Senator Gallivan's Votes for the Week of May 19, 2025

The following bills were approved in the NYS Senate.  Senator Gallivan's vote is noted.

S518 Requires the inclusion of diversity and inclusion training in the basic training and pre-employment course curricula for state police officers and municipal police officers and sheriffs, members of fire departments and companies, corrections officers, first responders, emergency medical technicians and advanced emergency medical technicians. NAY (Standards should be set by MPTC.)

S1055 Prohibits the division of criminal justice services from disclosing pending orders of adjournment in contemplation of dismissal on civil records of arrests and prosecutions.  NAY

S700 This bill creates exemptions to the license suspension law for taxpayers who are 1) on public assistance, or 2) a taxpayer whose income does not exceed 250 percent of the poverty level (from $31,225 1 person in household to $108,535 - 8 people in household.) Additionally, this bill would add an inflation factor to the $10,000 in tax liens required to trigger the possible suspension of a taxpayers drivers license. The $10,000 figure would be increased for inflation every year. NAY (Disparate impact.)

S1892B Authorizes accompanying staff of members of certain state officials to visit all local correctional facilities. Certain county and city officials and their accompany staff would be authorized to visit local correctional facilities within their jurisdiction. NAY (No provision for safety concerns.)

S4926 This bill would amend the Workers' Compensation Law section 13 (5) (i) related to reimbursement for pharmaceutical claims. Current law requires claimants to obtain all prescribed medicines from a pharmacy with whom the employer has a contract ("network pharmacy") unless there is a medical emergency. This bill would amend current law to only "encourage" employees to obtain their prescription drugs through the contracted pharmacy.  AYE

S4757 Amends the executive law by adding a new section, which codifies the Operation SNUG program. SNUG program provides grant awards to reduce, prevent, or respond to gun violence. Also outlines a sub-schedule, allocating a total of 15 million throughout New York State. AYE

S5149 This bill would require the state agency, with or without request made by the unsuccessful offeror, will submit, in writing by mail and electronic mail, to the unsuccessful offeror, the same analysis that would be afforded to the offeror should they have participated in the debriefing within 60 days from the date the agency determined that the offer was unsuccessful. AYE

S1467 Requires the office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to establish standards for the closing of segments of trails on the Empire state trail, and provide notice of such closings to the public. AYE

S1788 Extends eligibility for real property tax exemptions to veterans who served on a submarine or on classified missions during a period of war as documented by military service records.  AYE

S405 Amends the tax law to expand the scope of the term "qualified historic home" to include residences within "qualifying census tracts" located in the City of New York and subject to the Homeowner Tax Credit.  AYE

S1211 Enacts the "New York open water data act"; directs certain agencies, under the leadership of conveners, to identify and integrate key water data sets; provides duties and an annual plan for data to be researched and reported. AYE

S6281 Directs that moneys in the veterans' home services fund shall be payable on vouchers certified by the commissioner of veterans' services; directs a report to be submitted by such commissioner; directs that moneys in the military family relief fund shall be payable on vouchers certified by the commissioner of veterans' services. AYE

S7551 Establishes the bottle redemption fraud task force to provide the governor and the legislature with information on the fraud, enforcement, and reporting requirements related to the New York state returnable container act. AYE

S4200 This bill would add net costs, defined as the estimated cost of attending a college after grants but before loans, and loan repayment options to the list of descriptors that must be included in a standard financial aid award letter.  AYE

S1814 Replaces the words addict or addicts with the words person with substance use disorder or a variation thereof. AYE

S627 Amends education law to prohibit Gubernatorial or Mayoral appointees from serving as trustees to the State or City University system. Restricts paid employees serving at the pleasure of the Governor, in the cases of the SUNY and CUNY boards, and/or the Mayor, in the case of the CUNY Board, from serving as a trustee. AYE

S1336 This bill would create a program to expand internet access to underserved populations, including low income households, seniors, veterans, minorities, and rural populations. AYE

S4945 This bill would amend article 9 of the Public Authorities Law related to reporting requirements to require certain reports of public authorities be open for public inspection via the public authorities reporting information system. AYE

S6018 Authorizes and directs the New York state power authority to rename the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant located in the town of Lewiston, county of Niagara, to the Shirley J. Hamilton Niagara Power Plant. NAY (Unnecessary.)

S550 Requires a caller making a report of suspected child abuse or maltreatment to the central registry to leave their name and contact information; prohibits the office of children and family services from releasing information identifying a person who made such a report. AYE

S3294 This bill would make a number of changes to the Cannabis Law related to the medical use of cannabis, including establishing medical cannabis patient reciprocity with other states and repealing the Controlled Substances Therapeutic Research Act from the Public Health Law (transferring such records, documents and papers to the office of cannabis management and the state archives). NAY

S4969 This bill would require hospitals to develop and disseminate information and procedures to identify, assess, treat and refer cases of firearm violence, as well as establish ongoing training for personnel and designate staff to connect psychiatric services to the victim and coordinate such services. NAY (Service is already provided now. Should not be mandated unless NYS reimburses the hospital systems.)

S2355 Amends the Public Service law to preclude a pole owner from requiring of broadband internet providers a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) from the NYS Public Service Commission in order to attach to said pole.  AYE

May 20

S1226 This bill establishes the local input in community healthcare act. The bill includes provisions requiring written notification of a proposed closure of a general hospital or unit (a portion of a general hospital that offers emergency, maternity and mental health or substance use services or other hospital or health-related service of a hospital, if proposed closure would result in reduction or unavailability of services in the hospital’s service area or county where it is located) of a general hospital must be provided no later than 270 days prior to the proposed closure to the Department of Health (DOH) and the following parties: health care providers, labor unions, local, state and federal legislative representatives, the attorney general, the county executive, mayor, town supervisor and in NYC the borough president and community board for the district in which the hospital or unit is located. NAY (Hospital administrators argue that public disclosure of a proposed closure goes too far in advance will hamper efforts to retain the existing workforce and does not provide flexibility for rapidly changing or unforeseen circumstances.)

S660 Ensure one's pre-arraignment detention does not exceed 24 hours without individualized explanations for why such a delay in release was unavoidable and actually necessary. It also requires cities with a population of over 1 million to establish and maintain a detained persons registry for authorized users. NAY

S1194B Requires gas and electric corporations to provide forty-five days' notice to customers whenever there is a service rate or charge increase. A PRINT - reduces the notice from 60 to 45 days. AYE

S371 Creates a wholesale prescription drug importation program which complies with federal standards and regulations for the purpose of generating substantial savings for consumers.  NAY

S6975 This bill amends CPLR Þ902, which governs orders allowing class actions, to provide that a court shall not deny the certification of a class solely because the action involves government operations. AYE

S1099 Enacts the "freedom to read act"; requires the commissioner of education and school library systems to develop policies to ensure that school libraries and library staff are empowered to curate and develop collections that provide students with access to the widest array of developmentally appropriate materials available. NAY (Removes local control. Parental control.)

S1100 Ensures that staff in libraries are able to curate collections, services, and programming that reflect the interests of all people of the community that the library serves. NAY (Removes local control.)

S274A Establishes the "Vets to Vollies" program which encourages veterans or discharged military personnel to join their local fire department and emergency medical service agency. AYE

S355A This bill provides that an individual may be enrolled in any public or private drug plan that CMS has determined is as generous as or more generous than the standard coverage under the Medicare Part D drug prescription benefit and qualify for the EPIC Program. AYE (Will help low-income individuals who have prescription coverage other than Medicare Part D to participate in the EPIC program.)

S1618 Establishes the New York Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act that would require NYS DOH to enter into partnerships in consultation with appropriate State agencies and other any other State’s DOH to increase competition, lower prices and address shortages in the market for generic prescription drugs, to reduce the cost of prescription drugs for public and private purchasers, taxpayers, and consumers and to increase patient access to affordable drugs. NAY (Permitting the State of New York to enter the prescription drug market by establishing such partnerships would create a new bureaucracy with additional yearly costs to taxpayers with no discernible benefit to consumers at this time.)

S3203 This bill establishes a new title to Article 2-A of the public health law regarding preserving access to affordable drugs.  NAY (This bill essentially displaces the FTCs role in policing patent settlement agreements.)

S3590 This bill creates the Climate Resilient New York Act. This would establish the Office of Climate Resiliency. The office would be charged with coordinating the resilience task force and providing strategic direction for climate resilience initiatives. AYE

S4950 Requires that services at addiction treatment centers operated by the office of addiction services and supports shall not be refused at such centers if a person is unable to pay. AYE

S5812 Precludes health insurers providing coverage under the Child Health Plus (CHP) program from limiting or preventing health care services under CHP due to a health care provider’s lack of participation in said health insurers’ network. NAY (Allowing providers to choose to participate in some but not all products would significantly increase administrative costs for all insurance products, including CHP. 4)

S1192 This bill would create a program for veterans and active duty service members who commit crimes as a result of PTSD, traumatic brain injuries or other illness or injures, where such illness or injuries resulted from their military service.  AYE

S7646 GOVERNORS PROGRAM BILL - Division of State Police pay bill for period covering April 1, 2023 through March 31, 2026. AYE

S610 This bill allows for not-for-profit schools to have an expedited approval process for new curriculum or programs of study, provided that they do not require a master plan amendment or lead to professional licensure. AYE

S6017 Amends state urban development corporation act to allow for loans, loan guarantees, interest subsidies and grants to be given to various entities in order to expand or build grocery stores and supermarkets in underserved areas. Defines qualifying entities for benefits and underserved areas. AYE

S856 Changes the makeup of the Commission on Correction to require that 9 persons (currently 3 members) be appointed and of that, 3 be appointed by the Governor, 2 by the Speaker (one formerly incarcerated and one with a professional background in public health), 2 by the Senate temporary president (one with a professional background in behavioral health and one being an attorney with experience in indigent criminal defense services or prisoner rights litigation) and 2 by the correctional association. NAY

S5142 This bill would exempt the income earned by election inspectors, poll clerks, or election coordinators from Federal adjusted gross income (AGI) for State income tax. AYE

S682 Increases the penalties for stopping, standing, or parking in handicapped spaces without a handicapped permit to not less than $150 nor more than $300 for the first offense and $300 to $550 for the second offense occurring within a period of five years within the state.  AYE

S6980 Establishes a temporary state commission to study and make recommendations on the incidence of asthma within the Borough of Brooklyn and that such commission focus on youth in communities within the Borough with an unemployment rate exceeding 125 percent of the statewide level. AYE (While the bill does allow for the minority to make appointments, it does not require the commission to file its report with the minority leaders.)

May 21

S1409 This bill prohibits any person from serving as a town or village justice in a town or village with a high arraignment volume, unless they are an attorney who has been admitted to practice law in NYS for at least five years. NAY

S566 Permits enrollment in the address confidentiality program for election officers. NOTE - Election officer is defined under the election law as any person who performs any official duty or function in the electoral process. AYE

S1191 Provides for limited credit time allowances for working in the horse handling program for a period of no less than eighteen months and receipt of a certification from the Groom Elite program. NAY

S114 Prohibits state chartered banking institutions from investing in and providing financing for private prisons. NAY (Prohibits state chartered banking institutions from investing in and providing financing for private prisons.)

S3909 Enacts the "New York State Phoenix Act"; extends the statute of limitations for felony family offenses to ten years and misdemeanor family offenses to five years. NAY (Training already in place. Changes unacceptable and not fully based on fact.)

S4188A Establishes the crime of misappropriation of payroll funds when a person knows that funds are designated for use as employee payroll funds or as payment of payroll taxes, and intentionally prevents the funds from being used for their designated purpose. AYE

S3974 This bill would prevent the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision from withholding merit time allowances of an incarcerated person who failed to complete a program because of circumstances beyond the inmate’s control. NAY (Unnecessary.)

S643 Establishes a $50 million youth justice innovation fund to make funds available to community-based organizations for services and programs with the purpose of youth development and preventing youth arrest and incarceration. Would apply to persons through 25 years of age. Requires a report be provided to the legislative leaders and applicable committee chairs annually, by March 1st, regarding how the monies of the fund were utilized during the preceding calendar year. AYE

S4957 Provides for review of bail data reports by the state commission on judicial conduct to study such reports for evidence of bias or prejudice by any judge or justice, and where appropriate based on such reports, to initiate, investigate, and hear complaints and otherwise comment on matters of bias and prejudice evidenced therein. NAY (Data lacking. Statistics not only criteria for sufficient evaluation.)

S2453 Amends criminal procedure law and civil practice law and rules to provide for the tolling of all criminal and civil statutes of limitation for causes of action against a person while said person holds the office of President of the United States. NAY (Political.)

S7048 This bill would require DOH and the Public Health and Health Planning Council (PHHPC) to oversee alterations in perinatal services provided by general hospitals within the state of New York. AYE

S896 Requires the inclusion of local and municipal animal shelters, a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals and veterinary services when establishing local comprehensive emergency management plans; requires that information to the public include the communication accommodation needs of persons with vision or hearing impairments and information on which temporary housing and other necessary facilities are designated as animal friendly. AYE

S187A Prohibits the sale of certain products that contain regulated perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances; requires manufacturers of products containing PFAS to provide notice of such fact to persons that offer the products for sale or distribution; provides penalties for violations. AYE

S2292A Enacts the whale awareness act directing the department of environmental conservation to establish recommendations and educational materials for reduction of marine mammal interactions. AYE

S1425 This bill establishes under Article 13 of the public health law, regarding Nuisances and Sanitation, a new title 14 - Airport Noise Studies - which seeks to establish a uniform metric for measuring noise impacts that will be used by airports for the purpose of noise exposure maps (NEMs) and noise compatibility programs (NCPs). Such uniform metric is accepted by the FAA. NAY (This will result in additional costs for the airport owner for the sound insulation program due to more dwellings being within the contour.)

S6641A This bill would amend Article 10 of the General Municipal Law and the Retirement and Social Security Law to increase the salary used in the computation of the special accidental death benefit by three percent in cases where the date of death was before calendar year 2025. AYE

S2122A Authorizes municipalities and the department of financial services to seek civil penalties for violations of the duty to maintain a foreclosed property in an amount of up to $650 per day for each day such violation persists after the judgement of foreclosure has been issued. AYE

S3036 This bill eliminates the authority of the justices of the appellate division to include in their questionnaire for applicants for admission to the state bar questions that require the disclosure of the applicants history of interaction with law enforcement or the criminal justice system if such interaction: 1) is no longer pending and did not result in a conviction; 2) resulted in a juvenile proceeding or youthful offender adjudication; or 3) resulted in a conviction which is now sealed. NAY

S7117 Authorizes the correctional association to inspect residential juvenile detention facilities. This bill would also provide The Prisoners' Legal Services of New York additional powers. NAY (Too burdensome on operations. Not necessary.)

S6576 Establishes a procurement goal that at least fifteen percent of all food and food products purchased by state agencies shall be New York state food products in the first and second year after such law takes effect, at least twenty percent in the third year, twenty-five percent in the fourth year and requires 30 percent of all food and food products purchased by state agency to be NYS food products by December 31, 2029. AYE

S2261 Provides that family members of paid professional firefighters who died in the line-of-duty may obtain a "Survivor of the Bravest" license plate; provides for the annual service charge collected to be deposited into the department of motor vehicles distinctive license plate development fund. AYE

S6223A Includes within the current statute governing the treatment of general hospital patients who are unable to verbally communicate the requirement that the department promulgate regulations concerning the treatment of general hospital patients that are deaf, hard of hearing or nonverbal as well. AYE