Regular Session - April 19, 2004

    

 
                                                        1792



                           NEW YORK STATE SENATE





                          THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD









                             ALBANY, NEW YORK

                              April 19, 2004

                                 3:08 p.m.





                              REGULAR SESSION







            SENATOR RAYMOND A. MEIER, Acting President

            STEVEN M. BOGGESS, Secretary















                                                        1793



                           P R O C E E D I N G S

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The

                 Senate will come to order.

                            May I ask everyone present to

                 please stand and join me in the Pledge of

                 Allegiance to the Flag.

                            (Whereupon, the assemblage recited

                 the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    In the

                 absence of clergy, may we bow our heads in a

                 moment of silence.

                            (Whereupon, the assemblage

                 respected a moment of silence.)

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Reading

                 of the Journal.

                            THE SECRETARY:    In Senate,

                 Sunday, April 18, the Senate met pursuant to

                 adjournment.  The Journal of Saturday,

                 April 17, was read and approved.  On motion,

                 Senate adjourned.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Without

                 objection, the Journal stands approved as

                 read.

                            Presentation of petitions.

                            Messages from the Assembly.



                                                        1794



                            Messages from the Governor.

                            Reports of standing committees.

                            Reports of select committees.

                            Communications and reports from

                 state officers.

                            Motions and resolutions.

                            Senator Skelos.

                            SENATOR SKELOS:    Mr. President, I

                 believe there's a substitution at the desk.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The

                 Secretary will read the substitution.

                            THE SECRETARY:    On page 4,

                 Senator Marcellino moves to discharge, from

                 the Committee on Consumer Protection, Assembly

                 Bill Number 1062 and substitute it for the

                 identical Senate Bill Number 784, First Report

                 Calendar 678.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:

                 Substitution ordered.

                            Senator Skelos.

                            SENATOR SKELOS:    Mr. President,

                 there's a resolution, 4509, at the desk by

                 Senator Bonacic.  Could we have the title read

                 and move for its immediate adoption.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The



                                                        1795



                 Secretary will read the title.

                            THE SECRETARY:    By Senator

                 Bonacic, Legislative Resolution Number 4509,

                 paying tribute to the life and selfless

                 heroism of Specialist Isaac Michael Nieves of

                 Sidney, New York.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The

                 question is on the resolution.  All those in

                 favor signify by saying aye.

                            (Response of "Aye.")

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Opposed,

                 nay.

                            (No response.)

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The

                 resolution is carried.

                            Senator Skelos.

                            SENATOR SKELOS:    Mr. President,

                 if we could go to the noncontroversial reading

                 of the calendar.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The

                 Secretary will conduct the noncontroversial

                 reading of the calendar.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

                 13, by Senator Maziarz, Senate Print 3701A, an

                 act to amend the Real Property Tax Law, in



                                                        1796



                 relation to extending.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Read the

                 last section.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This

                 act shall take effect on the 180th day.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Call the

                 roll.

                            (The Secretary called the roll.)

                            THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 38.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The bill

                 is passed.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

                 22, by Senator Balboni, Senate Print 524, an

                 act to amend the General Business Law and the

                 Penal Law, in relation to operating an

                 aircraft while intoxicated.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Read the

                 last section.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Section 9.  This

                 act shall take effect on the first of

                 November.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Call the

                 roll.

                            (The Secretary called the roll.)

                            THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 37.  Nays,



                                                        1797



                 1.  Senator Duane recorded in the negative.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The bill

                 is passed.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

                 219, by the Assembly Committee on Rules,

                 Assembly Print Number 8334, an act to amend

                 the Civil Practice Law and Rules, in relation

                 to conducting depositions.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Read the

                 last section.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This

                 act shall take effect on the first of January.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Call the

                 roll.

                            (The Secretary called the roll.)

                            THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 38.  Nays,

                 1.  Senator Duane recorded in the negative.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The bill

                 is passed.

                            Senator Skelos.

                            SENATOR SKELOS:    Yes, thank you,

                 Mr. President.  There will be an immediate

                 meeting of the Finance Committee in the

                 Majority Conference Room.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:



                                                        1798



                 Immediate meeting of the Finance Committee in

                 the Majority Conference Room.

                            The Secretary will continue to

                 read.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

                 273, by Senator Marcellino, Senate Print 772,

                 an act to amend the Labor Law, in relation to

                 designating as an unfair labor practice the

                 granting of permanent replacement employee

                 status.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Read the

                 last section.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Section 3.  This

                 act shall take effect on the 120th day.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Call the

                 roll.

                            (The Secretary called the roll.)

                            THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 41.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The bill

                 is passed.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

                 356, by Senator Robach, Senate Print 6214, an

                 act to amend the Civil Service Law, in

                 relation to reduction in force and recall

                 provisions.



                                                        1799



                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Read the

                 last section.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Section 7.  This

                 act shall take effect on the 90th day.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Call the

                 roll.

                            (The Secretary called the roll.)

                            THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 41.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The bill

                 is passed.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

                 398, by Senator Volker, Senate Print 5801A, an

                 act to amend the Local Finance Law, in

                 relation to the sale of bonds and notes of the

                 City of Buffalo.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    There is

                 a home-rule message at the desk.

                            Read the last section.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This

                 act shall take effect immediately.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Call the

                 roll.

                            (The Secretary called the roll.)

                            THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 45.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The bill



                                                        1800



                 is passed.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

                 406, by Senator Libous, Senate Print 4794, an

                 act to amend the Mental Hygiene Law, in

                 relation to payments made by the Office of

                 Mental Retardation and Developmental

                 Disabilities.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Read the

                 last section.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Section 6.  This

                 act shall take effect immediately.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Call the

                 roll.

                            (The Secretary called the roll.)

                            THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 45.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The bill

                 is passed.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

                 407, by Senator Skelos, Senate Print 4835A, an

                 act to amend the Mental Hygiene Law, in

                 relation to disclosure of sexual offender

                 information.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Read the

                 last section.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Section 5.  This



                                                        1801



                 act shall take effect on the 180th day.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Call the

                 roll.

                            (The Secretary called the roll.)

                            THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 44.  Nays,

                 1.  Senator Duane recorded in the negative.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The bill

                 is passed.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

                 430, by Senator Padavan, Senate Print 24A --

                            SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER:    Lay it

                 aside, please.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Lay the

                 bill aside.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

                 528, by Senator Meier, Senate Print 5737A, an

                 act to amend the Tax Law, in relation to

                 authorizing the County of Lewis to impose

                 hotel or motel taxes.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    There is

                 a local fiscal impact note at the desk.

                            Read the last section.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This

                 act shall take effect immediately.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Call the



                                                        1802



                 roll.

                            (The Secretary called the roll.)

                            THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 47.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The bill

                 is passed.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

                 555, by Senator Trunzo, Senate Print 5746A, an

                 act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law, in

                 relation to vehicle data recording devices.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Read the

                 last section.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This

                 act shall take effect immediately.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Call the

                 roll.

                            (The Secretary called the roll.)

                            THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 47.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The bill

                 is passed.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

                 609, by Senator Maziarz, Senate Print 5835, an

                 act to amend the Workers' Compensation Law, in

                 relation to direct deposit.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Read the

                 last section.



                                                        1803



                            THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This

                 act shall take effect immediately.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Call the

                 roll.

                            (The Secretary called the roll.)

                            THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 50.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The bill

                 is passed.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

                 611, by Senator Velella, Senate Print 6455, an

                 act to amend the Workers' Compensation Law, in

                 relation to imposing penalties on third

                 parties.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Read the

                 last section.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This

                 act shall take effect immediately.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Call the

                 roll.

                            (The Secretary called the roll.)

                            THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 50.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The bill

                 is passed.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

                 617, by Member of the Assembly Tocci, Assembly



                                                        1804



                 Print Number 5044, an act to amend the Civil

                 Service Law, in relation to priority in

                 employment.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Read the

                 last section.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This

                 act shall take effect immediately.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Call the

                 roll.

                            (The Secretary called the roll.)

                            THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 50.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The bill

                 is passed.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

                 634, by Senator Volker, Senate Print --

                            SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER:    Lay it

                 aside, please.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Lay the

                 bill aside.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

                 642, by Senator Skelos, Senate Print 5974, an

                 act to amend Chapter 138 of the Laws of 1998,

                 amending the Navigation Law.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Read the

                 last section.



                                                        1805



                            THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This

                 act shall take effect immediately.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Call the

                 roll.

                            (The Secretary called the roll.)

                            THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 50.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The bill

                 is passed.

                            Senator Skelos, that completes the

                 noncontroversial reading of the calendar.

                            SENATOR SKELOS:    Thank you, Mr.

                 President.  If we could go to the

                 controversial reading of the calendar.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The

                 Secretary will conduct the controversial

                 reading of the calendar.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

                 430, by Senator Padavan, Senate Print 24A, an

                 act to amend the Executive Law.

                            SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER:

                 Explanation.

                            SENATOR SKELOS:    Mr. President, I

                 believe we're on Calendar 430.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Yes.

                            SENATOR SKELOS:    And an



                                                        1806



                 explanation has been asked.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Senator

                 Padavan, Senator Liz Krueger has requested an

                 explanation of Calendar 430.

                            SENATOR PADAVAN:    Thank you, Mr.

                 President.

                            What the bill seeks to do, in very

                 fundamental terms, is to in state law require

                 as much cooperation as is feasible and

                 appropriate between our police agencies and

                 the United States Bureau of Immigration and

                 Customs.

                            We know -- history is now telling

                 us, regrettably -- that failures of

                 cooperation between law enforcement agencies

                 at all levels can be viewed as the genesis for

                 the tragedies that we have had fallen upon us

                 in New York City and elsewhere.

                            This bill would require state and

                 local police agencies to cooperate.

                 Specifically, it would require such agencies

                 to verify the citizenship status of persons

                 arrested -- I want you to underline that word,

                 "arrested" -- under state law and who are

                 reasonably suspected of being illegal aliens,



                                                        1807



                 and to notify the Attorney General as well as

                 the Bureau of Immigration and Customs of such

                 persons' suspected status, and would provide

                 for cooperation between the Attorney General

                 and the federal agency.

                            It would prohibit local governments

                 from preventing such cooperation from taking

                 place.

                            We realize that immigration is

                 primarily a federal responsibility.  But as

                 has been said by so many so often, if we're to

                 deal with these issues of international

                 terrorism and criminality, cooperation at all

                 levels of government is essential.  We cannot

                 simply look to Washington and say they will

                 solve all of these problems.  Our local law

                 enforcement agencies must be partners in that

                 initiative.

                            So if they arrest someone for

                 having committed a crime and there's an issue

                 of immigration associated with that

                 individual, then certainly the federal agency

                 that has paramount responsibility should at a

                 minimum be notified.  And that is what this

                 bill would provide.



                                                        1808



                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Senator

                 Krueger.

                            SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER:    Thank you,

                 Mr. President.  If, through you, the sponsor

                 would yield.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Senator

                 Padavan, do you yield for a question?

                            SENATOR PADAVAN:    Yes.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The

                 sponsor yields.

                            SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER:    Thank you.

                            Senator Padavan, how would we

                 address the concern of people's civil

                 liberties being violated based on their only

                 being suspected of being an illegal immigrant?

                 I think particularly in New York City, where

                 the policy has been not to have government

                 agencies asking people for documentation of

                 their legal status, how do you see this as

                 actually being translated at the local level?

                            SENATOR PADAVAN:    Senator, you

                 weren't listening to me.  We're talking about

                 someone who is arrested.

                            Let me give you an example.  Not

                 too long ago, four individuals in Flushing



                                                        1809



                 Corona Park attacked a young couple, beat the

                 young man senseless, and then raped, all of

                 them raped the young woman.  They were

                 arrested.  As it turned out, they were illegal

                 immigrants, and they had arrest records a yard

                 long.

                            Now, the obvious question is had

                 upon their first arrest INS, the federal

                 agency, been notified, would appropriate

                 action have taken place to preclude this

                 terrible crime and terrible tragedy from

                 having occurred in Senator Sabini's district?

                 I think the answer is yes.

                            And that is the answer you should

                 give, or I would give, to any person who talks

                 about why such an initiative is necessary.

                            SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER:    Mr.

                 President, through you, if the sponsor would

                 continue to yield.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Senator

                 Padavan, do you continue to yield?

                            SENATOR PADAVAN:    Yes.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The

                 sponsor yields.

                            SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER:    Thank you.



                                                        1810



                            Perhaps you didn't understand my

                 question, so let me try to rephrase it.  My

                 question was not whether or not they had been

                 arrested.  I accept your argument there.

                            The question is, how are the local

                 authorities supposed to make a determination

                 of whether or not this is an illegal immigrant

                 at the time of arrest, and what would be the

                 process for ensuring that people who were not

                 illegal immigrants from being sort of sent

                 over, so to speak, to --

                            SENATOR PADAVAN:    Well, the bill,

                 if it became law, would only be applicable to

                 someone who is arrested.  It's only applicable

                 to someone who has committed a crime.

                            Now, what is a reasonable

                 indication relevant to that person?  I'll give

                 you some.  Phoney driver's licenses, phoney

                 Social Security cards, documents that are also

                 forged in their possession.  That's a pretty

                 good indication.  And that's what these

                 individuals mostly carry.  You can buy this

                 stuff all over the place.

                            That's a reasonable indication.

                 And I'm sure if we thought about it and sat



                                                        1811



                 down, we'd come up with many others.  That's

                 the answer to your question.

                            SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER:    Mr.

                 President, if the sponsor would continue to

                 yield.

                            SENATOR PADAVAN:    One more

                 question, Senator.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The

                 sponsor yields.

                            SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER:    Thank you.

                            Since there's already a delicate

                 and difficult balance in immigrant communities

                 between the police and the communities, do you

                 think that your bill would have a chilling

                 effect on having immigrants, whether they have

                 legal status or perhaps don't have legal

                 status, coming forward to report crimes to the

                 police, to assist the police in hunts for

                 dangerous criminals, as you described yourself

                 in your example given to me earlier?

                            Do you share perhaps any of my

                 concern that this type of law would actually

                 increase the chances that noncitizens would

                 fear approaching the police and working with

                 the police to in fact try to find criminals



                                                        1812



                 and arrest them who are committing the types

                 of heinous acts you described in their

                 communities, because of new fears that

                 suddenly having any interaction with the

                 police would result in the potential for them

                 being either wrongly targeted or profiled as

                 an undocumented immigrant or, in some cases,

                 in fact, targeted as an undocumented immigrant

                 even though they were not the committer of a

                 crime?

                            SENATOR PADAVAN:    I understand

                 the question, Senator.

                            SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER:    Thank you.

                            SENATOR PADAVAN:    All right.

                 Quite to the contrary, in immigrant

                 communities the victims are most frequently

                 immigrants, throughout the City of New York in

                 particular.  They're the ones who become

                 victimized by criminals who would commit all

                 kinds of acts to body, person and property.

                            Therefore, it is certainly, in my

                 view, the desire of immigrants in every

                 community in the city and state to want those

                 individuals out of their neighborhoods, away

                 from their children, so that their lives can



                                                        1813



                 be safer and they can live in peace and

                 prosperity.  Because that's why they're here,

                 not to be victimized by criminals who are in

                 this country for no other reason than to

                 commit crimes.  That's the answer.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Senator

                 Sabini.

                            SENATOR SABINI:    Mr. President,

                 through you, may I address a question to the

                 sponsor?

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Senator

                 Padavan, do you yield for a question from

                 Senator Sabini?

                            SENATOR PADAVAN:    Yes.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The

                 sponsor yields.

                            SENATOR SABINI:    First of all,

                 Senator Padavan, I just wanted to note that

                 that heinous crime that you talked about that

                 occurred in the railroad yards adjacent to

                 Flushing Meadow Park was in -- it was no less

                 heinous, but it was in Senator Stavisky's

                 district, not in mine.

                            I just want to ask a quick question

                 regarding your bill, since this bill has been



                                                        1814



                 around for a couple of years.

                            The government entities that are

                 most affected by this bill within the State of

                 New York would be the local police

                 departments.  I'm just wondering if you had

                 any memoranda of support or any discussion

                 with local entities anywhere in the state

                 regarding their feelings about this

                 legislation and their ability to make it

                 workable if it became law.

                            SENATOR PADAVAN:    I have no

                 memorandums from the New York City Police

                 Department, if that's your question.  Is it?

                            SENATOR SABINI:    Or any police

                 department.

                            SENATOR PADAVAN:    No, I have no

                 memorandums.

                            SENATOR SABINI:    Thank you.

                            SENATOR PADAVAN:    By the way,

                 Senator, just as a matter of information, the

                 report I received is that the individuals

                 accused of brutally raping a woman on the edge

                 of Flushing Meadow Park -- is that your

                 district?

                            SENATOR SABINI:    Not that part of



                                                        1815



                 it.

                            SENATOR PADAVAN:    They were

                 walking through the park.  You told me the

                 other day, why was I at that event when it was

                 in your district and I didn't tell you.

                            SENATOR SABINI:    Madam President.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    Senator

                 Sabini.

                            SENATOR SABINI:    No, what I

                 said -- I share Flushing Meadows Park with

                 Senator Stavisky.

                            SENATOR PADAVAN:    The Senator and

                 I were at the --

                            SENATOR SABINI:    Flushing Meadows

                 Corona Park, Senator Padavan.  I have the

                 Corona section and --

                            SENATOR PADAVAN:    By way of

                 explanation, the Senator and I were at an

                 event celebrating the 40th anniversary of the

                 World's Fair and what anniversary of the 1939

                 World's Fair.

                            And he said to me, "What are you

                 doing in my district without telling me?"

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    And you

                 said?



                                                        1816



                            (Laughter.)

                            SENATOR SABINI:    Madam President,

                 actually, I was welcoming Senator Padavan back

                 to the home of his alma mater, Newtown High

                 School, which is in Elmhurst, in my district.

                            And we share Flushing Meadows

                 Corona Park with Senator Stavisky, as it's

                 been named for the last 20 years.  I have the

                 Corona section; she has the Flushing Meadows

                 section.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    Read the

                 last section.

                            Oh.  Senator Schneiderman.

                            SENATOR SCHNEIDERMAN:    Yes, Madam

                 President, very briefly on the bill.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    Senator

                 Schneiderman, on the bill.

                            SENATOR SCHNEIDERMAN:    I don't

                 think this bill is going to move forward.

                 We've debated it in the past.

                            I would say, though, that it is

                 absolutely clear to me from my discussion with

                 local law enforcement officers that this in

                 not something that is popular in the law

                 enforcement community.



                                                        1817



                            And I would call to the attention

                 of all my colleagues the April 12th article in

                 the New York Times citing law enforcement

                 officers and authorities around the country,

                 quote, warning that these arrangements may

                 make immigrants wary of cooperating with the

                 police or reporting crime and could lead to

                 racial profiling at the expense even of people

                 in the country legally.

                            I think this is a troublesome

                 issue.  It is a difficult issue.  And I don't

                 think the issue is resolved by essentially

                 trying to make all of our local law

                 enforcement officials enforce a set of laws

                 through an ambiguous process.  And I'm trying

                 to figure out who should be, quote, reasonably

                 suspected of being present in the United

                 States illegally.

                            I vote no.  Again, I urge everyone

                 to vote no.  And I hope that when it comes

                 time for us actually to deal with some of

                 these difficult issues relating to

                 immigration, we will be able to do better.

                            Thank you.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    Senator



                                                        1818



                 Balboni.

                            SENATOR BALBONI:    Yes, Madam

                 President.  Let me just clarify something.

                            I think that what the Senator just

                 was referring to was a piece of legislation

                 that would require local law enforcement

                 officers to enforce immigration violations.

                 Because when you take a look at the national

                 police conferences, when you speak with the

                 people in Washington, they'll tell you that

                 that is a principal concern because of a lack

                 of money.

                            The thing that they do want, at

                 least that they've been asking for,

                 particularly after 9/11, is the ability to

                 share information.  That's exactly what

                 Senator Padavan's bill does.

                            As a matter of fact, Senator

                 Padavan's bill doesn't go as far as a lot of

                 people said we should go, because he limits it

                 to arrests.  A lot of people will say that

                 police officers at a stop should be able to

                 inquire as to the immigration status of an

                 individual.

                            Senator Padavan doesn't go that



                                                        1819



                 far.  He says, you know what, we're going to

                 protect the rights not only of the people who

                 are stopped but of the people in their

                 community.  Because when you say if you are

                 arrested, we can check.

                            Now, this is a sharing of

                 information.  What's so funny about this

                 debate is that I've sat in rooms at the White

                 House where people have sat and talked to each

                 other:  We need to share more information.

                 And people from the states have said:  Why

                 don't you give us more information?  And they

                 say back:  Well, why don't YOU give us more

                 information?

                            And here we are arguing, Nope, we

                 shouldn't share the information.  Sometimes

                 life has a funny way of repeating itself.

                            Senator Padavan's bill is exactly

                 what we should be doing.  It protects the

                 rights of the people who are out there.  And

                 remember, we're merely inquiring.  This is not

                 going to stop anybody from coming forward with

                 any information to help law enforcement and

                 help keep their communities safe.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    Read the



                                                        1820



                 last section.

                            Senator Schneiderman.

                            SENATOR SCHNEIDERMAN:    Thank you,

                 Madam President.  On the bill.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    Senator

                 Schneiderman, on the bill for the second time.

                            SENATOR SCHNEIDERMAN:    I'm always

                 pleased to hear about Senator Balboni's travel

                 schedule.

                            But whatever they're saying in the

                 White House, I assure you that at the 33rd and

                 34th precincts in Upper Manhattan, they do not

                 take that point of view.  This legislation

                 would -- please, they would love to meet you.

                 They're nice guys.  He's not at the 33rd and

                 34th precinct.

                            SENATOR MARCELLINO:    Do you two

                 want to be alone?

                            SENATOR SCHNEIDERMAN:    I'd like

                 to be alone without him, actually, but that's

                 a different issue.

                            (Laughter.)

                            SENATOR SCHNEIDERMAN:    This is a

                 serious matter.  And I would again urge that

                 the quote I read from the New York Times does



                                                        1821



                 not relate simply to the requirement of arrest

                 or the requirement that local law enforcement

                 officials enforce the federal law.

                            It does refer to the complaints of

                 local officials, including in my district,

                 about forcing them, essentially, to not use

                 their discretion on when to refer things

                 forward to the federal authorities, to the

                 ICE, but requiring them, as this bill would,

                 when anyone is reasonably suspected of being

                 present in the United States illegally, of

                 passing this information along, verifying the

                 status and all the other provisions.

                            And again, there are several

                 different efforts discussed in this article.

                 It's pretty straightforward.  It talks about

                 the police chiefs in Boston, Houston, several

                 communities in California and around the

                 country, who are concerned about the

                 arrangement.

                            It is a very -- let's not -- I

                 mean, all kidding aside, it is a very serious

                 problem when people are discouraged from going

                 to the police to report crimes or to cooperate

                 with the police because they're concerned



                                                        1822



                 about their immigration status.  And some

                 people even who are here legally are concerned

                 about how they're going to be treated.

                            So let's not -- you know, let's not

                 treat this too cavalierly.  I think there are

                 problems with this legislation.  I urge

                 everyone to vote no.

                            And the problems and the concerns

                 of law enforcement officers may not be

                 unanimous, but it certainly is something that

                 has been raised by responsible officers in my

                 district and elsewhere.

                            Thank you, Madam President.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    One more

                 time.  Read the last section.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This

                 act shall take effect on the 30th day.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    Call the

                 roll.

                            (The Secretary called the roll.)

                            THE SECRETARY:    Those Senators

                 recorded in the negative on Calendar Number

                 430 are Senators Andrews, Brown, Diaz, Dilán,

                 Duane, Gonzalez, Hassell-Thompson, L. Krueger,

                 Montgomery, Paterson, Sabini, Sampson,



                                                        1823



                 Schneiderman, A. Smith, and Stavisky.  Ayes,

                 42.  Nays, 15.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    The bill

                 is passed.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

                 634, by Senator Volker, Senate Print 6249, an

                 act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law, in

                 relation to granting certain powers.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    Read the

                 last section.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This

                 act shall take effect immediately.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    Call the

                 roll.

                            (The Secretary called the roll.)

                            THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 56.  Nays,

                 1.  Senator Duane recorded in the negative.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    The bill

                 is passed.

                            Senator Rath, that completes the

                 reading of the controversial calendar.

                            SENATOR RATH:    Thank you, Madam

                 Chairman.  Please return to reports of

                 standing committees.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    The



                                                        1824



                 Secretary will read.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Senator Johnson,

                 from the Committee on Finance, reports the

                 following bill direct to third reading:

                            Senate Print 6932, by the Senate

                 Committee on Rules, an act making

                 appropriations for the support of government.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    Without

                 objection, the bill is reported directly to

                 third reading.

                            Senator Rath.

                            SENATOR RATH:    If we can please

                 take up Senate 6932, emergency appropriation

                 bill.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    The

                 Secretary will read.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

                 693, by the Senate Committee on Rules, Senate

                 Print 6932, an act making appropriations for

                 the support of government and to amend Chapter

                 18 of the Laws of 2004.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    Senator

                 Rath.

                            SENATOR RATH:    Is there a message

                 of necessity and appropriation?



                                                        1825



                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    There is

                 a message of necessity and appropriation at

                 the desk.

                            SENATOR RATH:    Move to accept.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    All in

                 favor of accepting the motion signify by

                 saying aye.

                            (Response of "Aye.")

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    Opposed,

                 nay.

                            (Response of "Nay.")

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    The

                 message is accepted.

                            The Secretary will read the last

                 section.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Section 22.  This

                 act shall take effect immediately.

                            SENATOR SCHNEIDERMAN:

                 Explanation.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    Senator

                 Johnson, an explanation has been requested.

                            SENATOR JOHNSON:    Madam

                 President, this bill will pay the expenses of

                 operating the state government for the next

                 week, from now until next Monday.  It includes



                                                        1826



                 Medicaid, unemployment, school aid payments,

                 payments to employees of the state,

                 contractual obligations, et cetera.

                            Thank you.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    Read the

                 last section.

                            THE SECRETARY:    Section 22.  This

                 act shall take effect immediately.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    Call the

                 roll.

                            (The Secretary called the roll.)

                            THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 55.  Nays,

                 2.  Senators Sabini and Schneiderman recorded

                 in the negative.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    The bill

                 is passed.

                            Senator Lachman.

                            SENATOR RATH:    Is there any

                 housekeeping at the desk?

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    Senator

                 Lachman.

                            SENATOR RATH:    Oh, I'm sorry,

                 Senator Lachman.

                            SENATOR LACHMAN:    Madam Chair,

                 I'd like to be recorded as voting in the



                                                        1827



                 negative on Calendar Number 430, S24A.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    Without

                 objection.

                            Senator Trunzo.

                            SENATOR TRUNZO:    Madam President,

                 I commit Senate Bill Number 2043, Calendar

                 Number 541 on order of third reading, to the

                 Committee on Finance.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    So

                 ordered.

                            Senator Rath.

                            SENATOR RATH:    There being no

                 further business, I move we adjourn until

                 Tuesday, April 20th --

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    Just one

                 moment.

                            Senator Krueger.

                            SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER:    Thank you,

                 Madam President.  If I could have unanimous

                 consent to be recorded in the negative on Bill

                 6932.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    Without

                 objection.

                            SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER:    Thank you.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    Senator



                                                        1828



                 Rath again.

                            SENATOR RATH:    Survey the room

                 this time.

                            There being no further business, I

                 move we adjourn until Tuesday, April 20th, at

                 3:00 p.m.

                            ACTING PRESIDENT McGEE:    On

                 motion, the Senate stands adjourned until

                 Tuesday, April 20th, at 3:00 p.m.

                            (Whereupon, at 3:39 p.m., the

                 Senate adjourned.)