Gaveled in 3:03 PM · Albany, New York · 2015–16 session
NEW YORK STATE SENATE
THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
ALBANY, NEW YORK
February 8, 2016
3:03 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:In the absence of clergy, I ask that everyone please bow your heads in a moment of silent reflection and prayer.
(Whereupon, the assemblage respected a moment of silence.)
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The reading of the Journal.
THE SECRETARY:In Senate, Sunday, February 7th, the Senate met pursuant to adjournment. The Journal of Saturday, February 6th, was read and approved. On motion, Senate adjourned.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Without objection, the Journal will stand 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: Can we go to reports of standing committees. I believe -- oh, okay, we'll do the motions first, excuse me.
I wish to call up the following bills, which were recalled from the Assembly and are now at the desk: Senate Print 6383, 6391, 6392, 6395, and 6427.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The Secretary will read the titles of the bills.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 14, by Senator Flanagan, Senate Print 6383, an act to amend the General Business Law.
Calendar Number 22, by Senator Marcellino, Senate Print 6391, an act to amend Chapter 672 of the Laws of 1993.
Calendar Number 23, by Senator Little, Senate Print 6392, an act to amend the Insurance Law.
Calendar Number 26, by Senator Seward, Senate Print 6395, an act to amend the Insurance Law.
And Calendar Number 38, by Senator Lanza, Senate Print 6427, an act to amend the Real Property Tax Law.
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: I now move to reconsider the votes by which these bills were passed.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Call the roll on reconsideration.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 43.
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: I now offer the following amendments.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The amendments are received.
Senator DeFrancisco.
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Mr. President, on page 13 I offer the following amendments to Calendar Number 40, Senate Print 6429, a bill by Senator Seward, and I ask that said bill retain its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The amendments are received, and the bill shall retain its place on third reading.
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Also, on page 11, I offer the following amendments to Calendar Number 27, Senate Print 6396, a Senator Larkin bill, and ask that said bill retain its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The amendments are received, and the bill shall retain its place on third reading.
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: On page number 12, I offer the following amendments to Calendar Number 34, Senate Print 6423, and ask that said bill retain its place on the Third Reading Calendar, a bill by Senator Ranzenhofer.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The amendments are received, and the bill shall retain its place on third reading.
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Also on page 12, I offer the following amendments to Calendar Number 35, Senate Print Number 6424, a bill by Senator Bonacic, and ask that said bill retain its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The amendments are received, and the bill will retain its place on third reading.
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: I now move that the following bill be discharged from its respective committee and be recommitted with instructions to strike the enacting clause: Senator O'Mara's bill, Number 3932.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:So ordered.
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: I move that the following bill of Senator Robach be discharged from its respective committee and be recommitted with instructions to strike the enacting clause. That's Number 6359.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:So ordered.
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: I also move to amend Senate Bill 3908A by striking out the amendments made on January 11, 2016, and restoring it to its original print number, 3908, a Senator Marchione bill.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:So ordered.
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Would you please recognize Senator Gianaris.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Gianaris.
SENATOR GIANARIS:Thank you, Mr. President.
I move that the following bills be discharged from their respective committees and be recommitted with instructions to strike the enacting clause: On behalf of Senator Panepinto, Senate Numbers 3632A and 6301.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:It is so ordered.
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Please recognize Senator Valesky.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Valesky.
SENATOR VALESKY:Thank you, Mr. President.
On behalf of myself, I move that the following bills be discharged from their respective committees and be recommitted with instructions to strike the enacting clause: Senate Bills 621 and 5128.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:So ordered.
SENATOR VALESKY:Also, on behalf of Senator Avella, I wish to call up his bill, 6422, recalled from the Assembly, which is now at the desk.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 33, by Senator Avella, Senate Print 6422, an act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
SENATOR VALESKY:I now move to reconsider the vote by which this bill passed.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The Secretary will call the roll on reconsideration.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 47.
SENATOR VALESKY:I now offer the follow amendments.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The amendments are received.
SENATOR VALESKY:Also on behalf of Senator Avella, I wish to call up his bill, Number 6428, recalled from the Assembly and it's now at the desk.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 39, by Senator Avella, Senate Print 6428, an act to amend the General Business Law.
SENATOR VALESKY:I now move to reconsider the vote by which this bill was passed.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The Secretary will call the roll on reconsideration.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 47.
SENATOR VALESKY:I now offer the following amendments.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The amendments are received.
Senator DeFrancisco.
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Yes, could we go to reports of standing committees.
I believe there's a report from the Judiciary Committee at the desk.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Reports of standing committees.
There is a report of the Judiciary Committee before the desk, and the Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY:Senator Bonacic, from the Committee on Judiciary, reports the following nomination:
Michael Garcia, as an Associate Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals.
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Please recognize Senator Bonacic.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:May I have some order in the house, please.
Senator Bonacic.
SENATOR BONACIC:Thank you, Mr. President.
Earlier today the Judiciary Committee met and considered the nomination of Michael Garcia to serve as an Associate Judge of the Court of Appeals, for a term commencing February 8, 2016, and expiring February 7, 2030.
Mr. Garcia is with us today in the gallery.
He's a resident of Irvington, New York, in Senator Stewart-Cousins' district.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2 of Article 6 of the Constitution and the provisions of Section 68 of the Judiciary Law, the Judiciary Committee has reported the nomination to the floor with no opposition.
Joined in the gallery with Michael Garcia are his two beautiful children Sofia and Michael.
And I would like to mention that his bride, Liana Davila, and his other son, Manuel Garcia, were supposed to leave from Puerto Rico yesterday to be here, but their flight was canceled because of bad weather. But I know that your bride and your son are here in spirit applauding you today, Mr. Garcia.
Now, just to give you a brief profile of Michael Garcia's experience.
He served as a clerk to Judge Judith Kaye for a couple of years.
He also served nine years as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan, from 1992 to 2001. There he prosecuted a number of high-profile cases involving national security, including the 1993 terrorist bombing of the World Trade Center and the 1998 bombings of the U.S. Embassies in East Africa. For his work on these cases, he was twice awarded the Department of Justice's Exceptional Service Award, the DOJ's highest honor.
He led various Executive Branch enforcement agencies, including as Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, within the Department of Homeland Security, where he oversaw 20,000 employees between 2001 and 2005.
In addition, he served as the U.S. Attorney from 2005 to 2008, where he supervised numerous public corruption matters involving state and local officials, fraud, and chaired the Attorney General's Advisory Committee on Terrorism and National Security.
He's currently a partner in the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis, in New York, where he has been for 6 and a half years.
He also served as independent chair of the investigatory chamber of the ethics committee of FIFA, investigating corruption in world soccer, from 2012 to 2014.
He's been a vice president of the Americas for Interpol, the international police organization.
I think this is probably the most outstanding and diverse and exceptional resume that I have ever seen for a nominee to the Court of Appeals, and I want to thank our Governor for this outstanding and impressive nominee. He has a wealth of experience and intellect to bring to the highest court.
And the other thing I'd like to mention, when we vetted these Court of Appeals judges as they came before us -- and this, as I said, is the sixth one since 2013. And next year in January of 2017, when Judge Pigott has to retire, we will have had seven new Court of Appeals judges in roughly a little over a four-year span, which is quite historic.
But in addition, he brings a wealth of commercial litigation experience. And that was a void in all of the six judges before us that went up to the Court of Appeals. So we were very impressed with his background in regulatory and commercial litigation.
I urge all of my colleagues to confirm the nomination of Michael Garcia to serve as an Associate Judge of the Court of Appeals.
Thank you, Mr. President.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Thank you, Senator Bonacic.
Senator Stewart-Cousins.
SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS:Thank you, Mr. President.
I rise to also second the nomination of our new Court of Appeals judge. He is a constituent of mine, and we just had the opportunity to meet today. And I know that he's with his two children, and we talked about the busy life that he's been having, from clerking very early in your career with Chief Justice Kaye before she was the chief justice, and also work that he'd done in -- pro bono work, frankly, that his firm has done with regard to legal defense for indigent clients.
He is obviously a man, as Senator Bonacic said, who's had a diverse amount of experience. And I certainly look forward to your continued service with great dignity and integrity on the Court of Appeals.
So I am so happy, this is the second Westchester resident I've had the chance to applaud in the past few weeks, and I am very, very proud that you, as my constituent, will be such an important part in our state history and our state judicial system.
Congratulations.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator DeFrancisco.
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Yes. Despite the fact that the nominee could not explain to me the rule against perpetuities in the Judiciary Committee, I do wholeheartedly support his confirmation.
I'm not going to repeat what's been mentioned already about his qualifications, but it's such a broad experience that he brings to the bench. Because the Court of Appeals hears every single type of case known to the law, and to have somebody with that broad experience there to share with the other judges is simply outstanding.
The Governor should be complimented for this nominee. And I agree with John Bonacic, I believe that this is probably the most diverse and impressive resume that I've seen, and I've been here a few years.
I can't help but comment that your term expires in the year 2030. Senator Larkin will be 102 on that day, and he will -- oh, he's gone -- and he will be here, he will be here to vote for your next 14 years.
So congratulations, and best of luck.
Oh, here he is.
SENATOR LARKIN:What are you hollering at me now?
(Laughter.)
SENATOR LARKIN:He doesn't respect his elders.
(Laughter.)
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Nozzolio.
SENATOR NOZZOLIO:Thank you, Mr. President. On the nomination.
I look forward to the day when Senator Larkin's here; I know I won't be.
But I thank the Governor for this tremendous nomination. It will have lasting impact on the citizens of our state.
The nominee, Michael Garcia, brings to this job a wonderful history of employment and, before that, a wonderful record of academic and scholastic achievement. First in his class from Albany Law School. I talked to a number of members of that class, who are still so impressed -- but not so much with his academic performance but his demeanor, his collegial attitude, his focus on those who weren't in maybe the top 5 or 10 percent of the class, but the entire class.
Most importantly, I believe, besides the wonderful academic and professional experiences, this nominee has a compelling personal story, one that began with his family deciding they were going to be coming to America to seek a better life. That's a story that is the story of all of us, but in Michael Garcia's case it's the subject of recent history. And that compelling story is about how people can come to New York, a place of opportunity, work hard, study hard, be involved hard in terms of their own work ethic, and that work ethic translated into the success of this fine New Yorker.
He carries with him that legacy. He carries with him that story, a story that's a story of all of us, but one that can never be overtold.
With that, Mr. President, I wholeheartedly endorse this wonderful nomination. I wish him a long and successful tenure on the most important court, arguably, in all of these United States short of the United States Supreme Court.
Thank you, Mr. President. Godspeed to the nominee.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Hassell-Thompson.
SENATOR HASSELL-THOMPSON:Thank you, Mr. President.
I rise to also congratulate the Governor on his appointment of Mr. Garcia.
We had a chance to talk with him before and certainly ask questions of him today. I too am very pleased, as is Senator DeFrancisco, at the fact that we talk about who's on the bench and the qualification of who's on the bench, but there's several levels of diversity besides gender and ethnicity that become important.
And I think because he brings a talent that no one of the judges that I've had the good fortune to help to confirm has the broad spectrum that he does, I listened to his answers and I listened to his understanding of cyber-intelligence and some of the other concerns that were raised by Senator Nozzolio. And we need someone who has a much broader perspective than just what I call common law.
And so I was very pleased with this nomination. I was very pleased to give my affirmation to him being appointed. But certainly he has a breadth of knowledge that's important, but I also understood that he has a humanity and a caring about public service that someone in a position as he has been, making the kind of money that he can make, would choose to leave and come back into public service. And that said a great deal for me.
So I do appreciate, Mr. President, the opportunity to speak on behalf of this candidate today, and hope that, like me, my colleagues here will see in him what I saw and vote yes.
Thank you, Mr. President.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Murphy.
SENATOR MURPHY:Thank you, Mr. President.
Mr. Garcia, from one Westchester resident to another, congratulations. We now have two Court of Appeals judges here. We're doing pretty good in Westchester, huh?
God bless, to you and your family. After reading your resume, I'll say one word: Wow. Very impressive. We are lucky to have you. God bless.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Díaz.
SENATOR DÍAZ: Thank you, Mr. President.
Ladies and gentlemen, today I'm supposed to be the happiest man here, I'm supposed to be the happiest person because a Hispanic is being appointed, a Hispanic is being nominated. So me, as a Puerto Rican, born in Puerto Rica, in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, in {Spanish}, I should be proud.
Also because we minorities, we fight, we struggle so our people get considered. But every time that someone in our community gets nominated or appointed, I would like to feel, I would like to feel that everybody else, that everyone else has approved that person as the best one in the group.
Today we have a problem that concerns me. As Puerto Rican, as Hispanic, I have a problem. The New York State Trial Association, the trial lawyers, has recommended, among the candidates, four non-Hispanic candidates, and they recommended them as highly qualified and highly recommended, four of them. Then the only minority in the whole group is being sent to us as just qualified and just recommended. Against four non-Hispanics, no minorities, highly qualified and highly recommended.
Today we should feel proud because there is a minority on, but the question is when the Governor chose a minority, they're being appointed, they're being recommended as just recommended and just qualified, against four highly recommended and highly qualified, it takes away, it takes away our pride. Because many of you might be thinking, oh, he's being just appointed just because he's Hispanic, because the Governor jump, jump not only one, not two, not three, four non-Hispanics or non-minorities, highly qualified, highly recommended. Why? Why? Why?
If I could assure you, ladies and gentlemen, I could assure you that if it were on the other side and there were a black or Hispanic be recommended as highly qualified and highly recommended, and they choose one on the other side of the spectrum, only qualified and only recommended, against a minority, highly qualified and highly recommended, I could assure you that the buses from New York City and from all black and Hispanic communities would be picketing and calling this racism.
So I should be proud, and I'm proud as a Hispanic, and we are appointing a Hispanic. But I'm going to call on Governor Cuomo, Mr. Governor Cuomo, stop doing this. Every time that you -- that we -- then don't use, then don't use the trial lawyers or any other group, don't ask for their recommendation. Just go and do what you have to do, but don't put us through this.
Because this is -- this is -- this is -- it's like saying, ah, let me give you a Hispanic so the Hispanic community could be satisfied. All of you are saying that he's highly qualified, that he's the best in the world. Why come the trial lawyers didn't say that? That's my concern, Mr. President, and that's what disturbs me. And that's how I don't even know how to do today.
Thank you very much.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Croci.
SENATOR CROCI:Thank you, Mr. President.
Mr. President, I rise today to support the nomination of Mr. Michael Garcia. It's so -- it's refreshing, quite frankly, to read a lifetime of service to the United States and see that individual come back to his home in New York and want to serve the residents and the people of New York again. It is indeed refreshing, given his vast experience.
As we look to the issues that are going to be facing our legislative session this year, the security of America and New Yorkers and the legitimacy of our government and institutions in the form of ethics reform are going to be topics. Mr. Garcia's life represents truly an in-depth knowledge of both of those areas.
I'd like to draw specific attention, Mr. President, to his work in the United States Attorney's office. You know, in 1992 and '93, when our enemies overseas decided that they would declare war on the United States, the first battles in that war were in Lower Manhattan at the World Trade Center, and in places like Kenya and Tanzania, and then later the U.S.S. Cole, Khobar Towers.
But the first battles were fought in a courtroom, and the United States Attorney's office and Mr. Michael Garcia were on the front lines at that point. So much of what we learned as an intelligence community to fight the global war on terror in the years subsequent were gleaned from the information that that U.S. Attorney's office and that man sitting in the balcony was able to get.
And we're still using it today. Some of the information that we were able to take from those open court cases and the American judicial system are still being used today to put together the network. Ramzi Yousef, Omar Abdel-Rahman, these are individuals involved in those attacks that later went on to lead a larger network. And we all know what happened on September 11, 2001.
So when I look to the balcony, I don't see a great lawyer or a great prosecutor, I see a great patriot. And everyone in this chamber today is safer as an American because of that man and the fine work of the career prosecutors at the U.S. Attorney's office in the Southern District.
So, Mr. President, I have to compliment Governor Cuomo. Regardless of criticism or recommendations, the Governor has made an outstanding choice, not only as the governor but as an American. And we are nominating and confirming to the bench today a great patriot who I'm sure will be a great jurist for the State of New York.
Thank you.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Thank you, Senator Croci.
We'd like to welcome the nominee as well as Sofia and Michael to the chamber today.
The question will be on the nomination of Michael Garcia as Associate Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals. All in favor signify by saying aye.
(Response of "Aye.")
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Opposed?
(No response.)
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Avella, why do you rise?
SENATOR AVELLA:Thank you, Mr. President.
I wish to be recorded as abstaining from the vote on the nominee. I am the lead plaintiff in a suit against the City of New York, which we won at the Appellate Division, but some of the defendants are appealing to the Court of Appeals. And since this nominee will be hearing the case, I think it's appropriate to abstain from the vote.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Without objection, and in accordance with Rule 10, your abstention is so designated and so noted.
The nomination of Michael Garcia as Associate Justice of the New York State Court of Appeals is hereby confirmed and approved.
Congratulations, Judge Garcia.
(Standing ovation.)
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator DeFrancisco.
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: There will be an immediate meeting of the Rules Committee in Room 332.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:There will be an immediate meeting of the Senate Rules Committee in Room 332, an immediate meeting of the Senate Rules Committee in Room 332.
The Senate will stand at ease.
(Whereupon, the Senate stood at ease at 3:34 p.m.)
(Whereupon, the Senate reconvened at 3:45 p.m.)
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The Senate will return to order.
Senator DeFrancisco.
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Yes. At this point in time could we return to reports of standing committees for a report of the Rules Committee.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:There is a Rules Committee report before the desk, and the Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY:Senator Flanagan, from the Committee on Rules, reports the following bills:
Senate Print 932A, by Senator Avella, an act to amend the Public Housing Law;
Senate 3969, by Senator Ranzenhofer, an act to amend the Private Housing Finance Law;
Senate 4558A, by Senator Klein, an act to amend the Public Housing Law;
Senate 6694, by Senator Seward, an act to amend the Insurance Law;
Senate 6695, by Senator Montgomery, an act to amend the Correction Law;
Senate 6699, by Senator Perkins, an act to amend the Administrative Code of the City of New York;
Senate 6706, by Senator Ritchie, an act to amend the Tax Law;
And Senate 6707, by Senator Ritchie, an act to amend the Tax Law.
All bills reported direct to third reading.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator DeFrancisco, would you like to make a motion?
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: I move that you accept the report of the Rules Committee.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:All in favor of accepting the Committee on Rules report signify by saying aye.
(Response of "Aye.")
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Opposed?
(No response.)
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The Committee on Rules report has been accepted.
Senator DeFrancisco.
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Can we now take up the noncontroversial reading of the calendar for today.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The Secretary will beginning the reading of today's active list, February 8, 2016.
The Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 10, by Senator Farley, Senate Print 6379A, an act to amend the Business Corporation Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 3. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2015.
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 11, by Senator Carlucci, Senate Print 6380A, an act to amend the Correction Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2015.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Carlucci to explain his vote.
SENATOR CARLUCCI:Thank you, Mr. President.
Our correctional officers have one of the hardest jobs there is. The beat that they walk is one of the toughest beats in the nation. And we know that right now in New York State we have over 8500 inmates that have been formally diagnosed with some form of mental health disorder. And we know that there's far more that are living with mental illness in our correctional facilities but have just been undiagnosed.
That's why it's so important that our correctional officers have the tools, have the resources they need to do their job successfully.
What this legislation does is it requires correctional officers to have mental health training. They'll be able to have the training to develop the skills to deescalate situations. They'll be able to develop the skills to see the signs in inmates, to see that they might be needing of treatment.
By passing this legislation, I believe we'll be making our prisons safer and making strides towards reducing the recidivism rate here in New York State.
So I want to thank my colleagues for supporting this important legislation. And, Mr. President, I'll be voting in the affirmative.
Thank you.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Carlucci to be recorded in the affirmative.
Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 54.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 12, by Senator Little, Senate Print 6381B, an act to repeal certain provisions.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 3. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2015.
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 15, by Senator Amedore, Senate Print 6384A, an act to amend the Social Services Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 4. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2015.
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 20, by Senator Felder, Senate Print 6389A, an act to amend the Family Court Act.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 3. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2015.
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 25, by Senator Ranzenhofer, Senate Print 6394A, an act to amend the Public Authorities Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 3. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2015.
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 29, by Senator Seward, Senate Print 6398A, an act to amend a chapter of the Laws of 2015.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2015.
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 37, by Senator Serrano, Senate Print 6426A, an act to amend Chapter 899 of the Laws of 1984.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 4. 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.
Senator DeFrancisco, that completes the noncontroversial reading of the today's active list calendar.
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Yes. Would you please recognize Senator Hassell-Thompson for the purposes of an introduction.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Hassell-Thompson.
SENATOR HASSELL-THOMPSON:Thank you, Mr. President.
I rise to introduce a young woman into our chambers today who originated in the State of Alabama and who, before Rosa Parks, refused to get up as a civil rights act of disobedience on a bus in Alabama.
Hopefully one day we'll do a resolution on behalf of Ms. Claudette Colvin, but she is here being honored by a group of students who are part of a group called Peace December. It's a group that I began, and 15 years later that group originates in 15 countries across the world.
Peace December is really about bringing peace and order to any system that segregates against its citizens. And so Ms. Colvin has been such a prime example of what it means to be peaceful demonstrator, but determined, as an A student and a woman who one day wanted to be President. But I know that even though she did not make it, she is so proud of our President. And we are so proud of her for all of the initiatives and the things that she has done and for the role modeling that she does for our young people.
So I just wanted to ask my colleagues to just recognize her with me today, welcome her to the chambers in the New York State Senate, and let her know that we appreciate all that she has sacrificed -- being arrested, being handcuffed, being in prison, and being tormented just because she is a woman of color.
Thank you, Ms. Colvin, for all that you have done for us.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Thank you, Ms. Colvin. We welcome you and extend the privileges and courtesies of the house.
Thank you for being here.
(Standing ovation.)
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator DeFrancisco, Senator Díaz has asked permission to speak. Without objection?
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: If he's nice, no objection.
(Laughter.)
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Díaz.
SENATOR DÍAZ: I'm always nice.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, but I raised my hand before you cut me off. Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen --
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:You look like a conductor there, Senator Díaz.
SENATOR DÍAZ: -- today, today I have to join my colleague Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson in honoring the person of Claudette Colvin.
Here in the Senate chamber, on the Senate floor, we have a few distinguished members of the community. We have Lisa Allen, director of the Peace December movement. We have Edna Thomas-Granger, executive director of Peace December, and Sheikh Drammeh, chairman of Peace December. So also they are joining and they came with Ms. Colvin today, with Claudette. So thank you for being here today.
In the gallery we have a group also of distinguished members of the community. We have Shireena Drammeh, the wife of Sheikh Drammeh, and members of the community. So I also would like to extend my welcoming to you and thank you for being in Albany today and bringing Ms. Claudette Colvin to us. Thank you.
Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, two years ago, two years ago on February 21, 2014, I -- every year I do something in the Bronx called the Abrazos, called "the embraces." We have Abrazo Boricua, that's called an embrace for the Puerto Rican community. We have Abrazo Dominicana, for the Dominican community. We have Abrazo Honduran, for the Honduran community. And also we have Abrazo Bangladesh.
In one of those Abrazos two years ago, Ms. Beverly Roberts -- Beverly Roberts, ladies and gentlemen, is the president of the NAACP, the Parkchester branch in the Bronx. So Ms. Beverly Roberts brought to us the person of Claudette Colvin, that's two years ago, and informed me of the outstanding, the exemplary example and all the things that Ms. Claudette Colvin did in those times.
And even though other people have been widely recognized and widely applauded, Ms. Claudette Colvin has been in the back seat taking time and everybody is taking recognition.
But today this chamber, thanks to Ruth Hassell-Thompson, we're here, I'm here. We did it in the Bronx two years ago, the Abrazo Afro-Americano. But today, Ms. Claudette Colvin, thank you for all your efforts.
I remember I went to Columbia, South Carolina in 1960, 1960, a young guy 18 years old, from Puerto Rico. Didn't know anything. And I joined the Army, and I went to Columbia, to Fort Jackson, Columbia, South Carolina, and I knew and I learned what was going on in that time.
And knowing what you did, thank you. We all appreciate that. Because of what you did, other people follow you, and here we are. Here we are. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. And thank you very much.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
(Applause from gallery.)
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:We welcome our guests and extend our best wishes to everyone.
Senator DeFrancisco.
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Yes. Is there any further business at the desk?
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:There is no further business before the desk.
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: That being the case, I move to adjourn until Tuesday, February 9th, at 11:00 a.m.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:On motion, the Senate stands adjourned until Tuesday, February 9th, at 11:00 a.m.
Senate is adjourned.
(Whereupon, the Senate adjourned at 3:57 p.m.)
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