Gaveled in 11:30 AM · Albany, New York · 2013–14 session
NEW YORK STATE SENATE
THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
ALBANY, NEW YORK
March 21, 2013
11:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION
SENATOR JOHN J. BONACIC, Acting President
FRANCIS W. PATIENCE, Secretary
P R O C E E D I N G SACTING PRESIDENT BONACIC:The Senate will come to order.
I ask everyone present to please rise and repeat with me the Pledge of Allegiance.
(Whereupon, the assemblage recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BONACIC:We are joined today by Reverend Dennis Campbell, of United Community Baptist Church in Brooklyn.
Reverend.
REVEREND CAMPBELL:I am honored and delighted to be here and to be asked to give the invocation.
I just want to say thanks to Senator Kevin Parker of the 21st District, where United Community Baptist Church is located.
It is in this spirit that I greet all who are here today. Let us pray.
Almighty and Ever-Living God, in whom we live and move and have our being, we bow humbly before You this morning. We give You thanks, O Lord, for Your goodness at all times and in all places.
Open our eyes that we may behold Your Fatherly presence about us. Draw our hearts unto You with the power of Your love. Teach us, O God our Father, to be anxious for nothing.
And when we have done all that You've asked us to do, help us to leave the issue to Your infinite wisdom. We acknowledge that You are the only one who can rightly lead and guide Your people.
We pray, Holy Father, for Your blessings upon these assembled in this chamber, especially for the men and women who have been given the awesome responsibility to conduct the affairs of this great state. Grant them wisdom and strength that they may serve always with dignity, conviction, and humility.
When in the execution of their duties they encounter difficult and challenging situations, help them, we pray, to hold onto their sense of perspective.
Guide them, O Lord, we beseech You, with the power of Your spirit, and sustain them with the strength of Your divine grace, that they may overcome every obstacle that stands in the way of progress and remain steadfast in their commitment to uphold the principles of truth, justice, and liberty.
Give them clarity of mind, strength of purpose, and firmness of will as they seek to carry out their individual and collective responsibilities. Help them in their deliberation to be courteous and generous, brave and able, dutiful and faithful.
And, O Lord, may Your presence be with them, may Your spirit guide them, and may Your grace sustain them now and always.
These mercies we ask in Your name and for Your glory. Amen.
ACTING PRESIDENT BONACIC:The reading of the Journal.
THE SECRETARY:In Senate, Wednesday, March 20th, the Senate met pursuant to adjournment. The Journal of Tuesday, March 19th, was read and approved. On motion, Senate adjourned.
ACTING PRESIDENT BONACIC:Without objection, the Journal stands approved as read.
Presentation of petitions.
Messages from the Assembly.
Messages from the Governor.
Reports of standing committees.
Reports of select committees.
Communications and reports from state officers.
Motions and resolutions.
Senator Libous.
SENATOR LIBOUS:Thank you, Mr. President.
At this time may we please adopt the Resolution Calendar.
ACTING PRESIDENT BONACIC:All in favor of adopting the Resolution Calendar signify by saying aye.
(Response of "Aye.")
ACTING PRESIDENT BONACIC:Opposed, nay.
(No response.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BONACIC:The Resolution Calendar is adopted.
Senator Libous.
SENATOR LIBOUS:Thank you, Mr. President.
At this time could we have the reading of the noncontroversial calendar, please.
ACTING PRESIDENT BONACIC:The Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 49, by Senator Fuschillo, Senate Print 773, an act to amend the Public Health Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BONACIC:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BONACIC:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BONACIC:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar Number 49, those recorded in the negative are Senators Avella, Espaillat, Gianaris, Hoylman, Krueger, Montgomery, Peralta, Perkins, Rivera, Sampson, Sanders, Serrano, Squadron and Stavisky.
Ayes, 46. Nays, 14.
ACTING PRESIDENT BONACIC:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 52, by Senator Golden --
SENATOR LIBOUS:Lay that bill aside for the day, please.
ACTING PRESIDENT BONACIC:The bill is laid aside for the day.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 194, by Senator Golden, Senate Print 2098, an act to amend the Penal Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BONACIC:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect on the first of November.
ACTING PRESIDENT BONACIC:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 60.
ACTING PRESIDENT BONACIC:The bill is passed.
That completes the noncontroversial reading of the calendar.
Senator Libous.
SENATOR LIBOUS:Thank you, Mr. President.
Mr. President, we have a hand-up. In consultation with Senator Skelos and Senator Klein, Senator Stewart-Cousins hands up the following information to the desk, please.
ACTING PRESIDENT BONACIC:Please file what you received in the Journal.
Is there any further business at the desk?
(Laughter.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BONACIC:Senator Libous.
SENATOR LIBOUS:Thank you, Mr. President.
Before I ask if there's any other business at the desk, I would ask, Mr. President, that you call on Senator Gianaris for the purposes of an announcement.
ACTING PRESIDENT BONACIC:Senator DeGianaris.
(Laughter.)
SENATOR GIANARIS:Thank you, Mr. President --
ACTING PRESIDENT BONACIC:I always make you a DeGianaris, don't I? I meant to say Senator Gianaris.
SENATOR GIANARIS:Senator DeGriffo reminds me of that every so often.
(Laughter.)
SENATOR GIANARIS:Mr. President, I in turn will ask you to please call on Senator Serrano for a conference announcement.
ACTING PRESIDENT BONACIC:Senator Serrano.
SENATOR SERRANO:There will be an immediate meeting of the Senate Democratic Conference in Room 315.
ACTING PRESIDENT BONACIC:Immediate meeting of the Senate Democratic Conference in Room 315.
Senator Libous.
SENATOR LIBOUS:Mr. President, is there any further business at the desk?
ACTING PRESIDENT BONACIC:There is no further business, Senator Libous.
SENATOR LIBOUS:Thank you, Mr. President.
I would remind the Republican Conference members that they will have conference at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, which will be the 23rd of March.
And there being no further business, I move that we adjourn until Saturday, March 23rd, at 4:00 p.m., intervening days being legislative days.
ACTING PRESIDENT BONACIC:On motion, the Senate stands adjourned until Saturday, March 23rd, at 4:00 p.m., intervening days being legislative days.
(Whereupon, at 11:40 a.m., the Senate adjourned.)
Highest impact first.