Regular Session - March 23, 2005

                                                            1422



         1                 NEW YORK STATE SENATE

         2

         3

         4                THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD

         5

         6

         7

         8

         9                   ALBANY, NEW YORK

        10                    March 23, 2005

        11                       3:13 p.m.

        12

        13

        14                    REGULAR SESSION

        15

        16

        17

        18  SENATOR RAYMOND A. MEIER, Acting President

        19  STEVEN M. BOGGESS, Secretary

        20

        21

        22

        23

        24

        25



                      Candyco Transcription Service, Inc.
                                (518) 371-8910

                                                        1423



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

         2                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The

         3       Senate will come to order.

         4                  May I ask everyone present to

         5       please rise and repeat with me the Pledge of

         6       Allegiance to the Flag.

         7                  (Whereupon, the assemblage recited

         8       the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)

         9                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    In the

        10       absence of clergy, may we bow our heads in a

        11       moment of silence.

        12                  (Whereupon, the assemblage

        13       respected a moment of silence.)

        14                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Reading

        15       of the Journal.

        16                  THE SECRETARY:    In Senate,

        17       Tuesday, March 22, the Senate met pursuant to

        18       adjournment.  The Journal of Monday, March 21,

        19       was read and approved.  On motion, Senate

        20       adjourned.

        21                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Without

        22       objection, the Journal stands approved as

        23       read.

        24                  Presentation of petitions.

        25                  Messages from the Assembly.



                      Candyco Transcription Service, Inc.
                                (518) 371-8910

                                                        1424



         1                  Messages from the Governor.

         2                  Reports of standing committees.

         3                  Reports of select committees.

         4                  Communications and reports from

         5       state officers.

         6                  Motions and resolutions.

         7                  Senator Seward.

         8                  SENATOR SEWARD:    Yes, Mr.

         9       President.  I move that the following bill be

        10       discharged from its respective committee and

        11       be recommitted with instructions to strike the

        12       enacting clause.  And it's a Senator Volker

        13       bill, Number 3164.

        14                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    So

        15       ordered.

        16                  SENATOR SEWARD:    Thank you.

        17                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Thank

        18       you, Senator.

        19                  Senator Skelos.

        20                  SENATOR SKELOS:    Mr. President, I

        21       believe there's a substitution at the desk, if

        22       we could make it at this time.

        23                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Yes,

        24       there is.

        25                  The Secretary will read the



                      Candyco Transcription Service, Inc.
                                (518) 371-8910

                                                        1425



         1       substitution.

         2                  THE SECRETARY:    On page 5,

         3       Senator Spano moves to discharge, from the

         4       Committee on Judiciary, Assembly Bill Number

         5       1246 and substitute it for the identical

         6       Senate Bill Number 3128, First Report Calendar

         7       325.

         8                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:

         9       Substitution ordered.

        10                  Senator Skelos.

        11                  SENATOR SKELOS:    Mr. President,

        12       there are two resolutions at the desk by

        13       Senator Saland, 1029 and 1030.  Could we have

        14       the titles read and move for their immediate

        15       adoption.

        16                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The

        17       Secretary will read.

        18                  THE SECRETARY:    By Senator

        19       Saland, Legislative Resolution Number 1029,

        20       honoring Investigator George J. Hoffman upon

        21       the occasion of his retirement from the

        22       Columbia County Sheriff's Office after

        23       28 years of dedicated service.

        24                  And by Senator Saland, Legislative

        25       Resolution Number 1030, honoring Deputy



                      Candyco Transcription Service, Inc.
                                (518) 371-8910

                                                        1426



         1       Sheriff Paul Comesanas upon the occasion of

         2       his retirement from the Columbia County

         3       Sheriff's Office after 23 years of dedicated

         4       service.

         5                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The

         6       question is on the resolutions.  All those in

         7       favor signify by saying aye.

         8                  (Response of "Aye.")

         9                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Those

        10       opposed, nay.

        11                  (No response.)

        12                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The

        13       resolutions are adopted.

        14                  Senator Skelos.

        15                  SENATOR SKELOS:    If we could go

        16       to the noncontroversial reading of the

        17       calendar.

        18                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The

        19       Secretary will conduct the noncontroversial

        20       reading of the calendar.

        21                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        22       79, by Senator Little, Senate Print 872,

        23       Concurrent Resolution of the Senate and

        24       Assembly proposing an amendment to Section 1

        25       of Article 14 of the Constitution.



                      Candyco Transcription Service, Inc.
                                (518) 371-8910

                                                        1427



         1                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    On the

         2       resolution, the Secretary will call the roll.

         3                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

         4                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 45.

         5                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The

         6       resolution is adopted.

         7                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

         8       196, by Senator LaValle, Senate Print 2355, an

         9       act to amend Chapter 20 of the Laws of 1998

        10       amending the Education Law.

        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, 45.

        19                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The bill

        20       is passed.

        21                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        22       215, by Senator Rath, Senate Print 1520, an

        23       act to amend the Penal Law, in relation to

        24       repeat offender status.

        25                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Read the



                      Candyco Transcription Service, Inc.
                                (518) 371-8910

                                                        1428



         1       last section.

         2                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 3.  This

         3       act shall take effect on the first of

         4       November.

         5                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Call the

         6       roll.

         7                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

         8                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 49.  Nays,

         9       1.  Senator Duane recorded in the negative.

        10                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The bill

        11       is passed.

        12                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        13       216, by Senator Volker, Senate Print 1530, an

        14       act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law, in

        15       relation to appeals.

        16                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Read the

        17       last section.

        18                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This

        19       act shall take effect immediately.

        20                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Call the

        21       roll.

        22                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

        23                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 51.  Nays,

        24       1.  Senator Duane recorded in the negative.

        25                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The bill



                      Candyco Transcription Service, Inc.
                                (518) 371-8910

                                                        1429



         1       is passed.

         2                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

         3       237, by Senator Little, Senate Print 728, an

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

         5       timing of distribution.

         6                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Read the

         7       last section.

         8                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This

         9       act shall take effect immediately.

        10                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Call the

        11       roll.

        12                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

        13                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 52.

        14                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The bill

        15       is passed.

        16                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        17       240, by Member of the Assembly Bradley,

        18       Assembly Print Number 1877, an act to amend

        19       the Tax Law, in relation to extending.

        20                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    There is

        21       a local fiscal impact note at the desk.

        22                  Read the last section.

        23                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This

        24       act shall take effect immediately.

        25                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Call the



                      Candyco Transcription Service, Inc.
                                (518) 371-8910

                                                        1430



         1       roll.

         2                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

         3                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 52.

         4                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The bill

         5       is passed.

         6                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

         7       241, by Senator Seward, Senate Print 1047, an

         8       act to amend the Tax Law, in relation to

         9       extending the period.

        10                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Read the

        11       last section.

        12                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 3.  This

        13       act shall take effect immediately.

        14                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Call the

        15       roll.

        16                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

        17                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 52.

        18                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The bill

        19       is passed.

        20                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        21       242, by Senator Seward, Senate Print 1048, an

        22       act to amend the Tax Law, in relation to

        23       extending the authorization.

        24                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Read the

        25       last section.



                      Candyco Transcription Service, Inc.
                                (518) 371-8910

                                                        1431



         1                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 3.  This

         2       act shall take effect immediately.

         3                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Call the

         4       roll.

         5                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

         6                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 53.

         7                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The bill

         8       is passed.

         9                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        10       244, by Senator Balboni, Senate Print 1744, an

        11       act to amend the Alcoholic Beverage Control

        12       Law, in relation to the issuance of temporary

        13       carnival licenses.

        14                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Read the

        15       last section.

        16                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This

        17       act shall take effect on the 45th day.

        18                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Call the

        19       roll.

        20                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

        21                  THE SECRETARY:    Those recorded in

        22       the negative on Calendar Number 244 are

        23       Senators Duane, L. Krueger, LaValle, Meier and

        24       Padavan.

        25                  Ayes, 48.  Nays, 5.



                      Candyco Transcription Service, Inc.
                                (518) 371-8910

                                                        1432



         1                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The bill

         2       is passed.

         3                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

         4       253, by Senator Meier, Senate Print 2486, an

         5       act to amend Chapter 436 of the Laws of 1997,

         6       constituting the Welfare Reform Act of 1997.

         7                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Read the

         8       last section.

         9                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This

        10       act shall take effect immediately.

        11                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Call the

        12       roll.

        13                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

        14                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 53.

        15                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The bill

        16       is passed.

        17                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        18       302, by Senator Skelos, Senate Print 3089, an

        19       act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law, in

        20       relation to the operation of vehicles.

        21                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Read the

        22       last section.

        23                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This

        24       act shall take effect on the same date and in

        25       the same manner as a chapter of the Laws of



                      Candyco Transcription Service, Inc.
                                (518) 371-8910

                                                        1433



         1       2004.

         2                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Call the

         3       roll.

         4                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

         5                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 53.

         6                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The bill

         7       is passed.

         8                  Senator Skelos, that completes the

         9       calendar.

        10                  SENATOR SKELOS:    Thank you, Mr.

        11       President.

        12                  I'd like to announce, on behalf of

        13       Senator LaValle, that the Higher Education

        14       Joint Conference Committee will be meeting at

        15       3:00 p.m. in Hearing Room C.  3:30, I'm sorry.

        16       3:30 in Hearing Room C.

        17                  And, Mr. President, there will be a

        18       meeting of the Rules Committee at 3:35 -- the

        19       room apparently is not available yet -- and

        20       then we'll take the report of the Rules

        21       Committee and adjourn.  So if we could just

        22       stand at ease at this time.

        23                  Is there any housekeeping at the

        24       desk?

        25                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    No



                      Candyco Transcription Service, Inc.
                                (518) 371-8910

                                                        1434



         1       business, Senator.

         2                  So the Senate, then, will stand at

         3       ease until the report of the Rules Committee.

         4                  (Whereupon, the Senate stood at

         5       ease at 3:22 p.m.)

         6                  SENATOR SKELOS:    Mr. President.

         7                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Senator

         8       Skelos.

         9                  SENATOR SKELOS:    There will be an

        10       immediate meeting of the Rules Committee in

        11       the Majority Conference Room.

        12                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:

        13       Immediate meeting of the Rules Committee in

        14       the Majority Conference Room.

        15                  The Senate will stand at ease.

        16                  (Whereupon, the Senate reconvened

        17       at 3:38 p.m.)

        18                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Senator

        19       Skelos.

        20                  SENATOR SKELOS:    Thank you.

        21                  If we could return to reports of

        22       standing committees, I believe there's a

        23       report of the Rules Committee at the desk.  I

        24       ask that it be read at this time.

        25                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Reports



                      Candyco Transcription Service, Inc.
                                (518) 371-8910

                                                        1435



         1       of standing committees.

         2                  The Secretary will read.

         3                  THE SECRETARY:    Senator Bruno,

         4       from the Committee on Rules, reports the

         5       following bill direct to third reading:

         6                  Senate Print 3188, by Senator

         7       Maziarz, an act to amend Chapter 218 of the

         8       Laws of 2004 amending the Tax Law.

         9                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Senator

        10       Skelos.

        11                  SENATOR SKELOS:    Move to accept

        12       the report of the Rules Committee.

        13                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    All

        14       those in favor of accepting the report of the

        15       Rules Committee signify by saying aye.

        16                  (Response of "Aye.")

        17                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    Those

        18       opposed, nay.

        19                  (No response.)

        20                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    The

        21       report of the Rules Committee is accepted.

        22                  Senator Skelos.

        23                  SENATOR SKELOS:    Mr. President,

        24       there being no further business to come before

        25       the Senate, I move we stand adjourned until



                      Candyco Transcription Service, Inc.
                                (518) 371-8910

                                                        1436



         1       Tuesday, March 29th at 3:00 p.m., intervening

         2       days being legislative days.

         3                  ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER:    On

         4       motion, the Senate stands adjourned until

         5       Tuesday, March 29th, at 3:00 p.m.  Intervening

         6       days will be legislative days.

         7                  (Whereupon, at 3:40 p.m., the

         8       Senate adjourned.)

         9

        10

        11

        12

        13

        14

        15

        16

        17

        18

        19

        20

        21

        22

        23

        24

        25



                      Candyco Transcription Service, Inc.
                                (518) 371-8910