Monday, March 27, 1995

2550 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ALBANY, NEW YORK 9 March 27, 1995 10 3:02 p.m. 11 12 13 REGULAR SESSION 14 15 16 17 SENATOR JOHN R. KUHL, JR., Acting President 18 STEPHEN F. SLOAN, Secretary 19 20 21 22 23 2551 1 P R O C E E D I N G S. 2 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Senate 3 will come to order. Ask members to find their 4 places. I'd ask the members and the staff 5 together with all members in the gallery, our 6 visitors, to rise and join with me in saying the 7 Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. 8 (Whereupon, the Senate and those 9 present joined in the Pledge of Allegiance to 10 the Flag.) 11 We're very pleased today to be 12 joined by the Reverend Fagans, the Pastor of the 13 First Presbyterian Church of Troy. 14 Reverend Fagans. 15 REVEREND ERIC FAGANS: Thank you. 16 Let us pray. 17 Creator God, saints tell us that 18 You made us for Yourself with hearts restless 19 till they find their rest in You. Such 20 sentiments are rarely felt within these walls, 21 and even though we aren't a religious body and 22 though we may refer to ourselves and one another 23 with less than religious terminology at times, 2552 1 yet, today, we ask You to generate within us 2 something of this restlessness, this essence, 3 this distant drum beat and high calling, for we 4 know without a soaring vision we shall be held 5 down by lesser desires. 6 Reconciling God, we are being 7 challenged to work miracles this week. So far 8 no quick solutions have come to the complex 9 issues which confront us and the equally 10 intricate entanglements of mind and conscience. 11 You invite us to build bridges to span yawning 12 chasms, but we are having difficulty reaching 13 bedrock. Grant us Your grace that we might 14 penetrate to the stones of indifference and the 15 clay-like mire of strong-held opinions and the 16 swift flowing currents of demonstrations to find 17 that solid substance upon which we can build. 18 Give us hard hats not harsh language, cable 19 fashioning equipment not weak single strands 20 that, together, we may reach across this abyss. 21 Finally, God of New Life, we feel 22 a bit like Gulliver tied down by the 23 Lilliputians, strong leaders held captive by the 2553 1 forces and figures beyond our control; yet we 2 feel a new wind blowing, a new hope perking, a 3 new beat pounding within our hearts, sweeping 4 across this body. You have called us. Now work 5 through us, honestly struggling, not waiting for 6 another, but initiating the process, bringing 7 forth from the confusion and the strenuous 8 quality of debate and rigorous work of 9 compromise something of ecstatic beauty fit for 10 such a time as this. 11 These things we pray in the name 12 of the Christ. 13 Amen. 14 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Thank 15 you, Reverend Fagans. 16 Reading of the Journal. 17 THE SECRETARY: In Senate, 18 Sunday, March 26. The Senate met pursuant to 19 adjournment. Senator Farley in the chair upon 20 designation of the Temporary President. The 21 Journal of Saturday, March 25, was read and 22 approved. On motion, Senate adjourned. 23 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Hearing 2554 1 no objection, the Journal stands approved as 2 read. 3 Presentation of petitions. 4 Messages from the Assembly. 5 Messages from the Governor. 6 Reports of standing committees. 7 Reports of select committees. 8 Communications and reports from 9 state officers. 10 Motions and resolutions. 11 Senator DiCarlo. 12 SENATOR DiCARLO: Mr. President. 13 On behalf of Senator Larkin, on page 24, I offer 14 the following amendments to Calendar Number 198, 15 Senate Print 2655, and ask that said bill retain 16 its place on Third Reading Calendar. 17 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Senator 18 DiCarlo, the amendments are received and 19 adopted. The bill will retain its place on the 20 Third Reading Calendar. 21 The chair recognizes Senator 22 DiCarlo. 23 SENATOR DiCARLO: Also, Mr. 2555 1 President, on behalf of Senator Nozzolio, on 2 page 8, I offer the following amendments to 3 Calendar Number 51, Senate Print 16, and ask 4 that said bill retain its place on Third Reading 5 Calendar. 6 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: 7 Amendments are received and adopted. The bill 8 will retain its place on the Third Reading 9 Calendar. 10 The chair recognizes Senator 11 Sears for a motion. 12 SENATOR SEARS: Mr. President. 13 On page 18, I offer the following amendments to 14 Calendar Number 230, Senate Print number 210B, 15 and ask that said bill retain its place on the 16 Third Reading Calendar. 17 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: 18 Amendments are received and adopted. The bill 19 will retain its place on the Third Reading 20 Calendar. 21 Chair recognizes Senator Hannon 22 for a motion. 23 SENATOR HANNON: Mr. President. 2556 1 On page 23, Calendar Number 185, Print 3323, I 2 first of all would like to remove the star, 3 which is a sponsor star, and I would like to 4 offer up the following amendments and move their 5 adoption. 6 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: 7 Amendments are received and adopted and a 8 sponsor star is removed. 9 Chair recognizes Senator Hannon 10 for another motion. 11 SENATOR HANNON: Mr. President. 12 Also, on behalf of Senator Lack, on page 10, 13 Calendar Number 110, Print 2135, I offer up the 14 following amendments and move their adoption. 15 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: 16 Amendments are received and adopted. Bill will 17 retain its place on the Third Reading Calendar. 18 Senator Bruno, that brings us to 19 the calendar. 20 SENATOR BRUNO: Mr. President. 21 Can we now take up the noncontroversial 22 calendar. 23 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The 2557 1 Secretary will read the noncontroversial 2 calendar. 3 THE SECRETARY: On page 12, 4 Calendar Number 143, by Senator Saland, Senate 5 Print 2119. 6 SENATOR PATERSON: Lay it aside. 7 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Lay the 8 bill aside. 9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 10 154, by Senator Spano, Senate Print 1045A, an 11 act to amend the Civil Service Law, in relation 12 to disciplinary action. 13 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Secretary 14 will read the last section. 15 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This 16 act shall take effect immediately. 17 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Call the 18 roll. 19 (The Secretary called the roll.) 20 THE SECRETARY: Ayes 48. 21 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The bill 22 is passed. 23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 2558 1 157, by Senator Trunzo, Senate Print 2223, an 2 act to amend the Retirement and Social Security 3 Law, in relation to allowing participating 4 employers in the New York State and Local 5 Employees Retirement system. 6 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The bill 7 is laid aside. 8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 9 178, by Senator Lack, Senate Print 1298, an act 10 to amend the Real Property Law, in relation to 11 allowing an assessment of mortgage in lieu of a 12 certificate of discharge. 13 SENATOR PATERSON: Lay it aside. 14 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Lay the 15 bill aside. 16 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 17 208, by Senator Marchi, Senate Print 2495, an 18 act to amend Chapter 395 of the Laws of 1978, 19 relating to moratoriums on the issuance of 20 certificates of environmental safety. 21 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Secretary 22 will read the last section. 23 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This 2559 1 act shall take effect immediately. 2 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Call the 3 roll. 4 (The Secretary called the roll.) 5 THE SECRETARY: Ayes 50. 6 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The bill 7 is passed. 8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 9 209, by Senator Johnson, Senate Print 2724, an 10 act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law, 11 in relation to limiting access to commercial 12 fisheries and marine waters and declaring a 13 temporary moratorium. 14 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Secretary 15 will read the last section. 16 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This 17 act shall take effect immediately. 18 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Call the 19 roll. 20 (The Secretary called the roll.) 21 THE SECRETARY: Ayes 50. 22 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The bill 23 is passed. 2560 1 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 2 216, by Senator Hoblock, Senate Print 3354, an 3 act to amend the Public Officers Law, in 4 relation to activities by former state officers 5 and employees. 6 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Secretary 7 will read the last section. 8 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This 9 act shall take effect immediately. 10 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Call the 11 roll. 12 (The Secretary called the roll.) 13 THE SECRETARY: Ayes 50. 14 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The bill 15 is passed. 16 Senator Bruno, that completes the 17 noncontroversial calendar. What is your 18 pleasure? 19 SENATOR BRUNO: Will you 20 recognize Senator Goodman. 21 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The chair 22 recognizes Senator Goodman. 23 SENATOR GOODMAN: Please record 2561 1 me in the negative on Calendar 154. 2 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Without 3 objection, Senator Goodman will be recorded in 4 the negative on Calendar Number 154. 5 Senator Bruno. 6 SENATOR BRUNO: Mr. President. 7 Can we at this time take up the controversial 8 calendar. 9 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Secretary 10 will read the controversial calendar. 11 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 12 143, by Senator Saland, Senate Bill 2119, an act 13 to amend the Social Services Law, in relation to 14 bona fide research projects. 15 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Senator 16 Saland, an explanation has been asked for by 17 Senator Paterson. 18 SENATOR SALAND: Mr. President. 19 This bill is a bill which was introduced at the 20 behest of the Committee on Children and the Law 21 of the Association of the Bar of the City of New 22 York, who believed that there were a number of 23 impediments to bona fide research projects being 2562 1 able to access certain social service 2 information, social service information with 3 respect to either foster care or preventive 4 services. 5 This bill attempts to establish a 6 procedure to permit that and goes about 7 establishing an advisory panel which will be 8 comprised of advocates, research personnel, and 9 determines what their charge shall be in the 10 course of creating this mechanism. It attempts 11 to balance the need for privacy with the genuine 12 need to research for purposes of determining not 13 only effectiveness of programs but also to 14 compile some type of statistical data as well. 15 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Chair 16 recognizes Senator Paterson. 17 SENATOR PATERSON: Thank you very 18 much, Mr. President. First of all, Mr. 19 President, I would like to thank Senator Saland 20 for his patience on this particular piece of 21 legislation. He has had it before the house 22 previously, and I just want to know if he will 23 yield to this one question? 2563 1 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Senator 2 Saland, do you yield to Senator Paterson? 3 SENATOR SALAND: Certainly, Mr. 4 President. 5 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Senator 6 is happy to yield. 7 SENATOR PATERSON: Can you 8 document for us, Senator Saland, briefly, what 9 some of the protections are built into this 10 legislation that will make sure that the privacy 11 of individuals who happen to be eligible for 12 different types of social service will be 13 reflected in the research and that the 14 information will not get into what would be 15 hands that might be detrimental to those who 16 have a right to a certain privacy on this 17 issue? 18 SENATOR SALAND: There is nothing 19 in this bill that amends any existing provisions 20 of the law with respect to penalties for 21 violating the confidentiality or the privacy 22 that is imposed by law. So to the extent that 23 there is currently a penalty that penalty exists 2564 1 and will continue to exist. 2 The language in this bill in the 3 several sections that it amends talks in terms 4 of permitting research -- I'm sorry - 5 permitting access for purposes of bona fide 6 research projects. Identifying information 7 shall not be made available unless it is 8 absolutely essential. 9 And that "absolutely essential" 10 is not unlike the language contained in the 11 existing Social Service Law in one particular 12 section. I believe it's found in one of the 13 subsections of Section 422 of the Social Service 14 Law. There is no intent here to permit or 15 encourage wholesale and indiscriminate access to 16 information. 17 This is limited basically to 18 research performed by so-called bona fide 19 researchers, and the format will, again, be 20 determined by the panel, the Child Welfare 21 Research Advisory Panel, which will basically 22 set out the mode by which this information shall 23 become available; and if you look at page 2 of 2565 1 the bill, it sets forth those who shall comprise 2 that panel, and I believe it's done in a rather 3 equitable way and a way which is intended to 4 demonstrate balance. 5 It talks in terms of the panel 6 shall also include but not be limited to 7 representatives of the following categories: 8 Agencies providing child welfare services 9 including child protective services, foster 10 care, preventive services and adoption services; 11 advocates for and recipients of services to 12 children and families; and social science and 13 child research professionals. 14 So I think the effort here has 15 been to certainly try and create a balanced 16 mechanism that recognizes not only the 17 importance of privacy but the importance of 18 research, research which basically will, I 19 think, help us here in this body to determine 20 the efficacy of the various programs that, as I 21 understand it, have not had some type of bona 22 fide research -- and I use that in the sense in 23 which it's set forth in this bill -- probably 2566 1 since sometime in the early '70s. 2 SENATOR PATERSON: Thank you. 3 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: 4 Explanation satisfactory? 5 Senator Galiber. 6 SENATOR GALIBER: Senator, I, 7 too, particularly want to thank you because I'm 8 moving a little slower than I usually do this 9 year, and thanks for your courtesy. 10 SENATOR SALAND: But I'm sure in 11 not too -- in not too short order, you will be 12 moving as rapidly as before. 13 SENATOR GALIBER: Senator, there 14 are some troubling portions of this bill. 15 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Senator 16 Galiber, excuse me. Are you asking Senator 17 Saland to yield? 18 SENATOR GALIBER: I'm sorry, Mr. 19 President. Yes. 20 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Senator 21 Saland, do you yield? 22 SENATOR SALAND: Yes. 23 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Senator 2567 1 yields. 2 Senator Galiber. 3 SENATOR GALIBER: Thank you, Mr. 4 President. 5 This business of research 6 troubles me a little bit. It seems to be a 7 little broad, and there are those of us who have 8 been concerned about confidentiality and the 9 real need in terms of releasing this kind of 10 information and how it would be used. My 11 understanding of the bill, which doesn't make it 12 so, of course, is that even the news media can 13 get this information under special 14 circumstances. That troubles me. 15 Just as I have often said on the 16 floor that Orwell was correct in predicting in 17 1984 what we would have; and 1984 passed, and no 18 one said anything about it. We have children 19 now who are getting Social Security numbers 20 before they are born almost. 21 Therefore, I would like you to 22 comment on the research portion of it: The idea 23 of how far do we take this and balance it out 2568 1 with constitutional rights, the question of 2 privacy and whether the need for it outweighs 3 the potential damage it will do in the future 4 having this information fall into the wrong 5 hands. 6 We have a situation today. We 7 hear about the super highway; and if we adopt 8 this super highway, everybody's phone will be 9 tapped. Big corporations are going to foreign 10 markets to avoid that possibility. 11 So those of us who are sensitive 12 -- this is not to suggest, Senator, that you 13 are not sensitive in this area. You come with 14 good faith and good purpose behind this. I just 15 throw up a flag of warning because in the last 16 fifteen years or so, we have trampled on so many 17 basic rights, and we're giving out information 18 where we should not. It doesn't go with the 19 democracy that this country represents. 20 So I would like you, if you will, 21 to elaborate a bit on what would the research - 22 what purpose would it serve? What kind of 23 research? And, secondly, I'm always a little 2569 1 nervous when bills pass where confidentiality is 2 involved and the news media under certain 3 circumstances has access to it. 4 SENATOR SALAND: Mr. President. 5 Senator, my understanding is that 6 the language in this bill parallels language 7 that's existing currently in federal 8 regulation. I don't think that there is 9 anything in this bill that is either by the 10 nature of the language in this bill or by my 11 intent as the sponsor of the bill intended to 12 give carte blanche to anybody under the guise of 13 a research project to have indiscriminate access 14 to any and all records. 15 I would continue to point to the 16 language in the bill that says there must be a 17 bona fide research project that is the purpose 18 of the inquiry. Identifying information shall 19 not be available, however, unless it's 20 absolutely essential to the research purpose and 21 the Department gives prior approval. There is a 22 screening mechanism that exists. There is, as 23 you're probably aware, currently a consent order 2570 1 -- the bill memo makes reference to it -- that 2 limits access to information. This bill would 3 propose to basically modify that particular 4 consent order or stipulation, and the court -- I 5 believe in this particular case it's a federal 6 court -- would certainly have to rule on whether 7 this proposal comported with the stipulation 8 and, in turn, permitted a modification of that 9 stipulation. I don't view this as being 10 invasive. I don't view this as a tool by which 11 the media shall have access because I don't view 12 the media regardless of what they do in the form 13 of investigative journalism as really being part 14 of what would be deemed a bona fide research 15 proposal or project. 16 SENATOR GALIBER: Thank you. 17 Mr. President, would the Senator 18 yield for just one more question? 19 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Senator 20 Saland, do you yield for another question? 21 SENATOR SALAND: Yes, Mr. 22 President. 23 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Senator 2571 1 yields, Senator Galiber. 2 SENATOR GALIBER: Give me an 3 example or two of what a bona fide research 4 group would be. What would they be doing? 5 SENATOR SALAND: I would think 6 that a bona fide research group might if it 7 wanted to look into issues of preventive care, 8 if it wanted to look into issues of adoption 9 services, if it wanted to take a look at issues 10 dealing with abuse or neglect. Certainly 11 someone with an academic background who wanted 12 to do some type of a statistical analysis, say, 13 in the instance of preventive services dealing 14 with either foster care or perhaps as a 15 precursor to an adoption placement, may want to 16 do an analysis of programs and determine which 17 of the programs have, in effect, had the best 18 results. That type of research has been wanting 19 in this state probably for the better part of a 20 couple of decades now. Whether that's a 21 reflection of the consent order that was entered 22 somewhere back around 1980 or 1982, I couldn't 23 tell you, but that type of research certainly 2572 1 has not been shown to be on the cutting edge 2 anywhere within recent memory in this state. 3 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: 4 Explanation satisfactory, Senator Galiber? 5 SENATOR GALIBER: Yes, Mr. 6 President. 7 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Secretary 8 will read the last section. 9 THE SECRETARY: Section 6. This 10 act shall take effect on the 120th day after it 11 shall have become a law. 12 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Call the 13 roll. 14 (The Secretary called the roll.) 15 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Announce 16 the results when tabulated. 17 Senator Galiber to explain his 18 vote. 19 SENATOR GALIBER: Yes, very 20 briefly. I missed a point, Senator, before, 21 when I talked about -- it came to mind -- bona 22 fide group. There was a bona fide group of 23 persons who injected a number of people with 2573 1 syphilis some years ago and didn't tell them 2 about it. That was an example of a bona fide 3 group also. 4 I vote no. 5 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Senator 6 Paterson to explain his vote. 7 SENATOR PATERSON: Mr. 8 President. I agree with Senator Galiber or 9 "Gal-eh-bear" if you are a Caribbean. He makes 10 a really important point that I think we all 11 need to consider; and that is, any kind of 12 research of any information derived from 13 services that come from the public domain have 14 got to be scrupulously careful to protect the 15 privacy of the recipient or the client. In this 16 particular case, there is a great deal of reform 17 in the social service area. Much of it is 18 merited; but at the same time, we have to 19 understand that it is not open season on 20 individuals who due to their unfortunate status 21 in life depend on government very much for their 22 survival. Their reality should not become the 23 source of inquiry or curiosity on the part of 2574 1 individuals who are just trying to use it to 2 advance an agenda. 3 I vote no, Mr. President. 4 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Senator 5 Paterson in the negative. Announce the results. 6 THE SECRETARY: Those recorded in 7 the negative on Calendar Number 143 are Senators 8 Galiber, Gold, Mendez and Paterson, also Senator 9 Smith. Ayes 46. Nays 5. 10 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The bill 11 is passed. 12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 13 157, by Senator Trunzo, Senate Bill 2223, an act 14 to amend the Retirement and Social Security Law, 15 in relation to allowing participating employers 16 in the New York State and Local Employees 17 Retirement System. 18 SENATOR PATERSON: Explanation. 19 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Senator 20 Trunzo, an explanation has been asked for by 21 Senator Paterson. 22 SENATOR TRUNZO: Mr. President. 23 This bill would allow part-time elected 2575 1 officials to receive retirement service credit 2 based on time actually spent on official 3 business. The governing body of a participating 4 employer that has a part-time elected official 5 would be allowed to have retirement system 6 service credit calculated on the basis of daily 7 time records maintained by the elected officer. 8 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Senator 9 Paterson. 10 SENATOR PATERSON: Mr. 11 President. Would you be so kind as to recognize 12 Senator Jones who has a couple of questions for 13 the Senator. 14 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Senator 15 Jones. 16 SENATOR JONES: Would Senator 17 Trunzo yield to a question? 18 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Senator 19 Trunzo, do you yield to a couple of questions 20 from Senator Jones? 21 SENATOR TRUNZO: Yes. 22 SENATOR JONES: Senator Trunzo, 23 could you give me an example of who these people 2576 1 might be that would fall under this category? 2 Are we talking about like town board members? 3 SENATOR TRUNZO: Yes, elected 4 officials who work for the town, especially some 5 of these small towns where they're making five 6 or six or seven thousand dollars, and their 7 pension credit is prorated as strictly part 8 time, and he doesn't get his full credit, and 9 yet he may be out working on official business 10 more than 40 hours a week; and, therefore, he 11 would get this full credit for retirement 12 purposes. 13 SENATOR JONES: Would the Senator 14 yield to another question? 15 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Senator 16 Trunzo, do you yield to another question? 17 SENATOR TRUNZO: Yes. 18 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Senator 19 yields. 20 SENATOR JONES: Would it be 21 correct to say most of these people, though, 22 would have a full-time job doing something else 23 and this is like an evening -- at least that's 2577 1 the way it is with the town boards back our way. 2 SENATOR TRUNZO: Yes, but they 3 have to be out on official business on the off 4 hours to justify that they are really in a sense 5 working full time, and the Comptroller -- this 6 bill was negotiated out with the Comptroller, 7 Association of Towns and Counties and stuff, to 8 justify this position where a part-time elected 9 official can at least prove and his records 10 would be audited to make sure that he did put in 11 the number of hours so they can prorate him up 12 to whatever scale, even to the full amount of 13 credit, for pension purposes. 14 SENATOR JONES: Would the Senator 15 yield to one more question? 16 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Senator 17 Trunzo, do you continue to yield? 18 SENATOR TRUNZO: Yes. 19 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Senator 20 continues to yield. 21 SENATOR JONES: Do you have an 22 idea, Senator, what -- I guess, first of all, 23 who would be paying the bill? I assume it's 2578 1 local government. Do you have any idea what 2 kind of a fiscal implication it would have on 3 small towns? 4 SENATOR TRUNZO: The fiscal 5 implication would be spread out to all employers 6 of the system, so nobody would be hit 7 individually. 8 SENATOR JONES: That doesn't make 9 sense to me. 10 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Secretary 11 will read the last section. 12 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This 13 act shall take effect on the first day of 14 January. 15 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Call the 16 roll. 17 (The Secretary called the roll.) 18 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Announce 19 the results when tabulated. 20 THE SECRETARY: Those recorded in 21 the negative on Calendar Number 157 are Senators 22 Dollinger and Jones. Ayes 50. Nays 2. Also 23 Senator Leichter. Ayes 49. Nays 3. 2579 1 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The bill 2 is passed. 3 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 4 178, by Senator Lack, Senate Bill Number 1298, 5 an act to amend the Real Property Tax Law. 6 SENATOR BRUNO: Lay it aside for 7 the day at the request of the sponsor. 8 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Lay the 9 bill aside for the day at the request of the 10 sponsor. 11 Senator Bruno, that completes the 12 controversial calendar. 13 Chair will recognize Senator 14 Mendez. 15 SENATOR MENDEZ: Thank you, Mr. 16 President. There will be an immediate 17 Democratic conference after we adjourn. 18 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: There 19 will be an immediate meeting of the Minority 20 Democratic Conference in the Minority Conference 21 Room immediately following adjournment. 22 Chair recognizes Senator Bruno. 23 SENATOR BRUNO: Mr. President, I 2580 1 believe there are some committee assignments at 2 the desk. I would ask that they be read at this 3 time. 4 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Secretary 5 will read. 6 THE SECRETARY: Senator Bruno 7 hands up the following committee changes: 8 Committee on Aging, delete 9 Senator Marino, add Senator Maziarz. 10 Committee on Children and 11 Families, delete Senator Marino, add Senator 12 Marcellino. 13 Senate Committee on Cities, 14 delete Senator Velella, add Senator Spano. 15 Committee on Civil Service and 16 Pensions, delete Senator Farley, add Senator 17 Marcellino. 18 Committee on Codes, delete 19 Senator Tully, add Senator Hoblock. 20 Committee on Commerce, delete 21 Senator Johnson, add Senator Maziarz. 22 Consumer Protection, delete 23 Senator Marino, add Senator Marcellino. 2581 1 Crime Victims and Corrections, 2 delete Senator Larkin, add Senator Maziarz. 3 Committee on Education, delete 4 Senator Skelos, add Senator Marcellino. 5 Committee on Energy, delete 6 Senator Volker, add Senator Maziarz. 7 Committee on Housing, delete 8 Senator Marino and Farley, add Senator Maziarz 9 and Senator Libous. 10 Committee on Labor, delete 11 Senator Farley, add Senator Marcellino. 12 Committee on Social Services, 13 delete Senator Marino, add Senator Marcellino. 14 Committee on Tourism, delete 15 Senator Kuhl, add Senator Maziarz. 16 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The 17 changes will be filed in the Journal. 18 Chair recognizes Senator Bruno. 19 SENATOR BRUNO: Mr. President. 20 Are there any additional housekeeping tasks at 21 the desk? 22 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Secretary 23 informs me there is nothing at the desk at this 2582 1 time, Senator Bruno. 2 SENATOR BRUNO: Then, Mr. 3 President, there being no further business to 4 come before the Senate, I move that we adjourn 5 until 2:00, not 3:00, p.m. tomorrow. 6 Thank you. 7 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Without 8 objection, the Senate stands adjourned until 9 tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. 10 (Whereupon, at 3:32 p.m., Senate 11 adjourned.) 12 13 14 15