Regular Session - May 17, 2011
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1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
2
3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
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6
7
8
9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 May 17, 2011
11 3:18 p.m.
12
13
14 REGULAR SESSION
15
16
17
18 SENATOR JOSEPH E. ROBACH, Acting President
19 FRANCIS W. PATIENCE, Secretary
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25
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1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The
3 Senate will come to order.
4 I ask all present to please rise and
5 join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.
6 (Whereupon, the assemblage recited
7 the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: In the
9 absence of clergy, may we please bow our heads in
10 a moment of silence.
11 (Whereupon, the assemblage respected
12 a moment of silence.)
13 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The
14 reading of the Journal.
15 THE SECRETARY: In Senate, Monday,
16 May 16th, the Senate met pursuant to adjournment.
17 The Journal of Sunday, May 15th, was read and
18 approved. On motion, Senate adjourned.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Without
20 objection, the Journal stands approved as read.
21 Presentation of petitions.
22 Messages from the Assembly.
23 The Secretary will read.
24 THE SECRETARY: On page 28, Senator
25 Gallivan moves to discharge, from the Committee
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1 on Children and Families, Assembly Bill Number
2 55A and substitute it for the identical Senate
3 Bill Number 2551A, Third Reading Calendar 403.
4 On page 44, Senator Ranzenhofer
5 moves to discharge, from the Committee on
6 Consumer Protection, Assembly Bill Number 3798
7 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill
8 Number 4485, Third Reading Calendar Number 587.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH:
10 Substitutions ordered.
11 Messages from the Governor.
12 Reports of standing committees.
13 Reports of select committees.
14 Communications and reports from
15 state officers.
16 Motions and resolutions.
17 Senator Libous.
18 SENATOR LIBOUS: Thank you,
19 Mr. President. At this time could we please
20 adopt the Resolution Calendar, with the exception
21 of Resolution Numbers 1797, 1813, and 1874.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: All in
23 favor of adopting the Resolution Calendar, with
24 the exceptions of Resolutions 1797, 1813, and
25 1874, signify by saying aye.
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1 (Response of "Aye.")
2 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Any
3 opposed, nay.
4 (No response.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The
6 Resolution Calendar is adopted.
7 Senator Libous.
8 SENATOR LIBOUS: Thank you,
9 Mr. President.
10 Mr. President, at this time Senator
11 Griffo has Resolution Number 1076, which was
12 previously adopted. Could we please have it read
13 in its entirety and then if you could please call
14 on Senator Griffo.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The
16 Secretary will read.
17 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
18 Resolution Number 1076, by Senator Griffo,
19 congratulating the 2010-2011 New York Mills High
20 School Boys' Varsity Basketball Team upon the
21 occasion of capturing the New York State Public
22 High School Athletic Association Class D
23 Championship.
24 "WHEREAS, Excellence and success in
25 competitive sports can be achieved only through
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1 strenuous practice, team play and team spirit,
2 nurtured by dedicated coaching and strategic
3 planning; and
4 "WHEREAS, Athletic competition
5 enhances the moral and physical development of
6 the young people of this state, preparing them
7 for the future by instilling in them the value of
8 teamwork, encouraging a standard of healthy
9 living, imparting a desire for success, and
10 developing a sense of fair play and competition;
11 and
12 "WHEREAS, On Saturday, March 19,
13 2011, the Marauders of New York Mills High School
14 captured the New York State Public High School
15 Athletic Association Class D Boys' Basketball
16 Championship by defeating Coleman Catholic of
17 Section IX 47-42 at the Glens Falls Civic Center
18 to win their second state championship in school
19 history; and
20 "WHEREAS, The New York Mills
21 Marauders advanced to the finals of the New York
22 State Basketball Championship with a 59-55 win
23 over Chateaugay of Section X in the state
24 semifinals; and
25 "WHEREAS, One of the most successful
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1 basketball programs in Central New York, the
2 New York Mills Marauders compiled an outstanding
3 24-0 record during the 2010-2011 season. In
4 addition to winning the New York State title, the
5 Marauders won their third consecutive Center
6 State Conference Championship and third
7 consecutive Section III Class D championship; and
8 "WHEREAS, Leading into the
9 championship game, the Marauders had won 55 of
10 their last 57 games. Their only losses during
11 this amazing streak were to the 2009 and 2010
12 state champions; and
13 "WHEREAS, During the season, Senior
14 Co-Captain Fred Russ scored his 1,000th point and
15 Coach Adey recorded his 450th career coaching
16 victory. In his 13 seasons as New York Mills'
17 head coach, his record is an outstanding 238-59,
18 and over his 30-year coaching career his record
19 is 462-156; and
20 "WHEREAS, The athletic talent
21 displayed by this team is due in great part to
22 the efforts of Head Coach Mike Adey and his
23 talented assistant coaches, Brian Adey, Charlie
24 Ferguson, Mike Keating and John Stevener, skilled
25 and inspirational mentors respected for their
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1 ability to develop potential into excellence; and
2 "WHEREAS, The 2010-2011 New York
3 Mills High School Boys' Basketball Team's overall
4 record is outstanding, and the team members were
5 loyally and enthusiastically supported by family,
6 fans, friends and the community at large; and
7 "WHEREAS, The hallmarks of the
8 2010-2011 New York Mills High School Boys'
9 Basketball Team, from the opening game of the
10 season to its participation in league play and in
11 the New York State Public High School Athletic
12 Association championship tournaments, were a
13 brotherhood of athletic ability, of good
14 sportsmanship, of honor and of scholarship,
15 demonstrating that these team players are second
16 to none; and
17 "WHEREAS, Athletically and
18 academically, the team members have proven
19 themselves to be an unbeatable combination of
20 talents reflecting favorably on their school and
21 community; and
22 "WHEREAS, Sports competition
23 instills the values of teamwork, pride and
24 accomplishment, Head Coach Mike Adey, his
25 coaching staff, and the 2010-2011 New York Mills
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1 High School Boys' Basketball Team's outstanding
2 athletes have clearly made a contribution to the
3 spirit of excellence which is a tradition of
4 their school; now, therefore, be it
5 "RESOLVED, That this Legislative
6 Body pause in its deliberations to congratulate
7 the 2010-2011 New York Mills High School Boys'
8 Basketball Team, its members -- Jonathan Ross,
9 Shane Joswick, James Fellone, Nicholas Etienne,
10 Addison Wolanin, Jacob Kehrli, Richard Matrassi,
11 Cody Mariotti, Justin Stevener, Matthew Welch,
12 Co-Captain Jeffrey Albright and Co-Captain Fred
13 Russ -- as well as Head Manager Cameron Jennings,
14 Assistant Managers George Albert, Nathan Hartman,
15 Casey Rice, and Joe Topa, Head Coach Mike Adey,
16 and Assistant Coaches Brian Adey, Charlie
17 Ferguson, Mike Keating and John Stevener, on
18 their New York State Public High School Athletic
19 Association Class D Boys' Basketball
20 Championship, their League and Section III
21 championships, and their outstanding season and
22 overall team record; and be it further
23 "RESOLVED, That copies of this
24 resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to
25 the members and coaching staff of the 2010-2011
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1 New York Mills High School Boys' Basketball
2 Team."
3 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Senator
4 Griffo on the resolution.
5 SENATOR GRIFFO: Thank you,
6 Mr. President.
7 I think the resolution really gave
8 all the statistics, and they are quite impressive
9 statistics. And I want to thank all of the young
10 men and the family members who have joined them
11 today -- Superintendent Houghton and the athletic
12 director, I think Andrea is up there too -- for
13 being here in the chamber here today.
14 This is quite an accomplishment. In
15 fact, Senator Little, who represents the Glens
16 Falls area, had an opportunity to see you. I
17 didn't get that same opportunity because I didn't
18 get to a game this year and Coach Adey is
19 superstitious. So I made sure that we listened.
20 (Laughter.)
21 SENATOR GRIFFO: And what an
22 impressive run they had, as you saw what took
23 place throughout the season, as you read and
24 heard the statistics of what this team
25 accomplished. Twenty-four and 0 is quite
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1 impressive. And to be at this particular place
2 at Glens Falls two years in a row, for a small
3 school, shows the great athletic talent that they
4 have assembled there.
5 But more importantly, I think -- or
6 equally as important, I should say, is the way
7 these young men handled themselves throughout
8 this season. I think that they really have been
9 able to achieve great things that they will
10 remember throughout their entire lives. Great
11 lessons have been learned. There will be fond
12 memories of this championship season and the time
13 that they have spent at New York Mills.
14 But it's the type of learning
15 environment that has been nurtured by their
16 coaches and by the administration in that school
17 that has enabled them not only to be excellent
18 athletes who can compete and compete so
19 successfully, but also that they are going to be
20 positioned to do extraordinary things in their
21 life. So the lessons they have learned -- the
22 character, the determination, the competitive
23 spirit, the resolve to do good things -- will
24 stay with them throughout their lives.
25 And I want to specifically thank
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1 Coach Adey, Coach Mike Adey, who I've known for a
2 long time. In fact, he had black hair when I
3 first met him, I think. And he is such an
4 extraordinary individual. And you heard some of
5 the things in the resolution today also talk
6 about his history. This is a Hall of Fame
7 coach.
8 But he is just a remarkable
9 influence on these young men. He is an
10 individual of integrity and character, a great
11 instructor, also an educator. And he has really
12 done so much to mold this team, to bring them
13 together to be a team. And I think a lot of the
14 success is attributed to him.
15 And as proud as he is of all of you,
16 I know he's equally as proud of all his coaches,
17 but particularly one coach who is his son, Brian
18 Adey, who is also my director of operations, a
19 fellow Senate employee of all of ours. And he
20 does a great job each and every day for me, and I
21 know he did an extraordinary job in helping to
22 contribute to the championship season that you
23 all were able to celebrate this year.
24 And to beat Coleman Catholic -- I'll
25 tell you, that is a great thing. Because the
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1 Secretary of the Senate here, Frank Patience, he
2 is an alumni of Coleman Catholic. Is that true?
3 I believe he is. So they beat them on
4 St. Joseph's Day, Frank; I want you to know that
5 too.
6 So it was a great day in the
7 school's history, but I think it's an important
8 day in the lives of each and every one of these
9 young men.
10 So I want to thank the
11 administration, the coaches, the parents for what
12 they gave to these young men in their rearing,
13 because that is so important that you built young
14 men of character and integrity who will do great
15 things.
16 And to all of you, congratulations
17 on a great accomplishment, as I said, that I
18 believe that you will take with you throughout
19 your entire life. But equally as important,
20 everything that you associated with, everything
21 that developed during this time period you will
22 carry with you to make you a great success in
23 your future. So we look to hear many great
24 things from all of you.
25 So congratulations. And I sincerely
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1 appreciate you being here today. And we're proud
2 to recognize you.
3 I present to you the New York State
4 championship team, New York Mills Marauders.
5 You want to stand, please?
6 (Standing ovation.)
7 SENATOR GRIFFO: Thank you,
8 Mr. President.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Thank
10 you, Senator Griffo.
11 Senator Libous on the resolution.
12 SENATOR LIBOUS: Thank you,
13 Mr. President.
14 I want to join my colleague Senator
15 Griffo in congratulating this outstanding team.
16 And certainly their accomplishments speak for
17 themselves. I mean, just what you heard in the
18 resolution is pretty remarkable. And my hat is
19 off certainly to the players and to the coaches
20 and to the school district for this outstanding
21 achievement.
22 But I also want to stand to
23 recognize someone who I happen to know on the
24 team, and that's my nephew, Richie Matrassi. So,
25 Senator Griffo, make sure that they all get in --
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1 Richie, there you go, buddy. All right. He's
2 not shy, by the way. It runs in the family;
3 we're not shy.
4 But anyway, to the entire team,
5 seriously, your accomplishments are incredible.
6 What you've done on the athletic field and I'm
7 sure what you do in the classroom is something
8 that everybody in this chamber is very proud of.
9 So Senator Griffo, thank you for
10 bringing these champions here. I'm only jealous
11 that they're not from Broome County -- but maybe
12 next time.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Thank
14 you, Senator Libous.
15 Senator Seward on the resolution.
16 SENATOR SEWARD: Yes, thank you,
17 Mr. President. Very briefly.
18 I do not have any relative on the
19 team --
20 (Laughter.)
21 SENATOR SEWARD: -- but in
22 representing a neighboring Senate district and an
23 avid watcher of Channel 2 Utica and, what is it,
24 Sports Express every weekend, I followed the
25 victorious season of this New York Mills
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1 Marauders team this past winter.
2 And I just wanted to stand and say
3 it's an honor and pleasure to have you in the
4 chamber today. You're true champions both on and
5 off the court. I'm delighted to join your
6 Senator, Senator Griffo, in congratulating you.
7 And I'm very, very pleased to support this
8 resolution.
9 And I heard so much about you and
10 watched you on television, and it's a great honor
11 to see you personally. Congratulations.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Thank
13 you, Senator Seward.
14 Is there any other Senator wishing
15 to be heard?
16 This resolution was previously
17 adopted on March 29th.
18 But on behalf of all the Senators,
19 let us applaud you on your victory, welcome you
20 here to the chamber, and extend to you the
21 courtesies of the house. Job well done.
22 (Applause.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Senator
24 Libous.
25 SENATOR LIBOUS: Thank you,
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1 Mr. President.
2 At this time I believe Senator
3 Savino has Resolution Number 1813 at the desk.
4 May we please have it read in its entirety, and
5 could you please call on Senator Savino.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The
7 Secretary will read.
8 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
9 Resolution Number 1813, by Senator Savino,
10 welcoming the Staten Island Girl Scouts upon the
11 occasion of their visit to Albany, New York, on
12 Tuesday, May 17, 2011.
13 "WHEREAS, It is the sense of this
14 Legislative Body to act in accord with its
15 long-standing traditions, honoring the youth of
16 today, and leaders of tomorrow, whose character
17 and achievements exemplify the ideals and values
18 cherished by this great state and nation; and
19 "WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern,
20 and in full accord with its long-standing
21 traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud
22 to welcome the Staten Island Girl Scouts upon the
23 occasion of their visit to Albany, New York, on
24 Tuesday, May 17, 2011; and
25 "WHEREAS, This auspicious visit is
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1 part of their biannual trip to the Capitol of
2 this great Empire State and will include a visit
3 to the State Museum, a meet-and-greet with
4 members of the Legislature from Staten Island, a
5 pizza party, and a grand tour of the Capitol; and
6 "WHEREAS, The Staten Island Girl
7 Scouts visiting this year are Alexa Ruberti,
8 Alyssa LaRocca, Amanda Casella, Andrea LaPointe,
9 Autumn Montanez, Brianna Benjamin, Brianna
10 Valente, Brigid Fegeley, Caitlin Derbyshire,
11 Christina Ramos, Christina Tenteromano, Christine
12 Moog, Danielle Crespo, Danielle Struthers, Deanna
13 Assad, Elain Minew, Francesa Lamberti, Jennifer
14 Orlando, Julia Dalessio, Kaycee Barris, Laine
15 Cialdella, Milena Battaglia, Olivia DeVoti,
16 Rachel Cook, Rebecca Holzer, Rebecca Renzetti,
17 Samantha Bergen, Samantha Brandt, Samantha
18 Ciprut, Shruti Sharma, Stephanie Bergen,
19 Stephanie Campitiello, Taylor Burgio, Theresa
20 Figueroa, Toniann Lehmann, Tyler Ramos, and
21 Victoria Gonzalez. The chaperones include
22 Christine Battaglia, Aimee Bergen, Connie
23 Dalessio, Joann Paradiso, Michele Lamberti, Susan
24 Hogan, and Joan Ventriglia; and
25 "WHEREAS, Girl Scouting in the
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1 United States of America, which will celebrate
2 its 100th anniversary next year, began on
3 March 12, 1912, when Juliette 'Daisy' Gordon Low
4 organized the first Girl Scout troop meeting of
5 18 girls in Savannah, Georgia. Since then, it
6 has grown to 3.7 million members worldwide; and
7 "WHEREAS, Girl Scouting has
8 cultivated in our nation's young people the goals
9 of building solid values of sisterhood and the
10 importance of working with others, stimulating
11 both mind and body, instilling pride, and
12 encouraging community service and success; and
13 "WHEREAS, Girl Scouting has expanded
14 the horizons of the countless hundreds of
15 thousands who have participated in scouting
16 programs which have made scouting an American and
17 international institution; and
18 "WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is
19 pleased to recognize the Staten Island Girl
20 Scouts and to wish them a future of purposeful
21 success and well-being; now, therefore, be it
22 "RESOLVED, That this Legislative
23 Body pause in its deliberations to welcome the
24 Staten Island Girl Scouts upon the occasion of
25 their visit to Albany, New York, on Tuesday,
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1 May 17, 2011; and be it further
2 "RESOLVED, That a copy of this
3 resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to
4 the Staten Island Girl Scouts."
5 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Before we
6 go to Senator Savino, could we just ask
7 colleagues to take the conversations outside and
8 get a little order in the chamber. Thank you.
9 Senator Savino on the resolution.
10 SENATOR SAVINO: Thank you,
11 Mr. President.
12 It is my distinct pleasure to once
13 again host the Staten Island Girl Scouts Troop
14 here in Albany. This is the third time that I've
15 had the opportunity to do that, along with the
16 Staten Island delegation -- Senator Lanza, who
17 I'm sure will be here any moment, and the
18 Assembly delegation. We have a new member this
19 year, Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, along
20 with Assemblyman Matthew Titone, Assemblyman Lou
21 Tobacco, and Assemblyman Michael Cusick.
22 Everybody has wonderful Girl Scouts
23 in their communities, but we like to think that
24 our Girl Scouts from Staten Island are
25 particularly impressive, and we're always happy
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1 to have them here with us. And their troop
2 leaders: Christine Battaglia, who is really a
3 tremendous mentor and a role model to these young
4 girls, along with the other chaperones who have
5 been mentioned -- Aimee Bergen, Connie Dalessio,
6 Joann Paradiso, Michele Lamberti, Susan Hogan,
7 and Joan Ventriglia.
8 This is the third time the Girl
9 Scouts have come to visit us from Staten Island,
10 and it's particularly important this year as the
11 Girl Scouts International begins to celebrate
12 their hundredth anniversary. One hundred years
13 ago in March, Juliette Gordon Low organized the
14 first Girl Scouts troop, in March 1912, in
15 Savannah, Georgia.
16 Many of the women in this
17 Legislature that have served have been Girl
18 Scouts. I am not one of them, I've shared that
19 with them, although they did make me an honorary
20 Girl Scout.
21 These young ladies truly reflect the
22 Girl Scout mission and motto, which is that Girl
23 Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and
24 character who make the world a better place. And
25 like some of the most famous Girl Scouts that
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1 have come before them, I know they're going to
2 accomplish great things. Like Geraldine Ferraro,
3 like Hillary Clinton, like Sandra Day O'Connor,
4 like astronauts Christa McAuliffe and Sally Ride,
5 like Madeleine Albright, like Barbara Walters.
6 And also some pretty hip ones, like Mariah Carey
7 and Sheryl Crow and Natalie Merchant and Venus
8 Williams.
9 These young ladies here will be able
10 to accomplish anything they want, and a lot of it
11 will be built on the foundation of the Girl
12 Scouts.
13 So welcome to Albany. Again,
14 congratulations for everything you've
15 accomplished and what you're going to do going
16 forward. And I know that everyone here wishes
17 you nothing but success in your future
18 endeavors.
19 Thank you, Mr. President.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Thank
21 you, Senator Savino.
22 Are there any other Senators wishing
23 to be heard on the resolution?
24 If none, the question is on the
25 resolution. All in favor signify by saying aye.
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1 (Response of "Aye.")
2 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Any
3 opposed, nay.
4 (No response.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The
6 resolution is adopted.
7 Young ladies, it's great to have you
8 here. We hope you enjoy your visit. And thank
9 you for all the good things you're doing in
10 Scouts.
11 (Applause.)
12 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Senator
13 Libous.
14 SENATOR LIBOUS: Mr. President, at
15 this time could I have unanimous consent from the
16 body for Senator Oppenheimer to make a brief
17 statement.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Without
19 objection.
20 SENATOR LIBOUS: Thank you,
21 Mr. President. Would you call on Senator
22 Oppenheimer.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Senator
24 Oppenheimer.
25 SENATOR OPPENHEIMER: Thank you.
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1 And thank you, Senator Libous.
2 This was an unexpected surprise, but
3 I am very, very delighted and honored to be able
4 to introduce two very wonderful young ladies.
5 They're sitting in that corner. Come on, girls,
6 stand up. Okay. As you can see, they're
7 gorgeous.
8 We have Miss Westchester, that's
9 Christina DeLeon, and she's a student teacher in
10 Yonkers. She's going to graduate, would you
11 believe summa cum laude, from SUNY Old Westbury
12 in just a few weeks, and then she's going on to
13 get her master's in special education at Mercy
14 College this fall. Here is a woman who is going
15 to make I think waves. We are going to see a
16 lot, we expect a lot from Tina. That's what she
17 calls herself.
18 Tina, we congratulate you on your
19 great plans for the future, and good luck in the
20 process you're in right now.
21 And right next to her is Samantha
22 Gold, otherwise known as Sam, who is Miss
23 Westchester Teen. And Sam is a senior at Byram
24 Hills High School, and she's preparing to do an
25 internship with the Westchester County Police
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1 Academy. And she plans to study criminal justice
2 when she gets to college.
3 And these young women, they
4 represent all that is good about Westchester's
5 youth and about the youth of our state. They are
6 not only gorgeous, as we can see, but they are
7 intelligent and articulate and compassionate and
8 they're just charming and a whole lot of fun to
9 be with.
10 And I thank you so much, girls, for
11 coming up and joining us today in the Senate.
12 Thank you, Mr. President.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Thank
14 you. Thank you, Senator Oppenheimer.
15 We welcome these extraordinary young
16 women to the chamber. Hope you enjoy your day
17 here in Albany, and keep up the great work.
18 Thanks.
19 (Applause.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Senator
21 Libous.
22 SENATOR LIBOUS: Mr. President, at
23 this time there will be an immediate meeting of
24 the Finance Committee in Room 332. That's an
25 immediate meeting of the Finance Committee in
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1 Room 332. The Senate will temporarily stand at
2 ease.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH:
4 Immediate meeting of the Finance Committee in
5 Room 332, and the Senate will stand at ease
6 temporarily.
7 (Whereupon, the Senate stood at ease
8 at 3:42 p.m.)
9 (Whereupon, the Senate reconvened at
10 4:08 p.m.)
11 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The
12 Senate will come to order.
13 Senator Libous.
14 SENATOR LIBOUS: Mr. President,
15 could we return to reports of standing
16 committees.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Reports
18 of standing committees.
19 The Secretary will read.
20 THE SECRETARY: Senator
21 DeFrancisco, from the Committee on Finance,
22 offers the following nomination.
23 As commissioner of the New York
24 State Department of Motor Vehicles, Barbara
25 Fiala.
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1 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Senator
2 DeFrancisco on the nomination.
3 SENATOR DEFRANCISCO: I would move
4 the nomination of Barbara Fiala as the
5 commissioner of the New York State Department of
6 Motor Vehicles, and request that you recognize
7 Senator Libous to second the nomination.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Senator
9 Libous to second the nomination.
10 SENATOR LIBOUS: Thank you,
11 Mr. President. Thank you, Senator DeFrancisco.
12 Mr. President and my colleagues, it
13 is indeed an honor for me to stand before you
14 today and talk about the nominee who's before
15 us. The Governor, Governor Cuomo, has done an
16 outstanding job in picking someone who will be a
17 great commissioner of the office of DMV, who
18 understands the issues as an employee of that
19 office, as the director of that office, and then
20 one who went on in her career to be a very
21 successful county executive in the County of
22 Broome.
23 As I mentioned in the Finance
24 Committee, Barbara, I'm going to miss you as
25 county executive. As a matter of fact, I got
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1 along better with you than I did with Republican
2 county executives, and we got a lot done
3 together.
4 And certainly that's the kind of
5 cooperation that Barbara will show with all of us
6 and certainly the people of New York State. She
7 has an outstanding career. I think she said that
8 this is your 31st year? -- 30th year of public
9 service. And that goes back, as I said, to the
10 office of Department of Motor Vehicles.
11 As far as her dedication, her
12 commitment, her passion, as head of the
13 department of Motor Vehicles and certainly as the
14 county clerk and certainly as our county
15 executive, she has the passion for the job and
16 she gets what's important. And what's important
17 is serving the people of New York State.
18 And unfortunately, not all of the
19 commissioners or those who have served over the
20 years as commissioners understood that when they
21 got the job. I know you understand that, because
22 I've seen you perform, I've seen you in action.
23 And, Mr. President, this is a good
24 day. The people of Broome County are very, very
25 proud of her accomplishments and what she has
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1 done. I know that she has family members and
2 friends here today that are extremely proud of
3 her, as I am.
4 So, Mr. President, it is a pleasure
5 and honor to second the nomination of Barbara
6 Fiala as the commissioner of DMV.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Thank
8 you, Senator Libous.
9 Senator Fuschillo.
10 SENATOR FUSCHILLO: Thank you very
11 much, Mr. President.
12 I follow on the heels of my
13 colleague Senator Tom Libous, who even before
14 Barbara Fiala came to the Transportation
15 Committee, Barbara, I felt like I knew you
16 because Tom Libous didn't stop talking about you,
17 in a very positive way.
18 And I think in the Finance Committee
19 you said tomorrow is your 30th anniversary when
20 you became the supervisor of DMV in your
21 hometown.
22 Mr. President, this is -- as Tom
23 Libous said in the Finance Committee, we've
24 complimented the Governor on previous
25 nominations, but this one is outstanding. Her
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1 record of public and community service is second
2 to none.
3 And I know, based on her comments in
4 the Transportation Committee, where she was
5 approved unanimously to come and serve as the
6 commissioner of DMV and get to this point, she
7 will do an outstanding job.
8 DMV has come a long way. And I
9 remember as a kid going to Privado Road where it
10 used to be in Westbury and packing my lunch and
11 sitting there waiting to just get a renewal of a
12 driver's license. But it still needs to come
13 further. And public and community service really
14 is the basis of getting individuals in and out.
15 And I know that Commissioner Fiala
16 will serve the residents of State of New York
17 with great distinction and pride. I proudly
18 second the nomination.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Senator
20 Breslin.
21 SENATOR BRESLIN: Thank you,
22 Mr. President.
23 Barbara, as a fellow upstater, I
24 commend the Governor for just an outstanding
25 choice. When you talk to people across the
3186
1 upstate area, you hear words like "professional,"
2 "honest," "decent," "bright," "consummate person
3 to work together." That's Barbara Fiala.
4 And I've talked to my much older
5 brother Michael, who's a fellow county executive,
6 and he echoes those comments, that when you want
7 something done you pick Barbara Fiala. And the
8 Governor has done it with Motor Vehicles.
9 I commend him, and I commend you for
10 taking on those responsibilities. You'll do a
11 wonderful job. Congratulations.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Thank
13 you, Senator Breslin.
14 Senator Griffo.
15 SENATOR GRIFFO: Thank you,
16 Mr. President. I also want to congratulate the
17 Governor on a very excellent choice.
18 As a former county executive, I had
19 an opportunity to work with Barbara when she was
20 county executive of Broome and I was county
21 executive of Oneida. She had great respect
22 across the state from other county executives,
23 and she did an extraordinary job during that
24 tenure.
25 Just getting along with Senator
3187
1 Libous had to be huge. So that is a significant
2 accomplishment.
3 (Laughter.)
4 SENATOR GRIFFO: But many in the
5 counties during that time always looked to
6 Barbara for her creative ideas and solutions.
7 And I know she talked today about customer
8 service and the importance of serving the people
9 of this state and the people of the community
10 that she has had the opportunity to represent
11 throughout her tenure.
12 So today I just want to add my voice
13 to congratulating her. I think it's an excellent
14 choice. I know that she'll do an extraordinary
15 job.
16 Congratulations and good luck.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Thank
18 you, Senator Griffo.
19 Senator Maziarz.
20 SENATOR MAZIARZ: Thank you very
21 much, Mr. President.
22 I've always said to this governor
23 and to previous governors, when you're choosing a
24 commissioner of Motor Vehicles, choose a county
25 clerk. There is nobody who knows more -- and I
3188
1 think my colleague Senator Ritchie would agree --
2 knows more about the operations of the Department
3 of Motor Vehicles than a county clerk.
4 And, Barbara, I know it's a proud
5 moment for you and your family. You started out
6 in the Department of Motor Vehicles and, you
7 know, seeing people that Senator Fuschillo talked
8 about coming in there, usually with a whole bunch
9 of problems, and you took care of them and worked
10 your way up to become the county clerk of Broome
11 County. And later on you accepted a demotion to
12 county executive from county clerk. I can't
13 believe that.
14 (Laughter.)
15 SENATOR MAZIARZ: But as a former
16 county clerk, I want to congratulate my colleague
17 and friend Barbara Fiala. She's going to do a
18 great job as the DMV commissioner.
19 Thank you, Mr. President.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Senator
21 DeFrancisco.
22 SENATOR DEFRANCISCO: You know,
23 we've all had this experience one time or another
24 that you meet someone and you think you've known
25 her or him your whole life. And that's the way
3189
1 it felt for me when I first met this nominee last
2 week and we had a nice chat. And we had so many
3 things in common, it was just amazing.
4 In fact, her parish priest is coming
5 to our parish in Syracuse to replace the parish
6 priest. And I just asked her to please tell him
7 to keep his sermons short before he came to
8 Syracuse, because that's the clear sign of a good
9 parish priest.
10 (Laughter.)
11 SENATOR DEFRANCISCO: Also, and
12 much, much more importantly, it's obvious that
13 she worked hard to get where she is today. Often
14 in this day and age in our society people jump
15 over other people for many reasons, not
16 necessarily by ability and by hard work.
17 You're a great example of someone
18 who started in the trenches and worked your way
19 through various positions. And you got the next
20 position because you deserved it. And you
21 definitely deserve this position, and we look
22 forward to meeting and working with you during
23 the course of your tenure.
24 Congratulations.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Thank
3190
1 you, Senator DeFrancisco.
2 Is there any other Senator wishing
3 to be heard?
4 Senator Ritchie.
5 SENATOR RITCHIE: I would also like
6 to commend the Governor for such an excellent
7 pick.
8 Barbara, we served together as
9 county clerks and as members of the New York
10 State Association of County Clerks. You always
11 put your county first. You always worked hard to
12 make sure that the revenue stayed locally so that
13 the offices could operate and we could provide
14 the services that were necessary for our
15 constituents.
16 So once again, I congratulate you.
17 I look forward to working with you. And I'm sure
18 you're going to be an excellent commissioner.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Thank
20 you, Senator Ritchie.
21 If there are no other Senators to
22 speak, the question is on the nomination of
23 Barbara Fiala as the commissioner of the New York
24 State Department of Motor Vehicles. All those in
25 favor signify by saying aye.
3191
1 (Response of "Aye.")
2 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Any
3 opposed, nay.
4 (No response.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The
6 nomination is confirmed.
7 Congratulations, Barbara.
8 (Applause.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: We not
10 only want to congratulate you, but also welcome
11 your family. We know you have your husband Tony
12 with you, your son Tony, your son James and his
13 wife Mary Lou, their two sons, Nicholas and
14 Nathan, and also your brother Anthony and his
15 wife Marge as well as your brother Nick and his
16 wife Joanne, and Betty, your sister-in-law.
17 We wish you all the best in your new
18 position and welcome you and your family to the
19 chamber. God bless.
20 (Applause.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH:
22 Senator Libous.
23 SENATOR LIBOUS: Thank you,
24 Mr. President. Now you know how she won her
25 elections.
3192
1 (Laughter.)
2 SENATOR LIBOUS: Mr. President,
3 could we at this time return to motions and
4 resolutions, please.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Motions
6 and resolutions.
7 SENATOR LIBOUS: I believe there's
8 a resolution at the desk by Senator Perkins,
9 Number 1797. Could we have please have the
10 resolution title read and then move for its
11 adoption.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The
13 Secretary will read.
14 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
15 Resolution Number 1797, by Senator Perkins,
16 celebrating the 86th Birthday of Malcolm X, the
17 human rights activist and one of the most
18 influential African-American leaders in history.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Senator
20 Perkins.
21 SENATOR PERKINS: Thank you very
22 much, Mr. President. I just want to be brief and
23 express my appreciation for the opportunity to
24 put forward this resolution.
25 As you pointed out, May 19th marks
3193
1 the 86th birthday of Malcolm X, a prominent
2 figure in African-American and American history,
3 for that matter, and one of the most outspoken
4 activists on behalf of the civil rights and human
5 rights movement. I'm honored to sponsor this
6 resolution that pays tribute to his life and
7 accomplishments.
8 Malcolm X was well-known for his
9 ability to move an audience with a passion and
10 veracity. He would often say "If you don't stand
11 for something, you will fall for anything." He
12 embodied this doctrine, he lived true to this
13 doctrine. It was his progressive and forthright
14 advocacy for civil rights and human rights that
15 unfortunately led to his assassination.
16 As a society we were taught many
17 lessons from Malcolm X, lessons that will endure
18 long after his words were spoken. One particular
19 message echoes in my mind every time I enter this
20 chamber or I stand ready and willing to defend
21 the rights of my constituents: "Power in defense
22 of freedom is greater than power on behalf of
23 tyranny and oppression, because real power comes
24 from our conviction, which produces action,
25 uncompromising action." As legislators, as
3194
1 citizens, and as human beings, we must never
2 forget these words.
3 Thank you very much. And I ask my
4 colleagues to join me in supporting this
5 resolution.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Thank
7 you, Senator Perkins.
8 Is there any other Senator wishing
9 to be heard?
10 The question is on the resolution.
11 All those in favor signify by saying aye.
12 (Response of "Aye.")
13 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Any
14 opposed, nay.
15 (No response.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The
17 resolution is adopted.
18 Senator LaValle.
19 SENATOR LaVALLE: Yes,
20 Mr. President. May we please take up Resolution
21 1874, by Senator Smith, and may we have the title
22 read and move for its immediate adoption.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The
24 Secretary will read.
25 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
3195
1 Resolution Number 1874, by Senator Smith,
2 honoring Southeast Queens, New York,
3 Actor-Director Arthur French upon the occasion of
4 his designation as recipient of the Lifetime
5 Achievement Award by the Coalition of Theatres of
6 Color.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The
8 question is on the resolution. All those in
9 favor signify by saying aye.
10 (Response of "Aye.")
11 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Opposed,
12 nay.
13 (No response.)
14 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The
15 resolution is adopted.
16 Senator LaValle.
17 SENATOR LaVALLE: Mr. President, I
18 understand we have two privileged resolutions by
19 Senator Young. Would you read the titles,
20 please.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The
22 Secretary will read.
23 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
24 resolution by Senator Young, honoring Jackson
25 Watson upon the occasion of competing in the
3196
1 8-to-9-year-old boys division of the 39th Annual
2 National Elks Hoop Shoot Finals.
3 And legislative resolution by
4 Senator Young, commemorating the 50th Anniversary
5 of Olean Business Institute.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The
7 question is on the resolution. All in favor
8 signify by saying aye.
9 (Response of "Aye.")
10 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Opposed,
11 nay.
12 (No response.)
13 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The
14 resolutions are adopted.
15 Senator LaValle.
16 SENATOR LaVALLE: Can we return to
17 motions, Mr. President.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Motions
19 and resolutions.
20 SENATOR LaVALLE: On page 28, I
21 offer the following amendments to Calendar Number
22 405, Senate Print Number 3306A, and ask that said
23 bill retain its place on Third Reading Calendar.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The
25 amendments are received and adopted, and the bill
3197
1 will retain its place on the Third Reading
2 Calendar.
3 SENATOR LaVALLE: Mr. President,
4 may we please take up the noncontroversial
5 reading of the calendar.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The
7 Secretary will read.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 264, by Senator Alesi, Senate Print 3736A, an act
10 to amend the Economic Development Law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Read the
12 last section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
14 act shall take effect on the 180th day.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Call the
16 roll.
17 (The Secretary called the roll.)
18 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 61.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The bill
20 is passed.
21 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
22 344, by Senator Bonacic, Senate Print 3764A, an
23 act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Read the
25 last section.
3198
1 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
2 act shall take effect immediately.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Call the
4 roll.
5 (The Secretary called the roll.)
6 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 61.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The bill
8 is passed.
9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
10 393, by Senator Young, Senate Print 3499, an act
11 to amend the Town Law.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Read the
13 last section.
14 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
15 act shall take effect immediately.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Call the
17 roll.
18 (The Secretary called the roll.)
19 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 61.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The bill
21 is passed.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23 395, by Senator Maziarz, Senate Print 510, an act
24 to amend the Labor Law.
25 SENATOR LaVALLE: Will you lay that
3199
1 aside for the day, please.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The bill
3 is laid aside for the day.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 403, substituted earlier today by Member of the
6 Assembly Aubry, Assembly Print Number 55A, an act
7 to amend the Legislative Law.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Read the
9 last section.
10 THE SECRETARY: Section 8. This
11 act shall take effect on the 30th day.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Call the
13 roll.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 61.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The bill
17 is passed.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
19 421, by Senator Griffo, Senate Print 3880A, an
20 act to amend the Education Law.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Read the
22 last section.
23 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
24 act shall take effect July 1, 2013.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Call the
3200
1 roll.
2 (The Secretary called the roll.)
3 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 61.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The bill
5 is passed.
6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
7 583, by Senator Griffo, Senate Print 3645C, an
8 act to amend the Correction Law.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Read the
10 last section.
11 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
12 act shall take effect on the 180th day.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Call the
14 roll.
15 (The Secretary called the roll.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Senator
17 Griffo to explain your vote.
18 SENATOR GRIFFO: Thank you,
19 Mr. President.
20 This is an important piece of
21 legislation. It's another step in trying to
22 protect our people that we all serve.
23 We heard today -- we had a family up
24 here from Senator Nozzolio's district, because a
25 lot of times we look at statistics but today we
3201
1 had a story behind the statistics. And it's so
2 important that we understand what can happen when
3 violent crime is perpetrated upon the communities
4 that we serve.
5 So today this is another effort to
6 keep our communities and families safe. It's
7 another opportunity and tool that will become
8 invaluable to law enforcement. So I appreciate
9 the support we've received in the chamber today.
10 I appreciate Senator Nozzolio's cosponsorship and
11 for bringing forward a story that is so poignant
12 and so important and what we all try to do in
13 making a difference in trying to protect people.
14 So I vote aye.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Thank
16 you, Senator Griffo.
17 Senator Nozzolio to explain his
18 vote.
19 SENATOR NOZZOLIO: Thank you,
20 Mr. President.
21 Mr. President and my colleagues, can
22 you just imagine on one afternoon the anguish of
23 Dale Driscoll in receiving the information that
24 she lost both her daughter and her
25 granddaughter. John Edward Brown, with a history
3202
1 of violence, convicted of very violent acts, was,
2 unbeknownst to Helen Buchel, brought into their
3 family. And those violent tendencies were such
4 that he murdered Helen Buchel and Brittany
5 Passalacqua.
6 This law, known as Brittany's Law in
7 Brittany Passalacqua's memory, is to provide
8 notice to those who have brought someone into
9 their home -- a new employee into their business,
10 a blind date for their daughter -- a type of
11 information, and allowing the information age to
12 help prevent crime.
13 That's why this measure is
14 important. I want to thank Senator Griffo for
15 his leadership in pushing this legislation and
16 seeing it through to this point. With bipartisan
17 support in the Assembly, we're very hopeful that
18 it will be passed so that Brittany's life will
19 not be in vain and her death will have
20 protections for others so that the Brittany
21 Passalacquas of the future will not have to
22 happen.
23 I support this measure,
24 Mr. President, and I urge my colleagues to do
25 likewise. Thank you very much.
3203
1 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Thank
2 you, Senator Nozzolio.
3 Senator Kennedy to explain his vote.
4 SENATOR KENNEDY: Thank you very
5 much, Mr. President.
6 First of all, I want to commend
7 Senator Griffo for bringing this important piece
8 of legislation to the floor today.
9 Brittany's Law is important to be
10 passed in a bipartisan fashion, and I think we're
11 seeing that today.
12 Government and law enforcement must
13 remain vigilant in our efforts to keep
14 New Yorkers safe. And as such, we rely on state
15 and local police agencies to protect our
16 neighborhoods and maintain the safety of our
17 roads. But those police agencies also rely on us
18 here in the State Legislature to empower them
19 with the tools that they need to defend our
20 families and crack down on violence and illegal
21 behavior.
22 By creating this registry of violent
23 felony offenders, this legislation will provide
24 law enforcement with an important tool in the
25 fight against violent crime. It will help
3204
1 prevent innocent New Yorkers from becoming the
2 victims of repeat offenders, and it will
3 absolutely improve public safety.
4 New Yorkers want to live, work, and
5 raise their families in safe neighborhoods. By
6 passing this legislation today, we are taking
7 another step toward making New York State safer.
8 We are helping prevent tragedies caused by
9 violent crime. Thank you.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Thank
11 you, Senator Kennedy.
12 Announce the results.
13 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
14 Calendar Number 583, those recorded in the
15 negative are Senators Duane, Parker, Perkins and
16 Serrano.
17 Ayes, 57. Nays, 4.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The bill
19 is passed.
20 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
21 584, by Senator Maziarz, Senate Print 3915, an
22 act to amend Chapter 410 of the Laws of 2009.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Read the
24 last section.
25 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
3205
1 act shall take effect immediately.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Call the
3 roll.
4 (The Secretary called the roll.)
5 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59. Nays,
6 2. Senators Hassell-Thompson and Parker recorded
7 in the negative.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 587, substituted earlier today by Member of the
12 Assembly Spano, Assembly Print Number 3798, an
13 act to amend the General Business Law.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Read the
15 last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
17 act shall take effect immediately.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Call the
19 roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 61.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The bill
23 is passed.
24 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
25 590, by Senator Ranzenhofer, Senate Print 3188,
3206
1 an act to amend the Alcoholic Beverage Control
2 Law.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Read the
4 last section.
5 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
6 act shall take effect on the first of January.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Call the
8 roll.
9 (The Secretary called the roll.)
10 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 61.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The bill
12 is passed.
13 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
14 605, by Senator Zeldin, Senate Print 4385A, an
15 act to amend the Highway Law.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Read the
17 last section.
18 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
19 act shall take effect immediately.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Call the
21 roll.
22 (The Secretary called the roll.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Senator
24 Zeldin to explain his vote.
25 SENATOR ZELDIN: Thank you,
3207
1 Mr. President. And I want to thank all my
2 colleagues for supporting this piece of
3 legislation today.
4 I'm joined in the chamber by
5 Assemblyman Dean Murray, who is carrying this
6 legislation over in the State Assembly with
7 Assemblyman Al Graf. And it was Assemblyman
8 Murray that came to me and told me about Grace's
9 story.
10 Two years ago today, on May 17,
11 2009, 7-year-old Grace Catherine Peshkur passed
12 away from an illness called epidermolysis
13 bullosa, or EB for short.
14 EB is sometimes known as the
15 butterfly disease, due to the fragility of the
16 skin. Any abrasion or friction causes the skin
17 to blister and slough off. Sufferers resemble
18 burn victims with bodies wrapped in bandages.
19 The disease also affects internal organs and
20 makes sufferers more liable to sepsis and other
21 infections.
22 EB is one of the so-called orphan
23 diseases. When Grace was born, there were no
24 standards of care for newborns with this
25 illness. Now, due to the awareness that she
3208
1 helped create, there are now protocols in place
2 for how to care for these children immediately
3 after birth.
4 The whole community came together in
5 a wonderful effort to give Grace the love and
6 quality of life all children should enjoy. A
7 first-grader at Chippewa School in Holtsville,
8 the fellow children in the class treated her just
9 like every other student. Her perseverance and
10 fortitude during her short life are an
11 inspiration to many.
12 On the second anniversary of her
13 death, our thoughts and prayers go out to Grace's
14 parents, Michael and Karen Peshkur, and her
15 little sister Emma Gray, who was born two days
16 after Grace passed away.
17 Naming this bridge is a small
18 gesture that will ensure that Grace's memory is a
19 permanent part of the fabric of our community.
20 Thank you, everyone, for your support.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Thank
22 you, Senator Zeldin.
23 Announce the results.
24 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 61.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The bill
3209
1 is passed.
2 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3 614, by Senator Golden, Senate Print 4778, an act
4 to amend Chapter 890 of the Laws of 1982.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Read the
6 last section.
7 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
8 act shall take effect immediately.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: Call the
10 roll.
11 (The Secretary called the roll.)
12 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 61.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: The bill
14 is passed.
15 Senator LaValle.
16 SENATOR LaVALLE: Mr. President, is
17 there any other business at the desk?
18 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: There is
19 none.
20 SENATOR LaVALLE: There being no
21 further business before the Senate,
22 Mr. President, I move we adjourn until Wednesday,
23 May 18th, at 11:00 a.m.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT ROBACH: On
25 motion, the Senate stands adjourned until
3210
1 tomorrow, Wednesday, May 18th, at 11:00 a.m.
2 (Whereupon, at 4:34 p.m., the Senate
3 adjourned.)
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