Update - the S.A.F.E. Act is Signed into Law - June, 2024

Governor Kathy Hochul signed S.7694A/A.8148A, which establishes the SAFE For Kids Act to Put First-in-the-Nation Restrictions on Addictive Social Media Feeds for Minors, and S.7695B/A.8149A, which enables the New York Child Data Protection Act to Prohibit Online Sites from Collecting Personal Data of Minors Without Consent. 

The SAFE for Kids Act requires social media companies to limit addictive feeds for users under 18, while the New York Child Data Protection Act prohibits the collection, use, and sale of minors' personal data without consent. Joined by Attorney General Letitia James and bill sponsors, Hochul emphasized the need to address the youth mental health crisis and create a safer digital environment. Elected officials claim this legislation positions New York as a leader in protecting children online and builds on ongoing efforts to improve youth mental health. (NY. Gov) 

Concerns about the proposed legislation have been voiced by Tech: NYC and the Inclusive Internet Coalition, arguing that age and identity verification requirements could prevent undocumented immigrants and other vulnerable groups from accessing essential online services. They claim the legislation could inadvertently harm communities such as LGBTQ+, immigrant, and elderly populations by restricting their internet access. Critics, including Tech: NYC, believe the bills' restrictions on data collection and the use of algorithms could raise privacy issues and impede social media usage for those without documentation. (B. Lyons, Government Technology, May.6)

More Info on Safe Online Acts: 

• New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signs bill targeting addictive social media platforms: "Our kids are in distress"
• What to Know About New Social Media Protections for Children in New York

VID co-Vice President, Mindy Rosier, attended the signing of the bill with the UFT. 

NY Attorney General, Tish James, with Mindy Rosier

Updates from Albany - June 2024

Legislation Recap:

What passed and what didn't from City and State article: still need to write intro para. 

Passed:

• Social Media Regulations for Kids: New regulations, including the SAFE for Kids Act and the Child Data Protection Act, restrict minors' access to addictive algorithmic feeds.
• Climate Change Superfund Act: Requires polluting companies to contribute $3 billion annually to climate mitigation.
• NYC Red Light Cameras: Expands the number of red light cameras in NYC from 150 to 600.
• Absentee Ballot Drop Boxes: Allows local boards of elections to set up absentee ballot drop boxes.
• Repeal of Lifetime Felon Jury Ban: Allows individuals with felony convictions to serve on juries.
• Accelerating Downstate Casino Licensing: Requires the state Gaming Commission to pick three candidates for downstate casino licenses by March 2026.
• Short-Term Rental Registry: Creates a registry for all short-term rentals and allows municipalities to levy taxes on these rentals.

Failed:

• NY HEAT Act: Would have capped utility prices and eliminated subsidies for new gas hookups.
• Single-Use Plastic Reduction: Aimed to reduce plastic waste by 30% over 12 years but faced opposition from businesses.
• Medical Aid in Dying: Would have allowed terminally ill patients to end their lives with prescribed drugs.
• Harvey Weinstein Bill: Sought to allow prior alleged sexual offenses as evidence in sex crime trials.
• Bottle Bill: Proposed expanding redeemable bottle types and increasing the deposit value.
• MTA Funding Solutions: No new tax or IOU was approved to address the MTA's $15 billion capital plan shortfall after pausing congestion pricing.

Source: The Bills That Passed and Failed to Pass in the Last Week of Session (R Lewis, A. Jefferson, 6/10/24 )

Expansion of Civil Court Judges

On the last day of Session, the Legislature passed S.9839/A.10540, which increases the number of judges in NYC family court from 63 to 67, giving the Mayor four additional appointments that can be made by him in 2025, and, as well, adds additional family court judges to Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Erie, Jefferson, Nassau, Rensselaer, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester counties. 

 The bill also adds twelve additional judges to the civil court In New York City. They are to be elected with three new civil court slots in each of the boroughs of Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn.

The newly elected civil court positions will be filled by election on November 5, 2024, for terms starting January 1, 2025, as if vacancies occurred on the act's effective date, i.e., the day the Governor signs the bill. Party nominations will follow Election Law sections 6-116 and 6-158, and independent nominations will follow subdivision 10 of section 6-158.

Since the act will be signed too late for primaries and usual endorsements, Election Law 6-116 will apply, allowing nomination by a county committee or as otherwise required by Party rule.  In Manhattan (New York County) it appears that Party rule permits designation by a majority vote of District Leaders.    Normally, an independent screening panel needs to be convened to review applications.  However, for the moment, we have been informally advised that the Party intends to revive the list of candidates it had previously approved earlier this year without reconvening.  

At this point, as we await signature by the Governor and a final decision by the Party as to its mode of selection, the exact process is uncertain. 

Congestion Pricing

Last Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul's abrupt cancellation of Manhattan's congestion toll left a $1 billion annual gap in the MTA's budget, prompting her to propose a payroll tax increase on NYC businesses from 0.6% to 0.825%. This option faced significant opposition from Senate Democrats and was rejected by state lawmakers. The Legislature extended its session to address the unanticipated $1 billion gap and is considering a proposal to commit $1 billion IOU to the MTA in the next budget without specifying the funding source. The impact of this proposal on the MTA's ability to finance infrastructure projects is still being assessed. Lawmakers must identify a sustainable revenue stream by the 2025 session.

This is an unfolding story. We will update the Website as more information becomes available.

Sources: Gothamist NY Lawmakers Considering $1B IOU after Gov. Hochul’s Congestion, Pricing Flip-flop,  Gov. Hochul’s congestion toll flip-flop spurs mad scramble at NY Capitol, NY Focus Hochul in Hiding as Congestion Pricing Hangs by a Thread, Official Gov. Statement

JUNE 2024

Albany's last session was a very mixed bag, and we are disappointed that NY's Democratic trifecta has not passed so much of the legislation we have been working for. Over the next months, we will update the Reading Library and VID News section of the VID Website with articles and sources recapping what transpired, how to organize for the next session, and actions we can take.

Relevant links:

Articles:

• In Final Analysis, N.Y. Legislative Session Is Defined by Its Omissions
• NY lawmakers won’t tackle Hochul-created congestion pricing budget hole, for now
• The bills that passed and failed to pass in the last week of session
• New York State Lawmakers Once Again Fail to Pass Meaningful Climate Legislation
• Opinion: We need legislative reform to address our trash problem
• What has passed and what hasn't as Albany's session comes to a close
  
  

Sources and tools for tracking legislation: 

• Fast Democracy
• Justice Roadmap
• NY City Bar (tools for tracking legislation)
• Reinvent Albany

No Cap Act 

By concurrent resolution, both houses of the legislature have approved a proposed constitutional amendment allowing the legislature to increase the number of justices of the Supreme Court in any judicial district (Assembly Bill A5366/Senate Bill S5414). This amendment authorizes but does not require the increase, and it will have no immediate effect this year. 

The resolution needs to pass both houses again in 2025 or 2026 before being placed on the November ballot. If it is approved in a general election, the Legislature must then vote again to specify the number of justices and the districts where the increase will be made. The earliest possible increase would be January 2026, contingent on (1) both houses passing the resolution again in 2025, (2)  approval of the amendment at the ballot in November 2025, and (3) legislative authorization in early 2026.  If this occurs, there can be an increase in the number of eligible Supreme Court positions for election in November 2026.  - Jim Yates, VID Executive Committee Member and retired Justice NY Supreme Court

Climate Legislation: 

NY HEAT Act: The NY Assembly failed to pass the NY HEAT Act, which aimed to reduce reliance on gas and cut energy bills.

“With Governor Hochul dropping a major bomb on climate action by delaying congestion pricing, the Assembly failed to rise to the occasion to pass the key climate policy New Yorkers need to cut energy bills and ensure the state is on track to meet our climate goals – the NY HEAT Act. With utilities already proposing to raise already high bills rising due to our reliance upon gas infrastructure, and one year after we saw orange skies, the Assembly has turned their backs on the policy solution. The same body that once championed our nation-leading climate law has now earned a reputation as the body holding back the policies New York needs to meet what is laid out in this law." -Liz Moran, New York Policy Advocate for Earthjustice.

Climate Change Superfund Act: The NY State Assembly passed the bill with a 95-46 vote after the Senate's approval. If signed, the act will establish a 25-year fund financed by fossil fuel companies, with a third of the $3 billion annual funding reserved for disadvantaged communities. This legislative approval marks a significant step toward holding Big Oil and other polluters accountable for climate catastrophe costs.

Sources: Spectrum News, NY HEAT Act gets caught up in late-session chaosSpectrum News: Earth Justice, Common Dreams, NY Gov. Hochul 'Must Sign' Climate Change Superfund Act, Food and Water Watch

TAKE ACTION!

Demand Accountability and Climate Action from New York's Leaders

The NY Assembly failed to pass the NY HEAT Act, which would have protected ratepayers by capping utility bills at 6% of income for low- and moderate-income households, limited new natural gas hookups and ended the nonsensical 100-foot rule. Caught up in the scramble over Governor Hochul's postponement of congestion pricing, this legislative failure reveals a large-scale governmental debacle.

The Climate Change Superfund Act, holding polluters accountable, is the surviving piece of climate legislation and is headed to the governor's desk for signature.

ACTION: Please use Resistbot to voice your outrage over NY HEAT and urge Congress to pressure Hochul to sign the Climate Change Superfund Act immediately. Text SIGN PNFIFN to 50409.

DNWSG; Spectrum News: Earth Justice