Humanitarian Relief Effort for Puerto Rico

DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION RELEASES WHERE WE LIVE NYC, A BLUEPRINT FOR THE FUTURE OF FAIR HOUSING

New Fair Housing Litigation Unit will use “secret shoppers” to test the housing market for discrimination and hold bad actors accountable

 Today, the de Blasio Administration released the Where We Live NYC Draft Plan for public review. Where We Live NYC is the City’s comprehensive plan to promote fair housing and take action to advance opportunity for all New Yorkers. Intentional policies and practices perpetuated segregation and inequity across the country and in our city, and it will take concerted effort from all levels of government, working with our partners in the private and non-profit sectors, to undo that legacy.

“As the Trump Administration rolls back protections against housing discrimination, we are stepping up to ensure that the doors of opportunity are open to every New Yorker and those who discriminate are held accountable,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Across the country, Americans are living with the legacy of segregation. In New York City, we’re charting a path forward to continue to make New York the fairest big city in America.”

"We live in the greatest city in the world, and that gives us a moral obligation to uplift and empower all New Yorkers and lead the nation in addressing structural racism and housing discrimination," said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Vicki Been. "The Where We Live NYC plan is essential to building on our work to make the City fairer and more just, and I look forward to meeting with New Yorkers to ensure their stories shape the final plan, and future housing policies."

New Yorkers are increasingly living in neighborhoods that are more racially and economically diverse, and this Administration has been focused on creating a fairer city for all by expanding opportunity and strengthening neighborhoods. The de Blasio Administration has made significant progress in implementing inclusive policies and making investments that serve all New Yorkers, reduce existing inequities, and secure a sustainable future including:

·         Creating 44,380 new affordable homes and preserving the affordability of another 92,532 homes through the most ambitious affordable housing plan in the city’s history, with tens of thousands more units on the way

·         Securing one of the nation’s most demanding Mandatory Inclusionary Housing programs, ensuring that in every neighborhood, whenever housing is built through zoning changes, between 20 and 30% of that housing is permanently affordable

·         Enacting legislation to guarantee free legal assistance to every low income tenant facing eviction, and providing legal assistance to more than 100,000 households

·         Expanding neighborhood policing to every neighborhood in New York City, contributing to a historic low crime rate

·         Strengthening worker protections and benefits, from paid family and sick leave requirements to more predictable scheduling for fast food and retail workers

·         Launching Pre-K For All in all five boroughs

·         Establishing the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants to ensure New Yorkers know their rights and can access help to fight back against harassment

The share of New Yorkers living in the most segregated neighborhoods has steadily decreased, with the share of New Yorkers living in the least diverse neighborhoods in New York City – where a single racial or ethnic group is predominant –decreasing from 27% of New Yorkers in 1990 to 19% in 2000 and to 9% in 2012-2016. Additionally, the concentration of poverty across the city’s neighborhoods has also decreased. The share of census tracts with more than 40% of New Yorkers living in poverty has dropped from 13% in 1990 to 8% in 2012-2016.

The Where We Live NYC Draft Plan outlines key goals and strategies to address New York City’s fair housing challenges. The plan analyzes the state of fair housing in New York City today and lays out an action plan for the next five years. New Yorkers can now visit the Where We Live NYC website to read the plan and offer feedback to shape the final report. Both HPD and NYCHA worked with more than 30 government partners to evaluate existing policies and initiatives in order to design new, impactful policy solutions.

The Where We Live NYC Draft Plan includes the following key goals and strategies:

·         Expand resources to combat persistent housing discrimination, including a new dedicated unit to test for and pursue proactive cases agasint housing discrimination and new protections for justice-involved New Yorkers and New Yorkers who use housing vouchers.

·         Support housing development throughout the city and region, by expediting the creation of more affordable housing for low-income households and exploring zoning, land use, and other regulatory actions that will promote growth more broadly across the five boroughs.

·         Preserve affordable housing and prevent displacement of long-standing residents, through improving the quality of the city’s existing housing stock, particularly the 170,000 homes managed by NYCHA and expanding resources that protect tenants and homeowners against the threats of harassment, eviction, fraud, and scams.

·         Empower New Yorkers who use housing vouchers with more choice, by expanding the number of homes available to New Yorkers who receive rental assistance benefits and improving voucher holders’ and landlords’ experiences with the City.

·         Create more independent and integrated living options for people with disabilities, by leveraging the resources of the healthcare sector and expanding programs that assist people with disabilities obtain renovations to accommodate their physical needs.

·         Make equitable investments and change policies to support neighborhoods suffering from historic disinvestment through thoughtful decision-making and community engagement. The City will invest in increased wealth-building opportunities, improved public transit, and expanded diversity in public schools, among other initiatives.

To root out discrimination in the housing market, the City is launching the Fair Housing Litigation Unit to bring cases against owners and brokers who discriminate based on race, disability and source of income. This unit will be comprised of researchers, lawyers, and market testers who will go into the community as “secret shoppers” and identify discriminatory practices. The Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants will closely track the work of this unit to insure it is delivering for New Yorkers. The Fair Housing Litigation Unit will:  

·         Use data analysis and targeting to identity portfolios where the owner or broker is discriminating based on race, disability or source of income.

·         Bring affirmative litigation cases to court to hold bad actors accountable

·         Build new case law to deepen efforts to further fair housing

·         Educate brokers and owners on the consequences of discrimination

This Where We Live NYC Draft Plan was created through an inclusive, collaborative, and comprehensive effort to better understand fair housing challenges. The City worked with partners to learn directly from more than 700 residents across the five boroughs through 62 focus-group-style conversations in 15 different languages. The City also worked with a Fair Housing Stakeholder Group comprising of more than 150 community-based organizations, researchers, and policy advocates. New Yorkers were also asked to participate by sharing input on the Where We Live NYC website, participating in events, and hosting a conversation in their own community.

The City will also be hosting a listening tour across the city to continue the extensive collaborative public engagement that has driven Where We Live NYC’s two-year planning process. The tour will feature 3-4 day- exhibit installations that outline the process and draft plan. Residents will have a chance to learn and discuss the history of fair housing, explore data on diversity and opportunity in New York City, and share feedback on the strategies outlined in the draft plan to address discrimination, segregation, and equity in opportunity.

To launch the draft review process, the City will host a Where We Live NYC Listening Tour Opening Reception on January 8, 2020 at the Abrons Art Center in Manhattan, where participants can meet with City representatives to ask questions, share feedback, and experience an interactive Where We Live NYC exhibit.

The City will also be holding a public hearing on February 6, 2020 where members of the public can provide formal, on-the-record comment on the draft. The hearing will be held from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. in the City Planning Commission Hearing Room, Lower Concourse, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.   

For more information on the process, visit the Where We Live NYC website.

“Where We Live NYC is a sweeping fair housing plan that will guide the City’s bold and transformative efforts to dismantle the legacy of segregation and discrimination that stand in the way of opportunity for many people in our communities.  Throughout this process we’ve worked hand in hand with New Yorkers to make sure that their voices were heard, and we’re releasing this draft to fine tune what we’ve done so far, solidifying our next steps to make this city a more fair and just place to live for everyone,” said HPD Commissioner Louise Carroll. “I thank our many partners across the City and the 150 organizations that participated in our stakeholder group that have helped us reach this milestone. We look forward to continuing the conversation and building on our work to make this city better.”

“As we fight a citywide affordability crisis and address the challenge of homelessness, decades in the making, connecting New Yorkers in need to housing they can afford is our number one priority,” said Department of Social Services Commissioner Steve Banks. “This announcement builds on our progress at DSS-DHS-HRA helping more than 133,000 New Yorkers secure permanent housing through our Social Services programs and implementing a first-of-its-kind dedicated unit at DSS to combat Source of Income discrimination. Through these proactive programs and strategies—helping New Yorkers find, secure, and afford stable housing, while holding bad landlords accountable—we are making it easier for those individuals and families experiencing homelessness to open doors of opportunity in order to get back on their feet—and these new initiatives will take that work even further.”

“Creating an inclusive housing plan that meets the needs of everyone takes extensive planning,” said Victor Calise, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities. “We have made adaptable units that can meet the requirements of people with various disabilities, provided financial planning resources to make housing more attainable and stepped up our level of enforcement to prevent housing discrimination. We are proud of the progress we have made in the Where We Live plan and look forward to continuing to include the disability community in this important conversation.” 

“As New Yorkers, we pride ourselves on the diversity of our city – but also know that unacceptable levels of inequity remain. This Administration has made great strides in righting the wrongs of the past, including the adoption of Mandatory Inclusionary Housing. Where We Live promotes this momentum, and I look forward to continuing to use zoning to help us build inclusion and equity for all New Yorkers,” said Marisa Lago, Director the Department of City Planning and Chair of the City Planning Commission.

Marcos A. Crespo - Governor Cuomo Signs My Bill Into Law

On Thursday, January 2nd my bill requiring all Individuals engaged in the design, construction, operation, inspection, maintenance and repair of elevators to be licensed by New York State was signed by Governor Cuomo. The law also creates the New York State Elevator Safety and Standards Advisory Board, which is meant to establish recommendations for elevator inspections, examinations to satisfy licensing requirements, and enforcement to ensure compliance and promote public safety. "By creating a statewide license, a uniform standard, and increasing the accountability for the installation and repair of elevators across our state we will not only improve the safety conditions for this workforce, but also ensure a safer and more reliable service for all New Yorker's who rely daily on elevators to go about their lives and work. There is no doubt that this legislation will help prevent serious injury and loss of life for elevator installers and repair personnel and users alike. I'm grateful to have worked with Governor Cuomo, Senator Diane Savino, labor leaders, advocates and our labor committee staff to finally see this bill become law.

Our Bronx Revolution - Petitioning for Bernie

OUR BRONX REVOLUTION (OBR)

Our Bronx Revolution and Bronx 4 Bernie Sanders 2020 are actively supporting these events and we ask volunteers to join the campaign at these activities.  Come together with fellow Bernie supporters and join this historic movement to defeat Trump and transform America. We’ll collect petition signatures from our neighbors, friends, and families to ensure that we have a real champion to vote for this April.
Below is the calendar of events, up to January 15, 2020:

 Jan 6^th, 2020
From 8-10 AM and 4-7 PM will be at the intersection of River Ave & 161th St (in front of McDonald's), Bronx, NY 10451; Contact: C. Suarez, 347-353-6495

At 1:00 PM will be at 1385 Metropolitan Ave, Bronx, NY 10451. Contact: Susan, 347-9070694-

At 4;00 PM will be at East Fordham Rd & Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10468: Julian, 202-909-3424

Jan 7^th, 2020
8-10 AM and 4-7 PM will be at the intersection of River Ave & 161th St (in front of McDonald's), Bronx, NY 10451. Contact: C. Suarez, 347-353-6495

Jan 8^th, 2020
At 8:00 PM will be at East Fordham Road & Grand Concourse The Bronx, NY 10468. Contact: C. Suarez, 347-353-6495

At Noon will be at1 E Kingsbridge Rd The Bronx, NY 10468. Contact: Javier, 914-648-0482

At 4:00 PM will be at Castle Hill and Westchester Avenue The Bronx, NY 10462. Contact: Elizabeth, 917-335-4803

Jan 9^th
At 8:00 AM will be at East Fordham Road & Grand Concourse The Bronx, NY 10468. Contact: C. Suarez, 347-353-6495

East Fordham Road & Grand Concourse The Bronx, NY 10468. Contact:C. Suarez, 347353-6495

Jan 10^th
At 8:00 AM will be at East Fordham Road & Webster Avenue The Bronx, NY 10458. Contact: C. Suarez, 347353-6495
At 4:00 PM will be at East Fordham Road & Webster Avenue The Bronx, NY 10458. Contact: C. Suarez, 347353-6495

Jan 11^th, 2020
At 11:00 AM will be at 923 Hunts Point Ave, Bronx, NY 10450
At 9:30 AM will be at 3702 Riverdale Ave The Bronx, NY 10463. Contact: C. Suarez, 347353-6495

At 12:00 Noon will be at 592 E. 183rd St, Bronx, NY 10458. Contact: C. Suarez, 347353-6495

At 1:00 PM will be at Hugh J. Grant Cir The Bronx, NY 10472. Contact: C. Suarez, 347353-6495

Jan 12
At 8:00 AM will be at Grand Concourse & East 149th Street The Bronx, NY 10451. Contact: C. Suarez, 347353-6495

At 2:00 PM will be at 3828 Dyre Avenue The Bronx, NY 10466. Contact: C. Suarez, 347353-6495

At 4:00 PM will be at Grand Concourse & East 149th Street The Bronx, NY 10451. Contact: C. Suarez, 347353-6495

Jan 14^th
At 8:00 AM will be at Southern Boulevard & Westchester Avenue The Bronx, NY 10459. Contact: C. Suarez, 347353-6495

At 4:00 PM will be at Southern Boulevard & Westchester Avenue The Bronx, NY 10459. Contact: C. Suarez, 347353-6495

Jan 15^th
At 8:00 AM will be at Southern Boulevard & Westchester Avenue The Bronx, NY 10459. Contact: C. Suarez, 347353-6495

Southern Boulevard & Westchester Avenue The Bronx, NY 10459. Contact: C. Suarez, 347353-6495

You can signup for these events at: map.berniesanders.com

STATEMENT FROM DOI COMMISSIONER MARGARET GARNETT ISSUED ON DECEMBER 31, 2019 IN RESPONSE TO REPORTERS’ INQUIRIES REGARDING DOI’S BACKGROUND BACKLOG

The City of New York Department of Investigation MARGARET GARNETT COMMISSIONER

  In January 2019, shortly after taking office as DOI Commissioner, I recognized the serious issue I inherited involving a significant backlog in DOI's Background Investigation Unit of approximately 6,000 applicant files, some dating back to 2015. Thousands of background investigations had not even begun and City hiring agencies were not receiving crucial background information expeditiously, despite the fact that most City employees subject to a background investigation begin working before their background investigation is cleared. It was clear to me that this situation was urgent and we began to take immediate steps to assess and address it. We devoted additional resources to background investigations through a rotation of incoming staff, and requested additional new resources to address the existing backlog. With additional staffing provided by City Council in the most recent budget process, we completely reorganized the Background Investigation Unit, creating two teams, effective July 1 of 2019. One team is dedicated to ensuring that, going forward, we are meeting our obligations to City agencies in a timely way and not adding to the existing backlog. That team operates with the goal of completing all background investigations in less than six months. I am proud to say that to date we are on track with those goals. A second team is dedicated to clearing the backlog. In the past six months alone, this talented team has cleared over 1,000 applicant files. 

 Mr. Hay was part of the inherited set of approximately 6,000 backlogged background files. Although it is not clear whether a completed background investigation would have revealed information relevant to the current charge against Mr. Hay, the risks presented by this example are exactly why I took immediate steps to assess and then reorganize the Background Investigation Unit. However, reducing a 6,000 file backlog takes time. We are continuously evaluating the process to see if there are additional improvements that can be made, and will assess the Hay situation to see if it illuminates any broadlyapplicable issues. Finally, DOI background investigations gather the facts regarding issues like tax compliance, previous arrests, and the truthfulness of a candidate’s claimed work history and educational background. Our investigations enhance a hiring agency's internal hiring process but do not supplant it, meaning the hiring agency can and should be conducting its own standard review that may include reference checks and requiring other information from a candidate.

 We are addressing the existing backlog as aggressively as possible with the resources we have and will continue to do so. Moreover, we have made significant reforms to ensure new background investigations are completed in a timely manner. Background investigations are confidential; therefore, DOI will not comment on specifics regarding Mr. Hay's background.

 DOI is one of the oldest law-enforcement agencies in the country and New York City’s corruption watchdog. Investigations may involve any agency, officer, elected official or employee of the City, as well as those who do business with or receive benefits from the City. DOI’s strategy attacks corruption comprehensively through systemic investigations that lead to high-impact arrests, preventive internal controls and operational reforms that improve the way the City runs.

Attorney General James Seeks Supreme Court Review Of ACA Case

 New York Attorney General Letitia James and a coalition — which includes 19 additional states and the District of Columbia — filed a petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Texas v. U.S. The decision affirmed a lower court’s ruling that the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is unconstitutional, yet refused to rule on the validity of the rest of the ACA — calling into question whether the remaining provisions of the statute could still stand, including those that protect and provide coverage to Americans with pre-existing conditions. Because this decision causes uncertainty that may harm the health of millions of Americans — in addition to doctors, clinics, patients, and the healthcare market — Attorney General James and the coalition are petitioning the Supreme Court to take up the case and resolve it before the end of the court’s current term in June. 

“The Affordable Care Act has been the law of the land for a decade now and despite efforts by President Trump, his Administration, and Congressional Republicans to take us backwards, we will not strip health coverage away from millions of Americans,” said Attorney General James. “Our coalition will continue to fight any effort to kick children off their parents’ health care plans, to rip health coverage away from those with pre-existing conditions, to charge women more for no other reason than being a woman, or to deprive millions of Americans access to quality, affordable health care. In 2012, the Supreme Court ruled the ACA was legal, so we will not allow President Trump and his Republican allies to dismantle the ACA, piece-by-piece, after failing to get Congress to do its dirty work.”

The lawsuit — originally filed by a Texas-led coalition and supported by the Trump Administration — argued that Congress rendered the ACA’s individual mandate unconstitutional when it reduced the penalty for noncompliance with the law to $0. The plaintiffs further argued that the rest of the ACA should be held invalid as a result of that change. A coalition of attorneys general — that included New York — defended the ACA in its entirety, supported by a bipartisan group of amici, including scholars, economists, public health experts, hospital and provider associations, patient groups, counties, cities, and more. The Fifth Circuit held the individual mandate to be unconstitutional, but declined to further rule on the validity of the ACA’s remaining provisions. The court instead sent the case back to the Northern District of Texas to determine which provisions of President Obama’s signature health care law are still valid.

This petition makes clear that states, patients, doctors, hospitals, employers, pharmaceutical companies, and more will be impacted by the looming uncertainty caused by the Fifth Circuit’s decision. It asks the Supreme Court to review the case this term. The petition also highlights the important advancements in health care access made under the ACA, including:

• More than 12 million Americans now receive health coverage through the ACA’s Medicaid expansion;
• Nearly nine million individuals nationwide receive tax credits to help subsidize their health insurance coverage through individual marketplaces;
• Millions of working families rely on high-quality employer-sponsored health insurance plans;
• Important protections prohibit insurers from denying health insurance to the 133 million Americans with pre-existing conditions, like diabetes, cancer, or pregnancy, or from charging individuals higher premiums because of their health status; and
• Nearly $1.3 trillion in federal funding has been dedicated to keeping Americans healthy and covered, which includes spending through Medicaid expansion and public health dollars.

Filing the petition with Attorney General James are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota (by and through its Department of Commerce), Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and the District of Columbia, as well as the governor of Kentucky.

New York State Assemblyman Michael Blake Statement on Iranian General Suleimani

No American or anyone seeking peace and justice is upset by the killing of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard General Qassim Suleimani.  However, the safety and security of Americans around the world are now in danger because President Trump's ordered strike clearly did not take into account the inevitable consequences of escalation and retaliation that will ensue moving forward.

Let me be clear: General Suleimani was ruthless and his reprehensible actions killed countless people, but, Bronxites and the American people do not want war with Iran. Period.  This action will very likely be seen as an act of war by Iran.  Indeed, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has already promised “harsh retaliation” and “severe revenge” in response to the U.S.’s action.

As a member of the New York Assembly Veterans Committee, the youngest brother of an Iraq U.S. Army veteran, and now as a U.S. congressional candidate, it is appalling to learn from public statements that congressional leaders were not briefed on a decision of this magnitude.   It is another example of the Trump Administration's actions destabilizing the world, deceiving Americans, endangering lives, and impairing our foreign relations.  Congressional leaders must remain vigilant to demand answers and information as the Trump Administration's actions accelerate a wider conflict with Iran, since the unfortunate possibility exists that this irresponsible decision was made for political and/or personal gain.  The Trump Administration must immediately answer to its co-equal branches of government and be held accountable.  Leadership matters and decisions have consequences.  

We cannot ignore that top military and policy advisers warned the Trump Administration against the U.S. withdrawing from the Iran Nuclear Agreement as it would lead to instability throughout the region and the world.  Yet, President Trump did not heed their warnings.  Instead, he acted thoughtlessly and recklessly and thus has potentially endangered the lives of millions.  It is also not lost on me that the U.S.’s previous military intervention in Iraq destabilized the region and sparked the creation of new Shiite alliances which in turn helped Soleimani gain unchecked loyalty and power in the region.  Therefore, this attack is not just about how Iran will respond, but, one must wonder how Shiites may retaliate given their allegiance to Soleimani.

The 5,000 Americans currently stationed in Iraq, the nearly 375,000 veterans residing in and around the Bronx, and all Americans deserve transparency about what happened in Iraq and Iran to provoke such an action on January 2^nd.  It is also imperative that the Department of State update its travel security alerts to protect American students and residents abroad.

The American people have said it before, and, we will say it again: we do not more war - not with Iran, not with anyone.  President Trump must understand that his decision may give rise to a new wave of unforeseen consequences that will impact us all for generations to come.  Once again, it matters whom we send to Washington. 

Michael Blake

EDITOR'S NOTE:

15th Congressional Candidate Michael Blake, why did you ask me who told me about the deal you made (which you said only two people knew about) to have City Councilman Ritchie Torres not run in the February 2019 Public Advocate Special Election, support you for the position, and you would then support Councilman Torres in his bid for the 15th Congressional district? 

When I asked Councilman Ritchie Torres about not running in the Special Election for Public Advocate, at first he said he was never interested in the position, but after I told him that you said only two people knew about the deal, Councilman Torres would only speak off the record very angry for almost twenty minutes. 

So let's be honest Assemblyman Blake, do you even know where Iranian General Suleimani was killed, what city and what country, and why it had to be done after a U.S. embassy was attacked in Iraq where General Suleimani was.

"What's Happening in New York?" - New Laws Taking Effect in January 2020

New Laws Taking Effect in January 2020

(Effective Date / Chapter Number / Bill Number) (Summary) 1/1/2020 / Ch. 413 of 2018 /A.10648 & S.8522-A Removes the three-year exemption of mandatory continuing education for newly licensed Certified Public Accountants and public accountants. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 2 of 2019 / A.774 & S.1100 Allows 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 25 of 2019 / A.585-A & S.659-A Enacts the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act to require health insurance policies to cover all FDA-approved contraceptive drugs, devices and products, as well as voluntary sterilization procedures, contraceptive education and counseling, and related follow-up services. Prohibits cost-sharing requirements or other restrictions or delays. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 55 of 2019 Part CC / A.2005-C & S.1505-C Expands the types of medical professionals authorized to provide medical care and treatment to injured workers under the workers’ compensation system and expands the Workers’ Compensation Board’s authority to resolve medical bill disputes. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 55 of 2019 Part BBB, Sec. 2 / A.2005-C & S.1505-C Provides for uniform polling hours of 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. during primary elections. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 56 of 2019 Part K / A.2006-C & S.1506-C Ends detention of Persons in Need of Supervision (PINS) and allows for limited pre-dispositional placement of PINS in foster care rather than detention facilities. Narrows the ability of family courts to order foster care placements at disposition of PINS cases with a limited post-placement timeframe. Adds Family Support Centers as a reimbursable option for preventive services for local social services districts. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 57 of 2019 Part G, Sec. 3,4,5,7,8 / A.2007-C & S.1507-C Requires fiscal intermediaries for the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program to contract with the Department of Health through a procurement process. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 57 of 2019 Part J, Subpart B, Sec. 42 / A.2007-C & S.1507-C Codifies provisions of the federal Affordable Care Act, including the 10 categories of essential health benefits that health insurance plans must cover. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 57 of 2019 Part J, Subpart C, Sec. 3 / A.2007-C & S.1507-C Requires health insurance companies to publish a complete list of all covered prescription drugs on their formulary drug list. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 57 of 2019 Part J, Subpart D, Sec. 4 / A.2007-C & S.1507-C Prohibits health insurance companies from engaging in discrimination based on sex or gender identity. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 57 of 2019 Part L, Sec. 4 / A.2007-C & S.1507-C Requires health insurance plans to cover fertility preservation treatments for those with iatrogenic infertility caused by radiation, medication or surgery. Also requires large-group insurers to cover three cycles of in-vitro fertilization. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 57 of 2019 Part M, Sec.4 / A.2007-C & S.1507-C Requires health insurance policies to cover reproductive health coverage, including voluntary sterilization procedures and over-the-counter contraceptive products. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 57 of 2019 Part J, Subpart A, Sec. 11, Subsec. 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9 / A.2007-C & S.1507-C Codifies provisions of the federal Affordable Care Act that prohibit insurers from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 59 of 2019 Part J, Subpart F, Sec. 2 / A.2009-C & S.1509-C Requires power plants to file an annual report showing the inventory, revenue and expenses for the year. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 59 of 2019 Part L, Sec. 6 / A.2009-C & S.1509-C Allows businesses to receive a tax credit for providing child care facilities for employees. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 59 of 2019 Part W, Sec. 6 / A.2009-C & S.1509-C Allows businesses to receive a tax credit for hiring eligible individuals who are in recovery from a substance use disorder. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 59 of 2019 Part III, Sec. 20, Subsec. 13 & 19 / A.2009-C & S.1509-C Establishes a combined single limit of $1.5 million liability bond or insurance coverage on motor vehicles carrying passengers for compensation which have a seating capacity of 8 or more passengers. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 59 of 2019 Part JJJ, Sec. 25 / A.2009-C & S.1509-C Eliminates cash bail for misdemeanors, excluding sex offense misdemeanors, and non-violent felonies, allowing individuals to be released on their own recognizance or under non-monetary conditions. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 59 of 2019 Part KKK, Sec. 2 / A.2009-C & S.1509-C Enacts new judicial requirements that ensure defendants have access to a speedy trial. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 59 of 2019 Part LLL, Sec. 14 / A.2009-C & S.1509-C Reforms discovery procedures to expedite disclosure of information and documents in criminal cases. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 66 of 2019 / A.7606 & S.5839 Removes the requirement that primary ballots be color coded by political party. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 105 of 2019 / A.8419 & S.6578 Enacts the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act, which provides farm workers with the following protections: collective bargaining rights, a day of rest, overtime pay, unemployment benefits, disability insurance, sanitary housing, and additional workers' compensation benefits. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 106 of 2019 / A.8429 & S.6599 Establishes the New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act to combat climate change by: reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 85% by 2050, requiring that 70% of electricity be produced by renewable energy systems by 2030 and requiring 100% of the state’s electricity to be produced without emissions by 2040. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 147 of 2019 / A.4853-A & S.5685 Enacts Brianna’s Law, requiring all operators of mechanically propelled vessels to take a boating safety course. Starting in 2020, the law applies to those born in 1993 or later then will be phased in on an annual basis to include all operators by 2025. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 185 of 2019 / A.3002 & S.88 Requires Industrial Development Agencies to live stream open meetings and public hearings and post the content on their websites for at least five years. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 253 of 2019 / A.7892 & S.6313 Extends the period to file the application for accidental death benefits to five years for members of the New York State and Local Retirement System. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 266 of 2019 / A.4481 & S.4423 Allows taxpayers to check off a box on tax returns to make contributions for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma research, education and treatment. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 298 of 2019 / A.2998 & S.1799 Allows a health care provider to diagnose or prescribe drugs for sexually transmitted infections to a sexual partner or partners without performing an examination. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 361 of 2019 / A.3619-A & S.1481-A Requires that all employees of programs and organizations providing care to runaway or homeless youth complete training in issues pertaining to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 408 of 2019 / A.7789 & S.5329-A Clarifies the inclusion of property damage coverage in the combined single limit of $1.5 million coverage for bodily injury and death which is required for motor vehicles carrying passengers for compensation which have a seating capacity of 8 or more passengers. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 417 of 2019 / A.1454 & S.3146 Allows a board of elections to design an alternative poll site staffing plan to conduct an election. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 454 of 2019 / A.4668 & S.4910 Requires a "paid for by" disclosure statement for all political communications including printed, digital, visual and auditory communications. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 465 of 2019 / A.1740 & S.3134 Allows filings with a local board of elections to meet state filing requirements in order to eliminate duplicative filings. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 643 of 2019 / A.8336-A & S.5886-A Establishes an electronic open auction public bond sale pilot program so municipalities can conduct open auction public bond sales through nationally recognized securities bidding services. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 668 of 2019 / A.2345 & S.3387 Authorizes Medicaid coverage for lactation counseling services without a referral from a physician, registered physician assistant, registered nurse practitioner or licensed midwife. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 683 of 2019 / A.6683-B & S.5864-A Creates a tax credit for the hiring of women and minority television writers and directors by companies participating in New York's film tax credit program. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 691 of 2019 / A.3009 & S.4078 Provides for the synchronization of multiple prescriptions in order to allow patients to pick up medications for chronic illness on the same date each month. 1/1/2020 / Ch.701 of 2019 / A.8035 & S.6469 Provides that the employer which pays an individual must make unemployment insurance contributions even if the work is performed for a different entity. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 704 of 2019 / A.4403 & S.1864 Allows municipalities to reduce the tax redemption period of vacant and abandoned properties from two years to one year and expedites the foreclosure process. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 733 of 2019 / A.2850-A & S.3962-A Requires hospitals to establish domestic violence training policies and coordinate services for survivors. 1/1/2020 / Ch. 735 of 2019 / A.1564 & S.2385 Creates a permanent environmental justice advisory group and interagency coordinating council to develop equitable environmental policies. 1/2/2020 / Ch. 340 of 2019 / A.4315 & S.55 Requires the State Liquor Authority to make available to the public information pertaining to any conditions it imposes on a licensed premises. 1/2/2020 / Ch. 479 of 2019 / A.7289 & S.1681 Extends the property tax exemption for disabled veterans to current members of the armed forces who are disabled and remain in active service. 1/5/2020 / Ch. 359 of 2019 / A.7584 & S.6347 Clarifies that petty offense charges are eligible and should be sealed. 1/6/2020 / Ch. 94 of 2019 / A.5308-B & S.6549 Prohibits employers from asking an applicant’s wage or salary history as a requirement for job interviews, applications, promotions or job offers. 1/7/2020 / Ch. 455 of 2019 / A.5175 & S.6499 Provides for the establishment of a procedure and electronic system to process Mitchell-Lama housing applications and waiting lists. 1/7/2020 / Ch. 556 of 2019 Sec. 2 / A.6678 & S.4413 Requires employers that provide employee handbooks to include notice of rights regarding reproductive health decision making by the employee or a dependent. 1/10/2020 / Ch. 481 of 2019 / A.8095-A & S.6467 Directs the Division of Veterans' Services to maintain a discharge upgrade advisory board to provide written non-binding advisory opinions to veterans who are appealing their character of discharge. 1/10/2020 / Ch. 482 of 2019 / A.8096 & S.6527 Requires local veterans' service agencies to assist veterans in the process of submitting an application for a discharge upgrade to the discharge upgrade advisory board. 1/11/2020 / Ch. 96 of 2019 / A.8414 & S.6575 Expands and extends the Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises program to promote employment and business opportunities in state contracts. 1/11/2020 / Ch. 264 of 2019 / A.3235 & S.3223 Requires Community Reinvestment Act reporting to include bank lending to Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises. 1/11/2020 / Ch. 633 of 2019 / A.1024-B & S.3247-B Authorizes firefighters and law enforcement officers outside of New York City to possess and administer epinephrine. 1/12/2020 / Ch. 646 of 2019 / A.1084 & S.874 Ensures that residents of adult care facilities have a right to be informed about their condition, treatment and medications, as well as the right to consent or refuse care and be able to choose their own providers. 1/15/2020 / Ch. 491 of 2019 / A.5494 & S.3419 Establishes the right of adoptees to receive a certified copy of their birth certificate at the age of 18. 1/15/2020 / Ch. 655 of 2019 / A.1971 & S.5427 Increases the amount of barrels that a brew pub may produce to sell at retail or wholesale from 250 to 2,000 and requires a wholesaler to be used for distribution. 1/19/2020 / Ch. 504 of 2019 / A.7277 & S.6361 Requires the informational materials which accompany opioid antagonists for first aid or emergency treatment to include Good Samaritan liability protections. 1/24/2020 / Ch. 558 of 2019 / A.456-A & S.4956-A Requires cooperatives to notify residents of changes in their by-laws within 10 days of adoption. 1/26/2020 / Ch.134 of 2019 / A.763-A & S.1414-A Criminalizes the manufacture, sale, transport and possession of firearms, rifles, shotguns and the major components of such weapons which are undetectable by an X-ray machine or metal detector. 1/27/2020 / Ch.139 of 2019 / A.2685 & S.2449 Establishes the municipal gun buyback program by the Division of State Police to allow for the voluntary return of guns. This was taken from Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz's Legislative Summary December 23 - January 4, 2019.