Regular Session - May 6, 2024
3519
1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
2
3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
5
6
7
8
9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 May 6, 2024
11 3:32 p.m.
12
13
14 REGULAR SESSION
15
16
17
18 SENATOR SHELLEY B. MAYER, Acting President
19 ALEJANDRA N. PAULINO, ESQ., Secretary
20
21
22
23
24
25
3520
1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The Senate
3 will come to order.
4 I ask everyone to please rise and
5 recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
6 (Whereupon, the assemblage recited
7 the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Rabbi
9 Wendy Love Anderson, of Temple Israel of Albany
10 in Albany, New York, will deliver today's
11 invocation.
12 RABBI ANDERSON: Let us pray.
13 May it be Your will, eternal our
14 God, and the God of our ancestors, that You
15 guide, protect and inspire the members of the
16 New York State Senate in their upcoming
17 deliberations.
18 On this day of Jewish Holocaust
19 Remembrance, Yom HaShoah, I pray especially that
20 you grant the Senators the understanding of how
21 that era has transformed the life of every
22 New Yorker today, from postwar immigration and
23 veteran reintegration to K-12 Holocaust
24 education, to the codification of human rights in
25 international law.
3521
1 Grant the Senators the wisdom to
2 discern how the Holocaust was uniquely terrible
3 and how it was part of a long, tragic history; in
4 what ways and for what audiences the Holocaust
5 needs to be invoked; and, especially in 2024,
6 when comparisons to the Holocaust are necessary
7 and when they are disingenuous.
8 In too many incidents in New York,
9 and in too many conflicts around the world, we
10 are seeing antisemitism and other forms of human
11 bigotry flourish again in places where "Never
12 Again" was a slogan.
13 Grant the Senators the compassion to
14 respond when their constituents are frightened,
15 when they are grieving, when they are
16 traumatized, and when they are desperate.
17 Grant them the power to make choices
18 that will benefit New York, the United States,
19 and the world. And grant them the opportunity
20 for a meaningful and productive legislative
21 session.
22 May the One who makes peace in the
23 heavens make peace for us and for all our people.
24 And let us say amen.
25 (Response of "Amen.")
3522
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
2 reading of the Journal.
3 THE SECRETARY: In Senate, Sunday,
4 May 5, 2024, the Senate met pursuant to
5 adjournment. The Journal of Saturday, May 4,
6 2024, was read and approved. On motion, the
7 Senate adjourned.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Without
9 objection, the Journal stands approved as read.
10 Presentation of petitions.
11 Messages from the Assembly.
12 Messages from the Governor.
13 Reports of standing committees.
14 Reports of select committees.
15 Communications and reports from
16 state officers.
17 Motions and resolutions.
18 Senator Gianaris.
19 SENATOR GIANARIS: Good afternoon,
20 Madam President.
21 On behalf of now former
22 Senator Kennedy, I move that the following bills
23 be discharged from their respective committees
24 and recommitted with instructions to strike the
25 enacting clauses: Senate Bill Numbers 1368,
3523
1 1370A, 4738, 5663, 5707, 6925, 6934, 6545, 7610B,
2 8376, and 7109.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: So
4 ordered.
5 SENATOR GIANARIS: On behalf of
6 Senator Comrie, on page 13 I offer the following
7 amendments to Calendar Number 359, Senate Bill
8 682, and ask that said bill retain its place on
9 the Third Reading Calendar.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
11 amendments are received, and the bill will retain
12 its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
13 SENATOR GIANARIS: By unanimous
14 consent, I wish to call up the following bills,
15 which were recalled from the Assembly and are now
16 at the desk: Senate Print Numbers 2862 and 7130.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
18 Secretary will read.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 86,
20 Senate Print 2862, by Senator Martinez, an act to
21 amend the Real Property Tax Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
23 Gianaris.
24 SENATOR GIANARIS: Can you read the
25 second bill that I referenced?
3524
1 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
2 150, Senate Print 7130, by Senator Comrie, an act
3 to amend the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.
4 SENATOR GIANARIS: I now move to
5 reconsider the vote by which these bills were
6 passed.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
8 Secretary will call the roll on reconsideration.
9 (The Secretary called the roll.)
10 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 55.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bills
12 are restored to their place on the Third Reading
13 Calendar.
14 SENATOR GIANARIS: I offer the
15 following amendments to those bills.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
17 amendments are received.
18 SENATOR GIANARIS: Please recognize
19 Senator Lanza for a motion.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
21 Lanza.
22 SENATOR LANZA: Thank you,
23 Senator Gianaris.
24 Madam President, on page 19 I offer
25 the following amendments to Calendar 462,
3525
1 Senate Print 5937A, and ask that said bill retain
2 its place on Third Reading Calendar. And that's
3 on behalf of Senator Oberacker.
4 Also, on behalf of Senator Martins,
5 on page 7 I offer the following amendments to
6 Calendar Number 247, Senate Print 7861, and ask
7 that said bill retain its place on the
8 Third Reading Calendar.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
10 amendments are received, and the bills will
11 retain their place on the Third Reading Calendar.
12 Senator Gianaris.
13 SENATOR GIANARIS: Let's now take
14 up previously adopted Resolution 1601, by
15 Senator Gallivan, read that resolution's title,
16 and recognize Senator Weber on that resolution.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
18 Secretary will read.
19 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 1601, by
20 Senator Gallivan, memorializing Governor
21 Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 6-12, 2024, as
22 Nurses Week in the State of New York.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
24 Weber on the resolution.
25 SENATOR WEBER: Thank you,
3526
1 Madam President.
2 I rise to acknowledge this very
3 important resolution on National Nurses Week,
4 which is celebrated this year from May 6th to
5 May 12th. I'd like to thank Senator Gallivan for
6 carrying this resolution in the Senate each year
7 and for allowing me to speak on it today.
8 You know, my mother was a registered
9 nurse her whole career at Nyack Hospital, the
10 hospital that I was born in in Rockland County,
11 the county I've lived in my entire life. So let
12 me start off by saying Happy National Nurses Week
13 to my mother.
14 For a long time nurses were
15 underappreciated for the hard work,
16 dedication and sacrifice that comes with the
17 territory of this career path. However, nurses
18 are drawn to this line of work not for the praise
19 and recognition, but for the desire to help
20 people.
21 One of the few positives to come out
22 of the COVID pandemic is that nurses, EMS
23 workers, and healthcare workers in general
24 finally started getting the recognition as heroes
25 that they deserve. I guess I was a little ahead
3527
1 of the curve on this one. I've always known that
2 my mother and her fellow nurses were heroes.
3 I'd like to acknowledge some heroes
4 that we have here as guests in the Senate gallery
5 today.
6 Thank you, Liz Falco. Liz Falco is
7 a constituent of mine from Rockland County.
8 Thank you, Liz, for assembling this visit for
9 members of the Rockland County Nurses Honor
10 Guard, the Hudson Valley Nurses Honor Guard, the
11 New York State Nurses Honor Guard, and the
12 National Nurses Honor Guard Coalition.
13 The mission of these honor guards is
14 to pay a heartfelt tribute to the dedicated
15 nurses of their community nearing the end of life
16 or at their time of passing.
17 Much like the solemn military and
18 police ceremonies, volunteer nurses pay homage to
19 beloved colleagues at their funerals or memorial
20 services or by performing a living tribute as
21 they near the end of life. Their services
22 provide a healing moment for grieving families
23 and friends. The ceremony is a powerful reminder
24 of the nurses' dedication and sacrifice.
25 Dressed in the classic white uniform
3528
1 complete with a cape and cap, like they are
2 wearing today in the gallery -- and maybe they'll
3 stand up while I do this last part -- the
4 Nurses Honor Guard carry out a poignant ceremony.
5 Thank you to the Nurses Honor Guards
6 we have here today, and thank you to all the
7 nurses across New York State and around the world
8 for doing the grueling work that helps us all in
9 our times of need. I wish these essential heroes
10 and all nurses a very Happy Nurses Week.
11 Congratulations. Thank you for
12 being here.
13 Thank you, Madam President.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you,
15 Senator Weber.
16 To our guests from the Nurses
17 Honor Guard, we welcome you on behalf of the
18 Senate. We extend to you the privileges and
19 courtesies of the house.
20 You're risen, but let us recognize
21 you.
22 (Standing ovation.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
24 resolution was previously adopted on
25 January 17th.
3529
1 Senator Gianaris.
2 SENATOR GIANARIS: Madam President,
3 I know that Senator Gallivan wants to open that
4 resolution for cosponsorship.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
6 resolution is open for cosponsorship. Should you
7 choose not to be a cosponsor, please notify the
8 desk.
9 Senator Gianaris.
10 SENATOR GIANARIS: At this time
11 please recognize Senator Cooney for an
12 introduction.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
14 Cooney for an introduction.
15 SENATOR COONEY: Thank you,
16 Madam President.
17 It's hard to believe, but I'm one of
18 the last remaining Albany Law alums serving in
19 this Senate chamber. We've had many before, and
20 I'm sure we'll have many after, but at this
21 moment I'm proud to represent the law school and
22 the many Albany Law School graduates working in
23 state government, two of which are in my own
24 legislative office.
25 But today it is my privilege to
3530
1 honor and introduce the new president and dean of
2 Albany Law School, Cinnamon Carlarne, to the
3 State Senate.
4 I have been an active and proud alum
5 of Albany Law for well over a decade, and my
6 experiences during and after my education have
7 led me to be the person and the legislator that I
8 am today. Now, the law school, which is located
9 in my colleague Senator Breslin's district, has
10 had the same effect on so many of our colleagues
11 in state government today.
12 And that's why we brought the dean
13 here today during the beginning of her tenure at
14 our law school. We want to congratulate her on
15 achieving this distinguished position.
16 Coming from The Ohio State
17 University Moritz College of Law, the dean has
18 had a long and distinguished career of studying
19 environmental law and social equity, as well as
20 her work to mold the next generation of lawyers
21 here in New York.
22 I can think of no better choice to
23 lead my alma mater, and it's been a pleasure to
24 witness the beginning of your time at
25 Albany Law School. And I look forward to all
3531
1 that you will accomplish in advancing legal
2 education here in New York.
3 So again, congratulations, and
4 welcome to the New York State Senate.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: To our
6 guest, Dean Carlarne, we welcome you on behalf of
7 the Senate. We extend to you the privileges and
8 courtesies of the house.
9 Please rise and be recognized.
10 (Standing ovation.)
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
12 Gianaris.
13 SENATOR GIANARIS: At this time
14 there will be an immediate meeting of the
15 Rules Committee in Room 332.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: There will
17 be an immediate meeting of the Rules Committee in
18 Room 332.
19 SENATOR GIANARIS: The Senate will
20 stand at ease.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The Senate
22 will stand at ease.
23 (Whereupon, the Senate stood at ease
24 at 3:44 p.m.)
25 (Whereupon, the Senate reconvened at
3532
1 3:55 p.m.)
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The Senate
3 will return to order.
4 Senator Gianaris.
5 SENATOR GIANARIS: Madam President,
6 there's a report of the Rules Committee at the
7 desk. Let's take that up, please.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
9 Secretary will read.
10 THE SECRETARY: Senator
11 Stewart-Cousins, from the Committee on Rules,
12 reports the following bills:
13 Senate Print 1535B, by
14 Senator Hoylman-Sigal, an act to amend the
15 Executive Law;
16 Senate Print 2129B, by
17 Senator Krueger, an act to amend the
18 Environmental Conservation Law;
19 Senate Print 5728A, by
20 Senator Harckham, an act to amend the
21 Environmental Conservation Law;
22 Senate Print 7086B, by
23 Senator Harckham, an act to amend the
24 Environmental Conservation Law and the
25 State Finance Law;
3533
1 Senate Print 8356A, by Senator May,
2 an act to amend the Environmental Conservation
3 Law and the State Finance Law.
4 All bills reported direct to third
5 reading.
6 SENATOR GIANARIS: Move to accept
7 the report of the Rules Committee.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: All those
9 in favor of accepting the report of the
10 Rules Committee signify by saying aye.
11 (Response of "Aye.")
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Opposed,
13 nay.
14 (No response.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The report
16 of the Rules Committee is adopted.
17 Senator Gianaris.
18 SENATOR GIANARIS: Let's take up
19 the calendar, please.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
21 Secretary will read.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23 250, Senate Print 2263, by Senator Sanders, an
24 act to amend the Real Property Actions and
25 Proceedings Law.
3534
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: In relation to
11 Calendar 250, those Senators voting in the
12 negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello,
13 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Helming, Lanza, Martins,
14 Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, Ortt, Palumbo,
15 Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco and Weber.
16 Ayes, 44. Nays, 16.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
18 is passed.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
20 256, Senate Print 156, by Senator Krueger, an act
21 to amend the Executive Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
25 act shall take effect immediately.
3535
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
2 roll.
3 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
5 Brouk to explain her vote.
6 SENATOR BROUK: Thank you,
7 Madam President.
8 And I also want to thank
9 Senator Krueger for bringing this bill forward
10 for Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month.
11 I was thinking this weekend -- we
12 hosted our Third Annual Community Baby Shower.
13 We gave out supplies, we talked about the value
14 of doula care. But one thing that we also talked
15 about -- both out loud in the panel, but also in
16 the quiet moments when a new mother came up to me
17 explaining to me some of the anxiety she was
18 feeling about getting ready for her first
19 daughter -- was about maternal mental health as
20 well.
21 And that's why this bill is so
22 important, and so much of the work that we do is
23 so important, because we need to say out loud the
24 startling statistic that one in five birthing
25 people suffer from a maternal mental health
3536
1 disorder. It is the most common pregnancy
2 complication in America.
3 We need to say out loud the fact
4 that mental health conditions are the third
5 leading cause of death in pregnancy-related
6 deaths.
7 And we also need to continue to say
8 out loud that it is more than just the baby
9 blues, that perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
10 are complex, that they happen during or after
11 pregnancy, and that they can range dramatically
12 in their severity.
13 Saying these truths out loud is why
14 we as a body fought so hard to not only pass the
15 Maternal Mental Health Workgroup in last year's
16 budget, but why we continue to address the stigma
17 around maternal mental health, and why we
18 continue to address the systemic factors that
19 contribute to maternal mental health conditions.
20 For that and many other reasons, I
21 vote aye.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
23 Brouk to be recorded in the affirmative.
24 Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick to
25 explain her vote.
3537
1 SENATOR CANZONERI-FITZPATRICK:
2 Thank you, Madam President.
3 I want to thank the sponsor also,
4 Senator Krueger, for bringing this bill before us
5 today.
6 As the ranking member of our
7 conference for the Mental Health Committee, and
8 as a mom myself, I fully appreciate the
9 significance of this legislation and the
10 importance of bringing attention to maternal
11 mental health, especially during May, when we
12 celebrate Mother's Day.
13 It is estimated that approximately
14 one in five women experience some form of
15 perinatal mood and anxiety disorder, such as post
16 partum depression. And it's further estimated
17 that seven in 10 women hide or downplay their
18 symptoms.
19 I've said this about any type of
20 mental health struggle, but it goes especially
21 for our expecting mothers, that no one should
22 suffer in silence. By recognizing Maternal
23 Mental Health Awareness Month, we can work at
24 eroding the stigma associated with mental health
25 so that expecting mothers and everyone can get
3538
1 the support they need for mental wellness.
2 Therefore, Madam President, I
3 proudly vote aye.
4 Thank you.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
6 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick to be recorded in the
7 affirmative.
8 Senator Webb to explain her vote.
9 SENATOR WEBB: Thank you,
10 Madam President.
11 I too want to lend my voice to all
12 of my colleagues who've spoken thus far to thank
13 Senator Krueger for advancing this legislation.
14 Earlier this year we introduced a
15 package in the Senate, a robust package of
16 maternal and reproductive healthcare bills, and
17 this bill in particular is a continuation of the
18 efforts that we've been making in this body to
19 lift up this important issue. And so again, I
20 want to thank Senator Krueger for this
21 legislation.
22 As it's been said, maternal mental
23 health issues are incredibly common and
24 increasingly pervasive. Here in the
25 United States, one in five women suffer from a
3539
1 mental health disorder before or after giving
2 birth, and a staggering 40 percent of
3 Black mothers experience maternal mental health
4 symptoms which are nearly twice the rate of all
5 women combined.
6 Yet despite these shocking figures,
7 75 percent of women never receive treatment for
8 this common and treatable medical condition.
9 Women do not receive care for a number of
10 reasons, whether it's lack of screening, maternal
11 care deserts, or shame that keeps women and
12 birthing people from seeking care.
13 By raising awareness about maternal
14 mental health we can help to ensure that more
15 women get the care that they need and save their
16 lives and also support them and their families
17 from experiencing the worst health outcomes
18 during their pre- and postnatal periods.
19 I proudly vote aye.
20 Thank you, Madam President.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
22 Webb to be recorded in the affirmative.
23 Senator Ramos to explain her vote.
24 SENATOR RAMOS: Thank you,
25 Madam President.
3540
1 I'm voting aye on this bill, and I
2 thank Senator Krueger and all of my other
3 colleagues who continuously speak up for our
4 mental wellness.
5 To me, mental health is about
6 personal and public safety. And although I think
7 we're more aware of the need for mental health
8 care than ever before, we need to put our money
9 where our mouth is.
10 And so this is my post-budget plea
11 to go beyond the $30 million that we allocated in
12 the last enacted budget for an expansion of
13 mental health courts and actually get the
14 short-term and long-term mental health care and
15 beds, specifically beds that we need in order to
16 provide a safe space for those who are seeking
17 the care, the medication that they need.
18 It's about keeping us all safe. And
19 I'm really hopeful that this fight will transcend
20 into the next session so that we can make that
21 possible.
22 Thank you.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
24 Ramos to be recorded in the affirmative.
25 Senator Krueger to explain her vote.
3541
1 SENATOR KRUEGER: Thank you very
2 much, Madam President.
3 Thank you to all my colleagues who
4 spoke out in support. I'm so delighted that I
5 now serve in a Senate where so many people seem
6 to understand these issues, work on these issues,
7 speak out on these issues.
8 When I first passed my maternal
9 depression bill I'm going to say a decade ago,
10 when I was meeting with the healthcare providers
11 of women suffering from maternal depression, I
12 was saying, How do you diagnose them? And the
13 doctor would look at me and say, Women actually
14 think when they give birth to a child or when
15 they're pregnant, it's supposed to be the
16 happiest time in their life, the most glorious,
17 happiest time in their life. And some of them,
18 unfortunately, are suffering just the opposite.
19 If you just ask them how are they
20 doing and they burst into tears, guess what?
21 They're probably suffering from some form of
22 maternal depression, either post- or perinatal.
23 And we know what to do about it when
24 we diagnose this. There are all kinds of
25 treatments that work. And yet nobody's
3542
1 diagnosing them.
2 And I thought, how is that possible?
3 But I would talk to doctors over and over again.
4 And I want to just highlight pediatricians came
5 to me, not just the OB-GYNs. Pediatricians came
6 to me and said, You have to work on this issue.
7 It's the number-one problem for our patients in
8 their first year of life.
9 Because if a mother is suffering
10 from depression and cannot provide for the child,
11 cannot bond with the child correctly, perhaps
12 can't breastfeed the child correctly, that child
13 will never get the opportunities in life they
14 should have.
15 So it was actually also our
16 pediatricians who said: This is an issue for
17 children, it's a crisis for children and the
18 whole family. So please, please, please get
19 New York State to do more about this.
20 And we still haven't done enough.
21 But as you've heard today, so many of my
22 colleagues here on both sides of the aisle
23 understand why we have to get this done. Because
24 again, the solutions are pretty damn easy, and
25 the outcomes can be life-changing for an entire
3543
1 family.
2 I vote yes.
3 Thank you, Madam President.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
5 Krueger to be recorded in the affirmative.
6 Announce the results.
7 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 263, Senate Print 1899, by Senator Stavisky, an
12 act to amend the Executive 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
3544
1 345, Senate Print 5802A, by Senator Mannion, an
2 act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
4 last section.
5 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
6 act shall take effect June 1, 2025.
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: In relation to
13 Calendar 345, voting in the negative are
14 Senators Brisport and Martinez.
15 Ayes, 58. Nays, 2.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
17 is passed.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
19 447, Senate Print 2124, by Senator Rivera, an act
20 to amend the Social Services Law.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
22 last section.
23 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
24 act shall take effect immediately.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
3545
1 roll.
2 (The Secretary called the roll.)
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
4 the results.
5 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
6 Calendar 447, voting in the negative:
7 Senator Griffo.
8 Ayes, 59. Nays, 1.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
10 is passed.
11 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
12 516, Senate Print 443, by Senator Skoufis, an act
13 to amend the Education Law.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
15 last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
17 act shall take effect immediately.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
19 roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
22 the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
24 Calendar 516, those Senators voting in the
25 negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello,
3546
1 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming,
2 Lanza, Martins, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, Ortt,
3 Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Weber
4 and Weik.
5 Ayes, 41. Nays, 19.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
7 is passed.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 574, Senate Print 145, by Senator Gianaris, an
10 act to amend the Public Authorities Law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
12 last section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
14 act shall take effect immediately.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
16 roll.
17 (The Secretary called the roll.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
19 the results.
20 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
21 Calendar 574, those Senators voting in the
22 negative are Senators Borrello,
23 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming,
24 Lanza, Martins, Mattera, Oberacker, Ortt,
25 Palumbo, Rhoads, Stec, Tedisco and Weik.
3547
1 Ayes, 45. Nays, 15.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 593, Senate Print 2824, by Senator Lanza, an act
6 to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
8 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
20 596, Senate Print 6922, by Senator Webb, an act
21 to amend the Transportation Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
25 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
3548
1 shall have become a law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
3 roll.
4 (The Secretary called the roll.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
6 the results.
7 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
8 Calendar 596, those Senators voting in the
9 negative are Senators Oberacker and Weik.
10 Ayes, 58. Nays, 2.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
12 is passed.
13 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
14 705, Senate Print 4467B, by Senator Mayer, an act
15 to amend the Executive Law.
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: In relation to
3549
1 Calendar 705, those Senators voting in the
2 negative are Senators Borrello, Griffo, Helming,
3 Ortt, Palumbo and Stec.
4 Ayes, 54. Nays, 6.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
6 is passed.
7 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
8 724, Senate Print 6288, by Senator Hinchey, an
9 act to amend the Family Court Act and the
10 Criminal Procedure Law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
12 last section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
14 act shall take effect immediately.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
16 roll.
17 (The Secretary called the roll.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
19 Helming to explain her vote.
20 SENATOR HELMING: Thank you,
21 Madam President. I rise to explain my vote.
22 I am supporting this bill. I was
23 proud to support it when it was Senator Sue
24 Serino's bill, and I continue to be proud to
25 support it.
3550
1 But I do want to point out some
2 staggering statistics. In 2007 there were almost
3 50,000 family offense petitions filed in our
4 New York State Family Courts. In 2008 there was
5 an expansion to include persons in intimate
6 relationships. The number of family offense
7 petitions has steadily risen over the last few
8 years, with the notable exception of 2020.
9 During 2020, although Family Courts were open and
10 hearing family offense petitions, the total
11 filings dropped back to the 2007 levels.
12 But since that time, family offense
13 filings have recovered and were a staggering
14 46 percent higher in 2023 than in 2020 and
15 represented 14 percent of all total Family Court
16 petitions that were filed statewide.
17 While I support this legislation,
18 continuing to expand Family Court jurisdiction to
19 include more cases and different people requires
20 action to expand staffing. Without this, I think
21 we're going to continue to see our Family Courts
22 struggle. They can't continue to do more with
23 less.
24 Thank you, Madam President.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
3551
1 Helming to be recorded in the affirmative.
2 Senator Rolison to explain his vote.
3 SENATOR ROLISON: Thank you,
4 Madam President.
5 I want to thank this body again for
6 passing Melanie's Law. I want to thank my
7 colleague Senator Hinchey for being able to
8 continue to bring this bill forward, and also
9 former Senator Sue Serino, who carried this bill
10 a good number of years ago.
11 You know, when we see challenges,
12 especially related to public safety and issues
13 surrounding the most personal acts of violence
14 that we see in cases of domestic violence and
15 family violence, we need to act. This Senate is
16 doing it again, and I proudly vote aye.
17 Thank you, Madam President.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
19 Rolison to be recorded in the affirmative.
20 Announce the results.
21 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
23 is passed.
24 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
25 785, Senate Print 40, by Senator Gallivan, an act
3552
1 to amend the Executive Law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
3 last section.
4 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
5 act shall take effect on the first of November.
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
15 797, Senate Print 1469, by Senator Breslin, an
16 act to amend the Insurance 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.
3553
1 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 802, Senate Print 2863, by Senator Martinez, an
6 act to amend the General Municipal Law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
8 last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
10 act shall take effect immediately.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
12 roll.
13 (The Secretary called the roll.)
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
15 the results.
16 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
17 Calendar 802, those Senators voting in the
18 negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello,
19 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Gallivan, Griffo, Lanza,
20 Martins, Murray, Oberacker, Ortt, Rhoads,
21 Rolison, Stec, Tedisco and Weber.
22 Ayes, 45. Nays, 15.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
24 is passed.
25 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3554
1 822, Senate Print 1605, by Senator Serrano, an
2 act to amend the Social Services Law.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
4 last section.
5 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
6 act shall take effect on the 60th day after it
7 shall have become a law.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
9 roll.
10 (The Secretary called the roll.)
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
12 the results.
13 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
15 is passed.
16 Senator Gianaris, that completes the
17 reading of today's calendar.
18 SENATOR GIANARIS: Is there any
19 further business at the desk?
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: There is
21 no further business at the desk.
22 SENATOR GIANARIS: I move to
23 adjourn until tomorrow, Tuesday, May 7th, at
24 3:00 p.m.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: On motion,
3555
1 the Senate stands adjourned until Tuesday,
2 May 7th, at 3:00 p.m.
3 (Whereupon, at 4:14 p.m., the Senate
4 adjourned.)
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