New York Assembly advances measures on stillbirth certificates, dyslexia support, lactation coverage and transit staffing; several other bills passed

The New York State Assembly met in the Assembly chamber in Albany and advanced a package of bills on a range of issues, including making certificates of stillbirth free, creating a state dyslexia center, expanding insurance coverage for lactation services, and maintaining human operators on public transit.

The measures were part of a larger day of floor work that moved dozens of bills with little debate. Sponsors spoke on several bills during the session; each of those measures received a roll-call vote and passed.

Assemblymember Zaccaro, sponsor of a bill to waive fees for certificates of stillbirth and pregnancy loss, described the measure as intended to remove financial barriers for grieving families. "These documents represent more than mere a mere piece of paper. They embody love, a memory, and the cherished dreams that were never realized," Zaccaro said in explaining his vote. The Assembly passed that bill (Assembly No. 2311A) by recorded vote.

Assemblymember R. Carroll spoke in favor of a bill to establish a dyslexia center, telling colleagues, "Dyslexia is the most common learning disability in America, but it is also the easiest to remediate." He said the center will provide uniform resources and expertise for schools and teachers; the Assembly approved that education measure (Assembly No. 2687).

On health coverage, Assemblymember Jackson recounted personal experience supporting a bill to expand insurance coverage for lactation services, saying, "The lactation coach wasn't covered by insurance. So that reminded me ... that there will be some parents that will not get this assistance." That insurance measure (Assembly No. 4677A) also passed the floor.

Assemblymember Chandler Waterman urged support for legislation to keep a human crew member on transit trains, arguing that a person on board provides safety and direction when problems occur. "No matter what, we need humans on the train system. We never want it to be fully automated," she said; the public-authorities measure (Assembly No. 4873) passed.

Other sponsors who explained votes included Assemblymember Barras on a civil-service measure to encourage exit interviews by state agencies (Assembly No. 5912) and Assemblymember Santa Barbara on a highway-law bill dedicating a bridge in Rotterdam to a deceased service member (Assembly No. 6188C). Assemblymember Durso spoke in support of legislation to encourage veteran participation in volunteer emergency services (Assembly No. 8485).

Votes at a glance (selected bills with sponsor explanations): - Assembly No. 2311A (public health law amendment) — waive fees for certificates of stillbirth/pregnancy loss; sponsor: Assemblymember Zaccaro; result: passed (recorded vote noted in transcript). - Assembly No. 2687 (education law amendment) — establish statewide dyslexia center; sponsor: Assemblymember R. Carroll; result: passed. - Assembly No. 4677A (insurance law amendment) — require/expand coverage for lactation support; sponsor: Assemblymember Jackson; result: passed. - Assembly No. 4873 (public authorities law amendment) — require human crew member on transit trains; sponsor: Assemblymember Chandler Waterman; result: passed. - Assembly No. 5254A (New York Open Water Data Act) — sponsor: Assemblymember Cullis; result: passed. - Assembly No. 5912 (civil service law amendment) — require/encourage exit interviews by state agencies; sponsor: Assemblymember Barras; result: passed. - Assembly No. 6188C (highway law amendment) — dedicate a bridge in Rotterdam to a deceased service member; sponsor: Assemblymember Santa Barbara; result: passed. - Assembly No. 8485 (veterans services law amendment) — encourage veterans to serve in volunteer emergency services; sponsor listed in transcript; result: passed.

The floor also advanced many other bills with limited floor debate; clerks read titles, the Assembly recorded votes and moved bills to final action or laid some bills aside. Where the transcript records an effective date or other technical detail in the last section read aloud, that text was recorded on the floor (for example, several measures were slated to take effect immediately or on a specified future date).

What the floor actions do and do not do: these bills, as passed on the floor, amend existing state statutes named in each bill caption (for example, the Public Health Law, Education Law, Insurance Law and Public Authorities Law). This report does not describe changes to the statutory text beyond the captions read on the floor; for full statutory language and implementation details, readers should consult the enacted bill text.

The Assembly recessed for committee conferences after the floor calendar. Additional measures advanced on the calendar during the session were processed with little or no recorded debate in the transcript.

Ending note: Sponsor explanations for the bills above are recorded verbatim in the floor transcript; final enactment, implementation timelines and any administrative rules to carry these changes into effect will be determined in subsequent executive or administrative actions and, where applicable, by the effective dates read on the floor.