Wednesday, March 23, 2011

1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE 2 3 4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD 5 6 7 8 9 ALBANY, NEW YORK 10 March 23, 2011 11 3:14 p.m. 12 13 14 REGULAR SESSION 15 16 17 18 SENATOR THOMAS F. O'MARA, Acting President 19 FRANCIS W. PATIENCE, Secretary 20 21 22 23 24 25

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 P R O C E E D I N G S 2 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: The 3 Senate will come to order. 4 I ask everyone to join me in the 5 Pledge of Allegiance. 6 (Whereupon, the assemblage recited 7 the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.) 8 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: Please 9 remain standing. 10 And we have the Reverend Peter G. 11 Young, from the Mother Teresa Community Church 12 here in Albany, to lead us in a prayer. 13 REVEREND YOUNG: Thank you, 14 Senator. Let us pray. 15 As we prepare for, today, 5 inches 16 of snow, we ask You, O God, to brighten our 17 days with sunshine and those relaxing days of 18 enjoying our great resources of New York 19 State. 20 God, by Your love, You've made a 21 world where we have become neighbors to each 22 other and we are enabled to love one another. 23 Grant that we too may live and use this Senate 24 to strive toward a way of life in keeping with 25 Your plan. We ask You this now and forever.

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 Amen. 2 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: The 3 reading of the Journal. 4 THE SECRETARY: In Senate, 5 Tuesday, March 22, 2011, the Senate met 6 pursuant to adjournment. The Journal of 7 Monday, March 21, 2011, was read and approved. 8 On motion, Senate adjourned. 9 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: Without 10 objection, the Journal stands approved as 11 read. 12 Presentation of petitions. 13 Messages from the Assembly. 14 Messages from the Governor. 15 Reports of standing committees. 16 Reports of select committees. 17 Communication and communications 18 and reports from state officers. 19 Motions and resolutions. 20 Senator Breslin. 21 SENATOR BRESLIN: Thank you, 22 Mr. President. 23 On behalf of Senator 24 Hassell-Thompson, I move that the following 25 bill be discharged from its respective

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 committee and be recommitted with instructions 2 to strike the enacting clause: Bill 3277. 3 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: So 4 ordered. 5 SENATOR BRESLIN: Thank you, 6 Mr. President. 7 On behalf of Senator Parker, I move 8 that the following bill be discharged from its 9 respective committee and be recommitted with 10 instructions to strike the enacting clause: 11 Bill 3617. 12 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: So 13 ordered. 14 SENATOR BRESLIN: Thank you, 15 Mr. President. 16 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: Senator 17 Klein. 18 SENATOR KLEIN: Mr. President, on 19 behalf of myself, on my legislation, on page 20 number 8 I offer the following amendments to 21 Calendar Number 57, Senate Print Number 990, 22 and ask that said bill retain its place on 23 Third Reading Calendar. 24 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: The 25 amendments are received and adopted, and the

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 bill will maintain its place on Third Reading 2 Calendar. 3 Senator Libous. 4 SENATOR LIBOUS: Thank you, 5 Mr. President. 6 Mr. President, on behalf of Senator 7 Maziarz, on page 12 I offer the following 8 amendments to Calendar Number 128, Senate 9 Print 164B, and ask that the bill retain its 10 place on the Third Reading Calendar. 11 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: The 12 amendments are received and adopted, and the 13 bill will maintain its place on the Third 14 Reading Calendar. 15 SENATOR LIBOUS: And, 16 Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Grisanti, 17 on page 17 I offer the following amendments to 18 Calendar Number 196, Senate Print 3133, and 19 ask that the bill retain its place on the 20 Third Reading Calendar. 21 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: The 22 amendments are received and adopted, and the 23 bill will retain its place on the Third 24 Reading Calendar. 25 SENATOR LIBOUS: Mr. President, I

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 believe that at the desk is a resolution, 2 Number 999, by Senator Ritchie. I ask that we 3 read its title and move for its immediate 4 adoption. 5 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: The 6 Secretary will read. 7 THE SECRETARY: By Senator 8 Ritchie, Legislative Resolution 999, honoring 9 the New York State Maple Producers for their 10 success in making New York the second-largest 11 maple-producing state in the nation. 12 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: On the 13 resolution, all in favor signify by saying 14 aye. 15 (Response of "Aye.") 16 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: 17 Opposed, nay. 18 (No response.) 19 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: The 20 resolution is adopted. 21 Senator Libous. 22 SENATOR LIBOUS: Mr. President, 23 there's a privileged resolution at the desk by 24 Senator Klein. May we please have the title 25 read and move for its immediate adoption.

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: The 2 Secretary will read. 3 THE SECRETARY: By Senator Klein, 4 legislative resolution commemorating the 125th 5 Anniversary of the Villa Maria Academy of the 6 Bronx, New York, March 26, 2011. 7 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: The 8 question is on the resolution. All in favor 9 signify by saying aye. 10 (Response of "Aye.") 11 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: 12 Opposed, nay. 13 (No response.) 14 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: The 15 resolution is adopted. 16 Senator Libous. 17 SENATOR LIBOUS: Thank you, 18 Mr. President. 19 Senator Serrano has a privileged 20 resolution at the desk. He would like to have 21 the title read, and I believe he would like to 22 speak on it. 23 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: The 24 Secretary will read. 25 THE SECRETARY: By Senator

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 Serrano, legislative resolution memorializing 2 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to declare 8:30 p.m. 3 on Saturday, March 26, 2011, as Earth Hour in 4 the State of New York. 5 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: Senator 6 Serrano. 7 SENATOR SERRANO: Thank you, 8 Mr. President. 9 Today I'm introducing a very 10 important resolution for the third year in a 11 row. This resolution declares this Saturday, 12 March 26th, at 83:00 p.m. as Earth Hour. 13 Earth hour is a globally observed 14 hour conceived in a statement of action 15 against global climate change. It calls upon 16 people from all over the world to turn off 17 their nonessential lights for one hour. 18 Last year nearly 2,400 cities, 19 towns and municipalities in over 83 countries 20 observed Earth Hour. This year cities ranging 21 from Tel Aviv, Israel, to Copenhagen, Denmark, 22 have already pledged to observe Earth Hour. 23 By flipping the switch for one hour 24 and turning off their nonessential lights, 25 citizens around the world signify that they

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 understand the urgency of climate change and 2 are prepared to tackle the challenges head on. 3 New York State is a global icon and 4 home to some of the most beloved landmarks in 5 the world, from Niagara Falls in Buffalo to 6 Yankee Stadium in my own district. Actions 7 taken by the Empire State have both a symbolic 8 effect and a very tangible effect on the rest 9 of the world. 10 For the last several years, at my 11 request, the Empire State Building and a 12 number of other sites went dark for one hour. 13 It is my hope that participation will be even 14 greater this year and that all of my 15 colleagues here today will join me in helping 16 to increase participation within their own 17 districts and surrounding neighborhoods. 18 I hope all of you will join me in 19 support as we designate 8:30 p.m. on March 26, 20 2011, as Earth Hour throughout the great State 21 of New York. Thank you. 22 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: Thank 23 you, Senator Serrano. 24 The question is on the resolution. 25 All in favor signify by saying aye.

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 (Response of "Aye.") 2 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: Those 3 opposed, nay. 4 (No response.) 5 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: The 6 resolution is adopted. 7 Senator Libous. 8 SENATOR LIBOUS: Thank you, 9 Mr. President. 10 Mr. President, there is a 11 privileged resolution at the desk by Senator 12 Stewart-Cousins. May we please have it read 13 in its entirety and call on Senator 14 Stewart-Cousins before its adoption, please. 15 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: The 16 Secretary will read. 17 THE SECRETARY: By Senators 18 Stewart-Cousins, McDonald and Johnson, 19 legislative resolution commending Firefighter 20 Michael Giroux in recognition of his heroic 21 action on March 4, 2011, in saving the lives 22 of two citizens. 23 "WHEREAS, It is the sense of this 24 Legislative Body to recognize and commend the 25 caring concern and heroic acts of individuals

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 in public service who take prompt and 2 appropriate action in emergency situations, 3 nobly risking their own lives in an effort to 4 preserve the life of another; and 5 "WHEREAS, Attendant to such 6 concerns, and in full accord with its 7 long-standing traditions, this Legislative 8 Body is justly proud to commend Firefighter 9 Michael Giroux in recognition of his heroic 10 action on March 4, 2011, in saving the lives 11 of two citizens; and 12 "WHEREAS, The son of Richard and 13 Ann Giroux, Michael Giroux is a native of 14 Albany, New York. He attended Shenendehowa 15 schools in Clifton Park before earning his 16 Bachelor of Science degree from the State 17 University of New York at Cortland and later a 18 master's degree in Ex-Physiology from Adelphi 19 University; and 20 "WHEREAS, Michael Giroux worked at 21 Cornell Medical Center and for several private 22 doctors before accepting a position with the 23 City of Yonkers Fire Department in 2000, where 24 he was assigned to serve Ladder 71, Rescue 25 One. In this capacity, he serves as a

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 specialist in technical rescue who trains 2 emergency personnel in saving lives from 3 confined spaces, collapsed trenches and rope 4 rescues from buildings and escarpments; and 5 "WHEREAS, On the afternoon of 6 Friday, March 4, 2011, two workers were 7 painting the facade of a high-rise building on 8 Nepperhan Avenue in the City of Yonkers, 9 New York, when their platform malfunctioned, 10 causing them to dangle perilously 13 stories 11 above the ground; and 12 "WHEREAS, Despite high winds, 13 Firefighter Michael Giroux and his dedicated 14 colleagues set a plan in action to safely 15 remove the painters. He was chosen for his 16 expertise to rappel down the 27-story 17 apartment building from the building's roof to 18 rescue the two men who were trapped; and 19 "WHEREAS, Using the skills and 20 techniques he has taught others, Michael 21 Giroux went to work rescuing the first worker, 22 who he deemed to be in the most immediate 23 danger. After successfully harnessing and 24 lowering the first man to the ground, he 25 immediately repeated the heroic actions,

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 rescuing the second worker; and 2 "WHEREAS, Michael Giroux's quick 3 command and the heroic efforts of both he and 4 his entire team resulted in the inspiring 5 rescue that saved the lives of these two men; 6 and 7 "WHEREAS, Firefighter Michael 8 Giroux's heroic actions were not possible 9 without the help of Assistant Chief Roger 10 Vitola and Firefighter Jose Caraballo of 11 Battalion 1, Lieutenant Nicholas Sarro, 12 Firefighter Brendan Healy, Firefighter Joseph 13 Golusinski and Firefighter Douglas Higgins of 14 Rescue 1; Captain Rudolph Sarro, Firefighter 15 Timothy Sullivan, Firefighter John Rodriguez 16 and Firefighter Kendrick Geiger of Ladder 71; 17 Lieutenant Brian McCaffrey, Firefighter Brian 18 Curran, Firefighter Kevin Mozdziak and 19 Firefighter William Castillo of Engine 303; 20 Lieutenant Christopher Williams, Firefighter 21 Neill Tyndal, Jr., Firefighter Hugh McGahran, 22 Firefighter Antonio C. Rodriques of Engine 23 304; Captain Joseph Darcy, Firefighter Hung 24 Chun, Firefighter John Spano and Firefighter 25 Christopher Leal of Engine 306; Lieutenant

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 Daniel Flynn, Firefighter Christopher 2 Mitchell, Firefighter Sean Flanagan and 3 Firefighter Brian Pugsley of Engine 309; 4 Captain John Aitcheson, Firefighter Michael 5 Bernardi, Firefighter Peter Coogan and 6 Firefighter Rocco DeVito of Ladder 72; 7 Assistant Chief Brian Travers and Firefighter 8 Dan Kime of Battalion 2; Captain Thomas 9 Travers, Firefighter Sean Faughnan, 10 Firefighter Sean Connolly and Firefighter 11 James Duff of Squad 11; Lieutenant Kevin Cox, 12 Firefighter Joseph Yedowitz, Firefighter 13 Lawrence Valentino and Firefighter William 14 Nowak of Engine 312; Lieutenant Michael 15 Hanney, Firefighter Joseph Pinto, Firefighter 16 Charles Maron and Firefighter Daniel 17 Stangarone of Ladder 75; and Assistant Chief 18 William Fitzpatrick, Lieutenant Allen Felman, 19 Lieutenant Ronald DeMarco, Firefighter Eugene 20 Kelly and Assistant Chief John Flynn of 21 Special Operations; and 22 "WHEREAS, Also assisting in the 23 rescue efforts were members of the Yonkers 24 Police Department's Emergency Services Unit, 25 including Captain Thomas Barnett, Sergeant

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 Robert Akey, Police Officer Dennis Borelli, 2 Police Officer Jorge Cordero, Police Officer 3 Jamie Molino, and Police Officer Anthony 4 Alaimo; and 5 "WHEREAS, Upon getting to the 6 scene, the Yonkers Police Department's 7 Emergency Services Unit was able to gain 8 access to the victims through an apartment 9 window on the 14th floor, enabling them to 10 pass the initial safety line to the men taking 11 them out of imminent danger; and 12 "WHEREAS, The members of the 13 Yonkers Police Department's Emergency Services 14 Unit were able to speak and translate to the 15 painters, who spoke only Spanish, while also 16 conducting a medical assessment, keeping the 17 situation under control; and 18 "WHEREAS, Due to the help from all 19 of these emergency response crews, who were 20 instrumental with the rescue of the two 21 workers after their scaffold collapsed, 22 Firefighter Michael Giroux's efforts were 23 triumphant; and 24 "WHEREAS, With him throughout have 25 been his wife, Deana Giroux, and their two

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 daughters, all of whom feel privileged to be a 2 part of his life and rejoice in his 3 achievements; and 4 "WHEREAS, Michael Giroux has truly 5 distinguished himself as one of New York's 6 finest. When an act of such magnanimous 7 heroism is brought to our official attention, 8 the same should be memorialized for the 9 edification and emulation of all; now, 10 therefore, be it 11 "RESOLVED, That this Legislative 12 Body pause in its deliberations to commend 13 Firefighter Michael Giroux in recognition of 14 his heroic action on March 4, 2011, in saving 15 the life of two citizens; and be it further 16 "RESOLVED, That a copy of this 17 resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted 18 to Michael Giroux." 19 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: Senator 20 Stewart-Cousins on the resolution. 21 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: Thank 22 you, Mr. President. 23 And I do want to commend the 24 Secretary, because I know this was the very 25 first time that we've had an opportunity for

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 you to read. 2 And I think it's an auspicious time 3 for this to have happened, because there are 4 many days that we stand in this chamber and we 5 talk about heroic acts and we thank people who 6 have done extraordinary things. Many times, 7 however, we do it posthumously. I know the 8 last time I commended a Yonkers firefighter, 9 it was Firefighter Patrick Joyce, whose 10 heroism was just unimaginable, but only his 11 family and his colleagues and friends were 12 here; he was not. 13 So today is a day, I think, which 14 is exceptional because not only are we 15 celebrating heroism, but we have the heroes 16 here to celebrate collectively. 17 So you've heard the story of 18 Firefighter Michael Giroux, and you know that 19 he did things that no one of us would have 20 thought possible. Although we know actions 21 like this happen, but very few of us ever have 22 a bird's-eye view as you see a rescue such as 23 the one that Firefighter Giroux was able to 24 accomplish. 25 He went up one of the tallest

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 buildings in Yonkers. When we talked about 2 it, it was actually 27 stories, but he had to 3 go up even another story in order to position 4 the ropes properly and come down to rescue two 5 workers who were hanging by their harnesses 6 after their scaffold had broken. We watched 7 breathlessly, wondering how this was going to 8 happen, who was he going to rescue, was it 9 going to be successful, was he going to get 10 out all right? 11 And after about an hour and a half 12 of this partnership that happened between the 13 police and the emergency services, the 14 firefighters, Empress EMS, everybody -- with 15 all of us looking at this wonderful rescue 16 with a magnificent outcome, we were all not 17 only proud of the City of Yonkers but 18 indebted, as always, to the heroism of 19 Firefighter Giroux. 20 So I thought it was important to 21 bring these heroes here -- you've heard their 22 names and their ranks -- and thank them 23 collectively. 24 This happened in my district in 25 Yonkers, but I know that Firefighter Giroux

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 actually lives in Senator Johnson's district 2 and that his parents live in Senator 3 McDonald's district. So not only is it a 4 great event, but it's a celebration that we 5 can all enjoy across the state, remembering 6 how you risk your lives every day to protect 7 all of us, how important it is that we allow 8 you to smell your flowers and get your 9 accolades while you are here to enjoy it, how 10 grateful we are to your family for enduring 11 and supporting you as you make these 12 sacrifices, and how important it is that you 13 continue your work knowing that you have the 14 full community support. And as you've read in 15 this resolution, you certainly have. 16 So I wanted to thank you and 17 recognize that, again, Firefighter Giroux is 18 here with his loving parents, Richard and Ann; 19 his grandmother, Theresa Brassard, who's 20 accompanied by Jim Kelly; uncle Tim Walsh and 21 aunt Jeanie; and you also heard read in the 22 resolution his daughters Gianna and Samantha. 23 There are four generations here to come to 24 celebrate Firefighter Giroux. 25 Congratulations, Firefighter.

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 (Standing ovation). 2 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: And 3 just because all of the EMS people were not in 4 the resolution -- and they will be because all 5 of the names are there -- the Empress EMS 6 professionals who were key in the success of 7 the rescue: Chris Pinnock, Michelle 8 Marsalisi, Rich Rivera, Karen Novelli, Thomas 9 Daliy, Brian Hickey, and Marcel Cekuta. 10 And also here, and I think they 11 just went quickly out, was Barry McGoey, who's 12 the president of Yonkers Firefighters Local 13 Number 628, as well as Greg DeSousa, trustee, 14 Yonkers Firefighters Local 628, Captain Kevin 15 Ford, Augie Nigro, the assistant chief, 16 Michael McManus, president of the Professional 17 Firefighters Association of New York State, as 18 well as Sam Fresina, who is 19 secretary/treasurer of the New York State 20 Professional Firefighters Association. 21 We are all very, very proud of you. 22 And again, thank you so much for being heroic 23 and who you are. Congratulations. 24 (Applause.) 25 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: Thank

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 you, Senator Stewart-Cousins. 2 Senator Owen Johnson on the 3 resolution. 4 SENATOR JOHNSON: I would like to 5 add my congratulations, my pride in the 6 accomplishments of Michael Giroux and his team 7 of firemen. 8 The training he took and the 9 initiative he took showed not only 10 intelligence but bravery and courage. And I 11 wouldn't want to get on a 27-story building 12 and come down on a rope and try to save 13 somebody, but he did it, and he brought his 14 firemen with him. And it's a wonderful 15 inspiring story of heroism and rescue. 16 So thank you very much. 17 (Applause.) 18 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: Senator 19 McDonald on the resolution. 20 SENATOR McDONALD: Thank you, 21 Mr. President. Thank you, Senator 22 Stewart-Cousins. 23 And a special gratitude to a 24 home-grown hero and what you've done and all 25 your family. What an inspiration. It

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 certainly shows you that this state is a lot 2 smaller than people think it is. 3 Whether it's a New York State 4 trooper who's from the metropolitan area or 5 New York City or Long Island doing something 6 courageous in upstate New York, or somebody 7 originally from Saratoga County and the Albany 8 area going down and doing the same thing, it 9 makes you feel part of a family. An 10 inspiration to us all that we should never 11 forget that we're all here and we're all here 12 to help each other. And if there's somebody 13 in need, it doesn't matter who you are or 14 where you are, we've got people like 15 Firefighter Giroux and his colleagues in the 16 emergency services to be there for us. 17 So this is a double inspiration for 18 me. Thank you. 19 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: Senator 20 Klein on the resolution. 21 SENATOR KLEIN: Thank you, 22 Mr. President. 23 I want to thank Senator 24 Stewart-Cousins for bringing this resolution 25 before us today.

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 I have the privilege of 2 representing a small portion of the City of 3 Yonkers. But I do want to really congratulate 4 Michael on his heroic acts. You know, 5 unfortunately in many cases when we honor 6 police officers or firefighters they're not 7 here to accept our congratulations. Thank God 8 Michael's heroic acts, you know, left him 9 still with us. 10 You know, again, unfortunately when 11 we read our newspapers or watch our TVs 12 lately, our public sector-workers aren't 13 always getting the best rap. But I think it's 14 not only today but every day we have to say a 15 special thank you to our Yonkers bravest. And 16 I think Michael represents them best. 17 He risked his life. Many 18 New Yorkers were glued to their TV sets 19 watching what Michael was able to accomplish. 20 And I think we owe him a debt of gratitude. 21 And sometimes things -- there's a 22 lot of fate in life, people there at the right 23 time. And I think Michael's training, 24 Michael's heroic acts, Michael was the perfect 25 person to be there on that very day to save

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 those two workers. 2 So I thank you, Michael, and I know 3 you'll continue to protect us each and every 4 day in the great City of Yonkers. Thank you, 5 and thank you to your family. 6 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: Senator 7 Savino on the resolution. 8 SENATOR SAVINO: Thank you, 9 Mr. President. I also want to thank Senator 10 Stewart-Cousins for bringing this resolution. 11 And, you know, one of the most 12 riveting things I've seen on television in the 13 last month or so was not a movie, was not a 14 television show, certainly wasn't a reality 15 show -- it was the opportunity to watch 16 Michael Giroux and his colleagues, the 17 emergency service workers, rescue those two 18 workers who were hanging off the side of the 19 building. 20 For about an hour, Channel 7 21 Eyewitness News covered the entire event. And 22 I would like to tell you I was doing something 23 important, but I was actually at the nail 24 salon getting my nails done. And all the 25 women in the nail salon were transfixed by

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 this image on television of this situation 2 that was unfolding where these two workers 3 were hanging down the side of a building, and 4 they had emergency service cops trying to 5 figure out could they get them in through the 6 window. 7 And it was absolutely amazing to 8 see the level of professionalism that was 9 displayed by the Yonkers Police Department and 10 the Yonkers Fire Department. But the most 11 thrilling thing was to see, suddenly, from the 12 roof down, a firefighter rappel down the side 13 of the building and then stop and try to 14 figure out which one of those hanging workers 15 he was going to rescue first. 16 It was absolutely amazing. And it 17 just serves to remind us just how difficult 18 the job is that our first responders do every 19 day. 20 And as Senator Klein said, it's 21 very easy to forget because we open the 22 newspaper every day and we hear from county 23 executives and town supervisors and governors 24 and mayors about how we can't afford these 25 guys anymore, they cost us too much money,

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 their benefits are too high, their disability 2 risks are too high. It's very easy to think 3 that we can, you know, just value them in 4 terms of dollars and cents. 5 What we saw on March 4th on the 6 news, what we saw these guys do is priceless. 7 So whatever it is we're paying them, it's not 8 enough money. 9 Congratulations to Michael, to all 10 of his colleagues and the emergency service 11 workers. Thank God we're here today to say 12 thank you to you. And for those two workers 13 that you saved, thank God you were there for 14 them that day. 15 Thank you, Senator Stewart-Cousins 16 for bringing this. 17 And congratulations again. 18 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: Senator 19 Hassell-Thompson on the resolution. 20 SENATOR HASSELL-THOMPSON: Thank 21 you, Mr. President. Just very quickly before 22 they have to leave the chambers. 23 The City of Mount Vernon abuts 24 Yonkers. And one of the things, when I was on 25 the city council, that made me very

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 appreciative of having Yonkers as a neighbor 2 was the fact that whenever we had serious 3 emergencies and we could not handle them, 4 Yonkers was always there for us. And Yonkers 5 continues to be there for us. 6 And so I want to add my 7 congratulations and thanks to you, Michael, 8 and to your entire brigade for the work that 9 you continue to do and the support that you 10 continue to give to my city, the City of 11 Mount Vernon. And thank you. 12 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: Anyone 13 further wish to be heard on the resolution? 14 The question is on the resolution. 15 All those in favor signify by saying aye. 16 (Response of "Aye.") 17 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: 18 Opposed, nay. 19 (No response.) 20 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: The 21 resolution is adopted. 22 Senator Libous. 23 SENATOR LIBOUS: Thank you, 24 Mr. President. 25 Mr. President, can we now go to the

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 reading of the noncontroversial calendar. 2 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: Yes, 3 Senator Libous. The Secretary will read. 4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 5 103, by Senator Little, Senate Print 2912, an 6 act to authorize the Village of Saranac Lake. 7 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: A 8 home-rule message is at the desk. 9 Read the last section. 10 THE SECRETARY: Section 9. This 11 act shall take effect immediately. 12 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: Call 13 the roll. 14 (The Secretary called the roll.) 15 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59. 16 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: The 17 bill is passed. 18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 19 151, by Senator Gallivan, Senate Print 3037, 20 an act in relation to the dissolution of the 21 Wadsworth Library. 22 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: Read 23 the last section. 24 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This 25 act shall take effect immediately.

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: Call 2 the roll. 3 (The Secretary called the roll.) 4 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59. 5 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: The 6 bill is passed. 7 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 8 197, by Senator Young, Senate Print 793, an 9 act to amend the Agriculture and Markets Law. 10 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: Read 11 the last section. 12 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This 13 act shall take effect immediately. 14 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: Call 15 the roll. 16 (The Secretary called the roll.) 17 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 57. Nays, 18 2. Senator Hassell-Thompson and Senator 19 Espaillat in the negative. 20 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: The 21 bill is passed. 22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 23 200, by Senator Ritchie, Senate Print 3542, an 24 act requiring the State Fire Prevention and 25 Building Code.

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: Read 2 the last section. 3 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This 4 act shall take effect immediately. 5 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: Call 6 the roll. 7 (The Secretary called the roll.) 8 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: Senator 9 Ritchie to explain her vote. 10 SENATOR RITCHIE: In 2010 the 11 New York maple producers produced 12 312,000 gallons of syrup, which ranked 13 New York State second in the nation, following 14 only after Vermont. 15 Essentially this bill will enable 16 maple producers to avoid unnecessary and 17 costly upgrades to seasonal structures by 18 deeming them agricultural buildings. In 19 addition, this bill codifies the long-standing 20 relationship where producers welcome tourists 21 to promote their businesses. 22 I will be voting yes on this bill. 23 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: Senator 24 Ritchie will be recorded in the affirmative. 25 Senator Little, to explain her

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 vote. 2 SENATOR LITTLE: Thank you, 3 Mr. President. And thank you, Senator 4 Ritchie, for this bill. 5 Last Friday I had the pleasure of 6 tapping a maple tree at the opening of the 7 Maple Syrup Weekend. And I would just like to 8 recommend to anyone and everyone here, this 9 weekend is also a Maple Syrup Weekend. If you 10 have a place where they are doing the maple 11 syrup, it's a wonderful family event to go for 12 the pancake breakfast and really support our 13 maple producers. 14 We're number two in the country and 15 growing, and these are hardworking people. 16 But this bill will help them because their 17 sugar shack is actually only used a few weeks 18 a year. 19 So thank you for the bill, and I 20 will be voting in the affirmative. 21 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: Senator 22 Little to be recorded in the affirmative. 23 Announce the results. 24 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60. 25 (Applause.)

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: The 2 bill is passed. 3 This is Senator Ritchie's first 4 bill? No, second. Senator Ritchie's second 5 bill. 6 (Laughter.) 7 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: The 8 Secretary will read. 9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 10 236, by Senator Griffo, Senate Print 2778, an 11 act in relation to making certain findings. 12 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: A 13 home-rule message is at the desk. 14 Read the last section. 15 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This 16 act shall take effect immediately. 17 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: Call 18 the roll. 19 (The Secretary called the roll.) 20 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60. 21 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: The 22 bill is passed. 23 Senator Libous, that completes the 24 noncontroversial reading of the calendar for 25 today.

Candyco Transcription Service, Inc. 1 SENATOR LIBOUS: Mr. President, 2 thank you. 3 Senator Sampson, in consultation 4 with Senator Skelos, would like to hand up the 5 following committee assignments. I ask that 6 they be filed. 7 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: They 8 will be filed in the Journal, Senator. 9 SENATOR LIBOUS: Mr. President, 10 is there any further business at the desk? 11 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: There 12 is none. 13 SENATOR LIBOUS: There being no 14 further business, Mr. President, the Senate 15 will adjourn until Thursday, March 24th, at 16 11:00 a.m. 17 ACTING PRESIDENT O'MARA: On 18 motion, the Senate stands adjourned until 19 Thursday, March 24th, at 11:00 a.m. 20 (Whereupon, at 3:41 p.m., the 21 Senate adjourned.) 22 23 24 25

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