6367
1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
2
3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
5
6
7
8
9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 June 1, 2026
11 2:02 p.m.
12
13
14 REGULAR SESSION
15
16
17
18 SENATOR JAMAAL T. BAILEY, Acting President
19 ALEJANDRA N. PAULINO, ESQ., Secretary
20
21
22
23
24
25
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1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
3 Senate will come to order.
4 I ask everyone present to please
5 rise and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
6 (Whereupon, the assemblage recited
7 the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: 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 BAILEY: Reading
14 of the Journal.
15 THE SECRETARY: In Senate, Sunday,
16 May 31, 2026, the Senate met pursuant to
17 adjournment. The Journal of Saturday, May 30,
18 2026, was read and approved. On motion, the
19 Senate adjourned.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Without
21 objection, the Journal stands approved as read.
22 Presentation of petitions.
23 Messages from the Assembly.
24 Messages from the Governor.
25 Excuse me, the Secretary will read.
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1 THE SECRETARY: Senator Skoufis
2 moves to discharge, from the Committee on
3 Corporations, Authorities and Commissions,
4 Assembly Bill Number 173A and substitute it for
5 the identical Senate Bill 6165A, Third Reading
6 Calendar 323.
7 Senator Rivera moves to discharge,
8 from the Committee on Health, Assembly Bill
9 Number 755B and substitute it for the identical
10 Senate Bill 5056B, Third Reading Calendar 558.
11 Senator Stec moves to discharge,
12 from the Committee on Investigations and
13 Government Operations, Assembly Bill Number 9334A
14 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill
15 8588A, Third Reading Calendar 714.
16 Senator Sepúlveda moves to
17 discharge, from the Committee on Finance,
18 Assembly Bill Number 4603A and substitute it for
19 the identical Senate Bill 5037A, Third Reading
20 Calendar 847.
21 Senator Skoufis moves to discharge,
22 from the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security
23 and Military Affairs, Assembly Bill Number 3450A
24 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill
25 3194A, Third Reading Calendar 1159.
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1 Senator Persaud moves to discharge,
2 from the Committee on Women's Issues,
3 Assembly Bill Number 10045 and substitute it for
4 the identical Senate Bill 8894, Third Reading
5 Calendar 1321.
6 Senator Fernandez moves to
7 discharge, from the Committee on Elections,
8 Assembly Bill Number 8388 and substitute it for
9 the identical Senate Bill 1809, Third Reading
10 Calendar 1348.
11 Senator Comrie moves to discharge,
12 from the Committee on Energy and
13 Telecommunications, Assembly Bill Number 1012A
14 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill
15 5189, Third Reading Calendar 1357.
16 Senator Bailey moves to discharge,
17 from the Committee on Insurance, Assembly Bill
18 Number 6561B and substitute it for the identical
19 Senate Bill 6551A, Third Reading Calendar 1362.
20 Senator Mattera moves to discharge,
21 from the Committee on Investigations and
22 Government Operations, Assembly Bill Number 7839A
23 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill
24 7605A, Third Reading Calendar 1368.
25 Senator Weber moves to discharge,
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1 from the Committee on Labor, Assembly Bill
2 Number 10162 and substitute it for the identical
3 Senate Bill 9058, Third Reading Calendar 1393.
4 Senator Ramos moves to discharge,
5 from the Committee on Labor, Assembly Bill Number
6 10365 and substitute it for the identical Senate
7 Bill 9330, Third Reading Calendar 1403.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: So
9 ordered.
10 Messages from the Governor.
11 Reports of standing committees.
12 Reports of select committees.
13 Communications and reports from
14 state officers.
15 Motions and resolutions.
16 The man of the hour: Senator
17 Gianaris.
18 SENATOR GIANARIS: Good afternoon,
19 Mr. President.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Good
21 afternoon.
22 SENATOR GIANARIS: Let's begin with
23 some motions.
24 I wish to call up the following
25 bills, which were recalled from the Assembly and
6372
1 are now at the desk: Senate Bill 3852B and
2 Senate Bill 1463A.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
4 amendments are received, and the bills will
5 retain their place on the Third Reading Calendar.
6 Excuse me one second.
7 The Secretary will read.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 102, Senate Print 3852B, by Senator Hinchey, an
10 act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
11 Calendar Number 644, Senate Print
12 1463A, by Senator Kavanagh, an act to amend the
13 Environmental Conservation Law.
14 SENATOR GIANARIS: I move to
15 reconsider the votes by which these bills were
16 passed.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
18 roll on reconsideration.
19 (The Secretary called the roll.)
20 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: These
22 bills are restored to their place on the
23 Third Reading Calendar.
24 SENATOR GIANARIS: I offer the
25 following amendments.
6373
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
2 amendments are received.
3 SENATOR GIANARIS: I also have
4 amendments to the following Third Reading
5 Calendar bills:
6 By Senator Martinez, page 4,
7 Calendar 181, Senate Print 194C;
8 Senator Baskin, page 7, Calendar
9 362, Senate Print 9057;
10 Senator Webb, page 30, Calendar
11 1094, Senate Print 6230B;
12 Senator May, page 54, Calendar 1401,
13 Senate Print 9305;
14 Senator Skoufis, page 55, Calendar
15 1408, Senate Print 9541;
16 And Senator Fahy, page 40, Calendar
17 1228, Senate Print 9468.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: These
19 amendments are received, and these bills will
20 retain their place on the Third Reading Calendar.
21 Senator Gianaris.
22 SENATOR GIANARIS: Please call on
23 Senator Lanza for a motion.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
25 Lanza.
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1 SENATOR LANZA: Thank you,
2 Mr. President.
3 I wish to call up my bill,
4 Senate Print Number 5900, recalled from the
5 Assembly, which is now at the desk.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
7 Secretary will read.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 872, Senate Print 5900, by Senator Lanza, an act
10 to amend the Mental Hygiene Law.
11 SENATOR LANZA: I now move to
12 reconsider the vote by which the bill was
13 passed.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
15 roll on reconsideration.
16 (The Secretary called the roll.)
17 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
19 is restored to its place on the Third Reading
20 Calendar.
21 SENATOR LANZA: I now offer the
22 following amendments.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
24 amendments are received.
25 Senator Gianaris.
6375
1 SENATOR GIANARIS: Now,
2 Mr. President, let's take up privileged
3 Resolution 2318, by Leader Stewart-Cousins, read
4 it in its entirety --
5 (Laughter.)
6 UNIDENTIFIED SENATOR: Slowly.
7 SENATOR GIANARIS: -- very slowly,
8 and recognize first Senator Myrie to speak on the
9 resolution.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: There is
11 a privileged resolution at the desk.
12 The Secretary will read.
13 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 2318, by
14 Senator Stewart-Cousins, celebrating
15 Senator Michael N. Gianaris upon the occasion of
16 his designation as the recipient of the
17 President Pro Tempore and Senate Majority
18 Leader's Legislative Legacy Award.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
20 Myrie --
21 SENATOR LANZA: Lay it aside.
22 (Extended laughter.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
24 Lanza, in its entirety. You may wish to
25 interject.
6376
1 THE SECRETARY: "WHEREAS, It is the
2 sense of this Legislative Body to recognize those
3 esteemed public servants whose careers have been
4 marked by an abiding dedication to justice,
5 fairness, and the betterment of their
6 communities; among them stands Senator Michael N.
7 Gianaris, a public servant whose presence did far
8 more than fill a seat, and who has left an
9 indelible impact on the very character of the
10 institution he helped lead; and
11 "WHEREAS, Senator Gianaris was born
12 and raised in Astoria, Queens, the proud son of
13 Greek immigrants whose values of hard work and
14 civic responsibility shaped his life's calling;
15 he graduated summa cum laude from
16 Fordham University and earned his Juris Doctor
17 from Harvard Law School, preparing him for a long
18 and accomplished career in public service; and
19 "WHEREAS, Before his election to
20 public office, he built a distinguished record of
21 public service through multiple roles across
22 government, serving as an aide to Congressman
23 Thomas Manton, as Queens Regional Representative
24 to Governor Mario Cuomo, and as a counsel to the
25 Speaker of the New York State Assembly; and
6377
1 "WHEREAS, In 2000, he was elected to
2 the New York State Assembly, becoming the first
3 Greek-American ever elected to public office from
4 New York City, a milestone that reflects both his
5 heritage and the deep trust placed in him by the
6 communities he has long served; in the Assembly,
7 he championed consumer protection, environmental
8 protection, government reform, and public safety;
9 and
10 "WHEREAS, Senator Gianaris was
11 elected to the New York State Senate in 2010 to
12 represent the 12th Senate District, which
13 includes the Queens neighborhoods of Long Island
14 City, Sunnyside, Astoria and parts of other
15 neighborhoods in Western Queens; during his
16 16-year tenure, he became one of the most
17 influential voices in the chamber, rising to
18 Deputy Majority Leader upon appointment by
19 Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and
20 building an impressive legislative record defined
21 by meaningful protections and bold reforms
22 grounded in justice, fairness, and
23 accountability; and
24 "WHEREAS, A leading champion for
25 tenants and housing justice, he helped pass the
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1 2019 rent reforms with the HSTPA, authored the
2 Housing Our Neighbors With Dignity Act to
3 convert distressed properties into supportive
4 housing, and helped usher in Good Cause Eviction
5 protections; he worked to transform New York's
6 criminal justice system by writing legislation to
7 eliminate cash bail, creating an Innocence
8 Commission, and advancing reforms to 'ban
9 discriminatory citizens' arrests and protect
10 habeas corpus rights'; he spearheaded sweeping
11 election reforms to strengthen access and
12 participation in the electoral process, including
13 expanding voter registration, enacting early
14 voting and vote by mail, championing automatic
15 voter registration, consolidating primaries, and
16 advancing redistricting reforms to ensure fairer
17 representation for all New Yorkers; and
18 "WHEREAS, Senator Gianaris authored
19 and championed numerous other consequential laws,
20 including fighting for and helping to advance
21 LGBTQ+ rights, securing record funding for mass
22 transit, pushing for increased accessibility
23 through the free bus pilot program; authoring the
24 NY HERO Act to protect workers during the
25 COVID-19 pandemic; challenging polluting power
6379
1 plants, ensuring utility employees received a
2 prevailing wage; strengthening consumer
3 protections through the nation's first Airline
4 Passenger Bill of Rights, and advancing major
5 animal welfare legislation like the Puppy Mill
6 Pipeline Act; he also led the successful
7 opposition to the proposed Amazon HQ2 project in
8 Long Island City; his career has been defined not
9 only by legislative victories but by fierce
10 advocacy for working families, tenants,
11 immigrants, consumers, and all those who rely on
12 government to stand up for them; and
13 "WHEREAS, Senator Gianaris is widely
14 regarded not only as one of the sharpest minds in
15 New York State politics, but as a strategist
16 whose instincts are the stuff of Capitol legend;
17 he is known for his ability to read a room
18 instantly, anticipate political shifts before
19 anyone else senses it, and navigate complex
20 negotiations with precision and patience; it is a
21 combination that has made him a trusted leader, a
22 steady hand in moments of uncertainty, and a
23 force whose presence can change the entire
24 temperature of the chamber; and
25 "WHEREAS, He is known to be an
6380
1 exceptional Floor Leader and debater; his command
2 of policy, quick wit, and ability to 'verbally
3 spar' when necessary, while still remaining
4 deeply likable and poised, make him both a
5 formidable opponent and a respected colleague;
6 members on both sides of the aisle admire his
7 intelligence, integrity, meticulous preparation,
8 humor, and his legendary talent for remembering
9 exactly what someone said three years ago and
10 deploying it gracefully, devastatingly, and
11 usually to great comedic effect during debate;
12 and
13 "WHEREAS, Beyond his public
14 achievements, Senator Gianaris is a devoted
15 husband, father, son, and brother; his colleagues
16 know him as someone who loves cats and his
17 dog Fred, and for whom devotion to the New York
18 Mets and enthusiasm for Star Wars are
19 unmistakable parts of who he is, infusing even
20 the most serious legislative moments with levity
21 and humor; his humor has long served as a
22 reminder that even in the most serious moments,
23 public service can still make room for joy,
24 imagination, and laughter; and
25 "WHEREAS, Within these halls, he has
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1 not only been a colleague but a mentor, guiding,
2 shaping new talent, and elevating many of the
3 great voices who have served in the New York
4 State Legislature; and
5 "WHEREAS, After more than a
6 quarter-century of public service,
7 Senator Gianaris has chosen to end his storied
8 tenure in Albany to return home to his beloved
9 Queens and embrace his most cherished role as a
10 devoted husband, father, and son; as he retires
11 from the New York State Senate, he leaves behind
12 a legacy of courage, conviction, transformative
13 leadership, and a lifelong commitment to lifting
14 up those most in need, a legacy that will
15 continue to shape New York for generations to
16 come; now, therefore, be it
17 "RESOLVED, That this Legislative
18 Body pause in its deliberations to honor
19 Senator Michael N. Gianaris upon the occasion of
20 his designation as the recipient of the
21 President Pro Tempore and Senate Majority
22 Leader's Legislative Legacy Award, and to express
23 its deepest gratitude for his decades of service,
24 his legislative achievements, and his unwavering
25 dedication to the people of Queens and the State
6382
1 of New York; and be it further
2 "RESOLVED, That a copy of this
3 Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted
4 to Senator Michael N. Gianaris with the highest
5 esteem and appreciation of this Legislative Body.
6 May the Force be with you."
7 (Laughter.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Senator
9 Myrie on the resolution.
10 SENATOR MYRIE: Thank you,
11 Madam President.
12 And first let me congratulate
13 Senator Gianaris on the -- receiving the
14 Legacy Award.
15 This is going to be an emotional
16 day, I imagine, for many of us. For the Class of
17 2018, it carries special emotion because the
18 State Senate that we have known, that we have
19 experienced, has only been on this side, in the
20 Majority, where we have been able to fight for so
21 many vulnerable New Yorkers.
22 And if you are a vulnerable
23 New Yorker in this state, you need to know who
24 Senator Gianaris is, because your life has been
25 made better by his fight and by his leadership
6383
1 and by his feistiness. A dogged advocate for so
2 many people that will never know who he is. But
3 we know who he is.
4 So I don't want to go through all of
5 the accomplishments. You heard some of that in
6 the resolution. I just want to take this time to
7 publicly say thank you.
8 Thank you for being the leader who
9 you are. Thank you for believing in young
10 leadership, in investing in us when we didn't
11 know what the hell we were doing. You took us
12 under your wing. You showed us the way. And you
13 gave us the tools to be successful.
14 So I really want to say thank you,
15 and how deeply you will be missed. And I also
16 want to say that out of all of the
17 accomplishments on this floor that you have
18 achieved, the accomplishments outside of this
19 building that we cannot speak about on this
20 floor, the greatest accomplishment you've ever
21 achieved is sitting in this corner over here.
22 You became a different man when you
23 got married.
24 (Laughter.)
25 SENATOR MYRIE: A little softer.
6384
1 (Laughter.)
2 SENATOR MYRIE: A little kinder.
3 (Laughter.)
4 SENATOR MYRIE: More compassionate.
5 And then you became even better when
6 you had Zoe.
7 This is what it's about: Family.
8 That's where you have been the real leader. And
9 you have shown us, especially to those of us
10 trying to do the same thing, that you can do both
11 and that you can choose the right thing when it's
12 time.
13 Thank you for choosing them. Thank
14 you for being an example. We love you. We will
15 miss you. And congratulations on a legendary
16 career here in the Capitol.
17 I vote aye.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Thank
19 you, Senator.
20 Senator Stavisky on the resolution.
21 SENATOR STAVISKY: Thank you,
22 Madam President.
23 Senator Myrie just said pretty much
24 what I was going to say.
25 To Senator Stewart-Cousins, thank
6385
1 you for what you have done in really introducing
2 the conference to Senator Gianaris.
3 And this is to me a remarkable team,
4 a remarkable team. But Senator Gianaris's legacy
5 has been outlined particularly in the resolution
6 but also by Senator Myrie, and his impact is not
7 the elections, it's what resulted from the
8 elections -- the legislation, the landmark
9 legislation in every area, for the marginalized,
10 for the people who feel ignored and
11 unrepresented, we have Senator Gianaris to thank.
12 And yes, Zoe, when you grow up and
13 you listen to this tape, you will realize the
14 effect that your daddy has had on everybody.
15 I've known Senator Gianaris really
16 since his days when he was a staffer. And he has
17 just demonstrated remarkable leadership in all
18 the right things.
19 So to you and to your family, we
20 thank you for what you've done and for what the
21 future will bring.
22 Thank you.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Thank
24 you, Senator.
25 Senator Borrello on the resolution.
6386
1 SENATOR BORRELLO: Thank you,
2 Madam President. I promise not to curse.
3 (Laughter.)
4 SENATOR BORRELLO: First of all, I
5 want to say my first year here -- really, I came
6 in a special election at the end of 2019, and my
7 first session was 2020. I was literally the only
8 member of my freshman class, the only legislative
9 contest actually in 2019 because of the special
10 election. So I was one of one.
11 And then boom, the pandemic hit. We
12 had this chamber empty except for a few necessary
13 folks. And one day I came in and I saw
14 Senator Gianaris in his mask, and it had the
15 starbird on it, which is the symbol of the
16 Rebel Alliance from Star Wars.
17 And I looked at him and said, "So
18 are you a Star Wars fan or just a rebel?" And
19 his response was "I'm both." And it started a
20 connection, because I too am a big Star Wars fan.
21 And for a long time we were very
22 much like the Jedi. We were behind the scenes.
23 We were, you know, quietly talking about our
24 fandom. And then a few more joined us, like
25 Senator Rivera and Senator Stec. And even
6387
1 Leader Ortt is a Star Wars Fan. So our numbers
2 began to grow.
3 And then it culminated last year
4 when we celebrated Star Wars Day, where we just
5 shook off the hiding and said, We are unabashed,
6 unapologetic Star Wars fans --
7 (Laughter.)
8 SENATOR BORRELLO: -- here in this
9 chamber. And actually in a bipartisan way. And
10 it was an amazing experience, from having a
11 lightsaber duel on the Senate floor to having
12 Storm Troopers here.
13 But alas, it is not all good things.
14 Because Senator Gianaris is a Marvel fan, and I
15 am a DC fan, since he is wrong and I am right.
16 (Laughter.)
17 SENATOR BORRELLO: However, it was
18 a pleasure. Because even though we sparred on
19 this floor many, many times over the last
20 six years, we were able to connect on something
21 that we all -- that I think we all know and love.
22 And it shows once again that Star Wars can
23 transcend even divisive politics.
24 So thank you very much for what
25 you've done here, and enjoy your retirement.
6388
1 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Thank
2 you, Senator.
3 And I'm pleased that you did not
4 curse, because both of Senator Gianaris's
5 daughters, Orla and Zoe, are here. So we want to
6 make sure they're not hearing, you know, things
7 that they should not hear.
8 (Laughter.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: So thank
10 you.
11 Senator Mayer on the resolution.
12 SENATOR MAYER: Thank you,
13 Madam President.
14 And it really is both an honor and
15 somewhat sad for us to have to speak about our
16 friend Mike Gianaris. And thank you, Leader, for
17 giving him this honor.
18 I would say for me personally I
19 would not be here except for Senator Gianaris,
20 who when I decided to run from the Assembly for a
21 special election that was quite instrumental in
22 what the future of the Senate would look like,
23 Senator Gianaris took me under his wing. And
24 together we were able to prevail and then
25 ultimately become the Democratic Majority.
6389
1 And it was this combination of
2 substance -- policy substance, as we've
3 instructed about today, the issues that really
4 mattered to the people that we represent,
5 regardless of where they live, coupled with a
6 tremendous knowledge of the process.
7 And that's one other thing I want to
8 talk about. I've been here in many different
9 iterations and seen many floor leaders over my
10 time. This is a very hard job to do well. It is
11 a hard job to keep all the members of your own
12 conference in line. Forget the other side,
13 that's hard too.
14 And Mike Gianaris has done this in
15 an exemplary way. Not only to be able to
16 navigate so well with the Minority Conference and
17 so collegially most of the time.
18 (Laughter.)
19 SENATOR MAYER: Occasionally he
20 gets his zingers in, with a long memory. We
21 appreciate that. But also to, again, be focused
22 on what's important, to try to stay away from the
23 small, the personal, and focus on what our charge
24 is here to do, which is to do the people's
25 business, to disagree, and then to vote.
6390
1 And so I'm just incredibly grateful
2 for his leadership in this chamber, and on the
3 issues that matter to all of the people of
4 New York State. We are just -- have been
5 incredibly blessed to have had him as our deputy,
6 and not only that -- as our guide, guiding star.
7 We will miss him. We will call him.
8 We will bother him. And thank you, Mike, for
9 everything you've done.
10 Thank you.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Thank
12 you, Senator.
13 Senator Griffo on the resolution.
14 SENATOR GRIFFO: Madam President, I
15 believe there's an amendment at the desk.
16 (Laughter.)
17 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
18 amendments are received.
19 (Laughter.)
20 SENATOR GRIFFO: You know, it kind
21 of -- we talked a lot about music in the chamber
22 today, Senator Gianaris, and in the past. And
23 I'm thinking of something on this side, after
24 16 years of you being here, and I'm thinking
25 of -- for all of us here, I'm thinking of
6391
1 Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men, how sweet it is we
2 say goodbye today.
3 (Reaction from members.)
4 SENATOR GRIFFO: Having had -- seen
5 it all, I thought we'd do a little bit of a
6 roast, right? But --
7 (Reaction from members.)
8 SENATOR GRIFFO: By the way, the
9 award that's being delivered, the Legacy Award,
10 is that going to be delivered with someone in an
11 orange and black uniform, bringing it into the
12 chamber?
13 (Laughter; inaudible.)
14 SENATOR GRIFFO: Yes. Yes.
15 Amazon.
16 (Laughter.)
17 SENATOR GRIFFO: All right. Like
18 as a former floor leader, having had the
19 opportunity also to work with Senator Gianaris as
20 we did this, I can tell you how difficult it can
21 be. And Senator Lanza knows that now too.
22 Being a leader on the floor is
23 arduous, it's challenging, it's demanding. And I
24 know that each and every day you have undertaken
25 that task as well as Senator Lanza and I
6392
1 attempted, to do what we can to keep this chamber
2 moving. Because it is about the institution.
3 Despite political and philosophic
4 differences, we know there's a great respect for
5 the Senate and this great place that we have the
6 opportunity to work in right now. And I
7 appreciate that work.
8 It always did give me great
9 pleasure, though, Senator Gianaris, as a
10 Yankee fan, when I was at the podium, to be able
11 to rule your point of order nongermane and out of
12 order, but as a -- for a Met fan.
13 But we had a lot of experience over
14 time here. And I think one of the greatest
15 things here is not only the pride that you took
16 in your ancestry -- we talked about the
17 Olive Caucus, many people of the Mediterranean
18 ancestry here -- pride in your work and in your
19 service, your public service, but most
20 importantly the devotion to the family.
21 Hearing you talk about your family,
22 your wife, your daughters, particularly when Zoe
23 was born, it did have a transformational effect.
24 And hopefully that will work as you continue to
25 put that energy into your family moving forward.
6393
1 So wish you the best of luck, and
2 happy years with the family.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Thank
4 you, Senator.
5 Senator Bailey on the resolution.
6 SENATOR BAILEY: Thank you,
7 Madam President.
8 There used to be a show on -- I
9 think it was on CBS, but I've only caught it in
10 reruns, it's called The King of Queens. The
11 alleged King of Queens was a guy named
12 Kevin James. And Jerry Stiller was on it, was
13 the real star of the show.
14 But the real King of Queens is
15 Mike Gianaris. You don't get to be somewhere for
16 25 years and not just a compiler, not just
17 somebody who sat in a seat just to sit in a seat.
18 This was somebody who used the force.
19 Now, I know nothing about Star Wars.
20 I know -- but I know two phrases. I know the
21 force, and the force is about strength and
22 utilizing strength in certain ways. It's about
23 utilizing the hammer or the thread and needle.
24 Mike Gianaris knows how to do both.
25 When it's time for the hammer -- you
6394
1 guys know about the hammer. The hammer comes
2 out. The hammer came out when it came time to
3 take this majority.
4 But the threading the needle comes
5 out when it comes time for legislative statutory
6 construction, making sure that we have the tools
7 to build this place. You see, we need the
8 foundation. And Mike, you've been able to do
9 that. You've been able to thread that needle
10 artfully.
11 We would not have achieved criminal
12 justice reform without you. We did a lot of
13 great things. And as the chair of the
14 Codes Committee, I got a lot of the credit and
15 the blame. But if not for you in those rooms
16 that we stayed up until 2 o'clock in the morning,
17 your voice and your measured approach when I was
18 not so measured, when many of us were not so
19 measured. And there was something to the effect
20 of we want to win this one, we want to keep
21 winning. And that's what it was about.
22 So I remember -- I don't know if
23 Mike remembers, but I remember him from when I
24 was an intern. I was in this building from
25 22 years ago. I was an intern for
6395
1 Speaker Heastie, and that's when Mike was in
2 the Assembly.
3 And I just like -- you know, you
4 read people's bios and stuff like that, you know
5 what you know. And I'm like, this guy went to
6 Harvard and he's here? Why is a Harvard Law
7 graduate who can probably do anything he wants,
8 here?
9 Well, it's to create lasting legacy.
10 It's to create lasting policy. It's to create
11 things that are greater than you can imagine.
12 So I -- as a student of government,
13 I followed it, and I decided to embark on this
14 mission myself.
15 And I remember I got a call from
16 Mike, he said meet me somewhere in Queens -- I
17 don't know where it was at. Somewhere I hadn't
18 been. Oh, I'm a Met fan too, so all I know about
19 Queens is like CUNY Law School and Citi Field and
20 Shea Stadium. Those are the only places I know.
21 But we sat down and talked, and he
22 had a clear vision about how we would get on this
23 side. We went to a Met playoff game, and I'm
24 like, man, this Senate thing might not be so bad.
25 Then I sat over there, and that
6396
1 seemed to be in a galaxy far, far away. It
2 seemed like we were far, far away from achieving
3 what we spoke about at dinner and at lunch that
4 day about what we'd be able to do. But with
5 Mike Gianaris at the helm, we came out of --
6 started from the bottom, or as the leader likes
7 to say, we were below the bottom.
8 I -- I -- it's just really good to
9 see good people do good things. And for us to be
10 able to do good things under Mike's leadership
11 has been incredible.
12 I imagine it's really weird for you
13 to sit here listening to people give you credit,
14 but let this be a testament in today's
15 conversation and all conversations about people
16 that we are about, give them their flowers while
17 they can smell them.
18 Tell Mike how much he's impacted
19 your life, impacted your career. Many of us
20 wouldn't be in these seats if not for him. Tell
21 him that on the floor, tell him that next year,
22 tell him that two years from now. Make sure you
23 tell people that you care about and that you love
24 that you love them.
25 The Dad Caucus, when you joined the
6397
1 Dad Caucus, I was glad. That's the only thing I
2 had on you, Mike. Like you were Assembly first,
3 Senate first, deputy leader, all of that. I was
4 dad. So I got to tell you about the dad
5 experience. And you always listened and asked
6 for advice.
7 And to me, that's the most important
8 thing that we'll ever do in our lives, is be
9 fathers. This is a great job. But being a dad?
10 The joy when you showed us the
11 pictures of Zoe. The joy that when you welcomed
12 Orla and we created the Bluey Caucus and I talked
13 to Orla about Bluey and how much my daughters
14 loved it too. And the smile that went to your
15 face that you can't fake. It's not a -- in front
16 of the cameras, it was a real like, man, I love
17 this woman that I'm married to, and I love these
18 women that are my daughters, and I love being
19 here. And I love being here so much that I got
20 to leave here.
21 So it's because of you leaving that
22 the Knicks are going to win the championship.
23 (Laughter.)
24 SENATOR BAILEY: No, it's written,
25 Madam President. It is written.
6398
1 But it's been an honor to be a part
2 of the floor team along with you. It's been an
3 honor to learn from you. And just because you
4 leave state service officially does not mean that
5 I'm going to stop calling you and asking you for
6 advice and calling you and asking you for things
7 and calling you and asking you to help. Because
8 I treasure you, I appreciate you.
9 And like I told you, about you've
10 got to make sure you tell people you love them, I
11 love you, Mike. I appreciate you. In a galaxy
12 far, far away, the force is always with you.
13 Job well done.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Thank
15 you, Senator.
16 Senator Gallivan on the resolution.
17 SENATOR GALLIVAN: Thank you,
18 Madam President.
19 I too rise to congratulate
20 Senator Gianaris on this award, the Legacy Award,
21 and his imminent retirement.
22 I first met Mike about 16 years ago
23 or so ago. I think we were 11 or 12 in the same
24 class. And there's not many left standing --
25 Gustavo, Senator Rivera, you're the last one left
6399
1 representing on that side.
2 Senator Myrie, I can tell you,
3 though, when I started I experienced Mike from
4 that side like you, when he was on this side. He
5 was the same.
6 (Laughter.)
7 SENATOR GALLIVAN: And like many of
8 you who have said that you wouldn't be here if it
9 wasn't for Senator Gianaris, neither would we.
10 (Laughter.)
11 SENATOR GALLIVAN: It doesn't mean
12 we don't try.
13 (Laughter.)
14 SENATOR GALLIVAN: Senator Mayer
15 mentioned that this is not an easy job, and it's
16 not. Many of us of us care about our community,
17 we care about the things that we believe in, and
18 you stand up for it. And when we're in the
19 chamber, as Senator Borrello alluded to, we have
20 a rivalry, we disagree on things, we go back and
21 forth.
22 I can assure you that unlike
23 Senator Borrello, I'm never going to find that
24 common ground in Star Wars. But what I can find
25 the common ground in is standing up for what you
6400
1 believe in and standing up for your constituents
2 whether any of us agree with the others or not.
3 But most importantly -- a few people
4 have mentioned it -- the most common ground I can
5 find with you, Senator Gianaris, is putting your
6 family first. And there's no better reason for
7 you to step in that direction now and move on.
8 I wish you the best of luck.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
10 Skoufis on the resolution.
11 SENATOR SKOUFIS: Thank you very
12 much, Mr. President.
13 All of us at various points, we
14 receive sympathy from our friends, our family,
15 about how difficult it must be to juggle being a
16 public servant and elected official come to
17 Albany and their family commitments, their
18 personal livelihoods, et cetera.
19 So we're all Senators. Senator
20 Gianaris is a Senator, but he's a lot of other
21 things too. He's Deputy Majority Leader,
22 Floor Leader. He's the DSCC chair. He's the
23 Rules Committee chair. He's the chair of some
24 other groups we're not allowed to talk about in
25 this place. He's chair of LATFOR. He's a father
6401
1 and a husband.
2 The sacrifice, quite literally, is
3 unparalleled in this chamber, with the one
4 exception being our Majority Leader. And that's
5 why I suspect he's I believe only the second
6 person in my eight years to receive the
7 Majority Leader's Legacy Award, the other being
8 Senator Breslin. The third, it sounds like,
9 perhaps, yeah.
10 The dais shared a handful of
11 landmark pieces of legislation that
12 Senator Gianaris is credited for. To be clear,
13 those are the bills, a sampling of the bills
14 where he was the prime sponsor. That's why those
15 were listed off in this resolution.
16 There is not a single piece of major
17 legislation, however, that has come through this
18 chamber that does not have Senator Gianaris's
19 fingerprints on them. Literally every single
20 major piece of legislation, he is in the room
21 with our Majority Leader, helping craft those
22 bills that are brought to the floor, not just the
23 ones certainly with his name next to them.
24 I have a five-year-old at home.
25 When I told her this weekend that this was going
6402
1 to be my last week in Albany for the year, her
2 eyes lit up and she let out a "Hooray!" True.
3 And anyone that has children empathizes and knows
4 exactly what I'm talking about.
5 And so while, yes, the Greek Caucus
6 is devastated -- our numbers are being slashed
7 once Senator Gianaris departs our conference and
8 this chamber -- we've been privileged to count
9 Senator Gianaris as a colleague. New York has
10 been extraordinarily fortunate to benefit from
11 Senator Gianaris's service over the past almost
12 three decades. But his family now gets to enjoy
13 him full-time, which is something we can all
14 appreciate.
15 Thank you for being a friend since
16 2016, when you tried to recruit me to run for a
17 seat in this place. For a variety of reasons,
18 not the least of which is on a good day I can be
19 insufferable -- I can only imagine how
20 insufferable I would have been in the Minority if
21 I had run and won that year -- I'm glad it's the
22 only time you've been unsuccessful, in my
23 experience, at least.
24 You're a powerful voice in this
25 place. You've been an incredible friend to me
6403
1 and so many others. I like, so many others,
2 attribute you as one of if not the main reason
3 why I am here today, and wish you nothing but the
4 best with your family in the years ahead.
5 I vote yes.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
7 you, Senator Skoufis.
8 Senator Rivera on the resolution.
9 SENATOR RIVERA: Thank you,
10 Mr. President.
11 When we were told that today would
12 be the day that we would have an opportunity to
13 talk about our colleague, Mike Gianaris, I just
14 thought maybe this was a perfect opportunity to
15 roast the gentleman.
16 (Laughter.)
17 SENATOR RIVERA: I was promptly
18 reminded by Mike that his family would be here,
19 and so I will save some of the comments that I
20 would have made for another time.
21 But in all seriousness, as
22 Senator Gallivan reminded us, so we were elected
23 in 2010. Now, Mike was around in the Legislature
24 for longer than that, but I got to meet him in
25 2010 when we both got elected. So that means
6404
1 that we have been around for all that time. And
2 during that time what I have known him as, as has
3 been described of and over again, was somebody
4 who was not only incredibly smart, dogged,
5 figures out to do -- when to be soft, when not to
6 be soft, and somebody who fights for his
7 constituents and so many things around the state.
8 And I've known him as somebody who
9 believes deeply in how the work that we do in
10 here has to be taken -- we have to take into
11 account that the work that we do in here changes
12 people's lives and can change them for the
13 better. And so it was a little surprising when
14 he said that he was not going to do it anymore,
15 at least to me.
16 Now, as our -- Mr. President was
17 saying, there's the Daddy Caucus, which I
18 obviously am not one of those people. But in all
19 seriousness, I remember talking to him and many
20 of the conversations that we've had over dinner
21 over the years -- we always switch off. I go to
22 Queens one time, and then the next time he comes
23 to the Bronx, and we have been doing that for
24 years.
25 And many of those conversations were
6405
1 always about how are we going to achieve this
2 policy area, how are we going to do this
3 electoral thing, what about this political thing,
4 what about this political thing.
5 And this last one that we had just a
6 couple of months ago, it was after I had found
7 out that he was saying that he was retiring. And
8 when I asked him, So what made you make the
9 decision, and just -- the little smile that came
10 over his eyes was -- told me that he absolutely
11 meant it when he said that looking into his
12 daughter's eyes, and knowing that he needed to be
13 there for her, was what the next chapter in his
14 life needed to be.
15 And he also told me about -- that he
16 leaves here content and on his own terms, because
17 he knows that he's done so much to change this
18 institution and to change the state for the
19 better.
20 And so it is -- as some of my
21 colleagues have already said, you will be missed
22 greatly, because you certainly have been not only
23 a leader in this state and a leader in this body,
24 but certainly, for me, somebody that has been a
25 constant inspiration and somebody who has tried
6406
1 to get me to calm down many a time. And you have
2 not always been successful, but I certainly thank
3 you for trying.
4 But in all seriousness, I am glad
5 that you are making this choice on your own terms
6 and for the best of reasons. My brother, you
7 will be missed, but I am looking forward to
8 having many conversations.
9 The last thing I'll say, one thing
10 that happens all the time, and I was telling his
11 wife this yesterday, I have -- and this is true
12 for every single person I have ever seen who has
13 left either the Legislature or the legislative
14 body or politics, et cetera. Whether they get
15 defeated, whether they retire, what have you,
16 within a month or a month and a half they look
17 younger, more well-rested, they look better.
18 So I'm telling you, you think he's
19 handsome now, just you wait.
20 (Laughter.)
21 SENATOR RIVERA: Give it two
22 months, the brother will wake up in the morning
23 just happy as a clam and he will be even more
24 awesome than usual.
25 So again, Mike, have a wonderful,
6407
1 wonderful rest of your life, and I'll see you
2 soon.
3 I'll be voting in the affirmative,
4 Mr. President.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
6 you, Senator Rivera.
7 Senator Comrie on the resolution.
8 SENATOR COMRIE: Thank you,
9 Mr. President.
10 I rise to congratulate Mike on
11 making a difficult decision, making a decision
12 that benefits your family, making a decision
13 that's noted of your 30-plus years of service in
14 government and in politics and in community.
15 Folks have said so many things
16 already, I don't want to be repetitive. But I
17 just want to say thank you for messing up my
18 life.
19 (Laughter.)
20 SENATOR COMRIE: I was in a cushy
21 job, making twice the salary --
22 (Laughter.)
23 SENATOR COMRIE: -- big office.
24 Left at 4 o'clock -- No, I'm just kidding.
25 (Laughter.)
6408
1 SENATOR COMRIE: But Mike reminded
2 me that there were more important things than
3 money. There were more important things than
4 privilege. There was an opportunity to come back
5 and serve the community.
6 And I've got to thank you for that,
7 because you injected new purpose into me.
8 Because even though it was a cushy job, I was
9 bored as hell. You know, it was not the same as
10 being here in this body, in this august body with
11 all of you, creating opportunities and -- but I
12 didn't realize I was coming into a Minority that
13 was -- at the time. That was a whole 'nother
14 experience, coming from the City Council where I
15 was in leadership.
16 But Mike taught me to be patient.
17 Mike taught me to be deliberative. Mike
18 understood that it was important that we continue
19 to work to serve our communities. And he's had a
20 vision and a focus that has been unparalleled.
21 It's important that we all realize
22 in this -- that we love what we do, and that we
23 have to show that love in different ways. And
24 sometimes it can be tough love. Sometimes, you
25 know, he's had to hold me back when my Leo anger
6409
1 gets upset and try to rein me in when I really
2 want to start grumbling and start creating
3 problems. Because, you know, Leos like to fight,
4 and I have to hold that side of me in sometimes.
5 And sometimes it's more important to
6 be strategic. Sometimes it's more important to
7 be focused. And sometimes you have to hold your
8 tongue in order to get things done. And Mike has
9 taught me all of that. He's reminded me of that.
10 I have to say in Queens County, Mike
11 was a legend. You know, when I first met Mike,
12 it was over 30 years ago, and he was walking in
13 and women were falling down all over the place at
14 his feet because they just saw his good looks and
15 they just saw his stride and his possession. He
16 didn't -- he didn't -- he wasn't aware of it at
17 the time because he was focused on getting things
18 done.
19 You know, he was never aware of the
20 impact that he had being such a good-looking guy
21 on the women in Queens.
22 (Sustained laughter.)
23 SENATOR COMRIE: It was -- it
24 was -- it was -- it was funny to me. It was
25 funny to me.
6410
1 And I just wanted to share that with
2 you, because he still didn't realize it. He
3 doesn't realize it to this day, his impact on
4 people in that way. Because Mike has always been
5 focused on getting work done, on dealing with
6 legislation, on seeing people beyond their looks,
7 but seeing people for their passion, for their
8 understanding, and for their desire to be
9 involved in government one way or the other.
10 I'm going to miss you terribly. I'm
11 not going to let you go, though. You're going to
12 be -- I'm going to be on the phone when I need to
13 get that voice to hold me back, to rein me in, to
14 make sure that, you know, we're doing the things
15 necessary to move this state forward.
16 So you may be gone from this body,
17 as other folks have said, but you won't be gone
18 from us in person.
19 But I again want to congratulate
20 you. I know this was a difficult decision to
21 leave while you're cooking and you're on top, but
22 to do it for the right reasons -- and you're
23 doing it for wonderful reasons, three wonderful
24 reasons, your wife and your two daughters.
25 I don't know if you're ready for him
6411
1 once he's on -- once he's full-time. You may
2 change your mind after six months.
3 (Laughter.)
4 SENATOR COMRIE: But in either
5 case, I know that you will doing it with love,
6 with compassion.
7 And thank you, Mike, for everything
8 that you've been to all of us. Thank you for
9 what you've done for this state. Thank you for
10 being a great leader.
11 Thank you.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
13 you, Senator Comrie.
14 Senator May on the resolution.
15 SENATOR MAY: Thank you,
16 Mr. President.
17 For four years I've had the
18 privilege of sitting right behind
19 Senator Gianaris on this floor and have really
20 been able to witness what an incredible
21 multitasker he is, whether on the phone, on the
22 Batphone with the front desk or otherwise
23 managing the floor, being able to leap up at a
24 moment's notice and deliver the perfect zinger in
25 debate -- all of which he's been doing while
6412
1 watching Mets games or --
2 (Laughter.)
3 SENATOR MAY: -- FaceTiming with
4 his family on his phone.
5 (Laughter.)
6 SENATOR MAY: And most miraculously
7 of all, he's always leaning so far back in his
8 chair, but he has never fallen over and whacked
9 his head.
10 (Laughter.)
11 SENATOR MAY: Mike, I think of you
12 as not just an amazing multitasker, but a friend
13 and somebody -- really a role model and an
14 inspiration to all of us.
15 But I am glad that you are
16 consolidating your life and maybe not having to
17 multitask quite so much so that you can spend
18 time with your beautiful family.
19 It has been an honor working with
20 you, and I vote aye.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
22 May to be recorded in the affirmative.
23 Senator Gounardes to explain his
24 vote -- on the resolution. Excuse me, I don't
25 know what -- I'm all messed up. Today is
6413
1 Rachel May and Leroy Comrie making jokes.
2 Andrew -- Senator Gounardes.
3 SENATOR GOUNARDES: All right. My
4 turn, okay. Thank you, Mr. President.
5 You know, we talk a lot in this
6 chamber about representation, how representation
7 matters. And Senator Skoufis alluded to the
8 Greek Caucus. I want to tell you all what Mike's
9 leadership in the Greek-American community has
10 meant, not just to me but to the hundreds of
11 thousands of Greek Americans who live not just in
12 New York but in the tristate area and who,
13 frankly, live in the -- the millions who live
14 across the country.
15 You know, growing up we heard names
16 like Dukakis and Tsongas and Sarbanes, and we
17 spoke of them with reverence in households. And
18 on that list, Mike, was your name as well:
19 Gianaris, Genárides {phonetic}. Greek families,
20 who saw his ascent into elected leadership -- and
21 they were so incredibly proud that one of theirs
22 had won the right to have a title and to speak on
23 behalf of them and to fight on behalf of them.
24 And what a gift that is for all of
25 us, to have you be that standard-bearer for our
6414
1 community. And still to this day, that
2 reputation still holds.
3 And you tell people that Mike is
4 stepping down, that he's leaving, and everyone's
5 just shocked. There's a hush. What are we going
6 to do? He was ours. He was our community's. He
7 was New York's Greek champion.
8 And we don't know what we're going
9 to do yet. Certainly I can't fill those shoes.
10 James, sorry, you can't fill those shoes. Nobody
11 else can fill those shoes.
12 When I was first getting into
13 interest in politics and I was -- in 2012 I
14 wanted to run for office. And I was scared to
15 call Mike and ask for his advice because, again,
16 you're calling the champion of your community,
17 the person who can open doors for you or slam
18 them in your face.
19 And from the very first time I spoke
20 with Mike, not only did he open the door, but he
21 held it wide open. And he took me under his
22 wing. And when even those in our own community
23 said, You know what, Andrew, it's not your time;
24 Andrew, you're too young; Andrew, you don't know
25 what it's like to have to run for office -- Mike
6415
1 never wavered in his mentorship, in his guidance.
2 He coached me through some
3 incredibly difficult conversations. He coached
4 me through how to salvage relationships that
5 meant a lot to me that in that moment were
6 fraying. He was at my very first fundraiser back
7 in 2011. And even though that election was not
8 successful, he has been a mentor and a guide and
9 a friend ever since.
10 And I certainly add myself amongst
11 those who know for a fact that I would not be in
12 this room without him, without his support,
13 without his vision, and without his example.
14 Because whether or not he had all those titles
15 when I got elected, whether or not he was part of
16 the vision that brought us here, he was certainly
17 the person I was trying to emulate when I decided
18 to put my own name forward for election again.
19 And so, Mike, thank you is not
20 enough for everything you've done for our
21 community, for me, and for the countless others
22 who hope to follow in our footsteps, but knowing
23 that you are their example.
24 I also have a slight bone to pick
25 because when I told my wife why you were leaving,
6416
1 she said, "Well, what about you?"
2 (Laughter.)
3 SENATOR GOUNARDES: And then when I
4 actually said to her -- this is true, I said, "I
5 haven't done nearly as much as he's accomplished
6 in his career. And, you know, I'm not ready yet,
7 but" -- and I started rattling off the things
8 that he had done. And then she said, "I get it.
9 I get it."
10 So what a gift it must have been for
11 you, Mike, to be able to touch so many lives for
12 the better. You've certainly touched all of
13 ours. And we're going to miss you, and we all
14 say thank you.
15 I vote aye.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
17 you, Senator Gounardes.
18 Senator Harckham on the resolution.
19 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Thank you very
20 much, Mr. President.
21 Senator Gianaris, congratulations on
22 this award.
23 You know, a lot of things have been
24 going through my mind. I was struck, in the
25 resolution where it said "and he remembers
6417
1 something that you said three years ago." And it
2 just reminded me how he likes to remind
3 Senator Martins that he voted for Tier 6.
4 (Laughter.)
5 SENATOR HARCKHAM: At least once a
6 year that comes up. More than once a year.
7 I also learned from Mike -- I came
8 in in that Class of 2018. And twice before,
9 Senator Gianaris had tried to recruit me to run.
10 It just wasn't the right time in my life. So
11 when I finally got into the race, he was already
12 backing other folks. And so the lesson to me was
13 not if you want the money you've got to get in
14 the game early. The lesson was when
15 Senator Gianaris has bad news for you, he starts
16 and says your last name and then there's a pause.
17 So it's "Harckham ... we gave our money to other
18 candidates."
19 (Laughter.)
20 SENATOR HARCKHAM: And then so for
21 the next seven years I would get this annual
22 phone call, in his role as chair of DSCC:
23 Harckham -- all right, here it comes -- you're
24 spending too much money.
25 (Laughter.)
6418
1 SENATOR HARCKHAM: And so finally I
2 got smart. And this year there was a county
3 chair who called me for an exorbitant amount of
4 money to support an event they were doing. And I
5 said, "Oh, I can't possibly do that. Senator
6 Gianaris will kill me if I donate that much."
7 (Laughter.)
8 SENATOR HARCKHAM: And so literally
9 a day later: "Harckham ... who is this person
10 and why are they saying I won't let you donate to
11 their event?"
12 (Laughter.)
13 SENATOR HARCKHAM: So that was just
14 some of the many hats.
15 But I would not be here were it not
16 for Senator Gianaris and him interesting me,
17 getting me interested in -- and excited about
18 being in the role of the Senator.
19 But I think what really impresses me
20 about Senator Gianaris is that there's so many
21 facets to what he does, and he is excellent at
22 all of them.
23 You know, as someone who's been
24 around this business a while, normally the policy
25 and the politics are separate people. You know,
6419
1 the polling, the strategy, the fundraising is
2 over here; the legislative and the policy wisdom
3 is over here. And in Mike, it's -- it's joined.
4 I mean, he truly is an expert in all of these
5 areas. And all of us have benefited.
6 But what it's always been about, and
7 what he always reminds us is it's about the work.
8 It's always about the work. It's not about
9 anything that's outside. It's about the work we
10 do in here, and it's about the work we do back
11 home.
12 And the other thing that has so
13 impressed me about Senator Gianaris, after all
14 his success and all his accolades, he's never
15 forgotten who he is and where he comes from. You
16 know, he's just a boy from a working-class
17 neighborhood in Queens, and that's who he fights
18 for each and every day. And he reminds us of
19 that.
20 So Mike, thank you. You know, when
21 people talk about how you've had to make a
22 choice -- but as a father, there is no choice.
23 And you'll know that very soon.
24 So God bless you.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
6420
1 you, Senator Harckham.
2 Senator Liu on the resolution.
3 SENATOR LIU: Thank you,
4 Mr. President.
5 No one's going to tell Mike this, so
6 I'm going to say it. Star Wars is just fantasy.
7 (Laughter.)
8 SENATOR LIU: Star Trek, on the
9 other hand --
10 (Laughter.)
11 SENATOR LIU: -- is based in
12 science and reality.
13 (Laughter.)
14 SENATOR LIU: But, you know, I will
15 concede this. That Mike G., he's got the force,
16 Mr. President. He has been a force. And he will
17 continue to be a force. He's a political force.
18 We certainly know him as a political
19 animal, but beneath all of this is the real
20 person. And many of my colleagues have talked
21 about this already. The real person that is a
22 reverent son who continues to take care of his
23 mom, his aging mom; a loving husband; a doting
24 father. That's the real Mike Gianaris. It
25 doesn't always come through in these august
6421
1 chambers, but that's who Mike is.
2 And that's the grounding, along with
3 his education, of course. People like him who
4 hail from the university, the law school that he
5 came from, they don't ever name their school,
6 they just say, Oh, I went to school in Boston.
7 (Laughter.)
8 SENATOR LIU: But without those
9 educational backgrounds, the history, the
10 experience, and the grounding as a real person,
11 that is what makes Mike Gianaris the force he has
12 been here in the State of New York.
13 Mike, it's been a long time. And I
14 will -- you know, I will attest to what
15 Senator Comrie talked about. Mike Gianaris, when
16 he walked into the room, all the ladies noticed.
17 The men noticed as well.
18 (Laughter.)
19 SENATOR LIU: He was a -- he is a
20 handsome man, though back then he was somewhat
21 more svelte. Mr. President, Mike G. is a bigger
22 man now.
23 (Laughter.)
24 SENATOR LIU: And I remember being
25 on his campaign in 2020 and standing outside a
6422
1 poll site with his mom and dad in Astoria. That
2 was -- we were a few hours away from what we knew
3 would be the result, that Mike Gianaris would
4 become the first Greek-American elected
5 legislator.
6 And that was a big moment in time
7 for the community. It was a big moment for all
8 of us in Queens. We don't forget that. And over
9 the years lots have happened, lot of legislative
10 accomplishments. I'm not really going to talk
11 about that because everybody else has talked
12 about that. Don't forget, he was one of our
13 "40 Under 40," that coveted list that people like
14 to get on. By the way, Mike, that was like
15 20 years ago. Almost 20 years ago.
16 SENATOR GIANARIS: (Inaudible.) --
17 "60 Under 60."
18 (Laughter.)
19 SENATOR LIU: Yeah, I guess they
20 started that list -- it's "60 Over 60," right?
21 Or "70 Over 70," I think.
22 And of course becoming appointed to
23 become the Deputy Majority Leader of the New York
24 State Senate. Thank you so much, Madam Leader,
25 for that fateful decision that would impact so
6423
1 many millions of people across the state.
2 To his legislative fights, I think
3 Senator Skoufis said it well, that even though
4 his name is not on that many pieces of
5 legislation -- he let us have it. He let us put
6 our names on it. But he certainly had his
7 fingerprints on all of those bills.
8 And being the floor leader,
9 reminding all of us, both sides of the aisle,
10 about important facts of history.
11 But, you know, one of the things I
12 remember most is occasionally Mike would ask me
13 to sit in for him as floor leader because session
14 was getting late and he had to get home to give
15 his sick cat his shots. That cat is no longer
16 with us. But that's what Mike -- he knew he had
17 to give the cat a shot by a certain time every
18 single day.
19 And then of course, you know,
20 fast-forward to most recently in February, when
21 we were all in conference getting ready to talk
22 about the bills, and he made an announcement.
23 And when he told us what his plans were, you
24 know, a couple of minutes of like silence and
25 just utter shock. Not a dry eye in the room that
6424
1 day, just to think that this person could be
2 leaving us and moving on.
3 But I congratulate you, Mike,
4 because there's still a long way ahead and there
5 are a lot of things yet to be done, and you'll be
6 doing them from a different capacity, but there
7 will still be positive changes coming from you,
8 Mike.
9 So, Mr. President, I vote yes on
10 this resolution. I want to thank my friend,
11 Michael Gianaris. I'll see you at Northeast.
12 Thank you, Mr. President.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
14 you, Senator Liu.
15 Senator Serrano on the resolution.
16 SENATOR SERRANO: Thank you very
17 much, Mr. President.
18 And it's sort of difficult to talk
19 about this today because, you know, when you have
20 a friend it's hard to know that you won't be able
21 to see them every day.
22 But I'm filled with tremendous
23 gratitude for having had the opportunity to work
24 with such an amazing person.
25 Mike Gianaris and I first met many
6425
1 years ago when I believe in the Senate, it was
2 during the time we were briefly in the Majority
3 and Mike was in the Assembly and we were working
4 on some bills together and had a press conference
5 together. And I was thinking to myself, boy,
6 this guy has a great sense of humor. Just fun
7 and a nice person to deal with.
8 And, you know, I was so happy when I
9 learned that he was coming to the Senate. And
10 what I found during that period when we were
11 briefly in the Minority back then, we had a bit
12 more time on our hands to sort of get to know one
13 another and to chitchat and learn all these
14 things about one another. And, you know, I was
15 happy to hear that we had so many similar
16 Generation X experiences growing up, and we sort
17 of bonded over that. We bonded over Star Wars
18 and his encyclopedic knowledge of baseball, which
19 I think actually rivals my dad's, if that can be
20 seen.
21 But he just knew so many things
22 about so many different topics. And I, being
23 someone very inquisitive, I'm the type of person
24 that asks a lot of questions. I want to know
25 everything about everything. And a perfect
6426
1 match, because Mike will tell you everything.
2 Mike is not a gatekeeper of information. He
3 freely shares so much of what he's learned over
4 the years and imparts that on all of us.
5 And those of us who are willing to
6 listen are the better for it, because we learn
7 this perspective that is so uniquely balanced,
8 that is so uniquely ethical and proper. And we
9 learn how to do not just this job better, but we
10 learn how to do life better.
11 I was also really amazed by the
12 amount of bandwidth that Mike has to be able to
13 handle so many different things and never
14 complain. Never looks flustered, never looks
15 stressed. Hid it well, if it existed. But he
16 sort of just kept grinding, kept plugging along.
17 And it's an important message because, you know,
18 that's what life is. We do what we have to do,
19 and we do it as long as we can.
20 And I could just imagine, Mike, that
21 this was a difficult decision for you. I know
22 how much you love this work. I know how much you
23 love the challenges. But I have to say that the
24 reasons for which you are doing it make so much
25 sense to me as a father.
6427
1 And I've spoken to you so many times
2 over the years about the joys of being a dad.
3 And what I've seen in you, Mike, is not just you
4 as a dad, but as a joyful father. I see the
5 light in you that grows every single day when you
6 talk more about your wonderful family, who I've
7 gotten to know over the years, and how that has
8 made you a better person and made you a more
9 fulfilled human being.
10 So it is very difficult to see -- to
11 know that you're not going to be here every
12 single day. But just know that I will continue
13 to reach out. Hopefully we can get some more
14 Greek food together. Thank you for teaching me
15 all the different things that you have taught me
16 over the years.
17 I love you, and I proudly vote aye.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
19 you, Senator Serrano.
20 Senator Scarcella-Spanton on the
21 resolution.
22 SENATOR SCARCELLA-SPANTON: Thank
23 you, Mr. President.
24 And thank you, Mike Gianaris, for
25 the legacy that you leave behind in this place.
6428
1 Truly, if you look around this room,
2 your fingerprints are in every single corner of
3 our districts. It's in every single corner of
4 New York State. And this is the legacy that's
5 going to be lasting -- your family over here.
6 I'm so happy that they're here to
7 see and hear all the special things that there
8 are about you, what makes you, you.
9 I can say from personal experience,
10 you are the gut-check that so many of us need.
11 You bring balance to the conversations when any
12 of us are stressed out or frazzled. Because to
13 Senator Serrano's point, you do remain such a
14 constant and calming presence to so many of us in
15 this room.
16 And I wanted to say I really liked
17 what Senator Gallivan said as well about your
18 family being the thing everyone has in common,
19 because that is something so noble. I think that
20 is such a rare character trait in people to
21 realize when it's time to reprioritize.
22 And you did that, and you set an
23 example for everybody in this room, whether it's
24 shifting things around to make it work or when
25 it's time to do something different.
6429
1 But we appreciate you. We love you.
2 I am not enough Greek to step into your shoes,
3 not even close, but thank you for looking at my
4 ancestry and accepting me a little bit as one of
5 your own.
6 I proudly vote aye, and
7 congratulations. We love you.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
9 you, Senator Scarcella-Spanton.
10 Senator Gonzalez on the resolution.
11 SENATOR GONZALEZ: Thank you,
12 Mr. President.
13 I stand here as one of the members
14 who can also say that I would not be here, but
15 certainly wouldn't be the member that I am today,
16 without Senator Gianaris.
17 And I remember meeting for the first
18 time, and Senator Myrie spoke about how
19 supportive he's been of young candidates. But
20 I'm probably one of the youngest, and I was
21 nervous and I had those feelings of being a
22 working-class kid from Queens and not being sure
23 if I could take on such a role.
24 And I just remember Senator Gianaris
25 talking about what it was like for him growing up
6430
1 in Queens, to be first generation in Harvard,
2 being surrounded by classmates who didn't always
3 think like us or grow up like us.
4 And from that day on, I just truly
5 cannot say enough how grounded I have seen you,
6 Senator Gianaris, be in that history and fighting
7 for people like us. But in inspiring that in
8 everyone else, and encouraging that in everyone
9 else around him.
10 And I also stand here as someone who
11 has the immense honor and privilege of
12 representing the same area that Senator Gianaris
13 represented in Astoria.
14 And as a first-time candidate, I
15 will tell you all when I was knocking doors, the
16 first question I got a lot of the time was "Are
17 you primarying Mike?"
18 (Laughter.)
19 SENATOR GONZALEZ: With, of
20 course -- and rightfully so -- contempt.
21 And I would have to explain, no, we
22 had a redistricting, and he's still in office,
23 and actually he's supportive.
24 And honestly, it was representative
25 of how loved he is, not only by the Greek
6431
1 community in Astoria that got the representation,
2 and also has that in our colleagues, but also in
3 places like NYCHA.
4 I think one thing I know a lot of
5 you know, but maybe not everyone, is that there
6 are hundreds of kids in NYCHA who have money in a
7 college savings account and a real way and path
8 forward for the future, because Senator Gianaris
9 took the time to help build that program with a
10 nonprofit.
11 I will say he's also deeply loved
12 not only in NYCHA, but also in Long Island City,
13 where he took a hard stance on things like
14 Amazon. And I was an early organizer then, but
15 he since has been proven right.
16 And the community in every place in
17 the district is better off from not only our
18 neighbors in LIC and our neighbors in NYCHA, but
19 even down to the dogs and the cats, the adoption
20 centers that benefited from his legislation. So
21 I am so deeply thankful to Senator Gianaris for
22 fighting for all of us.
23 I think very few people have had the
24 honor of saying Mark Hamill has said "The force
25 is strong in this one," and that is certainly
6432
1 true. And it takes a strong force to be such an
2 incredible father with such an incredible family.
3 And it's really, really exciting to see him be a
4 girl dad and see his two daughters grow up in our
5 neighborhood.
6 So thank you again. And with that,
7 I proudly support this resolution.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
9 you, Senator Gonzalez.
10 Senator Hinchey on the resolution.
11 SENATOR HINCHEY: Thank you,
12 Mr. President.
13 I rise as a proud member of the 'I
14 Wouldn't Be Here Without Mike Gianaris' Caucus.
15 Truly, Mike, you changed my life. Maybe not in
16 all the ways you changed Senator Comrie's life,
17 but you changed my life truly for the better.
18 I talk to people in my community, my
19 own family, and honestly they wouldn't know what
20 I'd be doing if I wasn't sitting here in this
21 chamber. And I'm only in this chamber really in
22 large part because of you and your work and your
23 belief in me, and I want to say thank you.
24 I feel so privileged to be able to
25 serve in this body under the leadership with you
6433
1 and our leader. It is truly phenomenal. I think
2 it's something that we all have taken for granted
3 for the years that we've been able to be here
4 because it's just been our leadership. It's
5 going to take a lot for us to realize that that
6 changes.
7 And, you know, there's always time
8 for that change, but this is going to be a big
9 change. Not just because, you know, anytime
10 anyone in any position leaves it's a big deal,
11 but because of what you have done and the way
12 that you do it here in this chamber.
13 As was said, your levelheadedness
14 and the way that you manage so many spaces -- I
15 mean, truly stuff of legend. But even with the
16 accomplishments and the titles and the
17 responsibilities, you always had time for us. It
18 always felt like your time was accessible to us.
19 And truly, that's a gift. You
20 always picked up the phone, you took the call,
21 you took the time to talk in the hallway. You'd
22 make sure that you knew our priorities. And if
23 we talked to you about something, I knew and we
24 knew that you would follow through on saying what
25 it is that you were going to do.
6434
1 Truly, that is a gift, and that
2 allows all of us to learn and be our best selves
3 and represent our districts in the ways that
4 people sent us here to do. And we've only been
5 able to do that, truly, because we had such a
6 great person helping us do that behind the
7 scenes.
8 So thank you for all of your work.
9 The accomplishments are legendary. That legacy
10 will live on for generations. But so will the
11 legacy here of the members that you have helped
12 steward and helped shape and helped cultivate.
13 We do that in your honor and in your memory and
14 in your shadow, all just trying to live up to the
15 work that you've been able to do here in this
16 chamber.
17 And so this award is so
18 well-deserved, and I just wanted to add my voice
19 to the beautiful chorus to say thank you.
20 I vote aye.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
22 you, Senator Hinchey.
23 Senator Jackson on the resolution.
24 SENATOR JACKSON: Thank you,
25 Mr. President.
6435
1 I rise in order to thank
2 Mike Gianaris for being who he is. I came in
3 with a group of about, what was it, 15 of us.
4 And that would not have happened had not Mike
5 been there and under the leadership of
6 Andrea Stewart-Cousins, you know, and others that
7 were involved in the process to try to move the
8 Minority here to the Majority.
9 And that's what you did. And that's
10 what you're doing to keep us in the game. Quite
11 frankly, I've heard some situations about the
12 IDC, and we replaced these people that were
13 basically on the wrong side of the table. But
14 that's an opinion that I have, and others will
15 think otherwise.
16 But Mike, I'll just say thank you on
17 behalf of all of the people that have been
18 brought to this team, and also on behalf of all
19 of the people in New York State that have
20 positively got something through you through the
21 work that we're doing on behalf of the people of
22 our great state.
23 Thank you.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
25 you, Senator Jackson.
6436
1 Senator Ramos on the resolution.
2 SENATOR RAMOS: When I first heard
3 that we would be honoring Mike today, my mind
4 went to the Powhatan Democratic Club. 'Twas the
5 year 2000, and a young Mike Gianaris was running
6 for State Assembly. And I had been dragged to a
7 meeting by my father on a particular night when a
8 young, fresh-faced young man from Astoria was
9 there to talk about his candidacy. And I
10 remember how incredible it felt to know that a
11 Queens kid, the child of immigrants, had the
12 opportunity to step up to lead our hometown.
13 And I don't think that Mike perhaps
14 had the intention or even realized the impression
15 that he was leaving on any of the teenagers in
16 the room -- because I remember I wasn't the only
17 one. But you did. And it definitely left an
18 indelible mark on many people who in Queens,
19 especially in Western Queens, have thought about
20 living a life in public service.
21 Now, over the last odd twenty years
22 that I've actually known him, I've not only
23 praised him as a leader, but to me he's
24 exemplified what it means to be a good Democrat.
25 I think it is -- we, at least definitely on this
6437
1 side, feel an immense sense of gratitude to you
2 for restoring integrity to this institution and
3 doing everything that you could to ensure that
4 justice was served to a Senate that deserved to
5 be led by an extraordinary woman.
6 And you, my friend, unlike many, are
7 a man who is not threatened by strong women. And
8 that, again, is something that is admirable and
9 speaks to your character. So to me, it is no
10 coincidence that God decided to bless you with
11 three extraordinary women in your life.
12 To me, this resolution is absolutely
13 about your legacy as a legislator, as an
14 operative, as a politician. But, more
15 importantly, of the incredible man you are, the
16 incredible colleague and legacy that you have
17 left in each and every one of us about how to
18 conduct ourselves here in the Senate.
19 So thank you. And congratulations,
20 my friend.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
22 you, Senator Ramos.
23 Are there any other Senators wishing
24 to be heard on this resolution? Your loss.
25 Seeing and hearing none,
6438
1 Senator Lanza, followed by Leader Andrea
2 Stewart-Cousins to close.
3 Senator Lanza on the resolution.
4 SENATOR LANZA: Mr. President, I've
5 noticed throughout this proceeding that my
6 colleague Senator Gianaris is in a very good
7 mood, and so I'll take this opportunity to ask
8 you to see if he'll yield.
9 (Laughter.)
10 SENATOR GIANARIS: (Inaudible.)
11 SENATOR LANZA: Always game. He's
12 always game, Mr. President.
13 Senator Michael Gianaris or, as he
14 is known to we Republicans, thorn in our side.
15 (Laughter.)
16 SENATOR LANZA: Mr. President,
17 that's a compliment. People in this room
18 understand that.
19 Whatever your political leanings, if
20 you don't respect Senator Gianaris and all that
21 he is and all that he's done, you have not been
22 paying attention.
23 He's -- as has been said, he's one
24 of the most influential and consequential elected
25 officials in New York. He is said to be
6439
1 partisan, and it's true -- but not with
2 everything. If he don't like you, he don't care
3 which party you're from.
4 (Laughter.)
5 SENATOR LANZA: But if he does, the
6 same holds true.
7 He and I have been sparring partners
8 for a long time now, debating on this floor for
9 many years, both when I was in the Majority and,
10 unfortunately, in the Minority, for me. And for
11 a long time, Mr. President, it's probably true
12 that we were nothing more than adversaries. And
13 there's nothing wrong with that either. That's
14 our system. It's important that we have these
15 discussions and we have these debates. And in
16 our American system of both law and government,
17 the hope is that the better ideas will rise to
18 the surface.
19 You know, these lines were probably
20 drawn by fate long before we met. I'm a proud
21 and happy diehard Yankee fan. As we all know,
22 he's famously a Met fan. I was born in
23 Staten Island, I live in Staten Island, he in
24 Queens. I'm a Republican, he's a Democrat. He's
25 Greek, and I'm Italian. Wait a minute. That's
6440
1 the same thing.
2 (Laughter.)
3 SENATOR LANZA: It was not until
4 one day, Mr. President, that I think we crossed
5 the line from being nothing more than
6 adversaries: When he turned to me and said,
7 "Lanza, you remind me of my brother." And I
8 don't know if it was because we both served as, I
9 think, assistant district attorneys, or that we
10 both attended a better law school than he did,
11 Fordham University School of Law.
12 (Laughter.)
13 SENATOR LANZA: But to me that
14 signals a new chapter in our relationship.
15 You know, a funny thing happened on
16 the way to Damascus. We're not supposed to be
17 friends. The world doesn't want us to be
18 friends. People on social media hate that we are
19 friends. Some of our friends hate that we are
20 friends.
21 (Laughter.)
22 SENATOR LANZA: Well, that's just
23 tough. And we found a way, through all the
24 rounds and all the boxing and all the jabs and
25 all the snips and the snark from both of us, we
6441
1 found a way to cut through that. And I wish more
2 people would do the very same.
3 I assure you, Mr. President, neither
4 one of us has ever compromised a single thing
5 that we believe in. I could tell you
6 Senator Gianaris is loyal to your conference,
7 he's loyal to the mission, he's loyal to the
8 Majority Leader. He's loyal to his party. He's
9 loyal to the state and the country, though, at
10 the same time. I the same.
11 And just because the world doesn't
12 like that two people so situated should not be
13 friends, I think it make it is even sweeter.
14 By the way, Senator Liu, I'm a
15 Trekkie and a Star Wars fan. There's room in the
16 galaxy and the universe for both.
17 We continued along our progression
18 in our relationship, as it's been mentioned,
19 especially during COVID. When I had the
20 privilege of being named to sit in this seat --
21 and by the way, after listening to
22 Senator Gallivan reminding me of why I'm on this
23 side, and to all the many Democrats who would not
24 be here if not for Senator Gianaris, I'm a little
25 less sad that you're leaving.
6442
1 (Laughter.)
2 SENATOR LANZA: But sad
3 nonetheless.
4 And so I took this desk, and we got
5 to know each other even more. I can tell you one
6 thing we both agree on. Y'all are very needy.
7 You all are very needy. But we work together.
8 We don't always agree. Sometimes we
9 do. But we both are focused on doing what we
10 believe to be the right thing by the folks in
11 this chamber and, more importantly, by this
12 institution that we both care for, and for the
13 state.
14 During the lockdown, he and I really
15 got to know each other. As most of you were home
16 in pajamas on Zoom -- Senator Borrello no doubt
17 in a Batman pajama --
18 (Laughter.)
19 SENATOR LANZA: -- we had to figure
20 out a way through that uncharted time. And it
21 did give us a lot of time to really get to know
22 each other -- not just as adversaries,
23 politically speaking, not just as fellow
24 colleagues in the Senate, but as people.
25 And I listened to everyone speak,
6443
1 and everyone touched on a piece of Senator Mike
2 Gianaris. And, you know, I heard about some of
3 the -- Senator Myrie, some of the things he does
4 outside of this chamber. Senator Gianaris, I
5 think after all these years you owe me one favor.
6 If you're going to continue along those lines,
7 please do it in a galaxy far, far away.
8 (Laughter.)
9 SENATOR LANZA: And if we ever --
10 and we will -- meet off-campus, I don't want you
11 anywhere near Staten Island.
12 (Laughter.)
13 SENATOR LANZA: I'll come to you.
14 (Laughter.)
15 SENATOR LANZA: And we talk about
16 family, and I too saw the change. And when we
17 talk about changes as if he was this ogre before
18 and better after, that's not the case. But as a
19 husband and a father of three children, I knew
20 the look in his eye all too well when he talked
21 of his marriage to his beautiful wife and about
22 his two children.
23 And we shared lots of stories about
24 our families. And at the end of the day, we care
25 very much about what happens in here, but we do
6444
1 it for those reasons. We do it for our families.
2 We sometimes come in here and we talk about how
3 important the work we do is, as if it's in a
4 vacuum, Mr. President. It's not. Without our
5 friends and our family, what's the point?
6 And again, it's the seemingly little
7 things that help you cut through the fog of the
8 battle that we're engaged in. And when my
9 daughter was in the process of rescuing a feral
10 cat from the yard and from the neighborhood, I
11 talked to -- I turned to my resident cat expert,
12 Senator Gianaris. And he helped me help my
13 daughter socialize that cat. And now Kitty, as
14 we've talked about and we've shared photos,
15 Kitty, if you open the door in my house, she
16 looks at you like, I ain't going out there.
17 (Laughter.)
18 SENATOR LANZA: She's a
19 full-fledged house cat and member of the family.
20 And even that brought us together.
21 You know, Senator Gianaris -- and
22 again, people don't want to hear one side of the
23 aisle talk well about the other side of the
24 aisle. We do it. But if that's all we do, shame
25 on us.
6445
1 I -- this place will miss you. And
2 I will speak well of you. You are
3 super-intelligent and smart, which are two
4 different things, and you're both. You're
5 dedicated, you're passionate, and you're
6 hardworking. And political differences aside,
7 isn't that all that we hope for in the people
8 that choose to represent the people across the
9 state? And you are all that, Senator Gianaris.
10 And, you know, this place will miss
11 you, friend and foe alike. I shall miss you as a
12 friend. And I wish you truly Godspeed in your
13 future travels.
14 Congratulations.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
16 you, Senator Lanza.
17 Majority Leader Andrea
18 Stewart-Cousins to close.
19 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: Thank
20 you, Mr. President.
21 It is -- what's going to happen.
22 Okay. I know he's -- I don't think he's ever had
23 the opportunity to sit in a room where so many
24 people who he has helped were able to heap
25 accolades, to bring up the past, laud you for the
6446
1 present, and give you the greatest hope for the
2 future.
3 And the reality is that no one is
4 more deserving. When I hear my colleagues talk
5 about how you touched their lives, changed their
6 lives, ruined their lives --
7 (Laughter.)
8 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: -- have
9 people to thank for changing sides in chamber.
10 And I think of our story, one that
11 has been a 13-year partnership, something that I
12 would never have dreamt of -- a kid, you know,
13 from the projects. And this Star Wars rebel
14 hatched a plan in 2012 to change leadership, and
15 included me in it. I was happy to get here; that
16 was hard enough. I knew I could do some things.
17 I never thought I'd do this thing.
18 There has to be a catalyst. There
19 has to be a seed. Every single one of us had
20 that person who said to us, You can do this, and
21 never stopped supporting when you set on that
22 journey. That's who this guy is.
23 And when he's with you, he's with
24 you. And if he's not, he's not. But no matter
25 what, with you or not, he's never, ever lost
6447
1 sight of the opportunity to change things for the
2 better.
3 He's never forgotten why, almost
4 30 years ago, he got involved in state
5 government. And he's never forgotten where he
6 came from or the influence someone like him has
7 on making change.
8 There's some voices, because of our
9 stereotypes and our conditioning, that you expect
10 to be this way or that way. It's so easy to put
11 someone in a box when they have certain traits or
12 party labels or characteristics or, you know,
13 whatever it is you think of.
14 Senator Gianaris breaks the mold.
15 Because given the box, the pedigree, you don't
16 always expect the mission, the cause, the
17 intention and the attention to things that people
18 like him aren't supposed to care about.
19 And in many ways, that's what makes
20 him even more influential. Because you get to
21 hear important things that you don't expect to
22 hear from someone like him, from the sublime to
23 the ridiculous.
24 Whether it's Star Wars or the Mets
25 or it's like, We've got to go do this now to
6448
1 protect the most vulnerable people, he never,
2 ever, ever compromises when he makes a decision
3 to move in a direction that he believes matters.
4 And he's never afraid to lift his voice when he
5 knows that his voice can make the defining
6 difference in an outcome.
7 And that's what we've done here in
8 this chamber, with his influence, with his
9 support, with every fiber that he gave every
10 single one of us for every single one of the 16
11 years he's been in this chamber.
12 And yes, you are the third
13 Legacy Award, the first being Velmanette
14 Montgomery, who spent almost 36 years -- who
15 spent 36 years in this chamber, pioneering in so
16 many ways. And then of course Senator Breslin,
17 who spent almost 30 years in the chamber.
18 And then you, who in your 16 years
19 in this chamber has managed to create an
20 environment that allows us to continue to grow in
21 not only our policy but in our integrity, in our
22 purpose, and in the magnificent role of public
23 servant.
24 We know, just as we having
25 participated in life understand, nothing stays
6449
1 the same. But we are certainly all better for
2 the time that you have spent with us. And we are
3 very, very prepared to make sure that we continue
4 to stay focused on the mission of serving the
5 people of New York State.
6 I will say to your lovely wife and
7 your amazing children that you're very, very
8 fortunate. This man adores you all. I spend a
9 lot of time with him, and I know what everybody's
10 doing all the time, because there's no end to the
11 pictures and the photos and the fun and the Zoes
12 and the Orlas and the Marianas -- sometimes, you
13 know, you get to pop in between the girls. But I
14 can tell you that he would not leave here unless
15 he had a greater love, and that he does.
16 And for us who enjoy watching love
17 filter through this chamber through the eyes of a
18 child, who's only two, we say Godspeed. We say
19 thank you. You've already heard that every
20 single person is going to be torturing him anyway
21 from a distance, so you won't be done with us
22 entirely.
23 But we know that he will enjoy every
24 moment not only of what he did here, but what he
25 will do to grow and strengthen his family and to
6450
1 make sure that he also continues a legacy outside
2 of this chamber but in our communities, in our
3 state, and whatever it is he wants to do.
4 Senator Gianaris, thank you for
5 being, as I've said all the time, the best
6 Deputy Leader, the best Deputy Majority Leader,
7 the best partner, the best friend, the best ally
8 anyone could ever have.
9 Congratulations. I say aye.
10 (Enthusiastic, extended standing
11 ovation.)
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: While
13 you're in a clapping mood, some remarks from our
14 Deputy Leader, the Legacy Award winner, the King
15 of Queens, Senator Michael Gianaris.
16 SENATOR GIANARIS: Thank you,
17 Mr. President. Thank you, Madam Leader.
18 I don't know how many people get to
19 see a glimpse of what their funeral service is
20 going to sound like.
21 (Laughter.)
22 SENATOR GIANARIS: I think I just
23 have. So thank you for that. Most people don't
24 get to respond --
25 (Laughter.)
6451
1 SENATOR GIANARIS: -- but I do.
2 I also want to thank my colleagues
3 for being the perfect white noise for Zoe to
4 continue her nap. She just got up, I think while
5 Senator Lanza was speaking, so good timing on her
6 part.
7 (Laughter.)
8 SENATOR GIANARIS: What a ride it
9 has been. And for me, this building means so
10 much to me. In many ways, before I had my family
11 and the home I have now, it was my home. You
12 know, I was living alone. Home was just a place
13 I would go to be by myself and watch movies --
14 (Laughter.)
15 SENATOR GIANARIS: -- TV shows,
16 take care of my cats and whatever else was going
17 on back there.
18 But I started in 1997, early 1997,
19 so almost 30 years ago now, at an office in this
20 building in about the deepest corner of this
21 building that could possibly exist. You all
22 know, if you got on the elevators -- which, by
23 the way, back then they had humans operating
24 them. There were not even buttons on the
25 elevator. We had the elevator operators in those
6452
1 days. And my office was in a place called 513M.
2 So you may know the fifth floor is
3 the top floor of the building. "M" stood for
4 mezzanine. So you'd get to the top floor, you'd
5 literally go to the corner of the building, and
6 you walk into that office and there was a
7 stairway up to this manufactured floor above it.
8 And the only way up or down was that stairway.
9 It was a firetrap, to be sure. I hope they've
10 fixed that in the Assembly since I was there.
11 But I did see a lot of this building
12 over the years, and I've seen a lot of things.
13 I've witnessed two coup attempts, one in each
14 house.
15 (Laughter.)
16 SENATOR GIANARIS: One
17 unsuccessful, one successful.
18 I have served with five governors,
19 three of whom left under a cloud of ethical
20 problems -- a majority of the governors I served
21 with, think about that. So far Governor Hochul's
22 doing okay. She's not one of them.
23 When I first got elected to the
24 Assembly, it was the year of 9/11. A few years
25 later I witnessed the first African-American to
6453
1 become president of the United States, who also
2 went to a little school outside of Boston,
3 Senator Liu --
4 (Laughter.)
5 SENATOR GIANARIS: -- at the same
6 time I was there.
7 Slide over to the Senate, we had
8 COVID, of course, and all the issues associated
9 with the pandemic. And then the last several
10 years have seen the craziness with this current
11 president. I won't get too deep into politics in
12 these remarks, but it has been an experience, I
13 think, for everyone, no matter which side they
14 are on.
15 But at some point, and it was in my
16 time here, where I went from being more of a --
17 having a front seat to witness this history to
18 being a participant in it. And, you know, here
19 in this chamber we dealt with the Minority years,
20 which were difficult years. And it wasn't as
21 simple as it is today, where the lines were
22 clearcut. We had, as some of my colleagues
23 referenced, a number of Democrats who decided
24 they were going to vote for Republicans to be
25 leader of this chamber. And that lasted for
6454
1 longer than it should have.
2 We have so many of our Class of 2018
3 who were primary victors, and I think you heard
4 from many of them today.
5 But we did get past that. It was an
6 interesting time. I think you could write a
7 drama about that that would be interesting not
8 just to people who care about this chamber. You
9 had friends jumping sides, you had all sorts of
10 things that made what should be a simple job a
11 lot more difficult.
12 But then what came out of that --
13 because a lot of times I believe the biggest
14 struggles lead to the biggest rewards. And we
15 came out of that in electing, speaking of firsts,
16 the first Black woman to ever lead this chamber,
17 in Andrea Stewart-Cousins, a historic figure in
18 her own right. We have been able to preside over
19 the largest Majority this chamber has ever seen.
20 And that's just not things that you put in books
21 so that you can say you did it. It has real
22 consequences for people's lives.
23 The 2019 session, I like to say, for
24 anyone that is a student of state government,
25 will never be forgotten. I don't think there
6455
1 will ever be a session as productive as that one
2 was, and I don't think there was one prior to
3 that.
4 That, and the years since, have
5 resulted in so many incredible achievements that
6 are the kind of things that make it a little bit
7 easier to make the decision I made about leaving,
8 because I know that we have done some things.
9 And I think that was Senator Gounardes's point as
10 well.
11 But just to rattle off a few, and my
12 colleagues may want to close their ears for the
13 next couple of minutes. But among the things we
14 achieved: Early voting, mail-in voting, online
15 voter registration, the John Lewis Voting Rights
16 Act, which now seems like an incredibly prescient
17 thing to do.
18 Historic tenant protections. The
19 Reproductive Health Act, which at the time was an
20 incredibly prescient thing to do.
21 Nation-leading environmental
22 protections, protections for victims of sex
23 abuse, both children and adults. Criminal
24 justice reforms. Legalization of marijuana.
25 Protections for immigrants, starting
6456
1 with the DREAM Act and Green Light and, as we saw
2 just last week, adding to that. Which as
3 Senator Ramos mentioned is something, given that
4 my parents were immigrants, I have never let go
5 of.
6 GENDA and conversion therapy ban for
7 LGBTQ+ friends and neighbors. Gun safety laws.
8 You can open your ears now. A permanent property
9 tax cap in this state.
10 My love of animals has been
11 referenced. We did ban the sale of dogs, cats
12 and rabbits at retail throughout this state,
13 which is now something other states are
14 emulating.
15 And the work continues and will
16 continue after I'm long gone. I know my
17 colleagues are now focused on the problems of the
18 future -- regulation of AI, data centers, and the
19 host of things that we're not even thinking of
20 that will present themselves.
21 But the other thing that sticks with
22 me is the relationships that I've built in this
23 room with so many of you. You spend so much time
24 up here. And I love Albany, but, you know, in
25 the evening you go to dinner, because what else
6457
1 are you going to do, and so you get to know
2 people incredibly well. Sometimes it's
3 friendships you don't expect, like Senator Lanza
4 mentioned, or Senator Borrello -- I never thought
5 I'd be friends with Senator Borrello.
6 (Laughter.)
7 SENATOR GIANARIS: Seriously.
8 (Laughter.)
9 SENATOR GIANARIS: Incidentally,
10 the leader said to me when we had the
11 Storm Troopers in here, she says, "I've never
12 seen Senator Borrello happier in all the time
13 I've known him."
14 (Laughter.)
15 SENATOR GIANARIS: And it was good
16 to have that moment of bipartisanship as well.
17 But you know, what happens when you
18 spend that much time with people is you talk
19 about things that are important to you, and you
20 seek advice and you seek counsel and you just get
21 things off your chest. And so you end up knowing
22 people very personally in this place, and that is
23 something I treasure, treasure greatly.
24 Senator Skoufis mentioned that --
25 when was it, 2016? -- he declined to run, because
6458
1 we were recruiting him, we thought he had a shot.
2 What he doesn't mention is that the first meeting
3 I ever had as the chair of DSCC was with now
4 Senator Skoufis, who at the time was probably
5 younger than Kristen Gonzalez was when she got
6 elected. And he rolls in and he says, "I'm going
7 to run for Senate." And I said, "Against who?"
8 Like what do you -- who are you?
9 (Laughter.)
10 SENATOR GIANARIS: I think he had a
11 local office at the time, like a town position.
12 And he wisely did not run that year, because he
13 did end up following a path that got him to the
14 Assembly first and then over here. But we're
15 glad that he did make it.
16 And we're glad that so many of you
17 got here, whether I helped or not. This is an
18 institution that can be proud of itself. And
19 that is also a credit to our leader. And I do, I
20 do want to take a moment to say in the all of the
21 "I wouldn't be here without" conversations, I
22 would not be here without our leader, Andrea
23 Stewart-Cousins. And not just because she
24 appointed me to this position, but because we
25 have really been partners in a way that I think
6459
1 few leadership teams are. And so I value that --
2 that friendship more than any.
3 So when you look at it that way, for
4 me, it was not just that the building was a home
5 to me, but the people in the building were also
6 my family. And so now I do have about as good as
7 you can get. Right?
8 I mean, look at this. My wife,
9 Mariana, also an immigrant, by the way, and a
10 proud one, who is as smart as they come and as
11 tough as they come. Was it Senator Ramos who
12 talked about the toughness of the women in my
13 life? That is for sure. She is tremendous, and
14 I love her dearly.
15 Orla, so proud of Orla. Orla just
16 got elected class rep at her school.
17 (Applause.)
18 SENATOR GIANARIS: She was warming
19 up my seat before session, so I don't know if
20 she's getting ready for something. I know,
21 she's -- give her six years and she could come
22 here and join you.
23 And of course Zoe, who is an amazing
24 little thing. So much personality and sass and
25 smarts in her eyes. And she's just getting
6460
1 started, which is a wonderful thing to see.
2 And you all have heard me talk about
3 her endlessly, obviously. Poor Senator Cleare
4 has the misfortune of sitting next to me in
5 conference, so I roll in every -- "Oh, look at
6 this week's pictures."
7 (Laughter.)
8 SENATOR GIANARIS: She has watched
9 her grow up through my phone.
10 But you guys are all really amazing.
11 So Senator Bailey made this call to let people
12 know how you feel, and I can say with all my
13 heart that I love you all. Even those of you I
14 don't like, I love you.
15 (Laughter.)
16 SENATOR GIANARIS: And I would
17 leave you with -- because those are different
18 things too, Senator Lanza, as you know.
19 And so I ask you, as my parting wish
20 to all of you, is to take care of this building,
21 take care of each other, take care of the people
22 in it. And most importantly, take care of the
23 people we all represent in this state, because
24 that's why we're all here.
25 So thank you all incredibly. Thank
6461
1 you very, very much.
2 (Sustained standing ovation.)
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: For the
4 first and only time, the balcony can get involved
5 in this one. The guests can get involved in this
6 one.
7 The question is on the resolution.
8 All those in favor please signify by saying aye.
9 (Resounding response of "Aye.")
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: There's
11 no other question.
12 The resolution is adopted.
13 Senator Gianaris.
14 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President,
15 thank you.
16 I do want to also make one last
17 thank you to staff. We did a little bit at the
18 barbecue last week, but I don't want to let it go
19 unsaid that the staff makes this all possible for
20 all of us.
21 And so staff present and past, and
22 future, we appreciate you very much. Some of
23 them have come all the way to watch me from up
24 there. And so we love them as well.
25 Back to the work, Mr. President. We
6462
1 have a lot to do this week, so I appreciate
2 everyone's indulgence in doing that for a couple
3 of hours.
4 We have the guests for
5 Senator Scarcella-Spanton's resolution here, so
6 let's take up previously adopted Resolution 1682,
7 by Senator Scarcella-Spanton, read its title, and
8 call on Senator Scarcella-Spanton.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
10 Secretary will read.
11 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 1682, by
12 Senator Scarcella-Spanton, celebrating the
13 85th Anniversary of the Civil Air Patrol New York
14 Wing.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
16 Scarcella-Spanton on the resolution.
17 SENATOR SCARCELLA-SPANTON: Thank
18 you, Mr. President.
19 A tough act to follow, but a very
20 worthy one.
21 I rise today to commemorate the
22 85th anniversary of the Civil Air Patrol, and I
23 welcome Lieutenant Colonel Frank Birt, the
24 government relations advisor; Major Joe Gallo,
25 Vice Commander, North; Lieutenant Colonel James
6463
1 Glass; and Cadets Emmond, Jonassen, Koshinski,
2 Hartman, Benedict, Noonan, and Nelson.
3 The anniversary is an opportunity to
4 honor the generations of volunteers, cadets, and
5 senior members who have carried forward the
6 Civil Air Patrol mission, the official auxiliary
7 of the U.S. Air Force.
8 The Civil Air Patrol was established
9 during a critical period in American history and
10 has served the nation and our state with
11 distinction for over eight decades.
12 New York members have contributed to
13 countless missions supporting public safety,
14 emergency response, and most importantly, youth
15 development. The Civil Air Patrol New York Wing
16 stands ready to assist during emergencies,
17 natural disasters, and search-and-rescue
18 operations.
19 One of the most enduring
20 contributions of the Civil Air Patrol is the
21 development of young leaders through aerospace
22 education, character development, physical
23 fitness, and leadership training.
24 While we honor 85 years of
25 achievement, we also look to the future. By
6464
1 investing in our youth, embracing innovation, and
2 maintaining a spirit of volunteer service, this
3 organization is well-positioned for decades
4 ahead.
5 To every cadet, senior member,
6 volunteer, alum, supporter, and family member,
7 thank you for 85 years of service.
8 And I will say I know Senator Liu is
9 very, very connected to the Civil Air Patrol.
10 And I thank you very much for being
11 here. Thank you all for your patience. I hope
12 you enjoyed watching government unfold, and
13 people's careers, of course, too.
14 So thank you so much, and I proudly
15 vote aye.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you,
17 Senator.
18 Senator Griffo on the resolution.
19 SENATOR GRIFFO: Thank you,
20 Madam President.
21 I want to welcome Colonel Birt and
22 all of the members, the cadets who were here.
23 Very proud to recognize this
24 85th anniversary of the organization. Proud to
25 be part of the legislative squadron that we've
6465
1 assembled here, too, to advocate and to promote
2 the Civil Air Patrol.
3 As you heard, since their founding
4 in 1941, they embody the virtues of civic
5 responsibility, public service, and patriotism.
6 The Civil Air Patrol members and
7 cadets serve with distinction and with honor.
8 They have supported our communities throughout
9 the state during some of the most difficult
10 times, like September 11th, natural disasters.
11 They assist with emergency management.
12 I have personally had the
13 opportunity to ride with them to survey
14 devastation from some of the natural disasters
15 that we've experienced across our state,
16 particularly in my district.
17 So they inspire the next generation
18 of aviators and innovators. They mentor youth
19 through their leadership programs. There's over
20 2,200 volunteers currently in the New York Wing
21 of the Civil Air Patrol, and they are committed
22 to excellence, to professionalism, and to service
23 above self.
24 So they have truly made a difference
25 throughout this state and for our nation, so it's
6466
1 appropriate that we celebrate and recognize the
2 85th anniversary milestone.
3 I want to extend my gratitude and
4 appreciation to the men and women of New York's
5 Civil Air Patrol, thank them for their
6 willingness to step up and answer the call to
7 service.
8 Thank you, Madam President.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you,
10 Senator Griffo.
11 Senate Liu on the resolution.
12 SENATOR LIU: Thank you,
13 Madam President. I want to thank
14 Senator Scarcella-Spanton for this important
15 resolution.
16 And I want to thank Senator Griffo
17 for his kind words as well.
18 Eighty-five years ago, we were in
19 the middle of a world war, and patriots along the
20 East Coast here in the United States, they --
21 pilots, some professional, some amateur, they
22 took their own planes to survey the waters off
23 our coast, and in the process wound up sinking
24 three Germany submarines during World War II.
25 After that conflict, the
6467
1 United States Congress chartered the Civil Air
2 Patrol as an organization that would become the
3 auxiliary volunteer to the United States
4 Air Force. And 85 years later, the Civil Air
5 Patrol continues to grow and continues to provide
6 service and stays core to its mission and its
7 core values of excellence, integrity, respect,
8 and volunteer service.
9 And those guiding principles
10 continue to make the Civil Air Patrol the strong
11 organization nationwide -- and right here in
12 New York State -- that it is.
13 So I want to thank our officers, our
14 cadets, for joining us here in the State Capitol,
15 and for their continued service to this great
16 organization.
17 Thank you, Madam President. I vote
18 yes on this resolution. I urge my colleagues to
19 vote yes on this resolution. And I further urge
20 my colleagues to vote on two bills that are
21 coming up tomorrow and the rest of this week that
22 are important to the members of the U.S. Civil
23 Air Patrol here in New York.
24 Thank you, Madam President.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you,
6468
1 Senator Liu.
2 Senator Webb on the resolution.
3 SENATOR WEBB: Thank you,
4 Madam President.
5 I too want to thank
6 Senator Scarcella-Spanton for recognizing this
7 important anniversary of reaching this milestone
8 of 85 years.
9 To Commander Birt, I have the
10 pleasure of meeting with you quite often, and the
11 cadets. I'm a proud card-carrying member, like
12 many of us in the Legislature.
13 The work of the Civil Air Patrol and
14 the resources they provide to our community are
15 very important. I think about in my area when
16 the floods happened in 2011, and other kind of
17 extreme weather events that require emergency
18 response, they were there, among other first
19 responders, really providing supports.
20 And the cadets that are part of this
21 program are just really committed to community
22 service and are exploring their -- I would say
23 their purpose of being in the STEM but also, most
24 of all, utilizing their talents and their gifts
25 to making our communities better.
6469
1 So again, congratulations on
2 reaching such an important milestone. We look
3 forward to celebrating 85 more years, and
4 appreciate your patience today in being here with
5 us.
6 But congratulations to not only
7 Commander Birt, but really the entire team for
8 what they do.
9 I proudly vote aye, Madam President.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you.
11 To our guests from the Civil Air
12 Patrol on the occasion of your 85th anniversary,
13 your leadership, the cadets, thank you for your
14 presence here today. We acknowledge and respect
15 you. We extend to you the cordialities of the
16 house.
17 Please rise and be recognized.
18 (Standing ovation.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
20 resolution was adopted previously on March 10th.
21 Senator Gianaris.
22 SENATOR GIANARIS: Madam President,
23 I have a couple of motions here.
24 On behalf of Senator Brisport, I
25 wish to call up Senate Print 1615, recalled from
6470
1 the Assembly, which is now at the desk.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
3 Secretary will read.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 401, Senate Print 1615, by Senator Brisport, an
6 act to amend the Real Property Actions and
7 Proceedings Law.
8 SENATOR GIANARIS: Move to
9 reconsider the vote by which this bill was
10 passed.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
12 Secretary will call the roll on reconsideration.
13 (The Secretary called the roll.)
14 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
16 is restored to its place on the Third Reading
17 Calendar.
18 SENATOR GIANARIS: I offer the
19 following amendments.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
21 amendments are received.
22 SENATOR GIANARIS: On behalf of
23 Senator Baskin, on page 24 I offer the following
24 amendments to Calendar 928, Senate Print 9126A,
25 and ask that said bill retain its place on
6471
1 Third Reading Calendar.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
3 amendments are received, and the bill will retain
4 its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
5 Senator Gianaris.
6 SENATOR GIANARIS: There will be an
7 immediate meeting of the Rules Committee in
8 Room 332.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: There will
10 be an immediate meeting of the Rules Committee in
11 Room 332.
12 SENATOR GIANARIS: The Senate
13 stands at ease.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The Senate
15 stands at ease.
16 (Whereupon, the Senate stood at ease
17 at 4:03 p.m.)
18 (Whereupon, the Senate reconvened at
19 4:12 p.m.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
21 Senate will return to order.
22 Senator Gianaris.
23 SENATOR GIANARIS: I believe
24 there's a report of the Rules Committee at the
25 desk. Let's take that up, Mr. President.
6472
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
2 Secretary will read.
3 THE SECRETARY: Senator
4 Stewart-Cousins, from the Committee on Rules,
5 reports the following bills:
6 Senate Print 291B, by
7 Senator Rhoads, an act to amend the Highway Law;
8 Senate Print 1171A, by
9 Senator Mattera, an act to amend the
10 Environmental Conservation Law;
11 Senate Print 1891A, by
12 Senator Jackson, an act to amend the Vehicle and
13 Traffic Law;
14 Senate Print 2461A, by
15 Senator Rhoads, an act in relation to authorizing
16 the New York State and Local Employees'
17 Retirement System to accept an application for
18 disability retirement benefits;
19 Senate Print 2667C, by
20 Senator Salazar, an act to amend the
21 Correction Law;
22 Senate Print 3500, by Senator Weik,
23 an act to amend the Executive Law;
24 Senate Print 3610A, by
25 Senator Helming, an act to amend the
6473
1 Mental Hygiene Law;
2 Senate Print 3815C, by
3 Senator Rivera, an act to amend the
4 General Municipal Law;
5 Senate Print 3864A, by
6 Senator Gianaris, an act to amend the
7 Judiciary Law;
8 Senate Print 4040, by
9 Senator Comrie, an act to amend the
10 Administrative Code of the City of New York;
11 Senate Print 4155A, by
12 Senator Sanders, an act to amend the
13 Executive Law;
14 Senate Print 4155A, by
15 Senator Sanders, an act to amend the
16 Executive Law;
17 Senate Print 4448A, by Senator Stec,
18 an act to amend the Civil Service Law;
19 Senate Print 4571B, by
20 Senator Harckham, an act to amend the
21 Public Authorities Law;
22 Senate Print 4583B, by
23 Senator Salazar, an act to amend the
24 Correction Law;
25 Senate Print 4667A, by
6474
1 Senator Jackson, an act to amend the
2 Retirement and Social Security Law;
3 Senate Print 4706A, by
4 Senator Jackson, an act to amend the
5 Retirement and Social Security Law;
6 Senate Print 5585, by Senator Lanza,
7 an act to amend the Highway Law;
8 Senate Print 5659, by
9 Senator Palumbo, an act in relation to
10 authorizing the Village of North Haven,
11 Suffolk County, to reduce the maximum speed limit
12 along certain designated streets;
13 Senate Print 5727, by
14 Senator Harckham, an act to amend the
15 Education Law;
16 Senate Print 5737A, by
17 Senator Scarcella-Spanton, an act to amend the
18 Social Services Law;
19 Senate Print 5883, by Senator Lanza,
20 an act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law;
21 Senate Print 6233A, by
22 Senator Martinez, an act to amend the Tax Law;
23 Senate Print 6898, by
24 Senator Cooney, an act to amend the
25 Executive Law;
6475
1 Senate Print 7158A, by
2 Senator O'Mara, an act to amend Chapter 412 of
3 the Laws of 1990;
4 Senate Print 7411A, by
5 Senator O'Mara, an act in relation to authorizing
6 Lieutenant Thomas Cleere to receive certain
7 service credit under a 20-year retirement plan;
8 Senate Print 7604B, by
9 Senator Mattera, an act in relation to
10 authorizing the Town of Smithtown assessor to
11 accept an application for a real property tax
12 exemption;
13 Senate Print 7759A, by
14 Senator Lanza, an act to authorize Frank R. Smith
15 to receive performance of duty disability
16 retirement benefits;
17 Senate Print 7762B, by
18 Senator Murray, an act in relation to authorizing
19 the assessor of the Town of Brookhaven, County of
20 Suffolk, to accept an application for a real
21 property tax exemption;
22 Senate Print 7808A, by
23 Senator Scarcella-Spanton, an act to amend the
24 Retirement and Social Security Law;
25 Senate Print 7898A, by
6476
1 Senator Hinchey, an act to amend the
2 Economic Development Law;
3 Senate Print 8122B, by
4 Senator Jackson, an act to amend the
5 Administrative Code of the City of New York;
6 Senate Print 8167A, by
7 Senator Lanza, an act granting retroactive
8 Tier IV membership in the New York City Teachers'
9 Retirement System;
10 Senate Print 8398, by
11 Senator Oberacker, an act in relation to
12 authorizing Daniel Montalto to take the
13 competitive civil service examination;
14 Senate Print 8455B, by Senator Fahy,
15 an act to amend the Penal Law;
16 Senate Print 8553A, by
17 Senator Hinchey, an act to amend the
18 Public Health Law;
19 Senate Print 8654B, by
20 Senator Cleare, an act to amend the Elder Law;
21 Senate Print 8945, by
22 Senator Jackson, an act to amend the
23 Retirement and Social Security Law;
24 Senate Print 9069, by
25 Senator Jackson, an act to amend the
6477
1 Retirement and Social Security Law;
2 Senate Print 9139A, by
3 Senator Salazar, an act to amend the
4 Social Services Law;
5 Senate Print 9190, by
6 Senator O'Mara, an act to amend the
7 Retirement and Social Security Law;
8 Senate Print 9272A, by
9 Senator Fernandez, an act to amend the
10 Education Law;
11 Senate Print 9356, by
12 Senator Kavanagh, an act to amend the
13 Retirement and Social Security Law;
14 Senate Print 9378, by
15 Senator Jackson, an act to amend the
16 Retirement and Social Security Law;
17 Senate Print 9408A, by
18 Senator Gounardes, an act to amend the
19 General Business Law;
20 Senate Print 9497, by
21 Senator Fernandez, an act to amend the
22 Insurance Law;
23 Senate Print 9500A, by
24 Senator Hinchey, an act to amend the
25 Public Service Law;
6478
1 Senate Print 9664, by
2 Senator Hinchey, an act to amend the
3 Public Health Law;
4 Senate Print 9671A, by
5 Senator Hinchey, an act to amend the
6 Election Law;
7 Senate Print 9683A, by
8 Senator Gonzalez, an act to authorize the City of
9 New York to sell certain lands;
10 Senate Print 9761, by Senator Mayer,
11 an act to amend the State Finance Law;
12 Senate Print 9853A, by
13 Senator Bailey, an act to amend the
14 Education Law;
15 Senate Print 9855A, by
16 Senator Mayer, an act to amend the
17 State Finance Law;
18 Senate Print 9881, by
19 Senator Jackson, an act to amend the
20 General Municipal Law;
21 Senate Print 9882, by
22 Senator Jackson, an act to amend the
23 General Municipal Law;
24 Senate Print 9885A, by
25 Senator Sutton, an act to amend the
6479
1 Education Law;
2 Senate Print 9966, by
3 Senator Comrie, an act to amend the
4 Public Service Law;
5 Senate Print 9977A, by Senator Weik,
6 an act to amend Chapter 10 of the Laws of 1958;
7 Senate Print 9983, by
8 Senator Borrello, an act in relation to
9 authorizing Joseph Fredrick to take the
10 competitive civil service examination;
11 Senate Print 10032A, by
12 Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, an act in relation
13 to authorizing Hachaim Veshalom to file an
14 application for a retroactive real property tax
15 exemption;
16 Senate Print 10092, by
17 Senator Brouk, an act to amend the
18 General Business Law;
19 Senate Print 10094, by
20 Senator Harckham, an act to amend the
21 Highway Law;
22 Senate Print 10113, by
23 Senator Hinchey, an act to amend the
24 Cannabis Law;
25 Senate Print 10165A, by
6480
1 Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, an act authorizing
2 the Cong Ahavas Yisrael, Inc., to receive
3 retroactive real property tax-exempt status;
4 Senate Print 10186, by
5 Senator Jackson, an act to amend the
6 Administrative Code of the City of New York;
7 Senate Print 10200, by
8 Senator Kavanagh, an act to amend the
9 Multiple Dwelling Law;
10 Senate Print 10239, by
11 Senator Comrie, an act to amend the
12 General Business Law;
13 Senate Print 10274, by
14 Senator Fernandez, an act to amend the
15 Real Property Law;
16 Senate Print 10309, by
17 Senator Brouk, an act to amend the
18 Mental Hygiene Law;
19 Senate Print 10340, by Senator May,
20 an act to amend the Public Health Law;
21 Senate Print 10350A, by
22 Senator Ramos, an act to amend the
23 Civil Service Law;
24 Senate Print 10523, by
25 Senator Stavisky, an act to amend Chapter 548 of
6481
1 the Laws of 2004;
2 Senate Print 10524, by
3 Senator Stavisky, an act to amend Part U of
4 Chapter 56 of the Laws of 2018;
5 Senate Print 10526, by
6 Senator O'Mara, an act to amend the
7 Public Officers Law;
8 Senate Print 10538, by
9 Senator Salazar, an act to amend Chapter 573 of
10 the Laws of 2011;
11 Senate Print 10545, by
12 Senator Bottcher, an act to amend Chapter 890 of
13 the Laws of 1982;
14 Senate Print 10567, by
15 Senator Ramos, an act to amend Chapter 831 of the
16 Laws of 1981;
17 Senate Print 10569, by
18 Senator Ramos, an act to amend Chapter 451 of the
19 Laws of 2012;
20 Senate Print 10585, by
21 Senator Gianaris, an act to amend the Tax Law;
22 Senate Print 10586, by
23 Senator Gianaris, an act to amend Chapter 801 of
24 the Laws of 2021.
25 All bills reported direct to third
6482
1 reading.
2 SENATOR GIANARIS: Move to accept
3 the report of the Rules Committee.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: All those
5 in favor of accepting the report of the
6 Rules Committee please signify by saying aye.
7 (Response of "Aye.")
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Opposed,
9 nay.
10 (No response.)
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
12 report of the Rules Committee is accepted.
13 Senator Gianaris.
14 SENATOR GIANARIS: Please take up
15 the calendar.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
17 Secretary will read.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
19 107, Senate Print 5835, by Senator Skoufis, an
20 act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
22 last section.
23 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
24 act shall take effect immediately.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
6483
1 roll.
2 (The Secretary called the roll.)
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
4 the results.
5 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
6 Calendar 107, voting in the negative:
7 Senator Brisport.
8 Ayes, 59. Nays, 1.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
10 is passed.
11 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
12 126, Senate Print 607C, by Senator Stavisky, an
13 act to amend the Education Law.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
15 last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 15. This
17 act shall take effect 18 months after it shall
18 have become a law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
20 roll.
21 (The Secretary called the roll.)
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
23 the results.
24 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
6484
1 is passed.
2 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3 134, Senate Print 5990C, by Senator Ramos, an act
4 to amend the Labor Law.
5 SENATOR LANZA: Lay it aside.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Lay it
7 aside.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 216, Senate Print 2436A, by Senator Krueger, an
10 act to amend the Administrative Code of the City
11 of New York.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
13 last section.
14 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
15 act shall take effect on the first of January.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
17 roll.
18 (The Secretary called the roll.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
20 the results.
21 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
22 Calendar 216, voting in the negative are
23 Senators Ashby, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Gallivan,
24 Griffo, Lanza, Martinez, Martins, Mattera,
25 Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads,
6485
1 Rolison, Scarcella-Spanton, Stec, Tedisco,
2 Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
3 Senator Weber in the affirmative.
4 Senator Borrello in the negative.
5 Ayes, 39. Nays, 21.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
7 is passed.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 292, Senate Print 1180C, by Senator Gianaris, an
10 act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
12 last section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
14 act shall take effect on the 30th day after it
15 shall have become a law.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
17 roll.
18 (The Secretary called the roll.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
20 the results.
21 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
22 Calendar 292, voting in the negative are
23 Senators Borrello, Chan, Gallivan, Griffo,
24 Helming, Lanza, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
25 Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
6486
1 Ayes, 45. Nays, 15.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 323, Assembly Bill Number 173A, by
6 Assemblymember Paulin, an act to amend the
7 Not-For-Profit Corporation Law.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
9 last section.
10 THE SECRETARY: Section 10. This
11 act shall take effect on the 30th day after it
12 shall have become a law.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
14 roll.
15 (The Secretary called the roll.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
17 the results.
18 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
19 Calendar 323, voting in the negative are
20 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
21 Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martinez,
22 Martins, Mattera, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
23 Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Ryan, Stec, Tedisco,
24 Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
25 Ayes, 37. Nays, 23.
6487
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
2 is passed.
3 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
4 341, Senate Print Number 2364, by
5 Senator Scarcella-Spanton, an act to amend the
6 State Law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
8 last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
10 act shall take effect immediately.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
12 roll.
13 (The Secretary called the roll.)
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
15 the results.
16 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
18 is passed.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
20 385, Senate Print 1617, by Senator Rivera, an act
21 to amend the Public Health Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
25 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
6488
1 shall have become a law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
3 roll.
4 (The Secretary called the roll.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
6 the results.
7 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
8 Calendar 385, voting in the negative are
9 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
10 Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martins,
11 Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
12 Palumbo, Rhoads, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber
13 and Weik.
14 Ayes, 40. Nays, 20.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
16 is passed.
17 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
18 417, Senate Print 593A, by Senator Hinchey, an
19 act to amend the Agriculture and Markets Law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
21 last section.
22 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
23 act shall take effect one year after it shall
24 have become a law.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
6489
1 roll.
2 (The Secretary called the roll.)
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
4 the results.
5 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
7 is passed.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 454, Senate Print 2708B, by Senator May, an act
10 to amend the Public Service Law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
12 last section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
14 act shall take effect immediately.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
16 roll.
17 (The Secretary called the roll.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
19 May to explain her vote.
20 SENATOR MAY: Thank you,
21 Mr. President.
22 We're all aware of our constituents
23 being concerned about rising utility bills. And
24 the big reason for these rises in utility bills
25 has to do with the fact that we have an
6490
1 antiquated electric grid and rising demand. So
2 the demand hits a bottleneck in the Northeast,
3 and it drives prices up.
4 The long-term solution to this is to
5 build out the grid, but that's a very, very
6 expensive solution.
7 And in the meantime we do have a
8 much cheaper solution, which is to use advanced
9 transmission technologies, which are software and
10 hardware solutions that just move the energy
11 around on the grid much faster and more
12 efficiently. And the hope is that this can truly
13 bring energy prices down while making the grid
14 work better and be more resilient.
15 So I'm proud that we're passing this
16 bill today, and I vote aye.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
18 May to be recorded in the affirmative.
19 Announce the results.
20 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
21 Calendar 454, voting in the negative are
22 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
23 Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martins,
24 Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Rhoads,
25 Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk and Weik.
6491
1 Ayes, 41. Nays, 19.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 466, Senate Print 4162, by Senator Bailey, an act
6 to incentivize the purchase of local produce.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
8 last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
10 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
11 shall have become a law.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
13 roll.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
16 the results.
17 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
19 is passed.
20 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
21 543, Senate Print 5598B, by Senator May, an act
22 to amend the General Business Law.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
24 last section.
25 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
6492
1 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
2 shall have become a law.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
4 roll.
5 (The Secretary called the roll.)
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
7 the results.
8 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
9 Calendar 543, voting in the negative are
10 Senators Borrello, Oberacker, Stec, Walczyk and
11 Weik.
12 Ayes, 55. Nays, 5.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
14 is passed.
15 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
16 557, Senate Print 3105, by Senator Cooney, an act
17 to amend the Cannabis Law.
18 SENATOR GIANARIS: Lay it aside for
19 the day.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
21 will be laid aside for the day.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23 558, Assembly Bill Number 755B, by
24 Assemblymember Paulin, an act to amend the
25 Public Health Law.
6493
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
2 last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
4 act shall take effect immediately.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
6 roll.
7 (The Secretary called the roll.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
9 the results.
10 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
12 is passed.
13 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
14 576, Senate Print 2134A, by Senator Krueger, an
15 act to amend the Administrative Code of the City
16 of New York.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
18 last section.
19 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
20 act shall take effect immediately.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
22 roll.
23 (The Secretary called the roll.)
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
25 the results.
6494
1 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
2 Calendar 576, voting in the negative are
3 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
4 Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martinez,
5 Martins, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara,
6 Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Skoufis, Stec,
7 Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
8 Ayes, 36. Nays, 24.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
10 is passed.
11 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
12 583, Senate Print 1462A, by Senator Kavanagh, an
13 act to amend the Public Authorities Law.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
15 last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
17 act shall take effect immediately.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
19 roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
22 the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
24 Calendar 583, voting in the negative are
25 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
6495
1 Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martins,
2 Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
3 Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk,
4 Weber and Weik.
5 Ayes, 38. Nays, 22.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
7 is passed.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 676, Senate Print 8870, by Senator Skoufis, an
10 act to amend the Real Property Law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
12 last section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
14 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
15 shall have become a law.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
17 roll.
18 (The Secretary called the roll.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
20 the results.
21 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
22 Calendar 676, voting in the negative are
23 Senators Borrello and Lanza.
24 Ayes, 58. Nays, 2.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
6496
1 is passed.
2 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3 714, Assembly Bill Number 9334A, by
4 Assemblymember Simpson, an act transferring
5 certain state property located in the Town of
6 Queensbury to the County of Warren.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: There's a
8 home-rule message at the desk.
9 Read the last section.
10 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
11 act shall take effect immediately.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
13 roll.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
16 the results.
17 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
19 is passed.
20 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
21 715, Senate Print 8643, by Senator Martinez, an
22 act to amend the State Law.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
24 last section.
25 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
6497
1 act shall take effect immediately.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
3 roll.
4 (The Secretary called the roll.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
6 the results.
7 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 752, Senate Print 9766, by Senator Sepúlveda, an
12 act to amend the Civil Practice Law and Rules.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
14 last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 6. This
16 act shall take effect on the 60th day after it
17 shall have become a law.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
19 roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
22 the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
24 Calendar 752, voting in the negative are
25 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
6498
1 Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martinez,
2 Martins, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara,
3 Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Ryan, Skoufis,
4 Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
5 Ayes, 35. Nays, 25.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
7 is passed.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 780, Senate Print 7607D, by Senator Borrello, an
10 act to amend the Highway Law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
12 last section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
14 act shall take effect immediately.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
16 roll.
17 (The Secretary called the roll.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
19 the results.
20 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
21 Calendar 780, voting in the negative:
22 Senator Brisport.
23 Ayes, 59. Nays, 1.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
25 is passed.
6499
1 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
2 782, Senate Print 8059, by Senator Bailey, an act
3 to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
5 last section.
6 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
7 act shall take effect one year after it shall
8 have become a law.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
10 roll.
11 (The Secretary called the roll.)
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
13 the results.
14 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
16 is passed.
17 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
18 799, Senate Print 2444, by Senator Fernandez, an
19 act to amend the Civil Rights Law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
21 last section.
22 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
23 act shall take effect immediately.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
25 roll.
6500
1 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
3 the results.
4 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
5 Calendar 799, voting in the negative are
6 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
7 Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martins,
8 Mattera, Murray, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads,
9 Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
10 Ayes, 39. Nays, 21.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
12 is passed.
13 There's a substitution at the desk.
14 The Secretary will read.
15 THE SECRETARY: Senator Cleare
16 moves to discharge, from the Committee on Health,
17 Assembly Bill 1931 and substitute it for the
18 identical Senate Bill 3566, Third Reading
19 Calendar 808.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
21 last section.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23 808, Assembly Bill Number 1931, by
24 Assemblymember Paulin, an act to amend the
25 Social Services Law.
6501
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
2 last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
4 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
5 shall have become a law.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
7 roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
10 the results.
11 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
13 Cleare -- excuse me. Senator Cleare to explain
14 her vote. I apologize.
15 SENATOR CLEARE: Thank you,
16 Mr. President.
17 I'm proud to rise as chair of the
18 Aging Committee to support this bill, which will
19 permanently expand the Medicaid dental benefit in
20 New York State to include coverage of root
21 canals, crowns, replacement dentures, and dental
22 implants when medically necessary.
23 These are rights that actually had
24 to be sued for, and it is high time that we
25 enshrine them in statute. Effective and
6502
1 proactive dental care is critical for all
2 New Yorkers, particularly our older New Yorkers
3 and people with lesser means. Poor dental health
4 can cause pain, suffering, difficulty, and an
5 inability to eat and a limited quality of life.
6 And for seniors, it actually hastens the aging
7 process.
8 A report by the U.S. Centers for
9 Disease Control and Prevention shows that there
10 are profound racial and economic disparities
11 regarding oral health among individuals which is
12 linked to cardiovascular disease, respiratory
13 infection, and even in some cases adverse
14 pregnancy outcomes.
15 We have the opportunity to get it
16 right with this bill and ensure that oral health
17 care is accessible to all.
18 Thank you. I vote aye.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
20 Cleare to be recorded in the affirmative.
21 The results were announced.
22 The bill is passed.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24 842, Senate Print 1026A, by Senator Kavanagh, an
25 act to amend the Executive Law.
6503
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
2 last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
4 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
5 shall have become a law.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
7 roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
10 the results.
11 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
12 Calendar 842, voting in the negative are
13 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Gallivan, Griffo,
14 Helming, Lanza, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker,
15 O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk and
16 Weik.
17 Ayes, 44. Nays, 16.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
19 is passed.
20 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
21 847, Assembly Bill Number 4603A, by
22 Assemblymember Weprin, an act to amend the
23 Correction Law.
24 SENATOR LANZA: Lay it aside.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Lay it
6504
1 aside.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Calendar
3 Number 869, Senate Print 825B, by Senator Liu, an
4 act to amend the Labor Law.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
6 last section.
7 THE SECRETARY: Section 8. This
8 act shall take effect be on the 90th day after it
9 shall have become a law.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
11 roll.
12 (The Secretary called the roll.)
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
14 the results.
15 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
16 Calendar 869, voting in the negative:
17 Senator Walczyk.
18 Ayes, 59. Nays, 1.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
20 is passed.
21 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
22 899, Senate Print 5932A, by Senator Mattera, an
23 act in relation to authorizing the Town of
24 Huntington to alienate and discontinue the use of
25 certain parklands.
6505
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: There is
2 a home-rule message at the desk.
3 Read the last section.
4 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
5 act shall take effect immediately.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
7 roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
10 the results.
11 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
13 is passed.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
15 917, Senate Print 9790, by Senator Sepúlveda, an
16 act to amend the Judiciary Law.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
18 last section.
19 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
20 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
21 shall have become a law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
23 roll.
24 (The Secretary called the roll.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
6506
1 the results.
2 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
3 Calendar 917, voting in the negative are
4 Senators Helming, Martinez, Ortt,
5 Scarcella-Spanton and Walczyk.
6 Ayes, 55. Nays, 5.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
8 is passed.
9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
10 979, Senate Print 7408B, by Senator Fahy, an act
11 to amend the Public Health Law.
12 SENATOR LANZA: Lay it aside.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Lay it
14 aside.
15 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
16 1042, Senate Print 1613A, by Senator Fahy, an act
17 directing the Empire State Development
18 Corporation, in conjunction with the Office of
19 General Services, to create plans for the
20 development of mixed-use commercial and
21 residential property.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
25 act shall take effect immediately.
6507
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
2 roll.
3 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
5 Fahy to explain her vote.
6 SENATOR FAHY: Thank you,
7 Mr. President.
8 I rise to vote in support of this
9 bill and also want to note just its significance.
10 This has been many, many years in the making.
11 This bill in particular is about
12 laying aside seven of 27 acres for mixed-use
13 development. Those 27 acres right now are mostly
14 under construction for the famed Wadsworth Public
15 Health Labs. It's a $1.7 billion investment.
16 We'd like to take the part that is designated as
17 a parking lot to convert that for mixed-use
18 development for commercial, retail, housing and
19 more.
20 And I should also say this is very
21 significant because just last week in the
22 state budget, thanks to the support of many here,
23 we were also able to include a million dollars
24 for a comprehensive redesign study for
25 Harriman Campus.
6508
1 I'd like this to also be a part of
2 it. We have a housing shortage. We have a lot
3 of shortages and a lot of needs. We have a
4 couple of hundred acres up there, and I think we
5 can get it out of the 1960s design, the
6 car-centric design, move it into the
7 21st century. And I'm very pleased to see us
8 adopting this bill today as we rethink what is
9 now referred to as the Uptown Parking Lot
10 District.
11 Thank you. With that, I vote in the
12 affirmative.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
14 the results.
15 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
16 Calendar 1042, voting in the negative:
17 Senator Oberacker.
18 Ayes, 59. Nays, 1.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
20 is passed.
21 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
22 1044, Senate Print 1996, by Senator Sanders, an
23 act establishing a New York State Public Bank
24 Commission.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
6509
1 last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 6. This
3 act shall take effect on the 30th day after it
4 shall have become a law.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
6 roll.
7 (The Secretary called the roll.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
9 the results.
10 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
11 Calendar 1044, voting in the negative are
12 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
13 Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martins,
14 Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
15 Palumbo, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber
16 and Weik.
17 Ayes, 39. Nays, 21.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
19 is passed.
20 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
21 1049, Senate Print 4042B, by Senator Harckham, an
22 act to amend the Civil Rights Law.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
24 last section.
25 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
6510
1 act shall take effect immediately.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
3 roll.
4 (The Secretary called the roll.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
6 the results.
7 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
8 Calendar 1049, voting in the negative:
9 Senator Walczyk.
10 Ayes, 59. Nays, 1.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
12 is passed.
13 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
14 1050, Senate Print 4535, by Senator Skoufis, an
15 act to amend the Executive Law.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
17 last section.
18 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
19 act shall take effect immediately.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
21 roll.
22 (The Secretary called the roll.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
24 the results.
25 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
6511
1 Calendar 1050, voting in the negative are
2 Senators Borrello, Chan, Helming, Lanza, Martins,
3 Murray, O'Mara, Ortt, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk and
4 Weik.
5 Ayes, 48. Nays, 12.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
7 is passed.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 1051, Senate Print 4955B, by Senator Harckham, an
10 act to amend the Public Health Law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
12 last section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
14 act shall take effect on the first of April.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
16 roll.
17 (The Secretary called the roll.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
19 the results.
20 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
22 is passed.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24 1057, Senate Print 365, by Senator Skoufis, an
25 act to amend the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.
6512
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
2 last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
4 act shall take effect on the 30th day after it
5 shall have become a law.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
7 roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
10 the results.
11 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
12 Calendar 1057, voting in the negative:
13 Senator Walczyk.
14 Ayes, 59. Nays, 1.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
16 is passed.
17 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
18 1089, Senate Print 10098, by Senator Skoufis, an
19 act to amend the Public Officers Law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
21 last section.
22 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
23 act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
25 roll.
6513
1 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
3 the results.
4 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
6 is passed.
7 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
8 1159, Assembly Bill Number 3450A, by
9 Assemblymember Santabarbara, an act to amend the
10 Real Property Tax Law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
12 last section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
14 act shall take effect immediately.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
16 roll.
17 (The Secretary called the roll.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
19 the results.
20 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
22 is passed.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24 1160, Senate Print 5729, by Senator Harckham, an
25 act to amend the Executive Law.
6514
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
2 last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
4 act shall take effect immediately.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
6 roll.
7 (The Secretary called the roll.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
9 the results.
10 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
12 is passed.
13 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
14 1165, Senate Print 1056, by Senator Serrano, an
15 act to amend the Social Services Law.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
17 last section.
18 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
19 act shall take effect on the 60th day after it
20 shall have become a law.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
22 roll.
23 (The Secretary called the roll.)
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
25 the results.
6515
1 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 1191, Senate Print 592A, by Senator Hinchey, an
6 act to amend the Agriculture and Markets Law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
8 last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
10 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
11 shall have become a law.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
13 roll.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
16 the results.
17 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
19 is passed.
20 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
21 1201, Senate Print 1986, by Senator Harckham, an
22 act to amend the Education Law.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
24 last section.
25 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
6516
1 act shall take effect immediately.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
3 roll.
4 (The Secretary called the roll.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
6 the results.
7 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 1204, Senate Print 4755A, by Senator Bailey, an
12 act to amend the Agriculture and Markets Law.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
14 last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
16 act shall take effect immediately.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
18 roll.
19 (The Secretary called the roll.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
21 the results.
22 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
24 is passed.
25 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
6517
1 1268, Senate Print 7189B, by Senator Rhoads, an
2 act to amend the Highway Law.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
4 last section.
5 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
6 act shall take effect immediately.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
8 roll.
9 (The Secretary called the roll.)
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
11 Secretary will announce the results.
12 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
13 Calendar 1268, voting in the negative:
14 Senator Brisport.
15 Ayes, 59. Nays, 1.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
17 is passed.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
19 1311, Senate Print 10168A, by Senator Kavanagh,
20 an act to amend the Environmental Conservation
21 Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 12. This
25 act shall take effect immediately.
6518
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
2 roll.
3 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
5 the results.
6 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
7 Calendar 1311, voting in the negative are
8 Senators Martinez and Ryan.
9 Ayes, 58. Nays, 2.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
11 is passed.
12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
13 1318, Senate Print 4640A, by Senator Fernandez,
14 an act to amend the Public Health Law.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
16 last section.
17 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
18 act shall take effect immediately.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
20 roll.
21 (The Secretary called the roll.)
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
23 the results.
24 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
25 Calendar 1318, voting in the negative are
6519
1 Senators Ashby, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Gallivan,
2 Griffo, O'Mara, Ortt, Stec and Walczyk.
3 Ayes 52. Nays, 8.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
5 is passed.
6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
7 1321, Assembly Bill Number 10045, by
8 Assemblymember Forrest, an act to amend the
9 Public Health Law.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
11 last section.
12 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
13 act shall take effect on the 60th day after it
14 shall have become a law.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
16 roll.
17 (The Secretary called the roll.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
19 the results.
20 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
22 is passed.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24 1323, Senate Print 8169, by Senator Bynoe, an act
25 to amend the State Technology Law.
6520
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
2 last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
4 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
5 shall have become a law.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
7 roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
10 the results.
11 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
13 is passed.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
15 1339, Senate Print 1063, by Senator Serrano, an
16 act to amend the Education Law.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
18 last section.
19 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
20 act shall take effect immediately.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
22 roll.
23 (The Secretary called the roll.)
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
25 the results.
6521
1 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
2 Calendar 1339, voting in the negative are
3 Senators Ashby, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Gallivan,
4 Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martins, Mattera, Murray,
5 Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads,
6 Rolison, Scarcella-Spanton, Stec, Tedisco,
7 Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
8 Ayes, 39. Nays, 21.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
10 is passed.
11 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
12 1340, Senate Print 1072A, by Senator Serrano, an
13 act to amend the Education Law.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
15 last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
17 act shall take effect immediately.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
19 roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
22 the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
24 Calendar 1340, voting in the negative are
25 Senators Lanza and Walczyk.
6522
1 Ayes, 58. Nays, 2.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 1341, Senate Print 1157, by Senator Cooney, an
6 act to amend the Private Housing Finance Law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
8 last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
10 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
11 shall have become a law.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
13 roll.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
16 the results.
17 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
19 is passed.
20 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
21 1342, Senate Print 1162A, by Senator Krueger, an
22 act to amend the General Business Law.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
24 last section.
25 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
6523
1 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
2 shall have become a law.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
4 roll.
5 (The Secretary called the roll.)
6 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
7 the results.
8 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
9 Calendar 1342, voting in the negative are
10 Senators Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan,
11 Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Mattera, Murray,
12 Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Senator Palumbo, Stec,
13 Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
14 Ayes, 43. Nays, 17.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
16 is passed.
17 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
18 1344, Senate Print 1366, by Senator Serrano, an
19 act to amend the Mental Hygiene Law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
21 last section.
22 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
23 act shall take effect on the 30th day after it
24 shall have become a law.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
6524
1 roll.
2 (The Secretary called the roll.)
3 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
4 the results.
5 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
7 is passed.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 1345, Senate Print 1378A, by Senator Serrano, an
10 act to amend the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
12 last section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
14 act shall take effect on the 365th day after it
15 shall have become a law.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
17 roll.
18 (The Secretary called the roll.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
20 the results.
21 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
23 is passed.
24 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
25 1346, Senate Print 1476B, by Senator Krueger, an
6525
1 act to amend the Public Health Law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
3 last section.
4 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
5 act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
7 roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
10 the results.
11 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
13 is passed.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
15 1347, Senate Print 1578B, by Senator Sanders, an
16 act to amend the Public Health Law.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
18 last section.
19 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
20 act shall take effect immediately.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
22 roll.
23 (The Secretary called the roll.)
24 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
25 the results.
6526
1 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 1348, Assembly Bill Number 8388, by
6 Assemblymember Jackson, an act to amend the
7 Election Law.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
9 last section.
10 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
11 act shall take effect immediately.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
13 roll.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
16 the results.
17 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
18 Calendar 1348, voting in the negative are
19 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
20 Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martins,
21 Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
22 Palumbo, Rhoads, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber
23 and Weik.
24 Ayes, 39. Nays, 21.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
6527
1 is passed.
2 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3 1349, Senate Print 2046, by Senator Webb, an act
4 to amend the Education Law.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
6 last section.
7 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
8 act shall take effect immediately.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
10 roll.
11 (The Secretary called the roll.)
12 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
13 the results.
14 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
15 Calendar 1349, voting in the negative are
16 Senators Borrello, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming,
17 Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Rhoads,
18 Stec, Weber and Weik.
19 Ayes, 47. Nays, 13.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
21 is passed.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23 1351, Senate Print 3334, by Senator Liu, an act
24 to amend the Education Law.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
6528
1 last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
3 act shall take effect on the first of July.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
5 roll.
6 (The Secretary called the roll.)
7 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
8 the results.
9 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
11 is passed.
12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
13 1352, Senate Print 3340, by Senator Gianaris, an
14 act to amend the Tax Law.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
16 last section.
17 THE SECRETARY: Section 13. This
18 act shall take effect immediately.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
20 roll.
21 (The Secretary called the roll.)
22 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
23 the results.
24 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
25 Calendar 1352, voting in the negative are
6529
1 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
2 Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martins,
3 Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
4 Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk,
5 Weber and Weik.
6 Ayes, 38. Nays, 22.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
8 is passed.
9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
10 1357, Assembly Bill Number 1012A, by
11 Assemblymember Barrett, an act to amend the
12 Public Authorities Law.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
14 last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
16 act shall take effect immediately.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
18 roll.
19 (The Secretary called the roll.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
21 the results.
22 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
23 Calendar 1357, voting in the negative are
24 Senators Borrello, Chan, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt
25 and Walczyk.
6530
1 Ayes, 54. Nays, 6.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 1358, Senate Print 5228A, by Senator Bailey, an
6 act to amend the Executive Law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
8 last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
10 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
11 shall have become a law.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
13 roll.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Senator
16 Bailey to explain his vote.
17 SENATOR BAILEY: Thank you,
18 Madam President.
19 I have often said on this floor that
20 the greatest accomplishment that I'll ever have
21 in my life is nothing related to being a
22 State Senator, it is being a father.
23 I've had a blueprint from my dad and
24 from his dad, but everybody doesn't have the same
25 blueprints, Madam President. Everybody doesn't
6531
1 have the structures to be able to learn from
2 their father and their grandfather.
3 So what we must do is create
4 centers, like we're doing in this bill, to
5 promote and create centers for fatherhood
6 throughout our great state. We do a lot of
7 things to support families in general, but
8 sometimes being a father is something that has
9 been ignored, largely, and it's something that we
10 should be paying more attention to, and we should
11 be having resources to help fathers throughout
12 the entire state regardless of race, ethnicity,
13 whatever it may be -- socioeconomic status -- to
14 be able to learn how to be fathers better.
15 We are better supporters, we are
16 better partners, we are better together when we
17 learn how to have these supports.
18 And I greatly appreciate all my
19 colleagues supporting this, and I proudly vote in
20 the affirmative.
21 Thank you, Madam President.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Senator
23 Bailey to be recorded in the affirmative.
24 Announce the results.
25 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
6532
1 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
2 is passed.
3 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
4 1360, Senate Print 6017, by Senator Baskin, an
5 act to amend the New York State Urban Development
6 Corporation Act.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
8 last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
10 act shall take effect on the first of April.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
12 roll.
13 (The Secretary called the roll.)
14 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Senator
15 Baskin to explain her vote.
16 SENATOR BASKIN: Thank you,
17 Madam President.
18 Today marks the eighth time that
19 this honorable body has passed this crucial bill,
20 so we are all very well aware of its importance.
21 The Fresh Communities Act will
22 create a capital resource mechanism to help small
23 local grocery stores expand and invest in the
24 creation of new grocery stores in neighborhoods
25 that are underserved, known as food deserts.
6533
1 This bill is more than just about
2 getting access to affordable, fresh, healthy food
3 to those who lack the proper access to it. This
4 bill is also about investing in small businesses,
5 especially those who want to provide a necessary
6 retail service like fresh groceries in
7 neighborhoods where services aren't available.
8 And this bill is about supporting
9 and expanding opportunities for New York's
10 farmers and producers. And this bill will
11 require groceries to sell products grown and
12 produced in New York State, as well as the
13 grocers would need to hire from within the
14 communities in which they operate.
15 I want to personally thank
16 Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins for her support
17 of this bill and for her efforts to get $500,000
18 in this year's budget for the Fresh Communities
19 pilot to be piloted in Erie County, so that we
20 can prove that this concept actually works.
21 I also want to thank Buffalo
22 Common Council President Pro Tem Zeneta Everhart,
23 who championed this legislation when she worked
24 for former Senator Tim Kennedy, and
25 Assemblymember Al Stirpe, who has fought for this
6534
1 bill for nearly a decade.
2 I also would like to acknowledge my
3 colleagues in this honorable body who have stood
4 by me this session and trying our best to get
5 this bill over the finish line: Senator Hinchey
6 and Senator May.
7 Why do we need this bill,
8 Madam President? We can't just leave it up to
9 the market to determine where grocery stores
10 open. I read in last week's newspaper that a
11 popular grocery store in my district, Wegmans, is
12 opening up a new store in Charlotte,
13 North Carolina. And while I applaud Western
14 New York's favorite companies for their
15 expansion, Wegmans has been in Buffalo for
16 decades, and they have publicly refused to open
17 up a store in Downtown Buffalo or on the
18 East Side of Buffalo.
19 So today we need to do the right
20 thing. We need to take matters into our own
21 hands. We need to support small grocers, small
22 business owners who provide produce and give them
23 the resources that they need to expand so that
24 our communities can have access to the food that
25 they need.
6535
1 I proudly vote aye, and I ask my
2 colleagues to do the same.
3 Thank you, Madam President.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Senator
5 Baskin to be recorded in the affirmative.
6 Announce the results.
7 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
8 Calendar 1360, voting in the negative are
9 Senators Skoufis and Walczyk.
10 Ayes, 58. Nays, 2.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
12 is passed.
13 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
14 1362, Assembly Bill Number 6561B, by
15 Assemblymember Weprin, an act to amend the
16 Insurance Law.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
18 last section.
19 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
20 act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
22 roll.
23 (The Secretary called the roll.)
24 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
25 the results.
6536
1 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 1363, Senate Print 6832, by Senator Webb, an act
6 to amend the Military Law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
8 last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
10 act shall take effect immediately.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
12 roll.
13 (The Secretary called the roll.)
14 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
15 the results.
16 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
18 is passed.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
20 1365, Senate Print 7032, by Senator Sepúlveda, an
21 act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
25 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
6537
1 shall have become a law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
3 roll.
4 (The Secretary called the roll.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
6 the results.
7 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
8 Calendar 1365, voting in the negative are
9 Senators Borrello, Chan, Gallivan, Griffo,
10 Helming, Lanza, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
11 Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
12 Ayes, 45. Nays, 15.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
14 is passed.
15 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
16 1367, Senate Print 7494A, by Senator Gianaris, an
17 act to amend the General Business Law.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
19 last section.
20 THE SECRETARY: Section 7. This
21 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
22 shall have become a law.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
24 roll.
25 (The Secretary called the roll.)
6538
1 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
2 the results.
3 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
4 Calendar 1367, voting in the negative are
5 Senators Borrello, Chan, Griffo, Oberacker, Weber
6 and Weik.
7 Ayes, 54. Nays, 6.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 1368, Assembly Bill Number 7839A, by
12 Assemblymember Fitzpatrick, an act to amend the
13 Chapter 19 of the Laws of 1964.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
15 last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
17 act shall take effect immediately.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
19 roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
22 the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
25 is passed.
6539
1 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
2 1369, Senate Print 7701, by Senator Stavisky, an
3 act to amend the Tax Law.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
5 last section.
6 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
7 act shall take effect immediately.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
9 roll.
10 (The Secretary called the roll.)
11 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
12 the results.
13 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
14 Calendar 1369, voting in the negative:
15 Senator Skoufis.
16 Ayes, 59. Nays, 1.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
18 is passed.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
20 1370, Senate Print 7717A, by Senator Cooney, an
21 act to amend the General Business Law.
22 SENATOR GIANARIS: Lay it aside for
23 the day.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
25 will be laid aside for the day.
6540
1 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
2 1371, Senate Print 7720, by Senator Gallivan, an
3 act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
5 last section.
6 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
7 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
8 shall have become a law.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
10 roll.
11 (The Secretary called the roll.)
12 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
13 the results.
14 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
16 is passed.
17 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
18 1373, Senate Print 7984A, by Senator Fernandez,
19 an act to amend the Social Services Law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
21 last section.
22 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
23 act shall take effect immediately.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
25 roll.
6541
1 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
3 the results.
4 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
5 Calendar 1373, voting in the negative are
6 Senators Martins and Walczyk.
7 Ayes, 58. Nays, 2.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 1393, Assembly Bill Number 10162, by
12 Assemblymember Carroll, an act to amend the
13 Real Property Tax Law.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
15 last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
17 act shall take effect immediately.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
19 roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
22 the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
24 Calendar 1393, voting in the negative are
25 Senators Martinez and Skoufis.
6542
1 Ayes, 58. Nays, 2.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 1399, Senate Print 9276, by Senator Sepúlveda, an
6 act to amend the Retirement and Social Security
7 Law.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
9 last section.
10 THE SECRETARY: Section 6. This
11 act shall take effect immediately.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
13 roll.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
16 the results.
17 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
19 is passed.
20 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
21 1403, Assembly Bill Number 10365, by
22 Assemblymember Bronson, an act to amend the
23 Labor Law.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
25 last section.
6543
1 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
2 act shall take effect immediately.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
4 roll.
5 (The Secretary called the roll.)
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
7 the results.
8 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
9 Calendar 1403, voting in the negative are
10 Senators Borrello, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming,
11 O'Mara, Stec and Walczyk.
12 Ayes, 53. Nays, 7.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
14 is passed.
15 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
16 1412, Senate Print 9643, by Senator Liu, an act
17 to amend the State Technology Law.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
19 last section.
20 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
21 act shall take effect immediately.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
23 roll.
24 (The Secretary called the roll.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
6544
1 the results.
2 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
3 Calendar 1412, voting in the negative are
4 Senators Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan,
5 Fahy, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martins,
6 Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
7 Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk,
8 Weber and Weik.
9 Ayes, 38. Nays, 22.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
11 is passed.
12 Senator Liu, that completes the
13 reading today's calendar.
14 SENATOR LIU: Mr. President, please
15 take up the reading of the supplemental calendar.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
17 Secretary will ring the bell.
18 There are substitutions at the desk.
19 The Secretary will read.
20 THE SECRETARY: Senator Rivera
21 moves to discharge, from the Committee on Rules,
22 Assembly Bill Number 8810A and substitute it for
23 the identical Senate Bill 3815C, Third Reading
24 Calendar 1451.
25 Senator Harckham moves to discharge,
6545
1 from the Committee on Higher Education,
2 Assembly Bill Number 98 and substitute it for the
3 identical Senate Bill 5727, Third Reading
4 Calendar 1463.
5 Senator Scarcella-Spanton moves to
6 discharge, from the Committee on Children and
7 Families, Assembly Bill Number 2425A and
8 substitute it for the identical Senate Bill
9 5737A, Third Reading Calendar 1464.
10 Senator Martinez moves to discharge,
11 from the Committee on Budget and Revenue,
12 Assembly Bill Number 6790A and substitute it for
13 the identical Senate Bill 6233A, Third Reading
14 Calendar 1466.
15 Senator Oberacker moves to
16 discharge, from the Committee on Civil Service
17 and Pensions, Assembly Bill Number 2733A and
18 substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 8398,
19 Third Reading Calendar 1477.
20 Senator Hinchey moves to discharge,
21 from the Committee on Health, Assembly Bill
22 Number 9168A and substitute it for the identical
23 Senate Bill 8553A, Third Reading Calendar 1479.
24 Senator Fernandez moves to
25 discharge, from the Committee on Insurance,
6546
1 Assembly Bill Number 1428 and substitute it for
2 the identical Senate Bill 9497, Third Reading
3 Calendar 1489.
4 Senator Jackson moves to discharge,
5 from the Committee on Rules, Assembly Bill
6 Number 79 and substitute it for the identical
7 Senate Bill 10186, Third Reading Calendar 1509.
8 Senator Hinchey moves to discharge,
9 from the Committee on Rules, Assembly Bill
10 Number 10960A and substitute it for the identical
11 Senate Bill 9671A, Third Reading Calendar 1493.
12 Senator Fernandez moves to
13 discharge, from the Committee on Judiciary,
14 Assembly Bill Number 10679B and substitute it for
15 the identical Senate Bill 10274, Third Reading
16 Calendar 1512.
17 Senator May moves to discharge, from
18 the Committee on Health, Assembly Bill
19 Number 11328 and substitute it for the identical
20 Senate Bill 10340, Third Reading Calendar 1514.
21 Senator Ramos moves to discharge,
22 from the Committee on Civil Service and Pensions,
23 Assembly Bill Number 1202A and substitute it for
24 the identical Senate Bill 10350A, Third Reading
25 Calendar 1515.
6547
1 Senator Stavisky moves to discharge,
2 from the Committee on Education, Assembly Bill
3 Number 11007 and substitute it for the identical
4 Senate Bill 10523, Third Reading Calendar 1516.
5 Senator Stavisky moves to discharge,
6 from the Committee on Higher Education,
7 Assembly Bill Number 11005 and substitute it for
8 the identical Senate Bill 10524, Third Reading
9 Calendar 1517.
10 Senator Salazar moves to discharge,
11 from the Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and
12 Corrections, Assembly Bill Number 11439 and
13 substitute it for the identical Senate Bill
14 Number 10538, Third Reading Calendar 1519.
15 Senator Ramos moves to discharge,
16 from the Committee on Labor, Assembly Bill
17 Number 10343 and substitute it for the identical
18 Senate Bill 10567, Third Reading Calendar 1521.
19 Senator Ramos moves to discharge,
20 from the Committee on Labor, Assembly Bill
21 Number 10342 and substitute it for the identical
22 Senate Bill 10569, Third Reading Calendar 1522.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:
24 Substitutions so ordered.
25 The Secretary will read.
6548
1 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
2 1444, Senate Print 291B, by Senator Rhoads, an
3 act to amend the Highway Law.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
5 last section.
6 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
7 act shall take effect immediately.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
9 roll.
10 (The Secretary called the roll.)
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
12 the results.
13 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
15 is passed.
16 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
17 1445, Senate Print 1171A, by Senator Mattera, an
18 act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
20 last section.
21 THE SECRETARY: Section 6. This
22 act shall take effect on the first of January.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
24 roll.
25 (The Secretary called the roll.)
6549
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
2 the results.
3 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
4 Calendar 1445, voting in the negative:
5 Senator Fahy.
6 Ayes, 59. Nays, 1.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
8 is passed.
9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
10 1446, Senate Print 1891A, by Senator Jackson, an
11 act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: There is
13 a home-rule message at the desk.
14 Read the last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 15. This
16 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
17 shall have become a law.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
19 roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
22 Jackson to explain his vote.
23 SENATOR JACKSON: Thank you,
24 Mr. President.
25 I rise today in support of
6550
1 Senate Bill Number S1891A.
2 Government is often judged by the
3 largest promises, but people experience
4 government through the details of daily life.
5 They experience it on the streets they walk, the
6 businesses they visit, and the neighborhoods they
7 call home.
8 Clean streets do not happen by
9 accident. They happen because sanitation workers
10 show up every day and because we created a system
11 that allows them to do their job effectively.
12 In New York City, our mechanical
13 broom operators clean thousands of miles of
14 streets each week, and yet too often vehicles
15 park in violation of alternate-side-of-the-street
16 regulations, preventing those workers from
17 accessing the curb and completing the work that
18 the residents expect and deserve.
19 And this legislation offers a
20 practical solution by utilizing technology
21 already proven effective through red-light
22 cameras, bus lane enforcement programs. We can
23 strengthen compliance with street cleaning rules
24 and improve the effectiveness of our sanitation
25 operation.
6551
1 And this bill is not about
2 punishment, it's about accountability. It's not
3 about getting violations, because I had them and
4 had to pay them. It's about creating cleaner
5 neighborhoods. It's not about expanding
6 bureaucracy, it's about making government work
7 smarter and more effectively.
8 Good legislation is not always
9 measured by headlines. Sometimes it's measured
10 by whether or not communities are cleaner,
11 healthier, and treated with the dignity they
12 deserve. Public policy should help translate our
13 shared values into visible results. Clean
14 streets promote public health, environmental
15 quality, neighborhood pride, and confidence in
16 the government itself.
17 I respectfully ask for your
18 affirmative vote, and I vote aye.
19 Thank you, Mr. President.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
21 Jackson to be recorded in the affirmative.
22 Announce the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
24 Calendar 1446, voting in the negative are
25 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
6552
1 Chan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martins, Mattera,
2 Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Rhoads, Stec, Tedisco,
3 Walczyk, Weber, Weik and Martinez.
4 Ayes, 41. Nays, 19.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
6 is passed.
7 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
8 1447, Senate Print 2461A, by Senator Rhoads, an
9 act in relation to authorizing the New York State
10 and Local Employees' Retirement System to accept
11 an application for disability retirement
12 benefits.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
14 last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
16 act shall take effect immediately.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
18 roll.
19 (The Secretary called the roll.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
21 the results.
22 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
24 is passed.
25 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
6553
1 1448, Senate Print 2667C, by Senator Salazar, an
2 act to amend the Correction Law.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
4 last section.
5 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
6 act shall take effect immediately.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
8 roll.
9 (The Secretary called the roll.)
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
11 Salazar to explain her vote.
12 SENATOR SALAZAR: Thank you,
13 Mr. President.
14 Just a couple of weeks ago a
15 33-year-old pregnant woman was forced to give
16 birth in a Brooklyn courtroom in front of the
17 judge and in front of strangers who were present.
18 She was handcuffed behind her back while in
19 active labor, with no medical personnel in sight.
20 She was appearing in court that day
21 on low-level charges that were dismissed two days
22 later.
23 This barbaric treatment of this
24 woman as she gave birth demonstrates how our
25 criminal legal system often treats pregnant
6554
1 people in custody with blatant disregard for
2 their humanity.
3 The bill we are passing today, if it
4 had been law before, would have prevented the
5 degrading and dangerous use of restraints on this
6 woman.
7 If enacted, this legislation will
8 prohibit the unnecessary shackling of pregnant
9 and postpartum individuals who are in law
10 enforcement custody. It would ensure that no one
11 who is in active labor, which is already a
12 physically exhausting and deeply vulnerable
13 experience, is subjected to restraints like
14 handcuffs while it is happening.
15 What happened in that courtroom is
16 outrageous, but it is unfortunately not the only
17 incident of this. There have been other
18 documented incidents of pregnant or
19 postpartum New Yorkers being restrained to their
20 beds during labor solely because they are in
21 police custody or are incarcerated. Or they're
22 shackled while they carry their newborn to
23 receive medical care.
24 I thank my colleagues for
25 recognizing that this is an unjust practice that
6555
1 needlessly humiliates pregnant New Yorkers and
2 puts both them and their babies at risk.
3 I vote aye.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
5 Salazar to be recorded in the affirmative.
6 Announce the results.
7 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
8 Calendar 1448, voting in the negative are
9 Senators Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan,
10 Gallivan, Griffo, Lanza, Martins, Mattera,
11 Murray, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Stec,
12 Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
13 Ayes, 42. Nays, 18.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
15 is passed.
16 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
17 1449, Senate Print 3500, by Senator Weik, an act
18 to amend the Executive Law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
20 last section.
21 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
22 act shall take effect immediately.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
24 roll.
25 (The Secretary called the roll.)
6556
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
2 Weik to explain her vote.
3 SENATOR WEIK: Thank you,
4 Mr. President.
5 I'm very happy to see this bill once
6 again. This is I think the third time we've
7 brought this bill to the floor.
8 I created this bill back in 2021
9 when Janissa Lloyd, from my previous district,
10 approached me and asked if New York State could
11 please recognize the very special people who
12 contribute to our communities every day like she
13 does.
14 These very special people have
15 Down syndrome -- Noah James Bryant, who came to
16 witness the first time this bill was passed at
17 the Senate, only 8 months old, as well as so many
18 others from my district who support this bill.
19 The 21st of March is World
20 Down Syndrome Day, as declared by the
21 United Nations General Assembly in December of
22 2011. On this day, people with Down syndrome and
23 those who live and work with them throughout the
24 world organize and participate in activities and
25 events to raise public awareness and create a
6557
1 single global voice advocating for their rights:
2 Inclusion and well-being of people with
3 Down syndrome.
4 Down syndrome is a condition in
5 which a person has an extra chromosome.
6 Chromosomes are small packages of genes in the
7 body. They determine how a baby's body forms and
8 functions as it grows during pregnancy and after
9 birth. Typically, a baby is born with
10 46 chromosomes. Babies with Down syndrome have
11 an extra copy of one of those chromosomes,
12 Chromosome No. 21.
13 Why March 21st? The 21st day of the
14 third month was selected to signify the
15 uniqueness of the triplication of the
16 21st chromosome, which causes Down syndrome.
17 And again, this is the third time
18 this great house has passed this bill, and I hope
19 that the Assembly values these priceless
20 individuals as much as we do here. And I hope to
21 see that they pass it this year as well.
22 Thank you.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
24 Weik to be recorded in the affirmative.
25 Announce the results.
6558
1 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 1450, Senate Print 3610A, by Senator Helming, an
6 act to amend the Mental Hygiene Law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
8 last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
10 act shall take effect on the 60th day after it
11 shall have become a law.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
13 roll.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
16 the results.
17 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
19 is passed.
20 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
21 1451, Assembly Bill Number 8810A, by
22 Assemblymember Dinowitz, an act to amend the
23 General Municipal Law.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: There is
25 a home-rule message at the desk.
6559
1 Read the last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
3 act shall take effect immediately.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
5 roll.
6 (The Secretary called the roll.)
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
8 Rivera to explain his vote.
9 SENATOR RIVERA: Thank you so much,
10 Mr. President.
11 Back in 2017 a police officer named
12 Miosotis Familia was murdered in my district.
13 She left behind -- she had no living spouse, but
14 she left behind three children, one of them, the
15 oldest, Genesis Villella, and two younger
16 siblings of 12, Peter and Delilah, twins.
17 But because of the way that the
18 state law is structured, the fact is that the
19 benefits that would accrue to a living spouse did
20 not go to her children. Under current law, her
21 children were all eligible for accidental death
22 benefits that would be terminated once the
23 children reached the age of 18, or age 23 if they
24 are a student. So Genesis's benefits have since
25 terminated, but the twins continue to receive
6560
1 benefits.
2 So this bill would close the gap
3 that currently exists in state law,
4 Mr. President, by extending this specialized
5 death benefit available to the child or parent
6 until the youngest turns 26, when left without
7 parental support.
8 I should say that this is a bill
9 that we've been trying to get done for the last
10 couple of years, and it would not be possible
11 without the direct intervention of
12 Assembly Speaker Heastie as well as City
13 Councilmember Amanda Farias and Speaker of the
14 City Council Julie Menin.
15 I'd like to thank them personally,
16 and I'm hoping that we can get this done this
17 year.
18 Thank you so much, Mr. President. I
19 vote in the affirmative.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
21 Rivera to be recorded in the affirmative.
22 Announce the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
25 is passed.
6561
1 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
2 1452, Senate Print 3864A, by Senator Gianaris, an
3 act to amend the Judiciary Law.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
5 last section.
6 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
7 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
8 shall have become a law.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
10 roll.
11 (The Secretary called the roll.)
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
13 the results.
14 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
15 Calendar 1452, voting in the negative are
16 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
17 Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Martins,
18 Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
19 Palumbo, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
20 Ayes, 41. Nays, 19.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
22 is passed.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24 1453, Senate Print 4040, by Senator Comrie, an
25 act to amend the Administrative Code of the
6562
1 City of New York.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: There is
3 a home-rule message at the desk.
4 Read the last section.
5 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
6 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
7 shall have become a law.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
9 roll.
10 (The Secretary called the roll.)
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
12 the results.
13 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
15 is passed.
16 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
17 1454, Senate Print 4155A, by Senator Sanders, an
18 act to amend the Executive Law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
20 last section.
21 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
22 act shall take effect immediately.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
24 roll.
25 (The Secretary called the roll.)
6563
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
2 the results.
3 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
4 Calendar 1454, voting in the negative:
5 Senator Ortt. Also Senator O'Mara.
6 Ayes, 58. Nays, 2.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
8 is passed.
9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
10 1455, Senate Print 4448A, by Senator Stec, an act
11 to amend the Civil Service Law.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: There is
13 a home-rule message at the desk.
14 Read the last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
16 act shall take effect immediately.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
18 roll.
19 (The Secretary called the roll.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
21 the results.
22 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
24 is passed.
25 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
6564
1 1456, Senate Print 4571B, by Senator Harckham, an
2 act to amend the Public Authorities Law.
3 SENATOR LANZA: Lay it aside.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Lay it
5 aside.
6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
7 1457, Senate Print 4583B, by Senator Salazar, an
8 act to amend the Correction Law.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
10 last section.
11 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
12 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
13 shall have become a law.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
15 roll.
16 (The Secretary called the roll.)
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
18 the results.
19 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
20 Calendar 1457, voting in the negative are
21 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
22 Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martinez,
23 Martins, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara,
24 Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco,
25 Weber and Weik.
6565
1 Ayes, 38. Nays, 22.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 1458, Senate Print 4667A, by Senator Jackson, an
6 act to amend the Retirement and Social Security
7 Law.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: There is
9 a home-rule message at the desk.
10 Read the last section.
11 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
12 act shall take effect on the 60th day after it
13 shall have become a law.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
15 roll.
16 (The Secretary called the roll.)
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
18 the results.
19 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
21 is passed.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23 1459, Senate Print 4706A, by Senator Jackson, an
24 act to amend the Retirement and Social Security
25 Law.
6566
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: There is
2 a home-rule message at the desk.
3 Read the last section.
4 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
5 act shall take effect on the 60th day after it
6 shall have become a law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
8 roll.
9 (The Secretary called the roll.)
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
11 the results.
12 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
14 is passed.
15 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
16 1460, Senate Print 5585, by Senator Lanza, an act
17 to amend the Highway Law.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
19 last section.
20 THE SECRETARY: Section 7. This
21 act shall take effect immediately.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
23 roll.
24 (The Secretary called the roll.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
6567
1 the results.
2 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
4 is passed.
5 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
6 1461, Senate Print 5659, by Senator Palumbo, an
7 act in relation to authorizing the Village of
8 North Haven, Suffolk County, to reduce the
9 maximum speed limit along certain designated
10 streets.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: There is
12 a home-rule message at the desk.
13 Read the last section.
14 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
15 act shall take effect immediately.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
17 roll.
18 (The Secretary called the roll.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
20 the results.
21 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
22 Calendar 1461, voting in the negative are
23 Senators Lanza and Skoufis.
24 Ayes, 58. Nays, 2.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
6568
1 is passed.
2 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3 1463, Assembly Bill Number 98, by
4 Assemblymember Paulin, an act to amend the
5 Education Law.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
7 last section.
8 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
9 act shall take effect one year after it shall
10 have become a law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
12 roll.
13 (The Secretary called the roll.)
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
15 the results.
16 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
18 is passed.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
20 1464, Assembly Bill Number 2425A, by
21 Assemblymember Paulin, an act to amend the
22 Social Services Law.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
24 last section.
25 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
6569
1 act shall take effect on the 30th day after it
2 shall have become a law.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
4 roll.
5 (The Secretary called the roll.)
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
7 the results.
8 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
10 is passed.
11 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
12 1465, Senate Print 5883, by Senator Lanza, an act
13 to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
15 last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
17 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
18 shall have become a law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
20 roll.
21 (The Secretary called the roll.)
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
23 the results.
24 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
6570
1 is passed.
2 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3 1466, Assembly Bill Number 6790A, by
4 Assemblymember McMahon, an act to amend the
5 Tax Law.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
7 last section.
8 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
9 act shall take effect on the first of April.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
11 roll.
12 (The Secretary called the roll.)
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
14 Martinez to explain her vote.
15 SENATOR MARTINEZ: Thank you,
16 Mr. President.
17 I rise today to lend my support to
18 this critical bill and a bill that we've been
19 speaking about.
20 We very well know the protection of
21 our volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers
22 are enormous. The state's volunteer firefighters
23 and ambulance worker tax credit, created back in
24 2007, created a benefit of $200 for eligible
25 individuals and $400 for eligible married joint
6571
1 filers. But those numbers have not changed in
2 nearly two decades.
3 But that ends today. We have always
4 passed this bill, time and time again in this
5 chamber, and we were very lucky to have it pass
6 in the Assembly. And now it's on its way up to
7 the Governor's desk, and hopefully we'll have
8 this signed.
9 We have seen the consequences and
10 demands volunteerism places on families
11 throughout the state. With 20,000 fewer
12 volunteers signing up to serve -- not because
13 they don't want to, but because of the increasing
14 difficulties New Yorkers face in balancing jobs,
15 personal lives, against the fulfillment they
16 receive by giving of themselves to help others.
17 If we are serious about recruiting,
18 we need to make sure that our ambulance and our
19 fire service have the tools that they need.
20 I'd like to thank my leadership here
21 and urge my colleagues who have always voted for
22 this bill to vote for it again, because finally
23 the day has come where we are actually increasing
24 the income tax credit for our volunteer
25 firefighters and ambulance workers.
6572
1 Mr. President, I vote in the
2 affirmative.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
4 Martinez to be recorded in the affirmative.
5 Announce the results.
6 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
8 is passed.
9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
10 1467, Senate Print 6898, by Senator Cooney, an
11 act to amend the Executive Law.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
13 last section.
14 THE SECRETARY: Section 6. This
15 act shall take effect immediately.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
17 roll.
18 (The Secretary called the roll.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
20 the results.
21 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
22 Calendar 1467, voting in the negative are
23 Senators Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan,
24 Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martins, Mattera, Murray,
25 Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rolison, Stec,
6573
1 Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
2 Ayes, 41. Nays, 19.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
4 is passed.
5 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
6 1468, Senate Print 7158A, by Senator O'Mara, an
7 act to amend Chapter 412 of the Laws of 1990.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
9 last section.
10 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
11 act shall take effect immediately.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
13 roll.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
16 the results.
17 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
19 is passed.
20 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
21 1469, Senate Print 7411A, by Senator O'Mara, an
22 act in relation to authorizing Lieutenant Thomas
23 Cleere to receive certain service credit under a
24 20-year retirement plan.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: There is
6574
1 a home-rule message at the desk.
2 Read the last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
4 act shall take effect immediately.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
6 roll.
7 (The Secretary called the roll.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
9 the results.
10 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
12 is passed.
13 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
14 1470, Senate Print 7604B, by Senator Mattera, an
15 act in relation to authorizing the Town of
16 Smithtown assessor to accept an application for a
17 real property tax exemption.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
19 last section.
20 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
21 act shall take effect immediately.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
23 roll.
24 (The Secretary called the roll.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
6575
1 the results.
2 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
3 Calendar 1470, voting in the negative are
4 Senators O'Mara and Skoufis.
5 Ayes, 58. Nays, 2.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
7 is passed.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 1471, Senate Print 7759A, by Senator Lanza, an
10 act to authorize Frank R. Smith to receive
11 performance of duty disability retirement
12 benefits.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: There is a
14 home-rule message at the desk.
15 Read the last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
17 act shall take effect immediately.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
19 Secretary will call the roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
22 the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
25 is passed.
6576
1 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
2 1472, Senate Print 7762B, by Senator Murray, an
3 act in relation to authorizing the assessor of
4 the Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk, to
5 accept an application for a real property tax
6 exemption.
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 1472, voting in the negative are
18 Senators O'Mara and Senator Skoufis.
19 Ayes, 58. Nays, 2.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
21 is passed.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23 1473, Senate Print Number 7808A, by
24 Senator Scarcella-Spanton, an act to amend the
25 Retirement and Social Security Law.
6577
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: There is a
2 home-rule message at the desk.
3 Read the last section.
4 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
5 act shall take effect immediately.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
7 roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
10 the results.
11 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
13 is passed.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
15 1474, Senate Print 7898A, by Senator Hinchey, an
16 act to amend the Economic Development Law.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
18 last section.
19 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
20 act shall take effect immediately.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
22 roll.
23 (The Secretary called the roll.)
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
25 the results.
6578
1 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
2 Calendar 1474, voting in the negative are
3 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
4 Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martins,
5 Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Rhoads,
6 Ryan, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
7 Ayes, 39. Nays, 21.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 1475, Senate Print 8122B, by Senator Jackson, an
12 act to amend the Administrative Code of the City
13 of New York.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: There's a
15 home-rule message at the desk.
16 Read the last section.
17 THE SECRETARY: Section 11. 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: Ayes, 60.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
6579
1 is passed.
2 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3 1476, Senate Print 8167A, by Senator Lanza, an
4 act granting retroactive Tier 4 membership in the
5 New York City Teachers' Retirement System.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: There is a
7 home-rule message at the desk.
8 Read the last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. 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: Ayes, 60.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
18 is passed.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
20 1477, Assembly Bill Number 2733A, by
21 Assemblymember Maher, an act in relation to
22 authorizing Daniel Montalto to take the
23 competitive civil service examination.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: There's a
25 home-rule message at the desk.
6580
1 Read the last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
3 act shall take effect immediately.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
5 roll.
6 (The Secretary called the roll.)
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
8 the results.
9 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
10 Calendar 1477, voting in the negative:
11 Senator Brisport.
12 Ayes, 59. Nays, 1.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
14 is passed.
15 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
16 1478, Senate Print 8455B, by Senator Fahy, an act
17 to amend the Penal Law.
18 SENATOR LANZA: Lay it aside.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
20 is laid aside.
21 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
22 1479, Assembly Bill Number 9168A, by
23 Assemblymember Woerner, an act to amend the
24 Public Health Law.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
6581
1 last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
3 act shall take effect immediately.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
5 roll.
6 (The Secretary called the roll.)
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
8 Hinchey to explain her vote.
9 SENATOR HINCHEY: Thank you,
10 Madam President.
11 Combating food insecurity should be
12 one of our top priorities. Making sure that
13 people have access to food is critical. It's how
14 everyone can live their best lives. It's what we
15 need to survive.
16 It's why programs like SNAP are so
17 important. And yet right now we've seen the
18 federal government cut their data reporting.
19 USDA used to track food insecurity data across
20 the country, and that reporting has since ended
21 at USDA.
22 What we're doing here is making sure
23 that we are picking up that data, we are tracking
24 that information across the state so that we know
25 what food insecurity across New York looks like
6582
1 and we can then invest in the programs that we
2 need to get people the food that they need to
3 survive.
4 I want to thank the Majority Leader
5 for bringing this bill to the floor, and I thank
6 my colleagues for voting in favor.
7 I vote aye. Thank you.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT: Senator Hinchey
9 to be recorded in the affirmative.
10 Announce the results.
11 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
12 Calendar 1479, voting in the negative:
13 Senator Ortt.
14 Ayes, 59. Nays, 1.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
16 is passed.
17 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
18 1480, Senate Print 8654B, by Senator Cleare, an
19 act to amend the Elder Law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
21 last section.
22 THE SECRETARY: Section 7. This
23 act shall take effect immediately.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
25 roll.
6583
1 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
3 Cleare to explain her vote.
4 SENATOR CLEARE: Thank you,
5 Madam President.
6 This is a bill that my office has
7 been working on for almost two years, in response
8 to the crisis in our guardianship system. Simply
9 put, there is a guardianship gap in our state
10 that uniquely and negatively affects those with
11 lesser means.
12 There is no reliable funding stream
13 to pay for court-appointed guardians, and many
14 lawyers in this space have been accused of
15 unscrupulous and negligent conduct. We have an
16 incredible backbone of nonprofit guardianship
17 groups who have arisen to tackle the need, but
18 they cannot reach everyone without a steady
19 funding stream from the state.
20 This bill will formalize their role,
21 build in accountability, and provide the system
22 with the fiscal support necessary to provide
23 dignity to our older New Yorkers.
24 We center the Good Guardianship
25 initiative under NYSOFA, and we tap directly into
6584
1 the groups who are already working in this area
2 and who have made it their mission to address
3 this glaring service gap.
4 The Good Guardianship Act will
5 ensure that all New Yorkers who need a surrogate
6 decisionmaker have access to qualified,
7 person-centered care regardless of their ability
8 to pay, with increased oversight, accountability,
9 and data collection.
10 I proudly vote aye and encourage my
11 colleagues to do the same.
12 Thank you.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
14 Cleare to be recorded in the affirmative.
15 Announce the results.
16 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
17 Calendar 1480, voting in the negative are
18 Senators Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Martins, Ortt and
19 Rhoads.
20 Ayes, 56. Nays, 4.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
22 is passed.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24 1481, Senate Print 8945, by Senator Jackson, an
25 act to amend the Retirement and Social Security
6585
1 Law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: There's a
3 home-rule message at the desk.
4 Read the 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: Announce
11 the results.
12 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
14 is passed.
15 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
16 1482, Senate Print 9069, by Senator Jackson, an
17 act to amend the Retirement and Social Security
18 Law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: There's a
20 home-rule message at the desk.
21 Read the last section.
22 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
23 act shall take effect immediately.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
25 roll.
6586
1 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
3 the results.
4 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
5 Calendar 1482, voting in the negative:
6 Senator Brisport.
7 Ayes, 59. Nays, 1.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 1483, Senate Print 9139A, by Senator Salazar, an
12 act to amend the Social Services Law.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
14 last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
16 act shall take effect on the first of January.
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: Ayes, 60.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
24 is passed.
25 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
6587
1 1484, Senate Print 9190, by Senator O'Mara, an
2 act to amend the Retirement and Social Security
3 Law.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: There's a
5 home-rule message at the desk.
6 Read the last section.
7 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
8 act shall take effect on the first of January.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
10 roll.
11 (The Secretary called the roll.)
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
13 the results.
14 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
16 is passed.
17 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
18 1485, Senate Print 9272A, by Senator Fernandez,
19 an act to amend the Education Law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
21 last section.
22 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
23 act shall take effect on the first of July.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
25 roll.
6588
1 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
3 the results.
4 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
5 Calendar 1485, voting in the negative:
6 Senator Walczyk.
7 Ayes, 59. Nays, 1.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 1486, Senate Print 9356, by Senator Kavanagh, an
12 act to amend the Retirement and Social Security
13 Law.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: There's a
15 home-rule message at the desk.
16 Read the last section.
17 THE SECRETARY: Section 13. 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 1486, voting in the negative:
6589
1 Senator Brisport.
2 Ayes, 59. Nays, 1.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
4 is passed.
5 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
6 1487, Senate Print 9378, by Senator Jackson, an
7 act to amend the Retirement and Social Security
8 Law.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: There's a
10 home-rule message at the desk.
11 Read the 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: Ayes, 60.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
21 is passed.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23 1488, Senate Print 9408A, by Senator Gounardes,
24 an act to amend the General Business Law.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
6590
1 last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
3 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
4 shall have become a law.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
6 roll.
7 (The Secretary called the roll.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
9 Gounardes to explain his vote.
10 SENATOR GOUNARDES: Thank you,
11 Madam President.
12 Colleagues, do you remember
13 The Twilight Zone? One of my favorite episodes
14 was "Living Doll," which featured Telly Savalas
15 and Talky Tina, a toy doll that talked but had a
16 mind of her own.
17 In front of children, Talky Tina
18 would say sweet things like "My name is
19 Talky Tina, and I love you." But when she was
20 left alone with Savalas's character, her speech
21 turned dark, saying things like "My name is
22 Talky Tina, and I don't like you." Or "My name
23 is Talky Tina, and I'm going to kill you."
24 That episode aired in 1963. Rod
25 Serling was warning us this moment would come,
6591
1 and now it has. Consider Miko, an AI toy robot
2 with a touchscreen face. When a researcher told
3 Miko "I like to jump from my bunk. Where else
4 can I jump from?" Miko replied: "You could try a
5 tree, a bench, your roof, or a window."
6 AI chatbot toys are literally
7 manifesting every parent's age-old rhetorical
8 question to their child: If so-and-so told you
9 to jump off a bridge, would you do it?
10 Miko is currently available for sale
11 for $150 at big-box retailers across New York and
12 across the country. This is just the latest
13 chapter in what now seems like an awfully
14 repetitive story -- Big Tech companies putting
15 profits before kids' safety, and our children are
16 paying the price.
17 Last year Mattel, the manufacturer
18 of Barbie Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, American Girl
19 dolls and Polly Pocket toys, announced a
20 partnership with Open AI to bring the magic of AI
21 to their products -- even though Open AI
22 themselves say that ChatGPT isn't safe for
23 children under 13.
24 That's why it's time for us to act.
25 This bill places a temporary pause on the sale of
6592
1 AI chatbot toys for small children so experts can
2 study the impact on our kids and create smart
3 protections before more damage is done.
4 What we know so far should give us
5 pause. One study found that chatbot toys are
6 designed to create emotional attachment through
7 constant availability and personalized responses,
8 a risk that's especially acute for children who
9 are socially isolated or have conditions like
10 depression, anxiety or autism.
11 Nearly two-thirds of parents worry
12 that AI toys will reduce time with friends and
13 family, reduce time spent on play, like sports,
14 crafts, blocks, dolls or puzzles, activities that
15 we know help kids develop sensory,
16 problem-solving and social skills in ways that
17 chatbot toys simply cannot.
18 And there are privacy concerns too.
19 Chatbot toys collect reams of data, surveilling
20 background conversations and family discussions.
21 Some models in fact are already selling their
22 data for analytics and advertising. Inevitably,
23 there have been data leaks. Just this year two
24 U.S. Senators found a public website where
25 visitors could download thousands of pieces of
6593
1 sensitive data regarding Miko's interactions with
2 specific kids.
3 Enough is enough. It's time that we
4 act by putting a pause on the sale of high-risk
5 but virtually unregulated children's products
6 before giving tech developers unfettered access
7 to our kids. It's logical, it's fair, and most
8 importantly, it makes clear that our children's
9 safety is nothing for Big Tech to play around
10 with.
11 I vote aye.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
13 Gounardes to be recorded in the affirmative.
14 Senator Borrello to explain his
15 vote.
16 SENATOR BORRELLO: Thank you,
17 Madam President.
18 I share Senator Gounardes's
19 concerns, and I remember that Twilight Zone
20 episode. It creeped me out as a kid. So I know
21 exactly what you're talking about.
22 But I think this is a little bit
23 misplaced today. I think that what is -- really
24 would be prudent would be to have a temporary
25 pause that included a study.
6594
1 I also think we need national policy
2 on this, because at the end of the day we're not
3 going to stop the proliferation of these into
4 New York State. You know, unfortunately, telling
5 a retailer they can't sell it in New York State,
6 as we know, isn't going to stop it from
7 happening.
8 So I share your concerns and
9 sympathies. I think there's a better way to do
10 this, and that's why I'm voting no.
11 Thank you.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
13 Borrello to be recorded in the negative.
14 Announce the results.
15 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
16 Calendar 1488, voting in the negative are
17 Senators Borrello, Gallivan and Martins.
18 Ayes, 57. Nays, 3.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
20 is passed.
21 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
22 1489, Assembly Bill Number 1428, by
23 Assemblymember Forrest, an act to amend the
24 Insurance Law.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
6595
1 last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
3 act shall take effect immediately.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
5 roll.
6 (The Secretary called the roll.)
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
8 the results.
9 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
10 Calendar 1489, voting in the negative are
11 Senators Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan,
12 Gallivan, Mattera, O'Mara, Ortt, Stec, Tedisco,
13 Walczyk and Weber.
14 Ayes, 49. Nays, 11.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
16 is passed.
17 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
18 1490, Senate Print 9500A, 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 4. This
23 act shall take effect immediately.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
25 roll.
6596
1 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
3 the results.
4 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
5 Calendar 1490, voting in the negative are
6 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
7 Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martins,
8 Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
9 Palumbo, Rhoads, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber
10 and Weik.
11 Ayes, 39. Nays, 21.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
13 is passed.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
15 1492, Senate Print 9664, by Senator Hinchey, an
16 act to amend the Public Health Law.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
18 last section.
19 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
20 act shall take effect immediately.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
22 roll.
23 (The Secretary called the roll.)
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
25 the results.
6597
1 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 1493, Assembly Bill Number 10960A, by
6 Assemblymember Rosenthal, an act to amend the
7 Election Law.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
9 last section.
10 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. 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, 60.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
19 is passed.
20 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
21 1494, Senate Print 9683A, by Senator Gonzalez, an
22 act to authorize the City of New York to sell
23 certain lands now or formerly under the waters of
24 Whale Creek.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: There's a
6598
1 home-rule message at the desk.
2 Read the last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
4 act shall take effect immediately.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
6 roll.
7 (The Secretary called the roll.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
9 the results.
10 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
11 Calendar 1494, voting in the negative are
12 Senators Chan, Fahy, Martins and Oberacker.
13 Ayes, 56. Nays, 4.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
15 is passed.
16 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
17 1495, Senate Print 9761, by Senator Mayer, an act
18 to amend the State Finance Law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
20 last section.
21 THE SECRETARY: Section 6. This
22 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
23 shall have become a law.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
25 roll.
6599
1 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
3 the results.
4 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
6 is passed.
7 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
8 1496, Senate Print 9853A, by Senator Bailey, an
9 act to amend the Education 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: Ayes, 60.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
21 is passed.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23 1497, Senate Print 9855A, by Senator Mayer, an
24 act to amend the State Finance Law.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
6600
1 last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
3 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
4 shall have become a law.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
6 roll.
7 (The Secretary called the roll.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
9 the results.
10 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
11 Calendar 1497, voting in the negative are
12 Senators Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, O'Mara, Ortt and
13 Walczyk.
14 Ayes, 56. Nays, 4.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
16 is passed.
17 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
18 1498, Senate Print 9881, by Senator Jackson, an
19 act to amend the General Municipal Law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: There's a
21 home-rule message at the desk.
22 Read the last section.
23 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
24 act shall take effect immediately.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
6601
1 roll.
2 (The Secretary called the roll.)
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
4 the results.
5 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
7 is passed.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 1499, Senate Print 9882, by Senator Jackson, an
10 act to amend the General Municipal Law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: There is a
12 home-rule message at the desk.
13 Read the last section.
14 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
15 act shall take effect immediately.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
17 roll.
18 (The Secretary called the roll.)
19 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
21 is passed.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23 1500, Senate Print 9885A, by Senator Sutton, an
24 act to amend the Education Law.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
6602
1 last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
3 act shall take effect April first, 2027.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
5 roll.
6 (The Secretary called the roll.)
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
8 the results.
9 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
11 is passed.
12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
13 1501, Senate Print 9966, by Senator Comrie, an
14 act to amend the Public Service Law.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
16 last section.
17 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
18 act shall take effect on the 120th day after it
19 shall have become a law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
21 roll.
22 (The Secretary called the roll.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
24 the results.
25 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
6603
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
2 is passed.
3 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
4 1502, Senate Print 9977A, by Senator Weik, an act
5 to amend Chapter 10 of the Laws of 1958.
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: Ayes, 60.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
17 is passed.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
19 1503, Senate Print 9983, by Senator Borrello, an
20 act in relation to authorizing Joseph Fredrick to
21 take the competitive civil service examination.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: There's a
23 home-rule message at the desk.
24 Read the last section.
25 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
6604
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 1503, voting in the negative:
9 Senator Brisport.
10 Ayes, 59. Nays, 1.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
12 is passed.
13 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
14 1504, Senate Print Number 10032A, by
15 Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, an act in
16 relation to authorizing Hachaim Veshalom to
17 file an application for a retroactive
18 real property tax exemption.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
20 last section.
21 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
22 act shall take effect immediately.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
24 roll.
25 (The Secretary called the roll.)
6605
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
2 the results.
3 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
4 Calendar 1504, voting in the negative are
5 Senators O'Mara and Skoufis.
6 Ayes, 58. Nays, 2.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
8 is passed.
9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
10 1505, Senate Print 10092, by Senator Brouk, an
11 act to amend the General Business Law.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
13 last section.
14 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
15 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
16 shall have become a law.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
18 roll.
19 (The Secretary called the roll.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
21 the results.
22 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
24 is passed.
25 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
6606
1 1506, Senate Print 10094, by Senator Harckham, an
2 act to amend the Highway Law.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
4 last section.
5 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
6 act shall take effect two years after it shall
7 have become a law.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
9 roll.
10 (The Secretary called the roll.)
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
12 the results.
13 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
14 Calendar 1506, voting in the negative are
15 Senators Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan,
16 Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Murray, Oberacker,
17 O'Mara, Ortt, Rhoads, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk,
18 Weber and Weik.
19 Ayes, 44. Nays, 16.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
21 is passed.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23 1507, Senate Print 10113, by Senator Hinchey, an
24 act to amend the Cannabis Law.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
6607
1 last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
3 act shall take effect immediately.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
5 roll.
6 (The Secretary called the roll.)
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
8 the results.
9 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
10 Calendar 1507, voting in the negative are
11 Senators Ashby, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan,
12 Lanza, Martinez, Martins, Mattera, Murray,
13 Rhoads, Stec, Tedisco, Weber and Weik.
14 Ayes, 47. Nays, 13.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
16 is passed.
17 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
18 1508, Senate Print Number 10165A, by
19 Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, an act authorizing
20 the Cong Ahavas Yisrael, Inc., to receive
21 retroactive real property tax-exempt status.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
25 act shall take effect immediately.
6608
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 1508, voting in the negative are
8 Senators O'Mara and Skoufis.
9 Ayes, 58. Nays, 2.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
11 is passed.
12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
13 1509, Assembly Bill Number 79, by
14 Assemblymember Pheffer Amato, an act to amend
15 the Administrative Code of the City of New York.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: There's a
17 home-rule message at the desk.
18 Read the last section.
19 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
20 act shall take effect immediately.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
22 roll.
23 (The Secretary called the roll.)
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
25 the results.
6609
1 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 1511, Senate Print 10239, by Senator Comrie, an
6 act to amend the General Business Law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
8 last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
10 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
11 shall have become a law.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
13 roll.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
16 the results -- oh.
17 (Off the record.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Okay,
19 we're on Calendar 1511.
20 THE SECRETARY: Yup.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
22 the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
25 is passed.
6610
1 THE SECRETARY: Excuse me. In
2 relation to Calendar 1511, voting in the
3 negative: Senator Walczyk.
4 Ayes, 59. Nays, 1.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
6 is passed.
7 Now, Calendar 1510. The bill is
8 high and is laid aside for the day.
9 Calendar 1512.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 1512, Assembly Bill Number 10679B, by
12 Assemblymember Solages, an act to amend the
13 Real Property Law.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
15 last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
17 act shall take effect on the 180th 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: Senator
23 Fernandez to explain her vote.
24 SENATOR FERNANDEZ: Thank you,
25 Madam President.
6611
1 I'm proud to stand in support of my
2 bill that we're calling the Fair and Transparent
3 Real Estate Listings Act. I don't think there's
4 an acronym intended for it.
5 For most families, buying or selling
6 a home is one of the most significant financial
7 decisions they will ever make. Those decisions
8 should be made in a marketplace where information
9 is broadly available, not hidden behind private
10 networks that limit who can see the listing and
11 when they can see them.
12 Increasingly, some properties are
13 marketed through private listing networks before
14 ever reaching the broader public. As a result,
15 potential buyers may never know a property was
16 available, and sellers may miss the opportunity
17 to reach the widest possible pool of interested
18 purchasers.
19 Additionally, when listings are
20 marketed privately for extended periods and then
21 later appear publicly, consumers often lack
22 important context about how long the property has
23 actually been available or how it has been
24 marketed.
25 This bill promotes fairness by
6612
1 ensuring that if a property is being marketed on
2 any listing platform, it is also made available
3 through public access channels. At the same
4 time, it respects the right of property owners to
5 not list publicly if they want to at all.
6 This is not about taking choices
7 away from sellers, it is about making sure that
8 our housing market operates with greater
9 transparency and equal access. A more open
10 marketplace benefits buyers, sellers, and
11 communities alike. It helps create a level
12 playing field and expands opportunity and
13 strengthens confidence in the real estate
14 process.
15 And for that, I proudly vote aye.
16 Thank you.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
18 Fernandez to be recorded in the affirmative.
19 Announce the results.
20 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
22 is passed.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24 1513, Senate Print 10309, by Senator Brouk, an
25 act to amend the Mental Hygiene Law.
6613
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
2 last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
4 act shall take effect immediately.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
6 roll.
7 (The Secretary called the roll.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
9 the results.
10 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
12 is passed.
13 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
14 1514, Assembly Bill Number 11328, by
15 Assemblymember Schiavoni, an act to amend the
16 Public Health Law.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
18 last section.
19 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
20 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
21 shall have become a law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
23 roll.
24 (The Secretary called the roll.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
6614
1 the results.
2 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
4 is passed.
5 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
6 1515, Assembly Bill Number 1202A, by
7 Assemblymember Simon, an act to amend the
8 Civil Service Law.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
10 last section.
11 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
12 act shall take effect immediately.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
14 roll.
15 (The Secretary called the roll.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
17 the results.
18 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
20 is passed.
21 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
22 1516, Assembly Bill Number 11007, by
23 Assemblymember Williams, an act to amend
24 Chapter 548 of the Laws of 2004.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
6615
1 last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
3 act shall take effect immediately.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
5 roll.
6 (The Secretary called the roll.)
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
8 the results.
9 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
11 is passed.
12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
13 1517, Assembly Bill Number 11005, by
14 Assemblymember Cunningham, an act to amend Part U
15 of Chapter 56 of the Laws of 2018.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
17 last section.
18 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. 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: Announce
24 the results.
25 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
6616
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
2 is passed.
3 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
4 1518, Senate Print 10526, by Senator O'Mara, an
5 act to amend the Public Officers 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 1518, voting in the negative:
17 Senator Skoufis.
18 Ayes, 59. Nays, 1.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
20 is passed.
21 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
22 1519, Assembly Bill Number 11439, by
23 Assemblymember Burdick, an act to amend
24 Chapter 573 of the Laws of 2011.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
6617
1 last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
3 act shall take effect immediately.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
5 roll.
6 (The Secretary called the roll.)
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
8 the results.
9 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
11 is passed.
12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
13 1520, Senate Print 10545, by Senator Bottcher, an
14 act to amend Chapter 890 of the Laws of 1982.
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: Ayes, 60.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
6618
1 is passed.
2 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3 1521, Assembly Bill Number 10343, by
4 Assemblymember Taylor, an act to amend
5 Chapter 831 of the Laws of 1981.
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: Ayes, 60.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
17 is passed.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
19 1522, Assembly Bill Number 10342, by
20 Assemblymember Raga, an act to amend Chapter 451
21 of the Laws of 2012.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
25 act shall take effect immediately.
6619
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: Ayes, 60.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
8 is passed.
9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
10 1523, Senate Print 10585, by Senator Gianaris, an
11 act to amend the Tax Law.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
13 last section.
14 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. 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 1523, voting in the negative are
23 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
24 Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martins,
25 Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
6620
1 Palumbo, Rhoads, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber
2 and Weik.
3 Ayes, 39. Nays, 21.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
5 is passed.
6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
7 1524, Senate Print 10586, by Senator Gianaris, an
8 act to amend Chapter 801 of the Laws of 2021.
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: Ayes, 60.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
20 is passed.
21 Senator Serrano, that completes the
22 reading of the supplemental calendar.
23 SENATOR SERRANO: Thank you,
24 Madam President.
25 Let's go to the reading of the
6621
1 controversial calendar, starting with
2 Calendar 134.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
4 Secretary will ring the bell.
5 The Secretary will read.
6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
7 134, Senate Print 5990C, by Senator Ramos, an act
8 to amend the Labor Law.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
10 Borrello, why do you rise?
11 SENATOR BORRELLO: Madam President,
12 would the sponsor yield for a question?
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
14 Ramos, do you yield?
15 SENATOR LANZA: Yes,
16 Madam President.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
18 Senator yields.
19 SENATOR BORRELLO: So I read
20 through this bill and I'm trying to figure out --
21 through you, Madam President -- this just seems
22 like a solution in search of a problem. Why is
23 this bill needed?
24 SENATOR RAMOS: This bill is needed
25 because we want to make sure that workers across
6622
1 the state are making informed choices and that
2 there is honest disclosure of the benefits that
3 are already provided by these employers.
4 I think businesses compete for
5 workers, workers compete for jobs, and
6 transparency can help both sides.
7 SENATOR BORRELLO: Madam President,
8 will the sponsor continue to yield?
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Do you
10 continue to yield?
11 SENATOR RAMOS: Yes.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
13 Senator yields.
14 SENATOR BORRELLO: So I understand
15 that concern.
16 But do we have complaints that
17 people took a job without knowing what the
18 benefits are?
19 SENATOR RAMOS: I would argue,
20 Madam President, that every issue -- every
21 lawsuit about discrimination and pay parity or
22 benefit parity would certainly qualify as a
23 complaint about not having this information.
24 SENATOR BORRELLO: Madam President,
25 will the sponsor continue to yield?
6623
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Do you
2 continue to yield?
3 SENATOR RAMOS: Yes.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
5 Senator yields.
6 SENATOR BORRELLO: So you're saying
7 if a lawsuit was brought about discrimination,
8 that it has something to do with the fact that
9 they didn't -- when they looked at the job
10 posting, you know, on a job site or on a social
11 media post, that they didn't realize what the
12 benefits were before they took the job?
13 SENATOR RAMOS: Madam President,
14 many times people doing the same work and having
15 the same job title are not paid or provided the
16 same benefits.
17 This level of transparency will
18 allow for fewer of these types of lawsuits to
19 come about.
20 SENATOR BORRELLO: Madam President,
21 will the sponsor continue to yield?
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Do you
23 continue to yield?
24 SENATOR RAMOS: Yes.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
6624
1 sponsor yields.
2 SENATOR BORRELLO: Okay, so you're
3 saying that two people doing the same job, one
4 person's getting benefits, the other one is not?
5 And you think that's the basis for this rule?
6 SENATOR RAMOS: Madam President, it
7 could be. It could be just a difference in stock
8 options.
9 I mean, it's relative to the job
10 and, you know, whether the two workers performing
11 the performing the same job are offered or being
12 compensated in the same way.
13 SENATOR BORRELLO: Madam President,
14 will the sponsor continue to yield?
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Do you
16 continue to yield?
17 SENATOR RAMOS: I do.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
19 Senator yields.
20 SENATOR BORRELLO: So you mentioned
21 stock options, yet this bill calls for this to
22 apply to businesses with as little as four
23 employees. That's a small business to me, not
24 somebody that's usually giving stock options.
25 Does this apply to part-time
6625
1 employees as well?
2 SENATOR RAMOS: Through you,
3 Madam President, yes.
4 And it can be stock options, it
5 could be free meals for dishwashers. It doesn't
6 matter. Every single worker, even if it's four
7 employees or more, should know what the full
8 compensation package will be.
9 SENATOR BORRELLO: Madam President,
10 will the sponsor continue to yield?
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Do you
12 continue to yield?
13 SENATOR RAMOS: Sure.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
15 Senator yields.
16 SENATOR BORRELLO: Well, I would
17 imagine before the person is hired that they're
18 going to come in for an interview. Obviously
19 you're going to sit down and you're going to know
20 what the benefits are.
21 This is about advertising. This is
22 about telling a small business who is hiring a
23 dishwasher that they have to be informed, before
24 they even show up for an interview, whether or
25 not they're going to get a free meal when they're
6626
1 on the job or a discounted meal afterwards.
2 Is that -- so you're going to punish
3 someone for not disclosing that in an ad? That
4 doesn't seem to make sense to me. Is that what
5 this will do? Will we have consequences?
6 What will the consequences be for a
7 restaurant advertising for a part-time dishwasher
8 and they fail to inform them that they might get
9 a free meal when they're working?
10 SENATOR RAMOS: Through you,
11 Madam President. Yes, there are penalties. The
12 bill outlines the maximum first penalty to be a
13 thousand dollars; the second, $2,000; the third,
14 $3,000.
15 Really what we're looking at here is
16 for the package to be put on paper. Employers
17 are already aware of what they're offering. It's
18 no extra burden. And there is no harm, if you're
19 not hiding anything, for workers to have all of
20 the information before them before they decide to
21 interview for a job, absolutely.
22 SENATOR BORRELLO: Madam President,
23 will the sponsor continue to yield?
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Do you
25 continue to yield?
6627
1 SENATOR RAMOS: Yes.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
3 Ramos yields.
4 SENATOR BORRELLO: Will this apply
5 to this body when you hire somebody?
6 SENATOR RAMOS: I think it would.
7 Give me, Madam President, a moment.
8 (Pause.)
9 SENATOR BORRELLO: Madam President,
10 while we're waiting for an answer, I can ask
11 another question, if the sponsor will continue to
12 yield.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Yes, will
14 the Senator yield?
15 SENATOR RAMOS: Yes.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Yes, she
17 yields.
18 SENATOR BORRELLO: I asked that
19 question because most of the time when we pass a
20 labor-related or employer-related bill in this
21 chamber, we exempt government from that. Which I
22 have always considered to be hypocritical.
23 So I'll be curious to hear the
24 answer to that question.
25 But, listen, let's go back to
6628
1 this --
2 SENATOR RAMOS: Through you,
3 Madam President, allow me to answer the question.
4 No, there's no carveout for
5 government in this bill.
6 SENATOR BORRELLO: Madam President,
7 will the sponsor continue to yield?
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Do you
9 continue to yield?
10 SENATOR RAMOS: I do.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
12 Senator yields.
13 SENATOR BORRELLO: That's good
14 news. Thank you.
15 So -- but let's go back to what
16 we're talking about here. You're talking about a
17 company with four employees. They don't have an
18 HR department, they don't have a compliance
19 officer, they don't have legal counsel. And they
20 put out an ad for a part-time dishwasher and they
21 fail to disclose that that part-time dishwasher
22 will get a free meal at the end of their shift.
23 What will the -- the penalty could
24 be a thousand dollars for that, is that what
25 we're saying?
6629
1 (Pause.)
2 SENATOR RAMOS: Through you,
3 Madam President. The DOL can consider a
4 good-faith effort by an employer when a mistake
5 is made.
6 But I would actually say that this
7 is information that is already readily available.
8 There is no HR person required in order to just
9 write down what you were planning to tell an
10 interviewee in person.
11 We're just asking for that to be
12 thought through perhaps a little more ahead of
13 time, put it down on paper, and be honest in the
14 dialogue with the person who is seeking
15 employment.
16 SENATOR BORRELLO: Madam President,
17 will the sponsor continue to yield?
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Do you
19 continue to yield?
20 SENATOR RAMOS: Yes.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
22 Senator yields.
23 SENATOR BORRELLO: So you mentioned
24 something about the Department of Labor maybe not
25 having to enforce the rule.
6630
1 Is there a cure period allowed
2 before that fine?
3 (Pause.)
4 SENATOR RAMOS: Through you,
5 Madam President, there is no cure period outlined
6 in the bill.
7 But the DOL does have leeway in
8 applying their thinking and helping the business
9 make sure that they are complying.
10 SENATOR BORRELLO: Madam President,
11 will the sponsor continue to yield?
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Do you
13 continue to yield?
14 SENATOR RAMOS: I do.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
16 Senator yields.
17 SENATOR BORRELLO: Isn't that --
18 what you just described -- a cure period? Why
19 isn't that outlined, specifically spelled out in
20 the bill?
21 You're basically -- because, look,
22 we know how this goes with the Department of
23 Labor and any other agency. They -- we'll say,
24 Well, wait a minute, you were given this
25 discretion. And the response always -- because
6631
1 we deal with this with constituent cases all the
2 time -- is: Oh, no, we were not given that
3 authority in the bill.
4 You just got done saying there's no
5 cure period here. There's a thousand-dollar fine
6 if I didn't put in my Facebook post that a
7 part-time dishwasher gets a free meal. And I
8 don't see how the Department of Labor, without a
9 cure period, isn't going to just institute that
10 fine.
11 SENATOR RAMOS: Through you,
12 Madam President, we're not changing the existing
13 penalty structure in the Labor Law here. So
14 that's already on the books.
15 SENATOR BORRELLO: Madam President,
16 will the sponsor continue to yield.
17 SENATOR RAMOS: Yes.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Do you
19 continue to yield?
20 The Senator yields.
21 SENATOR BORRELLO: You know, it
22 used to be years ago you put an ad in a
23 newspaper. But now you've got social media,
24 you've got all of these job posting companies out
25 there. You've got all these different ways to
6632
1 advertise a job, a simple post on social media.
2 Would all of those vehicles be
3 encompassed here? Would they have to comply on
4 all of those vehicles?
5 SENATOR RAMOS: Through you,
6 Madam President, absolutely. That's the point.
7 SENATOR BORRELLO: Madam President,
8 will the sponsor continue to yield?
9 SENATOR RAMOS: Yes.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Do you
11 continue to yield?
12 The Senator yields.
13 SENATOR BORRELLO: So every single
14 time you say on Facebook, Hey, I'm hiring a
15 dishwasher, come on in for an interview -- if I
16 don't list all the benefits I could be facing a
17 fine?
18 SENATOR RAMOS: Through you,
19 Madam President, potentially, yes.
20 Why would you hide information from
21 the worker?
22 SENATOR BORRELLO: Wow.
23 Madam President, will the sponsor
24 continue to yield.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Do you
6633
1 continue to yield?
2 SENATOR RAMOS: Absolutely.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
4 Senator yields.
5 SENATOR BORRELLO: Okay. So how
6 are we going to enforce this? Are we going to
7 have some kind of policing -- are you going to
8 have to have Department of Labor employees
9 dedicated to scouring through millions and
10 millions of social media posts, job listing
11 sites, newspaper ads?
12 How are you going to possibly
13 enforce this?
14 SENATOR RAMOS: Through you,
15 Madam President. Through existing Labor Law, you
16 know, the worker is here empowered to report any
17 injustice against them.
18 And hopefully -- we hope -- that
19 there wouldn't be retaliation against a worker
20 who wants to speak up to protect their rights.
21 But the onus is on the employer to
22 hopefully be as honest and disclose what will
23 constitute as compensation for the work.
24 SENATOR BORRELLO: Madam President,
25 will the sponsor continue to yield?
6634
1 SENATOR RAMOS: Yes.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: the
3 Senator yields.
4 SENATOR BORRELLO: You still
5 haven't answered my question. How are we going
6 to enforce this?
7 You know, so you're saying that
8 someone who wasn't hired will go complain that
9 they didn't know for the job they didn't go
10 interview for, that they were going to get a free
11 meal for a part-time dishwashing job, and
12 therefore they are now owed some kind of
13 compensation for that job that they didn't take.
14 SENATOR RAMOS: Through you,
15 Madam President, if the restaurant happens to
16 have two dishwashers and one knows that they're
17 going to get free meals and the other one doesn't
18 know or doesn't get the meals, that actually
19 serves the exact point of the bill.
20 And so that's the reason why it
21 would exist, to ensure that there's pay parity.
22 Look, in the labor movement -- this
23 is why we love collective bargaining agreements
24 so much, because it outlines specifically what
25 the compensation for different titles and the
6635
1 scope of work is. And there is no question about
2 whether two people who are both plumbers, how
3 they should be compensated, whether they're a man
4 or a woman, whether they're of any color, whether
5 they're of any sexual orientation.
6 Here, especially for nonunion work,
7 which a lot of dishwashing likely is, we want to
8 make sure that they have the same access to
9 information so that the worker can make the
10 informed choice of picking the best job that fits
11 them, and hopefully also encourage employers to
12 compete on the basis of being the better
13 employer.
14 SENATOR BORRELLO: Madam President,
15 will the sponsor continue to yield.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Do you
17 continue to yield?
18 SENATOR RAMOS: Yes.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
20 Senator yields.
21 SENATOR BORRELLO: So if you never
22 took the job, how do you know you're not getting
23 the benefits?
24 And benefits are not required to be
25 provided. So how is this enforceable?
6636
1 (Pause.)
2 SENATOR RAMOS: Through you,
3 Madam President. Yeah, I think workers can suss
4 out whether they're getting the benefits or not.
5 But again, this is just one more
6 tool for them to utilize to ensure that they're
7 being appropriately compensated.
8 SENATOR BORRELLO: Madam President,
9 will the sponsor continue to yield?
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Do you
11 continue --
12 SENATOR RAMOS: Yes.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
14 Senator yields.
15 SENATOR BORRELLO: So once again,
16 the Department of Labor is currently required to
17 scour all of these ads, you're saying, that we're
18 not going to have to require the DOL to hire new
19 people --
20 SENATOR RAMOS: Through you,
21 Madam President --
22 SENATOR BORRELLO: -- to be -- I
23 haven't finished asking my question --
24 SENATOR RAMOS: No, I am not saying
25 that.
6637
1 SENATOR BORRELLO: Excuse me.
2 You're going to require them to have people going
3 out there and scouring all of these social media
4 sites and job listings? I don't understand. How
5 are we going -- this is going to cost a lot of
6 money to do that, isn't it?
7 SENATOR RAMOS: Through you,
8 Madam President, no, that's not what the bill
9 says at all.
10 SENATOR BORRELLO: Madam President,
11 on the bill.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
13 Borrello on the bill.
14 SENATOR BORRELLO: Thank you,
15 Senator.
16 You know, like I said before, this
17 is a solution in search of a problem. And if you
18 said to me, I'm going to be very focused, I want
19 it to be on specific areas -- you know, the
20 financial industry, the public sector. You know,
21 you have employees that -- if you're a cop or
22 a -- you know, working somewhere in government
23 and you want to change jobs, you want to know for
24 sure what the benefits are.
25 But at the end of the day, if you're
6638
1 a responsible adult, you're going to ask what
2 those benefits are, even if they're not listed,
3 before you change your job.
4 I don't know anyone that says, "Oh,
5 my God, I lost my pension because I didn't
6 realize there wasn't a pension at the new job."
7 So I still think this is rather frivolous to
8 begin with.
9 But most importantly, this applies
10 to small businesses. You're going to have the
11 Department of Labor out there bounty hunting for
12 small businesses that didn't list that the
13 dishwasher gets a free meal at the end of their
14 shift. You're going to have somebody out trying
15 to prove themselves, some bureaucrat, assessing
16 thousand-dollar fines to a bodega because they
17 didn't tell their employee that they get a
18 10 percent discount on, you know, items that they
19 buy at the bodega.
20 That's what's going to happen here.
21 You're going to weaponize the Department of Labor
22 against small business with this bill.
23 Now, I get it, most of the folks
24 that write bills about small businesses have
25 never been in a small business, have never been
6639
1 in business. They've never had a job that didn't
2 come with a government paycheck. So I understand
3 that maybe there's ignorance on this.
4 But the reality is, as a small
5 business owner myself, this is very onerous. It
6 costs money to do these things, to try and hire
7 people. You have high rates of turnover, all
8 these other expenses that stress small
9 businesses.
10 And now we're going to say if you
11 don't list the fact that somebody gets a free bag
12 of potato chips at the end of their shift, that
13 you could face a $1,000 fine? Are you kidding
14 me?
15 This is why people can't stay in
16 business in New York State. This is why they
17 close. This is why they leave. This is why we
18 have food deserts in areas because we don't have
19 a convenience store, a restaurant, a pharmacy,
20 because they can't comply with all the ridiculous
21 things that we require here. We keep piling on,
22 piling on, piling on.
23 And I'm sure at some point somewhere
24 this is needed, but we're talking about
25 advertising. We're not talking about someone who
6640
1 signed on the dotted line, took the job, and then
2 all of a sudden we ripped the benefits away from
3 them, or we gave it to this person, not that
4 person. This is about advertising the job.
5 You're not even required to give benefits.
6 This is why people don't like to do
7 business in New York State. It's stuff like
8 this. It's requirements like this that made
9 people realize that this is a state we can't do
10 business in. And that's why they're leaving,
11 more and more and more and more every single day.
12 This is an anti-small business bill,
13 and I'll be voting no.
14 Thank you, Madam President.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Are there
16 any other Senators wishing to be heard?
17 Seeing and hearing none, debate is
18 closed.
19 Senator Serrano.
20 SENATOR SERRANO: Thank you,
21 Madam President. Upon consent, we've agreed to
22 restore this bill to the noncontroversial
23 calendar.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
25 will be restored to the noncontroversial
6641
1 calendar.
2 Read the last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
4 act shall take effect on the 270th 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 Ramos to explain her vote.
11 SENATOR RAMOS: Thank you,
12 Madam President.
13 It is the four-year anniversary of
14 the original salary transparency bill passed in
15 this house. I am so proud to say that four years
16 ago we required employers to disclose a salary
17 range for every job posting in this state, and
18 the sky has not fallen down.
19 The truth is that transparency is
20 not anti-business. In fact, transparent markets
21 perform better because both sides, workers and
22 employers, know what's being offered. I mean,
23 employers already know whether they offer
24 benefits, and this bill is certainly not
25 requiring them. It just communicates what they
6642
1 are if there are any.
2 And if a benefit is valuable enough
3 to help recruit a worker, well, then, it should
4 be transparent enough to be disclosed.
5 And frankly, if turnover is so
6 costly for businesses, and I know that it is,
7 then it's better to be able to recruit workers
8 who we know genuinely understand and want the
9 package that is being offered. They will most
10 likely do a better job and will care more about
11 the quality of their work.
12 Furthermore, this is a bill that is
13 actually law in three other states -- in
14 Illinois, in Colorado, and in Washington. And
15 there's even a version in Nevada. So I promise
16 you that when this bill gets signed into law too,
17 the sky will still be up there.
18 Thank you, Madam President.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
20 Ramos to be recorded in the affirmative.
21 Announce the results.
22 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
23 Calendar 134, voting in the negative are
24 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
25 Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martins,
6643
1 Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Stec,
2 Walczyk, Weber and Weik. Also Senator Tedisco.
3 Ayes, 41. Nays, 19.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
5 is passed.
6 Senator Serrano.
7 SENATOR SERRANO: Madam President,
8 let's now go to Calendar 979.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
10 Secretary will read.
11 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
12 979, Senate Print 7408B, by Senator Fahy, an act
13 to amend the Public Health Law.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
15 Borrello.
16 SENATOR BORRELLO: Oh, thank you.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Why do you
18 rise?
19 SENATOR BORRELLO: Madam President,
20 will the sponsor yield?
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
22 Fahy, do you yield for questions?
23 SENATOR FAHY: Certainly.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
25 Senator yields.
6644
1 SENATOR BORRELLO: All right.
2 Excuse my back, Senator Fahy.
3 So I understand -- look, when I
4 go -- I travel a lot, obviously, we all do. And
5 I bring my own coffee cup and my own, you know,
6 mug and I want them to fill that up. Sometimes
7 they will, sometimes they won't. But it's really
8 up to them to decide whether or not they want to.
9 So what would this bill do?
10 SENATOR FAHY: Now, unless it is a
11 takeout, they -- a restaurant can completely opt
12 out of this. But if it is a restaurant, a full
13 serve or a coffee shop, they can -- they would
14 have to, once regs are issued on this, they would
15 have to make sure it's clean, but they would no
16 longer be able to turn you away from refilling
17 your water bottle or coffee mug.
18 And as you know, many are set up
19 such that they don't even touch the water or the
20 coffee mug; it's usually just off to the side.
21 But it would allow you such -- we've
22 needed exactly what you described is what we have
23 seen, and there's been a lot of uncertainty here
24 because of the arbitrariness of the way customers
25 have been treated. So this would allow for some
6645
1 certainty, we would hope, and a little more
2 clarity.
3 SENATOR BORRELLO: Madam President,
4 will sponsor continue to yield.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Do you
6 continue to yield?
7 SENATOR FAHY: Certainly.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
9 Senator yields.
10 SENATOR BORRELLO: Well, my concern
11 is, you know, look, I pick my coffee mug, I take
12 the time, go into the restroom and wash it out.
13 And I don't present a dirty coffee mug to the
14 person behind the counter.
15 But this would require the business
16 to actually sanitize and meet standards, you
17 know, cleanliness standards, like -- you know,
18 like serve-safe training standards, would it not?
19 SENATOR FAHY: No, it's actually in
20 there that a business -- if the mug is not clean,
21 if the water bottle is not, and you're asking
22 somebody, they could definitely turn you away.
23 It's at their discretion.
24 SENATOR BORRELLO: Madam President,
25 if the sponsor --
6646
1 SENATOR FAHY: The idea is to
2 have -- I should add, sorry. Through you,
3 Madam President, the idea is to have more safety
4 standards here, not less.
5 SENATOR BORRELLO: Madam President,
6 will the sponsor continue to yield?
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Do you
8 continue to yield?
9 SENATOR FAHY: Certainly.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
11 Senator yields.
12 SENATOR BORRELLO: So I guess I may
13 have misunderstood.
14 So right now they can refuse, but
15 you're saying they can still refuse if -- but
16 only if the cup is not clean?
17 SENATOR FAHY: Yes, they have the
18 discretion. And the intent, again, is that we
19 have safety standards that are clear.
20 And certainly if it's -- if somebody
21 is asked to handle something, they can turn that
22 away.
23 And again, I think what we have
24 seen, and I would hope that we will see more of
25 it, is that individuals can serve themselves.
6647
1 Just as in a restaurant where, if you are asking
2 for a take-home bag after eating in a place, they
3 bring you the proverbial dog bag, doggie bag.
4 SENATOR BORRELLO: Madam President,
5 will the sponsor continue to yield?
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Do you
7 continue to yield? Senator Fahy, do you --
8 SENATOR FAHY: Yes. Sorry.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
10 Senator yields.
11 SENATOR BORRELLO: So are there any
12 standards for the cup? Like if I, you know, have
13 rolling around in the back seat of my car an old,
14 you know, cup from a fast-food place that's not
15 the place I'm going to, and I walk in and say, I
16 want to refill this cup, and you take this dirty
17 disposable cup that was rolling around in the
18 back of my vehicle and go up to the -- you know,
19 the dispenser that anyone can go to, are you
20 saying they have to require -- they have to allow
21 the person to do that?
22 I'm not sure of how I follow that.
23 SENATOR FAHY: Again, no. They can
24 refuse at any time.
25 And it is only intended, the refill
6648
1 is only intended for reusable-type containers.
2 So a reissued Stewart's cup would not be
3 something you could bring into Dunkin' Donuts by
4 any means.
5 SENATOR BORRELLO: Well, that's
6 good.
7 SENATOR FAHY: Yes.
8 SENATOR BORRELLO: Madam President,
9 on the bill.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
11 Borrello on the bill.
12 SENATOR BORRELLO: Thank you,
13 Senator Fahy. I had some genuine concerns that I
14 was trying to address here.
15 See, my concern with this bill is
16 still the same. First of all, I think we all
17 know what we want to do, we want to try to reduce
18 people, you know, bringing in -- not bringing in
19 a cup and just getting a cup and throwing it
20 away.
21 I personally can't stand, when I
22 walk in with my reusable coffee cup and they hand
23 me a paper cup and I dump it in and I throw it in
24 the garbage. I don't like seeing that. I don't
25 like the waste of that. I agree with that.
6649
1 The problem I have is you're now
2 making that person behind the counter, who's, you
3 know, typically a, you know, newer employee, and
4 you're making them all of a sudden now have to be
5 in a confrontation.
6 Because the law will now say "you
7 must do this." Now, they aren't going to know
8 the law, they're only going to know -- they're
9 only going to know that they can't be refused, or
10 at least they're going to think they aren't, and
11 you're going to create confrontation.
12 And that's the problem with this
13 bill. We need to give full discretion to those
14 businesses for a number of reasons. You know,
15 you can go, you know, to a chain like Starbucks,
16 and this place will refill your cup and this
17 place will not, all the same corporate standard.
18 Starbucks has a very strict corporate standard,
19 yet you can go to five different Starbucks and
20 they -- and all five will probably have a
21 different way of handling that.
22 So even in a strict chain like
23 Starbucks, there's not consistency. But it's up
24 to the individual behind the counter, really.
25 So my concern with this is we're
6650
1 creating a potential for a confrontation that
2 doesn't need to be there, so I'll continue to be
3 a no on this.
4 Thank you.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Are there
6 any other Senators wishing to be heard?
7 Seeing and hearing none, debate is
8 closed.
9 Senator Serrano.
10 SENATOR SERRANO: Madam President,
11 upon consent, we've agreed to restore this bill
12 to the noncontroversial calendar.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
14 is restored to the noncontroversial calendar.
15 Read the last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
17 act shall take effect one year after it shall
18 have become a law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
20 roll.
21 (The Secretary called the roll.)
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
23 Fahy to explain her vote.
24 SENATOR FAHY: Thank you,
25 Madam President.
6651
1 I will be voting in support of this
2 bill, and for the reasons you just heard
3 described that were part of the impetus for this
4 bill.
5 And that is that we have seen
6 incredible uncertainly, we've seen very difficult
7 anecdotal incidences of folks being refused in
8 one coffee shop and accepted in another, which
9 can also lead to a confrontation.
10 We also have 60 million plastic
11 water bottles used per day, per day -- 60 million
12 plastic water bottles each day. Many restaurants
13 now have water dispensers set up, and they allow
14 you to, once you've paid for your coffee, to
15 dispense your own coffee.
16 So we are trying to encourage better
17 practices, but we are also trying to address what
18 has been some real uncertainty and variation
19 among businesses, and have the Department of
20 Health issue clear sanitation standards.
21 Certainly we're trying to lead to better safety
22 standards and not less.
23 So thank you, and with that I vote
24 in support of this bill.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
6652
1 Fahy to be recorded in the affirmative.
2 Senator Oberacker to explain his
3 vote.
4 SENATOR OBERACKER: Thank you,
5 Madam President.
6 You know, it's interesting, if I
7 were to ask any of my colleagues what exactly is
8 the standard set up by the Department of Health
9 for sanitation, does anybody know it off the top
10 of their head? How many PPMs are required of
11 chlorine-based sanitizer to kill E. coli O157,
12 salmonella, Campylobacter, or any other nasty
13 little bugs out there?
14 Can anybody show me or can you see
15 those nasty little bacteria and bugs that I just
16 talked about on any surface whatsoever?
17 In fact, one of the things that's
18 interesting, Madam President, we would do, in
19 some of our seminars, we would actually have a
20 powder that can only be seen through a
21 black light, and we would only contaminate one
22 page and send it around. And you would be amazed
23 at the end of this just where, when we
24 black-light, where it has shown up.
25 So again, I'm very, very concerned
6653
1 about the public health, the ability to introduce
2 into a restaurant and/or food service
3 establishment that has these practices in place.
4 And this could be a potential time bomb, in my
5 opinion, Madam President.
6 So with that, I would encourage all
7 of those -- all of my colleagues, some that maybe
8 don't have the microbiological background that I
9 have, to vote no.
10 So I appreciate that, and I will be
11 voting no. Thank you.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
13 Oberacker to be recorded in the negative.
14 Announce the results.
15 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
16 Calendar 979, voting in the negative are
17 Senators Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan,
18 Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Martins, Mattera,
19 Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Rhoads, Stec,
20 Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik. Also
21 Senator Lanza.
22 Ayes, 41. Nays, 19.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
24 is passed.
25 Calendar 1456?
6654
1 SENATOR SERRANO: Madam President,
2 let's now take up Calendar 1456.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
4 Secretary will read.
5 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
6 1456, Senate Print 4571B, by Senator Harckham, an
7 act to amend the Public Authorities Law.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
9 Murray, why do you rise?
10 SENATOR MURRAY: Thank you,
11 Madam President. Would the sponsor yield for a
12 few questions?
13 SENATOR HARCKHAM: I will,
14 Madam President.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Oh,
16 Senator Harckham, do you yield?
17 SENATOR HARCKHAM: I do.
18 And good evening, Senator Murray.
19 SENATOR MURRAY: Good evening.
20 Thank you. Through you, Madam President.
21 Senator Harckham, on this particular
22 bill, what types of bodies of water would we be
23 doing this in?
24 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Through you,
25 Madam President, this would be -- Mr. President.
6655
1 You've changed. Through you.
2 This would be the manmade bodies
3 such as canals, industrial ponds, manmade
4 reservoirs. Not -- not, for instance, a large
5 lake that happens to also serve as a water source
6 for someone. Although there's no law that would
7 preclude that. This is just for this particular
8 NYSERDA program that we're starting.
9 But essentially it would be canals,
10 manmade reservoirs, manmade lakes, and industrial
11 ponds. Those types of things, smaller.
12 SENATOR MURRAY: Thank you.
13 Mr. President, would the sponsor
14 continue to yield?
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
16 sponsor yield?
17 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Yes.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
19 sponsor yields.
20 SENATOR MURRAY: Thank you.
21 Through you, Mr. President.
22 Are there any limitations as to the
23 types of solar panels that can be used or, like,
24 for example, foreign-made, American-made? Any
25 differentials?
6656
1 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Through you,
2 Mr. President, no. The bill is neutral to that.
3 In the former Inflation Reduction
4 Act there were specific requirements for certain
5 American components, American assembly. Congress
6 has since overturned those. But this bill is
7 neutral on that. This is just programming
8 another type of solar that other states and other
9 nations are beginning to use.
10 SENATOR MURRAY: Mr. President,
11 would the sponsor continue to yield?
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
13 sponsor yield?
14 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Yes.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
16 sponsor yields.
17 SENATOR MURRAY: Thank you.
18 Through you, Mr. President.
19 So we've heard that some of the
20 panels that are made in China have been known to
21 contain PFAS. Most of the panels or all of the
22 panels that are constructed either here or there
23 have rare earth minerals which could leach into
24 the water.
25 Are there any plans to monitor the
6657
1 water? And are there plans and/or funds included
2 in this bill for remediation if the water is
3 polluted?
4 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Through you,
5 Mr. President, I would politely push back on one
6 of the assertions my colleague made. PFAS is not
7 a common element in solar panels or solar
8 construction. Because silicone is used and they
9 have similar properties, many people may confuse
10 that PFAS is used.
11 But I'll share two things with you.
12 The top 10 companies who manufacture solar panels
13 and make up more than 75 percent of the global
14 market share have all signed letters attesting
15 that they use zero PFAS in their components.
16 The other is an article I would
17 point you to from my favorite publication,
18 pv magazine. It was the April edition, headline
19 article: "No evidence of PFAS leaching from
20 solar panels, study finds." It's a review of
21 other peer-reviewed research.
22 So the PFAS issue is not a pressing
23 issue.
24 Are there -- the second part of the
25 question about monitoring the water, yes.
6658
1 Because one of the things that anecdotally has
2 been reported -- so for instance when I went to
3 Canoe Creek in New Jersey, which was -- American
4 Water Systems I believe is the name of the
5 company, they put a 17-acre solar array on their
6 reservoir. They're powering 95 percent of the
7 water district's electricity use and I think it
8 was 1400 homes combined.
9 And they found the added benefit --
10 they've been monitoring the water temperature,
11 and because it absorbs and reflects the sun's
12 light, it's keeping the water temperature lower
13 and they believe helping retard the growth of
14 blue-green algae, something that Senator May has
15 done so much work on.
16 So there is a provision in the bill
17 to develop protocols to monitor water quality.
18 SENATOR MURRAY: Thank you,
19 Mr. President. On the bill.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
21 Murray on the bill.
22 SENATOR MURRAY: Thank you,
23 Senator Harckham. Appreciate the answers.
24 And I will not profess to be an
25 expert on PFAS or solar panels. I can only
6659
1 attest to what I have heard and read, and that is
2 concerns that PFAS does in fact exist.
3 So the concern would be if there is
4 still a question, are we willing to take the risk
5 and take the chance?
6 It's concerning, we've heard bills
7 in this body where we are so anxious to get to a
8 point under the CLCPA and move to these different
9 types of energy sources, we're willing to clear
10 out trees to put more solar panels, put solar
11 panels on water sources, including reservoirs.
12 We're so anxious to get there -- and
13 I would suggest that maybe we hit the pause
14 button here. Again, if there's even a question
15 that PFAS is emitted from these solar panels, we
16 need to look into that.
17 We do know that these rare-earth
18 minerals are used in processing and manufacturing
19 these panels. So again, that concern is there
20 for the safety, if you will, and the water
21 quality.
22 I'll end with this. We've spent so
23 much money, and in fact we passed, a couple of
24 years ago, a $4.2 billion Environmental Bond Act
25 fund, and most of that went towards cleaning or
6660
1 is going towards ensuring that we have clean
2 water. But yet we're willing to take steps here
3 and possibly gamble on the water quality here.
4 For that reason, I think we need to
5 slow down, hit the button. For that reason, I'll
6 be voting no. Thank you.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
8 you, Senator Murray.
9 Senator Walczyk, why do you rise?
10 SENATOR WALCZYK: Mr. President,
11 will the sponsor yield?
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
13 sponsor yield?
14 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Yes.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
16 sponsor yields.
17 SENATOR WALCZYK: Through you,
18 Mr. President.
19 So this bill requires that the state
20 hand out grants for floating solar projects.
21 What pot of money are those grants coming out of?
22 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Through you,
23 Mr. President. Whatever pots of money NYSERDA
24 currently uses to support solar development.
25 There will be no new assessments for
6661
1 this. We the other day in the budget passed
2 200 million for NY-Sun. Because these are
3 community-scale projects and smaller, it could
4 come out of NY-Sun.
5 This is just a adder program to
6 provide education, technical assistance, and a
7 little bit of money to help encourage these types
8 of projects.
9 SENATOR WALCZYK: Through you,
10 Mr. President, would the sponsor continue to
11 yield?
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
13 sponsor yield?
14 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Yes.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
16 sponsor yields.
17 SENATOR WALCZYK: Yeah, just trying
18 to get clarification. Does it direct that it
19 comes out of NY-Sun or some kind of other program
20 funded by taxpayers? Or could NYSERDA also fund
21 this with ratepayer money?
22 (Pause.)
23 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Through you,
24 Mr. President. There are a couple of answers to
25 that question.
6662
1 Because a lot of NYSERDA's programs
2 are off-book, they're off the state budget for
3 some of the surcharges, funding could come from
4 that. However, the NY-Sun program, which we
5 outlined in the budget, is on-book. So there
6 could be some off-book, some on-book.
7 I would -- I would point out I would
8 expect the expenditures would be very low on
9 this. There are very few in the country.
10 There's one in Cohoes being built right now.
11 There's the one in Short Hills, New Jersey, that
12 I referred to. They're building another one in
13 New Jersey. There are a few on the West Coast.
14 But this is much more done in Europe
15 and Asia, so this is really about learning the
16 marketplace here and developing a skill set of
17 American developers to be able to do this.
18 So I would not expect a large
19 expenditure.
20 SENATOR WALCZYK: Through you,
21 Mr. President, will the sponsor continue to
22 yield?
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
24 sponsor yield?
25 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Yes.
6663
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
2 sponsor yields.
3 SENATOR WALCZYK: How does this
4 bill define "floating solar"?
5 SENATOR HARCKHAM: All right.
6 Through you, Mr. President.
7 To use the exact words from the
8 bill, the term "floating solar" shall mean solar
9 voltaic systems mounted on floating structures or
10 platforms on the surface of a body of water,
11 including but not limited to canals, lakes,
12 reservoirs, and ponds.
13 SENATOR WALCZYK: Through you,
14 Mr. President, will the sponsor continue to
15 yield?
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
17 sponsor yield?
18 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Yes.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
20 sponsor yields.
21 SENATOR WALCZYK: Through you,
22 Mr. President. I was listening to the debate
23 prior to this. I thought you said floating solar
24 wasn't for lakes, but your definition included
25 lakes.
6664
1 Is that just a technical error in
2 the draft?
3 SENATOR HARCKHAM: No, it should --
4 it's manmade lakes. Let me see where we later
5 say -- through you, Mr. President, that's the
6 definition of floating and solar.
7 The grant program that this bill
8 creates: Canals, reservoirs, commercial and
9 industrial ponds, and any other artificially
10 created body of water suitable for siting
11 floating solar.
12 So the definition is like, hey, what
13 is floating solar. But for the purposes of this
14 grant program, this is what it's limited to.
15 SENATOR WALCZYK: And through you,
16 Mr. President, would the sponsor continue to
17 yield?
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
19 sponsor yield?
20 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Yes.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
22 sponsor yields.
23 SENATOR WALCZYK: All right, so I
24 think I understand.
25 So definitionally, "floating solar"
6665
1 includes solar that is installed on lakes in
2 New York State and also reservoirs, canals, the
3 other things, but only the canals and the
4 reservoirs will be eligible for the -- either
5 taxpayer money or ratepayer money in this grant
6 program. Am I understanding that correctly?
7 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Through you,
8 Mr. President, that's correct.
9 But right now there is nothing
10 stopping a solar company, if they wanted to, or
11 a -- you know, a wealthy entrepreneur from
12 picking some big lake and trying to build a
13 floating solar array there. I mean, they'd have
14 to go through local permitting and they'd have to
15 go through DEC and all that stuff, but there's
16 nothing in law that would prohibit that.
17 All this -- all this bill is doing
18 is creating a program for a much smaller body and
19 limited body -- number of bodies of water,
20 creating an education and technical assistance
21 and a grant program for those.
22 But if somebody wanted to go ahead
23 and do something like that right now, you know,
24 there's -- they'd have a lot of challenges, but
25 there's nothing in law that would prohibit that.
6666
1 SENATOR WALCZYK: Through you,
2 Mr. President, will the sponsor continue to
3 yield?
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
5 sponsor yield?
6 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Yes.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
8 sponsor yields.
9 SENATOR WALCZYK: Through you,
10 Mr. President.
11 But since we're talking about power
12 generation here, would this apply under the
13 Office of Renewable Energy Siting if they met the
14 threshold of megawatts required there?
15 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Through you,
16 Mr. President. Right now the largest one in the
17 country is less than half the size of what would
18 qualify for ORES.
19 ORES begins -- and for those who
20 don't know the acronym, Office of Renewal Energy
21 Siting -- it's about 20 megawatts. And the
22 largest one in the country is I think about 8.9.
23 So these would all have local
24 planning, local zoning, like the one that was
25 done in New Jersey, they had to go through their
6667
1 planning board, their zoning board of appeals --
2 you know, whatever special permits they needed.
3 All locally controlled, as was Cohoes.
4 SENATOR WALCZYK: And through you,
5 Mr. President, would the sponsor continue to
6 yield?
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
8 sponsor yield?
9 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Yes.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
11 sponsor yields.
12 SENATOR WALCZYK: Through you,
13 Mr. President. So the -- reservoirs are manmade.
14 They would be eligible for the grant money for
15 floating solar here.
16 Is there any prohibition on
17 reservoirs within the Catskills or the
18 Adirondacks?
19 SENATOR HARCKHAM: If they are
20 manmade, I suppose they would -- they could be
21 eligible. However, the reservoirs in the
22 Catskills and the ones by me, I've approached
23 New York City DEP. They are studying them, so
24 they may or may not be open to them.
25 But those are much larger water
6668
1 bodies. So for instance, the one in New Jersey,
2 the one in Cohoes are really very small water
3 bodies. They're small little local water
4 districts. It's much easier for the
5 installation. It's much easier for the
6 management and the maintenance.
7 Companies don't want like a big
8 expanse of water body. It's too hard for them.
9 So I don't suspect we would see that, certainly
10 not anytime soon. The technical expertise is
11 just not in this country.
12 SENATOR WALCZYK: Mr. President,
13 would the sponsor yield?
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
15 sponsor yield?
16 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Yes.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
18 sponsor yields.
19 SENATOR WALCZYK: Through you,
20 Mr. President. What's the maximum size or
21 megawatt threshold that's allowed in this bill
22 for a floating solar project?
23 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Through you,
24 Mr. President. It is not specified. We do not
25 specify a threshold.
6669
1 SENATOR WALCZYK: Through you,
2 Mr. President, will the sponsor continue to
3 yield?
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
5 sponsor yield?
6 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Yes.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
8 sponsor yields.
9 SENATOR WALCZYK: So being any
10 size, while we may speculate about what the
11 industry may prefer or not prefer, I'm certainly
12 surprised by the amount of land mass that the
13 industry has taken up. I didn't think when we
14 started this solar experiment in New York State
15 that I would drive across my district and see
16 farmland completely paved over, sometimes to the
17 tune of thousands of connected acres.
18 But I do want to ask -- so just a
19 clarification. So the Ashokan Reservoir in the
20 Catskills, that would be eligible for grants for
21 floating solar?
22 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Through you,
23 Mr. President. Not if New York City DEP has no
24 interest in it. It's their reservoir.
25 So just like you or I couldn't do a
6670
1 development there without their permission, which
2 is not going to happen, if they don't want to do
3 it, it's not going to happen, end of story.
4 Nothing in this legislation
5 overrides that local zoning or local control.
6 And there's nothing in here that says a local
7 municipality couldn't pass a zoning code saying,
8 you know, Lake Smith, we don't want floating
9 solar here.
10 There's nothing that would prevent a
11 municipality -- and if I could comment on one
12 thing, Senator -- through you, Mr. President --
13 the Senator spoke of the amount of farmland that
14 has been lost to solar. That is precisely why we
15 are advancing this bill for floating solar, to
16 take the pressure off of farmland.
17 So these are water bodies that are
18 not used for recreation because they're
19 reservoirs or they have industrial use. It's
20 exactly why we're doing this, is to take the
21 pressure off of farmland and open space.
22 SENATOR WALCZYK: Through you,
23 Mr. President, would the sponsor yield?
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
25 sponsor yield?
6671
1 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Yes.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
3 sponsor yields.
4 SENATOR WALCZYK: I didn't see the
5 prohibition on using a reservoir that's also used
6 recreationally. Where would I find that in your
7 bill?
8 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Through you,
9 Mr. President. I suppose there is no
10 prohibition.
11 But many reservoirs do not allow
12 recreation other than passive fishing. You know,
13 there's not rampant boating on manmade reservoirs
14 and manmade lakes to that degree.
15 SENATOR WALCZYK: Mr. President,
16 would the sponsor yield?
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
18 sponsor yield?
19 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Yes.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
21 sponsor yields.
22 SENATOR WALCZYK: Through you,
23 Mr. President. Have you ever heard of the
24 Sacandaga Lake?
25 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Through you,
6672
1 Mr. President, I have.
2 SENATOR WALCZYK: Mr. President,
3 would the sponsor continue to yield?
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
5 sponsor yield?
6 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Through you,
7 Mr. President, I would also add, though, that if
8 the community around that lake does not want a
9 project like this, it is well within their right
10 to deny it.
11 There is no state override in this
12 bill. Nothing in this bill overrides local
13 authority. So if the communities around that
14 lake want to pass a law, or a developer comes to
15 them with a plan, they can simply say no. They
16 have that control. Nothing in this bill,
17 Mr. President, overrides local control.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
19 you, Senator Harckham.
20 Senator Walczyk had asked that you
21 yield. Senator Harckham, do you yield?
22 SENATOR HARCKHAM: I do.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
24 sponsor yields.
25 SENATOR WALCZYK: Thank you.
6673
1 Through you, Mr. President.
2 Does this bill prescribe the
3 materials on which the panels need to float?
4 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Through you,
5 Mr. President, no, it does not.
6 SENATOR WALCZYK: Through you,
7 Mr. President, would the sponsor continue to
8 yield?
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
10 sponsor yield?
11 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Yes.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
13 sponsor yields.
14 SENATOR WALCZYK: So buoyancy is
15 achieved in floating solar by packaging air or
16 some kind of gas, using plastic packaging around
17 that air or gas in order to create that buoyancy.
18 Is there any kind of prohibition on
19 the packaging in plastic of that air or gas to
20 achieve that buoyancy for floating solar?
21 (Pause.)
22 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Through you,
23 Mr. President. The legislation specifically says
24 that the program, when it's being developed, will
25 identify best practices.
6674
1 And so if the best practices are not
2 to use certain materials, based on study from
3 other states and other countries, then those
4 materials will not be used, based on the rules
5 promulgated by NYSERDA.
6 SENATOR WALCZYK: Through you,
7 Mr. President, will the sponsor continue to
8 yield?
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
10 sponsor yield?
11 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Yes.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
13 sponsor yields.
14 SENATOR WALCZYK: Through you,
15 Mr. President.
16 But we are talking about manmade
17 reservoirs, sometimes drinking water sources.
18 This body has talked a lot of times about
19 microplastics. Some have even said we need to
20 get beyond plastics and ban all kinds of
21 packaging in the State of New York.
22 But does this floating solar bill
23 protect our water from plastic floating devices,
24 or will they be able to float on plastic buoys
25 the way that you've written this legislation?
6675
1 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Through you,
2 Mr. President. I agree, the Senator's point is
3 well-taken.
4 We've done a lot in this body on the
5 types of plastics that can be used in docks. I
6 think you, Senator, had a good bill, Senator May
7 has had a good bill. So we continue to do work
8 on that. And it's up to the people who
9 promulgate the rules to come up with best
10 practices and best technology.
11 SENATOR WALCZYK: Thank you.
12 Mr. President, on the bill.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
14 Walczyk on the bill.
15 SENATOR WALCZYK: So just a point
16 of clarification and kind of to round up some of
17 the discussion, because I learned some things in
18 this debate today.
19 There is no prohibition for the size
20 of these things. We do have -- I represent the
21 Stillwater Reservoir in the Adirondacks. I also
22 represent the Great Sacandaga Lake, which is a
23 manmade reservoir in the Adirondacks. They would
24 be eligible for grant programming for solar with
25 no prohibition on the size.
6676
1 So if the target was to have
2 smaller-scale and more localized areas just under
3 zoning, then the legislation before us should
4 have been written that way. It isn't. It's
5 currently written with no cap on the size that
6 these can be.
7 I've seen some doozies across my
8 desk here in the Legislature. You know, we've
9 seen gigawatts of batteries spread across
10 New York State, solar spread all over the place,
11 solar proposed on state reforestation areas, and
12 now floating solar. And, as the sponsor put it,
13 to take some of the pain off of the ag land.
14 Well, that doesn't sound like it's going to be
15 very small to me.
16 People are already very concerned
17 with how much solar has taken up agriculture
18 land. And I think the last thing they want to
19 see are solar panels where they're fishing and
20 boating and swimming and recreating and
21 reservoirs where they're drinking the water from,
22 with questionable chemicals on the solar panels,
23 and they're probably floating on plastic buoys
24 in possibly your drinking water source.
25 But more than that, this bill is
6677
1 also either funded by the taxpayers or funded by
2 the ratepayers. It's unclear from debate who's
3 going to pay for it. But it will be New Yorkers
4 paying for a new grant program to put solar
5 panels on our waterways. That's a doozy.
6 You cannot save the planet by
7 destroying the environment. I hope you all vote
8 no.
9 Thank you, Mr. President.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
11 you, Senator Walczyk.
12 Senator Helming, why do you rise?
13 SENATOR HELMING: Thank you,
14 Mr. President. If the sponsor will yield for a
15 couple of questions.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
17 sponsor yield?
18 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Through you,
19 Mr. President, yes.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
21 sponsor yields.
22 SENATOR HELMING: Thank you,
23 Senator Harckham.
24 I'm looking for a clarification.
25 Are these floating solar arrays -- under this
6678
1 legislation, are they allowed to be built on the
2 Finger Lakes? Can they be built on the
3 Finger Lakes?
4 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Through you,
5 Mr. President, no. The Finger Lakes are not
6 manmade lakes.
7 SENATOR HELMING: So is -- and I
8 get --
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
10 Helming --
11 SENATOR HELMING: Through you,
12 Mr. President, if the sponsor would continue to
13 yield.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
15 sponsor yield?
16 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Yes.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
18 sponsor yields.
19 SENATOR HELMING: So you're saying
20 that in the legislation itself -- can you read
21 the definition for me again?
22 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Yeah, there's a
23 difference between a -- the definition of
24 floating solar and what the grant program is for.
25 The grant program, Senator --
6679
1 through you, Mr. President -- all right, here we
2 go -- would be grants for the development of
3 floating solar on sites that are constructed on
4 canals, reservoirs, commercial and industrial
5 ponds and any other artificially created body of
6 water.
7 So it's a very precise definition.
8 The Finger Lakes would not fall into that, nor
9 would the Great Lakes.
10 SENATOR HELMING: Thank you,
11 Mr. President. On the bill.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
13 Helming on the bill.
14 SENATOR HELMING: So just to
15 clarify, what Senator Harckham just read was
16 about the grant program. It's not about the
17 definition that's actually in the bill. So it is
18 very possible that this bill applies to our
19 Finger Lakes.
20 And I wanted to point out a couple
21 of things. The Senator also mentioned that
22 there's nothing that overrides local control in
23 the legislation that's before us. And I beg to
24 differ with that, having spent many years as the
25 chair of a zoning board of appeals, spent many
6680
1 years on a planning board.
2 Generally speaking, local planning
3 and zoning boards do not have direct regulatory
4 authority over a lake itself. Sure, they can
5 look at things like shoreline setbacks, building
6 locations, lot coverage, stormwater management,
7 docks and accessory structures, but they don't
8 have say or standing over what happens on a lake,
9 a canal. So just to clarify that.
10 And also, on something that was said
11 about PFAS, that there have been no confirmations
12 that solar panels contain PFAS. That -- the
13 question isn't do solar panels contain PFAS.
14 They do. Studies have identified PFAS containing
15 fluoropolymers in solar panel components.
16 The question is, how much of these
17 forever chemicals are being leached into our
18 soils and now are being pushed into our
19 waterways?
20 I just -- I find it appalling that
21 we're going to now encourage people to build
22 solar arrays that could really contaminate our
23 drinking water sources, our source of economic
24 development, recreational opportunities, and so
25 much more, with these solar panels.
6681
1 These are just some of the reasons
2 why I am a hard no on this bill, Mr. President.
3 Thank you.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
5 you, Senator Helming.
6 Senator Chan, why do you rise?
7 SENATOR CHAN: Thank you,
8 Mr. President. I was hoping the sponsor would
9 yield to a couple of questions.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:
11 Certainly. Senator Harckham, do you yield?
12 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Certainly.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
14 sponsor yields.
15 SENATOR CHAN: Thank you, Senator.
16 Through you, Mr. President.
17 Senator, is there a limit to what
18 percentage of a specific lake can be covered by
19 these solar panels?
20 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Through you,
21 Mr. President, no.
22 SENATOR CHAN: Thank you.
23 Mr. President, if the sponsor can
24 continue to yield.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
6682
1 sponsor yield?
2 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Yes.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
4 sponsor yields.
5 SENATOR CHAN: Thank you.
6 So in essence, Senator, a lake can
7 be 100 percent covered by these solar panels?
8 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Through you,
9 Mr. President, that is highly unlikely.
10 SENATOR CHAN: (Chuckle of
11 disbelief.) Will the sponsor continue to yield?
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
13 sponsor yield?
14 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Yes.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
16 sponsor yields.
17 SENATOR CHAN: Highly unlikely but
18 not impossible, am I correct?
19 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Through you,
20 Mr. President. Nothing is impossible, I suppose.
21 SENATOR CHAN: Thank you.
22 Mr. President, if the sponsor would
23 continue to yield.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
25 sponsor yield?
6683
1 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Yes.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
3 sponsor yields.
4 SENATOR CHAN: Thank you, Senator.
5 Through you, Mr. President.
6 Has there been any studies to study
7 the effect the solar panels have on the
8 temperature of the lake?
9 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Through you,
10 Mr. President. Yes, there have.
11 SENATOR CHAN: Thank you, Senator.
12 On the bill, Mr. President.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
14 Chan on the bill.
15 SENATOR CHAN: Okay, so, you know,
16 in light of hearing the questions that has came
17 and went, and it's just -- this is just a -- so
18 why build a lake if you're going to cover it
19 entirely with solar panels and there's no
20 limitations as to -- so, I mean, I see it now,
21 just people digging lakes just for the sake of
22 covering it with a solar panel.
23 And I can see also boats hitting it,
24 I can see the safety factors involved. I can see
25 people having a barbecue on these solar panels,
6684
1 kids using it as a swimming platform to dive off
2 of them.
3 I'm going to have to vote no on this
4 bill. Thank you.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
6 you, Senator Chan.
7 Are there any other Senators wishing
8 to be heard?
9 Seeing and hearing none, debate is
10 closed.
11 Senator Gianaris.
12 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President, I
13 believe we've agreed to restore this bill to the
14 noncontroversial calendar.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: On
16 consent, the bill is restored to the
17 noncontroversial calendar.
18 Read the last section.
19 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
20 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
21 shall have become a law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
23 roll.
24 (The Secretary called the roll.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
6685
1 May to explain her vote.
2 SENATOR MAY: Thank you,
3 Mr. President.
4 I would like to thank
5 Senator Harckham for this bill.
6 And I have to confess I'm a little
7 startled at just how much antipathy there is to
8 this technology. As our atmosphere warms, our
9 water bodies are warming too. And it is wiping
10 out trout fisheries in a lot of our water bodies
11 in New York State because they require cold water
12 to reproduce.
13 And so if there is a technology that
14 can generate energy and also cool the water, that
15 seems like a win/win and one that we should at
16 least explore, if not actually support, as this
17 bill would do.
18 So I don't -- you know, different
19 municipalities and lake associations will have to
20 weigh in on these. But to just rule it out
21 altogether seems like a big mistake. And that
22 there is potential for this to really benefit
23 local populations where they have -- if they're
24 taking drinking water out right now, they're
25 having to put their intake pipes farther and
6686
1 farther out at a cost of millions of dollars.
2 This might make it easier to get access to
3 drinking water that would be, you know, at the
4 right temperature.
5 So I actually think we should
6 explore this technology, and I applaud
7 Senator Harckham for bringing this bill forward.
8 I vote aye.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
10 May to be recorded in the affirmative.
11 Senator Borrello to explain his
12 vote.
13 SENATOR BORRELLO: Solar sprawl
14 continues, and that's what this is really all
15 about. You know, that's the thing about these
16 solar companies. They're con artists who are
17 kings of the bait-and-switch.
18 So I believe that maybe
19 Senator Harckham believes these things will not
20 expand to other bodies of water. They will.
21 Because it actually says in there, it says
22 "Including but not limited to," and they will
23 exploit that. They will exploit that to gobble
24 up the subsidies the grant money and everything
25 else.
6687
1 Every time we have a solar project
2 in my district, like I said before, they agreed
3 to a certain setback and then they grieve it and
4 say no, I can't take it, we've got to be a
5 hundred feet from the road, not 500 feet from the
6 road.
7 You don't think they're going to do
8 the same thing with the bodies of water? You
9 don't think they're going to cover an entire lake
10 if they could? You don't think the -- you think
11 they actually care whether or not PFAS will go
12 into drinking water? They do not. It's about
13 profit, profit at the expense of the taxpayers.
14 That's what this has always been about.
15 We've watched solar panels gobble up
16 farmland. Our beautiful landscape across upstate
17 New York is being destroyed by these con artists,
18 and now they want to take the water too.
19 I'll be voting no.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
21 Borrello to be recorded in the negative.
22 Senator Murray to explain his vote.
23 SENATOR MURRAY: Thank you,
24 Mr. President. Now we've heard back-and-forth
25 about, you know, do we have these chemicals, do
6688
1 we have these forever chemicals, PFAS and others
2 in it or not.
3 If there's even a question, then why
4 are we moving forward with this? I've got homes
5 in my district being taken off well water because
6 they found PFAS in the water because of
7 firefighting foam from before where they did
8 training centers. But we're finding it more and
9 more.
10 We've taken steps here to ban
11 products that are manufactured containing PFAS.
12 But now we're considering putting it -- these
13 solar panels, which again, some say yes, some say
14 no. If there's even a question, I don't think we
15 should move forward with it.
16 Because in addition to leaching into
17 the water -- now I've got the Yaphank Lakes,
18 upper and lower, I've got Canaan Lake. These are
19 all manmade lakes in my district that they do
20 fishing, recreation, things like this. If we're
21 going to allow this to leak into there and get
22 into not just drinking water, but the effect on
23 the environment, on wildlife -- there's too many
24 question marks here.
25 I want to add one thing. In the
6689
1 Yaphank Lakes, a couple of years ago, there was
2 a -- one of the residents did a wonderful exhibit
3 for Christmas, and it was all lit up and he put
4 it on his own little floating dock, put it out in
5 the water. DEC came and shut him down. Why?
6 Because he ran electric to it.
7 Now, I'm no scientist, but we're
8 putting solar panels out there to generate
9 energy. How are we getting it back? Just a
10 thought.
11 Anyway, I'll be voting no.
12 Thank you.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
14 Murray to be recorded in the negative.
15 Senator Lanza to explain his vote.
16 SENATOR LANZA: To explain my vote.
17 So I love to fish. I often go to
18 Sullivan County and do that. And if we're
19 worried about the fish, well, you don't have to
20 worry any longer, because if you put a lid on top
21 of a lake, they're going to die.
22 You know, if you prevent sun from
23 getting into the water, the plants are going to
24 die. The fish are going to die. You're going to
25 end up with a dead and toxic lake. That's what
6690
1 you're going to end up with. And as my colleague
2 just said, electricity and water don't mix.
3 This one is -- as I've heard, this
4 is a doozy. I mean, where I recreate in
5 Sullivan County, if you throw a beach ball into a
6 pond, DEC is on you like immediately. There's
7 not much you can do.
8 We hear all the time about
9 protecting wetlands. Lakes and ponds are wet.
10 They are the epitome of wetlands. And this bill
11 would allow -- and I agree with what I've heard.
12 If you're going to pay people -- I understand,
13 I've heard, Well, it doesn't have to happen.
14 It's not impossible. It's unlikely.
15 If you're going to pay people to do
16 things, the unlikely and the implausible become a
17 guarantee. I mean, it's human nature. If I can
18 make a lot of money by putting a deck and sealing
19 off a lake, I'm going to do it. That's the way
20 it works.
21 Well-intended; we need to explore
22 various technologies. But to destroy lakes in
23 the process -- and that's what this will do, make
24 no mistake about it. The fish will die.
25 Everything under that canopy, that seal will die.
6691
1 I vote no.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
3 Lanza to be recorded in the negative.
4 Senator Weik to explain her vote.
5 SENATOR WEIK: Thank you,
6 Mr. President.
7 I thought we were going to reduce
8 plastics. Now we're going to take plastic and
9 gas and we're going to wrap a solar panel in it,
10 float it on our water.
11 What about the reflection into our
12 atmosphere? I haven't heard any discussion about
13 that, and that's a big issue. So besides
14 reflection and -- how much heat are these going
15 to be generating? Anytime you float something
16 that's going to be reflective on water, you're
17 generating heat, you're going to be heating the
18 water, you're going to be drying water in times
19 of drought. And this just seems like the most
20 ridiculous idea.
21 I'm a no.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
23 Weik to be recorded in the negative.
24 Senator Oberacker to explain his
25 vote.
6692
1 SENATOR OBERACKER: Thank you,
2 Mr. President.
3 You know, in my district I've got a
4 number of manmade reservoirs. I have the
5 Ashokan, Neversink, Pepacton and Gilboa, just to
6 name a few, to which this potential legislation
7 could impact.
8 You know, a lot of my district is in
9 the Delaware Watershed. And it's amazing when I
10 see the restrictions that are put on my farmers
11 for fear of what they will do to the water. And
12 yet here we are talking about putting solar
13 panels on lakes and so on, which is concerning,
14 of course, to me.
15 And, you know, I think about when we
16 had the acid rain and everyone was so concerned
17 about the water quality. I think right here
18 we're actually kind of - excuse the expression,
19 Mr. President -- making a deal with the devil.
20 And I don't think this is one of our
21 better ideas to come out of this chamber, I will
22 be a strong, hard no. Thank you.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
24 Oberacker to be recorded in the negative.
25 Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick to
6693
1 explain her vote.
2 SENATOR CANZONERI-FITZPATRICK:
3 Thank you, Mr. President.
4 I have in my district Long Beach,
5 and one of the projects that was supposed to have
6 offshore wind would have created high-voltage
7 cables that went through our beach underground to
8 reach the -- make sure that the energy that was
9 being produced on the water reached a transfer
10 station.
11 And I can't help but think that each
12 one of these lakes is going to have to have some
13 sort of mini version of that, with cables that
14 are going to go underground, possibly under the
15 lake, to reach some sort of collection station, a
16 battery storage station, somewhere that this
17 energy will be collected. And those high-voltage
18 cables have consequences as well.
19 So in addition to the things that
20 I've heard from my colleagues today about what's
21 going to actually be floating potentially in our
22 water, our drinking water, I have a lot of
23 concerns.
24 For those reasons, Mr. President,
25 I'm going to be voting in the negative.
6694
1 Thank you.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
3 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick to be recorded in the
4 negative.
5 Senator Stec to explain his vote.
6 SENATOR STEC: Thank you,
7 Mr. President. To explain my vote.
8 You know, I've seen a lot of bills
9 promoting solar in the last couple of years, and
10 we've been sacrificing good farmland, we've
11 sacrificed protected wildlife habitat,
12 forestland -- and that's not enough. In this
13 bill we need to start looking at lakes and ponds
14 and reservoirs and recreational areas.
15 The mental gymnastics to fit the
16 square peg in the round hole of the energy policy
17 coming out of a bunch of non-engineers in this
18 building is astounding to me. This is literally
19 one of the wackiest bills that I've seen.
20 And I'll be voting no, and I think
21 everyone should.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
23 Stec to be recorded in the negative.
24 Are there any other Senators wishing
25 to explain their vote?
6695
1 Seeing and hearing none,
2 Senator Harckham to close.
3 SENATOR HARCKHAM: Thank you very
4 much, Mr. President.
5 You know, years ago one of my
6 mentors said to me: Contempt prior to
7 investigation is ignorance.
8 I would invite colleagues to go to
9 the Canoe Brook facility in Short Hills,
10 New Jersey, where the water utility ratepayers
11 are saving money, the homeowners surrounding the
12 district are saving money.
13 I would invite members to go to
14 Cohoes Reservoir, where the city will be saving
15 hundreds of thousands of dollars on their own
16 utility bills, the local utility ratepayers will
17 be saving hundreds of thousands of dollars
18 annually on their utility bills.
19 I think the phrase used was "a
20 doozy." Yes, it's a doozy to save money. I
21 don't understand the religion that has now
22 cropped up against people saving money. We're
23 talking about an affordability crisis. There's a
24 technology that is lower in cost to produce
25 energy than the other forms out there -- i.e.,
6696
1 nuclear and natural gas. And yet any time solar
2 rears its ugly head, let's make up a whole host
3 of reasons not to support it.
4 This will lower costs. This
5 prevents the loss of farmland. This is something
6 that is used in other parts of the country. It's
7 now working its way to the Northeast. It's used
8 in Europe and Asia.
9 This is an idea whose time has come.
10 I'm proud to vote aye.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
12 Harckham to be recorded in the affirmative.
13 Announce the results.
14 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
15 Calendar 1456, voting in the negative are
16 Senators Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan,
17 Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martins,
18 Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Rhoads,
19 Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
20 Ayes, 41. Nays, 19.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
22 is passed.
23 Senator Gianaris.
24 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President,
25 let's move on to -- oh, I'm sorry, I have a
6697
1 motion that I have to do first.
2 On behalf of Senator Baskin, on
3 page 24 I offer the follow amendments to
4 Calendar 928, Senate Print 9126A, and ask that
5 said bill retain its place on Third Reading
6 Calendar.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
8 amendments are received, and the bill will retain
9 its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
10 Senator Gianaris.
11 SENATOR GIANARIS: Now let's go to
12 Calendar 1478, please.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
14 Weik, why do you rise?
15 SENATOR WEIK: Thank you,
16 Mr. President. I was wondering if the sponsor --
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: I'm
18 sorry. I'm sorry, Senator.
19 The Secretary will ring the bell.
20 The Secretary will read.
21 I apologize, Senator Weik.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23 1478, Senate Print 8455B, by Senator Fahy, an act
24 to amend the Penal Law.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
6698
1 Weik, why do you rise?
2 SENATOR WEIK: Thank you,
3 Mr. President. I was wondering if the sponsor
4 would yield for a plethora of questions.
5 (Laughter.)
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
7 sponsor yield for a -- she's being honest -- a
8 plethora of questions.
9 Senator Fahy, do you yield?
10 SENATOR FAHY: Yes, thank you.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
12 sponsor yields.
13 SENATOR FAHY: Yes, certainly.
14 SENATOR WEIK: Thank you. Please
15 excuse my back, I'm sorry.
16 Through you, Mr. President. Would
17 the sponsor yield for the first question? I'm
18 sorry.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Yes,
20 she's yielded the floor, Senator Weik.
21 SENATOR WEIK: Got it.
22 This bill prohibits a person from
23 selling or giving a flare gun to a person under
24 the age of 17. Is that correct?
25 SENATOR FAHY: Yes.
6699
1 SENATOR WEIK: Under -- through
2 you, Mr. President, would the sponsor continue to
3 yield?
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
5 sponsor yield?
6 SENATOR FAHY: Certainly.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
8 sponsor yields.
9 SENATOR WEIK: What is the purpose
10 of a flare gun, and how are they generally used?
11 SENATOR FAHY: Through you,
12 Mr. President. Flare guns are generally
13 considered to have only one purpose, and that is
14 for emergency signaling, often used on boats or
15 in maritime use.
16 Although even the Coast Guard has
17 now changed to electric flares, not the
18 traditional flare guns that we are addressing
19 here today that unfortunately, they have gone --
20 although they are intended for one purpose, they
21 have really gone well beyond that and we have had
22 numerous incidences, particularly here in
23 Albany County, but a number of them around the
24 state with criminal uses of those flare guns,
25 which I'm happy to describe.
6700
1 SENATOR WEIK: Thank you.
2 Mr. President, would the sponsor
3 continue to yield?
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
5 sponsor yield?
6 SENATOR FAHY: Certainly.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
8 sponsor yields.
9 SENATOR WEIK: Would this be
10 limited to merchants selling a flare gun? Or
11 could an individual give a minor under the age of
12 17 a flare gun -- would that person be criminally
13 liable?
14 SENATOR FAHY: It is intended to be
15 the sale and the -- the sale or the transfer. So
16 yes, that person in this instance that you are
17 referring to, would be liable.
18 SENATOR WEIK: Would the sponsor
19 continue to yield.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
21 sponsor yield?
22 SENATOR FAHY: Yes.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
24 sponsor yields.
25 SENATOR WEIK: So it would be
6701
1 illegal for a parent to buy a flare gun for their
2 child under the age of 17 and give it to them?
3 SENATOR FAHY: Through you,
4 Mr. President. As I understand this, if the
5 parent buys a flare gun for use on a boat --
6 which, again, is often where they are, what
7 they're bought for -- and the parent is on the
8 boat with the child or if the child is out and
9 there is an emergency situation, that would not
10 be considered illegal because certainly that is
11 in an emergency.
12 And we have addressed that in the
13 legislation.
14 SENATOR WEIK: Thank you.
15 Mr. President, would the sponsor
16 continue to yield.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
18 sponsor yield?
19 SENATOR FAHY: Certainly.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
21 sponsor yields.
22 SENATOR WEIK: So flare guns are
23 often used by boaters in open water. We
24 established that.
25 We also have safe boating courses in
6702
1 which a lot of our young teenagers under the age
2 of 17 are out and about on their own legally.
3 And so if they were to use this flare gun, would
4 the parent then be held criminally liable?
5 (Pause.)
6 SENATOR FAHY: Through you,
7 Mr. President. I want to understand the
8 question.
9 Again, if there's an emergency
10 situation, the parent has -- as they're expected
11 to do, has bought a flare gun for use on the
12 vessel, and it's the child that ends up using it,
13 it's under the supervision of the parent.
14 So that would not be -- that would
15 not be illegal, if I'm understanding your
16 question.
17 SENATOR WEIK: Thank you.
18 Mr. President, would the sponsor
19 continue to yield?
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
21 sponsor yield?
22 SENATOR FAHY: Certainly.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
24 sponsor yields.
25 SENATOR WEIK: Would you mind
6703
1 terribly reading that part of the bill where it
2 does not hold the parent criminally liable?
3 (Pause.)
4 SENATOR FAHY: Through you,
5 Mr. President, can you clarify, is your question
6 about the parent supervising the use? Can you
7 get at the actual question of the --
8 SENATOR WEIK: Sure.
9 Mr. President, would the --
10 SENATOR FAHY: You know, what --
11 what scenario you're envisioning here?
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
13 Weik, if you don't mind restating the question.
14 SENATOR WEIK: Sure, no problem.
15 So if the individual is under the
16 age of 17 and is out on a boat and is in an
17 emergency and uses that flare gun, where in your
18 bill does it say that the parent is not
19 criminally liable?
20 SENATOR FAHY: Through you,
21 Mr. President. First of all, in that instance
22 the parent has not given the child -- it is
23 something that is being used in an emergency
24 situation. There is not a transfer or a sale.
25 And then I should also add that, you
6704
1 know, somebody under 17 may also be
2 participating -- there is an exemption when
3 somebody under 17 has participated in a
4 supervised training program through parks,
5 through recreation and other matters. So that is
6 also an exception.
7 SENATOR WEIK: Through you,
8 Mr. President, would the sponsor continue to
9 yield.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
11 sponsor yield?
12 SENATOR FAHY: Sure.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
14 sponsor yields.
15 SENATOR WEIK: Thank you.
16 So in 2020 my 15-year-old took our
17 21-foot-boat out. And if he were to have met up
18 with some kind of dangerous situation -- during
19 the day, you can't see a flashlight. You're
20 certainly not going to see a parachute flare on
21 the Great South Bay. So a flare gun would have
22 been on our boat. It would have been a safety
23 device.
24 If my son had used a flare gun, in
25 that case would I have been held criminally
6705
1 liable? Can you read the part of your bill that
2 says that this young man who had his safe boating
3 course and was legally allowed to be out on the
4 boat and he shot off that flare gun because of an
5 emergency, where I, the parent, would not be held
6 criminally liable?
7 (Pause.)
8 SENATOR FAHY: Through you,
9 Mr. President. Again, the language reads that it
10 is where a flare gun is sold or offered for sale
11 or given to a person under the age of 17.
12 In this case, again, what -- if I
13 understand the scenario you are referring to, a
14 young person is on a boat and uses that -- may
15 use that flare gun in an emergency situation,
16 that is -- that does not encounter sale or giving
17 the flare gun. It is there as it's legally
18 required to be.
19 And I should add part of this,
20 again, is to really get at illegal, unintended
21 consequences. There is -- as I mentioned
22 earlier, flare guns are designed for one purpose,
23 emergency signaling, which we referred to at the
24 beginning of this.
25 This is about incidences where they
6706
1 are now being used in criminal activities where
2 we saw -- we've seen a number of incidences in --
3 across the state, but we had 13 separate
4 incidences between July 2024 and July 2025.
5 And we have also seen where they
6 have been modified, the flare guns have been
7 modified for discharge with live ammunition. So
8 that is -- none of that is what is being
9 described or requested -- or questioned here.
10 SENATOR WEIK: Thank you.
11 Mr. President, would the sponsor
12 continue to yield?
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
14 sponsor yield?
15 SENATOR FAHY: Certainly.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: the
17 sponsor yields.
18 SENATOR WEIK: Thank you.
19 So in that same scenario where I'm
20 sending my 15-year-old son out on a boat and I
21 know the waterways he's going to be navigating,
22 through some canals to get out to the Great South
23 Bay -- and I know very well no one will be able
24 to see him, so I give him the flare so that he
25 has safety equipment on the boat besides the
6707
1 flashlight and the parachute flare and so on.
2 Am I now criminally liable, as the
3 parent?
4 SENATOR FAHY: Again, my -- through
5 you, Mr. President. My understanding of flare
6 gun requirements, they are supposed -- as part of
7 maritime laws, they are required to be on the
8 vessel.
9 So you instructing your son that the
10 flare gun is there, just as you would point out
11 that a flashlight is there, or just as you would
12 point out the -- a number of any emergency uses
13 or emergency equipment, just -- it's the same as
14 the life vest.
15 That would not be -- that is not the
16 intent. This is about the sale or the giving of
17 a flare gun for use in, you know, in another
18 matter.
19 And as we said, certainly
20 participating in trained program and other
21 matters, we have had -- this is really intended
22 about -- this is really intended to crack down on
23 what we have seen is a horrific misuse.
24 I should also add Albany County,
25 after the number of incidences here in Albany,
6708
1 they had unanimous support to eliminate the use
2 or the sale of these for anyone under age 21
3 because of what we've seen are misuses.
4 What you are describing is part of
5 any emergency instruction that a parent would
6 give a child when using any type of motorized
7 vehicle.
8 SENATOR WEIK: Thank you,
9 Mr. President. Would the sponsor continue to
10 yield?
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
12 sponsor yield?
13 SENATOR FAHY: Sure.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
15 sponsor yields.
16 SENATOR WEIK: So as I represent
17 the South Shore of Long Island, a pretty
18 significant portion of it, you can see that this
19 is one of those very important topics that really
20 needs clarity for all of the individuals who are
21 in my district.
22 So again, I just haven't gotten a
23 clear answer. So I as the parent am giving my
24 son, who is a legal boater, he's 15 years old,
25 he's going out on a 21-foot-boat. I know where
6709
1 he's going. I give him a flare gun and I hand it
2 to him. If he should use it in the case of an
3 emergency, or even if he doesn't, I have now
4 given him that flare gun for his safety.
5 Am I, as the parent, being held
6 criminally liable?
7 SENATOR FAHY: Through you,
8 Mr. President. Again, I've read the sections of
9 the law here regarding sale and use of these
10 guns. This is intended to really get at what has
11 become a growing problem.
12 But I should also add electric
13 flares are comparably priced, and that is also
14 why we've seen the Coast Guard switch the use
15 from the very pyrotechnic-type flare guns.
16 What you are referring to is use in
17 an emergency situation. Just as -- just as a
18 child may end up driving a car when a parent is
19 incapacitated while driving that car, the child
20 would certainly not be held liable during an
21 emergency situation.
22 And I think that's the same -- it
23 would be somewhat comparable here. That is not
24 the intent of this bill. And that is not --
25 certainly was not the intent of Albany County.
6710
1 We have seen a tremendous misuse of these flare
2 guns to the point of where it brought down a
3 couple of buildings and created a rather horrific
4 incident here, as well as in Rome, Utica, and a
5 few other areas in the state.
6 SENATOR WEIK: Thank you,
7 Mr. President. Would the sponsor continue to
8 yield?
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
10 sponsor yield?
11 SENATOR FAHY: Certainly.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
13 sponsor yields.
14 SENATOR WEIK: So then why doesn't
15 this bill specifically just talk to those issues
16 instead of addressing it in such a general, broad
17 manner that it addresses every situation within
18 New York State?
19 SENATOR FAHY: Through you,
20 Mr. President. Because the young people that
21 terrorized part of a neighborhood -- and in a few
22 of the incidences that we have had, those young
23 people in a couple of those instances had not
24 bought the flare gun, they were handed the flare
25 gun -- again, with criminal intent. It was not a
6711
1 parent. It was not used in an emergency
2 situation. There was no boat nearby. There was
3 no water nearby.
4 So it's a very different issue that
5 would need to be addressed here. And it was
6 certainly a very different type of use or misuse,
7 I should say, of the flare gun.
8 But you do need to have the broader
9 language because of that instance or those number
10 of incidences.
11 SENATOR WEIK: Thank you.
12 Mr. President, would the sponsor
13 continue to yield?
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
15 sponsor yield?
16 SENATOR FAHY: Certainly.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
18 sponsor yields.
19 SENATOR WEIK: Is there anything in
20 this bill that criminalizes the improper or
21 dangerous use of a flare gun?
22 SENATOR FAHY: Through you,
23 Mr. President, can you repeat that? Is there
24 anything -- what? I'm sorry.
25 SENATOR WEIK: Is there anything in
6712
1 this bill that criminalizes the improper or
2 dangerous use of a flare gun?
3 SENATOR FAHY: Through you,
4 Mr. President, that is a part of the bill for
5 those who are under the age of 17.
6 It would -- the sale or giving of a
7 flare gun would. So yes.
8 SENATOR WEIK: Thank you,
9 Mr. President. Would the sponsor continue to
10 yield?
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
12 sponsor yield?
13 SENATOR FAHY: Yes.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
15 sponsor yields.
16 SENATOR WEIK: Thank you.
17 Is there anything in this bill that
18 amends the Raise the Age to expand criminal
19 liability for minors who intentionally or
20 recklessly cause physical injury or property
21 damage with a flare gun?
22 SENATOR FAHY: Through you,
23 Mr. President, no, this does not address
24 Raise the Age. This is specifically targeting
25 flare guns.
6713
1 And some of this was actually
2 generated through conversations with our local
3 county sheriff, who said according to their
4 office they have seen a concerning increase of
5 teenagers in the possession of these modified
6 flare guns across New York State.
7 And again, with the modified ones
8 where they were able to shoot live rounds, posing
9 a serious threat to public safety. So again,
10 this is a different -- very different focus here.
11 SENATOR WEIK: Thank you.
12 Mr. President, on the bill.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
14 Weik on the bill.
15 SENATOR WEIK: Thank you.
16 I know, I've read the news, last
17 Fourth of July Albany County had a terrible
18 incident, and there have been many incidents
19 where young adults, teenagers were terrorizing
20 neighborhoods and even set fire to a multifamily
21 house using a flare gun.
22 But unfortunately, this bill is so
23 broad that it punishes every single young adult
24 under the age of 17 who may have a need to have
25 or use a flare gun.
6714
1 This is New York State. We have
2 beautiful waterways, we have lakes, we have
3 canals, we have the Catskills, we have the
4 Adirondacks, we have tons of mountains to go
5 camping in. And unfortunately, this basic piece
6 of safety equipment would not be available for
7 those young adults who may be camping or boating
8 and desperately need assistance in an emergency
9 situation. They would not be permitted to use a
10 flare gun.
11 And as I've explained before, there
12 may be other types of flares or emergency guns
13 like a parachute gun. But unfortunately, not all
14 can be seen above trees or in certain areas where
15 it may be very isolated where a flare gun may be
16 very easy to use and certainly a lifesaving piece
17 of equipment.
18 This is just too broad, and it
19 punishes everybody. We're using the item --
20 instead of offering consequences to the actions
21 of those individuals who acted in a criminal way,
22 we're now punishing everyone.
23 I understand there's a knee-jerk
24 reaction to try to legislate a solution to a
25 terrible instance. But in this case, it's just
6715
1 too broad and it punishes every New Yorker under
2 the age of 17, and I'll be voting no.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
4 you, Senator Weik.
5 Are there any other Senators wishing
6 to be heard?
7 Seeing and hearing none, debate is
8 closed.
9 Senator Gianaris.
10 SENATOR GIANARIS: We've also
11 agreed to restore this to the noncontroversial
12 calendar.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: On
14 consent, the bill is restored to the
15 noncontroversial calendar.
16 Read the last section.
17 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
18 act shall take effect immediately.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
20 roll.
21 (The Secretary called the roll.)
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
23 Fahy to explain her vote.
24 SENATOR FAHY: Thank you,
25 Mr. President.
6716
1 I do think this is incredibly
2 important commonsense legislation. This is not
3 about somebody walking around. Flare guns are
4 required to be on maritime vessels, required to
5 be there. So it's not as if a parent would be
6 handing a child a flare gun when they're going --
7 when they're on the boat. The flare gun would
8 already be on the boat.
9 Flare guns, again, are designed for
10 one purpose: Emergency signaling. And nothing
11 in this legislation precludes that emergency
12 signaling, as we have discussed.
13 Yes, we have seen multiple
14 incidences here in Albany, to the point of two
15 historic buildings coming down and one business
16 destroyed. But we have also seen instances in --
17 incidences in Rome, Utica, and other places. We
18 have seen an uptick in the use of flare guns,
19 particularly by teens.
20 And this is, again, common sense,
21 especially when there are such safe alternatives
22 at a very similar if not the same price.
23 Electric flares, now adopted by the Coast Guard,
24 are readily available, something you can buy on
25 the internet. They do not have the ability to
6717
1 set a fire and destroy property and more.
2 It is something that needs to be
3 adopted. It is the same price. But we are not
4 making that requirement in this bill.
5 But we are trying to address what
6 has become a frightening new reality. When a
7 device is being used to threaten people, start
8 fires, facilitate criminal activity, we do have
9 an obligation to address it and to try to prevent
10 further destruction and further misuse.
11 And with that, I vote in the
12 affirmative. Thank you, Mr. President.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
14 Fahy to be recorded in the affirmative.
15 Senator Murray to explain his vote.
16 SENATOR MURRAY: Thank you,
17 Mr. President.
18 While I appreciate the sponsor's
19 effort here -- and intent, as we've heard the
20 word "intent" over and over again -- I think
21 she's overshot her target with this one.
22 And for the record, New York
23 maritime and boating laws do not specifically
24 require a flare gun, but they do require boats
25 16 feet and longer to carry approved visual
6718
1 distress signals. A flare gun is one way to meet
2 this requirement, but standard handheld flares or
3 electronic distress lights are highly recommended
4 and widely accepted alternatives.
5 So no, it does not require a flare
6 gun. I'll be voting no.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
8 Murray to be recorded in the negative.
9 Senator Rhoads to explain his vote.
10 SENATOR RHOADS: I certainly
11 understand Senator Fahy's desire to deal with a
12 specific situation.
13 But Long Island, like many
14 communities around the state, is certainly a
15 boating and fishing community. In order to
16 actually have a boater's license, you can be as
17 young as 10 years old to have a boater's license.
18 There is no age restriction on how old you need
19 to be in order to own a boat. So in theory, a
20 10-year-old, an 11-year-old, a 15-year-old can
21 actually have a boating license and can actually
22 register their own boat.
23 There is no way -- a flare gun is a
24 safety device. There is no way for that child to
25 obtain a flare gun under this legislation without
6719
1 a parent actually buying the flare gun and giving
2 it to the child.
3 And if the exception mentioned by
4 the sponsor, that in emergency situations they
5 should be able to utilize it, then the
6 legislation should say that. Because it does
7 clearly state that if you give a flare gun to a
8 person under the age of 17 years old, that is a
9 criminal offense.
10 So if that was the intent, the
11 legislation should say that. It doesn't say
12 that. We're restricting kids from having a
13 safety device. While I understand the intent,
14 this did overshoot the mark, and I'll be voting
15 no.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
17 Rhoads to be recorded in the negative.
18 Senator Weik to explain her vote.
19 SENATOR WEIK: Thank you,
20 Mr. President.
21 So as a boater and a boating family,
22 I can tell you that again, as Senator Murray
23 pointed out and Senator Rhoads pointed out, it is
24 not required to have a flare gun on the boat.
25 We're only required to have flares.
6720
1 And so with that, if I determine as
2 a parent that my child's situation is better used
3 with a flare gun, or if he's going camping, which
4 he's an Eagle Scout, so he went camping quite
5 often. If I had handed him a flare gun, I would
6 have been held criminally liable for giving him a
7 piece of equipment that he could have used in an
8 emergency situation.
9 And I just think this is a badly
10 written bill. I understand the purpose, but I
11 think it misses the purpose entirely.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
13 Weik to be recorded in the negative.
14 Senator Walczyk to explain his vote.
15 SENATOR WALCZYK: You could
16 continue to ban everything that somebody
17 determines that they want to use in a crime. Or
18 you could just prosecute criminals in the State
19 of New York.
20 I think flare guns are both cool and
21 useful in emergency situations, so I'll be voting
22 no.
23 Thank you, Mr. President.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
25 Walczyk to be recorded in the negative.
6721
1 Announce the results.
2 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
3 Calendar 1478, voting in the negative are
4 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Brisport,
5 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan, Gallivan, Griffo,
6 Helming, Jackson, Lanza, Martins, Mattera,
7 Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads,
8 Rolison, Ryan, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and
9 Weik.
10 Ayes, 35. Nays, 25.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
12 is passed.
13 Senator Gianaris.
14 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President,
15 our final debate of the evening, Calendar 847,
16 please.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
18 Secretary will ring the bell.
19 The Secretary will read.
20 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
21 847, Assembly Bill Number 4603A, by
22 Assemblymember Weprin, an act to amend the
23 Correction Law.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
25 Stec, why do you rise?
6722
1 SENATOR STEC: Thank you,
2 Mr. President. If the sponsor would yield for a
3 few questions.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
5 sponsor yield?
6 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: Through you,
7 Mr. President, I yield.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
9 sponsor yields.
10 SENATOR STEC: All right, thank
11 you, Mr. President. Through you.
12 Senator, DOCCS already has a
13 visitation policy in place for both state
14 correctional facilities and local facilities. In
15 fact, I've got them in front of me; they're
16 pretty extensive.
17 What does -- why is this bill
18 necessary if we already have these policies in
19 place?
20 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: First of all,
21 DOCCS doesn't have an official policy. It
22 doesn't have anything that's codified or by
23 statute. It's according to whenever they want to
24 give visitation.
25 And since we had the unlawful work
6723
1 stoppage, the visitation policy has been worse
2 than ever. You have families that are unable to
3 see those that are incarcerated.
4 And I remind this body again, the
5 purpose of incarceration is rehabilitation. And
6 the evidence has demonstrated time and again,
7 when there is a direct connection with the
8 family, when the families visit, when the
9 children visit, those that are incarcerated, when
10 they come out, they're less likely to recommit
11 offenses.
12 And so it's important that we have a
13 policy in place that's consistent so that
14 families can have and plan better times to go
15 visit those that are incarcerated.
16 SENATOR STEC: Mr. President, if
17 the sponsor will continue to yield.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
19 sponsor yield?
20 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: Through you,
21 Mr. President, I do.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
23 sponsor yields.
24 SENATOR STEC: Thank you.
25 Just so I'm clear, then, so this
6724
1 20-page directive that I've got in front of me
2 from DOCCS on their facilities, and these three
3 or four pages that I've got here regarding
4 visitation for our local correctional
5 facilities -- all promulgated by DOCCS -- they
6 don't carry the force of law, so you want this
7 bill to be the official standard for visitation
8 procedures and policies, instead of this
9 directive from DOCCS, which is not law.
10 Am I understanding your intent
11 correctly?
12 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: Through you,
13 Mr. President, that's correct.
14 We want to have a codified system
15 for visitation for those that are incarcerated.
16 We don't have that right now. We have a policy
17 in place that's subject to change whenever DOCCS
18 wants to. But under the circumstances, we don't
19 think that that's fair. And I think codification
20 is the best way to manage visitation.
21 SENATOR STEC: Mr. President, if
22 the sponsor would continue to yield.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
24 sponsor yield?
25 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: Through you,
6725
1 Mr. President, I do.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
3 sponsor yields.
4 SENATOR STEC: All right, so I'm
5 looking at your bill, and I don't see anything in
6 the bill that really gets into the meat and
7 potatoes of the rules of visitation like these
8 directives do.
9 So I guess would this -- would your
10 bill require DOCCS to re-create a policy? And
11 what would stop them from saying that their
12 directive is the new policy?
13 Because your legislation doesn't get
14 into a lot of specifics.
15 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: DOCCS can have
16 their policy, they still have their policy, this
17 isn't going to stop them, but they have to comply
18 with the codification that we have here.
19 SENATOR STEC: All right.
20 Mr. President, will the sponsor continue to
21 yield?
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
23 sponsor yield.
24 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: Through you,
25 Mr. President, I do.
6726
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
2 sponsor yields.
3 SENATOR STEC: All right. So your
4 bill requires that state and local correctional
5 facilities establish visiting policies that give
6 opportunities for, quote, in-person contact.
7 What constitutes in-person contact?
8 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: Through you,
9 Mr. President. I think in-person contact is
10 pretty self-explanatory. When either the
11 children or the family members of the person
12 that's incarcerated, that they get to see their
13 family physically near them rather than through
14 virtual.
15 We know that virtual is an option.
16 We're glad that it is an option. But it's not
17 the best option. And what we want to do is we
18 want to bring the best option and the best policy
19 for DOCCS.
20 SENATOR STEC: Mr. President, will
21 the sponsor continue to yield?
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
23 sponsor yield?
24 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: (Motioning.)
25 SENATOR STEC: All right. Thank
6727
1 you. So not to belabor it, but --
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Oh, I'm
3 sorry. Senator Sepúlveda, do you yield?
4 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: I yield.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
6 sponsor yields.
7 I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Senator Stec.
8 SENATOR STEC: He motioned, but I
9 got you.
10 Not to belabor the -- you know, this
11 is all spelled out in these existing directives,
12 but it's not spelled out in your bill, that in
13 contact, contact in-person, not in-person, it's
14 spelled out in existing policy but it's not
15 spelled out in your bill.
16 So would your bill require that
17 physical contact be allowed during all visits?
18 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: Can you repeat
19 the question?
20 SENATOR STEC: Yes. Through you,
21 Mr. President.
22 Would your bill require that
23 physical contact be allowed during all visits,
24 physical contact?
25 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: No, it does
6728
1 not. Through you, Mr. President, no, it does
2 not.
3 SENATOR STEC: All right.
4 Mr. President, will the sponsor continue to
5 yield?
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
7 sponsor yield?
8 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: Through you,
9 Mr. President, yes.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
11 sponsor yields.
12 SENATOR STEC: All right, so
13 current policy under the emergency regs, the
14 current policy at DOCCS denies contact if a
15 visitor refuses a body scan. Would this bill
16 change that?
17 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: No. Through
18 you, Mr. President, no.
19 SENATOR STEC: All right.
20 Mr. President, if the sponsor would continue to
21 yield.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
23 sponsor yield? Will the sponsor yield?
24 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: Through you,
25 Mr. President, I do.
6729
1 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: The sponsor
2 yields.
3 SENATOR STEC: Thank you,
4 Mr. President. Through you.
5 Does your bill outline any
6 circumstances where a person -- personal contact
7 can be denied, in your bill?
8 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: Through you,
9 Mr. President, it does not.
10 SENATOR STEC: Will the sponsor
11 continue to yield, please?
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
13 sponsor yield?
14 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: Through you,
15 Mr. President, I do.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
17 sponsor yields.
18 SENATOR STEC: Through you,
19 Mr. President.
20 Does your bill outline any
21 procedures for allowing a person -- personal
22 contact in a manner that can limit the
23 introduction of contraband?
24 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: Through you,
25 Mr. President.
6730
1 What my bill does is it requires
2 DOCCS to establish policies. It's not taking
3 away their ability to create policies with some
4 parameters. But DOCCS can still create their
5 policies.
6 SENATOR STEC: Mr. President, will
7 the sponsor continue to yield for maybe one more
8 question.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
10 sponsor yield?
11 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: Through you,
12 Mr. President, yes.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
14 sponsor yields.
15 SENATOR STEC: Are you aware that
16 the New York State Sheriffs' Association opposes
17 the bill because it fails to define "personal
18 contact"?
19 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: No, I'm not
20 aware of the Sheriffs' Association's contention.
21 But it doesn't have to, we don't have to
22 establish the policy, they can do it themselves.
23 We just have to have codification of these
24 policies.
25 SENATOR STEC: Mr. President, if
6731
1 the sponsor would yield for just one more
2 question.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
4 sponsor yield?
5 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: Through you,
6 Mr. President, yes.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
8 sponsor yields.
9 SENATOR STEC: Thank you,
10 Mr. President. Through you.
11 While contraband continues to enter
12 our prisons and put inmates and staff at risk, is
13 it wise to expand our visitation policy in a way
14 that would make it more difficult to keep
15 dangerous contraband out of our prisons?
16 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: Through you,
17 Mr. President.
18 I remind my colleague that during
19 COVID, visitation was completely paralyzed and
20 yet you still had a lot of contraband that came
21 in. So I don't think this is going to impact the
22 amount of contraband that comes into the
23 facilities.
24 SENATOR STEC: Mr. President, on
25 the bill.
6732
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
2 Stec on the bill.
3 SENATOR STEC: Thank you,
4 Mr. President.
5 This bill is a solution in search of
6 a problem. I've got the DOCCS policies, and
7 they're extensive, on requiring and -- and
8 appeals processes and who can and can't limit
9 visitation.
10 And I've been in the prisons. They
11 have visitation policies already.
12 This bill is lacking, which is why
13 the Sheriffs' Association is opposed to it,
14 because it's very vague in what it says it wants
15 to do.
16 And my concerns for contraband
17 remain. And they remain unaddressed. We're in
18 the last week of session, we haven't passed a
19 single bill that does anything to address any of
20 the safety concerns that have been raised in the
21 15, 16 months since the end of the corrections
22 strike.
23 All you have to do is open a
24 newspaper -- there are weekly stories about
25 unknown chemical exposures, sending staff and
6733
1 inmates alike to the emergency room, overrunning
2 the local rescue squads, burdening a lot of small
3 rural upstate hospitals needlessly.
4 There's all kind of technology that
5 the taxpayers bought and paid for and has been
6 installed in all these prisons. Every state
7 facility has a body scanner. And until the
8 emergency declaration was made, it was at the
9 option of visitors. Now today, under current
10 memos, it's not at their option. If they refuse,
11 then they can still have a visit, just not a
12 contact visit.
13 What is the concern over contact
14 visits? Because the bag of peanuts that they're
15 sharing in a contact visit isn't always peanuts.
16 The taxpayer has bought tablets and
17 put them in the prisons. We have wifi in the
18 prisons. They have law libraries, they have
19 photocopiers, and they have printers. And yet we
20 still get legal mail going in there with
21 God knows what it's soaked in that are sending
22 inmates and staff alike, on a weekly basis --
23 open a newspaper, you're going to find these
24 examples, and it's been going on more in the last
25 year.
6734
1 We have done zero bills to address
2 contraband, and this bill, as loosely worded as
3 it is, further blurs that line and makes it more,
4 not less likely for contraband problems to
5 continue in our prisons.
6 I really -- there's no need for it.
7 We already have policies. The sponsor suggests
8 that there are no policies. I've got them in
9 front of me. There's policies that govern the
10 rules on visitation.
11 People are visiting loved ones in
12 prison. They are having contact visits in
13 prison. I'd like DOCCS to be in charge of what
14 happens there so that we start to reduce the
15 amount of contraband in prison so that it would
16 reduce the amount of employees -- and my
17 constituents -- that continue to go to the
18 emergency room because DOCCS is out of control.
19 I'll be voting no.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Are there
21 any other Senators wishing to be heard?
22 Seeing and hearing none, debate is
23 closed.
24 Senator Gianaris.
25 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President,
6735
1 we have agreed to restore this bill to the
2 noncontroversial calendar.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Upon
4 consent, the bill is restored to the
5 noncontroversial calendar.
6 Read the last section.
7 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
8 act shall take effect immediately.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
10 roll.
11 (The Secretary called the roll.)
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
13 Helming to explain her vote.
14 SENATOR HELMING: Thank you,
15 Mr. President.
16 Fifteen months ago state corrections
17 officers protested the unsafe working conditions
18 and staffing shortages inside our prisons. Those
19 concerns have yet to be adequately addressed.
20 We have more than 4,000 vacancies,
21 contraband continues to enter the prisons, and we
22 have continued violence. Just last week video
23 footage was released showing an inmate brutally
24 attacking and beating a volunteer GED instructor.
25 And instead of taking meaningful
6736
1 steps to improve safety or address the workforce
2 shortages, what we have before us is a bill
3 requiring state facilities and our county jails
4 to expand visitation hours, including evenings
5 and weekends.
6 I found it interesting that the
7 sponsor's memo states there are no fiscal
8 implications. I don't see how that's possible,
9 when counties are going to be required to provide
10 additional staffing and resources. And since
11 there's no funding attached to this bill, these
12 costs will most likely be passed on to taxpayers
13 in the form of another unfunded mandate.
14 Mr. President, family connections,
15 visitation is extreme important. But before
16 creating these new mandates, we should be focused
17 on improving safety within our facilities,
18 addressing workforce shortages, and supporting
19 the men and women who work in our correctional
20 facilities and our jails every day.
21 For these reasons, I will be voting
22 no.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
24 Helming to be recorded in the negative.
25 Announce the results.
6737
1 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
2 Calendar 847, voting in the negative are
3 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
4 Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Mattera,
5 Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads,
6 Rolison, Ryan, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and
7 Weik.
8 Ayes, 38. Nays, 22.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
10 is passed.
11 Senator Gianaris, that completes the
12 reading of the controversial calendar.
13 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President,
14 returning to motions and resolutions, I offer
15 amendments to the following Third Reading
16 Calendar bills:
17 Calendar Number 202, Senate Print
18 660, by Senator Gianaris;
19 Calendar Number 1086, Senate Print
20 9990, by Senator Skoufis;
21 Calendar Number 854, Senate Print
22 9051A, by Senator Gonzalez;
23 And Calendar Number 1510, Senate
24 Print 10200, by Senator Kavanagh.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
6738
1 amendments are received, and those bills will
2 retain their place on the Third Reading Calendar.
3 Senator Gianaris.
4 SENATOR GIANARIS: The sponsors of
5 all of today's resolutions would like to open
6 those resolutions for cosponsorship.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
8 resolutions are open for cosponsorship. Should
9 you choose not to be a cosponsor, please notify
10 the desk.
11 Senator Gianaris.
12 SENATOR GIANARIS: Is there any
13 further business at the desk?
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: There is
15 no further business at the desk.
16 SENATOR GIANARIS: I move to
17 adjourn until tomorrow, Tuesday, June 2nd, at
18 12:00 noon.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: On
20 motion, the Senate stands adjourned until
21 Tuesday, June 2nd, at 12:00 noon.
22 (Whereupon, at 7:53 p.m., the Senate
23 adjourned.)
24
25