Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. (8th Senate District) recently announced that a number of new state laws, including reductions to personal income and energy taxes, an increased minimum wage, and requirements for child immunizations and skateboard safety went into effect Jan. 1. The new laws include the following:

On Jan. 1, the minimum wage in New York State will be increased to $6 per hour from the existing $5.15 level. The law, which was vetoed by the governor and overridden by the Senate and Assembly, establishes a state minimum wage of $6 per hour Jan. 1, 2005; $6.75 per hour Jan. 1, 2006, and $7.15 per hour Jan. 1, 2007.

The sub-minimum wage, known as the tip wage, will also be increased. The tip minimum wage for food service workers (i.e. waiters, bartenders, busboys) would be raised from the existing $3.30 level to $3.85 per hour Jan. 1, 2005, $4.35 per hour Jan. 1, 2006 and $4.60 per hour Jan. 1, 2007.

A new law adds whooping cough (pertussis) and tetanus to the list of childhood immunizations required prior to attending school for children born on or after Jan. 1, 2005. Additionally, a law was enacted that requires children born between 1994 and 1997 to be immunized against chickenpox (varicella) by the time they enter into sixth grade.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2005 all skate boarders under 14-years-old are required to wear safety helmets. This requirement is similar to existing helmet laws for bicycles and in-line skates.

Allows senior citizens holding a long term care insurance policy to designate a third party to be notified by the insurance company of any notice of nonpayment of premiums due or notice of cancellation for nonpayment of premiums.

The fine imposed upon any person or any public or private legal entity violating the rights of a disabled person accompanied by a guide dog, hearing dog, or service dog two or more times within a two year period has been raised from up to $250 to up to $1,000.

The sale, possession, barter, transfer, exchange, and import of wild animals as pets is now prohibited, and the Department of Environmental Conservation is authorized to establish any rules and regulations necessary to implement this law.

Personal income and energy tax reductions went into effect Jan. 1, 2005, saving taxpayers almost $300 million.

The personal income tax will be reduced from 7.375 percent to 7.25 percent, saving taxpayers more than $220 million. The second scheduled phasedown of the increase in the state personal income tax will apply to married taxpayers filing jointly with income of $150,000 to $500,000; single heads of households earning $125,000-$500,000; and single filers earning $100,000-$500,000. The personal income tax increase originally included in the 2003-04 state budget is scheduled to completely phaseout in 2006.

In addition, the commodities tax on electricity and natural gas will be eliminated on Jan. 1, 2005 and will save residential energy customers $37 million. This is the final phase out of an energy tax reduction plan enacted as part of the 2000-01 state budget.

For a complete list of all the new laws that took effect Jan. 1, 2005, please visit Fuschillo's website at www.senatorfuschillo.com.