The Late-Night scene under the Capitol in the state of New York was unusual, even according to Albany standards.
Legislers of the meeting and the Senate, who finally passed on the budget of $ 254 billion of the state on Thursday evening, flowed to the lower levels of the Capitol to collect their high -awaited salary of the Payroll Office.
In New York, the state laws do not receive their salaries if the budget expires, as it did on 1 April. But after five weeks without a budget or a salary, both arrived on Thursday.
However, legislators were not the only ones who benefit from the official passage of the budget.
Mrs. Hochul quickly celebrated extensions of the tax credit for children, more school financing and a litany of other programs that, according to them, would make the state more affordable.
Here is a look at some more interesting provisions of the budget.
Legislers helped themselves
A grill from the government is that legislators have the authority to write or change laws that regulate their own actions, does not require a reconstruction. This year, legislators made full use of that power, making various important changes in the way they can collect external income and raise money.
In 2022, legislators raised their salaries by $ 32,000 to $ 142,000, while they also placed a $ 35,000 limit on external income. The Albany Times-Union reported that this year Nearly 40 legislators Had out of incomes above the limit.
The Income Cap was supposed to come into effect this year, after several failed judicial challenges. But legislators recorded a provision in the budget that would delay enforcement for two years.
In that sense, the legislators changed the matching system of the State campaign financing. Donations larger than $ 250 are currently disqualified by the matching program; The agreement provides the state to match the first $ 250 of each donation to $ 1,000.
Civil servants chosen can now also hold $ 50,000 for future campaigns. These tweaks and others seem to be aimed at helping established operators.
The laws also created a slush fund of $ 10 million to pay for private lawyers as government officials were the target of the Trump government.
You get a refund, you get a wage increase
Mrs Hochul is eager to trumpet her ‘inflation discount’ – $ 2 billion that will be paid to New Yorkers at Checks Up to $ 400 per family, $ 200 per individual. But the budget also contains a number of other financial benefits for people in the entire state.
For example, the wage percentage per day for jury members in the Constitution Bank will be increased to $ 72 dollars, so that the current amount almost doubles. This is the first time that New York since 1995, when it has increased per day percentage for jury members, when GEORGE E. PATAKI Signed legislation That increased rates for those who did their civil obligation from $ 15 to $ 40 over a three -year period.
And some employees on Laguardia and Kennedy Airports received a wide package for benefits and wages that could help to tackle part of the staff shortages that have plagued air travel.
Help for online shoppers
It is a well -known frustration for online shoppers: a product that is almost impossible to return, or a subscription that is almost impossible to cancel.
The New York budget includes new measures to help shoppers, including a mandate that companies offer transparent policy for reimbursement and reimbursement. The State also requires that companies offer clear instructions for terminating subscriptions, as well as prior notifications of subscription innovations and their costs.
The state also stimulates the regulations for “buy now, pay later”, companies such as Affirm and Klarna. These companies need a license from the Department of Financial Services, whereby companies must be followed that the national laws for advertisements, interest rates and collection on debts are followed.
State strips can be older and prison protectors younger
One of the largest and most disturbing developments in Albany this year was a wave of Wildcat strikes among correction officers, as a result of which Mrs Hochul called on around 6000 national guard troops to supervise the prisons of the state. About 2,000 officers were dismissed as a result of the non -sanctioned strikes, which exacerbates an already in -depth staff shortage. The State currently has 4,500 less correction officers than the budget allows.
Mrs Hochul and legislative leaders tried to tackle the problem in the new budget, including language with which younger people can become correction officers and remove the requirements of the national residence permit. The budget also makes the possible closure of a maximum of three prisons possible in April.
Another change increases the maximum age of the State Police recruits; They can now be as old as 43 when they become members, an increase of 39.
A continuous performance against artificial intelligence
The state legislator is looking for more ways to regulate artificial intelligence as it becomes more omnipresent in our lives.
The budget includes a provision that AI chatbots requires to be able to detect when people seem to express suicide thoughts.
The New York Times reported in October on A case in Florida, in which the mother of a 14-year-old boy said her son was obsessed with a chatbot about character.ai, a role playing app before his death. Now chatbots users must remind users every three hours that they do not communicate with people.
The laws also changed the laws for child pornography to ban the creation and distribution by AI of material with minors. They also added almost $ 100 million to financing for constant AI research on state universities.
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