Regular Session - April 25, 2017
2059
1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
2
3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
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6
7
8
9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 April 25, 2017
11 3:13 p.m.
12
13
14 REGULAR SESSION
15
16
17
18 SENATOR JOSEPH GRIFFO, Acting President
19 FRANCIS W. PATIENCE, Secretary
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21
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25
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1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
3 Senate will come to order.
4 I ask everyone present to please
5 rise and join with me as we recite the Pledge of
6 Allegiance to our Flag.
7 (Whereupon, the assemblage recited
8 the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: In the
10 absence of clergy, I ask everyone to please bow
11 their heads in a moment of silent reflection and
12 prayer.
13 (Whereupon, the assemblage
14 respected a moment of silence.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
16 reading of the Journal.
17 THE SECRETARY: In Senate, Monday,
18 April 24th, the Senate met pursuant to
19 adjournment. The Journal of Sunday, April 23rd,
20 was read and approved. On motion, Senate
21 adjourned.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Without
23 objection, the Journal will stand approved as
24 read.
25 Presentation of petitions.
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1 Messages from the Assembly.
2 Messages from the Governor.
3 Reports of standing committees.
4 Reports of select committees.
5 Communications and reports of state
6 officers.
7 Motions and resolutions.
8 Senator DeFrancisco.
9 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Yes,
10 Mr. President, I move that Senate Bill Number
11 2510, by Senator Helming, be discharged from its
12 respective committee and be recommitted with
13 instructions to strike the enacting clause.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: It is so
15 ordered.
16 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: I move to
17 adopt the Resolution Calendar, with the
18 exception of Resolutions 1529, 1502, and 1469.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Upon
20 motion, all in the chamber in favor of adopting
21 the Resolution Calendar, with the exception of
22 Resolutions 1529, 1502, and 1469, signify by
23 saying aye.
24 (Response of "Aye.")
25 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Opposed?
2062
1 (No response.)
2 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
3 Resolution Calendar is adopted as indicated.
4 Senator DeFrancisco.
5 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Could you
6 now please take up Resolution 1181, by Senator
7 Seward, read it in its entirety, and call on
8 Senator Seward to speak.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
10 Secretary will read.
11 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
12 Resolution Number 1181, by Senator Seward,
13 congratulating the Moravia High School Boys
14 Varsity Basketball Team and Coach Todd Mulvaney
15 upon the occasion of capturing the New York
16 State Public High School Athletic Association
17 Class C Championship.
18 "WHEREAS, Individual and team
19 championships are highly sought after in high
20 school sports; this Legislative Body commends
21 rare athletic achievements and pays special
22 recognition to those who pursue such excellence
23 and become examples for the youth of this great
24 Empire State; and
25 "WHEREAS, Athletic competition
2063
1 helps to enhance both the moral and physical
2 development of young athletes, preparing them for
3 the future by instilling in them the importance
4 of teamwork, encouraging a standard of healthy
5 living, and developing a sense of fair play and
6 competition; and
7 "WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is
8 justly proud to congratulate the Moravia High
9 School Boys Varsity Basketball Team and
10 Coach Todd Mulvaney upon the occasion of
11 capturing the New York State Public High School
12 Athletic Association Class C Championship; and
13 "WHEREAS, To the praise and applause
14 of their excited fans, the Blue Devils claimed
15 the state title with one of their most dominating
16 performances of the season, defeating Lake George
17 High School 54-39 in the New York State Public
18 High School Athletic Association Championship on
19 Saturday, March 18, 2017, at the Floyd L. Maines
20 Memorial Arena in Binghamton, New York; and
21 "WHEREAS, Proudly donning the
22 school's colors of gray and blue, family,
23 friends, and the community at large loyally and
24 enthusiastically supported the Blue Devils
25 throughout their journey as they ended their
2064
1 season with the first New York State Class C
2 championship in the school's history; and
3 "WHEREAS, In a sport such as
4 basketball, which demands athletic prowess, speed
5 and agility, Head Coach Todd Mulvaney and his
6 expert coaching staff worked hard to hone the
7 skills of this championship team, teaching these
8 outstanding athletes lessons which will prove
9 invaluable both on and off the court; and
10 "WHEREAS, The team's success is a
11 testament to the outstanding commitment of the
12 players and coaches, along with the unwavering
13 support of family, fans, friends and the Moravia
14 community at large; and
15 "WHEREAS, The Moravia Boys
16 Basketball Team has also demonstrated excellence
17 in the classroom, receiving the New York State
18 Public High School Athletic Association
19 Scholar-Athlete Team Award for the 2017 winter
20 season and living up to the definition of true
21 student-athletes; and
22 "WHEREAS, Coach Todd Mulvaney and
23 all of the outstanding athletes on the Moravia
24 High School Boys Varsity Basketball Team have
25 clearly utilized dedication, determination and
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1 teamwork in providing a lasting contribution to
2 the spirit of excellence which is a tradition of
3 their school; now, therefore, be it
4 "RESOLVED, That this Legislative
5 Body pause in its deliberations to congratulate
6 the members of the Moravia High School Boys
7 Varsity Basketball Team: Scottie Sovocool,
8 Carter Flick, Zack Becker, Zach Stanton,
9 Jack Fedrizzi, Kaleb Stayton, Jordan Crossgrove,
10 Kaden Hooper, Lin Wei Chen, Austin Kulas, Parker
11 Dickenson, Dustin Mondics, Gavin Genson, Gabe
12 Short, Brady Knutson and Joey Ettinger; Head
13 Coach Todd Mulvaney, and Assistant Coaches Brian
14 Jackson and Joey Volpicelli, on their outstanding
15 season and overall team record; and be it further
16 "RESOLVED, That copies of this
17 resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to
18 the members of the Moravia High School Boys
19 Varsity Basketball Team, Head Coach Todd
20 Mulvaney, and Assistant Coaches Brian Jackson and
21 Joey Volpicelli."
22 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
23 Seward.
24 SENATOR SEWARD: Thank you,
25 Mr. President.
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1 I am extremely pleased and proud to
2 welcome to the State Capitol and to this chamber
3 the Moravia Blue Devils, the 2017 New York State
4 High School Class C boys basketball champions.
5 This team is made up of some real trailblazers,
6 because they are the very first state
7 championship in any sport to come from the
8 Moravia Central School.
9 You know, this winter they put
10 together a very dominant 22-and-4 season that
11 concluded with a 54-to-39 win over Lake George to
12 capture the state championship. Now, my
13 apologies to my seatmate and colleague Senator
14 Betty Little, who represents Lake George.
15 This team, the Moravia Blue Devils,
16 had a goal and they worked hard and they worked
17 together to achieve it. Of course the boys were
18 never alone in their journey. Constant guidance
19 from their coaches, the loving encouragement of
20 family members and others, and of course the
21 enthusiastic support of the entire Moravia
22 community, which is a close-knit community --
23 they also must be recognized.
24 And accompanying the team today, I'm
25 delighted to acknowledge the school
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1 superintendent, John Birmingham; the athletic
2 director, Mike Anderson; the head coach, Todd
3 Mulvaney; assistant coach, Brian Jackson; and
4 scorekeeper, Doug Hults.
5 You know, along with the success of
6 the basketball team on the court, these boys have
7 also excelled in the classroom. They were
8 recently named a New York State Public High
9 School Athletic Association Scholar-Athlete Team.
10 Truly they epitomize the term student-athlete.
11 You know, my colleagues, sports
12 stories often make some great movies, and if
13 there are any Hollywood scriptwriters out there,
14 I would encourage them to take a look at this
15 Moravia Boys Basketball Team. You've got a small
16 town emotionally invested in every win and every
17 loss; a fiery young head basketball coach in Todd
18 Mulvaney, trying to take his own high school alma
19 mater right to the promised land of a state
20 championship -- and indeed he did that this year.
21 And you also have a real-life inspiration in
22 senior Dustin Mondics.
23 Just as the season began, Dustin was
24 involved in a near-fatal auto accident.
25 Volunteers from the Moravia Fire Department were
2068
1 called to the scene of the crash and worked
2 feverishly to extricate this young man from his
3 vehicle. He was then air-lifted to Upstate
4 University Hospital in Syracuse in critical
5 condition.
6 Fortunately, Dustin, just like his
7 Blue Devil teammates, is a fighter. With his
8 teammates and the entire community pulling for
9 him, he began the long journey back to recovery.
10 Eventually he was well enough to visit the
11 Moravia Fire Department and to thank personally
12 the men and women who saved his life. And he was
13 on the bench when his teammates captured this
14 state title. And he is here with us in the
15 chamber today.
16 The Moravia 2017 Blue Devils are
17 champions both on and off the court. So my
18 congratulations on behalf of all those I'm
19 privileged to represent in Cayuga County and
20 across my district. My hearty congratulations to
21 this great team. And now, with the passage of
22 this resolution, the entire State Senate,
23 representing all the people of the State of
24 New York, also congratulate this great team.
25 Thank you, Mr. President.
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1 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Thank
2 you, Senator Seward.
3 The resolution was previously
4 adopted on March 28th of 2017.
5 And Senator Seward has opened the
6 resolution for cosponsorship. Should you choose
7 to be a cosponsor, please notify the desk.
8 On behalf of all of the Senate, we
9 want to extend our congratulations. We've heard
10 from Senator Seward a series of amazing
11 individual experiences that make for a great team
12 story. So to the coaches, to the athletes, to
13 the staff members who are all here from Moravia,
14 we congratulate you. We extend our best wishes
15 and the courtesies and privileges of the Senate.
16 Please stand and be recognized.
17 (Standing ovation.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
19 DeFrancisco.
20 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Yes, could we
21 now take up Resolution Number 1469, by
22 Senator Funke, read the title only, and call on
23 Senator Funke to speak.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
25 Secretary will read.
2070
1 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
2 Resolution Number 1469, by Senator Funke,
3 congratulating the Irondequoit Boys Basketball
4 Team and Head Coach Chris Cardon upon the
5 occasion of capturing the New York State Public
6 High School Athletic Association Class A Boys
7 Basketball Championship.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
9 Funke.
10 SENATOR FUNKE: Thank you,
11 Mr. President.
12 I just wanted to take a moment to
13 congratulate Chris Cardon and the Irondequoit
14 High School Basketball Team on winning their very
15 first Class A state basketball title, defeating
16 Our Lady of Lourdes High School last month --
17 sorry, Senator Serino.
18 They were here earlier today, but --
19 the Irondequoit team had hoped to be in the
20 gallery with the Moravia team, but they're going
21 back for an Honor Society induction tonight,
22 which speaks volumes about the makeup of this
23 team as well.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
25 Funke, one second, please.
2071
1 May I have some order in the
2 chamber, please. I know there are a number of
3 members working with staff, but if you could
4 please take the conversation outside the chamber.
5 Thank you.
6 Senator Funke.
7 SENATOR FUNKE: Thank you,
8 Mr. President.
9 Real quick, sports teaches us so
10 many things about life, about teamwork, about
11 work ethic, about dedication and about love for
12 your school, love for your community, and love
13 for your teammates.
14 And years from now, this team from
15 Irondequoit and the one that Senator Seward spoke
16 about from Moravia will look back upon what they
17 did and what they went through. And perhaps the
18 adversities that they face years from now as
19 parents, as businessmen, or whatever path that
20 they choose, they'll remember how all of this
21 came together in that special year on that
22 special day in Binghamton, New York.
23 They'll remember that it wasn't
24 easy, they'll remember that life isn't easy. But
25 if you pull up your socks and you get after it,
2072
1 good things will happen. It's a reminder for all
2 of us in this chamber about how we go about our
3 daily business each and every session.
4 So congratulations again to
5 Irondequoit High. The eagle soared high this
6 season and made memories for a lifetime.
7 Thank you, Mr. President.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Thank
9 you, Senator Funke.
10 Senator Golden.
11 SENATOR GOLDEN: I too rise to
12 congratulate our high schools from across the
13 state for the great work that they've done, not
14 only in their education but in their sports as
15 well. Their athletic divisions in these schools
16 are outstanding.
17 But I'd also like to point out a
18 great school from Brooklyn that's here today,
19 Xaverian High School that is here. And they play
20 on a number of different teams, and it's one of
21 our greatest high schools, parochial schools in
22 the City of New York.
23 But they're here on a different
24 mission today. They're here going on tours
25 throughout this great, great Capitol, and they
2073
1 are the Young Republicans Club at Xaverian High
2 School. And I want to thank them for being
3 committed to their community, to their families,
4 and to this great school, Xaverian High School.
5 Marianne Teta, the teacher up there,
6 I want to thank you for bringing this great,
7 great class to us today, and thank you all for
8 coming out.
9 Please give all of our high schools
10 a round of applause, my colleagues here, for all
11 of the great work that they do, and help them to
12 make sure they achieve their goals.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: We
14 welcome Senator Golden's guests. Congratulations
15 and thanks for being here. We extend the
16 privileges of the house to you.
17 Please, everyone who is exiting the
18 chamber, do so in an orderly manner.
19 I now have to take the vote on
20 Resolution 1469 congratulating the Irondequoit
21 Boys Team. All those in favor signify by saying
22 aye.
23 (Response of "Aye.")
24 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Opposed?
25 (No response.)
2074
1 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
2 resolution is adopted.
3 Senator Funke has indicated the
4 state championship team was here earlier and had
5 an opportunity to visit the Senator in the
6 Capitol. And he is offering the resolution up
7 for cosponsorship. Should you choose to be a
8 cosponsor, please notify the desk.
9 Senator DeFrancisco.
10 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Yes. Can we
11 now take up previously adopted Resolution 513, by
12 Senators Hannon and Flanagan, read the title
13 only, and call on Senator Flanagan and then
14 Senator Hannon to speak.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
16 Secretary will read.
17 But before that, again, I'm going to
18 ask that we have some order in the chamber,
19 please. If you're visiting, we need you to
20 remain silent as you observe. And I'd ask any
21 conversations on the floor to be taken outside
22 the chamber.
23 The Secretary will read.
24 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
25 Resolution Number 513, by Senator Hannon,
2075
1 memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
2 proclaim April 2017 as Organ and Tissue Donor
3 Awareness Month in the State of New York, in
4 conjunction with the observance of National
5 Donate Life Month.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
7 Flanagan.
8 SENATOR FLANAGAN: Thank you,
9 Mr. President.
10 I want to thank you and all the
11 members, and I want to thank Senator Hannon in
12 particular for his advocacy and his tireless
13 efforts in this area.
14 And I am -- as usual, I'm going to
15 be repetitive. I'm going to keep talking about
16 this until we keep doing it better. And we are
17 incrementally doing it better, whether it's
18 budgetary items, financing of programs here in
19 the State of New York, getting programs up and
20 running -- and frankly, most importantly,
21 creating awareness.
22 Now, you all know I have invoked his
23 name before; I'm going to do it again now. I
24 actually probably, just because of the fact that
25 it may be close to worn out, I may have to get a
2076
1 new green bracelet. And I wear this in memory of
2 our good friend and our former colleague Jim
3 Conte. It's hard to believe it's over four years
4 since Jim passed away, but in reality he had a
5 wonderful life -- not without its challenges,
6 obviously, but he had a wonderful life because
7 two people were able to donate kidneys to him.
8 So that is something that we should
9 all be focusing on. And one of the things that I
10 think we can do as members, just starting with
11 our own staff, when we do public awareness. Any
12 community events you're having, whether it's Shed
13 the Meds or recycling, whatever it may be, you
14 can have this type of stuff out there.
15 And as I've always said, you're not
16 going to somebody -- it's not like I'm going to
17 Senator Carlucci and saying, "I need a thousand
18 dollars." You know, "This is going to cost you a
19 thousand dollars." This is something you can do.
20 And I'll just close on this. I hope
21 that we keep making strides. And this is
22 probably the coolest thing you could conceivably
23 do because you can actually save another human
24 being's life.
25 Mr. President, thank you.
2077
1 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Thank
2 you, Senator Flanagan.
3 Senator Hannon.
4 SENATOR HANNON: Thank you. Thank
5 you, Mr. President.
6 One of the things we did in the
7 Health Committee today -- and we will be sending
8 out the same forms to every member of this
9 house -- is a form to sign up for the Organ
10 Donation Registry in the state, which hopefully
11 the state will stop dragging its feet on and have
12 come live very shortly.
13 But that alone will enlarge the
14 number of potential donors that are known and
15 hopefully therefore enlarge the actual number of
16 donations that will take place in this state.
17 And the best place to do that is right here in
18 the State Senate. And we can broaden that to our
19 staffs and to the other house and other members
20 of government.
21 We have done a number of different
22 things and continue to do more under the spur of
23 Senator Flanagan. Today out of the Finance
24 Committee meeting was reported the Living Donor
25 Protection Act of 2017. Another one was in
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1 regard to a potential tax credit for a living
2 donation. And we've done a couple of bills last
3 year to expand the universe of this.
4 But it is the act of a human being
5 to help a fellow human being that is the simplest
6 thing to do, and we should all be doing that.
7 Thank you, Mr. President.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Thank
9 you, Senator Hannon.
10 Senator Carlucci.
11 SENATOR CARLUCCI: Thank you,
12 Mr. President.
13 And I want to thank Senator Hannon
14 and Senator Flanagan for really leading on this
15 issue. To proclaim April as Organ Donation
16 Awareness Month is extremely important because in
17 New York, unfortunately, we lag behind almost
18 every state in the nation when it comes to
19 eligible people participating in the organ donor
20 program.
21 What that means is right now as we
22 sit here, there's over 10,000 men, women and
23 children currently waiting for a lifesaving organ
24 transplant. And we've made some increases in
25 that, some strides. We passed Lauren's Law a few
2079
1 years back, thanks to the members here in the
2 chamber, which increased the amount of people
3 enrolling at the DMV to be an organ donor.
4 Thanks to Senator Hannon's bill, this Valentine's
5 Day was the first time that 16- and 17-year-olds
6 could enroll as an organ donor. This is going to
7 make a big difference.
8 But most importantly is the
9 awareness. You know, we could pass all the laws
10 and have all the incentives, but if we don't make
11 that connection and talk to people about what
12 this really means and get rid of the stigma
13 attached and talk about the truth and what this
14 really means -- at the end of the day, we are
15 going to save people's lives. This is something
16 that we can truly make a difference on, working
17 together. That's why we've got to continue to
18 push this forward.
19 And I enthusiastically support this
20 resolution. And let's talk about it. Let's make
21 sure that people are bringing this up, to be
22 cognizant of the fact that just by signing that
23 document, by being an organ donor, they can save
24 someone's life.
25 Thank you, Mr. President.
2080
1 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
2 Marcellino.
3 SENATOR MARCELLINO: Mr. President,
4 when you go to get your driver's license renewed,
5 you get a form to fill out. On the form is a box
6 that you can check off, and it says you wish to
7 be an organ donor. And they will place a heart
8 on your driver's license, on your New York State
9 driver's license, which will identify you as
10 someone who is willing to donate an organ to help
11 save another life.
12 So I would suggest and recommend,
13 when these things come due, go out, check that
14 box and make sure you get the heart on your
15 driver's license and people will know that you're
16 someone willing to do just that, help preserve
17 and protect another life.
18 Thank you.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Thank
20 you, Senator Marcellino.
21 As indicated, the resolution was
22 adopted on February 7, 2017.
23 Senator DeFrancisco.
24 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Could we now
25 take up previously adopted Resolution 1003, by
2081
1 Senator Little, read the title only, and call on
2 Senator Little.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
4 Secretary will read.
5 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
6 Resolution Number 1003, by Senator Little,
7 memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
8 proclaim March 12 through 18, 2017, as Girl Scout
9 Week in the State of New York.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
11 Little.
12 SENATOR LITTLE: Thank you,
13 Mr. President.
14 Well, it's no longer March; we're
15 now almost into May. But today many of us are
16 being shadowed by young Girl Scouts who are here
17 to find out more about what we do in our
18 legislative sessions and how government in
19 New York State works.
20 The Girl Scouts are a wonderful
21 organization. I know many of the women here have
22 belonged to Girl Scouts, as I did as a youngster.
23 I noticed in our Resolution Calendar we have many
24 young men in scouting receiving the Eagle Award.
25 I also noticed Senator Marcellino has seven young
2082
1 women who are receiving the highest rank in
2 Girl Scouting, the Gold Award.
3 So today as we think about
4 Girl Scouts, we thank all of those leaders and
5 volunteers who take the time to work with young
6 women, because in Girl Scouts they learn so
7 much -- getting badges, attending meetings, but
8 really getting leadership training that they will
9 have in their lifetime. They also learn about
10 community service, perform community service, and
11 that too becomes a part of their future lifetime.
12 They learn about healthy living,
13 history, and as a result of our suffragette year,
14 our 100th anniversary of women getting the right
15 to vote in New York State, they have a new badge
16 that they can receive in learning about the
17 history of the women who fought for and won the
18 right for women to vote.
19 I'm honored to have my young woman
20 with me today, Tamaya Reid {ph}, who is from Troy
21 and attends a charter school in Troy, New York.
22 And I know that many others have others here with
23 them. Tamaya is in eighth grade and is
24 particularly interested in leadership and how she
25 herself can advance to a leadership position as a
2083
1 young woman.
2 So I am very grateful to the
3 Girl Scout organization and to all of those who
4 participate in it.
5 So thank you, Mr. President.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Thank
7 you, Senator Little. We welcome Miss Reid here.
8 And as indicated, this was
9 previously adopted on the Ides of March,
10 March 15, 2017.
11 Senator DeFrancisco.
12 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Yes, can we
13 now take up Senator Akshar's resolution,
14 Number 1529, read the title only, and call on
15 Senator Akshar, please.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
17 Secretary will read.
18 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
19 Resolution Number 1529, by Senator Akshar,
20 honoring Arthur Johnson upon the occasion of his
21 retirement after many years of distinguished
22 service as Broome County Social Services and
23 Mental Health Commissioner.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
25 Akshar.
2084
1 SENATOR AKSHAR: Mr. President,
2 thank you for your indulgence.
3 I'm proud to stand here today to
4 honor a man who has truly exemplified the
5 long-standing Southern Tier tradition of service
6 over self. Mr. Arthur Johnson, the commissioner
7 of social services and mental health, is retiring
8 after 18 years in that particular position.
9 He has had over 40 years of service
10 in the human services field. He is known as both
11 a respected and professional advocate for the
12 mental health community and has been actively
13 involved in numerous leadership positions in many
14 important organizations throughout the Broome
15 County community, like the Broome County Criminal
16 Justice Advisory Board, the Broome County Family
17 Violence Prevention Council, and Broome County's
18 Homeless Coalition, and many more.
19 Throughout his long career, he has
20 had an opportunity to serve as a substance abuse
21 treatment specialist. Mr. Johnson has dedicated
22 his time to helping those who are both suffering
23 and recovering from a substance abuse disorder.
24 And many of you know in this
25 chamber, because we work so hard at it, that
2085
1 substance abuse issues are not only an issue in
2 Broome County but the epidemic is no stranger to
3 all of our districts throughout this great state.
4 And Art has been committed to ensuring our
5 residents in Broome County have access to
6 treatment and the services that they need. And
7 if he hadn't been doing those, I would
8 respectfully offer that we would be in a much
9 worse place than we currently are.
10 So today I simply want to thank Art
11 for his hard work and his dedication to our
12 community and the Southern Tier and wish he and
13 his wife Nancy much happiness in their
14 retirement.
15 Thank you, Mr. President.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Thank
17 you, Senator Akshar.
18 The question is on the resolution.
19 All in favor signify by saying aye.
20 (Response of "Aye.")
21 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Opposed?
22 (No response.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
24 resolution is adopted.
25 Senator Akshar has offered the
2086
1 resolution for cosponsorship. Should you choose
2 to be a cosponsor, please notify the desk.
3 Senator DeFrancisco.
4 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Can you now
5 take up Resolution 1502, by Senator Croci, read
6 the title only, and call on the Senator to speak.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
8 Secretary will read.
9 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
10 Resolution Number 1502, by Senator Croci,
11 commemorating the 100th anniversary of the
12 United States' entrance into World War I on
13 April 2, 2017.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
15 Croci.
16 SENATOR CROCI: Thank you,
17 Mr. President.
18 When you look up into the gallery of
19 the Senate, normally when we honor a group of
20 individuals we look up and we get the opportunity
21 to have them receive that honor and they're
22 seated in our gallery.
23 As you'll notice today, the gallery
24 is empty because the generation of warriors that
25 we are honoring is long since gone. That is our
2087
1 World War I generation.
2 World War I began for the
3 United States, our involvement in the war, on
4 April 2nd of 1917. And we're celebrating this
5 year the 100th anniversary of the United States'
6 entrance into World War I.
7 New York sent over 500,000 young men
8 to war during that period and lost close to
9 14,000 in World War I. Some of the famous
10 New York regiments that fought: The
11 all-African-American 369th Infantry Regiment,
12 known as the "Harlem Hellfighters." That was
13 their nickname. The infamous Lost Battalion was
14 part of the 77th Liberty Division. The famous
15 Fighting Irish Rainbow Division. A lot of
16 storied units that are now legend in our
17 National Guard are part of the great effort that
18 this country entertained in our efforts to defeat
19 Germany in World War I.
20 And one of the greatest lessons is
21 since the American Revolution, New Yorkers
22 continue to send off their sons and daughters to
23 fight in war. World War I was supposed to be
24 "the war to end all wars." Unfortunately, human
25 nature has not evolved past that, Mr. President.
2088
1 But we take a moment to honor a
2 great generation that probably never left their
3 hometown before they went off to Europe to fight
4 the Great War. We honor them today, and their
5 families and their legacies, and that of the
6 state and its participation in this great
7 conflict.
8 Thank you, Mr. President.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Thank
10 you, Senator Croci.
11 The question is on the resolution.
12 All in favor signify by saying aye.
13 (Response of "Aye.")
14 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Opposed?
15 (No response.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
17 resolution is adopted.
18 And Senator Croci has offered the
19 resolution for cosponsorship. Should you choose
20 to be a cosponsor, please notify the desk.
21 Senator DeFrancisco, that completes
22 the resolutions before the desk.
23 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Can we now
24 take up the noncontroversial reading of the
25 calendar.
2089
1 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
2 Secretary will read.
3 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 85,
4 by Senator DeFrancisco, Senate Print 241, an act
5 to amend the --
6 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Lay the bill
7 aside for the day, please.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Lay the
9 bill aside for the day.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 119, by Senator Marcellino, Senate Print 1134A,
12 an act authorizing.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
14 last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
16 act shall take effect immediately.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
18 roll.
19 (The Secretary called the roll.)
20 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
22 is passed.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24 191, by Senator Serino, Senate Print 2167, an act
25 to amend the Family Court Act.
2090
1 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
2 last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 12. This
4 act shall take effect immediately.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
6 roll.
7 (The Secretary called the roll.)
8 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
10 is passed.
11 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
12 229, by Senator Carlucci, Senate Print 1773, an
13 act to amend the Real Property Tax Law.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
15 last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
17 act shall take effect immediately.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
19 roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
22 Carlucci to explain his vote.
23 SENATOR CARLUCCI: Thank you,
24 Mr. President.
25 I want to thank my colleagues for
2091
1 supporting this legislation. This is an effort
2 to really crack down on some unscrupulous
3 landlords to make sure that the codes that are on
4 the books to protect children, protect families,
5 to make sure that the structures in which they're
6 living and which they're visiting are safe and
7 secure.
8 Unfortunately, what we have right
9 now in New York State is a system where you could
10 be an unscrupulous landlord, be in violation of
11 the code, and all you're doing is getting hit
12 with one fine after another, they build up, with
13 no intention to pay.
14 What this legislation does is puts
15 some teeth and gives our municipalities the
16 ability to levy the violation that's on that --
17 against that code violation, and put it on the
18 tax levy, giving them a whole multitude of tools
19 to enforce the code and make sure that everyone
20 is playing by the rules, and also that
21 municipalities can collect the revenue that's
22 rightly due to them.
23 So at the end of the day, this is
24 about making sure there's integrity in the local
25 codes for municipalities around the state, and
2092
1 keeping our families, our children, and anybody
2 in these structures safe.
3 So I enthusiastically support this
4 legislation and want to thank my colleagues for
5 doing the same.
6 Thank you, Mr. President.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
8 Carlucci to be recorded in the affirmative.
9 Announce the results.
10 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
12 is passed.
13 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
14 256, by Senator Griffo, Senate Print 1229, an act
15 to amend the Legislative Law.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
17 last section.
18 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
19 act shall take effect immediately.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
21 roll.
22 (The Secretary called the roll.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Announce
24 the results.
25 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
2093
1 Calendar 256, those recorded in the negative are
2 Senators Alcantara, Díaz, Dilan, Hoylman,
3 Montgomery, Persaud, Rivera, Savino and Squadron.
4 Ayes, 49. Nays, 9.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
6 is passed.
7 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
8 281, by Senator Robach, Senate Print 4304, an act
9 to amend the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
11 last section.
12 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
13 act shall take effect immediately.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
15 roll.
16 (The Secretary called the roll.)
17 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
19 is passed.
20 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
21 282, by Senator Dilan, Senate Print 4399, an act
22 to amend the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
24 last section.
25 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
2094
1 act shall take effect immediately.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
3 roll.
4 (The Secretary called the roll.)
5 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
7 is passed.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 287, by Senator Bonacic, Senate Print 2058, an
10 act to amend the Civil Practice Law and Rules.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
12 last section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
14 act shall take effect immediately.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
16 roll.
17 (The Secretary called the roll.)
18 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
20 is passed.
21 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
22 297, by Senator LaValle, Senate Print 2060, an
23 act to amend the Education Law.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
25 last section.
2095
1 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
2 act shall take effect immediately.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
4 roll.
5 (The Secretary called the roll.)
6 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Announce
7 the results.
8 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
9 Calendar 297, those recorded in the negative are
10 Senators Avella, Comrie, Dilan, Gianaris,
11 Hamilton, Hoylman, Montgomery, Peralta, Persaud,
12 Rivera, Serrano, Squadron and Stavisky. Also
13 Senator Alcantara. Also Senator Díaz.
14 Ayes, 43. Nays, 15.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
16 is passed.
17 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
18 322, by Senator Funke, Senate Print 839, an act
19 to amend the Agriculture and Markets Law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
21 last section.
22 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
23 act shall take effect immediately.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
25 roll.
2096
1 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
4 is passed.
5 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
6 323, by Senator Avella, Senate Print 1509, an act
7 to amend the Agriculture and Markets Law.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
9 last section.
10 SENATOR VALESKY: Lay it aside for
11 the day, please.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Lay the
13 bill aside for the day.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
15 326, by Senator Ritchie, Senate Print 3921, an
16 act to amend the Agriculture and Markets Law.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
18 last section.
19 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
20 act shall take effect immediately.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
22 roll.
23 (The Secretary called the roll.)
24 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
2097
1 is passed.
2 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3 360, by Senator Valesky, Senate Print 4361, an
4 act to amend the General Business Law.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
6 last section.
7 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
8 act shall take effect immediately.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
10 roll.
11 (The Secretary called the roll.)
12 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
14 is passed.
15 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
16 389, by Senator Hannon, Senate Print 4633, an act
17 to amend the Public Health Law.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
19 last section.
20 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
21 act shall take effect on the 90th day.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
23 roll.
24 (The Secretary called the roll.)
25 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
2098
1 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
2 is passed.
3 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
4 398, by Senator Lanza, Senate Print 3310, an act
5 to amend the Tax Law.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
7 last section.
8 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
9 act shall take effect immediately.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
11 roll.
12 (The Secretary called the roll.)
13 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
15 is passed.
16 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
17 418, by Senator Little, Senate Print 5141, an act
18 to amend the Private Housing Finance Law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
20 last section.
21 THE SECRETARY: Section 2.
22 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Lay it aside
23 for the day, please.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Lay it
25 aside for the day.
2099
1 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
2 419, by Senator Marchione, Senate Print 216, an
3 act to amend the Executive Law.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
5 last section.
6 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
7 act shall take effect immediately.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
9 roll.
10 (The Secretary called the roll.)
11 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
13 is passed.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
15 432, by Senator Seward, Senate Print 2095, an act
16 to amend the Insurance Law.
17 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Lay the bill
18 aside for the day, please.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Lay the
20 bill aside for the day.
21 Senator DeFrancisco --
22 (Loud noise.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: -- that
24 completes the noncontroversial reading of today's
25 active-list calendar.
2100
1 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: First of all,
2 is everybody okay at the desk?
3 (Laughter.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Just a
5 little juggling, Senator.
6 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Immediately
7 following session, there will be a Codes
8 Committee meeting in Room 124 of the Capitol.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:
10 Immediately following session today there will be
11 a meeting of the Codes Committee in Room 124 of
12 the Capitol.
13 Senator DeFrancisco.
14 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Is there any
15 further business at the desk?
16 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: There is
17 no further business at the desk, except for the
18 doctor visiting Mr. Chris here.
19 (Laughter.)
20 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: In that case,
21 I move to adjourn until Wednesday, April 26th, at
22 11:00 a.m.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: On
24 motion, the Senate will stand adjourned until
25 Wednesday, April 26th, at 11:00 a.m.
2101
1 Senate is adjourned.
2 (Whereupon, at 3:52 p.m., the Senate
3 adjourned.)
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