May 28, 2026 · ALBANY, NEW YORK · 50,061 words · 33 speakers · 1396 segments
The Senate will come to order. I ask everyone to please rise and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. (Whereupon, the assemblage recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
In the absence of clergy, let us bow our heads in a moment of silent reflection or prayer. (Whereupon, the assemblage respected a moment of silence.)
Reading of the Journal.
In Senate, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, the Senate met pursuant to adjournment. The Journal of Tuesday, May 26, 2025, was read and approved. On motion, the Senate adjourned.
Without objection, the Journal stands approved as read. Presentation of petitions. Messages from the Assembly. The Secretary will read.
Senator Cleare moves to discharge, from the Committee on Aging, Assembly Bill Number 8447A and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 8072B, Third Reading Calendar 229. Senator Harckham moves to discharge, from the Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Corrections, Assembly Bill Number 6666A and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 6390A, Third Reading Calendar 425. Senator Sanders moves to discharge, from the Committee on Aging, Assembly Bill Number 582A and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 3180A, Third Reading Calendar 490. Senator Kavanagh moves to discharge, from the Committee on Housing, Assembly Bill Number 3029A and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 2091A, Third Reading Calendar 573. Senator Parker moves to discharge, from the Committee on Energy, Assembly Bill Number 5592A and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 2011A, Third Reading Calendar 687. Senator Hinchey moves to discharge, from the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations, Assembly Bill Number 10405 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 9387, Third Reading Calendar 720. Senator Krueger moves to discharge, from the Committee on Housing, Assembly Bill Number 659 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 9650, Third Reading Calendar 723. Senator Sepúlveda moves to discharge, from the Committee on Judiciary, Assembly Bill Number 8047B and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 9792, Third Reading Calendar 754. Senator Scarcella-Spanton moves to discharge, from the Committee on Higher Education, Assembly Bill Number 6001A and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill Number 7784A, Third Reading Calendar 769. Senator Ramos moves to discharge, from the Committee on Labor, Assembly Bill Number 8480 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 8131, Third Reading Calendar 870. Senator Hinchey moves to discharge, from the Committee on Health, Assembly Bill Number 7840A and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 6578A, Third Reading Calendar 977. Senator Skoufis moves to discharge, from the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations, Assembly Bill Number 10032 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill Number 9107, Third Reading Calendar 1069. Senator Hinchey moves to discharge, from the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations, Assembly Bill Number 10522 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill Number 9374, Third Reading Calendar 1075. Senator Hinchey moves to discharge, from the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations, Assembly Bill Number 10737A and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill Number 9551A, Third Reading Calendar 1080. Senator Zellner moves to discharge, from the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations, Assembly Bill Number 10932A and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 9850A, Third Reading Calendar 1083. Senator Stewart-Cousins moves to discharge, from the Committee on Cities 2, Assembly Bill Number 9520 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 8859, Third Reading Calendar 1131. Senator Addabbo moves to discharge, from the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs, Assembly Bill Number 7627B and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill Number 7786B, Third Reading Calendar 1162. Senator Palumbo moves to discharge, from the Committee on Local Government, Assembly Bill Number 10325 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 10012, Third Reading Calendar 1252. Senator Ryan moves to discharge, from the Committee on Transportation, Assembly Bill Number 9351A and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 8571A, Third Reading Calendar 1271. Senator Fernandez moves to discharge, from the Committee on Transportation, Assembly Bill Number 10722 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 9639, Third Reading Calendar 1277.
So ordered. Messages from the Governor. Reports of standing committees. Reports of select committees. Communications and reports from state officers. Motions and resolutions. Senator Gianaris.
Good afternoon, Madam President.
Good afternoon.
There will be an immediate meeting of the Rules Committee in Room 332.
There will be an immediate meeting of the Rules Committee in Room 332.
We may reconvene to simultaneously take up some resolutions, but for now we will stand at ease.
The Senate will stand at ease. (Whereupon, the Senate stood at ease at 1:06 p.m.) (Whereupon, the Senate reconvened at 1:08 p.m.)
The Senate will return to order. Personal point of privilege: Happy Birthday, Dorothy! (Applause.)
Senator Serrano.
Thank you, Mr. President. Let's now take up previously adopted Resolution 2113, by Senator Hinchey. Let's read that resolution title only, and call on Senator Hinchey.
The Secretary will read.
Resolution 2113, by Senator Hinchey, mourning the death of Ronald F. Lipton, distinguished citizen, devoted public servant, and cherished member of his community.
Senator Hinchey on the resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. I rise today to honor the extraordinary legacy of a beloved Greene County community member and friend, Ron Lipton, who passed away on January 22nd this year at the age of 85. Ron believed that each of us must actively work to change the world for the better, starting right in our own communities, and he lived that belief to its fullest. He lived through and witnessed some of the most tumultuous times of social and political upheaval of the past century. Instead of turning to apathy and cynicism, he looked to the strongest force for good that he knew, people. In each community that was lucky enough to count Ron as a resident, he learned the local issues, brought people together, and advocated for real commonsense solutions that would actually make a difference in people's lives. As a young man, he committed himself to global humanitarian service, through the international aid organization Care, in the early 1970s. When he returned to the U.S., Ron ventured to California, serving as an advisor to then Governor Jerry Brown, during a pivotal moment in environmental and economic reform. In 2006, Ron relocated to Lexington, in Greene County, for his retirement. And it should be said that it says a lot about a person who chooses to move to a beautiful-but-can-be- fairly-challenging area like the Mountain Top upon retirement. But oh, how lucky we were. What might have been a period of rest and tranquility instead became a vibrant new chapter of active community involvement on the mountain. He served with distinction as the cochair of the Lexington Town Democratic Committee and was an active member of the Mountain Top Progressives, an organization he helped found and lead as a forum for connection and activism across the rural community that shared Mountain Top towns. Ron had an insatiable drive to right wrongs and better the lives of those around him. Over the years, my team and I worked with Ron on a number of occasions. Always fighting for the well-being of his neighbors, Ron never just brought us grievances, he worked with us on solutions. In fact, one of my favorite topics to discuss with Ron was energy policy, an area he focused on during his tenure with Governor Jerry Brown. He was advocating to me for PSC reform and utility oversight well before it was in our everyday lexicon. And our bill to change the makeup of the PSC and require affordability in all proceedings -- which has already passed this chamber -- was written in partnership with Ron and his wisdom. We all know that in this job one of the best parts is meeting the people that would otherwise probably never cross our path. For me, one of those incredibly special people was Ron Lipton. I'll spare the whole story, but my first meeting with Ron almost never happened. You see, we were scheduled to meet at Maggie's Crooked Cafe in Tannersville. However, that part of town had exactly zero cell service. Both Ron and I waited for over an hour for the other to show up, not knowing that the other was just sitting just a few feet away, one inside and one outside. It was a quick lesson for me on the lack of critical infrastructure across our rural communities. At the last moment, Ron and I did find each other, and thank God we did. That meeting started a wonderful friendship filled with life lessons to me from Ron. I was in awe of his travels, his stories, his energy and his moral clarity that never wavered. Those of us lucky enough to have known Ron Lipton will forever miss the example he set in his community-minded leadership. And of course, his persistence. My one regret is that I never made it with him to the Bronx Zoo, but I promise that I will get there in his honor. Joining us in the gallery today are friends of Ron who have become family. We remember Ron today in this chamber but will carry his lessons, his humor, his passion and his memory with us forever. I proudly vote aye on this resolution and look forward to honoring Ron and his memory in the years to come. Thank you. (Applause from the gallery.)
Thank you, Senator Hinchey. To the friends who have become family of Mr. Lipton, we will assure you that Senator Hinchey will make her way to the Bronx Zoo. We thank you for carrying his legacy on. And I welcome you on behalf of the Senate and extend to you all the privileges and courtesies of this house. Please rise and be recognized. (Standing ovation.)
The resolution was adopted on May 19th. Senator Serrano.
Thank you, Mr. President. Let's now take up previously adopted Resolution 2060, by Senator Fahy. Let's read that title only and call on Senator Fahy.
The Secretary will read.
Resolution 2060, by Senator Fahy, memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 2026 as Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month in the State of New York.
Senator Fahy on the resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. Today this resolution recognizes that May of this year is Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month. Cystic fibrosis is a rather devastating genetic disease that affects the lungs, digestive system and other vital organs. It affects 1600 New Yorkers and of course tens of thousands of families across the country. Today we are joined by one of those individuals, Kellen McHale, who is here in -- stand up, please, Kellen, if you would. He attends Lynnwood Academy in Guilderland, and he is one of those who knows what it's like to daily live and go through hours of treatment, medications and therapies simply to breathe, eat and stay healthy. However, he has shown, as well as so many others with this disease, extraordinary resilience, courage, and hope. And because of decades of research and advocacy, as well as innovation, today those with CF, or cystic fibrosis, live longer, fuller lives than ever before. And treatments that were unimaginable just a generation ago are really allowing patients to attend school, play baseball, as Kellen does, build careers, raise families, and pursue multiple dreams. That's why awareness is so essential for this disease, as is early diagnosis with newborn screening, continued investments in research. And all, combined, can make a life-changing difference here for these families and individuals. It is important that here in New York we continue to support world-class treatment centers and support our dedicated health professionals as well as the parents, the caregivers and all the loved ones who shoulder the burden behind the scenes and help young people like Kellen navigate the healthcare system through their unwavering support, as his mom and granddad and more are here to support him. As lawmakers we do have that responsibility to make sure that we continue to provide quality access to affordable care, to strengthen biomedical research, and ensure that New Yorkers living with CF have the opportunity to live these longer, healthier lives through this advancement of medical progress. So today, on behalf of myself as well as Senator Ashby, who is a friend of the family, I would appreciate, Mr. President, if you would join me in welcoming Kellen and his entire family. Thank you.
Thank you, Senator Fahy. Senator Ashby on the resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you, Senator Fahy, for bringing this important resolution to the Senate floor and for your continued advocacy for cystic fibrosis. I know many of today's guests will also be at this Saturday's Great Strides event in Albany, at UAlbany's purple path 5K, which is a fun day and fundraising event. Our guests today are unique and special in their advocacy. Emilie McHale is the 2025 Outstanding Advocate award winner, and she is joined by her 9-year-old son and mighty warrior who we just met, Kellen McHale; as well as Kellen's number-one fan and Grampion, Tim McHale of Brunswick, in my district; Francie Gransbury, a cystic fibrosis coordinator and RN at Albany Medical Center; as well as Grampion Janet Schuster. Mr. President, I'd ask that you recognize them and offer them all the privileges of the house.
Thank you, Senator Ashby. To the McHale family, and especially Kellen, Lynnwood's finest, we thank you for your strength, your resilience, your resolve, and being here today. It's really important that you're here. I welcome you on behalf of the Senate and extend to you all of the privileges and courtesies of this house. Please rise and be recognized. (Standing ovation.)
The resolution was adopted on May 12th. Senator Serrano.
Mr. President, at this time we'll stand at ease.
The Senate will stand at ease. (Whereupon, the Senate stood at ease at 1:19 p.m.) (Whereupon, the Senate reconvened at 1:24 p.m.)
The Senate will return to order. Senator Gianaris.
Mr. President, I have a motion here. On behalf of Senator May, I wish to call up Senate Print 2708A, recalled from the Assembly, which is now at the desk.
The Secretary will read.
Calendar Number 454, Senate Print 2708A, by Senator May, an act to amend the Public Service Law.
Move to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed.
Call the roll on reconsideration. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Ayes, 58.
The bill is restored to its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
I offer the following amendments.
The amendments are received.
Please call on Senator Lanza for a motion.
Senator Lanza.
Mr. President, I wish to call up Senator Stec's bill, 8454, recalled from the Assembly, which is now at the desk.
The Secretary will read.
Calendar Number 1066, Senate Print 8454, by Senator Stec, an act to amend the Public Officers Law.
Move to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed.
Call the roll on reconsideration. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Ayes, 58.
The bill is restored to its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
I now offer the following amendments.
The amendments are received. Senator Gianaris.
There's a report of the Rules Committee at the desk. Let's take that up.
The Secretary will read.
Senator Stewart-Cousins, from the Committee on Rules, reports the following bills: Senate Print 247, by Senator Persaud, an act to amend the Education Law; Senate Print 519, by Senator Persaud, an act to amend the Education Law; Senate Print 687, by Senator Martinez, an act to amend the Education Law; Senate Print 704A, by Senator Krueger, an act to amend the General Business Law; Senate Print 1063, by Senator Serrano, an act to amend the Education Law; Senate Print 1072A, by Senator Serrano, an act to amend the Education Law; Senate Print 1157, by Senator Cooney, an act to amend the Private Housing Finance Law; Senate Print 1162A, by Senator Krueger, an act to amend the General Business Law; Senate Print 1242A, by Senator Addabbo, an act to amend the Veterans' Services Law; Senate Print 1366, by Senator Serrano, an act to amend the Mental Hygiene Law; Senate Print 1378A, by Senator Serrano, an act to amend the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law; Senate Print 1476B, by Senator Krueger, an act to amend the Public Health Law; Senate Print 1578B, by Senator Sanders, an act to amend the Public Health Law; Senate Print 1809, by Senator Fernandez, an act to amend the Election Law; Senate Print 2046, by Senator Webb, an act to amend the Education Law; Senate Print 3051B, by Senator Harckham, an act to amend the Mental Hygiene Law; Senate Print 3334, by Senator Liu, an act to amend the Education Law; Senate Print 3340, by Senator Gianaris, an act to amend the Tax Law; Senate Print 4430, by Senator Comrie, an act to amend the Public Service Law; Senate Print 4462B, by Senator Mayer, an act to amend the Social Services Law; Senate Print 4707B, by Senator Stavisky, an act to amend the Education Law; Senate Print 4917B, by Senator Scarcella-Spanton, an act to amend the Insurance Law; Senate Print 5189, by Senator Comrie, an act to amend the Public Authorities Law; Senate Print 5228A, by Senator Bailey, an act to amend the Executive Law; Senate Print 5494A, by Senator Bynoe, an act to amend the Education Law; Senate Print 6017, by Senator Baskin, an act to amend the New York State Urban Development Corporation Act; Senate Print 6019, by Senator Baskin, an act to repeal paragraph 2 of subsection (e-1) of Section 606 of the Tax Law; Senate Print 6551A, by Senator Bailey, an act to amend the Insurance Law; Senate Print 6832, by Senator Webb, an act to amend the Military Law; Senate Print 6976B, by Senator Harckham, an act to amend the Transportation Law; Senate Print 7032, by Senator Sepúlveda, an act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law; Senate Print 7280, by Senator Martinez, an act to amend the Insurance Law; Senate Print 7494A, by Senator Gianaris, an act to amend the General Business Law; Senate Print 7605A, by Senator Mattera, an act to amend Chapter 19 of the Laws of 1964; Senate Print 7701, by Senator Stavisky, an act to amend the Tax Law; Senate Print 7717A, by Senator Cooney, an act to amend the General Business Law; Senate Print 7720, by Senator Gallivan, an act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law; Senate Print 7951B, by Senator Mayer, an act to amend the State Finance Law; Senate Print 7984A, by Senator Fernandez, an act to amend the Social Services Law; Senate Print 8201A, by Senator Martins, an act to amend Chapter 280 of the Laws of 2016; Senate Print 8252C, by Senator Gianaris, an act to amend the General Business Law; Senate Print 8353, by Senator Salazar, an act to amend the Correction Law; Senate Print 8363A, by Senator Fernandez, an act to amend the Mental Hygiene Law; Senate Print 8457, by Senator Cooney, an act to amend the Insurance Law; Senate Print 8541, by Senator Webb, an act to amend the Social Services Law; Senate Print 8580A, by Senator Skoufis, an act to amend the General Business Law; Senate Print 8587A, by Senator Gounardes, an act to amend the Public Health Law; Senate Print 8592A, by Senator Sutton, an act to amend the Insurance Law; Senate Print 8598A, by Senator Ramos, an act to amend the General Business Law; Senate Print 8637, by Senator Fernandez, an act to amend the State Finance Law; Senate Print 8701A, by Senator Hinchey, an act to amend the Agriculture and Markets Law; Senate Print 8706B, by Senator Hinchey, an act to amend the Labor Law; Senate Print 8837, by Senator Hinchey, an act to amend the General Municipal Law; Senate Print 8850A, by Senator Gounardes, an act to amend the General Business Law; Senate Print 8969B, by Senator Bailey, an act to amend the Insurance Law; Senate Print 9021, by Senator Harckham, an act to amend the Civil Rights Law; Senate Print 9024, by Senator Gianaris, an act to amend the Election Law; Senate Print 9041, by Senator Hinchey, an act to amend Chapter 443 of the Laws of 2006; Senate Print 9058, by Senator Weber, an act to amend the Real Property Tax Law; Senate Print 9059, by Senator Weber, an act to amend the Real Property Tax Law; Senate Print 9060, by Senator Weber, an act to amend the Real Property Tax Law; Senate Print 9063A, by Senator Addabbo, an act to amend the Mental Hygiene Law; Senate Print 9115A, by Senator Harckham, an act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law; Senate Print 9199, by Senator Scarcella-Spanton, an act to amend the Public Service Law; Senate Print 9276, by Senator Sepúlveda, an act to amend the Retirement and Social Security Law; Senate Print 9278A, by Senator Fernandez, an act to amend the State Finance Law; Senate Print 9305, by Senator May, an act to amend Chapter 62 of the Laws of 2003; Senate Print 9310, by Senator Brisport, an act to amend the Limited Liability Company Law; Senate Print 9330, by Senator Ramos, an act to amend the Labor Law; Senate Print 9349, by Senator Zellner, an act to amend the Insurance Law; Senate Print 9370, by Senator Comrie, an act to amend the State Finance Law; Senate Print 9419, by Senator Addabbo, an act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law; Senate Print 9498, by Senator Mayer, an act to amend the Social Services Law; Senate Print 9541, by Senator Skoufis, an act to amend the Real Property Tax Law; Senate Print 9555A, by Senator Skoufis, an act to amend the Public Health Law; Senate Print 9604, by Senator Hinchey, an act to amend the Public Health Law; Senate Print 9629, by Senator Bottcher, an act to amend the Penal Law; Senate Print 9643, by Senator Liu, an act to amend the State Technology Law; Senate Print 9657, by Senator Bynoe, an act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law; Senate Print 9679, by Senator Baskin, an act to amend the Private Housing Finance Law; Senate Print 9728, by Senator Brouk, an act to amend the Social Services Law; Senate Print 9815, by Senator Krueger, an act to amend the Insurance Law; Senate Print 9820A, by Senator Borrello, an act in relation to authorizing the City of Olean assessor to accept an application for a real property tax exemption; Senate Print 9858A, by Senator Hinchey, an act to amend the Penal Law; Senate Print 9880, by Senator Cleare, an act to amend the Social Services Law; Senate Print 9887, by Senator Webb, an act to amend the Executive Law; Senate Print 9889, by Senator Zellner, an act to amend the Private Housing Finance Law; Senate Print 9897, by Senator Zellner, an act to amend the Public Health Law; Senate Print 9900, by Senator Martinez, an act to amend Chapter 581 of the Laws of 2005; Senate Print 9901, by Senator Ryan, an act to amend Chapter 492 of the Laws of 1993; Senate Print 9902, by Senator Ryan, an act to amend Chapter 629 of the Laws of 2005; Senate Print 9903, by Senator Martinez, an act to amend Chapter 307 of the Laws of 2005; Senate Print 9919, by Senator Borrello, an act to amend the Town Law; Senate Print 9989, by Senator Weber, an act authorizing Tovas Dovid Community Kollel, Inc., to receive retroactive real property tax-exempt status; Senate Print 10066, by Senator Stavisky, an act to amend Chapter 534 of the Laws of 1993; Senate Print 10118, by Senator Murray, an act to amend the Town Law; Senate Print 10134, by Senator Weber, an act authorizing the Congregation Divrei Chaim to receive retroactive real property tax-exempt status; Senate Print 10227, by Senator Cooney, an act to amend the Executive Law; Senate Print 10273, by Senator Gounardes, an act to amend the Real Property Tax Law; Senate Print 10411, by Senator Harckham, an act to amend Chapter 550 of the Laws of 2013; Senate Print 10431, by Senator Bottcher, an act to amend the Local Finance Law; Senate Print 10432, by Senator Martinez, an act to amend Chapter 130 of the Laws of 1998; Senate Print 10438, by Senator Ryan, an act to amend the Penal Law; Senate Print 10445, by Senator Gianaris, an act to amend the Education Law; Senate Print 10467, by Senator Bottcher, an act to amend the Education Law; Senate Print 10525, by Senator Serrano, an act to amend Chapter 138 of the Laws of 1998; Senate Print 10531, by Senator Skoufis, an act to amend Chapter 435 of the Laws of 2014; Senate Print 10542, by Senator Fahy, an act to amend Chapter 141 of the Laws of 2014; Senate Print 10566, by Senator Martinez, an act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law. All bills reported direct to third reading.
Move to accept the report of the Rules Committee.
All those in favor of accepting the report of the Rules Committee please signify by saying aye. (Response of "Aye.")
Opposed, nay. (No response.)
The report of the Rules Committee is accepted. Senator Gianaris.
Let's take up the calendar, Madam President.
The Secretary will read.
Calendar Number 214, Senate Print 1783C, by Senator Hinchey, an act to amend the Agriculture and Markets Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect on the 30th day after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 214, voting in the negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Martins, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik. Ayes, 41. Nays, 17.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 225, Senate Print Number 8968A, by Senator Scarcella-Spanton, an act to amend the Mental Hygiene Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect on the 180th day after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Senator Scarcella-Spanton to explain her vote.
Thank you, Madam President. My legislation establishes a veterans' suicide mortality review board. New York should treat veteran suicide as a public health emergency and create permanent, data-driven review boards to identify preventable failures, improve coordination and save lives. We've all heard the rallying cry that 22 veterans a day are dying of suicide. We see that these rates are extremely younger veterans, whether it be PTSD, CTE. This is not about assigning blame, but this bill will allow us to address this through policy that actually helps our veterans. With that, I proudly vote aye. Thank you.
Senator Scarcella-Spanton to be recorded in the affirmative. Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 229, Assembly Bill Number 8447A, by Assemblymember Seawright, an act to amend the Elder Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 238, Senate Print 7131B, by Senator May, an act to amend the Executive Law.
Read the last section.
Section 3. This act shall take effect on the 90th day after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 238, voting in the negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan, Helming, Martins, Mattera, Murray, Ortt, Rhoads, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk and Weber. Ayes, 44. Nays, 14.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 249, Senate Print 5003B, by Senator Hinchey, an act to amend the Public Authorities Law.
Read the last section.
Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 259, Senate Print 1723, by Senator Harckham, an act to amend the Executive Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 299, Senate Print 5049A, by Senator Bailey, an act to amend the Insurance Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 305, Senate Print 5939C, by Senator Skoufis, an act to amend the Public Health Law.
Lay it aside.
Lay it aside.
Calendar Number 349, Senate Print 8555, by Senator Palumbo, an act to amend Chapter 282 of the Laws of 2003.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 349, voting in the negative are Senators Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Harckham, Lanza, Martinez, Ryan, Scarcella-Spanton and Skoufis. Ayes, 51. Nays, 7.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 392, Senate Print 3207B, by Senator Kavanagh, an act to amend the Public Health Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 404, Senate Print 4099, by Senator Parker, an act to amend the Administrative Code of the City of New York.
Read the last section.
Section 5. This act shall take effect on the 120th day after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 404, voting in the negative are Senators Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martins, Mattera, Murray, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik. Ayes, 39. Nays, 19.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 414, Senate Print 5257C, by Senator Hinchey, an act to amend the General Business Law.
Read the last section.
Section 4. This act shall take effect on the 180th day after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 425, Assembly Bill Number 6666A, by Assemblymember Kelles, an act to amend the Correction Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect on the 90th day after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Senator Stec to explain his vote.
Thank you, Mr. President. This bill would require DOCCS to make facility water-testing results accessible to the public, to our staff, and to the incarcerated. It's transparency, and that's a good thing, and I'll be voting in favor. However, it strikes me that what we're doing here, we're doing nothing to prevent fentanyl and other drugs and contraband from coming into our facilities. It seems that we're more concerned about water quality for rapists and child molesters and murderers than we are about preventing deadly drugs and contraband from coming into our facilities. I just thought I'd highlight that as we continue to do nothing in our correctional facilities for our employees that worked there and are risking their lives for us.
Senator Stec to be recorded in the affirmative. Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 465, Senate Print 4152A, by Senator Sanders, an act to amend the Executive Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 490, Assembly Bill Number 582A, by Assemblymember Steck, an act to amend the Elder Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 514, Senate Print 1784A, by Senator Hinchey, an act to amend the Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law.
Read the last section.
Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 538, Senate Print 5067B, by Senator Sepúlveda, an act to amend the Education Law.
Read the last section.
Section 33. This act shall take effect on the 90th day after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 538, voting in the negative: Senators Skoufis and Walczyk. Ayes, 56. Nays, 2.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 553, Senate Print 1009, by Senator Brouk, an act to amend the Veterans' Services Law.
Read the last section.
Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 573, Assembly Bill Number 3029A, by Assemblymember Kelles, an act to amend the Executive Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 584, Senate Print 4945, by Senator Comrie, an act to amend the Public Authorities Law.
Read the last section.
Section 3. This act shall take effect on the 180th day after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 590, Senate Print 614B, by Senator Rivera, an act to amend the Correction Law.
Read the last section.
Section 5. This act shall take effect on the 180th day after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 590, voting in the negative are Senators Borrello, Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Mattera, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik. Ayes, 43. Nays, 15.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 597, Senate Print 2666B, by Senator Salazar, an act to amend the Correction Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 597, voting in the negative are Senators Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Ortt, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk and Weik. Ayes, 50. Nays, 8.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 670, Senate Print 9409A, by Senator Martinez, an act authorizing the Commissioner of Transportation to extend the lease of certain state lands located in the hamlet of Farmingdale.
Lay it aside.
Lay it aside.
Calendar Number 687, Assembly Bill Number 5592A, by Assemblymember Lucas, an act to direct the Department of State and Public Service Commission to jointly study and report upon the provision to consumer reporting agencies.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar Number 687, voting in the negative are Senators Gallivan, Martins and Ortt. Ayes, 55. Nays, 3.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 698, Senate Print 8512C, by Senator Krueger, an act to amend the Public Service Law.
Lay it aside.
Lay it aside.
Calendar Number 716, Senate Print 8732, by Senator Fahy, an act to amend the Public Officers Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 716, voting in the negative: Senator Brisport. Ayes, 57. Nays, 1.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 720, Assembly Bill Number 10405, by Assemblymember Jacobson, an act to amend the Public Officers Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 720, voting in the negative: Senator Brisport. Ayes, 57. Nays, 1.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 723, Assembly Bill Number 659, by Assemblymember Rosenthal, an act to amend the Real Property Tax Law.
Read the last section.
Section 3. This act shall take effect on the 60th day after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 723, voting in the negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martins, Mattera, Murray, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Skoufis, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik. Ayes, 37. Nays, 21.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 754, Assembly Bill Number 8047B, by Assemblymember Rajkumar, an act to amend the Court of Claims Act.
Read the last section.
Section 3. This act shall take effect on the 90th day after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 764, Senate Print 8962, by Senator Rhoads, an act in relation to authorizing the Telugu Literary and Cultural Association to receive retroactive real property tax-exempt status.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 764, voting in the negative: Senator Skoufis. Ayes, 57. Nays, 1.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 769, Assembly Bill Number 6001A, by Assemblymember Schiavoni, an act in relation to the issuance of pool and health memberships to disabled veterans.
Read the last section.
Section 3. This act shall take effect on the 60th day after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Senator Palumbo to explain his vote.
Thank you, Mr. President. I just wanted to commend the chair of the Veterans Committee for bringing this bill to the floor and making it statewide. We discussed this bill. They do it in Suffolk County for our disabled veterans. Commander Bill Hughes in the Westhampton Beach VFW Post brought this to our attention, that this should be something we should definitely do statewide to assist our disabled veterans to use the facilities, use the pools, use the gym, to assist in their recovery and overall health. So thank you to the chairwoman for bringing me on as a coprime sponsor as well, and I proudly vote aye.
Senator Palumbo to be recorded in the affirmative. Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 781, Senate Print 7779, by Senator Fernandez, an act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
Read the last section.
Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Senator Fernandez to explain her vote.
Thank you, Mr. President. New York State has a proud tradition of using distinct license plates to commemorate the service of our veterans. We have license plates for recognizing military branches, Catholic war veterans, the Gold Star Mothers, and many others who have served our nation with honor. This bill carries that tradition forward by honoring the 65th Infantry Regiment, the Borinqueneers, whose legacy was forged by fire during the Korean War. Many of the brave soldiers of this storied military unit settled here in New York, building lives, raising families, and continuing their service to our communities. As we continue the evergreen mission of honoring our veterans, this legislation provides a meaningful token of appreciation to the Borinqueneers and their families. We have seen similar legislation passed in other states, and it is time for New York to do so as well, to give the Borinqueneers license plate a home. Thank you, and I proudly vote aye.
Senator Fernandez to be recorded in the affirmative. Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 792, Senate Print 5452, by Senator Comrie, an act to amend the Election Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 792, voting in the negative are Senators Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martins, Mattera, Murray, Ortt, Rhoads, Rolison, Scarcella-Spanton, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik. Ayes, 39. Nays, 19.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 858, Senate Print 680, by Senator Martinez, an act to amend the Executive Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 866, Senate Print 6882, by Senator Harckham, an act to amend the General Municipal Law.
Lay it aside.
Lay it aside.
Calendar Number 870, Assembly Bill Number 8480, by Assemblymember Bronson, an act to amend the Workers' Compensation Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 870, voting in the negative: Senator Borrello. Ayes, 57. Nays, 1.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 874, Senate Print 1280B, by Senator Krueger, an act to amend the General Business Law.
Lay it aside.
Lay it aside. There is a home-rule message at the desk. The Secretary will read.
Calendar Number 891, Senate Print 8956, by Senator Stec, an act to amend the Public Housing Law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 891, voting in the negative: Senator Ryan. Ayes, 57. Nays, 1.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 902, Senate Print 9961, by Senator Martinez, an act to amend the Real Property Tax Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect on the first of January.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 902, voting in the negative: Senator Brisport. Ayes, 57. Nays, 1.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 904, Senate Print 10023, by Senator Martinez, an act to amend the Real Property Tax Law.
Read the last section.
Section 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 904, voting in the negative: Senator Skoufis. Ayes, 57. Nays, 1.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 906, Senate Print 8288A, by Senator Persaud, an act to amend the Education Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 911, Senate Print 10049, by Senator Jackson, an act to amend the Education Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 916, Senate Print 9789, by Senator Sepúlveda, an act to amend the Uniform City Court Act.
Read the last section.
Section 4. This act shall take effect on the 90th day after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 916, voting in the negative are Senators Ashby, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martins, Mattera, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik. Also Senator Borrello. Ayes, 40. Nays, 18.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 927, Senate Print 5134, by Senator Harckham, an act to amend the Correction Law.
Lay it aside.
Lay it aside.
Calendar Number 951, Senate Print 10039, by Senator Martinez, an act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 966, Senate Print 6020A, by Senator Baskin, an act to amend the Executive Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 968, Senate Print 1634A, by Senator Rivera, an act to amend the Insurance Law.
Lay it aside.
Lay it aside.
Calendar Number 977, Assembly Bill Number 7840A, by Assemblymember Weprin, an act to amend the Public Health Law.
Read the last section.
Section 3. This act shall take effect on the 30th day after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1000, Senate Print 7484A, by Senator Mayer, an act to amend the Mental Hygiene Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect on the 60th day after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1021, Senate Print 9793, by Senator Sepúlveda, an act to repeal Section 470 of the Judiciary Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1021, voting in the negative are Senators Lanza and Skoufis. Ayes, 56. Nays, 2.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1023, Senate Print 2516A, by Senator Gounardes, an act to amend the Social Services Law.
Read the last section.
Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1030, Senate Print 6150, by Senator Parker, an act to amend the Banking Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect on the 90th day after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1054, Senate Print 6225, by Senator Rivera, an act to amend the Social Services Law.
Read the last section.
Section 5. This act shall take effect on the 90th day after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Senator Rivera to explain his vote.
Thank you, Mr. President. I'm very glad that we're voting on this bill today. We've passed it the last couple of years, and I'm hoping that we can get it over the finish line. A few years ago I'm sure we've all heard about the tragedy of Nicholas Dominici, a young boy who was at a daycare center and unfortunately found some heroin that was being stashed away by the folks who were running the daycare center. These folks -- he passed away that day. Some of his classmates were hurt but gladly did not pass away. Those folks were found, they were held responsible, they were convicted, and I'm very glad that they were. But this bill, Mr. President, is to make sure that parents can feel safe when they leave their children in a daycare center. It would create standards so that they would be able to inspect the childcare center to be able to make certain that it is safe for their children, as well as to provide both training for the folks who run the daycare centers, and set standards as to what they have to make sure that they recognize as it relates to drug paraphernalia, et cetera, to make sure that they can keep the children that they are responsible for taking care of safe. So I am glad that we're passing this today. And I should mention that I am particularly proud of this piece of legislation since it came to me directly from the parents themselves of Nicholas Dominici, who came to my staff and myself and wanted to make sure it did not happen to another kid. So I'm glad that we're passing it today. I'm hoping that we can get it signed into law. I vote in the affirmative, Mr. President. Thank you.
Senator Rivera to be recorded in the affirmative. Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1054, voting in the negative: Senator Walczyk. Ayes, 57. Nays, 1.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1058, Senate Print 4887B, by Senator Walczyk, an act to amend the Tax Law.
Read the last section.
Lay it aside.
Lay it aside.
Calendar Number 1060, Senate Print 6047A, by Senator Skoufis, an act to amend the Tax Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1060, voting in the negative are Senators Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Harckham, Helming, Hinchey, Lanza, Martinez, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Ryan, Scarcella-Spanton and Weik. Also Senator Tedisco. Ayes, 45. Nays, 13.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1061, Senate Print 6834A, by Senator Oberacker, an act to amend the Tax Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1061, voting in the negative are Senators Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Harckham, Helming, Lanza, Martinez, Ortt, Rhoads, Ryan, Scarcella-Spanton, Skoufis and Weik. Ayes, 47. Nays, 11.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1063, Senate Print 7820B, by Senator Oberacker, an act to amend the Tax Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1063, voting in the negative are Senators Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Harckham, Helming, Lanza, Martinez, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Ryan, Scarcella-Spanton, Skoufis and Weik. Ayes, 46. Nays, 12.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1064, Senate Print 7966A, by Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, an act to amend the Tax Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1064, voting in the negative are Senators Harckham, Helming, Lanza, Martinez, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Ryan, Scarcella-Spanton, Skoufis and Weik. Ayes, 47. Nays, 11.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1065, Senate Print 8188A, by Senator Hinchey, an act to amend the Tax Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1065, voting in the negative are Senators Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Harckham, Helming, Lanza, Martinez, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Ryan, Scarcella-Spanton, Skoufis and Weik. Ayes 46. Nays, 12.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1067, Senate Print 8482A, by Senator Stec, an act to amend the Tax Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1067, voting in the negative are Senators Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Lanza, Ryan and Scarcella-Spanton. Also Senator Skoufis as well. Ayes, 53. Nays, 5.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1068, Senate Print 9027, by Senator Borrello, an act to amend the Tax Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1068, voting in the negative are Senators Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Harckham, Helming, Lanza, Martinez, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Ryan, Scarcella-Spanton, Skoufis, Tedisco and Weik. Ayes, 45. Nays, 13.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1069, Assembly Bill Number 10032, by Assemblymember Eachus, an act to amend Chapter 283 of the Laws of 2023.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1069, voting in the negative are Senators Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Harckham, Hinchey, Lanza, Martinez, Ryan, Scarcella-Spanton and Stec. Ayes, 50. Nays, 8.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1070, Senate Print 9157A, by Senator Borrello, an act to amend the Tax Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1070, voting in the negative are Senators Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Harckham, Helming, Lanza, Martinez, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Ryan, Scarcella-Spanton, Skoufis, Tedisco and Weik. Ayes, 45. Nays, 13.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1071, Senate Print 9264A, by Senator Rolison, an act to amend Chapter 295 of the Laws of 2023.
There is a home-rule message at the desk. Read the last section.
Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1071, voting in the negative are Senators Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Harckham, Lanza, Martinez, Ryan, Scarcella-Spanton and Skoufis. Ayes, 51. Nays, 7.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1072, Senate Print 9273, by Senator Krueger, an act to amend the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.
Lay it aside.
Lay it aside.
Calendar Number 1073, Senate Print 9314, by Senator Gallivan, an act to amend the Tax Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1073, voting in the negative are Senators Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Harckham, Helming, Lanza, Martinez, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Ryan, Scarcella-Spanton, Skoufis, Tedisco and Weik. Ayes, 45. Nays, 13.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1075, Assembly Bill Number 10522, by Assemblymember Barrett, an act to amend the Tax Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1075, voting in the negative are Senators Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Harckham, Helming, Lanza, Martinez, Ortt, Palumbo, Ryan, Scarcella-Spanton, Skoufis, Tedisco and Weik. Ayes, 46. Nays, 12.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1076, Senate Print 9376A, by Senator Gallivan, an act to amend the Tax Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1076, voting in the negative are Senators Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Harckham, Helming, Lanza, Martinez, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Ryan, Scarcella-Spanton, Skoufis, Tedisco and Weik. Ayes, 45. Nays, 13.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1077, Senate Print 9504A, by Senator Rolison, an act to amend Chapter 294 of the Laws of 2023.
There is a home-rule message at the desk. Read the last section.
Section 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1077, voting in the negative are Senators Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Harckham, Lanza, Martinez, Ryan, Scarcella-Spanton and Skoufis. Ayes, 51. Nays, 7.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1080, Assembly Bill Number 10737A, by Assemblymember Shrestha, an act to amend the Tax Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1080, voting in the negative are Senators Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Harckham, Helming, Lanza, Martinez, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Ryan, Scarcella-Spanton, Skoufis, Tedisco and Weik. Ayes, 45. Nays, 13.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1083, Assembly Bill Number 10932A, by Assemblymember McMahon, an act to amend the Tax Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1083, voting in the negative are Senators Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Helming, Lanza, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Ryan, Tedisco and Weik. Ayes, 49. Nays, 9.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1084, Senate Print 9862A, by Senator Skoufis, an act to amend the Tax Law.
There's a home-rule message at the desk. Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1084, voting in the negative are Senators Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Harckham, Helming, Hinchey, Lanza, Martinez, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Ryan, Scarcella-Spanton, Stec, Tedisco and Weik. Ayes, 44. Nays, 14.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1087, Senate Print 10029, by Senator Stec, an act to amend the Tax Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1087, voting in the negative are Senators Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Harckham, Helming, Lanza, Martinez, Rhoads, Ryan, Scarcella-Spanton, Skoufis, Tedisco and Weik. Ayes, 47. Nays, 11.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1090, Senate Print Number 10188, by Senator Skoufis, an act to repeal Section 2 of Chapter 316 of the Laws of 2025.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1090, voting in the negative are Senators Lanza, Martinez and Ryan. Ayes, 55. Nays, 3.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1114, Senate Print 8690, by Senator Cleare, an act to amend the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1114, voting in the negative are Senators Lanza and Martinez. Ayes, 56. Nays, 2.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1115, Senate Print 10001, by Senator Skoufis, an act to amend the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1115, voting in the negative: Senator Martinez. Ayes, 57. Nays, 1.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1131, Assembly Bill Number 9520, by Assemblymember Pretlow, an act to amend the Local Finance Law.
There is a home-rule message at the desk. Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1131, voting in the negative: Senators Skoufis and Walczyk. Ayes, 56. Nays, 2.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1132, Senate Print 9839, by Senator Baskin, an act to amend the Local Finance Law.
Lay it aside.
Lay it aside.
Calendar Number 1137, Senate Print 10266, by Senator Webb, an act to amend the Tax Law.
Read the last section.
Section 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1137, voting in the negative are Senators Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Helming, Lanza, Palumbo, Ryan, Tedisco and Weik. Ayes, 51. Nays, 7.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1153, Senate Print 267, by Senator Sanders, an act to amend the Executive Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect on the 270th day after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1158, Senate Print Number 2073, by Senator Scarcella-Spanton, an act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
Read the last section.
Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1162, Assembly Bill Number 7627B, by Assemblymember Kay, an act to amend the Veterans' Services Law.
Read the last section.
Section 3. This act shall take effect on the 90th day after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1163, Senate Print 8233, by Senator Sanders, an act to amend the New York City Charter.
Read the last section.
Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1167, Senate Print 10000, by Senator Brisport, an act to amend the Family Court Act.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect on the 60th day after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1167, voting in the negative are Senators Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Griffo, Helming, Martins, Mattera, Murray, Palumbo, Rhoads, Stec, Walczyk and Weik. Also Senator Tedisco. Ayes, 45. Nays, 13.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1168, Senate Print 79, by Senator Liu, an act to amend the Education Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1195, Senate Print 1140A, by Senator Gonzalez, an act to amend the Tax Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1195, voting in the negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan, Cooney, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martinez, Martins, Mattera, Murray, Ortt, Rhoads, Scarcella-Spanton, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik. Ayes, 37. Nays, 21.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1197, Senate Print 1192, by Senator Addabbo, an act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1197, voting in the negative: Senator Brisport. Ayes, 57. Nays, 1.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1203, Senate Print 3243A, by Senator Cooney, an act to amend the Social Services Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1207, Senate Print 6025, by Senator Brouk, an act to amend the Social Services Law.
Lay it aside.
Lay it aside.
Calendar Number 1210, Senate Print 7611B, by Senator Bynoe, an act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
Read the last section.
Section 5. This act shall take effect on the 90th day after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1237, Senate Print 6980, by Senator Persaud, an act to create a temporary state commission to study and make recommendations concerning the incidence of asthma in the Borough of Brooklyn.
Read the last section.
Section 6. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1242, Senate Print 1695, by Senator Skoufis, an act to amend the Real Property Tax Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1242, voting in the negative are Senators Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan, Griffo, Lanza, Martinez, Martins, Mattera, Rhoads, Tedisco, Weber and Weik. Ayes, 47. Nays, 11.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1245, Senate Print 5168A, by Senator Rolison, an act to amend the Real Property Tax Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1245, voting in the negative are Senators Griffo, Lanza, Martinez, Rhoads, Scarcella-Spanton, Weber and Weik. Ayes, 51. Nays, 7.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1251, Senate Print 9968, by Senator Gallivan, an act in relation to establishing the Harris Hill Volunteer Fire Company Benevolent Association.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1252, Assembly Bill Number 10325, by Assemblymember Kassay, an act in relation to authorizing the assessor of the Town of Brookhaven to accept an application for a real property tax exemption.
Read the last section.
Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1252, voting in the negative: Senator Skoufis. Ayes, 57. Nays, 1.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1271, Assembly Bill Number 9351A, by Assemblymember Magnarelli, an act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect on the 180th day after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Senator Ryan to explain his vote.
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. So I rise in support of this bill. This is legislation that I wrote to address an issue directly brought to my attention by a constituent -- not just any constituent, but a disabled veteran who had experienced firsthand the frustrating and unnecessary barriers this bill seeks to eliminate. At its core, what this legislation is about, it's about respect and it's also about common sense. Currently, today, veterans who have already been determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to be 100 percent service-connected disabled are still forced to navigate an additional duplicative process in order to obtain a license plate bearing the universal symbol of access. For veterans living with life-altering injuries and chronic health challenges, these hurdles -- they're more than just frustrating, they're burdensome and they're truly unnecessary. This bill simply aligns state practice with federal determinations by recognizing a veteran's 100 percent VA disability rating as sufficient proof of eligibility for accessibility of accommodations. Our veterans answered the call to serve this country. Too many return home carrying permanent wounds as a result of that noble service. The least that we can do is ensure that they are not forced to fight through unnecessary red tape just to access the accommodations that they have already earned. I certainly want to thank my constituent who brought this issue to my attention, and I urge my colleagues to support this great bill. Thank you. I vote aye.
Senator Ryan to be recorded in the affirmative. Announce the results.
Ayes, 58.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1275, Senate Print 9238, by Senator Mayer, an act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
There is a home-rule message at the desk. Read the last section.
Section 4. This act shall take effect on the 30th day after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1275, voting in the negative are Senators Bynoe, Lanza and Martinez. Ayes, 55. Nays, 3.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1277, Assembly Bill Number 10722, by Assemblymember Paulin, an act to amend Chapter 460 of the Laws of 2021.
There is a home-rule message at the desk. Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1277, voting in the negative are Senators Bynoe, Martinez and Murray. Ayes, 55. Nays, 3.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1306, Senate Print 7100, by Senator Lanza, an act to rename the Oakwood Beach wetland the Oakwood Beach-Detective Russel Timoshenko Preserve.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1306, voting in the negative: Senator Brisport. Ayes, 57. Nays, 1.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1309, Senate Print 9202, by Senator Ortt, an act to amend Chapter 389 of the Laws of 2024.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1309, voting in the negative are Senators Brisport and Martinez. Ayes, 56. Nays, 2.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1312, Senate Print 3233A, by Senator Kavanagh, an act to amend the Elections Law.
Lay it aside.
Lay it aside. Senator Gianaris, that completes the reading of today's calendar.
Mr. President, going back to motions and resolutions, on behalf of Senator Salazar I offer the following amendments to Calendar Number 1376, Senate Print 8353, and ask that said bill retain its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
The bill is restored to its place on the Third Reading Calendar. Senator Gianaris.
I'd also like to lay aside for the day Calendar 670, which was previously laid aside.
Calendar Number 670 is laid aside for the day. Senator Gianaris.
All right, Mr. President. Cha-cha-cha. Let's take up previously adopted Resolution 2214, by Senator Webb, read its title and call on Senator Webb.
The Secretary will read.
Resolution 2214, by Senator Webb, memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 2026 as Black Music Month in the State of New York.
Senator Webb on the resolution.
Thank you, Madam President. I rise very proudly and excited today to commemorate Black Music Month here in our chamber here in our great State of New York. Every June, Black Music Month is celebrated not only in our state, but nationally. It was first established in 1979, when Dyana Williams, Ed Wright, and Kenny Gamble approached then-President Jimmy Carter to establish this commemoration. He hosted the first inaugural celebration on June 7, 1979, and years later, once Bill Clinton taken office, Dyana Williams wanted the White House to resume this celebration but was shocked to find out that President Carter had never actually officially signed the official presidential proclamation. So she wrote House Concurrent Bill 509, got it passed in Congress, and brought it to President Clinton, who then finally signed an official proclamation to officially recognize June as Black Music Month. Now, every June, we recognize the accomplishments and the enduring legacy of Black artists, writers, performers, producers, countless others -- and the impact that their music has had on our culture, the culture of our state, country, and the world. Throughout our nation's history Black music has been and is and always will be the very heartbeat of American culture, whether it is the powerful spirituals sung in the face of slavery, to the jazz clubs of Harlem, the hip-hop beats of the Bronx -- and we won't go into the contestment around them -- just kidding -- Black music has told the story of our struggle, our resilience, our joy, our determination for justice, and quite frankly for our shared absolute human right for dignity and respect. It has always been about more than entertainment. We know that music is a form of protest. It calls attention to not only the trials and tribulations of the world, but it also is what brings us together and helps to create innovation, joy, and so much more. It also helps our communities to heal. It brings people from all walks of life together for one collective moment that most certainly makes us even stronger. I think of a quote by one of the founders of Black Music Month, Kenny Gamble -- and folks are familiar with Kenny Gamble, pioneer of the "Philadelphia Sound," one of the founders. He said that "Black is more than just a color, it is a frame of mind. All genres of music created by Black folks in America are our heart and soul's gifts as well as a universal language widely felt and embraced worldwide." Madam President, New York is deeply connected to this movement. Dyana Williams, the mother of Black Music Month, is from Harlem -- shout out to Senator Cordell Cleare, her district. We are the home of countless genre-defining artists whose voices have shaped the very sound of music and continue to inspire today. As we continue to journey forward into the month of June to celebrate Black Music Month, my colleagues and I held a reception yesterday evening where we honored such incredible artists who are both living and have gone on to be with our ancestors. Many of them are here with us today in the chamber, and it is truly my deep and profound honor and pleasure to name and recognize them not only by name, but also to further lift up the fact that the work that they do, and our taking this time to pause to recognize them, that we are not only recognizing their incredible gifts and talents, but as a legislative body we are inscribing their names forever into the annals of history here in our great State of New York. And so I would like to lift up the names of all of our honorees with us today in the chamber: The incredible and incomparable MC Lyte, also a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee. DJ Beverly Bond, who has shown all of us Black girls how to rock. The incredible lyricist and conscious rapper and entrepreneur, Mr. Talib Kweli. Posthumously, I want to recognize Mr. Bob Law, who is here represented by his beautiful daughter, Ms. Aisha Patrice Law. And no one can ever underestimate the influence of jazz and most certainly one of jazz's sons, and that is none other than Mr. John Coltrane, who this year it is his 100th birthday. And we are joined today by his daughter, Michelle Coltrane. We also understand the power and influence of Black radio, and we are joined today by incredible entrepreneur, CEOs and pioneers in that space. Coming from Buffalo, Ms. Sheila Brown, CEO and owner of WUFO Radio. And of course last but most certainly not least, Mr. Andre Langston, CEO and owner of WDKX Radio out of Rochester, whose actual radio station is named in honor of such important and great leaders like Frederick Douglass, Malcolm X, and Dr. Martin Luther King. Madam President. Let us continue to make space for the creativity, protect cultural institutions, do not allow policy to erase the contributions of not just simply Black artists, but Black people and our shared experiences. That we commit in this chamber to commemorating Black Music Month and all the work that we do in this chamber to uplift the next generation of Black artists and creatives whose voices will define not only our future, but most certainly shape and influence our present. I want to thank our Senate Majority Leader for supporting this resolution; all of my colleagues for the work that you've done over the last two days. It is my sincere hope and prayer that all of our honorees feel loved, appreciated, seen, celebrated. And with that, I proudly vote aye, and Happy Black Music Month. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you, Senator Webb. Senator Baskin on the resolution.
Thank you, Madam President. I stand here today to recognize Black Music Month as the celebration of legacy that has shaped the culture and the soul of our nation. I want to lift up our leader, Andrea Stewart-Cousins, for bringing this resolution forward. To our colleagues, who are part of the Black Task Force; to Elm Core for sponsoring this beautiful two-day experience of celebratory celebrations of Black music here in the State Legislature; and to my colleague Senator Lea Webb, for leading the way on this wonderful, wonderful tribute. Now that it is my second year in the State Senate, it is just such a beautiful, beautiful experience to take part in. Black music has long been the soundtrack of the African-American experience in this country. It has told the story of struggle, resilience, resistance, freedom, joy and triumph. It is more than just entertainment. It is protest. Black music is education. Black music is identity. As we honor our distinguished guests who are here with us today -- who traveled so far, and I'm so happy to welcome them -- at this Black Music Month, I also want to recognize the leadership of so many others in our country who have contributed to this form of music. As we celebrate here today, we must also remember Black music's painful history in this country. Our African ancestors brought here in chains, against their will, carried with them traditions and cultural expressions that even the most inhumane forms of oppression could not erase. Through spirituals, rhythm, dance and songs born from both suffering and hope, they created music that would lay the foundations for generations to come. From gospel to jazz to blues to R&B to hip-hop, Black music has continuously evolved over the decades, shaping the music that we know and love today. When I was growing up, Madam President, I was surrounded by generations of Black music. My grandparents would listen to Black artists of the 1950s and '60s: Little Richard, Ray Charles, James Brown, Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole. My parents would always be seen blasting Earth, Wind and Fire, Stevie Wonder, Prince, and Michael Jackson around the house. Those sounds became a part of my childhood. And as I got older, I adopted and was attracted to genres of my own. My favorite as an '80s baby and '90s kid was New Jack Swing. When I think of Teddy Riley, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Janet Jackson, Babyface, that genre that defined the era of my childhood, it means so very much to me. That was the music that motivated me. I learned my first choreographed dance to New Jack Swing, New Edition. When I hear these songs today, that brings me right back to my childhood, to feelings of joy and nostalgia. So today as we celebrate Black Music Month, let us honor generations of Black musicians, creators, performers and pioneers who have transformed their pain into the soundtrack that continues to inspire us all. Let us lift up Sheila Brown, who I was able to speak on today at our press conference as the first Black woman to own a radio station here in the great State of New York, and all that she has contributed to Black music in uplifting Black voices across this country. And a special shout out to MC Lyte. I was privileged to be able to shake her hand today and tell her that I don't think I would have the guts to be a Senator had it not been for her music. Paper Thin was an album that I listened to over and over and over again. And I really, really appreciate her contributions to me in paving the way for me to be the first Black woman from my City of Buffalo to ever ascend to the State Senate. So may God continue to bless the gifts, the creativity, and the artistry of Black musicians for generations and generations to come. Madam President, I proudly vote aye.
Thank you, Senator Baskin. Senator Zellner on the resolution.
Thank you, Madam President. I rise today in support of this resolution recognizing Black Music Month, and I want to thank Senator Webb and Senator Baskin for her comments, and Senator Webb for bringing it before the Senate here. Black music and jazz are woven into the fabric of Buffalo. For generations the Colored Musicians Club has been the center of that history. Legendary artists like Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald came through those doors while traveling across the country. It became a place where Black artists could gather, create and build community during a time when many spaces were closed off to them. And more than a century later, the Colored Musicians Club is still standing. It remains the only continuously operated Black-owned music venue in the United States, and that is something Buffalo and all of Western New York and all of New York should be very proud of. And that legacy continues today through Sheila Brown, who's with us here in chambers. Sheila started at WUFO, woof-o, at just 21 years old and worked her way up from a salesperson to owner, becoming the first African-American woman to own a radio station in Buffalo and Western New York. Sheila didn't just make history in Buffalo; she helped preserve a piece of Buffalo history that could have been easily lost. Through WUFO she has spent decades uplifting Black voices, supporting local artists, preserving Buffalo's cultural history, and creating a platform that generations of people in Buffalo have turned to for music, conversation, and connection. But WUFO is more than just a radio station. It has become a voice for our community. And it has become the town hall for our community. I want to recognize Sheila Brown for her leadership and everything she has done for Buffalo and Western New York and the importance of Black Music Month. Thank you, Madam President. I vote aye.
Thank you, Senator. Senator Bailey on the resolution.
Thank you, Madam President. This is one of those days here. To quote Common in "I Used to Love H.E.R.," "Now, Black music is Black music, and it's all good." I'm not going to go with the rest of the verse; it's not really chamber-appropriate. But what Common was saying in "I Used to Love H.E.R.," was how the feeling that he had about hip-hop -- he met this girl when he was nine years old, but what he loved so much had so much soul. And that's Black music in general, Madam President. It's not just hip-hop, which is one of the greatest American art forms, along with jazz. It's gospel, it's R&B, it's reggae, it's calypso and soca. It's Sunday morning listening to Hal Jackson and BLS, cleaning your house when your mom's making you clean your house, to that cleaning music. It is those driving songs that you had on your way to North Carolina in the summer for the family reunions. We can talk about "Country Cousins," Kweli, for a little bit. That's one of those songs that those of us from New York, we relate to that with that family down South. But I'm just in awe of these legends in Black music, Madam President. Bob Law, with being a Black talk show radio host. We didn't have a lot of those. And Mr. Langston and Ms. Brown, they are Black folks north of Mount Vernon, right? It is really important to show that there's diversity in that the music experience and you're cultivating those experiences north. And DJ Beverly Bond, just thank you for letting the world know that Black Girls Rock! It's really important to not just speak about it, but to say it. And to the family of John Coltrane, I know Ms. Michelle Coltrane had to go, but we had a resolution and we spoke about his legendary impact. But you know I'm hip-hop 366 days a year. (Laughter.)
And just to be in the presence of MC Lyte and Talib Kweli, I don't think you realize how big of a deal this is. We know about her storied career, but MC Lyte, my favorite verse from you ever was self-destruction. That was my favorite verse. Because like I remember it, it's one of these core memories. I'm in my grandparents' basement, and I told Uncle Ralph this the first time I met him. I watched that video, and I saw the scrolling thing on the bottom. "MC Lyte's on the microphone/Leave the knives and the guns at home." And that stuck with me. Not only were you one of the first female MCs to really do it in a major way, you were on that track spreading positivity. And it was something that me as a young man, like learning what hip-hop was, it stuck with me. And look, there's so many great songs. "Poor Georgie," like give your flowers to those before -- you know, you never know when you're going to lose somebody. My mom didn't let me listen to "Ruffneck" because, I'm gonna tell you the story, she thought that when the song "gotta get a whatcho," she thought it was saying "got to get arrested." So my mom was like, nah, you're not listening to that in this house. (Laughter.)
And then I told her what it was, she said, "Okay, you're still not listening to that." (Laughter.)
But we talk a lot about great diss songs. Ten Percent, diss songs, sometimes forgets -- sometimes people forget about it. You know, there was a song that was in Quiet Storm that she got that from MC Lyte. Right? Hit 'Em Up, they got that from MC Lyte. Like that was one of the classic -- again, we're not going to go into those lyrics here today, but you should listen to that song. Brother Kweli, in this chamber we go through episodes too, like Attack of the Clones. Thank you for shaping what conscious hip-hop was, along with Rawkus Records and independent labels and showing that we as Black people, Black men, cannot just be constrained by labels, but go out on our own and make independent labels hot. And "Country Cousins," I talked about that song that you did with UGK. It was one of the songs that -- it was kind of before its time where people really weren't doing New York and down South tracks like that -- "Rest in Peace," KMC. And it was really like you were talking about you're from Brooklyn and going down South and having that same vibe. And the flow that you started out with at the top of the song was really important because it was sort of like when Biggie did it on "Notorious Thugs," to show that we can rap in different ways in New York. We're versatile. Like I am really like a student of this, and it's just -- it makes me feel so proud that ambassadors of a culture that was born under such conditions at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue on August 11, 1973, in the Bronx -- there's no dispute, Lea. And I just want to make sure, before I forget, I want to make sure I shout out Lea. I mentioned at the press conference thank you for doing so much to uplift and extend what Black Music Month is in this chamber. And Reflection Eternal, "Never Been in Love," one of the greatest hip-hop love songs of all time, people don't give you enough credit for that. But as I close, I just want to leave you with this. Black Music Month is officially in June, but it's 365. The music takes you to a certain place. Any time I listen to a song in a shuffle, it takes me to a certain place where I remember that. The mental download, the download of the music on Napster -- I'm sorry, I didn't have any money back then, I wasn't paying for the records. (Laughter.)
But Black music is so critically important to my development as not just a legislator, as a man, as a husband, as a father. And I have you all to thank for the impact that you have made on my life. I'm glad I was able to get through that because, again, this is a big deal. I proudly vote aye on this resolution, and Black music forever!
Thank you, Senator Bailey. Senator Comrie on the resolution.
Thank you, Madam President. After all that history from Brother Bailey, I should just sit down. (Laughter.)
But I do need to stand up and thank Leader Cousins for allowing this to happen, this resolution. And to Lea Webb for making sure that Black Music Month is truly a real celebration here in Albany, where we have an opportunity to celebrate artists and people and industry-makers -- not just artists, but entrepreneurs, businesspeople, songwriters and musicians. She's truly made this a memorable event, and I want to thank her for all of her efforts and the hundreds of hours that she put into making this happen. So thank you, Sister Webb. I really want to thank the honorees. You know, I represent Queens. I don't want to be in Brooklyn. (Laughter.)
But Queens, Southeast Queens has been a home to Black artists for centuries, going back to when James Brown lived in Addisleigh Park, Ella Fitzgerald, a lot of other artists. But we have people here today that have truly impacted music -- Sheila Brown, as you heard from Senator Baskin, and Andre Langston, who I'm just meeting for the first time today -- but truly pioneers that have created opportunities for many people to listen and appreciate and enjoy Black music. Bob Law, who I had the honor of meeting, was truly a renaissance man, truly someone that we all depended on to keep it real and to keep the truth. John Coltrane, truly, thank you to his family for coming today. There was so much that he did to help us in music. Brother Bailey broke down Brother Kweli so deeply, I won't even touch all of that. But, you know, I don't have that music history engrained in my soul as Brother Bailey. But I do know it's music that moves us. It's music that inspires us. It's music that keeps us going in difficult times, and the Black musicians that are here as well. Beverly Bond, I always say DJ Beverly Bond -- Black Girls Rock! -- thank you for your vision. Thank you for your focus. Thank you for creating a national environment to empower all Black women. And to MC Lyte, I had the honor of having a sitdown with you last year, just to find out that you're a deep sister. You care about the world. You care about issues. You've utilized your music to empower women. You're truly a special person. Thank you all for coming today. I really appreciate everything that's happening. I'm sorry that we weren't at the reception last night, but we were here passing the budget. But we will be honoring you in every way possible. Today is just a small token of our appreciation, of our love and respect for all of you, for all the things that you've done. Thank you, Senator Webb, for making this happen. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you, Senator Comrie. Senator Myrie on the resolution.
Thank you, Madam President. Let me first thank Senator Lea Webb for all of her leadership in making this event and yesterday's event really I think a historic celebration of Black music during this month. And of course to our leader, Andrea Stewart-Cousins, for bringing this resolution. We had a chance to meet a lot of the honorees at the press conference earlier today, so I won't go through everyone. I just wanted to elevate two in particular, the first being DJ Beverly Bond, who, you know, I was thinking as we were going through what might be the best thing to say about you during this speech and at the press conference. And, you know, I thought, Well, we have Senator Lea Webb, a powerful and strong Black woman. We have Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the first Black woman, the first woman to lead the Senate Majority in the history of this state. I of course came from a Black woman. I am married to a Black woman. And what you have done with Black Girls Rock -- the affirmation that it gives for so many that look like you, that look like our families, our community. It's bigger than the music. And I want to publicly thank you for everything that you have done there and that you will continue to do, and what it has grown to be. And then of course to Talib, who as we all know is from Brooklyn. But he also went to the best high school in the State of New York, Brooklyn Tech. I have the honor of also representing Medgar Evers College, where another powerful Black woman, his mom, Dr. Greene, has been a professor and a scholar and someone who I take great humility and joy in working with to achieve things for our community. Talib, what you did for young Black men like me, who was listening to rap music and reciting lyrics that I had no idea what -- like what we -- I'm talking street stuff that I have no idea what I'm talking about. (Laughter.)
I don't live that life. I didn't grow up that way. But then there came you, someone who was rapping about things that I did relate to and that I did know about, and teaching me things and saying, Look, you can do this and be cool, and you don't got to be all this over here. That has stuck with me forever. And I just wanted to say thank you for the example that you have set and continue to set for many Black boys and many Black men -- that you can stand in both spaces and be just as cool and just as powerful. So as we celebrate Black Music Month, I want to thank all the honorees for taking the time to be with us here in the chamber. Thank you for your patience as we've gone through the legislative process. I very, very, very proudly vote aye on the resolution. Thank you.
Thank you, Senator Myrie. Senator Fernandez on the resolution.
Thank you, Madam President. So I don't know if anybody or many people know this, but I grew up dancing. I was always in dance class, jazz, ballet, tap, everything. And one of my favorite things is -- was learning about the music. Every time my teacher put on a different song, we're going to dance to this, she would give us -- he/she would give us a little history about who the artist was and when it was popular, when it came out. And one of my most I guess favorite things about music in general is that Black artists originated every genre, almost. For those that don't know, again, I'm a big fan of Beyoncé and I do love her. (Laughter.)
One of my favorite things to know and to share and to talk about is how she is using her position now to elevate the history of Black music, from Act 1: Renaissance, and giving credit to the Black LGBT community and Donna Summer and DJ Frankie Knuckles for how they inspired that genre of music. Country music was taken from Black artists, and rock music. I'm excited for Act 3 coming out. But I have to stand up to thank the sponsor, Lea Webb, for bringing this resolution, because it is a moment that we should appreciate. It's a contribution to this country that we should appreciate and recognize every day. And I'm truly grateful to all our guests here for sharing your -- my God, your spirit, your stardom, your influence, and for everything you've contributed to music in our country and society, and the love that we have celebrating as humans. So thank you. I proudly vote aye too.
Thank you, Senator Fernandez. Senator Hinchey on the resolution.
Thank you, Madam President. I rise, first and foremost, to thank my seatmate, Senator Lea Webb, who has put so much energy into this over the last few years. Your passion and excitement is palpable, and it just makes me so excited. But even larger, I rise to celebrate Black music. I represent and grew up in a predominantly, almost exclusively white community, but Black music helped shape my way of thinking. Listening to Black music as a kid opened my eyes to different cultures, opened my eyes to different ways of life. Opened my eyes to some very good music. And it's something that we would talk about with my friends all the time. It was accessible. We listened to it, we loved it. And it was just a huge part of growing up. I too grew up dancing, and it's some of the best music to dance to. But being able to listen to some of the lyrics, you know, to understand where people are coming from, it shaped my life today. Talib Kweli, listening to you growing up in upstate New York, in the Catskills and the Hudson Valley -- thank you. Listening to Missy Elliott, blasting her from my car down our rural roads, while people are listening to God knows what, was so much fun and important for people to be able to hear and learn from. Listening to Eve is just so -- was so much fun and so, again, important for our learning and way of life. And so I want to say thank you for everything that all of you have done. Thank you to the families, but thank you, more broadly, to the way that Black music has shaped our culture and really spoken to people in the more rural area and white communities, bringing us all together. Thank you so much.
Thank you, Senator Hinchey. Senator Sepúlveda on the resolution. SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: Thank you, Madam President, for allowing me to speak on this resolution now. My colleague Jamaal Bailey speaks about hip-hop and the newer generation of music, but I grew up in Brooklyn, New York, with my grandfather, and I grew up listening to Latin music, salsa music, which has a large African influence. But also my grandfather was a revered and loved jazz musician. So while I listened to all kinds of music, every -- almost every day I had to listen to one of the probably greatest jazz saxophonists ever, John Coltrane. We listened to Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, who passed away a couple of days ago, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker -- Bill Evans was one of the greatest composers and jazz pianists to exist. And of course the man who probably deserves the most credit for creating one of the only two American forms of music -- one is salsa music, which was formed in Harlem -- and jazz. These are the only two true forms of pure American music. And the person who changed American music, the history of American music was none other than a man named Louie Armstrong. Louie Armstrong changed music completely in this country and throughout the world. The concept of syncopation he brought to music, where prior to Louie Armstrong music was like a marching band. You know, you'd listen to the marching band music, and he brought in syncopation and changed it completely. So to all the artists today, Black, white, no matter where you're from, you all owe a debt of gratitude to Louie Armstrong, because he changed our music, he created everything today that's been used in creating hip-hop and other forms of music -- country music, rock and roll, all of that -- all of them owe a debt of gratitude to a Black man named Louie Armstrong. I vote aye. Thank you.
Thank you, Senator Sepúlveda. Senator Cleare to close.
Thank you, Madam President. I rise to speak in support of the Black Music Month resolution, and I want to offer special thanks to our incredible collaborators on the Black Music Month program. But the grandest shout-out of all to Senator Lea Webb, for her incredible vision and commitment. I represent Harlem, the epicenter of Black history, culture, thought, art, scholarship, and music. A significant part of the history of Black music is rooted in my district, including the quintessential venues of the Harlem Renaissance, such as the Alhambra Ballroom, the Cotton Club, Count Basie's Lounge, the Lenox Lounge, the Renaissance Ballroom, the Savoy, Monette's Supper Club, Bill's Place, Minton's Playhouse, the Apollo Theater, the original Red Rooster. Moreover, many of the finest Black musicians lived in, played in, and frequented Harlem, including Louie Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Earl "Fatha" Hines, Cab Calloway, Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, Jelly Roll Morton, Charlie Parker, Fats Waller, Ella Fitzgerald, Bessie Smith, Paul Robeson, Ethel Waters, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Lena Horne, Billie Holiday, and Josephine Baker, just to name a few. Black music has played a significant role in all areas of life globally. Black musicians have historically been dispatched as cultural ambassadors to foster goodwill, bring people together, and represent American values, using music to connect with global audiences in ways that politics and traditional diplomacy could not. Beginning in the 1950s and '60s, the U.S. government, through the Department of State, dispatched Black jazz icons such as Louie Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie and others, to tour the world. Blues, gospel, R&B evolved out of the African-American experience in the American South. And as these genres migrated north, many were popularized and perfected in some ways during the Harlem Renaissance. Ultimately these genres have become the pillars of rock and the pop industry. Black music dominates the global cultural economy and is one of the largest exports of the United States of America. Streaming data places rap and hip-hop on one of the most consumed genres globally. Black music influences design, fashion, and various youth subcultures around the world. This year's ceremony honors Ms. Sheila Brown, of WUFO Radio in Buffalo. And we have to thank each and every one of these individuals. Ms. Brown, we thank you for keeping the music alive. And not just the music -- the history, the legacy, the opportunity. Andre Langston of WDKX Radio in Rochester, we thank you too for elevating and continuing the legacy. The family of Bob Law, Aisha Patrice, thank you so much -- unknowingly -- for sharing your family with all of us. I feel like he was a part of my own family. We waited to hear him come on. That was our voice, and we felt like we knew him. The family of John Coltrane and Alice Coltrane -- Michelle, who was here earlier -- thank you so much for John's contributions. John would have been 100 this year. We're so excited about all the events. And I have to lift up the names of so many others who would be 100 this year. Very interestingly, Jimmy Heath, Randy Weston, Miles Davis, all would be 100 years old this year. Makes you wonder what was going on in the 20s, huh? Talib, we share a high school; your mother tells me all the time. And, you know, what else should we expect, the son of Dr. Greene, for you to touch a whole 'nother generation with the same legacy and the same originality. Ms. Beverly Bond, you're a writer, a businesswoman, a philanthropist. Thank you for the give-back. Thank you for showing us the way to do it. And MC Lyte -- oof. You showed us our place in hip-hop, in a powerful and dignified way. I thank you for that. Today is a great day as we honor those who are here. And I can't leave, I can't take my seat without of course lifting up the great, Harlem's own, cultural icon Rob Base, who we just lost this week. It takes two to make a thing go right. And also, as was mentioned before, the jazz great -- are you signing, John Liu? (Laughter.) UNIDENTIFIED SENATOR: Internationally known.
Internationally known. (Laughter.)
-- the jazz great Sonny Rollins, who resided in Senator Hinchey's district but also had a great relationship with Harlem. You know, for hundreds of years Black music has been the drumbeat and the lifeblood of existence, of resistance, of freedom, of storytelling, creativity and history. Before we were allowed to read, before we were allowed to go to schools, before we were integrated, we brought music with us. And music was how we communicated with each other. And it is how we communicate with the world. I am so proud to celebrate our music in Black Music Month. Thank you, Leader Stewart-Cousins, for allowing this resolution to be brought to the floor. It is so important. Black music, long may it live. Thank you.
Thank you, Senator Cleare. To our incredibly distinguished honorees who are here for Black Music Month, who have been named and celebrated on this floor here today, we welcome you on behalf of the Senate. We extend to you the privileges and cordialities of the house. We honor all you have contributed, and in those whose memory we speak as well. Congratulations. Please rise and be honored on the floor. (Enthusiastic standing ovation.)
The resolution was previously adopted on May 27th. Senator Gianaris.
Please call on Senator Gonzalez for an introduction.
Senator Gonzalez for an introduction.
Thank you, Madam President. Today it is my honor to rise and welcome Ambassador Satoshi Katahira, of the Consulate General of Japan in New York, and the distinguished Japanese delegation alongside Senator Liu, to the New York State Senate. Ambassador Katahira has a long history in international and economic affairs that has taken him across the world to places like Brazil and the United Kingdom. He began his post here in October 2025, and is continuing to build on the deep and broad friendship between Japan and the United States through cultural and economic exchange, reinforcing the bond between our two countries. As we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we recognize his leadership and the generations of AAPI communities whose culture, advocacy, and public service have shaped New York. The Consulate General of Japan serves millions of people across our state, which is currently home to 61,000 Japanese residents. Myself and Senator Liu have the privilege of joining many of our Japanese neighbors at the Japan Day Parade, where Ambassador Katahira rolled out their new Mascot, Happi, a squirrel that represents the relationship between New York City and Japan. And for those who may have missed it, he even dressed up as Happi the Squirrel. I have also had the privilege of partnering with the Consulate General on a number of initiatives. Every year we bring together a delegation of Japanese high school students to meet with students in my own district and understand their experiences. Watching younger people connect across languages, cultures, and experiences is a powerful reminder that diplomacy is not only conducted between governments, it is built every day through human connection, curiosity, and shared learning. As many of you know, I have also had a chance to do some of that learning. I am marrying into a Japanese family and have yearly been able to visit my soon-to-be grandmother-in-law in Hyuga, a small surf town. And while Hyuga looks very different from Queens, where I grew up, I can say what feels so familiar are the shared values of family, of food, of art at the center of community. At a time when division and isolation can feel all too common, these exchanges matter deeply. They help foster a generation that understands the value of cultural appreciation and solidarity despite different backgrounds. Learning from Japanese-American political history, organizing, and activism in the United States is so instructive to how we should view the world today. And we are also proudly joined today by a World War II veteran. Thank you so much for your service. With Ambassador Katahira there is also a delegation of Japanese business leaders. Japanese businesses make over $800 billion in investments into the American economy. These companies range from the financial and real estate sectors to manufacturing and entrepreneurs leading innovation and industries. So to Ambassador Katahira and the broader delegation, I want to say {in Japanese}, and I want to welcome you and thank you for your continued friendship with the people of New York. Madam President, please join me in extending all the privileges of this chamber to our distinguished guests. Thank you.
Thank you, Senator Gonzalez. To Ambassador Katahira, to our distinguished delegation representing the business community of Japan, we welcome you to the Senate. On behalf of our members, we extend to you the privileges and courtesies of the house. Please rise, if you are able, and we look to recognize you. (Standing ovation.)
Senator Gianaris.
All right, Madam President, let's now begin the controversial calendar with Calendar 927, please.
The Secretary will ring the bell. The secretary will read.
Calendar Number 927, Senate Print 5134, by Senator Harckham, an act to amend the Correction Law.
Senator Rhoads, why do you rise?
I was hoping that Senator Harckham might yield to a few questions.
Senator Harckham, do you yield?
I do.
Senator Harckham yields.
Thank you, Senator Harckham. Through you, Madam President, of course. Am I correct in my understanding that the purpose of this bill is to create a standard electronic medical records database for correctional centers?
Through you, Madam President, that is correct.
And will the sponsor continue to yield?
Do you continue to yield?
Yes.
The sponsor yields.
And am I also correct in my understanding that this piece of legislation was actually introduced and passed back in the '23-'24 session as well, correct?
Through you, Madam President, that is correct.
And will the sponsor continue to yield?
Do you continue to yield?
Yes.
The sponsor yields.
Were there any revisions or modifications to the bill that appears before us today in comparison to the bill that was actually introduced and passed by this body -- and by the Assembly, incidentally -- back in 2024?
Through you, Madam President, no, there have not been.
Will the sponsor continue to yield?
Do you continue to yield?
Yes.
The sponsor yields.
Am I also correct in my understanding that after being passed in 2023, in the '23-'24 session, by the Senate and the Assembly, the Governor actually vetoed this piece of legislation?
Through you, Madam President, that is correct.
Why is it being -- will the sponsor continue to yield?
Do you continue to yield? Senator Harckham, do you continue to yield?
Yes.
The sponsor yields.
Why is the bill being reintroduced?
I'm sorry, could you repeat that, please?
Sure. Why is the bill being reintroduced?
Through you, Madam President. The bill is being reintroduced, one, because the need is still there. And I would just share a brief aside on the way this legislation came about. I have three correctional facilities in my district which I visit annually, and I was meeting with PEF and CSEA members who are on the medical staff through OMH. And they were telling me of the problems of having paper files -- our entire medical system and medical economy decades ago transferred to an electronic system -- and this was an impediment both to care and efficient staff work. You know, often in here we hear that we're not being responsive to the needs of folks working in correctional facilities. Well, this bill came as a suggestion from folks working in correctional facilities. So the need is still there. The difference is in the budget yesterday, in fact, we passed $35.8 million for this purpose; there was just no Article VII language accompanying it. So this is just a two-sentence bill that directs the commissioner to do it, in consultation with DOH and OMH, and to promulgate rules.
Thank you, Senator. Will the sponsor continue to yield?
Do you continue to yield?
Yes.
The Senator yields.
Well, I certainly understand the motivation behind the bill, no question about that. The Governor's veto message spelled out the reason why, however, the bill was vetoed in the initial instance, in that DOCCS as well as the Office of Mental Health is already putting together an electronic medical records system for use in correctional centers. And her concern was that since this process is up to the RFP stage already, through your legislation having to restart the process, would require significant reengineering, would render the already-completed work obsolete, and would undo the substantial time and cost to the state that they've already invested to get it to the RFP stage. With that being the case, why are we reintroducing the legislation if it's something that's already being created by the state and funded through our budget yesterday?
Through you, Madam President, I reject, respectfully, that that is the case, that they do have to go back and undo everything. This codifies it. I believe we in the Legislature have responsibility to proscribe what our agencies do. We have seen time and again agencies go down a path only to walk away from a project. They started this eight years ago. In 2018 is when they started this, eight years ago. And so there was a feeling among us on the Majority side that it was time to step in and codify this legislatively so this gets done once and for all.
Thank you, Senator Harckham. On the bill.
Senator Rhoads on the bill.
The Governor's veto message was very clear. It's not something I made up. The veto message, No. 73, issued in 2024 on November 22nd, indicated: "While I recognize the need to align medical records across state agencies, this bill would be duplicative of an existing effort from the Office of Information Technology, which is working on separate electronic health record projects with DOCCS and the Office of Mental Health, exactly that this bill prescribes. "This bill would render the work already completed obsolete, require significant reengineering, and delay implementation of this important work, all at a substantial and unnecessary cost to the state, which is the reason I therefore am constrained to veto this bill." It's an interesting dynamic. What apparently is happening between the majorities in the Assembly and the Senate and the Governor's office is that they seem incapable of getting on the same page. Yesterday we just approved 36 -- $35.8 million for the very project that the Governor was talking about, a project that is at the RFP stage. Which means all the preliminary work behind putting together a plan in order to issue the RFP and actually have companies bid on the right to perform the work, has already been performed. And so now the concern from the Governor -- and it's odd that I ever, on this side of the aisle, align myself with anything that the Governor says or does -- that the Governor has indicated is already far enough along that the passage of this bill would actually cost the state additional resources and would require them to backtrack. And I know that my colleague Senator Harckham mentioned that this has already taken eight years to come to fruition. We certainly can't start back at square one by passing this legislation today and delaying this project even further. So I will be voting no, Madam President, and I would encourage my colleagues to do the same.
Thank you, Senator Rhoads. Senator Martins, why do you rise?
Just wondering if the sponsor would yield for a few questions.
Will the Senator yield?
Absolutely.
The Senator yields.
Thank you, Madam President. Through you. Senator Harckham, can you tell us, if you know, how much money has already been spent on this effort to create electronic medical records for incarcerated persons?
Through you, Madam President, we do not have that information.
Through you, Madam President, if the sponsor would continue to yield.
Will you continue to yield?
Yes.
The Senator yields.
And, Senator, do you know whether that will include all persons who are incarcerated in New York State or whether there will be an option for persons to opt out and to continue to use paper records?
Through you, Madam President. We are unaware of what DOCCS has been working on for the last eight years other than the report that they are working on it. But a uniform medical system for everyone in the system does not contemplate opting out. It's a uniform system so that when someone goes from provider to provider to provider, just the way we do through NYSHIP, those medical records are there for that provider.
Through you, Madam President, if the sponsor would continue to yield.
Do you continue to yield?
Yes.
The Senator yields.
And with regard to certain medical data and information in a person's file, would that incarcerated person be able to unilaterally decide that they wanted to exclude information from their electronic record and not make it uniformly available so that future providers would have the benefit of being able to access that information?
Through you, Madam President, this bill is neutral on that subject. This bill simply directs DOCCS, DOH, and OMH to develop a system and promulgate rules. So this bill is silent on that question.
Last question, Madam President, if the sponsor would yield for one more.
Do you continue to yield?
Yes.
The Senator yields.
Senator, do you believe that the system is better if everyone participates in the electronic system without carveouts and removing information from their medical records?
Through you, Madam President. As I mentioned to the Senator before, this bill is neutral on that. It simply tells the commissioner of OMH and DOH to develop a system and promulgate rules. So as the sponsor of this, I am not asserting one way or the other whether folks should opt in, should opt out, whether the system is better with that. We'll leave that to the medical record professionals to develop.
Thank you, Madam President. On the bill.
Senator Martins on the bill.
And I thank Senator Harckham. Because, you know, we had this debate just a week ago, maybe two weeks ago here on the floor dealing with the integrity of medical records, electronic medical records, and the transition from paper to medical records and the ability of people to carve out different elements of those records unilaterally. And I think we had a disagreement, obviously, across the aisle between the Majority and those of us who felt that the integrity of the system and the protections that the integrity of the system would provide for the patient themselves in the event that there were a need for intervention in the future, should supercede. And here we are again, spending -- I heard a figure of $38 million had been allocated in yesterday's budget for an effort. And obviously spending that money without preserving the integrity of the system seems rather futile if people can just circumvent and decide not to participate in the process. There either is a purpose to doing this or there is not a purpose to doing this. Either those persons that Senator Harckham referred to who suggested the benefits in doing this and moving away from paper -- either they are right or they are not. And so either from a policy standpoint we should go dive into the integrity of a process that actually provides a system that protects people and allows for those medical records to be readily accessible by healthcare professionals, or we don't. And so in light of debates we've had on the floor here where that has been eroded, I hope that this effort doesn't lead us down that same road, Madam President. I am supporting this bill because I do believe in the integrity of electronic medical records and I believe that we have committed to that. I hope we don't take further steps to erode that effort, because I do think we're doing New Yorkers and our residents a disservice when we do that. Madam President, I vote aye.
Thank you, Senator. Are there any other Senators wishing to be heard? Seeing and hearing none, debate is closed. The Secretary will ring the bell. Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect on the 180th day after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 927, voting in the negative are Senators Borrello, Ortt, Rhoads, Tedisco and Walczyk. Ayes, 54. Nays, 5.
The bill is passed. Senator Gianaris.
Madam President, before we continue on with the controversial calendar, please recognize Senator Skoufis.
Senator Skoufis.
Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to formally request that Calendar Number 1286, Senate Bill 2294, be starred until formal further notice.
Calendar Number 1286, S2294, is starred. Senator Gianaris.
Thank you, Madam President. Congratulations to Senator Skoufis for starring a bill. Let's move on to Calendar 874, please.
The Secretary will read.
Calendar Number 874, Senate Print 1280B, by Senator Krueger, an act to amend the General Business Law.
Senator Borrello, why do you rise?
Madam President, I know that the sponsor is not here, but can someone answer questions on this bill?
Senator Rivera, do you yield?
As long as my colleague is sure about it, that he wants to do it, then yes, I'll -- yes, I yield.
The Senator yields.
I've never been so sure about anything in my life, so --
Go ahead, buddy.
So first of all, I guess the first question is -- I know a lot of you folks down in the city don't have natural gas -- do you have a gas stove?
Through you, Madam President, I certainly do.
All right. Madam President, will the sponsor continue to yield?
Do you continue to yield?
Yes.
The Senator yields.
I do as well, and I love my gas stove. There's really no way to finish a steak any better than a gas stove. Certainly not an electric stove. So maybe we can agree on that, at least. But my concern is -- is that this is a label requirement for a gas stove, a warning label. I know. Be still your beating heart. There's actually a Biden-appointed federal judge that has issued an injunction against a similar law in Colorado, basically saying it's a violation of the 1st Amendment. So why would we move this forward? Why would we not wait to see how that's been adjudicated first?
Through you, Madam President, a couple of things. First, I did gasp over here, Madam President. I did. I stopped myself. Because yes, all this bill does is add a warning, either in a sticker that can be removed or on a box -- actually, on both. The bill requires it on both, Madam President. A warning, a simple warning. That's what it does. Now, as it relates to my colleague's question, we know that there has been -- that there was a legal action that was brought against the State of Colorado, I believe, that was -- they have their version of the bill. We feel pretty confident that this, since it's only a label, Madam President, we feel pretty confident it's okay.
Madam President, will the sponsor continue to yield?
Do you continue to yield?
Sure will.
The Senator yields.
I see the facetiousness with which you see this. But I can tell you as a small business owner that the burdens that happen on businesses large and small, in this chamber and in this state, in this city, have driven out a lot of businesses, raised the price of a lot of things. So if anything requires a warning label, it should be the budget we just passed. With that being said, let me ask this question, then. Who's supposed to pay this fine? It's really not clear. Is it the manufacturer, is it the wholesaler, is it the retailer? Who is supposed to attach this label? And if it's not there, who's responsible for paying the fine?
Through you, Madam President, the manufacturer. And certainly, while I'm very -- certainly as concerned as my colleague is with impositions on small business, I don't think that a small business that I know of makes gas stoves. It probably is made by big companies that can probably afford to put a warning label --
Madam President, will the --
Unless it's a golden one, Madam President, in which case -- and I don't think the bill includes that. Sorry, go ahead.
Madam President, will the sponsor continue to yield?
Do you continue to yield?
Yup.
The Senator yields.
So it's the manufacturer that's required to put this on. It doesn't seem clear in the language that it's the sole responsibility of the manufacturer. Because at the end of the day, if we want the consumer, the person that's buying the stove that's going to install it, to understand the danger of buying a gas stove, then shouldn't that -- we have to make sure that the wholesaler keeps that label on, doesn't take it off, that the retailer keeps that label on, doesn't take it off. Wouldn't that be a liability for all of them, and a potential fine? How is the manufacturer going to know if the label ends up at the final destination of the retail floor? (Pause.)
Through you, Mr. President. There were a few -- there were a few parts to that question. Let's break it down. If my colleague could give me the first part of the question, I wanted to make sure that I could answer the correct one. If I'm not mistaken, the first part of the question had to do with the -- with who was supposed to put the warning label on the thing?
Who is responsible -- Madam President, through you, a clarification. Who is responsible for that warning label to make sure that it is affixed to the end -- when it ends up in the hands of the consumer? In other words, who will pay the fine? (Pause.)
Through you, Madam President. It will be the responsibility of the manufacturer. And certainly much like those pesky stickers on mattresses -- remember those? -- the manufacturer makes sure that they are -- in the factory, that they are affixed to it. And then the person who sells it does not yank it off. The consumer can do whatever they want with it. But the responsibility to affix it and to make sure that it's on both the product itself and the box or, you know, whatever it comes in, is the manufacturer.
Madam President, will the sponsor continue to yield?
Do you continue to yield?
Yes.
The sponsor yields.
Okay. So it's the manufacturer's responsibility. So is it -- but at the end of the day, it's -- the goal is to warn of the hazards of a natural gas stove to the final consumer. What happens if that label somehow disappears, accidentally or on purpose? Because it goes from the manufacturer to a distribution warehouse to a wholesaler to a retailer and then finally to the consumer. Somewhere along the way in that supply chain, and in the transition, the transportation, that label could come off. At the end of the day I don't think we're sending, you know, our version of the mattress police, the gas stove police, to the manufacturing facility, you know, in China or wherever it might be. They're going to find out whether or not this label is affixed at the store. So how are we going to make the manufacturer responsible for the label that our mattress police, slash, gas stove police are going to -- they obviously have to find it in the retail location, right? So how are they going to be responsible for that?
Madam President, through you. Most products -- I'm not sure what my colleague purchases, but most products that I purchase come enclosed somewhere. They come in boxes which are sealed from the factory. And so, since the bill requires that the manufacturers are the ones who actually put the thing in the box, put it in the box all the way over wherever they produce it. It is unlikely in most cases, now, Madam President -- it may be different in other places, but I know that when I go to a store, certainly when I'm looking, let's say, at a refrigerator, and I'm looking at a refrigerator, they're not going to sell me -- unless in very specific circumstances they might sell me the one that's right there. But more than likely they're going to sell me something that's in a box, that's self-contained. So the thing is sealed in there. Since this -- and as far as the box is concerned, well, the box doesn't even have to have a sticker. It could have words that can be printed right onto the box; therefore, it's much less likely that they'll fall off. It seems that my colleague is looking for some obscure thing -- again, that we're trying to do something which is more than what the bill intends to do. Which is, again, to inform people about the potential dangers. Because it is true, it is not non-factual, it is factual that studies have for decades documented the health hazards that are involved, potentially, in a gas stove. Which by the way, Madam President, as I said, I have one, and I have no intention of changing it. I like to cook on my gas stove. And guess what? If this bill passes and is signed into law, it will do absolutely nothing to change that. And when that gas stove -- which is a newer one, so hopefully it will last for a long time. But when it goes away, I probably will get another gas stove. And this one, egads, hopefully will have a little sticker on it that I'll remove as soon as I begin -- before I begin cooking, that will document for anybody who purchases it, that there is a potential danger, that there's health-harming pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, and benzene that could come from me cooking on that. Now that I know that, Madam President, I will take the thing off and will make some fresh carbonara for you, for my colleague, and for anybody else that wants it.
Madam President, will the sponsor continue to yield?
Do you continue to yield?
I certainly will.
I am certain your carbonara will be fantastic. But that being said, we still haven't really addressed how this is actually going to work. You just got done saying you could print it on the box. But then again, you know, if an appliance is delivered and installed by a professional -- you know, my father did that as a plumber, he installed appliances as well -- what happens if the sticker's not there? How are we -- we're not going to be able to warn these people of the dangers of a gas stove if it was taken out of the box that had the warning printed on it, outside the sight of the consumer, and installed. So now how is that installer responsible for warning them of the dangers of gas stoves? (Pause.)
So, Madam President, again, in the very unlikely situation that there is -- the words that are printed on the box are not there, or the thing that is affixed, the sticker that is affixed to the actual stove, if it should come off, there is -- there is no -- there wasn't any funding yesterday in the budget, nor will there ever be a gas stove police function here in the State of New York. The bill allows for, in a situation where somebody is alleging that there's a violation, whomever they -- the -- for example, the distribution, the distributor or the person who sells it could be -- could have the opportunity to be heard to be able to make the case that they were not responsible for its removal. It just seems to me to be like an overly complicated thing. It's a sticker. I'm not done. It's a sticker, Madam President. Or -- or words on the box, the both of those things. It's a sticker.
Madam President, will the sponsor continue to yield?
Do you continue to yield?
Yup.
The Senator yields.
But are we sure it's a sticker? I mean, we don't really have anything -- how is this going to work? Is it a sticker, is it a label, is it something that's going to hang off of one of the knobs that the consumer should take off? And then who's going to be enforcing this rule? Who's going to be the ones going out there, policing this and assessing fines and going after the manufacturer? So you've described a lot of potential scenarios. What's the bill actually say has to be done in order for this to be compliant?
Through you, Madam President. This bill is not -- not that my colleague is suggesting this, but this bill is not a way to just catch people in the act of removing these labels or stickers or what have you and then charging them a whole bunch of money. We're instead saying that if you're a manufacturer, that you're making these things -- which, again, scientific evidence exists that you potentially could be harmed by something that happens to it, like -- I also make a mean pizza, Madam President, from scratch. I do. And put it right in my oven over there. Which is also a gas oven, Madam President. So if we do that, if we have a manufacturer who makes it and there is -- at some point between it being manufactured and being delivered to the consumer, the thing is off, it is not like somebody is going to go, Aha, we gotcha, there it is, now you owe us five grand or whatever it is that the fine is. The warning, I'm sorry. Warning, and then the fine. So there's a warning first, Madam President. There is no obscure situation here that we're looking for. Ultimately what this bill aims to do is to just provide information to the consumer. That's it. There is no conspiracy here. There's nothing that we're trying to see if we can catch somebody in the act of doing something inappropriate. We're simply saying you as a manufacturer, you're making a product which is a good product, which makes some good steaks, but you should just let folks know perhaps you should open the window. You should just know that there are side effects that might come from what you cook here. There might be some health-harming pollutants that are possible with you continuing to cook on this. So we just want you to be informed of it. But after you're informed, purchase that, purchase that bad boy, hook it up, make steaks for everybody, and God bless America.
Madam President, will the sponsor continue to yield?
Do you continue to yield?
Yup.
The Senator yields.
I guess I'm still not understanding who is responsible within New York State government for compliance. How will they be doing this? Because at the end of the day, most of these appliances are not manufactured here anymore in the United States, sadly. And by the way, we have online retailers that could deliver a stove to your house in a box, and that wholesaler, that online retailer, could be in another state, another country. Who is going to be responsible for enforcing this, and how? (Pause.)
So, Madam President, through you. So if we're going to get to technicalities, it would be either the Department of State or the Attorney General who would be -- who would have potentially the responsibility to do this. But let's just be clear; we are not asking for some sort of dragnet from either one of those agencies to go and look to make sure that if this becomes law that every single one of them has it. We're just saying to manufacturers, consumers should be informed about the choices that they're making. They can continue to make the choice. Nobody's banning nothin'. We're just saying you should know what you're putting into your home, that simple. There's sometimes, for example, in -- and we know this in poor neighborhoods like the ones that I live in, sometimes when the heat's not working, people will open up their ovens and they would leave them open, without anything in it, just to warm the house. And we warn people not to do that because of the CO2 that they're putting into their apartment building. And by locking the doors and everything to try to make it hot, it could actually make them poisoned -- it might poison them because of what they're doing to keep their house warm. So this is the type of thing that can happen with any type of appliance. And all that we're saying is that people should be informed about it, that people should have the information. They're still going to make the choice. They will. I know I will.
Madam President, will the sponsor continue to yield?
Do you continue to yield?
Yup.
The Senator yields.
So I guess the answer you gave to my original question was it's going to be either the Department of State or the Attorney General's office. So they are going to have to create like a gas stove division? Otherwise, how is this going to be enforced? I don't understand it.
Madam President, through you, no. If somebody says to the Department of State or to the Attorney General, Hey, we believe that there is this vast conspiracy to remove these stickers from these foreign hordes of appliances that are coming into our country, then I guess they'll investigate and they'll be -- they'll do what they need to do in that regard. Ultimately this is not -- these are the agencies that will be responsible for potentially enforcing this. But this is not something that we're looking to create some sort of gotcha situation. It is simply, once again -- through you, Madam President -- just to provide information to the consumer about what they're putting into their homes. Which they can still continue to choose to do.
Madam President, will the sponsor continue to yield?
Do you continue to yield?
Yeah.
The Senator yields.
Okay, so I think you mentioned "vast conspiracy," but I don't think that's going to be the case. I think someone's going to buy a gas stove, maybe somebody goes to a store who doesn't like gas stoves, and checking all the stoves to see if there's a sticker on it, and then they're going to call the Attorney General's office, allegedly, or the Department of State, and say, I saw a gas stove or I bought a gas stove without the warning label, what are you going to do about it? What happens when that gets triggered? What going to happen next?
Well, through you, Madam President, first of all, whomever's on the other side of the phone will probably roll their eyes a little bit. And after they get through that, they'll say, All right, tell me about the situation that you're trying to describe. And then they might investigate it, and they find that there's evidence of it, then they'll go to the law and the law would say that they would potentially receive a warning and that eventually, if that warning is not heeded -- in other words, if there's other instances of the same thing being found -- then the manufacturer would be held responsible for just -- for not having -- for not having them. Oh, $250, I'm sorry. Two hundred and fifty bucks. I'm not sure if Whirlpool can actually manage the $250, Madam President, but that's how it potentially would happen.
Madam President, will the sponsor continue to yield?
Do you continue to yield?
Yup.
The Senator yields.
So what if it's a used stove that you bought, the stove had the label, and now you're turning around and you're selling the stove without the label. Is that person selling the stove now responsible for that $250 fine without a label on it?
Through you, Madam President, the shortest answer I will give today. No.
Glad to hear it. All right. Madam President, on the bill.
Senator Borrello on the bill.
And I know we have others that want to ask questions here. Look, folks, this is silly. We all know this is silly. And the true evidence is that there's no infrastructure here. There's no plan. I couldn't get answers to something as simple as who's really responsible for this. The manufacturer, okay, great. So Whirlpool, whoever it might be -- you know, some Italian or Japanese or Chinese or Korean, we're going to go after them, we're going to send, you know, a group to go exact a $250 fine from somebody in another country? I don't understand how this is going to work, because I don't think it's actually going to work. And we've passed this bill before. It's just ridiculous to think that this is actually going to do anything other than make some people feel good that we're allegedly warning people about a device that has been around for, I don't know, 70 years now, that now we're going to let them know that maybe you shouldn't buy one because it might cause a problem. So this is just a feel-good, do-nothing bill that in the end isn't going to warn anybody about anything they probably don't already know. But most importantly, it's going to create, I think, a potential for this to go to the next level, where they're going to start fining people -- you know, retail stores. It's very easy to buy something online and have it delivered to your house, have it installed. But you know what? Our brick-and-mortar retailers, they're the ones that are paying property taxes and employing people. They're the ones that keep our small communities alive and actually having, you know, economic activity, and this problem is going to be a burden on them at some point. Because I don't think we really know who it's going to. We even read through this bill, and it appears that we don't know who's actually supposed to pay this fine. It makes the most sense that at the final point of sale, the retail location, they're the ones who are going to be held responsible for this. That's really what's going to happen. Because if I was the manufacturer, I would just simply say, Hey, that sticker was on there when it left our facility. I don't know why it's not on at the retail level. Because that's the only place you're going to be able to go and see whether or not there's a sticker on there. And we don't know if it's a sticker. We don't know if it's printing on a box. We don't know if it's some kind of like, you know, whatever, hermetically sealed -- if you broke this seal, don't buy this stove, because it might not have the warning label on it. It's just absolutely ridiculous. But unfortunately, all too often, all too common, the things that come out of Albany are pretty ridiculous to the average commonsense person. So I'll be voting no, like we did last time on this. But I would certainly love to see some real, genuine answers to this. I don't know, it's just a sticker -- if you knew the amount of burdens that we put on businesses in this state that pile up one after another after another, it's death by a thousand cuts. And this is another one. So I'll be voting no. Thank you.
Senator Murray, why do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. Would the sponsor yield for a few questions?
Sure.
Senator Rivera yields.
Thank you, Madam President. Through you. So a similar bill was put in place, I believe -- or passed by the legislature out in California. But the governor, Gavin Newsom, vetoed that legislation. Are you familiar with that? Do you know why he vetoed it?
Through you, Madam President. This was in California? I'm not Newsom, so no.
Through you, Madam President, will the sponsor continue to yield?
Do you continue to yield?
Yup.
The Senator yields.
So let me move on to the reason for targeting gas stoves. So the World Health Organization funded a 2024 study that found that compared with electric stoves, using electricity as opposed to using gas for cooking or heating, it did not result in any higher risk estimate for asthma in children or in adults. So --
Can I just clarify? Are you asking a question?
No, I'm asking a question.
Yes, a question is being asked. Thank you.
Based on that, why are we not requiring all stoves, not just gas but electric as well, to have this warning label if, according to the World Health Organization, it's equally at risk?
Through you, Madam President. First of all, that study did identify -- although I'm not familiar with it, this is why you surround yourself with smarter people than yourself. And in this case some of these smart folks here have -- are familiar with that study. And in it, it does identify a lower risk for electrical stoves. But I certainly welcome my colleague's introduction of a bill to do just that for electric stoves as well.
Madam President, would the sponsor continue to yield.
Do you continue to yield?
Yup.
The Senator yields.
Thank you. Through you, Madam President. Well, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that to eliminate risk, whether it be an electric or gas stove, the best way to do that would be through ventilation, just using the fan, the vent to do it, to remove basically all of the risk. So why wouldn't we just educate the public on ventilating?
Through you, Madam President. Funny that my colleague should ask, because -- since, as the bill is written, the actual wording on it, part of it is certainly in the bill, but there could actually be a determination made by the Department of State when the actual label requirements are being created that could add that language as well. So we could actually say to people, Hey, if you're going to, as I said earlier, continue to cook on a gas stove, then you should make sure that you open up that window, if you can, because that will make it a little bit less likely that you will have some of the concerns that exist with this type of stove.
Madam President, will the sponsor continue to yield?
Do you continue to yield?
Yup.
The sponsor yields.
Thank you. Through you, Madam President. So I'm glad we agree on the ventilation aspect. So it goes back to begging the question, then, why are we not requiring it for all stoves? The risk is virtually the same, according to most of the studies. So why aren't we requiring it on every stove?
Through you, Madam President. Well, the bill is not mine. It is through our great and phenomenal colleague who I hope is watching. I'm not sure if it's this one or that one. Liz, wherever you at, love ya! So our colleague chose to introduce the bill related to gas stoves, but we certainly could in the future look at expanding it also to electrical stoves. Because ultimately, Madam President, as I made clear earlier, this is not about stopping anybody from doing anything. This is just about making sure that people have information, that as consumers they're better educated. And certainly ventilation is one of them. But even when that is not the case, even when there is ventilation, there is still a risk, so people should just know it. And, like myself, keep on cooking that steak on that gas stove.
Madam President, will the sponsor continue to yield?
Do you continue to yield?
Yup.
The Senator yields.
Thank you. Through you, Madam President. So why not gas dryers? There are many, many gas dryers where we dry our clothing. And usually they're in an enclosed laundry room or something that doesn't really have great ventilation. So are we requiring labels on those as well? (Pause.)
Through you, Madam President, a couple of things. Number one, it is not open combustion, so it is a different type of thing. But second, I believe -- he's not in the room, but Senator Kavanagh has a bill related to those types of dryers, so you should ask -- our colleague should ask Senator Kavanagh.
Madam President, would the sponsor continue to yield.
Do you continue to yield?
Yup.
The Senator yields.
Thank you. Through you, Madam President. How about vacuum cleaners? We're worried about breathing and asthma and problems like that. A little known fact, I used to sell vacuum cleaners, believe it or not, going door to door. I went to sell the vacuum cleaners and during my demonstration, I used to show every time you turn on that vacuum cleaner, the dust and everything that emits out of those bags, it would make you gag. I will guarantee you, it's a lot more than anything emitting from a gas stove or dryer or electric -- why not warning labels on vacuum cleaners?
Through you, Mr. President. My colleague is going to continue going down the list of things --
Mm-hmm.
-- that we might need to put a warning on. And I would say very likely, if there is a danger in those things, then we should put a warning on them. Because again, a warning label, which is a piece of plastic or a piece of -- even, in some cases, not even a piece of plastic, because as I stated earlier, it could be written on the box. In this case it has to be on the box and in an actual sticker. But say that my colleague introduces something related to safety -- you know, precautions that are to be not on a sticker but -- not even on a sticker, but on the box. Great, they're on the box. So they're in the instruction booklet or whatever. It is not meant to do anything but inform the consumer about what they're getting themselves into. And it is in the interest of the consumer to have -- it should be in the interest of us, who care about our constituents, to have them have the most information possible. It doesn't stop them from doing anything. This will not stop anybody from buying a gas stove. I don't know what my colleagues are having a conniption fit about. I really don't. So, again, they can be a warning label just to inform consumers about whether there's a danger to this, a danger -- I don't know that much about, you know, vacuum cleaners myself, but if my colleague, as a former purveyor of such accoutrement, knows about the dangers of them, then they should put a bill together to put a warning on them so that folks have the information increase to make better choices about what they purchase.
Madam President, would the sponsor continue to yield.
Do you continue to yield?
Yup.
The Senator yields.
Thank you. Through you, Madam President. Are you familiar with the process for manufacturing a gas stove?
Through you, Madam President, I am not.
Thank you. Madam President, on the bill.
Senator Murray on the bill.
Thank you. And thank you, Senator Rivera. So through this conversation with myself and Senator Borrello, we've heard the sponsor say how simple it is, it's so -- it's just a sticker. Yet he doesn't know the process for manufacturing stoves. I'm guessing he doesn't know the process for distributing large appliances as well. See, we live in a tri-state area, so when we do things like this and we require a specific thing for a product, whereas other states in the tri-state do not, it makes distribution extremely difficult. So it's not simple. It's not just a label. The label doesn't magically jump onto the product or onto the box either. There is cost involved in putting it together and in getting into the assembly line and putting a process in place, usually with machinery. So again, not as simple as it seems. I always find that the people that don't know are the ones that tell everyone else how simple it is. So it isn't simple. But the problem is this. And the reason I was going down the line of different products is because we can do this all day, and unfortunately New York does. There's a reason we have the nickname of the nanny state. It's because this is what we do. You know, 62 percent of the households in New York have gas stoves. They've been around for years and years and years and years. If we're really worried about the health, then let's target some of the things, like the vacuum cleaners, like electric stoves, gas dryers. I could go on and on and on. I could, but I'm afraid because, if I do, we'll have a litany of bills that again will, as my colleague put it, basically make these small businesses or the big businesses die a death of a thousand cuts, because there will be bill after bill requiring all of these nanny-state things. You know, it's funny, we talk about when we pick up a product -- you know, you'll pick up a hemorrhoid product and it has a warning that it's not to be taken orally. And people laugh and say, Why would you even think that? Well, because somebody made a bill requiring them to do it. Now, you keep saying it's real simple and everything, and yet there's a warning the first time, then a civil penalty of $250 and subject to a penalty of up to a thousand dollars. We'll have the Department of State involved, we'll have the Attorney General involved -- I'm telling you, it doesn't sound simple to me. It sounds like quite a process. So for that reason, Madam President, I think we need to just take a step back and -- you know, we're all adults. We understand, when we're buying something, maybe do a little research -- is it dangerous, is it not. But for the 62 percent of households in New York that have gas stoves, I haven't quaked in my boots. I have one, so I feel pretty safe. So I'll be voting no. Thank you.
Are there any other Senators wishing to be heard? Seeing and hearing none, debate is closed. The Secretary will ring the bell. Read the last section.
Section 4. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Senator Rivera to explain his vote.
Thank you, Madam President. So it is true, Madam President, and for my colleagues, it is true that maybe I was a little flippant as it relates to the simplicity of this. But I would think that the idea that basically every product that you get already has things that are attached to it, already has words that are printed on it, already has stickers that we require on there because of all sorts of issues that have occurred in the past where private companies, for the sake of pursuing their own benefit and their own -- as they do, to pursue their own benefit and to pursue the most, you know, bang for their buck, they would cut corners if it wasn't for the fact that government, whether it's the State of New York or the federal government, actually curtails some of the worst actions of the private sector and the worst actions of private companies that just want to make a buck. It means that there's a whole slew of safety standards that would not exist -- that is a fact. That is a reality. So it is true, it would add a step or two. Now, I would say to a company that is selling, you know, Whirlpool or whatever other company is selling, they're probably selling certainly all over the world and all over the country. New York is probably a big market. So there probably would be a way for them to say like if we're going to sell a hell of a lot of, you know, stoves or what have you, that we could probably, as they already probably do, have a process that's strictly for those so that they can add something that might not be necessary in other states or might not be necessary in other countries. These are things that I think can certainly be achieved. And ultimately, this is the thing. This is -- as we have said in the past, there's scientific studies that for decades have established that there's health hazards in gas stoves that can release harming pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, benzene, et cetera. And still it makes a hell of a steak. And still, and saying it as somebody who has a gas stove at home -- and I will not get an induction one, even if that one breaks, because it's a better cook for me. So I'm going to continue to do that, whether this is the law or not. And I would urge my colleagues to do the same thing, to keep getting it. No problem whatsoever. But ultimately this, as in many other pieces of legislation that we have approved in the State of New York and we will consider in the future, have to do with informing people so that just a consumer is prepared, they know what is good, what is bad, and they make the best choice possible for themselves and their families. So yes, I will cook up some steak, I will cook up some carbonara, and I will continue to do it in a gas stove and hopefully, if mine ever breaks, one that will have a sticker on it that says, Hey, just so you know the risks involved. And I'll say I know the risks involved, rip, let's cook up some carbonara, why don't we. I will vote in the affirmative. Thank you, Madam President.
Senator Rivera to be recorded in the affirmative. Senator May to explain her vote.
Thank you, Madam President. I want to say, as Consumer Protection chair, I want to reassure my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, we know how to do labels in New York State. If you buy packaged food that you want to cook on your gas stove, that package has to be labeled with the ingredients and the sell-by date of that food. If you buy a vacuum cleaner that claims to meet the HEPA standards, which stands for high efficiency particulate air standards, it has to be labeled that it does that. So we know how to do this. It's not that hard. You generally only buy one stove in -- for your home at, you know, over many, many years. So one label isn't a huge deal. I do want to say, though, we are joined here by firefighter and actor and all-round Renaissance man Tim Guinee. Tim came to my home last winter and he measured the nitrogen dioxide emissions from my stove. After 10 minutes of the stove being on in my kitchen, the emissions had gone up by 13 times the baseline. And they reached two and-a-half times the -- what was the safe limit set by the EPA for short-term exposure. Nitrogen dioxide is associated with 13 percent of all childhood asthma cases in this country, as well as cardiovascular problems in adults, older people, and increased mortality from diabetes. Tim did not measure benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde or particulate matter. If he had, I might have been alarmed even more. But I will say that electric stoves do not emit benzene, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide or formaldehyde. And so labeling them for these things wouldn't make any sense at all. Many people enjoy cooking with gas --
Senator, how do you vote?
I was trying to speak on the bill before, and Senator Gianaris said I could have a little bit of extra time. Sorry. I'm almost done.
Okay.
Many people, including me, enjoy cooking with gas, but we should have full disclosure of the risks, especially with the health of children in the household or elderly folks. This is a minor requirement, and I want to thank Senator Rivera for his spirited defense of just putting stickers on a gas stove. It makes eminent sense. It could save lives. I vote aye.
Senator May to be recorded in the affirmative. Announce the results. No, hold on one sec. Senator Weik to explain her vote.
Thank you, Madam President. I recently bought a thing of beauty -- it's an eight-burner, two-oven gas unit. And I'm a terrible cook, so of course it's got the vent above it because I set everything on fire. So when I bought this thing, of course it's difficult to use, it comes with an instruction booklet. So in the instruction booklet the warning you're talking about is already in that instruction booklet. I also have the misfortune of having another place that I visit where I cook. It's got an electric stove that I had to replace. Brand new electric stove, the only good part of it is it also acts as an air fryer. Again, in that booklet it tells you all of the warnings of using an electric unit, just like when you buy a hair dryer or a curling iron. It basically says don't stand in a full bathtub when you operate this item. Not a joke, it's serious. But yes, we have to put these things -- it's already in the instruction booklet. I hope you take a look at the instruction booklet, because this is a duplicative requirement. It's kind of an anti-business thing that we're asking of -- again, these warnings are already in the instruction booklet for these units. And for that reason I'll be voting no.
Senator Weik to be recorded in the negative. Senator Murray to explain his vote.
Thank you, Madam President. First, let me say thank God Senator Rivera is okay. You've cooked a lot of steaks on that dangerous, dangerous gas stove without any warning, but you managed to survive. So thank God you're with us. With that said, I'll also say this. Listen, we sit here and we hear how simple everything is, and then the suggestions by the Senator on how to distribute these products. It isn't that simple. When you're distributing, especially to a large market like New York, it's not just the New York market, it is the tri-state market. When they bring these things in, they usually go to a distribution center, which now the liability is out of the hands of the manufacturer, it's now to the distribution center. If they happen to bring a stove -- that was supposed to go to Jersey -- by mistake on their route to New York, they're now -- the manufacturer is now going to be subjected to possible fines. What I'm saying here is it's not as simple as everyone likes to make it sound. It is a process, and once again a process we're imposing on businesses over and over and over again. And we wonder why these businesses are leaving the state. This is why. This is why. Because we are such a nanny state. With that said, I know my time is almost up. I'll also say Tim is a great guy. I know he means well, and I appreciate all of his hard work. With that said, I'm still a no.
Senator Murray to be recorded in the negative. Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 874, voting in the negative are Senators Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martins, Mattera, Murray, Ortt, Rhoads, Rolison, Ryan, Scarcella-Spanton, Skoufis, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik. Ayes, 38. Nays, 21.
The bill is passed. Senator Gianaris.
Okay, let's move on to Calendar 1072, please.
The Secretary will read.
Calendar Number 1072, Senate Print 9273, by Senator Krueger, an act to amend the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.
Senator Martins, why do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. I was hoping that the sponsor would yield for a few questions.
Will the sponsor yield?
I'm not the sponsor, but on behalf of the sponsor, I'm delighted to yield.
Filling in today --
Yes.
The surrogate yields.
Thank you. Madam President, through you. Senator, are you familiar with the "tied-house" laws in New York State?
Through you, Madam President, yes.
Madam President, through you, if the sponsor would continue to yield.
Will the Senator yield?
Yes.
The Senator yields.
So as I understand it, it's to prevent different layers or tiers from having undue influence with each other -- in this case, manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, to keep them separate. In this particular case we're being asked to pass a law specific to a location, and there isn't the necessary detail in the bill or in the memo to express why we should be doing that. And I was hoping you'd be able to give us some details with regard to this location, the level of interaction between these tiers, so that we could have an informed vote.
Through you, Madam President, I appreciate the question and I'll do my best to provide those details you're looking for. Basically, the specific property and company that we are looking to provide an exemption to here in this bill is Christie's Auction House at 20 Rockefeller Plaza, which I assume is in Senator Krueger's district. They actually have a tied-house exemption that as part of this bill we are repealing and replacing with a different tied-house exemption. And the purpose of this exemption is to allow for this auction house to sell wines. And the reason why this is needed is because some of the ownership of Christie's Auction House has partial ownership in vineyards I believe overseas.
Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, Senator. I appreciate it. On the bill.
Senator Martins on the bill.
So I -- again, I'm not opposed to this. I just find it important that when we do receive a bill and we are making an exception -- and for those who aren't aware, in state law there is no discretion. The SLA can't grant exemptions. The only way that they can get it is to come here. So it's important that we ask the questions. What is the level of interference, what is the level of I guess co-mixing between the different tiers to make sure that there isn't going to be undue influence and we're not just agreeing to something without, quite frankly, understanding what it is we're being asked to do. In this case, as I understand it, there is a large international entity. Part of its ownership may own some portions of a vineyard overseas, and as a result that would trigger the tied laws here in New York State, not allowing them to have an interest in a retail sales of alcohol, wine, and the like. So understanding this more completely, Madam President, I'll be voting aye. Thank you, Senator Skoufis.
Thank you, Senator. Are there any other Senators wishing to be heard? Seeing and hearing none, debate is closed. Read the last section.
Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar Number 1072, voting in the negative: Senator Martinez. Ayes, 58. Nays, 1.
The bill is passed. Senator Gianaris.
Next up, Calendar 1132, please.
The Secretary will read.
Calendar Number 1132, Senate Print 9839, by Senator Baskin, an act to amend the Local Finance Law.
Senator Martins, why do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. If the sponsor would yield for a few questions.
Will the sponsor yield?
Yes, Madam President, I yield.
The sponsor yields.
Thank you, Senator. In the budget that was voted on yesterday, there was an amount that was included in appropriations, that was included specifically for the City of Buffalo. Do you recall how much that was?
I believe it was 25 million. (Pause.)
But 55 million in additional funding. Through you, Madam President, 55 million in additional funding.
Thank you. Madam President, through you, if the sponsor would continue to yield.
Will the sponsor yield?
Yes, I yield.
The sponsor yields.
And, Senator, are you familiar with the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority?
Through you, Madam President, yes, I am.
Thank you. Through you, Madam President, if the sponsor would continue to yield.
Will the sponsor yield?
Yes.
The sponsor yields.
So can you tell us, what's the makeup of the fiscal authority? How long has it been in place? How are those appointments made, if you know? Just some background on this particular fiscal authority.
Through you, Madam President. The Buffalo Fiscal Stability Board has been enacted for decades. It's made up of a variety of members that are appointed through recommendations to the Governor's office in the City of Buffalo. And their primary purpose is to have oversight of the city's finances, mostly in the event of a fiscal crisis.
Thank you. Madam President, if the sponsor would continue to yield.
Does the sponsor yield?
Yes, I yield, Madam President.
The sponsor yields.
Thank you. In dealing with the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority, there are times when it is under a control period, and there are times when it is dormant. Right now, can you tell us whether the authority is under a control period or whether it is in fact dormant?
Through you, Madam President. Currently the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Board members are not a -- what we call a hard board, where they are making complete decisions about the city's finances at this time.
Thank you. Madam President, through you, if the sponsor would continue to yield.
Does the sponsor yield?
Yes, Madam President.
The sponsor yields.
So as I understand it, there are a couple of instances in which the board would go into a control period and become active and take over the finances of the city, I guess when they are in financial distress or something of the like. Are you familiar with what the triggers are that would require the control board to take control of the city's finances? (Pause.)
Through you, Madam President. In order for the Fiscal Stability Board to be completely in control, the city has to carry and be in a deficit. At this time, the city may have a projected deficit, but they do not have a current deficit. The City of Buffalo's budget is balanced at the moment, which would explain why the Fiscal Stability Board is not currently enacted.
Through you, Madam President, if the sponsor would continue to yield.
Will the sponsor yield?
Yes, Madam President.
The sponsor yields.
So as I understand it, the control period can be declared if the city is projected, projected, to incur a substantial operating funds deficit and other things as well. Given the fact that yesterday the budget included, you know, 50 million-plus for the City of Buffalo for just that reason, do you -- are you saying that the control board has not declared a control period for the City of Buffalo?
Currently the -- through you, Madam President, currently the City of Buffalo's budget is balanced.
Okay. Madam President, through you, if the sponsor would continue to yield.
Does the sponsor yield?
Yes.
The sponsor yields.
So the city's budget is balanced, but we just shelled out $50 million to help them. How about -- how many people sit on the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority?
Through you, Madam President, the board is made up of nine members.
Thank you. Madam President, through you, if the sponsor would continue to yield.
Does the sponsor yield?
Yes, Madam President, I yield.
The sponsor yields.
So the board has seven voting members, two ex officio members, which includes the mayor of the city and the county executive of the County of Erie. The seven actual voting members are appointed by the Governor, three of them upon the recommendation each of the Senate Majority Leader, the Speaker of the Assembly, and the Comptroller, four being appointed by the Governor, including the chair and the vice chair. Can you tell me, of the seven members who are appointed, how many of them -- how many of those appointments are vacant right now?
Through you, Madam President. I don't have the number of vacancies currently on the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Board with me at the moment.
Through you, Madam President, if the sponsor would continue to yield.
Does the sponsor yield?
Yes, Madam President, I yield.
The sponsor yields.
Senator, are you aware that the chair of the fiscal authority is -- that spot is vacant and has been vacant now for months, if not over a year?
Through you, Madam President. There may be an official vacancy, but there has been an acting chair who has been presiding over the Fiscal Stability Board to date.
Madam President, through you, if the sponsor would continue to yield.
Does the sponsor yield?
Yes, Madam President.
The sponsor yields.
Are you familiar or aware that the vice chair of the authority is also vacant at this point? Not only the chair but the vice chair as well, that spot is vacant and has not been appointed.
Through you, Madam President. It is not uncommon for government oversight boards that are voluntary to have vacancies. Just because there is a vacancy in a particular seat, it does not mean that the board does not have leadership.
Through you, Madam President, if the sponsor would continue to yield.
Does the sponsor yield?
Yes, Madam President, I yield.
The sponsor yields.
To your knowledge, has the board or the authority met to address the request for the $50 million that was provided, as well as for this piece of legislation that we're being asked to vote on today, has -- have you received or has the Senate received any request on behalf of the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority for the authority that we're being asked to provide them, which is to borrow money? (Pause.)
Through you, Madam President. The bill before us is focused on a period of extension for the board to be able to do borrowing. So a lot of my colleague's questions are really not focused on the bill that are before us. I will, through you, answer that the Fiscal Stability Board did have a public meeting. I believe that meeting was between 30 and 60 days ago. And in order for there to be business before the board where they have to actually take control of the city's finances or vote, the city has to be in an official deficit. And the city currently has a balanced budget.
We heard that. Madam President, through you, if the sponsor would continue to yield.
Will the sponsor yield?
Yes, Madam President, I yield.
The sponsor yields.
So, Senator, who asked for this bill? Who requested the bill?
This bill came to be through conversations with the current mayor of the City of Buffalo.
Through you, Madam President, if the sponsor would continue to yield.
Does the sponsor yield?
Yes, Madam President, I yield.
The sponsor yields.
Aside from a discussion with Mayor Ryan, were there any discussions with anyone on the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority with regard to what we're being asked to vote on here today? Which is, by the way, to authorize the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority to borrow -- to not only extend their term, but to borrow up to $150 million.
Through you, Madam President. Just again for a point of clarity, the bill before us is a bill that extends the City of Buffalo's authority to bond for more than one year. And this agreement has been in place for 40 years. Could my colleague repeat his question?
I will. Madam President, through you, if the sponsor would continue to yield.
Does the sponsor yield?
Yes, I yield.
The sponsor yields.
So if I do understand correctly, and I may be wrong, but this bill authorizes the authority -- that is, the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority -- to borrow money, not the City of Buffalo itself, correct?
No. Through you, Madam President, my colleague is incorrect. (Pause.)
The bill before us -- through you, Madam President, the bill before us allows for the City of Buffalo to extend their ability to bond in private sales for an additional year. That is the bill before us. There is a separate bill about deficit borrowing that has been introduced, but that is not the bill before us. And my colleague's line of questioning is not germane to the topic of the bill before us.
So Madam President, through you, if the sponsor would continue to yield.
Does the sponsor yield?
Yes, Madam President.
The sponsor yields.
So if a city has distress and requested $50 million in a grant from the State of New York and is now requiring -- or requesting the ability to borrow, while they have a fiscal control board, are you suggesting that we should ignore the fiscal control board and allow the city to continue to borrow without having a plan or oversight? (Pause.)
Through you, Madam President. The bill before us is subject to oversight by the State Comptroller.
Madam President, on the bill.
Senator Martins on the bill.
You know, Madam President, I'm sitting here reading the bill. I have it right here. So I'm going to take the opportunity to read the bill number, Section 9839, which is the calendar number we have here tonight, or this afternoon, 9839, which is Calendar Number 1132, which is the bill we are debating here today. And it's an act to amend the Local Finance Law in relation to facilitating the marketing of any issue of serial bonds or notes of the City of Buffalo issued on or before a certain date, with the purpose being to authorize the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority to issue bonds between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2029. Right from the memo that's associated with the bill. So I would hope that I'd be able to get some answers to some questions about the Fiscal Stability Authority, because it is that which we are being asked to vote on today by the bill and the memo itself. Not the City of Buffalo, but the Stability Authority. And just think about what we're going through here and the exercise we're going through. I have no issue whatsoever with assisting a city in this state that is going through a fiscal crisis and allowing the city the opportunity to get its act together and to pay its bills and to continue to provide services for its residents, to continue to pay its public employees, to continue to honor its contracts. None. And I'm happy to support your efforts when that is in fact the case. But as I mentioned yesterday, if we're going to hand $50 million to a city and then we're going to say here on the floor of the Senate that they are -- they have a balanced budget and that they're not going through fiscal distress and somehow their fiscal board, which is a seven-member voting board where three of the members aren't there and haven't been reappointed by the Governor -- so you only have four people there -- they're asking for $50 million. They're asking for the ability to borrow $150 million. The memo itself should serve as proof to this body that they are in fiscal distress, because it speaks to the need to get their fiscal house in order and be able to borrow so that they can put a plan in place and to be able to phase in that plan over several years. So as we've done in the past, it requires a plan. If the state is going to come in and provide money, going to come in and provide the authority to borrow, it requires a plan. There has to be a restructuring plan. The idea that we have a request that comes before us and says, No, we're fine, we have a balanced budget, we're okay. No, no, no, nobody can claim that we're in deficit or that we're in distress, just give us the $50 million. We're going to ignore -- we're going to ignore this fiscal stability board that was created by this body, and we're just going to allow that board, even though they haven't asked us for it, to borrow $150 million, is just odd. The request came from the mayor of the city, a former colleague of ours, and I wish him well. But that's not how this works. You want to come in, declare the fact that you have an emergency, declare the fact that you need help, declare the fact that you're asking the rest of the state, the taxpayers of the rest of the estate to come up with the revenue to get you over this hurdle. That's fine. But show us what that plan looks like. Show us that you're serious about actually refinancing or reworking your finances so that you're able to make ends meet. So what do we have? We have a $50 million ask. You voted for that yesterday. It's done. The City of Buffalo will be getting their money. Gap filled. But now we're being asked to let the city borrow up to $150 million, and not include the very board that this body, the Assembly and the Governor, this state placed on Buffalo to make sure that they had those safeguards in place. So as the city has been going through periods of distress over the course of we know years -- and again, I wish the mayor all the luck in the world, and we're here to support his efforts and the fiscal board's efforts in helping Buffalo meet their obligations. But to come in here and to tell us the budget is balanced, they're not disastrous distressed, and there hasn't been a trigger for the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority to enter a control period is a joke. Madam President, we have other control boards in this state, other control boards that are in place, other control boards that are active and are doing their job. Before we are asked to vote on whether or not to authorize $150 million, we should have an idea of what that plan looks like, what the responsibility is of that board, and help. We should at least know that the board is fully constituted and meeting and engaged and actually working with the City of Buffalo, its mayor, its comptroller, in terms of coming up with solutions and alternatives to make sure that they get through this fiscal crisis. Madam President, if the sponsor would yield for a question.
Does the sponsor yield?
Yes, Madam President, I yield.
The sponsor yields.
Thank you. Do you know how much debt the City of Buffalo has currently?
As of a week ago, the city comptroller has a projected deficit of $103 million.
Deficit of 103 million --
Are you asking if the Senator will yield?
I'm just repeating the words, Madam President. If the Senator will yield for further questions?
Will you yield for a further question?
Yes, I yield.
The Senator yields.
Yes, I yield.
So the projected deficit is $103 million. Do you know how much outstanding debt the city has currently for which it has outstanding bond obligations --
Through you --
Excuse me. I'll leave it at that.
Through you, Madam President. The bill before us is about capital borrowing. And this chamber allows for extensions on -- for authorities to be able to do bonding and be able to have the powers to be able to bond when the city will be in need, all the time. And my colleague's line of questioning just does not align with what it is that we are actually voting on today, which is allowing the City of Buffalo to just extend for one year their ability to be able to go to the bond market should they so choose to do so.
Thank you, Madam President. And thank you, Senator Baskin.
Senator Martins, are you on the bill?
I am on the bill.
Senator Martins on the bill.
So we're being asked to allow the city, I guess, under these circumstances -- there's a 100-plus-million dollar-projected deficit, Madam President. There is a request that the city be able to borrow money directly. The Fiscal Stability Authority has not been engaged even though they have the ability and, frankly, I would say the obligation to engage when they find that there's a substantial operating funds deficit or one that exists or one that is projected. This body has already provided the City of Buffalo with $50 million through its budget voted on just yesterday. And yet rather than go through the fiscal stability board that exists and that exists for the purpose of extending oversight over the city specifically for instances such as this, we're now giving the -- we're ignoring the fiscal stability board, which, by the way, is still there, and through legislative act giving the city the opportunity to go out and borrow that money themselves. Madam President, thank you for your time. Senator Baskin, thank you for yours. I wish, Madam President, that the memo reflected the bill itself. Thank you.
Are there any other Senators wishing to be heard? Seeing and hearing none, debate is closed. The Secretary will ring the bell. Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
Ayes, 59.
The bill is passed. Senator Gianaris.
Next up is Calendar 305.
The Secretary will ring the bell. The Secretary will read.
Calendar Number 305, Senate Print 5939C, by Senator Skoufis, an act to amend the Public Health Law.
Senator Ashby, why do you rise?
Madam President, would the sponsor yield?
Senator Skoufis, do you yield?
Yes.
The Senator yields.
Through you, Madam President. Can you tell me how this bill will impact the Essential Plan? (Pause.)
While staff looks over their notes, I understand you have another question. Would you like to go to that one?
Through you, Madam President. Can you tell me how this bill would impact Child Health Plus?
So let me answer both of those questions this way. The bill before us is focused on commercial health plans. And we look to provide for the same floor as exists for Medicaid reimbursement. Typically providers want way more than a Medicaid level of reimbursement. If you go ask any hospital, any FQHC, any solo practitioner, the gold standard is commercial reimbursement amongst the payer mix, with Medicare usually being second and Medicaid being well below cost. In this case, what we've seen is PBMs actually reimbursing pharmacies, and especially those pharmacies that they do not have vertical integration with -- because I remind my colleagues that there are some PBMs that also own pharmacies. And what this bill looks to do is to simply set a floor at the Medicaid level of reimbursement, because many of these PBMs to many of these pharmacies are actually reimbursing below Medicaid and below the at-cost value of dispensing certain drugs, including lifesaving drugs like children's inhalers for asthma. And so to the extent that Child Health Plus or the Essential Plan is captured by what I just described, which again affects commercial plans, then that same impact would extend to those programs.
Will the sponsor continue to yield?
Senator Skoufis, do you continue to yield?
Yes.
The Senator yields.
Through you, Madam President. So what impact and cost would it have on those two programs?
Through you, Madam President. In other states that have advanced a proposal identical if not similar to what we are debating right now, we have not seen premiums increase. We have not seen an impact on costs in programs like the ones that we are talking about. And I think that could be for a variety of reasons. First, PBMs make their money predominantly in the reimbursements sort of side of their ledger, not through undercutting reimbursements below Medicaid levels to independent pharmacies. And furthermore, plans can tell PBMs -- if a PBM, after we pass this, comes to a health plan and says, Well, we want to charge this now to you, the health plan can simply say no. And I suspect that health plans will have very little if any interest in making upwards adjustments so that PBMs can accommodate their profits despite only offering Medicaid-level reimbursements.
Thank you, Senator Skoufis. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you, Senator. Are there any other Senators wishing to be heard? Seeing and hearing none, debate is closed. The Secretary will ring the bell. Read the last section.
Section 5. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 305, voting in the negative are Senators Ashby and Walczyk. Ayes, 57. Nays, 2.
The bill is passed. Senator Gianaris.
Next up, Madam President, is Calendar 1312, once Senator Kavanagh walks through that door.
The Secretary will read.
Calendar Number 1312, Senate Print 3233A, by Senator Kavanagh, an act to amend the Election Law.
There he is.
Senator Borrello, why do you rise?
Madam President, would the sponsor yield for some questions?
Senator Kavanagh, do you yield?
Through you, Madam President, yes.
The Senator yields.
Thank you. Through you, Madam President. You know, as I read through this -- the modifications to this, it appears that this is going to severely limit who can challenge, you know, an absentee ballot or an affidavit ballot. So my concern is -- my first question is, you know, if a candidate wants to challenge the validity of an absentee ballot in their race -- which is a standard practice, we all know that -- how will this bill impact that?
Through you, Madam President. This bill will not meaningfully restrict the ability of people to challenge. It has several different provisions. It mostly addresses the circumstances in which people are doing challenges on the spot where the voters are present. And it amends a portion of the law that lays out a very detailed process when somebody is asserting that someone is ineligible to vote and they're issuing a challenge. And it first of all adds a very -- there's a thing called the preliminary -- there's a thing called the preliminary -- there's a preliminary portion of that process that adds a specific question about citizenship if that is the basis for the challenge. And it allows then a series of questions to go through. It does create a much more formal process for a specific kind of challenge, which is when people use -- there's a practice sometimes people do where they send a large volume of mail to people and then they get the mail that's returned. And then they say, well, given that this piece of mail is returned, we're going to challenge whether you live at that address. So it's a formal structure for that process. But it does not change the fact that at a poll site, at any poll site, under current law unchanged by this, there is an inspector from each party, there's -- there are up to three poll watchers for any candidate. And all those people will still be available and they'll still be able to issue challenges to voters that they have reason to believe are ineligible to vote.
Madam President, will the sponsor continue to yield?
Do you continue to yield?
Yes, Madam President.
The Senator yields.
Section 8 here reads: "Information concerning the citizenship status of individuals, when collected and transmitted pursuant to this section, shall not be retained, used or shared for any other purpose except as may be required by law." So -- and it also essentially says that if someone fails to certify that they're an actual citizen, which is what the qualification is to vote in New York State, that that shall be considered an innocent error. And "Such person failing to certify United States citizenship shall not be considered as attempting to register to vote." So how can you -- how is this law assuming that someone who is not being truthful about their citizenship did so in error?
First of all, just for those -- I'm sure there are many people following along at home, we're talking about Section 5 of the bill, which adds a new subdivision 8 to Section 8.504 --
Sorry, yes.
Just to clarify.
I stand corrected.
No, just clarifying where we are. So yeah, there are a couple of very distinct provisions here. Actually, yes, this bill provides -- in the first sentence of that provision provides the information about citizenship shouldn't be shared with other authorities. It doesn't mean the Board of Elections cannot use that information for the purpose for which it's collected, which is to determine the citizenship status of folks. And there have been -- you know, we've had a number of initiatives recently that are intended not to make particular -- to make information about citizenship or suspicions of citizenship something that is broadly shared for purposes other than the reason it's collected. Just to be clear, information concerning citizenship status of individuals, when collected and transmitted pursuant to this section, this section is the section about developing challenges to voters. There's nothing in this law that changes the fact that it continues to be a crime to -- attempt to -- to vote if you're not eligible to vote because of citizenship. This is about the information that's concerning citizenship collected pursuant to 8-504. And it says to the extent that it's collected by boards, they can retain it for their -- they can use it for the purpose of verifying eligibility to vote, but not for other purposes. And not share it with other agencies, for example. The innocent-error thing -- again, there are three sentences. The second sentence is about a poll worker or an inspector -- who, again, might be an inspector of either party, who generally do them as joint -- this process jointly. But it's the failure to certify that an individual is a citizen of the United States shall be considered an innocent error. And again, this is embedded in Section 8-504, which lists a series of specifically phrased -- there's actually statutory language that lists all the things that you're supposed to say to a voter before they certify they're eligible to vote. And what we're saying is if the election worker doesn't say this out loud, that shall be considered an innocent error. It does not, again, suggest that if somebody willfully or intentionally permits somebody to vote who's not eligible to vote -- but this is like -- sort of like a sin of omission. If you fail to read those exact words, from the perspective of the election worker, that's an innocent mistake that isn't going to get the election worker in trouble. The third sentence there is about the person failing to certify their citizenship. And again, that shall not be considered an attempt to register to vote. And that is a reference to the fact that if I -- if I show up at a poll site and I believe I'm eligible to vote and I am challenged and they say "You're not on the voting rolls," I am sometimes given an affidavit ballot. And we changed the law, an enterprising young Assemblymember named Kavanagh many years ago changed the law such that when you're given an affidavit ballot -- envelope, you can say "If I'm not on the list, I will use this affidavit envelope to register." So what this is saying is if you fail to certify that you're a citizen, then you are ineligible -- then this -- that shall not be construed as an attempt to vote if you say -- you say you're not a citizen. You don't say that you're a citizen.
Madam President, will the sponsor continue to yield?
Do you continue to yield?
Yes.
The Senator yields.
Okay, I want to go back to what you said like 10 minutes ago -- (Laughter.)
-- that -- that the information concerning citizenship, that they can retain that for the purposes of verifying citizenship. But the -- specifically that subsection 8 says that if they -- once that information is collected, it cannot be retained. The word "retained" is right in line 12. Isn't that a conflict with what you said?
Not be retained for any other purpose --
No, no, no. No, cannot be retained --
-- except as required by law.
It says "shall not be retained, used or shared," but it starts with "retained."
Right, it can't be --
So how do you --
If it's collected -- sorry. Through you, Madam President. If it's collected for the purpose of complying with this law, which is all about determining whether people are eligible to vote, it can't be retained or transmitted -- it cannot be retained, used or shared for any other purpose. But it's collected -- the "other" refers to not this section, which is the section of Election Law that's about determining whether you're eligible to vote.
Thank you. Madam President, will the sponsor continue to yield?
Do you continue to yield?
Yes, Madam President.
The Senator yields.
So last question, based on your previous answer. So if someone -- if an election worker fails to ask the necessary questions to verify the citizenship of a voter, this will automatically be considered an innocent error. How are we knowing the intent is an innocent error? How -- how is that assumption made for the purpose of this change to the law? Why are we making that assumption? Shouldn't there be a level of fear of consequence if someone does have nefarious intentions?
And we -- this is -- this provision deals with the situation at a poll site where the election officials who have to administer a lengthy oath that is in statute fail to affirmatively say the words about citizenship. And we're saying that is an innocent error. Because we don't want our harried election workers, who have to read the words that are in this statute, to get in trouble if they fail to certify that. If they -- if there was some evidence that they intentionally invited people to vote or they snuck the person in, notwithstanding the fact that there are both parties represented, that would be a different matter. This is just saying -- again, in a provision of law, Section 8-504, that has multiple oaths that you might have to administer in different circumstances, we're actually adding an extra oath about citizenship to that law right now in this bill. So we're not trying to skirt the need to confirm citizenship. We're in fact enhancing that. But if they fail to affirmatively certify that, they are not presumed to have made an error merely by failing to certify that. Not to make a pernicious error, it's an -- it's considered an innocent mistake.
Madam President, on the bill.
Senator Borrello on the bill.
Thank you, Senator Kavanagh. I'm always impressed with the level of knowledge you have on all of these things. And so that being said, this was brought to the attention -- to us by some elections professionals that have concerns about this. So I bring it up to say that the perception is this is going to loosen and not tighten the process here to ensure integrity in that election. So if that's the case, then I really think this should be looked at again. Because it sounds like my impression and Senator Kavanagh's impression were diametrically opposed. Therefore, I think that this -- whether it was intentional or not needs to be tightened up and strengthened so people have that confidence that this is indeed going to strengthen and not weaken our election integrity. So with that, I will be voting no. Thank you, Madam President.
Senator Martins, why do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. If the sponsor would yield for a few questions.
Senator Kavanagh, do you yield?
Yes, succinctly, Madam Speaker -- or Madam President, I will yield.
The Senator yields.
Thank you, Senator. You know, I feel pretty strongly -- extremely strongly that for every person who votes who shouldn't vote, they are diluting a vote from someone who had a right to vote, and therefore stealing that person's voice. I know oftentimes in this house the -- the -- that it's expressed frankly the same sentiment, but in an opposite view. But I believe that we need to protect the ability of people who shouldn't vote not to vote. That is, prevent them from voting and -- in order not to dilute the rights of people who have a right to vote. And my concern with this -- well, first of all, do you agree?
Through you, Madam President, I agree.
Thank you. Madam President, through you, if the sponsor would continue to yield.
Do you continue to yield?
Yes, Madam President.
Senator Kavanagh yields.
And so, you know, we've all been to polling places in the past. It's part of, I guess, an occupational hazard for all of us that we spend a bit of time there. And I find that oftentimes it's those very people that are there in the polling place that have a sense of their community and know if so-and-so shows up to vote and says that they live at 123 Main Street and you live a couple of houses away and you know that that person isn't familiar to you, you have an obligation, I would think, to challenge that person as to whether or not they actually in fact live in that location. Don't you agree?
I generally agree that that is an appropriate thing for somebody with information that they think -- I'm not sure I'd call it an obligation, but I think that is a part of the process. And this bill doesn't change that. And I think that's a fine part of the process.
Through you, Madam President, if the sponsor would continue to yield.
Do you continue to yield?
Yes, Madam President.
The sponsor yields.
And yet if this bill is to proceed, it would limit the types of questions that can be asked, the form that it can be asked, and limit the ability of that person to intervene in order to prevent someone who they believe should not be voting from voting.
Through you, Madam President, there we disagree. This bill limits a particular manner of challenging people's address, which is sending a large volume of mail out into the world and then sort of brandishing a returned piece of mail. It is not about having personal knowledge, because you live on the street, that that person doesn't live there. And it creates a structure so that that information can be properly reviewed and used. Just as, for example, we don't allow people to challenge people's petition signatures on the spot, there's a process. And I think this is similar to that, but it does not limit the ability for somebody to point out evidence that somebody doesn't live on the street or to ask that question, or the current process where people have oaths administered and if there's a doubt, they can be given an absentee ballot -- an affidavit ballot so it can be decided later.
Madam President, through you, if the sponsor would continue to yield.
Do you continue to yield?
Yes, Madam President.
The Senator yields.
So if a mailing goes out, a political mailing is sent out and a piece of mail is returned as undeliverable or that the person no longer lives at that address, would that trigger a requirement under this statute -- under this bill?
Through you, Madam President. This bill deals with circumstances where somebody sends a mailing with the intent of using it for challenges or with a reasonable expectation that that's the purpose of the mailing. So if you -- if someone comes into possession of information that demonstrates that that somebody doesn't live at a particular address -- not through this particular practice, which has become something that, you know, people have used in recent years -- then that information can still be presented.
I'm sorry, that --
The information -- if you have information that indicates I live on Main Street and they say they live on Main Street but I know they don't live on Main Street because Mrs. Jones moved into that house last week, that information can be still presented. If I have a piece of mail that's been returned, this bill does not necessarily deal with an individual piece of mail. But there's a presumption that if you're sending large volumes of mail for the purpose of generating challenges, then you notify -- you provide a copy of the mail and you provide the list of people you send it to in advance so all parties can review that and determine how it's being used.
Through you, Madam President, if the sponsor would continue to yield.
Do you continue to yield?
Yes, Madam President.
The sponsor yields.
But just to be clear, if you do send out mail, political mail, and it is returned and you collect those returned pieces, then with the intent of pursuing it, but it wasn't your intent when you sent out the mail, but it is your intent once you get those pieces back, you would not have to comply with the requirements of this bill, right?
You would -- there might be a question of fact whether you knew or whether you intended that or reasonably knew that that mail would be used. Somebody might be skeptical if your campaign is using returns, you presumably knew you'd get returns and now you're using them to challenge. But the bill deals with the situation where you either expressly intended the mail to be used in that way or reasonably anticipated that it would be used in that way. I would suggest that if I'm a campaign that intends to use that mail, it would be logical to -- and this statute passes, it would be logical to comply with this statute and say, Here's a copy of a piece of mail and here's who we sent it to, and we intend to use it as challenges. And then the process would proceed.
Through you, Madam President, if the sponsor would continue to yield. Do you continue to yield?
Yes, Madam President.
The sponsor yields.
So just -- so every campaign in New York State for every level of state government, local government, or federal government that sends out a piece of mail and -- and -- for campaign purposes, and then expects there may be, because there invariably is, as we all know, pieces of mail that come back, in order to be safe, are you suggesting that every campaign send every campaign piece to the Board of Elections with a list of who they sent it to, in the off chance that some of those pieces may come back and they may want to challenge whether or not something actually lives where they say they live?
They may. And if they want to be challenging that voter's right to vote on Election Day at the poll site by telling a voter who is presenting themselves as eligible to vote, that they're not going to be allowed to vote today -- if they want to use the mail for that purpose, then yes, a good practice would be for them to indicate that they intend to -- they intend to do that.
Madam President, through you -- you know what? I appreciate it. Thank you very much to the sponsor. Thank you, Madam President. On the bill.
Senator Martins on the bill.
So we started out our discussion with a very simple premise. By allowing somebody who shouldn't have a right to vote, whether because they don't live there or because of citizenship they don't have a right to vote -- those are the primary characteristics eliminating a person's ability to vote currently. There are others; we'll focus on those. If we can identify that someone should not be voting, what this bill does is it handcuffs us and it handcuffs the local community members, boards of elections, parties, candidates, from being able to say, Stop, you can't vote. You don't have a right to vote. Requiring the off-chance erring on the side of providing layers of bureaucracy, providing details to the Board of Elections for a condition of being able to safeguard what everyone in this body has always regarded as being a sacrosanct right, the right to vote, also means making sure that those who shouldn't be voting don't. So I question why it is that we would put those obligations on this process. Because it should be everyone's responsibility -- all of us, certainly everyone back home, and those who care -- to ensure that only people who are entitled to vote actually do vote. Whoever they happen to be. So the idea that we're going to require, frankly, all of us and everyone else out there who's engaged in this process to go through this process of sending mailings to the Board of Elections, along with lists of people they mailed to, along with lists of returned mail in the off chance that that person who happens to not have received a mail because they have moved, if they happen to show up on Election Day at the polls asking to vote and you received that piece of mail back and you didn't send it to the Board of Elections, somehow you did something wrong. Why does it default against those who are trying to ensure the integrity of the system? Madam President, I'm at a loss as to why we would possibly support a bill like this and create these kinds of hurdles in order to do what each and every one of us should do as a matter of course. I will tell you this. If that piece of mail is returned, my expectation, and everyone in this room's expectation, is that person isn't showing up at the polling place. But if they do, I'll be holding that piece of mail -- hopefully someone will -- in order to challenge that person and why they took the opportunity to vote. And it may be innocent. It may be. But they have every right to question that person's vote on that day and ask that person for clarification. This bill would prevent that, and that's why I'm voting no. Thank you, Madam President.
Are there any other Senators wishing to be heard? Seeing and hearing none, debate is closed. The Secretary will ring the bell. Read the last section.
Section 9. This act shall take effect on the 30th day after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1312, voting in the negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martins, Mattera, Murray, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik. Ayes, 39. Nays, 20.
The bill is passed. Senator Gianaris.
Next up, Madam President, is Calendar 968.
Senator Rhoads, why do you rise?
I was hoping that the sponsor would yield to a couple of questions.
Senator Rivera --
Yes.
Senator -- I'm sorry. Oh, the Secretary will read. I jumped over, I apologize.
Calendar Number 968, Senate Print 1634A, by Senator Rivera, an act to amend the Insurance Law.
Now I'm hoping that the Senator will yield to a few questions.
Now. That was my mistake. Thank you, Senator Rhoads.
Yes.
Thank you, Madam President. And thank you, Senator Rivera. Madam President, through you. The bill focuses on creating a healthcare -- health plan allocation of 12.5 percent of spending for primary care, is that correct?
Through you, Madam President. With the recognition that primary care being the first point of contact with individuals -- should be the first point of contact with individuals, the place where people can get their routine medical care, this bill -- what this bill would do is over a period of years it would establish a 1 percent per year increase up to 12.5 percent of the Medicaid spend so that it goes to primary care. But it would not be an immediate thing. That would be the ultimate goal. But it would not be an immediate thing.
Will the sponsor continue to yield?
Do you continue to yield?
Yes.
The Senator yields.
Thank you. Through you, Madam President. My understanding is that the immediate threshold is 12.5 percent. That is intended to be the max. If they are under 12.5 percent, then there's a 1 percent per year plan -- they have to develop a plan for a 1 percent increase until they get to 12.5 percent. Is that not correct?
Through you, Madam President, the ultimate goal would be to get to 12.5 percent. It would be -- I am -- we are not -- we don't have -- that is not being met now. We don't know exactly where the percentage is, but it is below 12.5 percent. The goal ultimately, Madam President, is to make sure that we have more folks in the Medicaid program who have access to primary care -- therefore, being able to identify chronic conditions earlier, being able to take care of -- to focus on wellness as opposed to sick care. And it is -- I believe it is a good way not only to spend money more wisely, but to make sure that people have better and healthier lives.
Will the sponsor continue to yield?
Do you continue to yield?
Yes.
The Senator yields.
Through you, Madam President. I know you said you don't know what the percentage is now, but you think it's less than 12.5 percent. Milbank Memorial Fund's Primary Care Scorecard says that spending on primary care as a total share of healthcare spending in New York is actually 13.3 percent in the commercial market and 10.1 percent for Medicaid. So if the commercial market is already meeting its threshold but the state is not, in terms of Medicaid spending, why aren't we focusing just on the state's portion of Medicaid? (Pause.)
Through you, Madam President. So the -- the national average as far as -- is about 5 percent, is what we know. But if the bill were to become law, then we would actually get reports from both Medicaid spending as well as private plans and would then -- we would make -- we would make a plan to hit the 12.5 eventually. If there is -- if that number is exceeded already, then God bless America -- we're done. But if it's not, which is what we believe, then it would be -- the goal would be to go 1 percent a year until we get to 12.5.
And will the sponsor continue to yield?
Do you continue to yield?
Yes.
The Senator yields.
So with the understanding that if in fact healthcare spending in the commercial market, competitive marketplace, is 13.3 percent, they would have already met the goals, the legislation authorizes the commissioner to promulgate rules and regulations. Do these rules and regulations include penalties at some point if in fact private health plans -- if in fact health plans do not meet these goals? (Pause.)
Through you, Madam President. First of all, the -- we would have to see plan by plan what percentage we're talking about. There might be some plans that actually exceeded; there might be some that don't meet it. And so we would look towards -- to get there. And if there is -- and if it's -- if the -- if it's not met, then the fines would correspond to Public Health Law that already exists that would be up to -- the fines would be up to $2,000.
Will the sponsor continue to yield?
Do you continue to yield?
Yes.
The sponsor yields.
So there is no provision for -- through you, Madam President, there is no provision for fines in the legislation itself other than the reference to the Public Health Law, which lays out the fine schedule?
Through you, Madam President, that is correct.
Okay. And will the sponsor continue to yield.
Do you continue to yield?
Yes.
The Senator yields.
The bill focuses on health plans meeting these targets. Oh, actually I'll withdraw that question for a moment and I'll switch to another question, the state and its administration of Medicaid. Are there sanctions against the state if it fails to meet these primary care goals?
Through you, Madam President. The majority of Medicare -- Medicaid, pardon me, in the State of New York is -- currently operates through managed care organizations. Therefore, there are middlemen and so therefore the fine, if it were to be assessed, probably would be assessed on those plans, not on the state itself.
Thank you. Will the sponsor continue to yield?
Will you continue to yield?
Yes.
The Senator yields.
The focus is on health plans meeting these targets. But why weren't provider systems factored into this equation? Because my understanding of the way that this works -- obviously I'm a consumer, I decide that I'm going to go to my primary care physician for whatever preventative care that I need. I make the choice to go to a specific physician. The services that are provided to me are services that are provided by the physician. The health plan only gets involved in the equation when they receive the bill. Do we have an issue where they're denying primary care services? Are people not being provided primary care services because the health plans themselves aren't providing it? How does this help encourage people to seek primary care, if that's the ultimate goal?
Through you, Madam President. The reality is that we find that most folks do not avail themselves of primary care if it is available to them. And this would be a way to kind of encourage the spend so that it goes in that direction, with the understanding that providing -- that spending more money in routine medicine, in the first point of contact, it would actually be -- it would be better for the system. As I said, as I stated earlier, having folks be able to identify chronic conditions earlier means that folks who have asthma, diabetes, or any other chronic condition could focus on making sure that that condition gets better, as opposed to just focusing on episodes where they have either had an asthma attack or have to be hospitalized for low blood sugar, et cetera, et cetera. So ultimately this is about trying to switch up the total spend. It's about encouraging more -- have it be available more. It is not about -- you know, it's not about finding more places to fine people. Instead, it is about trying to focus our total healthcare expenditures in places where it would cause people to be healthier and to lead better lives.
Will the sponsor continue to yield?
Do you continue to yield?
Yes.
The sponsor yields.
Through you, Madam President, I get all that. I mean, I get what the goal of the legislation is. But by putting the burden on the health plan, I'm trying to understand what it is that that the health plan is supposed to do to actually encourage people to seek primary care more frequently. How does this actually -- you're focusing on the percentage of spend, but the health plan is actually paying the bills that come to them. Right? It's not -- it's apparently not the case that you have health plans that are denying coverage for primary care; people aren't seeking primary care. So how does this actually encourage people to seek primary care, which is the ultimate goal? (Pause.)
Through you, Madam President. First of all, it is certainly -- as we've said many times, insurance companies kind of live for the instances in which they can deny care. So I can't tell in every single instance, but certainly there are many instances, as many as they can muster, where they will deny care to an individual, whether it be primary or otherwise. But, second, the bill actually speaks to creating a set of incentives that actually would work to increase the amount of spending, particularly since we have -- there are definitely visits to primary care providers, but it doesn't necessarily show in the spend. Now, it is true that we would have to get -- if the bill were to pass and be made into law, we would get more exact percentages. At this point we're operating with analysis that doesn't have all the information. There would have to be a study done to determine how close or how far away we are from the 12.5. But also in Section (2) and Section (2)(d) and throughout all of it, there are a set of different actions that would be -- that are suggested for the Department of Health and the commissioner to encourage the -- the -- more folks utilizing primary care. So it's all in the bill already, all the different methods that can be utilized to get more folks to be -- to avail themselves of primary care.
Will the sponsor continue to yield?
Do you continue to yield?
Yes.
The sponsor yields.
You brought up the issue of a study, and I just want to briefly touch on that. This version of the bill has passed in prior years. And the version in prior years that was vetoed by the Governor included a commission for DOH and DFS to study the delivery of primary care. So it's exactly the study that you were talking about, but in this particular version it's removed. Wouldn't the study portion of it, to study how we can encourage more people to make use of primary care, be the important precursor to putting policy in place, law in place, where there are actual penalties?
Through you, Madam President, not to bring up bad memories, but that was known kindly among some of us as the Thanksgiving Day massacre, in which a whole host of bills, every study bill under the sun, was vetoed at the same time by the Governor, whether it had to do with healthcare, whether it had to do with transportation, whether it had to do with anything under the sun. So that bill was actually a more curtailed version of this one. This one would actually require -- if it were to be signed into law, would require a study to make the determination as far as where we are as far as percentages, and then it would create -- and there would be set, as we've discussed before, the goals on a yearly basis to go up to 12.5.
Would the sponsor yield for one final question?
Do you continue to yield?
Yes.
The Senator yields.
That massacre was because there was a budgetary impact to these -- to those studies that were to be conducted. So perhaps this bill should have been included as part of the budget, along with the study. But the last point is I notice that urgent cares are exempted from this particular legislation, which in many portions of the state you may not have an abundance of primary care providers, so primary care is provided by urgent cares or by hospitals. Why would we remove that? And then doesn't that impact the overall number? If people are seeking primary care from their urgent-care provider but we're not counting those numbers in our statistics to determine whether a health plan has met that 12.5 percent, isn't that artificially making it more difficult for health plans to meet the goals that are set forth in the legislation? (Pause.)
Through you, Madam President. Recognizing certainly that there are limits -- and we've talked about workforce, healthcare workforce shortages. This is certainly an issue that I care deeply about and we have spoken about in the past. This is in recognition, this exclusion is in recognition, Madam President, of the fact that urgent cares are for -- are more, at least in their design, although they're not totally defined in state law in the State of New York, it does actually -- is therefore other types of episodes that are not necessarily having to do with routine medicine and first point of contact, which is ultimately what we want to focus on. But it's certainly something worth looking at in the future.
Thank you, Senator Rivera. Briefly on the bill.
Senator Rhoads on the bill.
I understand the motivations and I agree with the motivations. We should be increasing primary care usage if we can. I just think we're putting the cart before the horse. Let's get the data and come up with a constructive solution on how to do that before we actually put policy in place. I'll be voting no, Madam President.
Are there any other Senators wishing to be heard? Seeing and hearing none, debate is closed. The Secretary will ring the bell. Read the last section.
Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Senator Rivera to explain his vote.
Thank you, Madam President. And I thank my colleague for some of the questions here. Ultimately, there is -- it is clear -- not only is it common sense, but there's data that demonstrates that having primary care more accessible, spending more on that means that people will avail themselves of it, which means that they'll be able to identify chronic conditions earlier, they would lead better lives, and it would make the system as a whole less expensive. So ultimately what this bill means to do -- and by the way, Madam President, 20 other states have enacted similar laws and regulations to report on an increase in primary-care spending, anything from West Virginia to Colorado to Connecticut to Maine, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. So it is -- we believe that this is an important measure that, if it becomes a law, would actually move us towards the place where we could have people avail themselves of primary care earlier in their lives, be able to have better lives for themselves and their family, to have the system as a whole be cheaper. So I certainly hope that we can get it passed this year, and I'll be voting in the affirmative. Thank you, Madam President. PRESIDENT MAYER: Senator Rivera to be recorded in the affirmative. Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 968, voting in the negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Lanza, Martins, Mattera, Murray, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk and Weik. Ayes, 42. Nays, 17.
The bill is passed. Senator Gianaris.
Calendar 866 up next, please.
The Secretary will read.
Calendar Number 866, Senate Print 6882, by Senator Harckham, an act to amend the General Municipal Law.
Senator Martins, why do you rise?
Madam President, on the bill.
Senator Martins on the bill.
So this bill would allow a preemption of local zoning across New York State for solar panels on carports. Sounds like a straightforward bill. Obviously there are a lot of concerns in our chamber historically amongst many of us about preempting local control, especially when it comes to zoning. And so the idea of a carport -- when I think of a carport I think of a house and I think of, you know, that piece next to the house, maybe, you know, sort of a shed-like enclosure where you park your car, Madam President. And, you know, if that's the case, if you're looking at it, probably 10 feet by 20 feet or so, that itself would probably take about 10 to 12 panels and would produce about 5 kilowatts of electricity. Something as small as that, about that, a small shed over a car. But that's not we're talking about, Madam President. We're talking about preempting local zoning to allow for 5 megawatts. And so to talk about 5 megawatts, five megawatts is defined or at least described as a small-to-medium utility-scale installation which covers about 20 acres or so. In order for solar panels to produce about 5 megawatts of electricity, you're talking about a small-to-medium-scale utility-type installation. In order to create 5 megawatts of electricity, you'd have to provide coverage for literally 20, 25 acres. And so in the context of preempting local zoning for our villages, our towns and our cities, the idea of someone just being able to put that much or that kind of structure up for 20 acres or more, to reach that 5 megahertz -- megawatts, excuse me -- threshold, Madam President, is a real concern. Now, obviously I would be concerned if it were just a carport on the side of a house. I would be. Because local communities should be able to make those decisions for themselves, and we should be loath to preempt local communities and their home rule. But when it's 5 megawatts, what we're talking about here is on a scale that if it were to be imposed on our local communities, every supermarket parking lot, every school parking lot, can go out and just put these carports. And frankly, some people may like it. Some people may not. But that's a local zoning decision that each local community should be able to make for themselves without preempting zoning on that scale. And so although I appreciate the intent and the effort behind the bill and the idea to promote solar and renewable energy as an alternative, I would certainly prefer to see it more as a collaborative effort allowing our local communities to opt in and not preempting their local zoning prerogative. Because obviously depending on where it is, depending on its proximity to homes, depending on its proximity to parks and to other decisions that are typically made by our local communities because they're there, something on this size and this scale frankly is just too much. And so, Madam President, I can't support this bill. I'll be voting no. Although I again want to thank Senator Harckham because I do understand it's coming from a good place. I just can't get there on this bill, so I'll be voting no. And I thank you for your time.
Thank you. Are there any other Senators wishing to be heard? Seeing and hearing none, debate is closed. The Secretary will ring the bell. Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect on the first of January.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 866, voting in the negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martinez, Martins, Mattera, Murray, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Ryan, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk and Weber. Ayes, 38. Nays, 21.
The bill is passed. Senator Gianaris.
Madam President, by consent with the Minority, we are removing the lay-asides on Calendars 1207, 698, and 1058. Can we please take those up on the noncontroversial calendar.
Pursuant to agreement, on Calendars 1207, 698 and 1058 the lay-asides are removed and the bills will retain their place on the noncontroversial calendar. There is a substitution at the desk. The Secretary will read.
Senator Krueger moves to discharge, from the Committee on Rules, Assembly Bill Number 9111C and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 8512C, Third Reading Calendar 698.
The Secretary will read.
Calendar Number 698, Assembly Bill Number 9111C, by Assemblymember Gallagher, an act to amend the Public Service Law.
Read the last section.
Section 5. This act shall take effect on the 90th day after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 698, voting in the negative: Senator Walczyk. Ayes, 58. Nays, 1.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1058, Senate Print 4887B, by Senator Walczyk, an act to amend the Tax Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1058, voting in the negative are Senators Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Harckham, Helming, Lanza, Martinez, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Ryan, Scarcella-Spanton, Skoufis and Webb. Ayes, 47. Nays, 12.
The bill is passed.
Calendar Number 1207, Senate Print 6025, by Senator Brouk, an act to amend the Social Services Law.
Read the last section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect on the 90th day after it shall have become a law.
Call the roll. (The Secretary called the roll.)
Announce the results.
In relation to Calendar 1207, voting in the negative are Senators Borrello, Lanza, Murray, Ortt, Rhoads and Walczyk. Ayes, 53. Nays, 6.
The bill is passed. Senator Gianaris.
Madam President, returning to motions for a second, on behalf of Senator Fahy, on page 61 I offer the following amendments to Calendar Number 1294, Senate Print 4500A, and ask that said bill retain its place on Third Reading Calendar.
The amendments are received, and the bill will retain its place on the Third Reading Calendar. Senator Gianaris.
The sponsors of the resolutions we took up earlier today would like to open them for cosponsorship.
The resolutions we took up today are open for cosponsorship. Should you choose not to be a cosponsor, please notify the desk. Senator Gianaris.
Is there any further business at the desk?
There is no further business at the desk.
I move to adjourn until tomorrow, Friday, May 29th, at 11:00 a.m.
On motion, the Senate stands adjourned until Friday, May 29th, at 11:00 a.m. (Whereupon, at 5:35 p.m., the Senate adjourned.)