents: Concerns from American Diabetes Association, Epilepsy Foundation
Senate Vote: 61-0
Chapter 31
Paratransit Service and PPE

S.8119C (Comrie, Carlucci, Hoylman, Kaplan, Liu, May, Skoufis) / A.10303B (Dinowitz)
This legislation amends the Transportation Law to make mainly temporary changes in accommodation
of the coronavirus (COVID-19) for various large public transit operators in the state, including the
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), when they provide paratransit services. It includes
temporary codification of a postponement of paratransit service eligibility expiration, suspension of in-
person eligibility assessments by applicants for paratransit services, suspension of shared or pooled rides
to the extent practicable, and a permanent requirement that paratransit contractors-providers be provided
hand sanitizer, disposable sterile gloves, face masks and training on preventive measures to protect
customers and personnel from COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
Proponents: ATU; NYPIRG

Opponents: New York Public Transit Association
Senate Vote: 62-0
Veto 54: The Executive stated that this bill carries a significant fiscal by requiring the paratransit
providers to provide service and removes their administrative flexibility, while simultaneously arguing
that the paratransit providers largely implemented the bill’s provisions administratively.
Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force

S.8663A (Kennedy, Little, Gaughran, Kaminsky, May, Persaud, Ramos, Serrano) / A.8767A
(Jones)
This legislation establishes an Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force to assess current Department
of Transportation (DOT) policies with respect to state roadway management during winter weather
in the Adirondack Park and the potential environmental impacts. It includes an initial assessment on
associated impacts, recommendations on best management practices and salt reduction techniques,
improved training and education, and response to contamination and impacts on property owners. The
task force is directed to assess a baseline level of salt use and levels of service, establish a database of
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tracking road salt purchases and applications, and set reduction targets through 2024.
The bill also establishes a road salt reduction pilot plan to test strategies on reducing road salt
application, and requires a report on the effectiveness of the techniques by August 30, 2024.
Proponents: Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation; Adk Action; Citizens Campaign for the
Environment; New York League of Conservation Voters; NYPIRG; Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter;
Adirondack Council; Nature Conservancy;
Opponents: None
Expands Complete Streets

S.1549A (Kennedy, Addabbo, Brooks, Gounardes, May, Savino) / No Same As
This bill eliminates the exception to the Complete Streets Law for resurfacing, maintenance, and
pavement recycling projects, requiring those projects to consider Complete Streets principles as well.
It does not impact the law’s other exceptions, which include instances where bicyclists or pedestrians’
presence is prohibited by law, where the cost is determined to be disproportionate, where the design
changes could have an adverse impact on public safety, or where there is a demonstrated lack of need.
Proponents: AARP, Bicycling Coalition, Parks & Trails New York

Opponents: None
Jacobs, Jordan, Lanza, Little, O’Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach, Serino, Seward, Tedisco)
Assembly Vote: None
Increases Fines for Dumping Snow on Handicapped Parking Spaces

S.1643 (Brooks) / A.148 (D’Urso)
Increases the penalties for knowingly dumping or shoveling snow onto a handicapped parking space and
rendering it unusable.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 62-0
Assembly Vote: None
First Responder Safety Zones

S.1761A (Brooks, Addabbo, Gaughran, Kaplan) / A.10750 (Stern)
This legislation creates “first responder safety zones,” which are modeled off of school safety zones.
The intent of this legislation is to require motorists to slow down in first responder safety zones the way
they would for pedestrian crosswalks, and allows signage to be put in place to notify motorists. As with
school safety zones, localities can set limits of 15 miles per hour in first responder safety zones. The bill
also requires motorists to yield the right of way for first responders displaying their lights within a first
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responder safety zone, and permits fines for the violation of up to $500 for the first violation and $1000
for the second violation. Finally, the bill requires a one-year mandatory license suspension for motorists
convicted of three or more failure to yield violations.
“First responders” includes fire vehicles, police vehicles, ambulances, or emergency ambulance service
vehicles.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Assembly Vote: None
Using International Paint Removal/Maintenance/Application Standards on MTA Assets

S.2773A (Comrie, Ramos) / No Same As
This legislation requires the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and New York City Transit
Authority (NYCTA) to use internationally recognized standards with respect to applying and removing
coatings from bridges, trestles, and elevated subway and railway tracks and stations. These standards
would come from the Society for Protective Coatings Painting Contractor Certification Program or
National Association of Corrosion Engineers.
Proponents: DC-9
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Assembly Vote: None
Bus Driver Credentials

S.3450B (Stavisky) / A.2188B (Kim)
Requires motor carriers transporting property or passengers in commerce and NYC double-decker
sightseeing buses to display operating authority, inspection status, and driver qualifications. The bill also
requires the DMV to review motor carrier’s bus driver files annually instead of every three years.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Assembly Vote: None
Increases Penalties on Motor Carriers Which Fail to Report Bus Drivers’ Disqualifying Violations
S.3557 (Kennedy) / A.2039 (Kim)
This legislation increases the fines for failing to notify DMV about a driver’s employment, termination,
or disqualification to $1,000-5,000 for a first offense and $1,000-10,000 for a second or subsequent
offense where the bus driver refused a blood alcohol or drug test or was convicted of: operating a motor
vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs; leaving the scene of an incident causing property
damage or personal injury without reporting; reckless driving; or any felony involving the use of a motor
vehicle.
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Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Assembly Vote: None
Rail Crossing Camera Pilot Program

S.4089A (Thomas, Carlucci, Gounardes) / A.6012A (Abinanti)
This legislation authorizes local governments and the MTA to establish railroad grade crossing photo
violation monitoring systems permitting fines for failure to obey a signal indicating the approach of a
train by utilizing photo monitoring devices. Fines are limited to $100 per violation.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 58-2 (Akshar, Ranzenhofer)
Assembly Vote: None
Bike/Pedestrian Safety in Five-Hour Course

S.5228C (Gounardes, Biaggi, May, Montgomery, Myrie, Ramos) / A.7828A (Ortiz)
This legislation requires the pre-licensing driver’s education course (the five-hour course) to include
Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Awareness education, and requires the exam to include one or more
questions on how to safely pass a bicyclist on the road, one or more questions on the dangers of motor
vehicles to bicyclists and pedestrians, and one or more questions on a motorist’s duty to exercise due
care.
The five-hour curriculum must include information on operators’ duty to exercise due care and
understand bicyclists’ and pedestrians’ needs and limited visibility, respecting bicyclists’ and pedestrians’
rights of way, safely operating near pedestrians and bicyclists, understanding bicycle lanes, safe passing
of bicycles, the dangers of distracted driving, reducing speed when special hazards exist, safe turning,
stopping, standing, and understanding traffic control devices and markings. DMV is also directed
to consult with the State Department of Transportation and State Police, the City Department of
Transportation and Police, bicycle and pedestrian safety advocates and medical professionals in putting
together the curriculum.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 58-0
Assembly Vote: None
Modifies Ignition Interlock Requirements

S.5671A (Martinez, Liu) / A.7494A (Woerner)
This legislation provides three alternative sentences to promote ignition interlock usage rather than
having convicted individuals relinquish their motor vehicles. It also elaborates on good cause motion
requirements for remaining individuals who relinquish their vehicles, and requires DCJS to study the
programmatic impacts.
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Proponents: STOP-DWI
Opponents: Council of Probation Administrators
Assembly Vote: None
Increases Penalties for Highway Worker Endangerment and Dedicates Funds to Work Zone
Safety
S.6094A (Kennedy, Boyle, Carlucci, Gaughran, Kaminsky, Metzger, Skoufis) / No Same As
This legislation creates a new endangerment of a highway worker traffic infraction for driving through a
highway work area not clearly designated for travel, or for failing to obey traffic control devices through
a work area other than for an emergency, to avoid an obstacle, or to protect the health and safety of
another person. 60% of these fines will be dedicated to a Work Zone Safety fund, which can be used for
work area safety enforcement, markings, speed display signs, and police monitoring. The legislation also
directs the Governor’s Highway Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) to implement a public education and
outreach program to increase motorist awareness of the importance of work zone safety.
Proponents: CSEA; NYS Laborers Employment Cooperation and Education Trust

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 62-0
Assembly Vote: None
Modifies the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Rural Public Transportation

S.6229 (May, Metzger, O’Mara) / A.8107 (Magnarelli)
This legislation revises the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Rural Public Transportation to
include the Commissioner of the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (OASAS), the Justice
Center for protection of people with special needs, and updates a number of previous agencies whose
titles have since changed. It also requires that one of the voting members shall be a representative of a
public transportation union. The bill modifies the statute to provide that the six legislatively appointed
members are the only voting members on the committee aside from the Department of Transportation
Commissioner.
The bill also expands the committee’s role, requiring it to meet at least every three months for the first
two years and every four months thereafter, submit an annual report, and examine the non-emergency
medical transportation (NEMT) model which was modified by the original Medicaid Redesign
Team in 2011, and make recommendations to the Department of Health on how to better coordinate
transportation options with public transportation options and provision of transportation by other human
services agencies. It also requires assignment of NEMT services to public transportation systems if the
system’s services are appropriate, available, and the least expensive. Finally, it permits rural areas to opt
out of this assignment.
Proponents: First Transit; New York Public Transit Association

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 62-0
Assembly Vote: None
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New York City Watershed Road Salt Reduction Task Force and Pilot Plan
S.7367A (Harckham, Serrano) / A.9825A (Abinanti)
This legislation establishes a New York City Watershed Task Force to assess current DOT policies
with respect to state roadway management during winter weather in the New York City Watershed
and the potential environmental impacts. It includes an initial assessment on associated impacts,
recommendations on best management practices and salt reduction techniques, improved training and
education, and response to contamination and impacts on property owners. The task force is directed
to assess a baseline level of salt use and levels of service, establish a database of tracking road salt
purchases and applications, and set reduction targets through 2024.

Opponents: None
Assembly Vote: None
DOT Capital Program Transparency/Pavement and Bridge Condition Reporting

S.7885A (Kaplan, Kennedy, Carlucci, Gaughran, Kaminsky, May) / A.10090A (Thiele)
This bill requires DOT to make a report available to the Legislature regarding highway and bridge
conditions, capital letting and implementation, capital program accomplishments, and non-MTA
downstate suburban and upstate transit capital programs to be distributed by the governor. This largely
codifies the provisions from the memorandum of understanding (MOU) agreed to in conjunction with
the 2016-17 Adopted Budget.
Proponents: Associated General Contractors of NYS

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 57-3 (Amedore, Helming, Ortt)
Assembly Vote: None
Improving MTA Service Adjustment Transparency; Restoring 24/7 Service When Possible
S.8328 (Hoylman, Biaggi, Carlucci, Gounardes, Krueger, Liu, Myrie, Salazar) / A.10445 (Carroll)
This legislation requires NYCTA to restore subway service to the level it was set at before COVID-19,
including continuous 24-hour daily service, unless a state of emergency has been declared. If NYCTA
seeks to reduce service relative to the service it had been providing before the state of emergency, the
NYCTA and MTA boards would have to approve. The legislation also amends the NYCTA’s and MTA’s
enacting laws to require that provision of continuous service is part of their statutory or corporate
purpose.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 57-3 (Griffo, O’Mara, Serino)
Assembly Vote: None
178
Increases Safety Requirements for TNCs

S.5536C (Breslin, Carlucci, Krueger) /A.7219C (Fahy)
This legislation requires transportation network companies (TNCs) outside of New York City to enable
the passenger to scan a machine readable code or image before entering a TNC vehicle for a pre-
arranged ride and before paying for that ride, and requires special TNC driver identification cards. TNCs
are also required to use illuminated signage.
Proponents: Leading Age New York

Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None. Died in Transportation
Long-Range DOT Capital Planning

S.7779 (Skoufis)/A.9874 (Rozic)
The bill requires DOT to present a long-range plan to the Governor and legislative leaders regarding
state highways and bridges, non-MTA and Port Authority rapid transit, freight and passenger rail, buses,
marine uses, bicycle/pedestrian uses, and aviation facilities (excluding Port Authority airports like
LaGuardia and JFK). In formulating the plan, DOT is required to hold at least one public hearing in each
of the DOT regions (of which there are 11). The plan must also include highway and bridge condition
reporting, and semiannual reports on major project schedule or cost changes, including projects that
were eliminated or added after adoption of the State Budget. The bill was amended to respond to the
Executive’s 2019 veto of a similar proposal to exclude MTA and Port Authority facilities and now only
includes bridges under DOT’s jurisdiction and state highways.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None. Died in Transportation
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
Autonomous Vehicles: While the autonomous vehicle pilot was extended for two years in the 2019
Adopted Budget, twice the amount of the extender authorized by the previous Senate Majority, little to
no vehicle testing is being conducted on the state’s public roads. Further, no hearings have been held on
vehicle automation for years, which could study the numerous considerations for autonomous vehicle
technology (such as liability, security and safety, and economic impact) and bring together the various
affected stakeholders. Additionally, the University at Buffalo, which has an award-winning testing
program, has encountered difficulty in expanding beyond its own private campus roads.
179
MTA: Despite provision of new revenue streams that will support roughly $25 billion for the MTA’s
capital needs in the 2019-20 Adopted State Budget, the MTA expects to face “fiscal tsunami” levels of
operating deficits resulting from lost revenues and increased expenditures related to COVID-19. Further,
instead of just completing the more extensive environmental review it claims it cannot obtain guidance
from the federal government on the type of environmental review to conduct in order to implement
congestion pricing, which was required to provide $15 billion out of the $25 billion in capital program
support authorized in the 2019-20 Adopted State Budget. There is still uncertainty over implementation
of organizational changes like the MTA reorganization, MTA still has not released a 20 Year Needs
Assessment, MTA began halting 24/7 service, and there are still concerns about the debarment provision
the Executive prioritized in the 2019-20 Adopted State Budget.
Port Authority: The Port Authority faces significant revenue shortfalls as a result of COVID-19 and a
decline in airplane traffic. In addition to redevelopment at Newark, JFK and LaGuardia Airports, the
Authority’s 10-year capital program seeks to take on a variety of additional capital projects, including
replacement of the aging Manhattan Bus Terminal, building a $2 billion Air Train to LaGuardia over or
near the Flushing Bay, and building a $2 billion replacement Air Train to Newark.
In September 2019, the Port Authority approved plans to increase Air Train fares, increase bridge and
tunnel tolls, and impose a surcharge on taxi and for-hire vehicle trips.
Bridge Authority: The Executive’s proposal to merge the Bridge Authority into the Thruway Authority
was replaced with a proposal allowing the Executive to replace the entire Bridge Authority Board and
enter into a coordination agreement with the Thruway Authority to share any services deemed related by
the respective authority boards. The concern remains that the language is broad enough that it will allow
the Bridge Authority board replacements to delegate their responsibilities over to the Thruway Authority.
The Bridge Authority has been moving forward with new toll increases to support bridge maintenance.
Thruway Authority: The Toll Payer Protection Act has still not been enacted. At the 2020 joint budget
hearing, the Executive Director conceded that only one person was on the staff of the toll payer
“advocate” office established after the Executive vetoed the 2019 version of the bill. The Executive
administratively implemented a toll payer advisory task force for the New NY/Cuomo Bridge (née
Tappan Zee), which was similar to S.4664/Carlucci. The Thruway is also facing significant fiscal stress
due to lost revenues related to COVID-19. Prior to COVID-19, the Thruway began the process of
implementing toll increases for the first time since 2010.
Work Zone Safety: Agreement was not reached on work zone penalty enhancements and dedication
(S.6094A) or on highway work zone cameras (S.5223B). These are both priorities of various labor
organizations. They support both the Assembly’s and Senate’s respective versions of both of these
proposals.
DOT Transparency: The 2020-21 Adopted Budget included nearly $12 billion for two years of
appropriations for the DOT Capital Program but included no corresponding legislative transparency
improvements or MOU.
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Additionally, advocates are arguing that the right of way fee enacted in the 2019-20 Adopted Budget
on fiber optic utilities companies to use DOT’s right of way is impacting deployment of broadband to
the State’s underserved areas. There are proposals to eliminate the fee entirely (S.8858/Helming) and to
modify the fee to apply it more broadly than to fiber utility companies and allow them to pass the fee on
to consumers (S.8693/Kennedy).
TNC Safety: After Uber reported more than 3,000 sexual assaults were reported in 2018, and after
the abduction and homicide of Samantha Josephson in South Carolina, interest remains in improving
transportation network company (TNC) safety. Several bills focusing on driver-rider identification,
including S.6012A (Kennedy) – which provides for electronic coupling - and A.7219C (Fahy) –
which requires TNCs to enable the passenger’s mobile device to scan the driver’s device and requires
identification cards. There is also a proposal to require prospective TNC drivers to be fingerprinted prior
to starting as TNC drivers (S.7909/Mayer).
Pedestrian Safety: There are also several bills responding to the pre-COVID increase in pedestrian
deaths, particularly in New York City. This includes, but is not limited to, S.7298/Kennedy (establishing
a crime of vehicular violence), redefining reckless driving to be dangerous driving (S.7894/Gounardes),
creating a pedestrian safety rating system in cars (S.7876/Gounardes), and expanding the crosswalk
definition (S.7875/Gounardes) or requiring pedestrian scramble crosswalks around schools (S.8099/
Ramos).
HEARINGS OR FORUMS
Joint Hearing of the Senate Committees on Transportation and Corporations, Authorities &
Commissions and the Assembly Committee on Corporations, Authorities & Commissions. Impact of
COVID-19 on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Public Transportation (August 25, 2020).
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VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND

MILITARY AFFAIRS
Analyst: Nic Rangel
(518) 455-7925
Outdoor Rx Act - Nature-Based Therapy for Veterans

S.6706A (Benjamin, Addabbo, Jackson, Kaplan, Kennedy, Liu, Metzger, Serrano) / A.08094A
(Barrett)
Establishes the outdoor Rx Act and requires that the state conduct a review of its policies, park lands,
and recreation areas for their utility to veterans organizations that engage in nature-based therapy.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
New York State Veterans’ Cemeteries

S.8791 (Brooks, Kaplan, Little, Liu, May) / A.10782 (Barret)
Lowers the prerequisite of 15 years of maintenance and operation funds to 10 years to expedite and
encourage the establishment of a state run veterans cemetery.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Assembly Vote: 14-0
Creates the Veterans’ Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Task Force
S.2248A (Sanders, Addabbo, Brooks, Gaughran, Gounardes, Helming, Jackson, Kaplan, Lanza,
Liu, Metzger, Myrie, Parker, Ritchie, Savino)/ A.08248A (Ortiz)
Creates a veterans’ mental health and suicide prevention task force to study current mental health
practices and suicide prevention efforts and to recommend mental health practices and suicide
prevention to increase effectiveness across New York State.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Assembly Vote: None
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Academic Credit at SUNY and CUNY for Military Training

S.2741A (Addabbo, Brooks, Carlucci, Gaughran, Harckham, Kaplan, Liu, Metzger, Sanders) /
A.07999 (Jones)
This legislation would provide academic credit to veterans at institutions of the State University of
New York (SUNY) or the City University of New York (CUNY) for courses they completed through
the military. Under this legislation, full-time undergraduate students who are eligible veterans would
be granted an unlimited number of academic credits from their JST toward their degree without any
additional fees or tuition charges.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Assembly Vote: None
Veteran Career Assistance Program

S.3471A (Brooks, Biaggi, Carlucci, Gaughran, Jordan, Kaplan, Liu, Metzger, Serino) / A.08816
(D’Urso)
This legislation would formally require the Division of Veterans Services (DVS), with the State
University of New York, and the City University of New York, to establish veteran career assistance
programs for honorably discharged veterans. The program would be directed to assist in resume writing
and employment placement services.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: 60-0
Assembly Vote: None
Requires Counties to Maintain a Confidential Registry of Disability for Evacuation Purposes

S.5750 (Sepúlveda) / A.03923 (Weprin)
This bill requires all counties to maintain a confidential registry of people of all ages with disabilities for
disaster preparedness and response purposes. Under current law, such lists are permissive, as opposed to
mandatory.
Proponents: None
Opponents: NYSAC
Senate Vote: None
183
Expands the Veteran Treatment Court Program

S. 5059A (Hoylman, Addabbo, Biaggi, Brooks, Gounardes, Harckham, Martinez, Metzger, Ortt,
Rivera, Thomas) / A.8360A (Galef)
This bill expands the number of veterans treatment courts available in the state in order to increase
access, and removes additional criminal actions to veterans treatment courts from local criminal courts.
Proponents: None
Opponents: None
Senate Vote: None
Assembly Vote: None
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
None
HEARINGS AND FORUMS
Joint Hearing of the Senate Committee On Veterans, Homeland Security & Military Affairs and the
Assembly Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Exploring veteran-specific impacts of COVID-19 including,
the provision of care at State veterans’ nursing homes, access to health and mental health services, loss
of employment opportunities, and ways to protect veterans from future adverse impacts (August 14,
2020).

184
WOMEN’S ISSUES
Analyst: Carolyn Sheridan
(518) 455-2872
Study of the Effects of Racial and Ethnic Disparities on Breastfeeding

S.6707 (Benjamin, Kennedy) / A.6986A (Solages)
The bill requires the Department of Health to conduct a study on how racial and ethnic disparities affect
rates of breastfeeding. The study must identify breastfeeding rates, trends, patterns and racial and ethnic
disparities in breastfeeding, and medical, non-medical, and system-related factors which may have
contributed to breastfeeding rate disparities; review the extent to which racial and ethnic disparities
indicate the need to increase access to healthcare services in certain areas; identify ways to reduce or
eliminate breastfeeding rate disparities; and review the extent to which disparities indicate the need to
increase support for breastfeeding among racial and ethnic populations in the state. A report is due to the
Governor and Legislature one year after the bill becomes law.
Proponents: None Available

Opponents: None Available
Senate Vote: 62-0
None
Disclosure of Risks (and Benefits) of Cesarean Section

S.2888A (Salazar, Biaggi, Carlucci) / A.318A (Paulin)
This bill requires every maternal health care provider performing an unplanned C-section provide
a written communication to the patient following delivery which includes information on potential
maternal injuries associated with cesarean section, potential risks to the fetus, the impact a cesarean
section may have on future pregnancies and deliveries, and circumstances in which a cesarean section
may be necessary to save the life of a mother or fetus.
Proponents: NYS Association of Licensed Midwives

Opponents: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Medical Society of the State of NY,
NYS Academy of Family Physicians
Senate Vote: None
185
Study of the Impact of Limited Service Pregnancy Centers
S.6311 (Hoylman, Comrie, Goundardes, Harckham, Jackson, Krueger, Liu, Myrie, Persaud,
Rivera, Skoufis) / A.8212 (Glick)
This bill authorizes the Commissioner of Health to assemble a temporary taskforce to study and issue a
report examining the unmet health and resource needs facing pregnant women in New York State and
the impact of “limited service pregnancy centers” on the access and quality of care pregnant women
receive.
Proponents: Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts, National Institute for Reproductive Health, Planned
Parenthood
Opponents: Albany Update New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms,
NYS Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, NYS Catholic Conference
Senate Vote: None
Allows a Pregnant Incarcerated Person to Have a Support Person Present During Labor &
Delivery
S.7868 (Biaggi, Hoylman) / A.9965 (Rosenthal)
This bill allows a pregnant woman incarcerated at a local or state correctional facility to designate one
support person of their choosing to accompany them through the labor and delivery process. The bill
also requires the Department of Corrections (DOCCS) to inform a mother incarcerated at a state facility
of her ability to apply to any nursery program run by DOCCS for care of her child, such as the program
offered at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. Further, the Chief Medical Officer of each correctional
facility housing female inmates or his or her designee must inform any incarcerated person known to
be pregnant of their option of participating in pregnancy counseling services and of their right to have
access to pregnancy termination services.
Proponents: Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts, National Institute for Reproductive Health Action
Fund, NYCLU, ACLU of New York
Opponents: None Available
Senate Vote: None
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
None
HEARINGS AND FORUMS
186
New York State Senate
Legislative Wrap Up 2020

2020 NYS Senate Preliminary Legislative Wrap Up

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2020 NYS Senate Preliminary Legislative Wrap Up

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PRELIMINARY

2020 LEGISLATIVE WRAP UP

Andrea Stewart-Cousins Senate Majority Leader and Temporary President

Senate & Assembly Bill Tally ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8

Public Hearings & Forums ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 9

Alcoholism and Substance Abuse .............................................................................................................................................................................................17

Budget and Revenue ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 23

Children and Families ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 26

Civil Service and Pensions .........................................................................................................................................................................................................31

Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business ........................................................................................................................................................ 39

Consumer Protection ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 42

Corporations, Authorities and Commissions ............................................................................................................................................................................ 46

Crime Victims, Crime and Corrections ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 52

Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation ......................................................................................................................................................................55

Domestic Animal Welfare .........................................................................................................................................................................................................58

Energy and Telecommunications .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 73

Environmental Conservation .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 79

Ethics and Internal Governance ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 87

Health ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 101

Higher Education .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 110

Housing, Construction and Community Development ........................................................................................................................................................... 115

Insurance ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 119

Internet and Technology .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 122

Investigations and Government Operations ............................................................................................................................................................................ 125

Judiciary .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 131

Labor ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 139

Local Government .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 146

Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities ...................................................................................................................................................................... 156

New York City Education ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 158

Racing, Gaming and Wagering ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 160

Social Services ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 164

Transportation ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 167

Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs ................................................................................................................................................................. 182

Women’s Issues ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 185

2020 Senate and Assembly Bills Tally

SIGNIFICANT BILLS THAT PASSED BOTH HOUSES

Reverse Mortgage Default Regulation and Notice Requirements

SIGNIFICANT BILLS THAT PASSED SENATE ONLY

Exempts Social Security/Pension Benefit Increases from Income Eligibility in EPIC

Retroactive Reclassification for SCRIE and DRIE Applicants

Creation of “Reimagining Long-Term Care Task Force”

SIGNIFICANT BILLS THAT PASSED ASSEMBLY ONLY

SIGNIFICANT BILLS THAT DID NOT PASS EITHER HOUSE

HEARINGS AND FORUMS

Promotes New York Farm Products for Holiday Celebrations

Authorizes the State to Regulate Air Pumps at Gas Stations

Extends Prohibition of Licensing Slaughterhouses in New York City

Proponents: New York Farm Bureau

Proponents: New York Farm Bureau

SIGNIFICANT BILLS THAT PASSED SENATE ONLY

Increases Marketing of Regional Farmers’ Markets

Proponents: New York Farm Bureau

Establishes One-Stop Hotline for Farmers

SIGNIFICANT BILLS THAT DID NOT PASS EITHER HOUSE

Requires Excess Food to Be Donated to Charitable Groups

Provides Tax Credit for Farmers Engaged in Carbon Sequestration

HEARINGS AND FORUMS

ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE

SIGNIFICANT BILLS THAT PASSED BOTH HOUSES

Authorizes Use of Opioid Antagonists In Public Accomodations

SIGNIFICANT BILLS THAT PASSED SENATE ONLY

Recovery Living Task Force

Bill of Rights for Individuals in Chemical Dependence Treatment Programs