Regular Session - April 18, 2007

                                                            1988



         1                 NEW YORK STATE SENATE

         2

         3

         4                THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD

         5

         6

         7

         8

         9                   ALBANY, NEW YORK

        10                    April 18, 2007

        11                      11:03 a.m.

        12

        13

        14                    REGULAR SESSION

        15

        16

        17

        18  SENATOR CARL L. MARCELLINO, Acting President

        19  STEVEN M. BOGGESS, Secretary

        20

        21

        22

        23

        24

        25


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                                                        1989



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

         2                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

         3       Senate will come to order.

         4                  I ask that everyone present please

         5       rise and repeat with me the Pledge of

         6       Allegiance to our Flag.

         7                  (Whereupon, the assemblage recited

         8       the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)

         9                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    In

        10       the absence of clergy, may we observe a moment

        11       of silence, please.

        12                  (Whereupon, the assemblage

        13       respected a moment of silence.)

        14                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        15       Reading of the Journal.

        16                  THE SECRETARY:    In Senate,

        17       Tuesday, April 17, the Senate met pursuant to

        18       adjournment.  The Journal of Monday, April 16,

        19       was read and approved.  On motion, Senate

        20       adjourned.

        21                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        22       Without objection, the Journal stands approved

        23       as read.

        24                  We have the presentation of

        25       petitions.


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                                                        1990



         1                  Messages from the Assembly.

         2                  Messages from the Governor.

         3                  Reports of standing committees.

         4                  Reports of select committees.

         5                  Communications and reports from

         6       state officers.

         7                  Motions and resolutions.

         8                  Senator Skelos.

         9                  SENATOR SKELOS:    Mr. President,

        10       if we could adopt the Resolution Calendar.

        11                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    All

        12       in favor of adopting the Resolution Calender

        13       signify by saying aye.

        14                  (Response of "Aye.")

        15                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        16       Opposed, nay.

        17                  (No response.)

        18                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        19       Resolution Calendar is adopted.

        20                  Senator Skelos.

        21                  SENATOR SKELOS:    Mr. President,

        22       Resolution 1307 by Senator Wright was

        23       previously adopted on March 30th.  If we could

        24       have it read in its entirety at this time.

        25                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The


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                                                        1991



         1       Secretary will read.

         2                  THE SECRETARY:    By Senator

         3       Wright, Legislative Resolution Number 1307,

         4       congratulating the SUNY Oswego Men's Hockey

         5       Team upon the occasion of capturing the 2007

         6       NCAA Division III Championship.

         7                  "WHEREAS, Excellence and success in

         8       competitive sports can be achieved only

         9       through strenuous practice, team play and team

        10       spirit, nurtured by dedicated coaching and

        11       strategic planning; and

        12                  "WHEREAS, It is the sense of this

        13       Legislative Body to recognize and pay tribute

        14       to those teams within the State of New York

        15       who have inspired and brought pride to their

        16       school and community by achieving outstanding

        17       success in athletic competition; and

        18                  "WHEREAS, Attendant to such

        19       concern, and in full accord with its

        20       long-standing traditions, this Legislative

        21       Body is justly proud to congratulate the SUNY

        22       Oswego Men's Hockey Team upon the occasion of

        23       capturing the 2007 NCAA Division III

        24       Championship; and

        25                  "WHEREAS, The SUNY Oswego Lakers


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                                                        1992



         1       Men's Hockey Team defeated Middlebury College

         2       4-3 to finish the season with a 23-3-3 record

         3       and captured the school's first team

         4       championship in any sport; and

         5                  "WHEREAS, The Lakers were led by

         6       goalie Ryan Scott, who made 47 saves in the

         7       game, to set an NCAA Division III Championship

         8       record.  In addition, his 19 saves in the

         9       first period tied a record held by two other

        10       players; and

        11                  "WHEREAS, The athletic talent

        12       displayed by this team is due in great part to

        13       the efforts of Head Coach Ed Gosek and his

        14       team of outstanding assistant coaches, skilled

        15       and inspiration tutors who have done a superb

        16       job in guiding, molding and inspiring the team

        17       members toward their goals; and

        18                  "WHEREAS, Loyally and

        19       enthusiastically supported by family, fans,

        20       friends and the community at large, the SUNY

        21       Oswego Men's Hockey Team have proven

        22       themselves to be an unbeatable combination of

        23       talents, reflecting favorably on their school;

        24       now, therefore, be it

        25                  "RESOLVED, That this Legislative


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                                                        1993



         1       Body pause in its deliberations to

         2       congratulate the SUNY Oswego Men's Hockey

         3       Team, its members -- Chris Hyk, Rich Zalewski,

         4       Kyle McCutcheon, Rick Varone, Tyler Laws,

         5       Trevor Gilligan, Neil Musselwhite, Derrell

         6       Levy, Tony DiNunzio, Garren Reisweber, C.J.

         7       Thompson, Brad Dormiedy, Jeffrey Johnstone,

         8       Ryan Woodward, Brendan McLaughlin, Peter

         9       Magagna, Tyler Lyon, Ryan Ellis, Mike Novak,

        10       Mark Lozzi, Francois Gagnon, Matt Whitehead,

        11       Ryan Koresky, Matt Wolf, Ryan Scott --

        12       Assistant Coaches Dan Ford, Pete Sears and

        13       Glenn Sisman, and Head Coach Ed Gosek upon the

        14       occasion of capturing the 2006 NCAA Division

        15       III Championship; and be it further

        16                  "RESOLVED, That a copy of this

        17       resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted

        18       to the SUNY Oswego Men's Hockey Team."

        19                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    On

        20       the resolution, Senator Wright.

        21                  SENATOR WRIGHT:    Thank you,

        22       Mr. President.

        23                  I rise to welcome the national

        24       champions here to the State Capitol today.

        25       I'm joined by two of my Assembly colleagues,


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                                                        1994



         1       who also represent the Oswego area,

         2       Assemblyman Barclay and Assemblyman

         3       Townsend -- if you'd please rise.  They will

         4       be escorting the team to the Assembly chambers

         5       in a few minutes.

         6                  This is a great opportunity to

         7       recognize one of our SUNY institutions and the

         8       accomplishments of our student athletes.  SUNY

         9       Oswego has sent hockey teams to the Final

        10       Four -- or what's referred to as the Frozen

        11       Four in hockey circles -- on three different

        12       occasions.  And this past year this team,

        13       these young men were successful in becoming

        14       the national champions for the first time in

        15       Division III.  They have a long history of

        16       successfully winning SUNY championships, both

        17       at the tournament level as well as

        18       consistently ending atop the SUNY standings at

        19       the end of the year.

        20                  So we're very proud of them.  The

        21       institution itself is a strong part of our

        22       SUNY system, a strong part of the local

        23       economy, and everyone, the entire community at

        24       large, took a great deal of pride in the

        25       accomplishment of these young men and their


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                                                        1995



         1       team.

         2                  I want to identify and recognize a

         3       couple of individuals.  Number one, of course,

         4       the team is led by its coach, Ed Gosek.  Ed,

         5       if you would stand, please.

         6                  Ed has been coach of the Oswego

         7       State Lakers since 2003, and this past year he

         8       was recognized as the AHCA Division III Coach

         9       of the Year.  So you can see we're very

        10       pleased that the coach as well has been

        11       recognized for his accomplishments, and we

        12       want to acknowledge those efforts, too.

        13                  Ed, job well done, and I know the

        14       team feels that way.

        15                  Ed is accompanied by Tim Hale, who

        16       is the athletic director for the State

        17       University at Oswego.

        18                  The team is host to two All

        19       Americans:  Ryan Scott, who's the goalie and

        20       is a junior, from Williamsville, New York,

        21       represented by my colleague to our right,

        22       Senator Rath.  We also have another All

        23       American, Brendan McLaughlin, who's a forward

        24       and a sophomore.

        25                  Then we have three other


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                                                        1996



         1       New Yorkers:  Rich Zalewski, who is a senior

         2       from New Hartford; Trevor Gilligan, who's a

         3       senior from Saranac Lake; and Garren

         4       Reisweber, who is a sophomore from

         5       Williamsville also.  It is Garren who scored

         6       the goal that won the championship in the

         7       overtime that made Oswego the national

         8       champions over Middlebury.

         9                  We're very proud of this team, of

        10       what it represents.  These student athletes

        11       not only represent our community, but they

        12       represent the State of New York.  Their

        13       success in no small part is directly

        14       attributable to the investment the State of

        15       New York has made in brand-new facilities that

        16       were opened this year, a brand-new student

        17       center with a combined hockey facility that is

        18       now home to the national champions.  I think

        19       that's the kind of investment we can be proud

        20       of as New Yorkers.

        21                  We know that this team will be

        22       returning next year, because next year

        23       New York State will be hosting the national

        24       championship, the Frozen Four, at Lake Placid.

        25       So we look forward to New York being


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                                                        1997



         1       represented by Oswego State and these young

         2       men returning with a second trophy so that

         3       they can repeat and then sent the stage for a

         4       three-peat.

         5                  I'd like to ask Captain Ryan

         6       Woodward to stand, if he would.  Ryan has the

         7       trophy, if you would share that with everyone.

         8       That's a what a national trophy looks like.

         9                  These young men, if you would all

        10       rise, are what national champions look like.

        11       Congratulations.  We welcome you to the

        12       Capitol.  We're very proud of you.  We

        13       appreciate you taking the time.

        14                  Thank you, Mr. President.

        15                  (Applause.)

        16                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        17       Gentlemen, I hope you feel no pressure as a

        18       result of Senator Wright's remarks.

        19                  Senator Rath, please.

        20                  SENATOR RATH:    Thank you,

        21       Mr. President.

        22                  I would like to add my

        23       congratulations to those of the other members,

        24       and particularly to Senator Wright for

        25       bringing the team here today so we can say


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                                                        1998



         1       thank you in person.

         2                  And congratulations to the coach

         3       and the athletic director and team captain,

         4       and of course my two constituents, Garren

         5       Reisweber and Ryan Scott from Williamsville.

         6       Congratulations, gentlemen.

         7                  I would assume that somewhere along

         8       the way you played Amherst hockey over in the

         9       Pepsi Center, or somewhere in Western New York

        10       you may have played hockey before you got to

        11       college.  And I will only say that hockey is

        12       sort of a Western New York pastime.  Not only

        13       do we have lots of cold and snow and Canadians

        14       right across the bridge, as we all know, but

        15       we have -- as Oswego saw lots of snow and ice

        16       this year, we've always made the best of our

        17       cool and cold winters.

        18                  I would say to you please pay

        19       attention tonight as the Buffalo Sabres are

        20       squaring off against the Long Islanders.  You

        21       will see there's a competition going on

        22       between the upstate representatives from

        23       Western New York and the Senators from Long

        24       Island as the Islanders and the Sabres, as I

        25       said, square off in this next game of the


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                                                        1999



         1       Stanley Cup finals.  And of course I'm going

         2       to have to wear an Islanders jersey if the

         3       Sabres aren't successful.  As we know, they

         4       will be wearing Sabres jerseys, because we

         5       know the Sabres will be successful.

         6                  So keep up the good work as

         7       national champs.  Enjoy this moment in the

         8       sun.  Come back next year.  And as Senator

         9       Wright says, we'll be on the way next year

        10       towards a three-peat, which you will have the

        11       following year.  We're very proud of you.

        12       Good luck, and Godspeed.

        13                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        14       Senator Little, on the resolution.

        15                  SENATOR LITTLE:    Thank you,

        16       Mr. President.

        17                  I would like to join all my

        18       colleagues in recognizing this wonderful team

        19       from our SUNY systems school of Oswego, with

        20       the Division III Championship.  And I might

        21       mention that their sister school, SUNY

        22       Plattsburgh Women's Hockey, won the Division

        23       III NCAA Championship as well.  So we're very

        24       proud of our SUNY system athletic programs.

        25                  But I'm very proud of one of my


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                                                        2000



         1       constituents, Trevor Gilligan, from Saranac

         2       Lake, who is here.  His dad is an important

         3       part of the faculty at Saranac Lake Central

         4       School.  Athletics has been a big part of

         5       Trevor's life and his whole family's life, and

         6       I congratulate him for his participation, for

         7       his wonderful success on this team.

         8                  Congratulations to all of you on a

         9       really major achievement.

        10                  Thank you.

        11                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        12       Thank you, Senator.

        13                  The resolution has been adopted

        14       previously, so there will be no need to vote.

        15                  Congratulations, gentlemen.  Keep

        16       up the good work.

        17                  Senator Skelos.

        18                  SENATOR SKELOS:    Mr. President,

        19       there will be an immediate meeting of the

        20       Finance Committee in the Majority Conference

        21       Room.

        22                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        23       There will be an immediate meeting of the

        24       Finance Committee in the Majority Conference

        25       Room, Room 332.


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         1                  The Senate will stand at ease

         2       pending the return of the Finance Committee.

         3                  (Whereupon, the Senate stood at

         4       ease at 11:15 a.m.)

         5                  (Whereupon, the Senate reconvened

         6       at 12:44 p.m.)

         7                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         8       Senator DeFrancisco.

         9                  SENATOR DeFRANCISCO:    Would you

        10       please move to the noncontroversial reading of

        11       the calendar and read same, please.

        12                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        13       Secretary will read same.

        14                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        15       27, by Senator Larkin, Senate Print 224A, an

        16       act to amend the Labor Law, in relation to

        17       certain dancers.

        18                  SENATOR DeFRANCISCO:    Please lay

        19       that aside for the day.

        20                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        21       bill will be laid aside for the day.

        22                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        23       239, by Senator Morahan, Senate Print 924, an

        24       act to amend the Mental Hygiene Law, the

        25       Social Services Law, and the Education Law.


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                                                        2002



         1                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         2       Read the last section.

         3                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 4.  This

         4       act shall take effect on the first of January.

         5                  SENATOR DeFRANCISCO:    Lay that

         6       aside temporarily.

         7                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    Lay

         8       that bill aside temporarily, please.

         9                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        10       240, by Senator Libous, Senate Print 2148, an

        11       act to amend the Mental Hygiene Law, in

        12       relation to directing the State Commission on

        13       Quality of Care.

        14                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        15       Read the last section.

        16                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 4.  This

        17       act shall take effect immediately.

        18                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        19       Call the roll.

        20                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

        21                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 56.  Nays,

        22       1.  Senator Duane recorded in the negative.

        23                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        24       bill is passed.

        25                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number


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                                                        2003



         1       242, by Senator Morahan, Senate Print 2901, an

         2       act to amend the Mental Hygiene Law, in

         3       relation to requiring.

         4                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         5       Read the last section.

         6                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This

         7       act shall take effect on the first of January.

         8                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         9       Call the roll.

        10                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

        11                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 57.

        12                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        13       bill is passed.

        14                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        15       243, by Senator Morahan, Senate Print 3105A,

        16       an act to amend the Mental Hygiene Law, in

        17       relation to incident notifications.

        18                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        19       Read the last section.

        20                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 11.  This

        21       act shall take effect immediately.

        22                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        23       Call the roll.

        24                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

        25                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:


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                                                        2004



         1       Senator Morahan, to explain his vote.

         2                  SENATOR MORAHAN:    Thank you,

         3       Mr. President.

         4                  This bill, which will now be called

         5       Jonathan's Law, is dedicated to the memory of

         6       a young 14-year-old autistic boy, Jonathan

         7       Carey, who, while in the hands of a state

         8       facility, lost his life.

         9                  And while we're not going to

        10       discuss at this time any of the ramifications

        11       that occurred, inasmuch as it's under current

        12       investigation by law enforcement, the genesis

        13       of the bill really goes back to another

        14       location where Jonathan was housed, the

        15       Anderson School.  And his presents had

        16       approached the Legislature prior to his demise

        17       about what happened in the Anderson School and

        18       their inability to access records of what

        19       investigation, if any, occurred on allegations

        20       of abuse.

        21                  They went to the district attorney,

        22       they went to all agencies they could access.

        23       And notwithstanding that effort, they really

        24       didn't learn a whole lot, if anything, about

        25       what occurred.  I believe after several months


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                                                        2005



         1       they just received a one-page --

         2                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         3       Senator Morahan, if I may interrupt, I was in

         4       error when I asked you to explain your vote.

         5       The bill that I believe you want to talk on

         6       and others have indicated they wish to talk on

         7       is Senate 924, which was laid aside

         8       temporarily.

         9                  If you don't mind, can I make a

        10       correction?  May I correct my error?

        11                  SENATOR MORAHAN:    Yes.

        12                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    And

        13       lay this bill aside that we have on the floor

        14       right now, and recall Senate 924.

        15                  Senator, continue.  I apologize.

        16                  SENATOR MORAHAN:    We were on the

        17       right bill; correct?

        18                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:     Go

        19       ahead.

        20                  SENATOR MORAHAN:    Okay.  Thank

        21       you, Mr. President.

        22                  At any rate, this bill will now

        23       allow parents and others to access files of

        24       their loved ones for any investigation of

        25       abuse.


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                                                        2006



         1                  We believe the people of the State

         2       of New York want the parents of children that

         3       are either in an institution run by the state

         4       or an institution run by a certified agency by

         5       a state to have access of any improprieties,

         6       allegations of abuse, and any investigations

         7       that flow from that.

         8                  The bill does provide for the

         9       redacting of names to protect those who

        10       testify to remove any chilling factor that may

        11       occur because people are somewhat reluctant to

        12       testify, so we can get to the truth, the whole

        13       truth, and nothing but the truth, as they say.

        14                  This bill will also direct that

        15       parents and loved ones be notified by OMRDD of

        16       any infractions or allegations of abuse

        17       relating to their children.

        18                  The Carey family has pursued this

        19       type of legislation for a long time before

        20       their son died, and since he died.  We have a

        21       similar bill in the Assembly, and that bill

        22       will be passed on Monday.  And I ask

        23       everyone's support for this bill that I

        24       believe will open up, bring in some fresh air,

        25       if you will, to those investigations happening


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                                                        2007



         1       in the OMRDD agency or agencies that they

         2       oversee.

         3                  It's called Jonathan's Law in

         4       memory of that young boy, an autistic child

         5       who died while in and under state authority.

         6       And I think the Carey family, who worked so

         7       hard to get this bill through and the

         8       necessary support for it, ought to be

         9       congratulated.  And they're with us this

        10       afternoon observing these proceedings.

        11                  Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

        12                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        13       Senator Breslin, to explain his vote.

        14                  SENATOR BRESLIN:    Thank you,

        15       Mr. President.

        16                  The Carey family, Lisa and Michael,

        17       came into my office some three years ago, and

        18       they alleged violations dealing with their son

        19       Jonathan.  And at that time it was impossible

        20       to get any information, and in fact agencies

        21       stonewalled the family.  Letters were written

        22       to the district attorney, to all of the state

        23       agencies involved, to executive agencies,

        24       without response.  And unfortunately it took

        25       the death of Jonathan, in an unrelated event,


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                                                        2008



         1       to bring everyone together.

         2                  And we look around and we think of

         3       so much legislation that we pass which is in

         4       effect positive legislation, but it's

         5       predicated on someone's death.  And why is it

         6       not possible to, at the time things happen

         7       without serious injury or death, we can't be

         8       more deliberative to come up with good

         9       solutions?

        10                  So it's hoped that at least with

        11       this legislation that Jonathan's name will

        12       live on, that we will begin to be much more

        13       transparent in the way we deal with the most

        14       vulnerable of our citizens, particularly in

        15       this case.  Jonathan was nonverbal and in

        16       serious condition.  And we need people in

        17       those situations not only to take care of our

        18       most vulnerable but to look after the people

        19       who are taking care of them.

        20                  So I heartily support this bill.  I

        21       think it will bring much transparency to an

        22       area where we really deal with over 100,000

        23       disabled children in this state.  And this law

        24       will do much to change the way we've done

        25       business in the past.


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                                                        2009



         1                  And I applaud the Careys for never

         2       taking their eye off the ball to change the

         3       system, to make the system better.

         4                  I vote aye.

         5                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         6       Senator LaValle, to explain his vote.

         7                  SENATOR LaVALLE:    Thank you very

         8       much, Mr. President.

         9                  I just want to be very brief, but I

        10       wanted to just take a few seconds to

        11       compliment our chairman who has shown, in

        12       dealing with this chairmanship, a focus, an

        13       energy, but also, in an area that is very,

        14       very complex and can be very emotional, a

        15       great deal of compassion in bringing

        16       legislation and resolving problems, working

        17       with families to get a result.

        18                  And, Senator Morahan, I just really

        19       compliment you for your work.

        20                  I have a very, very dear and close

        21       personal friend who has three autistic

        22       children.  And over the period of many years,

        23       I have learned of all of the complexities.

        24       And each one of us in this chamber are

        25       learning that as we approach the issue of


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                                                        2010



         1       autism, we are learning.

         2                  It is an evolving area of

         3       knowledge, of concern, and certainly this

         4       legislation comes at a time when everyone --

         5       Senator Breslin talked about transparency;

         6       fresh air, Senator Morahan used.  And I think

         7       I'll choose a different word, sunshine,

         8       sunlight on an issue that I think parents and

         9       other individuals need to have knowledge, need

        10       to have the tools on how we repair a situation

        11       so it never, ever happens again.

        12                  And so I congratulate you, Senator

        13       Morahan, for bringing this bill before us.

        14                  Thank you.

        15                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        16       Senator Libous, to explain his vote.

        17                  SENATOR LIBOUS:    Thank you,

        18       Mr. President.

        19                  And like my colleague Senator

        20       LaValle, I want to applaud Senator Morahan for

        21       his compassion and Senator Morahan for taking

        22       immediate action on this very important

        23       legislation.

        24                  And to Mr. and Mrs. Carey, I say

        25       that I am so sorry.  I can't imagine what it


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         1       would be like to lose a child.  I have not

         2       experienced that.  And I don't think anyone

         3       would want to experience that.

         4                  And beyond that, the years that you

         5       tried to access information because of trying

         6       to find out what was going on with the care of

         7       Jonathan.  And this legislation is going to

         8       help not only the children that are going to

         9       be cared for but the parents that need access

        10       to the information that unfortunately you

        11       could not receive, to understand what type of

        12       care was taking place with Jonathan or

        13       behavior that shouldn't have been taking place

        14       with your child.

        15                  My colleagues mentioned that

        16       Jonathan's memory will go on because of this

        17       legislation, but I think Jonathan lives with

        18       all of us here today and will continue to live

        19       with us beyond this legislation that is so

        20       important.  You have also helped us, through

        21       your son, to open the door and understand that

        22       we have a long way to go in this state as we

        23       care for autistic children, and we really

        24       don't do enough.

        25                  Actually we do, as I said at the


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         1       hearing, a miserable job.  And again, I

         2       apologize to you -- and I know that's not

         3       anywhere near enough -- and we need to do a

         4       better job.  And I will assure you that this

         5       body will move forward not only with Senator

         6       Morahan's response today, by passing

         7       Jonathan's Law, but seeing to it that OMRDD

         8       takes immediate action in looking at how we

         9       care for particularly autistic children --

        10       everyone with autism, but particularly

        11       autistic children.

        12                  Because that is an area right now,

        13       my colleagues, that is not being attended to.

        14       And we need to put that on the front burner so

        15       that we can work very hard to protect these

        16       children within our state system.

        17                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        18       Senator Fuschillo, to explain his vote.

        19                  SENATOR FUSCHILLO:    Thank you,

        20       Mr. President.

        21                  I want to also commend my colleague

        22       Senator Morahan for his leadership and

        23       compassion with this issue.

        24                  I think what bothers me so much

        25       about what I've learned over the last few


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         1       months in meeting with the Careys is that they

         2       should have had the comfort level that all of

         3       us have as parents -- not of developmentally

         4       disabled children, but the comfort level that

         5       when you went to bed every night that your

         6       child was safe.  And you didn't have that.

         7                  And prior to Jonathan's tragic

         8       passing, you fought hard, long, hours and days

         9       and weeks and months to find out what you as

        10       parents, and parents throughout this state of

        11       the hundreds of thousands of children -- you

        12       mentioned this morning, you have a right to

        13       know, as we do, everything about our children.

        14                  And as you know, I was working with

        15       Bill Bunter for the past couple of months, who

        16       has a grown daughter under the state's care,

        17       who's a perfect example of what you've gone

        18       through.  He found out that his daughter,

        19       who's under the state's care, had an infection

        20       on her leg, but they wouldn't tell him how or

        21       why or what was going on with that.  Then he

        22       found out that she was in the hospital having

        23       surgery to remove a piece of her wheelchair

        24       that was embedded in her leg.  But they

        25       wouldn't tell him what happened, they wouldn't


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         1       give him any information or testimony at a

         2       review board, a state review board that was

         3       investigating what happened to his daughter.

         4       And they wouldn't tell him because the laws

         5       were protecting them rather than his daughter

         6       or him or your son Jonathan, who couldn't

         7       speak.

         8                  What a disgrace.  Talk about a

         9       system that doesn't work and failed your son

        10       and failed Bill Bunter's daughter.  That he

        11       had to find out, by chance, from a nurse, that

        12       there was a piece of her wheelchair embedded

        13       in her leg that was causing the infection, and

        14       that's why she was rushed to have surgery.

        15       What a disgrace.

        16                  As I said to the Careys earlier

        17       this morning -- Jonathan's dad is wearing a

        18       button of Jonathan.  I said, "Now you have

        19       your guardian angel with you."

        20                  And I know Tom Morahan won't stop,

        21       that we have to keep going.  As Senator Libous

        22       said, there is a lot of work to be done.  Kids

        23       and young adults and adults that are under the

        24       state care at the facilities that families

        25       entrust them to should have peace of mind, go


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         1       to bed at night knowing that their kids and

         2       loved ones are safe.  And they're not.

         3                  So you have a charge now, the

         4       Careys, to keep it going.  I don't know how

         5       you do it, and I said that to you this

         6       morning.  But I commend you.  God bless you.

         7                  Mr. President, I'll be voting in

         8       favor of this legislation.  Thank you very

         9       much.

        10                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        11       Thank you, Senator Fuschillo.

        12                  Senator Farley, to explain his

        13       vote.

        14                  SENATOR FARLEY:    Thank you,

        15       Mr. President.

        16                  I rise in support of this

        17       legislation.  Jonathan Carey's tragedy

        18       happened in my Senate district, in Schenectady

        19       County, and it's an issue that affected

        20       everybody not only in the Capital District but

        21       the state of New York.

        22                  And, you know, I expressed my

        23       sympathy to the Careys, who are in the gallery

        24       today, who have really made a difference on

        25       behalf of their son.


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         1                  Jonathan's Law, I have seldom seen

         2       anything that has moved with such dispatch

         3       through this Legislature, which has been

         4       criticized.  But we acted, we acted on behalf

         5       of Jonathan Carey.  We acted because the

         6       parents of this young man had to see something

         7       happen to correct some of the things that have

         8       been -- the tragedies and so forth that have

         9       happened throughout our system.

        10                  It is truly a tribute to you.  I

        11       know that the hurt and the pain of losing a

        12       child is something that nobody can -- I can't

        13       really understand.  But you have made a

        14       difference on behalf of your son.  And as so

        15       many have said, you do have an angel up there

        16       that is looking out not only for you but for

        17       all the disabled that will come to this state.

        18                  I congratulate you for what you've

        19       you have done and the care that you have given

        20       your child over the years.  You have really

        21       made a difference in his death, because he

        22       will be immortalized with Jonathan's Law.  I

        23       wish you well.

        24                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        25       Thank you, Senator Farley.


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         1                  Announce the results.

         2                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 57.  Nays,

         3       0.

         4                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

         5       bill is passed.

         6                  (Applause.)

         7                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

         8       Secretary will continue to read.

         9                  THE SECRETARY:     Calendar Number

        10       267, by Senator Diaz, Senate Print 3167, an

        11       act to amend the Elder Law, in relation to

        12       providing companion pets for seniors.

        13                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        14       Read the last section.

        15                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This

        16       act shall take effect on the first of January.

        17                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        18       Call the roll.

        19                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

        20                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 57.

        21                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        22       bill is passed.

        23                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        24       444, by Senator Larkin, Senate Print 2825, an

        25       act to amend the Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering


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         1       and Breeding Law, in relation to task force.

         2                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         3       Read the last section.

         4                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This

         5       act shall take effect immediately.

         6                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         7       Call the roll.

         8                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

         9                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 57.

        10                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        11       bill is passed.

        12                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        13       454, by Senator Volker, Senate Print --

        14                  SENATOR SKELOS:    Lay it aside for

        15       the day.

        16                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    Lay

        17       the bill aside for the day.

        18                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        19       465, by Senator Golden, Senate Print 450, an

        20       act to amend Chapter 912 of the Laws of 1920

        21       allowing and regulating boxing.

        22                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        23       Read the last section.

        24                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This

        25       act shall take effect immediately.


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         1                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         2       Call the roll.

         3                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

         4                  THE SECRETARY:    Those recorded in

         5       the negative on Calendar Number 465 are

         6       Senators Duane, Libous, Maltese and Rath.

         7                  Ayes, 53.  Nays, 4.

         8                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

         9       bill is passed.

        10                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        11       467, by Senator Little, Senate Print 1115, an

        12       act to amend the Navigation Law, in relation

        13       to operation of public vessels.

        14                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        15       Read the last section.

        16                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 6.  This

        17       act shall take effect immediately.

        18                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        19       Call the roll.

        20                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

        21                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 57.

        22                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        23       bill is passed.

        24                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        25       468, by Senator Maziarz, Senate Print 506, an


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         1       act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law, in

         2       relation to installation.

         3                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         4       Read the last section.

         5                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This

         6       act shall take effect immediately.

         7                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         8       Call the roll.

         9                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

        10                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 57.

        11                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        12       bill is passed.

        13                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        14       469, by Senator Marcellino, Senate Print 623,

        15       an act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law,

        16       in relation to the number of prior

        17       suspensions.

        18                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        19       Read the last section.

        20                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 3.  This

        21       act shall take effect on the first of

        22       November.

        23                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        24       Call the roll.

        25                  (The Secretary called the roll.)


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         1                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 57.

         2                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

         3       bill is passed.

         4                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

         5       477, by Senator DeFrancisco, Senate Print

         6       2051, an act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic

         7       Law, in relation to enacting.

         8                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         9       Read the last section.

        10                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 6.  This

        11       act shall take effect immediately.

        12                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        13       Call the roll.

        14                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

        15                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 57.

        16                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        17       bill is passed.

        18                  Senator Skelos, may we return to

        19       the previously laid aside bill?

        20                  SENATOR SKELOS:    On the

        21       noncontroversial calendar, if we could return

        22       to Calendar Number 239.

        23                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        24       Secretary will read.

        25                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number


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         1       239, by Senator Morahan, Senate Print 924, an

         2       act to amend the Mental Hygiene Law, the

         3       Social Services Law, and the Education Law.

         4                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         5       Read the last section.

         6                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 4.  This

         7       act shall take effect immediately.

         8                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         9       Call the roll.

        10                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

        11                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 57.

        12                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        13       bill is passed.

        14                  Senator Skelos, that completes the

        15       noncontroversial calendar.

        16                  SENATOR SKELOS:    Thank you,

        17       Mr. President.

        18                  If we could return to reports of

        19       standing committees, there's a report of the

        20       Finance Committee at the desk.  I ask that it

        21       be taken up at this time.

        22                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        23       Reports of standing committees.

        24                  The Secretary will read the report

        25       of the Finance Committee.


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         1                  THE SECRETARY:    Senator O.

         2       Johnson, from the Committee on Finance,

         3       reports the following nominations:

         4                  As Commissioner of the Office of

         5       Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation,

         6       Carol Ash, of Rensselaerville.

         7                  SENATOR SKELOS:    Move the

         8       nomination.

         9                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        10       question is on the nomination of Carol Ash, of

        11       Rensselaerville, to serve at the pleasure of

        12       the Governor as Commissioner of Parks,

        13       Recreation and Historic Preservation.

        14                  Senator Morahan, on the nomination.

        15                  SENATOR MORAHAN:    Thank you,

        16       Mr. President.

        17                  I rise in support of this

        18       nomination and the confirmation process for

        19       Commissioner Ash, who I've known as the

        20       executive director of the Palisades State Park

        21       System in the Hudson Valley.  Her activities

        22       there really went above and beyond, and I

        23       think she exemplifies the caring nature and

        24       the stewardship of the park system so sorely

        25       needed in the State of New York.


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         1                  And I want to congratulate the

         2       Governor for this nomination.  I think it's

         3       one of the finest nominations that we've had

         4       in quite a while.  And therefore I am in full

         5       support of the confirmation of Carol Ash as

         6       our commissioner of the Office of Parks,

         7       Recreation and Historic Preservation.

         8                  Thank you.  Good luck, Carol.

         9                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        10       Senator Flanagan.

        11                  SENATOR FLANAGAN:    Thank you,

        12       Mr. President.  On the nomination.

        13                  I'm going to take a slightly

        14       different tack from my colleague and friend

        15       Senator Morahan.  I want to offer some

        16       comments on this nomination, and this is

        17       frankly a departure for me because I'm going

        18       to be voting no on this nomination.  And I'm

        19       going to explain why, because I think I have

        20       some important reasons, not only for the

        21       people in the communities that I represent but

        22       I think there are broader implications for

        23       State Parks and our parks policy as a whole.

        24                  And I have met with Commissioner

        25       Ash, I have met with members of the Spitzer


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         1       administration on an issue that is

         2       extraordinarily important in the area that I

         3       represent, and that involves a state park.

         4       It's Nissequogue State Park.  It's in the

         5       Kings Park community.  It's a park that has

         6       now been enlarged and enhanced with months and

         7       months and months of effort.

         8                  And the problem that I have -- and

         9       this is a broad thing that applies to

        10       everybody in this chamber.  The Spitzer

        11       administration has not made a firm commitment

        12       to maintain that property as a park.  There is

        13       a prospect and a possibility that they are

        14       looking to overturn that land as a park.

        15       That's bad for everybody.  It's bad for

        16       everybody in this chamber, it's bad for our

        17       constituents, and it's certainly not good for

        18       the people that I represent.

        19                  And I can't stand here in good

        20       conscience and support the nomination of a

        21       designee of the Governor when I don't feel

        22       that I've gotten detailed answers, I don't

        23       feel that we've gotten straight answers on an

        24       issues that is extraordinarily important.

        25                  I've spent hours and hours and


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         1       hours working on this issue.  And now, we

         2       still today, almost four months into the

         3       administration, lack clarity.  And it's not

         4       for lack of trying, because we've tried.  I've

         5       written, I've called, I've asked.  And I can't

         6       stand before you today and provide any detail

         7       or any real substance on this issue.

         8                  I am hopeful that some of the

         9       things that Tom Morahan said turn out to be

        10       accurate.  I am hopeful that as we move

        11       forward that we will find a resolution to this

        12       and other important issues involving parks.

        13                  For me personally, I simply cannot

        14       support this nomination.  But I will say this.

        15       I want to be clear that this issue that I have

        16       been working on is important to everybody --

        17       from an environmental standpoint, from a parks

        18       standpoint, from a legislative policy

        19       standpoint.

        20                  I pledge to work with the

        21       commissioner and the Spitzer administration to

        22       get this done the right way.  And to get it

        23       done the right way is going to require time,

        24       effort, money and a commitment to maintain

        25       this property as a park.


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         1                  Mr. President, I will be voting no

         2       on this nomination.

         3                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         4       Thank you, Senator Flanagan.

         5                  Anyone else wish to be heard on the

         6       nominee?

         7                  The question is on the nomination

         8       of Carol Ash, of Rensselaerville, for

         9       Commissioner of the Office of Parks,

        10       Recreation and Historic Preservation.  All in

        11       favor signify by saying aye.

        12                  (Response of "Aye.")

        13                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    All

        14       opposed.

        15                  (Response of "Nay.")

        16                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        17       Carol Ash is hereby confirmed as the

        18       commissioner.

        19                  Congratulations, Commissioner Ash.

        20                  (Applause.)

        21                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        22       Secretary will read.

        23                  THE SECRETARY:    As superintendent

        24       of the Insurance Department, Eric R. Dinallo,

        25       of New York City.


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         1                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

         2       question is on the nomination of Eric R.

         3       Dinallo, of New York City, to serve as the

         4       Superintendent of the Insurance Department.

         5                  SENATOR MORAHAN:    Move the

         6       nomination.

         7                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         8       Senator Seward.

         9                  SENATOR SEWARD:    Thank you,

        10       Mr. President.

        11                  I'm delighted to stand to support

        12       the confirmation of Eric Dinallo to be our

        13       next Superintendent of Insurance.

        14                  Eric Dinallo comes before this body

        15       experienced and well equipped to serve as our

        16       Superintendent of Insurance.  He's had

        17       experience both in the private sector related

        18       to many of the issues that he will be

        19       confronting as our superintendent, and he's

        20       also had a distinguished career in the public

        21       sector as well, most notably as chief of the

        22       Securities Bureau of the Attorney General's

        23       office.

        24                  From my discussions with

        25       Mr. Dinallo and his appearance before the


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         1       Insurance Committee earlier this week, I

         2       believe that he will bring a fresh and

         3       innovative approach to insurance regulation in

         4       the State of New York.

         5                  And he also fully understands the

         6       importance of maintaining New York as the

         7       premier global financial services leader that

         8       we have been and the importance of the

         9       insurance industry in that regard.  And also,

        10       in getting us there and keeping us there, the

        11       need for modernization in terms of the

        12       regulation of insurance.  That's paramount.

        13                  He also fully understands that the

        14       Insurance Department is truly the voice of the

        15       consumer, who is in great need of insurance in

        16       the state.  Whether it be health, P&C, or life

        17       or any other type of insurance, the consumer's

        18       interest has to be paramount because people

        19       seek insurance for their financial security.

        20       And it's a great need for individuals,

        21       businesses, other entities in the State of

        22       New York, very, very important to our

        23       financial security.

        24                  So I look forward to working with

        25       Eric Dinallo as our Superintendent of


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         1       Insurance on many of the challenges that face

         2       us in the insurance world -- health insurance,

         3       homeowners, auto, life, the list goes on.  But

         4       I look forward to working with Eric Dinallo.

         5       I think he will be a partner with this house

         6       in helping to move our state forward, to

         7       protect our people and our businesses and

         8       other entities that are so important to us.

         9                  So I rise to support this

        10       confirmation, Mr. President, and also to

        11       publicly congratulate Eric Dinallo and his

        12       family on this very important day.

        13                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        14       Thank you, Senator Seward.

        15                  Senator DeFrancisco, on the

        16       nomination.

        17                  SENATOR DeFRANCISCO:    I rise to

        18       support the nomination and the nominee.

        19                  His qualifications and in fact the

        20       qualifications of each of the nominees today

        21       are really superior.  We should commend the

        22       Governor for these fine nominations that he's

        23       presented to us.  I was truly impressed with

        24       the breadth of knowledge of Mr. Dinallo in so

        25       many different topics relating to the


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         1       insurance field, and I think that's essential

         2       to have that knowledge.

         3                  I was also very pleased to hear of

         4       his obvious concern in his prepared remarks or

         5       his initial remarks concerning the consumers.

         6       Because as Senator Seward said, the Insurance

         7       Department has to look out for consumers.

         8       They don't have power in the system.  And if

         9       insurance carriers are not acting properly,

        10       the Insurance Department is sometimes the only

        11       economic place that they can go to without

        12       having to hire a lawyer and spend more money

        13       than the claim may be worth.

        14                  And I'm convinced, based upon the

        15       sincerity of his answers, that he is going to

        16       look closely into the proper remedies for

        17       unfair claims practices that I think occur all

        18       too often in this field.

        19                  In addition, another area that's

        20       really been talked about for a long period of

        21       time is how to regulate viatical settlements

        22       and what the approach should be statutorily.

        23       And judging from his involvement in the

        24       long-awaited reform of workers' compensation,

        25       where it got done in the first hundred days,


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         1       and he was involved in that, I'm certain that

         2       some of these issues can be resolved, like the

         3       viatical settlement issue as well.  It's time

         4       for solutions to some of these problems, and

         5       I'm convinced that he is going to be able to

         6       lead the way to make that happen.

         7                  So I am happy to stand in support

         8       of this nominee and wish him the best in his

         9       new position.

        10                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        11       Thank you, Senator DeFrancisco.

        12                  Senator Breslin.

        13                  SENATOR BRESLIN:    Thank you,

        14       Mr. President.

        15                  I agree with all the comments of my

        16       colleagues Senator Seward and Senator

        17       DeFrancisco.  But it's important in insurance

        18       to have full disclosure, and Senator

        19       DeFrancisco didn't acknowledge the fact that

        20       he also has a Duke degree, as does our

        21       candidate for superintendent.

        22                  SENATOR DeFRANCISCO:    I didn't

        23       know that.

        24                  SENATOR BRESLIN:    So it goes

        25       along with everything you said.


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         1                  But, you know, when you look at the

         2       background of Eric Dinallo, to be the managing

         3       director of regulatory affairs at Morgan

         4       Stanley or the general counsel of the Willis

         5       Group, which is a multinational insurance

         6       brokerage company, and then to be at the

         7       highest levels of the State Attorney General,

         8       Eric gets it.  And when he came before the

         9       Insurance Committee as well as the Finance

        10       Committee, already, you know, he knows how to

        11       strike the balance between protecting the

        12       consumer and creating a climate for

        13       competitiveness throughout the insurance

        14       industry.

        15                  So I think that Governor Spitzer

        16       has really hit the mark with Eric Dinallo.

        17       He's brought with him an excellent staff,

        18       which will be coupled with the career people

        19       in the Insurance Department.  And I look

        20       forward to the coming years being very bright

        21       ones for Superintendent of Insurance Eric

        22       Dinallo.

        23                  My congratulations.

        24                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        25       Thank you, Senator Breslin.


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         1                  Senator Stachowski.

         2                  SENATOR STACHOWSKI:    Yes,

         3       Mr. President, thank you.

         4                  I also rise to second the

         5       nomination of Mr. Dinallo.  I think he'll make

         6       an excellent superintendent.

         7                  I think at the committee meeting,

         8       the Insurance Committee meeting, he answered a

         9       lot of the questions.  He answered some more

        10       today.  I think along with what Senator

        11       Breslin said, I too picked up the same concept

        12       that he's going to be there for the people

        13       buying the insurance, but he's also got an

        14       interest in making sure that the insurance

        15       industry stays healthy in New York State also

        16       and we don't have people bailing out of the

        17       state.

        18                  So I think that's a great mix.  I

        19       think his background was outstanding.  We

        20       won't say anything about the Duke degree,

        21       because we all know about the character flaws

        22       that DeFrancisco has, and we're hoping that

        23       it's not a Duke thing.

        24                  (Laughter.)

        25                  SENATOR STACHOWSKI:    I just


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         1       wanted to see if John was still listening.

         2                  The one thing I can say, though, is

         3       that I'm glad at Finance Mr. Dinallo didn't

         4       bring his charts and his pens.  Because I

         5       think he would have got through Finance

         6       yesterday if he didn't draw all those pictures

         7       at the Insurance Committee meeting.

         8                  All kidding aside, I'm glad to get

         9       up and second this nomination.

        10                  I was also taken by the fact that

        11       he was on top of some issues that Senator

        12       Hannon brought up in the health insurance

        13       area, which are important to all of us and one

        14       of the premier things that we're all concerned

        15       about, the rapid growth of health insurance

        16       coverages, et cetera.

        17                  So I congratulate Mr. Dinallo, I

        18       congratulate the Governor on a fine

        19       nomination, and I look forward to working with

        20       him in the future.

        21                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        22       Thank you, Senator.

        23                  Senator Schneiderman.

        24                  SENATOR SCHNEIDERMAN:    Thank you,

        25       Mr. President.  I'm also proud to stand in


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         1       support of this nomination.

         2                  I will not mention Duke University,

         3       but I'm proud to support Mr. Dinallo even

         4       though he worked at Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton

         5       and Garrison with many of my friends.

         6                  He is a fine attorney.  He is

         7       exactly what we need in this state.  This

         8       state is behind the country in our regulation

         9       of the insurance industry.  This state is

        10       behind states all across America in the

        11       efforts underway to reduce insurance rates so

        12       that our businesses are more competitive and

        13       so that people can afford to live here.

        14                  We hear a lot in debate about the

        15       competitiveness of our state and about the

        16       affordability of our state.  One of the most

        17       important areas we can address as a Senate

        18       this year, as a Legislature this year, is to

        19       give Mr. Dinallo the support he needs to

        20       reform our insurance laws, to bring rates

        21       down, to make insurance companies more

        22       accountable and more responsible.

        23                  Other states have Public Service

        24       Commission-type proceedings so they can get

        25       into the books and see what the insurance


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         1       companies are earning.  Other states require

         2       preapproval for rate increases.  These are the

         3       kinds of reforms I look forward to working

         4       with Mr. Dinallo on.

         5                  And I will tell you, I'm sorry

         6       that -- I realize there are some other issues

         7       in the air in Albany.  I'm sorry it's taken

         8       this long for him to be confirmed, because I

         9       happened by coincidence to sit with him at the

        10       inauguration at the beginning of this year,

        11       and he was badgering me from day one about

        12       ideas for insurance reforms.

        13                  He's ready to go.  He's ready to

        14       get the work done.  Let's give him the support

        15       he needs.  And I'm proud to stand in support

        16       of his nomination.

        17                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        18       Thank you, Senator.

        19                  Anyone else wishing to be heard?

        20                  Seeing none, the question is on the

        21       nomination of Eric R. Dinallo, of New York

        22       City, to serve as Superintendent of the

        23       Insurance Department.  All in favor signify by

        24       saying aye.

        25                  (Response of "Aye.")


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         1                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         2       Opposed, nay.

         3                  (No response.)

         4                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         5       Congratulations, Mr. Dinallo, and good luck in

         6       your future.

         7                  (Applause.)

         8                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

         9       Secretary will read.

        10                  THE SECRETARY:    As Superintendent

        11       of the Banking Department, Richard H. Neiman,

        12       of Rye.

        13                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        14       Senator Robach.

        15                  SENATOR ROBACH:    Mr. President,

        16       could we move the nomination of the

        17       Superintendent of the Banking Department and

        18       please recognize Senator Farley.

        19                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        20       Senator Farley.

        21                  SENATOR FARLEY:    Thank you very

        22       much, Mr. President.

        23                  You know, I'm absolutely pleased

        24       beyond belief to nominate and to confirm this

        25       man for Superintendent of Banks.  I've been on


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         1       the Banking Committee for over 30 years and

         2       chairman for over a decade, and this is one of

         3       the most qualified people that we've ever had

         4       for superintendent.

         5                  He's a graduate of Emory Law School

         6       and American University in Washington, where I

         7       went to law school.  He has had a resume that

         8       is incredible starting, with the Office of the

         9       Comptroller of the Currency, to Citicorp, to

        10       Price Waterhouse and to TD Waterhouse Group,

        11       and also was president and chief executive

        12       officer of the TD Bank USA.

        13                  Let me just say this, that not only

        14       is he a supporter of the dual banking system

        15       and concerned with keeping New York as the

        16       financial capital of the world, Richard Neiman

        17       is eminently qualified and somebody that I

        18       think really is taking on a very, very

        19       difficult job and one that is quite a

        20       sacrifice for public service.

        21                  And I think that that would lead me

        22       to say that up in the gallery is his lovely

        23       wife Eileen McCarthy Neiman, who is a graduate

        24       of Albany, right here in town, and served as a

        25       Senate Capitol tour guide, and so she's part


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         1       of the family here.

         2                  But more important is his two

         3       children that are up there, Heather -- would

         4       you wave, Heather? -- and Hailey.  I just want

         5       to tell you a little story about Heather and

         6       Hailey.

         7                  Hailey, his oldest daughter, I

         8       believe who is nine, said to him:  "Daddy, are

         9       you going to be president of a bank in your

        10       new job?"  And he said no.  She says:  "Daddy,

        11       are you going to make more money in your new

        12       job?"  He said no.  She says:  "Daddy, I think

        13       you should think about it."

        14                  (Laughter.)

        15                  SENATOR FARLEY:    Which brings me

        16       to the point that our superintendent is really

        17       serving in public service.  You don't take

        18       this job for the money.  Because certainly his

        19       career has been sparkling, and he's earned a

        20       lot more money than he'll ever earn as the

        21       Superintendent of Banks.

        22                  I'm terribly, terribly grateful for

        23       him, grateful to the Governor for being able

        24       to recognize and get somebody to serve with

        25       his qualifications.  We're thrilled to be able


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         1       to support this nomination, because the State

         2       of New York is blessed to have somebody that

         3       is willing to serve in public service at this

         4       very, very important time.  Because these are

         5       times when particularly the dual banking

         6       system and the State of New York is under

         7       attack, if you will, by the federal government

         8       and taking over our banking system.  And we've

         9       got a man there that really knows how to keep

        10       our banks sound and safe.

        11                  And I'm pleased to support this

        12       nominee.

        13                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        14       Thank you, Senator.

        15                  Senator Fuschillo, on the

        16       nomination.

        17                  SENATOR FUSCHILLO:    Thank you

        18       very much, Mr. President.

        19                  Let me join with my distinguished

        20       colleague and chairman of the Banking

        21       Committee, Senator Farley, in congratulating

        22       the nominee and the Governor for putting forth

        23       the nominee.

        24                  But I ask that as you go forward,

        25       to do something that I haven't seen in my nine


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         1       years in the Senate from any banking

         2       superintendent:  Protect the consumers.

         3       They're getting fee'd to death from the banks.

         4       They're getting penalized to death from the

         5       banks.

         6                  I think with the issue of credit

         7       cards and banking fees, consumer debt has just

         8       risen in this state and throughout this

         9       nation.  So whatever limited jurisdiction you

        10       have over banks in New York State, I ask that

        11       you take a hard look at how the Banking

        12       Department can better protect the consumers of

        13       New York State.

        14                  I wish you well.  I congratulate

        15       you.  And I look forward to working with you.

        16                  Thank you, Mr. President.

        17                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        18       Thank you, Senator.

        19                  Senator Stachowski.

        20                  SENATOR STACHOWSKI:    Mr.

        21       President, I also rise to second the

        22       nomination of Mr. Neiman for Superintendent of

        23       Banks.

        24                  Based on Senator Farley's comments

        25       about his performance in the committee and


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         1       Senator Farley's interest in keeping some

         2       New York-chartered banks, which I happen to

         3       share with him, I think it's a great

         4       nomination.

         5                  I think his background is

         6       impeccable.  We're very fortunate that the

         7       Governor was able to get somebody like this to

         8       take this position.

         9                  And his awareness of the issues

        10       that concern my area in the house flipping and

        11       mortgage situations is very important, as well

        12       as the situation with one of our local banks

        13       that's a big player in the State of New York

        14       and that he's going to be looking into also.

        15       It certainly piqued my interest that he was

        16       already at that point and ready to move

        17       forward.

        18                  And I look forward to working with

        19       him in the years ahead, and I congratulate

        20       both he and the Governor on his appointment.

        21                  Thank you.

        22                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        23       Thank you, Senator.

        24                  Senator Oppenheimer.

        25                  SENATOR OPPENHEIMER:    Well, I


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         1       join in the accolades.

         2                  The new commissioner is a resident

         3       in my Senate district.  And while we have

         4       heard about the superb skills he brings to the

         5       job, I want to note that he has been involved

         6       in many human-service extracurricular

         7       activities, for which he receives no money but

         8       only through the goodness of his heart does he

         9       participate in these.  And these are various

        10       organizations that assist children and

        11       families and people in need.

        12                  And I want us to know that we not

        13       only have someone who's extremely competent,

        14       but we also have someone who's extremely

        15       caring.

        16                  I thank you for that.

        17       Congratulations.

        18                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        19       Anyone else wishing to be heard?

        20                  Seeing none, the question is on the

        21       nomination of Richard H. Neiman, of Rye, to

        22       serve as Superintendent of the Banking

        23       Department.  All in favor signify by saying

        24       aye.

        25                  (Response of "Aye.")


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         1                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         2       Opposed, nay.

         3                  (No response.)

         4                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         5       Congratulations, Superintendent Neiman.

         6                  (Applause.)

         7                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    As

         8       was previously mentioned by Senator Farley,

         9       Superintendent Neiman is joined by his wife,

        10       Eileen, and daughters Heather and Hailey.

        11                  And whichever daughter asked that

        12       question, keep on asking.

        13                  (Laughter.)

        14                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        15       Secretary will read.

        16                  THE SECRETARY:    As Commissioner

        17       of the State Civil Service Commission, Nancy

        18       G. Groenwegen, of Glenmont.

        19                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        20       Senator Robach.

        21                  SENATOR ROBACH:    Yes,

        22       Mr. President.  I am very happy to move the

        23       nomination of Nancy Groenwegen for the

        24       Commissioner of Civil Service.

        25                  As the chairman of the Civil


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         1       Service and Pension Committee, I have gotten

         2       to know the nominee fairly well.  In addition

         3       to her vast experience, great resume, law

         4       career, I can assure you she is someone who

         5       wants to reach out, already has reached out to

         6       the members of this body, not only on the

         7       committee but above and beyond.  And she is

         8       someone who really gets the correlation

         9       between the quality of state employees, the

        10       importance of civil service, and how it

        11       relates to serving all our constituencies in

        12       public service.

        13                  And so I want to not only applaud

        14       the Governor on this very qualified nomination

        15       but be the first to congratulate her, her

        16       husband and son on this great occasion.  And I

        17       am looking forward to working collaboratively

        18       to do good things for some time to come.

        19                  Thank you, Mr. President.

        20                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        21       Thank you, Senator.

        22                  Senator Little, on the nomination.

        23                  SENATOR LITTLE:    Thank you,

        24       Mr. President.

        25                  It's an honor for me to stand and


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         1       second the nomination of Nancy Gleason

         2       Groenwegen, because Nancy Gleason grew up in

         3       Hudson Falls, New York, in Washington County,

         4       and is a graduate of Hudson Falls High School.

         5       And I for one am very proud to have her be in

         6       this position as Commissioner of Civil

         7       Service.

         8                  She's a wonderful person to be in

         9       this position.  The Governor certainly has

        10       selected someone who has a wealth of

        11       background that she is bringing to the table,

        12       working in many different agencies throughout

        13       the state government as well as for the School

        14       Boards Association and certainly knows her way

        15       around the private sector as well.

        16                  So I'm sure everyone in Hudson

        17       Falls will be delighted to know that their

        18       Commissioner of Civil Service is a graduate of

        19       Hudson Falls High School as well as a graduate

        20       of our own SUNY Albany, but a lawyer and a

        21       person who has a wonderful reputation for

        22       honesty, integrity and very hard work.

        23                  I congratulate her, her husband,

        24       and her son, who are with us today, and I look

        25       forward to working with her and getting her


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         1       back into Hudson Falls so we can show off.

         2                  Thank you.

         3                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         4       Senator Breslin, on the nomination.

         5                  SENATOR BRESLIN:    Thank you,

         6       Mr. President.

         7                  In all deference, when Nancy goes

         8       back to Hudson Falls, she has to explain that

         9       she now lives in Albany County, which is my

        10       district.

        11                  Nancy, when you meet her and talk

        12       with her and look at her resume, you can't

        13       help but be impressed with her intelligence,

        14       her enthusiasm, and over a quarter of a decade

        15       dealing with civil service and labor issues at

        16       a very, very high level.

        17                  And I coincidentally had the

        18       occasion to recently talk with a good friend

        19       of mine who's one of her former bosses, it was

        20       the Commissioner of Labor, John Hudacs.  And I

        21       can honestly say that John's face lit up in

        22       talking about Nancy.  And he called her the

        23       finest public servant that he has ever worked

        24       with.

        25                  And I believe, again, it's a great


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         1       choice by this Governor, it's somebody who's

         2       going to be a star in the Civil Service

         3       Commission.  And I applaud her nomination and

         4       look forward to working with her in the coming

         5       years.

         6                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         7       Thank you, Senator.

         8                  Senator Savino.

         9                  SENATOR SAVINO:    Thank you,

        10       Mr. President.

        11                  I also want to stand and commend

        12       the Governor for his nomination of Nancy

        13       Groenwegen.

        14                  You know, the civil service merit

        15       system has been the method by which tens of

        16       thousands of New Yorkers have moved from

        17       poverty to the middle class.  It has not just

        18       built careers, it's built whole neighborhoods.

        19       It is a system that is necessary for the

        20       adequate function of government.

        21                  And I am so pleased that the

        22       Governor has nominated this young woman who

        23       has so much experience and so much knowledge

        24       about the intricacies of the civil service

        25       merit system.


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         1                  She came to my office a few weeks

         2       ago and we sat there and we had a discussion

         3       as only two policy wonks on civil service can

         4       have.  And it was at that point that I

         5       realized that this system that I believe in so

         6       strongly is going to be in very capable hands.

         7       She understands just how important it is for

         8       the administration of government, and I could

         9       not be more pleased with the appointment of

        10       Nancy Groenwegen.

        11                  So congratulations, and I look

        12       forward to working with you for many years to

        13       come.

        14                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    Any

        15       other Senator wishing to be heard?

        16                  Seeing none, the question is on the

        17       nomination of Nancy G. Groenwegen, of

        18       Glenmont, to serve as Commissioner of the

        19       State Civil Service Commission.

        20                  All in favor signify by saying aye.

        21                  (Response of "Aye.")

        22                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        23       Opposed, nay.

        24                  (No response.)

        25                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:


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         1       Congratulations, Commissioner Groenwegen.

         2                  (Applause.)

         3                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

         4       commissioner is joined in the balcony by her

         5       husband, Paul, and son, Philip.

         6       Congratulations once again.

         7                  Senator Robach.

         8                  SENATOR ROBACH:    Yes,

         9       Mr. President.  Is there any other business at

        10       the desk?

        11                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        12       Yes, Senator.  Senator Little, I believe, has

        13       a motion.

        14                  SENATOR LITTLE:    Thank you,

        15       Mr. President.

        16                  On behalf of Senator Padavan, on

        17       page number 32 I offer the following

        18       amendments to Calendar Number 476, Senate

        19       Print Number 2045, and ask that said bill

        20       retain its place on the Third Reading

        21       Calendar.

        22                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        23       amendments are received and adopted, and the

        24       bill will retain its place on the Third

        25       Reading Calendar.


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         1                  Senator Robach.

         2                  SENATOR ROBACH:    Yes,

         3       Mr. President.  If you could recognize Senator

         4       Krueger.

         5                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         6       Senator Krueger is recognized.

         7                  SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER:    Thank you,

         8       Mr. President.

         9                  I believe I have a motion at the

        10       desk.  I would like to have it called up at

        11       this time.

        12                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        13       Secretary will read.

        14                  THE SECRETARY:    Senate Print

        15       1257, by Senator L. Krueger, an act to amend

        16       the Public Health Law.

        17                  SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER:    Thank you,

        18       Mr. President.

        19                  I'd like to move my bill today to

        20       the floor for a debate, which would create the

        21       Reproductive Cloning Prohibition and Stem Cell

        22       Research Act.

        23                  Over one out of three Americans,

        24       128 million people, suffer from crippling

        25       physical, psychological and economic burdens


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         1       of chronic, degenerative and acute diseases,

         2       including, to name but a few, diabetes,

         3       Parkinson's, cancers, Alzheimer's disease.

         4       The cost of treatment and lost productivity

         5       constitute hundreds of billions of dollars

         6       every year to our economy.  And the economic

         7       costs of these diseases pale in comparison to

         8       the extreme loss of human life and the

         9       suffering associated with these conditions.

        10                  In 2007 we know for a fact, through

        11       science, that stem cell research offers

        12       immense promise for developing new medical

        13       therapies for these debilitating diseases and

        14       is a critical means to explore fundamental

        15       questions of biology.  Stem cell research

        16       could lead us to unprecedented treatments and

        17       potential cures for these diseases.  Already

        18       we know from around the world that the

        19       exploration of stem cell research has helped

        20       researchers and physicians target cancer

        21       cells, develop, in lab models, new cells that

        22       are healthy for people who currently suffer

        23       from these dreaded and often terminal

        24       illnesses.

        25                  President Bush's ban on federal


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         1       financing in 2001 for most embryonic stem cell

         2       research has severely delayed the cycle of

         3       breakthroughs that could result in cures for

         4       many of these diseases from which Americans

         5       continue to suffer.  Again, one out of three

         6       of us have some type of disease that in fact

         7       stem cell research might lead to a cure for.

         8                  New York State has historically

         9       been the haven for open scientific inquiry and

        10       technological innovation.  With the commitment

        11       of public and private resources, New York

        12       State has become a world leader in biomedicine

        13       and biotechnology.  And yet in 2007 in

        14       New York State we have still not acted.

        15                  Nine states already have acted to

        16       permit embryonic stem cell research:

        17       California, Connecticut, Maryland,

        18       Massachusetts, Iowa, and New Jersey passed

        19       legislation.  Missouri passed a constitutional

        20       amendment permitting embryonic stem cell

        21       research when their legislature wouldn't act.

        22       The governor of Illinois issued an executive

        23       order to allow such research.  The Wisconsin

        24       governor provided state funding for the

        25       creation of an institute to produce blood


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         1       products made from embryonic stem cells.

         2                  Our own budget that we passed two

         3       weeks ago makes us the sixth state to provide

         4       financing for stem cell research, creating the

         5       second largest state research fund in the

         6       country, $600 million over the next 11 years.

         7       But absent legislation such as my bill, S1257,

         8       or some other bill which makes explicit what

         9       can and cannot be done within genetic research

        10       using stem cells, we leave too much gray area

        11       which will hinder scientific exploration,

        12       discourage private investment, and risk

        13       allowing inappropriate activity such as human

        14       cloning.

        15                  New York State must take action now

        16       in supporting stem cell research which could

        17       result in unprecedented treatments for

        18       diseases and the development of affordable and

        19       accessible treatments for health threats

        20       throughout New York State and the world.

        21                  S1257 authorizes the conduct of

        22       stem cell research in New York State, requires

        23       informed consent for research purposes, and

        24       prohibits -- again, explicitly prohibits --

        25       human reproductive cloning, with criminal


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         1       penalties attached.

         2                  The bill also addresses numerous

         3       ethical and policy concerns that have been

         4       raised regarding the use of embryonic stem

         5       cells for medical research, through the

         6       creation of a Commission on Cloning and

         7       Therapeutic Research consisting of 12 members.

         8       Two members shall be physicians, one shall be

         9       a healthcare provider other than a physician,

        10       one member shall be a women's health advocate,

        11       one member shall be a current or former

        12       patient involved in fertility treatments, two

        13       shall be current patients under care for two

        14       different disease disorders, one shall be a

        15       scientist involved directly in stem cell

        16       research, one member shall be a public health

        17       attorney or advocate, two shall be scientists

        18       involved in therapeutic stem cell cloning

        19       research, and one shall be a medical ethicist.

        20                  We can do this right in New York

        21       State.  We've already put the money in to do

        22       it.  And I argue this Legislature has an

        23       obligation and should have a motivation to

        24       want to make sure that as we move forward we

        25       move forward carefully, we use our legislative


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         1       authority to be players in making sure what

         2       happens in New York State is for the right

         3       reasons and not the wrong reasons.

         4                  I urge my colleagues to support my

         5       motion today and to move us forward on the

         6       important issue of stem cell research in our

         7       state.

         8                  Thank you, Mr. President.

         9                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    All

        10       those Senators in favor of the petition out of

        11       committee please signify by raising their

        12       hands.

        13                  THE SECRETARY:    Those recorded in

        14       agreement are Senators Adams, Breslin, Connor,

        15       Duane, Gonzalez, Hassell-Thompson, C. Johnson,

        16       Klein, L. Krueger, C. Kruger, Montgomery,

        17       Oppenheimer, Parker, Sabini, Savino,

        18       Schneiderman, Serrano, Smith, Stavisky,

        19       Stewart-Cousins, Thompson and Valesky.

        20                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        21       petition is not agreed to.

        22                  Senator Schneiderman.

        23                  SENATOR SCHNEIDERMAN:    Thank you,

        24       Mr. President.

        25                  I have a motion at the desk.  I


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         1       would like to have it called up at this time

         2       and be heard on the motion.

         3                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

         4       Secretary will read.

         5                  THE SECRETARY:    Senate Print

         6       2344, by Senator Schneiderman, an act to amend

         7       the Education Law.

         8                  SENATOR SCHNEIDERMAN:    Thank you.

         9                  Mr. President, the bill that I'm

        10       attempting to bring to the floor today is an

        11       important piece of legislation that would

        12       simply require pharmacists to comply with the

        13       directives of a doctor and dispense

        14       prescriptions when they are lawfully written

        15       and lawfully presented by a patient.

        16                  We have a problem in this country

        17       that has become all the more clear today, in

        18       that there are some people who attempt to put

        19       their own ideology ahead of the medical

        20       decision of a doctor and the desires of a

        21       patient; in this case, women patients.

        22                  There are some pharmacies that have

        23       been refusing to dispense emergency

        24       contraception, purporting to have an exception

        25       to the rule that pharmacists have to dispense


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         1       lawful prescriptions provided to them by a

         2       doctor on the basis of some sort of a

         3       statement of principle.

         4                  This is wrong.  Pharmacists aren't

         5       just free agents, they're licensed by the

         6       State of New York.  And this legislation would

         7       require them to follow the rules that have

         8       been imposed in other states to ensure that

         9       the regulations of pharmaceuticals are carried

        10       out in accordance with the instructions of

        11       doctors.

        12                  But I have to say that the need for

        13       this legislation and for other legislation

        14       protecting the right of freedom of choice has

        15       become much more dramatic.  I don't know if

        16       all of my colleagues are aware, but early this

        17       morning the United States Supreme Court issued

        18       a decision in a case called Gonzales v. 

        19       Carhart, which for the first time since the

        20       decision in Roe v. Wade approves a ban on

        21       certain types of abortions with no exception

        22       for the health of the woman.

        23                  The law in this country was

        24       absolutely clear up until today that medical

        25       science trumped ideology when it came to


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         1       patient care and that a doctor could not be

         2       forced to perform a procedure that doctor

         3       believes to be less safe because some

         4       politicians, some right-wing ideologues, some

         5       theocrats tell him:  We do not care about the

         6       health of your patient.

         7                  Understand this.  These are

         8       procedures that are performed that are

         9       recommended in certain circumstances by the

        10       American College of Gynecologists.  When a

        11       doctor is performing an abortion, the abortion

        12       is going forward anyway.  This decision of the

        13       Supreme Court says:  You are forced, Doctor,

        14       to put your professional reservations, your

        15       professional beliefs and obligations on hold

        16       and follow the dictates of a group of

        17       politicians who say choose the less safe

        18       procedure.

        19                  This is the first time in the

        20       history of the United States any medical

        21       procedure has been treated in this manner.

        22                  And I assure you, ladies and

        23       gentlemen, that the ideological fervor of the

        24       far right on this will produce a kind of

        25       backlash that maybe is what we need in this


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         1       country.  Because the overwhelming majority of

         2       New Yorkers believe women have a right to

         3       choose.  The overwhelming majority of

         4       New Yorkers believe that women have a

         5       fundamental right to control their own bodies.

         6       And the overwhelming majority of New Yorkers

         7       believe that doctors cannot be told by

         8       politicians to perform procedures that are

         9       less safe for their patients because of some

        10       theocratic musings in Congress.

        11                  I commend to you the dissent by

        12       Justice Ginsburg -- this was a 5-4 decision.

        13       This is George Bush's Supreme Court, and

        14       anyone who pretends to be pro-choice and

        15       supported George Bush, I ask you to take a

        16       look in the mirror today.  But I commend to

        17       you the dissent of Justice Ginsburg, who noted

        18       a prior ruling of the court that said

        19       something very important:  Liberty finds no

        20       refuge in a jurisprudence of doubt.  Liberty

        21       finds no refuge in a jurisprudence of doubt.

        22                  And the Supreme Court today has

        23       created doubt in the mind of every doctor in

        24       the State of New York as to what is

        25       permissible and what is not permissible.  So


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         1       it's our obligation here as a Legislature to

         2       provide clarity for the doctors, to make sure

         3       we define what is permissible, to make sure

         4       that we provide the support and the education

         5       so that no woman is forced to undergo an

         6       unsafe procedure when a safe procedure is

         7       available because the right-wing ideologues in

         8       Washington tell her doctor he's not permitted

         9       to put the patient first.

        10                  That's what happened today.  This

        11       is a dark day for all who believe in

        12       fundamental human freedom in the State of

        13       New York.  This is a dark day for those who

        14       believe science should trump theology.

        15                  And I think it would be perfectly

        16       appropriate as a statement of our discontent

        17       with this ruling and with the Congressional

        18       action that led to this ruling for us to bring

        19       to the floor the bill before us now on this

        20       motion which would require pharmacists to

        21       comply with the rules of doctors, would once

        22       again put medical science over ideology, would

        23       put the freedom and fundamental right to

        24       control her own body of a woman above

        25       theocracy and in a small way take a step to


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         1       undo the tremendous harm that was done today

         2       by the Supreme Court.

         3                  I hope everyone will vote in

         4       support of this motion, Mr. President.

         5                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         6       Thank you, Senator.

         7                  All those Senators in favor of the

         8       petition out of committee please signify by

         9       raising your hands.

        10                  THE SECRETARY:    Those recorded in

        11       agreement are Senators Adams, Breslin, Connor,

        12       Duane, Gonzalez, Hassell-Thompson, C. Johnson,

        13       Klein, L. Krueger, C. Kruger, Montgomery,

        14       Oppenheimer, Parker, Sabini, Savino,

        15       Schneiderman, Serrano, Smith, Stavisky,

        16       Stewart-Cousins, Thompson and Valesky.

        17                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        18       petition is not agreed to.

        19                  Senator Robach.

        20                  SENATOR ROBACH:    Yes,

        21       Mr. President.  There being no further

        22       business, I move we adjourn until Monday,

        23       April 23rd, at 3:00 p.m., intervening days

        24       being legislative days.

        25                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    On


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         1       motion, the Senate stands adjourned until

         2       Monday, April 23rd, at 3:00 p.m., intervening

         3       days being legislative days.

         4                  (Whereupon, at 1:53 p.m., the

         5       Senate adjourned.)

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