Regular Session - April 20, 2005

    

 
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         1                 NEW YORK STATE SENATE

         2

         3

         4                THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD

         5

         6

         7

         8

         9                   ALBANY, NEW YORK

        10                    April 20, 2005

        11                      11:06 a.m.

        12

        13

        14                    REGULAR SESSION

        15

        16

        17

        18  LT. GOVERNOR MARY O. DONOHUE, President

        19  STEVEN M. BOGGESS, Secretary

        20

        21

        22

        23

        24

        25



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

         2                  THE PRESIDENT:    The Senate will

         3       please come to order.

         4                  I ask everyone present to please

         5       rise and repeat with me the Pledge of

         6       Allegiance.

         7                  (Whereupon, the assemblage recited

         8       the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)

         9                  THE PRESIDENT:    In the absence of

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

        11       silence, please.

        12                  (Whereupon, the assemblage

        13       respected a moment of silence.)

        14                  THE PRESIDENT:    Reading of the

        15       Journal.

        16                  THE SECRETARY:    In Senate,

        17       Tuesday, April 19, the Senate met pursuant to

        18       adjournment.  The Journal of Monday, April 18,

        19       was read and approved.  On motion, Senate

        20       adjourned.

        21                  THE PRESIDENT:    Without

        22       objection, the Journal stands approved as

        23       read.

        24                  Presentation of petitions.

        25                  Messages from the Assembly.



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         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 Skelos.

         8                  SENATOR SKELOS:    Madam President,

         9       I believe there are substitutions at the desk,

        10       if we could make them at this time.

        11                  THE PRESIDENT:    The Secretary

        12       will read.

        13                  THE SECRETARY:    On page 4,

        14       Senator Larkin moves to discharge, from the

        15       Committee on Cities, Assembly Bill Number 5939

        16       and substitute it for the identical Senate

        17       Bill Number 2474, First Report Calendar 587.

        18                  On page 6, Senator Alesi moves to

        19       discharge, from the Committee on Finance,

        20       Assembly Bill Number 3981 and substitute it

        21       for the identical Senate Bill Number 2781,

        22       First Report Calendar 606.

        23                  And on page 6, Senator Trunzo moves

        24       to discharge, from the Committee on Finance,

        25       Assembly Bill Number 4762 and substitute it



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         1       for the identical Senate Bill Number 3155,

         2       First Report Calendar 608.

         3                  THE PRESIDENT:    Substitutions

         4       ordered.

         5                  Senator Skelos.

         6                  SENATOR SKELOS:    Madam President,

         7       there's a Resolution 1541 at the desk, by

         8       Senator Sampson.  Could we have the title read

         9       and move for its immediate adoption.

        10                  THE PRESIDENT:    The Secretary

        11       will read.

        12                  THE SECRETARY:    By Senator

        13       Sampson, Legislative Resolution Number 1541,

        14       commending the Brooklyn Section of the

        15       National Council of Negro Women and honoring

        16       the young achievers who will be recognized at

        17       its 20th Annual Harambee Celebration.

        18                  THE PRESIDENT:    On the

        19       resolution, all in favor please signify by

        20       saying aye.

        21                  (Response of "Aye.")

        22                  THE PRESIDENT:    Opposed, nay.

        23                  (No response.)

        24                  THE PRESIDENT:    The resolution is

        25       adopted.



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         1                  Senator Skelos.

         2                  SENATOR SKELOS:    Madam President,

         3       there's a resolution at the desk, Resolution

         4       Number 1542, by Senator Hassell-Thompson.

         5       Could we have the title read and move for its

         6       immediate adoption.

         7                  THE PRESIDENT:    The Secretary

         8       will read.

         9                  THE SECRETARY:    By Senator

        10       Hassell-Thompson, Legislative Resolution

        11       Number 1542, commemorating the 40th

        12       Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

        13                  THE PRESIDENT:    On the

        14       resolution, all in favor please signify by

        15       saying aye.

        16                  (Response of "Aye.")

        17                  THE PRESIDENT:    Opposed, nay.

        18                  (No response.)

        19                  THE PRESIDENT:    The resolution is

        20       adopted.

        21                  Senator Skelos.

        22                  SENATOR SKELOS:    Madam President,

        23       if we could go to the noncontroversial reading

        24       of the calendar.

        25                  THE PRESIDENT:    The Secretary



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         1       will read.

         2                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

         3       123, by Senator Robach, Senate Print 2165A, an

         4       act to amend the Retirement and Social

         5       Security Law, in relation to extension.

         6                  THE PRESIDENT:    Read the last

         7       section.

         8                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 5.  This

         9       act shall take effect immediately.

        10                  THE PRESIDENT:    Call the roll.

        11                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

        12                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 46.

        13                  THE PRESIDENT:    The bill is

        14       passed.

        15                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        16       369, by Senator Seward, Senate Print 81B, an

        17       act in relation to granting Shirley J. Edwards

        18       retirement service credit.

        19                  THE PRESIDENT:    There is a

        20       home-rule message at the desk.

        21                  Read the last section.

        22                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 4.  This

        23       act shall take effect immediately.

        24                  THE PRESIDENT:    Call the roll.

        25                  (The Secretary called the roll.)



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         1                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 47.

         2                  THE PRESIDENT:    The bill is

         3       passed.

         4                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

         5       380, by Senator Morahan, Senate Print 2044A,

         6       an act to authorize the Town of Clarkstown,

         7       County of Rockland.

         8                  THE PRESIDENT:    There is a

         9       home-rule message at the desk.

        10                  Read the last section.

        11                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 5.  This

        12       act shall take effect immediately.

        13                  THE PRESIDENT:    Call the roll.

        14                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

        15                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 49.

        16                  THE PRESIDENT:    The bill is

        17       passed.

        18                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        19       486, by Senator Marcellino, Senate Print 2855,

        20       an act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law,

        21       in relation to the number of prior

        22       suspensions.

        23                  THE PRESIDENT:    Read the last

        24       section.

        25                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 3.  This



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         1       act shall take effect on the first of

         2       November.

         3                  THE PRESIDENT:    Call the roll.

         4                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

         5                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 49.

         6                  THE PRESIDENT:    The bill is

         7       passed.

         8                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

         9       501, by Senator Wright, Senate Print 2535, an

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

        11       imposition of sales and compensating use

        12       taxes.

        13                  THE PRESIDENT:    Read the last

        14       section.

        15                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This

        16       act shall take effect immediately.

        17                  THE PRESIDENT:    Call the roll.

        18                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

        19                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 49.

        20                  THE PRESIDENT:    The bill is

        21       passed.

        22                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        23       504, by Senator Saland, Senate Print 2596, an

        24       act to amend the Tax Law, in relation to sales

        25       and compensating use tax.



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         1                  THE PRESIDENT:    Read the last

         2       section.

         3                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 3.  This

         4       act shall take effect immediately.

         5                  THE PRESIDENT:    Call the roll.

         6                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

         7                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 50.

         8                  THE PRESIDENT:    The bill is

         9       passed.

        10                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        11       513, by Senator Winner, Senate Print 3270, an

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

        13       mortgage recording tax.

        14                  THE PRESIDENT:    There is a local

        15       fiscal impact note at the desk.

        16                  Read the last section.

        17                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 3.  This

        18       act shall take effect immediately.

        19                  THE PRESIDENT:    Call the roll.

        20                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

        21                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 49.  Nays,

        22       1.  Senator Valesky recorded in the negative.

        23                  THE PRESIDENT:    The bill is

        24       passed.

        25                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number



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         1       517, by Senator Libous, Senate Print --

         2                  SENATOR SKELOS:    Lay it aside for

         3       the day, please.

         4                  THE PRESIDENT:    The bill is laid

         5       aside for the day.

         6                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

         7       522, by Senator Nozzolio, Senate Print 1975,

         8       an act to amend the Real Property Tax Law, in

         9       relation to exempting.

        10                  THE PRESIDENT:    Read the last

        11       section.

        12                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This

        13       act shall take effect immediately.

        14                  THE PRESIDENT:    Call the roll.

        15                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

        16                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 51.

        17                  THE PRESIDENT:    The bill is

        18       passed.

        19                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        20       532, by Senator Trunzo, Senate Print 432, an

        21       act to amend the Education Law, in relation to

        22       payment of tuition and fees.

        23                  THE PRESIDENT:    Read the last

        24       section.

        25                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 3.  This



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         1       act shall take effect on the first of August.

         2                  THE PRESIDENT:    Call the roll.

         3                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

         4                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 51.

         5                  THE PRESIDENT:    The bill is

         6       passed.

         7                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

         8       555, by Senator Padavan, Senate Print 3971, an

         9       act to amend the General Municipal Law and the

        10       Retirement and Social Security Law, in

        11       relation to increasing.

        12                  THE PRESIDENT:    Read the last

        13       section.

        14                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 3.  This

        15       act shall take effect July 1, 2005.

        16                  THE PRESIDENT:    Call the roll.

        17                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

        18                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 52.

        19                  THE PRESIDENT:    The bill is

        20       passed.

        21                  Senator Skelos, that completes the

        22       reading of the calendar.

        23                  SENATOR SKELOS:    Thank you, Madam

        24       President.

        25                  Is there any housekeeping at the



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         1       desk?

         2                  THE PRESIDENT:    Yes, there is,

         3       Senator.

         4                  Senator Fuschillo.

         5                  SENATOR FUSCHILLO:    Thank you,

         6       Madam President.

         7                  On behalf of Senator Flanagan, I

         8       wish to call up Calendar Number 426, Assembly

         9       Print Number 1221.

        10                  THE PRESIDENT:    The Secretary

        11       will read.

        12                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        13       426, by Member of the Assembly Tokasz,

        14       Assembly Print Number 1221, an act to amend

        15       the Election Law.

        16                  SENATOR FUSCHILLO:    I now move to

        17       reconsider the vote by which this Assembly

        18       bill was substituted for Senate Print Number

        19       2914 on April 12th.

        20                  THE PRESIDENT:    The Secretary

        21       will call the roll upon reconsideration.

        22                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

        23                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 52.

        24                  SENATOR FUSCHILLO:    I now move

        25       that Assembly Bill Number 1221 be recommitted



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         1       to the Committee on Elections.

         2                  THE PRESIDENT:    So ordered.

         3                  SENATOR FUSCHILLO:    Thank you.

         4       And that the Senate bill be restored to the

         5       order of Third Reading Calendar.

         6                  THE PRESIDENT:    So ordered,

         7       Senator.

         8                  SENATOR FUSCHILLO:    I now offer

         9       the following amendments.

        10                  THE PRESIDENT:    The amendments

        11       are received.

        12                  SENATOR FUSCHILLO:    Thank you.

        13                  THE PRESIDENT:    Senator Skelos.

        14                  SENATOR SKELOS:    Madam President,

        15       would you please recognize Senator Valesky.

        16                  THE PRESIDENT:    Senator Valesky.

        17                  SENATOR VALESKY:    Madam

        18       President, I have a motion at the desk.  I

        19       would like to have it called up at this time.

        20                  THE PRESIDENT:    The Secretary

        21       will read.

        22                  THE SECRETARY:    Senate Print

        23       3049, by Senator Valesky, Concurrent

        24       Resolution of the Senate and Assembly

        25       proposing amendments to Article 9 of the



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         1       constitution.

         2                  THE PRESIDENT:    Senator Valesky.

         3                  SENATOR VALESKY:    Madam

         4       President, thank you.

         5                  We have heard, no doubt time and

         6       time again, from our local government

         7       officials the impact that state-imposed

         8       unfunded mandates have on those local

         9       governments, often forcing our counties,

        10       cities, villages and other local governments

        11       to cut services or raise taxes to cover

        12       additional costs.

        13                  This particular bill, Senate Bill

        14       3049, would amend the New York State

        15       Constitution to prohibit the state from

        16       imposing unfunded mandates.  And it would make

        17       compliance with new state mandates, once

        18       determined to be unfunded, voluntary for local

        19       governments, school districts, and others.

        20                  It would create a council on local

        21       mandates appointed by the Governor and

        22       legislative leaders.

        23                  The bill does include some

        24       exceptions; for example, when it's necessary

        25       to comply with federal law or, obviously, any



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         1       request from a locality through a home-rule

         2       message process.

         3                  I think this is very, very

         4       important for our localities across the State

         5       of New York and in turn for our taxpayers, and

         6       I urge the members of the Senate to support

         7       this motion.

         8                  Thank you very much, Madam

         9       President.

        10                  THE PRESIDENT:    All those

        11       Senators in favor of the petition out of

        12       committee please raise your hand.

        13                  THE SECRETARY:    Those Senators in

        14       agreement are Breslin, Brown, Diaz, Dilan,

        15       Duane, Gonzalez, Klein, L. Krueger, C. Kruger,

        16       Montgomery, Paterson, Sabini, Schneiderman,

        17       Serrano, A. Smith, M. Smith, Stachowski,

        18       Valesky.  Also Senator Stavisky.  Also Senator

        19       Savino.  Also Senator Oppenheimer.  Also

        20       Senator Andrews.  Also Senator Onorato.

        21                  THE PRESIDENT:    The petition is

        22       not agreed to.

        23                  Senator Skelos.

        24                  SENATOR SKELOS:    Madam President,

        25       there being no further business to come before



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         1       the Senate, I move we stand adjourned until

         2       Monday, May 2nd, at 3:00 p.m., intervening

         3       days being legislative days, and wish

         4       everybody a healthy and happy break.

         5                  THE PRESIDENT:    On motion, the

         6       Senate now stands adjourned until Monday,

         7       May 2nd, 3:00 p.m., intervening days being

         8       legislative days.

         9                  Have a great break.

        10                  (Whereupon, at 11:18 a.m., the

        11       Senate adjourned.)

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