Senator Martins Addresses Student Assembly at the Floral Park-Bellerose School

Senator Jack M. Martins presented the ‘How a Bill Becomes a Law’ program to an assembly at the Floral Park-Bellerose School. Senator Martins discussed the process of how a bill starts with an idea and then how it progresses until it makes it onto the Governor’s desk in Albany.

During the assembly, Senator Martins told the students bills begin with an idea that originates in the community. It is then introduced in the State Senate. From there, it is discussed in a committee made up of lawmakers and then, if it passes the committee, it is voted on by the entire Senate. If it passes, the bill goes to the State Assembly. If the Assembly passes it, it will then arrive on the desk of the Governor, who can either sign it or veto it.

Senator Martins then invited the students to come up with ideas for bills to submit to his office for review. While at the assembly, some of the students offered their ideas, which included no school on Monday as well as no school on Friday. Some of the best ideas included all pesticides have to be natural in order to protect the environment. The idea of no bullying in school received a rousing applause from the students.

Senator Martins also invited the students to ask questions about government. One student wanted to know why a woman cannot be President. Senator Martins said there is nothing to prevent a woman from being President. “We all know that a girl can do anything a boy can do,” he said.

“The students from the Floral Park-Bellerose School were a great group. I look forward to reviewing their ideas for bills and perhaps introduce one to the Senate,” said Senator Martins. “I was especially impressed when I asked the students which of them reads on their own separate from their homework and almost every had went up.”

The Floral-Park Bellerose School Student Council has been especially generous when it comes to some of the drives organized by Senator Martins, contributing to both a candy drive for the troops and a toy drive to benefit the Ronald McDonald House.