Gaveled in 3:46 PM · Albany, New York · 2015–16 session
NEW YORK STATE SENATE
THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
ALBANY, NEW YORK
March 23, 2015
3:46 p.m.
REGULAR SESSION
SENATOR JOSEPH GRIFFO, Acting President
FRANCIS W. PATIENCE, Secretary
P R O C E E D I N G SACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The Senate will come to order.
I ask all present to please rise and join with me as we recite the Pledge of Allegiance to our Flag.
(Whereupon, the assemblage recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Today's invocation will be offered by Rabbi Shmuel Butman of the Lubavitch Youth Organization in Brooklyn, New York.
Rabbi?
RABBI BUTMAN:{in Hebrew} Our heavenly Father, we ask You to bestow Your blessings upon the members of the New York State Senate and their families. Bless them with good health, long life and success in all of their endeavors.
We are here offering this prayer as we are now celebrating the 113th birthday of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson.
The Rebbe worried for education of all children. This was his prime goal, education of all children of the world. The Rebbe said many times that he wants a child to know, every child of the world, that there is an Eye that sees and there is an Ear that hears and that the world is not a jungle. And when the Rebbe spoke education, he spoke education about all the children of the world.
I remember in 1991 I opened the United States Senate in Washington. Before that, I went to see the Rebbe. And the Rebbe said that "You should take with you a pushkeh" -- a pushkeh is a tzedakah box -- "and when you are offering a prayer, you should also put a dollar bill into the pushkeh. And that everybody should know what you are doing, and everybody should see what you are doing, and let them know what money has to be used for."
Well, we are going to do the same now. We are going to put in a dollar. On the dollar it says "In God We Trust," and you just said that before. And we're going to offer it as an offering in the pushkeh. And we're going to ask you, and everyone who wants, to participate.
Friends, I don't want you to accept this that this is a fundraising campaign. Because if this would be a fundraising campaign, we would ask you for much more than one dollar.
(Laughter.)
RABBI BUTMAN:This is, however, a campaign, as the Rebbe says, to do more goodness and kindness.
King David says, in Psalm 113 -- it's 113 years of the Rebbe, and this is Psalm 113. In Psalm 113, King David says that Almighty God listens to everyone. He listens to the poor, and He elevates him from the depths to sit together with the princes of his nation. And He transforms a childless woman into a happy mother. This is the power, this is the power of prayer.
I want you to know that every Sabbath, every Shabbos, we say a special prayer for each and every single one of you. We say it in our synagogues, and we say the {in Hebrew}. Which means all of those who serve the public faithfully, as you do, we ask for Almighty God to give you all the blessings that you need in your private life and in your communal life.
So we hope that all the blessings will be bestowed upon you, and may you pass the budget successfully before Passover.
(Laughter.)
RABBI BUTMAN:Thank you very much.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Thank you, Rabbi.
The reading of the Journal.
THE SECRETARY:In Senate, Sunday, March 22nd, the Senate met pursuant to adjournment. The Journal of Saturday, March 21st, was read and approved. On motion, Senate adjourned.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: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: Would you please recognize Senator Valesky.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Can I have some order in the house, please.
Senator Valesky.
SENATOR VALESKY:Thank you, Mr. President.
On behalf of Senator Carlucci, I move that Senate Bill 1006 be discharged from its respective committee and be recommitted with instructions to strike the enacting clause.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:It is so ordered.
Senator DeFrancisco.
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Could you please do the controversial reading of the calendar. Excuse me. Why don't we start noncontroversial today.
(Laughter.)
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The Secretary will read the noncontroversial calendar.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 120, by Senator Golden, Senate Print 1471, an act to amend the Insurance Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 9. This act shall take effect on the 270th day.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 53. Nays, 1. Senator DeFrancisco recorded in the negative.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 169, by Senator Bonacic, Senate Print 3424, an act to amend Chapter 473 of the Laws of 2010.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Read the last section.
SENATOR GIANARIS:Lay it aside.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Lay the bill aside.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 208, by Senator Ranzenhofer, Senate Print 2583, an act to amend the Not-For-Profit Corporation Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 54.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 215, by Senator Martins, Senate Print 247, an act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 3. This act shall take effect on the 60th day.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 54.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 216, by Senator Gallivan, Senate Print 405, an act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Kennedy to explain his vote.
SENATOR KENNEDY:Thank you very much, Mr. President.
I'm a proud cosponsor of this Alix's Law. I would like to give credit where credit is due, and the prime sponsor from Western New York, Senator Gallivan, has been a tremendous champion of this initiative over the course of the last several years.
It's named Alix's Law in memory of a young woman whose life was tragically lost in Western New York when she was hit by a motor vehicle that continued on. And in this hit-and-run accident, she tragically lost her life. This is in response to that horrific incident.
But far too many lives have been lost across this state and across this nation due to individuals that have gotten behind the wheel of a vehicle impaired by alcohol or drugs, have hit an individual, and have left the scene of an accident.
This is a common-sense reform that if in fact a driver is intoxicated, gets into an accident, flees the scene of an accident, that individual will be presumed to have known that they caused damage to either property or to an individual.
It shouldn't be the burden of a prosecution to prove whether or not a driver under the influence knew whether or not they hit an individual or property when they fled the scene of an accident. This is a crime on top of the crime of driving while intoxicated to begin with.
In other words, life sentences for victims have been a thing of the past, while drivers that have been intoxicated attempt to skirt the law and escape justice while leaving the scene of an accident. This will close the loophole in the law, and it will hold individuals accountable.
This bill closes the loophole, and I want to thank all of my colleagues from Western New York that have helped to champion this cause -- in memory, again, of young Alix Rice.
Mr. President, I vote aye.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Kennedy to be recorded in the affirmative.
Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 56.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 222, by Senator Golden, Senate Print 802, an act to amend the Penal Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect on the 90th day.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 54. Nays, 2. Senators Hassell-Thompson and Montgomery recorded in the negative.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Also Senator Perkins.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes --
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:May we see hands again on the negatives, please.
Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 222, those recorded in the negative are Senators Hassell-Thompson, Montgomery, Peralta and Perkins.
Ayes, 52. Nays, 4.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 224, by Senator Klein, Senate Print 1356, an act to amend the Penal Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 6. This act shall take effect on the first of November.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Squadron to explain his vote.
SENATOR SQUADRON:Thank you, Mr. President.
This is a bill -- it's a difficult bill to vote no on, since there's much about it that I think is important. The problem with this bill, for me, is there's no monetary threshold for a Class E felony.
What that means is that in New York State a 16-year-old who takes one pill that's a prescription drug of their parents, they've committed a Class E felony. You can take a single controlled-substance prescription pill, a single one, and be a Class E felon and be a felon for the rest of your life.
That doesn't make any sense. That's why I have to vote in the negative on this bill.
Thank you, Mr. President.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Squadron to be recorded in the negative.
Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar Number 224, those recorded in the negative are Senators Hamilton, Hassell-Thompson, Hoylman, Krueger, Montgomery, Rivera and Sanders.
Ayes, 50. Nays 7.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Reannounce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Those recorded in the negative are Senators Hamilton, Hassell-Thompson, Hoylman, Krueger, Montgomery, Rivera, Sanders and Squadron.
Ayes, 49. Nays, 8.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 229, by Senator Seward, Senate Print 3511, an act to amend the Penal Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 3. This act shall take effect on the first of November.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Seward to explain his vote.
SENATOR SEWARD:Yes, thank you, Mr. President, to explain my vote.
This legislation before us creates a new crime of staging a motor vehicle accident which would be punishable as a felony offense.
You know, staging an accident is defined as intentionally causing a collision for the purpose of committing insurance fraud by inappropriately and illegally collecting no-fault benefits.
Now, this bill is referred to as Alice's Law. It's named after Alice Ross, who was a 71-year-old grandmother who was killed as a result of one of these staged accidents in the Borough of Queens. Mrs. Ross was on her way to visit her daughter at her daughter's house when she was intentionally struck from behind by a vehicle that was carrying three men who were out looking for an unsuspecting victim. The impact of this accident caused Mrs. Ross's vehicle to go off the road and hit a tree, causing her death.
After the accident, these three perpetrators then went off to one of these medical mills and feigned an assortment of injuries in order to collect phony no-fault benefits.
You know, criminals who stage these auto accidents endanger the lives of innocent people and also drive up insurance premiums for every single New Yorker. The perpetrators commit these crimes having a total disregard for public safety, and they're only out to make a fast buck.
You know, innocent people should not be made pawns in these sometimes deadly schemes. So this bill will not only help contain no-fault fraud and reduce insurance premiums but also make our highways safer.
Mr. President, I vote aye.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Seward to be recorded in the affirmative.
Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 57.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 239, by Senator LaValle, Senate Print 2810, an act to amend the Education Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Stavisky to explain her vote.
SENATOR STAVISKY:Thank you. To explain my vote.
This legislation would update a 1972 bill that was passed and enacted into law. The bill was sponsored by my husband when he was chair of the Assembly Education Committee. And that 1972 bill said you can't buy or sell -- you can't sell term papers.
And at that time fraternity houses had files on term papers, they were advertised in college newspapers, et cetera. This legislation brings it into the 21st century and bans the Internet sales of term papers, dissertations and so on.
This is, I think, an updating, a modernization, and I commend Senator LaValle for sponsoring it. And I vote in the affirmative because the idea of purchasing term papers I find to be offensive, and it undermines the integrity of a college degree.
Thank you, Mr. President.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Stavisky to be recorded in the affirmative.
Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 57.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The bill is passed.
Senator DeFrancisco, that completes the noncontroversial reading of today's active list calendar.
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Would you please recognize Senator Ortt for an introduction.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Ortt, for the purposes of an introduction.
SENATOR ORTT:Thank you, Mr. President.
I rise to recognize and welcome, on behalf of the entire Senate, a friend of mine, as well as my sheriff from Niagara County, Sheriff Jim Voutour. There he is, right behind me.
Sheriff Voutour was sworn in as the 56th sheriff of Niagara County on January 1, 2009. He is a graduate of SUNY Brockport in 1988, as well as having received his master's degree in criminal justice administration from Niagara University in 2014.
Sheriff Voutour is currently the president of the New York Sheriffs' Association, where he serves on several New York State committees. He's also a member of the National Sheriffs' Association and is a member of the National Safety Committee and the Emerging Technology Committee. He is a frequent lecturer on criminal justice topics at the nation, state and local levels.
Sheriff Voutour volunteers his time with several Niagara County agencies. He is currently the president of the United Way of Niagara Board of Directors, the president of the Police Athletic League Finance Committee, a member of the Lockport Rotary Club, and a board member of the Niagara County Juvenile Justice Committee, as well as a member of the "Do the Right Thing" board of Niagara PAL.
Sheriff Voutour also volunteers for Opportunities Unlimited, Community Missions, the Health Association of Niagara County, AARP, the Red Cross and the YWCA, as well as numerous block clubs.
That's a lot. And you still find time to be a sheriff as well.
(Laughter.)
SENATOR ORTT:Sheriff Voutour was elected to the Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame, the SUNY Brockport Athletic Hall of Fame, as well as the Wilson High School Hall of Fame.
He resides in Lockport with his wife, Pilar, a teacher at the Barker School, and their two daughters -- Julia, who's 15, and Lydia, who's 12 -- both students at Starpoint Central School.
I want to thank Sheriff Voutour for his service to Niagara County as well as now his service to all the people of New York State, and I look forward to working with you and all of the sheriffs to best serve the people who we serve.
So, Sheriff, thank you for being here.
(Applause.)
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Sheriff Voutour, we welcome you to the chamber. We extend the courtesies of the house to you.
On behalf of Senator Robach and myself, as a fellow Golden Eagle, we welcome you to the house today.
Senator DeFrancisco.
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Now would you do the reading of the controversial calendar.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The Secretary will ring the bell.
The Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 169, by Senator Bonacic, Senate Print 3424, an act to amend Chapter 473 of the Laws of 2010.
SENATOR KRUEGER:Explanation, please.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Bonacic, an explanation has been requested by Senator Krueger.
Could I have some order in the house, please.
SENATOR BONACIC:Thank you, Mr. President.
This bill would amend Section 473 of the Laws of 2010 which amended the Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law related to our state Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund.
This section of the law is scheduled to sunset on October 28, 2015. We would like it extended another year. And let me tell you what the fund does.
First of all, payments are made to the fund on a quarterly basis. The percentage of revenue that can be allocated to breeder awards would be maintained at 65 percent, which is what it has been, and the amount of money used for promoting the breeding and raising of thoroughbred horses would remain the same, and there would be administrative allotments of 6 percent.
Now, where does the money come from? It comes from 1.5 percent of the amount wagered for regular, multiple and exotic wagers on thoroughbred horse racing, and 3 percent of the amount wagered on superexotic wagers -- betting on six or more horses in a single bet -- and, additionally, 1 percent of the net win from Resorts World Casino at Aqueduct and 1.25 percent of the net win from the racino at Finger Lakes.
What these monies do, they support the breeding industry in the State of New York.
This was approved unanimously by our Racing Committee. It was approved last year, the extender, 60 to 0. And it comes up again to give them another year.
The funds have been diminishing because of the racing industry, and this enables the breeders to keep their breeding industry going. It creates jobs. It's a model for a breeding program not only in New York but in the United States. It keeps the money local, and it keeps strengthening the racing industry.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Krueger.
SENATOR KRUEGER:I want to thank the sponsor for his explanation for the bill. I do have a few questions, if he wouldn't mind yielding, Mr. President.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Bonacic, do you yield?
SENATOR BONACIC:I do.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The Senator yields.
SENATOR KRUEGER:Thank you.
So I appreciate the explanation. I also understand the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund is receiving the percentage of VLT revenue from the racinos as part of the funding stream.
How long has this been the case that we've been doing it this way?
SENATOR BONACIC:Let me just check. 2010. That's when we did the last amendment.
SENATOR KRUEGER:Through you, Mr. President, is the answer perhaps we did the addition starting in 2011, we passed it in 2010 to go forward in 2011?
SENATOR BONACIC:We passed it in 2010, and we've extended it every year thereafter.
SENATOR KRUEGER:Every year, thank you.
Through you, Mr. President, if the sponsor would continue to yield.
SENATOR BONACIC:I do.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The sponsor yields.
SENATOR KRUEGER:Thank you.
He talked about that 1.5 percent of the total wagered after payout of prizes is used for this fund. Can the sponsor tell me how much money that is at this point in history in 2015?
SENATOR BONACIC:I tell you, I would not know the answer to that. But I will find out for you and get it to you.
SENATOR KRUEGER:Through you, Mr. President, if the sponsor would continue to yield.
SENATOR BONACIC:I do.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The sponsor yields.
SENATOR KRUEGER:Thank you.
Actually, for Aqueduct, for the last year, I believe the answer would be $2.82 million at the 1.5 percent rate. I don't know what it is for the other sites.
But the underlying bill we were extending was originally supposed to sunset after the VLT at Aqueduct came online in 2011. So why are we continuing to extend it now, four years after Aqueduct has come online?
SENATOR BONACIC:I think we continue to do it to support the racing industry, to support the breeders. And we recognize that this is a viable industry that's worth saving. It's part of our agriculture, and we want to keep it strong. And it continues to provide jobs and keeps the money in the local economy.
SENATOR KRUEGER:Through you, Mr. President, if the sponsor would continue to yield.
SENATOR BONACIC:I do.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The sponsor yields.
SENATOR KRUEGER:Thank you.
Years ago, when I started in the Senate, we were subsidizing racing and wagering and we were sometimes asking for money to come out of the Lottery funds to help subsidize racing and the thoroughbred industry. And I would object at that time I didn't think gaming money should be taken from education to subsidize other gaming activity.
How is this different if we continue to take money to subsidize racing and thoroughbred racing in New York State?
SENATOR BONACIC:Well, keep in mind that the money is coming from the racing industry as a result of the betting on the races. So they are basically taking a piece of the racing betting proceeds and reinvesting it in the product, which is breeding the horses and keeping them going.
SENATOR KRUEGER:Through you, Mr. President, if the sponsor would continue to yield.
SENATOR BONACIC:I do.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The sponsor yields.
SENATOR KRUEGER:Thank you.
And I do understand that is the intention. And I'm looking at these numbers from Resorts World Casino for fiscal year April 2014 to March 2015, and I'm just wondering why the industry can't pay for itself at this point in history.
Does the sponsor know how much money was brought in at Resorts World Casino VLT just in the last 12 months?
SENATOR BONACIC:I do not.
SENATOR KRUEGER:Would it surprise the sponsor -- through you, Mr. President, would it surprise the sponsor to learn, or all of us to learn, that it brought in $743,756,000 in net wins in the last 12 months?
SENATOR BONACIC:I think that's a quite impressive figure. I think they do a good job over there to help with us our education funding, and I'm impressed. And I'm glad you know that number.
SENATOR KRUEGER:Through you, Mr. President, if the sponsor would continue to yield.
SENATOR BONACIC:I do.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The sponsor yields.
SENATOR KRUEGER:Thank you.
So given the fact that this arrangement was originally intended to help the thoroughbred industry pending the expansion of VLTs in this state, and given the fact that we have now extended multiple times for them, and given the fact that education money to go for our schools is 44 percent of the distribution of the net win money -- the Resorts World Casino gets 38 percent of the win, the marketing allowance is another 8 percent, which is sort of Resorts World as well, and then there's administrative costs of 10 percent -- don't you think this money could come out of something Resorts World is making and add another 1.5 or 2 percent to education by this time, this many years after the VLTs?
SENATOR BONACIC:Okay. We believe that the racing industry is something that we want to see survive, continue to flourish. And the breeding monies have slipped, so we feel this is a worthwhile investment tied into the amount of money that's actually bet on the races to keep the breeding industry going.
I think you're trying to make the point that maybe we shouldn't be investing in the breeding industry. And if I miscategorized what I think you're getting at, please correct me. But I think what you're saying is why should Resorts World keep investing in this fund and maybe give it to education and not to the breeders. Is that where you're going with this?
SENATOR KRUEGER:Well, I think I'm -- through you, Mr. President, if the sponsor will -- oh, wait. I believe the sponsor has asked me a question. Is that correct, Mr. President?
SENATOR BONACIC:Correct.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:That is correct. You may answer.
SENATOR KRUEGER:And I am answering, thank you.
I think where I'm attempting to go here is that you look at these numbers a few short years after we started this massive VLT gambling in the State of New York, and you see that 44 percent of the revenue is going to the public and public education but 56 percent is basically going to the industry. And I would actually like to make the argument that more of the revenue ought to be going to education.
I'm not necessarily having an argument about whether any of the money should go to continuing the thoroughbred racing or protecting the industry. But I look at the thoroughbred part, the industry revenue part, and I say it's too big a chunk of the whole amount of money being made in VLT and racing in the state.
And we created the VLTs and tied them into racing in theory to both strengthen what was happening in our horse racing industry and to bring in more return for education.
I guess I'm suggesting, this many years after the VLTs have started operating, it's time to reevaluate how come more of the money isn't going to public education versus so much of the money -- and really, it's a startlingly large amount of money -- going to the people running the VLTs and tracks.
SENATOR BONACIC:Okay. I would say to you that I have been a proponent of investing in education, and I think that this body as well as the Assembly makes sizable investments in education and continues to do so every year. That this amount that goes into the breeding industry -- and let me just take a step back.
Our breeding industry is probably the best in the world. And we've done that better than Kentucky and other places because we have made an investment in our agriculture and the racing industry. And this has the support of the breeding industry, it has the support of the Farm Bureau. And it's an investment worth continuing to make.
And, you know, being an upstate guy you would appreciate more of what the breeding industry brings to the economy and what racing does in general with the creation of jobs. And this is an industry we want to keep strong, we do not want to see it deteriorate.
And because the betting has slipped a little bit from this fund because of the superexotic bets, we need to continue to subsidize them for another year.
But I hear your comments, and it's something we, you know, will look at in the next 12 months when we revisit this next year, probably at the same time. But this will expire in October of this year, this particular legislation.
SENATOR KRUEGER:Through you, Mr. President, on the bill.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Krueger on the bill.
SENATOR KRUEGER:I want to thank my colleague for his explanation.
I confess I frequently don't understand all the ins and outs of gambling. What I know, having done a little homework for this discussion today, is we're making lot of money in the VLT business. We may or may not be making any more money in the racetrack businesses affiliated with them. My colleague just explains actually a drop -- or a slippage, I think is the term you used, in revenue. So that's perhaps its own set of questions.
But I really -- when I saw this bill come up today, I said it's time for this house to start to discuss we walked into VLTs, we are almost walking into casinos -- it's not totally clear when and where right now -- and there's a lot of money changing hands.
There's a lot of New Yorkers losing money at VLTs. Because of course when you read a number like $744 million in net wins from Resorts World, that's not the bettors' wins, that's the industry wins. So actually the bettors were losing money.
So we don't ask enough questions about what happens when all of this money goes into a VLT site. We don't ask, I don't think, enough questions about what's going on there and how the money is being spent. Again, we know, at least for this one site for the last year, 44 percent goes to education. But that means 56 percent goes into the industry itself and the operation of the betting. Eighty-six million is what they call free-play allowances. That's always made me personally very nervous, because we tell people: Here, gamble for free, because it's more likely you'll get hooked and then start to spend your own money.
But there's lots of questions about how much money, where is it going, who's losing it, who's getting it, and the priorities that New York State makes when it licenses these activities, does annual extenders of sections of underlying legislation, and perhaps doesn't spend enough time asking hard questions about what have we created and what have we gotten for it.
So I don't object to a one-year extender on this bill. I will vote for the bill. But I hope that this house, along with our colleagues in the Assembly and the Governor's office, will continue to take harder looks at what the impact on the economics of our state are as we continue to expand more and more into larger amounts of money going to assorted kinds of gaming and wagering, because I fear that we aren't really getting the whole story about who the winners and the losers are.
But I'll vote yes on this bill. Thank you, Mr. President.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Hearing and seeing no other Senator that wishes to be heard, debate is closed and the Secretary will ring the bell.
Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Marchione to explain her vote.
Can I have some order in the house, please.
SENATOR MARCHIONE:Thank you, Mr. President.
I rise to thank Senator Bonacic for this resolution.
You know, for those of us in upstate New York who have a strong farming community -- and in fact, it's the number-one industry in my district -- having a resolution like this has helped our district exponentially.
We have watched horse farming increase, and the number of farms that come into the area have grown like you could not imagine. That's economic development. And when they go out and they buy the feed for the horses, that's economic development. And when the veterinary services come in, that's economic development.
Those things are critically important to upstate New York. You take away the breeders' money, and their horses are not going to be as good as what John says they are.
The amount and the time and the effort and the monies that are put into this are critically important for the racing industry, which is critically important for where I come from. Thank you, Senator Bonacic, for this.
I vote aye.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Marchione to be recorded in the affirmative.
Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 169, those recorded in the negative are Senators Díaz and Espaillat.
Absent from voting: Senator Parker.
Ayes, 58. Nays, 2.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The bill is passed.
Senator DeFrancisco, that completes the reading of the controversial calendar.
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Is there any further business at the desk?
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:There is no further business at this time before the desk.
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: As far as the Republican conference is concerned --
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Can we have some order, please, in the chamber.
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: -- the Republican Conference has a conference immediately following session.
And if there's no further business, I move we adjourn until Tuesday, March 24th, at 3:00 p.m.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:There will be an immediate meeting of the Republican Conference in Room 332.
And upon motion, the Senate will stand adjourned until Tuesday, March 24th, at 3:00 p.m.
The Senate stands adjourned.
(Whereupon, at 4:29 p.m., the Senate adjourned.)
Highest impact first.
Not yet analyzed. Open the bill for its official title.
Not yet analyzed. Open the bill for its official title.
Not yet analyzed. Open the bill for its official title.
Not yet analyzed. Open the bill for its official title.
Not yet analyzed. Open the bill for its official title.
Not yet analyzed. Open the bill for its official title.
Not yet analyzed. Open the bill for its official title.
Not yet analyzed. Open the bill for its official title.