Regular Session - July 8, 1997

                                                                 
6881

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         9                       ALBANY, NEW YORK

        10                        July 8, 1997

        11                         11:28 a.m.

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        13

        14                       REGULAR SESSION

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        18       LT. GOVERNOR BETSY McCAUGHEY ROSS, President

        19       STEPHEN F. SLOAN, Secretary

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6882

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

         2                      THE PRESIDENT:  The Senate will

         3       come do 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       Monday, July 7th.  The Senate met pursuant to

        15       adjournment.  The Journal of Sunday, July 6th,

        16       was read and approved.  On motion, 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







                                                             
6883

         1       state officers.

         2                      Motions and resolutions.

         3                      Senator Skelos.

         4                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Madam President,

         5       there will be an immediate meeting of the

         6       Finance Committee in Room 332 of the Capitol.

         7                      THE PRESIDENT:  There will be an

         8       immediate meeting of the Finance Committee in

         9       Room 332.

        10                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:

        11       Senator Skelos.

        12                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

        13       while on motions and resolutions, I move we

        14       adopt the Resolution Calendar except Resolution

        15       2020.

        16                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:  Motion

        17       is to accept the Resolution Calendar.  All those

        18       in favor.

        19                      (Response of "Aye.")

        20                      Opposed?

        21                      (There was no response. )

        22                      The motion is carried.

        23       Resolution Calendar is adopted except for the

        24       noted resolution.

        25                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President.







                                                             
6884

         1                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:

         2       Senator Skelos.

         3                      SENATOR SKELOS:  If we could have

         4       the title read on Resolution 2020 and then move

         5       for its immediate adoption.

         6                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:

         7       Secretary will read.

         8                      THE SECRETARY:  By Senator Bruno,

         9       Legislative Resolution paying tribute to James

        10       R. Tallon, Jr., upon the occasion of his

        11       designation by the Communities Aid Association

        12       as the recipient of the Homer Folks Award.

        13                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:

        14       Senator Skelos.

        15                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

        16       on behalf of Senator Bruno, he'd like to open up

        17       sponsorship of that resolution, and now I move

        18       its adoption.

        19                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:

        20       Without objection, so ordered.

        21                      On the resolution, all those in

        22       favor signify by saying aye.

        23                      (Response of "Aye.")

        24                      Opposed nay.

        25                      (There was no response. )







                                                             
6885

         1                      The resolution is adopted.

         2                      Senator Skelos.

         3                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Any other

         4       motions to be made at this time?

         5                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:  Yes,

         6       Senator Skelos.  Want to recognize one of the

         7       two Senator Leibells that we have in the chamber

         8       this morning.

         9                      SENATOR LEIBELL:  Thank you, Mr.

        10       President.

        11                      I wish to call up my bill which

        12       is Print Number 3215, recalled from the Assembly

        13       and is now at the desk.

        14                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:

        15       Secretary will read.

        16                      THE SECRETARY:  By Senator

        17       Leibell, Senate Print 3215, an act authorizing

        18       the town of Southeast, Putnam County.

        19                      SENATOR LEIBELL:  Mr. President,

        20       I now move to reconsider the vote by which this

        21       bill was passed.

        22                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:  Call

        23       the roll on reconsideration.

        24                      (The Secretary called the roll on

        25       reconsideration. )







                                                             
6886

         1                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 48.

         2                      SENATOR LEIBELL:  Mr. President,

         3       I now offer the following amendments.

         4                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:

         5       Amendments received.

         6                      Senator Skelos.

         7                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Is there any

         8       housekeeping at the desk?

         9                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:  No.

        10                      SENATOR SKELOS:  We'll stand at

        11       ease pending a report of the Finance Committee.

        12                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:  We'll

        13       stand at ease pending a report of the Finance

        14       Committee.

        15                      (The Senate stood at ease from

        16       11:33 a.m. To 11:37 a.m.)

        17                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:

        18       Senator Skelos.

        19                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

        20       there will be an immediate meeting of the Rules

        21       Committee in the Majority Conference Room.

        22                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:

        23       Immediate meeting of the Rules Committee in Room

        24       332.  Immediate meeting of the Rules Committee

        25       in Room 332.







                                                             
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         1                      The Senate will stand at ease.

         2                      (The Senate stood at ease from

         3       11:38 a.m., until 11:46 a.m.)

         4                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President.

         5                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:

         6       Senator Skelos.

         7                      SENATOR SKELOS:  There will be an

         8       immediate meeting of the Labor Committee in Room

         9       332.

        10                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:  There

        11       will be an immediate meeting of the Labor

        12       Committee in Room 332.

        13                      SENATOR SKELOS: Followed by a

        14       meeting of the Energy Committee.

        15                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:

        16       Immediate meeting of the Labor Committee,

        17       followed by a meeting of the Energy Committee in

        18       Room 332.

        19                      SENATOR SKELOS:  If we could

        20       return to reports of standing committees, I

        21       believe there's a report of the Finance

        22       Committee at the desk.  Ask it be read.

        23                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:

        24       Secretary will read.

        25                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator Stafford,







                                                             
6888

         1       from the Committee on Finance, offers up the

         2       following bill directly for third reading:

         3                      5685, by the Committee on Rules,

         4       an act making appropriation for the support of

         5       government.

         6                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President, I

         7       move we accept the report of the Finance

         8       Committee.

         9                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:  Motion

        10       is to accept the report of the Finance

        11       Committee. All those in favor of accepting the

        12       report of the Finance Committee signify by

        13       saying aye.

        14                      (Response of "Aye.")

        15                      Opposed nay.

        16                      (There was no response. )

        17                      Senator Skelos.

        18                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

        19       may we take up Calendar 1530.

        20                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:

        21       Secretary will read.

        22                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        23       1530, by the Committee on Rules, Senate Print

        24       5685, an act making appropriation for the

        25       support of government.







                                                             
6889

         1                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

         2       is there a message of appropriation and

         3       necessity at the desk?

         4                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:  There

         5       is a message at the desk.

         6                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Move to accept.

         7                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:  All

         8       those in favor of accepting the message signify

         9       by saying aye.

        10                      (Response of "Aye.")

        11                      Opposed nay.

        12                      (There was no response. )

        13                      The message is accepted.

        14                      Senator Skelos.

        15                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Please take up

        16       the bill.

        17                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:

        18       Secretary will read.  Read the last section.

        19                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 13.  This

        20       act shall take effect immediately.

        21                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:  Call

        22       the roll.

        23                      (The Secretary called the roll. )

        24                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 52, nays

        25       one, Senator Dollinger recorded in the







                                                             
6890

         1       negative.

         2                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:  The

         3       bill is passed.

         4                      Senator Skelos.

         5                      SENATOR SKELOS:  If we could

         6       return to reports of standing committees, I

         7       believe there is a report of the Rules Committee

         8       at the desk.  I ask it be read.

         9                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:

        10       Secretary will read.

        11                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator Bruno,

        12       from the Committee on Rules, offers up the

        13       following bills directly for third reading:

        14                      Senate Print 5684, by the

        15       Committee on Rules, an act to amend the Racing,

        16       Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law;

        17                      Assembly Bill 8450, Senate

        18       Reprint 21,002, by the Committee on Rules, an

        19       act to amend Chapter 145 of the Laws of 1997;

        20                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:

        21       Senator Skelos.

        22                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

        23       is there a message of necessity and

        24       appropriation at the desk on Calendar Number

        25       1529?







                                                             
6891

         1                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:

         2       Senator Skelos, at this time we'd move to accept

         3       the Rules report.

         4                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Move to accept.

         5                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:  All

         6       those in favor signify by saying aye.

         7                      (Response of "Aye.")

         8                      Opposed nay.

         9                      (There was no response. )

        10                      The report is accepted.

        11                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Take up Calendar

        12       Number 1529.

        13                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        14       1529, by the Committee on Rules, Senate Print

        15       5684, an act to amend the Racing, Pari-Mutuel

        16       Wagering and Breeding Law.

        17                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Is there a

        18       message of necessity at the desk?

        19                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:  There

        20       is a message of necessity.  All those in favor

        21       of accepting the message signify by saying aye.

        22                      (Response of "Aye.")

        23                      Opposed nay.

        24                      (There was no response.)

        25                      The message is accepted.







                                                             
6892

         1                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Take it up.

         2                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:  Read

         3       the last section.

         4                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 5.  This

         5       act shall take effect immediately.

         6                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:

         7       Senator Padavan.

         8                      SENATOR PADAVAN:  Voting

         9       negative.

        10                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:  Call

        11       the roll.

        12                      (The Secretary called the roll. )

        13                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 52, nays

        14       one, Senator Padavan recorded in the negative.

        15                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:  The

        16       bill is passed.

        17                      Senator Skelos.

        18                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Stand at ease,

        19       Mr. President.

        20                      ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:  The

        21       Senate will stand at ease.

        22                      (The Senate stood at ease from

        23       11:50 a.m., until 11:56 a.m.)

        24                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President.

        25                      ACTING PRESIDENT WRIGHT:  Senator







                                                             
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         1       Skelos.

         2                      SENATOR SKELOS:  There will be an

         3       immediate meeting of the Energy Committee in the

         4       Majority Conference Room.

         5                      ACTING PRESIDENT WRIGHT:  There

         6       will be an immediate meeting of the Energy

         7       Committee in the Majority Conference Room.

         8                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Could we return

         9       to motions and resolutions.  I believe there is

        10       a privileged resolution at the desk.

        11                      ACTING PRESIDENT WRIGHT:

        12       Secretary will read.

        13                      SENATOR SKELOS:  By Senator

        14       Larkin.  I ask that the title be read and I move

        15       for its immediate adoption.

        16                      ACTING PRESIDENT WRIGHT:

        17       Secretary will read.

        18                      THE SECRETARY:  By Senator

        19       Larkin, Legislative Resolution honoring New York

        20       State Commander Bill Schiffman upon his

        21       elevation to the highest post in the state

        22       Veterans of Foreign Wars July 21, 1997.

        23                      ACTING PRESIDENT WRIGHT:  All

        24       those in favor signify by saying aye.

        25                      (Response of "Aye.")







                                                             
6894

         1                      Opposed nay.

         2                      (There was no response. )

         3                      ACTING PRESIDENT WRIGHT:  The

         4       ayes have it.  The resolution is adopted.

         5                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Stand at ease,

         6       Mr. President.

         7                      ACTING PRESIDENT WRIGHT:  Senate

         8       will stand at ease.

         9                      (The Senate stood at ease from

        10       11:58 a.m., until 12:06 p.m.)

        11                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President.

        12                      ACTING PRESIDENT WRIGHT:  Senator

        13       Skelos.

        14                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

        15       if we could take up Calendar 1505, Senate

        16       21002.

        17                      ACTING PRESIDENT WRIGHT:  The

        18       Secretary will read.

        19                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        20       1505, by the Assembly Committee on Rules,

        21       Assembly Print 8450, Senate Reprint Number

        22       21002, an act to amend a chapter of the laws of

        23       1997, entitled an act making appropriations for

        24       the support of government.

        25                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,







                                                             
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         1       is there a message of necessity and

         2       appropriation at the desk?

         3                      ACTING PRESIDENT WRIGHT:  Yes,

         4       Senator Skelos, there is.

         5                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Move to

         6       accept.

         7                      ACTING PRESIDENT WRIGHT:  All in

         8       favor of accepting the messages of necessity say

         9       aye.

        10                      (Response of "Aye.")

        11                      Opposed nay.

        12                      (There was no response. )

        13                      The messages are accepted.  Read

        14       the last section.

        15                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.  This

        16       act shall take effect immediately.

        17                      ACTING PRESIDENT WRIGHT:  Call

        18       the roll.

        19                      (The Secretary called the roll. )

        20                      ACTING PRESIDENT WRIGHT: The bill

        21       is passed.

        22                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 53.

        23                      ACTING PRESIDENT WRIGHT:  The

        24       bill is passed.

        25                      Senator Skelos.







                                                             
6896

         1                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

         2       is there any housekeeping at the desk?

         3                      ACTING PRESIDENT WRIGHT:  There

         4       is not, Senator Skelos.

         5                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

         6       there is going to be an immediate -- a

         7       conference of the Majority on Tuesday, July 15

         8       at 11:00 a.m., and there being no further

         9       business, I move we adjourn until Tuesday, July

        10       15th, at 12:00 noon, intervening days to be

        11       legislative days and, before we adjourn, if you

        12       could recognize Senator Gold.

        13                      SENATOR GOLD:  Thank you.

        14                      ACTING PRESIDENT WRIGHT:  Senator

        15       Gold.

        16                      SENATOR GOLD:  Actually if you

        17       could recognize Senator Mendez, I'd appreciate

        18       it.

        19                      ACTING PRESIDENT WRIGHT:  Senator

        20       Mendez.

        21                      SENATOR MENDEZ:  Thank you.  Mr.

        22       President, there's going to be a Democratic

        23       Conference in Room 314.

        24                      SENATOR GOLD:  Immediately.

        25                      SENATOR MENDEZ:  Immediately.







                                                             
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         1                      ACTING PRESIDENT WRIGHT:

         2       Immediate Minority Conference in Room 314.  And

         3       the Senate stands adjourned until Tuesday, at

         4       12:00 noon.  On motion, the Senate stands

         5       adjourned until Tuesday, July 15th, at 12:00

         6       noon.

         7                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Intervening days

         8       to be legislative days.

         9                      ACTING PRESIDENT WRIGHT:

        10       Intervening days to be legislative days.

        11                      (Whereupon at 12:07 p.m., the

        12       Senate adjourned.)

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