Establishes a statewide program to provide free SUNY, CUNY, and community college tuition to active volunteer firefighters, volunteer emergency medical services providers, and volunteer auxiliary police officers.
Requires the commissioner of education, in conjunction with the commissioner of health and the commissioner of mental health, to develop model mental health screenings for students and associated guidelines to assist school mental health screeners to perform mental health screening services to identify concerns in students' mental health.
Extends provisions relating to establishing the stretch limousine passenger safety task force; authorizes the stretch limousine passenger safety task force to continue to hold public hearings and meetings to review the actions taken by the state and to publish a report of its findings.
Establishes the "New York's Own combat veterans healthcare choice program act" to establish tax free savings accounts to pay the healthcare costs of combat veterans on active duty during Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom, until covered by the federal government; directs the division of military and naval affairs to establish a registry of Afghanistan and Iraq veterans.
Authorizes school districts to submit an opt-out waiver to the commissioner of education authorizing such districts to opt-out of certain zero-emission school bus requirements.
Allows for individuals to enroll in the national marrow donor program at the time of application for or renewal of a driver's license or non-driver identification card; directs the commissioner of motor vehicles to establish a process by which the department of motor vehicles shall refer driver's license and non-driver identification card applicants who consent to having their information shared with the national marrow donor program for the purposes of receiving information from the national marrow donor program about enrolling as a potential volunteer bone marrow or blood cell donor on the national registry operated by the national marrow donor program.
Provides that a board of education or a board of cooperative educational services shall have the authority to award contracts for school food services on the basis of certain scoring criteria.
Creates the New York state independent budget office with a director to be appointed, upon the recommendations of an independent budget office advisory committee, by the speaker of the assembly and the temporary president of the senate; establishes such office shall provide objective, non-partisan and timely analyses of state revenue, expenditures and management practices to members of the legislature for any legislation with fiscal impact or at the request of a leader or a committee.