Senator Kathy Marchione’s legislation that would help Hoosick Falls passes State Senate

Albany, NY – Senator Kathy Marchione (R,C,I-Halfmoon), Chair of the Senate’s Local Government Committee, today announced the Senate’s passage of her bi-partisan legislation, Senate Bill S.6824A, which will help Hoosick Falls’ families. Senator Marchione’s legislation, which passed tonight by a vote of 62-0 with strong bi-partisan support, would allow individuals who have been sickened by exposure to toxic chemicals to bring a personal injury suit within three years of the time an area linked to such contamination is designated as a superfund site.

Under current state law, the three year statute of limitations in which to bring such exposure cases may have already run before it is ever known that illnesses may be linked to chemical contamination. Senator Marchione’s bill effectively gives Hoosick Falls’ families more time to fully explore their legal options against the polluter and also pursue civil justice.

“Passage of my bill was an important victory for Hoosick Falls’ families who, because of this legislation, now will have more time to explore and actively seek civil justice. I am truly grateful to my colleagues, on both sides of the political aisle, in both houses, for their strong support of this legislation and for recognizing, as I have said, that there shouldn’t be a time limit on justice for families who were exposed to contaminated water. This bill is a real solution that will make a real difference for Hoosick Falls and I’m thankful that we got it done,” Senator Marchione said.

Beginning in February, Senator Marchione partnered with Democrat Majority Assemblymember John T. McDonald III (D-Cohoes) to introduce the bi-partisan measure in direct response to events in Hoosick Falls where residents’ drinking water was contaminated with a chemical linked to a Superfund site.

Senator Marchione and Assemblymember McDonald’s legislation would give those who fell ill before the source of their injuries was known greater legal recourse when the existing statute of limitations has already run, which is critically important to hold the polluter accountable, ensure that families throughout Hoosick Falls have more time to explore all their legal options and fully pursue civil justice.

Assemblymember McDonald’s legislation, Assembly Bill A.9568, also passed the Assembly with a strong, bi-partisan vote of 132-7. Both measures will now be sent to Governor Cuomo.

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