Senator Gallivan's Votes for Week of January 10, 2022

The following bills were voted on in the NYS Senate.  All were approved, unless otherwise noted.  Senator Gallivan's vote is also recorded.

S253 This bill would amend section 8-410 of the election law to provide that in cases where the express intent of the voter is unambiguous, any stray marks or writing shall not be a basis for voiding a ballot. NAY (Undermines ballot integrity in two ways: 1. Encourages the removal of the secrecy of a ballot and 2. Continues unsupportable practice of overruling a postmark date.)

S284A Requires the counting of an affidavit ballot of an eligible voter if such voter appeared at a polling place in the correct county but in the incorrect election district; provides that such vote shall not be cast and canvassed for such contests for which the person was not entitled to vote at such election. NAY (Would likely complicate and slow down the voting process.)

S492 This bill would add a new section 8-414 to the election law to establish a program of absentee ballot drop-off locations. NAY (Undermines ballot integrity. Concerns re. dropbox security.)

S557 Establishes portable polling locations for early voting; provides that a county board of elections may establish one or more portable polling locations. NAY (Unfunded mandate. Could be security issue. "Portable polling location" not defined.)

S1126B Prohibits "foreign-influenced" entities from making political contributions either directly or indirectly to a constituted committee, independent expenditure committee, political committee or party committee. These entities would also be prohibited from making an expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement for a political communication. NAY (Not applied universally.)

S1283 Relates to the order in which candidates appear on the ballot; requires that offices shall be listed on the ballot in descending order based on the size of the electorate and requires certain federal offices to be listed before state, county or local offices. NAY (No benefit and no reason to do it.)

S2951 This bill would shorten the deadline for voter registration applications to 10 days before the election. This bill would provide that an application postmarked by no later than fifteen days before the next primary, general or special election, which is received no later than ten days before such election, or which is delivered in person at least ten days before such election to the county board of elections, shall entitle such applicant to vote at such election.  NAY (Burdensome on the board of elections as it will be difficult for them to get all of the deadline applications into the poll book, in time for early voting.)

S4658 Provides that whenever a contiguous property of a college or university contains three hundred or more registrants, the polling place designated for such election district shall be on such contiguous property or at a location approved by the college or university. NAY

S6214 Provides that a voter may register to vote at any residence to which the voter maintains a continuous connection with an intent to return, including a second home or a vacation home. NAY (Allows voters to vote shop and choose which local elections they want to vote in.)

S7565B This bill extends the expiration of Chapter 139 of the laws of 2020 which amended the election law to expand the definition of the term "illness", for purposes of qualifying for an absentee ballot, to include the situation where the voter is unable to appear at the polling place because there is a risk of contracting or spreading a disease that may cause illness to the voter or members of the public. The bill also makes technical changes to the election law to clarify that this applies to absentee ballots for village elections, as well. Under this bill, the expiration of the expanded definition of illness would be extended from January 1, 2022 to December 1, 2022.  NAY  (Constitutional concerns.)

S7619 Extends the effectiveness of provisions relating to absentee ballots for school district elections during a declared disaster emergency to January 1, 2023.  NAY (Need consistent set of rules.)

S7631 REDISTRICTING This bill is the Democrat's Congressional Redistricting proposal bill. NAY  (Bill Failed)

S7632 REDISTRICTING This bill is the Democrat's Senate and Assembly Redistricting proposal bill. This plan would establish the 150 assembly and 63 senate districts for the 2022 and subsequent elections. NAY (Bill Failed) 

S7633 REDISTRICTING This bill is the Republican's Senate and Assembly Redistricting proposal bill. This plan would establish the 150 assembly and 63 senate districts for the 2022 and subsequent elections. NAY (Bill Failed)

S7634 REDISTRICTING This bill is the Republican's Congressional Redistricting proposal bill.  AYE  (Bill Failed)

S7623A Extends provisions of law authorizing political subdivisions to permit any public body to hold meetings remotely and without in-person access during the COVID-19 state disaster emergency. NAY (Links to Governor's Executive Order declaring State of Emergency. Limits legislative oversight.)

S7689 directs the Public Service Commission, in cooperation with the Broadband Program Office, to initiate a proceeding to examine streamlining actions related to utility pole attachments. The Commission must include diverse stakeholders such as electric and municipal utilities and broadband internet providers. The Public Service Commission must issue an order adopting new or revised rules on streamlining pole attachments by September 30th, 2022.  AYE

S7691 The intent of the original bill is to authorize the Westchester County legislature to waive fees, including but not limited to building permit review fees and fees associated with capital improvements to any post or hall owned by a not-for-profit congressionally chartered veterans' organization located in such county. This bill is technical in nature as it would clarify that fees can be waived for veterans' organizations through passage of a local law.  AYE

S7693 Chapter 762 of 2021 (S.679- A) which created the Council for Treatment Equity to assess substance abuse treatment disparities for underserved communities across the state. The chapter amendment eliminates the creation of a new board, and instead tasks the existing Behavioral Health Service Advisory Council (BHSAC) with forming a committee to achieve the same goals. AYE

S7698 This legislation amends the underlying chapter by clarifying applicable provisions, and expanding compliance of the provisions to all residential mortgage loans covering a one to four family dwelling.  NAY  (Too burdensome for banks without significant benefit for consumer.)

S7704 The original chapter allows municipal reciprocal insurers to authorize the return of any outstanding subscriber operating reserve balance. The chapter amendment adds a provision that the municipal insurer must demonstrate that they will retain a sufficient surplus to support its obligations in writing. AYE

S7705  CHAPTER AMENDMENT - chapter 520 of the Laws of 2021 (S.14a), which criminalized possession of a ghost gun. This bill makes several technical and clarifying changes that do not improve or significantly change the original legislation. This bill makes several technical and clarifying changes that do not improve or significantly change the original legislation.  NAY

S7708  CHAPTER AMENDMENT - amendment to chapter 675 of the laws of 2021 (S.2119) which authorized plasma donation centers to operate in NYS so long as federal standards are met. This chapter amends the language to exclude plasma donation centers from the definition of "blood bank" to clarify DOH oversight. Additionally, it removes plasma donation centers from clinical lab permit requirements, and applies blood banks reporting requirements to source plasma donation centers. It additionally authorizes hematocrit tests which test the percentage of red blood cells found in the blood.  AYE

S7709 CHAPTER AMENDMENT - Authorizes the assessor of the county of Nassau to accept from Mercy Medical Center an application for exemption from real property taxes upon approval by the Nassau county legislature. Changes the granting entity for the tax exemption application for Mercy Medical Center from the town of Hempstead to the county of Nassau, which is the appropriate granting authority.  AYE

S7711 CHAPTER AMENDMENT - Directs the president of the state civil service commission to publish reports annually relating to diversity within executive state agencies, authorities, boards, bureaus, commissions, departments and divisions under executive control. Makes technical corrections.  AYE

S7690 CHAPTER AMENDMENT - This chapter amendment reduces the number of chemicals to be included in the list of emerging contaminants, removes requirements the Commissioner unilaterally update the list every three years through regulation and lengthens the timeframe in which the Commissioner must establish draft regulations.  NAY (It should be left up to the experts at DOH, who will have great flexibility to make changes as needed.)

S7692 CHAPTER AMENDMENT - This bill is a chapter amendment to Chapter 978 of the laws of 2021 (S.7075), which requires health plans to provide members with an explanation of pharmaceutical benefits. The chapter amendment clarifies how insurers can satisfy the requirements of providing an explanation of pharmaceutical benefits. The insurer can either provide a quarterly written summary or make the information available electronically on the member portal with the member's consent. NAY (Unnecessary and costly.)

S7694 CHAPTER AMENDMENT - Chapter 730 of the laws of 2021 (S.4316) which added adrenoleukodystrophy and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency to the list of conditions that all newborns must be screened for. The amendment provides clinical indications for G6PDD testing.  AYE

S7695 CHAPTER AMENDMENT - Amends the date the President of the State Civil Service Commission shall complete a study on the current civil service examination process.  AYE

S7696 CHAPTER AMENDMENT - chapter 783 of the laws of 2021 (S.4478-A), which prohibits children's overnight and summer day camps and any non-regulated children's camp from applying pesticides to any playground, athletic field or playing field. This amendment includes turf to areas where pesticides cannot be applied, and removes provisions requiring the camp to submit documentation for an emergency pesticide application to the county health department. NAY (Curtails the preventive use of pest management tools that enable sleepaway and day camps to avoid pest infestations in the first place.)

S7699 CHAPTER AMENDMENT - Chapter 573 of 2021 (S.4237-A) which prevents institutions from implementing contingencies on students to receive financial aid. The chapter amendment makes minor technical changes by moving the contingencies to a different section from the original chapter. AYE

S7700 CHAPTER AMENDMENT - Relates to the New York state two hundred fiftieth commemoration Commission. This bill would add 8 members to the Commission, changes shall to may for various entities, and would allow the Commission to submit letters of support for grant applications for projects related to commemorations.  AYE

S7702 CHAPTER AMENDMENT - This bill is a chapter amendment to S.3321A, which required heating oil sold for use in buildings to have increasing amount of biodiesel in the blend. The amendment is to the definition of Renewable Hydrocarbon Diesel. Instead of the definition saying domestically produced, the definition will now say North American-produced. The amendment also strikes a requirement that the DEC Commissioner and DFS issue regulations that strictly enforce fuel being sold to a customer that would void the manufacturer's warranty. AYE

S7706 CHAPTER AMENDMENT - The underlying bill, s2977-A sought to require homeless shelters' and assisted living facilities' to ask and identify whether residents or individuals seeking residency ever served in the military in order to notify such individuals of the services the Division of Veterans Services and other veterans services provide. It also allows such facility, with the permission of individuals identifying themselves as veterans, to transmit their information to the division of veterans' services. This bill makes various technical amendments.  AYE

S7707 CHAPTER AMENDMNENT - amendment to S.5764 of 2021, which was intended to increase transparency to individuals and businesses that have applied to the State Liquor Authority for a license or permit. The amendments are largely technical in nature.  AYE