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1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
2
3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
5
6
7
8
9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 May 29, 2025
11 11:51 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
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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: Rabbi
9 Baruch Melman, of Temple Beth El of
10 Manhattan Beach, in Brooklyn, will deliver
11 today's invocation.
12 Rabbi.
13 RABBI MELMAN: Dear friends, I'm
14 truly honored to be here this morning to give the
15 opening blessing.
16 I want to give a deep shout-out of
17 appreciation for State Senator Jessica
18 Scarcella-Spanton and her wonderful staff for
19 nominating me for this great honor. She is a
20 tremendous Senator, representing Staten Island
21 and South Brooklyn, also affectionately known as
22 So-Bro, where I live.
23 I share this great honor with my
24 synagogue, Temple Beth El of Manhattan Beach,
25 Brooklyn, one of the largest and historic and
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1 famous synagogues in South Brooklyn. Both Neil
2 Sedaka and Neil Diamond were bar mitzvahed at my
3 synagogue, showing off their early singing voices
4 not too many years ago.
5 Our members have a long history of
6 community activism, political engagement, and
7 deep commitment to the American values which are
8 the pride and glory of our great nation.
9 Speaking as a Jew and as a rabbi, as
10 a Jewish rabbi, it is my sacred duty to call
11 attention to the serious tear in the fabric of
12 Jewish life, of American Jewish life.
13 In the words of our first president,
14 George Washington, written on the 18th of August,
15 1790, to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport,
16 Rhode Island, and I quote:
17 "It is now no more that toleration
18 is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of
19 one class of people, that another enjoyed the
20 exercise of their inherent natural rights. For
21 happily the Government of the United States,
22 which gives to bigotry no sanction, to
23 persecution no assistance, requires only that
24 they who live under its protection should demean
25 themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all
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1 occasions their effectual support.
2 "It would be inconsistent with the
3 frankness of my character," the President says,
4 "not to avow that I am pleased with your
5 favorable opinion of my Administration, and
6 fervent wishes for my felicity. May the Children
7 of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land,
8 continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the
9 other Inhabitants; while every one shall sit in
10 safety under his own vine and figtree, and there
11 shall be none to make him afraid."
12 I ask you here today what would our
13 first president have to say about how the stock
14 of Abraham, 250 years later, is feeling right
15 now. Just in the past year alone the
16 Anti-Defamation League recorded 9,354 antisemitic
17 incidents across the United States, the highest
18 number since they started tracking such incidents
19 in 1979. Over 6,000 harassment incidents, over
20 2600 vandalism incidents, and 250 physical
21 assault incidents.
22 And I myself, as a community leader,
23 receive nightly death -- recorded death threats,
24 for 15 months, since October 2023, untraceable,
25 according to the FBI. And I got them every night
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1 until January of this year.
2 And just last week we were all
3 horrified to see a serious escalation when two
4 young staffers of the Israeli Embassy in
5 Washington, D.C., were shot to death while
6 leaving Capital Jewish Museum.
7 And let us not forget that May, this
8 month, is American Jewish Heritage Month. What
9 happened last week needs to be a wake-up call for
10 all Americans.
11 Today in America and certainly in
12 New York, every synagogue, every JCC, every
13 Jewish school has armed guards at their doors to
14 prevent repeats of the Pittsburgh Tree of Life
15 Synagogue massacre of 2017. When we tolerate and
16 stand silently when mobs march and wave flags of
17 terrorist groups that call for the deaths of all
18 Jews, the flags of Hezbollah and Hamas, which is
19 a terrorist organization that vows in their
20 charter to kill every Jew, starting with Israel.
21 And that we now have a home-grown
22 American be inspired to take a gun and commit
23 murder in the name of globalizing the Intifada,
24 in the name of those who on October 7th invaded
25 Israel and murdered 1200 Jews, burning families
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1 alive, beheading children in front of their
2 parents and parents in front of their children,
3 slaughtering teenagers at a music festival,
4 committing mass rape and kidnapping 250 hostages
5 and starving them and locking them in tiny cages
6 too small to even stand up in.
7 My friends, something is deeply
8 wrong in America today. We have lost our way.
9 This tolerance of bigotry must stop, both from
10 the right and from the left. Governor Josh
11 Shapiro's house in Pennsylvania was set on fire
12 last month with his family sleeping inside the
13 night of their Passover seder.
14 And today we are facing new blood
15 libels as vicious as any in the Middle Ages. As
16 Americans this bigotry is not who we are. This
17 country can and must do better. Remember what
18 starts with the Jews never ends with the Jews.
19 So I will now close my remarks with
20 the blessing that I came to give to this august
21 body.
22 According to the words of our first
23 president, George Washington, who in turn himself
24 was quoting from the ancient prophets of Israel:
25 May we give to bigotry no sanction, to
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1 persecution no assistance, and may all of us,
2 both Jewish Americans and all Americans enjoy the
3 goodwill of the other inhabitants while everyone
4 shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig
5 tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid.
6 And let us say amen.
7 Thank you.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Reading of
9 the Journal.
10 THE SECRETARY: In Senate,
11 Wednesday, May 28, 2025, the Senate met pursuant
12 to adjournment. The Journal of Tuesday, May 27,
13 2025, was read and approved. On motion, the
14 Senate adjourned.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Without
16 objection, the Journal stands approved as read.
17 Presentation of petitions.
18 Messages from the Assembly.
19 The Secretary will read.
20 THE SECRETARY: Senator Fahy moves
21 to discharge, from the Committee on Cultural
22 Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation,
23 Assembly Bill Number 1914 and substitute it for
24 the identical Senate Bill 4722A, Third Reading
25 Calendar 664.
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1 Senator Addabbo moves to discharge,
2 from the Committee on Insurance, Assembly Bill
3 Number 1195A and substitute it for the identical
4 Senate Bill 2000A, Third Reading Calendar 235.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: So
6 ordered.
7 Messages from the Governor.
8 Reports of standing committees.
9 Reports of select committees.
10 Communications and reports from
11 state officers.
12 Motions and resolutions.
13 Senator Gianaris.
14 SENATOR GIANARIS: Good morning,
15 Madam President.
16 On behalf of Senator Hinchey, on
17 page 60 I offer the following amendments to
18 Calendar 1100, Senate Print 7328, and ask that
19 said bill retain its place on the Third Reading
20 Calendar.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
22 amendments are received, and the bill will retain
23 its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
24 Senator Gianaris.
25 SENATOR GIANARIS: I want to take a
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1 moment to remind all my colleagues that when they
2 invite clergy, please notify them that the prayer
3 is supposed to be a prayer, not a speech. It is
4 not intended to be part of the political
5 discourse in this body. Thank you.
6 Moving on to resolutions and
7 introductions, we're going to simultaneously call
8 a meeting of the Rules Committee in the
9 Majority Conference Room and take up previously
10 adopted Resolutions 525, 526, 598 and 599, all by
11 Senator Ashby, as one.
12 Please call up those resolutions,
13 read their titles, and recognize Senator Ashby,
14 please.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: There will
16 be an immediate meeting of the Rules Committee in
17 Room 332.
18 The Secretary will read.
19 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 525, by
20 Senator Ashby, congratulating Isabella Satalino
21 upon the occasion of capturing the New York State
22 Public High School Athletic Association Girls
23 Wrestling Championship in the 138-pound weight
24 class on February 27, 2025.
25 Resolution 526, by Senator Ashby,
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1 congratulating Maya Kelly, Kaitlin Bogucki,
2 Molly Simmons, and Ava Weiss upon the occasion of
3 capturing the New York State Public High School
4 Athletic Association Championship in the 4 x 400
5 relay on March 8, 2025.
6 Resolution 598, by Senator Ashby,
7 congratulating student-athlete Ava Bachta upon
8 the occasion of winning the 2025 New York State
9 Public High School Athletic Association State
10 Championship in Slalom and Alpine Combined.
11 Resolution 599, by Senator Ashby,
12 congratulating the Shaker High School
13 Boys Basketball Team upon the occasion of
14 capturing the New York State Public High School
15 Athletic Association Class AAA Championship on
16 March 21, 2025.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
18 Ashby on all the resolutions, I believe.
19 SENATOR ASHBY: Thank you,
20 Madam President.
21 We certainly have a lot going on in
22 the 43rd Senate District today. And as my niece
23 would say, we did that by purpose.
24 So I want to thank all of the
25 athletes and their parents for being here today.
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1 And we're going to start with
2 Wrestling Champion Isabella Satalino: 42 and 0,
3 first wrestler in school history to finish the
4 season undefeated.
5 Joining her in the gallery today is
6 her coach, Mike Merhige, her dad and assistant
7 coach Tim Satalino, and Athletic Director
8 Ryan Jones.
9 Also from Columbia High School in
10 East Greenbush is the Girls 4x400 Track Relay
11 Team. They have a new school record, three
12 minutes and 54 seconds. And again, the new
13 school record and only one senior, so I'm sure
14 that they're going to be back again next year.
15 Joining them in the gallery are
16 their coaches Zach Yannone, Ashley Gansle, and
17 Athletic Director Ryan Jones. And also Molly's
18 parents, Erin and Michael; Kaitlin's parents,
19 Jason and Kathleen; Maya's parents, Brian and
20 Jody; and Ava's parents, Nicole and Dave.
21 Moving on to Shaker and
22 North Colonie, Girls Skiing Champion in the
23 Slalom and Alpine Combined, Ava Bachta.
24 A 4.0 student in all honors classes, and only a
25 sophomore, as a state champion.
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1 Ava is joined by her mother, Kim,
2 and Athletic Director Sean Colfer.
3 And last but not least, the
4 North Colonie Shaker High Boys Basketball
5 Champions, the first time in program history that
6 the boys are state champions. They are Tye
7 Mariano, Vincent Milano, Ryan Church, Samuel
8 Rayburn, Devon Evans, Kieran Casey, Patrick
9 Hartman, Brandon Makoyi, Anthony Tleiji,
10 Kwame Boakye, Marcelin Mukendi, Melvin Brown, and
11 Blessed Demand.
12 They are joined by Coaches Aric
13 Kucel, Brian Hooks, Austin Kendrick, Matt Plew,
14 Athletic Director Sean Colfer, and legendary
15 Coach Vince Medici, who also coached me at
16 Hudson Valley Community College.
17 Madam President, please welcome all
18 of these outstanding athletes, their parents,
19 their coaches, and offer them all the privileges
20 of the house.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you,
22 Senator Ashby.
23 We congratulate all of you and
24 welcome you to the Senate. Isabella Satalino,
25 Maya Kelly, Kaitlin Bogucki -- I hope I
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1 pronounced that right -- Molly Simmons and
2 Ava Weiss, Ava Bachta, and the North Colonie
3 Shaker High School Boys Basketball Team, we
4 congratulate you on your extraordinary
5 accomplishments. You are welcome to the
6 privileges and courtesies of this house.
7 Please rise and be recognized.
8 (Standing ovation.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
10 Serrano.
11 SENATOR SERRANO: Please take up
12 previously adopted Resolution 741, by
13 Senator Tedisco. Please read that resolution
14 title only and call on Senator Tedisco.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
16 Secretary will read.
17 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 741, by
18 Senator Tedisco, congratulating Shayla Byrne of
19 South Glens Falls High School upon the occasion
20 of capturing the 2025 New York State Public High
21 School Athletic Association Girls Giant Slalom
22 Championship on February 24, 2025.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
24 Tedisco on the resolution.
25 SENATOR TEDISCO: Thank you,
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1 Madam President.
2 Madam President, I'm pleased to
3 welcome Shayla Byrne, an outstanding skier from
4 South Glens Falls High School to the chamber
5 today.
6 Shayla Byrne captured the 2025
7 New York State Girls Giant Slalom Championship on
8 February 24, 2025, at Gore Mountain in
9 North Creek. Shayla's victory capped off a
10 spectacular season, being the only skier to break
11 the one-minute barrier in both runs of the Girls
12 Giant Slalom -- unheard of. Posting times of
13 59.74 seconds in the opening run and 57.32
14 seconds in the second, generating a combined time
15 of one minute 57.06 seconds.
16 Her time of 1:57:06 was nearly
17 2.24 seconds ahead of her closest competitor,
18 which is a significantly larger margin in the
19 sport of skiing. Unheard of.
20 In light of her recent
21 accomplishments, Shayla was recognized by the
22 Times Union as being named a First Team All-Star,
23 but her success extends beyond just the ski
24 slopes. Shayla has a weighted grade point
25 average of 97.83, has received at RIT Women in
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1 STEM Award, and is also an accomplished lacrosse
2 player.
3 She will play this fall at Grove
4 City College, where she will double-major in
5 international business and supply chain
6 management.
7 The South Glens Falls District has a
8 great athletic director with great coaches who
9 were unfortunately unable to be here today. But
10 I want to say this. While coaching plays a vital
11 role in the success of an athlete, Shayla is
12 joined in the gallery by perhaps the greatest
13 support system any champion can have, her loving
14 and supportive family: Her mother Alicia {ph},
15 her father David, and her sister Shondi {ph}.
16 Madam President, please welcome and
17 offer all the cordialities of this august body to
18 Shayla and her outstanding family, and we wish
19 her well in the future.
20 Shayla Byrne.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you,
22 Senator Tedisco.
23 To Shayla Byrne, for your
24 extraordinary accomplishments, and to your family
25 for all your support, and your coaches, we
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1 welcome you to the Senate. We extend to you the
2 privileges and courtesies of the house. We're so
3 proud of all you have achieved.
4 Please rise and be recognized.
5 (Standing ovation.)
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
7 Serrano.
8 SENATOR SERRANO: At this time
9 we'll stand at ease briefly.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The Senate
11 will stand at ease.
12 (Whereupon, the Senate stood at ease
13 at 12:08 p.m.)
14 (Whereupon, the Senate reconvened at
15 12:09 p.m.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The Senate
17 will return to order.
18 Senator Gianaris.
19 SENATOR GIANARIS: Thank you,
20 Madam President.
21 I believe there's a report of the
22 Finance Committee at the desk. Let's take that
23 up, please, and recognize Senator Krueger.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
25 Secretary will read.
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1 THE SECRETARY: Senator Krueger,
2 from the Committee on Finance, reports the
3 following nominations:
4 As commissioner of the Division of
5 Human Rights, Denise Miranda.
6 As a member of the
7 Dormitory Authority of the State of New York,
8 Lisa Gomez.
9 As member and chair of the State of
10 New York Mortgage Agency, Steven Weiss.
11 As a member of the Ogdensburg Bridge
12 and Port Authority, David King.
13 As a member of the Genesee State
14 Park, Recreation and Historic Preservation
15 Commission, Anne Marie Sapienza.
16 As members of the State Board for
17 Historic Preservation: Douglas J. Perrelli,
18 N. Felicia Mayro, and Ruth A. Pierpont.
19 As a member of the State Council on
20 the Arts, Michelle Ebanks.
21 As a member of the Taconic State
22 Park, Recreation and Historic Preservation
23 Commission, Jeanne E. Mettler.
24 As a member of the Thousand Island
25 State Park, Recreation and Historic Preservation
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1 Commission, Rebecca L. Hopfinger.
2 As a member of the Council on
3 Human Blood and Transfusion Services, Jessica L.
4 Jacobson.
5 As members of the Health Equity
6 Council, Earlando O. Thomas and Guillermo Chacon.
7 SENATOR GIANARIS: Move to accept
8 the report of the Finance Committee.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: All those
10 in favor of accepting the report of the
11 Finance Committee please signify by saying aye.
12 (Response of "Aye.")
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Opposed,
14 nay.
15 (No response.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The report
17 of the Finance Committee is accepted.
18 Excuse me, there's one more. Or a
19 few more.
20 THE SECRETARY: As commissioners of
21 the State Liquor Authority, Edgar De Leon and
22 John Maya.
23 As a member of the Board of
24 Real Property Tax Services, David Moog.
25 And as a member of the Board of
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1 Visitors of the Capital District Psychiatric
2 Center, Christine Darby-King.
3 SENATOR GIANARIS: I move to accept
4 that one as well, Madam President, and then
5 recognize Senator Krueger.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: All those
7 in favor of accepting the entire report of the
8 Finance Committee please signify by saying aye.
9 (Response of "Aye.")
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Opposed,
11 nay.
12 (No response.)
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The report
14 of the Finance Committee is accepted.
15 Senator Krueger on the nominations.
16 SENATOR KRUEGER: Thank you,
17 Madam President.
18 So as we start towards the end of
19 session, every year we find ourselves with
20 nominations coming through from the Governor that
21 have to go through a full vetting process and
22 review, and then review by the appropriate
23 committees based on the topic, and then the
24 Finance Committee.
25 So while we spend not that much time
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1 on the floor of the Senate with these
2 nominations, in fact there's an extensive process
3 that people go through before they get to this
4 point to be on the floor to be confirmed by the
5 full Senate.
6 And we just heard a very long list.
7 And again, I always think it's important to
8 realize many New Yorkers don't even know how many
9 different authorities and agencies have advisory
10 boards or boards of directors or unpaid people
11 who commit significant portions of their lives to
12 represent what they believe are the best
13 interests of New Yorkers.
14 And they do this because they are
15 committed to public service and they want to use
16 their area of expertise from their private lives
17 to give back to the state. And we should never
18 forget how important that is to citizenship, to
19 democracy, to making sure that people are
20 participating in all kinds of ways in making sure
21 our government is doing the best we can and
22 holding us accountable.
23 So we just heard the whole list.
24 Some of these people are reupping for another
25 term. Some of them are new. So I want to thank
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1 the Governor, but really I want to thank those
2 people for selflessly committing their time and
3 efforts, even without pay, or for a minimum
4 per-diem reimbursement, to doing this work.
5 But I will highlight, as often is
6 the case, the one person before us today who is
7 here who is being nominated, and I believe
8 confirmed, to be the commissioner of the Division
9 of Human Rights, Denise Miranda.
10 Denise came through the
11 Finance Committee the other day. She's not new
12 to us. She has worked in public service and in
13 state government and in local government for many
14 years. And she has done I believe an
15 extraordinary job in each of the positions she
16 took.
17 Some of us got to know her first
18 when she was working running the Justice Center,
19 which is truly one of the more challenging
20 agencies in the state. But now, for the last I
21 think 14 months she has been the acting
22 commissioner for the Division of Human Rights.
23 And for people who may not know
24 about the Division of Human Rights, you only get
25 to know it when something's gone wrong and you
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1 need to get help. So if everything's going fine
2 and nobody's violating your human rights, you
3 might not even know this division exists.
4 But if something goes wrong and you
5 believe that you have been wronged and your
6 fundamental human rights as defined in our
7 Constitution have been violated, we have a state
8 agency that you can go to and file complaints and
9 have investigations and hopefully get resolution
10 that can, if not always reversing the
11 injustice --
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Excuse me
13 one minute, Senator Krueger.
14 Can we have order. Thank you.
15 SENATOR KRUEGER: Thank you. Thank
16 you, Madam President.
17 So even if in many cases you can't
18 reverse the injustice, you can get, so to speak,
19 your day to be heard. And resolution of the fact
20 that you were wronged. And of course
21 hopefully -- and one of the reasons why laws are
22 so important and government agencies are so
23 important and our Constitution is so important --
24 to tell everyone else: Don't try it again,
25 because it's not okay.
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1 And the best model, frankly, of a
2 fair and equal society is when people understand
3 there are lines and you're not allowed to cross
4 them. And when you cross them and violate
5 someone's human rights, we're going to try to do
6 something about it and try to protect the rest of
7 us from never having to go through that.
8 So I'm very proud to be able to
9 stand here and urge my colleagues to vote for
10 Denise Miranda and the full list that we just
11 heard presented to us.
12 Thank you, Madam President.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you,
14 Senator Krueger.
15 Senator Bailey on the resolution.
16 SENATOR BAILEY: Thank you,
17 Madam President.
18 I echo the sentiments of
19 Senator Krueger. I thank the Governor for her
20 nominations on all of the individuals who appear,
21 but especially Commissioner Denise Miranda.
22 It is great to be able to have good
23 people doing extraordinary things, but it's even
24 better when they're your constituents. To her,
25 her husband Darryl and her daughter Sofia,
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1 they're constituents but most importantly they
2 are hardworking individuals, you know, who are
3 actually in the fabric of the community.
4 And as Senator Krueger mentioned,
5 the Division of Human Rights is one of those
6 things like insurance. As the insurance chair I
7 can tell you a little bit about it now, that you
8 don't realize how much you need it until you
9 don't have it.
10 You don't realize how bad
11 discrimination can be, how virulent it can be,
12 until it happens to you. And then when it
13 happens to you, what? What happens? You need
14 someone who's going to be able to defend you
15 fervently from a state perspective. And we have
16 that person in Commissioner Denise Miranda.
17 I initially met her when I was
18 working for Speaker Heastie and she walked in the
19 office and spoke to everybody. Sometimes when
20 people come in for meetings, especially with the
21 Speaker of the Assembly, they don't speak to
22 everybody in the room. She made it a point to
23 speak to every single person that was in the
24 room, regardless of what their title was or not.
25 That is a person, in my opinion, you
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1 can glean big things from small interactions.
2 And from that, this was the kind of person that
3 should be around these types of things.
4 And so since her time with the
5 Justice Center, she's moved on here and now, as
6 the commissioner -- as the interim commissioner
7 she's been doing positive things, but I think
8 she'll continue to do great things as the
9 commissioner.
10 Commissioner, congratulations to you
11 and to your family. We look forward to continued
12 greatness, and we thank the Governor for the
13 nomination. I will be voting aye.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you,
15 Senator Bailey.
16 Senator Murray on the nomination.
17 SENATOR MURRAY: Thank you,
18 Madam President.
19 So here we are again. I mean,
20 yesterday was great, we did it right. We had one
21 nominee, we had one vote, and we were able to
22 vote on the merits of that one nominee.
23 So I'm going to use
24 Senator Krueger's example. And you're right, the
25 Department of Human Rights is extremely
4351
1 important, and you do need them when you have a
2 case or a situation where you need help.
3 Now imagine you took your case to
4 the Division of Human Rights and you told your
5 position, you told everything, and they said,
6 Well, we're not going to make a ruling, we're not
7 going to decide on this until we have 18,
8 18 cases. And then we'll rule and we'll vote up
9 or down, yes or no, on whether your case has
10 merit.
11 That sounds ridiculous, doesn't it?
12 You'd want your case based on the merit. That's
13 what I'd like here. We're voting on positions
14 that are important. In fact, I've got to tell
15 you, if we were doing individual votes, Mr. Maya
16 and Mr. De Leon, I'd vote yes all day long. I've
17 had great interactions with the Liquor Authority,
18 and my office has had great communication back
19 and forth.
20 But we're not voting on them
21 individually. We're voting on 18 different
22 positions, 18 different -- you got Division of
23 Human Rights, you got SONYMA, Ogdensburg Bridge
24 and Port Authority, State Board of Historic
25 Preservation, State Council on the Arts.
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1 I mean, what do they have in common
2 other than this vote? I think it's absurd we can
3 vote and have individual resolutions, individual
4 bills, individual everything. But we're going to
5 vote on 18 different positions, with one up or
6 down vote.
7 I think we're doing a disservice to
8 the state, a disservice to the people of
9 New York, and quite frankly a disservice to every
10 one of those nominees who deserve to have their
11 individual case heard and voted on.
12 So for that reason, I'll again be
13 voting no.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you,
15 Senator Murray.
16 The question is on the nominations.
17 Call the roll.
18 (The Secretary called the roll.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
20 the results.
21 THE SECRETARY: In relation to the
22 nominations, voting in the negative are
23 Senators Murray, Rhoads and Weik.
24 Ayes, 53. Nays, 3.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
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1 nominees are confirmed.
2 Congratulations, Commissioner
3 Miranda.
4 (Standing ovation.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
6 Gianaris.
7 SENATOR GIANARIS: Madam President,
8 if we could return momentarily to the resolutions
9 we took up today, I think the sponsors would like
10 to open them for cosponsorship.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
12 resolutions are open for cosponsorship. Should
13 you choose not to be a cosponsor, please notify
14 the desk.
15 Senator Gianaris.
16 SENATOR GIANARIS: There's a report
17 of the Rules Committee at the desk. Let's take
18 that up now.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
20 Secretary will read.
21 THE SECRETARY: Senator
22 Stewart-Cousins, from the Committee on Rules,
23 reports the following bills:
24 Senate Print 31, by Senator Comrie,
25 an act to amend the Public Authorities Law;
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1 Senate Print 56B, by
2 Senator Fernandez, an act to amend the
3 Public Health Law;
4 Senate Print 180A, by
5 Senator Persaud, an act to amend the
6 Social Services Law;
7 Senate Print 244, by
8 Senator Persaud, an act establishing a fiscal
9 cliff task force;
10 Senate Print 247, by
11 Senator Persaud, an act to amend the
12 Education Law;
13 Senate Print 416, by
14 Senator Gianaris, an act to amend the
15 Executive Law;
16 Senate Print 520, by
17 Senator Persaud, an act to amend the
18 Public Health Law;
19 Senate Print 680, by
20 Senator Martinez, an act to amend the
21 Executive Law;
22 Senate Print 983, by
23 Senator Rolison, an act to amend Chapter 455 of
24 the Laws of 2011;
25 Senate Print 1063, by
4355
1 Senator Serrano, an act to amend the
2 Education Law;
3 Senate Print 1072, by
4 Senator Serrano, an act to amend the
5 Education Law;
6 Senate Print 1140A, by
7 Senator Gonzalez, an act to amend the Tax Law;
8 Senate Print 1171, by
9 Senator Mattera, an act to amend the
10 Environmental Conservation Law;
11 Senate Print 1197, by
12 Senator Addabbo, an act to amend the
13 Social Services Law;
14 Senate Print 1200, by
15 Senator Addabbo, an act to amend the
16 Education Law;
17 Senate Print 1366, by
18 Senator Serrano, an act to amend the
19 Mental Hygiene Law;
20 Senate Print 1398A, by
21 Senator S. Ryan, an act to amend the
22 Private Housing Finance Law;
23 Senate Print 1399A, by
24 Senator S. Ryan, an act to amend the
25 Private Housing Finance Law;
4356
1 Senate Print 1465, by
2 Senator Serrano, an act to amend the
3 Social Services Law;
4 Senate Print 1477, by
5 Senator Krueger, an act to amend the
6 Judiciary Law;
7 Senate Print 2046, by Senator Webb,
8 an act to amend the Education Law;
9 Senate Print 2278, by Senator Webb,
10 an act to amend the Public Health Law;
11 Senate Print 2648, by
12 Senator Addabbo, an act to amend the
13 Insurance Law;
14 Senate Print 3157, by Senator May,
15 an act to amend the Education Law;
16 Senate Print 3278, by Senator Brouk,
17 an act to amend the Education Law;
18 Senate Print 3334, by Senator Liu,
19 an act to amend the Education Law;
20 Senate Print 3398, by
21 Senator Gounardes, an act to amend the
22 Executive Law;
23 Senate Print 3416D, by
24 Senator Fernandez, an act to amend the
25 Public Health Law;
4357
1 Senate Print 3883A, by
2 Senator Hinchey, an act to amend the
3 Public Health Law;
4 Senate Print 3886, by
5 Senator Gianaris, an act to amend the
6 Administrative Code of the City of New York;
7 Senate Print 4158, by
8 Senator Krueger, an act to amend the
9 Public Service Law;
10 Senate Print 4641A, by
11 Senator S. Ryan, an act to amend the Labor Law;
12 Senate Print 4776, by
13 Senator C. Ryan, an act to amend the Penal Law;
14 Senate Print 4929, by Senator Brouk,
15 an act to amend the Social Services Law;
16 Senate Print 5220, by Senator Weber,
17 an act to amend the Real Property Tax Law;
18 Senate Print 5221, by Senator Weber,
19 an act to amend the Real Property Tax Law;
20 Senate Print 5228, by
21 Senator Bailey, an act to amend the
22 Executive Law;
23 Senate Print 5339, by Senator Fahy,
24 an act to amend the Public Health Law;
25 Senate Print 5407, by
4358
1 Senator Harckham, an act to amend the
2 Mental Hygiene Law;
3 Senate Print 5538, by
4 Senator Baskin, an act to amend the
5 Public Health Law;
6 Senate Print 5685, by Senator Lanza,
7 an act to amend Chapter 395 of the Laws of 1978;
8 Senate Print 6232, by Senator Webb,
9 an act to amend the Public Health Law;
10 Senate Print 6717, by
11 Senator Bailey, an act to amend the
12 Public Health Law;
13 Senate Print 6735A, by Senator Fahy,
14 an act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law;
15 Senate Print 6997A, by
16 Senator C. Ryan, an act to amend the
17 Public Service Law;
18 Senate Print 7203, by
19 Senator Krueger, an act to amend the
20 State Finance Law;
21 Senate Print 7224, by
22 Senator Persaud, an act to amend the
23 Social Services Law;
24 Senate Print 7315, by
25 Senator Hinchey, an act to amend the
4359
1 Social Services Law;
2 Senate Print 7546, by Senator Brouk,
3 an act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law;
4 Senate Print 7555A, by Senator Weik,
5 an act to amend Chapter 187 of the Laws of 1960;
6 Senate Print 7622, by Senator Brouk,
7 an act to amend Chapter 230 of the Laws of 2022;
8 Senate Print 7967, by
9 Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, an act to amend
10 Chapter 672 of the Laws of 1993.
11 All bills reported direct to third
12 reading.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: All those
14 in favor of accepting the report of the
15 Rules Committee please signify by saying aye.
16 (Response of "Aye.")
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Opposed,
18 nay.
19 (No response.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The report
21 of the Rules Committee is accepted.
22 Senator Gianaris.
23 SENATOR GIANARIS: Can we move on
24 to take up the calendar, please.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
4360
1 Secretary will read.
2 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3 109, Senate Print 518A, by Senator Persaud, an
4 act to amend the Executive Law.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
6 last section.
7 THE SECRETARY: Section 7. This
8 act shall take effect immediately.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
10 roll.
11 (The Secretary called the roll.)
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
13 the results.
14 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
15 Calendar 109, voting in the negative are
16 Senators Borrello, Chan, Gallivan, Griffo,
17 Helming, Lanza, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Rhoads,
18 Stec, Walczyk and Weik.
19 Ayes, 43. Nays, 13.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
21 is passed.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23 230, Senate Print 51, by Senator Comrie, an act
24 to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
4361
1 last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
3 act shall take effect immediately.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
5 roll.
6 (The Secretary called the roll.)
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
8 the results.
9 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
10 Calendar 230, voting in the negative:
11 Senator Walczyk.
12 Ayes, 55. Nays, 1.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
14 is passed.
15 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
16 235, Assembly Bill Number 1195A, by
17 Assemblymember Peoples-Stokes, an act to amend
18 the Insurance Law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
20 last section.
21 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
22 act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
24 roll.
25 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4362
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
2 the results.
3 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 56.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
5 is passed.
6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
7 320, Senate Print 4153A, by Senator Sanders, an
8 act to amend the General Business Law.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
10 last section.
11 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
12 act shall take effect on the 120th day after it
13 shall have become a law.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
15 roll.
16 (The Secretary called the roll.)
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
18 Sanders to explain his vote.
19 SENATOR SANDERS: Thank you,
20 Madam President.
21 Imagine a good New York family goes
22 into a restaurant to have a nice Sunday dinner.
23 They enjoy themselves. When the bill comes, they
24 take out American cash, hand it to them, and get
25 it thrown back in their face talking about we
4363
1 don't accept American currency in America.
2 They say, I'm sorry, this is the
3 currency of the land.
4 No, but we'll accept a foreign
5 credit card. But not American money.
6 Not anymore. By this action the
7 State Senate is sending a message that American
8 currency is good in the State of New York. And
9 as long as it's the currency of the land, it
10 should be accepted at every store in the land.
11 I thank all those who understood
12 that and voted for it, and I -- well, I encourage
13 those who didn't, may they never have the
14 opportunity to be turned down with American
15 currency.
16 Thank you very much,
17 Madam President.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
19 Sanders to be recorded in the affirmative.
20 Announce the results.
21 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
22 Calendar 320, voting in the negative are
23 Senators Gallivan, Stec and Walczyk.
24 Ayes, 53. Nays, 3.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
4364
1 is passed.
2 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3 331, Senate Print 4046, by Senator Harckham, an
4 act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
6 last section.
7 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
8 act shall take effect immediately.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
10 roll.
11 (The Secretary called the roll.)
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
13 the results.
14 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
15 Calendar 331, voting in the negative are
16 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Chan, Gallivan, Griffo,
17 Helming, Lanza, Mattera, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
18 C. Ryan, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
19 Ayes, 39. Nays, 17.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
21 is passed.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23 349, Senate Print 3660, by Senator Hoylman-Sigal,
24 an act to amend the Family Court Act.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
4365
1 last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section. This act
3 shall take effect on the 90th day after it shall
4 have become a law.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
6 roll.
7 (The Secretary called the roll.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
9 the results.
10 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
11 Calendar 349, voting in the negative are
12 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Chan, Griffo, Mattera,
13 Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec,
14 Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
15 Ayes, 41. Nays, 15.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
17 is passed.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
19 664, Assembly Bill Number 1914, by
20 Assemblymember Paulin, an act to amend the
21 Arts and Cultural Affairs Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
25 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
4366
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: In relation to
8 Calendar 664, voting in the negative are
9 Senators Borrello, Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Lanza,
10 O'Mara, Rhoads, Skoufis, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk
11 and Weik.
12 Ayes, 44. Nays, 12.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
14 is passed.
15 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
16 714, Senate Print 3759, by Senator Cleare, an act
17 to amend the Elder Law.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
19 last section.
20 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
21 act shall take effect immediately.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
23 roll.
24 (The Secretary called the roll.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
4367
1 the results.
2 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 56.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
4 is passed.
5 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
6 751, Senate Print 1946, by Senator Rivera, an act
7 to amend the Criminal Procedure Law.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
9 last section.
10 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
11 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
12 shall have become a law.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
14 roll.
15 (The Secretary called the roll.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
17 the results.
18 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
19 Calendar 751, voting in the negative are
20 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Chan, Gallivan, Griffo,
21 Helming, Lanza, Martinez, Mattera, Murray,
22 O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec,
23 Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
24 Ayes, 36. Nays, 20.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
4368
1 is passed.
2 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3 982, Senate Print 1763A, by Senator Fernandez, an
4 act to amend the Insurance Law.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
6 last section.
7 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
8 act shall take effect on the first of January.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
10 roll.
11 (The Secretary called the roll.)
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
13 Fernandez to explain her vote.
14 SENATOR FERNANDEZ: Thank you,
15 Madam President.
16 I'm proud to sponsor this
17 legislation that places a $250 cap on
18 out-of-pocket costs for outpatient substance use
19 disorder treatment.
20 For individuals in recovery,
21 especially those in outpatient programs, care
22 often requires showing up multiple times a week.
23 Each visit can bring a new copay, and over time
24 these costs add up. In some causes they become a
25 reason for them to stop going.
4369
1 This bill helps to prevent that. It
2 ensures that seeking help does not come with a
3 financial penalty for consistency. It supports
4 the idea that treatment should be available,
5 sustainable and grounded in public health, not in
6 financial strain.
7 This is a practical step and a
8 meaningful one. It reflects our recognition that
9 recovery is a process and that our system should
10 be structured to support people as they move
11 forward and not push them back.
12 I urge my colleagues to support this
13 bill, and I vote aye.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
15 Fernandez to be recorded in the affirmative.
16 Announce the results.
17 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
18 Calendar 982, voting in the negative are
19 Senators Gallivan, Griffo and Ortt.
20 Ayes, 53. Nays, 3.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
22 is passed.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24 1023, Senate Print 4039A, by Senator Skoufis, an
25 act to amend the Public Officers Law.
4370
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
2 last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
4 act shall take effect immediately.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
6 roll.
7 (The Secretary called the roll.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
9 the results.
10 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
11 Calendar 1023, voting in the negative are
12 Senators Borrello, Chan, Gallivan, Griffo,
13 Helming, Lanza, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker,
14 O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec,
15 Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
16 Ayes, 37. Nays, 19.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
18 is passed.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
20 1105, Senate Print 2598, by Senator Mayer, an act
21 to amend the General Municipal Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 8. This
25 act shall take effect on the first of January.
4371
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
2 roll.
3 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
5 the results.
6 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
7 Calendar 1105, voting in the negative:
8 Senator Walczyk.
9 Ayes, 55. Nays, 1.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
11 is passed.
12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
13 1116, Senate Print 4478, by Senator Ramos, an act
14 to amend the Labor Law.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
16 last section.
17 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
18 act shall take effect on the 60th day after it
19 shall have become a law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
21 roll.
22 (The Secretary called the roll.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
24 the results.
25 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
4372
1 Calendar 1116, voting in the negative:
2 Senator Borrello.
3 Ayes, 55. Nays, 1.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
5 is passed.
6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
7 1118, Senate Print 4519, by Senator Ramos, an act
8 to amend the Labor Law.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
10 last section.
11 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
12 act shall take effect immediately.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
14 roll.
15 (The Secretary called the roll.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
17 the results.
18 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
19 Calendar 1118, voting in the negative:
20 Senator Walczyk.
21 Ayes, 55. Nays, 1.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
23 is passed.
24 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
25 1120, Senate Print 5159, by Senator Comrie, an
4373
1 act to amend the Agriculture and Markets Law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
3 last section.
4 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. 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 1120, voting in the negative:
13 Senator Walczyk.
14 Ayes, 55. Nays, 1.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
16 is passed.
17 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
18 1148, Senate Print 4075, by
19 Senator Scarcella-Spanton, an act in relation to
20 authorizing the Silver Lake Foundation Inc. to
21 receive retroactive real property tax-exempt
22 status.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
24 last section.
25 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
4374
1 act shall take effect immediately.
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: In relation to
8 Calendar 1148, voting in the negative:
9 Senator O'Mara.
10 Ayes, 55. Nays, 1.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
12 is passed.
13 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
14 1149, Senate Print 4464, by Senator Mayer, an act
15 to amend the General Municipal Law.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
17 last section.
18 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
19 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
20 shall have become a law.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
22 roll.
23 (The Secretary called the roll.)
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
25 the results.
4375
1 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
2 Calendar 1149, voting in the negative are
3 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Gallivan, Griffo,
4 Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Stec, Walczyk
5 and Weik.
6 Ayes, 45. Nays, 11.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
8 is passed.
9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
10 1153, Senate Print 6009, by Senator Baskin, an
11 act to amend the General Municipal Law.
12 SENATOR GIANARIS: Lay it aside for
13 the day, please.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
15 is laid aside for the day.
16 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
17 1178, Senate Print 6759, by Senator Fernandez, an
18 act to amend the Education Law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
20 last section.
21 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
22 act shall take effect immediately.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
24 roll.
25 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4376
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
2 Fernandez to explain her vote.
3 SENATOR FERNANDEZ: Thank you,
4 Madam President.
5 I again proudly support this
6 legislation that expands access to preventative
7 dental care by allowing parents and legal
8 guardians to apply fluoride varnish to their
9 child's teeth under the direction of a licensed
10 practitioner.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Order in
12 the chamber. Thank you.
13 Senator Fernandez.
14 SENATOR FERNANDEZ: Tooth decay
15 remains one of the most common and most
16 overlooked health conditions affecting children.
17 It has been called a hidden epidemic because its
18 impacts often go unnoticed until the pain becomes
19 severe or until a child can't sleep, can't eat
20 and can't focus in school.
21 The bill is about reaching children
22 before it gets to that point. We know fluoride
23 varnish works, it's safe, it's effective and it
24 takes less than two minutes to apply. But
25 despite its simplicity access remains uneven,
4377
1 especially for families facing barriers like
2 transportation, time off work, or limited
3 provider availability.
4 By giving families the option to
5 apply fluoride varnish at home, under clinical
6 supervision, we remove unnecessary hurdles while
7 maintaining professional oversight. We help
8 prevent disease rather than respond to crisis.
9 This legislation moves us forward towards a
10 system where more children can receive the care
11 they need when they need it.
12 I want to thank the Schuyler Center
13 for Analysis and Advocacy for their work on this
14 issue, and Bridget Walsh, who is here today with
15 the center, and I proudly vote aye.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
17 Fernandez to be recorded in the affirmative.
18 Announce the results.
19 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
20 Calendar 1178, voting in the negative are
21 Senators Griffo and Weik.
22 Ayes, 54. Nays, 2.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
24 is passed.
25 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
4378
1 1223, Senate Print 6750, by Senator Webb, an act
2 to amend the Retirement and Social Security Law.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
4 last section.
5 THE SECRETARY: Section 8. This
6 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
7 shall have become a law.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
9 roll.
10 (The Secretary called the roll.)
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
12 Webb to explain her vote.
13 SENATOR WEBB: Thank you,
14 Madam President. I rise to explain my vote.
15 This legislation quite simply gives
16 power to state or city retirees, gives power back
17 to these individuals who are survivors of
18 domestic violence by allowing them to make
19 critical changes to their retirement benefits if
20 their designated beneficiary has been convicted
21 of a family offense.
22 Under current law, once a retired
23 member elects a beneficiary for their pension
24 option, that designation is locked in for life.
25 We know that life isn't always predictable, and
4379
1 sometimes life includes harm at the hands of
2 someone you once trusted.
3 This bill addresses a serious and
4 often overlooked injustice. It allows retirees
5 to revoke pension benefits from a beneficiary who
6 has been convicted of a family offense, including
7 domestic violence. No one who has inflicted harm
8 through abuse should continue to benefit from the
9 retirement security of the person that they
10 harmed.
11 This legislation restores justice
12 and gives survivors the power to protect their
13 financial future. Madam President, retirees will
14 now have the opportunity to change their
15 beneficiary or pension option in these
16 circumstances. This is a necessary step to bring
17 our laws in line with our values, protecting
18 survivors, correcting injustices, and giving
19 people the chance to reclaim control over their
20 futures.
21 This legislation brings fairness and
22 compassion to our retirement system, and it
23 empowers survivors and ensures that those
24 convicted of abuse do not profit from their
25 victims.
4380
1 I want to thank my Assembly sponsor
2 on this bill, Assemblymember Reyes, and my
3 colleagues. I vote aye, and I encourage you all
4 to do the same.
5 Thank you.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
7 Webb to be recorded in the affirmative.
8 Announce the results.
9 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 56.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
11 is passed.
12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
13 1232, Senate Print 4672A, by Senator Jackson, an
14 act to amend the Highway Law.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
16 last section.
17 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
18 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
19 shall have become a law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
21 roll.
22 (The Secretary called the roll.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
24 the results.
25 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
4381
1 Calendar 1232, voting in the negative:
2 Senator Walczyk.
3 Ayes, 55. Nays, 1.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
5 is passed.
6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
7 1248, Senate Print 611A, by Senator Stavisky, an
8 act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
10 last section.
11 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
12 act shall take effect immediately.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
14 roll.
15 (The Secretary called the roll.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
17 Murray to explain his vote.
18 SENATOR MURRAY: Thank you,
19 Madam President.
20 I just want to rise to thank the
21 sponsor sincerely for this. You know, many times
22 victims of crimes in New York State feel
23 victimized again when they feel like they don't
24 have a voice.
25 In this case, changing this when
4382
1 there is a vehicle and traffic offense involving
2 injury, involving an accident, many times they're
3 charged with a felony. But if it gets pled down
4 to a misdemeanor, the victims no longer have a
5 voice. They're not allowed to address the court.
6 This changes that, and I think it's
7 very, very important. Because many times, as I
8 said, when the accident occurred they did nothing
9 wrong. Their life could be changed forever, and
10 they just, as part of the healing process, want
11 to be heard. And not allowing them just makes
12 the pain even more.
13 So changing this, I commend the
14 sponsor, Senator Stavisky. Thank you for doing
15 this. You're giving voice to the victims. It's
16 very, very important. I proudly vote yes.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
18 Murray to be recorded in the affirmative.
19 Senator Stavisky to explain her
20 vote.
21 SENATOR STAVISKY: Yes, thank you,
22 Madam President.
23 Thank you, Senator, for your kind
24 words. This is a bill where survivors can speak
25 out. And that, I believe, is very important, to
4383
1 have a voice for survivors. So I vote aye.
2 Thank you.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
4 Stavisky to be recorded in the affirmative.
5 Announce the results.
6 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 56.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
8 is passed.
9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
10 1250, Senate Print 2398, by Senator Persaud, an
11 act to amend the Civil Rights Law.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
13 last section.
14 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
15 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
16 shall have become a law.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
18 roll.
19 (The Secretary called the roll.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
21 the results.
22 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
23 Calendar 1250, voting in the negative are
24 Senators Ashby, Helming, Mattera, Murray, O'Mara,
25 Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Stec, Walczyk, Weber and
4384
1 Weik.
2 Ayes, 44. Nays, 12.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
4 is passed.
5 Senator Gianaris, that completes the
6 reading of today's calendar.
7 SENATOR GIANARIS: Thank you,
8 Madam President.
9 Returning to motions for a moment,
10 on behalf of Senator Harckham I offer the
11 following amendments to Calendar 1493,
12 Senate Print 5407, and ask that said bill retain
13 its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
15 amendments are received, and the bill will retain
16 its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
17 Senator Gianaris.
18 SENATOR GIANARIS: Is there any
19 further business at the desk?
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: There is
21 no further business at the desk.
22 SENATOR GIANARIS: I move to
23 adjourn until Wednesday, June 4th, at 3:00 p.m.,
24 with the intervening days being legislative days.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: On motion,
4385
1 the Senate stands adjourned until Wednesday,
2 June 4th, at 3:00 p.m., with the intervening days
3 being legislative days.
4 (Whereupon, at 12:43 p.m., the
5 Senate adjourned.)
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