Provides that the thruway authority shall issue permits for ambulances and fire vehicles exempting such vehicles from paying tolls on the thruway when engaged in an emergency operation.
Creates the blue light emergency phones pilot program in all five boroughs; directs the commissioner of parks, recreation and historic preservation to study and report upon the use of such program.
Requires the MTA to file a copy of proposed station closings with various governmental agencies; provides that the MTA shall hold a public hearing on any proposed closings.
Prohibits the appointment of certain state, municipal or agency employees as impartial hearing officers to hear appeals of determinations regarding children with handicapping conditions.
Includes all hate crimes as a qualifying offense for the purposes of a court's determination to release the principal pending trial on the principal's own recognizance or under non-monetary conditions, fix bail, or, where the defendant is charged with a qualifying offense which is a felony, the court may commit the principal to the custody of the sheriff.
Enacts the New York religious land use and religious exercise act prohibiting unreasonable restriction on regulations affecting religious land use or affecting religious exercise of institutionalized persons.
Directs the commissioner of the department of labor, in consultation with the commissioners of the office of temporary and disability assistance, the department of health, the office of children and family services, and the department of taxation and finance to conduct a study on income eligibility limits for public benefits to assist the poor and the impact that rising wages has or will have on the eligibility of the working poor to receive such benefits.
Removes the $250 amount of damage from cemetery desecration in the second degree; makes cemetery desecration in the second degree a class E felony to apply to any damage or theft regardless of value; adds crime of cemetery desecration in the first degree and makes such crime a class D felony.
Authorizes drivers to disobey a traffic-control device or signal, after exercising reasonable care, in order to yield the right of way to an authorized emergency vehicle.