State Senator Hugh T. Farley (R, C, I – Schenectady) joins Assemblymember Patricia A. Fahy (D-Albany) in introducing legislation that will allow for community service to be made an option to be in place of or in conjunction with suspension of students in public schools.

“I am pleased to join with Assemblywoman Fahy in sponsoring this legislation,” said Senator Farley. “Our bill would provide schools with greater flexibility in disciplining students. While suspension may be appropriate in many cases, there are other situations where an alternate approach may be more effective and more beneficial to both the student and the affected community.”

(Bronx, NY) - Senator Serrano sponsored an important "Know Your Rights" Housing Court Community Forum in the Bronx. The forum included a presentation by a panel of housing experts: CASA/New Settlement, Housing Court Answers and the Urban Justice Center. These experts informed constituents on how to manage housing court issues. The Legal Aid Society also participated in the event, providing free legal advice to constituents. Attendees engaged in at Q&A session at the end of the event.

The third Joint Legislative Hearing, in a series of 13 hearings, will be held tomorrow, Wednesday, January 29th.

During the Environmental Conservation hearing, which is part of the legislative process to review the 2014-2015 Executive Budget, environmental officials and representatives of environmental advocacy organizations will have an opportunity to address the Senate and Assembly fiscal committees.

These joint legislative hearings will continue through Tuesday, February 11th, and are available for live viewing on the Senate and Assembly websites but will be preempted when the houses are in session. At the conclusion of the legislative deliberations, live televised coverage of the hearings will resume.

(Albany, NY)-  Senator Serrano met with local youth groups representing Harlem RBI and Goddard Riverside programs, who traveled to Albany for Youth Action Day. These groups met with Serrano to advocate for much needed funding for the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP).

Senator John Flanagan (2nd Senate District) recently announced the enactment of legislation he supported that will help provide better regulation of animal breeders and pet stores.  The new law (Chapter 553 of 2013 signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo) authorizes local governments to enact more stringent laws than those that currently exist at the state level.

Any new local laws, rules, regulations or ordinances must be at least as stringent as state law and must not result in banning the sale of dogs and cats that are raised in a safe and healthy manner.

(Albany, NY)- Senator Serrano joined advocates from the Family Planning Advocates for their Annual Day of Action. Nearly 500 women's health care advocates gathered in Albany to advocate for women's issues, including the passage of the full ten point Women's Equality Agenda which is designed to ensure equal pay, alleviate sexual harassment in the workplace, end family status discrimination and protect a woman's right to choose.  

The first Joint Legislative Hearing, in a series of 13 hearings, will be held on Monday, January 27th. During the Local Government /General Government hearing, which marks the beginning of the legislative review process for the 2014-2015 Executive Budget, government officials and representatives of local government groups will have an opportunity to address the Senate and Assembly fiscal committees. These joint legislative hearings will continue through Tuesday, February 11th, and are available for live viewing on the Senate and Assembly websites.