GOVERNOR PATERSON SIGNS PACKAGE OF BILLS TO ENHANCE HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS; ADDRESS TRANSPORTATION ISSUES FOR NEW YORKERS
New Law Helps More Seriously Ill Children Remain at Home

Additional Law Calls for FOIL Improvements by Requiring Agencies to Make Information Available to Public Electronically

Governor David A. Paterson signed a package of bills into law this week which will enhance health care programs, address transportation concerns, require FOIL improvements and adjust certain laws related to public employees. Among the bills in this package is one of the Governor’s Program Bills, which will increase the number of children served by the Care at Home I/II Medicaid waiver program by making the program available to additional children who are medically fragile but do not qualify for services under the existing financial eligibility standard. (S.8702 Hannon / A.11416 – A Rules Gottfried)

“In a short time we have much to be proud of. Over the past few weeks I have signed more than 200 bills into law on issues ranging from education to health care to the welfare of our children. Each of these laws will touch New Yorkers in one way or another,” Governor Paterson said of the changes.

Governor Paterson also signed a new law requiring that, when practical, agencies must make information available to the public electronically (S.3850 Flanagan / A.582 Paulin).This action modernizes the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) by providing the public with electronically accessible information.

In addition to these bills, Governor Paterson signed another 28 bills related to health care, labor and transportation issues and local laws.

Additional Bills Signed Include:

Business:

S.8610 DeFrancisco / A.11541 Rules Weinstein – Provides for declaratory judgment action against an insurer directly where a claim is brought for personal injury or wrongful death against another

Health:

A.7699-A Destito / S.4617-A Seward – Relates to a volunteer firefighter and volunteer ambulance worker health program

A.9512-A Weisenberg / S.6527-B Hannon – Directs the commissioner of health to establish a program for the early screening of toddlers for autism spectrum disorders

S.7058 Hannon / A.10301 Conte – Relates to registration in the New York state donate life registry for organ and tissue donations on application forms for voter enrollment

S.7536 Kruger / A. 10664 Ortiz – Adds all persons credentialed by the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services to be mandated reporters of suspected cases of child abuse

S.8276-A Golden / A.11227-A Kavanagh – Relation to citizenship requirements to qualify for a license as a physician

A.10944 Destito / S.7910 Little – Authorizes research institutions to participate in the research development program

Labor:

A.10030 Abbate / S.7272 Lanza – Makes agency shop fee provisions for public employees permanent

S.7737 Maziarz / A.9868 Paulin – Allows an individual filing for unemployment benefits to elect the deduction and withholding of state income tax

S.6634-C Alesi / A.9649-B Schimminger – Requires veterans and individuals with experience in mature worker issues to be on the New York State workforce investment board

A.11418 Rules Abbate / S.8539 Libous – Permits counties to appoint part-time officers to full-time status despite age restrictions where the civil service list is exhausted

A.10954 Miller / S.8162 Rules – Authorizes master electrician licensing in the county of Dutchess

A.10107 Abbate / S. 8014 Lanza – Relates to providing health insurance coverage for surviving spouses of members of the New York City Fire Department engaged in performing emergency medical services

A.9703 Gunther / S.905-B Larkin – Authorizes the town of Chester to reinstate Marc Miller to a full time competitive position as a police officer

S.8306 Farley / A.11342 Tedisco – Authorizes the city of Schenectady to offer an optional twenty year retirement plan to police officer Michael Kelly

Transportation:

S.6431- A Lanza / A.9361- A Ortiz – Relates to the sale of a motor vehicle to satisfy a lien

S.8578 Saland / A.11629 Rules McEneny – Relates to cab warning lights

S.2180-D Seward / A.5023-C Magee – Relates to specifications for marking slow moving vehicles traveling on public roadways and to the operation of agricultural equipment on public highways

S.6184 Rath / A.9174 DelMonte – Authorizes certain motor vehicles to travel on certain segments of New York State routes

S.6997-A Young / A.10236 –A Giglio – Designates a portion of the state highway system in the town of Olean, county of Cattaraugus, as the “Governor Frank Wayland Higgins Memorial Bridge”

S.8137 Robach / A.10957 Morelle – Permits the town of Brighton to establish a transportation development district

Local Bills:

S. 7653-C Johnson O / A.10590-B Sweeney – Authorizes the issuance of official license plates to fire vehicles owned or controlled by a fire company

S.6872 Marcellino / A.10456 Conte – Permits that more than forty-five percent of volunteer members of the Cold Spring Harbor fire district may reside outside the district

S.7260-A Young / A. 10623-A Giglio – Authorizes the village of Randolph to transfer monies from its capital reserve account to the Randolph fire district

S.8272 Rath / A.11153 Schimminger – Relates to the residency requirement for the River Road fire district, No.3 in Erie County

S.8279 Maziarz / A.11685 Rules Cole – Relates to the residency requirement for the Terry’s Comers volunteer fire company in Niagara County

S.8365-A Bruno / A.11422-A Rules Canestrari – Authorizes the city of Rensselaer to enter into contracts, leases or rental agreements granting the city the right to use or occupy such building as a fire station

S.7816A Defrancisco / A.10835A Christensen – Establishes a new residential property exemption in certain areas

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