Presiding Officer

PRESIDING OFFICER--The Constitution of the State of New York designates the state's Lieutenant Governor as the President of the Senate and its presiding officer.  When the lieutenant governor is unable to attend one of the Senate's regular sessions, Senate leaders appoint a senator to assume these responsibilities for the day.  Senator O'Mara, who's serving his first term in the Senate following three consecutive terms as a New York State Assemblyman, presided over the Senate for the first time on Monday, March 21, 2011.  In this photo, he's joined by Senate Parliamentarian Jack Casey (r.).