4633
1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
2
3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
5
6
7
8
9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 May 18, 2026
11 11:36 a.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
4634
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: In the
9 absence of clergy, let us bow our heads in a
10 moment of silent reflection or prayer.
11 (Whereupon, the assemblage respected
12 a moment of silence.)
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Reading of
14 the Journal.
15 THE SECRETARY: In Senate, Friday,
16 May 15, 2026, the Senate met pursuant to
17 adjournment. The Journal of Thursday, May 14,
18 2026, was read and approved. On motion, the
19 Senate adjourned.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Without
21 objection, the Journal stands approved as read.
22 Presentation of petitions.
23 Messages from the Assembly.
24 Messages from the Governor.
25 Reports of standing committees.
4635
1 Reports of select committees.
2 Communications and reports from
3 state officers.
4 Motions and resolutions.
5 Senator Gianaris.
6 SENATOR GIANARIS: Good morning,
7 Madam President.
8 On behalf of Senator Salazar, I wish
9 to call up Senate Print 2666A, recalled from the
10 Assembly, which is now at the desk.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
12 Secretary will read.
13 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
14 597, Senate Print 2666A, by Senator Salazar, an
15 act to amend the Correction Law.
16 SENATOR GIANARIS: Move to
17 reconsider the vote by which this bill was
18 passed.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
20 Secretary will call the roll on reconsideration.
21 (The Secretary called the roll.)
22 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 51.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
24 is restored to its place on the Third Reading
25 Calendar.
4636
1 SENATOR GIANARIS: I offer the
2 following amendments.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
4 amendments are received.
5 SENATOR GIANARIS: I also have
6 amendments to the following Third Reading
7 Calendar bills:
8 By Senator Stavisky, page 16,
9 Calendar 551, Senate Print 7482C;
10 By Senator Martinez, page 20,
11 Calendar 670, Senate Print 9409.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
13 amendments are received, and the bills will
14 retain their place on the Third Reading Calendar.
15 Senator Gianaris.
16 SENATOR GIANARIS: There will be an
17 immediate meeting of the Rules Committee in
18 Room 332. The Senate stands at ease.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: There will
20 be an immediate meeting of the Rules Committee in
21 Room 332, and the Senate will stand at ease.
22 (Whereupon, the Senate stood at ease
23 at 11:38 a.m.)
24 (Whereupon, the Senate reconvened at
25 11:44 a.m.)
4637
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The Senate
2 will return to order.
3 Senator Gianaris.
4 SENATOR GIANARIS: Madam President,
5 there's a report of the Rules Committee at the
6 desk. Please take that up.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
8 Secretary will read.
9 THE SECRETARY: Senator
10 Stewart-Cousins, from the Committee on Rules,
11 reports the following bill:
12 Senate Print 10520, by
13 Senator Serrano, an act making appropriations for
14 the support of government.
15 The bill reports direct to third
16 reading.
17 SENATOR GIANARIS: I move to accept
18 the report of the Rules Committee.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: All those
20 in favor of accepting the report of the
21 Rules Committee please signify by saying aye.
22 (Response of "Aye.")
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Opposed,
24 nay.
25 (Response of "Nay.")
4638
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The report
2 of the Rules Committee is accepted.
3 Senator Gianaris.
4 SENATOR GIANARIS: Please take up
5 the supplemental calendar.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
7 Secretary will read.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 1123, Senate Print 10520, by Senator Serrano, an
10 act making appropriations for the support of
11 government.
12 SENATOR GIANARIS: Is there a
13 message of necessity and appropriation at the
14 desk?
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: There is a
16 message of necessity and appropriation at the
17 desk.
18 SENATOR GIANARIS: I move to accept
19 the message.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: All those
21 in favor of accepting the message please signify
22 by saying aye.
23 (Response of "Aye.")
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Opposed,
25 nay.
4639
1 (Response of "Nay.")
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
3 message is accepted, and the bill is before the
4 house.
5 SENATOR LANZA: Lay it aside.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
7 is laid aside.
8 Senator Gianaris, that completes the
9 reading of the supplemental calendar.
10 SENATOR GIANARIS: Madam President,
11 we're going to stand at ease momentarily while we
12 await the Senators who will be debating the bill.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The Senate
14 will stand at ease.
15 (Whereupon, the Senate stood at ease
16 at 11:45 a.m.)
17 (Whereupon, the Senate reconvened at
18 11:46 a.m.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
20 Gianaris.
21 SENATOR GIANARIS: Madam President,
22 let's take up the controversial supplemental
23 calendar, please.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
25 Secretary will ring the bell.
4640
1 The Secretary will read.
2 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3 1123, Senate Print 10520, by Senator Serrano, an
4 act making appropriations for the support of
5 government.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
7 O'Mara, why do you rise?
8 SENATOR O'MARA: Good morning,
9 Madam President.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Good
11 morning.
12 SENATOR O'MARA: I was wondering if
13 the sponsor of this budget extender is willing to
14 answer a few questions.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
16 Serrano, do you yield?
17 SENATOR SERRANO: Yes.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
19 Senator yields.
20 SENATOR O'MARA: Senator, it's
21 Monday morning, just before noon. Can you tell
22 us where we are in the status of closing down
23 this budget and actually getting budget bills to
24 vote on?
25 SENATOR SERRANO: Through you,
4641
1 Madam President. Thank you for that question,
2 Senator O'Mara.
3 It certainly is Monday morning, and
4 I'm very happy to report that this is our
5 13th extender. But I do feel that we are closer
6 than we've ever been to getting this budget
7 completed.
8 We certainly are in the final stages
9 of putting all the things together. But
10 certainly this extender before us allows for the
11 continuation of state government and for certain
12 payments that are due, and ensures that we can
13 have a functioning government.
14 SENATOR O'MARA: Thank you.
15 Madam President, will the Senator
16 continue to yield?
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Do you
18 continue to yield?
19 SENATOR SERRANO: Yes.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
21 Senator yields.
22 SENATOR O'MARA: Senator, this
23 extender brings us an additional $8 billion in
24 spending, approximately, a total of nearly
25 $32 billion in total of extenders, which takes us
4642
1 over 15 percent of last year's entire budget.
2 So I think it's important that we
3 get this budget done and wrapped up.
4 But a couple of the particulars on
5 this extender. It has in there $5.9 million for
6 school aid, to district payments. Can you tell
7 us how much so far the total paid out to school
8 districts during this budget extension period has
9 been?
10 SENATOR SERRANO: Through you,
11 Madam President. Senator O'Mara, approximately
12 $8.2 billion has been paid out.
13 SENATOR O'MARA: Through you,
14 Madam President, if the Senator will continue to
15 yield.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Do you
17 continue to yield?
18 SENATOR SERRANO: Yes.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
20 Senator yields.
21 SENATOR O'MARA: So as we all know,
22 school budgets are being voted on tomorrow.
23 Do you have any further information
24 for us on what our school districts can expect
25 and what they're going to receive in this year's
4643
1 budget if and when it ever gets finalized?
2 SENATOR SERRANO: Through you,
3 Madam President. Certainly empathize with the
4 school districts throughout the state who are
5 probably concerned that we don't have a budget
6 yet.
7 But the Executive Budget did
8 highlight a certain amount for school aid. Our
9 Senate one-house built upon that by a certain
10 percentage. Those are good guides.
11 And a contingency budget or a
12 contingency plan by school districts I think
13 would probably be in order until we have a final
14 enacted budget.
15 SENATOR O'MARA: Thank you.
16 Through you, Madam President, if the
17 Senator will continue to yield.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Do you
19 continue to yield?
20 SENATOR SERRANO: Yup.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
22 Senator yields.
23 SENATOR O'MARA: Senator, this
24 extender, in addition to that 5.9 million in
25 additional school aid distributions, has a
4644
1 payment of 4.8 million in particular to the
2 Yonkers City School District.
3 Is that included in that
4 5.9 million? And if not, what is that for?
5 SENATOR SERRANO: Through you,
6 Madam President. It's a separate number. It's a
7 spin-up, as has been done in prior years.
8 These payments really are contingent
9 upon the timing of them, and that is why this is
10 in this particular extender.
11 But beyond that, this is -- this
12 extender is what is known as a clean extender
13 without a whole lot of extra stuff in it.
14 SENATOR O'MARA: Through you,
15 Madam President, if the Senator will continue to
16 yield.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Do you
18 continue to yield?
19 SENATOR SERRANO: Yes.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
21 Senator yields.
22 SENATOR O'MARA: Senator, I just
23 don't recall whether the prior extenders had had
24 a separate line in them for Yonkers, and if so,
25 how much.
4645
1 And can you explain what you mean by
2 a spin-up?
3 (Pause.)
4 SENATOR SERRANO: Through you,
5 Madam President.
6 By "spin-up" it means advance of
7 payment. This is something that has been done in
8 prior years, it's been done for different school
9 districts throughout the state. So certainly
10 there is precedent for it.
11 But again, because we do not have a
12 final enacted budget at this time, and that these
13 payments are critical and due, it is necessary
14 for it to be in this extender.
15 SENATOR O'MARA: Thank you,
16 Senator.
17 Madam President, if the Senator will
18 continue to yield.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Do you
20 continue to yield?
21 SENATOR SERRANO: Yup.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
23 Senator yields.
24 SENATOR O'MARA: Senator, can you
25 tell us what the remaining issues are in this
4646
1 budget that have yet to be closed out?
2 SENATOR SERRANO: Through you,
3 Madam President. As has been widely reported,
4 there are a number of different issues that we
5 are in the process of closing down.
6 And I think all interested parties
7 have been working very diligently, and staffs
8 have been doing an amazing job on pulling
9 together all the numbers and making sure the math
10 adds up.
11 And I think the issues that sort of
12 have prevented us from finalizing this budget
13 have been resolved more and more. And I feel
14 very confident that in the next few days we will
15 see resolution and get us closer to printing of
16 bills, the final nine bills that we will need to
17 enact this budget.
18 SENATOR O'MARA: Thank you,
19 Senator.
20 Madam President, if the Senator will
21 continue to yield.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Do you
23 continue to yield?
24 SENATOR SERRANO: Yes.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
4647
1 Senator yields.
2 SENATOR O'MARA: As you stated, we
3 have nine budget bills to do. When do you expect
4 the first of those to be in print?
5 SENATOR SERRANO: Through you,
6 Madam President. It's difficult to say. I do
7 not want to speculate.
8 I do believe that it will be sooner
9 rather than later. We certainly need to get this
10 done. I share your frustration and everyone's
11 frustration with the lateness of this budget.
12 However, in a state like New York
13 with such a large, complex set of issues to be
14 dealt with and the many different regions and --
15 we -- it is far more important to have a good
16 budget than an on-time budget, although deadlines
17 do matter.
18 But I think the process has been I
19 think a result of a very thoughtful and
20 comprehensive approach to this budget. So I feel
21 that in the next few days we will have some sort
22 of indication of when we will begin to close all
23 this down.
24 SENATOR O'MARA: Thank you,
25 Senator.
4648
1 Madam President, if the Senator will
2 continue to yield.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Do you
4 continue to yield?
5 SENATOR SERRANO: Yes.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
7 Senator yields.
8 SENATOR O'MARA: Senator, I agree
9 with you that this is a large state. It's
10 certainly a very large-spending state. And the
11 budget is complicated. But it's complicated
12 every year. And April 1st comes on April 1st
13 every year. We know when that's coming.
14 And the fact that just I believe
15 it's dysfunctional that we're not able to wrap
16 this up by April 1st every year, and now we're
17 seven weeks late coming into this.
18 Can you tell us, Senator, why does
19 this extender only go until Wednesday, only for
20 two days?
21 SENATOR SERRANO: Through you,
22 Madam President. The timing of the extenders and
23 the length of time which they cover is -- it
24 depends on what we're given. This isn't
25 something that we dictate, this is what we were
4649
1 given.
2 And they vary. Sometimes they go
3 for more days or for less. But this is what we
4 have before us.
5 SENATOR O'MARA: Thank you,
6 Senator.
7 Madam President, if the Senator will
8 continue to yield.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Do you
10 continue to yield?
11 SENATOR SERRANO: Yes.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
13 Senator yields.
14 SENATOR O'MARA: Senator, one of
15 the issues I think that's still considered to be
16 outstanding is the -- any changes, if any, to the
17 Tier 6 retirement system. It's been at least
18 reported and estimated that there's going to be a
19 cost of $500 million to that.
20 Can you tell us what changes are
21 going to be made in this final Tier 6 bill? And
22 is that $500 million a cost to the state or a
23 cost to the state and the local governments that
24 share in the retirement contributions?
25 SENATOR SERRANO: Through you,
4650
1 Madam President. I cannot speculate on any final
2 deals when it comes to that issue. Without
3 budget language in front of me to review, it's
4 hard to know exactly what those details will be.
5 So I certainly don't want to speculate.
6 SENATOR O'MARA: Thank you.
7 Madam President, if there's any
8 Senator that knows where the Tier 6 issue and
9 would be happy to answer a question, I'd be happy
10 to ask them.
11 SENATOR SERRANO: Through you,
12 Madam President. The bill before us does not
13 deal with that.
14 We are voting on an extender which
15 will ensure -- we should do it within the next
16 few minutes -- will ensure that we can meet
17 payroll, will ensure that we can pay for certain
18 things that we are obligated to do so.
19 And it will ensure that we have a
20 functioning state government until we have a
21 final enacted budget.
22 SENATOR O'MARA: Thank you.
23 Madam President, if the Senator will
24 continue to yield.
25 And I'll take that answer as nobody
4651
1 else here knows where we stand on that issue.
2 Senator, is there any Senator
3 present in the Majority that knows where we stand
4 on any of the major policy issues that have been
5 outstanding -- the Tier 6, the pied-à-terre tax,
6 other benefits for -- added benefits for New York
7 City, other issues that are outstanding? Can
8 anybody tell us where any of those issues stand?
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
10 O'Mara, Senator Serrano is the sponsor of the
11 bill and he's designated to respond to the
12 questions.
13 SENATOR O'MARA: Madam President,
14 I'm asking if any other Senator here knows the
15 answers to those questions.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Yes, I
17 understand. But you're asking the sponsor of the
18 bill, Senator Serrano. So I'm just suggesting
19 that he is the one who's responsible.
20 SENATOR O'MARA: I am really asking
21 the Senate Majority if anybody here has
22 information on where we stand on these budget
23 items.
24 SENATOR SERRANO: Madam President,
25 if I could respond.
4652
1 Certainly those discussions would
2 not be germane to the bill before us. We have a
3 bill that we need to either pass or not pass.
4 But it is -- certainly the issues on which you're
5 looking for answers is not part of this extender
6 bill, and it's not germane to the conversation
7 right now.
8 SENATOR O'MARA: Through you,
9 Madam President. Well, I certainly respectfully
10 disagree that those questions are not relevant to
11 this extender, since this extender is the budget
12 and those issues are budget discussions.
13 But I realize I'm not going to get
14 an answer to those questions, as I haven't to any
15 of other prior 12 extenders that we've done here,
16 to inform New Yorkers where we stand on this.
17 If the Senator will continue to
18 yield.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Do you
20 continue to yield?
21 SENATOR SERRANO: Yes.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Yes, the
23 Senator yields.
24 SENATOR O'MARA: Senator, with
25 regards to the discussions around the
4653
1 pied-à-terre tax that's been discussed for
2 second homes in New York City, can you tell us
3 where that stands as the discussions for
4 expanding that to the entire state?
5 SENATOR SERRANO: Through you,
6 Madam President, I cannot. I do not have any
7 additional information on where we stand on that.
8 And until we have final budget
9 language, it's hard to speculate.
10 SENATOR O'MARA: Through you,
11 Madam President, if the Senator will continue to
12 yield.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Do you
14 continue to yield?
15 SENATOR SERRANO: Yes.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Yes, the
17 Senator yields.
18 SENATOR O'MARA: Senator, what is
19 the total amount of this budget that is being
20 considered? We've heard 268 billion. Do we have
21 a -- is that figure nailed down, or is that still
22 moving?
23 SENATOR SERRANO: Through you,
24 Madam President. Until we see the final budget,
25 it's hard to know what that number will be. It
4654
1 is probably not a fixed number at this point, but
2 we'll be able to see that as soon as we close
3 everything down.
4 SENATOR O'MARA: Thank you.
5 Madam President, if the Senator will
6 continue to yield.
7 SENATOR SERRANO: Yes.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Do you
9 continue to yield?
10 Yes, the Senator yields.
11 SENATOR O'MARA: Senator, is there
12 a schedule for the joint budget conference
13 committees to meet?
14 SENATOR SERRANO: Through you,
15 Madam President, no.
16 SENATOR O'MARA: Thank you,
17 Senator.
18 Madam President, on the bill.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
20 O'Mara on the bill.
21 SENATOR O'MARA: Here we are
22 rushing to pass another budget extender by noon
23 so that certain obligations can be met. No more
24 answers today than we've had in the prior
25 12 budget extenders.
4655
1 You know, people around my district
2 want to know where the budget stands, why it's
3 not being done, what issues are outstanding, what
4 issues have been agreed to.
5 And frankly, they deserve to know.
6 All New Yorkers deserve to know what is being
7 negotiated in this budget, because there's little
8 to no information coming from this
9 Senate Majority in these prior -- in these
10 13 budget extenders that we're on now. It is --
11 it's not good government. We need to be doing
12 better for the people of New York.
13 And the people of New York should
14 have the opportunity to know what's in this
15 budget so that they can weigh in with us to tell
16 us what they think about it, tell us where we
17 should stand on this budget, as we are their
18 representatives. And leaving them in the dark --
19 certainly many of these issues I've asked about
20 have got to be wrapped up, I would assume, or
21 close thereto.
22 I don't see why the public can't be
23 engaged in this conversation that is going on
24 behind closed doors with three people in a room.
25 Thank you, Madam President.
4656
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you.
2 Are there any other Senators wishing
3 to be heard?
4 Seeing and hearing none, debate is
5 closed.
6 Senator Gianaris.
7 SENATOR GIANARIS: Madam President,
8 we've agreed to restore this bill to the
9 noncontroversial calendar.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
11 has been restored to the noncontroversial
12 calendar.
13 Read the last section.
14 THE SECRETARY: Section 17. This
15 act shall take effect immediately.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
17 roll.
18 (The Secretary called the roll.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
20 the results.
21 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
22 Calendar 1123, voting in the negative are
23 Senators Rhoads and Weik.
24 Ayes, 57. Nays, 2.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
4657
1 is passed.
2 Senator Gianaris.
3 SENATOR GIANARIS: Madam President,
4 now let's move on to take up some resolutions.
5 We'll begin with previously adopted
6 Resolution 1948, by Senator Hinchey. Please read
7 that resolution's title and call on
8 Senator Hinchey.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
10 Secretary will read.
11 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 1948, by
12 Senator Hinchey, commending New York State 4-H
13 upon the occasion of hosting its 91st Annual
14 Capital Days on May 17-19, 2026.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
16 Hinchey on the resolution.
17 SENATOR HINCHEY: Thank you,
18 Madam President.
19 I rise today to celebrate the
20 leadership of New York's 4-H students. Today we
21 are honored to welcome 51 4-H delegates to the
22 Capitol. They have traveled from 23 counties
23 across our state for the 91st Annual 4-H
24 Capital Days conference.
25 For nearly a century, 4-H students
4658
1 have chosen to step out of the classroom and into
2 the halls of government, taking it upon
3 themselves to advocate for the issues they care
4 about most.
5 When I meet 4-H'ers out in my
6 district, including at the fairgrounds in Ulster,
7 Columbia, Dutchess and Greene counties, I'm
8 consistently struck by their sense of curiosity
9 and motivation to improve the world around them.
10 Whether they are learning about the
11 latest in agritech, animal science, horticulture
12 or sustainable farming it practices, these
13 delegates are gaining the knowledge and hands-on
14 skills that will help shape the future.
15 Just as importantly, they are
16 developing the critical thinking and innovation
17 needed for the next generation to carry this and
18 many other vital industries forward.
19 4-H'ers are four times more likely
20 to give back to their communities, four times
21 more likely to feel a sense of inner confidence,
22 and two times more likely to hold leadership
23 positions.
24 And thanks to the incredible
25 4-H educators at CCE, the impact of this program
4659
1 is statewide. 4-H'ers can be found everywhere
2 from New York City to the Mid-Hudson Valley to
3 the Capital Region and Western New York.
4 To all of our 4-H students, I urge
5 you to continue challenging the status quo,
6 widening your perspective, and stepping boldly
7 into the leadership that we need today.
8 I'm excited to welcome a few of
9 these student leaders here, including a 4-H'er
10 from Hillsdale, in my Senate district, Nathan.
11 All of these students were selected to serve on
12 the Teen Planning Committee during this year's
13 4-H conference.
14 Students -- Nathan, you can stand.
15 I'll call you, too, but you should stand.
16 (Laughter.)
17 SENATOR HINCHEY: Celes Paratore.
18 Lili Ruepp. Nathan Foster, from Hillsdale.
19 Ashley Niefergold. Emerson Swimelar. Sophie
20 Townsend. And Emma Copeland.
21 And Chaperones Rebecca
22 Ireland-Perry, chair of the Capital Days
23 Conference; Adam Davis, extension support
24 specialist at Cornell University, leader of the
25 Teen Planning Committee for the conference; and
4660
1 Tammi Kron, 4-H livestock educator for
2 Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County,
3 leader of the Teen Planning Committee for the
4 conference.
5 We appreciate all of you so much for
6 being here, for your leadership, and for taking
7 on all of the challenges that we see today.
8 Having you and all of your fellow 4-H'ers
9 stepping forward into the spotlight, making sure
10 that we actually have young people who are
11 engaged in this moment is so critical, and for
12 that we thank you.
13 I think there's at least another
14 conversation on the reso, but after that,
15 Madam Speaker, I'd love for you to offer them the
16 cordialities of the chamber.
17 Thank you.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Yes, we
19 will.
20 Senator Borrello on the resolution.
21 SENATOR BORRELLO: Thank you,
22 Madam President.
23 I want to echo the sentiments of our
24 chairwoman of Agriculture and welcome you all to
25 the chamber and to Albany.
4661
1 Ninety-one years of advocacy, of
2 engagement -- this is what 4-H is all about. I
3 know everyone thinks of 4-H as an agricultural
4 organization, but it is a leadership
5 organization, building the leaders of tomorrow
6 here in Albany and across New York State.
7 Thank you for doing this, for
8 understanding and engaging. What you do is
9 important, and it matters.
10 For those of you that are here to
11 chaperone them, to guide them, thank you also.
12 Besides food, we're growing leaders here in
13 New York State.
14 So thank you very much. God bless
15 you for being here.
16 And again, Madam President, please
17 welcome them.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you,
19 Senator Borrello.
20 Senator Helming on the resolution.
21 SENATOR HELMING: Thank you,
22 Madam President.
23 I rise today to support this
24 resolution and to recognize the positive impact
25 that 4-H continues to have on young people across
4662
1 our entire state.
2 I also want to offer a special
3 acknowledgment to the 4-H members who are here
4 from my district, from Ontario County and from
5 Wayne County. Thank you so much for being here
6 and for the great work you do representing our
7 community so well.
8 Your hard work, your dedication, and
9 your willingness to get involved are exactly what
10 make programs like 4-H so important.
11 And to the leaders who are here, I
12 want to also thank you for making these
13 opportunities available. You invest so much
14 time, energy -- and I know from some of you, even
15 your own financial resources -- to create these
16 wonderful opportunities for our next generation
17 of leaders.
18 So to everyone involved with 4-H, to
19 CCE, thank you.
20 I proudly vote yes on this reso.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you,
22 Senator Helming.
23 To our guests from 4-H and your
24 leadership, we welcome you to the Senate. We
25 thank you for your presence here today. We
4663
1 extend privileges and cordialities of the house
2 to you.
3 Please rise and be recognized.
4 (Standing ovation.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
6 Gianaris.
7 SENATOR GIANARIS: Let's now move
8 on to previously adopted Resolution 2054, by
9 Senator Mattera, read that resolution's title and
10 call on Senator Mattera.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
12 previous resolution was adopted on April 28th.
13 The Secretary will read.
14 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 2054, by
15 Senator Mattera, memorializing Governor Kathy
16 Hochul to proclaim May 18, 2026, as
17 Italian American Day in the State of New York.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
19 Mattera on the resolution.
20 SENATOR MATTERA: Thank you,
21 Madam President. This is a very, very special
22 day.
23 Buongiorno a tutti!
24 I would also like to first
25 acknowledge and thank our president of the
4664
1 Italian American Conference, Assemblyman Angelo
2 "Judge" Morinello.
3 And thank you to all the staff and
4 the Senate and the Assembly members for all the
5 hard work to make sure this is a very, very
6 special day, especially to be an Italian
7 American.
8 As the proud vice president of the
9 New York Conference of Italian American
10 Legislators, it is truly an honor to stand before
11 this body today as we formally recognize and
12 celebrate Italian American Day in the State of
13 New York.
14 Today is about heritage. It is
15 about sacrifice. It is about resilience. And it
16 is about recognizing the extraordinary impact
17 Italian Americans have had on the State of
18 New York and on the United States of America.
19 There are more than 3 million proud
20 Italian Americans living in New York State today.
21 Their families and ancestors help build this
22 state and this nation. Italian Americans were
23 instrumental in building New York City into the
24 greatest city in the world, from bridges to
25 tunnels to subways to roads, to skyscrapers and
4665
1 infrastructure, and to define our skyline.
2 Italian laborers and tradesmen
3 physically built this city and New York State
4 with their bare hands, blood, sweat and tears.
5 They worked dangerous jobs. They endured
6 discrimination. They were often treated
7 terribly. And for many years they did not
8 receive the respect they deserved.
9 The history is personal for me. My
10 grandfather, Mario Lanza Mattera, came to America
11 from Naples when he was just only 16 years old,
12 frightened. For most of my life I believed his
13 name was changed at Ellis Island because someone
14 misspelled it. But the truth is much more
15 painful.
16 My uncle Louie told me the story at
17 the Vets -- this is at the Vets Home at
18 Stony Brook. He changed his name because he
19 could not get a job. He changed his name to
20 Mario Maters. Which, believe it or not, my uncle
21 still has the last name Maters. It got changed
22 in the '40s, and they didn't change it back
23 because there was too much problems.
24 My grandfather survived. He worked
25 hard, raised a family and owned two restaurants,
4666
1 one in Manhattan and one in Island Park. Which
2 our great Congressman D'Amato used to go there
3 all the time.
4 Changed his name back to Mario Lanza
5 Mattera in the '40s. That is the reality many
6 Italian immigrants faced when they came to this
7 country legally and in search of opportunity and
8 a better life for their families.
9 Yet despite those hardships, they
10 persevered. They built businesses, they built
11 neighborhoods, they built churches, they built
12 unions. They survived in our military -- excuse
13 me, they served in our military. They protected
14 our communities as police officers and
15 firefighters, and became elected officials. And
16 then they helped shape the economy and culture --
17 the backbone of New York State.
18 Today Italian Americans are leaders
19 in every field imaginable: Public service,
20 business, law enforcement, labor, education,
21 sports, healthcare, construction, entertainment,
22 and charity organizations.
23 Their achievements serve as a
24 powerful reminder of the importance of honoring
25 those who paved a way for future generations.
4667
1 This proclamation also aligns with
2 Italy's national holiday, Festa della Repubblica
3 Italiana, commemorating the historic day the
4 Italian people voted to establish a democratic
5 republic.
6 That shared milestone gives us an
7 opportunity to celebrate our heritage both here
8 in New York and abroad.
9 As somebody deeply proud of my
10 Italian roots, I am mindful every day that I
11 stand on the shoulders of those who came before
12 me. And I am honored to help preserve their
13 enduring legacy, especially keeping Columbus Day
14 as Columbus Day only, an Italian American
15 holiday.
16 In that spirit, the New York State
17 Conference of Italian American Legislators is
18 proud to recognize several exceptional Italian
19 American New Yorkers, whose leadership and
20 dedication continue to inspire future
21 generations, and who are up in the gallery here
22 today.
23 New York Islander Kyle Palmieri.
24 Mark Coppola.
25 John Durso, a great union leader and
4668
1 friend, who protects the hardworking men and
2 women of labor every day.
3 Dean Tamburri.
4 Former Assemblyman Mike DenDekker.
5 Former Assemblyman and current
6 Congressman Andrew Garbarino, who is doing a
7 great job down in D.C.
8 Additionally, our Legislative
9 Honorees this year are our brother, our colleague
10 George Borrello -- no round of applause for that?
11 I'm sorry. I knowing you're going to get that.
12 I know you're going to get that -- and
13 Assembly Minority Leader Ed Ra.
14 Congratulations, Leader Ra, who also
15 proudly serves as the treasurer of the
16 conference.
17 Each of these individuals have made
18 a significant impact on our state and
19 communities.
20 I would also like to recognize the
21 distinguished guests joining us up here today.
22 The man that has been a mentor to
23 me, always works with everybody, cares about
24 everybody: Robert Fonti, president of the
25 Italian American Action Committee and liaison to
4669
1 the New York State Order of Sons & Daughters of
2 Italy in America.
3 Anthony Bonomo Jr., vice president
4 of the Italian American Action Committee.
5 Anthony Marotta, vice president of
6 the Italian American Action Committee.
7 Dr. Joseph Scelsa, president and
8 founder of the New York City Italian American
9 Museum in Little Italy in Manhattan.
10 Marc Talluto, member of the Italian
11 American Culture Museum in Albany, and
12 honorary chairman of the Italian American Action
13 Committee.
14 Laura Marotta, Venezuelan ambassador
15 to the Italian American Action Committee.
16 And Antonio "Nino" Vendome,
17 executive board member of the Italian American
18 Action Committee.
19 We thank all of you for your
20 dedication in preserving and promoting Italian
21 American culture, history, and community.
22 Today, as we celebrate Italian
23 American Day and Independence Day, we are
24 reminded that New York's strength comes from
25 diversity. Every culture, every neighborhood,
4670
1 every family story -- especially at dinnertime,
2 because no one can get a word in otherwise. But
3 we have such great, interesting conversation.
4 Every immigrant journey. And, of
5 course, Italian recipes. We love to eat.
6 Everybody loves Italian food.
7 Together, Italian Americans helped
8 build the greatest state, the greatest nation in
9 the world. And it is only through the same
10 shared commitment, unity, and hard work that we
11 will continue to thrive for generations to come.
12 I ask all of my colleagues today to
13 join me in celebrating Italian American Day and
14 honoring the countless contributions
15 Italian Americans have made to our state and
16 nation.
17 Please join us at the Well for the
18 Mulberry Street Fair, and especially Festa
19 tonight.
20 God bless all Italian Americans.
21 God bless Italy. And especially, God bless the
22 United States of America.
23 Grazie! Cent'anni! Which means a
24 hundred years.
25 Oh, Mr. President, please welcome to
4671
1 our chamber all our friends and to extend all
2 courtesies of the house, and to our honored
3 guests, and to say thank you so much for coming
4 up here and spending this special day with us.
5 Thank you.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
7 you, Senator Mattera.
8 At the appropriate time, because you
9 have such a popular resolution so many other
10 members want to speak on it.
11 Senator Chan on the resolution.
12 SENATOR CHAN: Thank you,
13 Mr. President.
14 I rise today with a speech much
15 shorter and sweeter than Senator Mattera's --
16 (Laughter.)
17 SENATOR CHAN: -- like a cannoli.
18 I am from Bensonhurst. My
19 neighbors are Italian. I rise to recognize some
20 of my closest friends and neighbors for the
21 better half of the last five decades. People
22 that I grew up with. People that -- that I love.
23 And I'm here to give thanks to the
24 people that welcome all the other communities to
25 their neighborhood with their hearts, their open
4672
1 arms, their compassion and kindness through all
2 these decades.
3 It has been a pleasure for me to
4 live intimately with my Italian friends and
5 neighbors, who I consider to be my family.
6 And from Pavarotti to Bocelli, from
7 Verdi to Venuto -- and I'm talking about
8 Angelo Venuto, the Italian Neil Diamond, right --
9 from the barometer to the telescope, the piano,
10 the espresso machine, Italian contributions to
11 mankind are endless and precious.
12 Oh, yeah, wait (indicating).
13 Pellegrino. Yeah.
14 (Laughter.)
15 SENATOR CHAN: Let us not forget
16 the famous Dyker Lights, which my house is a part
17 of every year.
18 Let us not forget the Santo Rosalia
19 Feast on 18th Avenue enjoyed by everyone across
20 the boroughs, and everyone loves it.
21 And all the famous local dishes. A
22 couple of shout outs to some local places.
23 We have Spumoni Gardens. We have
24 Villabate Bakery, Il Colosseo Restaurant,
25 Ciccio's Pizza, La Bella Market, Lioni's Italian
4673
1 Heroes, John's Deli, J&B, DJ Ross.
2 St. Athanasius Roman Catholic
3 Church. St. Dominic's Roman Catholic Church.
4 Our Lady of Guadalupe Roman Catholic Church.
5 Regina Pacis. St. Finbar. All local
6 neighborhood beloved places.
7 It's just an amazing neighborhood
8 where we all thrived together, and I lived side
9 by side with the Italians.
10 And today -- today is your day.
11 Your day. I stand to recognize you.
12 It's amore. Grazie!
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
14 you, Senator Chan.
15 Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick on the
16 resolution.
17 SENATOR CANZONERI-FITZPATRICK:
18 Thank you, Mr. President.
19 I too want to thank our honored
20 guests for being here.
21 I'm very proud of my Italian
22 heritage. Why else would I have a horrendously
23 long hyphenated name unless I wanted to make sure
24 that people knew that my maiden name was
25 Canzoneri.
4674
1 Anthony Canzoneri, my grandfather,
2 came from a town in Sicily, Prizzi, and was the
3 first merchant in my hometown of Malverne. He
4 was a shoemaker, who never had more than a first
5 or second grade education, yet came to this
6 country for the opportunities that it had, worked
7 hard, raised a family. All three of his sons
8 went to college, much beyond the education that
9 he had.
10 His bride, my grandmother, Sophie
11 Canzoneri, also came from that same hometown in
12 Prizzi, Sicily. And I'm very proud of what they
13 accomplished by coming to this country.
14 It is a great day to celebrate our
15 Italian heritage. People that work hard, that
16 are based in faith, family, and of course our
17 good food, as our colleagues have discussed.
18 So thank you, Senator Mattera, for
19 your leadership, for making sure that we all know
20 that our Italian heritage is important and
21 something we should celebrate.
22 I proudly vote aye.
23 Thank you, Mr. President.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
25 you, Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick.
4675
1 Senator Weber on the resolution.
2 SENATOR WEBER: Thank you,
3 Mr. President.
4 And I want to thank Senator Mattera
5 for this very important resolution.
6 And I also want to just highlight
7 the great work that the Italian American
8 Legislators do in providing scholarship
9 opportunities to students.
10 And we were lucky enough to have
11 Silvana Botta, who is I know here in the Capitol.
12 She may be walking over in a minute. She was one
13 of the honorees that got a scholarship this year.
14 I just want to tell everyone a
15 little bit about Silvana Botta. She's a
16 17-year-old senior at Clarkstown North High
17 School. She's a second-generation college
18 student. Her paternal grandparents emigrated to
19 the United States from Italy in the 1970s. Her
20 mother's grandparents emigrated to the U.S. from
21 Italy in the 1950s.
22 She has a 98.6 grade-point average,
23 scored a 1420 on the SATs, and scored a 4 or 5 on
24 all of her AP exams. Really a highly educated
25 and really committed young student.
4676
1 She'll be attending Lehigh
2 University this coming fall. She has a twin
3 brother, and she highlighted that she's
4 one minute younger than her twin brother. But
5 they're both going to college this year.
6 And it's an honor to really
7 recognize her great academic achievements. She
8 also was involved in sports extracurricular
9 activities, volunteer opportunities as well, and
10 was employed during her time in high school as
11 well.
12 She's going to college to become a
13 doctor, so she's looking to major in biology and
14 attend medical school when she graduates.
15 I wanted to just recognize her great
16 achievement as part of Italian American Day here
17 today in the Capitol.
18 And when ready, if we can
19 acknowledge her and give her all the cordialities
20 of the house as well.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
22 you, Senator Weber.
23 Senator Mayer on the resolution.
24 SENATOR MAYER: Thank you,
25 Mr. President.
4677
1 You know, it's interesting, so many
2 of my colleagues who have spoken are from the
3 suburbs of New York City. And for all of us, and
4 particularly for Westchester, where about
5 30 percent of the population is Italian American,
6 we need to stand and salute Italian American Day
7 and make sure that our Italian American friends
8 and neighbors recognize how much we value their
9 contributions -- extraordinary hard work,
10 building businesses, contributing to our
11 communities.
12 Obviously they're keeping their
13 culture alive, their language alive for the next
14 generation and, most importantly to many of us,
15 the food alive and keeping the recipes alive.
16 In Yonkers itself, which about
17 10 percent of the population is Italian American;
18 New Rochelle, which I represent, with
19 Senator Fernandez, about 13 percent -- and the
20 Town of Harrison, 30 percent. So I have to try
21 to improve my Italian and eat more and drink more
22 when I am there, which I try to do.
23 But today we are recognizing the
24 contributions of this community. And about
25 two weeks ago, the leader and I were celebrating
4678
1 at the Enrico Fermi Scholarship Breakfast in
2 Yonkers, recognizing extraordinary students of
3 Italian American heritage who receive a
4 scholarship. And this is a long-lasting
5 not-for-profit that recognizes the importance of
6 keeping culture and language alive in the next
7 generation.
8 So I'm so pleased that we're
9 recognizing this day. And to our guests, I look
10 forward to you welcoming them. Let us all
11 acknowledge the extraordinary contributions of
12 the Italian American community to our communities
13 and to New York State as a whole.
14 Thank you. I vote aye.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
16 you, Senator Mayer.
17 Senator Scarcella-Spanton on the
18 resolution.
19 SENATOR SCARCELLA-SPANTON: Thank
20 you, Mr. President.
21 And thank you, Senator Mattera, for
22 this resolution.
23 I said I had to stand up as a fellow
24 very-long-last-name-hyphenated Senator, of
25 course. I thank my dad for that.
4679
1 But my dad, Mike Scarcella, is from
2 Hazleton, Pennsylvania. And I know Senator Mayer
3 also has family from Hazleton, Pennsylvania,
4 which makes the world very, very small.
5 But his grandparents, Oronzo and
6 Josephine, came to Hazleton and opened a store on
7 Carson Street and were known for having the best
8 sausage in all of Pennsylvania.
9 So they came to New York -- well, to
10 Pennsylvania probably in the 1800s. But they
11 carried on that tradition.
12 And one of my favorite events every
13 year up here in Albany is the Festa that
14 everyone's going to be at tonight. It reminds me
15 so much of growing up, going to visit my dad's
16 family in Pennsylvania. Every year they have the
17 street procession down the local road. They had
18 a big festival. It was such a beautiful time.
19 So whenever I go in the evening, it just reminds
20 me of my family and growing up.
21 And of course Staten Island is home
22 to so many Staten Islanders -- and parts of my
23 district in Southern Brooklyn, but I think
24 Senator Chan has a good chunk of those now.
25 But truly it is an honor to be a
4680
1 Italian American. I am very proud. And I thank
2 my dad, Mike Scarcella, for that honor.
3 So thank you, and happy Italian
4 Heritage Day.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
6 you, Senator Scarcella-Spanton.
7 Senator Fernandez on the resolution.
8 SENATOR FERNANDEZ: Thank you,
9 Mr. President.
10 I'd be remiss if the Bronx didn't
11 stand up for Italy and the Italian heritage that
12 contributed to our great borough.
13 Believe it or not, the real
14 Little Italy is in the Bronx, on Arthur Avenue.
15 If anybody tells you different, you're wrong.
16 (Laughter.)
17 SENATOR FERNANDEZ: But we have
18 such a great love for the Italian Americans in
19 the Bronx. We thank you so much for the
20 contributions.
21 I've been fortunate enough to visit
22 the beautiful country of Italy, and I highly
23 recommend you visit Lake Como.
24 But thank you for the amazing
25 contributions of the Italian Americans for the
4681
1 Bronx, for New York State, and I'm proud to vote
2 on this resolution too.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
4 you, Senator Fernandez.
5 Senator Palumbo on the resolution.
6 SENATOR PALUMBO: Thank you,
7 Mr. President.
8 I rise as well just to briefly --
9 (baby fussing in gallery). See, someone's a
10 proud Italian American baby, I think, some
11 comments.
12 (Laughter.)
13 SENATOR PALUMBO: But
14 congratulations and welcome to our distinguished
15 guests.
16 And when you look on Long Island and
17 you look at our elected officials, we have a huge
18 swath, if not a supermajority, of elected
19 officials in all offices, at all levels, whose
20 names end in a vowel.
21 My grandparents -- I'm actually only
22 half-Italian, being revealed today. But my
23 grandparents met on this side. My grandfather
24 was actually Palomba from Piano di Sorrento. My
25 grandmother came from a little town outside of
4682
1 Naples called Portici. And they met here. And
2 my grandfather wasn't naturalized until he was in
3 his forties, actually.
4 And they were proud Americans.
5 Italian American heritage, but they would not
6 allow the kids -- my father was one of seven.
7 They weren't allowed to speak Italian outside of
8 the house because they were so proud of this
9 country and what they could do for it and what
10 they did do for it.
11 I'm the first elected official in
12 the family and fortunately, a few years ago, was
13 able to get dual citizenship as an
14 Italian American. And my daughter as well, who's
15 now minoring in Italian in college. And my son's
16 also taking some courses.
17 So I'm proud to stand here as an
18 Italian American, congratulate our friends.
19 Salute! I'm working on my Italian, so pretty
20 soon I'll be as fluent as Senator Griffo.
21 (Laughter.)
22 SENATOR PALUMBO: But I proudly
23 vote aye, and thank you for coming.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you.
25 Senator Weik on the resolution.
4683
1 SENATOR WEIK: Thank you,
2 Madam President.
3 And in honor of Italian American
4 Day, I'll say that I am .02 percent Italian,
5 which I think equates to probably we inhaled some
6 wonderful aromas of Italian food on our way from
7 Germany to America.
8 But I'm still not going to deny that
9 portion of my heritage, and I want to say
10 thank you to everyone for supporting our
11 community.
12 I do represent an enormous amount of
13 Italian Americans, including an enormous
14 population in Massapequa. And I would be remiss
15 if I didn't mention how many people really truly
16 take time to celebrate their Italian American
17 heritage.
18 And I want to thank you so much for
19 all of your support and all the work that you do.
20 Thank you.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you,
22 Senator Weik.
23 Senator Murray on the resolution.
24 SENATOR MURRAY: Thank you,
25 Madam President.
4684
1 I too want to thank Senator Mattera
2 for all of his hard work, and thank our friends
3 for coming to celebrate today, and thank the
4 Italian Americans for everything they've
5 contributed to this wonderful country and
6 bringing such a great rich heritage here.
7 I was honored this year by the Sons
8 of Italy as one of their honorees. And I'd like
9 to remind Senator Palumbo here that he mentioned
10 that their names all end in a vowel, so I'll
11 leave you with this: A, E, I, O, U -- and
12 sometimes Y.
13 I vote aye.
14 (Laughter.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you,
16 Senator Murray.
17 Senator Bailey on the resolution.
18 SENATOR BAILEY: Senator Murray
19 stole my complete thunder. I was going to go
20 with the "sometimes Y."
21 (Laughter.)
22 SENATOR BAILEY: But sometimes,
23 times like this in this chamber is when we can
24 look on things from a bipartisan lens and just
25 respect and appreciate culture. Not sometimes,
4685
1 but always.
2 And while my ancestry DNA has
3 0.0 percent Italian blood in my veins, culturally
4 I love my Italian American brothers and sisters.
5 I truly appreciate all of your contributions to
6 so many cultural endeavors that you've provided,
7 not limited to but including food and culture and
8 music and all of the wonderful things.
9 But I wanted to thank two important
10 Italian Americans in my life. My former
11 principal at P.S. 83, Ronald Imundi. Ron Imundi
12 is now with CSA. He's sometime retired. And him
13 and his wife Janice are really amazing people.
14 And when I was in school in P.S. 83 -- I only
15 spent kindergarten through fourth grade -- I
16 remember his outsized impact in making sure that
17 everybody was treated equally. I remember Ron as
18 a -- as a fourth-grader, I remember him as an
19 adult running for office. And he's an incredible
20 man.
21 And I want to thank now -- may he
22 rest in peace -- Judge Anthony Mercorella.
23 Anthony Mercorella was a former Assemblymember
24 and then he become a judge, and he was also
25 somebody that I looked to for advice at times in
4686
1 my life, like deciding to go to law school.
2 So I want to thank them and all of
3 the incredible Italian Americans -- and the
4 Senate's own George Borrello, congratulations on
5 your award -- and everybody that has contributed
6 to our culture. These cultural celebrations are
7 critically important.
8 I am proud to vote aye.
9 Thank you, Madam President.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you.
11 Senator Martins on the resolution.
12 SENATOR MARTINS: Thank you,
13 Madam President.
14 I rise to support the resolution as
15 well because I agree with all of my colleagues.
16 Today and every day, we are all partially
17 Italian. At least in part, we have been
18 influenced by the Italian culture. And if we
19 consider world history, there is probably no
20 other country in the world or culture in the
21 world that has contributed more to civilization
22 and world history than the Italians. Whether
23 it's linguistics, whether it is science, whether
24 it's the arts, we all have a part of that culture
25 with us each and every day.
4687
1 And then we can talk about the great
2 Italian explorers -- Christopher Columbus,
3 Amerigo Vespucci, for which America was named,
4 and we can celebrate that heroism and that
5 culture as well.
6 And then talk about our local
7 Italian American communities right here who have
8 built our communities and made us who we are
9 today. We can talk about their contributions not
10 only to American life, New York life, but to each
11 and every one of our villages and towns.
12 So, Madam President, I am proud to
13 stand with my colleagues today to recognize our
14 honorees and our honored guests who are here, to
15 thank Senator Mattera for the resolution, and I
16 vote aye.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you.
18 Senator Rhoads on the resolution.
19 SENATOR RHOADS: Thank you,
20 Madam President.
21 I myself am half-Italian, my
22 grandmother coming from Naples and my grandfather
23 coming from Bari.
24 But my wife is 100 percent
25 Italian -- so if I did not get up to speak on
4688
1 this resolution, it would be a tough day at home.
2 Many people celebrate St. Patrick's Day. In our
3 household we also celebrate St. Joseph's Day on
4 the 19th.
5 But I want to thank our honorees
6 today for your tremendous leadership and for your
7 celebration of Italian history and culture, which
8 has had such tremendous influence on everything
9 that is America.
10 And to our guests, again, thank you.
11 To Senator Mattera, thank you for bringing this
12 resolution. And I'm looking forward to the
13 celebration tonight.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you.
15 To our guests who are here for
16 Italian American Day and all the festivities that
17 go with it, we welcome you on behalf of the
18 Senate. We extend to you the privileges and
19 cordialities of the house.
20 Thank you for rising, and thank you
21 for being recognized. And thank you for your
22 sign.
23 (Standing ovation.)
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
25 resolution was previously adopted on May 12th.
4689
1 Senator Gianaris.
2 SENATOR GIANARIS: Thank you,
3 Madam President.
4 I want to assure the mother of the
5 beautiful baby in our gallery that she not feel
6 bad; I often cry when Senator Palumbo speaks.
7 (Laughter.)
8 SENATOR GIANARIS: Please recognize
9 Senator Serrano for an introduction.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
11 Serrano for an introduction.
12 SENATOR SERRANO: Thank you,
13 Madam President, for hearing me on this
14 introduction.
15 Visiting the chamber today I would
16 like to introduce and welcome six young members
17 of the fencing team at the Rosalyn Yalow Charter
18 School in the South Bronx. They are also joined
19 by their parents, some school administrators, and
20 two coaches.
21 As chair of the committee on
22 Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation,
23 which also encompasses sports development, I am
24 really excited to learn about their fencing team.
25 If one might question, What does
4690
1 fencing have to do with the South Bronx --
2 indeed, Daryl Homer, from Gun Hill Road in the
3 South Bronx, won the Silver Medal in the
4 2016 Olympics in Rio, for fencing. So we do have
5 a precedent of amazing fencing athletes from the
6 Bronx.
7 I would like to thank these young
8 students and fencing stars for being with us
9 today and for traveling all the way from the
10 Bronx to be with us here in Albany. I would like
11 to welcome you to this chamber and offer all the
12 cordialities of the house.
13 Thank you.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you,
15 Senator Serrano.
16 To our guests from the Rosalyn Yalow
17 Fencing Team, we welcome you to the Senate. We
18 extend to you the privileges and courtesies of
19 the house.
20 Thank you for being here, with your
21 beautiful uniforms on. Thank you.
22 (Standing ovation.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
24 Gianaris.
25 SENATOR GIANARIS: Now let's take
4691
1 up previously adopted Resolution 1620, by
2 Senator Weber, have its title read and call on
3 Senator Weber, please.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
5 Secretary will read.
6 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 1620, by
7 Senator Weber, mourning the death of Denis
8 Michael Troy, distinguished public servant,
9 devoted family man, and tireless advocate for the
10 Orangetown community.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
12 Weber on the resolution.
13 SENATOR WEBER: Thank you,
14 Madam President, for allowing me to speak today
15 on this very personal and important resolution.
16 So I rise today to remember a truly
17 remarkable man, Denis Michael Troy, who recently
18 passed away at the age of 78.
19 To many of us, Denis was quite
20 simply Mr. Pearl River, a larger-than-life man
21 who had the same and the unique ability to make
22 everyone feel important, heard, and loved.
23 Before moving to Rockland, Denis was
24 born in the Fordham section of the Bronx, to
25 Catherine and Peter Troy.
4692
1 He graduated from St. Nicholas of
2 Tolentine High School and eventually Manhattan
3 College, where he earned his degree in
4 mathematics. In fact, he started out his career
5 teaching Math and driver education before moving
6 into the technology field, working at AT&T,
7 Lucent, and IBM.
8 But his true calling was public
9 service. For more than three decades, Denis
10 served the people of Rockland County with
11 distinction as a country legislator, Orangetown
12 councilman, and deputy town supervisor in
13 Orangetown.
14 He loved Peal River, and I could
15 attest to that. I had an event one time up in
16 Montebello, where I live, and he thought it was
17 like traveling halfway around the world, coming
18 out of Pearl River.
19 But it was important for him to
20 really keep those bonds together. He spent
21 countless hours personally improving the
22 community in a lasting way for future
23 generations.
24 His greatest joy, however, was his
25 family, who are here today. He shared 54 loving
4693
1 years with his wife, Bea, and his children are
2 here as well. They met at a school dance, right,
3 in the Bronx, and they were together and in love
4 for 54 years.
5 Together they raised four children
6 and were blessed with nine grandchildren, all of
7 whom were the center of his world.
8 A proud member of the AOH, Denis
9 lived by its motto: Friendship, unity, and
10 Christian charity. Those principles defined his
11 life.
12 Rockland County is better and
13 stronger because Denis Troy walked among us and
14 inspired many to run for office, including
15 myself.
16 May we honor his memory not only
17 with his words, but by following his examples --
18 showing up for our neighbors, serving our
19 communities, and treating one another with
20 kindness and dignity.
21 I just want to read into the record
22 the family members that are here today. I
23 mentioned Bea Troy, his wife, is here. Patrick
24 Troy, Valerie Troy, Denis Troy, Colin Troy,
25 Michael Rogers, Mike Troy, Jen Troy, Dan Troy,
4694
1 Christian Troy, Maddy Troy, Brendan Troy,
2 Kieran Troy, Kathleen Mayer, Glenn Mayer,
3 Sera Mayer, and Reilly Mayer.
4 Thank you for all coming today to
5 the chamber here in the Capitol. I know your
6 dad, grandfather, would be proud of all of you
7 for being here today.
8 God bless you, Denis. To a life
9 well-served. You'll be missed beyond measure.
10 And I say rest in peace, my eternal friend.
11 Madam President, will you please
12 extend all the courtesies of the house to
13 Denis Troy's extended family that are here today.
14 Thank you.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you,
16 Senator Weber.
17 To the family of Denis Michael Troy,
18 and particularly to Bea Troy, to all the children
19 and grandchildren, we're proud to have you here
20 today to honor the legacy of your father and
21 grandfather and your husband. We acknowledge
22 what Senator Weber has read into the record about
23 his extraordinary contributions.
24 Please rise and be recognized.
25 (Standing ovation.)
4695
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
2 resolution was previously adopted on
3 February 25th.
4 Senator Gianaris.
5 SENATOR GIANARIS: The sponsors of
6 today's resolutions would like to open them for
7 cosponsorship.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
9 resolutions are open for cosponsorship. Should
10 you choose not to be a cosponsor, please notify
11 the desk.
12 Senator Gianaris.
13 SENATOR GIANARIS: Please take up
14 the calendar.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
16 Secretary will read.
17 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
18 147, Senate Print 7328B, by Senator Hinchey, an
19 act to amend the Public Service Law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
21 last section.
22 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
23 act shall take effect immediately.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
25 roll.
4696
1 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
3 the results.
4 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
5 Calendar 147, voting in the negative are
6 Senators Helming, Lanza, Stec and Weik.
7 Ayes, 55. Nays, 4.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 589, Senate Print 561A, by Senator Krueger, an
12 act to amend the Administrative Code of the City
13 of New York.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
15 last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
17 act shall take effect on the 30th day after it
18 shall have become a law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
20 roll.
21 (The Secretary called the roll.)
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
23 the results.
24 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
25 Calendar 589, voting in the negative are
4697
1 Senators Borrello and Walczyk.
2 Ayes, 57. Nays, 2.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
4 is passed.
5 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
6 622, Senate Print 6389, by Senator Harckham, an
7 act directing the commissioner of Corrections and
8 Community Supervision to study gender disparity
9 in resources.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
11 last section.
12 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
13 act shall take effect immediately.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
15 roll.
16 (The Secretary called the roll.)
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
18 the results.
19 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
20 Calendar 622, voting in the negative are
21 Senators Ortt and Walczyk.
22 Ayes, 57. Nays, 2.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
24 is passed.
25 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
4698
1 627, Senate Print 120B, by Senator Cleare, an act
2 to amend the Public Service Law.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
4 last section.
5 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
6 act shall take effect immediately.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
8 roll.
9 (The Secretary called the roll.)
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
11 Oberacker to explain his vote.
12 SENATOR OBERACKER: Thank you,
13 Madam President.
14 You know, it's imperative that we
15 look to protect the ratepayer. They feel like
16 they're under attack. And anything that we can
17 do, anything that we can do that will bring light
18 to this and protect and defend not only my
19 constituents, but those ratepayers here in
20 New York, is imperative and necessary.
21 And I would like to thank our
22 Senator for bringing this bill to the floor. It
23 makes sense. Thank you, and I proudly vote aye.
24 Thank you.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
4699
1 Oberacker to be recorded in the affirmative.
2 Announce the results.
3 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
4 Calendar 627, voting in the negative are
5 Senators Griffo, Helming, Martins, O'Mara,
6 Walczyk and Weik.
7 Ayes, 53. Nays, 6.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 663, Senate Print 4325A, by Senator Rhoads, an
12 act authorizing the County of Nassau assessor to
13 accept an application for a real property tax
14 exemption.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
16 last section.
17 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
18 act shall take effect immediately.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
20 roll.
21 (The Secretary called the roll.)
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
23 the results.
24 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
25 Calendar 663, voting in the negative are
4700
1 Senators Fahy, O'Mara and Skoufis.
2 Ayes, 56. Nays, 3.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
4 is passed.
5 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
6 762, Senate Print 7316, by Senator Hinchey, an
7 act to amend the General Municipal Law.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
9 last section.
10 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
11 act shall take effect immediately.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
13 roll.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
16 the results.
17 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
19 is passed.
20 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
21 800, Senate Print 2453, by Senator Gianaris, an
22 act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
24 last section.
25 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
4701
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 800, voting in the negative are
9 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
10 Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martins,
11 Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
12 Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk,
13 Weber and Weik.
14 Ayes, 37. Nays, 22.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
16 is passed.
17 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
18 803, Senate Print 9632, by Senator Bailey, an act
19 to amend the Criminal Procedure Law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
21 last section.
22 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
23 act shall take effect immediately.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
25 roll.
4702
1 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
3 Bailey to explain his vote.
4 SENATOR BAILEY: Thank you,
5 Madam President.
6 Marley stands tough. Notice that my
7 colleagues, they have their hands up. I'm hoping
8 that that can change, Madam President, because
9 this bill is about creative expression and the
10 First Amendment.
11 I'm hoping to change the hearts and
12 minds because we know that Bob Marley didn't
13 shoot the sheriff. We know that Johnny Cash
14 didn't shoot a man in Reno. Jazmine Sullivan
15 didn't bust the windows out the car, and
16 Carrie Underwood didn't do all of those things.
17 But yet in hip-hop music, as said by
18 the great Governor Wes Moore, as the bill was
19 signed in Maryland just last week, since the
20 1980s 820 criminal cases have been brought up
21 with hip-hop. And since the 1950s,
22 Madam President, four have come up with other
23 genres.
24 This is simply about the freedom of
25 expression. So why do I bring this up year after
4703
1 year? Well, Maryland signed it into law. And I
2 wanted to bring up HB 475 in the liberal hotbed
3 State of Louisiana, Madam President, with a
4 veto-proof Republican majority in both chambers,
5 they passed this bill into law in 2023.
6 Because it is about freedom of
7 speech. It's not about rap music. Although rap
8 is treated disproportionately when it comes to
9 these criminal cases, it is about freedom of
10 expression.
11 This bill does not bar rap lyrics
12 from entering court, or any musical lyrics from
13 entering court. You just have to prove that this
14 has a factual nexus to what you're trying to
15 prove. You can't just bring it into court and
16 say that because someone said a lyric, that they
17 have the propensity or that they committed this
18 offense.
19 How many of us in this chamber have
20 used colloquialisms such as "you killed it," "you
21 knocked it out the park," "you nailed it." I
22 dare to venture that none of us have actually
23 killed anybody, knocked anybody out the park, or
24 nailed anyone. Yet we are allowed to use those
25 colloquialisms in our private speech. Why should
4704
1 it be any different for musical artists --
2 specifically a hip-hop artist?
3 California has done it. Maryland's
4 done it. We were the first to introduce it. But
5 Louisiana has done it. I'm hopeful that we get a
6 chance to do it this legislative session, that
7 the Governor will sign it into law if we can get
8 it passed.
9 And I want to give a shout out to
10 Kevin Liles, a Baltimore, Maryland, native
11 himself, who's been instrumental in the
12 protecting Black art movement. And I want to
13 give him a shout out on the floor, and I'm
14 hopeful that we can see this law so that we can
15 protect our art.
16 I vote aye, Madam President.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
18 Bailey to be recorded in the affirmative.
19 Announce the results.
20 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
21 Calendar 803, voting in the negative are
22 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
23 Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martinez,
24 Martins, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara,
25 Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk,
4705
1 Weber and Weik.
2 Ayes, 37. Nays, 22.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
4 is passed.
5 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
6 850, Senate Print 7335, by Senator Martinez, an
7 act to amend the Real Property Tax Law.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
9 last section.
10 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
11 act shall take effect immediately.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
13 roll.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
16 the results.
17 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
19 is passed.
20 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
21 896, Senate Print 9908A, by Senator Bottcher, an
22 act to amend the Emergency Tenant Protection Act
23 of 1974.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
25 last section.
4706
1 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
2 act shall take effect immediately.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
4 roll.
5 (The Secretary called the roll.)
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
7 the results.
8 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
9 Calendar 896, voting in the negative are
10 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
11 Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Martins,
12 Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
13 Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk,
14 Weber and Weik.
15 Ayes, 38. Nays, 21.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
17 is passed.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
19 898, Senate Print 4780, by Senator Skoufis, an
20 act to amend the General Municipal Law.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
22 last section.
23 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
24 act shall take effect on the 60th day after it
25 shall have become a law.
4707
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 898, voting in the negative are
8 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
9 Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Martins, Mattera,
10 Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads,
11 Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
12 Ayes, 39. Nays, 20.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
14 is passed.
15 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
16 901, Senate Print 9197, by Senator Griffo, an act
17 to incorporate the New Hartford Volunteer Exempt
18 Firefighters' Benevolent Association.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
20 last section.
21 THE SECRETARY: Section 8. This
22 act shall take effect immediately.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
24 roll.
25 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4708
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
2 the results.
3 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
5 is passed.
6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
7 915, Senate Print 9788, by Senator Sepúlveda, an
8 act to amend the Civil Practice Law and Rules.
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 915, voting in the negative are
20 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
21 Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Martins,
22 Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
23 Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
24 Ayes, 40. Nays, 19.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
4709
1 is passed.
2 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3 954, Senate Print 10042, by Senator May, an act
4 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: Ayes, 59.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
16 is passed.
17 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
18 959, Senate Print 10047, by Senator Bynoe, an act
19 to amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
21 last section.
22 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
23 act shall take effect immediately.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
25 roll.
4710
1 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
3 the results.
4 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
6 is passed.
7 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
8 989, Senate Print 3247, by Senator Cooney, an act
9 to amend the Public Authorities Law.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
11 last section.
12 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
13 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
14 same manner as Chapter 618 of the Laws of 2024.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
16 roll.
17 (The Secretary called the roll.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
19 the results.
20 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
21 Calendar 989, voting in the negative are
22 Senators O'Mara, Ortt and Walczyk.
23 Ayes, 56. Nays, 3.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
25 is passed.
4711
1 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
2 1011, Senate Print 5989A, by Senator Bynoe, an
3 act to amend the Education Law.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
5 last section.
6 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
7 act shall take effect on the 120th day after it
8 shall have become a law.
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: Ayes, 59.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
16 is passed.
17 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
18 1035, Senate Print 182, by Senator Persaud, an
19 act to amend the Social Services Law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
21 last section.
22 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
23 act shall take effect immediately.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
25 roll.
4712
1 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
3 the results.
4 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
6 is passed.
7 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
8 1036, Senate Print 360, by Senator Rivera, an act
9 to amend the Public Health Law.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
11 last section.
12 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
13 act shall take effect immediately.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
15 roll.
16 (The Secretary called the roll.)
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
18 the results.
19 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
20 Calendar 1036, voting in the negative are
21 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
22 Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Mattera,
23 Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads,
24 Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk and Weik.
25 Ayes, 40. Nays, 19.
4713
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
2 is passed.
3 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
4 1037, Senate Print 429, by Senator Salazar, an
5 act to amend the Executive Law.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
7 last section.
8 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
9 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
10 shall have become a law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
12 roll.
13 (The Secretary called the roll.)
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
15 the results.
16 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
17 Calendar 1037, voting in the negative are
18 Senators Borrello, Oberacker, and Walczyk.
19 Ayes, 56. Nays, 3.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
21 is passed.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23 1040, Senate Print 1067A, by Senator Serrano, an
24 act to amend the Parks, Recreation and Historic
25 Preservation Law.
4714
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
2 last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
4 act shall take effect on the 120th day after it
5 shall have become a law.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
7 roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
10 the results.
11 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
13 is passed.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
15 1043, Senate Print 1849A, by Senator Mayer, an
16 act to amend the Judiciary Law.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
18 last section.
19 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
20 act shall take effect two years after it shall
21 have become a law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
23 roll.
24 (The Secretary called the roll.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
4715
1 the results.
2 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
3 Calendar 1043, voting in the negative are
4 Senators Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan,
5 Gallivan, Griffo, Oberacker, Stec, Tedisco,
6 Walczyk and Weik.
7 Ayes, 49. Nays, 10.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 1045, Senate Print 2126, by Senator Jackson, an
12 act to amend the Education Law.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
14 last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
16 act shall take effect immediately.
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 1045, voting in the negative are
24 Senators Lanza and Walczyk.
25 Ayes, 57. Nays, 2.
4716
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
2 is passed.
3 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
4 1047, Senate Print 2470, by Senator Parker, an
5 act to amend the Real Property Tax Law.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
7 last section.
8 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
9 act shall take effect immediately.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
11 roll.
12 (The Secretary called the roll.)
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
14 the results.
15 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
16 Calendar 1047, voting in the negative are
17 Senators Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan,
18 Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martins, Mattera, Murray,
19 O'Mara, Ortt, Rhoads, Skoufis, Walczyk and Weik.
20 Ayes, 44. Nays, 15.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
22 is passed.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24 1048, Senate Print 2602, by Senator Addabbo, an
25 act to amend the Executive Law.
4717
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
2 last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
4 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
5 shall have become a law.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
7 roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
10 Borrello to explain his vote.
11 SENATOR BORRELLO: Thank you,
12 Madam President.
13 First of all, I want to thank
14 Senator Addabbo for sponsoring this bill. I'm
15 proud to be a cosponsor. I think now more than
16 ever, this is important.
17 We have sovereign Nations within our
18 state, and not only do they represent themselves
19 and thousands of other members, but they also
20 stand for a lot of things that end up benefiting
21 other communities.
22 One of those examples is the
23 compact, the Seneca Nation compact, which is now
24 I believe three years in arrears. So now more
25 than ever, it's time for the Legislature to step
4718
1 in and become part of the conversation so that
2 our sovereign Nations throughout New York State
3 can be treated fairly and equitably.
4 So I proudly vote aye.
5 Thank you.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
7 Borrello to be recorded in the affirmative.
8 Announce the results.
9 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
11 is passed.
12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
13 1049, Senate Print 4042A, by Senator Harckham, an
14 act to amend the Civil Rights Law and the
15 Public Buildings Law.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
17 last section.
18 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
19 act shall take effect immediately.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
21 roll.
22 (The Secretary called the roll.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
24 Harckham to explain his vote.
25 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Thank you very
4719
1 much, Madam President.
2 You know, one of the rites of
3 session every day is hundreds if not thousands of
4 our constituents come to the Capitol, come to the
5 Legislative Office Building to lobby us
6 personally, whether it be for budgetary items or
7 legislative items.
8 And yet many of our constituents are
9 not able to make it up here. And they're not
10 able to make it here because our travel
11 facilities, the Thruway, this building, the
12 Capitol, the Legislative Office Building don't
13 have adult sanitary changing stations so that
14 persons with disabilities, traumatic brain
15 injuries, veterans with injuries, and others are
16 unable to travel more than a two-hour radius.
17 And further, they can't enjoy just
18 the multitude of amazing amenities that New York
19 State has to offer, whether it's Broadway,
20 whether it's our state parks, whether it's
21 concert venues, sporting facilities.
22 So the traveling with Dignity Act
23 will require that public facilities install
24 appropriate sanitary facilities or adult changing
25 stations for persons with disabilities so that
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1 they can travel beyond more than a two-hour
2 radius, which is about the amount of time that
3 folks have between service, as the advocates have
4 reported it to us.
5 So this is not covered in the
6 Americans with Disabilities Act, so therefore
7 this is the kind of thing that we at the state
8 level need to address.
9 I want to thank colleagues for past
10 support on this bill.
11 I want to thank all my dear friends
12 at CP Unlimited of the Hudson Valley, who first
13 brought this to my attention and who advocated so
14 hard for this bill under the leadership of
15 Penny-Lynn Pagliaro, just a remarkable and
16 inspirational group of folks.
17 So thank you, Madam President.
18 Thank you to colleagues for their support.
19 And I'll be voting aye.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
21 Harckham to be recorded in the affirmative.
22 Announce the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
24 Calendar 1049, voting in the negative:
25 Senator Walczyk.
4721
1 Ayes, 58. Nays, 1.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 1078, Senate Print 9516, by Senator Kavanagh, an
6 act to amend the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
8 last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
10 act shall take effect immediately.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
12 roll.
13 (The Secretary called the roll.)
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
15 the results.
16 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
17 Calendar 1078, voting in the negative are
18 Senators Walczyk and Martinez.
19 Ayes, 57. Nays, 2.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
21 is passed.
22 Senator Gianaris, that completes the
23 reading of today's calendar.
24 SENATOR GIANARIS: I want to remind
25 my Majority colleagues we will be having
4722
1 conference immediately following session.
2 With that, is there any further
3 business at the desk?
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: There is
5 no further business at the desk.
6 SENATOR GIANARIS: I move to
7 adjourn until tomorrow, Tuesday, May 19th, at
8 3:00 p.m.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: On motion,
10 the Senate stands adjourned until Tuesday,
11 May 19th, at 3:00 p.m.
12 (Whereupon, at 1:00 p.m., the Senate
13 adjourned.)
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