Regular Session - May 28, 2014
2853
1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
2
3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
5
6
7
8
9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 May 28, 2014
11 3:14 p.m.
12
13
14 REGULAR SESSION
15
16
17
18 SENATOR JOSEPH GRIFFO, Acting President
19 FRANCIS W. PATIENCE, Secretary
20
21
22
23
24
25
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1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
3 Senate will come to order.
4 I ask all present to please rise
5 and join with us as we recite the Pledge of
6 Allegiance to our Flag.
7 (Whereupon, the assemblage recited
8 the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Today's
10 invocation will be offered by the Reverend Chueh
11 Chuan Shih, Abbess of Fo Guang Shan New York
12 Temple, in Flushing.
13 Reverend.
14 REVEREND CHUEH CHUAN SHIH: A
15 prayer for blessings on our nation.
16 Great compassionate Buddha! With
17 the greatest sincerity, we are here to express
18 our gratitude for your great protection. Please
19 let our nation make education available to all.
20 Please let our people raise their standard of
21 living. Please let our science and technology
22 continue to improve. Please let our politics
23 maintain freedom and democracy.
24 Great compassionate Buddha! We
25 pray for your great support. May we grasp the
2855
1 concept of cause and effect, and understand the
2 reality of life. May we have the strength of a
3 heart full of patience and tolerance, and never
4 retreat in the face of adversity.
5 Great compassionate Buddha! We pray
6 for your blessing and protection. May our
7 country have favorable weather and never have
8 natural disasters or man-made calamities. May
9 our politics be honest, clean and just, and never
10 have corruption or bribery. May our ethnic
11 groups be tolerant of those who are different,
12 and never have racial disputes. May our society
13 be steadfast, prosperous and powerful, and never
14 have wars or upheavals. May our lives be
15 abundant in food and clothing, and never suffer
16 economic instability. May our bodies and minds
17 be healthy and carefree, and never be disturbed
18 by sickness.
19 Great compassionate Buddha! We need
20 to learn from you the wisdom to close the
21 distance between self and others. We need to
22 learn from you the selflessness to eliminate all
23 of our attachments. We need to learn from you
24 the truth to resolve the confrontations between
25 races. We need to learn from you the compassion
2856
1 to reconcile the conflicts between nations. We
2 need to learn from you the Buddha light to
3 illuminate the darkness of the world.
4 Great compassionate Buddha! Please
5 let people of different ages live in harmony.
6 Please let people of different social status have
7 mutual respect. Please let people of different
8 professions work in cooperation. Please let
9 people of different religions practice with
10 tolerance.
11 (In Chinese.)
12 Great compassionate Buddha, please
13 accept this prayer for our country! Great
14 compassionate Buddha, please accept this prayer
15 for our country!
16 May Buddha bless America.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
18 reading of the Journal.
19 THE SECRETARY: In Senate, Tuesday,
20 May 27th, the Senate met pursuant to adjournment.
21 The Journal of Monday, May 26th, was read and
22 approved. On motion, Senate adjourned.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Without
24 objection, the Journal stands approved as read.
25 Presentation of petitions.
2857
1 Messages from the Assembly.
2 The Secretary will read.
3 THE SECRETARY: On page 33, Senator
4 Kennedy moves to discharge, from the Committee on
5 Codes, Assembly Bill Number 7720B and substitute
6 it for the identical Senate Bill Number 4187C,
7 Third Reading Calendar 471.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
9 substitution is so ordered.
10 THE SECRETARY: On page 54, Senator
11 Bonacic moves to discharge, from the Committee on
12 Finance, Assembly Bill Number 8698 and substitute
13 it for the identical Senate Bill Number 6527,
14 Third Reading Calendar 730.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
16 substitution is so ordered.
17 Messages from the Governor.
18 Reports of standing committees.
19 Reports of select committees.
20 Communications and reports of state
21 officers.
22 Motions and resolutions.
23 Senator Libous.
24 SENATOR LIBOUS: Mr. President,
25 would you please call on Senator David Valesky
2858
1 from the IDC.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
3 Valesky.
4 SENATOR VALESKY: Mr. President, on
5 page 43 I offer the following amendments to
6 Calendar Number 603, Senate Bill 4652A, and ask
7 that said bill retain its place on the Third
8 Reading Calendar.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
10 amendments are received, and the bill shall
11 retain its place on third reading.
12 Senator Libous.
13 SENATOR LIBOUS: Mr. President, I
14 believe if you call on Deputy Leader Gianaris, he
15 has a motion.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
17 Gianaris.
18 SENATOR GIANARIS: Thank you,
19 Mr. President.
20 On behalf of Leader Stewart-Cousins,
21 on page 51 I offer the following amendments to
22 Calendar Number 698, Senate Print 6738, and ask
23 that said bill retain its place on Third Reading
24 Calendar.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
2859
1 amendments are received, and the bill shall
2 retain its place on third reading.
3 Senator Libous.
4 SENATOR LIBOUS: Thank you,
5 Mr. President. I have a page of motions here
6 that I need to read to you, sir.
7 Mr. President, amendments are
8 offered on the following Third Reading Calendar
9 bills:
10 We'll start out with Senator Little,
11 page 20, Calendar Number 143, Senate Print 4358A;
12 Senator Lanza, page 22, Calendar
13 180, Senate Print 3606;
14 Senator LaValle, on page 35,
15 Calendar Number 504, Senate Print 6418;
16 A very important one by Senator
17 Libous, on page 36, Calendar Number 505, Senate
18 Print 6769A;
19 Senator Grisanti, page 45, Calendar
20 Number 626, Senate Print 6907;
21 Senator Golden, on page 45, Calendar
22 Number 641, Senate Print 7057;
23 Senator Maziarz, page 47, Calendar
24 659, Senate Print 6450;
25 Senator Young, page 51, Calendar
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1 699, Senate Print 2742A;
2 Senator LaValle, page 51, Calendar
3 Number 700, Senate Print 2883;
4 Senator Lanza, page 52, Calendar
5 705, Senate Print 5654;
6 Senator Golden, page 55, Calendar
7 742, Senate Print 6931;
8 And Senator Golden, page 61,
9 Calendar 802, Senate Print 7226.
10 Mr. President, I now move that these
11 bills retain their place on third reading.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
13 amendments on all the specified bills are
14 accepted, and the bills shall retain their place
15 on third reading.
16 Senator Libous.
17 SENATOR LIBOUS: Mr. President, at
18 this time we have a resolution at the desk by
19 Senator Ball, Number 5276. Could we read its
20 title and then call on Senator Grisanti.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
22 Secretary will read.
23 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
24 Resolution Number 5276, by Senator Ball,
25 memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
2861
1 proclaim May 28, 2014, as Animal Advocacy Day in
2 the State of New York.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
4 Grisanti.
5 SENATOR GRISANTI: Yes, thank you,
6 Mr. President.
7 For those of you who don't know it,
8 today is Animal Advocacy Day. And if you were
9 down in The Well, you saw a lot of our
10 four-legged friends really having a good time.
11 And if they came up to you and
12 kissed you, that means they appreciate the
13 support and all the legislation we've done in the
14 past. If they bit you, that means you voted
15 negative on that legislation. So trust me, they
16 know.
17 But it's important that we speak for
18 them and for all breeds and all degrees. We've
19 done some tremendous legislation in the past,
20 from having accountability, also legislation
21 dealing with review of procedures. There's
22 legislation that's going to be passed today that
23 has more accountability for the animals across
24 New York State.
25 A lot of people don't realize it,
2862
1 but it's important because you see something
2 horrific on TV, some sort of abuse, some sort of
3 crime against animals, you know what, when it
4 comes down to it, it ends up costing those
5 not-for-profits. The taxpayers of your villages,
6 your towns and your cities, it ends up costing
7 them money.
8 So this legislation strengthens
9 that. That we've passed in years past, we're
10 passing today. And I want to commend Senator
11 Ball for having Animal Advocacy Day today and as
12 you did in years past. And it's just a great
13 event. And trust me, ASPCA, the Humane Society
14 and other groups, they appreciate it as well.
15 So I appreciate it, Mr. President.
16 Thank you very much.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Thank
18 you, Senator Grisanti.
19 The question is on the resolution.
20 All in favor signify by saying aye.
21 (Response of "Aye.")
22 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Opposed?
23 (No response.)
24 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
25 resolution is adopted.
2863
1 Senator Libous.
2 SENATOR LIBOUS: Mr. President,
3 could we open this resolution up for all members.
4 If a member chooses not to go on, they'll let the
5 desk know, as our policy is.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
7 resolution is open for cosponsorship. Should you
8 choose not to, notify the desk.
9 Senator Libous.
10 SENATOR LIBOUS: Mr. President, I
11 want to take up previously adopted Resolution
12 4664, by Senator Carlucci. I believe he would
13 like it read in its entirety, and then he would
14 like to be called on.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
16 Secretary will read.
17 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
18 Resolution Number 4664, by Senator Carlucci,
19 memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
20 proclaim May 28, 2014, as Haitian Unity Day in
21 the State of New York.
22 "WHEREAS, It is the sense of this
23 Legislative Body, in keeping with its
24 time-honored traditions, to recognize and pay
25 tribute to those organizations which foster
2864
1 ethnic pride and enhance the profile of cultural
2 diversity which strengthens the fabric of the
3 communities of New York State; and
4 "WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern,
5 and in full accord with its long-standing
6 traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud
7 to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
8 proclaim May 28, 2014, as Haitian Unity Day in
9 the State of New York; and
10 "WHEREAS, Haiti, located less than
11 700 miles from the United States of America, is
12 the second nation in the Western Hemisphere,
13 after the United States, to earn its
14 independence, and has, since 1803, stood as a
15 beacon of freedom as the first black-governed
16 republic in the world; and
17 "WHEREAS, Haiti is one of the
18 original members of the United Nations and
19 several of its specialized and related agencies,
20 as well as a member of the Organization of
21 American States (OAS); and
22 "WHEREAS, On August 22, 1791, Haiti
23 was the island nation where hundreds of thousands
24 of enslaved persons initiated the most successful
25 slave rebellion in history; under the military
2865
1 leadership of Francois Toussaint L'Ouverture, the
2 grandson of an African chief, making the
3 Haitian Revolution a major turning point in the
4 history of the world, with repercussions
5 extending far beyond the Caribbean nation; and
6 "WHEREAS, The contributions of
7 Jean-Jacques Dessalines, a former slave, led to
8 Haiti's declaration of independence in 1804;
9 Jean-Jacques Dessalines became the first ruler
10 over an independent Haiti; Jean-Jacques
11 Dessalines' actions left a legacy of Haitian
12 nationalism; the Haitian National anthem,
13 La Dessalinienne, is named after him to honor his
14 fervent efforts to protect the independence of
15 Haiti; and
16 "WHEREAS, Haiti's victory against
17 France redefined Napoleon's goals in the Western
18 Hemisphere and so set the stage for the Louisiana
19 Purchase, a single acquisition doubling the
20 United States' size, giving the United States its
21 heartland, control of the Mississippi River and
22 the important port city of New Orleans on the
23 Gulf of Mexico; the Louisiana territory drew
24 immigrants from all over Europe, transforming and
25 strengthening the United States and the American
2866
1 people; and
2 "WHEREAS, For many years preceding
3 the American Civil War, the Haitian Revolution
4 had a substantial influence over many of the
5 policies and laws in the United States that
6 related to slavery, such as, in 1794 and 1800,
7 the federal government passage of
8 anti-slave-trade laws to prevent the possible
9 spread of the Haitian slave revolt to the United
10 States: prohibiting citizens from equipping
11 ships engaged in slave trade commerce, barring
12 Americans from serving aboard such ships or from
13 having any interest in their voyages; and
14 "WHEREAS, In 1792, a number of
15 measures taken to prevent a slave rebellion in
16 the United States were so brutal and inhumane
17 that these acts drove and strengthened the
18 crusade of the abolitionists in the
19 United States, therefore having a profound
20 influence on the movement that led to the
21 Civil War; and
22 "WHEREAS, The Haitian Revolution
23 ignited a ground-breaking change in the history
24 of the modern world by enabling hundreds of
25 thousands of African slaves worldwide and tens of
2867
1 thousands of free persons of color to find the
2 wherewithal to unite in the quest for individual
3 and collective liberty; and
4 "WHEREAS, Haitian people have
5 migrated to the United States since the 1700s,
6 resulting in approximately 200,000 Haitians
7 residing in the State of New York; and
8 "WHEREAS, Our state enjoys a great
9 legacy from the successors of freed Haitian
10 slaves who came to the United States, notably
11 Pierre Toussaint, the first layman now being
12 proposed by the Catholic Church to become a
13 saint, who arrived in New York in 1787, where he
14 turned his home into a shelter for orphans, a
15 credit bureau, an employment agency, and a safe
16 haven for priests; Toussaint was a benefactor of
17 the first New York City Catholic school for black
18 children at St. Vincent de Paul on Canal Street;
19 Toussaint also provided money to build a new
20 Roman Catholic church in New York, which became
21 old Saint Patrick's Cathedral on Mulberry Street;
22 and
23 "WHEREAS, In October of 1995,
24 Pope John Paul II, from the throne in the
25 sanctuary of New York's Saint Patrick's
2868
1 Cathedral, publicly bestowed Pierre Toussaint
2 with the suffix 'Venerable,' which is the second
3 step towards becoming a saint in the Catholic
4 Church, because Pierre Toussaint transcends race
5 through his miracle and charitable acts as
6 evidence that he is not a man limited in range
7 and that his love for his neighbor is not
8 restricted to race or tribe; and
9 "WHEREAS, Many other notable
10 Haitians have made rich contributions to the
11 nation, such as the Tuskegee-trained Raymond
12 Cassagnol, who helped form the Haitian Air Force
13 in the United States; and
14 "WHEREAS, Jean Baptiste Point
15 Du Sable was born in Saint-Marc Haiti; Du Sable
16 became the first permanent resident of Chicago
17 and is known as the 'Father of Chicago';
18 Du Sable was honored with the creation of the
19 DuSable Museum of African American History in
20 Washington Park and also honored with the issue
21 of a Black Heritage Series 22-cent post stamp on
22 February 20th, 1987; and
23 "WHEREAS, W.E.B. Du Bois was a civil
24 rights activist who helped advocate for equality
25 amongst African Americans; he also encouraged
2869
1 social mobility by introducing African Americans
2 to higher education; W.E.B. Du Bois is the
3 founder of the NAACP, and he was also the first
4 African American to earn a doctorate degree, thus
5 setting a precedent for the development of the
6 black race in the United States; and
7 "WHEREAS, Jean-Michel Basquiat, born
8 in Brooklyn, New York, became famous for his
9 profound, thought-provoking artwork which
10 employed social commentary to discuss social
11 inequalities and promote social mobility and
12 equality; Basquiat's artwork has been
13 influential to many contemporary artists and
14 poets; Basquiat's legacy is universally
15 recognized as a catalyst for social change; and
16 "WHEREAS, John James Audubon, born
17 in Haiti, inspired one of the founders of the
18 Audubon Society in the late 1800s to name the
19 society after John James Audubon because of his
20 reputation and deep appreciation and concern for
21 the natural world; to this day, the name
22 'Audubon' remains synonymous with avian life,
23 wildlife protection, and environmental
24 conservation the world over; and
25 "WHEREAS, Haitian culture and
2870
1 contributions have had a definite mark on not
2 only the progression of equality and
3 independence, but also upon the development of
4 eclectic expressions of arts and literature;
5 moreover, the long-lasting influence that Haitian
6 Americans have on the United States can be seen
7 through the movements of a productive society;
8 such developments have been collectively centered
9 to push the populace forward; and
10 "WHEREAS, It is the practice of this
11 Legislative Body to recognize those important
12 days which remind us of the rich and diverse
13 heritage of our great state and nation; now,
14 therefore, be it
15 "RESOLVED, That this Legislative
16 Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize
17 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 28,
18 2014, as Haitian Unity Day in the State of
19 New York, in honor of Haiti's legacy of liberty
20 and justice throughout the world and in honor of
21 the significant and countless contributions of
22 New Yorkers of Haitian descent who have enriched
23 our nation and our state; and be it further
24 "RESOLVED, That a copy of this
25 resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to
2871
1 the Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the
2 State of New York."
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
4 Carlucci.
5 SENATOR CARLUCCI: Thank you,
6 Mr. President.
7 And I want to thank my colleagues
8 for joining with me today to proclaim May 28th as
9 Haitian Unity Day in the State of New York.
10 And we've all heard from the
11 Secretary of the Senate reading that lengthy
12 resolution of the contributions that Haitian
13 Americans have had to New York State, to this
14 country, and to this planet.
15 And we're so fortunate because today
16 we're joined in the gallery by many of my
17 neighbors and people throughout this state of
18 Haitian-American descent that are with us here
19 today. This has become an annual tradition in
20 the New York State Senate to honor the
21 contributions that Haitian-American New Yorkers
22 have made to this great state.
23 And that resolution could be gone on
24 and on about the great contributions that Haitian
25 Americans have made.
2872
1 And we're also so fortunate that we
2 have with us in the gallery Nikita Bernard, who
3 was the grand marshal of the Spring Valley
4 Haitian Unity Parade just the other week.
5 And this past Sunday, many Haitian
6 Americans celebrated Mother's Day this past
7 Sunday. It's a tradition in the Haitian culture
8 to celebrate Mother's Day twice during the year,
9 which is extremely important, and we should all
10 be taking that tradition to heart.
11 But I'm just so blessed and so
12 fortunate and honored to have such a robust,
13 vibrant Haitian community that I am able to
14 represent here in the New York State Senate. And
15 I want to thank my colleagues for honoring and
16 recognizing the vast amount of contributions that
17 Haitian Americans have had to this great state
18 and are continuing to make every day and moving
19 forward.
20 So thank you, Mr. President, and
21 thank you to my colleagues in the Senate.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Thank
23 you, Senator Carlucci.
24 (Applause.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
2873
1 Martins on the resolution.
2 SENATOR MARTINS: Thank you,
3 Mr. President.
4 I rise to lend my voice in support
5 of this resolution, for I too have a vibrant
6 Haitian community in my district, communities
7 such as Elmont, such as Westbury/New Cassel,
8 wonderful, vibrant communities all the more
9 strong because of the Haitian communities they're
10 in.
11 So I want to take the opportunity to
12 thank Senator Carlucci for introducing this
13 resolution, and I too want to lend my voice in
14 welcome to the Haitian community and a heartfelt
15 thank you for all you do for our communities, all
16 the help you do, all the wonderful work you do in
17 supporting not only our schools, our children,
18 but our business communities. God bless you.
19 Much success.
20 Thank you, Mr. President.
21 (Applause.)
22 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
23 Sanders on the resolution.
24 SENATOR SANDERS: Thank you,
25 Mr. President.
2874
1 It is this keeping with this great
2 community -- you could go back to just some
3 simple things. Just like the name Toussaint
4 L'Ouverture speaks of "the opening." This is a
5 community that wherever it goes, it creates an
6 opening, that from 1804 to this period, in spite
7 of the many difficulties faced by this great
8 community, they have taken on all challenges --
9 whether it be the Spanish, the English, the
10 French or whoever else comes -- and they have
11 shown that the spirit of humankind is stronger
12 than any adversary that could come against them.
13 So I too have to stand to raise my
14 voice in proud recognition of such a great
15 community, but to say that the past is fantastic,
16 but the best is yet to come for this community.
17 God bless you all.
18 (Applause.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
20 Larkin on the resolution.
21 SENATOR LARKIN: Thank you,
22 Mr. President. I join my colleagues in paying
23 homage and respect to the Haitian community.
24 I represent the villages in
25 Haverstraw. I've been down in your neighborhood.
2875
1 There he is. How are you?
2 (Laughter.)
3 SENATOR LARKIN: That's all right.
4 At my age you can do this.
5 But you know, the last time we had
6 naturalization, there were a number from the
7 community. I said at that time, "We welcome you
8 to America. Many of you have been here 10, 12,
9 15 years, but we don't want you to forget the
10 culture which you came to America from. So that
11 we embrace it and we respect what you've come
12 through and what type of a life you've had. But
13 you're now an American citizen."
14 And I said, "Don't forget it.
15 You'll always be an American. But you can always
16 refer to the country that was your place of
17 birth, where you raised some of your children."
18 The most important thing, in my
19 working knowledge of the community, is their
20 respect for family, their respect for their
21 neighbors, and of always wanting to do something
22 to improve the quality of life for their family.
23 That will never go away. It will always be
24 there. And you'll be able to say, in your heart
25 and soul: I have a background, I'm proud of it,
2876
1 but I'm also proud to be an American.
2 Thank you, and God bless you.
3 (Applause.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: We
5 welcome the members of the Haitian community here
6 to the chamber today. We extend the courtesies
7 of the house to you, and we wish you well.
8 The resolution was adopted on
9 April 29, 2014.
10 Senator Libous.
11 SENATOR LIBOUS: Senator Carlucci
12 would like to open it up. And as our policy
13 goes, if someone chooses not to be a cosponsor,
14 please let the desk know.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: So
16 designated.
17 Senator Libous.
18 SENATOR LIBOUS: On behalf of
19 Senator Díaz, I believe Resolution 4927 is at the
20 desk. Could we read it in its entirety and call
21 on Senator Díaz.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
23 Secretary will read.
24 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
25 Resolution Number 4927, by Senator Díaz,
2877
1 celebrating Taiwan Heritage Day.
2 "WHEREAS, The United States and the
3 Republic of China (Taiwan) share common ideals
4 and a clear vision for the 21st century, where
5 freedom and democracy are the foundation for
6 peace, prosperity, and progress; and
7 "WHEREAS, Taiwan has become a
8 multiparty democracy in which all citizens have
9 the right to participate freely in the political
10 process, as evidenced by Taiwan's five democratic
11 presidential elections, which took place in 1996,
12 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012; and
13 "WHEREAS, Through cross-Strait
14 dialogue, the establishment of the Economic
15 Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) with
16 mainland China, and the policy of 'viable
17 diplomacy,' President Ma Ying-Jeou of the
18 Republic of China (Taiwan) has transformed the
19 Taiwan Strait from a major international
20 flashpoint into an essential component of
21 East Asian peace and prosperity; and
22 "WHEREAS, Taiwan is one of the
23 strongest democratic allies of the United States
24 in the Asia-Pacific region and spares no effort
25 to maintain peace and prosperity in East Asia, as
2878
1 evidenced by the East China Sea Peace Initiative
2 proposed by President Ma Ying-Jeou; and
3 "WHEREAS, The United States passed
4 the Taiwan Relations Act in 1979 to define the
5 relations of the United States and the Republic
6 of China (Taiwan), which strongly strengthens
7 their friendship, and the year of 2014 marks the
8 35th anniversary of the passing of the Taiwan
9 Relations Act; and
10 "WHEREAS, The United States and
11 Taiwan share a long-term and close economic
12 relationship, including $63 billion of bilateral
13 trade in 2012, making Taiwan the 11th largest
14 trading partner of the United States; and
15 "WHEREAS, The United States assisted
16 Taiwan in attaining participation in the assembly
17 of the International Civil Aviation Organization
18 (ICAO) in 2013, and will continue supporting
19 Taiwan's meaningful participation in other United
20 Nations-affiliated organizations such as the
21 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
22 Change (UNFCCC); and
23 "WHEREAS, In order to strengthen
24 bilateral trade relations with the United States,
25 the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan)
2879
1 has expressed its wish to participate in the
2 Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership
3 Agreement (TPP), and to sign a Bilateral
4 Investment Agreement (BIA) and a Free Trade
5 Agreement (FTA) with the United States in the
6 near future; and
7 "WHEREAS, The State of New York
8 exported $1.1 billion worth of products to Taiwan
9 in 2012, making Taiwan the 18th largest foreign
10 market for New York State, strengthening
11 bilateral economic ties; and
12 "WHEREAS, Many of the United States'
13 top 500 companies which are headquartered in
14 New York, including IBM, Pfizer, Corning,
15 Citigroup, AIG, MetLife, JPMorgan Chase,
16 Merrill Lynch, and New York Life, have invested
17 in Taiwan; and
18 "WHEREAS, There are more than
19 300 Taiwanese companies which have invested in
20 the State of New York in sectors such as
21 computers, finance, jewelry, sporting goods, and
22 garments; and
23 "WHEREAS, The State of New York is
24 home to a thriving overseas Taiwanese community;
25 both the government of Taiwan and Chinese
2880
1 Americans, including the Chinese Chamber of
2 Commerce of New York, Chinese Consolidated
3 Benevolent Association, Buddha's Light
4 International Association in New York, and
5 National Women's League of the Republic of China
6 (Taiwan) devote themselves to serving the
7 community of the State of New York; the State of
8 New York has maintained a friendly and fruitful
9 relationship with Taiwan for many years; and
10 "WHEREAS, The New York State
11 Legislature held the first Taiwan Heritage Day
12 celebration at the Legislative Office Building in
13 Albany in April 2013, to promote bilateral
14 relations between New York and Taiwan, and this
15 Legislature is holding the second Taiwan Heritage
16 Day celebration in 2014; now, therefore, be it
17 "RESOLVED, That this Legislative
18 Body pause in its deliberations to celebrate
19 Taiwan Heritage Day; and be it further
20 "RESOLVED, That a copy of this
21 resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted
22 to President Ma Ying-Jeou of the Republic of
23 China (Taiwan), through the Taipei Economic and
24 Cultural Office in New York."
25 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
2881
1 Díaz.
2 SENATOR DIAZ: Thank you,
3 Mr. President.
4 Mr. President and my fellow
5 Senators, ladies and gentlemen, you should know
6 that I have been trying to become a Senator who
7 brings all cultures together and that I have
8 resolved to bring all different cultures to this
9 chamber and introduce them to all of you.
10 You should also know, ladies and
11 gentlemen and Mr. President, that to that effect
12 I was the first Senator to introduce the
13 Dominican community and its culture in the Senate
14 chamber and the Dominican minister offering the
15 invocation in Spanish.
16 I have honored the Garifuna
17 community, having one of their ministers as well
18 offer the invocation in their Garifuna language.
19 I was also honored, Mr. President, I
20 was honored and privileged to present the
21 Bangladesh community to be recognized, and one of
22 their Imams did the invocation in Bangla for the
23 first time in this chamber.
24 You should also know, ladies and
25 gentlemen, that today, today, for the fifth year
2882
1 in a row, I'm privileged to sponsor a Senate
2 resolution celebrating the government and the
3 people of Taiwan in order to recognize them for
4 their wonderful, humanistic, generous, rich
5 financial and cultural contribution to our
6 country and to the State of New York.
7 On behalf of my constituents and the
8 children of the South Bronx, I must thank and
9 recognize the contributions of the Taiwanese
10 government and its representative to the needy
11 children of the Bronx.
12 Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. President,
13 as you know, I represent the South Bronx, one of
14 the poorest areas in the nation. Every year,
15 every single year during Christmas celebrations,
16 as the Three Kings came to visit Jesus, the
17 Taiwanese community, the Taiwanese government
18 representatives come to the Bronx, bringing
19 backpacks filled with all kinds of school
20 supplies for the black and Hispanic children of
21 my district.
22 These school supplies,
23 Mr. President, not only give our children a boost
24 of encouragement to do their best at school
25 during the new year, but also take some of the
2883
1 financial burden from their parents for the cost
2 of these items.
3 And what is equally special is that
4 each year that Taiwan officials come to the South
5 Bronx for our three Kings Day celebration, the
6 children and parents in attendance get to witness
7 cultural and racial unity 1at its best.
8 Mr. President, my fellow Senators,
9 you should know that not only has the Taiwanese
10 government been generous to the poor children of
11 the South Bronx, but it is important to remember
12 that when New York was hit by Superstorm Sandy,
13 the Taiwanese government immediately contributed
14 $200,000 toward the relief efforts of the people
15 affected by Superstorm Sandy.
16 The Taiwanese, in collaboration with
17 other groups, including the Buddhist Tzu-Chi
18 Foundation, raised $10 million towards
19 desperately needed relief supplies that assisted
20 our constituents through that very challenging
21 and difficult time.
22 Yes, Mr. President, yes, ladies and
23 gentlemen, it is important for you to understand
24 and to know that Taiwan is one of the strongest
25 democratic allies of the United States in Asia.
2884
1 We must never forget that Taiwan spares no effort
2 to maintain peace and prosperity in East Asia, as
3 evidenced by the East China Sea Peace Initiative
4 proposed by President Ma Ying-Jeou.
5 You should know that Taiwan is the
6 ninth largest trading partner of the United
7 States. Both Taiwan and the United States have
8 maintained a close relationship for many years.
9 Yes, it is important for us to
10 recognize that Taiwan has a strong relationship
11 with the State of New York. As you heard in the
12 resolution, Taiwan is the 18th largest foreign
13 market for New York State, many of New York's
14 top 500 companies have significant investment in
15 Taiwan, and there are more than 300 Taiwanese
16 companies that have invested in New York. That
17 is what I call a good and strong financial
18 relationship.
19 Finally, Mr. President, today I have
20 the honor and privilege to be joined here in the
21 Senate chamber by my distinguished guests. We
22 have here with us, Mr. President, ladies and
23 gentlemen, Ambassador Paul Wen-Liang Chang --
24 (Applause.)
25 SENATOR DIAZ: -- from the Taipei
2885
1 Economic and Cultural Office in New York.
2 We have Mr. Ho Kew Lee, from the
3 Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association.
4 (Applause.)
5 SENATOR DIAZ: We have Mr. Justin
6 Yu, chairman of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce
7 of New York.
8 (Applause.)
9 SENATOR DIAZ: Reverend Chueh Chuan
10 Shih, abbess from the Fo Guang Shan New York
11 Temple, who gave the invocation.
12 (Applause.)
13 SENATOR DIAZ: David Chien,
14 director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural
15 Office in New York.
16 (Applause.)
17 SENATOR DIAZ: And my good friend
18 Ann Noonan, who has been instrumental in helping
19 me develop my relationship with the Taiwanese
20 people.
21 (Applause.)
22 SENATOR DIAZ: I also want to
23 acknowledge the more than 100 Taiwanese people --
24 (Sustained applause.)
25 SENATOR DIAZ: -- the more than
2886
1 100 Taiwanese people who have joined us in the
2 Senate gallery. Let me see if I know how to say
3 this: Ni how, da chiao how.
4 (Cheers and applause from gallery.)
5 SENATOR DIAZ: Welcome to Albany.
6 Finally, to all of you, friends,
7 colleagues, tonight after the session ends,
8 Ambassador Paul Wen-Liang Chang and myself would
9 like to invite you to a reception in Room 6 on
10 the Concourse Level which will include delicious
11 Chinese food.
12 (Laughter.)
13 SENATOR DIAZ: You are invited.
14 Come and join us. Delicious Chinese food. You
15 don't have to spend money; it's free.
16 (Laughter.)
17 SENATOR DIAZ: And a stunning photo
18 exhibit from the Buddha Light Foundation, and a
19 presentation of Chinese dance. Tonight, all free
20 of charge for you.
21 Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen,
22 I am State Senator Rubén Díaz, and this is what
23 you should know.
24 Thank you very much.
25 (Applause.)
2887
1 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
2 Libous, why do you rise?
3 SENATOR LIBOUS: Mr. President,
4 Senator Díaz would like to open that up for
5 sponsorship.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
7 Libous, we have two more speakers on the
8 resolution.
9 SENATOR LIBOUS: Oh. Well, then
10 after we have the two more speakers, or whomever
11 else would like to speak, we'll open it up for
12 sponsorship.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: So noted.
14 Senator Stavisky.
15 SENATOR STAVISKY: To my friends I
16 say: Da jia hao.
17 (Cheer and applause from gallery.)
18 SENATOR STAVISKY: And welcome. As
19 the Reverend Senator Díaz might have said, "Mi
20 casa es su casa." How was that? Which means "my
21 house is your house."
22 (Laughter.)
23 SENATOR STAVISKY: To Ambassador
24 Paul Wen-Liang Chang, welcome.
25 I met the ambassador, he was only in
2888
1 New York a few days, during the Lunar New Year
2 celebration at Queens Crossing, I believe. He
3 and his wife had just arrived, if my memory is
4 correct, from Switzerland. And he has taken over
5 what has been a very active Taiwanese Economic
6 Development Council.
7 To the Venerable Chuan, I have
8 visited Buddha Light on many occasions,
9 particularly your social programs, your social
10 service programs, and they are a meaningful part
11 of the community.
12 And to Mr. Lee, Mr. Yu, who I've
13 known for a long time, and to our friends in the
14 gallery, welcome.
15 We hope that we can make you feel as
16 welcome as I felt when I visited Taiwan on a
17 number of occasions over the last eight or nine
18 years. As has been mentioned, the United States
19 has had a long relationship with the Republic of
20 China, going back 35 years to the signing of the
21 Taiwan Relations Act.
22 And that friendship has flourished
23 over the years, particularly in Queens County.
24 It's an economic friendship, it's a social,
25 philosophical, cultural heritage that we respect.
2889
1 I have toured factories in Taiwan and factories
2 in Flushing and felt very much at home in both
3 places.
4 A number of years ago the
5 Comptroller, Tom DiNapoli, issued a report
6 talking about how the economy was flourishing in
7 downtown Flushing, particularly as a result of
8 the contributions of the Asian-American
9 community, both the Korean-American community and
10 the Chinese-American community. And I'm proud to
11 represent probably most of the people in the
12 gallery and on the floor.
13 The community provides all kinds of
14 services, whether they be professional or
15 economic or social services. They have an active
16 community of people, from young children in our
17 schools -- we speak 160 languages in the local
18 schools in downtown Flushing -- to the senior
19 citizens' programs. And in fact I was at one of
20 them this past Friday night, the Nan Shan Senior
21 Center celebration.
22 And Reverend Díaz mentioned the help
23 during Superstorm Sandy. There was an occasion
24 where somebody from the Rockaways called me and
25 said, "Are there any hotels in downtown
2890
1 Flushing?" And the people at one of them opened
2 their doors for those looking for refuge, and
3 they could not have been nicer. And it's that
4 kind of hospitality during an emergency that you
5 just don't forget.
6 The food was mentioned. You'll
7 never go hungry in Flushing, never. There are
8 restaurants opening every day. And each one is
9 delicious. So I recommend to everybody, with all
10 due respect to my colleagues, downtown Flushing
11 has the best Chinese as well as other Asian
12 restaurants you can find anywhere.
13 I should also mention the
14 contributions that the Asian-American community
15 has made in government. And I am proud that
16 Flushing is represented by Congresswoman Grace
17 Meng, by Councilmember Peter Koo, who are of
18 Chinese ancestry, and Ron Kim, in the Assembly,
19 who is a Korean American.
20 So you have achieved a great deal in
21 Flushing, and yet the best is yet to come.
22 And to the Ambassador, we extend our
23 appreciation to President Ma and to the entire
24 Ministry of Foreign Affairs for everything you
25 have done, both as a government but also your
2891
1 representatives who are now American citizens.
2 We welcome you. We think that you
3 are doing a wonderful job. And we thank you for
4 all of your help, and we pledge our continued
5 support.
6 Thank you.
7 (Applause.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
9 Sanders.
10 SENATOR SANDERS: Mr. President, I
11 rise to do three things quickly, and I will try
12 to do them briefly.
13 The first, of course, is to thank
14 Senator Díaz for bringing so many communities
15 together. It is a blessed thing that he does to
16 find ways of bringing the different people of the
17 world together. And indeed, we have been honored
18 together to have all of the different communities
19 that have come here.
20 But I would be remiss if I did not,
21 in the second thing, thank the community for
22 aiding us in the time of Sandy. I come from the
23 communities that have been hit the hardest by
24 Superstorm Sandy, and we absolutely appreciate
25 your efforts and what you have done to make sure
2892
1 that our burden was not shouldered alone.
2 And lastly, sir, I would be remiss
3 if I did not speak and say how, when I was the
4 chair of economic development in the City Council
5 of New York, I had the pleasure of touring
6 Taiwan. And I was amazed at many things. I was
7 amazed not simply at the great food, which is
8 worth speaking about, not simply at the lights
9 and the color -- the lights that are so bright
10 that they can challenge New York. That if you
11 ever had the pleasure, you would think that you
12 were in New York City -- except it may have been
13 more colorful in some respects.
14 But what caught my attention the
15 most was the creativity and vitality of the
16 people. An island nation that with few resources
17 has managed to become one of the tigers of Asia,
18 one of the leading lights of the world. And that
19 speaks to not simply the resources of an area,
20 but it speaks to the resources of the people.
21 I also had the pleasure of having
22 some time to speak with now-President Ma, and you
23 must send him my greetings. I learned a lot from
24 him, and we enjoyed ourselves together. You must
25 tell him that I look forward when he is in
2893
1 New York City, that I will return the favor and
2 see if I can show what New Yorkers are known for:
3 New York hospitality.
4 I thank you very much.
5 (Applause.)
6 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
7 resolution was previously adopted on May 13th of
8 2014.
9 Senator Latimer to speak? Senator
10 Latimer.
11 SENATOR LATIMER: Thank you,
12 Mr. President.
13 (In Chinese): We congratulate you,
14 and we wish you safe passage home.
15 (In French): Je parle un peu, mais
16 je ne parle pas bien. (I speak a little, but I
17 don't speak well.)
18 Thank you, Mr. President.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Thank
20 you, Senator Latimer.
21 The resolution was previously
22 adopted and is open to everyone. Should you
23 choose not to be a cosponsor, please notify the
24 desk.
25 We welcome the members of the
2894
1 Taiwanese community. We greet the ambassador and
2 all of the leaders who are here. Thank you for
3 being here, and good luck.
4 (Applause.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
6 Libous.
7 SENATOR LIBOUS: Mr. President, as
8 I said before, we want to open that up. I think
9 Senator Díaz wants to open that up. So if
10 someone chooses not to go on, let the desk know.
11 And, Mr. President, last but not
12 least, Senator Diaz has Resolution 4926 at the
13 desk. Please have it read in its entirety and
14 call on the good Senator.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
16 Secretary will read.
17 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
18 Resolution Number 4926, by Senator Díaz,
19 commemorating the 110th anniversary of the
20 founding of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of
21 New York, Inc.
22 "WHEREAS, It is the sense of this
23 Legislative Body to recognize the achievements of
24 those organizations which substantially
25 contribute to the economic vitality of their
2895
1 communities and the entire Empire State; and
2 "WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern,
3 and in full accord with its long-standing
4 traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative
5 Body to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the
6 founding of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of
7 New York, Inc.; and
8 "WHEREAS, The Chinese Chamber of
9 Commerce of New York, Inc., was founded by a
10 group of public-minded Chinese businessmen in
11 1904, as a Trading Association registered with
12 the Chinese Imperial Government; and
13 "WHEREAS, In 1932, this esteemed
14 organization incorporated itself as the Chinese
15 Chamber of Commerce of New York; and
16 "WHEREAS, The Chamber reaches out
17 and serves the extensive and significant New York
18 City Chinese business community; its mission is
19 to promote and support the expansion and progress
20 of Chinese commercial pursuits; to encourage
21 international trade with the Far East and other
22 areas of the world; and to advise and assist the
23 members in solving problems relating to their
24 business; and
25 "WHEREAS, The Chinese Chamber of
2896
1 Commerce of New York works to develop cooperation
2 with financial institutions to provide low-cost
3 loans to the small businesses in the community;
4 collects and disseminates information and data on
5 business conditions both domestically and
6 internationally; continuously searches for
7 sources, commodities and supplies which benefit
8 the businesses of the community; and promotes and
9 sponsors a low-income senior citizen housing
10 development with the assistance of the
11 government; and
12 "WHEREAS, Since its inception, the
13 Chinese Chamber of Commerce of New York has
14 helped businesses and the community it serves to
15 prosper, always responding to the needs of its
16 area; and
17 "WHEREAS, A solid cornerstone of the
18 community, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of
19 New York will continue to evolve and to improve,
20 always seeking out new ways of helping its
21 members and community; and
22 "WHEREAS, It is with great pleasure
23 that this Legislative Body acknowledges this
24 exceptional organization and its contributions to
25 the local and state economies, fully confident
2897
1 that it will continue to enjoy the successes it
2 has experienced thus far; now, therefore, be it
3 "RESOLVED, That this Legislative
4 Body pause in its deliberations to commemorate
5 the 110th anniversary of the founding of the
6 Chinese Chamber of Commerce of New York, Inc.;
7 and be it further
8 "RESOLVED, That a copy of this
9 resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to
10 Mr. Justin Yu, Chair of the Chinese Chamber of
11 Commerce of New York, Inc."
12 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
13 Díaz.
14 SENATOR DIAZ: Thank you one more
15 time, Mr. President. And thank you,
16 Senator Libous, and thank you, fellow Senators.
17 I am honored today again to sponsor
18 this resolution commemorating the
19 110th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese
20 Chamber of Commerce of New York.
21 Here in the New York State Senate,
22 we often take time to recognize the achievements
23 of our constituents, to honor many heroes and
24 heroines who have gone above and beyond the call
25 of duty, and frequently to remember those who
2898
1 have gone before us.
2 For 110 years, this outstanding
3 organization has promoted Chinese business in
4 New York. And for 110 years this magnificent
5 organization that has encouraged trade and
6 provided much-needed technical assistance to its
7 members in New York.
8 Just think about that for a moment:
9 110 years in operation. That's an incredible
10 amount of time for any organization, especially a
11 service organization, to be in business. One
12 hundred ten years of assessing and helping its
13 minutes. One hundred ten years of striving toll
14 improve the community. One hundred ten years of
15 solving problems.
16 I am pleased that my dear friend
17 Mr. Justin Yu, the current chairman of the
18 Chinese Chamber of Commerce of New York, could
19 join us today, because for almost 20 years it has
20 been my honor, my privilege, my blessing to know
21 Justin Yu, my friend.
22 (Applause.)
23 SENATOR DIAZ: Mr. Justin Yu's
24 tireless efforts to unite our communities
25 continues to bring so many of us together.
2899
1 Although his term as president of the Chinese
2 Consolidated Benevolent Association has expired,
3 I will always refer to him -- Mr. Yu, I will
4 always refer to you and call you the Mayor of
5 Chinatown. Because that's what you are, the
6 Mayor of Chinatown.
7 (Applause from audience.)
8 SENATOR DIAZ: I am sure that all
9 who are gathered here and know Mr. Justin Yu will
10 agree with me that he is one of New York's most
11 respected community leaders.
12 And also, Mr. President and ladies
13 and gentlemen, as we recognize the past 110 years
14 of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of New York,
15 let us wish them well for the next 110 years.
16 May the Lord bless you again.
17 Once again, I am inviting you to
18 join me and Ambassador Paul Wen-Liang Chang for a
19 reception at 5 p.m. to watch a presentation of
20 Chinese dance, to eat delicious Chinese food, and
21 to see a stunning photo exhibit.
22 Thank you very much, ladies and
23 gentlemen.
24 And Mr. President, this is an honor
25 that this black guy from Bayamón, Puerto Rico,
2900
1 with kinky hair, that God has given to him today.
2 And I'm very pleased, very blessed, very honored,
3 very happy, very satisfied.
4 (Laughter; applause.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
6 Squadron.
7 SENATOR SQUADRON: Thank you very
8 much, Mr. President.
9 And thank you, Senator Díaz, so much
10 for recognizing this community every year,
11 recognizing this organization, for both of the
12 resolutions before us today, the first and this
13 one.
14 I would say, however, Senator Díaz,
15 that all that you say about the Chinese Chamber
16 of Commerce is true, all that you say about
17 Chairman Justin Yu is true. You left out one key
18 fact, which is that Justin is my constituent.
19 And the Chinese Chamber of Commerce is based in
20 my district in Lower Manhattan.
21 But of course it's appropriate that
22 Senator Díaz spoke with such pride both about
23 Justin Yu and about the Chinese Chamber of
24 Commerce, because the influence of this
25 individual and this organization go well beyond
2901
1 New York's, Manhattan's Chinatown, which really
2 is the historic cultural center of the
3 Chinese-American community certainly on the
4 East Coast in this country.
5 But today, as Senator Stavisky said,
6 as Senator Díaz said, as Senator Sanders said,
7 the community extends far beyond any single
8 neighborhood. It is now a community that is
9 deeply part of the entire City of New York, the
10 entire State of New York, and we are all better
11 for it.
12 The culture, the community, the
13 entrepreneurship that the Chinese Chamber of
14 Commerce supports and furthers is so important to
15 who we are as we change. We know that the
16 community is growing enormously. We know that in
17 New York City public schools, Asian Americans
18 make up one out of six students. We know that in
19 the small-business community, Asian Americans are
20 an important and growing presence.
21 But we also know that in the
22 schools, language barriers and cultural barriers,
23 including the Lunar New Year school holiday, are
24 too often not recognized. We know that when it
25 comes to entrepreneurship and starting
2902
1 businesses, language barriers and the challenges
2 of starting up in a community where often there
3 isn't a great deal of capital or a great network
4 that already exists of successful business owners
5 creates challenges that are too often ignored by
6 our government at the city and the state level.
7 And so the work of the Chinese
8 Chamber of Commerce is to create partnerships,
9 within my community in Lower Manhattan and across
10 the state, to make sure that those who are here
11 and doing what we want everyone to do -- work
12 hard, be creative, try to do for more the next
13 generation than they were able to have for
14 themselves -- have the kind of strength that is
15 often, especially in immigrant communities, so
16 hard to come by.
17 And so to Justin Yu and the entire
18 Chinese Chamber of Commerce, first of all, thank
19 you for continuing to stay focused within our
20 community, on the streets and the blocks, from
21 200 trees to thousands of small businesses. And
22 thank you for the work that you do well beyond
23 that. Because it really is your leadership and
24 organizations like yours, the partnership that we
25 have with the Republic of China, that together
2903
1 have let this community grow.
2 And, you know, it's no accident that
3 we have a full gallery today, that we have a real
4 period of time to discuss and focus on this
5 issue. And the reason for that is this a
6 community that can no longer be ignored. It can
7 no longer be drowned out in the political
8 process.
9 And that is of such great
10 importance. And for that I thank all of you
11 being honored today. I thank Senator Díaz for
12 ensuring that we take time to acknowledge that
13 every year on this floor. And I look forward to
14 some of the best food this town will have to
15 offer come 5 o'clock this afternoon.
16 Thank you, Mr. President.
17 (Applause.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
19 Stavisky.
20 SENATOR STAVISKY: Again, I thank
21 my colleague Senator Díaz and congratulate my
22 friend Justin Yu. We've known each other
23 since -- almost since the time I was first
24 elected.
25 I do agree that Chinatown is the
2904
1 starting point, the epicenter for the
2 Chinese-American community. But earlier I tried
3 to discuss how much the Chinese-American
4 community has achieved what we like to call the
5 American dream. And we've done it because of
6 organizations such as the Chinese American
7 Chamber of Commerce. We've done it because we
8 are a community that works together.
9 And that is an extremely important
10 issue. We work together -- the government
11 officials, the business community, the religious
12 community, the social community. And again, we
13 do thank the Chinese American Chamber of Commerce
14 for being the linchpin for this cohesiveness that
15 represents the Asian-American community,
16 particularly the Chinese-American community.
17 And I'm glad my colleague
18 Senator Sanders spoke about his visit to Taiwan,
19 because I have been to Taiwan from Taipei to
20 Kaohsiung, and everywhere in between. I was
21 impressed not only by the industrial strength but
22 quite frankly, more importantly, by the people.
23 And it's the people that make the country.
24 And we again welcome you to Albany
25 and congratulate you on 110 years of service to
2905
1 the community.
2 Thank you.
3 (Applause.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
5 resolution was previously adopted on May 13th of
6 2014.
7 Again, we congratulate the Chinese
8 Chamber of Commerce of New York on the
9 celebration of its 110th anniversary.
10 Senator Libous.
11 SENATOR LIBOUS: Mr. President,
12 Senator Díaz would also like to open that
13 resolution up for cosponsorship by the full
14 house. So if anybody chooses not to go on, let
15 the desk know.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
17 resolution is open to the full house for
18 cosponsorship. If you choose not to be a
19 cosponsor, please indicate at the desk.
20 Congratulations, and thank you all
21 for being here.
22 (Applause.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
24 Libous.
25 SENATOR LIBOUS: Mr. President, at
2906
1 this time could you call on Senator Jack Martins
2 for the purposes of recognition, please.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
4 Martins.
5 SENATOR MARTINS: Thank you,
6 Mr. President.
7 My colleagues, you've heard me from
8 time to time talk about my background and my
9 heritage. My parents emigrated from Portugal in
10 the 1960s from a small rural village called
11 Alheira, which is a very tiny village in northern
12 Portugal.
13 So I have the opportunity today,
14 Mr. President, to recognize and welcome to the
15 chamber friends, colleagues, and representatives
16 from a very small rural village in northern
17 Portugal who have come to visit with us today.
18 For many this is the first time they've been to
19 the United States and to New York, and certainly
20 for all it's the first time they've been able to
21 join with us in the New York State Senate as we
22 take the opportunity to recognize them as they
23 came to visit with me to see one of their own
24 sitting in the well of the New York State Senate
25 and having an opportunity to address them as
2907
1 well.
2 So my dear colleagues, allow me the
3 opportunity to present João Rodrigues Martins,
4 who is the former mayor of the Village of
5 Alheira, as well as members João Antonio Portela
6 Martins, Antonio Portela Pereira, Antonio
7 Benedito Lopes Pereira, João Fernandes, Joaquim
8 Pereira, Luis Nogueira de Sousa, José Goncalves,
9 João Duarte Fernandes, Antonio Mendes, as well as
10 John C. Macedo and my own father, Antonio
11 Martins, who are joining us today.
12 To all (in Portuguese).
13 Mr. President, thank you.
14 (Applause.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: We
16 welcome our visitors from Portugal today, with a
17 very special welcome to Mr. Martins.
18 Thank you for being with us. We
19 extend the courtesies of the house to you and
20 wish you very well.
21 Senator Libous.
22 SENATOR LIBOUS: Mr. President, I
23 don't know what Senator Martins was saying there
24 at the end, but they were all smiling, so it had
25 to be good.
2908
1 (Laughter.)
2 SENATOR LIBOUS: Thank you,
3 Mr. President. At this time could we please take
4 up the reading of the noncontroversial calendar.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
6 Secretary will read.
7 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
8 126, by Member of the Assembly Weisenberg,
9 Assembly Print Number 8639, an act to amend the
10 Real Property Tax Law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
12 last section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
14 act shall take effect immediately.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
16 roll.
17 (The Secretary called the roll.)
18 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58. Nays, 1.
19 Senator Krueger recorded in the negative.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
21 is passed.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23 127, by Assemblymember Weisenberg, Assembly Print
24 8646, an act to amend the Real Property Tax Law.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
2909
1 last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
3 act shall take effect immediately.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
5 roll.
6 (The Secretary called the roll.)
7 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58. Nays, 1.
8 Senator Krueger recorded in the negative.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
10 is passed.
11 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
12 163, by Senator Ball, Senate Print 2560A, an act
13 to amend the Agriculture and Markets Law.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
15 last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
17 act shall take effect immediately.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
19 roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58. Nays, 1.
22 Senator Montgomery recorded --
23 SENATOR MONTGOMERY: Mr. President,
24 what bill are we on?
25 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
2910
1 Montgomery, we are on Calendar Number 163, Bill
2 Number 2560A, by Senator Ball.
3 Announce the results.
4 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58. Nays, 1.
5 Senator Montgomery recorded in the negative.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
7 is passed.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 165, by Senator Ball, Senate Print 2649A, an act
10 to amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
12 last section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
14 act shall take effect immediately.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
16 roll.
17 (The Secretary called the roll.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
19 Krueger to explain her vote.
20 SENATOR KRUEGER: Thank you,
21 Mr. President.
22 Just to clarify, while I certainly
23 support outlawing and having civil penalties for
24 the possession of endangered species, the dilemma
25 with this bill is this law already exists on our
2911
1 books.
2 Apparently in a previous form, this
3 bill included chimpanzees, which were not covered
4 under existing state law. Chimpanzee protection
5 has been removed from this bill, so it does not
6 protect chimpanzees, which I would like to vote
7 for. And it simply reaffirms existing law, hence
8 will have no real impact.
9 So I hope we can get the right bill
10 on the floor sometime soon. I'll be voting no.
11 Thank you.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
13 Krueger to be recorded in the negative.
14 Announce the results.
15 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
16 Calendar 165, those recorded in the negative are
17 Senators Hoylman, Krueger, Perkins and Squadron.
18 Ayes, 55. Nays, 4.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
20 is passed.
21 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
22 183, by Senator Maziarz, Senate Print 4494B, an
23 act to amend the General Business Law.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
25 last section.
2912
1 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
2 act shall take effect immediately.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
4 roll.
5 (The Secretary called the roll.)
6 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58. Nays, 1.
7 Senator Krueger recorded in the negative.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 279, by Assemblymember Nolan, Assembly Print 121,
12 an act to amend the Education Law.
13 SENATOR LIBOUS: Lay it aside for
14 the day.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
16 is laid aside for the day.
17 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
18 305, by Senator Seward, Senate Print 6376, an act
19 to amend the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
21 last section.
22 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
23 act shall take effect immediately.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
25 roll.
2913
1 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58. Nays, 1.
3 Senator Díaz recorded in the negative.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
5 is passed.
6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
7 307, by Senator Marcellino, Senate Print 1486A,
8 an act to amend the Education Law.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
10 last section.
11 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
12 act shall take effect immediately.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
14 roll.
15 (The Secretary called the roll.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Can I
17 have some order in the house, please.
18 Announce the results.
19 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 56. Nays, 3.
20 Senators Ball, Gipson and Kennedy recorded in the
21 negative.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
23 is passed.
24 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
25 333, by Senator Ranzenhofer, Senate Print 6718A,
2914
1 an act to amend Chapter 154 of the Laws of 1921.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
3 last section.
4 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
5 act shall take effect upon the enactment into law
6 by the State of New Jersey.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
8 roll.
9 (The Secretary called the roll.)
10 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
12 Hoylman, do you want to explain your vote?
13 Senator Hoylman to explain his vote.
14 SENATOR HOYLMAN: Thank you,
15 Mr. President. I wanted to thank the sponsor of
16 this bill, of which I'm a cosponsor.
17 You know, the Port Authority is
18 almost entirely run on public money, but it's been
19 able to shield itself from public scrutiny since
20 its inception in 1921. Most Americans didn't
21 even hear about the Port Authority until that
22 infamous phrase "It's time for some traffic
23 problems in Fort Lee" was uttered.
24 At $8.2 billion, it has a larger
25 budget than 11 states. And I commend this body
2915
1 for passing legislation that will make certain
2 that this authority has the same public scrutiny
3 as every other state authority and agency.
4 And hopefully, Mr. President, with
5 this legislation, should it be signed by the
6 Governor, we can prevent the next Bridgegate. I
7 vote aye.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
9 Hoylman to be recorded in the affirmative.
10 Announce the results.
11 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
13 is passed.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
15 352, by Senator Robach, Senate Print 6841B, an
16 act to amend the Highway Law.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
18 last section.
19 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
20 act shall take effect immediately.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
22 roll.
23 (The Secretary called the roll.)
24 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
2916
1 is passed.
2 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3 361, by Senator Lanza, Senate Print 3965, an act
4 to amend the Penal Law.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
6 last section.
7 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
8 act shall take effect on the 30th day.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
10 roll.
11 (The Secretary called the roll.)
12 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
13 DeFrancisco to explain his vote.
14 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: I have great
15 respect for the New York City Housing Authority
16 employees. But this is one of never-ending bills
17 that finds a specific victim and elevates the
18 crime of assault third degree to assault in the
19 second degree.
20 We're almost there. By the time I
21 retire, we will be there where we will have every
22 occupation known to people in the State of
23 New York that will be a special victim to have an
24 assault in the second degree statute.
25 So I'm going to vote no.
2917
1 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
2 DeFrancisco to be recorded in the negative.
3 Announce the results.
4 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
5 Calendar 361, those recorded in the negative are
6 Senators DeFrancisco, Hassell-Thompson,
7 Montgomery and Perkins.
8 Ayes, 55. Nays, 4.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
10 is passed.
11 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
12 421, by Senator DeFrancisco, Senate Print 6482,
13 an act to amend the State Finance Law.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
15 last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
17 act shall take effect immediately.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
19 roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
23 is passed.
24 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
25 440, by Senator Flanagan, Senate Print 6854A, an
2918
1 act authorizing.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
3 last section.
4 THE SECRETARY: Section 11. This
5 act shall take effect immediately.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
7 roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
11 is passed.
12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
13 469, by Senator Savino, Senate Print 3677A, an
14 act to amend the Penal Law.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
16 last section.
17 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
18 act shall take effect on the 180th day.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
20 roll.
21 (The Secretary called the roll.)
22 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
24 is passed.
25 Can I have some order in the
2919
1 chamber, please. It's just getting a little
2 noisy in here.
3 The Secretary will continue to read.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 471, substituted earlier by Member of the
6 Assembly Peoples-Stokes, Assembly Print 7720B, an
7 act to amend the Penal Law.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
9 last section.
10 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
11 act shall take effect on the 90th day.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
13 roll.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
16 Kennedy to explain his vote.
17 SENATOR KENNEDY: Thank you,
18 Mr. President.
19 First of all, let me thank my
20 colleagues for voting in favor of this extremely
21 important piece of legislation today. I want to
22 thank the Assembly sponsor of this legislation,
23 Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes.
24 Sadly, this bill has tragic origins.
25 It was prompted by the murder of a young woman,
2920
1 Jackie Wisniewski, who suffered severe domestic
2 abuse prior to her death out in Western New York,
3 a very high-profile case, back in June of 2012.
4 The day Jackie's life was taken from
5 her was an unspeakably sad day for her family,
6 her friends, and our entire community. Domestic
7 violence has affected so many of us, and it's
8 unfortunate and tragic that it takes
9 circumstances like this to pass new laws to
10 prevent domestic abuse.
11 In 2012, more than 6300 Erie County
12 residents became victims of domestic violence,
13 the majority of which were women. We need to do
14 more to combat this growing problem.
15 Prior to her murder, Jackie found a
16 GPS tracking device that had been installed on
17 her car to monitor her whereabouts. Timothy
18 Jorden, who stalked, abused and ultimately killed
19 Jackie, had installed the tracking device without
20 her knowledge in order to track her location and
21 movement at all times.
22 Three months prior to her murder,
23 Jackie found this tracking device and notified
24 the police. When she decided, because she was
25 scared for her own life, not to press charges,
2921
1 the police hands were tied because the law had a
2 gap in it that didn't allow them to unilaterally
3 press charges. Today we close the gap in that
4 law.
5 The law will help us to keep pace
6 with technology. In 2006 there were nearly
7 100,000 stalking cases that involved the use of
8 GPS tracking devices. And since 2006, technology
9 has proliferated, as we all know. It's grown in
10 use and accessibility; it's become more prevalent
11 for technology to be used in these stalking
12 cases. The U.S. Department of Justice reported
13 that one in four cases of stalking involves some
14 sort of technology, and one in 13 cases involves
15 electronic monitoring or GPS tracking.
16 Currently, there's no state law that
17 outlaws the use of GPS or other electronic
18 tracking devices in domestic violence or stalking
19 cases, and this legislation changes that. Once
20 we sign this into law, the bill is going to make
21 it punishable to install a GPS tracking device
22 with the intent of stalking or following the
23 movement of another individual. It will help
24 ensure violent abusers stop using technology to
25 destroy the lives of their victims.
2922
1 GPS stalking was an unfortunate part
2 of Jackie's story, and this legislation may have
3 helped her. It will empower police agencies and
4 prosecutors to intervene in domestic violence
5 cases before it's too late. It's urgent that we
6 fully enact this important new protection for
7 survivors of domestic violence, and it will help
8 to prevent GPS stalking and hopefully save lives.
9 It's with heavy hearts today that we
10 mark the passage of this important legislation.
11 We send our thoughts and our prayers with the
12 Wisniewski family, and we thank them for their
13 advocacy to make this day a reality.
14 Thank you, Mr. President. I vote
15 aye.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
17 Kennedy to be recorded in the affirmative.
18 Announce the results.
19 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
21 is passed.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23 482, by Senator Parker, Senate Print 1353, an act
24 to amend the Correction Law.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
2923
1 last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
3 act shall take effect on the 120th day.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
5 roll.
6 (The Secretary called the roll.)
7 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 502, by Senator Ball, Senate Print 2566, an act
12 to amend the Agriculture and Markets Law.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
14 last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
16 act shall take effect on the 30th day.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
18 roll.
19 (The Secretary called the roll.)
20 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 57. Nays, 2.
21 Senators Montgomery and Perkins recorded in the
22 negative.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
24 is passed.
25 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
2924
1 522, by Member of the Assembly Buchwald, Assembly
2 Print 9055, an act to amend the Surrogate's Court
3 Procedure Act.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
5 last section.
6 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
7 act shall take effect immediately.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
9 roll.
10 (The Secretary called the roll.)
11 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
13 is passed.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
15 536, by Senator Marcellino, Senate Print 3854A,
16 an act to amend the Tax Law.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
18 last section.
19 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
20 act shall take effect on April 1, 2015.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
22 roll.
23 (The Secretary called the roll.)
24 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
2925
1 is passed.
2 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3 557, by Member of the Assembly Schimminger,
4 Assembly Print Number 4611B, an act to amend the
5 Public Health Law.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
7 Secretary will read the last section.
8 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
9 act shall take effect immediately.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
11 roll.
12 (The Secretary called the roll.)
13 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
15 is passed.
16 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
17 574, by Senator Bonacic, Senate Print 2040A, an
18 act to amend the Penal Law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
20 last section.
21 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
22 act shall take effect immediately.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
24 roll.
25 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2926
1 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
2 Squadron to explain his vote.
3 SENATOR SQUADRON: Thank you,
4 Mr. President.
5 This is one of a number of bills
6 that seem to come through this house that create
7 felony spitting. And there's a lot of concerns
8 about felony spitting. In fact, we successfully
9 strengthened a very similar law in a bipartisan,
10 bicameral way just recently, in order to protect
11 correctional facilities and facilities and those
12 men and women who help to keep them safe.
13 This bill, though, to be very clear,
14 would create a felony out of spitting. It could
15 even create a felony out of inadvertent spitting
16 if you were also purposefully annoyed. I don't
17 believe that is good policy or appropriate, and I
18 believe that's why again and again we see these
19 bills, but again and again they don't become law.
20 I think felony spitting is certainly
21 annoying, but I'm not sure it is in fact or
22 should be a felony.
23 I'll vote no, Mr. President.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
25 Squadron to be recorded in the negative.
2927
1 Senator Bonacic to explain his vote.
2 SENATOR BONACIC: Thank you,
3 Mr. President.
4 Last year we made it a crime for an
5 inmate to cause blood, seminal fluid, urine,
6 feces or the contents of a toilet bowel to come
7 into contact with a correction officer. And what
8 we didn't include was spitting.
9 And we've been advised by the
10 Centers for Disease Control that saliva can cause
11 transmissions of numerous communicable diseases,
12 including but not limited to hand, foot and mouth
13 disease, mumps, meningitis -- bacterial or
14 viral -- and mononucleosis.
15 Now, the spitting has to be
16 intentional. If it's accidental, then there is
17 no crime committed here.
18 This is supported by PEF. It's
19 really for the protection of fellow inmates and
20 for correction officers. I vote yes.
21 Thank you, Mr. President.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
23 Bonacic to be recorded in the affirmative.
24 Announce the results.
25 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
2928
1 Calendar 574, those recorded in the negative are
2 Senators Hoylman, Krueger, Montgomery, Perkins
3 and Squadron.
4 Ayes, 54. Nays, 5.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
6 is passed.
7 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
8 597, by Member of the Assembly Robinson, Assembly
9 Print Number 9037A, act to amend the Banking Law.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
11 last section.
12 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
13 act shall take effect immediately.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
15 roll.
16 (The Secretary called the roll.)
17 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
19 is passed.
20 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
21 604, by Senator Squadron, Senate Print 4878A, an
22 act to amend the New York State Urban Development
23 Corporation Act.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
25 last section.
2929
1 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
2 act shall take effect immediately.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
4 roll.
5 (The Secretary called the roll.)
6 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
8 is passed.
9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
10 614, by Senator Bonacic, Senate Print 7019, an
11 act to amend Chapter 473 of the Laws of 2010.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
13 last section.
14 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
15 act shall take effect immediately.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
17 Secretary will call the roll.
18 (The Secretary called the roll.)
19 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
21 is passed.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23 672, by Senator Felder, Senate Print 7210, an act
24 to amend the Family Court Act.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
2930
1 last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
3 act shall take effect immediately.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
5 roll.
6 (The Secretary called the roll.)
7 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 690, by Senator LaValle, Senate Print 781, an act
12 to amend the Education Law.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
14 last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
16 act shall take effect immediately.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
18 roll.
19 (The Secretary called the roll.)
20 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
22 is passed.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24 716, by Senator Carlucci, Senate Print 1980B, an
25 act to amend the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.
2931
1 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
2 Secretary will read the last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 6. This
4 act shall take effect on the first of January.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
6 roll.
7 (The Secretary called the roll.)
8 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58. Nays, 1.
9 Senator Díaz recorded in the negative.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
11 is passed.
12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
13 719, by Senator Ball, Senate Print 2306, an act
14 to amend the Executive Law.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
16 last section.
17 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
18 act shall take effect immediately.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
20 roll.
21 (The Secretary called the roll.)
22 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58. Nays, 1.
23 Senator Montgomery recorded in the negative.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
25 is passed.
2932
1 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
2 722, by Senator Savino, Senate Print 3682, an act
3 to amend the Tax Law.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
5 last section.
6 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
7 act shall take effect immediately.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
9 roll.
10 (The Secretary called the roll.)
11 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 57. Nays, 2.
12 Senators Krueger and LaValle recorded in the
13 negative.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
15 is passed.
16 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
17 730, substituted earlier by Member of the
18 Assembly Pretlow, Assembly Print 8698, an act to
19 amend the Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and
20 Breeding Law.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
22 last section.
23 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
24 act shall take effect immediately.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
2933
1 roll.
2 (The Secretary called the roll.)
3 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58. Nays, 1.
4 Senator Díaz recorded in the negative.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
6 is passed.
7 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
8 746, by Senator Griffo, Senate Print 7017, an act
9 making certain findings.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: There is
11 a home-rule message at the desk.
12 The Secretary will read the last
13 section.
14 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
15 act shall take effect immediately.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
17 roll.
18 (The Secretary called the roll.)
19 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58. Nays, 1.
20 Senator Ball recorded in the negative.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
22 is passed.
23 Senator Libous, that completes the
24 noncontroversial reading of our calendar today.
25 SENATOR LIBOUS: Thank you,
2934
1 Mr. President.
2 Can we go back to motions, please.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: We will
4 return to motions.
5 SENATOR LIBOUS: On behalf of
6 Senator Maziarz, on page 58, Mr. President, I
7 offer the following amendments to Calendar Number
8 774, Senate Print 7099, and ask that said bill
9 retain its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
11 amendments are received, and the bill shall
12 retain its place on third reading.
13 Senator Libous.
14 SENATOR LIBOUS: On behalf of
15 Senator Robach, I wish to call up his bill,
16 Senate Print 6635, recalled from the Assembly,
17 which is now at the desk.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
19 Secretary will read.
20 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
21 230, by Senator Robach, Senate Print 6635, an act
22 to authorize.
23 SENATOR LIBOUS: Mr. President, I
24 now move to reconsider the vote by which this
25 bill was passed.
2935
1 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
2 roll on reconsideration.
3 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
5 SENATOR LIBOUS: Mr. President, I
6 now offer the following amendments.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
8 amendments are received.
9 Senator Libous.
10 SENATOR LIBOUS: Mr. President,
11 could you call on Senator Serrano at this time,
12 please, for purposes of an announcement.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
14 Serrano.
15 SENATOR SERRANO: Thank you. There
16 will be an immediate meeting of the Senate
17 Democratic Conference in Room 315.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: There
19 will be an immediate meeting of the Senate
20 Democratic Conference in Room 315.
21 Senator Libous.
22 SENATOR LIBOUS: Mr. President,
23 thank you.
24 And is there any further business at
25 the desk?
2936
1 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: There is
2 no further business before the desk.
3 SENATOR LIBOUS: There being no
4 further business, I move that we adjourn until
5 Thursday, May 29th, at 11:00 a.m.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: On
7 motion, the Senate stands adjourned until
8 Thursday, May 29th, at 11:00 a.m.
9 Senate adjourned.
10 (Whereupon, at 4:42 p.m., the Senate
11 adjourned.)
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