Legislative Spotlight

March 26th, 2019

School Zone Speed Camera Bills

Last week, the Senate and the Assembly passed legislation (S.4331/A.6449) that would expand the use of speed cameras to 750 school zones in New York City. The cameras would operate Monday through Friday from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and the City would be required to install signs giving notice that a speed camera is in use. This legislation builds upon a law passed in 2013, which created a demonstration program and allowed New York City to set up cameras in 20 school zones. The demonstration program lapsed last year.

In addition, both houses passed legislation (S.231/A.951) that would create a demonstration speed camera program for the City of Buffalo. Like the original New York City program, the City of Buffalo would be authorized to operate cameras in 20 school zones and to use images from the speed cameras to impose liability on the owner of the speeding vehicle, supplementing police efforts.

Kinship

 Both houses passed a bill (S.2714/A.569) to clarify that local social service districts must inform both relative and non-relative kinship caregivers about services including, but not limited to, information relating to child only grants, how to become a kinship foster parent, how to contact kinship programs, and any other resources funded through or operating in the local district.

Medical Decisions for Minors

 Both houses passed a bill (A.1239/S.3248) to expand the law governing medical decisions for minors to include non-parental caregivers who have lawful orders of custody. Specifically, this bill allows non-parental caregivers who have lawful orders of custody to make medical decisions for minors in their care, and includes them in the group of individuals whose consent is not needed for the provision of medical, dental, health, and hospital services when, in the judgement of a physician, emergency medical care is needed.

Maternal Mortality Review Board

Last week, the Senate and Assembly passed a bill (A.3276/ S.1819) that would establish a Maternal Mortality Review Board to examine maternal mortality in New York and develop strategies to improve health outcomes for pregnant women and new mothers. According to the sponsor’s memo, New York currently ranks 30th out of 50 states in its maternal death rate.