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Floor News
Black History Month
• The Assembly adopted a resolution (K.822) memorializing the Governor to proclaim February 2024 as Black History Month in New York State.
Gender-Neutral Terms in Law
• The Assembly and Senate passed a bill (A.8547) enacting a chapter amendment to Chapter 139 of the Laws of 2023, which requires the use of gender-neutral terms in all future laws, rules, regulations, or resolutions. This chapter amendment makes technical changes (vote: 96-52).
Legal Protections for Abortion Service Providers
• The Assembly and Senate passed a bill (A.8556) enacting a chapter amendment to Chapter 138 of the Laws of 2023, which expands legal protections for abortion service providers (enacted in response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization) to cover New York State professionals who are providing reproductive care for patients not physically present in the State via telehealth.
~ This chapter amendment authorizes the Department of Health (DOH) to share deidentified information to respond to a public health emergency or an imminent threat to public health, or to consult and cooperate with the appropriate federal or State agencies in accordance with the Public Health Law. This amendment also allows DOH to share identified information in such circumstances only when strictly necessary and with the consent of the patient (vote: 97-51).
Victim Compensation Fund Eligibility
• The Assembly and Senate passed a bill (A.8566) that enacts a chapter amendment to Chapter 695 of the Laws of 2023, which expands eligibility for victims and survivors of crime to access victim compensation funds and increases the time within which a victim must file a claim. This chapter amendment defines the documentation that may be used by an individual to establish eligibility for a crime victim award and clarifies how victim services providers would be required to handle claims (vote: 131-15).
Committee News
Higher Education
• The Higher Education Committee reported a bill (A.8540) enacting a chapter amendment to Chapter 128 of the Laws of 2023, which allows a pharmacist to dispense self-administered hormonal contraception (e.g., birth control pills, patches, and vaginal rings) to a qualifying patient based on a non-patient specific regimen from a physician, nurse practitioner, or the Commissioner of Health. This chapter amendment shortens the effective date of these provisions from 18 months after becoming law to January 1, 2024.
~ This bill was reported to the Floor.
Budget Hearings
This week’s Joint Legislative Budget hearings were:
• Local Government/General Government (2/6),
• Environmental Conservation (2/7), and
• Higher Education (2/8).
Next week’s Joint Legislative Budget hearings are:
• Mental Hygiene (2/13),
• Taxes (2/14), and
• Housing (2/14).
Week In Focus
• On Monday, Assembly Republicans held a press conference to highlight the “Joseph Fletcher Act” (A.8408A, Durso), which would provide one additional year to file certain claims for death benefits due to COVID-19 for essential employees. To view CLICK HERE
• On Tuesday, Assembly Republicans held a press conference regarding the attack by migrants on NYPD Officers and Mayor Adams’ Budget Hearing testimony. To view CLICK HERE
• On Wednesday, Assembly Republicans attended a bipartisan press conference to call on the Legislature to develop a solution concerning the spiraling migrant crisis and to rally in support for the NYPD Officers attacked by migrants. To view CLICK HERE