Gaveled in 11:54 AM · Albany, New York · 2025–26 session
NEW YORK STATE SENATE
THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
ALBANY, NEW YORK
June 6, 2025
11:54 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION
SENATOR JAMAAL T. BAILEY, Acting President
ALEJANDRA N. PAULINO, ESQ., Secretary
P R O C E E D I N G SACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The Senate will come to order.
I ask everyone present to please rise and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
(Whereupon, the assemblage recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:(Sneezing.) Excuse me.
Bless you. It's sort of a prayer. In the absence of clergy, that blessing will suffice.
No, in seriousness, in the absence of clergy, let us bow our heads in a moment of silent reflection or prayer.
(Whereupon, the assemblage respected a moment of silence.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Reading of the Journal.
THE SECRETARY:In Senate, Thursday, June 5, 2025, the Senate met pursuant to adjournment. The Journal of Wednesday, June 4, 2025, was read and approved. On motion, the Senate adjourned.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Without objection, the Journal stands approved as read.
Presentation of petitions.
Messages from the Assembly.
The Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY:Senator Brisport moves to discharge, from the Committee on Children and Families, Assembly Bill Number 744 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 5242, Third Reading Calendar 726.
Senator Sanders moves to discharge, from the Committee on Insurance, Assembly Bill Number 112 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 4157, Third Reading Calendar 921.
Senator Fahy moves to discharge, from the Committee on Higher Education, Assembly Bill Number 7427 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 7409, Third Reading Calendar 1018.
Senator Harckham moves to discharge, from the Committee on Judiciary, Assembly Bill Number 7454 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 5227, Third Reading Calendar 1047.
Senator Fernandez moves to discharge, from the Committee on Labor, Assembly Bill Number 2725A and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 5922A, Third Reading Calendar 1119.
Senator Kavanagh moves to discharge, from the Committee on Judiciary, Assembly Bill Number 3470 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill Number 7413, Third Reading Calendar 1204.
Senator Weber moves to discharge, from the Committee on Local Government, Assembly Bill Number 4390 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 5221, Third Reading Calendar 1490.
Senator Fahy moves to discharge, from the Committee on Codes, Assembly Bill Number 934A and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 6735A, Third Reading Calendar 1498.
Senator Brouk moves to discharge, from the Committee on Higher Education, Assembly Bill Number 8045 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 7622, Third Reading Calendar 1505.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:So ordered.
Messages from the Governor. Reports of standing -- I'm sorry.
THE SECRETARY:Senator Brouk moves to discharge, from the Committee on Rules, Assembly Bill Number 6332A and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 7546, Third Reading Calendar 1503.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:So ordered.
Messages from the Governor.
Reports of standing committees.
Reports of select committees.
Communications and reports from state officers.
Motions and resolutions.
Senator Serrano.
SENATOR SERRANO:Mr. President, amendments are offered to the following Third Reading Calendar bills:
By Senator Gounardes, page 66, Calendar Number 1509, Senate Print 6954;
By Senator Hoylman-Sigal, page 68, Calendar Number 1524, Senate Print 1744;
By Senator Harckham, page 44, Calendar Number 1235, Senate Print 6930A;
By Senator Harckham, page 45, Calendar Number 1240, Senate Print 7706A;
By Senator Kavanagh, page 57, Calendar Number 1386, Senate Print 1239C;
By Senator Harckham, page 54, Calendar Number 1351, Senate Print 4033A;
By Senator Ramos, page 41, Calendar Number 1195, Senate Print 5990A.
I now move that these bills retain their place on third reading.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The amendments are received, and those bills will retain their place on the Third Reading Calendar.
Senator Serrano.
SENATOR SERRANO:Thank you, Mr. President.
I wish to call up the following bills, which were recalled from the Assembly and are now at the desk: Senate Print Numbers 274A and 2097.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 515, Senate Print 2097, by Senator Kavanagh, an act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
Calendar Number 738, Senate Print 274A, by Senator Martinez, an act to amend the Veterans' Services Law.
SENATOR SERRANO:Move to reconsider the vote by which these bills were passed.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll on reconsideration.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 51.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bills are restored to their place on the Third Reading Calendar.
SENATOR SERRANO:I now offer the following amendments.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The amendments are received.
Senator Serrano.
SENATOR SERRANO:Please take up Resolution Number 807, by Senator Rhoads. Please read that resolution title only and recognize Senator Rhoads.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY:Resolution 807, by Senator Rhoads, commending Timothy Jaccard upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New York State Senate.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Senator Rhoads on the resolution.
SENATOR RHOADS:Thank you, Mr. President.
I rise today to recognize Nassau County Police Department -- now retired -- Captain Timothy Jaccard for the amazing work that he has done in his professional and civilian life, and in recognition of his receipt of the 2025 Liberty Medal from the New York State Senate.
I have had the honor of knowing Tim Jaccard since I was three years old. Tim and I actually were backyard neighbors. My parents' house backed up against his. In fact, our first puppy as a kid came from his dog's litter.
So we know each other a long time. Even though he's probably about 15 years older than I am, he is truly an exceptional individual. And to give you a set of circumstances, it was 1998 and Captain Timothy Jaccard, who at that point was a 25-year veteran of the Nassau County Police Department, found himself in the middle of a circumstance unimaginable to most people.
Called to a crime scene as a member of the Nassau County Police Department's ambulance medical technician team, he discovered the body of a dead infant in a garbage can. Not for the first or last time, he was moved with compassion for an innocent life cut short. And so began the AMT Children of Hope Baby Safe Haven Foundation.
Tim Jaccard's initial mission was to bury every infant in Nassau County who was abandoned and died or had been killed. To bury the babies, however, Captain Jaccard had to become their legal guardian. And since that day, Tim has adopted and provided dignified burials through his foundation of hundreds of children, all with the surname Hope.
"What is heartbreaking over the years is that I have buried more than 200 babies," Captain Jaccard said in 2023. "We bury these children with honors. We have a ceremonial baptism where the babies are dressed in a tuxedo or baptismal gown and placed in a casket. We usually have 50 to a hundred motorcycles that escort the babies from the funeral home to the church."
But as the AMT Children of Hope Foundation grew, Captain Jaccard was moved beyond that noble mission, realizing that the parents who committed these unthinkable acts of cruelty often did so because they made the wrong decision, thinking they had no other option. And so Tim asked himself, What if I provided that other option?
And Tim began pushing for what he called safe haven laws that would allow women who have just given birth, or a father, to surrender their infant at a hospital, firehouse or police station, no questions asked, without penalty.
In 1999 he found an ally in Texas Governor George W. Bush, pointing out that the City of Houston had more than a dozen infant abandonment deaths a year earlier. And Captain Jaccard lobbied the governor to make a safe haven law a legislative priority.
That year Texas adopted the Baby Moses Law, named after the biblical hero who had been abandoned at birth.
With the help of my predecessor, Senator Chuck Fuschillo, New York enacted its version of the law in 2000.
And thanks to his efforts, by 2008 all 50 states had enacted baby safe haven laws. The only jurisdiction that hadn't was Washington, D.C. And on Christmas Eve of that year, then President George W. Bush called Tim to let him know that he had signed a proclamation creating the program in the District of Columbia, completing his nationwide quest.
To date the AMT Children of Hope Baby Safe Haven Foundation -- founded to bury babies that were lost -- together with its 160 volunteers, has saved over 5,000 babies, and he has personally rescued over 300, delivering a hundred of those babies personally.
For his part, Tim Jaccard's greatest joy is watching youngsters like Brandon Laracuente grow up with parents who adore them. Ilene Laracuente and her husband, Ed, who live in Bethpage, in my district, adopted young Brandon, who had been relinquished to the Children of Hope when he was 6 weeks old.
"It was a godsend for us," said Ilene, who was also adopted. "He's wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, a smart, smart, smart child and a loving child."
And Brandon, who is now a teenager, hopes to be a doctor. "I'm happy that they care for me and that they love me," he said of his parents.
One of the most often told stories is of a baby named Molly, who was born a day before 9/11 in New York's Central Park. Molly's biological mother gave birth to her in Central Park just before sunrise on September 10th, with the aid of Medical Officer Tim Jaccard. Molly was not abandoned but was legally relinquished by law, through the NYPD and the AMT Children of Hope Foundation. She is now 20 years old and living happily with her adopted parents in New York.
Tim Jaccard, to me, is not only a great friend, but he is a true hero. In a world where the value of life is sometimes called to question, he has dedicated first his professional career, but now his career in retirement to saving and preserving lives, making an immeasurable difference in the lives of thousands of babies who now have a chance to grow up and contribute to this world.
It is our hope that we can always use the gifts and talents that we've been given to try and make our corner of the world a little better place. Tim Jaccard has dedicated his life to making our nation a better place, and has made a tremendous difference.
And so, Mr. President, Tim Jaccard unfortunately was a little under the weather and is not able to be here today. I will be presenting the Liberty Medal to him back in the district. But I know that he is watching on television.
I would just ask that you extend congratulations on behalf of the Senate to Tim in absentia and know that we gratefully appreciate everything that he has done for the people of the State of New York and for our nation.
Thank you, Mr. President.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Thank you, Senator Rhoads.
First and foremost, Mr. Jaccard, get better. We thank you for your service and appreciate your heroic actions.
And even though you're not in the chamber, we do extend you the privileges and courtesies from your couch or wherever it is that you may be viewing.
This resolution was adopted on April 29th.
Senator Serrano.
SENATOR SERRANO:Thank you, Mr. President.
Let's take up previously adopted Resolution 1131, by Senator Rolison. Please read that resolution title only and call on Senator Rolison.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY:Resolution 1131, by Senator Rolison, posthumously honoring the life and service of United States Army Air Forces Staff Sergeant Eugene J. Darrigan, who was laid to rest in his hometown of Wappingers Falls, New York, on May 24, 2025, more than eight decades after his death in World War II.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Senator Rolison on the resolution.
SENATOR ROLISON:Mr. President and my colleagues, it is an honor for me today to essentially tell a story, to tell a story about an individual who, 81 years after he was shot down over the South Pacific -- this is Staff Sergeant Eugene Darrigan, a native of Wappingers Falls in Dutchess County, in my district, he was found, 81 years later.
And the story of his service is the story of so many of our service members, their service, their commitment, their bravery, their heroism, and so many who have lost their lives.
So this past Memorial Day was a very special Memorial Day in Wappingers because Staff Sergeant Darrigan was buried Memorial Day weekend. And he served in the Army, in the Army's Air Service. And he was in New Guinea, with other bombers. They were B-24 Flying Fortresses. And even though the war was winding down in Europe, it was not winding down in the South Pacific. Actually, it was raging.
And on March 11th, he and his 10 crew members, brothers, went up from New Guinea with multiple other B-24s to conduct a bombing mission.
And he was a radio operator, and we believe that he actually was radioing the bombers that were behind, because they were in front, that -- where the enemy aircraft guns were. And tragically, that anti-aircraft gunnery got that B-24, and they went down in the South Pacific.
And because the other B-24s knew it, they actually circled the area for a while and marked where that B-24 had gone down. And for 81 years, he was missing, he was gone, along with his comrades.
And because of Project Recover, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to recovering service members, they found the remains of that plane in 2017. And five years later they actually, with the assistance of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, which is DPAA, and researchers from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, they were able to go down there.
It was the deepest-ever recovery mission held. Elite Navy divers went down to where the plane was, and they collected material from the ocean floor. And among those recovered items were Staff Sergeant Eugene Darrigan's tags.
And he had a son when he went to World War II, who was six months old. He's since gone. His wife, since gone.
But interestingly enough, his goddaughter, his niece, Ginny Pineiro -- who I knew as a patrol officer in the 1980s, who was the branch manager of a bank in Poughkeepsie -- was still alive. At age 85, she got to be in Wappingers to welcome home the remains of her uncle and her godfather.
And her two daughters, who I think are listening today, Lisa Vetter and Susan Mitchell, had been friends of mine since then.
I never knew about Eugene until they brought him home. And in conversations that I had around the Memorial Day weekend, both with Susan and Lisa, and then actually seeing Mrs. Pineiro, which was actually heartwarming -- they gave her the flag, full military honors -- that I heard that he actually sent her cards from New Guinea for like her birthday. And I believe she still has one from New Guinea from her uncle Eugene.
So as I conclude these remarks, I mean certainly this is a great story. People came from all over the Wappingers Falls area. Over 200 people were there at the church for the military funeral.
But here is something that I find just absolutely just -- it's beautiful. The name of that B-24 was called Heaven Can Wait. And here we are, 81 years later. Heaven was waiting for him. And heaven continues to wait and will wait for every service member, Mr. President, who has not come home.
We cherish them. We thought of them over Memorial Day. But today, for me, and for us as a body, we get to think about Eugene Darrigan. Without his sacrifice and the sacrifice of so many others, we wouldn't be here talking about it.
Thank you, Mr. President.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Thank you, Senator Rolison.
The resolution was previously adopted on June 5th.
Senator Serrano.
SENATOR SERRANO:Thank you.
At the request of the sponsors, the resolutions are open for cosponsorship.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The resolutions are open for cosponsorship. Should you choose not to be a cosponsor, please notify the desk.
Senator Gianaris -- Senator Serrano, sorry.
SENATOR SERRANO:Thank you.
Please take up the reading of the calendar.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 207, Senate Print 1938, by Senator Weber, an act to amend the Education Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 53.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 464, Senate Print 55, by Senator Fernandez, an act to amend the State Finance Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Senator Fernandez to explain her vote.
SENATOR FERNANDEZ:Thank you, Mr. President.
This bill creates what we're going to call the Overdose Prevention and Recovery Act, a bill that meets the moment in the fight that we are against with the opioid crisis.
Overdose deaths have soared across New York State, devastating families and communities alike. And even as the crisis grows and actually fluctuates -- some numbers did go down -- funding for recovery support services, which is a lifeline that helps people rebuild their lives, remains fragile and unsustainable.
As we've seen over the last few months, federal services are being cut and without prejudice. Without permanent, reliable funding, these essential services cannot be there for every person in need.
This legislation changes that. It makes the Opioid Stewardship Fund permanent and ensures that at least 20 percent of its resources go directly to support recovery services, with a matching investment in harm reduction.
At a time when indiscriminate cuts are coming from the federal government, stabilizing this funding is more critical than ever. It's not enough to fight addiction on one front; we must support every step of someone's recovery journey.
I proudly vote aye.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Senator Fernandez to be recorded in the affirmative.
Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 464, voting in the negative: Senator Walczyk.
Ayes, 52. Nays, 1.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 518, Senate Print 5835, by Senator Skoufis, an act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 53.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 601, Senate Print 5551, by Senator Cleare, an act to amend the New York State Urban Development Corporation Act.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 5. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 53.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 606, Senate Print 5037, by Senator Sepúlveda, an act to amend the Correction Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect on the 120th day after it shall have become a law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Senator Sepúlveda to explain his vote.
SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: Thank you, Mr. President, for allowing me to explain my vote.
All too often the debate around incarceration is reduced to cold statistics, budgets and regulations. But at the heart of this issue are people, and we must never lose sight of that. People who have made mistakes -- of course they have -- but people who are still fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, mentors, friends, and are human beings. And like all human beings, they deserve something basic and essential: The dignity of human connection.
Protecting in-person visitation is not a minor bureaucratic adjustment, it is a profound affirmation of our values. This proposal assures that every person deprived of their liberty has the right to real, meaningful and humane in-person visits.
We are talking about visits that can take place on weekends, at times that are accessible to working families. Visits that last more than just a few minutes. Visits that foster real, lasting bonds. And visits that cannot be arbitrarily suspended for administrative reasons made without transparency or fairness.
Why does this matter? Because study after study has shown what we already know in our hearts: People who remain connected to their loved ones while serving a sentence are more likely to rehabilitate, less likely to reoffend, and more likely to rebuild their lives upon release.
This is a policy of humanity. It is a policy of public safety. It is a policy of common sense. That is why, as a New York State Senator and a proud representative of the Bronx, as a proud servant, and as a human being, I am proud to sponsor this legislation and ask my colleagues to support it by voting aye and join my conviction.
Let's make New York a model of connection, compassion and dignity. Let's protect in-person visitation. Let's protect our families. Let's protect the right not to be forgotten.
Thank you.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Senator Sepúlveda to be recorded in the affirmative.
Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 606, voting in the negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello, Chan, Gallivan, Mattera, Murray, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, C. Ryan, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik. Also Senator Oberacker.
Ayes, 35. Nays, 18.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 607, Senate Print 5265, by Senator Bailey, an act to amend the Correction Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 607, voting in the negative are Senators Borrello, Chan, Gallivan, Lanza, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Rhoads, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weik and Fernandez.
Ayes, 40. Nays, 13.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 618, Senate Print 4763, by Senator Bailey, an act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 5. This act shall take effect on the first of November.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 618, voting in the negative are Senators Gallivan, Palumbo, Stec, Walczyk and Weik.
Ayes, 48. Nays, 5.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 634, Senate Print 2433A, by Senator Krueger, an act to amend the Real Property Law.
SENATOR SERRANO:Lay it aside for the day.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill will be laid aside for the day.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 642, Senate Print 6258, by Senator Skoufis, an act to amend the Education Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Senator Borrello to explain his vote.
SENATOR BORRELLO:Thank you, Mr. President.
I want to thank the sponsor for this bill.
In 2020, it was my first year as a State Senator, and a longtime friend, mentor and teacher, my math teacher Tom Harvey, reached out to me to tell me a story about how he had remarried and he wasn't able to change who his beneficiary is on his teacher pension. He told me the story, we wrote a bill, we introduced the bill. It got the support of NYSUT. Unfortunately, it didn't make it.
A year later he called me to tell me that he had terminal cancer and that he didn't have long to live. But we introduced the bill again; unfortunately, it didn't make it.
But I'm glad it's passing today because there are so many others that are in the same situation. You know, we live longer now. We retire. Life changes. You get divorced, you get remarried. They should have the opportunity to change who their beneficiary is. They worked hard. They paid into that pension system 20, 30 years or more.
It was a simple request. I wish we could have done it for Tom Harvey, but I'm glad we're doing it today. Thank you.
I'll be voting yes.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Senator Borrello to be recorded in the affirmative.
Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 53.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 643, Senate Print 5513, by Senator Hinchey, an act to amend the Agriculture and Markets Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect on the 120th day after it shall have become a law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 53.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 646, Senate Print 6389, by Senator Harckham, an act directing the Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision to study gender disparity in resources provided to incarcerated individuals.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 646, voting in the negative are Senators O'Mara, Ortt and Walczyk.
Ayes, 50. Nays, 3.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 669, Senate Print 6318A, by Senator May, an act to amend the Education Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Senator May to explain her vote.
SENATOR MAY:Thank you, Mr. President.
It is with great delight that I rise to vote aye on this bill and to thank the arts and music educators from all over the state who have advocated so relentlessly for this change in policy.
Our schools all around the state teach art and music but because the subjects are not required in statute, when there are rollbacks, cutbacks in a school district, one of the first things to go tends to be art and music education.
When I think about my experience in elementary school, I can't remember any facts I learned, but I remember every song we sang. And I remember that glow of pride when the teacher hung one of my pictures on the wall.
Arts and music develop us as human beings. They develop the whole child. For some kids, they are the only reason they show up at school, or the only thing they look forward to in the school day. Arts and music are just part of what makes us human.
I'm very grateful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who support this bill, to the Education chair and the Education staff who helped get it to this point.
This has been a multiyear effort, and I am thrilled to vote aye.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Senator May to be recorded in the affirmative.
Senator Cooney to explain his vote.
SENATOR COONEY:Thank you, Mr. President.
I rise in strong favor of this legislation. It is a wonderful bill and needed more than ever. As a proud graduate of a performing arts high school in the City of Rochester, I can tell you firsthand that we were very privileged to be exposed to arts curriculum at an early age. But every child in New York State, whether they are interested in individual arts or the performing arts alike, should be exposed and should have this as part of their education.
This creates the citizens that we want to see in this world. And it's something that we should guarantee. With all of the changes that are happening at the federal level, with all the changes and cuts that we're seeing to our arts organizations, we must not forget that the artists who are part of our vibrant civil society start at their educational level.
And I want to thank our education chair, I want to thank Senator May, I want to thank our leadership for bringing this forward.
Thank you.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Senator Cooney to be recorded in the affirmative.
Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 669, voting in the negative: Senator Walczyk.
Ayes, 52. Nays, 1.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 698, Senate Print 6971, by Senator Kavanagh, an act to amend the Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law.
SENATOR SERRANO:Lay it aside for the day.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill will be laid aside for the day.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 703, Senate Print 5843, by Senator Skoufis, an act to amend the Legislative Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect on the 30th day after it shall have become a law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 703, voting in the negative are Senators Chan, Ortt and Rhoads.
Ayes, 50. Nays, 3.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 719, Senate Print 683A, by Senator Martinez, an act to amend the Real Property Tax Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect on the first of January.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 53.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 726, Assembly Bill Number 744, by Assemblymember Hevesi, an act to amend the Social Services Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 4. This act shall take effect on the 90th day after it shall have become a day.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 53.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 921, Assembly Bill Number 112, by Assemblymember Berger, an act to repeal certain provisions of the Insurance Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 53.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 937, Senate Print 2498, by Senator Gounardes, an act to amend the Education Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 3. This act shall take effect on the first of July.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar Number 937, voting in the negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello, Chan, Gallivan, Lanza, Martinez, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk and Weik.
Ayes, 35. Nays, 18.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1004, Senate Print 6227, by Senator Martinez, an act to amend the Education Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 53.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1016, Senate Print 5340A, by Senator Stavisky, an act to amend the Education Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 3. This act shall take effect on the 180th day after it shall have become a law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 1016, voting in the negative are Senators Lanza, Martinez, Ortt, Palumbo, Walczyk and Weik.
Ayes, 47. Nays, 6.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1018, Assembly Bill Number 7427, by Assemblymember Romero, an act to amend Chapter 670 of the Laws of 2024.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 1018, voting in the negative are Senators Borrello, Chan, Lanza, Martins, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Rhoads, Stec, Walczyk and Weik.
Ayes, 40. Nays, 13.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1034, Senate Print 6463, by Senator Cleare, an act to amend the Correction Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 1034, voting in the negative are Senators Borrello, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Stec, Walczyk and Weik.
Ayes, 46. Nays, 7.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1047, Assembly Bill Number 7454, by Assemblymember Jones, Concurrent Resolution of the Senate and Assembly proposing an amendment to Section 1 of Article 14 of the Constitution.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll on the resolution.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 53.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The resolution is adopted.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1085, Senate Print 3356A, by Senator Rivera, an act to amend the Public Health Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 1085, voting in the negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello, Chan, Lanza, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
Ayes, 37. Nays, 16.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1087, Senate Print 3486, by Senator Hinchey, an act to amend the Public Health Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 9. This act shall take effect 18 months after it shall have become a law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 1087, voting in the negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello, Chan, Gallivan, Lanza, Martins, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
Ayes, 34. Nays, 19.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1119, Assembly Bill Number 2725A, by Assemblymember Paulin, an act to amend the Labor Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect on the 180th day after it shall have become a law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Senator Fernandez to explain her vote.
SENATOR FERNANDEZ:Thank you.
This bill addresses the devastating impact of the crisis that we know that enters the workplace. Because if you're suffering with addiction, it's not just something you do at home or in your time off. It can happen in the workplace.
And this bill makes sure that when emergencies strike, every second counts. We already require that first aid materials in certain workplaces to handle injuries and emergencies are available, and this bill would require that the same workplaces also have opioid antagonists on hand and in the area.
It is a simple lifesaving step. It ensures that if someone suffers an overdose in the workplace, help is immediately available, giving them a fighting chance for survival.
The legislation is about building workplaces that are supportive of those most in need. It recognizes that addiction doesn't discriminate. It affects coworkers, employees and their families.
By making opioid antagonists a required part of the workplace safety planning, we are affirming our commitment to protecting New Yorkers.
I thank the leader for bringing this bill to the floor, and I urge my colleagues to vote yes.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Senator Fernandez to be recorded in the affirmative.
Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 1119, voting in the negative: Senator Walczyk.
Ayes, 52. Nays, 1.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1121, Senate Print 5488, by Senator Comrie, an act to amend the Agriculture and Markets Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar Number 1121, voting in the negative: Senator Walczyk.
Ayes, 52. Nays, 1.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1136, Senate Print 1060, by Senator Serrano, an act to amend the Public Service Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 3. This act shall take effect on the 120th day after it shall have become a law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 1136, voting in the negative: Senator Walczyk.
Ayes, 52. Nays, 1.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1144, Senate Print 1397, by Senator Gallivan, an act in relation to authorizing the Town of Eden, County of Erie, to alienate and discontinue the use of certain parklands.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:There is a home-rule message at the desk.
Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 5. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 53.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1147, Senate Print 3445, by Senator Helming, an act to amend the Village Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:There is a home-rule message at the desk.
Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 1147, voting in the negative are Senators Sepúlveda and Skoufis.
Ayes, 51. Nays, 2.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1151, Senate Print 5686, by Senator Lanza, an act to amend Chapter 759 of the Laws of 1973.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 53.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1163, Senate Print 2264, by Senator Cooney, an act to amend the Civil Service Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 1163, voting in the negative: Senator Walczyk.
Ayes, 52. Nays, 1.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1167, Senate Print 3189, by Senator Persaud, an act to amend the Social Services Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 53.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1183, Senate Print 2377, by Senator Mattera, an act to amend the Public Authorities Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 1183, voting in the negative: Senator Bynoe. Also Senator Sepúlveda.
Ayes, 51. Nays, 2.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1204, Assembly Bill Number 3470, by Assemblymember Lavine, an act to amend the Real Property Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 53.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1213, Senate Print 1222A, by Senator Rivera, an act to amend the Public Health Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 53.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1241, Senate Print 7760A, by Senator Griffo, an act to amend the Highway Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 53.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1259, Senate Print 3355A, by Senator Rivera, an act to amend the Public Health Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 53.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1261, Senate Print 3366, by Senator Rivera, an act to amend the Public Health Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 1261, voting in the negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello, Chan, Gallivan, Lanza, Martins, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
Ayes, 34. Nays, 19.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1281, Senate Print 5779, by Senator Fernandez, an act to amend the Education Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 4. This act shall take effect on the first of July.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 1281, voting in the negative: Senator Walczyk.
Ayes, 52. Nays, 1.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1360, Senate Print 6372, by Senator Mayer, an act to amend the Local Finance Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 53.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1472, Senate Print 1399A, by Senator S. Ryan, an act to amend the Private Housing Finance Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 3. This act shall take effect on the 60th day after it shall have become a law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 1472, voting in the negative: Senator Walczyk.
Ayes, 52. Nays, 1.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1473, Senate Print 1465, by Senator Serrano, an act to amend the Social Services Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Senator Serrano to explain his vote.
SENATOR SERRANO:Thank you, Mr. President.
Few things are as foundational as access to healthy and nutritional food. And that is so important in communities like the ones I will represent in East Harlem and the South Bronx, and communities all across the State of New York.
But we've seen a very troubling trend when it comes to skimming of EBT benefits, SNAP benefits on EBT cards. And the way that we remedy that, that we help remedy that, is by using technology that is available to us in the form of chip technology on these cards, to ensure that these needed benefits help those who are the most vulnerable in our society to access their healthy food and nutritious foods.
So I'm grateful that we are passing this bill here today. I'm very grateful for the leadership of Assemblymember González-Rojas in the Assembly, so that we can ensure that our communities are able to not have their benefits stolen and be able to support themselves, support their families.
And I vote aye. Thank you.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Senator Serrano to be recorded in the affirmative.
Senator Murray to explain his vote.
SENATOR MURRAY:Thank you, Mr. President.
I would like to echo the comments of Senator Serrano and thank him for bringing this to the floor, and thank all of my colleagues for supporting this.
As was mentioned, since 2022 New Yorkers have lost $40 million in stolen benefits. This has become a growing trend, and this is the step that we can take to correct it.
Also good news, while it will cost -- and I've heard estimates anywhere from 20 to 40 million initially to institute this -- the federal government will split that fifty-fifty with us.
So while the bill does ask that we get this done no later than June 21st of 2027, for any of the departments listening, please don't wait that long. Let's get this done as soon as possible. You've got needy New Yorkers who are counting on this.
I proudly vote aye.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Senator Murray to be recorded in the affirmative.
Senator Krueger to explain her vote.
SENATOR KRUEGER:I also rise to thank my colleague and, I hope, all of us for voting yes on this.
You know, I spent many years of my life advocating for the predecessor to SNAP, the Food Stamp Program, helping hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers to successfully apply and participate.
It's scary enough that we're now facing a federal government who's proposed dramatic and dangerous cuts to SNAP program dollar benefits and eligibility. But the concept that we know that there are thieves stealing these benefits from the debit cards, called EBT, that we could stop because the technology exists.
I challenge any of my colleagues to open their wallets right now, look at their credit cards, and find a non-chipped card. Everyone has moved to a chipped card because it is so much harder to scam them at a register when you are shopping.
And yet the state keeps promising to move forward with the exact same technology for EBT used for SNAP, public assistance, and I believe WIC benefits, and these people are the people who are least able to afford to lose these benefits.
So I'm very glad that we're passing this, and I hope the Governor understands we're all on the same side. We just need to move faster. We just have to move faster.
Thank you. I vote yes.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Senator Krueger to be recorded in the affirmative.
Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 53.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1476, Senate Print 2278, by Senator Webb, an act to amend the Public Health Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect on the 180th day after it shall have become a law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Senator Webb to explain her vote.
SENATOR WEBB:Thank you, Mr. President.
I rise today to lift up this important legislation that recognizes something we know to be true and, quite frankly, we should have done a long time ago, and that is we recognize that nurses are the backbone of our healthcare system and their voices belong in every room where decisions are made, especially at the highest levels.
This bill would require hospitals to include a registered professional nurse as a sitting and voting member of the governing body responsible for shaping the hospital's strategic plan, their systems and policies.
It is a simple but powerful change, and one that is long overdue. Nurses bring a unique and essential perspective to patient care. And as frontline providers, they offer hands-on support, they identify early signs of complications, they advocate for patients and their families, and uphold the safety and dignity of everyone who enters a hospital.
Yet, far too often their voices are excluded from key decisions that shape how care is delivered. Mr. President, by adding a registered nurse to the hospital governance structure, we ensure that decisions around staffing, quality of care, and patient safety are grounded in real-world clinical experience.
This isn't just good for nurses, it's good for our patients, families, and the entire healthcare system.
I want to thank all the nurses across our state for their tireless advocacy on this issue, but also for the care that they provide. I am proud to stand with them today and also offer that, yes, they deserve a seat at the table.
I vote aye, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same. Thank you.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Senator Weber to be recorded in the affirmative.
Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 1476, voting in the negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello, Chan, Gallivan, Martins, Mattera, Murray, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
Ayes, 38. Nays, 15.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1477, Senate Print 2648, by Senator Addabbo, an act to amend the Insurance Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 5. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 1477, voting in the negative are Senators Borrello, Gallivan, Ortt and Walczyk.
Ayes, 49. Nays, 4.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1490, Assembly Bill Number 4390, by Assemblymember P. Carroll, an act to amend the Real Property Tax Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 1490, voting in the negative are Senators Martinez, Sepúlveda and Skoufis.
Ayes, 50. Nays, 3.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1492, Senate Print 5339, by Senator Fahy, an act to amend the Public Health Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 5. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Senator Fahy to explain her vote.
SENATOR FAHY:Thank you, Mr. President.
I rise today in support of this legislation, and I just want to note that this is about providing dental loan repayment and practice support for dentists who agree to serve in underserved areas.
Right now dental deserts are in about 161 areas across New York State. We are about 500 dentists short in order to just meet current standards. And we only graduate about -- of the dentists we have, only about one in five take Medicaid recipients.
In one of my counties, in Montgomery County, we have just 19 registered dentists in the entire county of 50,000 people, which is a ratio of about one dentist to every 2600 persons with access to those dentists.
And again, because our Medicaid reimbursement rates are so low -- often 40 percent of what insurance covers -- they are refusing to take Medicaid.
This would create a loan repayment, and it would urge those to serve in rural New York as well as our underserved urban areas. It is very similar to the successful program of Doctors Across New York. And we hope that this will go a ways toward filling a very serious crisis.
With that, I vote in the affirmative. Thank you, Mr. President.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Senator Fahy to be recorded in the affirmative.
Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 53.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1494, Senate Print 5538, by Senator Baskin, an act to amend the Public Health Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Senator Baskin to explain her vote.
SENATOR BASKIN:Thank you, Mr. President.
I rise today with gratitude to the lawmakers of New York State, our Leader Stewart-Cousins, and public health advocates from Buffalo, Erie County, and again across the state.
I also rise today as a mother who was at one time told by my son's pediatrician that his blood lead levels had spiked while at a doctor's visit. I rise as the sister of younger siblings who contracted lead poisoning when they were toddlers. I rise today, Mr. President, as the district representative of Buffalo, New York, where children in Black communities are 12 times more likely to contract lead poisoning than children in predominantly white communities.
I rise today as the representative of Buffalo, New York, the home of some of New York State's oldest housing stock.
I rise today, Mr. President, feeling accomplished. As a county legislator back in 2019, I introduced a resolution calling on New York State to make early intervention services automatically available to children with elevated blood lead levels.
As it stands, early intervention services are reserved for babies, children who are born with very specific disabilities. The law currently reads: Fetal alcohol syndrome, physical or mental conditions or sensory delays are the sole circumstances in which a child in New York State can receive early intervention services.
As it stands, before today's vote, a child who has lead poisoning is not automatically allowed to have early intervention services.
Early intervention services allow children who have been identified as having delays because of environmental disorders the services that they need to get prepared to become quality students when they then enter into grade school.
I passed this resolution in 2019, and today I'm no longer a county legislator, I'm a State Senator who's sponsoring the bill that I called on the state to pass. And so I'm pretty proud of April Baskin, my team, and my community.
(Laughter.)
SENATOR BASKIN:I also want to shout out my colleague from Western New York who is sponsoring the bill in the Assembly, Assemblymember Karen McMahon.
And I have to acknowledge all of the advocates who have helped me and my community understand the impacts of lead poisoning in the City of Buffalo.
I want to thank County Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein. I want to thank the Partnership for the Public Good; a community organization, LEAD716; and also Dr. Mindy Cameron of the University of Buffalo, Dr. Leah Bartlo of the University of Buffalo, Dr. Kim Diana Connolly of the University of Buffalo, and local advocate and attorney Anna Falicov.
Today, as a mother who once had a child who had elevated blood lead levels, and as a district representative who represents so many children who have irreversible brain damage that is preventable as long as we in this honorable body continue to uplift lead remediation, I am so, so proud to vote in the affirmative and to get done what I told the state to get done five years ago.
Thank you, Mr. President.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Senator April Baskin to be recorded in the affirmative.
(Laughter.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Senator May to explain her vote.
SENATOR MAY:Thank you, Mr. President.
I rise to say I am proud also of Senator Baskin and very grateful for this bill.
I sadly represent some of the zip codes in the country with the highest incidence of elevated blood lead levels in children, and a lot of children who have suffered and families who have suffered from this. And it is so important that we get them the care that they need immediately.
I also am the mother of a child who had elevated blood lead levels. And we did get those instant interventions, and it made all the difference.
And so I am thrilled that we are passing this today. Congratulations.
And I vote aye.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Senator May to be recorded in the affirmative.
Senator June -- I mean Senator Cleare to explain her vote.
SENATOR CLEARE:I want to congratulate and thank Senator Baskin for bringing this very important legislation.
I too am the mother of a child impacted by lead poisoning, and part of a coalition that passed the most comprehensive lead poisoning prevention bill in the country but was unable to get it outside of New York City, the five boroughs. And I know the challenges. This is just an added barrier, trying to get your child the services and the remediation that is necessary.
Lead poisoning is a housing fight, it's a health fight, it's an education fight. And especially for the people who are impacted the most by this, which are Black and brown children, it's just another struggle. And you have just made it easier for some of them.
So I congratulate you, and I thank you. Thank you for bringing this legislation.
I will be voting aye.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Senator Cleare to be recorded in the affirmative.
Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 53.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1498, Assembly Bill Number 934A, by Assemblymember Magnarelli, an act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 53.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1499, Senate Print 6997A, by Senator C. Ryan, an act to amend the Public Service Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation Calendar 1499, voting in the negative are Senators Walczyk and Stec. Also Senator Ashby.
Ayes, 50. Nays, 3.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1502, Senate Print 7315, by Senator Hinchey, an act to amend the Social Services Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 53.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1503, Assembly Bill Number 6332A, by Assemblymember Romero, an act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect on the 180th day after it shall have become a law.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 53.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1504, Senate Print 7555A, by Senator Weik, an act to amend Chapter 187 of the Laws of 1960.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:In relation to Calendar 1504, voting in the negative: Senator Sepúlveda.
Ayes, 52. Nays, 1.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 1505, Assembly Bill Number 8045, by Assemblymember Bronson, an act to amend Chapter 230 of the Laws of 2022.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:Announce the results.
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 53.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The bill is passed.
Senator Serrano, that completes the reading of today's calendar.
SENATOR SERRANO:Thank you, Mr. President.
Can we go back to motions, please.
On page 38 I offer the following amendments to Calendar 1155, Print Number 7288, and I ask that said bill retain its place on Third Reading Calendar.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:The amendments are received, and the bill will retain its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
Senator Serrano.
SENATOR SERRANO:Is there any further business at the desk?
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:There is no further business at the desk.
SENATOR SERRANO:I move to adjourn until Monday, June 9th, at 3:00 p.m., with the intervening days being legislative days.
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:On motion, the Senate stands adjourned until Monday, June 9th, at 3:00 p.m., with the intervening days being legislative.
(Whereupon, at 12:54 p.m., the Senate adjourned.)
Highest impact first.
Require AI Content Labels
Ban Harmful Food Additives
Require Pay and Benefits Disclosure
Fund Overdose Prevention Services
Protect Co-op Residents' Rights
Limit Defaulted Loan Collections
State Approves Hospital Operators
Expand Olympic Trails Access