Regular Session - July 1, 1996
9005
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8 ALBANY, NEW YORK
9 July 1, 1996
10 5:00 p.m.
11
12
13 REGULAR SESSION
14
15
16
17 SENATOR JOHN R. KUHL, JR., Acting President
18 STEPHEN F. SLOAN, Secretary
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9006
1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The
3 Senate will come to order. Ask the members to
4 find their places, the staff to find their
5 places. I'd ask everybody in the chamber to
6 rise and join me in saying the Pledge of
7 Allegiance. Please remain standing for the
8 invocation.
9 (The assemblage repeated the
10 Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
11 We're very pleased to be joined
12 by Peter G. Young of the Blessed Sacrament
13 Church of Bolton Landing.
14 Father Young.
15 REVEREND PETER G. YOUNG: Thank
16 you, Senator.
17 Let us pray. As we gather on
18 this beautiful, bright, sunny day in July, may
19 we remember the important people who made our
20 country possible by their work and dedication
21 for freedom.
22 May we remember too the Americans
23 who were killed in Saudi Arabia, and may we pray
9007
1 for ourselves that we might be delivered from
2 all illusion of superiority, from all pretense
3 of righteousness, from all arrogance and
4 hardness of heart and we might know the true
5 meaning of compassion in all of our elected
6 duties. We ask You this now and forever more.
7 Amen.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Reading
9 of the Journal.
10 THE SECRETARY: In Senate,
11 Sunday, June 30th. The -
12 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Senator
13 Bruno.
14 SENATOR BRUNO: Mr. President,
15 can we ask for an immediate meeting of the Rules
16 Committee in Room 332.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: There
18 will be an immediate meeting of the Rules
19 Committee. Immediate meeting of the Rules
20 Committee in the Majority Conference Room, Room
21 332. Immediate meeting -
22 SENATOR BRUNO: Mr. President.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Yes,
9008
1 Senator Bruno.
2 SENATOR BRUNO: That will be
3 followed immediately by a meeting of the Rules
4 -- of the Finance Committee in same room, 332.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Immediate
6 meeting of the Rules Committee in the Majority
7 Conference Room, Room 332. That will be
8 followed by an immediate meeting of the Senate
9 Finance Committee in the same room.
10 The Secretary will read the
11 Journal.
12 THE SECRETARY: In Senate,
13 Sunday, June 30th. The Senate met pursuant to
14 adjournment, Senator Spano in the Chair upon
15 designation of the Temporary President. The
16 Journal of Saturday, June 29th, was read and
17 approved. On motion, the Senate adjourned.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Hearing
19 no objection, the Journal stands approved as
20 read.
21 Presentation of petitions.
22 Messages from the Assembly.
23 Messages from the Governor.
9009
1 Reports of standing committees.
2 Reports of select committees.
3 Communications and reports from
4 state officers.
5 Motions and resolutions.
6 The Chair recognizes Senator
7 Tully.
8 SENATOR TULLY: Yes, Mr.
9 President. On behalf of Senator Kuhl, I wish to
10 call up his bill, Print Number 906, recalled
11 from the Assembly which is now at the desk.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The
13 Secretary will read the title.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
15 1241, by Senator Kuhl, Senate Print 906, an act
16 to amend the Tax Law.
17 SENATOR TULLY: Mr. President, I
18 now move to reconsider the vote by which this
19 bill was passed.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The
21 Secretary will call the roll on
22 reconsideration.
23 (The Secretary called the roll on
9010
1 reconsideration.)
2 THE SECRETARY: Ayes 35.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Senator
4 Tully.
5 SENATOR TULLY: Yes, Mr.
6 President. I now offer the following
7 amendments.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The
9 amendments are received and adopted.
10 Senator Bruno.
11 SENATOR BRUNO: Mr. President,
12 can we at this time adopt the Resolution
13 Calendar.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The
15 motion is to adopt the Resolution Calendar, a
16 copy of which is on all the members' desks. All
17 those in favor signify by saying aye.
18 (Response of "Aye".)
19 Opposed, nay.
20 (There was no response.)
21 The Resolution Calendar is
22 adopted.
23 The Chair recognizes Senator
9011
1 Larkin.
2 SENATOR LARKIN: Mr. President,
3 Resolution Number 4057, I'd like to open that up
4 for every member. It honors the New York State
5 United Cerebral Palsy, and Senator Libous and I
6 would like to open it up to everybody.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Senator
8 Bruno, would you like us -- it's been offered to
9 be co-sponsored on Senator Larkin's resolution,
10 4057.
11 SENATOR BRUNO: Mr. President -
12 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Should we
13 put everybody on that except those people who do
14 not wish to be on the resolution?
15 SENATOR BRUNO: Good idea.
16 Please do, Mr. President.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: I'll
18 direct that the Secretary do that. All those
19 members who don't wish to co-sponsor Resolution
20 Number 4050 by Senator Larkin, please indicate
21 to the desk your desires not to be co-sponsors
22 on the resolution.
23 Senator Bruno, that brings us to
9012
1 the calendar.
2 SENATOR BRUNO: Mr. President,
3 can we at this time take up the non- -- the
4 controversial calendar -- the non-controversial
5 calendar.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The
7 Secretary will read the non-controversial
8 reading of Calendar No. 65.
9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
10 1262, by Senator Cook, Senate Print 7206-B, an
11 act to create the Wallkill Public Library
12 District.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The
14 Secretary will read the last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 9. This
16 act shall take effect immediately.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Call the
18 roll.
19 (The Secretary called the roll.)
20 THE SECRETARY: Ayes 35.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The bill
22 is passed.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9013
1 1551, by Senator DeFrancisco, Senate Print
2 6053-B, an act to amend the Public Health Law,
3 in relation to establishing an adoption medical
4 information sub-registry.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The
6 Secretary will read the last section.
7 SENATOR DOLLINGER: Mr.
8 President.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Yes,
10 Senator Dollinger.
11 SENATOR DOLLINGER: Is there an
12 amendment?
13 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Would you
14 like to debate the bill, Senator Dollinger?
15 SENATOR DOLLINGER: Yes, Mr.
16 President. Was the bill amended from the prior
17 version?
18 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Senator
19 Dollinger, do you wish to debate the bill?
20 SENATOR DOLLINGER: Just to ask a
21 question of the sponsor.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Lay the
23 bill aside.
9014
1 The Secretary will continue to
2 read.
3 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
4 1662, by Senator Kuhl, Senate Print 7294-A, an
5 act to amend the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law,
6 in relation to wine tastings.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The
8 Secretary will read the last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
10 act shall take effect immediately.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Call the
12 roll.
13 (The Secretary called the roll.)
14 THE SECRETARY: Ayes 35.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The bill
16 is passed.
17 Senator Bruno, that completes the
18 reading of the non-controversial calendar.
19 SENATOR BRUNO: Mr. President,
20 can we at this time take up the controversial
21 calendar.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The
23 Secretary will read the controversial calendar,
9015
1 beginning with Calendar Number 1551, by Senator
2 DeFrancisco.
3 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
4 1551, by Senator DeFrancisco, Senate Print
5 6053-B, an act to amend the Public Health Law,
6 in relation to establishing an adoption medical
7 information sub-registry.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Senator
9 Dollinger.
10 SENATOR DOLLINGER: Mr.
11 President, would the sponsor yield to just one
12 question?
13 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Senator
14 DeFrancisco, do you yield to a question from
15 Senator Dollinger?
16 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Yes.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The
18 Senator yields.
19 SENATOR DOLLINGER: I thought
20 this was a good bill, Senator, the first time we
21 did it. I'm going to simply ask what was
22 amended to, I assume, make it a better bill.
23 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: It's a
9016
1 better bill right now. The Department of Health
2 made a suggestion that -- and the suggestion was
3 to operate -- incorporated in this amendment and
4 that is that there's a fee for the registration
5 into this registry, but the Department of Health
6 agreed to waive the fee of any birth parent who
7 wanted to voluntarily provide information into
8 the registry for the benefit of an -- a child
9 that was placed for adoption.
10 That's the major change that -
11 to allow -- to give an incentive that birth
12 parents might want to provide the information to
13 the registry. We shouldn't have a fee for them
14 to do so, and they're waiving the fee on these
15 amendments.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Is there
17 any other Senator wishing to speak on the bill?
18 (There was no response.)
19 The Secretary will read the last
20 section.
21 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
22 act shall take effect on the 120th day.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Call the
9017
1 roll.
2 (The Secretary called the roll.)
3 THE SECRETARY: Ayes 40.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The bill
5 is passed.
6 Senator Skelos, that completes
7 the reading of the controversial calendar.
8 What's your pleasure?
9 SENATOR SKELOS: Mr. President,
10 as we're waiting for the Rules Committee report,
11 which is coming in right now, just a reminder
12 that there's a Finance Committee meeting in Room
13 332 of the Capitol.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: For the
15 benefit of the members who are not in the
16 chamber but are listening, there is a Finance
17 Committee meeting going on in the Majority
18 Conference Room, Room 332, right now.
19 Senator Skelos, we do have a
20 report of the Rules Committee at the desk, if
21 you'd like to return to the report of -
22 SENATOR SKELOS: Mr. President,
23 if we could return to reports of standing
9018
1 committees and have the Rules Committee report
2 read.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: We will
4 return to the order of reports of standing
5 committees.
6 The Secretary will read the Rules
7 report.
8 THE SECRETARY: Senator Bruno,
9 from the Committee on Rules, reports the
10 following bills:
11 Senate Print 210-E, by Senator
12 Sears, an act to amend the Penal Law, in
13 relation to disseminating indecent material;
14 Assembly Print 1894, by member of
15 the Assembly Bragman, an act to amend the
16 Vehicle and Traffic Law, in relation to civil
17 penalties;
18 6132-B, by Senator Wright, an act
19 to authorize the village of Alexandria Bay,
20 county of Jefferson;
21 181-A, by Senator Tully, an act
22 to amend the General Municipal Law, in relation
23 to providing coverage for injuries sustained by
9019
1 Nassau County advanced ambulance medical
2 technicians;
3 3748, by Senator Leibell, an act
4 to amend the Criminal Procedure Law, in relation
5 to designating security officers;
6 And Senate Print 7873, by Senator
7 Larkin, an act to amend a chapter of the Laws of
8 1996 as proposed in legislative Bills Numbers
9 Senate 4254-A and Assembly 7590-A.
10 All bills ordered directly for
11 third reading.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Senator
13 Skelos.
14 SENATOR SKELOS: Mr. President, I
15 move we accept the report of the Rules
16 Committee.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The
18 motion is to accept the report of the Rules
19 Committee. All those in favor signify by saying
20 aye.
21 (Response of "Aye".)
22 Opposed, nay.
23 (There was no response.)
9020
1 The Rules report is accepted.
2 Senator Skelos.
3 SENATOR SKELOS: Mr. President,
4 if we could take up the non-controversial
5 reading of Supplemental Calendar Number 1.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The
7 Secretary will read the non-controversial
8 reading of Supplemental Calendar Number 1 which
9 is on all of the members' desks.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 26, by Senator Sears, Senate Print 210-E, an act
12 to amend the Penal Law, in relation to
13 disseminating indecent material to minors.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The
15 Secretary will read the last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 9. This
17 act shall take effect on the first day of
18 November.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Call the
20 roll.
21 (The Secretary called the roll.)
22 THE SECRETARY: Ayes 43.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The bill
9021
1 is passed.
2 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3 186, by member of the Assembly Bragman, Assembly
4 Print 1894, an act to amend the Vehicle and
5 Traffic Law, in relation to civil penalties
6 imposed.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The
8 Secretary will read the last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
10 act shall take effect on the first day of
11 November.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Call the
13 roll.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 THE SECRETARY: Ayes 43.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The bill
17 is passed.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
19 1653, by Senator Wright, Senate Print 6132-B, an
20 act to authorize the village of Alexandria Bay,
21 county of Jefferson to discontinue the use of
22 certain lands.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: There is
9022
1 a home rule message at the desk. The Secretary
2 will read the last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
4 act shall take effect immediately.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Call the
6 roll.
7 (The Secretary called the roll.)
8 THE SECRETARY: Ayes 43.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The bill
10 is passed.
11 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
12 1684, by Senator Tully, Senate Print 181-A, an
13 act to amend the General Municipal Law, in
14 relation to providing coverage.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: There's a
16 home rule message at the desk. The Secretary
17 will read the last section.
18 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
19 act shall take effect January 1, 1999.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Call the
21 roll.
22 (The Secretary called the roll.)
23 THE SECRETARY: Ayes 43.
9023
1 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The bill
2 is passed.
3 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
4 1685, by Senator Leibell, Senate Print 3748, an
5 act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law, in
6 relation to designating security officers for
7 the Town Court of the town of Putnam Valley.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The
9 Secretary will read the last section.
10 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
11 act shall take effect immediately.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Call the
13 roll.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 THE SECRETARY: Ayes 43.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The bill
17 is passed.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
19 1686, by Senator Larkin, Senate Print 7873, an
20 act to amend a chapter of the Laws of 1996 as
21 proposed in legislative Bills, Numbers Senate
22 4254-A and Assembly 7590-A.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: There is
9024
1 a home rule message at the desk. The Secretary
2 will read the last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
4 act shall take effect on the same date as a
5 chapter of the Laws of 1996.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Call the
7 roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 THE SECRETARY: Ayes 43.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The bill
11 is passed.
12 Senator Skelos, that completes
13 the reading -- the non-controversial reading and
14 the controversial reading.
15 SENATOR SKELOS: If we could just
16 stand at ease pending the report of the Finance
17 Committee.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The
19 Senate will stand at ease for a few moments
20 pending the report of the Senate Finance
21 Committee.
22 (Whereupon, the Senate stood at
23 ease from 5:28 p.m. until 5:35 p.m.)
9025
1 The Senate will come to order.
2 SENATOR SKELOS: Mr. President.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The Chair
4 recognizes Senator Skelos.
5 SENATOR SKELOS: If we could
6 return to reports of standing committees, I
7 believe there's a report of the Finance
8 Committee at the desk.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: We will
10 return to the order of standing committees. The
11 Secretary will read the report of the Senate
12 Finance Committee.
13 THE SECRETARY: Senator Stafford,
14 from the Committee on Finance, reports the
15 following nomination:
16 Member of the Port Authority of
17 New York and New Jersey, Peter S. Kalikow, of
18 New York City.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The
20 question is on the nomination. All those in
21 favor signify by saying aye.
22 (Response of "Aye".)
23 Opposed, nay.
9026
1 (There was no response.)
2 Senator Leichter in the
3 negative.
4 The nominee is confirmed.
5 The Secretary will continue to
6 read.
7 THE SECRETARY: Senator Stafford,
8 from the Committee on Finance, reports the
9 following nomination:
10 Member of the Stewart Airport
11 Commission, Louis Heimbach, of Middletown.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The
13 question is on the nomination of Louis Heimbach
14 to become a member of the Stewart Airport
15 Commission. All those in favor signify by
16 saying aye.
17 (Response of "Aye".)
18 Opposed, nay.
19 (There was no response.)
20 The nominee is confirmed.
21 The Secretary will continue to
22 read.
23 THE SECRETARY: Senator Stafford,
9027
1 from the Committee on Finance, reports the
2 following nomination:
3 Member of the Public Health
4 Council, Dr. Ernestine S. Pantel, of Ardsley.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The
6 question is on the nominee -- nomination, I
7 should say, of Dr. Ernestine Pantel to become a
8 member of the Public Health Council. All those
9 in favor of the nomination signify by saying
10 aye.
11 (Response of "Aye".)
12 Opposed, nay.
13 (There was no response.)
14 The nominee is confirmed.
15 Secretary will continue to read.
16 THE SECRETARY: Senator Stafford,
17 from the Committee on Finance, reports the
18 following nomination:
19 Member of the Small Business
20 Advisory Board, Arthur A. Aldrich, of Airmont.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The
22 question is on the nomination. All those in
23 favor signify by saying aye.
9028
1 (Response of "Aye".)
2 Opposed, nay.
3 (There was no response.)
4 The nominee is confirmed.
5 The Secretary will continue to
6 read.
7 THE SECRETARY: Senator Stafford,
8 from the Committee on Finance, reports the
9 following nomination:
10 Member of State Council on the
11 Arts, Reba White Williams, of New York City.
12 SENATOR GOODMAN: Mr. President.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The Chair
14 recognizes Senator Goodman, on the nomination.
15 SENATOR GOODMAN: Mr. President,
16 as the chairman of the Senate Special Committee
17 on the Arts and Cultural Affairs, it's my
18 pleasure to speak with respect to the nomination
19 of Reba White Williams for the State Council on
20 the Arts.
21 As you are aware, Mr. President,
22 and my colleagues understand, the state council
23 is charged with the responsibility of taking our
9029
1 precious subsidy dollars and distributing them
2 in what it is hoped would be the most rational
3 and productive way for the stimulation of the
4 arts and culture in the state of New York and
5 it's especially gratifying to see that someone
6 of Reba White Williams' qualifications will now
7 participate in that process.
8 Ms. Williams is a graduate of the
9 Harvard Graduate School of Business Administra
10 tion and Hunter College, from which she got her
11 M.A. in art history, the City University of New
12 York in which she received an M.A. in philosophy
13 and she also has several other course work
14 completions, including studies in art history,
15 American painting and sculpture and American and
16 European prints.
17 She happens to be a very
18 successful investment banker and a manager of a
19 large mutual fund company with her husband and
20 in the process of this at the world headquarters
21 they have one of the finest collections of
22 graphic prints anywhere in the United States.
23 This is a lady of extraordinary
9030
1 taste, culturation and background, and I haven't
2 the slightest question that she will shortly
3 become one of the outstanding members and
4 leaders of this very important council, and so
5 it's a special delight for me to second the
6 nomination that's been presented by the chairman
7 of the Finance Committee.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Is there
9 any other Senator wishing to speak on the
10 nomination?
11 (There was no response.)
12 Hearing none, the question is on
13 the nomination of Reba White Williams, of New
14 York City, to become a member of the State
15 Council on the Arts. All those in favor signify
16 by saying aye.
17 (Response of "Aye".)
18 Opposed, nay.
19 (There was no response.)
20 The nominee is confirmed.
21 The Secretary will continue to
22 read.
23 THE SECRETARY: Senator Stafford,
9031
1 from the Committee on Finance, reports the
2 following nomination:
3 Member of the Board of Trustees
4 of the City University of New York, Satish K.
5 Babbar, of Queens.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The Chair
7 recognizes Senator Leichter, on the nomination.
8 SENATOR LEICHTER: Mr. President,
9 regretfully, I'm going to oppose this nomination
10 and at the same time let my remarks also apply
11 to the nomination of George J. Rios.
12 Mr. Babbar and Mr. Rios are both
13 recommended for a position on the board of
14 trustees by the mayor of the city of New York.
15 Both are presently commissioners of the city
16 administration. They serve at the pleasure of
17 Mayor Giuliani. I just cannot see that they
18 will have the independence in the position as a
19 member of the Board of Trustees of the City
20 University to carry out their fiduciary
21 responsibilities.
22 I may also say, Mr. President,
23 that I think what we're seeing is really sort of
9032
1 a downgrading of the board of trustees. The
2 board of trustees of this institution, as I
3 pointed out last week -- I believe it was last
4 week or the week before when we had a very
5 obvious political appointee, but this board
6 should be composed of people of great prestige,
7 of integrity, of independence, people who bring
8 a background in education and public affairs.
9 The City University system is a
10 system that is in real trouble, as is the State
11 University system. I think any of us who have
12 served here for a number of years can certainly
13 not take pride at what has happened to these two
14 great universities.
15 This Legislature has been in
16 complicity with governors, Governor Cuomo,
17 Governor Pataki which has cut off the funding to
18 these universities. We have seen that they have
19 declined in many of the standards by which
20 educational institutions are judged.
21 Therefore, it is all the more
22 important to have people who can be sufficiently
23 independent and bring to that board the sort of
9033
1 background and also the sort of public prestige
2 which will allow that university system to get
3 the public support that it needs.
4 So very regretfully, I'm going to
5 oppose Mr. Babbar. I have nothing against him
6 as such. I see he's an architect. He seems to
7 be a fine gentleman. Mr. Rios does have a lot
8 of experience in education, but there are issues
9 even now before the board of trustees which
10 these people will not be able to exercise
11 independent judgment.
12 One of them is a conflict between
13 the City University and the mayor as to whether
14 people who are on welfare should do or must do
15 their work service outside or -- of the confines
16 of the campus that they could be required to do
17 anywhere in the city of New York and, frankly,
18 that rule has already driven a number of people
19 out of the City University system.
20 This is just one example of where
21 you need trustees of independence. Obviously
22 serving at the pleasure of the mayor as his
23 commissioner, neither Mr. Babbar nor Mr. Rios
9034
1 can exercise that independence, and I will vote
2 against them.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Is there
4 any other Senator wishing to speak on the
5 nomination of Satish K. Babbar to become a
6 member of the board of trustees of the city of
7 New York?
8 (There was no response.)
9 Hearing none, the question is on
10 the nomination. All those in favor signify by
11 saying aye.
12 (Response of "Aye".)
13 Opposed, nay.
14 Senator Leichter in the
15 negative.
16 The nominee is confirmed.
17 We're very pleased to have Mr.
18 Babbar in the chamber with us who is seated in
19 the gallery above to your left. Congratulations
20 and good luck, sir.
21 (Applause)
22 The Secretary will continue to
23 read.
9035
1 THE SECRETARY: Senator Stafford,
2 from the Committee on Finance, reports the
3 following nomination:
4 Member of the Board of Trustees
5 of the City University of New York, Ronald
6 Marino, of Brooklyn.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The
8 question is on the nomination of Ronald Marino
9 to become a member of the Board of Trustees of
10 the City University of New York. All those in
11 favor signify by saying aye.
12 (Response of "Aye".)
13 Opposed, nay.
14 (There was no response.)
15 The nominee is unanimously
16 confirmed.
17 The Secretary will continue to
18 read.
19 THE SECRETARY: Senator Stafford,
20 from the Committee on Finance, reports the
21 following nomination:
22 Member of the Board of Trustees
23 of the City University of New York, George J.
9036
1 Rios, of the Bronx.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The Chair
3 recognizes Senator Velella, on the nomination.
4 SENATOR VELELLA: Mr. President,
5 it's my pleasure to rise and second the
6 nomination and move the nomination of Mr. Rios.
7 He's been an outstanding member
8 of the Bronx community. He's been appointed by
9 three presidents of the United States to various
10 positions within their administration. He has
11 excellent credentials in the educational
12 background, having received a Master's in public
13 administration. He has served as a secretary
14 for the regional representative of the U.S.
15 Department of Education. He has also served in
16 the corporate world as an officer of The
17 Equitable Corporation and as the deputy director
18 of the Civilian Complaint Review Board within
19 the city of New York.
20 It's unfortunate that Senator
21 Leichter chose to take up his name and question
22 the credentials of that candidate and his
23 ability to serve. He has an unblemished record
9037
1 of public service which has never been
2 questioned, and I certainly know that he will be
3 able to perform the duties of trustee of the
4 City University while he also performs his
5 duties within the Giuliani administration.
6 I want to just point out that in
7 the past, Senator Leichter has risen to question
8 the nominees to the CUNY Board of Trustees and
9 talked about the people of stature that we need,
10 the great people that were appointed by Mario
11 Cuomo, but yet he talks about also the fact that
12 City University is having serious troubles.
13 We've tried it your way, with
14 your governor, with your mayor's appointments.
15 Let's try it with ours. I guarantee you it'll
16 be one heck of a lot better.
17 I move the nomination.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Is there
19 any other Senator wishing to speak on the
20 nomination?
21 (There was no response.)
22 Hearing none, the question is on
23 the nomination of George J. Rios to become a
9038
1 member of the Board of Trustees of the City
2 University of New York. All those in favor
3 signify by saying aye.
4 (Response of "Aye".)
5 Opposed, nay.
6 Senator Leichter in the negative.
7 The nominee is confirmed.
8 We're very, very pleased to have
9 George Rios in the chamber with us seated in the
10 gallery to your left. Congratulations, sir, and
11 good luck.
12 (Applause)
13 The Secretary will read.
14 THE SECRETARY: Senator Stafford,
15 from the Committee on Finance, reports the
16 following nomination:
17 Member of the Board of Trustees
18 of the City University of New York, Richard
19 Stone, of Manhattan.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The
21 question is on the nomination of Richard Stone,
22 of Manhattan, to become a member of the board of
23 trustees of the City University of New York.
9039
1 All those in favor signify by saying aye.
2 (Response of "Aye".)
3 Opposed, nay.
4 (There was no response.)
5 The nominee is confirmed.
6 The Secretary will continue to
7 read.
8 THE SECRETARY: Senator Stafford,
9 from the Committee on Finance, reports the
10 following nomination:
11 Member of the Board of Visitors
12 of the Brooklyn Development Center, Virginia
13 Casey, of Brooklyn.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The
15 question is on the nomination. All those in
16 favor signify by saying aye.
17 (Response of "Aye".)
18 Opposed, nay.
19 (There was no response.)
20 The nominee is confirmed.
21 The Secretary will read.
22 THE SECRETARY: Senator Stafford,
23 from the Committee on Finance, reports the
9040
1 following nomination:
2 Member of the Board of Visitors
3 of the Buffalo Psychiatric Center, Connie Brown,
4 of Niagara Falls.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Senator
6 Maziarz, on the nomination.
7 SENATOR MAZIARZ: Thank you, Mr.
8 President.
9 Mr. President, I want to rise in
10 support of the nomination of Connie Brown, of
11 Niagara Falls, for a term on the Board of
12 Visitors of the Buffalo Psychiatric Center.
13 I've known Connie Brown for a
14 number of years. Connie has been involved in a
15 volunteer way with many organizations helping
16 people out in western New York, particularly her
17 volunteer work with the United Way of Niagara
18 and all of the agencies that fall under that
19 large United Way umbrella, but more importantly
20 Connie's paid service as an employee of
21 Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara has given her
22 a wealth of experience working with children,
23 adolescents and adults with mental and physical
9041
1 disabilities, and I can think, quite frankly,
2 Mr. President, of not a better person that I'd
3 like to see in -- in all of Niagara County
4 appointed to the Board of Visitors of the
5 Buffalo Psychiatric Center.
6 With all of the changes that are
7 going to be going on in the psychiatric center
8 and psychiatric facilities throughout New York
9 State, I think that we need good, competent,
10 qualified, capable people, and I know that
11 Connie Brown is that type of individual.
12 I second the nomination, Mr.
13 President.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Is there
15 any other Senator wishing to speak on the
16 nomination?
17 (There was no response.)
18 Hearing none, the question is on
19 the nomination of Connie Brown, of Niagara
20 Falls, to become a member of the Board of
21 Visitors of the Buffalo Psychiatric Center.
22 All those in favor of the
23 nomination signify by saying aye.
9042
1 (Response of "Aye".)
2 Opposed, nay.
3 (There was no response.)
4 The nominee is confirmed.
5 The Secretary will continue to
6 read.
7 THE SECRETARY: Senator Stafford,
8 from the Committee on Finance, reports the
9 following nomination:
10 Member of the Board of Visitors
11 of the Sagamore Children's Psychiatric Center,
12 Grace E. Clench, of Brentwood.
13 SENATOR JOHNSON: Mr. President.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: The Chair
15 recognizes Senator Johnson, on the nomination.
16 SENATOR JOHNSON: Mr. President,
17 I'm acquainted with Ms. Clench for many years.
18 She's been -- she's a reappointment. She's been
19 a leading member of the Board of Visitors of
20 Sagamore for many years and she's certainly
21 helped to point out problems and correct
22 deficiencies there that the children might be
23 better served.
9043
1 She's a fine lady, should be
2 reappointed, and I'd like to move her nomination
3 at this time.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Is there
5 any other Senator wishing to speak on the
6 nomination?
7 (There was no response.)
8 Hearing none, the question is on
9 the nomination of Grace E. Clench, of Brentwood,
10 New York, to become a member of the Board of
11 Visitors of the Sagamore Children's Psychiatric
12 Hospital. All those in favor of the nomination
13 signify by saying aye.
14 (Response of "Aye".)
15 Opposed, nay.
16 (There was no response.)
17 The nominee is confirmed.
18 Senator Skelos.
19 SENATOR SKELOS: Mr. President,
20 is there any housekeeping at the desk?
21 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: There is
22 no housekeeping at the desk, Senator Skelos.
23 SENATOR SKELOS: A reminder that
9044
1 there will be a conference of the Majority at
2 4:30, and there being no further business, I
3 move that the Senate stands adjourned until July
4 2nd at 5:00 p.m. sharp.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL: Without
6 objection, the Senate stands adjourned until
7 tomorrow, Tuesday, July 2nd at 5:00 p.m.
8 (Whereupon, at 5:54 p.m., the
9 Senate adjourned.)
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