Hugh T. Farley

State Senator Hugh T. Farley (R, C, I – Schenectady) reported the New York State Senate recently passed a bill to protect young and inexperienced drivers by helping to remove distractions that could lead to accidents. The legislation (S1511A) prohibits the use of cell phones – including hands-free devices – by drivers who hold learner’s permits.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reports that young drivers make up just seven percent of the driving population, but are involved in 15 percent of the fatal crashes. The NTSB recommended that all states prohibit holders of learner's permits or a class DJ or MJ license from using wireless mobile telephones while driving.

State Senator Hugh T. Farley (R, C, I – Schenectady) reported the New York State Senate recently passed legislation that creates comprehensive safety requirements for children’s jewelry to prevent exposure to harmful materials. The bill (S3947) regulates heavy metals, magnets, and batteries in jewelry intended for use by children aged 12 and younger, consistent with the federal Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.

Children can be exposed to harmful substances in jewelry by accidentally swallowing a piece of jewelry or by putting it in their mouth. When the jewelry becomes bitten, scratched, or damaged - which is likely with continued use by young children - exposure risk increases.

State Senator Hugh T. Farley (R, C, I – Schenectady) reported the New York State Senate recently passed a bill increasing penalties for people who sell drugs in playgrounds and parks. The bill (S.2173A) would further protect kids and their families from the dangers of people who prey on children.

Current New York State law penalizes people who sell drugs on school grounds or day-care centers and this bill expands that to include parks and playgrounds. Drug dealers who target children are especially dangerous to society and should be subjected to stiffer penalties for selling or trying to sell drugs to children in this manner. This legislation takes the next step in targeting drug dealers who lurk in parks and playgrounds in an effort to take advantage of children.

State Senator Hugh T. Farley (R, C, I – Schenectady) announced he New York State Senate recently passed a bill that would increase the fines for passing a stopped school bus. The bill (S.1064) also requires criminal penalties for drivers who injure or kill a person by doing so.

The bill significantly increases the fines for passing a school bus. The maximum fine for a first offense would increase from $400 to $700. The maximum fine for a second offense would be $1,500.

This legislation also requires that if a driver injures someone while passing a school bus, the driver would be charged with aggravated vehicular assault. The charge would be criminally negligent homicide if the person is killed in the incident.

State Senator Hugh T. Farley (R, C, I – Schenectady) reported the New York State Senate recently passed a bill toughening the penalties for leaving the scene of a boating accident without making a report. The bill (S.339) is in response to serious boating accidents that have happened in recent years.

The bill would increase the penalty to an A misdemeanor for a first offense of leaving the scene of a boating accident when a person knows or should know there has been an injury to another person. A second offense within five years of the first offense would be a felony.

The bill also would stiffen the penalties for the crime of leaving the scene of a boating accident, that resulted in property damage, without reporting it.

The bill has been sent to the Assembly

State Senator Hugh T. Farley (R, C, I – Schenectady) announced the New York State Senate recently passed three bills to help farmers succeed by improving agricultural marketing efforts and better connecting farms to consumers across the state.

The “Buy From the Backyard Act” (S978) requires state agencies with food contracts to buy at least 20 percent of their food from New York sources. The bill expands upon an existing law that encourages state agencies to purchase local food products. Mental health facilities, prisons, universities, and state institutions that have food contracts would be required to purchase at least 20 percent that is grown, produced, harvested or processed in New York State.