Regular Session - June 1, 2023
4780
1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
2
3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
5
6
7
8
9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 June 1, 2023
11 11:27 a.m.
12
13
14 REGULAR SESSION
15
16
17
18 SENATOR SHELLEY B. MAYER, Acting President
19 ALEJANDRA N. PAULINO, ESQ., Secretary
20
21
22
23
24
25
4781
1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The Senate
3 will come to order.
4 I ask everyone present to please
5 rise and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
6 (Whereupon, the assemblage recited
7 the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: In the
9 absence of clergy, let us bow our heads in a
10 moment of silent reflection or prayer.
11 (Whereupon, the assemblage respected
12 a moment of silence.)
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Reading of
14 the Journal.
15 THE SECRETARY: In Senate,
16 Wednesday, May 31, 2023, the Senate met pursuant
17 to adjournment. The Journal of Tuesday, May 30,
18 2023, was read and approved. On motion, the
19 Senate adjourned.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Without
21 objection, the Journal stands approved as read.
22 Presentation of petitions.
23 Messages from the Assembly.
24 The Secretary will read.
25 THE SECRETARY: Senator Rivera
4782
1 moves to discharge, from the Committee on Health,
2 Assembly Bill Number 4332 and substitute it for
3 the identical Senate Bill 2930, Third Reading
4 Calendar 621.
5 Senator Rivera moves to discharge,
6 from the Committee on Health, Assembly Bill
7 Number 2400 and substitute it for the identical
8 Senate Bill 6219, Third Reading Calendar 624.
9 Senator Sanders moves to discharge,
10 from the Committee on Banks, Assembly Bill
11 Number 5519 and substitute it for the identical
12 Senate Bill 5972, Third Reading Calendar 666.
13 Senator Hoylman-Sigal moves to
14 discharge, from the Committee on Finance,
15 Assembly Bill Number 458 and substitute it for
16 the identical Senate Bill 548, Third Reading
17 Calendar 671.
18 Senator Hoylman-Sigal moves to
19 discharge, from the Committee on Investigations
20 and Government Operations, Assembly Bill Number
21 1025 and substitute it for the identical Senate
22 Bill 50, Third Reading Calendar 695.
23 Senator Griffo moves to discharge,
24 from the Committee on Judiciary, Assembly Bill
25 Number 6907 and substitute it for the identical
4783
1 Senate Bill 6591, Third Reading Calendar 797.
2 Senator Griffo moves to discharge,
3 from the Committee on Consumer Protection,
4 Assembly Bill Number 4456 and substitute it for
5 the identical Senate Bill 4617, Third Reading
6 Calendar 999.
7 Senator Harckham moves to discharge,
8 from the Committee on Transportation,
9 Assembly Bill Number 150 and substitute it for
10 the identical Senate Bill 2702, Third Reading
11 Calendar 1006.
12 Senator Palumbo moves to discharge,
13 from the Committee on Rules, Assembly Bill
14 Number 7354 and substitute it for the identical
15 Senate Bill 7072, Third Reading Calendar 1128.
16 Senator Walczyk moves to discharge,
17 from the Committee on Codes, Assembly Bill
18 Number 4994 and substitute it for the identical
19 Senate Bill 4384, Third Reading Calendar 1133.
20 Senator Skoufis moves to discharge,
21 from the Committee on Environmental Conservation,
22 Assembly Bill Number 6107 and substitute it for
23 the identical Senate Bill 2724A, Third Reading
24 Calendar 1139.
25 Senator Lanza moves to discharge,
4784
1 from the Committee on Environmental Conservation,
2 Assembly Bill Number 6569 and substitute it for
3 the identical Senate Bill 4827, Third Reading
4 Calendar 1144.
5 Senator Mannion moves to discharge,
6 from the Committee on Environmental Conservation,
7 Assembly Bill Number 7432 and substitute it for
8 the identical Senate Bill 6946, Third Reading
9 Calendar 1154.
10 Senator Martinez moves to discharge,
11 from the Committee on Environmental Conservation,
12 Assembly Bill Number 7435 and substitute it for
13 the identical Senate Bill 6948, Third Reading
14 Calendar 1156.
15 Senator Fernandez moves to
16 discharge, from the Committee on Environmental
17 Conservation, Assembly Bill Number 7436 and
18 substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 6949,
19 Third Reading Calendar 1157.
20 Senator Mannion moves to discharge,
21 from the Committee on Environmental Conservation,
22 Assembly Bill Number 7439 and substitute it for
23 the identical Senate Bill 6950, Third Reading
24 Calendar 1158.
25 Senator Chu moves to discharge, from
4785
1 the Committee on Environmental Conservation,
2 Assembly Bill Number 7440 and substitute it for
3 the identical Senate Bill 6951, Third Reading
4 Calendar 1159.
5 Senator Chu moves to discharge, from
6 the Committee on Environmental Conservation,
7 Assembly Bill Number 7441 and substitute it for
8 the identical Senate Bill Number 6952, Third
9 Reading Calendar 1160.
10 Senator Webb moves to discharge,
11 from the Committee on Environmental Conservation,
12 Assembly Bill Number 7442 and substitute it for
13 the identical Senate Bill 6953, Third Reading
14 Calendar 1161.
15 Senator Webb moves to discharge,
16 from the Committee on Environmental Conservation,
17 Assembly Bill Number 7443 and substitute it for
18 the identical Senate Bill 6954, Third Reading
19 Calendar 1162.
20 Senator Thomas moves to discharge,
21 from the Committee on Environmental Conservation,
22 Assembly Bill Number 7438 and substitute it for
23 the identical Senate Bill 7056, Third Reading
24 Calendar 1164.
25 Senator Ashby moves to discharge,
4786
1 from the Committee on Libraries, Assembly Bill
2 Number 1313 and substitute it for the identical
3 Senate Bill 4389, Third Reading Calendar 1211.
4 Senator Persaud moves to discharge,
5 from the Committee on Social Services,
6 Assembly Bill Number 7361 and substitute it for
7 the identical Senate Bill 6944, Third Reading
8 Calendar 1219.
9 Senator Hoylman-Sigal moves to
10 discharge, from the Committee on Judiciary,
11 Assembly Bill Number 6587 and substitute it for
12 the identical Senate Bill 6854, Third Reading
13 Calendar 1247.
14 Senator Sanders moves to discharge,
15 from the Committee on Banks, Assembly Bill
16 Number 7172 and substitute it for the identical
17 Senate Bill 6920, Third Reading Calendar 1252.
18 Senator Hoylman-Sigal moves to
19 discharge, from the Committee on Finance,
20 Assembly Bill Number 358 and substitute it for
21 the identical Senate Bill 3225, Third Reading
22 Calendar 1276.
23 Senator Ashby moves to discharge,
24 from the Committee on Finance, Assembly Bill
25 Number 5075 and substitute it for the identical
4787
1 Senate Bill 5539, Third Reading Calendar 1284.
2 Senator Thomas moves to discharge,
3 from the Committee on Consumer Protection,
4 Assembly Bill Number 7401 and substitute it for
5 the identical Senate Bill 7059, Third Reading
6 Calendar 1358.
7 Senator Rivera moves to discharge,
8 from the Committee on Rules, Assembly Bill
9 Number 6029 and substitute it for the identical
10 Senate Bill 2339, Third Reading Calendar 1362.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: So
12 ordered.
13 Messages from the Governor.
14 Reports of standing committees.
15 Reports of select committees.
16 Communications and reports from
17 state officers.
18 Motions and resolutions.
19 Senator Gianaris.
20 SENATOR GIANARIS: Good morning,
21 Madam President.
22 Amendments are offered to the
23 following Third Reading Calendar bills:
24 By Senator Skoufis, page 27,
25 Calendar Number 842, Senate Print 5207A;
4788
1 Senator Stewart-Cousins, page 63,
2 Calendar Number 1408, Senate Print 7026;
3 And Senator Sanders, page 7,
4 Calendar Number 254, Senate Print 1161.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
6 amendments are received, and the bills will
7 retain their place on the Third Reading Calendar.
8 SENATOR GIANARIS: I also wish to
9 call up the following bills, which were recalled
10 from the Assembly and are now at the desk:
11 Senate Print Numbers 599 and 4354.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
13 Secretary will read.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 75,
15 Senate Print 599, by Senator Salazar, an act to
16 amend the Insurance Law.
17 Calendar Number 479, Senate Print
18 4354, by Senator Breslin, an act to amend the
19 Insurance Law.
20 SENATOR GIANARIS: Move to
21 reconsider the vote by which these bills were
22 passed.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
24 roll.
25 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4789
1 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 55.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bills
3 are restored to their place on the Third Reading
4 Calendar.
5 SENATOR GIANARIS: I offer the
6 following amendments.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
8 amendments are received, and the bills will
9 retain their place on the Third Reading Calendar.
10 Senator Gianaris.
11 SENATOR GIANARIS: Please recognize
12 Senator Lanza.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
14 Lanza.
15 SENATOR LANZA: Madam President,
16 amendments are offered to the following Third
17 Reading Calendar bills:
18 Senator Stec, page 29, Calendar
19 Number 876, Senate Print 4876;
20 Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
21 page 37, Calendar Number 1111, Senate Print 6151;
22 Senator Mattera, page 51, Calendar
23 Number 1285, Senate Print 5852.
24 Madam President, I now move that
25 these bills retain their place on the order of
4790
1 third reading.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
3 amendments are received, and the bills will
4 retain their place on the Third Reading Calendar.
5 Senator Gianaris.
6 SENATOR GIANARIS: Madam President,
7 just to inform my colleagues, with a week to go
8 in session and the volume of bills we're taking
9 up increasing, we're going to move to a process
10 where we take up resolutions where we do not have
11 guests present at the end of session, as opposed
12 to at the beginning, so we can clear the
13 legislative business first, with some rare
14 exceptions.
15 That being said, our first
16 resolution with guests here is previously adopted
17 Resolution 1285, by Leader Stewart-Cousins.
18 Please read that resolution's title and recognize
19 Leader Stewart-Cousins.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
21 Secretary will read.
22 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 1285, by
23 Senator Stewart-Cousins, honoring the hard work,
24 dedication, and commitment of the members of the
25 New York State Legislative Messenger Service.
4791
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Majority
2 Leader Stewart-Cousins on the resolution.
3 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: Thank you
4 so much, Madam President.
5 And it is exciting to have the
6 guests here in the chamber to be recognized. Our
7 messenger service has been serving the people of
8 New York State and the legislative colleagues for
9 50 years this year. And --
10 (Applause.)
11 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: It was an
12 innovative program in 1973, and it has become
13 more than just an innovative program. It has
14 really been, for us, the lifeblood of our
15 communications.
16 And the fact that we have so many
17 dedicated employees -- not only are you
18 inspirational to each and every one of us, the
19 way you go through your work, but you're also
20 inspirational to others. When people come in
21 with their groups, when they come in with their
22 high-powered corporations, they recognize that
23 there are people who are working in state
24 government at the highest, highest level of
25 importance who can contribute every single
4792
1 moment. And they go back to their companies and
2 wonder how they can open doors and create
3 opportunities.
4 At our very best, that's what
5 government is about: Removing hurdles, removing
6 obstacles, and giving people a path to show their
7 very best. And you, in this service to us, show
8 your very best every single day.
9 I want to thank your leadership -- I
10 know Kevin Kather, who's the director, and
11 Beth Bonesteel, the assistant director -- for
12 being those guides and making sure that every day
13 for you is not only productive for you, but it is
14 productive for us and it is productive for the
15 entire state.
16 We are honored, and I am so excited.
17 Yesterday was Sneaker Day, and this -- and today,
18 you know, like I said, when you think about
19 sneakers, you think about speed, you think about
20 reliability. And I don't think there's anyone
21 that exemplifies speed, reliability, more than
22 you and our messengers.
23 So I am so happy that many of your
24 family members are here. We are looking forward
25 to celebrating even more after this. There is a
4793
1 reception on the fourth floor, where our message
2 messengers can come with their families, and
3 again, really -- we don't get a chance to
4 appreciate you, because you're running through
5 your jobs and we're running through ours.
6 But we really are honored to be able
7 to take this moment and personally thank you in
8 front of everyone in the state, everyone in
9 government, everyone who does not know how
10 important you are to the workings of this great,
11 great state.
12 The other thing, there are people
13 who I want to point out because you're going to
14 get, all of you, certificates for what you do.
15 Some people have been doing this for over three
16 decades. And so I just want you to stand if
17 you're here.
18 Valerie Zeh, 33 years. Stand up if
19 you -- if you're here.
20 Patrick O'Hara, 36 years. Patrick.
21 (Applause.)
22 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: Kathy
23 O'Brien, 30 years. Hey, Kathy.
24 (Applause.)
25 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: Kimberly
4794
1 Lapp, 35 years.
2 (Applause.)
3 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: Sharon
4 Forkeutis, 33 years.
5 (Applause.)
6 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: Adam
7 Denenberg, 37 years.
8 (Applause.)
9 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: And
10 Michael Cohen, 30 years.
11 (Applause.)
12 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: Thank you
13 for your diligence. Thank you for your hard
14 work. Thank you for being with us so long. You
15 make us all better, and hopefully your service to
16 us makes you proud as well.
17 Congratulations to our messengers.
18 (Sustained standing ovation.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
20 Ortt on the resolution.
21 SENATOR ORTT: Thank you,
22 Madam President.
23 Hard to add much to that. I want to
24 thank my colleague the Majority Leader, Senator
25 Stewart-Cousins, for her comments. I want to
4795
1 thank the Majority for bringing this resolution
2 to the floor.
3 We talk a lot about -- you know, I
4 think about at the end of budget, I think about
5 at the end of session, we always try to give
6 recognition to the staff and to a lot of the
7 people in this place here in the Capitol that
8 make it -- that make it work, that make it what
9 it is. Because I can assure you it is not
10 exclusively, certainly, the 63 members of the
11 Senate or the 150 members of the Assembly. There
12 are a lot of folks who you'll never see on TV --
13 which I'm sure they're fine with -- and there's a
14 lot of folks who do a lot of great work here in
15 the Capitol that make it go, that make it work
16 for the people of New York.
17 And you are in that group of people.
18 And I can promise you the 63 members in this
19 chamber know that. And on behalf of the
20 Republican Conference, I want to thank you not
21 only for the important work that you do, walking
22 miles every day -- really, you think about the
23 amount of -- the amount of -- that they walk
24 across the LOB, the Capitol, back to the LOB,
25 delivering, as the Majority Leader said, very
4796
1 important documents that our offices need to make
2 sure that we're able to do the work that we were
3 elected to do. You are a part of that. And you
4 should never doubt your importance and your
5 significance to making our state government work
6 for the public.
7 But it's also the way you do it.
8 Very often when I see any one of you, you know,
9 I'm probably walking around sometimes maybe with
10 less than a smile on my face. Sometimes.
11 Sometimes. But whenever I see all of you, you've
12 got a smile on your face. How's it going? You
13 know, you extend your hand. You are always --
14 and this is really true -- you were always in a
15 positive mood, because I think you always
16 remember how lucky and privileged you are to be
17 able to be a part of what we do here.
18 And we would all benefit to remember
19 that and emulate your attitude and the positivity
20 that I see all of you have in the hallways as
21 you're -- and everyone knows all of you. You're
22 all sort of secret rock stars. The members know
23 you. I want to thank -- I've got a lot of
24 artwork from Billy in my office --
25 (Applause.)
4797
1 SENATOR ORTT: Some of it I think
2 looks like me.
3 (Laughter.)
4 SENATOR ORTT: But it's a lot of
5 good artwork in my office. And -- and that's
6 just impromptu. He just stops by and does that.
7 And that takes a certain level of selflessness
8 and a thought for others. And I just want to
9 thank you, I want to thank you again for what you
10 do here, but more importantly for how you do it.
11 I can tell you, you've brightened my day a number
12 of times. And obviously there's the important
13 role that you play.
14 So on behalf of not only the
15 State Senate but certainly our conference, we
16 thank you for what you do.
17 Congratulations on 50 years. It is
18 tremendous. And I have no doubt that you'll be
19 here and this program will be here for 50 years
20 more going forward.
21 So thank you very much for
22 everything you guys do. God bless you.
23 Madam President, thank you.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
25 Ortt.
4798
1 (Applause.)
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
3 Comrie on the resolution.
4 SENATOR COMRIE: Thank you, Madam
5 President. I rise just to thank the leader for
6 putting this presentation together, for
7 acknowledging the 50 years of service of the
8 messengers, and to just -- you know, it's been a
9 good week here, I think, in Albany. We've been
10 doing a lot of things that the entire body and
11 the entire state can appreciate, honoring people
12 that have truly put in the work and have truly
13 made a difference in our lives by making sure
14 that our important papers get delivered with a
15 positive spirit and a hello. And, you know, when
16 they're moving around, you can feel their energy,
17 you can feel their exuberance, you can feel that
18 they are focused on trying to do the right job
19 and at the right time with the right attitude.
20 So I just hope that that permeates
21 throughout the chambers in the next week as we
22 try to be positive about the things that we have
23 to do in the next week so we can shut down our
24 legislative agenda for the year.
25 But I also just wanted to thank the
4799
1 messengers for reminding all of us of what we
2 need to be: Focused on making sure that we
3 radiate the positive energy that you guys
4 consistently do as you're moving around. You
5 make my heart warm as you're flying by me all the
6 time, getting to your locations to get to do the
7 things you want to do to make sure that you're
8 representing us in a proper way.
9 And I just wanted to take the honor
10 to -- opportunity and the honor to thank all of
11 you for your consistency, for your efforts. And
12 please continue to make us proud.
13 Thank you very much, Madam
14 President.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you,
16 Senator Comrie.
17 (Applause.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
19 Mannion on the resolution.
20 SENATOR MANNION: Thank you,
21 Madam President.
22 As chair of the Committee on
23 Disabilities, I want to use two words. And one
24 word is "access," and the other word is
25 "success." Can you imagine what it would be like
4800
1 in the Legislative Office Building and other
2 places if this program had never been initiated
3 50 years ago?
4 The access to employment is
5 essential. And we benefit from that access every
6 single day. It shows in the success that we all
7 have and how reliant we are on the messenger
8 service to make sure that we get things done --
9 from an efficiency standpoint, from a commitment
10 standpoint, and from a cultural standpoint.
11 So I thank you for your service to
12 this state, and I thank you for your friendship
13 that I have established with many of you, as a
14 result of our connection in making this state a
15 better place. Thank you.
16 And thank you, Madam President.
17 (Applause.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
19 Bailey on the resolution.
20 SENATOR BAILEY: Thank you,
21 Madam President.
22 I really want to thank the leader
23 for introducing this resolution. It is truly, as
24 Senator Comrie said, another feel-good day in
25 chamber.
4801
1 You are the truly -- not just hidden
2 rock stars, you are the rock stars of this -- you
3 literally permit us to do the jobs that we do
4 every single day.
5 And one of the things that is
6 always -- not just your exuberance and your joy,
7 which is always obvious. You do something that
8 is not only literal but metaphorical. You always
9 stop for us. No matter what you're doing, no
10 matter how much of a hurry you're in, you always
11 stop to say hello. That's something that we
12 don't do enough of in life. We don't stop and
13 observe our surroundings. We don't stop and say
14 hello and good morning.
15 Every single one of you, any time
16 you see any of us, you stop and you say hello.
17 That is something that people outside this
18 chamber have somehow failed to realize that it's
19 a part of what we should be doing, but you have
20 not forgotten. And quite frankly, you remind me
21 of it every day.
22 So I want to say thank you. I want
23 to say thank you to Adam for reminding me that
24 "Wakanda Forever" was coming out. Adam was
25 telling me that "Wakanda Forever" -- he was more
4802
1 hyped than I was.
2 (Laughter.)
3 SENATOR BAILEY: There's a month to
4 go, there's three weeks to go, there's two weeks
5 to go.
6 Any time I need to know what the
7 score of the Met game was last night, Mollie
8 knows it.
9 (Laughter.)
10 SENATOR BAILEY: And I'll leave you
11 with this, that -- you speak of the selflessness;
12 it's something that I said to Mollie once upon a
13 time. I said, Mollie, you do an excellent job.
14 In immediate response: "It's not me, it's my
15 team. It's all of us. All of us work hard."
16 And that's what true leadership is
17 about. You are all incredible leaders in your
18 own right. We are so lucky to have you. We
19 congratulate you.
20 Fifty years of hip-hop and 50 years
21 of messenger services, it's not a coincidence.
22 You both have influenced this state in an amazing
23 way.
24 I vote aye, Madam President.
25 (Laughter; applause.)
4803
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you,
2 Senator Bailey.
3 Senator Tedisco on the resolution.
4 SENATOR TEDISCO: Thank you,
5 Madam President.
6 To Billy, let me say I'm a little
7 bit jealous of Leader Ortt here. I thought you
8 only did artwork for me.
9 (Laughter.)
10 SENATOR TEDISCO: But apparently
11 that's not the case.
12 And Madam President, and to our
13 messengers and our colleagues, I felt I would be
14 remiss if I didn't get up after representing over
15 80 years of those 50 years that you've been
16 involved with this service here.
17 And I appreciate that. And this is
18 a special day for all of us. Because as much as
19 you've been bringing messages to us, we've never,
20 as I can remember -- being in the Assembly and
21 the Senate, for now 41 going on 42 years of those
22 50 years -- ever been able to give a message to
23 you on the floor of the New York State Senate.
24 And I want to give you that message.
25 We thank you. We appreciate you.
4804
1 Your excellence is above and beyond. And I have
2 one special word for all of you. Besides the
3 normalcy which you provide, which Senator Bailey
4 presented to us, when we stop and talk to you --
5 which kind of takes us away from the everyday
6 activities here -- there's one special word that
7 really identifies all of you. And somebody made
8 that famous. I don't even remember the guy that
9 made that famous. But I want to stop speaking
10 right now and say to you: You are marvelous!
11 Congratulations.
12 (Laughter; applause.)
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
14 Scarcella-Spanton on the resolution.
15 SENATOR SCARCELLA-SPANTON: Thank
16 you, Madam Chair.
17 And thank you to our leader for
18 bringing this to the floor today.
19 I just want to say thank you all for
20 the work that you do every single day. Every
21 time I see you, I know that you're coming into my
22 office to make my life easier. And I think I
23 would actually be a mess without all of your
24 help.
25 So I wanted to just say thank you
4805
1 for the hard work and dedication that you do. I
2 know that your families who are here in the
3 gallery today must be so incredibly proud to sit
4 here and see you be honored for the job that you
5 all do so well. And I know Mollie often sees me
6 walking my puppy around outside of the Capitol,
7 so -- I know she always loves that.
8 And Billy, I want some artwork for
9 my office too.
10 (Laughter.)
11 SENATOR SCARCELLA-SPANTON: But
12 thank you so much. Thank you for the work that
13 you do.
14 I proudly vote aye.
15 (Applause.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
17 Sepúlveda on the resolution.
18 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: Thank you,
19 Madam President, for allowing me to add a few
20 words to some of the comments that have been made
21 here by our Leader Stewart-Cousins, Leader Ortt,
22 and my colleagues, so I don't have to duplicate
23 that.
24 But I just want to tell you, from
25 personal experience, that there are many times in
4806
1 this body and many times in our offices, in the
2 hallways, where I am upset about something, I'm
3 feeling down about something, I feel like I'm
4 having a terrible day. And I can't tell you guys
5 how many times when I'm in that mood and I see
6 one of you coming out of the elevator or bringing
7 something to my office or I see you in the
8 hallway, how that big smile that you give me
9 changes the entire trajectory of my day.
10 Over the last 10 and a half years
11 that I've been here, so many times you guys have
12 changed my mindset in a positive way. And I can
13 never repay you for that.
14 But everyone here spoke about the
15 greatness of what you do. Everyone spoke about
16 the program itself. But to every person here,
17 every person that knows all of you, you guys are
18 the most valuable players in the Senate, and I
19 daresay in the Legislature.
20 So thank you so much for the great
21 work that you do. Mollie, thank you for always
22 smiling. Everyone, all of you, thank you for
23 smiling and changing the minds of many of us.
24 Because sometimes we have a rough day and you
25 change that day for us.
4807
1 God bless you all.
2 (Applause.)
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
4 Kennedy on the resolution.
5 SENATOR KENNEDY: Thank you,
6 Madam President.
7 First I want to thank our Majority
8 Leader Stewart-Cousins again for making this day
9 such a special day. And, you know, 50 years is
10 an amazing time. And the fact that so many of
11 you have been doing your work on a daily basis,
12 serving our great state, working with us to make
13 government happen here in New York, is a true
14 testament to your character, who you are, and how
15 you treat your job each and every day.
16 You know, to hear 30 years here and
17 30 years there and another 30 years -- I know
18 Adam was mentioned. You know what I love about
19 Adam? Every time I see him, he says "Go, Bills!"
20 (Laughter.)
21 SENATOR KENNEDY: So it reminds me
22 I'm not the only Buffalo Bills fan around here.
23 You know, and Senator Ortt mentioned
24 the fact that he has all these special tributes
25 from Billy. Well, I was kind of disappointed
4808
1 because I thought I was the only one, Billy.
2 (Laughter.)
3 SENATOR KENNEDY: I thought I was
4 your guy. But, you know, I think we're all your
5 guy and gals. You work so hard each and every
6 day to help make us look good. And we appreciate
7 you, and we thank you for everything that you do
8 for us, for our teams, to help make government
9 operate here in the great State of New York. We
10 couldn't do what we do without you. And we owe
11 you all a great tribute today, but a debt of
12 gratitude each and every day.
13 Thank you so much.
14 (Applause.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
16 Stavisky on the resolution.
17 SENATOR STAVISKY: Thank you,
18 Madam President.
19 I'm not going to repeat what has
20 been said, but if my memory is correct, the
21 Legislative Messenger Service when it began was a
22 result of the service of a State Senator on the
23 other side of the aisle. His name was Senator
24 Conklin, and he was from Brooklyn, if my memory
25 was correct. And it was his dedication that I
4809
1 believe led to the creation of the Legislative
2 Messenger Service.
3 Secondly, I want to pay tribute to
4 the parents in the gallery. I understand that
5 Michael Cohen and his mother have done a book.
6 And it's the parents that I think work together
7 with their children and with the Legislature, and
8 we are grateful to the parents also.
9 Thank you, Madam President.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you,
11 Senator Stavisky.
12 (Applause.)
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
14 Hoylman-Sigal on the resolution.
15 SENATOR HOYLMAN-SIGAL: Thank you,
16 Madam President.
17 There's so much love and mutual
18 respect in this room right now. I want to thank
19 the leader for bringing this resolution to the
20 floor, and of course to this amazing team and
21 their family.
22 It reminds me in my Senate district
23 there's an enormous building with Roman
24 colonnades, with an inscription at the top. It's
25 a former post office, but I think the motto
4810
1 applies to you here today. It says "Neither snow
2 nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these
3 couriers from the swift completion of their
4 appointed rounds." I think that applies to you.
5 My heartfelt thanks. I vote aye.
6 (Applause.)
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you.
8 To our guests from the Legislative
9 Messenger Service and their families, we welcome
10 you on behalf of the Senate. We extend to you
11 the privileges and courtesies of the house.
12 Please rise and be recognized.
13 (Enthusiastic standing ovation.)
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
15 resolution was previously adopted on May 31st.
16 Senator Gianaris.
17 SENATOR GIANARIS: Can we now take
18 up together previously adopted Resolutions 1162
19 and 1194, both by Senator May, read their titles,
20 and recognize Senator May.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
22 Secretary will read.
23 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 1162, by
24 Senator May, commemorating the 175th Anniversary
25 of the Syracuse City School District, to be
4811
1 celebrated on May 8, 2023.
2 Resolution 1194, by Senator May,
3 commemorating the 175th Anniversary of the
4 City of Syracuse, New York.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
6 May on the resolutions.
7 SENATOR MAY: Thank you,
8 Madam President.
9 Syracuse and its school district
10 recently turned 175 years old. And though
11 they're getting up there in years, I've got to
12 say the future looks bright.
13 Back in 2000 I chose to move to
14 Syracuse because I believed it would be a great
15 place to live, work and especially to raise my
16 daughter.
17 With an abundance of natural beauty,
18 a strong sense of community, world-class
19 institutions like Syracuse University, SUNY
20 College of Environmental Science and Forestry,
21 and Upstate Medical University, a thriving arts
22 and culture scene and increasingly a foody scene,
23 I am glad to report that I made the absolutely
24 correct choice to call Syracuse home.
25 First, a happy 175th birthday to our
4812
1 school district. One of the Big 5 school
2 districts in the state, SCSD serves almost 19,000
3 students daily, with students from more than
4 60 countries who speak almost 90 languages.
5 My daughter attended Ed Smith and
6 graduated from Nottingham High School, and I
7 could not be more proud to be the parent of a
8 Syracuse City School District alum.
9 The former superintendent, Jaime
10 Alicea, set the district up for a new generation
11 of successes, and now his successor, Anthony
12 Davis, is putting all his energy into ensuring
13 that we continue that history. Both Jamie and
14 Tony started their careers in the schools at
15 Syracuse City School District and worked their
16 way up to become truly remarkable leaders. I am
17 glad to be their partner here in Albany and
18 congratulate the district on 175 years of
19 important service to our community.
20 Turning to the City of Syracuse, it
21 has a powerful history and a great future as
22 well. It was on the shores of Onondaga Lake
23 centuries ago that the Peacemaker came from the
24 north and brought the first five Nations of the
25 Haudenosaunee together to create the Great Law of
4813
1 Peace, setting the stage for one of
2 North America's great Native civilizations that
3 endures to this day and that shaped our own
4 democracy.
5 Obviously much has changed since
6 that time. But knowing that history and the
7 legacy of the original inhabitants of the land
8 should and does inspire us to do our very best as
9 a city.
10 We have been a location that -- a
11 central location for the fight for abolition, for
12 women's equality, for civil rights, for clean air
13 and water, a welcoming home for new Americans
14 from many backgrounds. All of that is a
15 testament to our -- the legacy that we inherit
16 from the original dwellers in the land where
17 Syracuse now is.
18 The City of Syracuse that grew up on
19 the shores of Onondaga Lake is known as the Salt
20 City because of its natural environment and the
21 industries that grew up around it. The salt
22 springs that were on the shore of Onondaga Lake
23 brought settlers from Europe who saw a lot of
24 potential for making money there. It was a very
25 lucrative industry, producing salt, and in fact
4814
1 the tax on the salt that was produced in Syracuse
2 is what paid for a lot of the Erie Canal to be
3 built across the state. And it was -- to bring
4 the salt from Syracuse to New York City was one
5 of the major motivations to build the Erie Canal
6 in the first place.
7 Once the salt industry kind of --
8 well, the salt dried up, a lot of the salt dried
9 up. But also there were other places in the
10 country that were producing salt, so Syracuse
11 turned more to industry and became a major
12 industrial center in the country.
13 And then in the mid-20th century we
14 turned to the eds-and-meds economy, a mixture of
15 great educational institutions and hospitals.
16 And now we're turning back to
17 becoming more of a manufacturing center with
18 Micron and other industries really setting their
19 sights on central New York.
20 With all of these investments,
21 Syracuse is surging -- and not just economically,
22 but in many ways. As we prepare to tear down the
23 I-81 viaduct that has rended our city into
24 pieces, we want to knit the city back together
25 and really restore the sense of unity in our city
4815
1 that was destroyed by that project 50 years ago.
2 With the leadership of former
3 Mayor Stephanie Miner and current Mayor Ben
4 Walsh, and a new generation of leaders that
5 represent the thriving diversity of Syracuse's
6 growing community, we are investing in new
7 opportunities.
8 The new Central Tech STEAM school,
9 which we as a body helped to fund, will soon come
10 online. Local businesses, like JMA Wireless and
11 TCGplayer -- shout out to the CWA members who are
12 organizing the first union shop in the
13 eBay empire here in our city. So many other
14 institutions that are really bringing our city to
15 be a world leader in the 21st century.
16 I could go on and on, but I will
17 wrap up with this thought. Mayor Walsh has long
18 talked about his goal for Syracuse to be a
19 growing city that embraces diversity and creates
20 opportunity for all. We are making strides in
21 that direction. There is still a lot to be done.
22 There is still too much poverty, too much hunger,
23 not enough quality affordable housing, among
24 other challenges.
25 But for what feels like the first
4816
1 time in many years, all the elements are in place
2 to make good on the vision that I share with
3 Mayor Walsh -- nurturing growth, embracing
4 diversity, and setting up opportunity for each
5 and every person calling Syracuse home.
6 I am honored to be a Syracuse
7 resident and honored to vote aye on this
8 resolution. Thank you.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you,
10 Senator May.
11 The resolutions were previously
12 adopted on May 31st.
13 Senator Gianaris.
14 SENATOR GIANARIS: Madam President,
15 at this time please recognize Senator Bailey for
16 an introduction.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
18 Bailey for an introduction.
19 SENATOR BAILEY: Thank you,
20 Madam President.
21 I wanted to make a brief
22 introduction. You know, this is June and we're
23 starting off Black Music Month. And it's also,
24 as I mentioned probably 3,000 times, the
25 50th anniversary of hip-hop. And we have some
4817
1 folks from Universal Music Group who are here
2 today to celebrate how they've been able to
3 contribute to the 50 years of hip-hop, and also
4 just the state of music in New York, specifically
5 Def Jam. Def Jam was one of those record labels
6 that really help to give a sound to what hip-hop
7 was -- LL and some things that -- maybe we can
8 say that next week when Senator Comrie and I have
9 a robust discussion about where hip-hop started.
10 It's the Bronx, just to let everybody know.
11 (Laughter.)
12 SENATOR BAILEY: But I want to
13 recognize by name Charles Wadelington, the senior
14 manager of public policy and government
15 relations. He works closely with Universal's
16 Task Force for Meaningful Change that works to
17 support marginalized communities in their ongoing
18 fight for equality, justice and inclusion -- all
19 the way from D.C.
20 And Alexandra Williams, the public
21 affairs lead who works specifically with a
22 particular focus on Latin America and to figure
23 out how to make Universal a more global public
24 policy, joining us from New York City.
25 I thank you for coming.
4818
1 And Madam President, if you could
2 extend to them the privileges and courtesies of
3 the house. Thank you.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Thank you,
5 Senator Bailey.
6 To our guests, we welcome you on
7 behalf of the Senate. We extend to you the
8 privileges and courtesies of the house.
9 Please rise and be recognized.
10 (Standing ovation.)
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
12 Gianaris.
13 SENATOR GIANARIS: And now
14 recognize Senator Sepúlveda for another
15 introduction.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
17 Sepúlveda for an introduction.
18 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: Thank you,
19 Madam President, for allowing me to make this
20 introduction.
21 So today we are honored having a
22 delegation from the Gauteng Province in
23 South Africa. They came to join us today to have
24 a discussion about exchanges of ideas about
25 government. Professor Kevin Parker gave them a
4819
1 lecture on our budgets, on our legislative
2 process, on our oversight process. And we're
3 going to continue those discussions.
4 I want to thank my colleagues who
5 joined us today. And I want to mention the
6 delegation of individuals that are here with us
7 this morning, and I hope I don't mess up anyone's
8 name.
9 But the leader of the delegation is
10 Mr. Bonginkosi Wesley Dhlamini. We also have
11 Members of Parliament: Mr. Lesego Makhubela.
12 Another Member of Parliament, Ms. Fasiha Hassan.
13 Another Member of Parliament is Mr. William
14 Mathafeng Matsheke. Ms. Dolly Caroline Ledwaba.
15 Mr. Solly Tshepiso Msimanga. Mr. Alan Joseph
16 Fuchs. He made sure I pronounced that
17 properly --
18 (Laughter.)
19 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: -- explained
20 the difference in letter pronunciation in
21 South Africa and here.
22 (Laughter.)
23 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: Mr. Anton De
24 Waal Alberts, also a member of Parliament.
25 Mr. Dulton Adams, member of Parliament.
4820
1 Ms. Nothile Gracious Dlamini; she is
2 the senior committee researcher. Ms. Neo Sharon
3 Montisi, the senior committee coordinator. And
4 Mr. Mzwanele Langa, who is the consul political
5 and charge d'affaires of the Consulate General of
6 South Africa.
7 Please help me in welcoming them to
8 our body here today.
9 I want to thank you for being here.
10 And I hope this is just the beginning of a long
11 relationship where we can continue to learn from
12 your government and you can continue to learn
13 from ours.
14 Thank you.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: To our
16 distinguished guests from South Africa, we
17 welcome you on behalf of the Senate. We extend
18 to you the privileges and courtesies of the
19 house.
20 Please rise and be recognized.
21 (Standing ovation.)
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
23 Gianaris.
24 SENATOR GIANARIS: Madam President,
25 Leader Stewart-Cousins and Senator May would like
4821
1 to open up the resolutions we took up for
2 cosponsorship.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
4 resolutions are open for cosponsorship. Should
5 anyone choose not to cosponsor, please notify the
6 desk.
7 SENATOR GIANARIS: Madam President,
8 at this time we're going to simultaneously have a
9 meeting of the Rules Committee in Room 332 and
10 take up the calendar.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: There will
12 be an immediate meeting of the Rules Committee in
13 Room 332.
14 The Secretary will read.
15 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
16 124, Senate Print 1137, by Senator Sanders, an
17 act to amend the Banking Law.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
19 last section.
20 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
21 act shall take effect immediately.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
23 roll.
24 (The Secretary called the roll.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
4822
1 the results.
2 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
4 is passed.
5 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
6 176, Senate Print 1087, by Senator Comrie, an act
7 to amend the Public Authorities Law and the
8 Economic Development Law.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
10 last section.
11 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
12 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
13 shall have become a law.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
15 roll.
16 (The Secretary called the roll.)
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
18 the results.
19 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
21 is passed.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23 331, Senate Print 993A, by Senator Hoylman-Sigal,
24 an act to amend the Mental Hygiene Law.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
4823
1 last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
3 act shall take effect on the 30th day after it
4 shall have become a law.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
6 roll.
7 (The Secretary called the roll.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
9 the results.
10 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
11 Calendar 331, those Senators voting in the
12 negative are Senators Borrello,
13 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Griffo, Helming, Lanza,
14 Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Rhoads
15 and Weber.
16 Ayes, 46. Nays, 12.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
18 is passed.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
20 337, Senate Print 2472, by Senator Cleare, an act
21 to amend the Public Health Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
25 act shall take effect one year after it shall
4824
1 have become a law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
3 roll.
4 (The Secretary called the roll.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
6 the results.
7 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 342, Senate Print 2284, by Senator Cleare, an act
12 to amend the General Business Law.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
14 last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
16 act shall take effect immediately.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
18 roll.
19 (The Secretary called the roll.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
21 Cleare to explain her vote.
22 SENATOR CLEARE: Thank you. Good
23 morning, Madam President.
24 In 2021, the most recent year for
25 which complete data is available, 48,830 people
4825
1 died from gun-related injuries in the United
2 States, according to the CDC. Access to firearms
3 through undocumented attainment allows for the
4 surfacing of unidentified and untraceable
5 firearms which contribute to the epidemic of
6 violence in our communities.
7 And while the state may keep
8 statistics on the volume of production of milk or
9 the deaths of small ponds, we have no idea
10 exactly how many firearms are sold and/or
11 distributed in our state.
12 Therefore, this legislation requires
13 the monitoring of manufacturers and keeping
14 records of their firearms sales by the Division
15 of Criminal Justice Services.
16 Firearms are inherently dangerous
17 weapons, and knowing how many are being sold in
18 our state should be baseline common knowledge.
19 Moreover, the recording and supervision of
20 firearm manufacturing sales will at least give us
21 a picture of where guns that are used illegally
22 originate from and how they may change hands.
23 Through this legislation, the
24 Division of Criminal Justice Services will have
25 more resources in order to determine a whole host
4826
1 of important considerations with respect to
2 firearms in our state. I proudly vote aye and
3 encourage my colleagues to do the same.
4 Thank you.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
6 Cleare to be recorded in the affirmative.
7 Announce the results.
8 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
9 Calendar 342, those Senators voting in the
10 negative are Senators Borrello,
11 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming,
12 Lanza, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
13 Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk
14 and Weber.
15 Ayes, 40. Nays, 18.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
17 is passed.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
19 389, Senate Print 3531A, by Senator Skoufis, an
20 act to amend the Executive Law and the
21 Energy Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
25 act shall take effect immediately.
4827
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
2 roll.
3 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The
5 Secretary will announce the results.
6 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
7 Calendar Number 389, those Senators voting in the
8 negative are Senators Borrello,
9 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Griffo, Helming, Mattera,
10 Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads,
11 Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk and Weber.
12 Ayes, 42. Nays, 16.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
14 is passed.
15 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
16 407, Senate Print 1646, by Senator Hoylman-Sigal,
17 an act to amend the Civil Practice Law and Rules.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
19 last section.
20 THE SECRETARY: Section 6. This
21 act shall take effect on the 60th day after it
22 shall have become a law.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
24 roll.
25 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4828
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
2 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick to explain her vote.
3 SENATOR CANZONERI-FITZPATRICK:
4 Thank you, Madam President.
5 As many people here may know, I am
6 an attorney and very proud of what I've
7 accomplished, and I'm very proud to be an
8 attorney that is put in a position of trust when
9 people are in the most vulnerable positions.
10 While I understand that there may be
11 a goal to have fairness, I do believe that
12 character is a critical prerequisite to the
13 practice of law. If a person has something that
14 they've had in their past that they need to
15 explain to the character committee, it's in my
16 opinion an opportunity for them to explain that
17 this experience has allowed them to build
18 character and reflect on their past conduct that
19 may now be something that they would never choose
20 to do at this point.
21 I do think that the letter that we
22 have received from all of the judges of the
23 various Appellate Divisions as well as the Acting
24 Chief Judge that says that we are putting the
25 public in jeopardy to pass this law -- I take
4829
1 that with a lot of weight, because they are
2 dealing with so many attorneys in the practice of
3 law.
4 So for that reason, I will be voting
5 no, and I urge my colleagues to do so also.
6 Thank you.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
8 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick to be recorded in the
9 negative.
10 Announce the results.
11 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
12 Calendar 407, those Senators voting in the
13 negative are Senators Borrello,
14 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming,
15 Lanza, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
16 Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Skoufis, Stec, Tedisco,
17 Walczyk and Weber.
18 Ayes, 39. Nays, 19.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
20 is passed.
21 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
22 476, Senate Print 1471, by Senator Breslin, an
23 act to amend the Insurance Law and the
24 Vehicle and Traffic Law.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
4830
1 last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 9. This
3 act shall take effect on the 270th day after it
4 shall have become a law.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
6 roll.
7 (The Secretary called the roll.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
9 the results.
10 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
12 is passed.
13 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
14 621, Assembly Bill Number 4332, by
15 Assemblymember Gunther, an act to amend the
16 Public Health Law.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
18 last section.
19 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
20 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
21 shall have become a law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
23 roll.
24 (The Secretary called the roll.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
4831
1 the results.
2 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
3 Calendar Number 621, voting in the negative:
4 Senator Mannion.
5 Ayes, 57. Nays, 1.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
7 is passed.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 624, Assembly Print Number 2400, by
10 Assemblymember Paulin, an act to amend the
11 Public Health Law.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
13 last section.
14 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
15 act shall take effect immediately.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
17 roll.
18 (The Secretary called the roll.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
20 the results.
21 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
23 is passed.
24 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
25 630, Senate Print Number 3234A, by
4832
1 Senator Hoylman-Sigal, an act to amend the
2 Insurance Law.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
4 last section.
5 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
6 act shall take effect on the first of January.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
8 roll.
9 (The Secretary called the roll.)
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
11 the results.
12 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
13 Calendar Number 630, those Senators voting in the
14 negative are Senators Borrello, Lanza, Oberacker,
15 O'Mara, Ortt and Stec.
16 Ayes, 52. Nays, 6.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
18 is passed.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
20 655, Senate Print 5640, by Senator Ramos, an act
21 to amend the Labor Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
25 act shall take effect immediately.
4833
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
2 roll.
3 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
5 the results.
6 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
8 is passed.
9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
10 657, Senate Print 157, by Senator Krueger, an act
11 to amend the General Business Law.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
13 last section.
14 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
15 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
16 shall have become a law.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
18 roll.
19 (The Secretary called the roll.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
21 Chu to explain her vote.
22 SENATOR CHU: Thank you,
23 Madam President, for giving me this opportunity
24 to explain how important it is to support this
25 legislation.
4834
1 And I would like to thank my
2 colleague Senator Krueger for bringing this to
3 all our attention because in 2021, just in
4 New York City, we had over a hundred fire cases
5 started related to this, battery related, caused
6 by e-bikes or e-scooters. And just by 2022, the
7 number doubled to over 200 cases.
8 In Southern Brooklyn, where I
9 represent the community, just last year, within
10 12 months, I saw four cases, fire cases, related
11 to this caused by e-bikes, e-scooters,
12 lithium-ion battery issues. And it's really
13 important for us, for especially like immigrant
14 communities, working families, because many of
15 them who utilize this battery for delivery or to
16 provide for your family as transportation.
17 And one of the cases in my district
18 last year, one fire caused -- over 140 families
19 got displaced simply because of those batteries.
20 So I really would like to emphasize
21 how important this legislation is, because this
22 legislation is one right step and also one of the
23 first steps we have to take to ensure our
24 community and our family can be safe and feel
25 safer, instead of feeling you're living next to
4835
1 an unstable ticking bomb. So I really would like
2 to emphasize this.
3 For all these reasons, I vote aye,
4 and hopefully all my colleagues in the chamber
5 can support it.
6 Thank you.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
8 Chu to be recorded in the affirmative.
9 Senator Krueger to explain her vote.
10 SENATOR KRUEGER: Thank you,
11 Madam President.
12 I so appreciate my colleague
13 speaking on behalf of my bill.
14 I just wanted also to rise to
15 explain this is a crucial health and safety
16 issue. There are absolutely, as Senator Chu just
17 pointed out, fires going on all over the City of
18 New York that we know are caused by the illegal
19 use of these secondary-market reused batteries.
20 Once they start to burn, because
21 they're usually packaged in groups for purposes
22 on e-bikes and other small vehicles, they start
23 to burn so hot and so fast that the fire
24 department can't even put out these fires in
25 time. And people have been dying, have suffered
4836
1 horrendous burns, spreading throughout
2 multifamily dwellings, private houses.
3 And the fact is we have to establish
4 new regulations to deal with the new world we are
5 living in with lithium-ion batteries being used
6 for so many purposes.
7 I do want to, for intents of the
8 Legislature, go on the record that it is not the
9 intent of this bill to put these same
10 requirements on larger industrial uses. I even
11 understand there are forklifts that now are using
12 batteries. And of course we know there are cars
13 that use batteries.
14 Of course we must have safety
15 standards for them as well, and I suspect there
16 will be other bills in the future to address the
17 continuing growth in battery-powered products
18 that are good for our environment and overall
19 good for us.
20 But this was specifically targeted
21 to the smaller products, the e-bikes and
22 electric-moped-type products that are wreaking
23 havoc in the City of New York at this point in
24 time.
25 So I also urge a vote yes by
4837
1 everyone. Thank you.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
3 Krueger to be recorded in the affirmative.
4 Senator Ramos to explain her vote.
5 SENATOR RAMOS: Thank you,
6 Madam President.
7 I'm so happy to be voting for this
8 legislation today, and I want to commend and
9 thank Senator Krueger for her crucial initiative
10 in addressing all of the fires that truly have
11 devastated so many families across New York.
12 And I wanted to add some context to
13 the plight of the deliveristas who often are the
14 ones who incur all of the overhead of the work
15 that they have to do. They buy the bike, they
16 have to even buy the thermal bags that carry our
17 food in order, you know, to -- for it to travel
18 as best as possible.
19 The big companies like Grubhub,
20 Door Dash, Uber Eats and the like, actually do
21 not cover any of that overhead for them, and it
22 had pushed them then to look to second-use ion
23 batteries as a way to save money. And quite
24 frankly, it needed to be banned because
25 lithium-ion batteries -- second-use lithium-ion
4838
1 batteries have been banned in nearly every other
2 electronic. And it just didn't make sense that
3 we hadn't done so for e-bikes as well.
4 So right now as the deliveristas in
5 New York City are actually fighting for a decent
6 living wage and then the New York City mayor can
7 take action on that today, we hope that this will
8 at least provide families with solace and with
9 the peace of mind that we all deserve.
10 Thank you.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
12 Ramos to be recorded in the affirmative.
13 Announce the results.
14 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
16 is passed.
17 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
18 663, Senate Print 5823C, by Senator Mayer, an act
19 to amend the General Business Law.
20 SENATOR PALUMBO: Lay it aside.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
22 is laid aside.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24 666, Assembly Print Number 5519, by
25 Assemblymember Hunter, an act to amend the
4839
1 Banking Law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
3 last section.
4 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
5 act shall take effect immediately.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
7 roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
10 the results.
11 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
12 Calendar Number 666, those Senators voting in the
13 negative are Senators Borrello,
14 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming,
15 Lanza, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
16 Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk
17 and Weber.
18 Ayes, 40. Nays, 18.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
20 is passed.
21 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
22 671, Assembly Print Number 458, by
23 Assemblymember Epstein, an act to amend the
24 Real Property Law.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
4840
1 last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
3 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
4 shall have become a law.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
6 roll.
7 (The Secretary called the roll.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
9 the results.
10 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
11 Calendar Number 671, voting in the negative:
12 Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick.
13 Ayes, 57. Nays, 1.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
15 is passed.
16 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
17 691, Senate Print 1672, by Senator Addabbo, an
18 act to amend the Highway Law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
20 last section.
21 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
22 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
23 shall have become a law.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
25 roll.
4841
1 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
3 the results.
4 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
6 is passed.
7 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
8 695, Assembly Print Number 1025, by
9 Assemblymember Bichotte Hermelyn, an act to amend
10 the Public Buildings Law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
12 last section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
14 act shall take effect immediately.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
16 roll.
17 (The Secretary called the roll.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
19 the results.
20 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
21 Calendar Number 695, those Senators voting in the
22 negative are Senators Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
23 Helming, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara,
24 Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Tedisco, Walczyk
25 and Weber.
4842
1 Ayes, 45. Nays, 13.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 726, Senate Print 3133, by Senator Mannion, an
6 act to amend the Highway Law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
8 last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
10 act shall take effect immediately.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
12 roll.
13 (The Secretary called the roll.)
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
15 Borrello to explain his vote.
16 SENATOR BORRELLO: Thank you,
17 Madam President.
18 First of all, I want to thank
19 Senator Mannion for bringing this forward.
20 You know, we talk a lot about what
21 we can do to expand broadband access,
22 particularly in our rural areas. But
23 unfortunately, still one of the biggest barriers
24 to the expansion of broadband, despite the
25 state's efforts to provide funding, is
4843
1 bureaucracy and other hurdles.
2 One of the biggest ones -- and the
3 most egregious, in my opinion -- was the fact
4 that the Department of Transportation requires
5 the resurveying of utility poles when you are
6 simply adding fiber optic cable to them. Now,
7 I'm not an expert on utility poles, but I'm
8 pretty sure they don't get up and move around.
9 So this is really ridiculous, it's
10 expensive, and it delays the expansion of
11 broadband.
12 So this bill in part does address
13 that, as well as other things like ensuring that
14 those out there that are trying to expand
15 broadband access realize that there are grants
16 available, that there is indeed state funding and
17 we're not just talking about it.
18 So again, thank you to
19 Senator Mannion for that, and I proudly vote aye.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
21 Borrello to be recorded in the affirmative.
22 Announce the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
25 is passed.
4844
1 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
2 728, Senate Print 4273, by Senator Lanza, an act
3 to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
5 last section.
6 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
7 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
8 shall have become a law.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
10 roll.
11 (The Secretary called the roll.)
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
13 the results.
14 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
16 is passed.
17 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
18 744, Assembly Print Number 3057, by
19 Assemblymember Cruz, an act to amend the
20 Criminal Procedure Law.
21 SENATOR LANZA: Lay it aside.
22 SENATOR GIANARIS: Lay it aside for
23 the day.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
25 is laid aside for the day.
4845
1 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
2 761, Senate Print 2164A, by Senator Liu, an act
3 to amend the Legislative Law.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
5 last section.
6 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
7 act shall take effect immediately.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
9 roll.
10 (The Secretary called the roll.)
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
12 the results.
13 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
14 Calendar Number 761, voting in the negative:
15 Senators Lanza and O'Mara.
16 Ayes, 56. Nays, 2.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
18 is passed.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
20 765, Senate Print 291, by Senator Tedisco, an act
21 to amend the Legislative Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
25 act shall take effect immediately.
4846
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
2 roll.
3 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
5 Tedisco to explain his vote.
6 SENATOR TEDISCO: Thank you,
7 Madam President.
8 Madam President and my colleagues,
9 I'm honored to have been able to author this
10 particular piece of legislation and see it come
11 in a bipartisan way to the floor, and I thank you
12 all very much for your support of it.
13 I think it was Winston Churchill who
14 once said our representative democracy is the
15 worst form of government in all the world --
16 except for all the rest. And I think he was
17 absolutely right about that.
18 What I don't know if he said or not,
19 but I know is a truism, we're the greatest nation
20 in the world also. And we're the greatest nation
21 in the world for one overriding reason: We've
22 got a great Constitution. It's an unbelievable
23 document. We had some wonderful founding
24 fathers. We make it better over years. And this
25 document chronicles everything we were born into
4847
1 this world with, all our freedoms and all our
2 liberties. No man, no woman has given us the
3 freedoms incorporated in this.
4 But we're the greatest nation in the
5 world because of our veterans, because of the
6 best, the brightest, the most courageous and
7 compassionate fighting force in the world, the
8 men and women of the armed forces. Why? Because
9 every human being in every other nation in the
10 world has these same freedoms and liberties.
11 Because of them, we get to live these freedoms
12 and liberties at the highest level of any group
13 of people in any nation in any part of our world.
14 Recently, on Memorial Day, we
15 honored those people who gave the last measure on
16 Memorial Day. But every single one of our
17 veterans, when they sign up, understand they're
18 willing to give up everything they hold dear for
19 us, so we as individuals can have everything we
20 hold dear for ourselves and our families.
21 If anybody should be seeing the
22 representative democracy -- sometimes they call
23 it the way the sausage is made, the good, the bad
24 the ugly of their government, which they were
25 willing to die for -- it should be our veterans.
4848
1 This bill will provide them the same
2 opportunity as those outstanding interns we've
3 had over the years. And I've had some great
4 interns. I think we should have a day where we
5 honor our interns here on this floor, because
6 they do an unbelievable job for us. I've
7 hired -- and probably you have also -- hired
8 several of our college interns. It's a great
9 program, unbelievable program. And they provide
10 us great service.
11 But there's one group that
12 overridingly, if we can get them into this
13 building and see what they're putting their lives
14 on the line for -- in many instances, giving up
15 their lives for. And it's this nation, it's this
16 representative democracy. It's the great
17 greatest nation in the world.
18 I hired my last intern, and he's
19 been with me for seven years. His name is Alex
20 Blizinski. Fantastic worker. Loves this
21 country, loves working in the Legislature. And I
22 bet you have many of your interns which you feel
23 the same way about.
24 Why is this important? Number one,
25 everybody, all our constituents, should be in
4849
1 this room watching what we do in here when they
2 have the time. Unfortunately, they're very busy.
3 But certainly those who make this type of
4 government possible should have the opportunity
5 to see the inner workings.
6 But secondly, they come back from
7 their service in many instances, putting their
8 lives on the line -- they haven't been in the
9 workforce, they haven't got any income coming.
10 We provide a stipend for our interns. We provide
11 a stipend for these VIP, very important persons,
12 our veterans.
13 And thirdly, we give them something
14 to put on their resume. And I think it would be
15 a positive, I hope it would be a positive.
16 But maybe lastly, and most
17 importantly, they can help exemplify to us and
18 the college interns they work with the work
19 ethic, the loyalty, the honor, the love of
20 country and patriotism, and the tremendous
21 asset that they were not only there for us as
22 soldiers, and now as veterans, but as workers for
23 us in here.
24 So, Madam President, I appreciate
25 the opportunity to bring this to the floor. I
4850
1 thank you for supporting it. And I vote yes.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
3 Tedisco to be recorded in the affirmative.
4 Announce the results.
5 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
7 is passed.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 778, Senate Print 2362, by Senator Rivera, an act
10 to amend the Election Law.
11 SENATOR GIANARIS: Lay the bill
12 aside for the day.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
14 is laid aside for the day.
15 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
16 781, Senate Print 5943, by Senator Skoufis, an
17 act to amend the Election Law.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
19 last section.
20 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
21 act shall take effect on the first of January.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
23 roll.
24 (The Secretary called the roll.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
4851
1 the results.
2 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
3 Calendar 781, those Senators voting in the
4 negative are Senators Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
5 Griffo, Lanza, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker,
6 O'Mara, Ortt, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco,
7 Walczyk and Weber.
8 Ayes, 44. Nays, 14.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
10 is passed.
11 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
12 783, Senate Print 1104, by Senator Comrie, an act
13 to amend the Public Authorities Law and the
14 Public Lands Law.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
16 last section.
17 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
18 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
19 shall have become a law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
21 roll.
22 (The Secretary called the roll.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
24 the results.
25 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
4852
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
2 is passed.
3 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
4 797, Assembly Print Number 6907, by
5 Assemblymember Buttenschon, an act to amend the
6 Judiciary Law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: There is a
8 home-rule message at the desk.
9 Read the last section.
10 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
11 act shall take effect immediately.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
13 roll.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
16 the results.
17 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
19 is passed.
20 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
21 814, Senate Print 6585, by Senator Stavisky, an
22 act to amend Chapter 548 of the Laws of 2004.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
24 last section.
25 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
4853
1 act shall take effect immediately.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
3 roll.
4 (The Secretary called the roll.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
6 the results.
7 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 821, Senate Print 5957, by Senator Harckham, an
12 act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
14 last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
16 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
17 shall have become a law.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
19 roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
22 the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
24 Calendar 821, those Senators voting in the
25 negative are Senators Borrello, Gallivan, Griffo,
4854
1 Helming, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Stec and
2 Walczyk.
3 Ayes, 49. Nays, 9.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
5 is passed.
6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
7 828, Senate Print 1110, by Senator Comrie, an act
8 to amend the Executive Law and the
9 General Municipal Law.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
11 last section.
12 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
13 act shall take effect immediately.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
15 roll.
16 (The Secretary called the roll.)
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
18 the results.
19 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
20 Calendar 828, those Senators voting in the
21 negative are Senators Borrello, Gallivan,
22 Helming, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara,
23 Rhoads, Stec, Tedisco and Walczyk.
24 Ayes, 47. Nays, 11.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
4855
1 is passed.
2 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3 829, Senate Print 1193, by Senator Persaud, an
4 act to amend the Public Health Law.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
6 last section.
7 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
8 act shall take effect immediately.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
10 roll.
11 (The Secretary called the roll.)
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
13 the results.
14 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
16 is passed.
17 Calendar Number 842, the bill is
18 high and will be laid aside.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
20 858, Senate Print 6328, by Senator Ramos, an act
21 to amend the Labor Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
25 act shall take effect immediately.
4856
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
2 roll.
3 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
5 Scarcella-Spanton to explain her vote.
6 SENATOR SCARCELLA-SPANTON: Thank
7 you, Madam President. And thank you,
8 Senator Ramos, for introducing this legislation
9 that will protect the rights and livelihoods of
10 call center workers here in New York.
11 Call center workers often live with
12 constant anxiety of losing their income and
13 facing displacement if their employer loses a
14 contract bid. This bill comes in the wake of the
15 unfortunate closure of the Staten Island E-ZPass
16 Center, which left many call center workers
17 facing uncertain futures and displacement. It
18 was horrifying to hear some of their stories
19 throughout this process, and I'm really happy to
20 be supporting this bill today.
21 The closure highlighted the
22 vulnerability of these call centers and the need
23 for stronger protections to safeguard their jobs.
24 This bill will provide these necessary
25 protections for call center, particularly when
4857
1 contracts are terminated. It will also require
2 new contractors to hire existing workers and
3 protect collective bargaining agreements, which
4 is a critical piece to this bill.
5 Call center closures should not come
6 at the expense of their workers, and this
7 legislation is a reasonable and fair solution.
8 Thank you again, Senator Ramos, for
9 introducing this legislation and for advocating
10 for the rights and well-being of call center
11 workers.
12 I proudly vote aye.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
14 Scarcella-Spanton to be recorded in the
15 affirmative.
16 Announce the results.
17 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
18 Calendar 858, those Senators voting in the
19 negative are Senators Borrello,
20 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Gallivan, Oberacker,
21 O'Mara, Ortt, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco,
22 Walczyk and Weber.
23 Ayes, 46. Nays, 12.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
25 is passed.
4858
1 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
2 859, Senate Print 6635, by Senator Ramos, an act
3 to amend the Workers' Compensation Law.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
5 last section.
6 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
7 act shall take effect on the first of January.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
9 roll.
10 (The Secretary called the roll.)
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
12 the results.
13 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
14 Calendar 859, those Senators voting in the
15 negative are Senators Borrello,
16 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming,
17 Lanza, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
18 Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk
19 and Weber.
20 Ayes, 40. Nays, 18.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
22 is passed.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24 885, Senate Print 1684A, by Senator Hinchey, an
25 act to amend the Emergency Tenant Protection Act
4859
1 of 1974.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
3 last section.
4 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
5 act shall take effect immediately.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
7 roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
10 Hinchey to explain her vote.
11 SENATOR HINCHEY: Thank you,
12 Madam President.
13 As we know and we've discussed in
14 this chamber, New York State is facing an
15 unprecedented housing crisis. And here with this
16 Majority in 2019, the Housing Stability and
17 Tenant Protection Act was passed, which among
18 other things allowed for municipalities to opt
19 into tenant protection regulations if their
20 municipality had a vacancy rate of less than
21 5 percent. This vacancy rate was to be
22 determined by the completion of a survey by
23 property owners within that given municipality.
24 In the community that I represent,
25 the City of Kingston, they had a vacancy rate
4860
1 study. And at the end of that study it was
2 deemed that their vacancy rate was 6.7 percent.
3 Anecdotally, if you live in or around Kingston,
4 you know that that number was false.
5 When the City of Kingston themselves
6 conducted their own survey, they found that the
7 vacancy rate was actually more like 1.57 percent.
8 And so this bill, pretty simply, now
9 just requires that property owners actually
10 complete the vacancy rate survey honestly and
11 correctly the way that we've deemed it to be
12 through the housing and tenant protections passed
13 in 2019.
14 It makes sure that property owners
15 are honest about their vacancies, and it makes
16 sure that they are consistent in when they are
17 filling out that survey to actually get accurate
18 information so that municipalities, when deemed
19 necessary, can enact strong tenant protections.
20 I'm really proud to carry this bill.
21 I thank my colleagues for voting for it.
22 And for that, Madam President, I
23 vote aye. Thank you very much.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
25 Hinchey to be recorded in the affirmative.
4861
1 Senator Palumbo to explain his vote.
2 SENATOR PALUMBO: Thank you,
3 Madam President.
4 And although I do agree with the
5 housing crisis issue and a lot of issues
6 mentioned by the sponsor, and I have a lot of
7 respect for the sponsor's positions on these
8 types of issues, I unfortunately do have a
9 problem with this bill, and I've had some
10 individuals express concern. Because it's a
11 means to an end that certainly needs to be
12 properly achieved, but the protocols are not
13 appropriate or accurate, I think, even in the
14 language of this bill.
15 For example, the surveys are done in
16 New York City by the Census Bureau, which
17 certainly has quality standards and so forth.
18 And to make every municipality now statewide have
19 to comply with this is unfortunately part of
20 what's been an ongoing process that landlords are
21 somehow villains. And if they were making
22 improper notations, they were improperly filling
23 out these surveys, then shame on them. And we do
24 need to remedy that issue.
25 But my concern is that we now have
4862
1 an ongoing really bludgeoning of landlords. And
2 what that is saying from a global standpoint to
3 people outside of New York is don't invest in
4 real estate in New York. Because as a landlord,
5 you do need those individuals to be solvent, to
6 actually have the ability to not have to deal
7 with more burdensome regulations, because they're
8 the ones who are building this affordable
9 housing.
10 And as you may recall,
11 Mr. President, I had an affordable housing bill
12 last year for the five eastern towns on
13 Long Island. I get it. And I think we all can
14 agree that this is at critical mass.
15 However, creating more regulations
16 for landlords is not the answer. In fact, I
17 think it's counterproductive and counterintuitive
18 to the goals that we're trying to seek.
19 So for those reasons,
20 Madam President, I am in the negative.
21 Thank you.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
23 Palumbo to be recorded in the negative.
24 Announce the results.
25 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
4863
1 Calendar 885, those Senators voting in the
2 negative are Senators Borrello,
3 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming,
4 Lanza, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
5 Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk
6 and Weber.
7 Ayes, 40. Nays, 18.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 981, Senate Print 448B, by Senator Gianaris, an
12 act to amend the Executive Law.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
14 last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
16 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
17 shall have become a law.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
19 roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
22 the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
25 is passed.
4864
1 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
2 995, Senate Print 6776, by Senator Comrie, an act
3 to amend the Public Authorities Law.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
5 last section.
6 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
7 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
8 shall have become a law.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
10 roll.
11 (The Secretary called the roll.)
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
13 the results.
14 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
16 is passed.
17 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
18 999, Assembly Print Number 4456, by
19 Assemblymember Bores, an act to amend the
20 General Business Law.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
22 last section.
23 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
24 act shall take effect immediately.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
4865
1 roll.
2 (The Secretary called the roll.)
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
4 the results.
5 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
7 is passed.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 1001, Senate Print 5430, by Senator Mattera, an
10 act to amend the General Business Law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
12 last section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
14 act shall take effect on the 30th day after it
15 shall have become a law.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
17 roll.
18 (The Secretary called the roll.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
20 Mattera to explain his vote.
21 SENATOR MATTERA: Thank you,
22 Madam President, for explaining my vote.
23 First I would like to thank
24 Legislator Nick Caracappa from Suffolk County for
25 drafting a bill in Suffolk County. When we had a
4866
1 press conference with our County Executive
2 Steve Bellone, it was a unanimous vote on this
3 bill.
4 And just so everybody understands,
5 that we drive our roads, safety is key. Yeah, we
6 have a lot of potholes, but we do not need to
7 have the debris of cars that are being wrecked in
8 an accident and, guess what, the car gets put on
9 a tow truck or a flatbed, but all the rest of the
10 debris is laid on the side and pushed off to the
11 side. Now, frankly, that is part of the car,
12 part of the automobile. This is safety reasons.
13 And this being a statewide bill is
14 so, so important for the safety of our drivers
15 and our motorcyclists.
16 I'd like to thank ABATE, which is
17 American Bikers Aimed Towards Education for
18 helping, actually, this bill, going to everybody
19 and lobbying to make sure that the debris will be
20 cleared from our roadways from any accident. And
21 I look at this as preventive maintenance so --
22 for safety reasons for all of New Yorkers.
23 So I am happy that this is statewide
24 to protect all New Yorkers. And I am proud to
25 vote aye, Madam President, and I hope all my
4867
1 colleagues do the same.
2 Thank you.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
4 Mattera to be recorded in the affirmative.
5 Announce the results.
6 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
7 Calendar Number 1001, voting in the negative,
8 Senator Brouk.
9 Ayes, 57. Nays, 1.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
11 is passed.
12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
13 1006, Assembly Print Number 150, by
14 Assemblymember Paulin, an act to amend the
15 Vehicle and Traffic Law.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
17 last section.
18 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
19 act shall take effect on the 120th day after it
20 shall have become a law.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
22 roll.
23 (The Secretary called the roll.)
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
25 the results.
4868
1 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
2 Calendar 1006, those Senators voting in the
3 negative are Senators Borrello, Gallivan, Griffo,
4 Helming, Hinchey, Lanza, Mannion, Martinez,
5 Mattera, Murray, O'Mara, Ortt, Rhoads, Rolison,
6 Skoufis, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Webb and Weber.
7 Ayes, 38. Nays, 20.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 1015, Senate Print 6648, by Senator Sanders, an
12 act to amend the Banking Law.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
14 last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
16 act shall take effect immediately.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
18 roll.
19 (The Secretary called the roll.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
21 the results.
22 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
23 Calendar 1015, those Senators voting in the
24 negative are Senators Borrello,
25 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming,
4869
1 Lanza, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
2 Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk
3 and Weber.
4 Ayes, 40. Nays, 18.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
6 is passed.
7 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
8 1017, Senate Print 1453, by Senator Sanders, an
9 act to amend the General Municipal Law and the
10 Banking Law.
11 SENATOR LANZA: Lay it aside.
12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
13 1031 --
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Wait,
15 wait. Excuse me one minute, I'm sorry.
16 SENATOR GIANARIS: Lay 1017 aside
17 for the day, please.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
19 is laid aside for the day.
20 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
21 1031, Senate Print 5026, by Senator Gounardes, an
22 act to amend the Labor Law.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
24 last section.
25 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
4870
1 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
2 shall have become a law.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
4 roll.
5 (The Secretary called the roll.)
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
7 Gounardes to explain his vote.
8 SENATOR GOUNARDES: Thank you,
9 Madam President.
10 I rise today in support of this
11 bill, the Freelance Isn't Free Act, which we're
12 passing for the second time today.
13 Across the country and in New York,
14 more than a third of people in the workforce work
15 as freelance workers or contract workers. Those
16 numbers have only increased since the pandemic as
17 people have switched careers or taken on other
18 jobs to kind of make their ends meet.
19 And amongst freelancers, 71 percent
20 report late or nonpayment for the services that
21 they provide, 60 percent report that they live
22 paycheck to paycheck. And on average,
23 freelancers lose about $6,000 a year in lost
24 payments for the work that they provide.
25 Only 28 percent of freelancers say
4871
1 they have consistently received either payment or
2 they even get a contract for what they do.
3 So what Freelance Isn't Free is
4 meant to do is actually help extend workplace
5 protections or payment protections to this
6 growing segment of our workforce. It would allow
7 every freelancer the right to a written contract
8 on their terms that dictates how and when they
9 are to be paid. It mandates a standard 30-day
10 payment term unless their contract says
11 otherwise.
12 It includes payment agreement
13 protections so that clients can't require that
14 freelancers accept less payment up-front and the
15 promise of full payment in three months, six
16 months or a year. And it also says that clients
17 can't retaliate against freelancers for pursuing
18 payment.
19 This is based on a very successful
20 model we've seen work in New York City for the
21 last six years. And because of that, millions of
22 dollars have been recouped on behalf of freelance
23 workers who are being paid, you know, the value
24 for their honest day's work.
25 I implore and ask my colleagues to
4872
1 support this bill to help freelancers in every
2 corner of the state, from Buffalo to Brooklyn and
3 everywhere in between. And I proudly vote aye.
4 Thank you.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
6 Gounardes to be recorded in the affirmative.
7 Announce the results.
8 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
9 Calendar 1031, those Senators voting in the
10 negative are Senators Borrello,
11 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Gallivan, Griffo, Mattera,
12 Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads,
13 Rolison, Stec, Tedisco and Weber.
14 Ayes, 43. Nays, 15.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
16 is passed.
17 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
18 1035, Senate Print 6660, by Senator Martinez, an
19 act in relation to authorizing a study on
20 lithium-ion battery fires and prevention.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
22 last section.
23 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
24 act shall take effect immediately.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
4873
1 roll.
2 (The Secretary called the roll.)
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
4 the results.
5 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
7 is passed.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 1036, Senate Print Number 5402, by
10 Senator Hoylman-Sigal, an act to amend the
11 Domestic Relations Law.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
13 last section.
14 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
15 act shall take effect immediately.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
17 roll.
18 (The Secretary called the roll.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
20 Hoylman-Sigal to explain his vote.
21 SENATOR HOYLMAN-SIGAL: Thank you,
22 Madam President.
23 You know, with all the talk of
24 sneakers and our amazing messengers and the
25 anniversary of hip-hop, I need to say today Happy
4874
1 Pride, because today is June 1st, the beginning
2 of Pride. And thank you. Thank you.
3 (Applause.)
4 SENATOR HOYLMAN-SIGAL: And I'm
5 mindful of this important day because I represent
6 Stonewall, which is the birthplace of the modern
7 LGBTQ human rights movement, as well as
8 sponsoring this bill. This bill, which would
9 amend the Domestic Relations Law to prevent a
10 judge from considering the sex, sexual
11 orientation, gender identity, gender expression
12 or prohibiting a parent from undergoing a gender
13 reassignment when making a determination in a
14 child custody case.
15 The reason this is so important,
16 Madam President, among other reasons, including
17 today being about the first day of Pride, is that
18 there is a campaign across this country targeting
19 transgender kids and their families. Right-wing
20 lawmakers in groups are making trans kids their
21 number-one target.
22 There are currently 474 anti-LGBTQ
23 bills introduced in state houses just like this
24 across the country, over 100 of which seek to
25 eliminate gender-affirming care and criminalize
4875
1 the parents and healthcare providers who help
2 kids access gender-affirming care. And 48 of
3 these anti-LGBTQ bills have already been passed
4 into law, and 14 states have banned
5 gender-affirming care for kids entirely.
6 This bill is an important statement.
7 We need to do more -- and I hope we do, before
8 the end of the session -- to protect families and
9 their children who are seeking gender-affirming
10 care to prevent kids from literally being
11 separated from their parents in their search for
12 their true selves.
13 And that's what Pride is all about,
14 Madam President, is acknowledging your true self
15 and being damn proud of it.
16 I vote aye.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
18 Hoylman-Sigal to be recorded in the affirmative.
19 Senator Brisport to explain his
20 vote.
21 SENATOR BRISPORT: Thank you,
22 Madam President.
23 And thank you to
24 Senator Hoylman-Sigal for sponsoring this bill.
25 You know, in the Children and
4876
1 Families Committee we often talk about the best
2 things for children and families. And what's
3 becoming clearer and clearer is that all families
4 of many types are valuable, and the best thing
5 for children is to make sure that they can stay
6 with their parents.
7 So I'd like to thank Senator
8 Hoylman-Sigal again for moving this bill, and
9 Happy Pride.
10 I vote aye.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
12 Brisport to be recorded in the affirmative.
13 Announce the results.
14 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
15 Calendar Number 1036, those Senators voting in
16 the negative are Senators Borrello,
17 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Gallivan, Helming, O'Mara,
18 Ortt, Rhoads, Stec, Tedisco and Walczyk.
19 Ayes, 48. Nays, 10.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
21 is passed.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23 1065, Senate Print 6646, by Senator Ramos, an act
24 to amend the Labor Law.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
4877
1 last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
3 act shall take effect immediately.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
5 roll.
6 (The Secretary called the roll.)
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
8 the results.
9 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
10 Calendar Number 1065, those Senators voting in
11 the negative are Senators Borrello,
12 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Griffo, Helming,
13 Oberacker, O'Mara, Rhoads, Walczyk and Weber.
14 Ayes, 49. Nays, 9.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
16 is passed.
17 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
18 1066, Senate Print 6651, by Senator Ramos, an act
19 to amend the Workers' Compensation Law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
21 last section.
22 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
23 act shall take effect on the 30th day after it
24 shall have become a law.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
4878
1 roll.
2 (The Secretary called the roll.)
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
4 the results.
5 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
7 is passed.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 1128, Assembly Print Number 7354, by
10 Assemblymember Thiele, an act to amend
11 Chapter 387 of the Laws of 2013.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
13 last section.
14 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
15 act shall take effect immediately.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
17 roll.
18 (The Secretary called the roll.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
20 the results.
21 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
22 Calendar Number 1128, voting in the negative:
23 Senator Skoufis.
24 Ayes, 57. Nays, 1.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
4879
1 is passed.
2 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3 1133, Assembly Print Number 4994, by
4 Assemblymember Blankenbush, an act to amend the
5 Criminal Procedure Law.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
7 last section.
8 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
9 act shall take effect immediately.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
11 roll.
12 (The Secretary called the roll.)
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
14 the results.
15 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
17 is passed.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
19 1139, Assembly Print Number 6107, by
20 Assemblymember Thiele, an act to amend
21 Chapter 435 of the Laws of 2014.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
25 act shall take effect immediately.
4880
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
2 roll.
3 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
5 the results.
6 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
7 Calendar Number 1139, voting in the negative are
8 Senators Brisport and Martinez.
9 Ayes, 56. Nays, 2.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
11 is passed.
12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
13 1144, Assembly Print Number 6569, by
14 Assemblymember Fall, an act to amend Chapter 395
15 of the Laws of 1978.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
17 last section.
18 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
19 act shall take effect immediately.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
21 roll.
22 (The Secretary called the roll.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
24 the results.
25 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
4881
1 Calendar Number 1144, voting in the negative:
2 Senator O'Mara.
3 Ayes, 57. Nays, 1.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
5 is passed.
6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
7 1151, Senate Print 6673, by Senator Martinez, an
8 act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
10 last section.
11 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
12 act shall take effect January 1, 2025.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
14 roll.
15 (The Secretary called the roll.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
17 the results.
18 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
20 is passed.
21 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
22 1154, Assembly Print Number 7432, by
23 Assemblymember Lunsford, an act to amend the
24 Environmental Conservation Law.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
4882
1 last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
3 act shall take effect immediately.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
5 roll.
6 (The Secretary called the roll.)
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
8 the results.
9 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
11 is passed.
12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
13 1155, Senate Print 6947, by Senator Martinez, an
14 act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
16 last section.
17 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
18 act shall take effect immediately.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
20 roll.
21 (The Secretary called the roll.)
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
23 the results.
24 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
4883
1 is passed.
2 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3 1156, Assembly Print Number 7435, by
4 Assemblymember Wallace, an act to amend the
5 Environmental Conservation Law.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
7 last section.
8 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
9 act shall take effect immediately.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
11 roll.
12 (The Secretary called the roll.)
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
14 the results.
15 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
17 is passed.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
19 1157, Assembly Print Number 7436, by
20 Assemblymember McMahon, an act to amend the
21 Environmental Conservation Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
25 act shall take effect immediately.
4884
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
2 roll.
3 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
5 the results.
6 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
8 is passed.
9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
10 1158, Assembly Print Number 7439, by
11 Assemblymember Burdick, an act to amend the
12 Environmental Conservation Law.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
14 last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
16 act shall take effect immediately.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
18 roll.
19 (The Secretary called the roll.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
21 the results.
22 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
24 is passed.
25 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
4885
1 1159, Assembly Print Number 7440, by
2 Assemblymember Simone, an act to amend the
3 Environmental Conservation Law.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
5 last section.
6 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
7 act shall take effect immediately.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
9 roll.
10 (The Secretary called the roll.)
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
12 the results.
13 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
15 is passed.
16 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
17 1160, Assembly Print Number 7441, by
18 Assemblymember Otis, an act to amend the
19 Environmental Conservation Law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
21 last section.
22 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
23 act shall take effect immediately.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
25 roll.
4886
1 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
3 the results.
4 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
6 is passed.
7 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
8 1161, Assembly Print Number 7442, by
9 Assemblymember Levenberg, an act to amend the
10 Environmental Conservation Law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
12 last section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
14 act shall take effect immediately.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
16 roll.
17 (The Secretary called the roll.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
19 the results.
20 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
22 is passed.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24 1162, Assembly Print Number 7443, by
25 Assemblymember Williams, an act to amend the
4887
1 Environmental Conservation Law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
3 last section.
4 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
5 act shall take effect immediately.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
7 roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
10 the results.
11 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
13 is passed.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
15 1164, Assembly Print Number 7438, by
16 Assemblymember Lee, an act to amend the
17 Environmental Conservation Law.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
19 last section.
20 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
21 act shall take effect immediately.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
23 roll.
24 (The Secretary called the roll.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
4888
1 the results.
2 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
4 is passed.
5 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
6 1176, Senate Print 6808, by Senator Mannion, an
7 act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
9 last section.
10 THE SECRETARY: Section 13. This
11 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
12 shall have become a law.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
14 roll.
15 (The Secretary called the roll.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
17 the results.
18 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
20 is passed.
21 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
22 1177, Senate Print 6889, by Senator Martinez, an
23 act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
25 last section.
4889
1 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
2 act shall take effect on the first of November.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
4 roll.
5 (The Secretary called the roll.)
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
7 the results.
8 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
10 is passed.
11 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
12 1196, Senate Print 2006, by Senator Sanders, an
13 act to amend the Executive Law.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
15 last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 12. This
17 act shall take effect immediately.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
19 roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
22 the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
24 Calendar Number 1196, voting in the negative:
25 Senator Helming.
4890
1 Ayes, 57. Nays, 1.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 1208, Senate Print 1418, by Senator Comrie, an
6 act to amend the Education Law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
8 last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
10 act shall take effect immediately.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
12 roll.
13 (The Secretary called the roll.)
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
15 the results.
16 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
18 is passed.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
20 1211, Assembly Print Number 1313, by
21 Assemblymember McDonald, an act to amend
22 Chapter 672 of the Laws of 1993.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
24 last section.
25 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
4891
1 act shall take effect immediately.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
3 roll.
4 (The Secretary called the roll.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
6 the results.
7 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 1219, Assembly Print Number 7361, by
12 Assemblymember Davila, an act to amend
13 Chapter 436 of the Laws of 1997.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
15 last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
17 act shall take effect immediately.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
19 roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
22 the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
24 Calendar Number 1219, voting in the negative:
25 Senator Walczyk.
4892
1 Ayes, 57. Nays, 1.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 1226, Senate Print 6975, by Senator Salazar, an
6 act to amend the Executive Law.
7 SENATOR LANZA: Lay it aside.
8 SENATOR GIANARIS: Lay it aside for
9 the day, please.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
11 is laid aside for the day.
12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
13 1240, Senate Print 2271, by Senator Liu, an act
14 to amend the Real Property Law and the
15 Civil Practice Law and Rules.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
17 last section.
18 THE SECRETARY: Section 6. This
19 act shall take effect immediately.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
21 roll.
22 (The Secretary called the roll.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
24 the results.
25 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
4893
1 Calendar 1240, those Senators voting in the
2 negative are Senators Borrello,
3 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming,
4 Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
5 Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk
6 and Weber.
7 Ayes, 41. Nays, 17.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 1247, Assembly Print Number 6587, by
12 Assemblymember Lavine, an act to amend
13 Chapter 455 of the Laws of 1997.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
15 last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
17 act shall take effect immediately.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
19 roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
22 the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
25 is passed.
4894
1 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
2 1251, Senate Print 6647, by Senator Sanders, an
3 act to amend the Banking Law.
4 SENATOR GIANARIS: Lay it aside for
5 the day.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
7 is laid aside for the day.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 1252, Assembly Print Number 7172, by
10 Assemblymember Seawright, an act to amend
11 Chapter 223 of the Laws of 1996.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
13 last section.
14 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
15 act shall take effect immediately.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
17 roll.
18 (The Secretary called the roll.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
20 the results.
21 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
23 is passed.
24 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
25 1253, Senate Print 6930, by Senator Sanders, an
4895
1 act to amend Chapter 591 of the Laws of 2001.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
3 last section.
4 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
5 act shall take effect immediately.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
7 roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
10 the results.
11 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
13 is passed.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
15 1257, Senate Print 3529A, by Senator Fernandez,
16 an act to amend the General Business Law.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
18 last section.
19 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
20 act shall take effect 12 months after it shall
21 have become a law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
23 roll.
24 (The Secretary called the roll.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
4896
1 Fernandez to explain her vote.
2 SENATOR FERNANDEZ: Thank you,
3 Madam President.
4 Many times we've been talking about
5 this on the floor, the need to normalize the
6 conversation around periods and menstrual
7 products. And this bill right here adds to that.
8 All of us know somebody, love
9 somebody, probably are that person that may use
10 menstrual products, and it is our responsibility,
11 I feel, to make sure that those products be the
12 most safe for human use.
13 And this bill would prevent the use
14 of certain chemicals being in our menstrual
15 products. These are products that go in us, on
16 us, and we should be removing any chemicals that
17 can harm us.
18 So I am very happy to see this on
19 the floor. I thank you all for the support. I
20 proudly vote aye.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
22 Fernandez to be recorded in the affirmative.
23 Announce the results.
24 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
4897
1 is passed.
2 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3 1261, Senate Print 5991A, by Senator Persaud, an
4 act to amend the Public Health Law.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
6 last section.
7 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
8 act shall take effect immediately.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
10 roll.
11 (The Secretary called the roll.)
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
13 the results.
14 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
16 is passed.
17 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
18 1266, Senate Print 600, by Senator Salazar, an
19 act to amend the Executive Law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
21 last section.
22 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
23 act shall take effect on the 60th day after it
24 shall have become a law.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
4898
1 roll.
2 (The Secretary called the roll.)
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
4 the results.
5 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
6 Calendar 1266, those Senators voting in the
7 negative are Senators Borrello,
8 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming,
9 Mattera, Murray, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads,
10 Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk and Weber.
11 Ayes, 42. Nays, 16.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
13 is passed.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
15 1268, Senate Print 1860, by Senator Brouk, an act
16 to amend the Labor Law.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
18 last section.
19 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
20 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
21 shall have become a law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
23 roll.
24 (The Secretary called the roll.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
4899
1 the results.
2 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
3 Calendar 1268, those Senators voting in the
4 negative are Senators Borrello, Gallivan and
5 Helming. Also Senator Walczyk.
6 Ayes, 54. Nays, 4.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
8 is passed.
9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
10 1269, Senate Print 2469, by Senator Parker, an
11 act to amend the Public Service Law and the
12 Public Authorities Law.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
14 last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
16 act shall take effect one year after it shall
17 have become a law.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
19 roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
22 the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
24 Calendar Number 1269, those Senators voting in
25 the negative are Senators Borrello,
4900
1 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Gallivan, Griffo,
2 Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Rhoads, Tedisco and
3 Walczyk.
4 Ayes, 48. Nays, 10.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
6 is passed.
7 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
8 1273, Senate Print 2674, by Senator Fernandez, an
9 act to amend the Executive Law.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
11 last section.
12 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
13 act shall take effect immediately.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
15 roll.
16 (The Secretary called the roll.)
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
18 Krueger to explain her vote.
19 SENATOR KRUEGER: Thank you very
20 much, Madam President.
21 I rise to strongly support this bill
22 and to urge my colleagues to think twice before
23 they vote no.
24 We know that homeless youth suffer a
25 disproportionate series of problems, both as
4901
1 young people without families or without foster
2 care or any services, and that haunts them the
3 rest of their lives.
4 This bill will allow the small
5 number of programs desperately trying to serve
6 this population to be able to keep their arms
7 wrapped around them and continue to provide
8 desperately needed services for a few more years
9 of age.
10 And this is so critical. I have a
11 couple of these programs in my district. They
12 are doing amazing work. They are protecting
13 young people from being forced into human
14 trafficking, an issue we discussed quite a bit on
15 this floor yesterday.
16 And so I want to thank
17 Senator Fernandez for taking the lead on this,
18 and I think it's just so important that the
19 State of New York recognize, as we have for other
20 categories of young people, that they need a few
21 more years of help before they are let out of any
22 protections of government services.
23 And this is a perfect example of
24 what we should be doing for young people without
25 families or homes to go to.
4902
1 Thank you. I vote yes.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
3 Krueger to be recorded in the affirmative.
4 Senator Fernandez to explain her
5 vote.
6 SENATOR FERNANDEZ: What she said.
7 No, I'm --
8 (Laughter.)
9 SENATOR FERNANDEZ: No, I thank
10 you, Senator Krueger, for your kind words and
11 true words.
12 I'm very honored to hold this bill
13 because our young people do need the most help
14 right now. And this bill actually does help a
15 demographic that we just highlighted.
16 This is the first day of Pride
17 Month, and unfortunately it is our young LGBTQ
18 children, members, families, neighbors that do
19 find themselves in homelessness longer than
20 others.
21 So this will absolutely save lives,
22 add to aiding the housing crisis that we do have,
23 and making sure that people, our loved ones, have
24 a chance for real prosperity.
25 Thank you. I vote aye.
4903
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
2 Fernandez be recorded in the affirmative.
3 Announce the results.
4 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
5 Calendar 1273, those Senators voting in the
6 negative are Senators Borrello,
7 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Gallivan, Helming, Lanza,
8 Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
9 Palumbo, Rhoads, Stec, Walczyk and Weber.
10 Ayes, 43. Nays, 15.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
12 is passed.
13 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
14 1274, Senate Print 3011, by Senator Liu, an act
15 in relation to ordering a study and report on a
16 proposed expansion of the Long Island Motor
17 Parkway trail.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
19 last section.
20 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
21 act shall take effect immediately.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
23 roll.
24 (The Secretary called the roll.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
4904
1 the results.
2 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
4 is passed.
5 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
6 1276, Assembly Print Number 358, by
7 Assemblymember Bronson, an act to amend the
8 Executive Law.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
10 last section.
11 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
12 act shall take effect on the 120th day after it
13 shall have become a law.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
15 roll.
16 (The Secretary called the roll.)
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
18 the results.
19 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
20 Calendar 1276, those Senators voting in the
21 negative are Senators Borrello,
22 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Lanza, Mattera, Murray,
23 Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Stec,
24 Tedisco and Senator Walczyk.
25 Ayes, 45. Nays, 13.
4905
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
2 is passed.
3 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
4 1284, Assembly Print Number 5075, by
5 Assemblymember McDonald, an act to authorize
6 William Schumaker and Mark Hennessy to receive
7 certain service credit under Section 384-d of the
8 Retirement and Social Security Law.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: There is a
10 home-rule message at the desk.
11 Read the last section.
12 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
13 act shall take effect immediately.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
15 roll.
16 (The Secretary called the roll.)
17 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
19 is passed.
20 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
21 1289, Senate Print 6701, by Senator Fernandez, an
22 act to amend the Mental Hygiene Law.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
24 last section.
25 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
4906
1 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
2 shall have become a law.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
4 roll.
5 (The Secretary called the roll.)
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
7 Fernandez to explain her vote.
8 SENATOR FERNANDEZ: Thank you,
9 Madam President.
10 So we all know that I am your humble
11 chair of the Committee of Alcohol and Substance
12 Use Disorder, where, with the office of OASAS, we
13 help New Yorkers dealing with addiction. And it
14 cannot be overseen, the addiction crisis that
15 affects those that gamble. Gambling addiction is
16 very real, it is growing. And as we continue to
17 talk and work towards doing more in this state
18 with new casinos, with legalizing mobile betting,
19 to have the Gambling Advisory Council is so
20 important at this very moment.
21 This council is the creation of --
22 okay, this is the creation of the Problem
23 Gambling Advisory Council. It is a proactive
24 step in tackling the challenges posed by problem
25 gambling. And this would create a board of
4907
1 professionals -- let me get the right notes. It
2 would put together a board to make sure that we
3 are addressing and reaching those that may be
4 showing signs of over-gambling and addiction to
5 gambling.
6 So I hope that this does get
7 through. Because again, as we grow in this state
8 and we see casinos growing and online activity
9 with sports growing, this is something that will
10 help New Yorkers not fall into gambling
11 addiction, gambling debt, and we can have fun
12 with the act of gambling.
13 So thank you so much. I look
14 forward to seeing this continue to pass and to
15 become reality so, again, we have another program
16 that is protecting, helping New Yorkers, and
17 making sure that no one falls into any dark place
18 of gambling.
19 Thank you. I vote aye.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
21 Fernandez to be recorded in the affirmative.
22 Senator Addabbo to explain his vote.
23 SENATOR ADDABBO: Thank you very
24 much, Madam President. And good afternoon,
25 everybody.
4908
1 And, you know, whenever we do
2 advance or expand gaming in New York, whether it
3 be with the Nations' number-one mobile sports
4 betting product or with the downstate license, a
5 process that's already started, whenever we do
6 these expansions of gaming, what should always
7 and really has been always on the forefront is
8 the issue of problematic gaming and how we
9 address it.
10 And I want to thank my friend here,
11 Senator Fernandez, for doing this bill. Because
12 if implemented correctly, this council will
13 provide a blueprint on how we not only address
14 the issue of problematic gaming and acknowledge
15 it and address it, but also to try and find a way
16 and make sure that we help people before, before
17 they get really into the addiction. So before
18 they lose the house, before they affect their
19 lives and their families' lives, this council
20 should find a way to, again, address that issue
21 of that individual.
22 So I want to thank Senator
23 Fernandez. And hopefully this, again, bill can
24 advance in the other house as well. And I'll be
25 voting aye.
4909
1 Thank you, Madam President.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
3 Addabbo to be recorded in the affirmative.
4 Announce the results.
5 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
7 is passed.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 1304, Senate Print 6863, by Senator Stavisky, an
10 act to amend the Education Law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
12 last section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
14 act shall take effect January 1, 2024.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
16 roll.
17 (The Secretary called the roll.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
19 the results.
20 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
22 is passed.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24 1305, Senate Print 6936, by Senator Stavisky, an
25 act to amend the Education Law.
4910
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
2 last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
4 act shall take effect immediately.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
6 roll.
7 (The Secretary called the roll.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
9 the results.
10 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
12 is passed.
13 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
14 1306, Senate Print 6937, by Senator Stavisky, an
15 act to amend the Education Law.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
17 last section.
18 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
19 act shall take effect immediately.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
21 roll.
22 (The Secretary called the roll.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
24 the results.
25 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
4911
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
2 is passed.
3 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
4 1311, Senate Print 4087, by Senator Helming, an
5 act to authorize Michael Telesca to take the
6 competitive civil service examination.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: There is a
8 home-rule message at the desk.
9 Read the last section.
10 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
11 act shall take effect immediately.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
13 roll.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
16 the results.
17 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
18 Calendar Number 1311, voting in the negative:
19 Senator Brisport.
20 Ayes, 57. Nays, 1.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
22 is passed.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24 1318, Senate Print 805, by Senator Serrano, an
25 act to amend the Parks, Recreation and Historic
4912
1 Preservation Law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
3 last section.
4 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
5 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
6 shall have become a law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
8 roll.
9 (The Secretary called the roll.)
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
11 the results.
12 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
13 Calendar Number 1318, voting in the negative:
14 Senator Ortt.
15 Ayes, 57. Nays, 1.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
17 is passed.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
19 1321, Senate Print 5670, by Senator Gallivan, an
20 act to amend the Parks, Recreation and Historic
21 Preservation Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
25 act shall take effect immediately.
4913
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
2 roll.
3 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
5 the results.
6 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
7 Calendar Number 1321, voting in the negative:
8 Senator Skoufis.
9 Ayes, 57. Nays, 1.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
11 is passed.
12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
13 1327, Senate Print 6460, by Senator Krueger, an
14 act to amend the Public Health Law.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
16 last section.
17 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
18 act shall take effect immediately.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
20 roll.
21 (The Secretary called the roll.)
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
23 Krueger to explain her vote.
24 SENATOR KRUEGER: Thank you very
25 much.
4914
1 This bill was passed last year and
2 unfortunately vetoed by the Governor, so we're
3 giving it another shot.
4 New York State basically doesn't
5 approve for-profit healthcare. We have a couple
6 of exceptions; they haven't worked so well, for
7 the record. But what we know already is that
8 states that have allowed for-profit hospices to
9 expand have ended up with literally crisis
10 problems of scammers, of drawing down the money
11 without providing the services.
12 I am a big supporter of hospice care
13 and palliative care, but we need to do it the
14 right way in New York State. We've passed some
15 laws expanding the programs. We should be doing
16 more. But if we let for-profits, particularly
17 those of ill repute, expand into our marketplace
18 here in New York State, we are going to be very
19 sorry in a few years.
20 And I'd like us to avoid the
21 mistakes made by many other states in this
22 country, well documented now, including by the
23 Center on Economics and -- I'm getting the name
24 wrong, so I'll have to -- anybody who wants the
25 report, ask me. CEPR, and I'm trying to remember
4915
1 the nickname right now.
2 So we know that this doesn't work.
3 We should protect New Yorkers from it not working
4 here. I'm urging a yes vote.
5 Thank you, Madam President.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
7 Krueger to be recorded in the affirmative.
8 Announce the results.
9 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
10 Calendar 1327, those Senators voting in the
11 negative are Senators Borrello,
12 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Griffo, Lanza, Mattera,
13 Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads,
14 Rolison and Stec. Also Senator Tedisco.
15 Ayes, 44. Nays, 14.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
17 is passed.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
19 1336, Senate Print 4047, by Senator Fernandez, an
20 act to amend the Labor Law.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
22 last section.
23 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
24 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
25 shall have become a law.
4916
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
2 roll.
3 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
5 the results.
6 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
7 Calendar 1336, those Senators voting in the
8 negative are Senators Borrello,
9 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Griffo, Helming, Mattera,
10 Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads,
11 Rolison, Tedisco, Walczyk and Weber. Also
12 Senator Griffo.
13 Ayes, 42. Nays, 16.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
15 is passed.
16 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
17 1337, Senate Print 4402, by Senator Kennedy, an
18 act to amend the Labor Law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
20 last section.
21 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
22 act shall take effect immediately.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
24 roll.
25 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4917
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
2 Kennedy to explain his vote.
3 SENATOR KENNEDY: Thank you,
4 Madam President.
5 I rise today to speak on this bill
6 that I'm proud to sponsor. And I want to thank
7 our great Majority Leader, Andrea
8 Stewart-Cousins, for prioritizing it on behalf of
9 working families all across New York State and,
10 quite frankly, all across this country, because
11 New York State is a leader in this space.
12 Right now, if you are a front-line
13 worker on strike, fighting for better wages for
14 yourself and your family, to strengthen safety
15 conditions in the workplace, a fair contract --
16 you're unable to collect unemployment insurance
17 until you hit two weeks on the strike line.
18 Not too long ago that wait was even
19 longer; it was actually seven weeks. Because of
20 the work of this conference and this Senate and
21 our partners in government, we were able to
22 lessen that waiting period to two weeks, but it's
23 still far too long. Waiting an extra week on top
24 of what everyone else has to wait for in order to
25 collect unemployment puts an extra strain on
4918
1 these workers that are out there simply trying to
2 get the benefits and wages that they rightfully
3 earn and deserve each and every day.
4 And while we've done better than we
5 have in the past, unfortunately, with a prior
6 administration and a prior chapter amendment to
7 the original bill that was a one-week waiting
8 period -- which is what the bill before us does
9 here today -- we ultimately settled on two weeks.
10 So this rectifies that, ensures that
11 we level the playing field for all workers across
12 the board, whether they are filing for
13 unemployment from being laid off or whether
14 they're out on the line fighting for themselves
15 and their families.
16 You know, two weeks doesn't
17 necessarily seem like quite that long until
18 you're out of work, until you miss that paycheck.
19 You know, it could mean a missed car payment. It
20 could mean a missed mortgage payment, daycare
21 costs or, you know, just simply struggling to pay
22 utility bills or put food on the table, all
23 because one is seeking better wages for
24 themselves and, again, their families.
25 So we are making sure that when it
4919
1 comes to striking workers, that they have a fair
2 and level playing field and don't get the
3 vindictive actions of the managing corporation,
4 whoever that may be, to squeeze them out until
5 they settle for less than they deserve.
6 So we are very proud to move this
7 bill once again here today. Madam President, I
8 want to thank all of our colleagues for their
9 support on this important bill.
10 And it has a real-life impact. All
11 you have to do is ask the striking workers who
12 were out on the line at Mercy Hospital in
13 South Buffalo, not too long ago, for over
14 30 days. Those front-line workers that were
15 there for us during the most difficult time in
16 human history, the last pandemic of COVID-19, and
17 that they were strained by a fight with
18 management and they ended up out on the line for
19 what was a historic fight. But they were able to
20 get the benefits after two weeks because of the
21 legislative actions of this chamber and others.
22 We want to make sure that all have
23 that at one week. And, when it comes to working
24 families across New York State, they know that
25 we're listening, we're fighting for them and with
4920
1 them, and they get that relief that they
2 rightfully deserve.
3 With that, Madam President, I vote
4 aye.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
6 Kennedy to be recorded in the affirmative.
7 Announce the results.
8 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
9 Calendar 1337, those Senators voting in the
10 negative are Senators Borrello, Lanza, Oberacker,
11 O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Tedisco, Walczyk and
12 Weber.
13 Ayes, 49. Nays, 9.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
15 is passed.
16 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
17 1339, Senate Print 944A, by Senator Jackson, an
18 act to amend the Election Law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
20 last section.
21 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
22 act shall take effect immediately.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
24 roll.
25 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4921
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
2 the results.
3 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
4 Calendar 1339, those Senators voting in the
5 negative are Senators Borrello,
6 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming,
7 Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
8 Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Skoufis, Stec, Tedisco,
9 Walczyk and Weber.
10 Ayes, 40. Nays, 18.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
12 is passed.
13 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
14 1340, Senate Print 2331, by Senator Myrie, an act
15 to amend the Election Law.
16 SENATOR LANZA: Lay it aside.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
18 is laid aside.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
20 1341, Senate Print 2333, by Senator Myrie, an act
21 to amend the Election Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
25 act shall take effect immediately.
4922
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
2 roll.
3 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
5 Borrello to explain his vote.
6 SENATOR BORRELLO: Thank you,
7 Madam President.
8 This bill requires that the Board of
9 Elections publish biographical information of
10 candidates. I was quick to think about the fact
11 that, you know, what if George Santos had
12 submitted his biographical information to
13 Nassau County, would the Board of Elections be
14 required to vet that information?
15 But more importantly, this also
16 requires that the Board of Elections, by
17 advertising and advertising four times a day
18 about an election upcoming -- I think we are
19 already inundated with political advertising.
20 And we certainly know who the candidates are and
21 when the election is. And the fact that we're
22 going to dedicate resources for something that
23 already is in overabundance, and require our
24 Board of Elections to ensure that biographical
25 information is actually accurate, is just
4923
1 irresponsible.
2 So I'll be voting no. Thank you.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator
4 Borrello to be recorded in the negative.
5 Announce the results.
6 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
7 Calendar 1341, those Senators voting in the
8 negative are Senators Borrello,
9 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming,
10 Lanza, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
11 Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk
12 and Weber.
13 Ayes, 40. Nays, 18.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
15 is passed.
16 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
17 1356, Senate Print 5941B, by Senator Kavanagh, an
18 act to amend the General Business Law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
20 last section.
21 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
22 act shall take effect immediately.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
24 roll.
25 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4924
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
2 the results.
3 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
5 is passed.
6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
7 1358, Assembly Print Number 7401, by
8 Assemblymember Wallace, an act to amend
9 Chapter 109 of the Laws of 2018.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
11 last section.
12 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
13 act shall take effect immediately.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
15 roll.
16 (The Secretary called the roll.)
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
18 the results.
19 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
21 is passed.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23 1362, Assembly Print Number 6029, by
24 Assemblymember Paulin, an act to amend the
25 Social Services Law.
4925
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Read the
2 last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
4 act shall take effect immediately.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Call the
6 roll.
7 (The Secretary called the roll.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Announce
9 the results.
10 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: The bill
12 is passed.
13 Senator Gianaris, that completes the
14 reading of today's calendar.
15 SENATOR GIANARIS: Madam President,
16 can we lay aside for the day Calendar 663, and
17 then move to the controversial calendar and take
18 up the one remaining bill.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER: Calendar
20 Number 663 is laid aside for the day.
21 The Secretary will ring the bell.
22 The Secretary will read.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24 1340, Senate Print 2331, by Senator Myrie, an act
25 to amend the Election Law.
4926
1 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Senator
2 Walczyk, why do you rise?
3 SENATOR WALCZYK: Madam President,
4 I rise to see if the sponsor will be willing to
5 answer some questions about this bill.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Will the
7 sponsor yield?
8 SENATOR MYRIE: Yes.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
10 sponsor yields.
11 SENATOR WALCZYK: Through you,
12 Madam President. So this bill that you're
13 proposing is to do a few things, change the
14 Election Law to do a few things: To create at
15 the state level a voter's guide to send out
16 postcards to voters by household and also to use
17 what I would assume is taxpayer money for
18 television and radio ads in the State of New York
19 to remind people that it's Election Day.
20 Is that correct?
21 SENATOR MYRIE: Through you,
22 Madam President, that is not correct.
23 The bill requires, in addition to
24 some of the things mentioned by my colleague,
25 also if you have an email available to the Board
4927
1 of Elections, they can contact you that way. And
2 regarding the TV and radio time, these are not
3 advertisements, these are public service
4 announcements of upcoming elections. It has
5 nothing to do with the party or whomever is
6 running, simply to let people know an election is
7 coming up.
8 SENATOR WALCZYK: Through you,
9 Madam President, would the sponsor continue to
10 yield.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Does the
12 sponsor yield?
13 SENATOR MYRIE: Yes.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
15 sponsor yields.
16 SENATOR WALCZYK: Thank you for
17 that clarification.
18 In the first section here when
19 you're talking about the voter guide -- and we've
20 had some discussion in this chamber and even
21 passed legislation through this chamber -- I'm
22 not sure how it's doing in the other house -- but
23 it was specifically about the leadership at the
24 State Board of Elections and removing the
25 partisanship or the bipartisan nature of the
4928
1 State Board of Elections, requiring that there be
2 a balance of both a Republican leader and a
3 Democrat leader, and saying, Oh, not so important
4 to have the balance of those two parties, but
5 rather, you know, we'll have leadership that will
6 be selected.
7 So I say that because in the first
8 section when you're talking about the voter
9 guide, you're requiring the State Board of
10 Elections to put together issue-based questions.
11 And I wonder what the process the State Board of
12 Elections -- whether they'd be, you know, any
13 party in the future or currently a Republican and
14 a Democrat, equally matched -- what process will
15 they use to determine what questions are
16 appropriate for candidates on state literature
17 and state biographical information that's going
18 to be distributed?
19 SENATOR MYRIE: Through you,
20 Madam President, I'll address the question that
21 pertained to this bill.
22 The bill requires that the Board of
23 Elections promulgate regulations and establish
24 the formats and lengths by which biographies,
25 candidate statements would happen.
4929
1 When we do that typically in our
2 laws, when we allow for the agency to promulgate
3 the regulations, we intentionally do not
4 prescribe specifically how they should do that,
5 in order to leave it to the experts to take care
6 of the promulgation.
7 It is no different here in requiring
8 the Board of Elections to do that. And I would
9 note on line 14 on page 1 of the bill, the
10 information submitted by the candidate is a sworn
11 statement. And in our statutes a sworn statement
12 would subject the person issuing the statement to
13 criminal penalties should they be offering
14 anything not truthful.
15 So I leave it to the State Board of
16 Elections and to the candidates, under the
17 penalty of law, to come up with accurate
18 biographies.
19 SENATOR WALCZYK: And through you,
20 Madam President, would the sponsor continue to
21 yield.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Does the
23 sponsor yield?
24 SENATOR MYRIE: Yes.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
4930
1 sponsor yields.
2 SENATOR WALCZYK: We took up a bill
3 not too long ago talking about how concise the
4 nature of the language for constitutional
5 amendments on the back of the ballot is. And I
6 thought the goal of that was pretty laudable in
7 sort of constraining the State Board of Elections
8 to say, We don't want this to be propaganda on
9 the back of the ballot, we want voters to be as
10 informed as possible about what they're voting on
11 as far as New York State constitutional
12 amendments go. It's an interesting approach.
13 So as you point out, and through
14 you, Madam President, in line 14 that sworn
15 statement is requiring biographical information
16 be forwarded to the State Board of Elections but
17 also information about the candidate's
18 occupation, educational and occupational
19 background, prior governmental experience, and
20 any other personal background or experience that
21 the candidate deems relevant. Nice to give them
22 some leeway there in defining themselves on their
23 own political campaign and what will be
24 state-sponsored propaganda.
25 But what is really still the
4931
1 question to me is: Why is included, in line 18,
2 issue-based questions drafted by the State Board
3 of Elections? Why is that included here?
4 SENATOR MYRIE: Through you,
5 Madam President, the -- firstly let me step back.
6 The characterization that this is encouraging or
7 somehow explicitly accepting proposing propaganda
8 is a characterization that I would deeply
9 disagree with. This system is in place in
10 New York City. The Campaign Finance Board issues
11 these voter guides for every single election.
12 And as far as I know, there have not been any
13 issue with the content of those voter guides.
14 And I also think personally that
15 there might be some constitutional issues should
16 we encourage the government to censor political
17 speech.
18 That aside, the issue-based
19 questions, I would also point to the construction
20 of the current board, State Board of Elections,
21 that is bipartisan, that does require bipartisan
22 agreement for the promulgation of regulations.
23 And so in crafting issue statements -- and again,
24 we -- I know you pointed to the later line, but
25 if you look to the second paragraph of the
4932
1 statute, that there will be a regulatory process
2 by which you or others could offer public
3 comments on the format and the content of these
4 biographies and issue-statement questions would
5 be formulated.
6 SENATOR WALCZYK: Through you,
7 Madam President, would the sponsor continue to
8 yield.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Does the
10 sponsor yield?
11 SENATOR MYRIE: Yes.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
13 sponsor yields.
14 SENATOR WALCZYK: So same question,
15 why is it required in this bill that you're
16 proposing today to have issue-based questions
17 drafted by the State Board of Elections at all?
18 Why wouldn't it be the job of political campaigns
19 to define themselves in the issues that are
20 important to them by function of their own
21 campaign?
22 SENATOR MYRIE: Through you,
23 Madam President, this doesn't limit what a
24 political candidate can do or say or use as an
25 instrument of persuasion to voters.
4933
1 But as far as the State Board of
2 Elections or a local board if the State Board of
3 Elections deems that necessary, their role in
4 this process is really for information purposes,
5 for the issues like -- in the New York City voter
6 guide model, like housing, that the candidate is
7 free to say whatever they want to on that.
8 And I would note, again, that these
9 are candidates -- not a candidate for a single
10 party, but every candidate that is running in
11 that election.
12 And if there are issues with the
13 promulgation of the issue statements, again,
14 there is an opportunity for public comment, as
15 with all of our other regulations.
16 SENATOR WALCZYK: And through you,
17 Madam President, would the sponsor continue to
18 yield.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Does the
20 sponsor yield?
21 SENATOR MYRIE: Yes.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
23 sponsor yields.
24 SENATOR WALCZYK: So in Section 5
25 of this bill you're requiring the State Board of
4934
1 Elections to mail and email, if the registered
2 voter's email is available, every registered
3 voter in each household of the state this voting
4 guide. How much will that cost?
5 SENATOR MYRIE: Through you,
6 Madam President, up to $5 million.
7 SENATOR WALCZYK: Through you,
8 Madam President, would the sponsor continue to
9 yield.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Does the
11 sponsor yield?
12 SENATOR MYRIE: Yes.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
14 sponsor yields.
15 SENATOR WALCZYK: So if there's
16 seven voters in a household and the State Board
17 of Elections has zero email addresses on file,
18 will that household receive seven voter guides or
19 just one for the household, by the way that
20 you've written it here?
21 SENATOR MYRIE: Through you,
22 Madam President, it would go to each voter,
23 because we are trying to give as much information
24 as possible.
25 And as all of us are familiar with,
4935
1 not each household is unanimous in their
2 political affiliation, and there may be
3 households that have different viewpoints on
4 things and may receive the same information very
5 differently. And so it's important that we give
6 each voter that opportunity to make that judgment
7 call.
8 SENATOR WALCZYK: And through you,
9 Madam President, would the sponsor continue to
10 yield.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Does the
12 sponsor yield?
13 SENATOR MYRIE: Yes.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
15 sponsor yields.
16 SENATOR WALCZYK: In Section 6
17 you're also charging the State Board of Elections
18 to maintain a state website that has this
19 information. Is there a cost associated with
20 that?
21 SENATOR MYRIE: Through you,
22 Madam President, that is included in the up to
23 5 million I referenced earlier.
24 SENATOR WALCZYK: And through you,
25 Madam President, would the sponsor continue to
4936
1 yield.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Does the
3 sponsor yield?
4 SENATOR MYRIE: Yes.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
6 sponsor yields.
7 SENATOR WALCZYK: In the section
8 about postcards, in this instance, for the
9 postcards that you'll be sending out within a
10 time period prior to the election reminding folks
11 that an election is coming in case they missed
12 all of the TV and radio ads and mail that they're
13 already receiving in, in this instance you're not
14 requiring each member of the household to receive
15 that postcard, are you?
16 SENATOR MYRIE: Through you,
17 Madam President, no.
18 (Pause.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Senator,
20 he responded to your question.
21 SENATOR WALCZYK: Oh, I'm -- could
22 you -- through you, Madam President, would he be
23 willing to repeat that response?
24 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Senator,
25 your response?
4937
1 SENATOR MYRIE: Absolutely.
2 Through you, Madam President, no.
3 SENATOR WALCZYK: And through you,
4 Madam President, would the sponsor continue to
5 yield.
6 SENATOR MYRIE: Yes.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
8 sponsor yields.
9 SENATOR WALCZYK: How will
10 State Board of Elections -- say it's a household
11 of seven, by way of example, again -- how will
12 State Board of Elections determine which member
13 of the household gets the postcard?
14 SENATOR MYRIE: Through you,
15 Madam President, as I think I mentioned a number
16 of times here, this would be through a regulatory
17 process by which there will be bipartisan
18 participation to ensure that this is the most
19 effective and commonly shared purpose between the
20 two parties, the most effective way to reach
21 voters.
22 SENATOR WALCZYK: Through you,
23 Madam President, would the sponsor continue to
24 yield.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Does the
4938
1 sponsor yield?
2 SENATOR MYRIE: Yes.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
4 sponsor yields.
5 SENATOR WALCZYK: Well, I am
6 hopeful that, you know, State Board of Elections
7 has processes through Republicans and Democrats
8 at the top. And, you know, hopefully that
9 leadership balance is maintained so that we can
10 have both free and fair elections here in the
11 State of New York.
12 I do have some concerns if you
13 consider an odd-number household, for example,
14 where -- seven is probably not a bad number for
15 me to pick as a hypothetical -- if three
16 Democrats live in that household and four
17 Republicans live in that household, putting the
18 Republican and Democrat elections commissioners
19 at the State Board of Elections at a decision
20 whether to pick the Republicans or the Democrats
21 or one or the other to send a postcard to, may
22 present an undue challenge and is inconsistent
23 with prior provisions in even your bill and that
24 you've admitted to in this debate.
25 But I don't want to belabor this for
4939
1 too long. I do have a question about the final
2 section, if you would continue to yield.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Will the
4 sponsor yield?
5 SENATOR MYRIE: I would. And I
6 would quickly address the point, although there
7 was not a question there.
8 The same voter guide would be sent
9 to the voter regardless of their party
10 affiliation. And so the concerns about the board
11 picking about whether Democrats or Republicans
12 would receive a postcard is immaterial.
13 But I will continue to yield.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
15 sponsor yields.
16 SENATOR WALCZYK: Thank you.
17 The last section here is probably
18 going to be the most perplexing to constituents
19 that may have questions to me about how this law
20 is going to -- or if this becomes law, how it's
21 going to apply in our election systems.
22 This is the section where we're
23 requiring, for 10 consecutive days for each both
24 primary and general election, that there be
25 consistent ads on the television and the radio
4940
1 reminding folks that Election Day is coming.
2 Why is this section included in your
3 bill?
4 SENATOR MYRIE: Through you,
5 Madam President. I'd first say I think there is
6 a philosophical difference that will not be
7 resolved in our conversation here today.
8 I am of the belief that more
9 information on our democracy, more information on
10 how you can participate, more reminders, are
11 always a good thing. I believe my friend on the
12 other side may disagree with that.
13 But on the substance, the last line
14 in that section says each of the four required
15 notifications. So this isn't consistent, to
16 borrow your phrase. This is four consecutive --
17 four messages per day for 10 consecutive days.
18 And these are not advertisements, these are
19 public service announcements.
20 SENATOR WALCZYK: And through you,
21 Madam President, will the sponsor continue to
22 yield.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Does the
24 sponsor yield?
25 SENATOR MYRIE: Yes.
4941
1 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
2 sponsor yields.
3 SENATOR WALCZYK: We have public
4 service announcements about a number of different
5 topics, and sometimes we even use taxpayer money
6 to fund public service announcements. Sometimes
7 it's in partnership with broadcasters who just
8 want to do the right thing.
9 Will the state be paying for the
10 time to broadcasters on the TV and radio when
11 they have these public service announcements
12 about the election that's upcoming?
13 SENATOR MYRIE: Through you,
14 Madam President. As I mentioned earlier, the
15 costs associated with this, including this
16 section, could be up to $5 million.
17 SENATOR WALCZYK: Through you,
18 Madam President, would the sponsor continue to
19 yield.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Does the
21 sponsor yield?
22 SENATOR MYRIE: Yes.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
24 sponsor yields.
25 SENATOR WALCZYK: So the cost to
4942
1 put the public service announcements on the TV,
2 for example, that's included? So the
3 broadcaster, the television broadcasters will be
4 paid by taxpayer money in order to provide that
5 service for the state?
6 SENATOR MYRIE: Through you,
7 Madam President, they are using public airwaves
8 that belong to New Yorkers. And to uphold our
9 democracy, I think it's important that if you are
10 both making money from using our public airwaves,
11 that that should also be a medium by which voters
12 should be notified of upcoming elections.
13 SENATOR WALCZYK: Through you,
14 Madam President, would the sponsor continue to
15 yield.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Does the
17 sponsor yield?
18 SENATOR MYRIE: Yes.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
20 sponsor yields.
21 SENATOR WALCZYK: I'm just trying
22 to find out whether the state's going to be
23 paying the TV or the radio for the time or not.
24 SENATOR MYRIE: Through you,
25 Madam President, this would not change the --
4943
1 this will not change the method by which the
2 state issues public service announcements, not
3 just on elections but for health-related concerns
4 or tourism concerns.
5 This would not change how the state
6 does this under the normal course of business; it
7 would be the same exact process.
8 SENATOR WALCZYK: Through you,
9 Madam President, will the sponsor continue to
10 yield.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Does the
12 sponsor yield?
13 SENATOR MYRIE: Yes.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
15 sponsor yields.
16 SENATOR WALCZYK: In the memo that
17 you've written adjacent to this legislation, and
18 submitted, you list the cost as none to the
19 state. But you've referenced multiple times in
20 this debate that this could be up to $5 million.
21 Was there a state appropriation in
22 the budget for $5 million? And if not, who is
23 going to pay that $5 million?
24 SENATOR MYRIE: Through you,
25 Madam President, no specific appropriation for
4944
1 this in the budget.
2 We have historically given money to
3 our local boards and this year gave more than we
4 have since we've assumed the majority.
5 But this is an issue that I'd be
6 happy to revisit, should this bill become law, in
7 the next year's budget.
8 SENATOR WALCZYK: Through you,
9 Madam President, would the sponsor continue to
10 yield.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Does the
12 sponsor yield?
13 SENATOR MYRIE: Yes.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
15 sponsor yields.
16 SENATOR WALCZYK: So again, your
17 memo says none to the state. Would we require a
18 $5 million appropriation in next year's budget if
19 this is signed into law, or is someone else going
20 to be paying for this?
21 SENATOR MYRIE: Through you,
22 Madam President. The number that I mentioned
23 earlier is an estimate. Should this bill become
24 law, we would engage the State Board of
25 Elections, we would engage our local boards of
4945
1 elections to determine what the need would be
2 exactly. And would be happy to discuss with my
3 colleague and the rest of the chamber how we can
4 invest to ensure that this is run appropriately.
5 SENATOR WALCZYK: Madam President,
6 on the bill.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Senator
8 Walczyk on the bill.
9 SENATOR WALCZYK: Well, when I
10 first read this bill and it came through
11 committee and we had some committee discussion, I
12 was confused about some of the motivation,
13 frustrated by some of the goals. I have yet to
14 come across someone who at the end of the
15 political season says to me: Oh, gosh, I missed
16 Election Day. If only they had 10 days of public
17 service announcements on the TV and radio to
18 inform me that there was an upcoming election,
19 then I would have remembered to get out there.
20 But we should get down to Albany and do something
21 about that. I wish you would use $5 million of
22 my taxpayer dollars to remind me before --
23 Imagine this concept, using taxpayer
24 money. And now I'm even less sure about whose
25 taxpayer money, whether it's going to be local
4946
1 board of elections or the state at a future date,
2 because the memo and some of the information has
3 been inconsistent today.
4 But I have -- usually,
5 Madam President, people are pretty frustrated by
6 the amount of junk mail that they receive in
7 their boxes, the inundation that they get for
8 political ads on the TV and on the radio. And
9 they're looking forward to the end of the
10 political cycle, like many of us are, so that all
11 of that stuff is gone.
12 Nobody has approached me and said,
13 Gosh, if only we had the state out there
14 providing more political messaging on campaigns.
15 So I know my colleague from across
16 the aisle does want to enfranchise more voters,
17 does want to encourage people to get out to vote,
18 and wants to make sure that everybody's informed.
19 I think that's a laudable goal. I think this
20 bill tremendously misses the mark.
21 And there's also something included
22 here that I think is dangerous to our
23 representative democracy. So that piece is going
24 to be frustrating to constituents when they see
25 the state is wasting taxpayer money advertising
4947
1 to them that there's an election coming up.
2 Believe me, if they're going to vote, they know
3 that there's an election coming up.
4 But there's a piece in here that's
5 going to require the State Board of Elections,
6 the same State Board of Elections that this body
7 has pushed legislation forward to -- and there is
8 a movement to remove the bipartisan nature of --
9 requiring that State Board of Elections to define
10 candidates. There is a line in here that
11 requires the State Board of Elections to define
12 which issues are the most important on a
13 campaign.
14 In a representative democracy it is
15 not the job of a government to decide what issues
16 are the most important on the campaign. It's not
17 the job of some bureaucrat at the State Board of
18 Elections -- Republican, Democratic or
19 bipartisan -- to decide what issues.
20 It's our job to decide what
21 issues are most important on a campaign, and it's
22 our job driven by the people that we represent.
23 That's how you win and lose campaigns. You go
24 out and you listen to the people that you
25 represent, they drive the focus, and then we come
4948
1 here and do the job. It is not top down, it's
2 bottom up. That's how representative democracy
3 is designed.
4 So, Madam President, I'll be voting
5 no on this, and I encourage my colleagues to do
6 the same.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Thank
8 you.
9 Are there any other Senators wishing
10 to be heard?
11 Seeing and hearing none, debate is
12 closed.
13 The Secretary will ring the bell.
14 Senator Gianaris.
15 SENATOR GIANARIS: Madam President,
16 let's return this to the noncontroversial
17 calendar, please.
18 ACTING; PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
19 bill will be returned to the noncontroversial
20 calendar.
21 Read the last section.
22 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
23 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
24 shall have become a law.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
4949
1 roll.
2 (The Secretary called the roll.)
3 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Senator
4 Borrello to explain his vote.
5 SENATOR BORRELLO: Thank you,
6 Madam President. What I said on the previous
7 bill. I'm still a no.
8 Thank you.
9 (Laughter.)
10 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Senator
11 Borrello to be recorded in the negative.
12 Announce the results.
13 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
14 Calendar 1340, those Senators voting in the
15 negative are Senators Borrello,
16 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming,
17 Lanza, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
18 Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk
19 and Weber.
20 Ayes, 40. Nays, 18.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
22 is passed.
23 Senator Gianaris, that completes the
24 reading of the calendar.
25 SENATOR GIANARIS: Can we now
4950
1 return to resolutions and take up previously
2 adopted Resolution 938, by Senator Hinchey, read
3 its title and recognize Senator Hinchey.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
5 Secretary will read.
6 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
7 938, by Senator Hinchey, memorializing
8 Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 2023 as
9 Dairy Month in the State of New York.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Senator
11 Hinchey on the resolution.
12 SENATOR HINCHEY: Hi,
13 Madam President. I rise today to celebrate June
14 as Dairy Month in the State of New York.
15 It's often important to start these
16 comments with a frame of how important the dairy
17 sector and our dairy farmers are to New York
18 State. Dairy is the largest sector of New York's
19 agricultural industry. We are fifth in the
20 nation as the largest dairy state, fifth-largest
21 dairy state in the nation. And for every job
22 created by dairy food manufacturers, an
23 additional five jobs are created indirectly,
24 through vendors, contractors and others.
25 It's also important to know that
4951
1 dairy farmers are some of the best people I know
2 across our state. It may surprise people to know
3 that here in New York we have --
4 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Excuse
5 me, Senator Hinchey.
6 Can we have some order in the
7 chamber, please. Thank you.
8 SENATOR HINCHEY: Thank you,
9 Madam President. Because our dairy farmers
10 deserve it. They're some of the best people that
11 I know and I think many of us know across the
12 state.
13 It may surprise people that almost
14 all of the dairies here are small dairies. And
15 the farmers who run them, the farmers who manage
16 them, actually have names for every single cow
17 that's on -- in their herd and on their farm.
18 They know them by face, they engage with them,
19 they're almost like parts of the family.
20 Actually, they are really, truly parts of the
21 family for these farmers.
22 And yet our dairy farmers are facing
23 a crisis. Just over the last month and a half,
24 when we've asked for statistics around the number
25 of dairy farms in New York, we originally were
4952
1 told 3600. And just in the last month we're now
2 down to 3200. Over the last 10 years, 2,000
3 dairy farms have closed. And we're hopeful that
4 this trajectory will change, and we're calling
5 upon our federal partners to do more in the Farm
6 Bill to actually support not just agriculture and
7 our dairy farmers, but specifically fluid milk
8 here in the State of New York.
9 We just recently held Dairy Day on
10 May 23rd, in partnership with the Northeast Dairy
11 Foods Association, NEDFA, the New York State
12 Cheese Manufacturers Association, and others,
13 where many in this chamber were able to taste and
14 engage with so many of the delicious products
15 that are created right here in New York. And
16 some big-name brands people didn't even realize
17 were here, being created and being sold here in
18 New York.
19 So it's a great day for us to
20 celebrate June as Dairy Month, but we also must
21 remember that we have a lot more to do to support
22 those farmers and those people who provide us the
23 delicious food that we all love to consume and
24 enjoy.
25 So thank you, Madam President. I
4953
1 vote aye.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Senator
3 Borrello on the resolution.
4 SENATOR BORRELLO: Thank you,
5 Madam President.
6 I want to first of all thank
7 Senator Hinchey, the chair of Agriculture. I'm
8 proud to be the ranking member and to also rise
9 to celebrate June as Dairy Month.
10 You know, even though it's mostly
11 small dairy farms, dairy is big business in
12 New York State. It is the number-one
13 agricultural product here in New York State. And
14 I am proud to represent the largest
15 dairy-producing county in New York State, Wyoming
16 County.
17 We also have lots of other important
18 businesses in the dairy industry. We are
19 building the most state-of-the-art cheese-making
20 facility in the nation right now as we speak in
21 Cattaraugus County, where our good friends at
22 Great Lakes Cheese are expanding their operation.
23 And currently right now Great Lakes
24 Cheese -- not only does it employ hundreds of
25 people, hundreds of New Yorkers, but there are
4954
1 also 32,000 dairy cows that every single day
2 supply milk for the cheese that they make that
3 gets shipped around the world. And that number
4 is going to go up as they double in size as they
5 move to their new facility in Cattaraugus County.
6 So we are proud, very proud of our
7 strong dairy industry here in New York State.
8 And if you ate today, thank a farmer.
9 I proudly vote aye.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Thank
11 you.
12 Senator Webb on the resolution.
13 SENATOR WEBB: Thank you,
14 Madam President.
15 I rise today to thank
16 Senator Hinchey for bringing forth this important
17 resolution calling to attention recognizing June
18 as National Dairy Month here in our state.
19 So as it's been shared, agriculture
20 is the cornerstone of our economy here in the
21 state, where our farmers support jobs and
22 communities across our state. According to the
23 U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, in 2021
24 agriculture in New York produced roughly
25 $3.3 billion in gross domestic product and paid
4955
1 close to $1 billion in wages.
2 In rural districts like mine, where
3 we do have farms, it's critically important that
4 we do all that we can as a state to support our
5 farming community. Dairy farmers are the heart
6 of our agricultural industry here in New York.
7 And according to the U.S. Department of
8 Agriculture, milk is our state's largest
9 agricultural commodity, as my colleague just
10 mentioned a moment ago, ranking fifth nationally
11 in sales.
12 Dairy farmers are vitally important
13 to the health of our communities, providing
14 access to locally produced, delicious and
15 nutritious dairy products.
16 One of the lessons that we learned
17 in watching the ripple effects of the pandemic as
18 it disrupted our national food supply is that
19 having access to locally sourced foods is
20 critically important to protecting the food
21 security of all New Yorkers. And our dairy
22 farmers play a big role in that, in our state's
23 health and economy.
24 And so, again, we must continue our
25 efforts to support agriculture and ensure that
4956
1 our dairy farmers thrive so that they can
2 continue to feed and nourish New York.
3 I am proud to support this
4 resolution. I proudly vote aye. And I want to
5 thank Senator Hinchey again for bringing this
6 resolution to the floor.
7 Thank you, Madam President.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Thank
9 you.
10 The resolution was previously
11 adopted on May 9th.
12 Senator Gianaris.
13 SENATOR GIANARIS: Can we now move
14 on to previously adopted Resolution 1277, by
15 Senator Scarcella-Spanton, read its title and
16 recognize Senator Scarcella-Spanton.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
18 Secretary will read.
19 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
20 1277, by Senator Scarcella-Spanton, commending
21 the Pride Center of Staten Island upon the
22 occasion of hosting its Pridefest Festival on
23 May 27, 2023.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Senator
25 Scarcella-Spanton on the resolution.
4957
1 SENATOR SCARCELLA-SPANTON: Thank
2 you, Madam President.
3 And Happy Pride, everyone. I'm so
4 happy to be here today to shine a light on the
5 great work that the Pride Center of Staten Island
6 does year round.
7 Carol Bullock, who's the executive
8 director of the Pride Center, has been
9 instrumental in creating visibility and community
10 support for the center for years. She has
11 tirelessly paved the way for the LGBT+ community
12 on Staten Island, from events like Pridefest to
13 her Rainbow Run, and I want to commend her for
14 her leadership.
15 Pridefest is an opportunity for our
16 communities to come together. This is
17 particularly important because of the adversity
18 that they still face to this day. I promised the
19 Pride Center to always raise awareness of this
20 issue whenever I have the opportunity.
21 The Staten Island Pride Center is
22 one of the few LGBT groups left in the entire
23 country and, honestly, around the world that is
24 not allowed to march in our local St. Patrick
25 Day's Parade. I find this fundamentally wrong
4958
1 that they are still excluded from participating
2 after all these years.
3 So I wanted to stand on this floor
4 today to say that I will do everything I can to
5 stand by your side to make sure that you are
6 included.
7 And, you know, it's taken a long
8 time to do this, but I always wanted to quote
9 Taylor Swift on the floor of the Senate. So I
10 said "Shade never made anybody less gay," is my
11 message to the organizers.
12 So thank you very much. Happy
13 Pride. I'm so happy to honor you guys today. I
14 proudly vote aye.
15 Thank you.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
17 resolution was previously adopted on May 31st.
18 Senator Gianaris.
19 SENATOR GIANARIS: And now
20 previously adopted Resolution 1047, by
21 Senator Hinchey, read its title, recognize
22 Senator Hinchey.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
24 Secretary will read.
25 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
4959
1 1047, by Senator Hinchey, memorializing Governor
2 Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 28, 2023, as
3 Menstrual Hygiene Day in the State of New York.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Senator
5 Hinchey on the resolution.
6 SENATOR HINCHEY: Thank you,
7 Madam President.
8 Period poverty is a dilemma that no
9 person should ever have to face, and yet in
10 almost every community across New York there are
11 people who cannot afford these vital products.
12 It's estimated that one in four teens have missed
13 school because menstrual products weren't
14 available to them. And on average, two in five
15 people in the United States struggle to afford
16 menstrual health products.
17 Stigma, financial barriers, and
18 sexism around menstruation force millions of
19 people into period poverty every day. But here,
20 starting in 2020, New York abolished the "pink
21 tax" to make sure that menstruating people would
22 no longer be subject to price discrimination when
23 buying period products.
24 And this Majority, over the last few
25 years, has made a strong commitment to not only
4960
1 raising awareness around this issue, but bringing
2 real equity for people across our state,
3 including expanding access to period products in
4 shelters across upstate New York, something that
5 was already provided in New York City but we, in
6 our majority, passed it for the rest of our
7 state. We've expanded access in schools, and
8 hopefully later this session we'll be able to
9 expand that to SUNY and CUNY campuses as well.
10 Because no matter where you are,
11 people need and should have access to period
12 products just to live their life with dignity.
13 It's something that we need to talk about. It's
14 something we need to destigmatize. And it's
15 something we need to all support.
16 I want to thank United Way of the
17 Greater Capital Region, Women United, and the
18 Capital Region Menstrual Health Coalition for
19 doing their work and a press conference in their
20 coalition building around this issue. We were
21 very proud to stand with them yesterday in
22 raising awareness for their Lobby Day.
23 And I also want to thank
24 Senator Webb for sponsoring this resolution with
25 me and for all of her work in this space, making
4961
1 sure that everyone has equal access.
2 Thank you very much,
3 Madam President. And for that, I vote aye.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Thank
5 you.
6 Senator Webb on the resolution.
7 SENATOR WEBB: Thank you,
8 Madam President.
9 I rise to explain my vote with
10 regards to this resolution. This is such a
11 critical and important issue, and I want to thank
12 Senator Hinchey for her support. And also you,
13 Senator Persaud, Madam President, for your work
14 on this as well.
15 We had a panel last week with
16 regards to raising awareness about period
17 poverty. And I think sometimes people take for
18 granted how pervasive it is as it relates to this
19 issue. And so this resolution is a continuation
20 of the necessary awareness that we need to do not
21 just on days like this, but year-round, as it
22 pertains to ultimately ending period poverty.
23 And as the chair of the Women's
24 Issues Committee I'm really proud of the work
25 that we've been doing, especially during this
4962
1 legislative session, to raise awareness around
2 period poverty and the need for equitable access
3 to period supplies so we can ultimately end the
4 stigma that exists around it.
5 As has already been said, for far
6 too many women and girls the cost of period
7 products continues to grow, and it creates even
8 more barriers as pertains to attending school,
9 going to work, being fully engaged in your
10 day-to-day life. And so it is important as a
11 state that we continue to again remove barriers
12 as pertains to getting access to menstrual
13 products, and also raise awareness on -- so that
14 we can ultimately remove the stigma.
15 I want to thank Senator Hinchey
16 again for bringing forth this important
17 resolution, and I encourage that we all, whether
18 you are an individual who experiences your
19 menstrual cycle or not, that we all collectively
20 commit to ensuring equity for all menstruating
21 women, because no one in our state or our country
22 should have to miss school or work because of
23 period poverty.
24 I thank you, Madam President, and I
25 proudly vote aye.
4963
1 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
2 resolution was previously adopted on May 23rd.
3 Senator Gianaris.
4 SENATOR GIANARIS: The sponsors of
5 the resolutions we just took up would like to
6 open them for cosponsorship.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
8 resolutions are open for cosponsorship. Should
9 you choose not to be a cosponsor, please notify
10 the desk.
11 Senator Gianaris.
12 SENATOR GIANARIS: On behalf of
13 Senator Sanders, on page 48 I offer the following
14 amendments to Calendar 1251, Senate Print 6647,
15 and ask that said bill retain its place on
16 Third Reading Calendar.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
18 amendments are received, and the bill will retain
19 its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
20 Senator Gianaris.
21 SENATOR GIANARIS: Please take up
22 the Rules Committee report that is at the desk.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
24 Secretary will read.
25 THE SECRETARY: Senator
4964
1 Stewart-Cousins, from the Committee on Rules,
2 reports the following bills:
3 Senate Print 99, by
4 Senator Gounardes, an act to amend the Labor Law;
5 Senate Print 932A, by
6 Senator Persaud, an act to amend the
7 General Business Law;
8 Senate Print 942A, by
9 Senator Bailey, an act to amend the
10 Education Law;
11 Senate Print 1048A, by
12 Senator Cooney, an act to amend the
13 General Business Law;
14 Senate Print 1211, by
15 Senator Persaud, an act to amend the
16 Executive Law;
17 Senate Print 1577, by Senator Brouk,
18 an act to amend the Education Law;
19 Senate Print 1746, by Senator Ramos,
20 an act to amend the Labor Law;
21 Senate Print 1863, by Senator Brouk,
22 an act to amend the Education Law;
23 Senate Print 1892, by
24 Senator Stavisky, an act to amend the Penal Law;
25 Senate Print 1900, by
4965
1 Senator Stavisky, an act to amend the Vehicle and
2 Traffic Law;
3 Senate Print 2102, by
4 Senator Harckham, an act to amend the
5 Criminal Procedure Law;
6 Senate Print 2323A, by
7 Senator Bailey, an act to amend the
8 Public Health Law;
9 Senate Print 2356, by
10 Senator Felder, an act to amend the
11 Education Law;
12 Senate Print 2399, by
13 Senator Gounardes, an act to amend the
14 General Business Law;
15 Senate Print 2465, by
16 Senator Persaud, an act to amend the
17 Insurance Law;
18 Senate Print 2496, by
19 Senator Mannion, an act to amend the
20 Social Services Law;
21 Senate Print 2629A, by Senator May,
22 an act to amend the Education Law;
23 Senate Print 2904, by Senator Stec,
24 an act to amend the Highway Law;
25 Senate Print 2905, by Senator Stec,
4966
1 an act to amend the Highway Law;
2 Senate Print 2956A, by
3 Senator Hinchey, an act to amend the
4 Public Authorities Law;
5 Senate Print 3036, by Senator Brouk,
6 an act to amend the Education Law;
7 Senate Print 3037, by
8 Senator Walczyk, an act to amend the Highway Law;
9 Senate Print 3309A, by
10 Senator Skoufis, an act to amend the Parks,
11 Recreation and Historic Preservation Law;
12 Senate Print 3539, by
13 Senator Breslin, an act to amend the
14 General Business Law;
15 Senate Print 3591A, by
16 Senator Breslin, an act to amend the
17 Public Health Law;
18 Senate Print 4100, by
19 Senator Kennedy, an act to amend the
20 Education Law;
21 Senate Print 4306, by Senator Chu,
22 an act to amend the State Finance Law;
23 Senate Print 4393, by
24 Senator Martinez, an act to amend the
25 Public Health Law;
4967
1 Senate Print 4401A, by Senator Webb,
2 an act to amend the Public Health Law;
3 Senate Print 4501A, by
4 Senator Skoufis, an act to amend the
5 Public Health Law;
6 Senate Print 4534, by
7 Senator Harckham, an act to amend the
8 Transportation Law;
9 Senate Print 4550, by Senator May,
10 an act to amend the Education Law;
11 Senate Print 4558A, by
12 Senator Skoufis, an act to amend the
13 Public Authorities Law;
14 Senate Print 4598, by
15 Senator Bailey, an act to amend the
16 Education Law;
17 Senate Print 4707A, by
18 Senator Walczyk, an act to amend the Highway Law;
19 Senate Print 4862, by
20 Senator Comrie, an act to amend the
21 Insurance Law;
22 Senate Print 4864, by
23 Senator Cooney, an act to amend the
24 Social Services Law;
25 Senate Print 4897A, by
4968
1 Senator Rolison, an act to amend the Highway Law;
2 Senate Print 4898A, by
3 Senator Rolison, an act to amend the Highway Law;
4 Senate Print 4900A, by
5 Senator Rolison, an act to amend the Highway Law;
6 Senate Print 4973, by
7 Senator Gounardes, an act to amend the Labor Law;
8 Senate Print 5201, by
9 Senator Skoufis, an act to amend the
10 Insurance Law;
11 Senate Print 5237, by Senator Ashby,
12 an act to amend the Highway Law;
13 Senate Print 5254, by
14 Senator Jackson, an act to amend the
15 Retirement and Social Security Law;
16 Senate Print 5261A, by
17 Senator Salazar, an act to amend the
18 Education Law;
19 Senate Print 5289, by Senator Mayer,
20 an act to amend the Retirement and
21 Social Security Law;
22 Senate Print 5327A, by
23 Senator Brisport, an act to amend the
24 Social Services Law;
25 Senate Print 5396, by
4969
1 Senator Harckham, an act to amend the
2 Mental Hygiene Law;
3 Senate Print 5423, by
4 Senator Martinez, an act to amend the Parks,
5 Recreation and Historic Preservation Law;
6 Senate Print 5424, by
7 Senator Martinez, an act to amend the
8 Navigation Law;
9 Senate Print 5426, by
10 Senator Mattera, an act to amend the Highway Law;
11 Senate Print 5521A, by
12 Senator Cooney, an act to amend the Vehicle and
13 Traffic Law;
14 Senate Print 5574, by
15 Senator Gounardes, an act to amend the
16 Criminal Procedure Law;
17 Senate Print 5591A, by
18 Senator Comrie, an act to amend the
19 Insurance Law;
20 Senate Print 5650A, by Senator Liu,
21 an act to amend the Education Law;
22 Senate Print 5728A, by
23 Senator Harckham, an act to amend the
24 Environmental Conservation Law;
25 Senate Print 5741, by
4970
1 Senator Palumbo, an act permitting the Town Board
2 of the Town of East Hampton to provide health
3 insurance coverage for enrolled members of the
4 East Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue and Auxiliary
5 Squad;
6 Senate Print 5744, by
7 Senator Gounardes, an act to amend the
8 Retirement and Social Security Law;
9 Senate Print 5853, by
10 Senator Krueger, an act to amend the
11 Public Authorities Law;
12 Senate Print 5867, by Senator Ramos,
13 an act to amend the Workers' Compensation Law;
14 Senate Print 5897, by
15 Senator Brisport, an act to amend the
16 Social Services Law;
17 Senate Print 5971, by
18 Senator Mattera, an act to amend the Highway Law;
19 Senate Print 6050, by Senator Mayer,
20 an act to amend the Education Law;
21 Senate Print 6097, by
22 Senator Gounardes, an act to amend the
23 Retirement and Social Security Law;
24 Senate Print 6216, by
25 Senator Jackson, an act to amend the
4971
1 General Municipal Law;
2 Senate Print 6246, by
3 Senator Gounardes, an act to amend the
4 Vehicle and Traffic Law;
5 Senate Print 6247, by Senator Myrie,
6 an act to amend the Election Law;
7 Senate Print 6253, by
8 Senator Jackson, an act to amend the
9 General Municipal Law;
10 Senate Print 6254, by
11 Senator Jackson, an act to amend the
12 General Municipal Law;
13 Senate Print 6293, by
14 Senator Jackson, an act to amend the
15 Retirement and Social Security Law;
16 Senate Print 6318, by
17 Senator Hinchey, an act to amend the
18 Public Service Law;
19 Senate Print 6335A, by
20 Senator Mannion, an act to amend the
21 Civil Service Law;
22 Senate Print 6339, by
23 Senator Gounardes, an act to amend the
24 Retirement and Social Security Law;
25 Senate Print 6412, by
4972
1 Senator Kennedy, an act to amend the Vehicle and
2 Traffic Law;
3 Senate Print 6416, by
4 Senator Jackson, an act to amend the
5 Administrative Code of the City of New York;
6 Senate Print 6458, by
7 Senator Martinez, an act to amend the
8 Social Services Law;
9 Senate Print 6534, by
10 Senator Breslin, an act to amend the Vehicle and
11 Traffic Law;
12 Senate Print 6537, by
13 Senator Gounardes, an act to amend the
14 Education Law;
15 Senate Print 6542, by
16 Senator Rivera, an act to amend the
17 Public Health Law;
18 Senate Print 6552, by
19 Senator Skoufis, an act to amend the
20 Public Authorities Law;
21 Senate Print 6584, by
22 Senator Gianaris, an act to amend the
23 Executive Law;
24 Senate Print 6640B, by
25 Senator Kavanagh, an act to amend the
4973
1 Real Property Tax Law;
2 Senate Print 6641A, by
3 Senator Rivera, an act to amend the
4 Public Health Law;
5 Senate Print 6644B, by
6 Senator Mannion, an act to amend the Highway Law;
7 Senate Print 6733, by
8 Senator Rivera, an act to amend the
9 Public Health Law;
10 Senate Print 6862, by
11 Senator Jackson, an act to amend the
12 General Municipal Law;
13 Senate Print 6897, by
14 Senator Rivera, an act to amend the
15 Public Health Law;
16 Senate Print 6976, by
17 Senator Jackson, an act to amend the
18 Retirement and Social Security Law;
19 Senate Print 7000, by
20 Senator Mannion, an act to amend the
21 Education Law;
22 Senate Print 7012, by
23 Senator Mannion, an act to amend the
24 State Administrative Procedure Act;
25 Senate Print 7082, by
4974
1 Senator Kennedy, an act to amend the Parks,
2 Recreation and Historic Preservation Law;
3 Senate Print 7124, by
4 Senator Parker, an act to amend the
5 Alcoholic Beverage Control Law;
6 Senate Print 7152, by
7 Senator Parker, an act to amend the
8 Public Health Law;
9 Senate Print 7211, by
10 Senator Cleare, an act to amend the
11 Public Health Law;
12 Senate Print 7225A, by
13 Senator Mannion, an act enacting the "Syracuse
14 Regional Airport Authority Design-Build Act";
15 Senate Print 7232, by Senator Ryan,
16 an act to amend the Economic Development Law;
17 Senate Print 7259A, by
18 Senator Persaud, an act establishing a fiscal
19 cliff task force;
20 Senate Print 7358, by
21 Senator Stewart-Cousins, an act to allow
22 Tammy Sciavillo to file an application for
23 continuation of state health insurance benefits;
24 Senate Print 7384A, by
25 Senator Krueger, an act to amend the
4975
1 Real Property Tax Law;
2 Senate Print 7385, by
3 Senator Sanders, an act to amend the
4 Insurance Law;
5 Senate Print 7386, by
6 Senator Sepúlveda, an act to amend the Tax Law;
7 Senate Print 7431A, by
8 Senator Rolison, an act to amend Chapter 371 of
9 the Laws of 2020;
10 Senate Print 7455, by
11 Senator Serrano, an act to amend Chapter 192 of
12 the Laws of 2011;
13 Senate Print 7461, by
14 Senator Scarcella-Spanton, an act to amend the
15 Real Property Tax Law;
16 Senate Print 7462, by Senator Ryan,
17 an act to amend the Education Law;
18 Senate Print 7463, by
19 Senator Mannion, an act to amend Chapter 563 of
20 the Laws of 2001;
21 Senate Print 7464, by Senator Mayer,
22 an act to amend the Education Law;
23 Senate Print 7465, by
24 Senator Mannion, an act to amend the
25 Executive Law;
4976
1 Senate Print 7474, by Senator Ramos,
2 an act to amend Chapter 363 of the Laws of 2010;
3 Senate Print 7475, by
4 Senator Hoylman-Sigal, an act to amend the
5 Surrogate's Court Procedure Act;
6 Senate Print 7476, by
7 Senator Gianaris, an act to amend the
8 Civil Practice Law and Rules;
9 Senate Print 7477, by
10 Senator Rivera, an act to amend Part FFF of
11 Chapter 59 of the Laws of 2018;
12 Senate Print 7478, by
13 Senator Rivera, an act to amend Chapter 2 of the
14 Laws of 1998;
15 Senate Print 7479, by
16 Senator Rivera, an act to amend Chapter 81 of the
17 Laws of 1995;
18 Senate Print 7480, by
19 Senator Serrano, an act to amend Chapter 384 of
20 the Laws of 1998;
21 Senate Print 7481, by
22 Senator Cooney, an act to amend the Cannabis Law;
23 Senate Print 7488, by Senator Ryan,
24 an act to amend the Judiciary Law;
25 Senate Print 7489, by
4977
1 Senator Comrie, an act to amend Chapter 303 of
2 the Laws of 1999.
3 All bills reported direct to third
4 reading.
5 SENATOR GIANARIS: Move to accept
6 the report of the Rules Committee.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: All
8 those in favor of accepting the Rules Committee
9 report, signify by saying aye.
10 (Response of "Aye.")
11 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Opposed,
12 nay?
13 (No response.)
14 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
15 report of the Rules Committee is accepted.
16 Senator Gianaris.
17 SENATOR GIANARIS: Going back to
18 motions for a moment, on behalf of
19 Senator Sepúlveda, on page 36, I offer the
20 following amendments to Calendar 1085,
21 Senate Print 3315, and ask that said bill retain
22 its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
24 amendments are received, and the bill will retain
25 its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
4978
1 Senator Gianaris.
2 SENATOR GIANARIS: Is there any
3 further business at the desk?
4 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: There is
5 no further business at the desk.
6 SENATOR GIANARIS: I move to
7 adjourn until Monday, June 5th, at 3:00 p.m.,
8 with the intervening days being legislative days.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: On
10 motion, the Senate stands adjourned until Monday,
11 June 5th, at 3:00 p.m., with intervening days
12 being legislative days.
13 (Whereupon, at 2:17 p.m., the Senate
14 adjourned.)
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25