Regular Session - March 6, 2014

                                                                   575

 1               NEW YORK STATE SENATE

 2                          

 3                          

 4              THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD

 5                          

 6                          

 7                          

 8                          

 9                  ALBANY, NEW YORK

10                   March 6, 2014

11                     11:44 a.m.

12                          

13                          

14                  REGULAR SESSION

15  

16  

17  

18  SENATOR DAVID CARLUCCI, Acting President

19  FRANCIS W. PATIENCE, Secretary

20  

21  

22  

23  

24  

25  


                                                               576

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

 2                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   The 

 3   Senate will come to order.  

 4                I ask everyone present to please 

 5   rise and repeat with me the Pledge of Allegiance.  

 6                (Whereupon, the assemblage recited 

 7   the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)

 8                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   In the 

 9   absence of clergy, may we please bow our heads in 

10   a moment of silence.

11                (Whereupon, the assemblage respected 

12   a moment of silence.)

13                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   The 

14   reading of the Journal.  

15                The Secretary will read.

16                THE SECRETARY:   In Senate, 

17   Wednesday, March 5th, the Senate met pursuant to 

18   adjournment.  The Journal of Tuesday, March 4th, 

19   was read and approved.  On motion, Senate 

20   adjourned.

21                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   Without 

22   objection, the Journal stands approved as read.

23                Presentation of petitions.

24                Messages from the Assembly.

25                The Secretary will read.


                                                               577

 1                THE SECRETARY:   On page 9, Senator 

 2   Maziarz moves to discharge, from the Committee on 

 3   Energy and Telecommunications, Assembly Bill 

 4   Number 6567 and substitute it for the identical 

 5   Senate Bill Number 4370, Third Reading Calendar 

 6   70.

 7                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:    

 8   Substitution ordered.

 9                THE SECRETARY:   And on page 15, 

10   Senator Hannon moves to discharge, from the 

11   Committee on Mental Health and Developmental 

12   Disabilities, Assembly Bill Number 8518 and 

13   substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 

14   Number 6395, Third Reading Calendar 146.

15                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:    

16   Substitution ordered.

17                Messages from the Governor.

18                Reports of standing committees.

19                Reports of select committees.

20                Communications and reports from 

21   state officers.

22                Motions and resolutions.

23                Senator LaValle.

24                SENATOR LaVALLE:   Mr. President, 

25   may we please adopt the Resolution Calendar.


                                                               578

 1                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   All in 

 2   favor of adopting the Resolution Calendar signify 

 3   by saying aye.

 4                (Response of "Aye.")

 5                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:    

 6   Opposed, nay.

 7                (No response.)

 8                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   The 

 9   Resolution Calendar is adopted.

10                Senator LaValle.

11                SENATOR LaVALLE:   Mr. President, I 

12   believe there's a previously adopted resolution 

13   by Senator Stewart-Cousins, Resolution 3695, at 

14   the desk.  I ask that the resolution be read in 

15   its entirety and then please call on Senator 

16   Stewart-Cousins.

17                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   The 

18   Secretary will read.

19                THE SECRETARY:   Legislative 

20   Resolution Number 3695, by Senator 

21   Stewart-Cousins, memorializing Governor Andrew M. 

22   Cuomo to proclaim March 2014 as Women's History 

23   Month in the State of New York.  

24                "WHEREAS, March is Women's History 

25   Month; and 


                                                               579

 1                "WHEREAS, March 8th is International 

 2   Women's Day; and 

 3                "WHEREAS, Each year New York State 

 4   officially sets aside time to recognize the 

 5   unique contributions that women have made to 

 6   New York and its society; and 

 7                "WHEREAS, New York State has a 

 8   distinguished history of monumental achievements 

 9   in the area of women's rights; and 

10                "WHEREAS, In 1826, New York State 

11   opened one of the first public high schools for 

12   girls resulting in a future for women in which 

13   they were no longer confined to the home, a 

14   future in which they were educated and able to  

15   use this education to better their social and 

16   economic status; and 

17                "WHEREAS, In 1848 in New York, the 

18   first women's rights convention was held at 

19   Seneca Falls to secure for all women the right to 

20   vote; and 

21                "WHEREAS, In 1903, The Women's Trade 

22   Union League of New York was formed to represent 

23   working women, later becoming the nucleus for  

24   the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union; 

25   and 


                                                               580

 1                "WHEREAS, In 1918, one year after 

 2   New York guaranteed women the right to vote in 

 3   all elections, the first two women, Ida Sammis 

 4   and Mary Lilly, were elected to the New York 

 5   State Legislature; and 

 6                "WHEREAS, In 1967, Muriel Siebert 

 7   became the first woman to own a seat on the 

 8   New York Stock Exchange, opening the door for 

 9   women to gain positions of greater economic 

10   power; and 

11                "WHEREAS, In 1970, New York City was 

12   the site of the first Women's Strike for 

13   Equality, in which 50,000 people marched for 

14   equal rights; and 

15                "WHEREAS, In 1968, New York State 

16   Assemblywoman Shirley Chisholm became the first 

17   black woman elected to Congress and in 1972, she  

18   ran for President of the United States, another 

19   first for black women; and 

20                "WHEREAS, In 1983, New York State 

21   women legislators established the Legislative 

22   Women's Caucus to improve the participation of 

23   women in all areas of government, support issues 

24   that benefit women, and provide a network of 

25   support for women in the State Legislature; and 


                                                               581

 1                "WHEREAS, New York has been the home 

 2   of many extraordinary women who have led society 

 3   to a better future:  Elizabeth Cady Stanton and 

 4   Susan B. Anthony led the campaign for women's 

 5   suffrage; Sojourner Truth spoke out for the 

 6   abolition of slavery and for suffrage for women; 

 7   suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt became the first 

 8   president of the League of Women Voters; 

 9   Emma Willard opened the first endowed institution 

10   for the education of women; Civil War surgeon 

11   Dr. Mary E. Walker was the only woman ever 

12   awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor; 

13   Harriet Tubman was an abolitionist who led slaves 

14   to freedom by way of the Underground Railroad; in 

15   the 19th century, Elizabeth Blackwell and 

16   Belva Lockwood were the first women in the fields 

17   of medicine and law; pioneer birth control 

18   educator and advocate Margaret Sanger established  

19   a research center in New York City; Emma Goldman 

20   founded the Free Speech League, which led to the 

21   American Civil Liberties Union; humanitarian  

22   Eleanor Roosevelt served as United States 

23   Delegate to the United Nations; civil rights 

24   lawyer and New York State Senator Constance Baker  

25   Motley became the first black woman to sit on the 


                                                               582

 1   U.S. District Court in New York, and so many more 

 2   known and unknown women who championed rights and 

 3   opportunity for all; and 

 4                "WHEREAS, New York State has hosted 

 5   many conventions, campaigns and events of the 

 6   Women's Rights Movement, from the 1848 convention 

 7   at Seneca Falls to the 1999 Berkshire Conference 

 8   of Women Historians, which was held to improve 

 9   the status of women in history and in the 

10   historical professions; and 

11                "WHEREAS, Today, 47 women serve in 

12   the New York State Legislature, holding 

13   leadership positions in both houses and bringing 

14   the diverse experiences of women into law and 

15   public policy; now, therefore, be it 

16                "RESOLVED, That this Legislative 

17   Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize 

18   Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 2014 

19   as Women's History Month in the State of 

20   New York; and be it further 

21                "RESOLVED, That copies of this  

22   resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted  

23   to the Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the 

24   State of New York, and to the Legislative Women's 

25   Caucus of New York State."


                                                               583

 1                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   Senator 

 2   Stewart-Cousins.

 3                SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS:   Thank 

 4   you, Mr. Chairman.  It's certainly an honor to 

 5   stand in this great chamber with my colleagues 

 6   and celebrate Women's History Month.  

 7                And I think the first thing that we 

 8   need to do is celebrate the women in this 

 9   chamber, because each of them, by their own 

10   rights and their accomplishments, are historic 

11   women in New York State.

12                When I was thinking about some 

13   comments, I always want to talk about those 

14   unsung heroines such as my mother and probably so 

15   many of our mothers who had, under such 

16   extraordinary circumstances, still achieved and 

17   gave us the type of nurturing that allows us to 

18   be here today.  

19                But I thought that I would talk 

20   about a woman who had some connection with us 

21   even though she never served in this chamber.  

22   Her husband did.  And her husband later of course 

23   became the President of the United States.  And 

24   that woman is Eleanor Roosevelt.  

25                Eleanor Roosevelt, as a New York 


                                                               584

 1   State woman, was an incredible force when it came 

 2   to dealing with women's equality, women's rights, 

 3   reproductive health.  When it came to fighting 

 4   for the underdog, her humanitarian efforts are 

 5   legendary, and when it came to standing up for 

 6   minority rights.  

 7                I mean, Eleanor Roosevelt in the 

 8   1920s in the New York City Women's Club actually 

 9   was pushing for birth control information and 

10   dissemination.  Can you imagine, in the 1920s.  

11   And we mentioned Margaret Sanger, and she was a 

12   friend of Margaret Sanger and helpful in terms of 

13   Margaret Sanger when she went forward with 

14   Planned Parenthood.

15                People probably don't know that 

16   17 years before Rosa Parks refused -- and we 

17   talked about Rosa Parks with Black History Month.  

18   And again, it goes to show that the black history 

19   is American history.  Because 17 years before 

20   Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the 

21   bus, Eleanor Roosevelt went to Birmingham, 

22   Alabama, as the First Lady.  And she was 

23   attending a meeting of the Southern Conference on 

24   Human Welfare.  

25                And in those days, just like what 


                                                               585

 1   the civil rights struggle was about in the '50s 

 2   and '60s, in those days the segregated seating 

 3   was expected.  But Eleanor Roosevelt would have 

 4   nothing to do with that.  So although she was the 

 5   First Lady, she took her chair and she put it in 

 6   the middle aisle.  Because even then she refused 

 7   to be part of a mentality that discriminated.

 8                In 1939, Eleanor, in a dramatic act 

 9   of conscience, resigned from the Daughters of the 

10   American Revolution when they refused to allow 

11   Marian Anderson, a world-renowned 

12   African-American woman singer, to perform at its 

13   Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. 

14                So Eleanor Roosevelt, a New York 

15   woman, First Lady, was a pioneer.  And because of 

16   that, she was appointed as a U.N. delegate by 

17   president Harry Truman, the only female delegate 

18   in the entire delegation.  And she eventually 

19   chaired the Human Rights Commission of the U.N., 

20   fighting for refugee rights.  She stood up for 

21   women all across the world.  

22                And in 1961 she was appointed by 

23   President Kennedy to chair the Presidential 

24   Commission on the Status of Women.  This 

25   commission helped draft the Equal Pay Act.  It 


                                                               586

 1   was her last official appointment before her 

 2   death in 1962.  And when President Kennedy signed 

 3   the bill in June of 1963, he said her work and 

 4   dedication held to ensure the passage of that 

 5   bill.

 6                So Eleanor Roosevelt's life was 

 7   dedicated to equality, dedicated to women.  And 

 8   her book, which she penned, the title was It's Up 

 9   to the Women.  She believed it was up to the 

10   women to ensure things that women need and have 

11   to achieve in order to take their rightful place 

12   in this society.  

13                Of course here we are in 2014.  

14   We're still trying to pass a 10-point Women's 

15   Equality Act, and there's so much more to do.  

16   But we have to look at what these great women who 

17   came before us in New York were willing to do.  

18   And although of course Eleanor said it's up to 

19   the women, I think we all know that it's up to 

20   all of us.  

21                So thank you very much.

22                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   Thank 

23   you, Senator Stewart-Cousins.

24                Senator LaValle.

25                SENATOR LaVALLE:   Mr. President, 


                                                               587

 1   Senator Stewart-Cousins has requested that we 

 2   open this resolution to everyone for sponsorship.  

 3                As is our tradition, everyone's name 

 4   will be placed on the resolution.  Anyone not 

 5   wanting to be a sponsor on the resolution please 

 6   notify the desk.

 7                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   The 

 8   resolution is open for cosponsorship.  Those that 

 9   wish not to be a cosponsor please notify the 

10   desk.

11                Senator Stavisky.

12                SENATOR STAVISKY:   Yes, thank you, 

13   Mr. President.  

14                May I thank Senator Stewart-Cousins 

15   for introducing this resolution.  And I believe 

16   not only did Franklin Roosevelt serve as 

17   President, I believe he served in this chamber.

18                Secondly, let me also remind 

19   everybody that we have only had one leader, one 

20   woman leader in either chamber.  And I am proud 

21   to say that that leader is Senator 

22   Stewart-Cousins.  

23                Thank you, Mr. President.

24                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   Thank 

25   you, Senator Stavisky.


                                                               588

 1                Senator LaValle.

 2                SENATOR LaVALLE:   Mr. President, I 

 3   believe there is a previously adopted resolution 

 4   by Senator DeFrancisco, Resolution Number 2691, 

 5   at the desk.  And I ask that the title be read 

 6   and call on Senator DeFrancisco.

 7                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   The 

 8   Secretary will read.

 9                THE SECRETARY:   Legislative 

10   Resolution Number 2691, by Senator DeFrancisco, 

11   congratulating the Baldwinsville Girls Varsity 

12   Volleyball Team upon the occasion of capturing 

13   the New York State Class AA Championship.

14                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   Senator 

15   DeFrancisco.

16                SENATOR DeFRANCISCO:   Thank you.  

17                We're making women's history some 

18   more today, this being Women's History Month.  

19                And by the way, I concur with 

20   Senator Stavisky.  Senator Stewart-Cousins is a 

21   phenomenal Minority Leader, and we wish her to 

22   have that position for many, many years to come.

23                (Laughter.)

24                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:

25                SENATOR DeFRANCISCO:   With respect 


                                                               589

 1   to this resolution, this is a resolution 

 2   commending the Baldwinsville Girls Varsity 

 3   Volleyball Team upon the occasion of capturing 

 4   the New York State Class AA Championship.  

 5                And they're here with us today.  And 

 6   this is nothing unusual for my district.  As 

 7   everybody here knows, we have champions all the 

 8   time coming from the Syracuse/Central New York 

 9   region.  

10                But what's very interesting in this; 

11   to win the championship, they beat the Rochester 

12   Our Lady of Mercy team.  And I guess their name 

13   is -- they're called the Saints; is that correct?  

14   The Saints.  They beat the Saints, for crying out 

15   loud.  I mean, that's how good this group is.  

16                And what's even more interesting 

17   about it, this avenged the loss to the Saints for 

18   the championship the prior year.  Now, that shows 

19   that goals were set, goals were reached, and it's 

20   just a wonderful thing.  

21                And the team is headed by Coach 

22   Mary Jo Cerqua and Volunteer Coaches Sarah Elmore 

23   and Molly Higman.  

24                And I'm just going to read the names 

25   of the young women without reading the entire 


                                                               590

 1   resolution, because we're in budget discussions 

 2   right now and I'm sure you're more interested in 

 3   state aid for Baldwinsville School District, and 

 4   we will get right back to that work in a moment.  

 5                The team members are Brianna Blasi, 

 6   Madison Whitney, Rachel Aiello, Meghann Smith, 

 7   Amanda May, Madison Price, Melissa Voyer, Caryn 

 8   Salce,  Meghan Andre, Alexis LaGoy, Shayna 

 9   Webber, Rebecca Lawrence, Riley Carlucci -- the 

10   Senator presiding today is Senator Carlucci.  I 

11   don't know if you're related in any way.  

12                (Laughter.)

13                SENATOR DeFRANCISCO:   -- Emily 

14   Pascale, Abby May, Hannah Klaben, and Brittany 

15   Fabrizio.  And I've already mentioned the 

16   coaches.  

17                So this resolution was adopted on 

18   January 14, 2014.  It was also adopted in the 

19   Assembly.  

20                Congratulations, and I know they're 

21   also excellent students, and keep up the great 

22   work.

23                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   Thank 

24   you, Senator DeFrancisco.

25                Senator LaValle.


                                                               591

 1                SENATOR LaVALLE:   Mr. President, I 

 2   believe there's another previously adopted 

 3   resolution by Senator DeFrancisco, Resolution 

 4   Number 3549, at the desk.  And I ask that the 

 5   title be read and call on Senator DeFrancisco.

 6                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   The 

 7   Secretary will read.

 8                THE SECRETARY:   Legislative 

 9   Resolution Number 3549, by Senator DeFrancisco, 

10   honoring Mary Jo Cerqua upon the occasion of 

11   being named a 2013 National Coach of the Year.

12                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   Senator 

13   DeFrancisco.

14                SENATOR DeFRANCISCO:   Now, this is 

15   big.  This is really big.  A National Coach of 

16   the Year by the coach of this Baldwinsville team, 

17   Mary Jo Cerqua.  It is truly an amazing 

18   accomplishment.  

19                And it's pretty obvious why you were 

20   selected.  This is her record, career record:  

21   459 wins, 17 conference championships, 

22   15 district championships and 13 regional 

23   championships.  And also runner-up last year to 

24   the state championship, and again this year as 

25   the champions.  And she's only 30 years old.  


                                                               592

 1   It's absolutely amazing that she's done all of 

 2   these things in such a short period of time.

 3                So we want to also congratulate the 

 4   coach for this wonderful accomplishment and wish 

 5   her good luck in all of her endeavors in the 

 6   future.  Thank you.

 7                (Standing ovation.)

 8                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:    

 9   Congratulations, Mary Jo Cerqua, on becoming 

10   Coach of the Year.  Congratulations.

11                Senator LaValle.

12                SENATOR LaVALLE:   Mr. President, I 

13   believe there's a previously adopted resolution 

14   by Senator Ball, Resolution 3720, at the desk.  I 

15   ask that it be read in its entirety and call on 

16   Senator Ball.

17                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   The 

18   Secretary will read.

19                THE SECRETARY:   Legislative 

20   Resolution Number 3720, by Senator Ball, honoring 

21   Connor Looby for his outstanding advocacy for and 

22   promotion of lymphedema awareness and research.  

23                "WHEREAS, It is the sense of this 

24   Legislative Body that the quality and character 

25   of life in the communities across New York State 


                                                               593

 1   are reflective of the concerned and dedicated 

 2   efforts of organizations and individuals 

 3   committed to helping to improve the lives of 

 4   others; and 

 5                "WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, 

 6   and fully in accord with its long-standing 

 7   tradition, this Legislative Body is justly proud 

 8   on the occasion of the observance of National 

 9   Lymphedema Awareness Day on March 6, 2014, and 

10   seeks to honor and pay tribute to Connor Looby, a 

11   seven-year-old boy who has suffered from 

12   intestinal lymphangiectasia, a rare lymphatic 

13   disease, since his birth, and who currently 

14   suffers from lymphedema; in spite of his young 

15   age, Connor has been a tireless advocate for 

16   lymphatic disease awareness, education, and 

17   research; and 

18                "WHEREAS, National Lymphedema 

19   Awareness Day brings awareness to this often 

20   debilitating condition and helps find strength 

21   through collective celebration and is also set 

22   aside to honor inspirational lymphedema patients 

23   and advocates; and 

24                "WHEREAS, Connor Looby began his 

25   fundraising and awareness efforts at the young 


                                                               594

 1   age of six, when he and his family and friends 

 2   formed a team for an obstacle race course, the 

 3   Tri-State Tuxedo Spartan Sprint, in Tuxedo, 

 4   New York, to raise awareness and funds for 

 5   lymphatic disease research; and 

 6                "WHEREAS, Connor Looby has worked 

 7   tirelessly despite significant health issues, 

 8   including having had multiple hospitalizations, 

 9   being on a low-fat, restricted diet, receiving 

10   daily physical therapy, and undergoing weekly 

11   infusions; and 

12                "WHEREAS, Connor Looby continued 

13   fundraising after his obstacle race event, 

14   raising money for the 2013 Walk for Lymphedema & 

15   Lymphatic Diseases; and 

16                "WHEREAS, Connor Looby's family and 

17   friends have devoted themselves to this cause and 

18   made it their own; and 

19                "WHEREAS, In September 2013, at the 

20   Walk for Lymphedema & Lymphatic Diseases, 

21   Connor Looby was honored with the McKenna Shea  

22   Johnson Youth Ambassador Award by the Lymphatic 

23   Education & Research Network for his outstanding 

24   efforts; and 

25                "WHEREAS, Connor Looby continues to 


                                                               595

 1   speak out and be a voice for lymphatic disease 

 2   patients; and 

 3                "WHEREAS, It is the custom of this 

 4   Legislative Body that those who enhance the 

 5   well-being and vitality of their community and 

 6   have shown a long and sustained commitment to 

 7   excellence certainly have earned the recognition 

 8   and applause of all the citizens of this great 

 9   Empire State; now, therefore, be it 

10                "RESOLVED, That this Legislative 

11   Body pause in its deliberations to honor 

12   Connor Looby for his outstanding advocacy and 

13   promotion of lymphedema awareness; and be it 

14   further 

15                "RESOLVED, That copies of this 

16   resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to 

17   Connor Looby, and to the Lymphatic Education & 

18   Research Network."

19                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   Senator 

20   Ball.

21                SENATOR BALL:   Thank you so much.  

22                It's an honor to be able to stand 

23   here and talk about the efforts of somebody who I 

24   look up to:  Connor.  

25                Connor, we're talking about you.  I 


                                                               596

 1   hope you can hear me.  

 2                On the previous comments about 

 3   Women's History Month, when we talk about the 

 4   important women in our nation, I think about the 

 5   women in my life that have worked so hard, and I 

 6   think about my mother.  And God help where I 

 7   would be if it was not for my mom, who put up 

 8   with me when I think my dad was ready to throw in 

 9   the towel once or twice in the not-so-distant 

10   future -- past.  

11                And I think about Connor's mom, who 

12   is also just an amazing woman, and the trials and 

13   tribulations.  And Connor is blessed with a 

14   beautiful family.  

15                Jen and Fin, his parents, are here.  

16   His grandparents, hailing all the way from 

17   Ireland at some point, Maura Looby and Finbar.  

18   His brothers are here that 30 minutes ago were 

19   giving me rabbit ears in the Senate chamber.  We 

20   have Aiden and Devin and his beautiful sister 

21   Caleigh, who's here as well, and their aunt Amy, 

22   and three members of the Lymphatic Education & 

23   Research Network:  Colleen McGuire, Laura 

24   Farrell, and Bill Repicci.

25                This year Connor has been honored as 


                                                               597

 1   LE&RN's Youth Ambassador of the Year.  Connor was 

 2   named the first ever McKenna Shea Johnson Youth 

 3   Ambassador in 2013.  While just 7 years old, and 

 4   in spite of complications from this rare 

 5   lymphatic disease he's coped with since his 

 6   birth, Connor has amazed us all.  

 7                Connor was born on November 16, 

 8   2006.  While his mom suffered through one episode 

 9   of pre-term labor, Connor was born full-term with 

10   no complications at 8 pounds 6 ounces.  The first 

11   few weeks of Connor's life would prove to be 

12   difficult for Connor and his family.  Their 

13   beautiful handsome son was suffering with 

14   projectile vomiting -- doctors initially 

15   diagnosed it as reflux -- and his parents noticed 

16   pitting and edema in his feet.  

17                On December 26, at just a little 

18   over one month old, Connor's parents took him to 

19   the hospital.  His feet, legs and abdomen had 

20   swollen to double their size at birth, and the 

21   vomiting had gotten worse.  Emergency doctors 

22   braced Connor's parents for the worst and 

23   proceeded with CAT scans, Doppler ultrasounds, 

24   MRIs, sweat tests, and eventually an endoscope 

25   with a biopsy.  It was through this endoscope 


                                                               598

 1   that Connor was diagnosed with intestinal 

 2   lymphangiectasia, a rare lymphatic disease.  

 3                Connor has been through more than 

 4   most of us six, seven times his age.  Now, at 

 5   age 6 Connor's condition has stabilized and his 

 6   hospital visits have greatly decreased.  He's on 

 7   a low-fat restricted diet, drinks nutritional 

 8   supplements, receives daily physical therapy, and 

 9   must undergo weekly infusions.  

10                He's a happy kid who loves his 

11   brothers Aiden and Devin and his new little 

12   sister Caleigh, and enjoys making all of them 

13   laugh, as we saw earlier.  In spite of all the 

14   health difficulties he has had, Connor is a big 

15   sports buff, participating in football, soccer, 

16   lacrosse, baseball, and basketball.  Reading, 

17   video games, skateboarding and attending to his 

18   large stuffed dog collection take up a lot of 

19   Connor's attention as well.  

20                And unfortunately I disappointed 

21   Connor today because he originally visited me in 

22   my district office with his family, where I had 

23   Tito, my 13-week-old silver Lab.  But, Connor, 

24   we'll go to the parade this Sunday and we're 

25   bringing Tito, and you both can sit in the truck.


                                                               599

 1                Connor's family supports the 

 2   Lymphatic Research Foundation.  And as a 

 3   legislature, as a nation, as a state, we need to 

 4   do the same and in a much bigger way to give 

 5   folks like Connor and Connor's family hope.  

 6   They're eager for the advances in research that 

 7   can help, and we need to be a big part of that.  

 8                Friends of Connor's family have 

 9   formed a team -- initially it was called the Ash 

10   Kicking Mud Monsters, which sounds like something 

11   I would come up with -- but now it's called 

12   Connor's Spartans, and they will be racing and 

13   I'll be joining them in the Tri-State New York 

14   Spartan Sprint -- and I think Senator Carlucci 

15   and a few others may be joining me -- on June 7th 

16   to raise money for this worthwhile cause.  

17                So, Connor, we all look up to you.  

18   You're a great man and a great leader.  And God 

19   bless you and your family, and thank you, 

20   everybody, for taking a little bit of time.  

21                Connor.  

22                (Standing ovation.)

23                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   Thank 

24   you, Senator Ball.  

25                And thank you, Connor and the entire 


                                                               600

 1   Looby family, for your commitment to the people 

 2   of New York.

 3                This resolution was previously 

 4   adopted on March 4th.

 5                Senator LaValle.

 6                SENATOR LaVALLE:   Mr. President, I 

 7   believe there is a previously adopted resolution 

 8   by Senator Montgomery, Number 3336, at the desk.  

 9   I ask to have the title read and call on 

10   Senator Montgomery.

11                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   The 

12   Secretary will read.

13                THE SECRETARY:   Legislative 

14   Resolution Number 3336, by Senator Montgomery, 

15   commending Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson upon the 

16   occasion of being honored in conjunction with 

17   Women's History Month 2014 in the State of 

18   New York.

19                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   Senator 

20   Montgomery.

21                SENATOR MONTGOMERY:   Yes, thank 

22   you, Mr. President.  

23                There's a very, very famous and 

24   wonderful poet and author who has coined the 

25   phrase "phenomenal woman."  As a matter of fact, 


                                                               601

 1   she has written a poem entitled "Phenomenal 

 2   Woman."  And so this month I'm honoring 

 3   phenomenal women that, as in the words of 

 4   Maya Angelou, "am I not a phenomenal woman."

 5                If you asked the average person in 

 6   the State of New York "Who is Shirley Ann 

 7   Jackson," they probably would not know what you 

 8   were talking about.  But today we are honoring 

 9   this woman, Shirley Ann Jackson, who is the 

10   president of one of the premier higher education 

11   institutions in our state, and that is Rensselaer 

12   Polytechnic Institute.

13                Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson is the 18th 

14   president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.  

15   Since 1999, Dr. Jackson has led this 

16   extraordinary transformation of the Rensselaer 

17   Polytechnic Institute into a top-tier 

18   technological research university, with both 

19   research awards and applications to the freshman 

20   class tripling under her tenure and over 300 new 

21   faculty members hired, major capital projects 

22   completed, and a $1.4 billion capital campaign 

23   successfully concluded.  She has been described 

24   by Time Magazine as "perhaps the ultimate role 

25   model for women in science."


                                                               602

 1                Dr. Jackson is a theoretical 

 2   physicist.  She has held senior leadership 

 3   positions in government, industry and research as 

 4   well as academia.  In 2009, President Barack 

 5   Obama appointed Dr. Jackson to the President's 

 6   Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.  

 7   Dr. Jackson also serves on the U.S. Department of 

 8   Energy's Secretary of Energy Advisory Board.  

 9                Before taking the helm at Rensselaer 

10   Polytechnic, Dr. Jackson was chairman of the U.S. 

11   Nuclear Regulatory Commission, appointed by 

12   President William Jefferson Clinton in 1995.  

13   Earlier in her career she was a theoretical 

14   physicist at AT&T Bell Laboratories and a 

15   professor of theoretical physics at Rutgers 

16   University.

17                Dr. Jackson serves on the boards of 

18   the Smithsonian Institute, the Brookings 

19   Institution, the Council on Foreign Relations, 

20   M.I.T., and major corporations that include FedEx 

21   and IBM.

22                She holds an S.B. in physics and a 

23   Ph.D. in theoretical elementary particle physics 

24   from M.I.T.  She was the first African-American 

25   woman ever to earn a doctorate degree in this 


                                                               603

 1   field from M.I.T.  

 2                It is my honor to acknowledge the 

 3   fact that she is a major leader, she is an 

 4   important role model, and she is one of the 

 5   phenomenal women in the State of New York.

 6                Thank you, Mr. President, for giving 

 7   me an opportunity to honor her today.

 8                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   Thank 

 9   you, Senator Montgomery.

10                This resolution was previously 

11   adopted on February 4th.

12                Senator LaValle.

13                SENATOR LaVALLE:   Mr. President, 

14   could we go back to motions and resolutions, 

15   please.

16                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:    

17   Returning to motions and resolutions.

18                Senator LaValle.

19                SENATOR LaVALLE:   Mr. President, I 

20   move that the following bill be discharged from 

21   its respective committee and be recommitted with 

22   instructions to strike the enacting clause:  

23   Senate Bill Number 6256, by Senator Ball.

24                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   So 

25   ordered.


                                                               604

 1                Senator LaValle.

 2                SENATOR LaVALLE:   Mr. President, 

 3   may we please have the noncontroversial reading 

 4   of the calendar.

 5                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   The 

 6   Secretary will read.

 7                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 70, 

 8   substituted earlier today by Member of the 

 9   Assembly Brennan, Assembly Print Number 6567, an 

10   act to amend the Public Service Law.

11                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   Read 

12   the last section.

13                THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

14   act shall take effect immediately.

15                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   Call 

16   the roll.

17                (The Secretary called the roll.)

18                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:    

19   Announce the results.

20                THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 54.

21                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   The 

22   bill is passed.

23                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 88, 

24   by Senator LaValle, Senate Print 2038, an act to 

25   amend the Social Services Law.


                                                               605

 1                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   Read 

 2   the last section.

 3                THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

 4   act shall take effect on the 180th day.

 5                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   Call 

 6   the roll.

 7                (The Secretary called the roll.)

 8                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:    

 9   Announce the results.

10                THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 54.

11                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   The 

12   bill is passed.

13                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

14   102, by Senator Little, Senate Print 6323, an act 

15   to authorize.

16                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   Read 

17   the last section.

18                THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

19   act shall take effect July 23, 2014, and shall 

20   expire and be deemed repealed July 28, 2014.

21                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   Call 

22   the roll.

23                (The Secretary called the roll.)

24                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:    

25   Announce the results.


                                                               606

 1                THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 54.

 2                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   The 

 3   bill is passed.

 4                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

 5   139, by Senator Ball, Senate Print 2652, an act 

 6   to amend the Real Property Tax Law.

 7                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   Read 

 8   the last section.

 9                THE SECRETARY:   Section 3.  This 

10   act shall take effect on the second of January.

11                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   Call 

12   the roll.

13                (The Secretary called the roll.)

14                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:    

15   Announce the results.

16                THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 54.

17                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   The 

18   bill is passed.

19                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

20   146, substituted earlier today by Member of the 

21   Assembly Morelle, Assembly Print Number 8518, an 

22   act to amend the Social Services Law.

23                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   Read 

24   the last section.

25                THE SECRETARY:   Section 4.  This 


                                                               607

 1   act shall take effect on the same date and in the 

 2   same manner as Chapter 554 of the Laws of 2013.

 3                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   Call 

 4   the roll.

 5                (The Secretary called the roll.)

 6                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:    

 7   Announce the results.

 8                THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 54.

 9                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   The 

10   bill is passed.

11                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

12   175, by Senator Parker, Senate Print 1615B, an 

13   act to amend the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law.

14                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   Read 

15   the last section.

16                THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

17   act shall take effect November 11, 2015.

18                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   Call 

19   the roll.

20                (The Secretary called the roll.)

21                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   Senator 

22   Gianaris to explain his vote.

23                SENATOR GIANARIS:   Thank you, 

24   Mr. President, to explain my vote.  

25                I will be voting yes for many 


                                                               608

 1   reasons on this important legislation, but not 

 2   the least of which is because it's the sponsor's 

 3   birthday today.  So if we could all wish 

 4   Senator Parker a happy birthday as he gets a bill 

 5   passed through our chamber.  

 6                And I should note -- I think Senator 

 7   DeFrancisco just walked away, or is walking away.  

 8   Before you go, I do want to correct him.  

 9                The Senate Rules as adopted by the 

10   Majority last year do not have a title of 

11   "Minority Leader"; we have three conferences now.  

12   But I can assure him that soon enough, since it 

13   is Women's History Month, we will have the first 

14   female Majority Leader in Senator Andrea 

15   Stewart-Cousins.  

16                So thank you, Senator DeFrancisco.

17                (Laughter; applause.)

18                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   Thank 

19   you, Senator Gianaris.  

20                And the entire Senate wants to wish 

21   Senator Parker a happy birthday.

22                Announce the results.

23                THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 54.

24                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   The 

25   bill is passed.


                                                               609

 1                Senator LaValle, that completes the 

 2   noncontroversial reading of the calendar.

 3                SENATOR LaVALLE:   Is there any 

 4   other business at the desk?  

 5                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   There's 

 6   no further business at the desk.

 7                SENATOR LaVALLE:   There being no 

 8   further business, I move we adjourn until Monday, 

 9   March the 10th, at 3:00 p.m., intervening days 

10   being legislative days.  

11                And also, Mr. President, following 

12   this session there will be a Republican 

13   conference in Room 332.

14                ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:   There 

15   will be a Republican conference immediately 

16   following session in Room 332.

17                On motion, the Senate stands 

18   adjourned until Monday, March 10th, at 3:00 p.m., 

19   intervening days being legislative days.

20                (Whereupon, at 12:18 p.m., the 

21   Senate adjourned.)

22

23

24

25