Regular Session - June 18, 1997

                                                                  5460


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         8                       ALBANY, NEW YORK

         9                         June 18, 1997

        10                           10:07 a.m.

        11

        12

        13                       REGULAR SESSION

        14

        15

        16

        17       LT. GOVERNOR BETSY McCAUGHEY ROSS, President

        18       STEPHEN F. SLOAN, Secretary

        19

        20

        21

        22

        23

        24

        25







                                                              5461


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

         2                      THE PRESIDENT:  The Senate will

         3       come to order.  Would everyone please rise and

         4       join with me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

         5                      (The assemblage repeated the

         6       Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)

         7                      May we bow our heads in a moment

         8       of silence.

         9                      (A moment of silence was

        10       observed.)

        11                      The reading of the Journal,

        12       please.

        13                      THE SECRETARY:  In Senate,

        14       Tuesday, June 17th.  The Senate met pursuant to

        15       adjournment.  The Journal of Monday, June 16th,

        16       was read and approved.  On motion, the Senate

        17       adjourned.

        18                      THE PRESIDENT:  Without

        19       objection, the Journal stands approved as read.

        20                      Presentation of petitions.

        21                      Messages from the Assembly.

        22                      Messages from the Governor.

        23                      Reports of standing committees.

        24                      Reports of select committees.

        25                      Communications and reports from







                                                              5462


         1       state officers.

         2                      Motions and resolutions.

         3                      Senator Maziarz.

         4                      SENATOR MAZIARZ:  Thank you,

         5       Madam President.

         6                      Madam President, I wish to call

         7       up my bill, Print Number 5253, recalled the

         8       Assembly which is now at the desk.

         9                      THE PRESIDENT:  The Secretary

        10       will read.

        11                      THE SECRETARY:  By Senator

        12       Maziarz, Senate Print 5253, an act to amend the

        13       State Finance Law.

        14                      SENATOR MAZIARZ:  Madam

        15       President, I now move to reconsider the vote by

        16       which this bill was passed.

        17                      THE PRESIDENT:  Call the roll on

        18       reconsideration, please.

        19                      (The Secretary called the roll on

        20       reconsideration.)

        21                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 32.

        22                      THE PRESIDENT:  The bill is

        23       restored to the Third Reading Calendar.

        24                      Senator Johnson.

        25                      SENATOR JOHNSON:  Madam







                                                              5463


         1       President, please remove the sponsor's star

         2       which I have placed on Senate Calendar Numbers

         3       1111 and 1112.

         4                      THE PRESIDENT:  So ordered.

         5                      Senator Hannon.

         6                      SENATOR HANNON:  Madam President,

         7       on page 26, I offer the following amendments to

         8       Calendar Number 773, which is Senate Print

         9       4955.  I ask that said bill are retain its place

        10       on the Third Reading Calendar.

        11                      THE PRESIDENT:  The amendments

        12       are received.

        13                      Senator Volker.

        14                      SENATOR VOLKER:  Madam President,

        15       number one, would you please -- I would like to

        16       place a star on Calendar Number 49 on page 16.

        17       That's Calendar Number 489 on page 16.

        18                      THE PRESIDENT:  The bill is

        19       starred.

        20                      SENATOR VOLKER:  I also would

        21       like to remove the star from Calendar -- my

        22       bill, Calendar Number 702.

        23                      THE PRESIDENT:  So ordered.

        24                      SENATOR VOLKER:  And I have a

        25       motion here for Senator LaValle.







                                                              5464


         1                      Madam President, on page 41, on

         2       behalf of Senator LaValle, I offer the following

         3       amendments to Calendar Number 1152, Senate Print

         4       Number 5139-A, and ask that said bill retain its

         5       place on the Third Reading Calendar.

         6                      THE PRESIDENT:  The amendments

         7       are received.

         8                      Senator Kuhl.

         9                      SENATOR KUHL:  Yes, Madam

        10       President.  On behalf of Senator Lack, on page

        11       31, I offer the following amendments to Calendar

        12       Number -

        13                      THE PRESIDENT:  Sorry.  I can't

        14       hear you.

        15                      SENATOR KUHL:  -- 877, Senate

        16       Print 2699-A, and ask that said bill retain its

        17       place on the Third Reading Calendar.

        18                      THE PRESIDENT:  The amendments

        19       are received.

        20                      The Secretary will read the

        21       substitutions.

        22                      THE SECRETARY:  On page 43,

        23       Senator Holland moves to discharge from the

        24       Committee on Rules Assembly Print 1470-A and

        25       substitute it for the identical Senate bill,







                                                              5465


         1       Third Reading 1263.

         2                      On page 43, Senator Trunzo moves

         3       to discharge from the Committee on Rules

         4       Assembly Print 5913 and substitute it for the

         5       identical Senate Third Reading 1271.

         6                      THE PRESIDENT:  Senator Bruno.

         7                      SENATOR BRUNO:  Madam President,

         8       I believe that there is a privileged resolution

         9       by Senator Tully.  I would ask that the title be

        10       read and move for its immediate adoption.

        11                      THE PRESIDENT:  The Secretary

        12       will read.

        13                      THE SECRETARY:  By Senator Tully,

        14       Legislative Resolution commemorating the 25th

        15       Anniversary of Denton Green Senior Housing and

        16       the Dedication of a Memorial to the Founding

        17       President Harriet Rosenfield, June 26, 1997.

        18                      THE PRESIDENT:  The question is

        19       on the resolution.  All those in favor please

        20       signify by saying aye.

        21                      (Response of "Aye".)

        22                      Opposed, nay.

        23                      (There was no response.)

        24                      The resolution is adopted.

        25                      THE PRESIDENT:  Senator Bruno.







                                                              5466


         1                      SENATOR BRUNO:  Madam President,

         2       can we at this time take up the non

         3       controversial calendar.

         4                      THE PRESIDENT:  The Secretary

         5       will read.

         6                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

         7       102, by Senator Volker, Senate Print 808, an act

         8       to amend the Criminal Procedure Law, in relation

         9       to peace officers employed by Canisius College.

        10                      THE PRESIDENT:  Read the last

        11       section, please.

        12                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.  This

        13       act shall take effect -

        14                      SENATOR PATERSON:  Lay it aside.

        15                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Lay the

        16       bill aside.

        17                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        18       294, by Senator Meier, Senate Print 2149-A, an

        19       act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law and the

        20       Education Law.

        21                      SENATOR PATERSON:  Lay that

        22       aside.

        23                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Lay the

        24       bill aside.

        25                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number







                                                              5467


         1       422, by Senator Levy, Senate Print 917, an act

         2       to amend the Public Authorities Law, in relation

         3       to requiring the Metropolitan Transportation

         4       Authority to implement and obtain subway station

         5       signs.

         6                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The

         7       Secretary will read the last section.

         8                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 3.  This

         9       act shall take effect immediately.

        10                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Call the

        11       roll.

        12                      (The Secretary called the roll.)

        13                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 37.

        14                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

        15       is passed.

        16                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        17       630, by Senator LaValle, Senate Print 2657, an

        18       act to amend the Public Health Law, in relation

        19       to authorizing and directing the Commissioner of

        20       Health.

        21                      SENATOR PATERSON:  Lay it aside.

        22                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Lay the

        23       bill aside.

        24                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        25       634, by Senator Hannon, Senate Print 4132, an







                                                              5468


         1       act to amend the Public Health Law and the

         2       Education Law, in relation to exempting certain

         3       retired physicians.

         4                      SENATOR DOLLINGER:  Lay it aside.

         5                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Lay the

         6       bill aside.

         7                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

         8       705, by Member of the Assembly Dinowitz,

         9       Assembly Print 2164, an act to amend the Private

        10       Housing Finance Law, in relation to increasing.

        11                      SENATOR BRUNO:  Lay it aside.

        12                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Lay the

        13       bill aside.

        14                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        15       827, by Senator Larkin, Senate Print 4285, an

        16       act to amend the General Municipal Law, in

        17       relation to the powers of Industrial Development

        18       Agencies.

        19                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The

        20       Secretary will read the last section.

        21                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 8.  This

        22       act shall take effect immediately.

        23                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 37.

        24                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

        25       is passed.







                                                              5469


         1                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

         2       879, by member of the Assembly Luster, Assembly

         3       Print 5390, an act to amend the Arts and

         4       Cultural Affairs Law, in relation to printing

         5       records of enduring value.

         6                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The

         7       Secretary will read the last section.

         8                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.  This

         9       act shall take effect immediately.

        10                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Call the

        11       roll.

        12                      (The Secretary called the roll.)

        13                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 37.

        14                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

        15       is passed.

        16                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        17       884, by Senator Goodman, Senate Print 3541, an

        18       act to amend the Tax Law, in relation to the

        19       seizure and forfeiture of vehicles.

        20                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  There is

        21       a home rule message at the desk.  The Secretary

        22       will read the last section.

        23                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.  This

        24       act shall take effect immediately.

        25                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Call the







                                                              5470


         1       roll.

         2                      (The Secretary called the roll.)

         3                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 37.

         4                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

         5       is passed.

         6                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

         7       973, by Senator Holland, Senate Print 1763, an

         8       act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law, in

         9       relation to requiring certain identification

        10       information.

        11                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The

        12       Secretary will read the last section.

        13                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.  This

        14       act shall take effect immediately.

        15                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Call the

        16       roll.

        17                      (The Secretary called the roll.)

        18                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 38.

        19                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

        20       is passed.

        21                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        22       1001, by Senator Levy, Senate Print 4535-A, an

        23       act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law, in

        24       relation to registration period of apportioned

        25       vehicles.







                                                              5471


         1                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The

         2       Secretary will read the last section.

         3                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.  This

         4       act shall take effect on the 90th day.

         5                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Call the

         6       roll.

         7                      (The Secretary called the roll.)

         8                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 38.

         9                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

        10       is passed.

        11                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        12       1014, by Senator Levy, Senate Print 4864-B, an

        13       act to amend the Highway Law, in relation to the

        14       establishment of a program of railroad bridge

        15       inspection.

        16                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The

        17       Secretary will read the last section.

        18                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 3.  This

        19       act shall take effect immediately.

        20                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Call the

        21       roll.

        22                      (The Secretary called the roll.)

        23                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 38.

        24                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

        25       is passed.







                                                              5472


         1                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

         2       1015, by Senator Levy, Senate Print 4916, an act

         3       to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law, in

         4       relation to suspension.

         5                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The

         6       Secretary will read the last section.

         7                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.  This

         8       act shall take effect immediately.

         9                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Call the

        10       roll.

        11                      (The Secretary called the roll.)

        12                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 38.

        13                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

        14       is passed.

        15                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        16       1076, by Senator Seward, Senate Print 3188-A, an

        17       act to amend the General Municipal Law, in

        18       relation to an intermunicipal agreement.

        19                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The

        20       Secretary will read the last section.

        21                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.  This

        22       act shall take effect immediately.

        23                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Call the

        24       roll.

        25                      (The Secretary called the roll.)







                                                              5473


         1                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 38.

         2                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

         3       is passed.

         4                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

         5       1170, by Senator LaValle, Senate Print 3286-A,

         6       an act to amend the Civil Rights Law, in

         7       relation to genetic tests.

         8                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The

         9       Secretary will read the last section.

        10                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 6.  This

        11       act shall take effect in 90 days.

        12                      SENATOR BRUNO:  Lay it aside.

        13                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Lay the

        14       bill aside.

        15                      We'll lay Calendar Number 1170

        16       aside for the day.  Calendar Number 1152 which

        17       was previously amended was not called.

        18                      The Secretary will continue to

        19       call the non-controversial calendar.

        20                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        21       1220, by Senator Waldon, Senate Print 140, an

        22       act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law, in

        23       relation to misdemeanor complaints.

        24                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The

        25       Secretary will read the last section.







                                                              5474


         1                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.  This

         2       act shall take effect immediately.

         3                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Call the

         4       roll.

         5                      (The Secretary called the roll.)

         6                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 38.

         7                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

         8       is passed.

         9                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        10       1239, restored earlier today by Senator Maziarz,

        11       Senate Print 5253, an act to amend the State

        12       Finance Law, in relation to establishing a

        13       transportation mobility revolving loan.

        14                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Senator

        15       Bruno.

        16                      SENATOR BRUNO:  Is there a

        17       message at the desk?

        18                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  There is.

        19                      SENATOR BRUNO:  I move we accept

        20       the message.

        21                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  All those

        22       in favor signify by saying aye.

        23                      (Response of "Aye".)

        24                      Opposed, nay.

        25                      (There was no response.)







                                                              5475


         1                      The message is accepted.

         2                      The Secretary will read the last

         3       section.

         4                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 3.  This

         5       act shall take effect immediately.

         6                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Call the

         7       roll.

         8                      (The Secretary called the roll.)

         9                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 38.

        10                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

        11       is passed.

        12                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        13       1245, by Senator Skelos, Senate Print 180, an

        14       act to amend the Civil Practice Law and Rules

        15       and the Family Court Act.

        16                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The

        17       Secretary will read the last section.

        18                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 3.  This

        19       act shall take effect immediately.

        20                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Call the

        21       roll.

        22                      (The Secretary called the roll.)

        23                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 38.

        24                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

        25       is passed.







                                                              5476


         1                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

         2       1263, substituted earlier today by member of the

         3       Assembly Colman, Assembly Print 1470-A, an act

         4       to amend Chapter 672 of the Laws of 1993.

         5                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The

         6       Secretary will read the last section.

         7                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.  This

         8       act shall take effect immediately.

         9                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Call the

        10       roll.

        11                      (The Secretary called the roll.)

        12                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 38.

        13                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

        14       is passed.

        15                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        16       1264, by Senator Alesi, Senate Print 948-A, an

        17       act to amend the Penal Law, in relation to

        18       endangering the welfare of a child.

        19                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The

        20       Secretary will read the last section.

        21                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.  This

        22       act shall take effect on the first day of

        23       November.

        24                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Call the

        25       roll.







                                                              5477


         1                      (The Secretary called the roll.)

         2                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 37, nays 1,

         3       Senator Kuhl recorded in the negative.

         4                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

         5       is passed.

         6                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

         7       1265, by Senator Kruger, Senate Print 1341, an

         8       act to amend the Military Law, in relation to

         9       authorizing the Governor.

        10                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The

        11       Secretary will read the last section.

        12                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.  This

        13       act shall take effect immediately.

        14                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Call the

        15       roll.

        16                      (The Secretary called the roll.)

        17                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 41.

        18                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

        19       is passed.

        20                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        21       1266, by Senator Velella, Senate Print 1616-A,

        22       an act to amend the Insurance Law, in relation

        23       to certain provider notice to insurance

        24       companies.

        25                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The







                                                              5478


         1       Secretary will read the last section.

         2                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.  This

         3       act shall take effect on the 180th day.

         4                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Call the

         5       roll.

         6                      (The Secretary called the roll.)

         7                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 43.

         8                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

         9       is passed.

        10                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        11       1267, by Senator Onorato, Senate Print 1840, an

        12       act to amend the Education Law, in relation to

        13       limitations.

        14                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  There is

        15       a home rule message at the desk -- excuse me.

        16       That's the next bill.

        17                      The Secretary will read the last

        18       section.

        19                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.  This

        20       act shall take effect immediately.

        21                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Call the

        22       roll.

        23                      (The Secretary called the roll.)

        24                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 43.

        25                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill







                                                              5479


         1       is passed.

         2                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

         3       1268, by Senator Maziarz, Senate Print 2783, an

         4       act to reopen the special retirement plan

         5       available to certain police officers.

         6                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  There is

         7       a home rule message at the desk.  The Secretary

         8       will read the last section.

         9                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 3.  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 43.

        15                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

        16       is passed.

        17                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        18       1269, by Senator Trunzo, Senate Print 3276-A, an

        19       act to amend the Public Officers Law, in

        20       relation to activities by former state officers.

        21                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The

        22       Secretary will read the last section.

        23                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.  This

        24       act shall take effect immediately.

        25                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Call the







                                                              5480


         1       roll.

         2                      (The Secretary called the roll.)

         3                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 45.

         4                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

         5       is passed.

         6                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

         7       1270, by Senator Marchi, Senate Print 3579-A, an

         8       act to amend the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law.

         9                      SENATOR BRUNO:  Lay it aside for

        10       the day.

        11                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Lay the

        12       bill aside for the day.

        13                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        14       1271, substituted earlier today by Member of the

        15       Assembly Vitaliano, Assembly Print 5913, an act

        16       to amend Chapter 695 of the Laws of 1994.

        17                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The

        18       Secretary will read the last section.

        19                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.  This

        20       act shall take effect immediately.

        21                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Call the

        22       roll.

        23                      (The Secretary called the roll.)

        24                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 46.

        25                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill







                                                              5481


         1       is passed.

         2                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

         3       1272, by Senator Tully, Senate Print 3926, an

         4       act to amend the General Municipal Law, in

         5       relation to optional disability coverage.

         6                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  There is

         7       a home rule message at the desk.  The Secretary

         8       will read the last section.

         9                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 5.  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 46.

        15                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

        16       is passed.

        17                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        18       1273, by Senator Skelos, Senate Print 4118-A, an

        19       act to amend the Civil Practice Law and Rules,

        20       in relation to the scope of a review.

        21                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The

        22       Secretary will read the last section.

        23                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.  This

        24       act shall take effect in 90 days.

        25                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Call the







                                                              5482


         1       roll.

         2                      (The Secretary called the roll.)

         3                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 46.

         4                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

         5       is passed.

         6                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

         7       1274, by Senator Tully, Senate Print 4503, an

         8       act to amend the Family Court Act, in relation

         9       to the provision of restitution.

        10                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The

        11       Secretary will read the last section.

        12                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.  This

        13       act shall take effect immediately.

        14                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Call the

        15       roll.

        16                      (The Secretary called the roll.)

        17                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 46.

        18                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

        19       is passed.

        20                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        21       1276, by Senator Volker, Senate Print 5218-A, an

        22       act to amend the Penal Law.

        23                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

        24       is high.  Lay the bill aside.

        25                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number







                                                              5483


         1       1278, by Senator Volker, Senate Print 5299, an

         2       act to commit the reopening of the optional

         3       20-year retirement plan.

         4                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  There is

         5       a home rule message at the desk.  The Secretary

         6       will read the last section.

         7                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 3.  This

         8       act shall take effect immediately.

         9                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Call the

        10       roll.

        11                      (The Secretary called the roll.)

        12                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 46, nays 1,

        13       Senator Leichter recorded in the negative.

        14                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

        15       is passed.

        16                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        17       1279, by Senator Marcellino, Senate Print 5335,

        18       an act to authorize the town of Oyster Bay,

        19       Nassau County to deliver revenue anticipation

        20       notes.

        21                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  There is

        22       a home rule message at the desk.  The Secretary

        23       will read the last section.

        24                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 4.  This

        25       act shall take effect immediately.







                                                              5484


         1                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Call the

         2       roll.

         3                      (The Secretary called the roll.)

         4                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 47.

         5                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

         6       is passed.

         7                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

         8       1280, by Senator Velella, Senate Print 5421, an

         9       act to amend the Criminal procedure law, in

        10       relation to the commission of crimes against

        11       children.

        12                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The

        13       Secretary will read the last section.

        14                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.  This

        15       act shall take effect immediately.

        16                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Call the

        17       roll.

        18                      (The Secretary called the roll.)

        19                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 47.

        20                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

        21       is passed.

        22                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        23       1281, by Senator Libous, Senate Print 5425, an

        24       act to amend the Tax Law, in relation to

        25       extending the authorization of the county of







                                                              5485


         1       Broome to impose an additional one percent sales

         2       and compensating use tax.

         3                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The

         4       Secretary will read the last section.

         5                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.  This

         6       act shall take effect immediately.

         7                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Call the

         8       roll.

         9                      (The Secretary called the roll.)

        10                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 45, nays 2,

        11       Senators Dollinger and Gentile recorded in the

        12       negative.

        13                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

        14       is passed.

        15                      Senator Skelos, that completes

        16       the reading of the non-controversial calendar.

        17                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President.

        18                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Senator

        19       Skelos.

        20                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Please take up

        21       the controversial calendar.

        22                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The

        23       Secretary will read the controversial calendar

        24       beginning with Calendar Number 102 by Senator

        25       Volker on page 5.







                                                              5486


         1                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

         2       102, by Senator Volker, Senate Print 808, an act

         3       to amend the Criminal Procedure Law, in relation

         4       to peace officers employed by Canisius College.

         5                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Senator

         6       Leichter -- the Secretary will read the last

         7       section.

         8                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.  This

         9       act shall take effect immediately.

        10                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Call the

        11       roll.

        12                      (The Secretary called the roll.)

        13                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Record

        14       the negatives and announce the results.

        15                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 45, nays 2,

        16       Senators Gold and Leichter recorded in the

        17       negative.

        18                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

        19       is passed.

        20                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        21       294, by Senator Meier, Senate Print 2149-A -

        22                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Lay the bill

        23       aside temporarily.

        24                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Lay the

        25       bill aside temporarily.







                                                              5487


         1                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

         2       630, by Senator LaValle, Senate Print 2657, an

         3       act to amend the Public Health Law, in relation

         4       to authorizing and directing the Commissioner of

         5       Health.

         6                      SENATOR PATERSON:  Explanation.

         7                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Senator

         8       LaValle, an explanation of Calendar Number 630

         9       has been requested.

        10                      SENATOR LAVALLE:  Thank you, Mr.

        11       President.

        12                      Senator Paterson, one of the

        13       issues facing our emergency personnel, our

        14       firefighter -- volunteer firefighters who aren't

        15       even paid firefighters, ambulance personnel and

        16       police personnel, is that after they have

        17       attended to someone at the scene of the

        18       accident, have brought that person to a

        19       facility, they are unaware of whether that

        20       individual has a communicable disease and so

        21       this bill makes an amendment to the Public

        22       Health Law authorizing and directing the

        23       Commissioner of Health to promulgate rules and

        24       regulations that will require a medical facility

        25       to give notice of the presence of a communicable







                                                              5488


         1       disease or other health risk to the emergency

         2       response personnel who have had certain contact

         3       with that individual.

         4                      That essentially is what the -

         5       what the bill does, Senator Paterson.

         6                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Senator

         7       Paterson.

         8                      SENATOR PATERSON:  Thank you, Mr.

         9       President.

        10                      If Senator LaValle will yield for

        11       a question.

        12                      SENATOR LAVALLE:  Yes.

        13                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Senator

        14       LaValle yields.

        15                      SENATOR PATERSON:  Senator, the

        16       idea is good.  What I would just like to ask is

        17       the federal government, I know at one point was

        18       interested in establishing policy on this

        19       subject nationwide.  Has there been anything

        20       implemented so far?

        21                      SENATOR LAVALLE:  I know that the

        22       federal government has, Senator Paterson, put

        23       into place certain definitions of communicable

        24       diseases and under what circumstances

        25       understanding what all our concerns are, the







                                                              5489


         1       privacy issues and how we deal with that and

         2       that's all I can basically say.  It's the

         3       federal -- the federal government has by

         4       definition done that.

         5                      By the way, Senator, we, myself

         6       and others, have for a number of years had

         7       legislation to try to do what the federal

         8       government did and they were unsuccessful and I

         9       know that the emergency service personnel were

        10       quite pleased with the federal law and the

        11       regulations that have been promulgated and put

        12       into place defining the communicable diseases.

        13                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Senator

        14       Paterson.

        15                      SENATOR PATERSON:  Thank you, Mr.

        16       President.

        17                      On the bill.  The risk that one

        18       would take in a situation like this really

        19       compels us to do something in this area, and I

        20       think that I want to applaud Senator LaValle for

        21       his work in the area.  Should the federal

        22       government have promulgated its own regulations,

        23       we, of course, run the risk of this bill being

        24       preempted by federal statutes.  As long as it

        25       doesn't, we have no problem with the bill.







                                                              5490


         1                      Thank you.

         2                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The

         3       Secretary will read the last section.

         4                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.  This

         5       act shall take effect on the 120th day.

         6                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Call the

         7       roll.

         8                      (The Secretary called the roll.)

         9                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 49.

        10                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

        11       is passed.

        12                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        13       634, by Senator Hannon, Senate Print 4132, an

        14       act to amend the Public Health Law and the

        15       Education Law.

        16                      SENATOR PATERSON:  Explanation.

        17                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Senator

        18       Hannon, an explanation of Calendar Number 634

        19       has been requested.

        20                      SENATOR HANNON:  Yes.  This

        21       provision would allow in situations of a

        22       not-for-profit clinic those physicians who are

        23       already retired from practice and who are

        24       rendering services voluntarily without any

        25       compensation and explicitly without the







                                                              5491


         1       expectation of compensation to be immune from

         2       the medical malpractice.

         3                      SENATOR DOLLINGER:  Mr.

         4       President.

         5                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Senator

         6       Paterson.

         7                      SENATOR PATERSON:  Thank you, Mr.

         8       President.

         9                      I will yield to Senator

        10       Dollinger.

        11                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Senator

        12       Dollinger.

        13                      SENATOR DOLLINGER:  Mr.

        14       President, this is a bill that we considered in

        15       the Health Committee and there was a suggestion

        16       made in the Health Committee by Senator Abate

        17       which we have incorporated into an amendment

        18       which I now ask to be considered by the house.

        19       I would waive its reading and ask to be heard on

        20       the amendment, Mr. President.

        21                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Forgive

        22       me just a minute.  We just received it at the

        23       desk, Senator Dollinger.  I'll see whether or

        24       not it's germane.

        25                      SENATOR DOLLINGER:  For the







                                                              5492


         1       record, Mr. President, I served a copy of this

         2       amendment on the Chairman of the Health

         3       Committee and the sponsor of the bill and sent

         4       copies to the Majority Leader, the Minority

         5       Leader as required by the rules.

         6                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  We'll -

         7       Senator Dollinger, thank you.

         8                      We received your amendment.

         9       We'll waive the reading of it and we'll afford

        10       you the opportunity to explain the amendment

        11       right now if you would like to.

        12                      SENATOR DOLLINGER:  Thank you,

        13       Mr. President.

        14                      Senator Hannon's bill which

        15       addresses a problem that exists in this state,

        16       the difficulty of, in many cases, not-for-profit

        17       community health centers or neighborhood health

        18       centers that have retired health physicians come

        19       into the neighborhood to provide services.

        20                      The question is should we suspend

        21       the normal rules of liability for those who

        22       receive those services from a retired

        23       physician?  It seems to me that when we have

        24       suspended normal rules of liability in this

        25       state, we have provided notice and information







                                                              5493


         1       to the consumer that they will be aware of the

         2       waiver of liability before it occurs.

         3                      What this amendment seeks to do

         4       is create language that would be effective for

         5       both retired physicians and retired registered

         6       nurses.  We expand the scope of this bill to

         7       include retired registered nurses.  It would

         8       provide that there would be no liability on

         9       behalf of the consumer unless they could prove

        10       gross negligence and provided that the physician

        11       or the registered nurse gave to the consumer

        12       notice of the fact that his or her services are

        13       provided voluntarily and without the expectation

        14       of compensation and that, two, notifying them in

        15       order to recover, they would have to prove gross

        16       negligence, the theory being that if we're going

        17       to deviate from our traditional rules of

        18       liability because of the need to encourage

        19       retired physicians and retired registered nurses

        20       to come back into practice and help those who

        21       can't pay for medical services, we should give

        22       them notice of the fact that they are going -

        23       those actions are going to be held to a higher

        24       standard in order for an injured consumer to

        25       recover.







                                                              5494


         1                      That's what this amendment does.

         2       It provides notice to the consumer that they

         3       will have to prove gross negligence in order to

         4       recover; two, that the services that are being

         5       provided without expectation of compensation and

         6       it puts the consumer in a position where we can

         7       sit -- where they can sit down and say before

         8       they take the services, they can evaluate the

         9       risk and the liability.

        10                      All this does, Mr. President -

        11       it doesn't quite parallel but it certainly is

        12       analogous to the waivers of liability, the

        13       written waivers of liability that are in effect

        14       for certain types of sporting events, for

        15       certain types of other activities in this state

        16       in which we have altered the rules of liability

        17       for socially beneficial purposes and at the same

        18       time before we do that, we give consumers notice

        19       of the fact that their conduct subjects them to

        20       a higher risk than they would otherwise be

        21       subjected to.

        22                      That's the purpose of the

        23       amendment.  It really mirrors the intent of

        24       Senator Hannon's bill but this provides the

        25       notice to the consumers to give them the ability







                                                              5495


         1       to make an intelligent choice about whether they

         2       will accept these free but perhaps more risky

         3       services.  They will know that before they go in

         4       and take the services.

         5                      That's the purpose of the

         6       amendment, Mr. President.  I appreciate the

         7       opportunity to explain it and I offer it to the

         8       house.

         9                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Senator

        10       Hannon, on the amendment.

        11                      SENATOR HANNON:  Yes, Mr.

        12       President.  Thank you and I appreciate having

        13       had notice before the session began of what you

        14       intended to offer and it's always helpful

        15       because this has obviously come up in committee

        16       and some people feel very strongly, but I think

        17       the question is very clear-cut as to what we're

        18       trying to do.

        19                      We're trying to provide health

        20       care to people who would not at all have the

        21       services of this physician, this mythical

        22       physician, under the current system and there

        23       are a number of things you do in your amendment

        24       that I think are somewhat a gray area.

        25                      Should we be adding on other







                                                              5496


         1       health care professionals?  You add on the

         2       nurses.  Well, perhaps they haven't come to us.

         3       Perhaps we really don't have the same type of

         4       shortage.  They're still not in the same type of

         5       key decision-making position that the doctors

         6       are.  So we'll leave that aside.

         7                      The notice.  Well, you can talk

         8       about what's another slip of paper.  You walk

         9       into any type of health care provider these days

        10       and you're hit with a whole raft of papers and

        11       I'm not sure even the best lawyers are

        12       appreciative of what they're being handed or if

        13       there's a notice on the wall, what's going on.

        14                      So the heart of the matter, I

        15       think, comes down to what you talk about.  You

        16       would say that instead of the immunity, you

        17       would rather have a liability for gross

        18       negligence or willful misconduct and it would be

        19       my contention that that would just put a harpoon

        20       through the purpose of the bill and we might as

        21       well not do it if that would be the case.  And

        22       why would that be?  Because we're dealing here

        23       with absolutely the retired physician.  We're

        24       even exempting them from about the approximate

        25       $600 a year in registration fees they would have







                                                              5497


         1       to pay if they weren't truly retired and this is

         2       all voluntary.  They can't get any

         3       compensation.

         4                      So that this is to a profession

         5       that has been, you know, just a matter of trying

         6       to keep alive here.  It's a clinic that's being

         7       run.  They're totally subject -- that's why the

         8       bill makes sure they're totally subject to the

         9       professional standards and Office of

        10       Professional Misconduct of this state.  But why

        11       is it then you're so afraid?  You say gross

        12       misconduct, because it still subjects them to

        13       the legal system.  We're not even worried about

        14       the liability system at this point.  It's the

        15       legal system, wherein the legal fees, the cost

        16       of getting a lawyer, the cost of hiring one, the

        17       cost of going to court, the time involved is

        18       going to be such a deterrent that if we were to

        19       put your suggestion into this statute and get

        20       the whole thing enacted, I don't think that we

        21       would have any of these volunteers.

        22                      So for that purpose, I would

        23       recommend we not do it and that we go back to

        24       the original intent of the bill, which is to get

        25       services to individuals who would not otherwise







                                                              5498


         1       have them and it's been interesting.  This came

         2       up because of a local situation where some

         3       not-for-profit people wanted to offer the

         4       services.  As it's been in for, I guess two

         5       years, we've heard a number of other situations

         6       around this state all on a very small scale

         7       basis.

         8                      So we're not going to be taking

         9       away from the regular care that we work so hard

        10       to do under our Medicaid system, under our bad

        11       debt and charity care.  This is truly for the

        12       charity services to those who would not

        13       otherwise get them and for those reasons, I

        14       would recommend that we not accept this

        15       amendment.

        16                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Is there

        17       any other Senator wishing to speak on the

        18       amendment?

        19                      Senator Skelos.

        20                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

        21       if I could just interrupt.  There will be an

        22       immediate meeting of the Rules Committee in the

        23       Majority Conference Room.

        24                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Immediate

        25       meeting of the Rules Committee, immediate







                                                              5499


         1       meeting of the Rules Committee in the Majority

         2       Conference Room, Room 332.

         3                      Senator Dollinger, on the

         4       amendment.

         5                      SENATOR DOLLINGER:  Mr.

         6       President, I appreciate the very cogent

         7       presentation from the Chairman of the Health

         8       Committee.  I understand his position.

         9                      I too acknowledge the fact that

        10       perhaps putting this language in might

        11       discourage the very activity we're trying to

        12       encourage.  I understand there's a risk of that,

        13       but I think from my perspective in looking at

        14       this -- because in other instances where we've

        15       modified the liability rules of this state, we

        16       do require that those who are modifying them and

        17       getting the benefit of them -- you jump out of

        18       an airplane, you get the little waiver of

        19       liability.  You get the notice of liability.

        20                      I think that there should be

        21       something that notifies consumers about the fact

        22       that we're deviating from our otherwise simple

        23       negligence, simple malpractice rules, and I

        24       appreciate the Chairman's concern.  I think this

        25       issue of providing small neighborhood services







                                                              5500


         1       -- I've got one in my own district.  I'm very

         2       much aware of it but it just seems to me that to

         3       modify the rules without giving the consumer

         4       albeit another slip of paper -- I acknowledge

         5       that as well.  As someone who hasn't used a lot

         6       of health care but on a number of occasions has

         7       had his children use health care, you're forever

         8       signing things.  They always tell you to go

         9       ahead and read it and you tend to flip it over

        10       quickly, but I still think that this notice

        11       provision would provide some protection, perhaps

        12       only in a few instances where consumers would

        13       say, I don't really want to do that.  I know I'm

        14       going to have to find some other source for it

        15       and under those circumstances, I continue to

        16       support the amendment.

        17                      I haven't made up my mind on the

        18       underlying bill, but I still think there's a

        19       benefit in telling the consumers about the fact

        20       that we're changing the rules.

        21                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Is there

        22       any other Senator wishing to speak on the

        23       amendment?

        24                      (There was no response.)

        25                      Hearing none, the question is on







                                                              5501


         1       the amendment.  All those in favor of the

         2       amendment signify by saying aye.

         3                      (Response of "Aye".)

         4                      Opposed, nay.

         5                      (Response of "Nay".)

         6                      The amendment is defeated.

         7                      Is there any member wishing to

         8       speak on the bill?

         9                      Senator Leichter.

        10                      SENATOR LEICHTER:  Mr. President,

        11       if the good Chairman of the Health Committee

        12       would yield.

        13                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Senator

        14       Hannon, do you yield to a question?  The Senator

        15       yields.

        16                      SENATOR LEICHTER:  Senator, I

        17       think there's a problem and I appreciate you're

        18       trying to deal with it, and while I supported

        19       Senator Dollinger's amendment, I don't think

        20       that was an ideal resolution to the problem and

        21       I can see some of the difficulties of doing

        22       that.  It doesn't matter.  That's history

        23       anyhow, but it seems to me there's a much better

        24       way of dealing with this and that's what I

        25       wanted to ask you whether that's been







                                                              5502


         1       considered.

         2                      I think that we ought to

         3       encourage retired doctors to come and provide

         4       the service.  On the other hand, I don't like

         5       the idea of consumers getting, in effect, less

         6       careful treatment or lesser rights than other

         7       consumers.  I mean, you're in the waiting room.

         8       You get seen by a regular doctor.  If there's

         9       negligence, you have certain rights.  If it just

        10       so happens you get seen by a doctor who's a

        11       retired doctor, under your bill, you lose

        12       certain rights.

        13                      Have you considered the

        14       possibility of setting up a state fund -- which

        15       would not have to be a very large fund -- that

        16       we would provide the insurance for retired

        17       doctors and in this way encouraging them to do

        18       what you want to do, which is laudatory, to

        19       practice and at the same time protecting the

        20       consumer?

        21                      SENATOR HANNON:  Ultimately it

        22       may come to it, but I think you have to look at

        23       how we started with this legislation.  This was

        24       not something where there's a large number of

        25       physicians going to serve.  I mean, we have,







                                                              5503


         1       obviously in many parts of the state,

         2       underserved areas for physicians, rural and

         3       inner city, but there's some other places where

         4       there's a pool that have absolutely been

         5       retired.  So the scale of what you're talking

         6       about is several orders of magnitude above the

         7       need that we're trying to match here.  We're

         8       trying -- this is a very small scale.  This is

         9       physicians serving at no pay, okay?  This is

        10       truly voluntary.

        11                      I don't think that the pool would

        12       be sufficient and large enough for us to go in

        13       and have part of the state fund and have to have

        14       even an administrator but that would require

        15       attorneys and that would require us to be in the

        16       business of insurers of the last resort for that

        17       group.  So, no, it wasn't because the need did

        18       not dictate that we have that type of response.

        19                      SENATOR LEICHTER:  If you would

        20       be so good to continue to yield.  Frankly, it

        21       seems to me your argument is really persuasive

        22       of the point that I'm trying to make.  If there

        23       aren't that many doctors -

        24                      SENATOR HANNON:  I'm sure,

        25       Senator, you feel that way, but I must put on







                                                              5504


         1       the record that I differ.

         2                      SENATOR LEICHTER:  Well, hear my

         3       point.  If, as you point out, we're really not

         4       dealing with that many doctors, and so on, and

         5       the course of the state is very strong -- it's

         6       not a matter that (a) you would need an

         7       administrator or have to hire lawyers, and so

         8       on.  All you do is you provide those doctors.

         9       You provide the insurance that they're no longer

        10       paying, whatever that cost is.  It's a very

        11       small amount.  It doesn't require any

        12       administration.  It encourages doctors to do

        13       what you want them to do and at the same time it

        14       protects consumers.  That's a good public

        15       investment.

        16                      SENATOR HANNON:  In response, I

        17       would simply say, it's not just a little thing.

        18       You don't just set up a little insurance fund.

        19       We have several volumes of the Insurance Law

        20       which we've passed in order to make sure that

        21       there are standards.  You have to go into how

        22       much would you set aside, what are the reserves

        23       for that?  Shall there be access to bad debt

        24       funds?  What type of underwriting shall we do?

        25       How much shall we set aside?  Every time a claim







                                                              5505


         1       is brought, somebody has to look at that.

         2       Someone has to put aside a reserve for that

         3       claim.  I don't think it's a little thing.

         4                      As I go back to my original

         5       answer to your first question, that would be far

         6       greater a response to the need than is

         7       warranted.

         8                      SENATOR LEICHTER:  Mr. President,

         9       just very briefly on the bill.

        10                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Senator

        11       Leichter, on the bill.

        12                      SENATOR LEICHTER:  I appreciate

        13       Senator Hannon's comments but it seems to me

        14       that to have a resolution of this problem,

        15       whereby we really have a second class of

        16       patients, patients with less rights and the fact

        17       is that negligence occurs.  Maybe it will occur

        18       more often.  I assume it would occur more often

        19       with retired doctors.  They've lost some of

        20       their skills.  Their eyes aren't as good,

        21       whatever, and now you've got somebody who was

        22       injured, maybe very seriously, had a great loss

        23       and it's not compensable.  I just think that's

        24       unfair.

        25                      Yes, we want retired doctors to







                                                              5506


         1       give their time and practice and, yes, we

         2       appreciate that many of them are not going to do

         3       it if they've got to take out insurance, pay a

         4       registration fee.  Why can't the state under

         5       those circumstances come in?

         6                      I'm not persuaded by Senator

         7       Hannon saying, Well, you know, the Insurance

         8       Law, it's two big volumes and you've got to do-

         9       look at underwriting and this and that.  That

        10       can easily be done.  That can easily be done.

        11       We ought to do that and in this way we get the

        12       doctors, which is what we want.  We protect the

        13       consumers, the patients.  We don't have a second

        14       class of patients and I think it's perfectly

        15       sensible.  In fact, it's a very desirable

        16       resolution to this problem.

        17                      I have difficulty voting for this

        18       bill because I think you are putting patients at

        19       risk.  You're creating an inferior category of

        20       patients, and I don't think we should do that.

        21                      SENATOR DOLLINGER:  Mr.

        22       President.

        23                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Senator

        24       Dollinger.

        25                      SENATOR DOLLINGER:  Would Senator







                                                              5507


         1       Leichter yield to a question?

         2                      SENATOR LEICHTER:  Yes.

         3                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The

         4       Senator yields.

         5                      SENATOR DOLLINGER:  Senator

         6       Leichter, you raised the prospect of the state

         7       doing this.  Is it possible that we could use

         8       the MMIA, a source of funds which currently has

         9       $1 billion or more in it.  It's now used for

        10       excess coverage for our physicians that are in

        11       practice.  The state government has raided the

        12       fund for hundreds of millions of dollars in the

        13       last six years.  There's plenty of cash in

        14       there.  We've got a system of handling claims

        15       and adjudicating claims and defending claims on

        16       behalf of physicians.

        17                      Are you suggesting that we should

        18       use the MMIA and set up a system under which

        19       physicians who want to volunteer could register

        20       with this service and then be covered to the

        21       full extent of their malpractice coverage

        22       through the MMIA, a socially beneficial

        23       insurance company to protect consumers and

        24       physicians?

        25                      SENATOR LEICHTER:  Well, that's







                                                              5508


         1       my point.  I think it can be readily done and I

         2       think you've shown us one way that it could be

         3       done and, in fact, in a way that probably would

         4       have no cost whatsoever to the taxpayers of the

         5       state, yes.  There are better solutions than

         6       Senator Hannon's.

         7                      SENATOR DOLLINGER:  Mr.

         8       President, if I could just continue.  Senator

         9       Leichter's idea, he obviously is thinking with

        10       his southern mind.  That's almost exactly what

        11       they did in the state of Florida, Senator

        12       Leichter.  They set up an insurance company -

        13       set up an insurance apparatus and used one that

        14       was currently in existence to pay the claims and

        15       to adjudicate the claims for volunteers.

        16                      I would simply suggest, Senator

        17       Leichter, that perhaps next year if this bill

        18       comes back, we'll put that idea on the table as

        19       well and perhaps have a debate on the merits of

        20       that as well if we seek to amend this bill in

        21       the future.

        22                      Thank you.

        23                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Senator

        24       Paterson.

        25                      SENATOR PATERSON:  Thank you, Mr.







                                                              5509


         1       President.

         2                      I'm going to vote against this

         3       bill.  The standard of care, the value of that

         4       standard is something that I think has to be

         5       preferred over all other considerations, even

         6       though I really appreciate the fact that we

         7       would be trying to do something for individuals

         8       who have a highly skilled ability in a certain

         9       area, in this case, the medical field and will

        10       dedicate their services to the public, but the

        11       reality is that, in the end, Senator Leichter is

        12       right.  There has to be a uniform standard for

        13       patients that come into a facility and even with

        14       the amendment that Senator Dollinger offered,

        15       there still is a certain sense of duress that I

        16       think the consumer feels, because even with the

        17       notice, the general feeling is that there are

        18       not many cases in which there is going to be

        19       negligence on the part of a health care

        20       professional whose ability is that of a doctor.

        21                      The fact is that once in a while

        22       in very few cases but in those cases there is,

        23       and when it occurs, there has to be equal

        24       protection to the consumer.  I just feel there

        25       has got to be a way.  I think Senator







                                                              5510


         1       Dollinger's suggestion about the MMIA fund is a

         2       way, I think the idea that perhaps the state

         3       itself could fund the insurance for these

         4       volunteers -- there aren't that many

         5       volunteers.  I understand that perhaps this is

         6       one where perhaps we could look the other way,

         7       but I think that perhaps to keep the whole

         8       system in context, it would be preferred that we

         9       find some way to accomplish what Senator Hannon

        10       is directing us in his legislation but to do it

        11       in some way that maintains the equilibrium of

        12       care for consumers all throughout the state.

        13                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Is there

        14       any other Senator wishing to speak on the bill?

        15                      (There was no response.)

        16                      Hearing none, the Secretary will

        17       read the last section.

        18                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 5.  This

        19       act shall take effect immediately.

        20                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Call the

        21       roll.

        22                      (The Secretary called the roll.)

        23                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Record

        24       the negatives and announce the results.

        25                      THE SECRETARY:  Those recorded in







                                                              5511


         1       the negative on Calendar Number 634, Senators

         2       Abate, Breslin, Connor, Dollinger, Gentile,

         3       Leichter, Onorato, Paterson and Sampson.  Ayes

         4       42, nays 9.

         5                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

         6       is passed.

         7                      Senator Leichter, why do you

         8       rise?

         9                      SENATOR LEICHTER:  May I have

        10       unanimous consent to be recorded in the negative

        11       on Calendar Number 827.

        12                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Without

        13       objection, hearing no objection, Senator

        14       Leichter will be recorded in the negative on

        15       Calendar Number 827.

        16                      SENATOR MAZIARZ:  Mr. President.

        17                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Senator

        18       Maziarz.

        19                      SENATOR MAZIARZ:  Mr. President,

        20       in the rare times that I agree with Senator

        21       Leichter, I also would ask unanimous consent to

        22       be recorded in the negative on Calendar Number

        23       827.

        24                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  Without

        25       objection, hearing no objection, Senator Maziarz







                                                              5512


         1       will be recorded in the negative on Calendar

         2       Number 827.

         3                      Senator Maziarz.

         4                      SENATOR MAZIARZ:  Mr. President,

         5       could we take up Calendar Number 294.

         6                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The

         7       Secretary will read the title to Calendar Number

         8       294.

         9                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        10       294, by Senator Meier, Senate Print 2149-A, an

        11       act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law and the

        12       Education Law.

        13                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The

        14       Secretary will read the last section.

        15                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 3.  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 52.

        21                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  The bill

        22       is passed.

        23                      Senator Maziarz, that completes

        24       the reading of the controversial calendar.

        25                      SENATOR MAZIARZ:  Mr. President,







                                                              5513


         1       could we at this time return to motions and

         2       resolutions.  I believe that there is a

         3       privileged resolution by Senator Connor at the

         4       desk.

         5                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  We'll

         6       return to the general order of motions and

         7       resolutions.  There is a privileged resolution

         8       at the desk.

         9                      I'll ask the Secretary to read it

        10       in its entirety.

        11                      SENATOR CONNOR:  Yes.  Thank you,

        12       Mr. President.

        13                      ACTING PRESIDENT KUHL:  In its

        14       entirety.

        15                      THE SECRETARY:  By Senator

        16       Connor, Legislative Resolution congratulating

        17       Rebecca Sealfon, 13, of Brooklyn Heights, New

        18       York, upon her championship performance at the

        19       70th Annual Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee

        20       held May 29th, 1997 in Washington, D.C.;

        21                      WHEREAS, it is the sense of this

        22       legislative body to commend and congratulate

        23       those individuals from the state of New York who

        24       accomplish outstanding feats of achievement,

        25       increasing self-confidence and imparting pride







                                                              5514


         1       upon themselves, their families and their

         2       community.

         3                      Attendant to such concern in full

         4       accord with its long-standing traditions, it is

         5       the sense of this legislative body to honor and

         6       congratulate Rebecca Sealfon upon becoming the

         7       1997 and the first New York City champion of the

         8       70th Annual Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee

         9       held May 29th, 1997 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in

        10       Washington, D.C.

        11                      Choosing to be taught at home by

        12       her mother, Celia Gelertner Sealfon, for the

        13       past five years, Rebecca out-performed 245

        14       contenders in this celebrated national event

        15       that assembles our young adults from across the

        16       country for two days of exciting competition.

        17                      The road to victory commenced

        18       when 65 public and private New York City schools

        19       competed in the Annual 1997 New York City

        20       Spelling Bee Competition.

        21                      After placing eighth in last

        22       year's national competition, Rebecca utilized

        23       the positive benefits of those experiences on

        24       this year's meticulous but steady course to

        25       Washington, D.C.







                                                              5515


         1                      By the 14th round, this Daily

         2       News New York City Spelling Bee co-champion held

         3       her own against 11-year-old Prem Murthy Trivedi

         4       of Howell, New Jersey.  By the 22nd round,

         5       Trivedi faltered while Rebecca stayed the

         6       course.  According to the competition rules,

         7       Rebecca had to spell just one more time for the

         8       title.

         9                      Prior to today, that word was not

        10       a well known term.  With ancient Greek origins

        11       and not found in many dictionaries, "Euonym" was

        12       the word that gave Rebecca Sealfon the

        13       championship;

        14                      WHEREAS, defined by Webster as

        15       "having an auspicious name", champion is an

        16       exemplary euonym for Rebecca Sealfon; now,

        17       therefore, be it

        18                      RESOLVED, that this legislative

        19       body because in its deliberations to

        20       c-o-m-m-e-n-d and c-o-n-g-r-a-t-u-l-a-t-e

        21       Rebecca upon her championship performance and

        22       upon becoming the first New York City national

        23       title winner at the 70th Annual Scripps-Howard

        24       National Spelling Bee held May 29th, 1997; and

        25       be it further







                                                              5516


         1                      RESOLVED, that a copy of this

         2       resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted

         3       to Rebecca Sealfon, of Brooklyn Heights, New

         4       York.

         5                      THE PRESIDENT:  Senator Connor.

         6                      SENATOR CONNOR:  Madam President,

         7       it is indeed with a great deal of pride that we

         8       welcome here and congratulate in this resolution

         9       a New Yorker, a constituent, someone that I

        10       think we're all proud of.  Certainly we -- and

        11       I'm joined by Assemblywoman Millman -- we who

        12       represent Brooklyn Heights are proud of Rebecca,

        13       proud of her accomplishment and look forward in

        14       the future to, I'm sure, her success as she

        15       moves on in her educational endeavors.

        16                      Rebecca is here.  She is joined

        17       by her mother Celia, by her sister Rachael and

        18       by her brother Adam.  I know her father Stewart

        19       is here in spirit but, of course, he's a

        20       physician and I'm sure has other things to do

        21       today, but we are delighted that Rebecca is here

        22       with her family and we're just so very, very

        23       proud of her ability to spell a word that I

        24       can't say.

        25                      Thank you, Madam President.







                                                              5517


         1                      THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you,

         2       Senator Connor.

         3                      Is there any other Senator who

         4       would like to speak on the resolution?

         5                      (There was no response.)

         6                      The question is on the

         7       resolution.  All in favor please signify by

         8       saying aye.

         9                      SENATOR CONNOR:  Madam President.

        10                      THE PRESIDENT:  Senator.

        11                      SENATOR CONNOR:  Can we open this

        12       resolution up to sponsorship by the entire

        13       body.

        14                      THE PRESIDENT:  All Senators will

        15       be on the resolution unless they choose to

        16       indicate not to.  Thank you.

        17                      The question is on the

        18       resolution.  All in favor please signify by

        19       saying aye.

        20                      (Response of "Aye".)

        21                      Opposed, nay.

        22                      (There was no response.)

        23                      The resolution is adopted.

        24                      (Applause)

        25                      SENATOR GOLD:  Madam President.







                                                              5518


         1                      THE PRESIDENT:  Senator Gold.

         2                      SENATOR GOLD:  Madam President, I

         3       was at the Rules Committee doing my job, as I

         4       know you're doing your job brilliantly in this

         5       room, and I missed the vote on Calendar Number

         6       634.  I would appreciate unanimous consent to be

         7       recorded in the negative.  I'm not usually a

         8       negative person.

         9                      THE PRESIDENT:  Yes.  Without

        10       objection, you will be recorded in the

        11       negative.

        12                      Do I hear any objection?

        13                      SENATOR PRESENT:  No objection.

        14                      THE PRESIDENT:  There being no

        15       objection, you will be recorded in the negative.

        16                      Senator Johnson -- Senator

        17       Present.

        18                      SENATOR PRESENT:  Madam

        19       President.

        20                      THE PRESIDENT:  Yes, Senator.

        21                      SENATOR PRESENT:  Let the Senate

        22       stand at ease for a few moments.

        23                      THE PRESIDENT:  The Senate will

        24       stand at ease.

        25                      (Whereupon, the Senate stood at







                                                              5519


         1       ease.)

         2                      SENATOR PRESENT:  Madam

         3       President.

         4                      THE PRESIDENT:  Senator Present.

         5                      SENATOR PRESENT:  Would you

         6       recognize Senator Smith.

         7                      THE PRESIDENT:  Senator Smith.

         8                      SENATOR SMITH:  Thank you, Madam

         9       President.

        10                      I request unanimous consent to be

        11       recorded in the negative on Calendar Number 634.

        12                      THE PRESIDENT:  Do I hear any

        13       objection?

        14                      (There was no response.)

        15                      There is unanimous consent that

        16       you will be recorded in the negative.  Thank

        17       you.

        18                      The Senate will stand at ease.

        19                      (Whereupon, the Senate stood at

        20       ease from 11:06 a.m. until 11:15 a.m.)

        21                      THE PRESIDENT:  The Senate will

        22       come to order.

        23                      Senator Skelos.

        24                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Madam President,

        25       if we could return to reports of standing







                                                              5520


         1       committees, I believe there's a report of the

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

         3       read.

         4                      THE PRESIDENT:  Yes.  The

         5       Secretary will read.

         6                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator Bruno,

         7       from the Committee on Rules, offers up the

         8       following bills:

         9                      Senate Print 1553, by Senator

        10       Marchi, an act to amend the Education Law;

        11                      2152, by Senator Rath, an act to

        12       amend the Criminal Procedure Law;

        13                      2516, by Senator Stavisky, an act

        14       to amend the Tax Law;

        15                      2998, by Senator Larkin, an act

        16       to amend the Criminal Procedure Law;

        17                      3011-A, by Senator Farley, an act

        18       authorizing the trustees of the City University

        19       of New York;

        20                      3226, by Senator LaValle, an act

        21       to amend the Criminal Procedure Law;

        22                      3274, by Senator Trunzo, an act

        23       to amend the Civil Service Law;

        24                      3851, by Senator Volker, an act

        25       to amend the Retirement and Social Security Law;







                                                              5521


         1                      3927, by Senator Tully, an act to

         2       amend the Retirement and Social Security Law;

         3                      4116, by Senator Present, an act

         4       to amend the Criminal Procedure Law;

         5                      4414, by Senator Velella, an act

         6       in relation to designating;

         7                      4698, by Senator Tully, an act to

         8       amend the Penal Law;

         9                      4727, by Senator Trunzo, an act

        10       to amend Chapter 929 of the laws;

        11                      4907-A, by Senator Trunzo, an act

        12       to authorize the Word of Jesus Outreach Center;

        13                      5053, by Senator Libous, an act

        14       to repeal paragraph 3;

        15                      5104-A, by Senator Trunzo, an act

        16       amend the Retirement and Social Security Law;

        17                      5126, by Senator Larkin, an act

        18       to amend the Retirement and Social Security Law;

        19                      5256, by Senator Marchi, an act

        20       to amend the Real Property Tax Law;

        21                      5265, by Senator Johnson, an act

        22       to amend the Criminal Procedure Law;

        23                      5326, by Senator Volker, an act

        24       to amend the Civil Practice Law and Rules;

        25                      5356, by Senator Saland, an act







                                                              5522


         1       to amend the Penal Law;

         2                      5385, by Senator Johnson, an act

         3       to amend the Environmental Conservation Law;

         4                      5400, by Marcellino, an act to

         5       amend the Public Service Law;

         6                      5438, by Senator Kuhl, an act to

         7       amend the Criminal Procedure Law;

         8                      5447, by Senator Meier, an act to

         9       amend the General Municipal Law;

        10                      5448, by Senator DeFrancisco, an

        11       act to amend the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law;

        12                      5450, by Senator Holland, an act

        13       to amend the Real Property Tax Law;

        14                      5459, by Senator Wright, an act

        15       to amend Chapter 533 of the Laws of 1993;

        16                      5460, by Senator Maziarz, an act

        17       to amend Chapter 906 of the Laws of 1984;

        18                      5463, by Senator Lachman, an act

        19       to amend the Railroad Law;

        20                      5464, by Senator Rath, an act to

        21       amend the Local Finance Law;

        22                      5472, by Senator Rath, an act to

        23       amend Chapter 719 of the laws of 1980;

        24                      5482, by Senator Holland, an act

        25       to amend the Highway Law.







                                                              5523


         1                      All bills directly for third

         2       reading.

         3                      SENATOR WALDON:  Madam President.

         4                      THE PRESIDENT:  Without

         5       objection, all bills direct to third reading.

         6                      Senator Skelos.

         7                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Madam President,

         8       there will be an immediate meeting of the

         9       Majority in the Majority Conference Room.  The

        10       Senate will stand at ease.

        11                      THE PRESIDENT:  There will be an

        12       immediate meeting of the Majority in the

        13       Majority Conference Room.  The Senate will stand

        14       at ease.

        15                      Senator Waldon, excuse me.

        16                      SENATOR WALDON:  Thank you very

        17       much, Madam President.

        18                      Most regrettably I was out of the

        19       chamber on other business for the Senate when

        20       this chamber considered Calendar 634, Senate

        21       Bill 413-A.  I respect unanimous consent to be

        22       recorded in the negative on that bill.

        23                      THE PRESIDENT:  Is there any

        24       objection?

        25                      SENATOR SKELOS:  There's no







                                                              5524


         1       objection.

         2                      THE PRESIDENT:  Without

         3       objection.

         4                      SENATOR WALDON:  Thank you very

         5       much, Madam President.

         6                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Madam President,

         7       we do have some housekeeping, if we could do

         8       that before we stand at ease.

         9                      THE PRESIDENT:  Senator Libous.

        10                      SENATOR LIBOUS:  Thank you, Madam

        11       President.

        12                      On behalf of Senator Levy, on

        13       page 18, I offer the following amendments to

        14       Calendar Number 541, Senate Print Number 610,

        15       and ask that said bill retain its place on the

        16       Third Reading Calendar.

        17                      THE PRESIDENT:  The amendments

        18       are received.

        19                      SENATOR LIBOUS:  Madam President,

        20       on behalf of Senator Levy, on page 34, I offer

        21       the following amendments to Calendar Number 963,

        22       Senate Print Number 608, and ask that said bill

        23       retain its place on the Third Reading Calendar.

        24                      THE PRESIDENT:  The amendments

        25       are received.







                                                              5525


         1                      SENATOR LIBOUS:  Madam President,

         2       on behalf of Senator Spano, on page 6, I offer

         3       the following amendments to Calendar Number 137,

         4       Senate Print Number 689, and ask that said bill

         5       retain its place on the Third Reading Calendar.

         6                      THE PRESIDENT:  The amendments

         7       are received.

         8                      SENATOR LIBOUS:  And, Madam

         9       President, on behalf of Senator Marchi, I move

        10       to amend Senate Bill Number 3579-A, Calendar

        11       Number 1270, by striking out the amendments made

        12       on May 13th and restoring it to the original

        13       Print Number 3579-A.

        14                      THE PRESIDENT:  The amendments

        15       will be struck.

        16                      SENATOR LIBOUS:  Thank you.

        17                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Is there any

        18       other housekeeping?

        19                      THE PRESIDENT:  No.

        20                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Would you please

        21       recognize Senator Santiago and then Senator

        22       Montgomery.

        23                      THE PRESIDENT:  Yes.  Senator

        24       Santiago.

        25                      SENATOR SANTIAGO:  Madam







                                                              5526


         1       President, I would like to state for the record

         2       that had I been in the chamber on Monday, June

         3       2nd, I would have voted in the negative on

         4       Calendars 557, 713, 933 and 964.

         5                      Thank you.

         6                      THE PRESIDENT:  So recorded.

         7                      Senator Montgomery.

         8                      SENATOR MONTGOMERY:  Yes, Madam

         9       President.  I would like unanimous consent to be

        10       recorded in the negative on Calendar 634.

        11                      THE PRESIDENT:  Do I hear any

        12       objection?

        13                      SENATOR MONTGOMERY:  Thank you.

        14                      THE PRESIDENT:  Without

        15       objection.

        16                      Senator Skelos.

        17                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Immediate

        18       conference of the Majority and the Senate will

        19       stand at ease.

        20                      THE PRESIDENT:  The Senate will

        21       stand at ease.

        22                      SENATOR PATERSON:  Madam

        23       President, for those who are not invited to that

        24       Majority Conference, there will be a special

        25       closed circuit viewing in the Minority







                                                              5527


         1       Conference Room open to Minority members in Room

         2       315.

         3                      Thank you.

         4                      (Whereupon, the Senate stood at

         5       ease from 11:15 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.)

         6                      THE PRESIDENT:  The Senate will

         7       come to order.

         8                      SENATOR KUHL:  Could we return to

         9       the order of motions and resolutions and take up

        10       some housekeeping that's at the desk.

        11                      THE PRESIDENT:  Yes.

        12                      SENATOR KUHL:  Madam President,

        13       on behalf of Senator Meier, on page 30, I offer

        14       the following amendments to Calendar Number 855,

        15       Senate Print 3307, and ask that said bill retain

        16       its place on the Third Reading Calendar.

        17                      THE PRESIDENT:  The amendments

        18       are received.

        19                      SENATOR KUHL:  Madam President,

        20       on page 23, on behalf of Senator Present, I

        21       offer the following amendments to Calendar

        22       Number 672, Senate Print 4125, and ask that said

        23       bill retain its place on the Third Reading

        24       Calendar.

        25                      THE PRESIDENT:  The amendments







                                                              5528


         1       are received.

         2                      SENATOR KUHL:  And, Madam

         3       President, on behalf of Senator Leibell, on page

         4       9, I offer the following amendments to Calendar

         5       Number 258, Senate Print 2859, and ask that said

         6       bill retain its place on the Third Reading

         7       Calendar.

         8                      THE PRESIDENT:  The amendments

         9       are received.

        10                      SENATOR KUHL:  Also, Madam

        11       President, on behalf of Senator Skelos, on page

        12       45, I offer the following amendments to Calendar

        13       Number 223, Senate Print 476, and ask that said

        14       bill retain its place on the Third Reading

        15       Calendar.

        16                      THE PRESIDENT:  The amendments

        17       are received.

        18                      SENATOR KUHL:  Also on behalf of

        19       Senator Leibell, Madam President, on page 8, I

        20       offer the following amendments to Calendar

        21       Number 178, Senate Print 2227, and ask that said

        22       bill retain its place on the Third Reading

        23       Calendar.

        24                      THE PRESIDENT:  The amendments

        25       are received.







                                                              5529


         1                      SENATOR KUHL:  On behalf of

         2       Senator Levy, Madam President, on page 47, I

         3       offer the following amendments to Calendar

         4       Number 1018, Senate Print 5134, and ask that

         5       said bill retain its place on the Third Reading

         6       Calendar.

         7                      THE PRESIDENT:  The amendments

         8       are received.

         9                      SENATOR KUHL:  Also on behalf of

        10       Senator Levy, on page 37, I offer the following

        11       amendments to Calendar Number 1008, Senate Print

        12       4710, and ask that said bill retain its place on

        13       the Third Reading Calendar.

        14                      THE PRESIDENT:  The amendments

        15       are received.

        16                      SENATOR KUHL:  Also, Madam

        17       President, on behalf of Senator Levy, on page

        18       22, I offer the following amendments to Calendar

        19       Number 671, Senate Print 4114, and ask that said

        20       bill retain its place on the Third Reading

        21       Calendar.

        22                      THE PRESIDENT:  The amendments

        23       are received.

        24                      SENATOR KUHL:  Madam President,

        25       on behalf of Senator Goodman, on page 24, I







                                                              5530


         1       offer the following amendments to Calendar

         2       Number 719, Senate Print 5031, and ask that said

         3       bill retain its place on the Third Reading

         4       Calendar.

         5                      THE PRESIDENT:  The amendments

         6       are received.

         7                      SENATOR KUHL:  On behalf of

         8       Senator Marchi, Madam President, on page 39, I

         9       offer the following amendments to Calendar

        10       Number 1045, Senate Print 3649-A, and ask that

        11       said bill retain its place on the Third Reading

        12       Calendar.

        13                      THE PRESIDENT:  The amendments

        14       are received.

        15                      SENATOR KUHL:  On behalf of

        16       Senator Nozzolio, Madam President, on page 15, I

        17       offer the following amendments to Calendar

        18       Number 437, Senate Print 212-A, and ask that

        19       said bill retain its place on the Third Reading

        20       Calendar.

        21                      THE PRESIDENT:  The amendments

        22       are received.

        23                      SENATOR KUHL:  Madam President,

        24       on behalf of Senator Maziarz, on page 27, I

        25       offer the following amendments to Calendar







                                                              5531


         1       Number 784, Senate Print 5081, and ask that said

         2       bill retain its place on the Third Reading

         3       Calendar.

         4                      THE PRESIDENT:  The amendments

         5       are received.

         6                      SENATOR KUHL:  Madam President,

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

         8       his bill, Senate Print 1724, recalled from the

         9       Assembly which is now at the desk.

        10                      THE PRESIDENT:  The Secretary

        11       will read.

        12                      THE SECRETARY:  By Senator

        13       Larkin, Senate Print 1724, an act to amend the

        14       County Law.

        15                      SENATOR KUHL:  Madam President, I

        16       now move to reconsider the vote by which this

        17       bill was passed.

        18                      THE PRESIDENT:  Call the roll on

        19       reconsideration, please.

        20                      (The Secretary called the roll on

        21       reconsideration.)

        22                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 59.

        23                      SENATOR KUHL:  I offer up the

        24       following amendments.

        25                      THE PRESIDENT:  The amendments







                                                              5532


         1       are received.

         2                      SENATOR KUHL:  On behalf of

         3       Senator Cook, I wish to call up his bill, Senate

         4       Print 780, recalled from the Assembly which is

         5       now at the desk.

         6                      THE PRESIDENT:  The Secretary

         7       will read.

         8                      THE SECRETARY:  By Senator Cook,

         9       Senate Print 780, an act to amend the General

        10       Municipal Law.

        11                      SENATOR KUHL:  Madam President, I

        12       now move to reconsider the vote by which the

        13       bill was passed.

        14                      THE PRESIDENT:  Call the roll on

        15       reconsideration, please.

        16                      (The Secretary called the roll on

        17       reconsideration.)

        18                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 59.

        19                      SENATOR KUHL:  Madam President, I

        20       now offer the following amendments.

        21                      THE PRESIDENT:  The amendments

        22       are received.

        23                      SENATOR KUHL:  Madam President,

        24       on behalf of Senator Goodman, I move to recommit

        25       Senate Print 3658, Calendar Number 1227, which







                                                              5533


         1       is currently on the order of third reading to

         2       the Committee on Investigations, Taxation and

         3       Governmental Operations.

         4                      THE PRESIDENT:  The bill will be

         5       recommitted.

         6                      SENATOR KUHL:  Finally, Madam

         7       President, on behalf of Senator Present, I wish

         8       to call up his bill, Senate Print 765, recalled

         9       from the Assembly which is now at the desk.

        10                      THE PRESIDENT:  The Secretary

        11       will read.

        12                      THE SECRETARY:  By Senator

        13       Present, Senate Print 765, an act to amend the

        14       State Administrative Procedure Act.

        15                      SENATOR KUHL:  Madam President, I

        16       now move to reconsider the vote by which this

        17       bill was passed.

        18                      THE PRESIDENT:  Call the roll on

        19       reconsideration, please.

        20                      (The Secretary called the roll on

        21       reconsideration.)

        22                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 59.

        23                      THE PRESIDENT:  The bill is

        24       before the house.

        25                      SENATOR KUHL:  Finally, Madam







                                                              5534


         1       President, on behalf of Senator Maziarz, on page

         2       11, I offer the following amendments to Calendar

         3       Number 320, Senate Print 507-A, and ask that

         4       said bill retain its place on the Third Reading

         5       Calendar.

         6                      THE PRESIDENT:  The amendments

         7       are received.

         8                      Senator Paterson.

         9                      SENATOR PATERSON:  Thank you,

        10       Madam President.

        11                      The record will reflect that for

        12       the past few days, the Senate Minority has filed

        13       motions indicating our intent to suspend the

        14       rules and to move bills from committee that

        15       would have extended the Emergency Tenant

        16       Protection Act for a month and would provide

        17       other relief for tenants who would be afflicted

        18       should the rent regulation protections run out.

        19                      We have kept these motions

        20       alive.  However, having understood as we all did

        21       understand, that an agreement had been reached

        22       at the appropriate time Sunday evening, we have

        23       not chosen to go forward with these motions or

        24       even to make that attempt.  Since we understand

        25       that the parties are presumably negotiating in







                                                              5535


         1       good faith, we want to respect that process.  We

         2       do not want to create any kind of an atmosphere

         3       that would create any acrimony or disharmony in

         4       the actual process.

         5                      However, Madam President, we've

         6       now reached the period of nearly 5:00 o'clock on

         7       Wednesday afternoon, still an agreement has not

         8       been reached.  We are not totally sure what that

         9       does to the law.  We don't know what challenges

        10       might be made.  We don't know what risk may be

        11       taken and certainly what dangers many tenants

        12       may be in.

        13                      We will continue this afternoon

        14       not to attempt to move any of these pieces of

        15       legislation.  However, we would like to caution

        16       all concerned that our interest is to fulfill

        17       what we feel is our promise to tenants and also

        18       our obligation to all citizens around the state

        19       that we rectify this issue and negotiate to a

        20       point where all can agree and that we do it as

        21       soon as possible.  If not, we would like to make

        22       it clear that immediately we will move to

        23       discharge bills that would at least create an

        24       extension of a protection for one month to give

        25       the parties an opportunity to negotiate.







                                                              5536


         1                      I want to thank you for the

         2       opportunity to speak, Madam President, and I

         3       want to thank the Minority Leader, Senator

         4       Connor, and the Majority Leader, Senator Bruno,

         5       for their efforts to try to resolve this matter,

         6       and I want to thank everybody.

         7                      THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you,

         8       Senator Paterson.

         9                      Senator Bruno.

        10                      SENATOR BRUNO:  Madam President

        11       -- you're very welcome, Senator Paterson, and

        12       in a response partially to the comments, let me

        13       just do a quick update.  We have been talking.

        14       We have been negotiating.  We have had counsels

        15       meeting and we are anxious to get this issue to

        16       prepare a bill resolved and voted on, and I'm

        17       hopeful that -- and optimistic -- the counsels,

        18       I believe are meeting right now -- that this

        19       will happen some time between now and 10:00 or

        20       11:00 tonight.

        21                      My schedule was that once they

        22       have finalized agreement, it will take two or

        23       three hours to print and refine.  They still

        24       haven't finalized agreement.  That takes us to

        25       8:00 or 9:00 o'clock at best and probably more







                                                              5537


         1       towards midnight.  We are prepared tomorrow to

         2       be in session at 10:00 and to take the bill up

         3       as the first order of business.  We also have

         4       other business, the emergency extension for the

         5       budget to take up.

         6                      So hopefully it will be a

         7       productive day.  The Minority understands and we

         8       understand that they have prerogatives within

         9       the rules of the Senate.  They are free to

        10       exercise those at any time and we will relate to

        11       those as they are presented to us on the floor.

        12                      Our intent is to move, as we do

        13       usually, as expeditiously as we can to a

        14       satisfactory resolution.  We had an agreement on

        15       this particular bill on Sunday.  We're trying to

        16       implement that agreement and all parties are

        17       still optimistic that we can get that done,

        18       hopefully this evening, as I said, and be in

        19       session tomorrow.

        20                      THE PRESIDENT:  Senator Paterson.

        21                      SENATOR PATERSON:  I want to

        22       thank the Majority Leader for his efforts and

        23       his interest, and I would just like to clarify,

        24       Madam President, that you have received under

        25       Rule XI our motions today that are within the







                                                              5538


         1       one-day period of notice for the two pieces of

         2       legislation that we continue.

         3                      THE PRESIDENT:  Yes.  The motions

         4       have been received and are stamped so.

         5                      Senator Bruno.

         6                      SENATOR BRUNO:  Madam President,

         7       there being no further business to come before

         8       the Senate, I would move that we stand adjourned

         9       until 10:00 a.m. tomorrow morning.

        10                      THE PRESIDENT:  Upon motion, the

        11       Senate stands adjourned until Thursday, June

        12       19th, at 10:00 a.m.

        13                      (Whereupon, at 4:40 p.m., the

        14       Senate adjourned.)

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