Regular Session - April 21, 2015
1950
1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
2
3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
5
6
7
8
9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 April 21, 2015
11 3:21 p.m.
12
13
14 REGULAR SESSION
15
16
17
18 SENATOR JOSEPH GRIFFO, Acting President
19 FRANCIS W. PATIENCE, Secretary
20
21
22
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25
1951
1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
3 Senate will come to order.
4 I ask everyone present to please
5 rise and join with me as we recite the Pledge of
6 Allegiance to our Flag.
7 (Whereupon, the assemblage recited
8 the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Today's
10 invocation will be offered by the Venerable
11 Chueh Chuan Shih, Abbess of the International
12 Buddhist Progress Society in Flushing.
13 ABBESS CHUEH CHUAN SHIH: (In
14 Chinese.) A prayer for blessings on our nation.
15 Great compassionate Buddha! With
16 the greatest sincerity, we are here to express
17 our gratitude for your great protection.
18 Please let our nation make
19 education available to all. Please let our
20 people raise their standard of living. Please
21 let our science and technology continue to
22 improve. Please let our politics maintain
23 freedom and democracy.
24 Great compassionate Buddha! We
25 pray for your great support. May we grasp the
1952
1 concept of cause and effect, and understand the
2 reality of life. May we have the strength of a
3 heart full of patience and tolerance, and never
4 retreat in the face of adversity.
5 Great compassionate Buddha! We pray
6 for your blessing and protection. May our
7 country have favorable weather and never have
8 natural disasters or man-made calamities. May
9 our politics be honest, clean and just, and never
10 have corruption or bribery. May our ethnic
11 groups be tolerant of those who are different,
12 and never have racial disputes. May our society
13 be steadfast, prosperous and powerful, and never
14 have wars or upheavals. May our lives be
15 abundant in food and clothing, and never suffer
16 economic instability. May our bodies and minds
17 be healthy and carefree, and never be disturbed
18 by sickness.
19 Great compassionate Buddha! We need
20 to learn from you the wisdom to close the
21 distance between self and others. We need to
22 learn from you the selflessness to eliminate all
23 of our attachments. We need to learn from you
24 the truth to resolve the confrontations between
25 races. We need to learn from you the compassion
1953
1 to reconcile the conflicts between nations. We
2 need to learn from you the Buddha light to
3 illuminate the darkness of the world.
4 Great compassionate Buddha! Please
5 let people of different ages live in harmony.
6 Please let people of different social status have
7 mutual respect. Please let people of different
8 professions work in cooperation. Please let
9 people of different religions practice with
10 tolerance.
11 Great compassionate Buddha, please
12 accept this prayer for our country! Great
13 compassionate Buddha, please accept this prayer
14 for our country!
15 (In Chinese.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Thank
17 you.
18 The reading of the Journal.
19 THE SECRETARY: In Senate, Monday,
20 April 20th, the Senate met pursuant to
21 adjournment. The Journal of Friday, April 17th,
22 was read and approved. On motion, the Senate
23 adjourned.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Without
25 objection, the Journal will stand approved as
1954
1 read.
2 Presentation of petitions.
3 Messages from the Assembly.
4 Messages from the Governor.
5 Reports of standing committees.
6 Reports of select committees.
7 Communications and reports of state
8 officers.
9 Motions and resolutions.
10 Senator DeFrancisco.
11 Can I have some order in the
12 chamber, please.
13 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO:
14 Mr. President, on page 19 I offer the following
15 amendments to Calendar 247, Senate Print 3947,
16 and ask that said bill retain its place on the
17 Third Reading Calendar.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
19 amendments are received, and the bill shall
20 retain its place on third reading.
21 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Also, on page
22 number 20 I offer the following amendments to
23 Calendar Number 263, Senate Print Number 3950,
24 and ask that said bill retain its place on the
25 Third Reading Calendar.
1955
1 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
2 amendments are also received, and the bill shall
3 retain its place on third reading.
4 Senator DeFrancisco.
5 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO:
6 Mr. President, I now ask that you recognize
7 Senator O'Mara, who has some guests.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Without
9 objection, the chair recognizes Senator O'Mara.
10 Can I have some -- (gaveling).
11 Thank you.
12 Senator O'Mara.
13 SENATOR O'MARA: I do. Thank you,
14 Mr. President, for the opportunity to recognize
15 some guests in the balcony.
16 As you may have seen, there are a
17 few race cars over in the concourse between here
18 and the LOB, in recognition of Motor Sports
19 Appreciation Week, which there will be a
20 resolution which we take up tomorrow recognizing
21 this week as Motor Sports Appreciation Week.
22 We have standing here now, second
23 from the right, Colin Braun, who is a driver in
24 the IMSA series, who will be competing at Watkins
25 Glen International this June at the Sahlen's Six
1956
1 Hours event in Daytona Prototype racing cars.
2 Standing with him is Michael Printup, president
3 of Watkins Glen International; Andrew Smith, with
4 WGI as well; and Jon Beckman, with WGI. They
5 were part of the display that's undertaken this
6 week that I mentioned.
7 And I'd just like to welcome them
8 here today and recognize the great importance of
9 motor racing in New York State. And having
10 Watkins Glen within my district, I'm proud to say
11 it is the single largest sporting event of the
12 year when NASCAR comes to town. It's very
13 exciting. It's a huge economic engine to our
14 region and part of the state. It boosts tourism
15 and brings in a lot of tax revenues to the local
16 governments in the area.
17 So thank you all for all you do, and
18 thank you for joining us here today.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: We thank
20 our guests for being here today. We extend the
21 courtesies of the house in recognition of Motor
22 Sports Appreciation Week. And for those in the
23 industry as well as Watkins Glen, welcome to the
24 chamber.
25 (Applause.)
1957
1 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
2 DeFrancisco.
3 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Mr.
4 President, would you now take up a previously
5 adopted resolution, Number 1060, by Senator Díaz,
6 and please read it in its entirety.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
8 Secretary will read.
9 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
10 Resolution 1060, by Senator Díaz, celebrating
11 Taiwan Heritage Day.
12 "WHEREAS, The United States and the
13 Republic of China (Taiwan) share common ideals
14 and a clear vision for the 21st century, where
15 freedom and democracy are the foundation for
16 peace, prosperity, and progress; and
17 "WHEREAS, Taiwan has become a
18 multiparty democracy in which all citizens have
19 the right to participate freely in the political
20 process, as evidenced by Taiwan's five democratic
21 presidential elections, which took place in 1996,
22 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012; and
23 "WHEREAS, Through the cross-Strait
24 dialogue, the establishment of the Economic
25 Cooperation Framework Agreement with mainland
1958
1 China, and the policy of Viable Diplomacy,
2 President Ma Ying-jeou of the Republic of China
3 (Taiwan) has transformed the Taiwan Strait from a
4 major international flashpoint into an essential
5 component of East Asian peace and prosperity; and
6 "WHEREAS, Taiwan is one of the
7 strongest democratic allies of the United States
8 in the Asia-Pacific region and spares no effort
9 to maintain peace and prosperity in East Asia, as
10 evidenced by the East China Sea Peace Initiative
11 proposed by President Ma Ying-jeou; and
12 "WHEREAS, The United States passed
13 the Taiwan Relations Act in 1979 to define the
14 relations between the United States and the
15 Republic of China (Taiwan), which strongly
16 strengthens their friendship; and
17 "WHEREAS, The United States and
18 Taiwan share a long-term and close economic
19 relationship, including $63.6 billion of
20 bilateral trade in 2013, making Taiwan the 10th
21 largest trading partner of the United States; and
22 "WHEREAS, The United States assisted
23 Taiwan in attaining participation in the assembly
24 of the International Civil Aviation Organization
25 in 2013 and will continue supporting Taiwan's
1959
1 meaningful participation in other United
2 Nations-affiliated organizations such as the
3 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
4 Change; and
5 "WHEREAS, In order to strengthen
6 bilateral trade relations with the United States,
7 the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan)
8 has expressed its wish to participate in the
9 Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership
10 Agreement, and to sign a Bilateral Investment
11 Agreement and a Free Trade Agreement with the
12 United States in the near future; and
13 "WHEREAS, The State of New York
14 exported $763 million and imported $1.7 billion
15 worth of products to/from Taiwan in 2013, making
16 Taiwan the 15th largest foreign market for
17 New York State, strengthening bilateral economic
18 ties; and
19 "WHEREAS, Many of the United States'
20 top 500 companies headquartered in New York --
21 including IBM, Pfizer, Corning, Citigroup, AIG,
22 MetLife, JPMorgan Chase, Merrill Lynch, and
23 New York Life -- have invested in Taiwan. The
24 State of New York has maintained a friendly and
25 fruitful relationship with Taiwan for many years;
1960
1 and
2 "WHEREAS, There are more than
3 300 Taiwanese companies that have invested in the
4 State of New York in sectors such as computers,
5 finance, jewelry, sporting goods, and garments;
6 and
7 "WHEREAS, The State of New York is
8 home to a thriving overseas Taiwanese community.
9 The societies of Taiwan and Taiwanese Americans,
10 including the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent
11 Association, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of
12 New York, Inc., Buddha's Light International
13 Association in New York, and the National Women's
14 League of the Republic of China (Taiwan), devote
15 themselves to serving the community of the State
16 of New York; and
17 "WHEREAS, The New York State
18 Legislature held the second Taiwan Heritage Day
19 Celebration at the Legislative Office Building in
20 Albany in May 2014, to promote bilateral
21 relations between New York and Taiwan, and this
22 Legislature is holding the third Taiwan Heritage
23 Day Celebration in 2015; now, therefore, be it
24 "RESOLVED, That this Legislative
25 Body pause in its deliberations to celebrate
1961
1 Taiwan Heritage Day; and be it further
2 "RESOLVED, That a copy of this
3 resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted
4 to President Ma Ying-jeou of the Republic of
5 China (Taiwan) through the Taipei Economic and
6 Cultural Office in New York."
7 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
8 Díaz.
9 SENATOR DIAZ: Thank you,
10 Mr. President.
11 Mr. President, you should know, my
12 fellow Senators, ladies and gentlemen, that it
13 has been my honor, as the State Senator from the
14 32nd Senatorial District in Bronx County, to
15 bring many different cultures together and to
16 bring these cultures to our State Capitol and to
17 this chamber and to introduce them here to all of
18 you.
19 To that effect, Mr. President, I was
20 the first Senator to introduce the Dominican
21 community and its culture in the Senate chamber
22 and to have a Dominican minister offer the
23 invocation in Spanish. I have honored the
24 Garifuna community, having one of their ministers
25 as well offer the invocation in the Garifuna
1962
1 language. I was also honored, ladies and
2 gentlemen, and privileged to present the
3 Bangladesh community to be recognized, and one of
4 their imams offered the invocation in Bangla for
5 the first time in this chamber.
6 You should also know, ladies and
7 gentlemen, that today, for the sixth year in a
8 row, I am privileged to sponsor a Senate
9 resolution celebrating the government and the
10 people of Taiwan in order to recognize them for
11 their wonderful, humanistic, generous, rich
12 financial and cultural contributions to our
13 country and to the State of New York.
14 On behalf of my constituents and the
15 children of the South Bronx, I must thank and
16 recognize the contributions of the Taiwanese
17 government and its representatives to the needy
18 children of the Bronx.
19 Ladies and gentlemen, as you know, I
20 represent the South Bronx, one of the poorest
21 areas in the nation. Every year during Christmas
22 celebrations, as the Three Kings came to visit
23 Jesus, the Taiwanese government representatives
24 come to the South Bronx bringing backpacks filled
25 with all kinds of school supplies for the black
1963
1 and Hispanic children of the area.
2 These school supplies not only give
3 our children a boost of encouragement to do their
4 best in school during the new year, but these
5 supplies also help relieve some of the financial
6 burden of their parents.
7 And, Mr. President, ladies and
8 gentlemen, what is equally important is that each
9 year that Taiwan officials come to the
10 South Bronx for our Three Kings Day celebration,
11 the children and parents in attendance get to
12 witness cultural and racial unity at its best.
13 Ladies and gentlemen, it is
14 important for you to know that Taiwan is one of
15 the strongest democratic allies of the United
16 States in Asia. We must never, we must never
17 forget that Taiwan spares no effort to maintain
18 peace and prosperity in East Asia, as evidenced
19 by the East China Sea Peace Initiative proposed
20 by President Ma Ying-jeou.
21 Taiwan's strong defense of democracy
22 became evident when President Ma Ying-jeou spoke
23 eloquently about the protests that took place in
24 Hong Kong known as the Umbrella Movement.
25 President Ma stated, and I quote:
1964
1 "I fully understand and support Hong Kong
2 residents' demand for free nomination and
3 election of Hong Kong's chief executive, and urge
4 the mainland authorities to listen carefully to
5 the voices of Hong Kong residents and handle the
6 matter in a peaceful and cautious manner."
7 At the same time, Mr. President,
8 President Ma also urged the protesters "to
9 express their views in a peaceful and rational
10 manner."
11 Ladies and gentlemen, not only is
12 Taiwan a strong defender of democracy, but Taiwan
13 also provides much economic activity and support
14 to both the United States and to the State of
15 New York.
16 As you heard in the resolution,
17 Taiwan is the 10th largest trading partner of the
18 United States and is the 15th largest foreign
19 market for New York State. Many of the United
20 States' top 500 companies have headquarters in
21 New York and also have significant investment in
22 Taiwan. Additionally, there are more than
23 300 Taiwanese companies that have invested in
24 New York State.
25 The relationships between the United
1965
1 States of America and Taiwan, and New York State
2 and Taiwan, are very, very important and mutually
3 beneficial. It is my fervent wish that these
4 relationships continue and prosper, to the
5 benefit of all our citizens.
6 Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen,
7 I also want to take the opportunity to
8 acknowledge the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of
9 New York, which has announced the founding of its
10 Junior Chamber.
11 The vision of the Junior Chamber is
12 to become the organization of choice for young
13 people, providing direction and leadership to our
14 communities and nation, and to foster young
15 leaders through professional development,
16 community service, and the promotion of Chinese
17 culture and Chinese-American heritage.
18 Mr. President, listen carefully,
19 ladies and gentlemen. Today we are joined in the
20 visitor gallery, in both galleries, both
21 galleries today we are joined by members of the
22 Junior Chamber: Thomas Lu, Gary Tang, and
23 Wade Li.
24 Finally, Mr. President, today I have
25 the honor and privilege to be joined in the
1966
1 Senate chamber by my distinguished guests:
2 Ambassador Paul Wen-Liang Chang, from the Taipei
3 Economic and Cultural Office in New York -- stand
4 up, please. Stand up.
5 (Applause.)
6 SENATOR DIAZ: Mr. Franklin Chen,
7 deputy director general of the Taipei Economic
8 and Cultural Office in New York.
9 (Applause.)
10 SENATOR DIAZ: Mr. Ronnie Lu, head
11 of political affairs of the Taipei Economic and
12 Cultural Office in New York.
13 (Applause.)
14 SENATOR DIAZ: Chairman Ching
15 Hsiang Hu of the Taiwanese-American Senior
16 Center.
17 (Applause.)
18 SENATOR DIAZ: Chairman Justin Yu
19 of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of New York.
20 (Applause.)
21 SENATOR DIAZ: Mr. Ho Kew Lee,
22 president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of
23 New York.
24 (Applause.)
25 SENATOR DIAZ: And the Reverend
1967
1 Chueh Chuan Shih, abbess from the International
2 Buddhist Progress Society.
3 (Applause.)
4 SENATOR DIAZ: I'm also joined by
5 my chief of staff, Ann Noonan.
6 I also want to acknowledge the more
7 than 100 Chinese people who have joined us in
8 both chambers, over there and over here.
9 (Applause.)
10 SENATOR DIAZ: They came in buses
11 in Queens and from New York, downtown New York.
12 Finally, you, my colleagues, members
13 of the Senate and staff, I'm inviting you to join
14 me and the Taiwan delegation and Senator Martin
15 Golden and Ambassador Paul Wen-Liang Chang for a
16 reception after session in The Well, which will
17 include delicious Chinese food for everybody,
18 free of charge.
19 (Laughter.)
20 SENATOR DIAZ: Free of charge. And
21 a stunning photo exhibit from the Buddha's Light
22 Foundation, and a presentation of a Chinese
23 dance. That's all free of charge today after
24 session.
25 Madam Mayor, you are invited to come
1968
1 with the Chinese and join us, and all of you.
2 Thank you, Mr. President. Thank
3 you, ladies and gentlemen. And welcome, welcome,
4 welcome to Albany.
5 (Sustained applause.)
6 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
7 DeFrancisco.
8 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Yes,
9 Mr. President, Senator Díaz wanted to open this
10 resolution up for cosponsorship.
11 And in the event you do not want to
12 be a cosponsor, you should notify the desk.
13 Otherwise, you will be placed on as a cosponsor.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: So noted.
15 We have several other speakers on
16 the resolution.
17 Senator Stavisky.
18 SENATOR STAVISKY: Thank you,
19 Mr. President.
20 Da jia hao.
21 (Laughter; applause.)
22 SENATOR STAVISKY: And huan ying
23 lai dao Albany.
24 (Laughter, cheers.)
25 SENATOR STAVISKY: Somehow it
1969
1 sounds better when my friends from the Taiwan
2 community say it.
3 (Applause.)
4 SENATOR STAVISKY: But I thank
5 Senator Díaz for his leadership on this issue.
6 And he has discussed the effect of the Taiwanese
7 government and the results and the tremendous
8 accomplishments of the Taiwanese community, both
9 from the Republic of China and those who have
10 settled in the United States.
11 And nowhere is it more apparent than
12 in my Senate district in Flushing, because
13 Flushing is undergoing a tremendous renaissance.
14 You have a lot of construction, both residential
15 and commercial, office buildings. You walk down
16 Main Street in Flushing and you see nothing but
17 cranes -- and a lot of traffic, but nothing but
18 cranes and the potential for being a major force
19 in the New York City and in fact the New York
20 State economy.
21 Secondly, education is important to
22 the Taiwanese community. And many of us in this
23 chamber have been attempting to encourage the
24 city to close the schools on the Lunar New Year
25 because in Flushing, at the local school, at
1970
1 P.S. 20, approximately 80 percent of the children
2 observe the Lunar New Year. And this is
3 important to the Taiwanese community and to the
4 Asian-American community in general.
5 And the Taiwanese community has been
6 an important force in our cultural activities.
7 We had a remarkable parade in downtown Flushing
8 on February I think it was 21st or so, for the
9 Lunar New Year. Tremendous activity. People
10 came from all over the tristate area to Flushing
11 to participate.
12 And the organizations, there are so
13 many. They come, they have celebrations, I've
14 attended many of them. And I thank them for
15 being such an important part of New York City's
16 cultural institutions.
17 It's interesting because there's
18 been a tremendous increase in Taiwanese
19 population in the last ten years. It has
20 increased, believe it or not, according to
21 statistics, by about 172 percent. Now, part of
22 that is attributable to the fact that on the
23 census forms in 2010, they listed Taiwan in
24 addition to Chinese. And a lot of people
25 identified, for the first time really on a census
1971
1 form, as being from Taiwan. And we've had a
2 tremendous increase in population.
3 And lastly, let me say that I have
4 been privileged to visit the Republic of China,
5 Taiwan, on two occasions. In fact, the first
6 trip was with a number of colleagues who are
7 still here, as was the second.
8 And one of the things that I found
9 most impressive was their system of
10 transportation. They have a high-speed rail that
11 goes from Taipei in the north to Kaohsiung in the
12 south, a distance of about 200 miles, in about an
13 hour and a half.
14 Can you think of that in New York
15 State, coming to Albany on a high-speed rail?
16 It's just mind-boggling. You never
17 realized that you were traveling at the speed
18 that you were traveling. And the train moves at
19 the rate -- up to about 185 miles per hour. And
20 you never feel the vibrations, you never feel the
21 sense of speed until a train passes going in the
22 other direction, and then all of a sudden you
23 sense the vibration.
24 But we have a lot to learn from the
25 government of Taiwan. And I again welcome you to
1972
1 Albany, particularly Ambassador Paul Wen-Liang
2 Chang. And I know you've come every year in the
3 past, various people from the communities. And
4 again, I hope that we can do the same thing next
5 year.
6 Thank you.
7 (Applause.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
9 Sanders.
10 SENATOR SANDERS: I too,
11 Mr. President, must congratulate Senator Díaz.
12 And I hope that he includes me next year in this
13 great celebration.
14 As the former chair of economic
15 development for the City Council, I had the
16 opportunity to visit Taiwan and to have
17 conversations with now President Ma over the
18 economies of Taiwan and New York State.
19 Taiwan, of course, is the fifth
20 largest trading partner with New York State,
21 where we run a deficit, ladies and gentlemen. We
22 run a deficit. But I have a way of dealing with
23 this. I have a way.
24 Our good Governor is leading a trade
25 delegation to Cuba, one that I support. I think
1973
1 it's a great idea. Let's go a step further. I
2 hereby call upon our Governor to lead a trade
3 delegation to our fifth largest trading partner,
4 Taiwan. We have a deficit that we need to make
5 up. I believe that we have companies and
6 corporations in New York State that could go down
7 and offer their goods and services to the good
8 people of Taiwan, just as there are goods and
9 services in Taiwan that we desperately need here.
10 So I certainly call upon the
11 Governor to help lead this delegation. I'm sure
12 that there are people right in this audience here
13 who can work out this trip. In fact, if the trip
14 is going to be done with the efficiency that the
15 Taiwanese have shown the world, we could get it
16 done by nightfall, I betcha.
17 Having said that, I say no more,
18 Mr. President.
19 (Applause.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
21 Hamilton.
22 SENATOR HAMILTON: I just want to
23 say welcome to Albany to the delegation, to the
24 people that are at this: Ni hao. Ni hao ma. Ni
25 hao ma.
1974
1 (Applause.)
2 SENATOR HAMILTON: Ni hao ma. Ni
3 hao ma.
4 I represent the 20th District of
5 Brooklyn, and I represent the Sunset Park area.
6 And we have the most vibrant community with
7 hardworking people from the Asian community who
8 are driving the economic boom in Sunset Park.
9 Soon Brooklyn will be the largest population of
10 Asian-Americans in the State of New York.
11 And I feel proudful of that, and
12 we're doing many great things together. We will
13 soon have Asian Week in Brooklyn, with the
14 borough president, Eric Adams, my predecessor,
15 who sat here in the Senate.
16 So I just want to say to my
17 sister-in-law, who was born in Taiwan, God bless
18 her, she's a hardworking woman, and she has her
19 own business in Massachusetts, a cleaning
20 business.
21 So I just want to say I continue to
22 support my Asian brothers and sisters, and thank
23 you so much. (In Chinese.)
24 (Applause.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
1975
1 Squadron.
2 SENATOR SQUADRON: Thank you,
3 Mr. President.
4 I'd like to join the chorus
5 welcoming our guests today. And what a great
6 turnout, a great sign of the engagement and
7 organization of the community.
8 I want to welcome our special
9 guests. Ambassador, it's always good to see you.
10 I prefer to see you in my district, in Chinatown,
11 but it's also lovely to see you here in Albany.
12 And of course my good friend Justin Yu, Mr. Lee,
13 all of the members of the Chinese Chamber of
14 Commerce, everyone here who resides in
15 Confucius Plaza. And of course the newly formed
16 Junior Chamber of Commerce, which is going to be
17 so important.
18 You know, this resolution and
19 Senator Díaz spoke eloquently about the economic
20 links between our communities, our nation, and
21 Taiwan. And I think that it's appropriate that
22 at the same time we're acknowledging that in
23 honor of Taiwanese Heritage Day, that we also
24 simultaneously are acknowledging and honoring the
25 Chinese Chamber of Commerce itself and the newly
1976
1 formed Junior Chamber of Commerce.
2 Because those economic statistics
3 are not just about Fortune 500 companies, they're
4 not just about the linkage in multinationals.
5 Those are important signs of a connection between
6 nations. But an also important sign of a
7 connection between nations are the small
8 businesses and the local businesses, the retail
9 and the start-ups and the mom-and-pop shops and
10 storefronts and the accountants and the attorneys
11 who hang out a shingle in a small building
12 somewhere on Mott Street or Division Street. And
13 that is so critical too.
14 And that's where the Chinese Chamber
15 of Commerce and now the Junior Chamber of
16 Commerce are going to do so much to support.
17 Because this story of our relationship and our
18 cooperation is not just something that happens
19 with the largest companies and between diplomats
20 at the highest level of international
21 negotiation, it's also something that happens in
22 our communities, where our communities really are
23 linked and are partners.
24 And the Chinese-American community
25 in my district, in Brooklyn, as Senator Hamilton
1977
1 talked about, and across the state is such an
2 important part of the vibrance, the immigrant
3 spirit of our country, and the small business
4 spirit that really does drive our economy and
5 really does create the kinds of economic
6 opportunity that our country is all about and
7 that this partnership is all about.
8 So to all of our guests, to all of
9 our honored guests here on the floor, and
10 especially, because it is their first time being
11 honored here in Albany, to the newly formed
12 Chinese Junior Chamber of Commerce based right in
13 my district, right in Lower Manhattan at the
14 corner of the beautiful Boulevard of the Bowery,
15 sprouting with cherry blossoms, and East
16 Broadway, I want to say welcome, thank you.
17 Thank you, Senator Díaz, for the
18 opportunity, and I look forward to the
19 celebration later today.
20 (Applause.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
22 Montgomery.
23 SENATOR MONTGOMERY: Thank you,
24 Mr. President.
25 And I want to also thank my
1978
1 colleague Senator Díaz for allowing us to have
2 this moment to celebrate this very special group
3 of people.
4 And I must say that aside from the
5 fact that I represent one of those districts in
6 Brooklyn that has a very substantial community of
7 Asian-Americans, I also am very proud to say that
8 you have sent to me one of the most special
9 people in my life, and that is my chief of staff,
10 who is Chinese-American. And truly, truly she is
11 my right hand, my left hand, and runs my office
12 in the district and takes care of business for me
13 on a daily business both when I'm there and when
14 I'm here.
15 So it's a tribute to the community
16 of Asian-Americans, particularly of
17 Chinese-Americans, that I stand here to say
18 you've sent me one of the best. I appreciate it.
19 I appreciate all that you represent in terms of
20 your culture. I have learned so much more, I am
21 so much more appreciative of what you represent,
22 your culture, and what the symbols and the
23 significant holidays and all of the things that
24 are very special to you are now special to me
25 because I have learned so much from my chief of
1979
1 staff, Susan Leung.
2 So thank you and welcome to Albany.
3 (Applause.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: As noted,
5 the resolution was previously adopted on
6 March 24th of this year.
7 And the resolution has been opened
8 for cosponsorship. If you choose not to be a
9 cosponsor, please notify the desk.
10 We want to take this opportunity
11 again to welcome all of our Taiwanese guests
12 here, particularly the ambassador and members of
13 the Chamber of Commerce. To all of you, thank
14 you for being here. We appreciate your presence.
15 (In Chinese.)
16 (Applause.)
17 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
18 DeFrancisco.
19 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Yes. Would
20 you please read the noncontroversial calendar.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
22 Secretary will read.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 55,
24 by Senator Hannon, Senate Print 676A, an act to
25 amend the Public Health Law.
1980
1 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
2 last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
4 act shall take effect on the 180th day.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
6 roll.
7 (The Secretary called the roll.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
9 Hannon to explain his vote.
10 SENATOR HANNON: Thank you,
11 Mr. President.
12 This legislation is known as the
13 CARE Act, and it is designed to ensure that
14 patients in hospitals are provided with an
15 opportunity to identify a caregiver when they are
16 discharged, and that the caregiver him- or
17 herself is included in the discharge plan.
18 And the idea is to provide adequate
19 and comprehensive notice to people who will be
20 leaving the hospital as to the steps that need to
21 be taken once they get to be in their home.
22 We are entering a whole new era in
23 changing around the healthcare system in this
24 state, and ultimately the reliance will be on the
25 family members and the siblings and the children
1981
1 to take care of people who are discharged. And
2 this bill makes a formal process of it, requires
3 absolute notice, recording of the notice,
4 requires selection of a caregiver. It's not that
5 it has to be permanent; it can be changed. But
6 we think that this will make a large way to
7 improving what we do for healthcare in the state.
8 A lot of the impetus to this was
9 driven by AARP, and we should acknowledge that in
10 so passing this bill.
11 Thank you, Mr. President.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
13 Hannon to be recorded in the affirmative.
14 Announce the results.
15 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
17 is passed.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 90,
19 by Senator Libous, Senate Print 830, an act to
20 amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
22 last section.
23 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
24 act shall take effect on the 90th day.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
1982
1 roll.
2 (The Secretary called the roll.)
3 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 57. Nays, 1.
4 Senator Dilan recorded in the negative.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
6 is passed.
7 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 91,
8 by Senator Robach, Senate Print 844, an act to
9 amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
11 last section.
12 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
13 act shall take effect on the 30th day.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
15 roll.
16 (The Secretary called the roll.)
17 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Announce
18 the results.
19 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 56. Nays, 2.
20 Senators Krueger and Rivera recorded in the
21 negative.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
23 is passed.
24 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
25 111, by Senator Bonacic, Senate Print 1606, an
1983
1 act to amend the Judiciary Law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
3 last section.
4 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
5 act shall take effect immediately.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
7 roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
11 is passed.
12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
13 135, by Senator Larkin, Senate Print 2250, an act
14 to amend the General Municipal Law.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
16 last section.
17 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
18 act shall take effect immediately.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
20 roll.
21 (The Secretary called the roll.)
22 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
24 is passed.
25 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
1984
1 154, by Senator Klein, Senate Print 1522, an act
2 to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
4 last section.
5 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
6 act shall take effect on the 180th day.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
8 roll.
9 (The Secretary called the roll.)
10 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Can I
11 have a show of hands again, please? Is there
12 anyone in the negative?
13 Announce the results.
14 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
16 is passed.
17 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
18 230, by Senator Nozzolio, Senate Print 3806, an
19 act to amend the Penal Law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
21 last section.
22 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
23 act shall take effect on the first of November.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
25 roll.
1985
1 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Announce
3 the results.
4 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 54. Nays, 4.
5 Senators Hassell-Thompson, Krueger, Montgomery
6 and Perkins recorded in the negative.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
8 is passed.
9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
10 260, by Senator Young, Senate Print 3018, an act
11 to amend the Municipal Home Rule Law.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
13 last section.
14 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
15 act shall take effect immediately.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
17 roll.
18 (The Secretary called the roll.)
19 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
21 is passed.
22 Senator DeFrancisco, that completes
23 the noncontroversial reading of today's
24 active-list calendar.
25 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Mr.
1986
1 President, Senator Skelos hands up the following
2 committee assignments.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
4 committee assignments are received and placed
5 into the Journal.
6 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: There will
7 now be an immediate meeting of the Rules
8 Committee in Room 332.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: There
10 will be an immediate meeting of the Rules
11 Committee in Room 332.
12 The Senate will stand at ease.
13 (Whereupon, the Senate stood at ease
14 at 4:06 p.m.)
15 (Whereupon, the Senate reconvened at
16 4:33 p.m.)
17 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
18 Senate will come to order.
19 Senator DeFrancisco.
20 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Mr.
21 President, would you return to the reports of
22 standing committees for a report of the
23 Rules Committee.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: We will
25 return to reports of standing committees.
1987
1 And there is a report of the
2 Rules Committee before the desk. The Secretary
3 will read.
4 THE SECRETARY: Senator Skelos,
5 from the Committee on Rules, reports the
6 following bills:
7 Senate Print Number 1195, by
8 Senator Marchione, an act to amend the
9 Environmental Conservation Law;
10 1599, by Senator Bonacic, an act to
11 amend the Environmental Conservation Law;
12 1625, by Senator O'Mara, an act to
13 amend the Environmental Conservation Law;
14 1626, by Senator Marcellino, an act
15 to amend the Environmental Conservation Law;
16 1689, by Senator Libous, an act to
17 amend the Environmental Conservation Law;
18 1781, by Senator Libous, an act to
19 amend the Environmental Conservation Law;
20 1804, by Senator Marcellino, an act
21 to amend the Tax Law;
22 1872, by Senator LaValle, an act to
23 amend the Environmental Conservation Law;
24 2543, by Senator Lanza, an act to
25 amend Chapter 395 of the Laws of 1978;
1988
1 2905, by Senator Ortt, an act to
2 amend the Tax Law;
3 2951, by Senator Ranzenhofer, an act
4 to amend the Environmental Conservation Law;
5 3025, by Senator Larkin, an act to
6 amend the Environmental Conservation Law;
7 3029, by Senator Funke, an act to
8 amend the Environmental Conservation Law;
9 3060, by Senator Young, an act to
10 amend the Environmental Conservation Law;
11 3064, by Senator Young, an act to
12 amend the Environmental Conservation Law;
13 3945, by Senator Avella, an act to
14 amend the Tax Law;
15 4211, by Senator Griffo, an act to
16 amend the Public Service Law;
17 4214A, by Senator Martins, an act to
18 amend the Environmental Conservation Law;
19 4279, by Senator Ortt, an act to
20 amend the Tax Law;
21 4368, by Senator Bonacic, an act to
22 amend the Environmental Conservation Law;
23 4563, by Senator Little, an act to
24 amend the Environmental Conservation Law;
25 And 4753, by Senator Griffo, an act
1989
1 to amend the Tax Law.
2 All bills reported direct to third
3 reading.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
5 DeFrancisco.
6 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Yes, I move
7 to accept the report of the Rules Committee.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: There's a
9 motion to accept the Committee on Rules report.
10 All in favor signify by saying aye.
11 (Response of "Aye.")
12 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Opposed?
13 (No response.)
14 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
15 Committee on Rules report has been accepted.
16 Senator DeFrancisco.
17 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Is there any
18 further business at the desk?
19 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: There is
20 no further business before the desk.
21 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: That being
22 so, I move that we adjourn until Wednesday,
23 April 22nd, at 3:00 p.m.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: On
25 motion, the Senate will stand adjourned until
1990
1 Wednesday, April 22nd, at 3:00 p.m.
2 Senate adjourned.
3 (Whereupon, at 4:35 p.m., the Senate
4 adjourned.)
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