State Senator John A. DeFrancisco participated in the hearing titled, "Fiscally Distressed Municipalities: Preparing for and Preventing Municipal Bankruptcy in New York," which was held by Senator Jack M. Martins of Mineola.  The hearing took place at Syracuse City Hall on August 20, 2013, and was held to hear potential solutions for preventing fiscal problems in municipalities.  The hearing in Syracuse was one of several that are being held throughout the state.