The New York State Senate

The New York State Senate today passed legislation to significantly increase penalties for those who conspire with  prisoners to commit a felony and/or later hinder the prosecution. The bill (S5947), sponsored by Senator Kathy Marchione (R-C-I, Halfmoon), would help prevent a repeat of the cooperation provided by prison employees to two Clinton Correctional Facility inmates who escaped approximately one year ago this week.

The New York State Senate today passed a bill to increase tax savings for seniors and help encourage them to stay in New York post-retirement. The bill (S2903C), sponsored by Senator Hugh T. Farley (R-C, Schenectady), would double the exempt amount of private pensions and retirement income, increasing it for the first time since 1981 and saving approximately $275 million annually.

The New York State Senate today passed four bills to help make the regulatory process in New York more transparent and accessible. The bills, sponsored by Senator Terrence Murphy (R-C-I, Yorktown), would amend the State Administrative Procedure Act (SAPA) to extend the amount of time the public has to comment on a proposed rule and creates new standards for publishing information online. 

State Senator Patty Ritchie has announced a measure she cosponsors that would protect school districts, as well as taxpayers, from unexpected costs has passed the Senate.

The measure, Senate bill 2968, would help ensure school districts and taxpayers aren’t faced with unforeseen expenses by prohibiting the state from imposing any mandates after a school district’s budget has been adopted.

New York State Senator Mike Nozzolio has announced that Governor Cuomo signed into law Senate Bill S.7160, which he co-sponsored. The new law expands pension credit for veterans and will allow honorably discharged service members, with five years of existing public pension credit, to obtain three years of service credit for their military service during times of peace. This law honors those who have bravely served our nation and encourages them to return to New York and continue their public service as teachers, firefighters, police officers, municipal and state employees.