Regular Session - March 27, 2014

                                                                   1221

 1               NEW YORK STATE SENATE

 2                          

 3                          

 4              THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD

 5                          

 6                          

 7                          

 8                          

 9                  ALBANY, NEW YORK

10                   March 27, 2014

11                     12:01 p.m.

12                          

13                          

14                  REGULAR SESSION

15  

16  

17  

18  SENATOR CARL L. MARCELLINO, Acting President

19  FRANCIS W. PATIENCE, Secretary

20  

21  

22  

23  

24  

25  


                                                               1222

 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 and repeat with me the Pledge of Allegiance.

 6                 (Whereupon, the assemblage recited 

 7   the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)

 8                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   In 

 9   the absence of clergy, may we please bow our 

10   heads for a moment of silence.

11                (Whereupon, the assemblage respected 

12   a moment of silence.)

13                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   The 

14   reading of the Journal.  

15                The Secretary will read.

16                THE SECRETARY:   In Senate, 

17   Wednesday, March 26th, the Senate met pursuant to 

18   adjournment.  The Journal of Tuesday, March 25th, 

19   was read and approved.  On motion, Senate 

20   adjourned.

21                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    

22   Without objection, the Journal stands approved as 

23   read.

24                Presentation of petitions.

25                Messages from the Assembly.  


                                                               1223

 1                The Secretary will read.

 2                THE SECRETARY:   On page 22, Senator 

 3   Valesky moves to discharge, from the Committee on 

 4   Agriculture, Assembly Bill Number 5564 and 

 5   substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 

 6   Number 5064, Third Reading Calendar 251.

 7                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    

 8   Substitution so ordered.

 9                THE SECRETARY:   On page 26, Senator 

10   Bonacic moves to discharge, from the Committee on 

11   Local Government, Assembly Bill Number 8962 and 

12   substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 

13   Number 6751, Third Reading Calendar 317.

14                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    

15   Substitution so ordered.

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 Libous.

23                SENATOR LIBOUS:   Mr. President, at 

24   this time I would like to adopt the 

25   Resolution Calendar, with the exception of 


                                                               1224

 1   Resolution 4263.

 2                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   All 

 3   in favor of adopting the Resolution Calendar, 

 4   with the exception of Resolution 4263, signify by 

 5   saying aye.

 6                (Response of "Aye.")

 7                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    

 8   Opposed, nay.

 9                (No response.)

10                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   The 

11   Resolution Calendar is adopted.

12                Senator Libous.

13                SENATOR LIBOUS:   Mr. President, in 

14   the Resolution Calendar, Resolution 4256 has to 

15   do with memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to 

16   proclaim May 6, 2014, Police Memorial Day in the 

17   State of New York.  And Senator Nozzolio would 

18   like to open it up to all members.  

19                And if a member does not want to 

20   join the resolution, they should let the desk 

21   know.  But that's why I read it, because I felt 

22   people would like to know what their name would 

23   be added to.

24                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    

25   Resolution 4256 is open for cosponsorship.  


                                                               1225

 1   Anyone not wishing to be on that resolution, 

 2   please notify the desk.

 3                Senator Libous.

 4                SENATOR LIBOUS:   And I believe 

 5   there's a resolution at the desk by 

 6   Senator Grisanti, Number 4263.  I ask that the 

 7   resolution be read in its entirety and we move 

 8   for its adoption after Senator Grisanti and 

 9   anyone else would wish to speak on it.

10                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   The 

11   Secretary will read.

12                THE SECRETARY:   Legislative 

13   Resolution Number 4263, by Senators Grisanti, 

14   Gallivan and Kennedy, celebrating the life and 

15   accomplishments of legendary Buffalo Bills 

16   founder and owner Ralph C. Wilson, Jr.  

17                "WHEREAS, It is the sense of this 

18   Legislative Body to pay tribute to the lives of 

19   those esteemed individuals of world renown who 

20   distinguished themselves through their life's 

21   work; and 

22                "WHEREAS, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr., 

23   founder and owner of the Buffalo Bills, died on 

24   Tuesday, March 25, 2014, in Grosse Pointe,  

25   Michigan, at the age of 95; and 


                                                               1226

 1                "WHEREAS, In 1959, along with seven 

 2   other men, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr., started the 

 3   American Football League at a time in America 

 4   when baseball was the number-one sport and the 

 5   country's self-described national pastime; and 

 6                "WHEREAS, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr., 

 7   chose Buffalo for the home of the Bills for 

 8   having good attendance in the All-America 

 9   Conference, a league which played from 1946 until 

10   1949; he believed it was a good football city, an 

11   industrial city similar to Detroit on a smaller 

12   scale, and because Buffalo had been without 

13   football for 10 years and wanted it back; and 

14                "WHEREAS, In 2009, Ralph C. Wilson, 

15   Jr., was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of 

16   Fame; of the eight original Foolish Club members, 

17   Ralph C. Wilson, Jr., was the only one who kept 

18   his team in its original city; remaining true to 

19   Buffalo, his dedication to the city is one reason 

20   why he was inducted into the Hall of Fame; and 

21                "WHEREAS, Born in Columbus, Ohio,  

22   on October 17, 1918, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr., moved 

23   to Detroit when he was a youngster; he attended 

24   the University of Virginia and later attended 

25   law school at the University of Michigan; and 


                                                               1227

 1                "WHEREAS, He served his country as a 

 2   member of the United States Navy during 

 3   World War II; within a year, he earned his 

 4   commission and served aboard minesweepers in both 

 5   the Atlantic and Pacific theaters; and 

 6                "WHEREAS, After the war, Ralph C. 

 7   Wilson, Jr., took over his father's successful 

 8   insurance business and invested in Michigan-area 

 9   mines and factories; eventually he purchased 

10   several manufacturing outlets, construction  

11   firms and radio stations, and founded 

12   Ralph Wilson Industries; and 

13                "WHEREAS, Although he was an 

14   extremely successful businessman, the 

15   Buffalo Bills were always Ralph C. Wilson, Jr.'s 

16   number-one love; for most of his tenure as owner, 

17   he attended all of the games, home and away; and 

18                "WHEREAS, During the AFL years, 

19   Ralph C. Wilson was one of the most influential 

20   men in the league; not only did he build one of 

21   its strongest teams, he also played a vital role 

22   behind the scenes in some of the most important 

23   of pro football's history-shaping events, such  

24   as helping the AFL procure its first big-time 

25   television contract in 1964, a deal in which NBC 


                                                               1228

 1   paid each club $900,000 annually; and 

 2                "WHEREAS, The NFL began to consider 

 3   a merger with the AFL and, in 1970, Ralph C. 

 4   Wilson, Jr.'s dream of owning an NFL franchise  

 5   was realized when the Buffalo Bills and the other 

 6   seven AFL teams began playing in the NFL; and 

 7                "WHEREAS, Over the next forty years, 

 8   Ralph C. Wilson, Jr., was an active member of the 

 9   ownership group, and he chaired committees 

10   relating to issues on pensions, labor, Super Bowl 

11   sites, expansion and realignment; and 

12                "WHEREAS, Voted by The Buffalo News 

13   as Western New York's 'Top Sports Figure' in the 

14   past millennium, and described once by a writer 

15   as the 'conscience of the NFL,' Ralph C. Wilson, 

16   Jr., leaves behind a legacy nearly unrivaled in 

17   professional sports franchise ownership; and 

18                "WHEREAS, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr., 

19   successfully operated the Bills out of Buffalo, 

20   New York, for more than 50 years, even when the 

21   economic climate in the league, as well as the 

22   country, made it difficult; and 

23                "WHEREAS, During his ownership, the 

24   franchise won two American Football League 

25   championships (1964-1965) and, after the 1970 


                                                               1229

 1   AFL-NFL merger, four consecutive American 

 2   Football Conference championships (1990-1993); 

 3   and 

 4                "WHEREAS, Today, the Buffalo Bills 

 5   continue to draw sellout crowds to the stadium in 

 6   Orchard Park which bears Ralph C. Wilson, Jr.'s 

 7   name; and 

 8                "WHEREAS, A valued and involved 

 9   member of his community, this remarkable man 

10   established the Ralph Wilson Medical Research 

11   Foundation, which has contributed to  

12   high-risk/high-impact biomedical research; 

13   contributed to the development of Ralph C. 

14   Wilson, Jr., Athletic Field for the NFL Youth 

15   Education Town Center in Detroit; and helped  

16   procure grants for Buffalo-area athletics fields; 

17   and 

18                "WHEREAS, Ralph C. Wilson's selfless 

19   humanitarian spirit benefited food banks of 

20   Buffalo and Rochester, Ronald McDonald House,  

21   the United Way, the S.P.C.A., the Buffalo 

22   Philharmonic, the Shea's Performing Arts Center 

23   and the Hospice Center of Western New York; and 

24                "WHEREAS, Furthermore, his 

25   generosity supported education by establishing 


                                                               1230

 1   scholarship programs at a number of colleges such 

 2   as St. John Fisher College, home of the Bills' 

 3   summer training camp since 2000, where he helped 

 4   fund a building that houses the College of 

 5   Education which is named in his honor; and 

 6                "WHEREAS, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr., is 

 7   survived by his wife, the former Mary McLean; his 

 8   three daughters, two of whom became involved in  

 9   team business: -- the late Linda Bogdan, who was 

10   pro football's first female scout and the 

11   franchise's corporate vice president until her  

12   death in 2009, and Christy Wilson Hofmann, who  

13   currently serves as a merchandising consultant to 

14   the team -- and Edith 'Dee Dee' Wilson; and 

15                "WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic 

16   spirit and imbued with a sense of compassion, 

17   Ralph C. Wilson, Jr.'s life was a portrait of 

18   service, a legacy which will long endure the 

19   passage of time and will remain as a comforting 

20   memory to all he served and befriended; now, 

21   therefore, be it 

22                "RESOLVED, That this 

23   Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to 

24   celebrate the life and accomplishments of 

25   legendary Buffalo Bills founder and owner 


                                                               1231

 1   Ralph C. Wilson, Jr.; and be it further 

 2                "RESOLVED, That a copy of this 

 3   resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to 

 4   the family of Ralph C. Wilson, Jr."

 5                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    

 6   Senator Grisanti.

 7                SENATOR GRISANTI:   Thank you, 

 8   Mr. President.  

 9                You know, it was hard to actually 

10   condense all those accomplishments in that 

11   resolution.  It could have been probably a lot 

12   longer.

13                But, my colleagues, it's a sad time 

14   for Buffalo, a sad time for New York State, the 

15   professional football community.  Ralph Wilson, 

16   Jr., a man who by today's standards invested a 

17   small amount of money in essence to create what 

18   is known as the Buffalo Bills.  The Buffalo 

19   Bills, which is truly New York State's only team.  

20   New York State's only team.  

21                Ralph is Buffalo.  Ralph is Western 

22   New York.  And he stuck by Buffalo, the Western 

23   New York region, since 1959, with a team that had 

24   good times, a team that had bad times.  The only 

25   team to go to four consecutive Super Bowls, which 


                                                               1232

 1   is a feat in and of itself.  

 2                And even though we didn't win any of 

 3   those Super Bowls, Ralph Wilson, Jr., was a 

 4   champion, he created champions, he himself a Hall 

 5   of Famer.  He invested in the community, numerous 

 6   charitable organizations, as was just read to 

 7   you.  But let's not forget as well he was also a 

 8   World War II Navy veteran who passed at the age 

 9   of 95 years old.  

10                Ralph Wilson's truly going to be 

11   missed in Buffalo and New York.  And I ask my 

12   colleagues that you send your thoughts and 

13   prayers to his wife, Mary, his daughters Edith 

14   and Christy, and also remember his daughter who 

15   passed away in 2009, Linda.  

16                To me, Ralph Wilson, Jr., always 

17   will be a legend, not only to professional 

18   football, but to the great City of Buffalo and to 

19   this great State of New York.  I appreciate the 

20   opportunity to talk on him, Mr. President.  

21                Thank you.

22                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   Thank 

23   you, Senator Grisanti.

24                Senator Ranzenhofer on the 

25   resolution.


                                                               1233

 1                SENATOR RANZENHOFER:   Thank you, 

 2   Mr. President.  I'd also like to add my comments 

 3   on the passing of Mr. Wilson.  

 4                Everybody who knew Mr. Wilson called 

 5   him Mr. Wilson.  And he really was a class act 

 6   and a renaissance man for Buffalo.  We are deeply 

 7   indebted him because he kept the Buffalo Bills in 

 8   Buffalo.  

 9                And I'm probably one of the few 

10   people who actually had the opportunity to meet 

11   him, and he was just a wonderful human being.  He 

12   was one of the few owners who actually has his 

13   name on the stadium.  Many stadiums are named 

14   after different corporations or different 

15   enterprises, but the stadium bears his name as 

16   really a tribute to his foresight and his 

17   perseverance in keeping the Bills in Buffalo.

18                One of the things that I recollect 

19   in my dealings with Mr. Wilson is when they were 

20   renegotiating Bills leases, and the fear was 

21   always that he was going to go to a more 

22   glamorous or a larger city.  But he was convinced 

23   and he was insistent that as long as he was 

24   alive, he was going to keep the Buffalo Bills in 

25   Buffalo.  


                                                               1234

 1                And he may have had better 

 2   opportunities elsewhere, better financial 

 3   opportunities if they moved the team, but he 

 4   insisted that this was the Buffalo Bills and it 

 5   was going to stay the Buffalo Bills.  He kept his 

 6   word.  And he is appreciated by all of Buffalo 

 7   and all of Western New York for that.

 8                It's a sad time, but it's also a 

 9   time to celebrate his lifelong accomplishments 

10   and what he brought to the City of Buffalo, 

11   Erie County, all of Western New York, upstate 

12   New York and the entire state.  

13                Thank you, Mr. President.

14                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    

15   Senator Maziarz on the resolution.

16                SENATOR MAZIARZ:   Thank you very 

17   much, Mr. President.

18                I rise along with my colleagues.  

19   It's really a sad day in Western New York and in 

20   Buffalo.  

21                As Senator Ranzenhofer said, you 

22   know that in Western New York when you referred 

23   to "Mr. Wilson," everybody knew exactly who you 

24   were talking about.  Wilson is a very common 

25   name, but in Western New York when you said 


                                                               1235

 1   "Mr. Wilson" -- and everybody, by the way, said 

 2   "Mr. Wilson."  The newspaper wouldn't print his 

 3   name, they would say "Mr. Wilson," and everyone 

 4   knew who you were talking about.  

 5                He truly was an iconic individual.  

 6   He stuck by Western New York and Buffalo more 

 7   than many people who had been born and raised and 

 8   lived there all their lives.  He believed in our 

 9   community.  We're going to miss him a whole lot.

10                Again, as my colleagues have said, 

11   the value of an NFL franchise today is, you know, 

12   as they say in that commercial, probably 

13   priceless.  But you know, there are a lot of 

14   glamorous markets out there, growing markets out 

15   there both in the United States and in Canada 

16   that would love to have an NFL franchise.  And 

17   Mr. Wilson said that as long as he was alive, 

18   that franchise would stay in Buffalo.  

19                He started there in 1959, he 

20   believed in that community, and he said he would 

21   believe in that community as long as he was on 

22   this earth.

23                Again, as was stated in the 

24   resolution, you know, the Bills went to four 

25   consecutive Super Bowls, a record-making run, if 


                                                               1236

 1   you will.  We actually did win the first one; the 

 2   Giants stole it from us.  But that's another 

 3   story for another day.  

 4                (Laughter.)

 5                SENATOR MAZIARZ:   Thank you very 

 6   much, Mr. President.

 7                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   Thank 

 8   you, Senator Maziarz, for part of those comments.

 9                Senator Gallivan on the resolution.

10                SENATOR GALLIVAN:   Thank you, 

11   Mr. President.  

12                I too rise to honor the legacy and 

13   the life of Ralph Wilson, who bought the Buffalo 

14   Bills in the year that I was born.  And I, like 

15   many in Western New York, grew up with them.  

16                But we have all heard of his 

17   accomplishments and we've heard much in the way 

18   of the accomplishment of the Buffalo Bills and 

19   his commitment to keeping the Bills in 

20   Western New York.  We also heard of his 

21   involvement in the community, his generosity.  

22   There were several paragraphs that listed 

23   organization after organization that he was so 

24   supportive of, very generous, very philanthropic.  

25                And we know of this now.  People 


                                                               1237

 1   involved in the organizations knew it then, but 

 2   the people in the community didn't, because he 

 3   helped people very quietly.  He did not ask for 

 4   or seek recognition.  He lived the life of a good 

 5   citizen, the type of individual that we all 

 6   should strive to emulate.

 7                One of the things that was not 

 8   listed in the resolution that I would like to 

 9   point to is that during my time as the sheriff of 

10   Erie County I saw firsthand and engaged with 

11   Mr. Wilson on a number of occasions.  But he went 

12   back to his childhood and his respect for 

13   law enforcement, he went back to his days when he 

14   was serving his country and defending our way of 

15   life.  But he indicated to me on numerous 

16   occasions that he really had a special place in 

17   his heart for the people that stood up to protect 

18   others:  police officers across the nation.  

19                And he was very, very generous to 

20   the numerous law enforcement foundations around 

21   Western New York.  And in Detroit, there's an 

22   organization called the 100 Club.  And the 

23   100 Club was started years ago in Detroit, it was 

24   an organization to help the widows and orphans of 

25   law enforcement officers fallen in the line of 


                                                               1238

 1   duty.  And Ralph Wilson was very integral in its 

 2   beginning and its growth and was one of the 

 3   individuals who ultimately helped to bring it to 

 4   Buffalo.  

 5                Very simply, he was a very good man.  

 6   Western New York is suffering a great loss.  My 

 7   prayers, like my colleagues', are with his 

 8   family, and we offer them our condolences.  And 

 9   it really is an honor that we as a body honor his 

10   legacy today.  

11                Thank you, Mr. President.

12                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   Are 

13   there any other members wishing to be heard on 

14   the resolution?

15                Seeing none, the question is on the 

16   resolution.  All in favor signify by saying aye.

17                (Response of "Aye.")

18                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    

19   Opposed, nay.

20                (No response.)

21                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   The 

22   resolution is adopted.

23                Senator Libous.

24                SENATOR LIBOUS:   Mr. President, 

25   could the body just stand for a moment of silence 


                                                               1239

 1   in honor of Mr. Wilson.

 2                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   The 

 3   Senate will stand for a moment of silence.

 4                (Whereupon, the assemblage respected 

 5   a moment of silence.)

 6                SENATOR LIBOUS:   Thank you, 

 7   Mr. President.

 8                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   

 9   Senator Libous.  

10                SENATOR LIBOUS:   Mr. President, if 

11   at this time we could go to the reading of the 

12   noncontroversial calendar.

13                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   

14   First, Senator Libous, we have an indication that 

15   the sponsor might wish to open the resolution.  

16   Would you like to do that at this point in time?  

17                SENATOR LIBOUS:   Would the sponsor 

18   like to open up the resolution?  

19                SENATOR GRISANTI:   Yes.

20                SENATOR LIBOUS:   So the resolution 

21   is open for cosponsorship.  

22                If for some reason you wish not to 

23   go on the resolution, let the desk know.

24                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   The 

25   resolution is open for cosponsorship.  If you do 


                                                               1240

 1   not wish to be a cosponsor, please notify the 

 2   desk.

 3                The Secretary will proceed with the 

 4   noncontroversial reading of the calendar.

 5                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 40, 

 6   by Senator LaValle, Senate Print 3059B, an act to 

 7   amend the Environmental Conservation Law.

 8                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   Read 

 9   the last section.

10                THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

11   act shall take effect immediately.

12                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   Call 

13   the roll.

14                (The Secretary called the roll.)

15                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    

16   Announce the result when you have it.

17                THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

18   Calendar Number 40, those recorded in the 

19   negative are Senators Gipson, Hoylman, Krueger 

20   and Serrano.

21                Ayes, 54.  Nays, 4.

22                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   The 

23   bill is passed.

24                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 91, 

25   by Senator Addabbo, Senate Print 3746A, an act to 


                                                               1241

 1   amend the Tax Law.

 2                SENATOR SERRANO:   Lay the bill 

 3   aside for the day.

 4                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   The 

 5   bill is laid aside for the day.

 6                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

 7   104, by Senator Hannon, Senate Print 6477B, an 

 8   act to amend the Public Health Law.

 9                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   Read 

10   the last section.

11                THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

12   act shall take effect immediately.

13                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   Call 

14   the roll.

15                (The Secretary called the roll.)

16                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    

17   Senator Gipson, would you like to explain your 

18   vote?

19                SENATOR GIPSON:   I'd like to 

20   explain my vote.

21                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    

22   Senator Gipson to explain his vote.

23                SENATOR GIPSON:   Thank you, 

24   Mr. President.  

25                I'd like to thank the sponsor for 


                                                               1242

 1   bringing this legislation to the floor.  This 

 2   legislation will save hundreds of lives 

 3   throughout New York State.  

 4                Heroin and opiate addiction is 

 5   something that is not affecting just a small part 

 6   of our state, but the entire state.  In my small 

 7   rural district alone we've had over 50 deaths 

 8   just last year.  

 9                And I have spoken to mothers who 

10   have lost their sons and daughters, I've spoken 

11   to families who have lost their loved ones.  And 

12   this is an epidemic that we must absolutely do 

13   everything we can to try to stop.  

14                So I want to thank the sponsor again 

15   for introducing this legislation.  It will save 

16   lives.  And I will be voting yes.

17                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   Thank 

18   you, Senator Gipson.

19                Senator Boyle to explain his vote.

20                SENATOR BOYLE:   To explain my vote.  

21                I too would like to thank the 

22   sponsor of this legislation, Senator Hannon.  By 

23   making naloxone and Narcan products more readily 

24   accessible to New York State citizens, we are 

25   going to save lives.  


                                                               1243

 1                Last year, in Suffolk County, 

 2   563 people received treatment from naloxone 

 3   during the heroin epidemic.  This is just in 

 4   Suffolk County.  There's no question it's going 

 5   to save lives on a statewide basis.  

 6                As a former EMT, I was able to see 

 7   this what I call a miracle drug.  I saw one young 

 8   man who was at death's door.  His lips were 

 9   purple, not breathing, he was just about to be 

10   dead.  They gave him Narcan, and within 

11   two minutes he was awake, alert and having a 

12   normal conversation with me.

13                It truly is a miracle drug, and we 

14   need to make it available as far and wide as 

15   possible in the State of New York to save lives 

16   and to stave off this heroin epidemic.  

17                I vote aye.

18                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   Thank 

19   you, Senator.

20                Senator Savino to explain her vote.

21                SENATOR STAVISKY:   Thank you, 

22   Mr. President.  

23                I also want to thank Senator Hannon 

24   for bringing this bill through.  I was happy to 

25   vote on it in the Health Committee.  


                                                               1244

 1                You know, Staten Island has a lot of 

 2   distinctions about it that I'm very happy and 

 3   very proud of, but one of them that we are 

 4   unfortunately very sad about is Staten Island 

 5   right now is leading the way in the sharpest 

 6   increase in heroin overdose deaths between 2010 

 7   and 2012.  We have the highest death rates for 

 8   heroin, and we have the highest usage rate.  We 

 9   also have one of the highest rates of 

10   prescription drug abuse.  

11                Senator Lanza, my colleague from the 

12   other side of the aisle, was the chief sponsor of 

13   the I-STOP bill here in the New York State 

14   Legislature, along with Assemblyman Mike Cusick, 

15   to try and address this problem.  But we all knew 

16   that one of the unintended consequences of I-STOP 

17   was going to be an increase in heroin use.  

18   Heroin is much cheaper than Oxycontin and the 

19   other opoids that unfortunately too many people 

20   have become addicted to.

21                And as a result of that, we are 

22   seeing heroin abuse spike on Staten Island, and 

23   heroin overdoses.  This bill will go a long way 

24   towards providing the tools for our EMTs and our 

25   paramedics and other first responders to prevent 


                                                               1245

 1   a heroin overdose from becoming a heroin death.  

 2                So I am very happy to support this 

 3   piece of legislation, and I want to thank 

 4   Senator Hannon and the members of the 

 5   Health Committee for bringing this forward.  

 6                Thank you.

 7                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    

 8   Senator Savino will be recorded in the 

 9   affirmative.

10                Senator Libous to explain his vote.

11                SENATOR LIBOUS:   Thank you, 

12   Mr. President.  

13                And I too want to rise, as my 

14   colleagues have, to compliment Senator Hannon.  

15                Two weeks ago in Broome County a 

16   sheriff's deputy was called in on a call, and it 

17   was a heroin overdose.  And it was I believe a 

18   young man in his twenties.  And the sheriff's 

19   deputy applied the drug and saved this person's 

20   life.  

21                The heroin problem that we 

22   experience in this country and in this state and 

23   in our communities has gotten tremendously out of 

24   hand.  It seems to be centered around, from the 

25   little knowledge that I have and the little 


                                                               1246

 1   research that I've done, around younger people in 

 2   their twenties, between 18 and 28.  And 

 3   predominantly heavily among young women, and 

 4   that's based on some of the research.

 5                So this bill goes a long way in 

 6   hopefully saving lives and, once those lives are 

 7   saved, getting people into the treatment that 

 8   they need so that they can stop this horrible, 

 9   horrible addiction.  

10                It's something that this body will 

11   continue to deal with.  I applaud Senator Hannon 

12   for stepping up front.  I know that Senator Boyle 

13   and others will be leading the charge on having 

14   some hearings as to this heroin situation that 

15   we're going to face in New York State.

16                So I just want to say that I vote 

17   aye and that it's unfortunate and very sad that 

18   we have to pass legislation like this, but very 

19   necessary.

20                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    

21   Senator Libous will be recorded in the 

22   affirmative.

23                Senator Hassell-Thompson to explain 

24   her vote.

25                SENATOR HASSELL-THOMPSON:   Thank 


                                                               1247

 1   you, Mr. President.

 2                I rise to commend Senator Hannon on 

 3   this bill.  One of my deep concerns has been in 

 4   this chamber that when we approach the issue of 

 5   substance abuse that we approach it from a 

 6   therapeutic model and not always from a punitive 

 7   model.  So I commend him for the work and the 

 8   research that he has done to ensure that when we 

 9   come across an overdose, that there is a remedy 

10   like naloxone that's available to us, and to 

11   ensure that our EMS and others are totally 

12   prepared and equipped to be able to administer it 

13   in a very timely manner.  

14                So thank you, Senator Hannon.  

15                And thank you, Mr. President.

16                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    

17   Senator Hassell-Thompson will be recorded in the 

18   affirmative.

19                Announce the results.

20                THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 58.

21                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   The 

22   bill is passed.

23                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

24   137, by Senator Hannon, Senate Print 2942, an act 

25   to amend the Penal Law.


                                                               1248

 1                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   Read 

 2   the last section.

 3                THE SECRETARY:   Section 10.  This 

 4   act shall take effect on the 90th day.

 5                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   Call 

 6   the roll.

 7                (The Secretary called the roll.)

 8                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    

 9   Announce the results.

10                THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 59.

11                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   The 

12   bill is passed.

13                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

14   199, by Senator Gallivan, Senate Print 4343A, an 

15   act to amend the Correction Law.

16                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   Read 

17   the last section.

18                THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

19   act shall take effect immediately.

20                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   Call 

21   the roll.

22                (The Secretary called the roll.)

23                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    

24   Announce the results.

25                THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 59.


                                                               1249

 1                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   The 

 2   bill is passed.

 3                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

 4   242, by Senator Seward, Senate Print 6706, an act 

 5   to amend the Insurance Law.

 6                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   Read 

 7   the last section.

 8                THE SECRETARY:   Section 9.  This 

 9   act shall take effect immediately.

10                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   Call 

11   the roll.

12                (The Secretary called the roll.)

13                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    

14   Announce the results.

15                THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 59.

16                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   The 

17   bill is passed.

18                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

19   251, substituted earlier today by Member of the 

20   Assembly Magee, Assembly Print Number 5564, an 

21   act to amend the Agriculture and Markets Law.

22                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   Read 

23   the last section.

24                THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

25   act shall take effect on the first of January.


                                                               1250

 1                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   Call 

 2   the roll.

 3                (The Secretary called the roll.)

 4               ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    

 5  Senator Gipson to explain his vote.

 6                SENATOR GIPSON:   Thank you, 

 7   Mr. President.  

 8                I just want to commend the sponsor 

 9   for bringing this piece of legislation to the 

10   floor.  This is exactly the type of creative 

11   thinking we need to market our agricultural 

12   products here in New York State.  

13                New York State grows some of the 

14   finest agricultural products in the world, and we 

15   should take great pride in that.  Many of those 

16   products are grown right in the Hudson Valley, 

17   which I proudly represent.  

18                This piece of legislation will allow 

19   those products to be marketed and sold much more 

20   locally than they are now, and we should continue 

21   to try to find ways to encourage our farmers to 

22   be able to sell their goods locally to New York 

23   State buyers.  

24                And once again, I want to thank the 

25   sponsor for bringing this to the floor, and I 


                                                               1251

 1   will be voting yes. 

 2                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    

 3   Senator Gipson will be recorded in the 

 4   affirmative.

 5                Announce the results.

 6                THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 59.

 7                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   The 

 8   bill is passed.

 9                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

10   286, by Senator Felder, Senate Print 5202A, an 

11   act to amend the Family Court Act.

12                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   Read 

13   the last section.

14                THE SECRETARY:   Section 8.  This 

15   act shall take effect on the 90th day.

16                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   Call 

17   the roll.

18                (The Secretary called the roll.)

19                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    

20   Announce the results.

21                THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 59.

22                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   The 

23   bill is passed.

24                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

25   317, substituted earlier today by Member of the 


                                                               1252

 1   Assembly Gunther, Assembly Print Number 8962, an 

 2   act to amend the Town Law.

 3                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   Read 

 4   the last section.

 5                THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

 6   act shall take effect immediately.

 7                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   Call 

 8   the roll.

 9                (The Secretary called the roll.)

10                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    

11   Announce the results.

12                THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 58.  Nays, 1.  

13   Senator Ball recorded in the negative.

14                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   The 

15   bill is passed.

16                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

17   331, by Senator Avella, Senate Print 731, an act 

18   to amend the Religious Corporation Law.

19                SENATOR AVELLA:   Lay it aside for 

20   the day.

21                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   Lay 

22   the bill aside for the day.

23                Senator Libous, that completes the 

24   noncontroversial reading.

25                SENATOR LIBOUS:   Mr. President, 


                                                               1253

 1   before we adjourn, I would ask you to call on 

 2   Senator LaValle for the purposes of a conference 

 3   announcement.

 4                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:    

 5   Senator LaValle.

 6                SENATOR LaVALLE:   Mr. President, 

 7   the Republican Conference will conference at 

 8   3:00 o'clock in Room 332.

 9                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   The 

10   Republican Conference will conference at 

11   3:00 o'clock in Room 332.

12                Senator Libous.  

13                SENATOR LIBOUS:   Mr. President, I 

14   think Senator LaValle would -- I gave him bad 

15   information.  So if you would call on him again.

16                (Laughter.)

17                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   Shame 

18   on you, sir.

19                Senator LaValle.

20                SENATOR LaVALLE:   Mr. President, 

21   the Republican conference will be at 4:00 o'clock 

22   in Room 332.

23                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   We 

24   preferred his --

25                (Laughter.)


                                                               1254

 1                SENATOR LIBOUS:   It only shows, 

 2   Mr. President, that everything here is fluid by 

 3   the second.

 4                (Laughter.)

 5                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   The 

 6   Republican Conference will meet at 4:00 o'clock 

 7   this afternoon.

 8                SENATOR LIBOUS:   Is there any 

 9   further business at the desk?  

10                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   The 

11   desk is clear.

12                SENATOR LIBOUS:   Okay.  There being 

13   no further business, I move that the Senate will 

14   adjourn subject to the call of the Majority 

15   Leader, intervening days being legislative days.

16                ACTING PRESIDENT MARCELLINO:   On 

17   motion, the Senate stands adjourned subject to 

18   the call of the Majority Leader, intervening days 

19   being legislative days.

20                Senate is adjourned.

21                (Whereupon, the Senate adjourned at 

22   12:32 p.m.)

23

24

25