Regular Session - March 26, 1998
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8 ALBANY, NEW YORK
9 March 26, 1998
10 11:05 a.m.
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13 REGULAR SESSION
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17 SENATOR RAYMOND A. MEIER, Acting President
18 STEVEN M. BOGGESS, Secretary
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1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: The
3 Senate will come to order. I'd ask everyone
4 present to please rise and repeat with me the
5 Pledge of Allegiance.
6 (The assemblage repeated the
7 Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
8 In the absence of clergy, may we
9 now bow our heads for a moment of silence.
10 (A moment of silence was
11 observed.)
12 The reading of the Journal.
13 THE SECRETARY: In Senate,
14 Wednesday, March 25th. The Senate met pursuant
15 to adjournment. The Journal of Tuesday, March
16 24th, was read and approved. Upon motion, the
17 Senate adjourned.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: 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
2179
1 state officers.
2 Motions and resolutions.
3 Senator Alesi.
4 SENATOR ALESI: Mr. President, on
5 page 20, I offer the following amendments to
6 Calendar Number 432, Senate Print 5174, and ask
7 that said bill retain its place on the Third
8 Reading Calendar.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: The
10 amendments are received, and so ordered.
11 Senator Skelos.
12 SENATOR SKELOS: Mr. President,
13 if we could take up the non-controversial
14 calendar, please.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: The
16 Secretary will read the non-controversial
17 calendar.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
19 53, by Senator Farley, Senate Print 2338, an act
20 to amend the Education Law, in relation to
21 authorizing.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
25 act shall take effect on the first day of April.
2180
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Call the
2 roll.
3 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4 THE SECRETARY: Ayes 42.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: The bill
6 is passed.
7 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
8 194, by Senator Maziarz, Senate Print 5083-A, an
9 act to amend the Executive Law, in relation to
10 directing.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Read the
12 last section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
14 act shall take effect immediately.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Call the
16 roll.
17 (The Secretary called the roll.)
18 THE SECRETARY: Ayes 42.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: The bill
20 is passed.
21 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
22 327, by Senator Seward, Senate Print 4278, an
23 act to amend the Public Service Law, in relation
24 to increasing.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Read the
2181
1 last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
3 act shall take effect immediately.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Call the
5 roll.
6 (The Secretary called the roll.)
7 THE SECRETARY: Ayes 43.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 351, by Senator Trunzo, Senate Print 6179, an
12 act to amend the Retirement and Social Security
13 Law, in relation to the maximum amount.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Read the
15 last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
17 act shall take effect immediately.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Call the
19 roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 THE SECRETARY: Ayes 43.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: The bill
23 is passed.
24 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
25 381, by Senator Rath, Senate Print 3638-A, an
2182
1 act to amend the Town Law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Read the
3 last section.
4 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
5 act shall take effect immediately.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Call the
7 roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 THE SECRETARY: Ayes 43.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: The bill
11 is passed.
12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
13 386, by Senator Skelos, Senate Print 334, an act
14 to amend the Education Law, in relation to
15 notification.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Read the
17 last section.
18 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
19 act shall take effect on the first day of
20 September.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Call the
22 roll.
23 SENATOR GOLD: Excuse me.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: I'm
25 sorry. Senator Gold.
2183
1 SENATOR GOLD: What number is
2 it?
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: This
4 would be Calendar 386, Senator Gold.
5 SENATOR GOLD: Did we skip 385?
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: 385 is
7 high, Senator Gold.
8 SENATOR GOLD: Excuse me?
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: 385 is
10 high, Senator.
11 SENATOR GOLD: Thank you, Mr.
12 President.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: The
14 Secretary will continue to read -- we were on
15 the last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
17 act shall take effect on the first day of
18 September.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Call the
20 roll.
21 (The Secretary called the roll.)
22 THE SECRETARY: Ayes 43.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: The bill
24 is passed.
25 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
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1 400, by Senator Kuhl, Senate Print 1828-B, an
2 act to amend the Judiciary Law, in relation to
3 increasing.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Read the
5 last section.
6 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
7 act shall take effect immediately.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Call the
9 roll.
10 (The Secretary called the roll.)
11 THE SECRETARY: Ayes 43.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: The bill
13 is passed.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
15 428, by Senator LaValle, Senate Print 2466, an
16 act to amend the Executive Law.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Read the
18 last section.
19 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
20 act shall take effect immediately.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Call the
22 roll.
23 (The Secretary called the roll.)
24 THE SECRETARY: Ayes 43.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: The bill
2185
1 is passed.
2 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3 433, by Senator Trunzo, Senate Print 6029, an
4 act to amend Chapter 41 of the Laws of 1997.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Read the
6 last section.
7 THE SECRETARY: Section 9. This
8 act shall take effect immediately.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Call the
10 roll.
11 (The Secretary called the roll.)
12 THE SECRETARY: Ayes 43.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: The bill
14 is passed.
15 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
16 452, by Senator Saland, Senate Print 64...
17 SENATOR PATERSON: Lay it aside.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Lay the
19 bill aside.
20 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
21 453, by Senator Velella, Senate Print 92-A, an
22 act to amend the Penal Law, in relation to
23 arson.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Read the
25 last section.
2186
1 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
2 act shall take effect on the first day of
3 November.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Call the
5 roll.
6 (The Secretary called the roll.)
7 THE SECRETARY: Ayes 44.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 455, by Senator Goodman, Senate Print 414, an
12 act to amend Penal Law, in relation to computer
13 networks.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Read the
15 last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
17 act shall take effect on the first day of
18 November.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Call the
20 roll.
21 (The Secretary called the roll.)
22 THE SECRETARY: Ayes 44.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: The bill
24 is passed.
25 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
2187
1 513, by Senator Nozzolio, Senate Print 6505, an
2 act to amend Chapter 887 of the Laws of 1983.
3 SENATOR GOLD: Lay it aside.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Lay the
5 bill aside.
6 Senator Skelos, that completes
7 the reading of the non-controversial calendar.
8 SENATOR SKELOS: Mr. President,
9 if we could take up the controversial calendar
10 at this time.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: The
12 Secretary will read the controversial calendar.
13 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
14 452, by Senator Saland, Senate Print 6467, an
15 act to amend Chapter 705 of the Laws of 1993.
16 SENATOR PATERSON: Explanation,
17 please.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Senator
19 Saland, an explanation has been requested of
20 Calendar Number 2... I'm sorry -- 452.
21 SENATOR SALAND: Thank you, Mr.
22 President.
23 Mr. President, the link deposit
24 program is a program which has met with great
25 success, great acclaim, in fact. It's a means
2188
1 by which particularly small businesses can
2 access loans at rates lower than market rates
3 and the means by which that occurs is that these
4 rates, which is some two to three points blow
5 market rates, are, in effect, encouraged by the
6 state making deposits which are comparably at
7 lower -- excepting interest rates -- at
8 comparably lower rates. The net result is that
9 state dollars are pumped in to basically benefit
10 small businesses throughout the state of New
11 York.
12 This bill would extend that
13 program. It's due to sunset, I believe on or
14 about the 1st of April. It changes the name
15 from the Excelsior to the Empire State Link
16 Deposit Program and also would permit a borrower
17 to receive more than one loan but not to exceed
18 the existing cap of that loan.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Senator
20 Paterson.
21 SENATOR PATERSON: Thank you, Mr.
22 President.
23 If Senator Saland would yield for
24 a question.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Does the
2189
1 Senator yield?
2 SENATOR SALAND: Yes, Mr.
3 President.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: The
5 sponsor yields.
6 Senator Paterson.
7 SENATOR PATERSON: Mr. President,
8 as Senator Saland pointed out, the link deposit
9 program has been a vital link between small
10 business and the financial industry. My concern
11 relates to the discrepancy between the Senate
12 bill and the Assembly bill.
13 The Assembly bill appropriates
14 another $50 million, 25 million coming from the
15 comptroller's office and 25- coming from tax and
16 finance which would expand the overall amount to
17 $200 million. At this point the program is
18 supported not by any state appropriations but
19 rather by existing resources and investment.
20 I was wondering if Senator Saland
21 could amplify for me the reason that this
22 discrepancy between the two bills exists.
23 SENATOR SALAND: Well, Mr.
24 President, there has been over the course of the
25 past week or two an interest expressed by the
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1 Assembly to make some changes in this bill. My
2 concern, whether it deals with the subject of
3 appropriation or some of the other changes that
4 have been proposed, is that as we approach the
5 April 1 deadline, I would not want to see the
6 program prejudiced by not having it continued.
7 These are all things which will be subject to
8 negotiation. Right now this is a rather revenue
9 neutral measure. We certainly would welcome the
10 dialogue with the Assembly and we're certainly
11 willing to entertain anything that they might
12 want to put on the table. Whether, in fact,
13 that will ultimately be part of the three-way
14 agreement remains to be seen, but my concern
15 here today as we are here on the last session
16 day of this week and as we approach the 31st of
17 March, is that we pass an extender. This
18 extender effectively -- this is effectively no
19 more an extender with some very minor
20 modifications.
21 SENATOR PATERSON: Thank you, Mr.
22 President.
23 If Senator Saland would continue
24 to yield.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Does the
2191
1 Senator continue to yield?
2 SENATOR SALAND: Yes, Mr.
3 President.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: The
5 Senator yields.
6 Senator Paterson.
7 SENATOR PATERSON: Senator, you
8 may well have answered my second question with
9 your response to the first. I was going to ask
10 you would you consider as the Assembly has
11 including a lot of farm projects which can be
12 found in their bill which right now are in great
13 need of the kind of reductions in rates
14 particularly for loans that could perhaps come
15 under the umbrella of this legislation, and I
16 would take from your first answer that the kind
17 of need to pass this legislation at this time
18 and to try to get this worked out before March
19 31st or April 1st would be, you're saying, the
20 feeling on an issue such as the farm projects
21 program.
22 SENATOR SALAND: Well, I'm
23 certainly aware of the -- that provision in the
24 Assembly bill. We look forward to working with
25 the Assembly to try and see how we can succeed
2192
1 in expanding what I think by everybody's
2 acknowledgment has been an extremely successful
3 program. We are not adverse to entertaining
4 that.
5 My concern, as I said earlier, is
6 not to permit this to sunset. We believe that
7 there will be some changes, some substantive
8 changes that will be made, Mr. President, but I
9 greatly fear that with March 31st being just
10 around the corner that the negotiations will not
11 be able to be brought to a swift enough
12 conclusion to enable us to accomplish that.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Senator
14 Paterson.
15 SENATOR PATERSON: Thank you, Mr.
16 President.
17 Then I guess I would -- if
18 Senator Saland would yield.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Does the
20 Senator yield?
21 SENATOR SALAND: Yes, Mr.
22 President.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Senator
24 Saland continues to yield.
25 SENATOR PATERSON: Senator, I
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1 understand your concern for meeting the
2 deadline, but it's not as if the Senate itself
3 can bring the deadline or come in under the
4 deadline just with the legislation that we're
5 passing here. In other words, if the Assembly
6 is insistent on those other two measures, it's
7 going to be hard to pass a bill at all.
8 So, in other words, isn't it true
9 that perhaps by some negotiation or some
10 recognition of the farm projects program or the
11 extra 50 million that the Assembly is proposing,
12 that we can get this done as quickly as you
13 would like, but it's not as if we have to stand
14 on the status quo just to meet the deadline.
15 SENATOR SALAND: Well, I would
16 not be as confident as you that that can be
17 accomplished, and I would not want to see, as I
18 said earlier, this program sunset. I feel
19 confident that there will be some changes.
20 There's some changes that the Senate -- or
21 expansions in the program that the Senate is
22 interested in, I believe, again, that you have
23 outlined or certainly highlighted one of the
24 things that the Assembly is interested in.
25 There's nothing that will not be appropriately
2194
1 the subject of discussion. Where we will wind
2 up, Senator Paterson, I really can't tell you,
3 but as you and I both know, if both parties come
4 to the table with an interest in expanding,
5 there will certainly have to be some type of
6 accommodations that deal with the respective -
7 the respective parties' priorities and I'm not
8 ruling out, as I said earlier, dealing with any
9 one of those particular items.
10 I should also point out, and I'm
11 sure you're aware, I believe this is a
12 departmental -- certainly the Governor will have
13 a lot to say in what the final form of this bill
14 will be as well.
15 SENATOR PATERSON: Thank you,
16 Senator.
17 I have just one last question, if
18 you'll continue to yield.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: The
20 Senator yields.
21 SENATOR SALAND: Yes, Mr.
22 President.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Senator
24 Paterson.
25 SENATOR PATERSON: Senator, I
2195
1 felt that the reason that this program was
2 brought into existence was to try to encourage
3 opportunity, particularly for smaller
4 businesses. I believe 13 out of every small
5 businesses that start -- 13 out of every 15
6 small businesses that start after commencing
7 don't exist after their first year and
8 particularly in minority areas where the
9 availability of capital may not be as
10 opportunistic, that there is -- the reduced rate
11 is particularly helpful, but it somewhat
12 concerns me that the data that I see on the
13 topic reveals that only six percent of the loans
14 have gone to businesses in New York State.
15 Now, in my particular district -
16 I'm sorry -- in New York City. I'm sorry. In
17 my particular district there have been a few
18 loans, but understanding what the real scope of
19 the program was and certainly what its credo is,
20 it's a little disappointing to find out that the
21 areas that would probably benefit the most are
22 getting such a small percentage of the loans.
23 Would you share that concern and
24 have any idea as to how perhaps we can bring
25 what is -- extend this program from what now is
2196
1 what I would describe as more than a scintilla
2 of appropriation -
3 SENATOR SALAND: Mr. President,
4 could I beg the Senator's indulgence. It's
5 awfully noisy and I'm finding it a little
6 difficult to hear.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Can we
8 have some order in the house. Members stop
9 their conversations.
10 Senator Paterson.
11 SENATOR PATERSON: Thank you, Mr.
12 President.
13 I was just closing, Senator
14 Saland, just by saying that it's certainly more
15 than what I would describe as a scintilla of
16 opportunity, but it is not nearly what I would
17 consider to be comprehensive or representative.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Senator
19 Saland, as puzzled the Chair is, is there a
20 question in there?
21 SENATOR SALAND: Was Senator
22 Paterson closing or was there a question?
23 SENATOR PATERSON: No. My
24 question was that being that only six percent of
25 the loans are going to businesses that exist in
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1 New York City, doesn't this fail to coincide
2 with what would really be the credo of the
3 program to extend opportunity to smaller
4 businesses, particularly in minority
5 neighborhoods where the need is greater and the
6 availability to capital is less than it would be
7 in other areas and that with such a small
8 percentage of the loans going to areas where it
9 would be needed the most, would you have any
10 suggestion as to how to increase the resources
11 in these particular locations that don't seem to
12 be on the track for receiving the loan
13 advantages?
14 SENATOR SALAND: Well, let me
15 just suggest that I cannot account for the
16 internals of the process. For instance, I have
17 no idea of how many applications may be
18 emanating from banks in the Metropolitan -- in
19 the New York City area compared to banks perhaps
20 in more rural areas where this may be a far more
21 attractive loan mechanism because the kinds of
22 dollars involved in the loans might be
23 considered more substantial bigger loans than
24 might be the case in some of the major New York
25 banks. So some of the problem -- and I don't
2198
1 know this to be the case, Senator Paterson -
2 they simply reflect where the applications are
3 coming from.
4 Secondly, I would suggest to you
5 that in order for the program to be effective, I
6 think there has to be a degree of flexibility
7 and that we certainly should be looking at every
8 region in the state, whether it's -- when I say
9 "we", I'm being collective. Let me say they
10 should be looking at every region in the state
11 as should we, whether it be New York City,
12 whether it be the mid-Hudson, whether it be the
13 Adirondacks or Western New York and what we
14 should be doing is, in effect, dealing with the
15 applications in an equitable fashion.
16 I would not want to pigeonhole
17 certain areas as being priority areas. I would
18 much prefer having a flexible program that
19 responds to the applications on, in effect, a
20 need plus certainly sound banking practice
21 basis.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Senator
23 Paterson.
24 SENATOR PATERSON: Thank you, Mr.
25 President.
2199
1 Mr. President, on the bill.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Senator
3 Paterson, on the bill.
4 SENATOR PATERSON: Mr. President,
5 Senator Saland is right. If there are fewer
6 applications coming from New York City, then
7 what we would really be trying to encourage the
8 program is to engage in more of a marketing
9 program so that those who are starting
10 businesses and those who would be eligible would
11 become aware of the availability of the
12 program.
13 If there is a reasonable number
14 of applications coming from New York City that
15 causes the six percent overall number to be as
16 not only accurate but reflecting a poor
17 percentage, then I would suggest that Senator
18 Saland's point is also right that we should not
19 have any priority regions and if the latter
20 supposition is true, then apparently there must
21 be some priority regions because New York City
22 and some of the areas that would probably be
23 best served by this type of program are for some
24 reason either systemically or with unawareness
25 or naively being excluded from the program.
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1 I'll vote for the bill with the
2 admonition that somebody needs to take a look at
3 that because this was the whole real idea when
4 it was proposed as the Excelsior Link Deposit
5 Program some years ago. I notice that the
6 Assembly still calls it that. The Senate has
7 changed the name to the Empire State Link
8 Deposit Program and the name really doesn't make
9 a difference as long as the two houses agree and
10 the title doesn't really make a difference as
11 long as what was in contemplation of those who
12 first proposed this program is actually brought
13 to fruition actually to provide for small
14 businesses for people who throughout the years
15 have incurred the greatest difficulty receiving
16 these types of benefits which can inure to the
17 overall financial benefit of the states and even
18 the banks that actually provide these loans,
19 that this is something that would be a marvelous
20 idea if it actually works, and that's why I
21 would choose to support the bill and encourage
22 everyone else to do so, Mr. President, but I'm
23 going to take a look to see what the numerical
24 value of the applications are, because if it's
25 not the case, if we are getting a lot of
2201
1 applications that are not being acted upon, then
2 I think when we come back at some other point
3 we'll have to take a second look at it, but I
4 hope that those who are in the decision-making
5 capacities and can act on this will recognize
6 that there are a lot of businesses all over the
7 state, many of them in New York City, many of
8 them with an opportunity to flourish with the
9 same type of treatment as their companion
10 businesses all throughout the rest of the state
11 have received.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Read the
13 last section.
14 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
15 act shall take effect immediately.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Call the
17 roll.
18 (The Secretary called the roll.)
19 THE SECRETARY: Ayes 51.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: The bill
21 is passed.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23 513, by Senator Nozzolio, Senate Print 6505, an
24 act to amend Chapter 887 of the Laws of 1983.
25 SENATOR GOLD: Explanation.
2202
1 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Senator
2 Nozzolio, an explanation has been requested of
3 Calendar Number 513.
4 SENATOR NOZZOLIO: Who requested
5 the explanation, Mr. President?
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: The
7 explanation was requested by Senator Gold.
8 SENATOR NOZZOLIO: Thank you, Mr.
9 President.
10 This measure extends the
11 authorization of psychological testing for
12 candidates for the position of correction
13 officer for two years.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:
15 Explanation satisfactory?
16 (Senator Gold nods head.)
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Read the
18 last section.
19 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
20 act shall take effect immediately.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Call the
22 roll.
23 (The Secretary called the roll.)
24 THE SECRETARY: Ayes 51.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: The bill
2203
1 is passed.
2 Senator Skelos, that completes
3 the reading of the controversial calendar.
4 SENATOR SKELOS: Please recognize
5 Senator DeFrancisco.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Senator
7 DeFrancisco.
8 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: I request
9 unanimous consent to vote in the negative on
10 Calendar 381, please.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Without
12 objection, Senator DeFrancisco will be recorded
13 in the negative on Calendar Number 381.
14 Senator Skelos.
15 SENATOR SKELOS: Is there any
16 housekeeping at the desk?
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Nothing
18 at the desk, Senator.
19 SENATOR SKELOS: There will be an
20 immediate conference of the Majority in the
21 Majority Conference Room as we end session, and
22 I believe Senator Paterson has an announcement
23 also.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Senator
25 Paterson.
2204
1 SENATOR PATERSON: Thank you, Mr.
2 President.
3 There will be a conference of the
4 Minority, plus Senator Goodman, if he would like
5 to join us. He declines respectfully. I would
6 also join that conference if I knew what time it
7 was -- oh, immediately, immediately after
8 session.
9 Thank you, Mr. President.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:
11 Immediate meeting of both Majority and Minority
12 Conferences after session.
13 Senator Skelos.
14 SENATOR SKELOS: There being no
15 further business, I move we adjourn until
16 Monday, March 30th, at 3:00 p.m., intervening
17 days being legislative days.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: On
19 motion, the Senate stands adjourned until
20 Monday, March 30th, at 3:00 p.m. Intervening
21 days will be legislative days.
22 (Whereupon, at 11:29 a.m., the
23 Senate adjourned.)
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25