David Lassman | The Post-Standard

The New York State Assembly Chamber in Albany will be empty until Jan. 3, 2018, when the Legislature returns for its new session. Some significant bills passed in 2016 and 2017 will go into effect in the new year.

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By Mark Weiner | mweiner@syracuse.com

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Mike Groll | AP

New laws bring change for New York in 2018

New Yorkers will see new work benefits, minimum wage increases, modest tax cuts and restrictions on snowmobiles as the result of new laws scheduled to take effect in 2018.

What follows is a quick snapshot of the new laws and how they will affect you in the new year.

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Seth Wenig | AP

Paid Family Leave law

Starting Jan. 1, 2018, most people who work for a private employer in New York will be eligible for eight weeks of paid family leave. When fully implemented in 2021, the benefit will increase to 12 weeks of paid leave.

Employees can take family leave to care for a newborn, adopted or foster child; care for a close relative with a serious health condition; or assist a family member deployed overseas on active military service.

For 2018, employees who take family leave will be eligible to receive 50 percent of their average weekly wage, up to $652.96.

The program will be funded through an employee payroll deduction, capped for 2018 at .126 percent of an employee’s weekly wage up to a maximum of $1.63 per week. There is no cost to employers.

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New York income tax cuts

A middle-class tax cut passed by the state Legislature in 2016 will take effect on Jan. 1, 2018. State officials estimate 4.4 million New Yorkers will see a small tax cut in the first year, or an average savings of $250 per tax return.

When fully phased in by 2025, couples filing jointly will see their tax rates decline from a high of 6.65 percent to 5.5 percent, saving about $750 per year. The cut in state income taxes is separate from the federal tax changes passed by Congress at the end of 2017.

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Mike Groll | AP

Minimum wage increase

The minimum wage in New York increases as of Dec. 31, 2017, marking the second consecutive year of a wage hike that will be phased in through 2021.

In Upstate New York and areas outside of New York City and its suburbs, the minimum wage will increase from $9.70 per hour to $10.40 per hour.

In Long Island and Westchester County, the minimum wage will increase from $10 to $11 per hour.

In New York City, small employers with 10 employees or less will be required to pay a minimum wage of $12, up from $10.50 in 2017.

In New York City, large employers with 11 or more employees will be required to pay a minimum wage of $13 per hour, up from $11 in 2017.

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Stephan Savoia | AP

Expanded child and dependent care tax credit

New York taxpayers with incomes between $50,000 and $150,000 per year will be able to claim an expanded child and dependent care tax credit effective Jan. 1, 2018.

The new law expands the existing cap on childcare expenses from $6,000 to $9,000 per year for families with up to five children.

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Michael Greenlar | mgreenlar@syracuse.com

Snowmobile rules

The definition of a snowmobile and limits on the use of snowmobile trails will change under new laws effective Jan. 1, 2018.

State law will now require snowmobiles to be equipped with motors originally manufactured for travel on snow and ice. The law also authorizes tracked cleats, and skis and belts for support.

A second law limits the use of snowmobiles to land designed to be used as public trails. The law also increases penalties to a minimum of $200 for operating an unregistered snowmobile, failing to renew a snowmobile registration or improperly displaying a snowmobile registration number.

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Lynne Sladky | AP

Firearm permits

The arrival of 2018 will mark the first year New Yorkers will be required to recertify pistol permits as part of the SAFE Act. The law requires all pistol owners to recertify their permits five years after the license was issued.

Any New Yorker with a pistol permit issued prior to Jan. 15, 2013 will be required to recertify the permit before Jan. 31, 2018. Those who fail to recertify will have their permits revoked.

State Assemblyman Will Barclay, R-Pulaski, said New Yorkers with expiring permits should have received a letter about the deadline to recertify their permits. There is no charge to recertify your permit.

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Alexander F. Yuan | AP

Pensions of public officials

A ballot proposal approved by New York voters in November amends the state Constitution, allowing judges to revoke or reduce pensions of public officials convicted of a felony.

The law applies only to those officials convicted of crimes that had a “direct and actual relationship to the performance of the public officer’s existing duties.”

Previously, the pension benefits of public employees convicted of felonies could not be revoked or reduced.

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Commercial fishing and charter boat licenses

A law that takes effect Dec. 31, 2017, extends the authorization of the state Department of Environmental Conservation to issue commercial food fishing licenses, commercial lobster permits, commercial crab permits, commercial whelk or conch licenses, and charter boat licenses until December 31, 2018.

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Rich Pedroncelli | AP

Healthcare in public and private schools

A law that took effect Dec. 19, 2017, authorizes some employees or contractors in public and private schools in New York to administer epinephrine auto injectors to students in case of a health emergency.

The law applies to public school districts, county vocational schools, charter schools, and non-public elementary schools and secondary schools in New York.

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Property tax relief credit

New York homeowners will receive property tax rebate checks that will increase to an average of $380 in 2018, the third year of a program approved by the state Legislature.

The credit totals $3.1 billion statewide over four years for STAR eligible homeowners with incomes of $275,000 or less who live in property tax compliant school districts.

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Glenn Coin | gcoin@syracuse.com

Research and development tax credits

Beginning Jan. 1, 2018, new businesses in the life sciences industry in New York will be eligible for a 15 percent refundable tax credit on new qualifying research and development expenses.

The state Legislature set aside $100 million to pay for the tax credits. Small businesses in the life sciences industry can apply for a 20 percent credit.

In the photo above, students walk in between Syracuse University's Life Sciences Building and evergreen trees that are part of the university's climate change garden.

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Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

More to come in 2018

The state Legislature begins its new session on Jan. 3. Gov. Andrew Cuomo will deliver his “State of the State” address on the same day in Albany.

Cuomo said he will propose laws that would automatically take guns away from abusers convicted of domestic violence; allow for early voting 12 days before elections; and criminalize "revenge porn" to outlaw "sextortion" and non-consensual pornography.

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Contact Mark Weiner anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751