Regular Session - February 25, 2008

                                                            449



         1                 NEW YORK STATE SENATE

         2

         3

         4                THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD

         5

         6

         7

         8

         9                   ALBANY, NEW YORK

        10                   February 25, 2008

        11                       3:02 p.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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         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 everyone present to please

         5       rise with me and repeat the Pledge of

         6       Allegiance.

         7                  (Whereupon, the assemblage recited

         8       the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)

         9                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        10       Today we will have our opening prayer from

        11       Reverend Peter G. Young, of Mother Theresa

        12       Community in Albany.

        13                  REVEREND YOUNG:    Thank you,

        14       Senator.

        15                  Let us pray.

        16                  O God, the Builder of all things,

        17       You have placed on us the obligation of toil.

        18       Granted, the work we begin may serve to better

        19       our lives in New York State and, through the

        20       good work and the goodness, contribute to the

        21       spread of the call of Your people.

        22                  May God pour forth His blessings on

        23       our legislators and provide them with the

        24       spirit of courage to accept the many demands

        25       of their elected senatorial office.



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         1                  Amen.

         2                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         3       Thank you.

         4                  May we have the reading of the

         5       Journal, please.

         6                  THE SECRETARY:    In Senate,

         7       Friday, February 22, the Senate met pursuant

         8       to adjournment.  The Journal of Thursday,

         9       February 21, was read and approved.  On

        10       motion, Senate adjourned.

        11                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        12       Without objection, the Journal stands approved

        13       as read.

        14                  Presentation of petitions.

        15                  Messages from the Assembly.

        16                  Messages from the Governor.

        17                  Reports of standing committees.

        18                  Reports of select committees.

        19                  Communications and reports from

        20       state officers.

        21                  Motions and resolutions.

        22                  Senator Skelos.

        23                  SENATOR SKELOS:    Mr. President,

        24       there's a Resolution 4207 at the desk, by

        25       Senator Bruno.  If we could have the title



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         1       read and move for its immediate adoption.

         2                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

         3       Secretary will read.

         4                  THE SECRETARY:    By Senator Bruno,

         5       Legislative Resolution 4207, memorializing

         6       Governor Eliot Spitzer to proclaim February 24

         7       through March 1, 2008, as Eating Disorders

         8       Awareness Week in the State of New York.

         9                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    All

        10       in favor of the resolution signify by saying

        11       aye.

        12                  (Response of "Aye.")

        13                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        14       Opposed, nay.

        15                  (No response.)

        16                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        17       resolution is accepted.

        18                  Senator Skelos.

        19                  SENATOR SKELOS:    Mr. President,

        20       Resolution 3728 is at the desk, by Senator

        21       Seward.  If we could have it read in its

        22       entirety and move for its immediate adoption.

        23                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        24       Secretary will read.

        25                  THE SECRETARY:    By Senator



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         1       Seward, Legislative Resolution Number 3728,

         2       congratulating the Marathon High School Field

         3       Hockey Team and Coach Karen Funk upon the

         4       occasion of capturing its second consecutive

         5       New York State Class C Championship.

         6                  "WHEREAS, It is the sense of this

         7       Legislative Body to recognize and pay tribute

         8       to those young people within the State of

         9       New York who have inspired and brought pride

        10       to their school and community by achieving

        11       outstanding success in athletic competition;

        12       and

        13                  "WHEREAS, Attendant to such

        14       concern, and in full accord with its

        15       long-standing traditions, this Legislative

        16       Body is justly proud to congratulate the

        17       Marathon High School Field Hockey Team and

        18       Coach Karen Funk upon the occasion of

        19       capturing its second consecutive New York

        20       State Class C Championship; and

        21                  "WHEREAS, The 2007 New York State

        22       Class C Champions, the Marathon High School

        23       Olympians, defeated Warrensburg High School

        24       1-0 in overtime to finish the season with a

        25       22-1 record; and



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         1                  "WHEREAS, In addition, the Marathon

         2       High School Field Hockey Team repeated as

         3       New York State champions for the third time

         4       and claimed its eighth title overall; and

         5                  "WHEREAS, The athletic talent

         6       displayed by this team is due in great part to

         7       the efforts of Coach Karen Funk, a skilled and

         8       inspiration tutor, who has done a superb job

         9       in guiding, molding and inspiring the team

        10       members toward their goals; and

        11                  "WHEREAS, Loyally and

        12       enthusiastically supported by family, fans,

        13       friends and the community at large, the

        14       members of the Marathon High School Field

        15       Hockey Team have proven themselves to be an

        16       unbeatable combination of athletic and

        17       academic talents, reflecting favorably on

        18       their school; and

        19                  "WHEREAS, From the opening game of

        20       the season to participation in the New York

        21       State Class C Championship, the hallmarks of

        22       the Marathon High School Field Hockey Team

        23       were a sisterhood of athletic ability, good

        24       sportsmanship, honor and scholarship,

        25       demonstrating that these team players are



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         1       second to none; and

         2                  "WHEREAS, Sports competition

         3       instills the values of teamwork, pride and

         4       accomplishment, and Coach Karen Funk and the

         5       outstanding athletes on the Marathon High

         6       School Field Hockey Team have clearly made a

         7       contribution to the spirit of excellence which

         8       is a tradition of their school; now,

         9       therefore, be it

        10                  "RESOLVED, That this Legislative

        11       Body pause in its deliberations to

        12       congratulate the Marathon High School Field

        13       Hockey Team and Coach Karen Funk upon the

        14       occasion of capturing its second consecutive

        15       New York State Class C Championship; and be it

        16       further

        17                  "RESOLVED, That a copy of this

        18       resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted

        19       to the Marathon High School Field Hockey Team

        20       and Coach Karen Funk."

        21                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    On

        22       the resolution, Senator Seward.

        23                  SENATOR SEWARD:    Yes, thank you,

        24       Mr. President.

        25                  I'm very proud, as the State



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         1       Senator representing the Marathon Central

         2       School District, and very proud as the Senator

         3       from the 51st Senatorial District to stand to

         4       congratulate the Marathon High School

         5       Olympians, the 2007 New York State Class C

         6       Field Hockey Champions.

         7                  You know, this outstanding team,

         8       which is in the gallery here today, along with

         9       their coach, Karen Funk, defeated Warrensburg

        10       High School in a thrilling one-to-nothing

        11       overtime game in the state championship.

        12                  You know, at Marathon we say we

        13       have a girls field hockey dynasty, because

        14       this is the second year in a row that this

        15       outstanding team at this school has been our

        16       Class C State Champions.  It's their eighth

        17       title overall.

        18                  This is a relatively small school,

        19       just about a thousand students.  Even for a

        20       Class C school, it's relatively small.  But

        21       they have a great deal of talent and they have

        22       a great deal of spirit.

        23                  And I think, without question, the

        24       fact that we have an outstanding coach at

        25       Marathon in field hockey, Coach Karen Funk,



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         1       who has been at the school and with this

         2       program since 1974 and has built this program

         3       from the ground up and has done an outstanding

         4       job -- she's truly a skilled and inspirational

         5       leader for this team.

         6                  And her talents as a coach have

         7       been recognized nationally because Coach Karen

         8       Funk, I'm very pleased to announce, is the

         9       National High School Field Hockey Coach of the

        10       Year.

        11                  We're very proud of that as well,

        12       Karen.

        13                  (Applause.)

        14                  SENATOR SEWARD:    In addition to

        15       this team's athletic ability, they are also

        16       scholar-athletes.  Because when you compute

        17       the overall average of 12 students on this

        18       team, they have a 91 academic average.  So

        19       they're not only talented on the field, but

        20       also they are scholars.

        21                  You know, they have excelled in

        22       competitive sports very, very well.  And when

        23       you think about competitive sports,

        24       particularly at the high school level, it

        25       instills a lot of values and skills that will



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         1       be used throughout the lives of these very

         2       talented women:  the values of teamwork,

         3       pride, working toward a goal and

         4       accomplishment, as well as self-discipline.

         5                  You know, it's rather cliched to

         6       say that our young people are our future, but

         7       I'm going to say it.  This team represents all

         8       the best of our future.  When I think about

         9       that, with the future in the hands of these

        10       very talented and outstanding group of young

        11       women, I say the future is very bright indeed.

        12                  Congratulations once again to the

        13       Marathon High School Field Hockey Team, our

        14       Class C State Champions.  Congratulations.

        15                  (Applause.)

        16                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    On

        17       the resolution, all in favor signify by saying

        18       aye.

        19                  (Response of "Aye.")

        20                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        21       Opposed, nay.

        22                  (No response.)

        23                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        24       resolution is passed unanimously.

        25                  Ladies, congratulations, and keep



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         1       up the good work.

         2                  Senator Skelos.

         3                  SENATOR SKELOS:    Mr. President,

         4       if we could go to the noncontroversial reading

         5       of the calendar.

         6                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

         7       Secretary will read.

         8                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

         9       47, by Member of the Assembly Weisenberg,

        10       Assembly Print Number 9471, an act to amend

        11       the Public Health Law, in relation to child

        12       food choking prevention.

        13                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        14       Read the last section.

        15                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This

        16       act shall take effect immediately.

        17                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        18       Call the roll.

        19                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

        20                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 52.

        21                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        22       bill is passed.

        23                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        24       70, by Senator Robach, Senate Print 6652, an

        25       act to amend the Civil Service Law, in



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         1       relation to reassignment.

         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, 52.

        10                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        11       bill is passed.

        12                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        13       110, by Senator Maziarz, Senate Print 45A, an

        14       act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law, in

        15       relation to repeat convictions.

        16                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        17       Read the last section.

        18                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 3.  This

        19       act shall take effect immediately.

        20                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        21       Call the roll.

        22                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

        23                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 52.

        24                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        25       bill is passed.



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         1                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

         2       138, by Senator Seward, Senate Print 805B, an

         3       act to amend the Insurance Law, in relation to

         4       foreign investments.

         5                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         6       Read the last section.

         7                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This

         8       act shall take effect immediately.

         9                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        10       Call the roll.

        11                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

        12                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 52.

        13                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        14       bill is passed.

        15                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        16       147, by Senator Padavan, Senate Print 85, an

        17       act to amend the Penal Law, in relation to

        18       establishing.

        19                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        20       Read the last section.

        21                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This

        22       act shall take effect on the first of

        23       November.

        24                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        25       Call the roll.



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         1                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

         2                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 52.

         3                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

         4       bill is passed.

         5                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

         6       156, by Senator Volker, Senate Print 856, an

         7       act to amend the Penal Law, in relation to

         8       burglary in buildings.

         9                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        10       Read the last section.

        11                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This

        12       act shall take effect on the 120th day.

        13                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        14       Call the roll.

        15                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

        16                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 53.

        17                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        18       bill is passed.

        19                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        20       163, by Senator Fuschillo, Senate Print 1547,

        21       an act to amend the General Business Law, in

        22       relation to increasing the civil penalty.

        23                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        24       Read the last section.

        25                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This



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         1       act shall take effect immediately.

         2                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         3       Call the roll.

         4                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

         5                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 53.

         6                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

         7       bill is passed.

         8                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

         9       164, by Senator Skelos, Senate Print 2041, an

        10       act to amend the General Business Law, in

        11       relation to the sale of laser pointing

        12       devices.

        13                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        14       Read the last section.

        15                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 5.  This

        16       act shall take effect on the first of

        17       September.

        18                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        19       Call the roll.

        20                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

        21                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 53.

        22                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        23       bill is passed.

        24                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        25       180, by Senator DeFrancisco, Senate Print



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         1       1270, an act to amend the Estates, Powers and

         2       Trusts Law, in relation to disqualification.

         3                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         4       Read the last section.

         5                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 2.  This

         6       act shall take effect on the first of January

         7       next succeeding.

         8                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         9       Call the roll.

        10                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

        11                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 53.

        12                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        13       bill is passed.

        14                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        15       182, by Senator Hannon, Senate Print 1659, an

        16       act to amend the Lien Law, in relation to

        17       allowing service.

        18                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        19       Read the last section.

        20                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 4.  This

        21       act shall take effect immediately.

        22                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        23       Call the roll.

        24                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

        25                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 53.



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         1                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

         2       bill is passed.

         3                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

         4       219, by Senator Maziarz, Senate Print 3712, an

         5       act to amend the Labor Law, in relation to

         6       regulation.

         7                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         8       Read the last section.

         9                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 4.  This

        10       act shall take effect immediately.

        11                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        12       Call the roll.

        13                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

        14                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 54.

        15                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

        16       bill is passed.

        17                  THE SECRETARY:    Calendar Number

        18       241, by Senator Morahan, Senate Print 2443A,

        19       an act to amend the General Business Law, in

        20       relation to certain hotels, motels, and motor

        21       courts with balconies.

        22                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

        23       Read the last section.

        24                  THE SECRETARY:    Section 3.  This

        25       act shall take effect on the 60th day.



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         1                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:

         2       Call the roll.

         3                  (The Secretary called the roll.)

         4                  THE SECRETARY:    Ayes, 54.

         5                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    The

         6       bill is passed.

         7                  Senator Skelos, that completes the

         8       reading of the noncontroversial calendar.

         9                  SENATOR SKELOS:    Thank you,

        10       Mr. President.

        11                  Is there any further business at

        12       the desk?

        13                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    No,

        14       the desk is clear, sir.

        15                  SENATOR SKELOS:    Thank you.

        16                  While love is in the air, I move we

        17       stand adjourned until tomorrow --

        18                  (Laughter.)

        19                  SENATOR SKELOS:    -- which is

        20       Tuesday, January 26th, at 3:00 p.m.

        21       February.  That's February 26th.

        22                  ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    A

        23       date which will live in infamy.

        24                  On motion, the Senate stands

        25       adjourned until tomorrow, February 26th, at



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         1       3:00 p.m.

         2                  (Whereupon, at 3:16 p.m., the

         3       Senate adjourned.)

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