Regular Session - May 14, 2024
3808
1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
2
3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
5
6
7
8
9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 May 14, 2024
11 3:13 p.m.
12
13
14 REGULAR SESSION
15
16
17
18 SENATOR JEREMY A. COONEY, Acting President
19 ALEJANDRA N. PAULINO, ESQ., Secretary
20
21
22
23
24
25
3809
1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
3 Senate will come to order.
4 I ask everyone to please rise and
5 recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
6 (Whereupon, the assemblage recited
7 the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Please
9 join me in a moment of silence to honor
10 Vincent Giammarva, an almost 20-year veteran of
11 the New York State Thruway Authority, who
12 tragically lost his life last Thursday, May 9th,
13 while on the job at the Thruway work site.
14 Vincent leaves behind his wife,
15 Patty, of 40 years; two adult children; and three
16 grandchildren.
17 (Whereupon, the assemblage respected
18 a moment of silence.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Reading
20 of the Journal.
21 THE SECRETARY: In Senate, Monday,
22 May 13, 2024, the Senate met pursuant to
23 adjournment. The Journal of Sunday, May 12,
24 2024, was read and approved. On motion, the
25 Senate adjourned.
3810
1 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Without
2 objection, the Journal stands approved as read.
3 Presentation of petitions.
4 Messages from the Assembly.
5 The Secretary will read.
6 THE SECRETARY: Senator Persaud
7 moves to discharge, from the Committee on Codes,
8 Assembly Bill Number 4737B and substitute it for
9 the identical Senate Bill Number 2376B,
10 Third Reading Calendar 731.
11 Senator Ashby moves to discharge,
12 from the Committee on Corporations, Authorities
13 and Commissions, Assembly Bill Number 7476 and
14 substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 5939,
15 Third Reading Calendar 952.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: So
17 ordered.
18 Messages from the Governor.
19 Reports of standing committees.
20 Reports of select committees.
21 Communications and reports from
22 state officers.
23 Motions and resolutions.
24 Senator Gianaris.
25 SENATOR GIANARIS: Good afternoon,
3811
1 Mr. President.
2 I wish to call up Senate Bill 4305,
3 recalled from the Assembly, which is now at the
4 desk.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
6 Secretary will read.
7 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
8 220, Senate Print 4305, by Senator Parker, an act
9 to amend the Public Service Law.
10 SENATOR GIANARIS: Move to
11 reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
13 Secretary will call the roll on reconsideration.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 53.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
17 is restored to its place on Third Reading
18 Calendar.
19 SENATOR GIANARIS: I offer the
20 following amendments.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
22 amendments are received.
23 SENATOR GIANARIS: Amendments are
24 also offered to the following Third Reading
25 Calendar bills:
3812
1 By Senator Parker, page 25, Calendar
2 Number 498, Senate Print 6852;
3 By Senator Ramos, page 54, Calendar
4 Number 945, Senate Print 7676.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
6 amendments are received, and the bills will
7 retain their place on the Third Reading Calendar.
8 Senator Gianaris.
9 SENATOR GIANARIS: I move to adopt
10 the Resolution Calendar, with the exception of
11 Resolutions 2349, 2379, 2414 and 2419.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: All those
13 in favor of adopting the Resolution Calendar,
14 with the exception of Resolutions 2349, 2379,
15 2414 and 2419, please signify by saying aye.
16 (Response of "Aye.")
17 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Opposed,
18 nay.
19 (No response.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
21 Resolution Calendar is adopted.
22 Senator Gianaris.
23 SENATOR GIANARIS: Let's now begin
24 by taking up Resolution 2419, by Leader
25 Stewart-Cousins, read that resolution's title,
3813
1 and recognize Senator Webb on that resolution.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
3 Secretary will read.
4 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 2419, by
5 Senator Stewart-Cousins, congratulating the 2024
6 New York State Senate Women of Distinction.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
8 Webb on the resolution.
9 SENATOR WEBB: Thank you,
10 Mr. President.
11 I rise today with great pride and
12 enthusiasm to speak in support of this resolution
13 congratulating the 2024 New York State Senate
14 Women of Distinction.
15 I also want to thank our Majority
16 Leader, Andrea Stewart-Cousins, who as we know is
17 the first woman to lead the Senate.
18 When you think about the
19 contributions of not only our Majority Leader but
20 all of the distinguished women that have joined
21 us today in the Capitol, it is most certainly a
22 momentous occasion, but it also serves as a
23 reminder about the important role that women play
24 across our communities every single day.
25 This initiative -- which was
3814
1 established 26 years ago in 1998 -- the Senate's
2 Women of Distinction Program, is a testament to
3 our commitment to honor exemplary women from
4 across our great state.
5 The 2024 Women of Distinction have
6 demonstrated outstanding professional or personal
7 achievements, an unwavering -- and I would dare
8 say unapologetic -- commitment to excellence, and
9 a track record of accomplishments that merit this
10 special recognition.
11 Today as we recognize the Women of
12 Distinction we celebrate the diversity of our
13 state and the contributions made by women from
14 every economic, ethnic, religious and every other
15 background.
16 These women have shattered glass
17 ceilings, and in some instances brick ceilings,
18 fighting against stereotypes, bigotry, prejudice,
19 and seemingly insurmountable obstacles, paving
20 the way for future generations of trailblazers.
21 We applaud their character, their initiative and
22 commitment to their communities.
23 From the pioneers of the women's
24 suffrage movement to the present day, women have
25 played and continue to play a crucial role in
3815
1 shaping the history of our great state. The 2024
2 Women of Distinction have contributed to the
3 advancement of our culture through both
4 traditional and nontraditional roles in society.
5 They have dedicated themselves to enhancing the
6 well-being of their communities, showcasing a
7 long and sustained commitment to excellence.
8 They have earned the recognition and
9 applause of all the citizens of this great
10 Empire State. Let us, as the New York State
11 Senate, proudly stand together to congratulate
12 the 2024 New York State Senate Women of
13 Distinction.
14 Mr. President, I proudly vote aye.
15 Thank you.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
17 you, Senator Webb.
18 Senator Helming on the resolution.
19 SENATOR HELMING: Thank you,
20 Mr. President.
21 I'm honored this afternoon to speak
22 on behalf of the Republican Conference as we
23 recognize the outstanding female leaders from
24 across our great state. On this, I think we can
25 all agree: New York State is a state with a
3816
1 history of formidable and courageous women.
2 We're the proud home of Seneca Falls, the
3 birthplace of the Women's Rights Movement.
4 I want to start by saying just two
5 days ago, on Sunday, we celebrated Mother's Day.
6 And I want to take a moment to wish all the moms
7 who are here today a Happy Mother's Day. Whether
8 you're a first-time mother, a grandmother, a
9 single mom, a working mom, a stay-at-home mom, I
10 hope you all enjoyed your special day.
11 Women of Distinction is a lot like
12 Mother's Day, as we recognize the females in our
13 state who are doing extraordinary things in
14 business, in education, in our hospitals, our
15 nursing homes or working direct care, on our
16 farms, in nonprofits, in law enforcement and the
17 military, in the halls of government and right in
18 their own living rooms. Their stories are
19 uniquely motivating. But what all of our Women
20 of Distinction have in common is a commitment to
21 serving others. And in doing so, they're shaping
22 the future of our local communities and our
23 state.
24 Every single day they inspire us.
25 And through the state's Women of Distinction
3817
1 program, they are inspiring the next generation
2 of female leaders in New York.
3 I like to think of the women that
4 we're honoring today that they've distinguished
5 themselves by what I refer to as the four C's --
6 contributions, character, caring and commitment.
7 They embody the enterprising and altruistic
8 spirit of New York. Every day they live our
9 motto of Excelsior: Ever upward. They're
10 achieving the highest standards of excellence and
11 raising the bar for us and for future
12 generations.
13 To all of our Women of Distinction,
14 on behalf of the Republican Conference, thank
15 you. Thank you for being the light for others as
16 we shine a light today on your accomplishments.
17 I want to conclude quickly by
18 acknowledging the honoree from my district,
19 Mari Potter. Mari is the owner of 13 McDonald's
20 restaurants in the greater Rochester and
21 Finger Lakes area. She is one of only 10 female
22 operators in the Empire Region stretching from
23 Buffalo to Albany.
24 Mari is here today with her husband,
25 Tim, and many members of her McDonald's team.
3818
1 So Mr. President, in closing, let me
2 say this about the leadership of all of the
3 remarkable women we are honoring today.
4 Ba-da-bap-bap-ba -- I'm lovin' it.
5 (Laughter.)
6 SENATOR HELMING: Congratulations
7 to all of our women.
8 I'm proud to support this
9 resolution. I vote aye. Thank you.
10 (Applause.)
11 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
12 you, Senator Helming.
13 To our guests and the many Women of
14 Distinction in our chamber, I welcome you on
15 behalf of the Senate. We extend to you the
16 privileges and courtesies of this house.
17 Please rise and be recognized.
18 (Extended standing ovation.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
20 question is on the resolution.
21 All in favor signify by saying aye.
22 (Response of "Aye.")
23 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Opposed,
24 nay.
25 (No response.)
3819
1 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
2 resolution is adopted.
3 Senator Gianaris.
4 SENATOR GIANARIS: Now let's move
5 on to Resolution 2414, by Senator Ryan, read that
6 resolution's title and recognize Senator Ryan.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
8 Secretary will read.
9 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 2414, by
10 Senator Ryan, commemorating the two-year
11 anniversary of the mass shooting at Tops Friendly
12 Markets in Buffalo, New York, on May 14, 2024,
13 and honoring the victims, survivors, families and
14 community at large in the wake of this
15 devastating tragedy.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
17 Ryan on the resolution.
18 SENATOR RYAN: Thank you,
19 Mr. President.
20 It's hard to believe that it's been
21 two years since we were standing here talking
22 about the tragedy in Buffalo that took 10 lives
23 on May 14, 2022. I have a vivid remembrance of
24 that day because it was a beautiful, sunny day.
25 It was one of the first weekend days where it was
3820
1 warm, we were coming out of our winter
2 hibernation, and people are running errands, the
3 streets are full of people in cars or who are
4 walking around.
5 And I went to the backyard for a few
6 hours, left my cellphone in the kitchen. I was
7 doing yard work, and I started hearing a
8 helicopter buzzing over and over, and I started
9 hearing a lot of sirens. And my wife came out
10 and said, "You'd better come inside because your
11 phone's blowing up." And it's not what I
12 expected when I picked up that phone.
13 So we know the story. A murderous
14 racist drove two and a half hours, seemingly for
15 no reason, to come to Buffalo to open fire on
16 innocent people at a supermarket.
17 Celestine Chaney. Roberta Drury.
18 Andre Mackneil. Katherine Massey. Margus
19 Morrison. Heyward Patterson. Aaron Salter.
20 Geraldine Talley. Ruth Whitfield. And Pearl
21 Young. They all lost their lives within minutes
22 that day.
23 Christopher Braden, Zaire Goodman,
24 Jennifer Warrington -- they were all wounded but
25 miraculously survived.
3821
1 The only thing that any of these
2 people did to make them a target that day was to
3 go live their ordinary lives and go shopping at a
4 grocery store in a prominently Black
5 neighborhood.
6 Two years have passed, but the
7 memory is still just as fresh, it's just as raw.
8 And for the families of the victims, grief hasn't
9 gone away. For the survivors, the trauma hasn't
10 gone away. For our entire Buffalo community, the
11 anger, the sorrow, the losses we all feel hasn't
12 gone away.
13 But I guess it's not supposed to go
14 away. You know, when we experience loss, grief
15 doesn't dissipate over time. If you lose
16 somebody and someone says, It will get better, it
17 will go away, that's a lie. It doesn't go away.
18 What happens is we grow our life around it. We
19 take that pain, we hold onto it, but we move
20 forward, because that's what we have to do. We
21 learn how to live with the grief. We don't let
22 it hold us back, but it doesn't go away.
23 On May 14, 2022, the white
24 supremacist came to our city with one goal, and
25 that was to tear a hole in the heart of the Black
3822
1 community. And there was no doubt he opened up a
2 painful wound. On that awful day it was hard to
3 see past the tragedy at hand. But even today,
4 the pain is never far from the minds of those who
5 lost loved ones. In Buffalo's Black community,
6 who witnessed a direct attack, they feel it every
7 day.
8 But in our collective grief, Buffalo
9 has come together. With time, the community has
10 begun to get back on its feet. And while we
11 continue to mourn the losses, the people of the
12 East Side are persevering. They're living their
13 lives. They're celebrating birthdays, wedding
14 anniversaries, holidays, graduations and
15 weddings. But each of those remembrances, each
16 of those celebrations, there's something missing
17 from everybody because something was taken that
18 day that can never be put back.
19 But every day the people are sending
20 a clear message, and that's one hateful act, no
21 matter how much pain it caused, will not rip
22 apart and break the spirit of our community.
23 But the tragedy, it didn't happen in
24 a vacuum. The East Side of Buffalo, which is
25 home to what we call Black Buffalo, has had much
3823
1 more to contend with than this awful,
2 catastrophic day. The attack was layered upon
3 decades of grinding, persistent, systemic racism.
4 African-Americans came to Buffalo as
5 part of the Great Migration, full of hope, with
6 job opportunities to work in the steel and auto
7 industries, to fill a labor need. But they were
8 met with the North's version of Jim Crow. It's
9 not as obvious, it's not as pernicious, but, boy,
10 is it every bit as destructive.
11 They were met with redlining,
12 housing discrimination, employment discrimination
13 and, decades later, still persistent segregation.
14 So May 14th was the exclamation point of this
15 slow-moving tragedy.
16 So while the community has slowly
17 recovered from the attack, the baseline that
18 they're returning to is as much of a problem
19 today as it was two years ago. The area is still
20 a food desert. The neighborhood is still barren
21 from decades of demolitions and disinvestments.
22 Every social indicator, every social indicator,
23 whether it's individual wealth, family wealth,
24 homeownership, health outcomes, Black
25 Buffalonians in the East Side are worse off than
3824
1 anywhere else in the whole city.
2 So we're left with the important
3 question to ponder: What are we going to do
4 about it? Will this tragedy catalyze us? Will
5 it make us address the issues that have been
6 weighing down Buffalo and other cities,
7 communities, for decades?
8 I'm optimistic. I think we're
9 finally starting to move in the right direction.
10 But we have a lot of work to do as a state and as
11 a country. But we're finally recognizing the
12 institutional racism that led to the inequality
13 that we see today.
14 But real change, it's going to come
15 slow. And it's only going to come if we all work
16 together and we're all pulling in the same
17 direction.
18 Jillian Hanesworth was Buffalo's
19 first poet laureate. She wrote a poem called
20 "Water" where she talks about that reality. The
21 poem was installed at Tops Supermarket as part of
22 the in-store memorial to the victims of the
23 shooting. The poem is a hopeful call to all of
24 us in the community to recognize that we all have
25 a part to do. And as Jillian puts it, our small
3825
1 marks on this huge world are necessary.
2 But let me read it to you in
3 Jillian Hanesworth's words. And I don't know
4 where she finds her optimism, but I applaud her
5 for it.
6 Let the hopeful healing waters flow
7 Ushering in a rebirth of our sense
8 of self
9 Let the flowing waters remind us of
10 time
11 Current yet fleeting like life
12 itself
13 Large yet within reach just as the
14 ancestors
15 Let the hopeful healing waters flow
16 Cleansing all pain and fear
17 All hurt and regret
18 Let the water heal our people
19 Reminding us that even our small
20 marks
21 On this huge world are necessary
22 Let the hopeful healing waters flow
23 Let the water tell the stories of
24 those that came before us
25 Those who fought and believed for us
3826
1 Those with the strength and power of
2 a high tide
3 Those with the meekness of a still
4 pond
5 Let the beauty of the unknown offer
6 comfort and hope
7 For within water there will always
8 be life.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
10 you, Senator Ryan.
11 Senator Sanders on the resolution.
12 SENATOR SANDERS: I want to thank
13 you, Mr. President, for the opportunity and thank
14 Senator Ryan for his incisive words.
15 The question becomes, with all of
16 us, where were you at the time of these
17 shootings? And there are so many shootings going
18 on that you start to blur. You can't remember if
19 you were here or there or was it this one or was
20 it that one. And the danger, of course, is that
21 America becomes numb from the many shootings.
22 The goal of the white supremacist
23 was to accelerate a racial war. In their
24 minds -- or in his mind, America is descending
25 into a pit, a racial pit, and he wanted to
3827
1 accelerate it. He wanted to plunge us ever
2 further into a madness.
3 The proper response, of course, of
4 all good Americans is to do something that he
5 would hate and the separatists would hate. And
6 that is that we need to figure a way to turn to
7 each other and not on each other. A way to
8 figure out what are the commonalities that we all
9 share, what are the goals that we believe in,
10 what are the things of America that we want to
11 hold on to and that we want to move forward.
12 And this is why, Senator Ryan, that
13 there is a certain amount of hope, even from this
14 audience right here, this area right here.
15 The -- the study you mentioned of
16 the many problems of Buffalo -- and they are
17 enormous, and not to be discarded, as there are
18 many problems in other places. But we in this
19 body have said that we are going to study the
20 issue. We're going to study reparations. We're
21 going to see what are the commonalities and how
22 do we solve these things so that we are taking
23 some steps. We're taking steps together. They
24 may be halting with some, tepid with others.
25 Some may have to be pulled with us.
3828
1 But we are taking some steps, and
2 we're taking them forward as Americans, as
3 New Yorkers, towards a better future, towards a
4 more perfect union.
5 And I close with the words of
6 Benjamin Franklin. And he taught us then as we
7 should understand now. He said we'd have to hang
8 together or certainly we will hang separately.
9 That racial war that they speak of,
10 the only way to defeat that is to not get into
11 that swamp and to figure out ways of all of us
12 moving to someplace better.
13 So thank you for having us remember
14 this. And it was not just a pain of Buffalo; it
15 was a pain of all New Yorkers. All Americans
16 should feel that pain and say that we are going
17 to make sure that it doesn't happen again and
18 that Buffalo will not have to stand by itself.
19 Thank you for reminding us.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
21 you, Senator Sanders.
22 Senator Bailey on the resolution.
23 SENATOR BAILEY: Thank you,
24 Mr. President.
25 Thank you, Senator Ryan, for your
3829
1 words, your dedication, and the spirit that you
2 stirred today.
3 I wasn't going to speak on this
4 resolution, though I'm not shy to speak on
5 resolutions generally, Mr. President, especially
6 those of import in this city, state, country
7 about divisions that we can continue to overcome.
8 But something stirred me today, and it was
9 "within water there is life."
10 And there's so many metaphors that
11 come to mind about the flow of water and how
12 water never dies, how energy never dies, it's
13 just transferred.
14 And so I think about my role in this
15 space as a legislator, as a new father for the
16 third time. And I look at my newborn son, and I
17 have an opportunity to shape his thoughts, his
18 ability to learn, his ability to ambulate, his
19 ability to be a citizen of positivity.
20 If I have that ability to teach a
21 new life that, I think we all have the ability to
22 teach others around us. We can re-teach. We can
23 unlearn. And we can move forward.
24 I've often said that in this chamber
25 we are able to get past certain points that maybe
3830
1 we didn't think we could. Every piece of
2 legislation matters that we do in this chamber.
3 It matters not just for our constituents; it
4 matters for the greater good of humanity in terms
5 of unifying folks. In terms of people
6 understanding, yes, there still is a problem with
7 racism in America. Yes, there still is a problem
8 with white supremacy in America. Yes, there
9 still is a problem with guns in America.
10 But if we're not talking to each
11 other about that, and we stay in our respective
12 echo chambers, nothing will change.
13 I don't know about you, I don't know
14 about anybody else in this chamber, but I think
15 I'm pretty adept at reading the room. I think
16 that we all want things to change for the better.
17 And I think that it all starts with us.
18 And so may God bless the legacy of
19 the lives and legacy of those folks that we lost
20 in Buffalo. And I'm truly hopeful that we can
21 learn from this and continue to understand that
22 water is in fact life. Senator Ryan, thank you
23 for that stirring poem.
24 I vote aye, Mr. President. Thank
25 you.
3831
1 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
2 you, Senator Bailey.
3 The question is on the resolution --
4 I'm sorry. Senator Comrie on the resolution.
5 SENATOR COMRIE: Thank you,
6 Mr. President. I wanted to just say a few words
7 about the resolution.
8 And thank you to our leader,
9 Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and to Senator Ryan for
10 his stirring words.
11 You know, when this happened two
12 years ago, this travesty that happened in Buffalo
13 and is still compounding and impacting the lives
14 of people up there, it made me recall and
15 understand that we have a lot to do as a
16 citizenry to make sure that we teach our young
17 people the incredible diversity of this state.
18 The fact that this state was founded
19 by people that wanted to change the world and
20 change how they were respected in the world. The
21 fact that Buffalo has always been a location
22 where people came to try to make a new life. A
23 lot of folks -- Buffalo was part of the
24 Underground Railroad, and it had many stops in
25 Buffalo where people were able to take in and
3832
1 help people while they were trying to make sure
2 that they could be able to be part of this
3 incredible country that we all are in.
4 We're all immigrants to this
5 country, almost everybody in this room. I don't
6 think there's a Native Indian here. Maybe some
7 folks that have some Indian in their blood. But
8 all of us are immigrants to this country. And we
9 must continue to remember that and continue to
10 remember that we have to make sure that we pass
11 on all our traditions to our children, that we
12 pass on all our history to our children, that we
13 can make sure that no child grows up in this
14 state that doesn't understand that diversity is
15 strength, that everyone's culture, while it needs
16 to be respected, needs to be recognized and needs
17 to be understood.
18 And we've done a terrible job in
19 this state of making sure that other people's
20 cultures are understood, because our education
21 system is not taking care or not embracing the
22 fact that we need to share our diversity with
23 people in the school system, because we can't
24 wait for other folks to do it.
25 We have a responsibility as
3833
1 legislators to make that happen. And what
2 happened in Buffalo was a result of a young man
3 who had no cultural diversity, who had no
4 understanding, who was pushed to the internet to
5 come up with hate in his heart to want to go kill
6 people. For no other reason than he was
7 listening to hate on the internet.
8 We have to do better as a state. We
9 have to make sure that there's a curriculum
10 throughout the state that teaches our children
11 the beauty of our diversity, the beauty of our
12 cultures, the understanding that we all need to
13 be respected as people so no one can go out and
14 think that they're better than anyone else.
15 Because we all are trying to do the
16 same thing in New York. No matter what side of
17 the aisle you're on, you're trying to make a
18 better life for your family, a better life for
19 your community, opportunities for people to be
20 understood.
21 And the pain of Buffalo that's still
22 happening, as Senator Ryan said, it is the same
23 problems are still endemic. We haven't made the
24 correct changes. We need to make those changes
25 happen or we'll have another tragedy.
3834
1 Thank you, Mr. President.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
3 you, Senator Comrie.
4 The question is on the resolution.
5 All those in favor signify by saying aye.
6 (Response of "Aye.")
7 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Opposed,
8 nay.
9 (No response.)
10 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
11 resolution is adopted.
12 Senator Gianaris.
13 SENATOR GIANARIS: Now let's move
14 on to previously adopted Resolution 2343, by
15 Senator Gounardes, read that resolution's title
16 and recognize Senator Gounardes.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
18 Secretary will read.
19 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 2343, by
20 Senator Gounardes, memorializing Governor Kathy
21 Hochul to proclaim May 14, 2024, as Armenian
22 Genocide Remembrance Day in the State of
23 New York.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
25 Gounardes on the resolution.
3835
1 SENATOR GOUNARDES: Thank you,
2 Mr. President.
3 I rise today to speak to commemorate
4 a tragic event in history that occurred on
5 April 24th, that we commemorate nationwide on
6 April 24th, and that of course is the genocide of
7 millions of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire.
8 Mankind has committed many terrible
9 atrocities over the course of the 20th century,
10 but what many historians consider to be the first
11 genocide of the 20th century still does not
12 always get the recognition and remembrance that
13 its victims deserve.
14 On April 24, 1915, a generation
15 before the terrible atrocities of the Holocaust
16 in Nazi Germany, ultra-nationalist Turkish
17 factions known as the Young Turks began a years'
18 long campaign to systematically wipe out
19 Armenians as well as Greeks, Pontians, Assyrians,
20 and other Christian minorities that lived in the
21 Ottoman Empire.
22 These communities were forced into
23 death marches and placed in concentration camps.
24 Their churches were destroyed. Their towns and
25 neighborhoods were set on fire. In 1923, the
3836
1 Ottoman Empire set fire to the entire city of
2 Smyrna, where my family hails from, in attempts
3 to kill everyone living there.
4 The victims were not only those
5 killed during massacres at home. Many others
6 died during deportations under conditions of
7 starvation, dehydration and disease.
8 On the eve of World War I there were
9 as many as two million Armenians in the Ottoman
10 Empire. By 1922, just a few years later, there
11 were fewer than 400,000.
12 Today we pause to mourn the
13 murdering of 1.5 million Armenians, along with
14 800,000 Greeks and hundreds of thousands of
15 Assyrians, Pontians, and others.
16 Mr. President, we have an obligation
17 to not only never forget this awful legacy but to
18 proactively remember and honor the victims. And
19 today is an opportunity to do just that. It's
20 also a chance to uplift and celebrate the
21 Armenian community that has survived and thrived
22 throughout the world, including right here in
23 New York.
24 We're lucky enough today to be
25 joined today by many members of that community,
3837
1 some who have traveled from New York City, some
2 who live right here in Albany, and some who are
3 even visiting from Washington, D.C.
4 In particular I want to thank the
5 cultural advisor to the Armenian Embassy, Vicki
6 Shoghag Hovanessian; Father Stepanos Doudoukjian,
7 who is the parish priest at St. Peter's Armenian
8 Apostolic Church; and others who have joined here
9 from organizations such as the Armenian Youth
10 Federation, the Armenian National Committee of
11 New York, the Armenian Assembly of America, the
12 Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America, the
13 Armenian Bar Association, and the Daughters of
14 Vartan of the Mid-Atlantic Region.
15 And Mr. President, just before we
16 started session today, I learned that one of our
17 very own sergeant-at-arms, Greg Krikorian, is
18 also of Armenian descent. He's probably outside
19 right now in the Senate lobby.
20 I'm very grateful to all of you for
21 joining us here today.
22 Your presence is also an opportunity
23 to chart a course for a brighter future and to
24 identify ways that we can support New York's
25 Armenian community for generations to come,
3838
1 whether that be through support for cultural
2 initiatives and community spaces, through
3 investments in economic and social development
4 programs, or through increasing opportunities for
5 political and civic engagement.
6 In recognizing and remembering the
7 Armenian genocide here today, we pay tribute to
8 their lives and we remember the tragedy that
9 occurred to the Armenian, Greek, Assyrian and
10 Pontic people. We also carry their memory to
11 this present moment when many ethnic, racial and
12 religious minorities around the world face
13 renewed hatred and bigotry. And we commit
14 ourselves to ensuring that on our watch, such
15 atrocities shall never happen again.
16 Mr. President, I proudly vote aye.
17 Thank you.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
19 you, Senator Gounardes.
20 To our guests, I welcome you on
21 behalf of the Senate. We extend to you the
22 privileges and courtesies of this house.
23 Please rise and be recognized.
24 (Standing ovation.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
3839
1 resolution was adopted on May 7th.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
3 Gianaris.
4 SENATOR GIANARIS: Now let's move
5 on to Resolution 2379, by Senator May, read that
6 resolution's title and recognize Senator May.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
8 Secretary will read.
9 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 2379, by
10 Senator May, memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul
11 to proclaim May 12-18, 2024, as Fibromyalgia
12 Awareness Week in the State of New York.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
14 May on the resolution.
15 SENATOR MAY: Thank you,
16 Mr. President.
17 I am pleased to sponsor this
18 resolution for Fibromyalgia Awareness Week and to
19 welcome members of the Fibromyalgia Task Force of
20 New York State: Minda Conroe and Dr. Becky
21 Mosteller.
22 The task force is composed of
23 fibromyalgia patients, researchers, physicians
24 and advocates throughout the state.
25 I am one of the lucky ones. I was
3840
1 diagnosed with fibromyalgia about 20 years ago,
2 but I've been pretty much symptom-free for about
3 10 years now. But I know what it feels like when
4 every muscle and tendon in your body aches and
5 all you want to do is lie down and rest, but you
6 have to care for a baby or put food on the table
7 or do a day's work.
8 I also know what it feels like when
9 doctors look at you and say, Oh, there's nothing
10 we can do -- or, worse, It's all in your head.
11 It's because of advocates like you
12 that this is changing, that people -- doctors
13 medical professionals, and people in the
14 communities around you are recognizing that
15 fibromyalgia is real, it is debilitating, it is
16 something we need to take seriously, and it is
17 something we need to find treatments and cures
18 for.
19 So I want to thank you for what you
20 are doing and urge my colleagues to pay attention
21 to this disease and not dismiss it the way it has
22 been dismissed in the past.
23 I vote aye. Thank you.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
25 you, Senator May.
3841
1 To our guests, I welcome you on
2 behalf of the Senate. We extend to you the
3 privileges and courtesies of this house.
4 Please rise and be recognized.
5 (Standing ovation.)
6 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
7 question is on the resolution.
8 All in favor signify by saying aye.
9 (Response of "Aye.")
10 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Opposed,
11 nay.
12 (No response.)
13 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
14 resolution is adopted.
15 Senator Gianaris.
16 SENATOR GIANARIS: Next up,
17 previously adopted Resolution 2071, by
18 Senator Rhoads. Read its title and recognize
19 Senator Rhoads.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
21 Secretary will read.
22 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 2071, by
23 Senator Rhoads, memorializing Governor Kathy
24 Hochul to proclaim May 17, 2024, as Necrotizing
25 Enterocolitis Awareness Week in the State of
3842
1 New York.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
3 Rhoads on the resolution.
4 SENATOR RHOADS: Thank you,
5 Mr. President.
6 I am proud to rise in support of
7 this resolution as its sponsor.
8 We get to take to the floor to do
9 many things and use this incredible platform to
10 celebrate happy occasions -- the championships of
11 many of our student athletes, and incredible
12 accomplishments of many of our students and their
13 academic excellence. We commemorate tragic
14 occasions, as we've done today, speaking about
15 the tragedy in Buffalo and the tragedy of the
16 Armenian genocide.
17 We also use this platform to raise
18 awareness about many conditions and illnesses
19 that unfortunately impact our world today, in an
20 attempt to try and find solutions and cures for
21 those.
22 And I rise before you to commemorate
23 an issue that's close to my heart as well as
24 close to the hearts of many of our constituents.
25 Necrotizing enterocolitis is a
3843
1 devastating gastrointestinal disease that
2 primarily affects premature infants. It's a
3 silent enemy that actually attacks the
4 gastrointestinal lining, killing that vital
5 tissue and ultimately severely damaging and the
6 oftentimes leading to the death of newborn
7 infants.
8 NEC has a mortality rate as high as
9 50 percent, a lethality rate for premature babies
10 higher than meningitis, smallpox and cholera.
11 But through awareness, education and
12 advocacy we can make strides in preventing and
13 treating this insidious condition.
14 Necrotizing enterocolitis is the
15 most common cause of death in hospitalized
16 premature infants after two weeks of age. Babies
17 born prematurely with medical complications like
18 congenital heart disease are most at risk of NEC.
19 Thousands of babies develop NEC each year, and
20 hundreds of babies die from this complex
21 intestinal condition.
22 This illness is one where parents
23 have to be trusted and valued as the most
24 important tools and members of their baby's care
25 team. And healthcare providers should partner
3844
1 with families to provide the best care for
2 infants at risk for NEC.
3 And although the risks of
4 necrotizing enterocolitis cannot be fully
5 eliminated, and there are not yet sure ways to
6 stop or cure NEC, preventative measures are
7 effective at reducing risks.
8 Breast milk is actually one of the
9 most effective ways to help prevent NEC in
10 medically fragile infants. And when the mother's
11 milk is unavailable, pasturized donor human milk
12 is the next safest option for babies at risk of
13 NEC, as formula does not protect against the risk
14 of NEC.
15 There are -- there's one
16 organization, the NEC Society, which is a
17 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, founded
18 and led by a bereaved mother from California
19 whose son died from complications of NEC. And
20 the NEC Society is the world's leading charity
21 working to accelerate NEC research, education and
22 advocacy.
23 And with us today in the chamber is
24 a young woman by the name of Stephanie Ruidiaz,
25 from my hometown in Bellmore. She has been a
3845
1 champion for necrotizing enterocolitis research
2 after experiencing firsthand the severity of this
3 condition and after facing a devastating loss of
4 her own. She serves on the board of directors
5 for the NEC Society.
6 And I want to take a moment --
7 Stephanie, thank you so much for being here. And
8 I must say, in my 10 years of public life, first
9 as a county legislator and now having the honor
10 of serving in this chamber, one of the things
11 that touches my heart most are people like
12 yourself, who have taken an enormous tragedy and
13 turned it into an opportunity to do good for
14 others. It's the most beautiful way to pay honor
15 to those that we've lost, to those that have been
16 affected by this illness.
17 And I want to thank you for your
18 tremendous work. I want to thank you for your
19 advocacy. And I want to thank the NEC Society
20 for everything that it does to raise awareness.
21 And I am happy that I can stand up
22 today on the floor of this chamber and raise
23 awareness both to the members here, as well as to
24 the public watching today, of this tragic
25 illness. And I am happy to stand in support of
3846
1 this resolution asking that the Governor proclaim
2 today, May 17, 2024, as Necrotizing Enterocolitis
3 Awareness Day in the State of New York.
4 I proudly vote aye. And I would ask
5 that you, Mr. President, recognize our guest in
6 this chamber and provide her the privileges and
7 courtesies of the house.
8 Thank you, Mr. President.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
10 you, Senator Rhoads.
11 To our guests, I welcome you on
12 behalf of the Senate. We extend to you the
13 privileges and the courtesies of this house.
14 Please rise and be recognized.
15 (Standing ovation.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
17 resolution was adopted on April 3rd.
18 Senator Gianaris.
19 SENATOR GIANARIS: Previously
20 adopted Resolution 2231, by Senator Parker.
21 Let's take that up, read the resolution's title,
22 and recognize Senator Parker.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
24 Secretary will read.
25 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 2231, by
3847
1 Senator Parker, commemorating the inaugural
2 Prince Hall Day at the New York State Capitol on
3 May 14, 2024.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
5 Parker on the resolution.
6 SENATOR PARKER: Thank you,
7 Mr. President.
8 As you know, I'm State Senator Kevin
9 Parker. I represent the 21st District in
10 Brooklyn, which is Flatbush and East Flatbush,
11 Midwood, Ditmas Park, Canarsie, Flatlands,
12 Bergen Beach, Marine Park and Mill Basin.
13 I'm the majority whip here in the
14 New York State Senate, as well as the chairman of
15 the Energy and Telecommunications Committee.
16 What many of you don't know, I'm
17 also the senior warden of Sons of Kings Lodge
18 No. 123 in the Second District of Brooklyn, a
19 member of a very noble fraternity of Prince Hall
20 Masons. And I am very proud of this
21 organization, very happy to have helped organize
22 today.
23 Some people don't know what Masonry
24 is; some people are confused by it. It simply is
25 this. It is a beautiful and profound system of
3848
1 morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by
2 symbols. But at its base, it's two things: It's
3 a fraternity and it's a charity.
4 And Prince Hall Masons have been
5 around since the founding of America. In fact,
6 it is the -- Prince Hall Masonry is the third
7 largest -- sorry, the third oldest organization
8 here in the State of New York, in our great
9 state, right, after Mother Zion AME Church and
10 Abyssinian Baptist Church.
11 Prince Hall Masonry begins
12 approximately March 6, 1776, when
13 15 African-American men were initiated in an
14 Irish military lodge in Boston, Massachusetts.
15 Prince Hall himself was an abolitionist, an
16 educator, a businessman, a philanthropist,
17 somebody who did a lot to end the terrible
18 institution of enslavement and actually went
19 around Boston trying to gather help from whites
20 who they thought would come to their aid.
21 And what he found was that many of
22 those folks in that time were Masons, and so he
23 sought to become a Freemason in order to be in
24 proximity of the power that he thought would help
25 him, you know, achieve abolitionism for African
3849
1 people in the New World.
2 From that lodge spread lodges across
3 the state, including -- sorry, across the
4 country, including Pennsylvania, New York and
5 Rhode Island.
6 And so I'm very, very proud to stand
7 here as a member of an organization that also
8 includes the Order of the Eastern Star, which is
9 a way to include the wives, mothers, widows,
10 daughters and sisters of Master Masons into
11 Masonry. And together, they represent almost
12 10,000 members across the great State of New York
13 and are found in every single community.
14 And so here today, this resolution.
15 Mr. President, celebrates Prince Hall Day of
16 advocacy at the Capitol, the first time that
17 Prince Hall Masons have come together to come to
18 the Capitol to meet with state legislators and
19 talk about their legislative agenda, talk about
20 the needs in their community, talk about work
21 that they are already doing.
22 As I indicated, they're a
23 fraternity, but they're also a charity. They do
24 a lot of work around civil rights, around food
25 insecurity, around addressing the needs on
3850
1 important health disparities like HIV and AIDS,
2 breast cancer, lupus, prostate cancer. They
3 stand in the gap as it relates to income
4 inequality and trying to make sure that
5 communities have enough food and clothing and
6 shelter.
7 During the migrant crisis, both
8 chapters of the Order of the Eastern Star and
9 lodges in Prince Hall Masonry have stepped up to
10 welcome migrants and help them find food and
11 shelter and clothing.
12 And so today we honor them. And
13 today we are joined by the conservator of
14 Prince Hall Masonry, known as Worshipful Grand
15 Master Gregory Robeson Smith, Jr., who is the
16 Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall
17 Grand Lodge in the State of New York.
18 We're also joined by the
19 Deputy Master, the Reverend Dr. Darren Morton,
20 who is also the pastor of Macedonia Baptist
21 Church in Mount Vernon, as well as the
22 Grand Worthy Matron of the Eureka Grand Chapter
23 of the Order of the Eastern Star of the State of
24 New York, in the person of Yvonne Ladson.
25 I want to thank you for your
3851
1 leadership, thank you for all that you do for the
2 people of the State of New York. And thank you
3 for making this day possible and making sure the
4 voices of the people of our communities are heard
5 throughout the state.
6 Thank you, Mr. President.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
8 you, Senator Parker.
9 Senator Comrie on the resolution.
10 SENATOR COMRIE: Thank you,
11 Mr. President.
12 I want to thank Senator Parker for
13 initiating this first Lobby Day for the Masonic
14 groups in the New York State.
15 I want to thank Gregory Robeson for
16 working to make sure that the Masonic world,
17 which is a -- as Senator Parker said, a historic
18 world, a world that has been teaching people to
19 do righteous things and work in the community in
20 a philanthropic area for many years.
21 I'm an honorary terrible member of
22 Lebanon Lodge 51. When I say that, I only get
23 there once -- 54, rather. I even forgot the
24 number.
25 (Laughter.)
3852
1 SENATOR COMRIE: I go there a
2 couple of times a year, but they've embraced me.
3 Lebanon Lodge, as Senator Parker
4 says, has done a lot of charitable things,
5 working every year to have events for people that
6 are in need, feeding people. Especially one of
7 their specialties is making sure that new
8 mothers are given an opportunity to get all of
9 the things that they need to start their life
10 with a new child. They do many opportunities --
11 teaching kids on how to eat in a restaurant
12 properly for the first time. They've done many
13 other things in the community as well.
14 The Grand Master has been working on
15 a theme, "One Family," which has been the motto,
16 linking jurisdictions not just throughout
17 New York State but throughout Pennsylvania and
18 New Jersey, where they're focusing on bridging
19 the gap between other jurisdictions such as the
20 Caribbean Grand Lodge and the Grand Lodge of
21 Massachusetts. He's brought in notable members
22 into Masonry, making sure that there's a new
23 generation of young people that are moving into
24 Masonry as well.
25 He's been working to make sure that
3853
1 his platform and the awareness of Freemasonry --
2 working through new modes like the social media
3 presence, or attending events throughout the
4 state and throughout the Eastern Seaboard, from
5 participating in the walk in Selma, Alabama, to
6 working at the VHPA, the 53rd conference.
7 He's also a member of Omega Psi Phi
8 fraternity. We've got to talk about that.
9 (Laughter.)
10 SENATOR COMRIE: Because I'm a
11 member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
12 But, you know, it's one of the
13 things that both groups have taught me, the
14 understanding of giving, the understanding of
15 helping others as you move along the way, to use
16 the guiding tenets of Freemasonry as a guiding
17 compass, making sure that members are dedicating
18 themselves to the fight for justice and equity
19 and equality, especially for younger people and
20 younger men who need some direction.
21 So I want to thank all of you for
22 coming today. It's a great showing, the first of
23 many opportunities for you to come to Albany to
24 show out and show off a little bit, but also to
25 make sure that people understand that Freemasonry
3854
1 needs to be respected, that your philanthropic
2 endeavors need to be resourced and given
3 opportunities to continue to shine.
4 And I'm honored to be part of this
5 resolution. And thank you, Senator Parker, for
6 making this day happen.
7 Thank you, Mr. President.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
9 you, Senator Comrie.
10 Senator Cleare on the resolution.
11 SENATOR CLEARE: Thank you,
12 Mr. President.
13 I too rise to thank Senator Parker
14 for this historic Prince Hall Advocacy Day
15 resolution here in Albany.
16 Prince Hall Lodge -- well, I've
17 grown up with this institution in my district as
18 a child. I'm a child of a Freemason. And I can
19 tell you that they have been ever-present in our
20 community doing good works, service, charity,
21 teaching values, character.
22 These are so important to our
23 communities that may not belong to certain
24 pedigrees, but we have always had the Masons and
25 the Eastern Stars to be an example for our
3855
1 children to stand in the gap, as Senator Parker
2 mentioned. And they continue to stand in the gap
3 today.
4 So I'm just really happy to see them
5 here today and am proud to have Prince Hall
6 Masonic Temple in my district and Grand Master
7 Robinson -- Robeson, I'm sorry, and
8 Reverend Morton and Grand Worthy Matron Ladson, I
9 thank you for your work and your continued
10 service in Harlem and throughout the State of
11 New York.
12 Thank you.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
14 you, Senator Cleare.
15 Senator Sanders on the resolution.
16 SENATOR SANDERS: Thank you,
17 Mr. President.
18 And thank you, sir (to Senator
19 Parker). It's good to see you in your uniform.
20 To the leadership, it's good to see
21 you here.
22 Senator Parker, in his attempt to
23 put a lot of information out and to be brief at
24 it, left out an important fact of the Prince Hall
25 Masons, that they were indeed the first Masons in
3856
1 the United States. They received their charter
2 from England weeks before the other group
3 received their charter from England. So were it
4 not for racism, I guess all Masons would be
5 Prince Hall Masons in the U.S.
6 It is good that you're out here,
7 it's good that you're giving back. And please
8 continue to give back.
9 I represent Southeast Queens, and we
10 have felt the goodness of your hearts and what
11 you have done. We appreciate your role in giving
12 leadership to such a community.
13 Continue to come out, continue to
14 make sure that they understand that you are here,
15 and continue -- and I know you will continue when
16 you have such an illustrious son sitting amongst
17 us.
18 Thank you, thank you, thank you.
19 And I take a seat.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
21 you, Senator Sanders.
22 Senator Webb on the resolution.
23 SENATOR WEBB: Thank you,
24 Mr. President.
25 I too want to thank Senator Parker
3857
1 and of course all of our distinguished leaders
2 that are here today.
3 I am a daughter of a member of the
4 Order of the Eastern Star and also a proud member
5 myself, Sheba Chapter No. 3.
6 And so one of the things I just
7 wanted to lift up -- and of course all of our
8 guests that are here -- is that these are
9 organizations that not only, as Senator Parker
10 alluded to, do a lot of work in areas of charity
11 but also in education. In our communities you
12 will find members of this great organization
13 leading initiatives to lift up young people, also
14 getting them more involved in our communities
15 through civic engagement and so much more.
16 So again, congratulations on this
17 most certainly beautiful occasion, being here in
18 the chamber and in our Capitol. And I look
19 forward to supporting the continued good work
20 that this organization provides to everyone,
21 because it is an inclusive organization.
22 Thank you, Mr. President.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
24 you, Senator.
25 Senator Scarcella-Spanton on the
3858
1 resolution.
2 SENATOR SCARCELLA-SPANTON: Thank
3 you, Mr. President. And thank you,
4 Senator Parker, for bringing forward this
5 resolution today.
6 We have some people here from my
7 district, Silver Lake Lodge No. 59. We have the
8 Dr. Reverend Carolina and Shawn Stradford, two of
9 my wonderful constituents.
10 And I will say that they do
11 tremendous, tremendous work in our community on
12 Staten Island. Whether we have back-to-school
13 giveaways or we have a business who's in need of
14 help or we have a family who needs something
15 during the holidays, these are usually my first
16 couple of phone calls. They are ingratiated in
17 everything that we do to give back to our
18 community.
19 And I want to thank them for being
20 here, thank them for everything that they do.
21 And also I have to give a special shout-out to
22 the Silver Queens as well on Staten Island.
23 So thank you.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
25 you, Senator.
3859
1 Senator Weber on the resolution.
2 SENATOR WEBER: Thank you,
3 Mr. President.
4 And I want to thank the sponsor,
5 Senator Parker, for bringing this resolution to
6 the chamber today.
7 You know, I've had the honor of
8 meeting many great Masons over the years,
9 including my constituent and my good friend right
10 up there, Grant Valentine. Grant Valentine and I
11 have known each for a long time. Grant Valentine
12 is someone who embodies public service, like most
13 of the Masons do, is someone who always steps up
14 to fill a void, to do extra work within the
15 community.
16 So I'm proud to recognize him today.
17 His lovely wife Linda is there too as well.
18 Thank you for being here, and thank you for
19 continuing to do all of the things that you do in
20 your community. Thank you.
21 I proudly vote aye.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
23 you, Senator.
24 Senator Fernandez on the resolution.
25 SENATOR FERNANDEZ: Thank you,
3860
1 Mr. President.
2 Thank you, Senator Parker, for this
3 resolution in welcoming and honoring our brothers
4 and sisters.
5 I rise to share that I am too a
6 sister, Order of the Eastern Star, Lorelei
7 Chapter 581.
8 And it's just a great feeling to
9 always see and recognize other members, brothers
10 and sisters, whether it's through the pin,
11 whether it's through wardrobe and through action.
12 And it is so heartwarming to see
13 that everywhere I go, there is another brother or
14 sister out there doing the work secretly or not
15 secretly. So in this moment that we are being
16 not secret, it is truly commendable the legacy
17 that has been and continues to be of the work by
18 our Freemasons and our sisters.
19 And I'm just very honored to stand
20 in unity with you here in our Senate chamber. So
21 thank you so much.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
23 you, Senator.
24 Senator Bailey on the resolution.
25 SENATOR BAILEY: Thank you,
3861
1 Mr. President.
2 Thank you, Senator Parker, for
3 introducing this resolution.
4 When I think about the Masonic
5 order, I think about service. When I think about
6 service, I think about the Reverend Dr. Darren
7 Morton, who is not only the city comptroller of
8 Mount Vernon, he is the pastor of Macedonia
9 Baptist Church, he is a member of the Masonic
10 order, and he is also a member of Alpha Phi
11 Alpha. And that's a lot of service.
12 But Dr. Morton is not alone in
13 having that level, those degrees -- no pun
14 intended -- in the amount of service that he
15 does. Throughout my life I have been shaped by
16 Masons. My grandfather, James, was a Mason from
17 Johnson County, North Carolina, and my
18 grandmother Lena was also from -- was a Star in
19 also Johnson County North Carolina. So I've
20 learned about the legacy of service that you
21 wonderful folks at Prince Hall are doing.
22 So I just wanted to throw my couple
23 of -- two cents in and just say thank you for all
24 the work that you do in the city of Mount Vernon
25 and the Bronx and well beyond. Anywhere where
3862
1 you can hear your voice, we know that a brother
2 or sister of the order is there.
3 Thank you, Mr. President.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
5 you, Senator Bailey.
6 Senator Borrello on the resolution.
7 SENATOR BORRELLO: Thank you,
8 Mr. President.
9 I'd also like to extend my warm
10 welcome to our brothers that are here from the
11 Prince Hall Lodge. As a member of the
12 Silver Lodge in Silver Creek, New York, No. 757,
13 thank you all for being here and thank you for
14 your advocacy and the amazing work that the
15 Freemasons do throughout the world, particularly
16 here in New York State.
17 There has never been a day where I
18 haven't said thank God for the Freemasons and the
19 work that they have done. As Senator Fernandez
20 said, sometimes it's secret -- but always out
21 there, helping the people.
22 And God bless you all, and welcome
23 to your Advocacy Day.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
25 you, Senator Borrello.
3863
1 To our guests, I welcome you on
2 behalf of the Senate. We extend to you the
3 privileges and courtesies of this house.
4 Please rise and be recognized.
5 (Standing ovation.)
6 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
7 resolution was adopted on April 16th.
8 Senator Gianaris.
9 SENATOR GIANARIS: Next up is
10 Resolution 2349, by Senator Webb. Please read
11 that resolution's title and recognize
12 Senator Webb.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
14 Secretary will read.
15 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 2349, by
16 Senator Webb, memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul
17 to proclaim May 14, 2024, as Domestic Violence
18 Awareness and Prevention Day in the State of
19 New York.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
21 Webb on the resolution.
22 SENATOR WEBB: Thank you,
23 Mr. President.
24 I rise to thank my Senate colleagues
25 and of course our Majority Leader for bringing
3864
1 this resolution forward to memorialize and
2 proclaim May 14th as Domestic Violence Awareness
3 and Prevention Day in New York State.
4 This resolution that I'm speaking on
5 today is important. Earlier today we introduced
6 a series of bills, a nine-bill package, around
7 this important issue as it pertains to domestic
8 violence. And so as we know here in our chamber,
9 we have and continue to push through policy and
10 practice, resources, to address this important
11 issue.
12 Domestic violence impacts
13 New Yorkers from all social groups. It does not
14 discriminate. It impacts us regardless of race,
15 socioeconomic status, gender identity, sex or
16 sexual orientation, ethnicity or age.
17 While domestic violence certainly
18 does not discriminate, as I said a moment ago,
19 its impact is experienced disproportionately by
20 women, Black women and Black men, and the
21 LGBTQIA+ community.
22 It is critically important that we
23 raise awareness of this pervasive issue in all
24 the forms that it may take. Domestic violence is
25 a pattern of behavior used by an individual to
3865
1 maintain power and control over their intimate
2 partner. It may include physical, emotional,
3 financial and sexual abuse. It can cause
4 physical, mental, emotional and financial trauma
5 to survivors.
6 Here in New York we have some of the
7 greatest demand for domestic violence support
8 services in the country. I implore us all to
9 continue to work to increase support for
10 survivors and domestic violence support services
11 and policies to ensure that survivors and their
12 families have safety and the ability to heal.
13 I am honored to be voting in favor
14 of this resolution, and I hope my colleagues will
15 join me by voting aye.
16 Thank you, Mr. President.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
18 you, Senator.
19 Senator Scarcella-Spanton on the
20 resolution.
21 SENATOR SCARCELLA-SPANTON: Thank
22 you, Mr. President.
23 And thank you to Senator Webb for
24 introducing this resolution today.
25 We're going to be voting on a
3866
1 package of bills. It's always about making sure
2 that we look out for these victims. But
3 something I always want to point out is I think
4 it's very important that we highlight the
5 different forms of abuse. Whether it's physical,
6 emotional, psychological, financial, spiritual --
7 everything boils down to power and control.
8 And it's very important too -- in
9 the language that we use, we often will say
10 "domestic violence," but that sometimes carves
11 out other victims who are suffering from all
12 different forms of this abuse.
13 At the root cause of this is
14 coercive control over another person. We must
15 continue to modernize our laws to encompass
16 technology abuse, ways that people can be
17 tracked.
18 And I proudly vote aye. Thank you.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
20 you, Senator.
21 The question is on the resolution.
22 All in favor signify by saying aye.
23 (Response of "Aye.")
24 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Opposed,
25 nay.
3867
1 (No response.)
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
3 resolution is adopted.
4 Senator Gianaris.
5 SENATOR GIANARIS: Now is -- excuse
6 me. Next up is previously adopted
7 Resolution 2335, by Senator Breslin. Please read
8 that resolution's title and recognize
9 Senator Breslin.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
11 Secretary will read.
12 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 2335, by
13 Senator Breslin, commending the Capital Region
14 Chamber of Commerce upon the occasion of
15 celebrating the Military Appreciation Event on
16 May 14, 2024.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
18 Breslin on the resolution.
19 SENATOR BRESLIN: Thank you,
20 Mr. President.
21 I'm here to recognize, through the
22 creation by the Capital District Chamber of
23 Commerce, the economic military impact to the
24 Capital District.
25 Now, I know legislators sitting here
3868
1 come from all parts of the state, but it's hard
2 to recognize in a quiet way the impact the
3 Capital District has on the military economy as
4 well as the local economy.
5 And I cite a couple here. It's the
6 Unified Military Affairs Council, and they
7 support, among others, the New York Air National
8 Guard's 109th Airport Wing; the Naval Support
9 Facility in Saratoga Springs; the Nuclear Power
10 Training Unit in Ballston Spa; the Watervliet
11 Arsenal; as well as a number of other military
12 establishments.
13 And I don't think many of you are
14 aware of the fact that the Watervliet Arsenal,
15 known as "America's Cannon Factory," began its
16 manufacturing operation during the War of 1812.
17 And I don't remember it at that time.
18 (Laughter.)
19 SENATOR BRESLIN: So that is the
20 oldest continuously operated arsenal in the
21 United States. Today it manufactures weaponry
22 for the high-powered tank and artillery systems
23 that serve as the bedrock of America and allied
24 militaries.
25 The 109th Airlift Wing, located in
3869
1 Scotia in Schenectady County, flies the world's
2 only large specialized ski planes that support
3 the Arctic and Antarctic operations.
4 The recruitment offices throughout
5 this area -- in total, there are hundreds and
6 hundreds of people working for government-related
7 facilities that provide tremendous impact to the
8 economies of the Capital District.
9 And I salute the Capital District
10 Chamber of Commerce for recognizing that economic
11 benefit which provides a protection benefit to
12 all of us.
13 So we're blessed here today to have
14 with us the vice president of the Capital
15 District Chamber of Commerce, Tom O'Connor, as
16 well as Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Merchant of the
17 U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion-Albany, and he's
18 the battalion commander. And Sergeant First
19 Class Roberto Wells of the 2nd Platoon,
20 B Company.
21 And I would ask that the State
22 Senate salute the three of them.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: To our
24 guests, I welcome you on behalf of the Senate.
25 We extend to you the privileges and courtesies of
3870
1 this house.
2 Please rise and be recognized.
3 (Standing ovation.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
5 resolution was adopted on May 7th.
6 Senator Gianaris.
7 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President,
8 all of these resolutions are open for
9 cosponsorship.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
11 resolutions are open for cosponsorship. Should
12 you choose not to be a cosponsor, please notify
13 the desk.
14 Senator Gianaris.
15 SENATOR GIANARIS: Please recognize
16 Senator Ramos for an introduction.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
18 Ramos.
19 SENATOR RAMOS: Thank you,
20 Mr. President.
21 I rise to say "Namaste" and "Tashi
22 delek" to Adhikaar, an amazing organization that
23 operates in my district, led by Narbada Chhetri,
24 its executive director, and her entire team, who
25 are here.
3871
1 I just want to recognize all of
2 their hard work in serving our immigrant
3 population, particularly our Nepalese and Tibetan
4 neighbors and beyond. They have very great adult
5 education programming, and they do a great job of
6 organizing our nail salon workers in Queens and
7 beyond.
8 Thank you for all you do.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: To our
10 guests, I welcome you on behalf of the Senate.
11 We extend to you all privileges and courtesies of
12 this house.
13 Please rise and be recognized.
14 (Standing ovation.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
16 Gianaris.
17 SENATOR GIANARIS: Now let's take
18 up the reading of the calendar.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
20 Secretary will read.
21 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
22 140, Senate Print 3340, by Senator Mayer, an act
23 to amend the Civil Practice Law and Rules.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
25 last section.
3872
1 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
2 act shall take effect on the 120th day after it
3 shall have become a law.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
5 roll.
6 (The Secretary called the roll.)
7 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
8 the results.
9 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
10 Calendar Number 140, those Senators voting in the
11 negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello, Gallivan,
12 Griffo, Helming, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Rhoads,
13 Stec, Tedisco and Weik.
14 Ayes, 48. Nays, 12.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
16 is passed.
17 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
18 206, Senate Print 303, by Senator Salazar, an act
19 to amend the Executive Law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
21 last section.
22 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
23 act shall take effect immediately.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
25 roll.
3873
1 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
3 Salazar to explain her vote.
4 SENATOR SALAZAR: Thank you,
5 Mr. President.
6 This bill as well as, collectively,
7 the nine bills passing today related to crime
8 victims and survivors, serve, for one, to improve
9 access to services and supports for victims and
10 survivors, to clarify parts of the law that are
11 ambiguous; to prevent harm, including domestic
12 violence, from continuing or happening in the
13 first place; and to empower victims and survivors
14 to take back what has been taken from them and to
15 heal from the harm that they have experienced.
16 Thank you, Mr. President.
17 I vote aye.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
19 Salazar to be recorded in the affirmative.
20 Announce the results.
21 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
23 is passed.
24 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
25 237, Senate Print 1716, by Senator Skoufis, an
3874
1 act to amend the General Municipal Law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
3 last section.
4 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
5 act shall take effect immediately.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
7 roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
10 the results.
11 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
12 Calendar 237, those Senators voting in the
13 negative are Senators Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
14 Gallivan, Martins, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
15 Rhoads, Rolison and Ryan.
16 Ayes, 51. Nays, 9.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
18 is passed.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
20 304, Senate Print 1304, by Senator Comrie, an act
21 to amend the Administrative Code of the City of
22 New York.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
24 last section.
25 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
3875
1 act shall take effect immediately.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
3 roll.
4 (The Secretary called the roll.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
6 the results.
7 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
8 Calendar 304, those Senators voting in the
9 negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello,
10 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming,
11 Martins, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
12 Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Weber
13 and Weik.
14 Ayes, 42. Nays, 18.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
16 is passed.
17 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
18 311, Senate Print 653, by Senator Ortt, an act to
19 amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
21 last section.
22 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
23 act shall take effect on the 120th day after it
24 shall have become a law.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
3876
1 roll.
2 (The Secretary called the roll.)
3 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
4 the results.
5 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
7 is passed.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 350, Senate Print 4555B, by Senator Fernandez, an
10 act to amend the Penal Law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
12 last section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
14 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
15 same manner as Section 66 of Chapter 777 of the
16 Laws of 2023.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
18 roll.
19 (The Secretary called the roll.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
21 Fernandez to explain her vote.
22 SENATOR FERNANDEZ: Thank you so
23 much.
24 I just wanted to thank this body,
25 this chamber, for not debating this bill --
3877
1 (Laughter.)
2 SENATOR FERNANDEZ: -- because it
3 is very self-explanatory.
4 And it's something that, yes, must
5 be in effect as soon as possible. Because as of
6 right now in New York State if you choose to have
7 a beverage, an alcoholic beverage, maybe you have
8 a little too much and you then get sexually
9 assaulted or raped, it's technically your fault.
10 So this bill would repeal that and
11 remove the voluntary intoxication exclusion from
12 any defense, giving the survivor a fair and real
13 chance at seeking justice from their attacker.
14 So I truly thank this body for its
15 support, and I vote aye.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
17 Fernandez to be recorded in the affirmative.
18 Announce the results.
19 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
21 is passed.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23 486, Senate Print 5131, by Senator Webb, an act
24 to amend the Retirement and Social Security Law.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
3878
1 last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 8. This
3 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
4 shall have become a law.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
6 roll.
7 (The Secretary called the roll.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
9 the results.
10 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
12 is passed.
13 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
14 543, Senate Print 1815, by Senator Stavisky, an
15 act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
17 last section.
18 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
19 act shall take effect immediately.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
21 roll.
22 (The Secretary called the roll.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
24 the results.
25 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
3879
1 Calendar 543, voting in the negative:
2 Senator Brisport.
3 Ayes, 59. Nays, 1.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
5 is passed.
6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
7 544, Senate Print 1951, by Senator Hoylman-Sigal,
8 an act to amend the Penal Law.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
10 last section.
11 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
12 act shall take effect on the first of November.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
14 roll.
15 (The Secretary called the roll.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
17 the results.
18 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
20 is passed.
21 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
22 584, Senate Print Number 5502, by
23 Senator Scarcella-Spanton, an act to amend the
24 Executive Law.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
3880
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 COONEY: Call the
6 roll.
7 (The Secretary called the roll.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
9 the results.
10 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
12 is passed.
13 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
14 731, Assembly Bill Number 4737B, by
15 Assemblymember Lavine, an act to amend the
16 Penal Law.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
18 last section.
19 THE SECRETARY: Section 7. This
20 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
21 after it shall have become a law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
23 roll.
24 (The Secretary called the roll.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
3881
1 the results.
2 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
3 Calendar Number 731, voting in the negative:
4 Senator Brisport.
5 Ayes, 59. Nays, 1.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
7 is passed.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 772, Senate Print 1382, by Senator Comrie, an act
10 to amend the Public Authorities Law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
12 last section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
14 act shall take effect immediately.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
16 roll.
17 (The Secretary called the roll.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
19 the results.
20 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
22 is passed.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24 863, Senate Print 8977, by Senator Webb, an act
25 to amend the Executive Law.
3882
1 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
2 last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 6. This
4 act shall take effect immediately.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
6 roll.
7 (The Secretary called the roll.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
9 Webb to explain her vote.
10 SENATOR WEBB: Thank you,
11 Mr. President.
12 I want to thank again our
13 Senate Majority Leader and all of my colleagues
14 for their support.
15 This legislation aims to save lives
16 and reduce these statistics, as I mentioned
17 earlier, by providing law enforcement with a tool
18 designed to help them identify victims who are
19 most at risk for intimate partner homicide.
20 According to a 2021 report, of the
21 estimated 4,970 female victims of murder and
22 non-negligent manslaughter in 2021, data reported
23 by law enforcement agencies indicated that
24 one-third, or 34 percent, were killed by an
25 intimate partner.
3883
1 By comparison, about 6 percent of
2 the 17,970 males that were murdered that year
3 were victims of intimate partner homicide.
4 This legislation seeks to reduce
5 these statistics by requiring that officers
6 conduct a lethality assessment when responding to
7 a domestic violence incident. That information
8 will be included in the domestic incident report
9 which is currently already done by law
10 enforcement, which includes information about the
11 victim, the alleged offender, and the details of
12 the incident.
13 Officers will be required to advise
14 the victim of the results and refer them to local
15 domestic violence programs for support. The
16 officer must also provide the victim with the
17 number of the New York State Domestic and Sexual
18 Violence Hotline.
19 Based on the assessment, the officer
20 may file for an Extreme Risk Protection Order if
21 there is credible information suggesting a
22 likelihood of serious harm.
23 New York State will join other
24 states, once this is hopefully signed into law,
25 that currently do this particular lethality
3884
1 assessment, including Maryland and, most
2 recently, Florida and Utah.
3 There are also counties currently
4 right now in New York State that also utilize
5 this lethality assessment, including my home
6 county of Broome, but also Westchester and
7 Dutchess counties.
8 We know that lethality assessments
9 do work to reduce female homicides committed by
10 men by 40 percent. Not only lethality
11 assessments help law enforcement identify
12 potential victims, but they also empower victims
13 with self-protective steps to help them escape
14 fatal encounters. Women who participated in the
15 program were significantly more likely to remove
16 or hide their partner's weapons, obtain formal
17 services for domestic violence, to establish
18 safety strategies with friends and family, and to
19 obtain some form of protection against their
20 partner.
21 And I'm proud to sponsor this
22 legislation to ensure that we continue to take
23 steps as a state to protect victims of crime in
24 every way that we can. I vote aye and encourage
25 my colleagues to do the same.
3885
1 Thank you, Mr. President.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
3 Webb to be recorded in the affirmative.
4 Senator Rolison to explain his vote.
5 SENATOR ROLISON: Thank you,
6 Mr. President.
7 I want to thank Senator Webb for
8 moving this bill forward. And I want to thank
9 all of my colleagues for supporting this bill.
10 As Senator Webb said, Dutchess
11 County has had a lethality instrument tool within
12 its public safety system since 2014. And I can
13 tell you, over those years the tool is helping
14 victims of domestic violence identify the
15 seriousness of their offender and the ability of
16 that offender to reoffend and, as Senator Webb
17 said, to make plans to prevent that from
18 happening, prevent them from being a victim
19 again -- safety plans, working with the criminal
20 justice system through the DA's office and DV
21 advocates.
22 And I'll leave with just one more
23 statistic. In the past five years in Dutchess
24 County there has been an increase of 49 percent
25 of victims contacting an advocate at the scene of
3886
1 their report through that police officer. Which
2 means that that assessment tool is showing those
3 victims of their vulnerability and getting
4 connected with that advocate right then and
5 there. And of course the advocates are following
6 up even if they don't make contact from the
7 scene.
8 Lives are being saved, and families
9 are having a much better chance of staying intact
10 with the offender someplace else, obviously.
11 So Senator Webb, thank you. My
12 colleagues, thank you. This is a great bill, and
13 it's another demonstration of what we do here,
14 putting public safety first.
15 Thank you, Mr. President. I proudly
16 vote aye.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
18 Rolison to be recorded in the affirmative.
19 Announce the results.
20 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
22 is passed.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24 908, Senate Print 1055, by Senator Hinchey, an
25 act to amend the Agriculture and Markets Law.
3887
1 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
2 last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
4 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
5 shall have become a law.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
7 roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
10 the results.
11 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
13 is passed.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
15 910, Senate Print 1791, by Senator Hinchey, an
16 act to amend the Public Service Law.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
18 last section.
19 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
20 act shall take effect immediately.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
22 roll.
23 (The Secretary called the roll.)
24 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
25 the results.
3888
1 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 911, Senate Print 1860, by Senator Brouk, an act
6 to amend the Labor Law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
8 last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
10 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
11 shall have become a law.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
13 roll.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
16 the results.
17 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
18 Calendar 911, voting in the negative are
19 Senators Borrello and Gallivan.
20 Ayes, 58. Nays, 2.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
22 is passed.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24 912, Senate Print 2352, by Senator Kavanagh, an
25 act to amend the Real Property Law.
3889
1 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
2 last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
4 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
5 shall have become a law.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
7 roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
10 the results.
11 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
12 Calendar 912, those Senators voting in the
13 negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello,
14 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Felder, Gallivan, Griffo,
15 Helming, Lanza, Martins, Mattera, Murray,
16 Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads,
17 Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Weber and Weik.
18 Ayes, 39. Nays, 21.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
20 is passed.
21 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
22 931, Senate Print 2463B, by Senator Persaud, an
23 act to amend the Public Health Law.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
25 last section.
3890
1 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
2 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
3 shall have become a law.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
5 roll.
6 (The Secretary called the roll.)
7 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
8 the results.
9 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
11 is passed.
12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
13 939, Senate Print 2278A, by Senator Cleare, an
14 act to amend the General Business Law.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
16 last section.
17 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
18 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
19 shall have become a law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
21 roll.
22 (The Secretary called the roll.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
24 Cleare to explain her vote.
25 SENATOR CLEARE: Thank you,
3891
1 Mr. President.
2 The consequences that a survivor of
3 domestic violence, elder abuse or other forms of
4 exploitation must face are often complex,
5 deep-seated, and extend into all areas of the
6 survivor's life, including finances. Almost
7 every case of abuse has an economic component to
8 it, and the average survivor is often put into
9 thousands of dollars of debt by their abuser.
10 This bill sets up a formalized
11 process so that any survivor who was the victim
12 of a coerced debt may apply to have the
13 collection activities suspended, pending a review
14 of documentation that the debt was in fact
15 coerced. In the ideal, after the review process
16 the survivor will no longer be responsible for
17 the debt.
18 In those cases where after review a
19 negative finding of coercion is rendered, both an
20 appeal and a private right of action are
21 possible avenues of redress for the survivor.
22 In all, this bill ultimately seeks a
23 balanced approach where survivors are allowed to
24 grow, heal, and move on with their life and are
25 not burdened for the rest of their lives by debt
3892
1 incurred under coercion.
2 I proudly vote aye.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
4 Cleare to be recorded in the affirmative.
5 Announce the results.
6 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
7 Calendar 939, those Senators voting in the
8 negative are Senators Borrello,
9 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Gallivan, Lanza, Mattera,
10 Oberacker, O'Mara and Ortt.
11 Ayes, 52. Nays, 8.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
13 is passed.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
15 952, Assembly Bill 7476, by Assemblymember Steck,
16 an act in relation to permitting the Albany
17 Cemetery Association to file a certificate of
18 amendment of certificate of incorporation with
19 the Department of State.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
21 last section.
22 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
23 act shall take effect immediately.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
25 roll.
3893
1 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Announce
3 the results.
4 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
6 is passed.
7 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
8 975, Senate Print 259, by Senator Serrano, an act
9 to amend the Education Law.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Read the
11 last section.
12 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
13 act shall take effect immediately.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Call the
15 roll.
16 (The Secretary called the roll.)
17 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Senator
18 Serrano to explain his vote.
19 SENATOR SERRANO: Thank you very
20 much, Mr. President.
21 Communities that I represent in the
22 South Bronx and East Harlem -- and indeed,
23 communities all across the State of New York --
24 often suffer from health disparities,
25 preventable, chronic diseases that afflict
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1 certain communities. And there are many ways to
2 address health disparities in our community --
3 increasing access to healthcare, but also
4 ensuring that we have cultural awareness and
5 competency in the medical profession will also go
6 a long way to ensuring better health outcomes and
7 better connection between communities and
8 healthcare professionals.
9 So I proudly vote aye. Thank you.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: Thank
11 you. Senator Serrano to be recorded in the
12 affirmative.
13 Announce the results.
14 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
15 Calendar 975, those Senators voting in the
16 negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello, Felder,
17 Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martinez,
18 Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
19 Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Weber
20 and Weik. Also Senator Scarcella-Spanton.
21 Ayes, 39. Nays, 21.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The bill
23 is passed.
24 Senator Gianaris, that completes the
25 reading of today's calendar.
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1 SENATOR GIANARIS: Going back to
2 motions for a second, Mr. President.
3 On behalf of Senator Breslin, on
4 page 42 I offer the following amendments to
5 Calendar Number 798, Senate Print 2798, and ask
6 that said bill retain its place on the
7 Third Reading Calendar.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
9 amendments are received, and the bill will retain
10 its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
11 Senator Gianaris.
12 SENATOR GIANARIS: On behalf of
13 you, Mr. President, on page 33 I offer the
14 following amendments to Calendar Number 653,
15 Senate Print 1050A, and ask that said bill will
16 retain its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: The
18 amendments are received, and the bill will retain
19 its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
20 Senator Gianaris.
21 SENATOR GIANARIS: Is there any
22 further business at the desk?
23 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: There is
24 no further business at the desk.
25 SENATOR GIANARIS: I move to
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1 adjourn until tomorrow, Wednesday, May 15th, at
2 3:00 p.m.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY: On
4 motion, the Senate stands adjourned until
5 Wednesday, May 15th, at 3:00 p.m.
6 (Whereupon, at 4:42 p.m., the Senate
7 adjourned.)
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