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1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
2
3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
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6
7
8
9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 February 2, 2021
11 3:03 p.m.
12
13
14 REGULAR SESSION
15
16
17
18 SENATOR BRIAN A. BENJAMIN, Acting President
19 ALEJANDRA N. PAULINO, ESQ., Secretary
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25
445
1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
3 Senate will come to order.
4 I ask everyone present to please
5 rise and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
6 (Whereupon, the assemblage recited
7 the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: In the
9 absence of clergy, let us bow our heads in a
10 moment of silent reflection or prayer.
11 (Whereupon, the assemblage respected
12 a moment of silence.)
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
14 reading of the Journal.
15 THE SECRETARY: In Senate, Monday,
16 February 1, 2021, the Senate met pursuant to
17 adjournment. The Journal of Sunday, January 31,
18 2021, was read and approved. On motion, Senate
19 adjourned.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Without
21 objection, the Journal stands approved as read.
22 Presentation of petitions.
23 Messages from the Assembly.
24 The Secretary will read.
25 THE SECRETARY: Senator Benjamin
446
1 moves to discharge, from the Committee on Rules,
2 Assembly Bill Number 989 and substitute it for
3 the identical Senate Bill 865, Third Reading
4 Calendar 18.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
6 substitution is so ordered.
7 THE SECRETARY: Senator Gounardes
8 moves to discharge, from the Committee on Rules,
9 Assembly Bill Number 980 and substitute it for
10 the identical Senate Bill 1295, Third Reading
11 Calendar 66.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
13 substitution is so ordered.
14 THE SECRETARY: Senator Sanders
15 moves to discharge, from the Committee on Rules,
16 Assembly Bill Number 966 and substitute it for
17 the identical Senate Bill 1299, Third Reading
18 Calendar 70.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
20 substitution is so ordered.
21 THE SECRETARY: Senator Persaud
22 moves to discharge, from the Committee on Rules,
23 Assembly Bill Number 973 and substitute it for
24 the identical Senate Bill 1300, Third Reading
25 Calendar 71.
447
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
2 substitution is so ordered.
3 THE SECRETARY: Senator Brouk moves
4 to discharge, from the Committee on Rules,
5 Assembly Bill Number 1250 and substitute it for
6 the identical Senate Bill 1301, Third Reading
7 Calendar 72.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
9 substitution is so ordered.
10 THE SECRETARY: Senator Gounardes
11 moves to discharge, from the Committee on Rules,
12 Assembly Bill Number 1259 and substitute it for
13 the identical Senate Bill 1304, Third Reading
14 Calendar 75.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
16 substitution is so ordered.
17 THE SECRETARY: Senator Gianaris
18 moves to discharge, from the Committee on Rules,
19 Assembly Bill Number 2574 and substitute it for
20 the identical Senate Bill 2076, Third Reading
21 Calendar 139.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
23 substitution is so ordered.
24 Messages from the Governor.
25 Reports of standing committees.
448
1 Reports of select committees.
2 Communications and reports from
3 state officers.
4 Motions and resolutions.
5 Senator Gianaris.
6 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President, I
7 move to adopt the Resolution Calendar.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: All in
9 favor of adopting the Resolution Calendar signify
10 by saying aye.
11 (Response of "Aye.")
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:
13 Opposed, nay.
14 (No response.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
16 Resolution Calendar is adopted.
17 Senator Gianaris.
18 SENATOR GIANARIS: There will be an
19 immediate meeting of the Rules Committee in
20 Room 332.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: There
22 will be an immediate meeting of the
23 Rules Committee in Room 332.
24 SENATOR GIANARIS: The Senate will
25 stand at ease.
449
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
2 Senate will stand at ease.
3 (Whereupon, the Senate stood at ease
4 at 3:05 p.m.)
5 (Whereupon, the Senate reconvened at
6 3:13 p.m.)
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
8 Senate will return to order.
9 Senator Gianaris.
10 SENATOR GIANARIS: Is there a
11 report of the Rules Committee at the desk?
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: There
13 is a report of the Rules Committee at the desk.
14 The Secretary will read.
15 THE SECRETARY: Senator
16 Stewart-Cousins, from the Committee on Rules,
17 reports the following bills:
18 Senate Print 538A, by
19 Senator Kaplan, an act to amend the Real Property
20 Law;
21 Senate Print 945A, by
22 Senator Gaughran, an act to amend the
23 Real Property Law and the State Finance Law;
24 Senate Print 1448, by Senator
25 Hoylman, an act to amend the Real Property Law;
450
1 Senate Print 1984, by Senator
2 Jackson, an act to amend the Education Law;
3 Senate Print 2131A, by
4 Senator Skoufis, an act to amend the
5 Real Property Law;
6 Senate Print 2132A, by
7 Senator Skoufis, an act to amend the
8 Real Property Law;
9 Senate Print 2133, by Senator
10 Skoufis, an act to amend the Real Property Law;
11 Senate Print 2157, by Senator
12 Thomas, an act to amend the Real Property Law;
13 Senate Print 2525, by Senator
14 Kavanagh, an act to amend the Real Property Law;
15 Senate Print 2555, by Senator
16 Brisport, an act to establish a task force on
17 educator diversity in New York State;
18 Senate Print 4000, by
19 Senator Rivera, an act to amend the
20 Education Law; and
21 Senate Print 4001, by
22 Senator Biaggi, an act to amend the Labor Law.
23 All bills reported direct to third
24 reading.
25 SENATOR GIANARIS: Move to accept
451
1 the report of the Rules Committee.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: All in
3 favor of accepting the report of the
4 Rules Committee please signify by saying aye.
5 (Response of "Aye.")
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:
7 Opposed, nay.
8 (No response.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
10 report is accepted and before the house.
11 SENATOR GIANARIS: Please take up
12 the calendar, Mr. President.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
14 Secretary will read.
15 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 18,
16 Assembly Print 989, substituted earlier by
17 Assemblymember Solages, an act to amend the
18 Public Health Law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Read
20 the last section.
21 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
22 act shall take effect on the first of January.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Call
24 the roll.
25 (The Secretary called the roll.)
452
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:
2 Announce the results.
3 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
5 bill is passed.
6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 53,
7 Senate Print 900, by Senator Rivera, an act to
8 amend the Public Health Law.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Read
10 the last section.
11 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
12 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
13 same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2020.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Call
15 the roll.
16 (The Secretary called the roll.)
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:
18 Announce the results.
19 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
21 bill is passed.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 66,
23 Assembly Print 980, substituted earlier by
24 Assemblymember Abbate, an act to amend the
25 Labor Law.
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1 SENATOR JORDAN: Lay it aside.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Lay it
3 aside.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 70,
5 Assembly Print 966, substituted earlier by
6 Assemblymember Solages, an act to amend the
7 Labor Law.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Read
9 the last section.
10 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
11 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
12 same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2020.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Call
14 the roll.
15 (The Secretary called the roll.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:
17 Announce the results.
18 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
20 bill is passed.
21 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 71,
22 Assembly Print Number 973, substituted earlier by
23 Assemblymember Williams, an act to amend a
24 chapter of the Laws of 2020.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Read
454
1 the last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
3 act shall take effect immediately.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Call
5 the roll.
6 (The Secretary called the roll.)
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:
8 Announce the results.
9 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
11 bill is passed.
12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 72,
13 Assembly Print Number 1250, substituted earlier
14 by Assemblymember Gunther, an act to direct the
15 Commissioner of Mental Health to create a
16 workgroup and report regarding frontline worker
17 trauma.
18 SENATOR GIANARIS: Lay it aside for
19 the day.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
21 bill will be laid aside for the day.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 73,
23 Senate Print 1302, by Senator Ramos, an act to
24 amend the Labor Law.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Read
455
1 the last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
3 act shall take effect immediately.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Call
5 the roll.
6 (The Secretary called the roll.)
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:
8 Announce the results.
9 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
11 bill is passed.
12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 75,
13 Assembly Print Number 1259, substituted earlier
14 by Assemblymember Dinowitz, an act to amend the
15 Public Authorities Law.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Read
17 the last section.
18 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
19 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
20 same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2020.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Call
22 the roll.
23 (The Secretary called the roll.)
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:
25 Announce the results.
456
1 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
2 Calendar Number 75, those Senators voting in the
3 negative are Senators Akshar, Borrello, Boyle,
4 Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martucci,
5 Mattera, Oberacker, Rath and Weik.
6 Ayes, 49. Nays, 12.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
8 bill is passed.
9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 77,
10 Senate Print 1306, by Senator Kennedy, an act to
11 amend a chapter of the Laws of 2020 establishing
12 the Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Read
14 the last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
16 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
17 same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2020.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Call
19 the roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Senator
22 Kennedy to explain his vote.
23 SENATOR KENNEDY: Thank you,
24 Mr. President.
25 I rise in support of this bill today
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1 creating the Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task
2 Force, a badly needed solution to a major problem
3 in our 6.2-million-acre Adirondack Park.
4 Despite New York's attempts over the
5 years to protect the Adirondacks, the use of salt
6 has been found to negatively impact the lakes and
7 watersheds in the area. The ecological damage
8 has already been significant and is predicted to
9 only get worse if we don't act now.
10 Salt in surface water and
11 groundwater releases heavy metals and other toxic
12 substances, threatening the welfare of humans and
13 animals alike. The single biggest culprit is the
14 use and overuse of road salt during winter
15 months -- which, in higher elevations, can last
16 almost half the year.
17 Environmental impact can turn into
18 economic impact. According to the Adirondack
19 Park Agency, over 3600 businesses call this park
20 home, employing thousands of New Yorkers and
21 driving the local economy.
22 This task force, with representation
23 from a wide range of partners, will study and
24 examine the problem in detail and issue suggested
25 recommendations as to how to address the use of
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1 salt on roadways.
2 This bill was moved forward in
3 partnership with many strong advocates across
4 New York who are committed to protecting our
5 environment and our wildlife. This bill was
6 years and years in the making, so many people and
7 organizations are to thank.
8 I first want to thank our Majority
9 Leader, Andrea Stewart-Cousins, for bringing this
10 bill to the floor and prioritizing our
11 environment. I want to thank the head of the
12 En Con Committee, Senator Kaminsky, and former
13 Senator Betty Little for their leadership, as
14 well as Assemblyman Jones.
15 Many organizations, including the
16 Adirondack Council, ADK Action, Adirondack
17 Watershed Institute, the Sierra Club, Citizens
18 Campaign for the Environment, Environmental
19 Advocates and the New York League of Conservation
20 Voters, all worked to make this bill a reality.
21 Because of their dedication,
22 Mr. President, we're taking a step forward in
23 prioritizing the preservation of New York's great
24 outdoors. And I'm proud to join with all of
25 these individuals, organizations, and the greater
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1 community in this fight.
2 Thank you once again, and I proudly
3 vote aye on this bill.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Senator
5 Kennedy to be recorded in the affirmative.
6 Announce the results.
7 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 61.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
9 bill is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 81,
11 Senate Print 1310, by Senator Breslin, an act to
12 amend the Election Law.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Read
14 the last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
16 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
17 same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2020.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Call
19 the roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:
22 Announce the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
24 Calendar 81, those Senators voting in the
25 negative are Senators May and Reichlin-Melnick.
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1 Ayes, 59. Nays, 2.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
3 bill is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 107, Senate Print 1172, by Senator Rivera, an act
6 to amend the Public Health Law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Read
8 the last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
10 act shall take effect on the first of January.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Call
12 the roll.
13 (The Secretary called the roll.)
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:
15 Announce the results.
16 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 61.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
18 bill is passed.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
20 137, Senate Print 2074, by Senator Mayer, an act
21 to amend the Labor Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Read
23 the last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
25 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
461
1 same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2020.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Call
3 the roll.
4 (The Secretary called the roll.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:
6 Announce the results.
7 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 61.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
9 bill is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 139, Assembly Print 2574, substituted earlier by
12 Assemblymember Walker, an act to amend the
13 Election Law.
14 SENATOR JORDAN: Lay it aside.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Lay it
16 aside.
17 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
18 142, Senate Print 2558, by Senator Kennedy, an
19 act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
20 SENATOR GIANARIS: Lay it aside for
21 the day.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Lay it
23 aside for the day.
24 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
25 171, Senate Print 1351, by Senator Hoylman, an
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1 act to repeal Section 240.37 of the Penal Law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Read
3 the last section.
4 THE SECRETARY: Section 15. This
5 act shall take effect immediately.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Call
7 the roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Senator
10 Brisport to explain his vote.
11 SENATOR BRISPORT: Thank you,
12 Chair.
13 I am so, so proud to vote yes on
14 this bill today. I remember in 2009 lobbying my
15 State Senator, and my friends to lobby their
16 State Senators, to pass same-sex marriage. And I
17 remember how much it stung to see that vote fail
18 in the State Senate.
19 We as a body have come so far in
20 advancing queer rights, and so I'm so proud of
21 everything that we have done. In the wake of
22 Black Lives Matter, arising and expanding last
23 summer, it's important to note that black lives
24 can only matter if we ensure that black trans
25 lives matter too.
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1 I'd like to thank Senator Hoylman
2 and thank the advocates for making this happen
3 today. Thank you.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Senator
5 Brisport to be recorded in the affirmative.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Senator
7 Benjamin.
8 SENATOR BENJAMIN: Thank you,
9 Madam Chair.
10 You know, I rise to support an
11 amazing bill by an amazing colleague. I want to
12 thank Senator Hoylman for bringing this bill to
13 the floor.
14 And it's important because in 1976
15 there was a loitering law -- anti-loitering law
16 that was put in place that has caused so much
17 pain since then. You know, I was born in 1976,
18 so I know that's 44 years ago. And what that law
19 allowed was for the police to apprehend anyone
20 they assumed to be engaging in sex work, without
21 any evidence.
22 Whenever you give discretion for
23 someone to use their judgment, what is going to
24 be embedded in that is whatever opinions they
25 have around the parties. And unfortunately, in
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1 the case of this, one of the reasons why it's
2 named "walking while trans" is because there are
3 so many Black and Brown trans members of our
4 community who have been subjected to
5 overincarceration based on the opinions of a few
6 police officers.
7 And that, to me, is incorrect. It
8 reminds me of why we fought so hard,
9 Madam President, to end stop and frisk. Stop and
10 frisk was predicated upon the same assumption of
11 "I think someone could be doing something wrong,
12 so then I'm going to search them and see what
13 happens." Unfortunately, Senator Hoylman, as you
14 know, in this case people were incarcerated as a
15 result of perception by police officers.
16 So I'm glad to stand here today as
17 we undo this wrong. I want to apologize to all
18 of the members of the trans community -- and the
19 community at large, but particularly the trans
20 community, because they've been overafflicted by
21 this.
22 And it's important that we apologize
23 because it was government law that created this
24 crisis in the first place. And so we, as the
25 government, need to apologize and do the right
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1 thing, which is what we're doing today.
2 I want to thank the leader, Andrea
3 Stewart-Cousins, for bringing this bill to the
4 floor. And I want to personally thank one of my
5 constituents, Tonya Walker, who I gave last year
6 a Woman of Distinction Award to. She's a trans
7 woman. I gave her that distinction because of
8 the incredible work that she has done. And I
9 heard countless stories of how this law, this law
10 overincarcerated people of the trans community.
11 So I am glad to be part of
12 correcting that wrong today with all of you, and
13 I want to thank the New York State Senate for
14 doing the right thing today.
15 Thank you.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Senator
17 Benjamin to be recorded in the affirmative.
18 Senator Reichlin-Melnick to explain
19 his vote.
20 SENATOR REICHLIN-MELNICK: Thank
21 you, Madam Chair.
22 I am proud to stand in support of
23 the LGBT community of New York and in support of
24 this bill. This bill repeals a criminal offense
25 called "loitering for the purposes of
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1 prostitution."
2 And that's a good thing, because
3 this is a criminal offense that has been
4 disproportionately applied to discriminate
5 against the LGBT community and communities of
6 color. The language of the law is ambiguous and
7 is subject to the implicit biases of those
8 applying it, and so repealing this offense will
9 mean one less discriminatory law will exist in
10 the State of New York.
11 Its repeal is rightfully being
12 celebrated by a broad coalition of individuals
13 and organizations committed to promoting equality
14 and fair treatment for all.
15 And what this bill does not do, in
16 spite of what some who are trying to stir up
17 anger for their own political gain have claimed,
18 what this bill does not do is legalize
19 prostitution. There will still be several laws
20 on the books, as there should be, which ensure
21 that engaging in or attempting to engage in
22 prostitution, patronizing a person for purposes
23 of prostitution, or promoting prostitution are
24 all crimes.
25 Furthermore -- and I'm speaking now
467
1 directly to my constituents who may have heard
2 misleading attacks on this bill -- the specific
3 charge of loitering for the purposes of
4 prostitution that this bill repeals has not been
5 used to charge anyone in our Senate district for
6 nearly a decade. Repealing this law will have no
7 negative impact whatsoever on public safety in
8 our community.
9 Even the District Attorneys
10 Association of the State of New York supports the
11 repeal of this harmful law. The statute has come
12 to be used in ways that wrongly profile people
13 and even leads to their arrest, based on nothing
14 more than gender expression or appearance, they
15 said. And they added: "It is an important and
16 necessary step to repeal this law if we are to
17 remedy injustices and regain the trust of all
18 communities."
19 And finally, on the topic of
20 political attacks, for some people who say this
21 chamber should be focused on other things, let me
22 say that in one month we have passed bills to
23 expand voting rights, to help small businesses,
24 protect commercial tenants, fix problems with the
25 unemployment system, address racial inequalities
468
1 in healthcare, and yes, we've still found the
2 time to do what we have a moral obligation to do,
3 end inequality in our criminal justice system.
4 We can walk and chew gum at the same time.
5 And I am proud to be voting yes on
6 this bill.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Senator
8 Reichlin-Melnick to be recorded in the
9 affirmative.
10 Senator Jackson to explain his vote.
11 SENATOR JACKSON: Thank you,
12 Mr. President. I rise, my colleagues, in order
13 to speak on this bill, which commonly is called
14 the "walking while trans." But it's really a
15 situation that this bill is a long time coming.
16 The "walking while trans" ban has
17 criminalized our trans and gender-nonbinary
18 community for decades, especially those who
19 engage in sex work. These people have been
20 charged and locked up for years in Rikers Island
21 simply for walking outside. And if you don't
22 know Rikers Island, it's a jail in New York City.
23 My own staffer who helped me put
24 together these remarks experiences harassment as
25 a white, gender-nonbinary femme person from
469
1 ordinary passersby and even from the police. But
2 they said to me: "RJ, I have it so much easier
3 than Black and Brown trans families who don't
4 have the shield of whiteness or business casual
5 attire to protect them. We have to get rid of
6 this law now." And I'm quoting him, his
7 expression of "now." We can't wait.
8 It shouldn't matter the color of
9 your skin, your gender, or what you're wearing.
10 This bill gets at a core human right. Just like
11 our efforts to end stop and frisk policies that
12 targeted Black and Brown men. Every New Yorker
13 has a right to walk in public without fear of law
14 enforcement rounding them up simply for existing.
15 I thank all the advocates who have
16 kept up the pressure of us to do the right thing.
17 And to Senator Brad Hoylman, who's here, let me
18 thank you, as the lead sponsor of this. There's
19 so many people that are so appreciative of your
20 leadership in bringing this forward.
21 And to our Majority Leader Andrea
22 Stewart-Cousins, for the courage to get this bill
23 across the finish line in our chambers.
24 I proudly vote aye on this bill.
25 Thank you, Mr. President.
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1 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Senator
2 Jackson to be recorded in the affirmative.
3 Senator Salazar to explain her vote.
4 SENATOR SALAZAR: Thank you,
5 Mr. President.
6 There really should be no doubt at
7 this point that the enforcement of the loitering
8 statute known as "walking while trans" has been
9 deeply biased against people based on their race
10 and on their gender.
11 According to court monitoring data
12 collected by the Red Umbrella Project, before the
13 Brooklyn DA's office sought to curb the number of
14 arrests for this charge in our borough,
15 94 percent of the people who were charged in
16 Brooklyn under this law were Black women.
17 More recently, it was reported that
18 of all arrests for this charge in New York, close
19 to half of those charged were Black, and
20 42 percent were Latinx, most of whom are
21 trans women.
22 This bill has been especially
23 important to me due to the harm that the "walking
24 while trans" statute has caused in my own
25 district in East New York and Bushwick, where
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1 we've historically seen the highest number of
2 arrests for this charge in the state.
3 By passing Senator Hoylman's bill
4 today to finally repeal this harmful statute, we
5 are affirming the right of trans women and of all
6 New Yorkers to move through the world without
7 fear of being criminalized because of their
8 gender identity, because of their race, or simply
9 because of their physical appearance.
10 Thank you to Senator Hoylman for
11 being a champion for this bill for years. And
12 thank you to our Majority Leader Andrea
13 Stewart-Cousins for prioritizing this bill that
14 is so deeply meaningful and liberating for our
15 communities.
16 I'm proud to vote aye.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Senator
18 Salazar to be recorded in the affirmative.
19 Senator Hoylman to explain his vote.
20 SENATOR HOYLMAN: Thank you,
21 Mr. President.
22 You know, it's a rare moment in this
23 chamber when you get to stand and speak on behalf
24 of the dignity of an entire group of people. And
25 that's what we're doing today, and what a
472
1 privilege. And how humbling.
2 I'm thinking today, Mr. President,
3 about that extraordinarily powerful moment from
4 this past summer's Black Lives Matter protest.
5 It happened on that warm Sunday afternoon in
6 June, midway through Pride Month. More than
7 15,000 New Yorkers had gathered outside of the
8 Brooklyn Museum to march for justice -- 15,000.
9 And this March was led by transgender women of
10 color. They reminded the crowd that the modern
11 movement for LGBTQ rights -- for my rights, for
12 my husband's rights, for the rights of our
13 children -- was led by transgender women of
14 color, including Marsha P. Johnson and
15 Sylvia Rivera.
16 Mr. President, I join you in that
17 apology to the transgender community. And we're
18 on the Senate floor today to reaffirm that
19 message we heard at the Brooklyn Museum: Black
20 Trans Lives Matter.
21 I'm also reflecting on that powerful
22 march as I cast my vote. The bill we're casting
23 today repeals an outdated and infamous part of
24 our Penal Code, Section 240.37. Just a series of
25 numbers, but it gives police the power to stop or
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1 detain transgender women or any woman, really,
2 particularly women of color, immigrants, and
3 LGBTQ youth, for simply walking down the street
4 and dressing the way they want to and hanging out
5 with whom they wish.
6 The statute is used in ridiculous
7 ways to target New Yorkers. People have been
8 arrested under the statute for reasons such as
9 wearing a "black jacket, blue jeans and gray
10 boots," according to the police report. Or
11 "shorts and a tank top." Carrying condoms in
12 their purse. Or waving to a Lyft to get a ride
13 home. One officer even testified that this
14 statute could be used to stop any New Yorker who
15 wore -- and I'm quoting from the testimony
16 here -- "pretty much anything other than a nun's
17 outfit."
18 This statute has been clearly used
19 in a disproportionate way. In 2019, 82.5 percent
20 of people arrested under this law were Black or
21 Latinx. Recently an organization said:
22 "Enforcement of this law leads to harassment and
23 unjust arrests, undermines trust in our systems,
24 and has no value in protecting members of our
25 community." "Leads to harassment and unjust
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1 arrests, undermines trust in our systems, and has
2 no value in protecting members of our community."
3 I'll say it again.
4 Want to guess which organization
5 said that? That was the District Attorneys
6 Association of the State of New York. DAs across
7 this state have come out in favor of the bill
8 we're passing today, and for good reason. They
9 write in their letter that "The time has come to
10 eliminate this discriminatory and
11 counterproductive law."
12 I'm proud that New York becomes the
13 first state, Mr. President, to roll back this
14 discriminatory statute. It's my hope that our
15 progress today will light a spark that ignites
16 nationwide, inspiring other states with similar
17 statutes, like California and Illinois, to repeal
18 these outdated and transphobic laws.
19 I'm grateful to Senate Majority
20 Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Codes Committee
21 Chair Jamaal Bailey for their unwavering support
22 of this bill and LGBTQ and transgender rights. I
23 appreciate our colleagues, including Senator
24 Salazar, our coprime sponsor; Senator Ramos, who
25 represents so many constituents targeted by this
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1 unjust statute; and 37 of our colleagues who
2 cosponsored this bill.
3 Thanks to Assembly sponsor Amy
4 Paulin, who advocated for this bill, and New York
5 City Councilmember Carlina Rivera, who passed a
6 City Council resolution in support.
7 And most importantly, I'm grateful
8 to the brave leaders from the transgender
9 community who spoke up and spoke out to make this
10 bill a reality: Trans women, including
11 TS Candii, Kiara St. James of the New York
12 Transgender Advocacy Group; Bianey Garcia; Norma
13 Ureiro; Melissa Brudo; Mariah Lopez, the
14 spiritual daughter of Sylvia Rivera. Francis
15 Steele, Jaylee Bratlee, Ceyenne Doroshow, and
16 many others -- others who we don't even know, who
17 courageously told their stories even if it wasn't
18 easy.
19 They spoke up because they knew they
20 could turn the pain of the transgender
21 community -- which I'm sorry to say includes
22 monumental pain, suffering, and even death --
23 into advocacy to help make New York a more equal
24 and just place for everyone.
25 You know, Mr. President, I spoke to
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1 a woman who's been advocating for this bill today
2 named Kiara St. James. She expressed to me how
3 her community has felt like a second-class
4 citizen. Anytime she and her girlfriends come to
5 Midtown just to have fun, like so many of us do
6 on a regular basis, they face the risk of being
7 stopped by the police, falsely accused of
8 criminal activity, harassed and arrested under
9 the statute that we're repealing today. Can you
10 imagine having the specter of arrest hanging over
11 your every move? Well, that's been the reality
12 for so many transgender women of color.
13 She said this feeling of constant
14 prosecution for crimes you didn't commit, of
15 nobody believing you or believing in you, has led
16 to what she calls a malaise of hopelessness, a
17 malaise of hopelessness for so many of her
18 transgender sisters which leads to drug abuse and
19 sex work.
20 Kiara thinks this law today, with
21 it, we can turn the corner for all of her
22 sisters. She sees them going to college and
23 technical school and getting degrees, reclaiming
24 their dignity and humanity. Kiara says she's so
25 proud that New York is leading the nation by
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1 being the first state legislature to strike down
2 the "walking while trans" ban.
3 I proudly vote aye, Mr. President.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Senator
5 Hoylman to be recorded in the affirmative.
6 Announce the results.
7 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
8 Calendar 171, those Senators voting in the
9 negative are Senators Akshar, Borrello, Boyle,
10 Felder, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Jordan,
11 Martucci, Mattera, Oberacker, Ortt, Palumbo,
12 Rath, Serino and Weik.
13 Ayes, 45. Nays, 16.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
15 bill is passed.
16 Senator Gianaris, that completes the
17 reading of today's calendar.
18 SENATOR GIANARIS: Can we now move
19 to the controversial calendar, please.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
21 Secretary will ring the bell.
22 The Secretary will read.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 66,
24 Assembly Print 980, substituted earlier by
25 Assemblymember Abbate, an act to amend the
478
1 Labor Law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Senator
3 Jordan, why do you rise?
4 SENATOR JORDAN: Mr. President, I
5 believe there's an amendment at the desk. I
6 waive the reading of that amendment and ask that
7 you recognize Senator Rath to be heard.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Thank
9 you, Senator Jordan.
10 Upon review of the amendment, in
11 accordance with Rule 6, Section 4B, I rule it
12 nongermane and out of order at this time.
13 SENATOR JORDAN: Accordingly,
14 Mr. President, I appeal the ruling of the chair
15 and ask that Senator Rath be recognized.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
17 appeal has been made and recognized, and Senator
18 Rath may be heard.
19 SENATOR RATH: Thank you,
20 Mr. President.
21 I rise to appeal the ruling of the
22 chair. The proposed amendment is germane to the
23 bill at hand because this bill allows
24 collaboration in addressing operations for public
25 employees during a declared state of emergency
479
1 involving a communicable disease.
2 Our proposed amendment would also
3 encourage collaboration between the Executive and
4 the Legislature in addressing the state's
5 response to COVID-19 by rescinding the
6 Executive's complete authority. For these
7 reasons, Mr. President, I strongly encourage you
8 to reconsider your ruling.
9 At the start of the pandemic back in
10 March of 2020, we had no idea what would unfold
11 and allowed the Governor to have total Executive
12 power to deal with the pandemic issues quickly,
13 which was needed at the time.
14 Fast forward to today. We are now
15 over 300 days later, and these gubernatorial
16 emergency powers are no longer needed. In fact,
17 my Senate Republican colleagues and I have
18 consistently attempted to strip these powers of
19 the Governor, to no avail.
20 Surely we can all agree that the
21 time for centralized government decision-making
22 has come to an end.
23 In general, our Legislature, our
24 State Legislature's voice has been blunted. All
25 the while, we are not getting the answers the
480
1 public is demanding of us, especially on
2 vaccinations and deaths in our nursing homes.
3 Last month each and every member in
4 this body swore an oath to the voters of New York
5 State to uphold their values and represent their
6 interests. The time to act is now for us and our
7 constituents across New York State to rescind the
8 Governor's expanded executive powers.
9 Checks and balances, I believe, are
10 mission-critical to a successful state
11 government. As members of the Legislature we are
12 doing our state and our constituencies a
13 disservice by not taking back our constitutional
14 role in New York State. Frankly, it is time we
15 put the responsibility of governing back on the
16 shoulders of the New York State Legislature.
17 We tried demanding transparency and
18 accountability yesterday in a committee meeting,
19 yet my good friend and colleague Senator Tom
20 O'Mara was muted, and his request was shot down.
21 This was extremely disrespectful, in my opinion,
22 and unexpected from our esteemed Democrat
23 colleagues here in the State Senate. We are
24 supposed to be working together even if we don't
25 always agree.
481
1 Mr. President, coequal branches and
2 checks and balances are important words in
3 government. These words are supposed to mean
4 something. Simply put, let's get back to work.
5 Again, for these reasons, I
6 encourage you to reconsider your ruling. Thank
7 you, Mr. President.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Thank
9 you, Senator Rath.
10 I want to remind the house that the
11 vote is on the procedures of the house and the
12 ruling of the chair.
13 Those in favor of overruling the
14 chair signify by saying aye.
15 SENATOR JORDAN: Request a show of
16 hands.
17 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President,
18 we have agreed to waive the showing of hands and
19 record each member of the Minority in the
20 affirmative.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Without
22 objection, so ordered.
23 Announce the results.
24 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 18.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
482
1 ruling of the chair stands, and the bill-in-chief
2 is before the house.
3 Senator Rath.
4 SENATOR RATH: Thank you,
5 Mr. President. I have a clarifying question on
6 the bill.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: So
8 you'd like to ask the --
9 SENATOR RATH: I'd like to ask the
10 Senator a question.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Okay.
12 Does the Senator yield?
13 SENATOR GIANARIS: I will yield,
14 Mr. President.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
16 Senator yields.
17 SENATOR RATH: Thank you,
18 Mr. President.
19 The original chapter bill, No. 168,
20 was signed and became effective on September 7,
21 2020. In the approval memo the Governor states
22 that the intent of this technical amendment is to
23 extend the deadline for adoption of a final plan
24 to April 1, 2021. Section 4 of the bill being
25 considered right now requires that a draft plan
483
1 be submitted to the applicable labor management
2 committee no later than 150 days from the
3 effective date of the original chapter and
4 finalized plan to be adopted by April 1st of
5 2021.
6 Is the intent of this bill to
7 require public employees to submit a draft plan
8 150 days from the effective date of the original
9 chapter, which was September 7th of 2020?
10 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President,
11 the intent was to do that. This chapter
12 amendment is obviously happening today, and the
13 timeline is stressed. I believe the public
14 employers. Which I think is what Senator Rath
15 meant to say, are committed to making a good
16 faith effort to provide opportunity for comments
17 from representatives of labor, and the
18 representatives of organized labor are
19 understanding of this and okay moving ahead with
20 that process.
21 SENATOR RATH: Thank you,
22 Mr. President. Would the sponsor continue to
23 yield?
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Does
25 the Senator yield?
484
1 SENATOR GIANARIS: Yes.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
3 Senator yields.
4 SENATOR RATH: Thank you.
5 Are you aware that this means that
6 the draft proposals are due this Thursday?
7 SENATOR GIANARIS: As I said,
8 Mr. President, the timeline is stressed because
9 of the way this chapter amendment came down. We
10 are obviously in an emergency situation, dealing
11 with an emergency that is imminently affecting
12 millions of people, and so we certainly don't
13 want to hold up the provision of safety for
14 public employees throughout the state.
15 Representatives of both labor and
16 management are okay moving ahead, with the
17 understanding there will be a good-faith effort
18 made by all parties involved to comply as best as
19 they can.
20 SENATOR RATH: Thank you,
21 Mr. President. Would the Senator continue to
22 yield for another question.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Does
24 the Senator yield?
25 SENATOR GIANARIS: Yes.
485
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
2 Senator yields.
3 SENATOR RATH: Thank you.
4 Do we expect the Governor to sign
5 this by Thursday?
6 SENATOR GIANARIS: I don't know
7 exactly when the Governor intends to sign it, but
8 I believe the Governor is in support of this
9 legislation. This was the result of an agreement
10 with the Executive.
11 SENATOR RATH: Thank you,
12 Mr. President. Would the sponsor continue to
13 yield.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Does
15 the Senator yield?
16 SENATOR GIANARIS: Yes.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
18 Senator yields.
19 SENATOR RATH: Thank you.
20 One last question. I think we need
21 to be working on more of a heads-up when it comes
22 to public employers. Was that considered, the
23 timeline, in the passage of this legislation and
24 two days from now this goes into effect?
25 SENATOR GIANARIS: I'm not sure
486
1 what the Senator means by a heads-up to the
2 employers. But I will stress again that this is
3 a chapter amendment to a law that was passed in
4 the fall. And that both the employer and
5 employee side of the equation all understand why
6 we're moving as quickly as we are and will do
7 their best to comply in good faith with the
8 provisions of this law.
9 SENATOR RATH: Thank you,
10 Mr. President.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Are
12 there any other Senators wishing to be heard?
13 Seeing and hearing none, debate is
14 closed. The Secretary will ring the bell.
15 Read the last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
17 act shall take effect immediately.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Call
19 the roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:
22 Announce the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
24 Calendar Number 66, those Senators voting in the
25 negative are Senators Akshar and Rath.
487
1 Ayes, 60. Nays, 2.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
3 bill is passed.
4 The Secretary will read.
5 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
6 139, Assembly Number 2574, substituted earlier by
7 Assemblymember Walker, an act to amend the
8 Election Law.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Senator
10 Rath.
11 SENATOR RATH: Thank you,
12 Mr. President. Will the sponsor yield for
13 questions.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Does
15 the sponsor yield?
16 SENATOR GIANARIS: I will yield.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
18 sponsor yields.
19 SENATOR RATH: Thank you,
20 Mr. President.
21 When California enacted the
22 automatic voter registration, there were 150,000
23 errors on registrations within the first year,
24 and at least 1500 people that were ineligible to
25 vote yet were registered to vote. Some people
488
1 may say to themselves, Well, 1500 votes is not a
2 lot. But if you look at the race right here in
3 New York State, the 22nd Congressional District,
4 only a handful of votes will decide the winner of
5 that race.
6 Do you have any concerns that
7 New York will experience similar registration
8 errors?
9 SENATOR GIANARIS: No.
10 SENATOR RATH: Thank you,
11 Mr. President. Will the sponsor continue to
12 yield?
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Does
14 the sponsor yield?
15 SENATOR GIANARIS: Yes.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
17 sponsor yields.
18 SENATOR RATH: Does this bill still
19 contain the presumption of innocence provision of
20 the original bill?
21 SENATOR GIANARIS: Yes.
22 SENATOR RATH: Thank you,
23 Mr. President. Will the sponsor continue to
24 yield?
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Does
489
1 the sponsor yield?
2 SENATOR GIANARIS: Yes.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
4 sponsor yields.
5 SENATOR RATH: How would a
6 prosecutor prove someone intentionally did not
7 opt out of a voter registration?
8 SENATOR GIANARIS: Well,
9 Mr. President, there are ample examples
10 throughout the country of prosecutors developing
11 and using evidence against people who commit
12 malfeasance. I imagine it would unfold the same
13 way as it does in any other instance of
14 prosecution.
15 SENATOR RATH: Thank you,
16 Mr. President. Will the sponsor continue to
17 yield?
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Does
19 the sponsor yield?
20 SENATOR GIANARIS: Yes.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
22 sponsor yields.
23 SENATOR RATH: Does this bill
24 contain the provision that someone can register
25 to vote even if they are not providing a
490
1 signature?
2 SENATOR GIANARIS: This bill does
3 nothing to change the law in that regard.
4 SENATOR RATH: Thank you.
5 Mr. President, will the sponsor
6 continue to yield?
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Does
8 the sponsor yield?
9 SENATOR GIANARIS: Yes.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
11 sponsor yields.
12 SENATOR RATH: Thank you.
13 It appears that the chapter
14 amendment delays the implementation of the
15 automatic voter registration at several agencies.
16 Why the delay at these agencies?
17 SENATOR GIANARIS: This bill is the
18 result of discussions with the Executive, who as
19 the overseer of these agencies believed that the
20 ones that were delayed needed an extra year to
21 fully implement the provisions of the law.
22 SENATOR RATH: Mr. President, will
23 the sponsor continue to yield?
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Does
25 the sponsor yield?
491
1 SENATOR GIANARIS: Yes.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
3 sponsor yields.
4 SENATOR RATH: Will these agencies
5 need funding to implement the enrollment system?
6 SENATOR GIANARIS: It depends, is
7 the answer. The Department of Motor Vehicles,
8 for example, is already registering people under
9 a different process, so they can likely use
10 whatever mechanism is already in place.
11 But yes, for additional agencies
12 that are adding this service, they would need to
13 dedicate some resources to it, and time, which is
14 likely why the Executive requested additional
15 implementation time.
16 SENATOR RATH: Thank you,
17 Mr. President. Will the sponsor continue to
18 yield?
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Does
20 the sponsor yield?
21 SENATOR GIANARIS: Yes.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
23 sponsor yields.
24 SENATOR RATH: How was it decided
25 which agencies would automatically register
492
1 voters?
2 SENATOR GIANARIS: That was the
3 result of determinations and discussions with the
4 Executive in terms of which agencies had the
5 necessary information to make determinations
6 about eligibility.
7 So certain agencies, for example,
8 have citizenship, age, address information, and
9 others do not. So the choice was made to select
10 agencies that were best equipped to determine
11 eligibility.
12 SENATOR RATH: Thank you.
13 Mr. President, will the sponsor
14 continue to yield?
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Does
16 the sponsor yield?
17 SENATOR GIANARIS: Yes.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
19 sponsor yields.
20 SENATOR RATH: Thank you.
21 Was there the consideration of the
22 administrative and sort of bureaucratic work,
23 additional work that these agencies are going to
24 be required to do when it comes to automatic
25 voter registration within their organizations?
493
1 SENATOR GIANARIS: Yes.
2 SENATOR RATH: Thank you,
3 Mr. President. Will the sponsor continue to
4 yield?
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Does
6 the sponsor yield?
7 SENATOR GIANARIS: Yes.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
9 sponsor yields.
10 SENATOR RATH: One of the main
11 arguments for automatic voter registration is it
12 will increase turnout. Is there evidence of
13 this?
14 SENATOR GIANARIS: Well,
15 Mr. President, every time we have made it easier
16 for people, eligible people, to enroll and to
17 participate in elections, we have seen a
18 concomitant increase in turnout.
19 So if we take the estimated 1 to 2
20 million people in New York State who are eligible
21 but not registered to vote and put them on the
22 rolls, it will almost inevitably lead to a
23 dramatic increase in turnout.
24 SENATOR RATH: Thank you,
25 Mr. President.
494
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Are
2 there any other Senators wishing to be heard?
3 Seeing and hearing none, debate is
4 closed. The Secretary will ring the bell.
5 The Secretary will read the last
6 section.
7 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
8 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
9 same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2020.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Call
11 the roll.
12 (The Secretary called the roll.)
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:
14 Announce the results.
15 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
16 Calendar Number 139, those Senators voting in the
17 negative are Senators Akshar, Borrello, Boyle,
18 Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Jordan, Lanza,
19 Martucci, Mattera, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
20 Palumbo, Rath, Ritchie, Serino, Stec and Weik.
21 Ayes, 43. Nays, 19.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
23 bill is passed.
24 Senator Gianaris, that completes the
25 reading of the controversial calendar.
495
1 SENATOR GIANARIS: Is there any
2 further business at the desk?
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: There
4 is no further business at the desk.
5 SENATOR GIANARIS: I move to
6 adjourn until tomorrow, Wednesday, February 3rd,
7 at 11:00 a.m.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: On
9 motion, the Senate stands adjourned until
10 Wednesday, February 3rd, at 11:00 a.m.
11 (Whereupon, at 3:55 p.m., the Senate
12 adjourned.)
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