Provides for annual adjustment by the commissioner of housing and community renewal of the maximum income threshold for eligibility for the senior citizens' rent increase exemption (SCRIE) and for the municipal property tax abatement for rent-controlled and rent regulated property occupied by senior citizens by any increase in the consumer price index (CPI). / Sponsor: PERKINS Committee: AGING

Provides for notification to utility customers of their right to direct access to public service commission complaint procedures without arbitration or court proceedings. / Sponsor: PERKINS Committee: ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Eliminates the MTA's exemption from environmental quality review standards established by article 8 of the environmental conservation law. / Sponsor: PERKINS Committee: TRANSPORTATION

Requires school buses that contract with the NYC department of education to retrofit certain buses with certain equipment; requires that all buses used to provide transportation services to students pursuant to a service contract with the NYC department of education use ultra-low sulfur fuel or "clean diesel"; eliminates the cap on air pollution fees. / Sponsor: PERKINS Committee: CITIES

Relates to removing the ten year time period from the crime of persistent sexual abuse. / Sponsor: PERKINS Committee:

Relates to regulation of toxic chemicals in children's products; establishes the interstate chemical clearinghouse. / Sponsor: PERKINS Committee: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

Establishes the microenterprise development act to assist very small businesses and low-income business people; appropriates funds therefor. / Sponsor: PERKINS Committee: FINANCE

Provides a tax credit of $1,000 against special additional mortgage tax and article 9-A (franchise tax on business corporations) for each employee employed in excess of one year at minimum wage for thirty hours per week who was a public assistance recipient for at least two years immediately preceding the commencement of such employment. / Sponsor: PERKINS Committee: INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Requires the public service commission to audit previously approved utility submetering orders, to compare usage before submetering to usage after submetering orders were implemented, and to prepare a report concerning its findings. / Sponsor: PERKINS Committee: ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Relates to application requirements for private or government entities that wish to provide electric service converting residential rental buildings from being mass-metered to submetered. / Sponsor: PERKINS Committee: ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Relates to the collection of charges for heat-related residential utility service. / Sponsor: PERKINS Committee: HOUSING, CONSTRUCTION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Establishes the home ownership assistance program; allows qualified individuals to receive home ownership assistance payments when they purchase an eligible home; defines who is eligible for such assistance payments and how much those assistance payments will be. / Sponsor: PERKINS Committee: HOUSING, CONSTRUCTION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Creates the parent-mediation program for child custody disputes; requires parents, who were in a dispute over the custody of their child or children, to participate in a court sponsored mediation program; provides that the mediator would be responsible for submitting the results of the process to the court, which in turn would enter an appropriate custody and support order. / Sponsor: PERKINS Committee: JUDICIARY

Relates to the collection of charges for residential utility service deemed to be rent. / Sponsor: PERKINS Committee: ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Makes an appropriation of $6,250,000 to the Museum of African American Cinema, Inc. for the purchase of land, the operation of such facility and for an architectural study. / Sponsor: PERKINS Committee: FINANCE

Establishes the save our sight program and the save our sight fund to promote vision health and safety for children; targets children with amblyopia for support regarding such children's vision; provides for information to be disseminated by the department of motor vehicles and for voluntary contributions to the fund. / Sponsor: PERKINS Committee: HEALTH

Creates the office of the taxpayer advocate; directs such office be in the control of the department of taxation and finance; outlines functions and duties of such office; creates mandatory reporting to the governor and legislative leaders. / Sponsor: PERKINS Committee: INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Requires the annual reporting of criminal activity on subways. / Sponsor: PERKINS Committee: CITIES

Creates a temporary state pesticide commission to study the effects of the application of pesticides in cities with a population of one million or more. / Sponsor: PERKINS Committee: FINANCE

Establishes the Senior Center Council to provide a forum for the discussion of challenges facing senior centers. / Sponsor: PERKINS Committee: AGING