Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. recently released a summary of new New York State laws that will take effect in 2003. The laws include women's health coverage, more than $242 million in tax cuts for businesses, married couples, low-income families and college tuition expenses, and a measure that will provide for enhanced security for debit card transactions.

Improvements to women's health coverage include:

Breast/Cervical Cancer Screening

* expand women's access to mammography and cervical cancer screenings by closing a loophole in earlier laws requiring coverage that exempted some "multistate" policies:

* require insurers to pay for annual breast cancer-detecting mammograms for women beginning at age 40. Current law requires coverage for biannual screenings for women ages 40 to 49, and annually from age 50.

Osteoporosis Exams

* require coverage for preventive screening tests, like routine bone density exams, to detect the bone-crippling disease osteoporosis, according to National Institutes of Health and Medicare guidelines.

Obstetrics/Gynecology Direct Access

* clarifies a 1994 law allowing women to choose an obstetrician/gynecologist without a referral from a primary care physician to cover all women enrolled in eligible plans.

Tax Reductions Effective Jan. 1, 2003

The Senate has initiated hundreds of millions of dollars in tax reductions for families and businesses over the past eight years, some of which are phased in. On Jan. 1, 2003, tax reductions and credits will take effect that will save more than $242 million for married couples, for people paying for college or trying to earn money to get off public assistance and become self-sufficient, for utility customers and for people who want to purchase new fuel cell energy sources.

* Marriage Penalty - Standard Deduction

The standard deduction for married couples who do not itemize on their tax returns will be increased from $14,200 to $14,600, reducing the so-called "marriage penalty" that resulted in many married couples paying taxes on more of their income than those who are single. This tax cut alone will save New York married couples more than $77 million.

* Earned Income Tax Credit

The Earned Income Tax Credit will be increased from 27.5 percent to 30 percent of the federal credit. The increase in the EITC will save New York's low-income taxpayers $59 million in the state fiscal year 2003-04.

* College Tuition Credit/Deduction

The college tuition tax credit/deduction, a Senate initiative enacted in 2000 to help families afford the cost of a college education, enables New York's taxpayers to defray up to $10,000 for higher education tuition through the use of a personal income tax deduction or credit. The tax credit/deduction will increase from 50 percent of expenses to 75 percent of expenses, saving $55 million next year.

* Fuel Cell Credit

A personal income tax credit of 20 percent of the cost of purchasing and installing a fuel cell to power homes will save $1 million in 2003.

* Utility Tax Reductions

Reductions in the gross receipts tax and other taxes imposed on natural gas and electricity will save residential and business utility customers $50.6 million in 2003.

Enhanced Security for Debit Card Transactions

This law provides enhanced security for debit card transactions by regulating such transaction forms in the same manner as credit cards. The existing law prohibited printing the last four digits of credit card numbers only. This new law will provide security for both credit and debit cards and protect consumers, banks and businesses.

"Each year, an estimated $2 billion nationwide is lost due to credit card fraud. As New Yorkers use their debit cards more and more, the likelihood of fraud increases," Senator Fuschillo said. "Effective Jan. 1, increased safeguards against this fraud will be intact by prohibiting vendors from printing card numbers on transactions and receipts."

Health Care Reform Act (HCRA)

As part of a larger bill making numerous amendments to the Health Care Reform Act (HCRA) extends for another year, until July 1, 2003, authorization for the development and operation of prepaid health services plans and the provision of physician case management programs for Medicaid recipients. Similarly extends for another six months, until June 30, 2003, authorization for the provision of comprehensive health services to Medicaid recipients, as well as the provision of six months' guaranteed Medicaid eligibility to Safety Net, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and SSI recipients enrolled in comprehensive health services plans.

Also as part of the HCRA amendments extends for another year until Dec. 31, 2003, the historical methodology for determining reimbursement rates for nursing home capital costs.

Fire Safety Inspections for Colleges

This part of the 2002-2003 Public Protection and General Government budget bill authorizes the Office of Fire Prevention and Control, effective Jan. 1, 2003, to conduct annual safety inspections on all public and independent college and university campuses outside the City of New York.

Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans

Broadens the real property tax exemption for the taxes imposed upon the primary residence of a seriously disabled veteran by including the exemption from special district charges, assessments and special ad valorem levies.

Nassau County Tax Exemption for Volunteer Firefighters and Ambulance Personnel

Authorizes Nassau County to grant a real property tax exemption of 10 percent of assessed value (capped at $3,000 multiplied by the latest applicable state equalization rate) for real property owned by an enrolled member of an incorporated volunteer fire company, fire department, or incorporated voluntary ambulance service, or an enrolled member and spouse residing in the county.

Suffolk County Tax Exemption for Volunteer Firefighters and Ambulance Personnel

Authorizes Suffolk County to grant a real property tax exemption of 10 percent of assessed value (capped at $3,000 multiplied by the latest applicable state equalization rate) for real property owned by an enrolled member of an incorporated volunteer fire company, fire department, or incorporated voluntary ambulance service, or an enrolled member and spouse residing in the county.

License Exemptions for Working Dogs

Exempts from dog licensing fees any therapy dog (i.e., a dog that is trained to aid the emotional and physical health of patients in hospitals, nursing homes, retirement homes and other settings, and is actually used for such purpose, or any dog owned by a recognized training center located within the state during the period such dog is being trained or bred for such purpose).

20 Percent Tax Credit for Efficient Energy

Applicable to taxable years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2003, creates a new personal income tax credit of 20 percent (up to $1,500) for the costs of installing fuel cell electric generating equipment in the taxpayer's principal residence.