Patrick M. Gallivan

The New York State Senate today passed a package of six bills that celebrate Earth Day by promoting the use of renewable energy, reducing harmful pollutants, and protecting sharks and other vulnerable species.

“New York’s economic future is a green future, and the bills we passed today will help pave the way for employers to address their growing energy needs is an environmentally conscious way and protect our natural resources and wildlife for generations to come,” said Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-C-I, Elma).

Applauds Funding Of Attica Community Environmental Benefit Project

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R,C,I – Elma) welcomed news this week that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has finalized its consent order with Hillcrest Industries of Attica.

“The DEC consent order hopefully marks the beginning of the end of this long and arduous process that has tested the patience of the Attica community. I am especially pleased to see that the financial penalty levied against Hillcrest Industries will be used to fund an Environmental Benefit Project within the community, rather than merely transfer to the DEC’s bank account in Albany,” Senator Gallivan said.

ALBANY - The New York State Senate has passed the State Budget on time for the third consecutive year, Senator Patrick M. Gallivan announced today. The spending plan adheres to a self-imposed two percent spending cap, contains significant tax relief for middle-class families and businesses, and also addresses some of the unique challenges facing Western New York.

Bill Would Make it Illegal for Driver to Leave Scene After Vehicle Hits Any Object

The New York State Senate today passed “Alix’s Law”, sponsored by Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-C-I, Elma), to close a legal loophole and hold intoxicated drivers accountable for leaving the scene of an accident.

The legislation (S1698A) responds to a drunk driving accident that killed a teenage girl in Amherst, Erie County. On July 8, 2011, 18-year-old Alix Rice was killed by a drunk driver as she road home on her longboard. The driver argued that he was not aware he had hit a person and he was acquitted on the felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident.

BUDGET PLAN WOULD CHANGE THE STATE’S FILM PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT TO LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR WNY

The New York State Senate today approved a 2013-14 budget resolution, proposed by the Senate Majority Coalition, that focuses on helping businesses create new jobs, investing additional funds in education and transportation, providing mandate relief to local governments, and restoring proposed cuts to women’s health programs as well programs for the developmentally disabled.  The budget also includes proposals to implement a two-percent state spending cap and reform the State’s film production tax credit program to level the playing field for Upstate.

Measure Would Help New York Prevent and Prosecute Sex Trafficking, Protect Adult and Child Victims

The New York State Senate today passed the Trafficking Victims Protection and Justice Act to further protect trafficked children and other victims, and punish the criminals who are responsible for sexual exploitation. The bill (S2511), sponsored by Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-C-I, Elma), improves and expands the state’s ability to combat sex trafficking, punishes sex traffickers, and protect the rights of victims in the sex trafficking trade.

ALBANY - Growing the state’s agriculture industry and helping New York’s family farms prosper is the goal of the “Grown in New York” plan, unveiled today at a Capitol news conference by members of the Senate’s Agriculture Committee, as well as leaders of the New York Farm Bureau.  The plan is designed to strengthen the state’s $5.2 billion agriculture industry by expanding markets for New York-grown products, improving the bottom lines of family farms, and investing in the future of farming.