Regular Session - April 9, 1998

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         9                   ALBANY, NEW YORK

        10                     April 9, 1998

        11                      12:03 p.m.

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        14                  REGULAR SESSION

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        18       SENATOR RAYMOND A. MEIER, aCTING President

        19       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.  Will you please

         4       join me in the Pledge of Allegiance to the

         5       Flag.

         6                      (The assemblage repeated the

         7       Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)

         8                      Reverend Peter Young, of the

         9       Blessed Sacrament Church of Bolton Landing

        10       will give the invocation.

        11                      REVEREND PETER YOUNG:  Let us

        12       pray.

        13                      Dear God, we ask Your blessing

        14       on all of the Senate members and their staffs.

        15       Their commitment to Your citizens of our New

        16       York State will be enhanced by their call to

        17       You for guidance and Your support.  We ask You

        18       this now and forever.  Amen.

        19                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:

        20       Reading of the Journal.

        21                      THE SECRETARY:  In Senate

        22       Wednesday, April 8th.  The Senate met pursuant

        23       to adjournment, Senator Meier in the Chair

        24       upon designation of the Temporary President.

        25       The Journal of Tuesday, April 7th, was read







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         1       and approved.  On motion, Senate adjourned.

         2                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:

         3       Without objection, the Journal stands approved

         4       as read.

         5                      Presentation of petitions.

         6                      Messages from the Assembly.

         7                      Messages from the Governor.

         8                      Reports of standing

         9       committees.

        10                      Reports of select committees.

        11                      Communications and reports from

        12       state officers.

        13                      Motions and resolutions.

        14                      Senator Skelos.

        15                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

        16       if we could take up the non-controversial

        17       calendar, please.

        18                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  The

        19       Secretary will read the non-controversial

        20       calendar.

        21                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        22       262, by Senator Maltese, Senate Print 4876-A,

        23       an act to amend the Municipal Home Rule Law,

        24       in relation to punishment.

        25                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Read







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         1       the last section.

         2                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.

         3       This act shall take effect immediately.

         4                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Call

         5       the roll.

         6                      (The Secretary called the

         7       roll. )

         8                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 39.

         9                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  The

        10       bill is passed.

        11                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        12       456, by Senator Velella, Senate Print 1187, an

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

        14       crime of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

        15                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Read

        16       the last section.

        17                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.

        18       This act shall take effect on the first day of

        19       November.

        20                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Call

        21       the roll.

        22                      (The Secretary called the

        23       roll. )

        24                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 39.

        25                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  The







                                                          2596

         1       bill is passed.

         2                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

         3       464, by Senator Maltese, Senate Print 3564-A,

         4       an act to amend the Penal Law, in relation to

         5       placing a false bomb.

         6                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Read

         7       the last section.

         8                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 3.

         9       This act shall take effect on the first day of

        10       November.

        11                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Call

        12       the roll.

        13                      (The Secretary called the

        14       roll.)

        15                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 39.

        16                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  The

        17       bill is passed.

        18                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        19       469, by Senator Volker, Senate Print 5353, an

        20       act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law, in

        21       relation to transfer of supervision.

        22                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Read

        23       the last section.

        24                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 3.

        25       This act shall take effect on the first day of







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         1       November.

         2                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Call

         3       the roll.

         4                      (The Secretary called the

         5       roll. )

         6                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 39.

         7                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  The

         8       bill is passed.

         9                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        10       478, by member of the Assembly Hill, Assembly

        11       Print 20-A, an act in relation to permitting

        12       the Judea United Baptist Church, Incorporated

        13       to file an application.

        14                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Read

        15       the last section.

        16                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.

        17       This act shall take effect immediately.

        18                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Call

        19       the roll.

        20                      (The Secretary called the

        21       roll. )

        22                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 38, nays

        23       one, Senator Cook recorded in the negative.

        24                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  The

        25       bill is passed.







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         1                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

         2       481, by Senator Johnson, Senate Print 6304, an

         3       act to authorize the Freedom Chapel Assembly

         4       of God to file an application.

         5                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Read

         6       the last section.

         7                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.

         8       This act shall take effect immediately.

         9                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Call

        10       the roll.

        11                      (The Secretary called the

        12       roll. )

        13                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 38, nays

        14       one, Senator Cook recorded in the negative.

        15                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  The

        16       bill is passed.

        17                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        18       493, by Senator Larkin, Senate Print 473, an

        19       act to amend the Agriculture and Markets Law,

        20       in relation to the forfeiture of animals.

        21                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Read

        22       the last section.

        23                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.

        24       This act shall take effect immediately.

        25                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Call







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         1       the roll.

         2                      (The Secretary called the

         3       roll. )

         4                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 39.

         5                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  The

         6       bill is passed.

         7                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

         8       498, by Senator Kuhl, Senate Print 6160, an

         9       act to amend Chapter 182 of the Laws of 1993,

        10       amending the Agriculture and Markets Law.

        11                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Read

        12       the last section.

        13                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.

        14       This act shall take effect immediately.

        15                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Call

        16       the roll.

        17                      (The Secretary called the

        18       roll. )

        19                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 39.

        20                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  The

        21       bill is passed.

        22                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        23       565, by Senator Leibell, Senate Print 6120, an

        24       act to amend the Highway Law, in relation to

        25       designating a portion of the state highway







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         1       system.

         2                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Read

         3       the last section.

         4                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 3.

         5       This act shall take effect immediately.

         6                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Call

         7       the roll.

         8                      (The Secretary called the

         9       roll. )

        10                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 41.

        11                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  The

        12       bill is passed.

        13                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        14       573, by Senator DeFrancisco, Senate Print

        15       6557, an act to amend the Parks, Recreation

        16       and Historic Preservation Law and the Vehicle

        17       and Traffic Law.

        18                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Read

        19       the last section.

        20                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 4.

        21       This act shall take effect immediately.

        22                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Call

        23       the roll.

        24                      (The Secretary called the

        25       roll. )







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         1                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 41.

         2                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  The

         3       bill is passed.

         4                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

         5       577, by Senator Goodman, Senate Print 3651, an

         6       act to amend the Alcoholic Beverage Control

         7       Law, in relation to permitting the State

         8       Liquor Authority to apply as payment.

         9                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Read

        10       the last section.

        11                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.

        12       This act shall take effect on the 60th day.

        13                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Call

        14       the roll.

        15                      (The Secretary called the

        16       roll. )

        17                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 42.

        18                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  The

        19       bill is passed.

        20                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        21       578, by Senator Goodman, Senate Print 3673, an

        22       act to amend the Alcoholic Beverage Control

        23       Law, in relation to consolidating the number

        24       of permits.

        25                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Read







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         1       the last section.

         2                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 3.

         3       This act shall take effect immediately.

         4                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Call

         5       the roll.

         6                      (The Secretary called the

         7       roll. )

         8                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 43.

         9                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  The

        10       bill is passed.

        11                      Senator Skelos, that completes

        12       the reading of the calendar.

        13                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

        14       there is going to be a meeting of the Finance

        15       Committee at 12:15 in the Majority Conference

        16       Room, and we'll stand at ease.

        17                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:

        18       Meeting of the Finance Committee at 12:15 in

        19       the Majority Conference Room, and the Senate

        20       will stand at ease.

        21                      (Whereupon at 12:10 p.m., the

        22       Senate stood at ease until 12:30 p.m.)

        23                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:

        24       Senator Skelos.

        25                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,







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         1       if we could return to reports of standing

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

         3       Finance Committee at the desk.  I ask it be

         4       read.

         5                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:

         6       Reports of standing committees.  The Secretary

         7       will read.

         8                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator

         9       Stafford, from the Committee on Finance,

        10       reports the following bills direct to third

        11       reading:

        12                      Restored, Senate Print 6104-C,

        13       Budget Bill, an act making appropriations for

        14       the support of government (Public Protection,

        15       Health and Mental Hygiene Budgets); and

        16                      6451, by Senator Stafford, an

        17       act to amend Chapter 989 of the Laws of 1958.

        18                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Both

        19       bills restored to third reading.

        20                      Senator Skelos.

        21                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

        22       if we could call up Calendar Number 437.

        23                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:

        24       Secretary will read.

        25                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number







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         1       437, Budget Bill, Senate Print 6104-C, an act

         2       making appropriations for the support of

         3       government.

         4                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Is there a

         5       message at the desk?

         6                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  There

         7       is a message at the desk.

         8                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Move we

         9       accept.

        10                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:

        11       Question is on the motion to accept the

        12       message of necessity.  All those in favor

        13       signify by saying aye.

        14                      (Response of "Aye.")

        15                      Opposed nay.

        16                      (There was no response. )

        17                      The message is accepted.

        18                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Last section.

        19                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Read

        20       the last section.

        21                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.

        22       This act shall take effect immediately.

        23                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Call

        24       the roll.

        25                      (The Secretary called the







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         1       roll. )

         2                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  The

         3       bill is passed.

         4                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

         5       could we call up Calendar Number 438.

         6                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:

         7       Secretary will read Calendar Number 438.

         8                      Senator Skelos.

         9                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

        10       I inadvertently called up Calendar Number

        11       438.  It should be Calendar Number 610.

        12                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:

        13       Secretary will read Calendar Number 610.

        14                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator

        15       Stafford, from the -- moves to discharge from

        16       the Committee on Finance Assembly Bill Number

        17       9346 and substitute it for the identical Third

        18       Reading Calendar 610.

        19                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:

        20       Substitution ordered.

        21                      Secretary will read.

        22                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        23       610, by member of the Assembly Straniere,

        24       Assembly Print 9346, an act to amend Chapter

        25       989 of the Laws of 1958, relating to the







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         1       Temporary State Commission of Investigation.

         2                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Read

         3       the last section.

         4                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.

         5       This act shall take effect immediately.

         6                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Call

         7       the roll.

         8                      (The Secretary called the

         9       roll. )

        10                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 50.

        11                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  The

        12       bill is passed.

        13                      Senator Skelos.

        14                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

        15       we'll stand at ease, please.

        16                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Senate

        17       will stand at ease.

        18                      (Whereupon at 12:33 p.m., the

        19       Senate stood at ease until 12:58 p.m.)

        20                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:

        21       Senator Skelos.

        22                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

        23       there will be an immediate meeting of the

        24       Finance Committee in the Majority Conference

        25       Room.







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         1                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:

         2       Immediate meeting of the Finance Committee in

         3       the Senate Majority Conference Room.  Senate

         4       will stand at ease.

         5                      (Whereupon at 12:59 p.m., the

         6       Senate stood at ease until 1:07 p.m.)

         7                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr.

         8       President.

         9                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:

        10       Senator Skelos.

        11                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

        12       if we could return to reports of standing

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

        14       Finance Committee at the desk.  I ask that it

        15       be read.

        16                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:

        17       Reports of standing committees.  Secretary

        18       will read.

        19                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator

        20       Stafford, from the Committee on Finance,

        21       reports the following bill:

        22                      Senate Print 6919, by the

        23       Committee on Rules, an act making

        24       appropriations for the support of government.

        25                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Read







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         1       the last section.

         2                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Without

         3       objection, if we could report it to third

         4       reading.

         5                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Direct

         6       to third reading.

         7                      SENATOR SKELOS:  If we could

         8       call up Calendar Number 611.

         9                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:

        10       Secretary will read.

        11                      THE SECRETARY:  Calendar Number

        12       611, by the Senate Committee on Rules, Senate

        13       Print 6919, an act making appropriations for

        14       the support of government.

        15                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Is there a

        16       message at the desk?

        17                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  There

        18       is a message at the desk.

        19                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Move to

        20       accept.

        21                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:

        22       Question is on the motion to accept the

        23       message of necessity.  All those in favor

        24       signify by saying aye.

        25                      (Response of "Aye.")







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         1                      Opposed nay.

         2                      (There was no response. )

         3                      The message is accepted.  Read

         4       the last section.

         5                      THE SECRETARY:  Section 5.

         6       This act shall take effect immediately.

         7                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  Call

         8       the roll.

         9                      (The Secretary called the

        10       roll. )

        11                      THE SECRETARY:  Ayes 56.

        12                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  The

        13       bill is passed.

        14                      Senator Skelos.

        15                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

        16       there will be a conference of the Majority in

        17       the Majority Conference Room at 1:15.

        18                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:

        19       Conference of the Majority in the Majority

        20       Conference Room at 1:15.  Senate will stand at

        21       ease.

        22                      (Whereupon at 1:10 p.m., the

        23       Senate stood at ease until 2:21 p.m.)

        24                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:

        25       Senator Skelos.







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         1                      SENATOR SKELOS:  Mr. President,

         2       there being no further business -- well, first

         3       of all, is there any housekeeping at the

         4       desk?

         5                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  There

         6       is no further housekeeping at the desk.

         7                      SENATOR SKELOS:  There being no

         8       further business, I move we adjourn until

         9       Tuesday, April 14th, at 2:00 p.m., intervening

        10       days to be legislative days.

        11                      ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:  On

        12       motion, the Senate stands adjourned until

        13       Tuesday, April 14th, at 2:00 p.m., intervening

        14       days will be legislative days.

        15                      (Whereupon at 2:22 p.m., the

        16       Senate adjourned. )

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