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1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
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4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
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9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 February 27, 2023
11 4:07 p.m.
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14 REGULAR SESSION
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18 SENATOR ROXANNE J. PERSAUD, Acting President
19 ALEJANDRA N. PAULINO, ESQ., Secretary
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1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: 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 PERSAUD: Rabbi
9 Jonathan Gewirtz, religious writer and member of
10 Village Green Shul in Monsey, will deliver
11 today's invocation.
12 RABBI GEWIRTZ: Good afternoon.
13 Thank you, Senator Weber, for
14 inviting me to deliver today's invocation, and to
15 all of you for joining me as I do.
16 More than a prayer or blessing, an
17 invocation is an appeal to a higher power for
18 help. Each session opens this way because while
19 our country was founded on the separation of
20 church and state, it was also founded on a deep
21 connection between God and state, to paraphrase
22 Chaplain Barry Black.
23 Each person in this room makes
24 decisions every day that affect the lives of
25 other people. Whether in debate, enacting
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1 legislation, or simply in the way we treat
2 others, we all impact the world around us.
3 When we invoke a higher power, we're
4 not just asking for help, we're urging ourselves
5 to be better than we were before, to become more
6 than human.
7 When Billy Batson invoked "SHAZAM"
8 to become Captain Marvel, he was summoning into
9 himself the superhuman attributes of a number of
10 mythological figures -- and one very real one. I
11 know, Captain Marvel's not often mentioned in
12 this chamber.
13 (Laughter.)
14 RABBI GEWIRTZ: The "S" stood for
15 King Solomon, the wisest of all men, so wise he
16 could converse with the birds -- the robins, the
17 sparrows. But how did Solomon get this way? How
18 did he become the wisest of all?
19 Kings 1 tells us that God appeared
20 to Solomon in a dream and offered him whatever he
21 would ask for. King Solomon's answer is
22 eye-opening and applies to everyone in this
23 chamber.
24 He asked: "Grant Your servant a
25 listening heart to judge Your people; to
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1 distinguish between good and bad; for who can
2 judge this vast people of Yours?"
3 King Solomon was wise enough to know
4 that everyone has a story. Everyone has a
5 perspective, and to properly govern, a leader
6 must be sensitive and listen to the people.
7 He or she must know that there are
8 lines between good and bad which we cannot allow
9 to become blurred or shifted, and that it is up
10 to us to care for others, putting service first.
11 To do so is to become more than human -- it is to
12 emulate God, who is concerned with all creatures,
13 ensuring they have what they need.
14 God was so pleased with Solomon's
15 answer that he responded, "I will give you the
16 wisdom you have asked for, and also what you did
17 not ask for, shall I give you: Wealth, honor,
18 victory over your enemies, and long life."
19 Today, our invocation will echo
20 Solomon's. "Almighty God, King of kings and
21 Ruler of all rulers, may You grant the members of
22 this chamber, and everyone here, listening hearts
23 and the ability to discern between good and evil,
24 so they may properly govern and serve the people
25 of New York and beyond.
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1 "And may it further be Your will to
2 grant those who, like Solomon, choose to govern
3 selflessly and with care, the blessings You
4 granted him: Wealth, honor, victory in their
5 battles, peace and peace of mind, and a long,
6 healthy life to continue to do good."
7 Amen.
8 (Response of "Amen.")
9 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Thank
10 you, Rabbi.
11 Reading of the Journal.
12 THE SECRETARY: In Senate, Friday,
13 February 24, 2023, the Senate met pursuant to
14 adjournment. The Journal of Thursday,
15 February 23, 2023, was read and approved. On
16 motion, the Senate adjourned.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Without
18 objection, the Journal stands approved as read.
19 Presentation of petitions.
20 Messages from the Assembly.
21 The Secretary will read.
22 THE SECRETARY: Senator
23 Hoylman-Sigal moves to discharge, from the
24 Committee on Rules, Assembly Bill Number 2901 and
25 substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 2234,
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1 Third Reading Calendar 171.
2 Senator Cooney moves to discharge,
3 from the Committee on Rules, Assembly Bill
4 Number 624 and substitute it for the identical
5 Senate Bill 2219, Third Reading Calendar 156.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: So
7 ordered.
8 Messages from the Governor.
9 Reports of standing committees.
10 Reports of select committees.
11 Communications and reports from
12 state officers.
13 Motions and resolutions.
14 Senator Gianaris.
15 SENATOR GIANARIS: Please take up
16 the reading of the calendar, Madam President.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
18 Secretary will read.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
20 156, Assembly Print 624, by Assemblymember
21 Zebrowski, an act to amend the State Finance Law
22 and the Education Law.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
24 last section.
25 THE SECRETARY: Section 7. This
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1 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
2 same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2022.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
4 roll.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
6 the results.
7 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 55.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 171, Assembly Print Number 2901, by
12 Assemblymember Levenberg, an act to amend the
13 Domestic Relations Law.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
15 last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 7. This
17 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
18 same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2022.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
20 roll.
21 (The Secretary called the roll.)
22 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
23 the results.
24 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
25 Calendar Number 171, those Senators voting in the
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1 negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello,
2 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Griffo, Helming, Martins,
3 Ortt, Rhoads, Skoufis, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk,
4 Weber and Weik. Also Senator Lanza.
5 Ayes, 40. Nays, 15.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
7 is passed.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 222, Senate Print 2352, by Senator Kavanagh, an
10 act to amend the Real Property Law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
12 last section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
14 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
15 shall have become a law.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
17 roll.
18 (The Secretary called the roll.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
20 the results.
21 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
22 Calendar Number 222, those Senators voting in the
23 negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello,
24 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Felder, Gallivan, Griffo,
25 Helming, Lanza, Martins, Mattera, Murray,
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1 Oberacker, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec,
2 Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
3 Ayes, 34. Nays, 21.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
5 is passed.
6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
7 256, Senate Print 1747, by Senator Ramos, an act
8 to amend the Labor Law.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
10 last section.
11 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
12 act shall take effect immediately.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
14 roll.
15 (The Secretary called the roll.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
17 the results.
18 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 55.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
20 is passed.
21 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
22 273, Senate Print 532, by Senator Thomas, an act
23 to amend the Executive Law.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
25 last section.
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1 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
2 act shall take effect immediately.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
4 roll.
5 (The Secretary called the roll.)
6 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
7 the results.
8 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
9 Calendar Number 273, those Senators voting in the
10 negative are Senators Borrello, Felder, Gallivan,
11 Griffo, Lanza, Ortt, Stec and Tedisco.
12 Ayes, 48. Nays, 8.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
14 is passed.
15 There is a home-rule message at the
16 desk for Calendar Number 276.
17 The Secretary will read.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
19 276, Senate Print 1498, by Senator Fernandez, an
20 act to amend Chapter 566 of the Laws of 2019.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
22 last section.
23 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
24 act shall take effect immediately.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
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1 roll.
2 (The Secretary called the roll.)
3 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
4 the results.
5 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 57.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
7 is passed.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 310, Senate Print 1729, by Senator Sanders, an
10 act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
12 last section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
14 act shall take effect immediately.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
16 roll.
17 (The Secretary called the roll.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
19 the results.
20 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
21 Calendar Number 310, those Senators voting in the
22 negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello, Gallivan,
23 Griffo, Lanza, Ortt, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco,
24 Walczyk and Weber.
25 Ayes, 46. Nays, 11.
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1 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
2 is passed.
3 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
4 320, Senate Print 253, by Senator Serrano, an act
5 to amend the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
7 last section.
8 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
9 act shall take effect on the 120th day after it
10 shall have become a law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
12 roll.
13 (The Secretary called the roll.)
14 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
15 the results.
16 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 57.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
18 is passed.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
20 341, Senate Print 1189, by Senator Persaud, an
21 act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
25 act shall take effect on the 120th day after it
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1 shall have become a law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
3 roll.
4 (The Secretary called the roll.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
6 the results.
7 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 57.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 344, Senate Print 3196, by Senator Mannion, an
12 act to amend the Mental Hygiene Law and the
13 Social Services Law.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
15 last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
17 act shall take effect April 1, 2025.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
19 roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
22 the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 57.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
25 is passed.
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1 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
2 347, Senate Print 2683, by Senator Breslin, an
3 act to amend the Insurance Law.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
5 last section.
6 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
7 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
8 shall have become a law.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
10 roll.
11 (The Secretary called the roll.)
12 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
13 the results.
14 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
15 Calendar Number 347, those Senators voting in the
16 negative are Senators Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick and
17 Rhoads.
18 Ayes, 56. Nays, 2.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
20 is passed.
21 Senator Gianaris, that completes the
22 reading of today's calendar.
23 SENATOR GIANARIS: Is there any
24 further business at the desk?
25 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: There is
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1 no further business at the desk.
2 SENATOR GIANARIS: Before we
3 adjourn, Madam President, may I remind my
4 Majority colleagues we will go back into
5 conference in the Majority Conference Room upon
6 adjournment.
7 And with that, I move to adjourn
8 until tomorrow, Tuesday, February 28th, at
9 3:00 p.m.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: There
11 will be an immediate meeting of the Majority
12 Conference in Room 332.
13 The Senate stands adjourned until
14 Tuesday, February 28th, at 3:00 p.m.
15 (Whereupon, at 4:19 p.m., the Senate
16 adjourned.)
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