3891
1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
2
3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
5
6
7
8
9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 May 22, 2025
11 12:02 p.m.
12
13
14 REGULAR SESSION
15
16
17
18 SENATOR SHELLEY B. MAYER, Acting President
19 ALEJANDRA N. PAULINO, ESQ., Secretary
20
21
22
23
24
25
3892
1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The Senate
3 will come to order.
4 I ask everyone to please rise and
5 recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
6 (Whereupon, the assemblage recited
7 the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: I'd like
9 to take a moment of silence in honor of
10 Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, who were
11 killed last night, staff of the Israeli Embassy
12 in D.C.
13 (Whereupon, the assemblage respected
14 a moment of silence.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Reading of
16 the Journal.
17 THE SECRETARY: In Senate,
18 Wednesday, May 21, 2025, the Senate met pursuant
19 to adjournment. The Journal of Tuesday, May 20,
20 2025, was read and approved. On motion, the
21 Senate adjourned.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Without
23 objection, the Journal stands approved as read.
24 Presentation of petitions.
25 Messages from the Assembly.
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1 The Secretary will read.
2 THE SECRETARY: Senator
3 Hoylman-Sigal moves to discharge, from the
4 Committee on Environmental Conservation,
5 Assembly Bill Number 1819 and substitute it for
6 the identical Senate Bill 3163, Third Reading
7 Calendar 768.
8 Senator Jackson moves to discharge,
9 from the Committee on Insurance, Assembly Bill
10 Number 3028 and substitute it for the identical
11 Senate Bill 4674A, Third Reading Calendar 922.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: So
13 ordered.
14 Messages from the Governor.
15 Reports of standing committees.
16 Reports of select committees.
17 Communications and reports from
18 state officers.
19 Motions and resolutions.
20 Senator Gianaris.
21 SENATOR GIANARIS: Good afternoon,
22 Madam President.
23 I wish to call up the following
24 bills, which were recalled from the Assembly and
25 are now at the desk:
3894
1 Senate Bills 488 and 4433.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
3 Secretary will read.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 204, Senate Print 488, by Senator Fernandez, an
6 act to amend the General Business Law.
7 Calendar Number 322, Senate Print
8 4433, by Senator Skoufis, an act to amend the
9 General Business Law.
10 SENATOR GIANARIS: Move to
11 reconsider the vote by which these bills were
12 passed.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
14 Secretary will call the roll on reconsideration.
15 (The Secretary called the roll.)
16 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 52.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bills
18 are restored to their place on the Third Reading
19 Calendar.
20 SENATOR GIANARIS: I offer the
21 following amendments.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
23 amendments are received.
24 SENATOR GIANARIS: Please take up
25 previously adopted Resolution 768, read that
3895
1 resolution's title, and recognize Senator Webb on
2 that resolution.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
4 Secretary will read.
5 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 768, by
6 Senator Webb, congratulating the Binghamton
7 High School Boys Basketball Team upon the
8 occasion of winning the New York State Public
9 High School Athletic Association Class AA
10 Championship on March 21, 2025.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
12 Webb on the resolution.
13 SENATOR WEBB: Thank you,
14 Mr. President.
15 I rise today with immense Patriot
16 pride and excitement to recognize an exceptional
17 group of student athletes from my own alma mater,
18 Binghamton High School.
19 On March 21, 2025, the Binghamton
20 High School Boys Basketball Team made history by
21 winning the state championship, Class AA
22 championship, in a very spectacular fashion.
23 And I want to take a moment to
24 describe what happened leading up to that night
25 and the course of events that night.
3896
1 So this team made it to the final
2 championship through an action-filled journey,
3 most certainly with their sportsmanship and many
4 doubts that they would make it. And so the night
5 of the championship game, I had the pleasure to
6 be in the arena. It was a sold-out game. Five
7 thousand people from all over the city, all over
8 the county, came to witness this game.
9 Now, it wasn't just simply that it
10 was a sold-out arena. Who all was in the
11 audience was just as important as the team. So
12 in the audience that night were previous team
13 members who had won the state championship for
14 Binghamton High School 39 years prior. We had
15 coaches, cheerleaders, family members -- everyone
16 was there.
17 And so the team, led by their
18 outstanding coaches, brought the victory home.
19 It was a well-fought -- and I do mean fought --
20 victory. The game was filled with some very
21 questionable calls, not with regards to the
22 Binghamton Patriots.
23 But despite all of those challenges,
24 what the team demonstrated that night was that
25 not only were they exemplifying their incredible
3897
1 athletic skills, but they truly demonstrated what
2 it means to understand the assignment. And so
3 they won in double overtime and brought to the
4 forefront for 2025 and brought home a
5 championship win that was 39 years in the making.
6 It was a heart-pounding,
7 stress-induced, double overtime showdown, but the
8 Patriots triumphed over Niskayuna with a final
9 score of 75-61. I was very proud to be there,
10 and not just simply to be in the arena that
11 night, but also having had the opportunity to
12 actually give the team their championship medals.
13 I want to thank their coaches that
14 are here today as well, and their families, for
15 all of the support that they have given to this
16 outstanding team.
17 As a proud Binghamton alum, this
18 accomplishment is very special to me because this
19 high school is a school that I walked all of
20 those halls, attended games in the gym, had
21 family members who played for Binghamton, and I
22 know just how much the spirit, the grit and
23 resilience that flows through the Binghamton
24 community.
25 This championship is more than a
3898
1 title; it is a reflection of who we are.
2 The team finished with an impressive
3 20-3 record, which is a testament to their
4 unwavering commitment and focus. Led by the
5 outstanding coach, Duncan Paddick, who is here in
6 the chamber today, and his dedicated coaching
7 staff, joined today by Coach Mike Constantine and
8 others.
9 Those young men played with heart,
10 hustle and purpose. They showed what is possible
11 when preparation meets determination. This
12 championship was not just a win on the
13 scoreboard, it was a testament to the power of
14 teamwork, preparation and belief.
15 The fans, families and the entire
16 Binghamton community rallied behind you, proudly
17 wearing red, white and blue, all the way to the
18 final buzzer.
19 Madam President, on the occasion of
20 this resolution, I am truly proud to welcome
21 several distinguished guests to the chamber
22 today: Members of the Binghamton High School
23 Boys Basketball Team who brought this
24 championship home.
25 Today with us in the chamber is
3899
1 Head Coach Duncan Paddick, Coach Mike
2 Constantine, Yusri Razzaq, Zubayr Griffin,
3 Corien Noble, Kamal Abdul-Aziz, Ilyas Morgan,
4 Derek Abu Jr., Ben Ondrusek, Connor Ondrusek,
5 Elijah Johnson, Milo Wilson, Devonte Santiago,
6 Jayden Remplet, Shawn Remplet, Jah-lon Cook,
7 Isaiah Selby, Zahir Marshall, and
8 Cashawn Fleming.
9 To all of you, thank you for showing
10 us what excellence looks like not just on the
11 court but in the classroom and beyond. What you
12 have done and what you continue to do, you make
13 your school, our city, and our state proud.
14 To Coaches Paddick and Constantine,
15 your leadership, your mentorship and passion are
16 a gift to this team and to the entire Binghamton
17 community. You've built something truly special.
18 The victory was about more than just
19 basketball. It was about pride, perseverance,
20 and unity. The support from family, friends, and
21 the entire Binghamton community decked out in
22 those proud Patriot colors, made this journey
23 unforgettable.
24 Congratulations to the 2025 State
25 Class AA champions, the Binghamton High School
3900
1 Boys Basketball Team.
2 And with that, Madam President, I
3 ask that you welcome these distinguished guests
4 to our chamber and extend them all the courtesies
5 of the house.
6 Thank you.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you,
8 Senator Webb.
9 Senator Bailey on the resolution.
10 SENATOR BAILEY: Thank you,
11 Madam President.
12 Last night was a really tough night
13 for those of us who are observing the ministry of
14 basketball. But it is always the right time to
15 celebrate student athletes. It is always
16 important to make sure that we uplift them,
17 especially those who bring championships home.
18 Because championships are a
19 culmination, right? You get the gold ball, you
20 get the trophy, you get at the victory at the
21 end, but that's at the end of the road. That's
22 not showing the practice time that went into it,
23 the hours that went into perfecting your jump
24 shot, the defensive drills, the conditioning
25 drills -- all of those things that go into
3901
1 creating a formula for the championship, you
2 know, recipe, so to speak.
3 It really shows you how hard this
4 is. And during the course of the regular season,
5 bumps and bruises go throughout, but you
6 persevere.
7 And so I want to put a final point
8 on student athletes. You're not being paid for
9 this. I hope that you go on to greener pastures,
10 if that is what you want to do. But balancing
11 your educational responsibilities along with
12 being a championship-level basketball player is
13 something that is not easy.
14 So you should be very proud of
15 yourselves for that hard level of work that
16 you've been able to do.
17 Since you're not in my region, I
18 hope that you repeat, unless it is that you play
19 one of the schools in my district -- and then,
20 you know, we'll have to see you when we see you.
21 But in all seriousness, I applaud
22 you for coming up here, and I really do hope that
23 you continue the path of greatness that you're
24 already on.
25 Sports is without a doubt the
3902
1 world's greatest social currency because, again,
2 it brings people together from different walks of
3 life that may have never had a conversation.
4 And I hope that you keep that spirit
5 with you in your next step, whether that be on
6 the hardwood in NCAA or in the NBA or overseas or
7 wherever basketball takes you. Just continue to
8 know that you're champions in the heart.
9 And then Senator Webb said -- I want
10 to thank you, you mentioned that the great
11 King Rice went to Binghamton. I'm a UNC
12 Tar Heel, so that's especially heartening. You
13 know, I'm a big fan of the Tar Heels, so it's
14 good to see that that championship DNA never left
15 the 607.
16 So, Madam President, I congratulate
17 the Binghamton team for their great championship.
18 May you repeat -- again, you play one of my
19 schools. And in all seriousness,
20 congratulations, and onward and upward.
21 I vote aye on the resolution.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you,
23 Senator Bailey.
24 To our guests, the champions from
25 the Binghamton High School Boys Basketball Team,
3903
1 we welcome you to the Senate on behalf of our
2 members. We extend to you the privileges and
3 courtesies of the house.
4 Please rise and be recognized.
5 (Standing ovation.)
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
7 resolution was previously adopted on April 29th.
8 Senator Gianaris.
9 SENATOR GIANARIS: Let's take up
10 previously adopted Resolution 491, by
11 Senator Stec, read that resolution's title and
12 recognize Senator Stec, please.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
14 Secretary will read.
15 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 491, by
16 Senator Stec, congratulating Forrest Slingerland
17 upon the occasion of capturing the 2025 New York
18 State Public High School Athletic Association
19 Boys Nordic Skiing 7.5K Individual Championship.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
21 Stec on the resolution.
22 SENATOR STEC: Thank you,
23 Madam President.
24 It's always wonderful to recognize
25 and welcome people from the district to the
3904
1 chamber, as it is for all of us. And especially
2 student athletes, to commemorate an achievement
3 in their scholastic athletic career.
4 And today I'm very happy to have
5 Forrest Slingerland here to join us. In
6 February 24th of this year he won the
7 7.5 kilometer individual Nordic Ski at the
8 Ski Bowl in North Creek. For those of you that
9 don't know where North Creek is, the base of
10 Gore Mountain, the famous Gore Mountain that we
11 all here in this chamber are familiar with from
12 our budget discussions.
13 But he won with a winning time of
14 25 minutes and 0.7 seconds, and he defeated the
15 second-place finisher by 45 seconds. So a
16 comfortable victory for him. He was the state
17 runner-up last year, but this year he was able to
18 bring home the championship.
19 He's a graduating senior from
20 Glens Falls. He'll be attending Bates College in
21 Maine, where he will continue to have cold
22 weather, lots of snow and more skiing ahead of
23 him in his career.
24 He's joined by his parents today,
25 who wear two hats. Not only did they raise him,
3905
1 his mom and dad, but the morn is the head coach
2 and the dad is the assistant coach. So if
3 Forrest would please rise, and his mom, Emily,
4 and his father, Tucker, would rise with him.
5 And Madam President, if you would
6 extend your congratulations on behalf of the
7 Senate to Forrest for his wonderful achievement
8 here in Nordic skiing this year.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:
10 Absolutely, Senator Stec.
11 To Forrest Slingerland and to your
12 family, congratulations on your extraordinary
13 achievement. We welcome you on behalf of the
14 Senate.
15 Please stand and be recognized.
16 (Standing ovation.)
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
18 resolution was previously adopted on March 18th.
19 Senator Gianaris.
20 SENATOR GIANARIS: Madam President,
21 you know what time it is. It's time to stick
22 with Stec.
23 (Laughter.)
24 SENATOR GIANARIS: Please take up
25 previously adopted Resolution 586, read its
3906
1 title, and recognize once again Senator Stec.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
3 Secretary will read.
4 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 586, by
5 Senator Stec, congratulating the Glens Falls
6 High School Boys Basketball Team upon the
7 occasion of capturing the 2025 New York State
8 Public High School Athletic Association Class A
9 Boys Basketball Championship.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
11 Stec on the resolution.
12 SENATOR STEC: Thank you,
13 Madam President.
14 First I want to thank the
15 Senate leader here for the shout-out. And my
16 social media team will be using that and lifting
17 that, and we'll be seeing that in future social
18 media.
19 So thank you for sticking with Stec
20 again.
21 (Laughter.)
22 SENATOR STEC: But all kidding
23 aside -- no, that's not kidding, you'll see that.
24 (Laughter.)
25 SENATOR STEC: Madam President, I'm
3907
1 delighted again. It's always wonderful to have
2 guests here, and especially our student athletes.
3 And it's -- to quote Yogi Berra,
4 it's déjà vu all over again. The Glens Falls
5 Black Bears were here last year after a 27-0
6 perfect season. They had a couple of seniors
7 leave, they had some freshmen move in, different
8 members, same result: 27-0 again, Class A
9 champions repeat.
10 Fifty-four wins in a row. That's a
11 Section 2 record that they share with
12 Lake George. If they win their season opener
13 next year -- which they'd better, Coach -- they
14 will break that record.
15 But, you know, to go through two
16 consecutive perfect seasons, that's something
17 that -- you know, I know Senator Bailey is a big
18 fan of all things sports. And you know, I know
19 he's -- in particular he loves basketball. So I
20 know, you know, these are major achievements.
21 And, you know, a team of young guys
22 that come together, listen to their coaches --
23 that's always -- as a parent, right, we love that
24 when they're taking direction and working
25 together -- but to come together and be as
3908
1 successful as they are.
2 The only thing that wasn't quite as
3 perfect this year compared to last year is that
4 last year the state championships were at the
5 Glens Falls Civic Center, they won in front of a
6 home crowd. This year they were in Binghamton so
7 they had to go on the road.
8 But, you know, a lot of people from
9 Glens Falls followed them, they've been following
10 them for years. They're well coached, they're
11 hardworking kids. And again, you can't argue
12 with the results: Two 27-0 back-to-back state
13 championship seasons.
14 So if I could, I'll just briefly
15 introduce the team. The members are Jordan
16 Baker, Jacob Barber, Michael Blakely, Jake Burns,
17 Kellen Driscoll, Brody Holcomb, Oscar Lilac,
18 Luke MacDougall, Ralphael Maldonado,
19 Bryce McClenning, Chase McTague, Aiden Prunty,
20 Collin Woodell, Jeffery Woodell; Coach Rob
21 Girard, Assistant Coach Cam Girard, and
22 Claire Cygan is the basketball student manager.
23 Again, congratulations, team, on a
24 wonderful back-to-back perfect-season state
25 championships. We're all proud of you. We
3909
1 expect you to continue on and continue to do
2 great things as you -- some of you, again,
3 graduate and some of you are going to come back
4 and try to three-peat.
5 So again, Madam President, if you
6 would congratulate them and please extend the
7 cordialities of the Senate to this wonderful
8 basketball state championship team.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you,
10 Senator Stec.
11 Senator Chris Ryan on the
12 resolution.
13 SENATOR CHRIS RYAN: Certainly,
14 Senator Stec, thank you for bringing the
15 resolution.
16 And I want to -- I'm going to
17 support this. But I can only support it mildly,
18 and I'll tell you why. Because, for the past two
19 years, Glens Falls has bounced a team called
20 Westhill High School out of the regionals, two
21 years in a row.
22 Westhill is my high school
23 alma mater where my children go to school. My
24 son played on that team. We didn't play you,
25 fortunately, because we're in Class B. But had
3910
1 we been in A, we would have lost for certain.
2 But no, a lot of tremendous respect:
3 54-0 is quite an accomplishment. And, you know,
4 the coach of the Westhill team is a very good
5 friend of mine, my son and his son play sports
6 together. And, you know, he has won a number of
7 state championships, as you know, we have in
8 Class B. But a lot of great things to say about
9 your team, how good you are, and the character.
10 So congratulations on two phenomenal
11 seasons. And maybe we move Glens Falls, because
12 they're too good, to Binghamton? I don't know,
13 is that -- but anyway, congratulations.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you,
15 Senator Ryan.
16 To our perfect-season state
17 champions from Glens Falls High School Boys
18 Basketball Team, we welcome you on behalf of the
19 Senate. We extend to you the privileges and
20 courtesies of the house.
21 Please rise and be recognized.
22 (Standing ovation.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
24 resolution was previously adopted on April 2nd.
25 Senator Gianaris.
3911
1 SENATOR GIANARIS: Next up is
2 previously adopted Resolution 522. Please read
3 its title and recognize Senator Ashby on his
4 resolution.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Please
6 read the resolution.
7 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 522, by
8 Senator Ashby, congratulating Christian Jerome
9 upon the occasion of capturing the New York State
10 Public High School Athletic Association Boys
11 Swimming and Diving Championship in the 100-yard
12 butterfly on March 8, 2025.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
14 Ashby on the resolution.
15 SENATOR ASHBY: Thank you,
16 Madam President.
17 It's wonderful to be joined today by
18 Christian Jerome, a junior who won the New York
19 State Championship in Boys Swimming and Diving
20 for the 100-yard butterfly.
21 My understanding with him is that he
22 won it by 0.6 seconds -- which doesn't sound like
23 a big margin, but according to him and his coach,
24 that's a pretty big margin.
25 And being a junior, he has the
3912
1 opportunity next year to widen that margin, which
2 I'm sure he will. In my conversations with him,
3 this humble and driven young man is determined to
4 do so. And I know that he's going to be back
5 next year.
6 It's not just about the medals or
7 the trophies or the titles, it's about the work
8 that's put in day in and day out -- and this
9 could be said for all of our student athletes
10 that are here today -- to attain not just that
11 title but that rank of where you are, that
12 position. And it's something that isn't just
13 applicable in sports, as I'm sure you're finding.
14 It's going to drive you in other pursuits
15 throughout your life.
16 It's a real privilege to have you in
17 this chamber here today.
18 Christian is joined by his parents,
19 Jude and Christy, and his brother, who's also his
20 teammate, Jude, who I think is also pushing him
21 to further greatness as well.
22 He's joined by his coach,
23 Rob MacLeod; Hoosic Valley Athletic Director
24 Ben Capeless; Hoosick Valley Principal Eric
25 Papandrea; and Superintendent James Buhrmaster.
3913
1 Madam President, please welcome them
2 and provide all the privileges and courtesies of
3 the house.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you,
5 Senator Ashby.
6 To Christian Jerome, championship
7 swimmer, and your family, your coaches and your
8 school community, we welcome you on behalf of the
9 Senate. We extend to you the privileges and
10 courtesies of the house. Please stay standing
11 and be recognized.
12 (Standing ovation.)
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
14 resolution was previously adopted on March 25th.
15 Senator Gianaris.
16 SENATOR GIANARIS: The sponsors of
17 today's resolutions would like to open them for
18 cosponsorship.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
20 resolutions are open for cosponsorship. Should
21 you choose not to be a cosponsor on the
22 resolutions, please notify the desk.
23 Senator Gianaris.
24 SENATOR GIANARIS: Please take up
25 the calendar, Madam President.
3914
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
2 Secretary will read.
3 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
4 379, Senate Print 1692A, by Senator Ramos, an act
5 to amend the Correction Law.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
7 last section.
8 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
9 act shall take effect immediately.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
11 roll.
12 (The Secretary called the roll.)
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
14 the results.
15 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
16 Calendar 379, voting in the negative are
17 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
18 Chan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Mattera, Murray,
19 Oberacker, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec,
20 Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
21 Ayes, 38. Nays, 19.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
23 is passed.
24 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
25 388, Senate Print 1290, by Senator Krueger, an
3915
1 act to amend the Financial Services Law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
3 last section.
4 THE SECRETARY: Section 6. This
5 act shall take effect immediately.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
7 roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
10 the results.
11 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
12 Calendar 388, voting in the negative are
13 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Chan, Mattera,
14 Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Stec,
15 Tedisco, Walczyk and Weik.
16 Ayes, 44. Nays, 13.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
18 is passed.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
20 468, Senate Print 933, by Senator Gonzalez, an
21 act to amend the State Technology Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
25 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
3916
1 shall have become a law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
3 roll.
4 (The Secretary called the roll.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
6 Gonzalez to explain her vote.
7 SENATOR GONZALEZ: Thank you,
8 Madam President.
9 I rise today in strong support of
10 this legislation which underscores New York
11 State's proactive commitment to both innovation
12 and integrity in the age of artificial
13 intelligence.
14 AI is evolving faster than any of us
15 could have predicted, and with that rapid
16 acceleration comes an urgent responsibility. As
17 this technology becomes more embedded in how we
18 govern and serve, we must make sure we have the
19 right leadership in place to guide its use with
20 foresight, fairness and accountability.
21 The Chief AI Officer will be our
22 statewide administration official for AI policy
23 and oversight, ensuring that we harness these
24 tools and that we are doing so with clear ethical
25 guardrails and centering the interests of
3917
1 everyday New Yorkers. This role is about setting
2 standards and setting the tone for how New York
3 State agencies evaluate and operate these tools,
4 and it works towards building public trust and
5 transparency.
6 We cannot take a wait-and-see
7 approach to AI, and at this moment the federal
8 government is threatening a 10-year moratorium on
9 state enforcement of AI legislation. So I am
10 very appreciative of our leader and this body for
11 moving this bill.
12 It certainly is the perfect way to
13 end our AI week this year, and I proudly vote
14 aye. Thank you so much.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
16 Gonzalez to be recorded in the affirmative.
17 Announce the results.
18 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 57.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
20 is passed.
21 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
22 610, Senate Print 6365, by Senator Salazar, an
23 act to amend the Correction Law.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
25 last section.
3918
1 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
2 act shall take effect immediately.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
4 roll.
5 (The Secretary called the roll.)
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
7 Salazar to explain her vote.
8 SENATOR SALAZAR: Thank you,
9 Madam President.
10 All of us here probably know the
11 experience of being unpleasantly surprised by
12 hidden fees and unexpected charges from the bank.
13 But when formerly incarcerated individuals are
14 released into community supervision, they are
15 provided with the bare minimum, their gate money,
16 any commissary funds that they might have, and
17 often this is given to them in the form of a
18 debit card with a balance on it.
19 What is not provided to them right
20 now under current law is the schedule of charges
21 and fees that may be associated with that debit
22 card's checking account. This bill would address
23 that.
24 This is a straightforward bill to
25 help ensure that we are not adding yet another
3919
1 obstacle for formerly incarcerated individuals to
2 overcome upon release as they seek to transition
3 back into society. This bill will ensure that
4 when someone is released into community
5 supervision and they are trying to resume their
6 normal life, that they have the tools that they
7 need in order to be successful and reintegrate
8 into society.
9 So I'm proud to vote aye.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
11 Salazar to be recorded in the affirmative.
12 Announce the results.
13 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
14 Calendar 610, voting in the negative are
15 Senators Borrello, Chan, Griffo, Lanza,
16 Oberacker, O'Mara, Stec, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
17 Ayes, 47. Nays, 10.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
19 is passed.
20 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
21 645, Senate Print 4906, by Senator Fahy, an act
22 to amend the Executive Law.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
24 last section.
25 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
3920
1 act shall take effect on the 120th day after it
2 shall have become a law.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
4 roll.
5 (The Secretary called the roll.)
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
7 Fahy to explain her vote.
8 SENATOR FAHY: Thank you,
9 Madam President.
10 This legislation is an important one
11 to me because it ensures that healthcare workers,
12 who have often been, in emergency rooms,
13 assaulted trying to do their jobs, it gives them
14 the options to file a police report statement at
15 their workplace, removing unnecessary barriers
16 and I would hope improving workplace safety.
17 Emergency rooms have become one of
18 the most dangerous workplaces in our country,
19 where healthcare providers have reported that
20 55 percent of physicians and 70 percent of nurses
21 in ER rooms have reported being physically
22 assaulted.
23 Despite the frequent assaults, many
24 of these incidences go unreported because the
25 current process often requires victims to go to
3921
1 the police station in order to file a report, and
2 this is often after a very long and exhausting
3 shift. This legislation would allow them to file
4 it on-site and remove logistical and emotional
5 burdens to filing those statements.
6 Given the critical shortage that we
7 have of nurses and other healthcare providers, we
8 think this will help them with facing a less
9 hostile space, and we hope would also assist us
10 in hiring more who have faced very dangerous and
11 volatile situations in very crowded in ERs.
12 So by providing them this additional
13 avenue we hope to hold offenders accountable,
14 discourage more future attacks, and support these
15 essential workers.
16 Thank you, Madam President.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
18 Fahy to be recorded in the affirmative.
19 Announce the results.
20 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 57.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
22 is passed.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24 725, Senate Print 3781, by Senator Brisport, an
25 act to amend the Social Services Law.
3922
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
2 last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
4 act shall take effect on the 120th day after it
5 shall have become a law.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
7 roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
10 Brisport to explain his vote.
11 SENATOR BRISPORT: Thank you,
12 Madam President.
13 Every day in New York State a child
14 enters the foster system carrying everything they
15 own in a flimsy plastic trash bag. Many of these
16 children will end up having to change homes over
17 and over again, each time cramming their
18 belongings back into a trash bag as their life is
19 turned upside down.
20 When you don't have much, what you
21 do have is precious. For many foster children
22 their possessions are more than just objects,
23 they are symbols of their identity, history and
24 worth. They are sources of pride and comfort in
25 a system that so often robs these kids of both.
3923
1 Ensuring that young people in our
2 foster care system are provided a suitcase to
3 carry and protect their belongings is literally
4 the least we can do for them.
5 I look forward to seeing the
6 Assembly pass this bill and seeing the Governor
7 sign it into law. I vote aye.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
9 Brisport to be recorded in the affirmative.
10 Announce the results.
11 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 57.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
13 is passed.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
15 766, Senate Print 1676, by Senator Skoufis, an
16 act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
18 last section.
19 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
20 act shall take effect one year after it shall
21 have become a law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
23 roll.
24 (The Secretary called the roll.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
3924
1 the results.
2 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
3 Calendar 766, voting in the negative are
4 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Chan, Griffo, Helming,
5 Martinez, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Rhoads, Stec,
6 Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
7 Ayes, 43. Nays, 14.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 768, Assembly Bill Number 1819, by
12 Assemblymember Simon, an act to amend the
13 Environmental Conservation Law.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
15 last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
17 act shall take effect immediately.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
19 roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
22 the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 57.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
25 is passed.
3925
1 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
2 885, Senate Print 1746, by Senator Rivera, an act
3 to amend the Public Health Law.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
5 last section.
6 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
7 act shall take effect immediately.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
9 roll.
10 (The Secretary called the roll.)
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
12 the results.
13 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
14 Calendar 885, voting in the negative:
15 Senator Walczyk.
16 Ayes, 56. Nays, 1.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
18 is passed.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
20 902, Senate Print 6482, by Senator Webb, an act
21 to amend the Education Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
25 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
3926
1 shall have become a law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
3 roll.
4 (The Secretary called the roll.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
6 the results.
7 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 57.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 904, Senate Print 6744A, by Senator Stavisky, an
12 act to amend the Education Law.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
14 last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
16 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
17 shall have become a law.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
19 roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
22 the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
24 Calendar 904, voting in the negative are
25 Senators Borrello, Griffo, Lanza, Martinez,
3927
1 Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, Ortt, Rhoads, Stec,
2 Walczyk and Weik.
3 Ayes, 45. Nays, 12.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
5 is passed.
6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
7 922, Assembly Bill 3028, by Assemblymember Dilan,
8 an act to amend the Insurance Law.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
10 last section.
11 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. 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, 57.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
20 is passed.
21 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
22 930, Senate Print 3699, by Senator Sanders, an
23 act to amend the Facial Recognition Technology
24 Study Act.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
3928
1 last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
3 act shall take effect immediately.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
5 roll.
6 (The Secretary called the roll.)
7 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
8 the results.
9 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
10 Calendar 930, voting in the negative are
11 Senators Rhoads, Walczyk and Weik.
12 Ayes, 54. Nays, 3.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
14 is passed.
15 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
16 936, Senate Print 1349A, by Senator Cleare, an
17 act to amend the Education Law.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
19 last section.
20 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
21 act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
23 roll.
24 (The Secretary called the roll.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Senator
3929
1 Cleare to explain her vote.
2 SENATOR CLEARE: Thank you,
3 Madam President.
4 This bill is called Every Child a
5 Swimmer, and it is a direct response to the fact
6 that drowning deaths in New York have been on the
7 rise since 2019. According to the CDC, drowning
8 is the number-one cause of death for children
9 ages 1 through 4, and the second-leading cause of
10 unintentional injury and death for children aged
11 5 to 14.
12 There is also a great inequity in
13 drowning incidents that disproportionately
14 affects Black children, youth and adults.
15 Therefore, this bill will require school
16 districts to provide parents and guardians with
17 information about water safety education courses
18 and swimming lessons, thus promoting water safety
19 awareness and reducing drownings and other
20 water-related injuries among our children.
21 Ensuring that all our children
22 receive this information and connect to services
23 and resources concerning water safety will save
24 lives and hopefully also improve our collective
25 quality of life -- and encourage champions like
3930
1 the young men we celebrated earlier today from
2 Senator Ashby's district.
3 So I proudly vote aye, and I ask all
4 my colleagues to do the same.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Senator
6 Cleare to be recorded in the affirmative.
7 Announce the results.
8 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
9 Calendar 936, voting in the negative:
10 Senator Walczyk.
11 Ayes, 56. Nays, 1.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
13 is passed.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
15 1005, Senate Print Number 4914B, by
16 Senator Hoylman-Sigal, an act to amend the
17 Civil Practice Law and Rules.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
19 last section.
20 THE SECRETARY: Section 24. This
21 act shall take effect immediately.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
23 roll.
24 (The Secretary called the roll.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Senator
3931
1 Hoylman-Sigal to explain his vote.
2 SENATOR HOYLMAN-SIGAL: Thank you,
3 Madam President.
4 I rise to thank my colleagues and
5 the leader for putting this important bill on the
6 floor.
7 You know, there are 19 states across
8 our country that are restricting reproductive
9 healthcare and 26 states that are restricting
10 gender-affirming care. Reproductive freedom and
11 gender justice are under an unprecedented attack.
12 New York has to address these
13 vulnerabilities that exist in our law and
14 strengthen our legal defenses through this
15 legislation. Our bill will create stronger
16 protections for reproductive healthcare and
17 gender-affirming care providers and helpers from
18 being investigated and punished in three
19 important ways.
20 First, it's going to protect
21 information about sensitive healthcare held by
22 private institutions like hospitals, clinics and
23 nonprofits from being accessed by all of those
24 hostile states outside of New York or from the
25 federal government.
3932
1 Second, critically, it's going to
2 ensure that no professionals involved in the
3 provision of this important healthcare are left
4 out of New York's legal protections.
5 And third, it's going to ensure that
6 courts apply New York's shield law protections.
7 This legislation is urgent.
8 Providing healthcare, Madam President, should not
9 require bravery. But every day abortion and
10 gender-affirming care providers expose themselves
11 to legal risk. The threats aren't hypothetical.
12 We've already seen a New York provider sued and
13 prosecuted by another state for providing
14 reproductive healthcare.
15 Providers in our state are afraid.
16 New York needs to do everything it can to protect
17 them. This bill will help ensure that.
18 I vote aye.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Senator
20 Hoylman-Sigal to be recorded in the affirmative.
21 Senator Mayer to explain her vote.
22 SENATOR MAYER: Thank you,
23 Madam President.
24 I rise proudly to vote in favor of
25 this bill to strengthen our state's shield law
3933
1 for reproductive and gender-affirming care.
2 Since the Supreme Court's disastrous decision in
3 Dobbs in June of 2022, so many states have moved
4 to curtail access to abortion, denying millions
5 of women the right to make their own choices
6 about their health and future simply because they
7 live in such a state.
8 New York moved quickly too, passing
9 protections for patients coming to New York for
10 care and providers serving patients via
11 telehealth. We knew that extreme states would
12 not stop at limiting the rights and liberties of
13 women: They would come after doctors and others
14 who facilitate access to care.
15 These attacks are no longer
16 hypothetical. As we noted, providers are already
17 subject to civil and criminal action by other
18 states for acting within their scope of practice,
19 within New York's law, and providing patients
20 with access to healthcare.
21 At the same time states across the
22 country have passed increasingly restrictive laws
23 targeting LGBTQ Americans and making it difficult
24 or sometimes impossible for these people to
25 access healthcare.
3934
1 I'm proud to vote in favor of this
2 bill today. We are shoring up our state's shield
3 law, providing stronger protection not only for
4 providers but for individuals and organizations
5 that assist individuals seeking legally protected
6 healthcare. Let's remember that: Legally
7 protected healthcare.
8 Today New York proudly reaffirms its
9 commitment to protecting the rights and dignity
10 of women, trans Americans, and so many people for
11 whom healthcare is being denied simply because
12 they live in a particular state.
13 I proudly vote aye.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Senator
15 Mayer to be recorded in the affirmative.
16 Senator Krueger to explain her vote.
17 SENATOR KRUEGER: Thank you.
18 I rise to also thank my colleagues
19 for ensuring that this bill is passing here
20 today.
21 We've passed protections into our
22 laws. We've passed protections into our
23 Constitution. But we know these situations
24 continue in other states, and people need to turn
25 to New York for the help they cannot get.
3935
1 I myself have a fabulous niece, a
2 brilliant pediatrician who's running a program
3 funded by the federal government in the State of
4 New Jersey to address the special needs of
5 seriously physically and mentally abused
6 children, including care for LGBTQ young people.
7 And she's been told that the federal government
8 is cutting her program not because they're
9 anti-abused children per se, but not so much the
10 LGBTQ abused children.
11 And it is outrageous that we are
12 seeing doctors and scientists being thrown out of
13 incredibly successful programs and research
14 because of the ignorance and fear of people or
15 the political agendas of people.
16 So I'm very glad that New York
17 continues to try to strengthen our laws and be
18 the most respectful and open state in the country
19 for people who have needs when it comes to their
20 own healthcare or life.
21 And I've said this often now: If
22 you're out there somewhere in the country and
23 you're LGBTQ, come to New York. You're welcome
24 here. You can work, you can live, you can be
25 successfully members of our state. So come on
3936
1 down, everybody, we're a good place to live.
2 I vote yes. Thank you.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Senator
4 Krueger to be recorded in the affirmative.
5 Announce the results.
6 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
7 Calendar 1005, voting in the negative are
8 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
9 Chan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Mattera, Murray,
10 Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads,
11 Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
12 Ayes, 37. Nays, 20.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
14 is passed.
15 Senator Gianaris, that completes the
16 reading of today's calendar.
17 SENATOR GIANARIS: Thank you,
18 Madam President.
19 Returning to motions for a moment,
20 on behalf of Senator Cleare, I wish to call up
21 Senate Print 1353A, recalled from the Assembly,
22 which is now at the desk.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
24 Secretary will read.
25 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3937
1 773, Senate Print 1353A, by Senator Cleare, an
2 act to amend the General Business Law.
3 SENATOR GIANARIS: Move to
4 reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
6 Secretary will call the roll on reconsideration.
7 (The Secretary called the roll.)
8 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 57.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
10 is restored to its place on the Third Reading
11 Calendar.
12 SENATOR GIANARIS: I offer the
13 following amendments.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
15 amendments are received.
16 SENATOR GIANARIS: Is there any
17 further business at the desk?
18 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: There is
19 no further business at the desk.
20 SENATOR GIANARIS: I move to
21 adjourn until Tuesday, May 27th, at 3:00 p.m.,
22 with the intervening days being legislative days.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: On
24 motion, the Senate stands adjourned until
25 Tuesday, May 27th, at 3:00 p.m., with intervening
3938
1 days being legislative days.
2 Enjoy your Memorial Day.
3 (Whereupon, at 12:47 p.m., the
4 Senate adjourned.)
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