Creates the office of the correctional ombudsperson to achieve transparency, fairness, impartiality and accountability in New York state correctional facilities; relates to reports by coroners; designates investigators of the office of the correctional ombudsperson as peace officers; authorizes the attorney general to investigate the alleged commission of any criminal offense committed by an employee of the department of corrections and community supervision in connection with their official duties; relates to the confidentiality of certain records; includes the office of the correctional ombudsperson records within the definition of public safety agency records; makes related provisions.
Provides parity to durable medical equipment providers by requiring Medicaid managed care organizations to reimburse such providers at no less than one hundred percent of the medical assistance durable medical equipment and complex rehabilitation technology fee schedule for the same service or item.
Provides notification of employment or promotion of applicable employees to organizations of state employees designated managerial or confidential for purposes of employee representation in determining the terms and conditions of employment.
Prohibits forensic child custody evaluators who have been terminated for cause from appearing as an expert witness in family court custody and visitation proceedings.
Defines the term "construction projects" to mean the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or improvement of any school building where a district receives any apportionment for debt service or building aid and the school building is sited within the Long Island region; provides that each contract involving the award of a construction project shall require the use of a project labor agreement for all contractors and subcontractors on such project.
Provides interest rate limitations for financing arrangements and the extension of consumer credit; relates to the definitions of criminal usury in the first and second degrees; relates to the functions of the attorney general regarding rental purchase agreements.
Relates to defining "critical violations" of applicable statutes and regulations by child care providers licensed or registered by the office of children and family services; the imposition of sanctions and penalties for such violations by the office of children and family services; and processes for administrative appeal of such sanctions and penalties.
Provides that court records in a proceeding under articles 77, 78 and 81 of the mental hygiene law shall not be perused, examined, disclosed, taken or copied by any other person than a party, the attorney or counsel of a party, the guardian, the court evaluator or the court examiner except by order of the court.
Provides for comparable salary and other benefits for state employees designated managerial or confidential to ensure such employees receive an increase in salary at least equal to the percentage of the general salary increases provided to employees in a bargaining unit that receives the highest percentage general salary increase and other benefits.
Requires every parole officer and employee of the department of corrections and community supervision to wear body cameras with video and audio whenever they are interacting with a parolee; implements the use of cameras in every official office and room in the department.
Provides for priority for applications and expedited determination of claims for a human trafficking victim who wishes to remove permanent marks that were part of the trafficking of such victim, including but not limited to, tattoos, markings, brandings, or other symbols or insignia.
Provides for a right to representation by counsel in any proceeding where an incarcerated individual is under consideration for release on parole and where such incarcerated individual is financially unable to retain counsel.