March 24, 2026 · Investigations and Government Operations · 882 words · 4 speakers · 33 segments
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to the March 24, 2026 meeting of the committee on investigations and government Operations. There is a lot of activity happening up here today, so thank you to the members who are here. I know our rancor is in the finance committee meeting. We're joined going around the table here by senators Clear, May and Chan. Thank you for being here. We have a. Let's see. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 bill agenda. And we'll start. S334.
Sponsor Senator Scufus and act to amend the public officers law in relation to publishing records of public interest by agencies and the state legislature.
I'll make motions or second. Second. Any conversation. All in favor? Aye. Any closed without rec. The bill is referred to finance. Next. Sorry, I'm without wreck on that one. Without wreck. The bill is still referred to finance. Next result. Next is S3.348.
Sponsor Senator Scufus and act to amend the alcoholic beverage control law.
This is a repass through this committee. Are there any questions? I'll make motions or second? Second. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed without rec? One nay. Any without rec? The bill's referred to local government. Next is S.407.
Sponsor Senator Scoofis and act to amend the executive law.
I'll make motions. Are second. Second. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed without rec. The bills referred. One without rec. The bills referred to ethics. That's right. Next is S646.
Sponsor Senator Scoofas an act to amend chapter 396 of the laws of 2010.
Last Scoofus bill. I promise I'll make a motion or second. Second. Was that quick? That's quick. Too quick, but thank you. Aye. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed to that recommendation? The bill is reported. Next is S1572.
Sponsor Senator Krueger and act to amend the tax law.
I'll make motions or second. Second. Any conversation. We have a nay. Any without rec. All in favor? I went backwards there. The bill is referred to finance. Next is S3145.
Sponsor Senator Cooney and act to amend the tax law.
I'll make oceans or second. Second. All in favor? Aye. Opposed without rec. The bills refer to finance. Next is S3836.
Sponsor Senator Hinchy and act to amend the alcoholic beverage control law.
I'll make a motion, sir. Second. Second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Without wreck. Bills reported. Next. S4693.
Sponsor Senator Clear and act to establish the taxpayer Access to publicly funded research act.
Great bill. I'LL make a motion. Is there a second? A second. All in favor?
I have published a lot of articles in scholarly journals and things like that, and they tend to be very expensive. And I'm just curious about the process for getting access. If New Yorkers were granted access to this, to articles from them, then presumably everyone would have access to articles from them. I would think the journals would have a problem with that. I'm just wondering about the mechanism for this and the funding.
Senator Clear. Do you want to take this or Gabe?
No, Gabe.
Okay.
Well, I would say that we have not heard any opposition in the past from the bill for those. I mean, generally what this just requires them to do is post those publicly on their website, but it doesn't have them advertised or anything else. So it's made available, but it's not like they are doing anything additional other than that.
And is there some delineation between New Yorkers being able to access this information versus non New Yorkers?
I mean, if you post it online,
it will be available to the general public everywhere. Yeah, yeah. The idea here. I want to speak for the sponsor, but in my mind the idea here is, you know, these findings are being published with the support of taxpayer dollars and, you know, the taxpayers who are funding this research. We believe that, you know, should be able to access what they're funding.
I totally agree with that. But I also know, you know, a lot of these journals are hanging on by thread and depend on the subscriptions and that kind of thing in order to keep going. So I was. I. I just am keenly aware of that. I'm. I'm still in support of it. I just feel like I was curious.
That's a good point.
Yeah, raised that issue.
Thank you for that. Any other questions or comments? Okay. Seeing none. All in favor? Aye. One without wreck. I. The bill is referred to finance. Next is S7880A.
Sponsor Senator Krueger and act to amend the tax law.
I'll make a motion for second. Second. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Without ready one? Nay. The bill is referred to Finance. And last but not least, S7990.
Sponsor Senator, Mayor and act to amend the executive law and the county law.
I'll make motions or second. Second. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Without wreck. One without rec. Bills referred to labor. Thank you very much. Everyone do so.