Wednesday, March 11, 2015

NEW YORK STATE SENATE THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD ALBANY, NEW YORK March 11, 2015

3:48 p.m. REGULAR SESSION LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR KATHLEEN C. HOCHUL, President FRANCIS W. PATIENCE, Secretary P R O C E E D I N G S THE PRESIDENT: The Senate will come to order. I ask everyone present to rise and repeat with me the Pledge of Allegiance. (Whereupon, the assemblage recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.) THE PRESIDENT: Today's invocation will be given by the Reverend Peter Young, of Mother Teresa Church in Albany. REVEREND YOUNG: Let us pray. O God, we enjoy this great gift of good weather with its very bright sunshine, and we warmly welcome our Lieutenant Governor to the Senate hospitality and prayer. As budget preparations are prioritized, may God guide our legislation for our citizens of New York State and bless our members with these most difficult decisions. We pray that they have the wisdom needed to guide New York State to the proud leadership position of being in name and in position as the Empire State. We ask You this in Your name, now and forever. Amen. THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Reverend. The reading of the Journal. THE SECRETARY: In Senate, Tuesday, March 10th, the Senate met pursuant to adjournment. The Journal of Monday, March 9th, was read and approved. On motion, Senate adjourned. THE PRESIDENT: 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 DeFrancisco. SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Welcome, Governor. We enjoy your appearance here. It's a wonderful place. Everybody gets along. We sing Kumbaya daily -- (Laughter.) SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: -- and we want you to enjoy that atmosphere as well. Now I would request that you do the noncontroversial reading of the calendar. THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary will read. THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 98, by Senator Ritchie, Senate Print 1795, an act to amend the Agriculture and Markets Law. THE PRESIDENT: Read the last section. THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately. THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.) THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60. THE PRESIDENT: The bill is passed. THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 114, by Senator Marcellino, Senate Print 455, an act to amend the Penal Law. THE PRESIDENT: Read the last section. THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This act shall take effect on the first of November. THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.) THE PRESIDENT: Announce the result. THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59. Nays, 1. Senator Perkins recorded in the negative. THE PRESIDENT: The bill is passed. THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 115, by Senator Ranzenhofer, Senate Print 870, an act to amend the Real Property Tax Law. THE PRESIDENT: Read the last section. THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately. THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.) THE PRESIDENT: Announce the result. THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60. THE PRESIDENT: The bill is passed. THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 121, by Senator Seward, Senate Print 2367A, an act to amend the Insurance Law. THE PRESIDENT: Read the last section. THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This act shall take effect immediately. THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.) THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60. THE PRESIDENT: The bill is passed. THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 125, by Senator Felder, Senate Print 3830, an act to amend the Family Court Act. THE PRESIDENT: Read the last section. THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This act shall take effect on the 60th day. THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.) THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60. THE PRESIDENT: The bill is passed. THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 126, by Senator Marcellino, Senate Print 459, an act to amend Chapter 672 of the Laws of 1993. THE PRESIDENT: Read the last section. THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately. THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.) THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60. THE PRESIDENT: The bill is passed. THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 129, by Senator Martins, Senate Print 298, an act to amend the General Municipal Law. THE PRESIDENT: Senator Sanders. SENATOR SANDERS: I just wanted permission to explain my vote. THE PRESIDENT: Read the last section. THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This act shall take effect upon enactment. THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.) THE PRESIDENT: Senator Sanders. SENATOR SANDERS: A pleasure. I just wanted to take a moment to welcome our Lieutenant Governor to the chamber for the first time. We hope that your arm gets better also. It's wonderful to have a woman presiding over this body, and it's good that you're here in Women's History Month. The more women that we have in leadership, the better. As a matter of fact, we have a leader that we believe should be in the negotiations in speaking about everything. And I'm hoping that this democracy spreads and that we all see the beauty, in Women's History Month, of having women in places of leadership. I want to thank you for that. And on the bill, I think it's a good bill, and I'll vote in its favor. (Laughter.) THE PRESIDENT: Announce the result. THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60. THE PRESIDENT: The bill is passed. SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Is there any further business at the desk? THE PRESIDENT: No further business at the desk. SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Okay. Would you please call on Senator Gianaris. THE PRESIDENT: Senator Gianaris. SENATOR GIANARIS: And in turn, I would like you to call on Senator Serrano for an announcement for our conference. THE PRESIDENT: Senator Serrano. SENATOR SERRANO: Thank you. There will be an immediate meeting of the Democratic Conference in Room 315. THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Serrano. SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Madam President, I move that we adjourn until Thursday, March 12th, at 11:00 a.m. -- and simply note, see how easy this chamber works? It's just unbelievable. (Laughter.) THE PRESIDENT: On motion, the Senate stands adjourned until Thursday, March 12th, 11:00 a.m. (Whereupon, at 3:54 p.m., the Senate adjourned.)