State Senator Hugh T. Farley (R, C, I – Schenectady) and several Senate colleagues who represent the Mohawk Valley and Niagara County have introduced legislation that would create a state disaster recovery fund.

The bill (S.5987) would create a supplemental fund to provide individual assistance, public assistance and hazard mitigation after a natural or man-made disaster. Aid would be available for a variety of disaster-related expenses, including home repairs and medical expenses for individuals. Municipalities would be eligible to receive funds for such items as public services expenses and debris removal. Infrastructure grants would be available to public schools.

As the holiday shopping season officially is under way with today’s “Black Friday” events, State Senator Hugh T. Farley (R, C, I – Schenectady) strongly suggests people to shop locally on Saturday, November 30th, which is also known as “Small Business Saturday.”

“Small businesses truly are the backbone of our communities,” Senator Farley said. “We rely on small businesses as the economic engine to keep New Yorkers working and raising their families here in New York State.”

To learn more about the Small Business Saturday initiative, Senator Farley recommends visiting http://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba_initiatives/small_business_saturday_2013

Assemblyman Jim Tedisco (R,C,I-Glenville) today announced that Senator Hugh T. Farley (R,C,I-Niskayuna) will be the lead Majority sponsor in the New York State Senate of the “Knockout Game Deterrent Act” – a first in the nation law to protect innocent bystanders from being sucker-punched and assaulted by gangs of thugs, who in many cases are juveniles.

The Knockout Game has become an epidemic in New York and across the nation leading in several cases to serious injury and even death.

State Senator Hugh T. Farley (R, C, I – Schenectady) and his fellow Senate Republicans recently issued a comprehensive report on state taxes that calls for personal income taxes, business taxes, estate taxes and local property taxes to be reformed, simplified and reduced. The report makes sweeping recommendations for reducing the tax burden on all New Yorkers. The plan recommends enacting a permanent two-percent state spending cap and dedicating surplus revenues to tax reductions.

The report was developed based on testimony at a series of statewide public hearings. The report will be shared with the tax reform commissions established by Governor Cuomo for their review.

Highlights of the recommendations made in the preliminary Senate report include, among other things: