The legislative body of New York had a busy year, managing to hasten the passing of more than 800 proposed laws. An increased sense of urgency was felt during the week’s end as they strived to make up for time lingering budget talks consumed. These talks stretched for almost two months beyond the April 1 deadline. The collection of approved bills will now make their way to the desk of Gov. Kathy Hochul for final validation.
From the multitude of laws ratified, a few were prominent. A contentious one was permitting medical aid for terminally ill patients intending to end their life. After elongated discussions filled with political tension, New York could potentially join the league of states allowing such provision, making it the twelfth member.
This poised provision demands stern medical and safety guidelines that determine eligible candidates for the lethal prescription and its execution protocol. For this session, the bill was amidst the most disputed legislation. Advocates argued that it provides a humane way for the terminally ill to pass away on their terms, preserving their dignity.
However, not all shared the same perspective. Many, including the state’s Roman Catholic bishops, considered the bill to be against moral ethics and an avenue susceptible to misuse, leading to fierce opposition.
Alongside, the New York correctional system came under fire this year, which only amplified as the sessions continued. The catalyst for this scrutinization was the brutal incident of Robert Brooks, an incarcerated Black man who was struck to death by prison officers in December. This horror was captured on body-worn cameras, making it incredibly hard for anyone to disregard.
Following this gruesome event, another Black man, Messiah Nantwi, met with a similar fate. Subduedly, he too was shackled and beaten by the officers. The incident happened when random strikes from corrections started emerging across the state.
Besides, the Assembly and Senate also agreed upon mandated time off for state troopers following traumatic incidents. According to the new law, troopers whose actions lead to a death or severe injury of someone are entitled to a minimum of 20 days of paid leave.
Troopers involved in parallel situations but not directly responsible for harm would be eligible for 15 days of paid leave. The reasoning behind the law is to provide troopers with a buffer period to cope with the traumatic experience without relying on unpaid leave or compromising on their vacation days.
Moreover, lawmakers are proposing social media applications to accompany a warning label. These labels are intended to alert the users about the potential mental health effects resultant from excessive usage.
Also, enhanced protection for sex workers stood as another significant bill. This bill conferred immunity to sex workers and victims of human trafficking who are willing to report a crime. Advocates stress that the new legal protections would empower these workers to raise their voice against sexual violence without fearings reprisals.
Several bills targeting consumer protection practices were also on the slate, albeit diluted or put to rest after heavy lobbying from business groups. One particular proposed law aimed at capping fees and enabling performers to withdraw their show tickets from re-sale platforms if they were being sold for profits.
An additional bill, championed by New York’s Attorney General Letitia James, aimed to simplify the process for the attorney general’s office to sue businesses violating consumer protection norms. Although the lawmakers attempted to broaden the criterion to include ‘unfair’ and ‘abusive’ practices, the business trades’ lobby persuaded them to limit this expansion to the attorney general’s prerogative.
Switching focus to the proposed bills which couldn’t gain approval was a law aimed at reuniting pet owners with their deceased animals. The bill compelled municipal workers to identify and inform owners regarding their dead pets found on public roads.
Several environmental conservationists hoped that New York would take definitive action against plastic packaging this year and adopt renewable energy for heating households. However, the two projected bills – the Package Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act, and the New York HEAT Act – failed to see the light of day in the Assembly.
In the end, despite some setbacks, it was a productive period for the New York legislature, with numerous significant bills either passed or brought to debate. Each proposal, whether passed or stalled, reflects the Legislature’s ongoing efforts to manage the diverse and complex needs of the state’s inhabitants.