Regular Session - June 30, 1996

                                                                 
8979

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         9                       ALBANY, NEW YORK

        10                         June 30, 1996

        11                           7:05 p.m.

        12

        13

        14                       REGULAR SESSION

        15

        16

        17

        18       SENATOR NICHOLAS A. SPANO, Acting President

        19       STEPHEN F. SLOAN, Secretary

        20

        21

        22

        23











                                                             
8980

         1                      P R O C E E D I N G S

         2                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  Senate

         3       will come to order.  All please rise for the

         4       Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

         5                      (The Assemblage repeated the

         6       Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)

         7                      In the absence of clergy, can we

         8       please bow our heads for a moment of silence.

         9                      Reading of the Journal.

        10                      THE SECRETARY:  In Senate,

        11       Saturday, June 29th.  The Senate met -

        12                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  Senator

        13       Bruno.

        14                      SENATOR BRUNO:  Mr. President,

        15       can we call for an immediate meeting of the

        16       Finance Committee in Room 332.

        17                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:

        18       Immediate Finance Committee meeting in Room

        19       332.

        20                      Reading of the Journal.

        21                      THE SECRETARY:  In Senate,

        22       Saturday, June 29th.  The Senate met pursuant to

        23       adjournment.  The Journal of Friday, June 28th,











                                                             
8981

         1       was read and approved.  On motion, Senate

         2       adjourned.

         3                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  Hearing

         4       no objection, the Journal stands approved as

         5       read.

         6                      Presentation of petitions.

         7                      Messages from the Assembly.

         8                      Messages from the Governor.

         9                      Reports of standing committees.

        10                      Reports from select committees.

        11                      Communications and reports from

        12       state officers.

        13                      Motions and resolutions.

        14                      Senator Seward.

        15                      SENATOR SEWARD:  Mr. President,

        16       on behalf of Senator LaValle, I wish to call up

        17       his bill, Print Number 3292-B, recalled from the

        18       Assembly which is now at the desk.

        19                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:

        20       Secretary will read.

        21                      THE SECRETARY:  By Senator

        22       LaValle, Senate Print 3292-B, an act to amend

        23       the Education Law.











                                                             
8982

         1                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  Senator

         2       Seward.

         3                      SENATOR SEWARD:  Mr. President, I

         4       now move to reconsider the vote by which this

         5       bill was passed.

         6                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  Call the

         7       roll on reconsideration.

         8                      (The Secretary called the roll on

         9       reconsideration.)

        10                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  Senator

        11       Seward.

        12                      SENATOR SEWARD:  Mr. President, I

        13       now move the following amendments.

        14                      And on behalf of Senator

        15       Nozzolio, I wish to call up his bill, Print

        16       Number 6114, recalled from the Assembly which is

        17       now at the desk.

        18                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:

        19       Secretary will read.

        20                      THE SECRETARY:  By Senator

        21       Nozzolio, Senate Print 6114, an act to amend the

        22       Public Authorities Law.

        23                      SENATOR SEWARD:  Mr. President, I











                                                             
8983

         1       now move to reconsider the vote by which this

         2       bill was passed.

         3                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  Call the

         4       roll on reconsideration.

         5                      (The Secretary called the roll on

         6       reconsideration. )

         7                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 33.

         8                      SENATOR SEWARD:  Mr. President, I

         9       now offer the following amendments.

        10                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:

        11       Amendments received and adopted.

        12                      Senator Farley.

        13                      SENATOR FARLEY:  Mr. President, I

        14       wish to call up, on behalf of Senator Marchi,

        15       Print Number 6406, which was recalled from the

        16       Assembly which is now at the desk.

        17                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:

        18       Secretary will read.

        19                      THE SECRETARY:  By Senator

        20       Marchi, Senate Print 6406, an act to amend the

        21       Navigation Law.

        22                      SENATOR FARLEY:  I now move to

        23       reconsider the vote by which this bill was











                                                             
8984

         1       passed.

         2                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  Call the

         3       roll on reconsideration.

         4                      (The Secretary called the roll on

         5       reconsideration. )

         6                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 35.

         7                      SENATOR FARLEY:  I now move to

         8       recommit the bill to Rules.

         9                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO: The bill

        10       is recommitted.

        11                      SENATOR FARLEY:  On behalf of

        12       Senator Kuhl, I wish to call up his bill, Print

        13       Number 2404-A, recalled from the Assembly now at

        14       the desk.

        15                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:

        16       Secretary will read.

        17                      THE SECRETARY:  By Senator Kuhl,

        18       Senate Print 2404-A, an act to amend the Public

        19       Officers Law.

        20                      SENATOR FARLEY:  I move to

        21       reconsider the vote by which this bill passed.

        22                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  Call the

        23       roll on reconsideration.











                                                             
8985

         1                      (The Secretary called the roll on

         2       reconsideration.)

         3                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  Senator

         4       Farley.

         5                      SENATOR FARLEY:  I now offer the

         6       following amendments, and that's it.

         7                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  The

         8       amendments are received.

         9                      Senator Farley.

        10                      SENATOR FARLEY:  On behalf of

        11       Senator Stafford, I wish to call up his bill,

        12       Print Number 6590, recalled from the Assembly

        13       which is now at the desk.

        14                      THE SECRETARY: By Senator

        15       Stafford, Print Number 6590, an act to amend the

        16       Tax Law.

        17                      SENATOR FARLEY:  I now move to

        18       reconsider the vote by which this bill was

        19       passed.

        20                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  Call the

        21       roll on reconsideration.

        22                      (The Secretary called the roll on

        23       reconsideration.)











                                                             
8986

         1                      SENATOR FARLEY:  I now offer the

         2       following amendments.

         3                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  The

         4       amendments are received.

         5                      Senator Libous.

         6                      SENATOR LIBOUS:  Mr. President,

         7       on behalf of Senator Johnson, I wish to call up

         8       his bill, Print Number 6304-A, recalled from the

         9       Assembly which is now at the desk.

        10                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:

        11       Secretary will read.

        12                      THE SECRETARY:  By Senator

        13       Johnson, Senate Print 6304-A, an act to amend

        14       the Public Health Law.

        15                      SENATOR LIBOUS:  Mr. President, I

        16       now move to reconsider the vote by which this

        17       bill was passed.

        18                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  Call the

        19       roll on reconsideration.

        20                      (The Secretary called the roll on

        21       reconsideration.)

        22                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 41.

        23                      SENATOR LIBOUS:  Mr. President, I











                                                             
8987

         1       offer up the following amendments.

         2                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:

         3       Amendments are received.

         4                      Senator Skelos.

         5                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Is there any

         6       other housekeeping at the desk?

         7                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  Yes,

         8       there is, Senator Skelos.  We're trying to track

         9       it down.

        10                      Senator Marcellino.

        11                      SENATOR MARCELLINO:  Having just

        12       tracked it down, Mr. President, I wish to call

        13       up Senator Larkin's bill, Print Number 7503,

        14       recalled from the Assembly which is now at the

        15       desk.

        16                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:

        17       Secretary will read.

        18                      THE SECRETARY:  By Senator

        19       Larkin, Senate Print Number 7503, an act to

        20       amend the Highway Law.

        21                      SENATOR MARCELLINO:  Mr.

        22       President, I now move to reconsider the vote by

        23       which this bill was passed.











                                                             
8988

         1                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  Call the

         2       roll on reconsideration.

         3                      (The Secretary called the roll on

         4       reconsideration.)

         5                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 43.

         6                      SENATOR MARCELLINO:  Mr.

         7       President, I now offer the following

         8       amendments.

         9                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:

        10       Amendments are received.

        11                      SENATOR MARCELLINO:  Mr.

        12       President, this bill will be recommitted to

        13       Third Reading Calendar.

        14                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  Bill

        15       will be recommitted to the calendar.

        16                      Senator Marcellino.

        17                      SENATOR MARCELLINO:  I wish to

        18       call up my bill, Print Number 3642, recalled

        19       from the Assembly which is now at the desk.

        20                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO: Secretary

        21       will read.

        22                      THE SECRETARY:  By Senator

        23       Marcellino, Senate Print 3642, an act to amend











                                                             
8989

         1       the Environmental Conservation Law.

         2                      SENATOR MARCELLINO:  Mr.

         3       President, I now wish to reconsider the vote by

         4       which this bill, worthy though it is, has

         5       passed.

         6                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  Call the

         7       roll on reconsideration.

         8                      (The Secretary called the roll on

         9       reconsideration. )

        10                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 44.

        11                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  Bill is

        12       before the house.

        13                      SENATOR MARCELLINO:  Mr.

        14       President, I now offer the following

        15       amendments.

        16                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:

        17       Amendments are received and adopted.

        18                      SENATOR MARCELLINO:  And with the

        19       wish that the bill will be put on the Third

        20       Reading Calendar.

        21                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  So

        22       moved.

        23                      Senator Skelos.











                                                             
8990

         1                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

         2       is there any other housekeeping at the desk?

         3                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  Senator

         4       Skelos, there's no more housekeeping

         5       apparently.

         6                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

         7       there will be an immediate meeting of the Rules

         8       Committee in the Majority Conference Room and if

         9       we could return to reports of standing commit

        10       tees, I believe there's a report of the Finance

        11       Committee at the desk.  I ask that it be read.

        12                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:

        13       Immediate meeting of the Rules Committee in the

        14       Majority Conference Room.

        15                      Secretary will read the copy of

        16       the report of the Finance Committee.

        17                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator Stafford,

        18       from the Committee on Finance, offers up

        19       directly for third reading, from the Committee

        20       on Rules, Senate Print 7902, an act making

        21       appropriation for the support of government.

        22                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  Without

        23       objection, bill is reported directly to third











                                                             
8991

         1       reading.

         2                      Senator Skelos.

         3                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

         4       is there a -- may we please take up Calendar

         5       Number 1681, Senate 7902, which was just

         6       reported.

         7                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:

         8       Secretary will read.

         9                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        10       1681, by the Committee on Rules, Senate Print

        11       Number 7902, an act making appropriation for the

        12       support of government.

        13                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

        14       are there messages of appropriation and

        15       necessity at the desk?

        16                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  Yes,

        17       there are, Senator Skelos.

        18                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  All in

        19       favor of accepting the message of necessity and

        20       appropriation signify by saying aye.

        21                      (Response of "Aye.")

        22                      Opposed nay.

        23                      (There was no response. )











                                                             
8992

         1                      The messages are accepted.  Read

         2       the last section.

         3                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 34.  This

         4       act shall take effect immediately.

         5                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  Call the

         6       roll.

         7                      (The Secretary called the roll. )

         8                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 47.

         9                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  The bill

        10       is passed.

        11                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Stand at ease

        12       for a moment.

        13                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  The

        14       Senate will stand at ease.

        15                      (The Senate stood at ease briefly

        16       at 7:14 p.m.)

        17                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  Senator

        18       Skelos.

        19                      SENATOR SKELOS:  If we could

        20       return to reports of standing committees, I

        21       believe there's a report of the Rules Committee

        22       at the desk.  I ask that it be read.

        23                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:











                                                             
8993

         1       Secretary will read.

         2                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator Bruno,

         3       from the Committee on Rules, offers up the

         4       following bill directly for third reading:

         5                      7817, by the Committee on Rules,

         6       an act to amend the Administrative Code of the

         7       city of New York.

         8                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Move we accept

         9       the report of the Rules Committee.

        10                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  All in

        11       favor of accepting the Rules Committee report,

        12       signify by saying aye.

        13                      (Response of "Aye.")

        14                      Opposed nay.

        15                      (There was no response.)

        16                      It's accepted.

        17                      Senator Skelos.

        18                      SENATOR SKELOS:  If we could take

        19       the bill up at this time, Mr. President.

        20                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  Read the

        21       last section.  I'm sorry.  Secretary will read.

        22                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        23       1682, by the Committee on Rules, Senate Print











                                                             
8994

         1       7817, an act to amend the Administrative Code of

         2       the city of New York.

         3                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  Home

         4       rule message is at the desk.  Read the last

         5       section.

         6                      THE SECRETARY:  This act shall

         7       take effect immediately.

         8                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  Call the

         9       roll.

        10                      (The Secretary called the roll. )

        11                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 51.

        12                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  The bill

        13       is passed.

        14                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

        15       is there any other housekeeping at the desk?

        16                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  Yes.

        17       Senator Farley.

        18                      SENATOR FARLEY:  Thank you, Mr.

        19       President.

        20                      On behalf of Senator Maziarz, I

        21       wish to call up his bill, Senate Print 7277-A,

        22       which was recalled from the Assembly which is

        23       now at the desk.











                                                             
8995

         1                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:

         2       Secretary will read.

         3                      THE SECRETARY:  By Senator

         4       Maziarz, Senate Print 7277-A, an act to amend

         5       the State Administrative Procedure Act.

         6                      SENATOR FARLEY:  I now move to

         7       reconsider the vote by which this bill was

         8       passed.

         9                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  Call the

        10       roll on reconsideration.

        11                      (The Secretary called the roll on

        12       reconsideration. )

        13                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 52.

        14                      SENATOR FARLEY:  I now offer the

        15       following amendments.

        16                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:

        17       Amendments are received and adopted.

        18                      Senator Skelos.

        19                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

        20       within a couple of minutes, the Senate will

        21       stand at ease, and what is suggested by the

        22       leader is that the members could call the

        23       operator, which is 455-2800 at 9:00 p.m., to











                                                             
8996

         1       find out whether there will be any other

         2       business taken up by the Senate at that time.

         3       So if the members would call the switchboard

         4       operator at 9:00 p.m., 455-2800, we'll know

         5       whether there will be additional business taken

         6       up this evening.

         7                      The Senate is going to stand at

         8       ease.  If there is no business taken up this

         9       evening, there will be a Majority Conference at

        10       4:30 tomorrow and session will be at 5:00 p.m.

        11                      The Senate will stand at ease.

        12                      ACTING PRESIDENT SPANO:  Senate

        13       will stand at ease.

        14                      (The Senate stood at ease from

        15       7:30 p.m. until 11:50 p.m.)

        16                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The

        17       Senate will come to order.

        18                      Chair recognizes Senator Skelos.

        19                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

        20       there will be an immediate meeting of the Rules

        21       Committee in the Majority Conference Room and

        22       the Senate will stand at ease.

        23                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Immediate











                                                             
8997

         1       meeting of the Rules Committee in the Majority

         2       Conference Room.  Immediate meeting of the Rules

         3       Committee in the Majority Conference Room, Room

         4       332, and the Senate stands at ease.

         5                      (The Senate stood at ease from

         6       11:51 p.m. until 11:56 p.m.)

         7                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Senate

         8       will come to order.

         9                      The Chair recognizes Senator

        10       Skelos.

        11                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

        12       if we can return to reports of standing

        13       committees.  I believe there's a report of the

        14       Rules Committee at the desk.  I ask that it be

        15       read.

        16                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  There is

        17       a report of the Rules Committee at the desk.

        18       We'll return to the order of reports of standing

        19       committees.  I'll ask the Secretary to read.

        20                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator Bruno,

        21       from the Committee on Rules, offers up the

        22       following bill directly for third reading:

        23                      Senate print 7905, from the











                                                             
8998

         1       Committee on Rules, an act to amend Chapter 905

         2       of the Laws of 1986, amending the General

         3       Municipal Law.

         4                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Senator

         5       Skelos.

         6                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Move to accept.

         7                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Motion is

         8       to accept the report of the Rules Committee.

         9       All those in favor signify by saying aye.

        10                      (Response of "Aye.")

        11                      Opposed nay.

        12                      (There was no response. )

        13                      The report is accepted.

        14                      For the benefit of the members,

        15       the bills are being handed out on your desks as

        16       we speak.

        17                      Senator Skelos.

        18                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

        19       if we could take up Senate 7905.

        20                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Ask the

        21       Secretary to read the title.

        22                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        23       1683, Senate Print 7905, by the Committee on











                                                             
8999

         1       Rules, an act to amend Chapter 905 of the Laws

         2       of 1986.

         3                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Senator

         4       Skelos.

         5                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Is there a

         6       message of necessity at the desk?

         7                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  There is

         8       a message of necessity at the desk, Senator

         9       Skelos.

        10                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Move to accept.

        11                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Motion is

        12       to accept the message of necessity at the desk.

        13       All those in favor signify by saying aye.

        14                      (Response of "Aye.")

        15                      Opposed nay.

        16                      (There was no response. )

        17                      The message is accepted.

        18                      Secretary will read the last

        19       section.

        20                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 1.  This

        21       act shall take effect immediately.

        22                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Call the

        23       roll.











                                                             
9000

         1                      (The Secretary called the roll. )

         2                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Senator

         3       Padavan.

         4                      SENATOR PADAVAN:  Mr. President,

         5       I'd like to explain my vote.

         6                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Excuse

         7       me, Senator Padavan.  Read the last section.

         8                      SENATOR PADAVAN:  I thought you

         9       had.

        10                      THE SECRETARY:  This act shall

        11       take effect immediately.

        12                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Call the

        13       roll.

        14                      (The Secretary called the roll. )

        15                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Senator

        16       Padavan, to explain his vote.

        17                      SENATOR PADAVAN:  Mr. President,

        18       obviously we must adopt this measure tonight.

        19       There are too many critical things involved in

        20       it.  However, I do feel obliged to point out one

        21       area of the bill with which I disagree and that

        22       is the portion of the bill that relates to

        23       simulcasting, particularly the simulcasting of











                                                             
9001

         1       racing into people's homes and allowing of

         2       wagering from their homes.  I think it's a

         3       mistake.  It's poor policy for the state to be

         4       involved to that extent in this form of gambling

         5       in a law.

         6                      I'll be voting for the bill.  I

         7       wish the record to clearly indicate my

         8       opposition to that portion of it.

         9                      I vote aye.

        10                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Secretary

        11       will announce the results.

        12                      SENATOR GOODMAN: Mr. President.

        13                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Senator

        14       Goodman to explain his vote.

        15                      SENATOR GOODMAN:  Mr. President,

        16       I'd like to point out that within this bill

        17       there is an extremely important renewal of the

        18       loft law which, as you know, has been a matter

        19       of considerable concern to me and others in this

        20       house.

        21                      I'd like to remind the house that

        22       loft tenants are, by and large, members of the

        23       artistic community in New York City, which the











                                                             
9002

         1       Port Authority has authoritatively indicated is

         2       a more than $9 billion economic stimulus to the

         3       greater New York area, and I'd also like to

         4       point out, Mr. President, that with respect to

         5       lofts, it may not be generally understood but

         6       loft owners moved into an area of New York City,

         7       generally the downtown area known as Soho and

         8       its environs, in which we have had a situation

         9       where manufacturing concerns have moved out of

        10       the City and artists have come in, have taken

        11       over spaces, have with the sweat of their brows

        12       done great things in the restoration of

        13       buildings that were otherwise on the verge of

        14       abandonment and, as a result of this, they have

        15       given great contributions to the City and its

        16       ambience.

        17                      Mr. President, it is exceedingly

        18       urgent that we maintain this loft law in effect

        19       for the protection of these good people and the

        20       fact that we've extended it and breathed new

        21       life into it is highly significant.  I'd like to

        22       remind the house that should this law expire, it

        23       would create a chaotic situation for some 10,000











                                                             
9003

         1       tenants who live in loft buildings around the

         2       southern part of Manhattan and other related

         3       areas and, therefore, it's needless to say a

         4       very salutary development that we have shown the

         5       concern for this and have extended it for four

         6       days during which I trust we'll arrange for a

         7       permanent and lasting extension of this law.

         8                      Thank you, Mr. President.

         9                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Announce

        10       the results.

        11                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 53.

        12                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

        13       is passed.

        14                      (Applause from the gallery.)

        15                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Senator

        16       Skelos.

        17                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

        18       is there any housekeeping at the desk?

        19                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Nothing,

        20       Senator Skelos.

        21                      Senator Skelos.

        22                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

        23       just again a reminder, there will be a Majority











                                                             
9004

         1       Conference at 4:30 in the Majority Conference

         2       Room, and there being no further business I move

         3       we adjourn until July 1st, 1996 at 5:00 p.m.,

         4       sharp.

         5                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Without

         6       objection, hearing no objection, the Senate

         7       stands adjourned until tomorrow, July 1st, 1996

         8       at 5:00 p.m.

         9                      (Whereupon, at 12:03 a.m., July

        10       1st, 1996 the Senate adjourned. )

        11

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