Regular Session - February 24, 2016
583
1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
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3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
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9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 February 24, 2016
11 3:32 p.m.
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13
14 REGULAR SESSION
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18 LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR KATHLEEN C. HOCHUL, President
19 FRANCIS W. PATIENCE, Secretary
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1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 THE PRESIDENT: The Senate will
3 come to order.
4 I ask everyone present to please
5 rise and repeat with me the Pledge of
6 Allegiance.
7 (Whereupon, the assemblage recited
8 the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
9 THE PRESIDENT: The invocation
10 today will be delivered by Father Peter Young of
11 Mother Teresa Church in Albany.
12 Father Young?
13 REVEREND YOUNG: Thank you very
14 much, Governor. Thank you.
15 Let us pray.
16 God, You never fail to provide our
17 New York State citizens with dedicated Senators.
18 May God pour forth this blessing on
19 your legislative effort and provide you with the
20 courage to accept the many demands of your
21 elected office.
22 As Senators, you reported on this
23 day of the session bell to hear one another for
24 the benefit of our New York State constituents.
25 This invocation calls us to be true to our best
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1 at what we might become as a legislative leader.
2 We need to heed the call of our own hearts with
3 compassion and equity for our dear citizens of
4 the great Empire State.
5 Amen.
6 THE PRESIDENT: Senator
7 DeFrancisco.
8 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Yes, Madam
9 President. I would request that you call for a
10 moment of silence to recognize Assemblymember
11 Barbara Clark, who passed away this past week.
12 THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Floor
13 Leader.
14 I'll call for a moment of silence
15 in honor of Assemblywoman Barbara Clark, who
16 passed away this week.
17 (Whereupon, the assemblage
18 respected a moment of silence.)
19 THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.
20 The reading of the Journal.
21 THE SECRETARY: In Senate,
22 Tuesday, February 23rd, the Senate met pursuant
23 to adjournment. The Journal of Monday,
24 February 22nd, was read and approved. On
25 motion, Senate adjourned.
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1 THE PRESIDENT: Without objection,
2 the Journal stands approved as read.
3 Presentation of petitions.
4 Messages from the Assembly.
5 The Secretary will read.
6 THE SECRETARY: Senator Croci
7 moves to discharge, from the Committee on Rules,
8 Assembly Bill Number 9173 and substitute it for
9 the identical Senate Bill Number 6420A, Third
10 Reading Calendar 31.
11 And Senator Marchione moves to
12 discharge, from the Committee on Rules, Assembly
13 Bill Number 9172 and substitute it for the
14 identical Senate Bill Number 6382A, Third
15 Reading Calendar 13.
16 THE PRESIDENT: The substitutions
17 are so ordered.
18 Messages from the Governor.
19 Reports of standing committees.
20 Reports of select committees.
21 Communications and reports from
22 state officers.
23 Motions and resolutions.
24 Mr. Floor Leader.
25 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Yes, thank
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1 you, Madam President. I move that the following
2 bills be discharged from their respective
3 committees and be recommitted with instructions
4 to strike the enacting clause. These are all
5 Senator Marchione's bills: 3534, 3535, 3536, and
6 6089A.
7 THE PRESIDENT: So ordered.
8 Senator DeFrancisco.
9 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: I now move
10 that the following bills of Senator Boyle be
11 discharged from their respective committees and
12 be recommitted with instructions to strike the
13 enacting clause: Bill Numbers 1271 and 5915.
14 THE PRESIDENT: So ordered.
15 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: I also move
16 that the following bill by Senator Griffo be
17 discharged from its respective committee and be
18 recommitted with instructions to strike the
19 enacting clause. That's Senate Bill Number 4323.
20 THE PRESIDENT: So ordered.
21 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Similarly, I
22 move that the following bill of Senator
23 DeFrancisco be discharged from its respective
24 committee and be recommitted with instructions to
25 strike the enacting clause: Senate Number 4003.
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1 THE PRESIDENT: So ordered.
2 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Next, Madam
3 President, on page number 17 I offer the
4 following amendments to Calendar Number 96,
5 Senate Bill Number 5951, by Senator Murphy, and
6 ask that said bill retain its place on the Third
7 Reading Calendar.
8 THE PRESIDENT: So ordered.
9 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Next, on
10 page 19 I offer the following amendments to
11 Calendar Number 124, Senator Ritchie's bill,
12 Senate Print Number 518, and ask that said bill
13 retain its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
14 THE PRESIDENT: So ordered.
15 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: And lastly,
16 on page 20 I offer the following amendments to
17 Calendar Number 130, Senator Funke's bill, Senate
18 Print Number 6370, and ask that said bill retain
19 its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
20 THE PRESIDENT: So ordered.
21 Floor Leader.
22 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Madam
23 President, if we could now take up a previously
24 adopted resolution, Number 3102, by Senator
25 Golden, and if you'd please read the title only.
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1 THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary will
2 read.
3 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
4 Resolution Number 3102, by Senator Golden,
5 memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
6 proclaim September 2016 as Kinship Care Month in
7 the State of New York.
8 THE PRESIDENT: Senator Golden.
9 SENATOR GOLDEN: Thank you, Madam
10 President.
11 We have a number of kinship
12 caregivers up here in our audience today. And
13 it's estimated that 3 percent of all children in
14 the state are being raised by a non-parent
15 relative. In fact, 25 percent of all children in
16 the foster care system are in kinship care.
17 Sometimes a parent of a minor child
18 has voluntarily relinquished custody of the child
19 to relatives. Sometimes the parent is just not
20 able to care for his or her own child. Whatever
21 the instance or reason, these relatives step up
22 and raise their children as their own. They do
23 the right thing.
24 Children need safety, stability,
25 nurturing in their lives, so that they can grow
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1 into productive members of the society. Allowing
2 children to be cared for and raised by relatives
3 who already know them, love them, and want what's
4 best for them is in the children's best
5 interests.
6 Having an opportunity to live and to
7 be raised in a caring, loving and familiar
8 environment helps these kids flourish, which is
9 what we all want for all children. These
10 selfless, dedicated caregivers and advocates are
11 to be recognized and honored for their tireless
12 commitment to their vulnerable children and to
13 our valuable children.
14 We have one lady up there,
15 Mrs. Fountain. She not only lost her daughter,
16 adopted four of her kids, but two of her children
17 died from Duchenne muscular dystrophy. She had
18 to go through that pain, and she did it all by
19 herself. It's a credit to what she's been able
20 to do, and other mothers and fathers that have
21 done the same across this great state and this
22 great nation.
23 So therefore, once again I am
24 extremely proud to carry this resolution, on
25 behalf of all of our kinship caregivers out
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1 there, designating September as Kinship Care
2 Month in the State of New York. Congratulations
3 to each and every one of them, and thank you for
4 your dedication and for your love for your
5 children and for the children's children.
6 God bless you all.
7 (Standing ovation.)
8 SENATOR GOLDEN: Thank you, Madam
9 President.
10 THE PRESIDENT: Thank you,
11 Senator.
12 Mr. Floor Leader.
13 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Madam
14 President, Senator Golden would like to open up
15 this resolution for cosponsorship. And if
16 someone does not want to be on the resolution as
17 cosponsor, they should notify the desk.
18 Otherwise, we will all be on.
19 THE PRESIDENT: The resolution is
20 open for cosponsorship. If you do not wish to be
21 a cosponsor, please notify the desk.
22 Mr. Floor Leader.
23 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Next, if we
24 could please take up previously adopted
25 Resolution 3562, by Senator Espaillat, read the
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1 title only, and recognize Senator Espaillat.
2 THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary will
3 read.
4 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
5 Resolution Number 3562, by Senator Espaillat,
6 memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
7 proclaim February 2016 as Dominican Heritage
8 Month in the State of New York.
9 THE PRESIDENT: Senator Espaillat.
10 SENATOR ESPAILLAT: Thank you,
11 Madam President.
12 I rise to recognize the presence of
13 a good delegation that's here in celebration not
14 only of Dominican Heritage Month, as we adopted
15 the resolution before we went on break, but also
16 advocating for the livery industry in the State
17 and the City of New York.
18 And with us we have several members
19 that are leaders and former leaders of that
20 industry right here in chambers, including
21 Ms. Cira Angeles, who is a cofounder of LA
22 Riverside Brokerage, Inc., and who has led the
23 industry in matters of insurance, the green
24 cards, and other important issues to that
25 industry.
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1 In addition, we have a former
2 Ambassador to Japan and former leader in this
3 industry, Mr. Jaime Vargas, who's with us today
4 in chambers. He was a strong advocate for the
5 industry way before I got here over two decades
6 ago, and continues to be a strong voice for the
7 men and women of the livery industry as well.
8 As well as, posthumously, we're
9 honoring Mr. Claudio Ozoria. He was Number 22.
10 You know, when you call a base, you ask for the
11 number of the vehicle or they give you the
12 number, they dispatch that number. And he was
13 known as Mr. 22, Number 22. And he passed
14 recently, and he's being represented by
15 Bienvenido de Jesus, former president of Seaman
16 Radio Dispatchers.
17 In addition to those three leaders
18 from the livery industry, we have a distinguished
19 member of the State Department of Education. Her
20 name is Angelica Infante, and she is a deputy
21 commissioner for the Department of Education, and
22 one that's in charge not only of bilingual
23 education, but of Common Core and other issues
24 that are of great relevancy to the children in
25 the State of New York. So we're happy to have
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1 Ms. Infante with us here today.
2 And we have in the gallery a healthy
3 delegation of the livery drivers and owners,
4 including Mr. Damian Rodriguez, who is the
5 executive director of the Livery Base Owners
6 Association.
7 So they're here. We want you to
8 extend them the courtesies of this house and to
9 welcome them here to the capital city of Albany.
10 They are the people that make New York move, to
11 run. They drive vehicles and transport our
12 families all over the counties across the State
13 of New York.
14 Thank you, Madam President.
15 THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator.
16 (Standing ovation.)
17 THE PRESIDENT: We welcome them to
18 the house.
19 Mr. Floor Leader.
20 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Senator
21 Espaillat has also requested that we open this up
22 for cosponsorship. And if you do not want to be
23 on, notify the desk. If you do nothing, you will
24 be on as a cosponsor to honor these fine people.
25 THE PRESIDENT: The resolution is
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1 open for cosponsorship. If you do not wish to be
2 a cosponsor, please notify the desk.
3 Mr. Floor Leader.
4 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: I would like
5 to now call an immediate meeting of the Rules
6 Committee, with one admonition. Please,
7 everyone, walk from here to there without
8 interruption so we can start as soon as we can to
9 get back to session. I very much appreciate it.
10 Thank you very much.
11 THE PRESIDENT: Immediate meeting
12 of the Rules Committee in Room 332 of the
13 Capitol.
14 The Senate will stand at ease.
15 (Whereupon, the Senate stood at ease
16 at 3:44 p.m.)
17 (Whereupon, the Senate reconvened at
18 3:59 p.m.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: The
20 Senate will come to order.
21 Senator DeFrancisco.
22 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Yes. I
23 understand there's a report from the Rules
24 Committee at the desk.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Yes,
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1 there is.
2 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: I move to
3 accept the report of the Rules Committee.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Reports
5 of standing committees.
6 The Secretary will read.
7 THE SECRETARY: Senator Flanagan,
8 from the Committee on Rules, reports the
9 following bills:
10 Senate Print 224, by Senator
11 LaValle, an act to amend the Education Law;
12 Senate 627, by Senator Valesky, an
13 act to amend the General Business Law;
14 Senate 965, by Senator Montgomery,
15 an act to amend the Education Law;
16 Senate 1796A, by Senator Ritchie, an
17 act to amend the Education Law;
18 Senate 3243, by Senator Savino, an
19 act to amend the Penal Law; and
20 Senate 6503, by Senator Marcellino,
21 an act to amend the Education Law.
22 All bills reported direct to third
23 reading.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Senator
25 DeFrancisco.
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1 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Yes, I would
2 now request the noncontroversial reading of
3 today's calendar.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Could we
5 have a motion to accept it, Senator DeFrancisco?
6 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Oh, on the
7 Rules Committee, yes. I move to accept the
8 report of the Rules Committee.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: All in
10 favor of accepting the report of the Rules
11 Committee signify by saying aye.
12 (Response of "Aye.")
13 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Opposed,
14 nay.
15 (No response.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: The
17 report is accepted.
18 Mr. Floor Leader.
19 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Yes, now
20 would you please do the noncontroversial reading
21 of today's calendar.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: The
23 Secretary will read.
24 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 6,
25 by Senator Griffo, Senate Print 2722D, an act to
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1 amend the Legislative Law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Read the
3 last section.
4 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
5 act shall take effect immediately.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Call the
7 roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Announce
10 the results.
11 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
12 Calendar Number 6, those recorded in the negative
13 are Senators Comrie, Dilan, Espaillat, Hamilton,
14 Hoylman, Montgomery, Perkins, Persaud, Rivera,
15 Savino and Squadron.
16 Ayes, 48. Nays, 11.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: The bill
18 is passed.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 13,
20 substituted earlier by Member of the Assembly
21 Titone, Assembly Print 9172, an act to amend the
22 State Law.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Read the
24 last section.
25 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
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1 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
2 same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2015.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Call the
4 roll.
5 (The Secretary called the roll.)
6 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: The bill
8 is passed.
9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 23,
10 by Senator Little, Senate Print 6392A, an act to
11 amend the Insurance Law.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Read the
13 last section.
14 THE SECRETARY: Section 6. This
15 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
16 same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2015.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Call the
18 roll.
19 (The Secretary called the roll.)
20 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: The bill
22 is passed.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 26,
24 by Senator Seward, Senate Print 6395A, an act to
25 amend the Insurance Law.
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1 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Read the
2 last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
4 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
5 same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2015.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Call the
7 roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 57. Nays, 2.
10 Senators Krueger and Perkins recorded in the
11 negative.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: The bill
13 is passed.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 30,
15 by Senator Ritchie, Senate Print 6399A, an act to
16 amend a chapter of the Laws of 2015.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Read the
18 last section.
19 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
20 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
21 same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2015.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Call the
23 roll.
24 (The Secretary called the roll.)
25 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
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1 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: The bill
2 is passed.
3 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 31,
4 substituted earlier by Member of the Assembly
5 Kaminsky, Assembly Print 9173, an act to amend
6 the Executive Law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Read the
8 last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
10 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
11 same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2015.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Call the
13 roll.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: The bill
17 is passed.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 32,
19 by Senator Funke, Senate Print 6421A, an act to
20 amend the Public Health Law.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Read the
22 last section.
23 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
24 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
25 same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2015.
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1 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Call the
2 roll.
3 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: The bill
6 is passed.
7 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 34,
8 by Senator Ranzenhofer Senate Print 6423A, an act
9 to amend the Real Property Tax Law.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Read the
11 last section.
12 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
13 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
14 same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2015.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Call the
16 roll.
17 (The Secretary called the roll.)
18 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: The bill
20 is passed.
21 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 40,
22 by Senator Seward, Senate Print 6429A, an act to
23 amend the Insurance Law.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Read the
25 last section.
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1 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
2 act shall take effect on the same date and in the
3 same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2015.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Call the
5 roll.
6 (The Secretary called the roll.)
7 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 45,
11 by Senator Carlucci, Senate Print 6228, an act to
12 amend Lauren's Law.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Read the
14 last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
16 act shall take effect immediately.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Call the
18 roll.
19 (The Secretary called the roll.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Senator
21 Carlucci.
22 SENATOR CARLUCCI: Thank you,
23 Mr. President.
24 Right now in New York State, over
25 10,000 men, women and children are currently
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1 waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. And
2 unfortunately, in New York State we lag behind
3 almost every other state in the nation when it
4 comes to the percentage of people enrolled in the
5 organ donor registry.
6 Five years ago I had the good
7 fortune of meeting Lauren Shields. Lauren
8 Shields is with us here today. And at that time,
9 it was just a year after she had received a heart
10 transplant. She had spent 15 weeks on life
11 support at the age of 9, desperately waiting for
12 a heart transplant.
13 When I had the opportunity to meet
14 her, we were talking about ways that we could
15 make a difference, that we could turn things
16 around here in New York State and make sure that
17 we're giving people the opportunity that Lauren
18 has had.
19 So what did we do? We looked at
20 what were other states doing, what was going on
21 in New York State that we had such a low
22 percentage of people enrolled in the organ donor
23 registry. So we created Lauren's Law, where now
24 when you go to the Department of Motor Vehicles,
25 when you get your driver's license, you're asked
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1 the question: Would you like to be an organ
2 donor, yes or not at this time? And basically
3 mandating that people make that decision.
4 Since October 3rd of 2013 when this
5 law took effect, we've had amendments to it since
6 then. Thanks to the work of Senator Hannon, the
7 commitment that Senator Flanagan has had towards
8 making sure that organ donation is a priority in
9 this chamber and in New York State, we've started
10 to make a difference.
11 And in fact, we've changed the
12 numbers. When we started this crusade, we
13 started at 11 percent, 11 percent of the people
14 were enrolled in the registry. We've changed
15 that. Now we're talking about a 17 percent rate.
16 Now, it might not sound big, but that's actually
17 a 60 percent increase. And to put it into
18 perspective in terms of numbers --
19 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Excuse
20 me, Senator.
21 Can we have some order in the house,
22 please. Thank you.
23 SENATOR CARLUCCI: Thank you,
24 Mr. President.
25 When we look at the numbers going
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1 from 11 percent to 17 percent, in the past three
2 months alone we had an additional 50,000 people
3 enrolled because of Lauren's Law.
4 And in fact, going forward, by
5 extending Lauren's Law, we've done the math and
6 we see the projections of the Department of Motor
7 Vehicles. They're predicting that over the next
8 four years, each year we're going to have over
9 2 million people visiting the DMV to enroll in
10 the driver's license program, or renew their
11 driver's license, giving us 2 million
12 opportunities a year to ask that question. From
13 doing the math with Lauren's Law, we predict that
14 we'll be able to register another 560,000 people
15 over the next four years.
16 So I want to thank Lauren Shields,
17 because without her this law wouldn't be
18 possible. You know, five years ago when we took
19 on this challenge, we hit all types of
20 resistance, all the reasons why we can't change
21 the law. Working together with the members in
22 this Senate and in the Assembly, we found a way
23 forward and we're making a difference.
24 So I ask my colleagues to support
25 this legislation. Let's not turn back progress.
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1 We have an opportunity to save lives, and we're
2 going to continue to do that. So I'll be voting
3 in the affirmative and want to thank my
4 colleagues for making this a reality.
5 Thank you, Mr. President.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Senator
7 Carlucci, you vote in the affirmative.
8 Senator Flanagan.
9 SENATOR FLANAGAN: Thank you,
10 Mr. President.
11 And thank you to Senator Carlucci.
12 I want to add my voice, and I'm
13 clearly going to vote in the affirmative on this
14 piece of legislation. I also want to thank
15 Senator Hannon, who has been extraordinarily
16 helpful in raising awareness on these issues.
17 And Lauren, it's nice to have you
18 here today. Would you just stand up so everyone
19 can say hello and wish you a good welcome?
20 (Extended standing ovation.)
21 SENATOR FLANAGAN: It's really,
22 really nice to see you here.
23 And I got a chance to do a little
24 reading. It's fascinating what you can learn
25 about people. Obviously Lauren had a heart
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1 transplant at 9; she's now a very good student at
2 the age of 15. And you know you're doing pretty
3 well when on your resume you can say, Yeah, I
4 spoke at St. Patrick's Cathedral. That's got to
5 be pretty cool. Spoke at the Columbia Leadership
6 Summit, is involved in a wide variety of local
7 organizations.
8 And ladies and gentlemen, this is
9 absolute living proof of how you can save
10 somebody's life. Someone was nice enough and
11 good enough and smart enough to become an organ
12 donor; that allows you to be here with us today.
13 So what I think we can do, not only
14 in terms of the work of Senator Carlucci and
15 Senator Hannon, is frankly just talk about this.
16 I'm doing it almost every place I go now.
17 And Senator Carlucci is spot on; as
18 progressive as we are in the State of New York,
19 we're dead last. That's not a distinction we
20 should have. It's bad enough if we have it on
21 tax policy or something like that, but in an area
22 like this, we can make a huge difference. And
23 you can do it through the bone marrow registry as
24 well.
25 So I just want to add my voice and
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1 clearly want to always mention Assemblyman Jim
2 Conte, who was a double kidney transplant
3 recipient, a real strong advocate in this area.
4 And we all have personal stories. A
5 gentleman who works for me, Ray Bennardo, who's
6 my chief of staff, his sister-in-law Sue
7 Bennardo, now 11 years, heart and double lung at
8 the same time. She's leading a very full life.
9 So to my colleagues, when you can
10 raise this issue, just raising awareness makes
11 all the difference in the world.
12 Again, Senator Carlucci,
13 congratulations. But more importantly, to
14 Lauren, keep up the excellent work. You're doing
15 fantastic.
16 Thank you, Mr. President.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Thank
18 you, Senator Flanagan.
19 Senator Squadron.
20 SENATOR SQUADRON: Thank you.
21 I want to thank Senator Carlucci and
22 Leader Flanagan for this. Lauren, I want to
23 thank you for being here.
24 In the context that Senator Flanagan
25 talked about, every donor saves lives. I had a
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1 relative decades ago who was one of the first
2 heart-lung transplant recipients with cystic
3 fibrosis in this country's history. Her life was
4 extended as a result of it -- tragically, not as
5 long as we would have liked.
6 And today I have a sister living a
7 healthy life who was in kidney failure for over a
8 year until a donor in the State of Illinois
9 walked into a hospital and said "I want to donate
10 my kidney," and started off a chain -- I think
11 there were 15 recipients around the country in
12 that chain, and my sister was one of them.
13 The fact that there are people dying
14 waiting for organs that could save their lives is
15 a tragedy. It is solvable, as the Leader says.
16 And every one of our stories and the millions of
17 stories around the state -- and, Lauren, your
18 story -- is a great inspiration and a reminder
19 that in a very small way we can make enormous,
20 enormous change in people's lives.
21 And so I thank you for being here,
22 and Senator Carlucci, I thank you for that. As
23 you point out, every percent is scores of lives
24 saved.
25 Thank you. I vote aye.
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1 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Thank
2 you, Senator Squadron. You're voting in the
3 affirmative.
4 Senator Peralta.
5 SENATOR PERALTA: Thank you,
6 Mr. President.
7 I also want to thank the sponsor,
8 Senator Carlucci.
9 This is a very important issue, as
10 we've pointed out. I've actually gotten involved
11 in organ donations because of the fact that I
12 realized, when we did some research, that we are
13 last in the state when it comes to people who are
14 registered to give up or donate an organ.
15 And that's sad, especially when we
16 talk about New York where we are progressives and
17 we are usually the first to lead the way and
18 we're usually ahead of the curve when it comes to
19 issues that matter.
20 So it is so important for people to
21 really participate and help others, and why not
22 in this way. Eliminate the fears that some
23 people may have of what it means to be an organ
24 donor. I know some people, when I went
25 through -- when I started this campaign, some
612
1 people approached me and they said, Well, what's
2 going to happen if I'm laying in bed or I check
3 off that I'm going to be an organ donor and I'm
4 laying in bed in the hospital? Are the doctors
5 really not going to take care of me because they
6 want that organ?
7 These are all myths that are out
8 there. And when it comes to culture as well,
9 people are afraid, they don't want to talk about
10 certain things that bring fear into their hearts.
11 But this is very important. To have
12 an extension of an additional four years will
13 save so many lives. So many people have
14 approached me since I started this campaign. And
15 I'm going to be very supportive of not only this
16 bill but many others to come, because organ
17 donation is a necessity in the State of New York
18 and we need to do so much more to make sure that
19 it becomes mainstream so that everyone talks
20 about organ donations and it's not a myth, it's
21 not a taboo topic that people may not want to
22 talk about.
23 So thank you. I'll be voting in the
24 affirmative.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Thank
613
1 you, Senator Peralta. You're voting in the
2 affirmative.
3 Senator Marcellino.
4 SENATOR MARCELLINO: Thank you,
5 Mr. President.
6 When we're talking about organ
7 donation, that's an extremely important topic.
8 But how do people know? A very simple way that
9 you can let people know that you want to be an
10 organ donor. We all have driver's licenses. All
11 you have to do is when you sign up for your
12 driver's license and when you go get it, tell
13 them to check off the box, they'll print out a
14 license, it'll have a little heart under the
15 phrase "Organ Donor."
16 So speed is important to let them
17 know that your organ is available if something
18 unfortunate happens to you. But we don't want to
19 waste time in getting the word out that there are
20 organs available to be donated. Get a driver's
21 license, put your heart in the right place, put
22 your name on that list and put it here so people
23 know right away that something is available for
24 someone who may need that help.
25 You do a good thing. Thank you. I
614
1 vote aye, Mr. Chairman.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Senator
3 Marcellino, you're voting in the affirmative.
4 Senator Panepinto.
5 SENATOR PANEPINTO: Yes, I want to
6 thank Senator Carlucci for putting this bill
7 forward. It's a bill that's near and dear to my
8 heart.
9 A great friend of mine, Michael
10 LoCurto, was a Delaware District councilman in
11 the City of Buffalo, and he's with us today
12 because he had a heart-liver transplant 20 years
13 ago. And it's people making themselves available
14 and giving of themselves that have given him the
15 opportunity to be with us for the last 20 years.
16 And to extend this law four years on
17 the registration will provide other people with
18 these needed opportunities. And I want to thank
19 the Senator and thank the young lady for putting
20 herself out there like this.
21 And I'm voting in the affirmative.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Senator
23 Panepinto, you'll be recorded in the affirmative.
24 Announce the results.
25 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
615
1 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: The bill
2 is passed.
3 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 72,
4 by Senator Golden, Senate Print 1074A, an act to
5 amend the Real Property Tax Law.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Read the
7 last section.
8 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
9 act shall take effect immediately.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Call the
11 roll.
12 (The Secretary called the roll.)
13 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: The bill
15 is passed.
16 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 73,
17 by Senator Marcellino, Senate Print 410, an act
18 to amend the Agriculture and Markets Law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Read the
20 last section.
21 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
22 act shall take effect on the first of November.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Call the
24 roll.
25 (The Secretary called the roll.)
616
1 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58. Nays, 1.
2 Senator Montgomery recorded in the negative.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: The bill
4 is passed.
5 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 75,
6 by Senator Ortt, Senate Print 3117, an act to
7 amend the Agriculture and Markets Law.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Read the
9 last section.
10 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
11 act shall take effect immediately.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Call the
13 roll.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Announce
16 the result.
17 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 56. Nays, 3.
18 Senators Avella, Espaillat and Hoylman recorded
19 in the negative.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: The bill
21 is passed.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 77,
23 by Senator Hannon, Senate Print 1641, an act to
24 amend the Public Health Law.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Read the
617
1 last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
3 act shall take effect immediately.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Call the
5 roll.
6 (The Secretary called the roll.)
7 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 120, by Senator Croci, Senate Print 6361, an act
12 granting.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Read the
14 last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
16 act shall take effect immediately.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Call the
18 roll.
19 (The Secretary called the roll.)
20 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58. Nays, 1.
21 Senator Bonacic recorded in the negative.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: The bill
23 is passed.
24 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
25 146, by Senator Seward, Senate Print 6694, an act
618
1 to amend the Insurance Law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Read the
3 last section.
4 THE SECRETARY: Section 8. This
5 act shall take effect immediately.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: Call the
7 roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: The bill
11 is passed.
12 Senator DeFrancisco, that completes
13 the noncontroversial reading of the calendar.
14 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Is there any
15 other further business at the desk?
16 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: No
17 further business.
18 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: That being
19 the case, I move to adjourn until Thursday,
20 February 25th, at 11:00 a.m.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT AKSHAR: On
22 motion, the Senate stands adjourned until
23 Thursday, February 25th, at 11:00 a.m.
24 (Whereupon, at 4:19 p.m., the Senate
25 adjourned.)