Directs the commissioner of education to change the name of the state high school equivalency diploma, formerly known as the general education development (GED) program, to the Excelsior diploma.
Prohibits the appointment of certain state, municipal or agency employees as impartial hearing officers to hear appeals of determinations regarding children with handicapping conditions.
Establishes the office of flooding prevention and mitigation to manage and coordinate the work of task forces, commissions, and other bodies and programs tasked with examining issues related to flooding, to review and assess best practices and make recommendations regarding flood prevention and mitigation, and to assist municipalities in developing strategies and policies to combat flooding.
Establishes the New York COVID-19 children's fund program to provide assistance to children whose parent, custodian, legal guardian, or related adult household member died as a result of contracting COVID-19, regardless of immigration status of such children.
Enacts the "community financial services access and modernization act"; modernizes existing statute to reflect the full scope of financial services available at neighborhood "check cashing" establishments; provides for a comprehensive regulatory framework for the delivery of the expanded financial services currently being offered.
Provides that the attorney general, in consultation with the adjutant general and the chair of the board of trustees of the New York interest on lawyer account fund, establish a military pro bono program to provide legal assistance without charge to those in active military service of the United States and those military personnel who have been deployed for active duty other than training, and their family members domiciled or stationed in the state; makes related provisions.