Bills
Assembly Member Micah Z. Kellner is the sponsor of the following pieces of legislation in the 2009-10 Legislative Session. You can click on each bill number to get more information, including the bill’s text. Following the bill number is a short explanation of what the bill does, the bill’s status, and who sponsors the bill in the New York State Senate, where applicable.
A.992 Grants an individual taxpayer a credit for fees incurred through the adoption of a household pet from a pound, shelter, duly incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, humane society, dog or cat or other animal protective or rescue association. Status: In Committee (Ways and Means). Senator Tom Duane is the sponsor in the NYS Senate (S.4757).
A.993 Grants an individual taxpayer a credit of eighty percent of the actual cost (up to $200) of having their cats or dogs spayed or neutered. Status: In Committee (Ways and Means). Senator Tom Duane is the sponsor in the NYS Senate (S.4756).
A.1011 Provides for the licensure of rehabilitation counselors by the New York State Department of Education. Rehabilitation counselors are particularly utilized by people with disabilities. Status: In Committee (Higher Education). Senator Thomas Morahan is the sponsor in the NYS Senate (S.3476).
A.1974 To prohibit the use of pesticides on public and private school grounds and on the grounds of daycare facilities. Status: In Committee (Environmental Conservation). Senator Toby Ann Stavisky is the sponsor in the NYS Senate (S.1737).
A.2415 Provides for the taxation by New York City under its Unincorporated Business Tax of income realized in connection with an investment management services interest. Status: In Committee (Ways and Means).
A.3949 Offers a property tax abatement to eligible property owners impacted by the MTA Second Avenue Subway project if they are able to sign or re-negotiate a reduced lease to current or prospective small business commercial tenants. Status: Reported from Real Property Taxation Committee (6/15/2009); Reported from Codes Committee (6/17/2009); In Committee (Ways and Means). Senator Jose Serrano is the sponsor in the NYS Senate (S.1393).
A.3952 Requires the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to provide for the daily inspection of escalators, elevators, wheel-chair lifts, and other facilities in passenger stations and to make their maintenance a priority. Status: In Committee (Corporations, Authorities and Commissions). Senator Tom Duane is the sponsor in the NYS Senate (S.1387).
A.3953 Reorganizes the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, in order to give Island residents a higher degree of self-governance. Status: In Committee (Corporations, Authorities and Commissions). Senator Jose Serrano is the sponsor in the NYS Senate (S.1394).
A.3954 Establishes the Metropolitan Transportation Riders Council for Persons with Disabilities. Status: PASSED ASSEMBLY (5/11/09). Senator Tom Duane is the sponsor in the NYS Senate (S.1386).
A.3956 Requires the NY State Office for the Aging to report on the delivery of services to and needs of traditionally underserved populations in their annual report to the governor and legislature; authorizes the Office of the Aging to make grants in aid to organizations to provide technical support to LGBT senior serving organizations when such funds are available. Status: PASSED ASSEMBLY (5/11/2009). Senator Tom Duane is the sponsor in the NYS Senate (S.1385).
A.4496 Repeals publication requirements of articles of organization under the limited liabilities laws and creates an online filing requirement with the department of state. Status: In Committee (Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions). Senator Liz Krueger is the sponsor in the NYS Senate (S.1667).
A.6489 Prohibits a transportation agency from setting paratransit fares higher than the fare charged to a non-disabled adult using that transportation system. Status: Reported from Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions Committee (4/28/09); In Committee (Ways and Means). Senator Tom Duane is the sponsor in the NYS Senate (S.2933).
A.6739 To require that big box retailers collect electronics from consumers for recycling and reuse. Status: In Committee (Environmental Conservation).
A.6829 To prohibit the construction, location, relocation, or reactivation of a solid waste transfer station within 800 feet of a public housing project. Status: Reported from Environmental Conservation Committee (5/19/2009); Reported from Codes Committee (6/2/2009); In Committee (Rules). Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr. is the sponsor in the NYS Senate (S.3123).
A.7353 Bans the deeming of charges for electric service provided by a landlord to a rental tenant to be “rent.” Status: In Committee (Energy). Senator Bill Perkins is the sponsor in the NYS Senate (S.4748).
A.7354-A Bans the practice of landlords separately charging rental tenants for electric, gas, or other fuel used to heat their living quarters. Status: In Committee (Housing). Senator Bill Perkins is the sponsor in the NYS Senate (S.5063).
A.7746 Ensures that consumers are made aware of all costs related to rent-to-own merchandise; requires the termination of rent-to-own contracts where interest is above 5 percent. Status: In Committee (Judiciary). Senator Tom Duane is the sponsor in the NYS Senate (S.1347).
A.7747 Requires the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to make accessibility improvements to a passenger station whenever it undertakes a major capital improvement. Status: In Committee (Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions).
A.7767 Clarifies that an employee suffering an injury as a result of a sexual assault in a workplace may pursue legal actions for damages against the employer. Status: In Committee (Labor). Senator Tom Duane is the sponsor in the NYS Senate (S.1795).
A.7791 “Blind Patients Bill of Rights;” Requires that documents provided to patients in a health setting are accessible to people who are blind or of low vision. Status: PASSED ASSEMBLY (5/18/2009). Senator Tom Duane is the sponsor in the NYS Senate (S.4540).
A.7814 Requires the Public Service Commission to perform an audit on submetering orders granted in the last five years and to not approve any new submetering orders for twelve months as it undertakes this audit. Status: Reported from Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions Committee (6/14/2009); In Committee (Ways and Means). Senator Bill Perkins is the sponsor in the NYS Senate.
A.7815 To require the “set-top” boxes (cable boxes, DVRs, Internet Protocol devices, etc.) maintain Energy Star specifications by July 1, 2014. Status: In Committee (Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions). Senator Tom Duane is the sponsor in the NYS Senate.
A.7842 Requires that by 2011, all new taxicabs in New York City shall be fully accessible to people with disabilities. Status: In Committee (Cities). Senator Tom Duane is the sponsor in the NYS Senate.
A.7843 Requires that non-ambulatory Medicaid recipients be provided with transportation services when pest control services are scheduled for their residence. Status: In Committee (Health). Senator Daniel Squadron is the sponsor in the NYS Senate (S.4867).
A.7844 Imposes a 5 cent fee on plastic carryout bags in New York City. Status: In Committee (Cities). Senator Jose Serrano is the sponsor in the NYS Senate (S.4866).
A.7867 Ensures that residential utility customers, including submetered customers, are provided with an annual notice stating their right to access complaint procedures with the Public Service Commission. Status: PASSED ASSEMBLY (6/18/2009). Senator Bill Perkins is the sponsor in the NYS Senate (S.5252).
A.7871 Reforms the process by which a landlord applies to submeter a residential rental building to provide greater transparency, tenant input, and to require minimum improvements be made that allow for energy efficiency. Status: In Committee (Energy). Senator Bill Perkins is the sponsor in the NYS Senate (S.5383).
A.7979 Requires companies providing cable, internet, and phone services to automatically credit consumers in the event of a service outage lasting longer than 4 hours. Status: In Committee (Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions). Senator Daniel Squadron is the sponsor in the NYS Senate (S.5386).
A.8278 Prohibits commercial health insurance plans from creating specialty tiers (like Tier IV or Tier V) within their prescription drug formularies. In Committee (Insurance). Senator Tom Duane is the sponsor in the NYS Senate (S.5000).
A.8591 Eliminates one hearing layer from the dispute process for parents or guardians of a student with a disability who are appealing any matter relating to the identification, evaluation, or education placement of that child. Status: In Committee (Education).
A.8620 Creates the Health Care Access Protection Fund to provide for excess liability insurance for eligible dentists and physicians. Status: In Committee (Insurance).
A.9022 Authorizes the dormitory authority to construct and finance certain facilities of the Convent of the Sacred Heart School of New York. Status: In Committee (Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions). Senator Liz Krueger is the sponsor in the NYS Senate (S.5843a).
A.9044 Provides that, on request, instructions to a jury shall include, but not be limited to, “Do not let bias, sympathy, prejudice, or public opinion influence your decision”; defines the term “bias.” Status: In Committee (Codes).
A.9238 Requires contract carriers of passengers by motor vehicle to provide federal SafeStat results to potential customers. Status: In Committee (Transportation).
A.9251 Prohibits the seizure of a vehicle used to transport the taxpayer or a member of the taxpayer’s household who has a mobility impairment as documented by a physician. Status: In Committee (Ways and Means).
A.9449 Oreo’s Law; Requires the release of a shelter animal to a rescue group upon request of the rescue group prior to euthanasia of the animal. Status: In Committee (Agriculture). Senator Tom Duane is the sponsor in the NYS Senate (S.6412).
A.9465 Authorizes the dormitory authority to construct and finance certain facilities of the Trevor Day School. Status: In Committee (Corporations, Authorities and Commissions).
This page is updated frequently, but for the most recent status of these bills, please visit the New York State Assembly website and put the bill number you are interested in into the box on the home page that says “Quick Bill Search.” If you have specific questions about any of these bills, please contact my Legislative Director, Eliyanna Kaiser, by calling (212) 860-4906 or (518) 455-5676.
