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2012 new New York laws
Jan 02, 2012 12:04 am
New York state's legislature passed news laws that go into effect in 2012, including middle-class tax cuts, a two-percent tax cap for municipalities, and others. About 4.4 million taxpayers will receive a total of $690 million in personal income tax relief, from that measure. The tax-cap law imposes a cap on the growth of school district and local government property taxes of two percent or the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is lower. Other laws that go into effect Jan. 1, 2012:
• ORALLY ADMINISTERED CHEMOTHERAPY COVERAGE: Health insurance plans in New York State are now required to cover orally administered chemotherapy treatments. The law (Chapter 559, L.2011, Sen. Lanza) corrects a discrepancy and ensures that chemotherapy treatment, no matter how administered, is covered by insurance companies.
• ROADWAY SAFETY: Drivers are now required to exercise additional caution when approaching, overtaking, or passing any hazard vehicle. Current law requires drivers to move over to adjacent lanes when approaching or passing an emergency vehicle on the side of the road, but not for other hazard vehicles.
• MERCURY: A new law will strengthen DEC’s authority to ban products that contain mercury (Chapter 20, L. 2011, Sen. Grisanti).
• FISHING: A new law will further reduce the number of commercial fishing licenses and permits issued by DEC to ensure the economic viability of the commercial and consumer fishing industry (Chapter 383, L.2011, Sen. Johnson).
• DEFIBRILLATORS: A requirement that dental health facilities possess automatic external defibrillators on their premises (Chapter 65, L.2011, Sen. Golden).
• PIPES: A ban on the sale of hookahs, water pipes, and shisha to minors (Chapter 131, L.2011, Sen. Golden). “Shisha” is any product made primarily of tobacco smoked or intended to be smoked in a hookah or water pipe.
• FIRING FIRE COMMISSIONERS: An authorization for the removal of fire commissioners for dereliction of duties including having an excessive number of unexcused absences from regularly scheduled meetings (Chapter 462, L.2011, Sen. Lavalle).
• BEAR GALLBLADDERS: A new law (Chapter 468, L.2011, Sen. Grisanti) bans the possession and sale of bear gallbladder and bile, a valuable commodity used in some forms of ancient medicine. In New York, black bears have been illegally killed for their gallbladders and bile. New York is one of only five states that currently place no restrictions on the trade in bear gallbladders and bile. The loophole complicates law enforcement, encourages poaching, and puts bears at risk.
• PHOSPHORUS: A new law (Chapter 205, L.2010, Sen. Hassell-Thompson) will ban the sale of household dishwasher detergents that contain phosphorus, which is harmful to lakes, rivers and other water sources. A ban on phosphorus dish detergents used by commercial establishments will not take effect until July 1, 2013. The new law also places new limitations on the use of lawn fertilizers that contain phosphorous.
• CAR SALES: A new law (Chapter 548, L.2011, Sen. Dilan) requires motor vehicle manufacturers and distributors to get the consent of franchised motor vehicle dealers to participate in sales promotion programs that include an expense for the dealer.
• ORALLY ADMINISTERED CHEMOTHERAPY COVERAGE: Health insurance plans in New York State are now required to cover orally administered chemotherapy treatments. The law (Chapter 559, L.2011, Sen. Lanza) corrects a discrepancy and ensures that chemotherapy treatment, no matter how administered, is covered by insurance companies.
• ROADWAY SAFETY: Drivers are now required to exercise additional caution when approaching, overtaking, or passing any hazard vehicle. Current law requires drivers to move over to adjacent lanes when approaching or passing an emergency vehicle on the side of the road, but not for other hazard vehicles.
• MERCURY: A new law will strengthen DEC’s authority to ban products that contain mercury (Chapter 20, L. 2011, Sen. Grisanti).
• FISHING: A new law will further reduce the number of commercial fishing licenses and permits issued by DEC to ensure the economic viability of the commercial and consumer fishing industry (Chapter 383, L.2011, Sen. Johnson).
• DEFIBRILLATORS: A requirement that dental health facilities possess automatic external defibrillators on their premises (Chapter 65, L.2011, Sen. Golden).
• PIPES: A ban on the sale of hookahs, water pipes, and shisha to minors (Chapter 131, L.2011, Sen. Golden). “Shisha” is any product made primarily of tobacco smoked or intended to be smoked in a hookah or water pipe.
• FIRING FIRE COMMISSIONERS: An authorization for the removal of fire commissioners for dereliction of duties including having an excessive number of unexcused absences from regularly scheduled meetings (Chapter 462, L.2011, Sen. Lavalle).
• BEAR GALLBLADDERS: A new law (Chapter 468, L.2011, Sen. Grisanti) bans the possession and sale of bear gallbladder and bile, a valuable commodity used in some forms of ancient medicine. In New York, black bears have been illegally killed for their gallbladders and bile. New York is one of only five states that currently place no restrictions on the trade in bear gallbladders and bile. The loophole complicates law enforcement, encourages poaching, and puts bears at risk.
• PHOSPHORUS: A new law (Chapter 205, L.2010, Sen. Hassell-Thompson) will ban the sale of household dishwasher detergents that contain phosphorus, which is harmful to lakes, rivers and other water sources. A ban on phosphorus dish detergents used by commercial establishments will not take effect until July 1, 2013. The new law also places new limitations on the use of lawn fertilizers that contain phosphorous.
• CAR SALES: A new law (Chapter 548, L.2011, Sen. Dilan) requires motor vehicle manufacturers and distributors to get the consent of franchised motor vehicle dealers to participate in sales promotion programs that include an expense for the dealer.