We pass many laws in the state Assembly and some take effect immediately while others take effect at a later date. Please find highlights below of legislation previously signed into law by the Governor and are now in effect.  Warning….as you might guess whether passed three years ago or this year many new laws take effect the 1st of the year hence the reason why so many on this list.   Additionally the summary does not always tell the whole story and therefore I encourage you to hit on the blue bill numbers for greater detail on what the bills truly seek to address.

New Laws Taking Effect – January 2022
Effective Date Chapter Bill Number Summary
1/1/2022 Ch. 147 of 2019 A.4853-A

S.5685

 Enacts Brianna’s Law, requiring all boat operators born on or after January 1, 1983, to complete a boater safety course.
1/1/2022 Ch. 613 of 2019

Ch. 44 of 2020

 A.6295-A

S.4389-B

A.8955

S.6940

 Prohibits household cleansing products, cosmetic products and personal care products that contain 1,4-dioxane.
1/1/2022 Ch. 58 of 2020

Part PP

 A.9508-B

S.7508-B

 Bans single-use disposable polystyrene foam food service containers including bowls, cartons, clamshells, cups, lids, plates and trays as well as packing peanuts.
1/1/2022 Ch. 56 of 2020

Part R, Sec.11, Subsec. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

  A.9506-B

S.7506-B

 Raises the standard of evidence needed to indicate a report of child abuse or neglect from “some credible evidence” to a “fair preponderance of the evidence.” Also seals indicated records of neglect after eight years.
1/1/2022 Ch. 56 of 2020

Part YY, Sec. 21, Subsec. 6-18

  A.9506-B

S.7506-B

 Provides for the creation of a health care administrative simplification workgroup. Also requires health insurance companies to file reports on health care claims payment performance with respect to comprehensive health insurance coverage.
1/1/2022 Ch. 750 of 2019

Ch. 55 of 2020

Part XX, Subpart O

  

A.4509-A

S.4080-C

A.9505-B

S.7505-B

 

 Requires the licensing of contractors, mechanics and inspectors involved in the design, construction, inspection, maintenance, alteration, and repair of elevators and other automated people moving devices.
1/1/2022 Ch. 260 of 2020 A.10021-A

S.7986-A

 Requires continuing education for professional engineers, land surveyors and geologists.
1/1/2022 Ch. 57 of 2021

Part AA, Sec. 23, Subsec. 10-23

 A.3007-C

S.2507-C

 Ensures that crisis stabilization services are not subject to preauthorization and where care is denied retrospectively, an insured will not have any financial obligation to the facility for any treatment other than any copayment, coinsurance, or deductible; applies to policies and contracts issued, renewed, modified, altered or amended on or after January 1, 2022.
1/1/2022 Ch. 57 of 2021

Part NN, Sec. 2

 A.3007-C

S.2507-C

 Expands the Medicaid eligibility income disregard for housing costs to allow nursing home and adult care facility residents who are seeking a discharge to the community to qualify for the disregard if they are not yet enrolled in a Managed Long Term Care plan, but are required to enroll, have initiated the enrollment process and are not considered an “institutionalized spouse” for purposes of Medicaid eligibility.
1/1/2022 Ch. 59 of 2021

Part D, Sec. 5

 A.3009-C

S.2509-C

 Enhances the employer-provided child care credit under the Excelsior Jobs Program; applies to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2022.
1/1/2022 Ch. 59 of 2021

Part S, Sec. 3

 A.3009-C

S.2509-C

 Requires tax return preparers to display their registration certificate, the consumer bill of rights and a current price list; provides for penalties for failure to do so.
1/1/2022 Ch. 59 of 2021

Part CCC, Sec. 4

 A.3009-C

S.2509-C

 Expands the rehabilitation of historic properties tax credit for projects of $2,500,000 or less; applies to taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2022.
1/1/2022 Ch. 369 of 2020 Ch. 61 of 2021 A.10118-A

S.5470-B

A.979

S.898

 Requires certain providers of commercial financing to disclose information regarding the amount, pricing, and terms to borrowers prior to accepting the financing.
1/1/2022 Ch. 155 of 2021 A.108-B

S.1168-A

 Enacts a provision of the safe staffing law, requiring each general hospital to establish and maintain a clinical staffing committee, either by creating a new committee or assigning the functions of the clinical staffing committee to an existing committee, no later than January 1, 2022.
1/1/2022 Ch. 395 of 2021 A.2502-A

S.5785-A

 Makes the affirmative allegation provisions for high-cost loans and subprime home loans applicable to foreclosures of residential mortgages covering one to four family dwellings. Requires plaintiffs in a foreclosure action to plead ownership of the note and mortgage for all home loans and to allow all homeowners to utilize certain statutory defenses to protect their homes, such as the right to receive a pre-foreclosure notice.
1/1/2022 Ch. 398 of 2021 A.1073

S.1465

 Provides that banking institutions which maintain checking accounts for customers shall pay checks in the order received; provides such banks may dishonor check for insufficient funds, but then must honor smaller checks if possible.
1/1/2022 Ch. 430 of 2021 A.1524

S.64

 Establishes a statewide restaurant meals program as part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
1/1/2022 Ch. 497 of 2021 A.894-C

S.5715-A

 For assessment rolls prepared on or after January 1, 2022, assessors using the comparable sales, income capitalization or cost method for assessments are required to consider certain comparable properties in formulating the assessment of non-residential properties.
1/1/2022 Ch. 503 of 2021 A.6489-A

S.6653-A

 Provides for a charge-back of refunds of taxes levied by a school district to municipal public libraries and special district public libraries when a homeowner successfully challenges an assessment.
1/1/2022 Ch. 504 of 2021 A.1242

S.346

 Includes certain independent contractors in the state directory of new hires to aid in the administration of the child support enforcement program.
1/1/2022 Ch. 536 of 2021 A.7330

S.4661

 Provides for the transfer of a portion of fines issued for illegally passing a school bus to the comprehensive school bus driver safety training program for the study and promotion of issues involving school bus safety; establishes a school bus motorist education fund.
1/1/2022 Ch. 727 of 2021 A.4186-B

S.6395-A

 Creates an online absentee ballot tracking system to allow a voter who has submitted an application for an absentee ballot to track the status of an absentee application and an absentee ballot on the state board or local board website.
1/1/2022 Ch. 740 of 2021 A.6077-A

S.3291-A

 Provides part-time domestic workers with access to temporary disability benefits and Paid Family Leave.
1/1/2022 Ch. 746 of 2021 A.6970-A

S.6482-B

 Establishes an electronic absentee ballot application system through which voters may apply for and submit an absentee ballot online.
1/1/2022 Ch. 763 of 2021 A.7931

S.1027-A

 Makes reforms to improve the canvassing of absentee ballots.
1/2/2022 Ch. 565 of 2021 A.1935

S.671

 Requires lenders to establish a single point of contact for consumers who are more than 60 days delinquent with home loan payments and seeking a mortgage modification or other foreclosure prevention.
1/4/2022 Ch. 419 of 2021 A.3350-A

S.2766-C

 Provides that a contractor making or taking a construction contract shall assume liability for any debt resulting from making a wage claim, owed to a wage claimant or third party on the wage claimant’s behalf, incurred by a subcontractor at any tier acting under, by, or for the contractor for the wage claimant’s performance of labor; provides for wage theft prevention and enforcement.
1/6/2022 Ch. 441 of 2021 A.2037

S.553

 Requires that the most recent rating of every nursing home assigned pursuant to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS rating), shall be prominently displayed on the Department of Health’s website and at each nursing home facility.
1/6/2022 Ch. 442 of 2021 A.2113

S.4407

 Prohibits the making of decisions concerning guardianship, custody or visitation or adoption petitions solely because of a parent’s, guardian’s or custodian’s blindness.
1/10/2022 Ch. 607 of 2021 A.7472

S.3638

 Establishes a task force on veteran employment opportunities.
1/14/2022 Ch. 616 of 2021 A.5689

S.1279

 Streamlines the assignment of appellate counsel for indigent criminal defendants appealing their convictions in order to save time, money and resources to provide enhanced access to justice for vulnerable individuals.
1/15/2022 Ch. 629 of 2021 Sec. 2 A.459

S.674

 Strengthens protections for victims of trafficking by allowing for proceedings to vacate convictions for offenses resulting from sex trafficking, labor trafficking and compelling prostitution and provides for confidentiality of records of such proceedings.
1/20/2022 Ch. 491 of 2021 A.5549

S.2630

 Provides for the issuance of certificates of relief from disabilities and certificates of good conduct upon discharge.
1/20/2022 Ch. 679 of 2021 A.5379

S.4326

 Permits insurers to offer a commercial lines policy with a term of less than one year upon an

insured’s request.
1/22/2022 Ch. 775 of 2021 A.5679-A

S.2987-A

 Declares racism a public health crisis and establishes a working group within the Department of Health to promote racial equity throughout the state and address issues related to racism as a public health crisis.
1/23/2022 Ch. 508 of 2021 A.6229

S.3984

 Requires an electronic version of a town clerk’s sign-board on a town website and a link to the sign-board to appear on the town website’s homepage if the town maintains a regularly and routinely updated website and utilizes a high speed internet connection.
1/26/2022 Ch. 522 of 2021 A.5144-A

S.4394-A

 Provides protection to employees and former employees from retaliatory actions by employers for the reporting of illegal or dangerous business activities.
1/28/2022 Ch. 545 of 2021  A.4075

S.4254

 Prohibits insurers from refusing to issue or renew, cancel, or charge or impose an increased premium for homeowners’ insurance policies based on the breed of a dog owned.
1/31/2022 Ch. 553 of 2021 A.7564

S.6815

 Encourages the elimination of the use of certain single use plastic items at State University of New York and City University of New York campuses.
1/31/2022 Ch. 555 of 2021 A.6476-A

S.4807-A

 Expands the authorization for pharmacists to administer immunizations to patients 18 years or older and makes such authorization permanent; removes the requirement that an ordering physician or nurse practitioner have a practice site in the county or adjoining county to where immunizations are being administered; and requires pharmacists to report immunizations to DOH through a statewide or citywide registry.