Regular Session - March 20, 2019

                                                                   1974

 1                NEW YORK STATE SENATE

 2                          

 3                          

 4               THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD

 5                          

 6                          

 7                          

 8                          

 9                  ALBANY, NEW YORK

10                   March 20, 2019

11                     11:19 a.m.

12                          

13                          

14                   REGULAR SESSION

15  

16  

17  

18  SENATOR BRIAN A. BENJAMIN, Acting President

19  ALEJANDRA N. PAULINO, ESQ., Secretary

20  

21  

22  

23  

24  

25  


                                                               1975

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

 2                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   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 BENJAMIN:   Rabbi 

 9   Michael White, of Temple Sinai of Roslyn in 

10   Roslyn Heights, will deliver today's invocation.

11                Rabbi White?

12                RABBI WHITE:   It's an honor to 

13   stand before you, and I want to thank my Senator, 

14   Anna Kaplan, for this wonderful invitation and to 

15   join with her in the celebration of Nowruz, the 

16   Persian New Year.  

17                And it's a chance to celebrate my 

18   new Senator, how she came to this country as a 

19   young girl escaping tyranny in Iran and rose to 

20   become our respected Senator.  It's a story that 

21   could only be possible in America, a country that 

22   embraces newcomers and diversity.  

23                I'm also here on the Eve of a Jewish 

24   holiday, another Jewish Purim story.  Tonight we 

25   celebrate Purim, the holiday that commemorates 


                                                               1976

 1   the near genocide of Jews in Persia centuries 

 2   ago.  It's an odd nod to today's divisiveness.  

 3   The Bible teaches that the Prime Minister of 

 4   Persia, Haman, told the King that the Jews were 

 5   disloyal, invaders, enemies who must be 

 6   destroyed.  Thank God for Esther, the Queen of 

 7   Persia, and a Jew, who stood up to the King, and 

 8   we were saved.

 9                Honored members of this body, we too 

10   live in a time when diversity and difference are 

11   feared, when newcomers to our land are called 

12   invaders, when anti-Semitism and Islamophobia and 

13   white nationalist bigotry and homophobia have 

14   sparked fear and violence.  

15                Members of the Senate, my prayer for 

16   you is that you will model and embrace our great 

17   diversity, reminding all New Yorkers, those here 

18   for generations and those brand-new to our state, 

19   those who speak perfect English and those 

20   struggling to learn, those who wear yarmulkes and 

21   those who wear the hijab -- no matter who they 

22   love, the color of their skin, their gender -- 

23   that all belong here.  All are welcome here.  

24                All must be protected and secure 

25   here in mutual respect and dignity.  Because who 


                                                               1977

 1   knows, maybe the next Senator Kaplan is just 

 2   arriving to this country now.

 3                May this be God's will.  Thank you.

 4                (Applause.)

 5                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Reading 

 6   of the Journal.

 7                THE SECRETARY:   In Senate, Tuesday, 

 8   March 19, 2019, the Senate met pursuant to 

 9   adjournment.  The Journal of Monday, March 18, 

10   2019, was read and approved.  On motion, Senate 

11   adjourned.

12                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Without 

13   objection, the Journal stands approved as read.

14                Presentation of petitions.

15                Messages from the Assembly.

16                The Secretary will read.

17                THE SECRETARY:   On page 12, Senator 

18   May moves to discharge, from the Committee on 

19   Energy and Telecommunications, Assembly Bill 

20   Number 5029A and substitute it for the identical 

21   Senate Bill 2270A, Third Reading Calendar 169.

22                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

23   substitution is so ordered.

24                Messages from the Governor.

25                Reports of standing committees.


                                                               1978

 1                Reports of select committees.

 2                Communications and reports from 

 3   state officers.

 4                Motions and resolutions.

 5                Senator Gianaris.

 6                SENATOR GIANARIS:   Mr. President, 

 7   can you please call on Senator Griffo.

 8                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Senator 

 9   Griffo.

10                SENATOR GRIFFO:   Mr. President, 

11   thank you.  I move that the following bill by 

12   Senator Flanagan, Senate Bill 922, be discharged 

13   from its respective committee and be recommitted 

14   with instructions to strike the enacting clause.

15                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   It is 

16   so ordered.

17                Senator Gianaris.

18                SENATOR GIANARIS:   Mr. President, 

19   can we now please take up previously adopted 

20   Resolution 587, by Senator Kaplan, read that 

21   resolution in its entirety, and recognize Senator 

22   Kaplan to speak.

23                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

24   Secretary will read.

25                THE SECRETARY:   Senate Resolution 


                                                               1979

 1   Number 587, by Senator Kaplan, memorializing 

 2   Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 21, 

 3   2019, as Day of Nowruz in the State of New York.

 4                "WHEREAS, It is the sense of this 

 5   Legislative Body to recognize official days that 

 6   are set aside to increase awareness and enhance  

 7   the profile of cultural diversity which 

 8   strengthens the fabric of the communities of 

 9   New York State; and 

10                "WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, 

11   and in full accord with its long-standing 

12   traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud 

13   to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to 

14   proclaim March 21, 2019, as Day of Nowruz in the 

15   State of New York, in conjunction with the 

16   observance of International Day of Nowruz; and 

17                "WHEREAS, The Persian New Year, 

18   Nowruz, meaning 'New Day,' begins each year on 

19   the first day of spring, marked by vernal 

20   equinox, or Tahvil; on this day, which may occur 

21   on March 20th, 21st, or 22nd, the sun crosses the 

22   celestial equator; and 

23                "WHEREAS, Of all Persian holidays, 

24   the New Year celebration is the most important, 

25   embodying a wealth of ancient rites and customs, 


                                                               1980

 1   and symbolizing the continuity of the ancient 

 2   Persian culture which has survived many 

 3   adversities; and 

 4                "WHEREAS, As far back as records go, 

 5   Nowruz has been a celebration of early spring, 

 6   when the sun begins to regain strength and 

 7   overcome winter's cold and darkness, and when 

 8   there is a renewal of growth and vigor in nature; 

 9   and 

10                "WHEREAS, A few days prior to the 

11   New Year, a special cover is spread onto the 

12   carpet or table in every Persian household; this 

13   ceremonial table is called cloth of seven dishes, 

14   each one beginning with the Persian letter Sin; 

15   the number seven has been sacred in Persia since 

16   the ancient times, and the seven dishes stand for 

17   the seven angelic heralds of life -- rebirth, 

18   health, happiness, prosperity, joy, patience, and 

19   beauty; and

20                "WHEREAS, The actual Nowruz 

21   ceremonies begin on the eve of the last Wednesday 

22   of the outgoing year and is known as Chaharshanbe 

23   Souri, or Red Wednesday; early in the evening 

24   several large bonfires are made, and each member 

25   of the family jumps over the fire; and 


                                                               1981

 1                "WHEREAS, Furthermore, the jumping 

 2   over the fire is followed by a gathering in which 

 3   nuts and fruits are served and stories are told; 

 4   while the party goes and the fire dies out, the 

 5   ashes, a symbol of the bad luck imposed by 

 6   winter, are buried; and 

 7                "WHEREAS, The traditional herald of  

 8   Nowruz, Haji Firuz, oversees celebrations for the 

 9   New Year as a remnant of the ancient Zoroastrian 

10   fire-keeper; his face is covered in soot, and he 

11   is clad in bright red clothes and a felt hat; and 

12                "WHEREAS, While ushering in Nowruz, 

13   Haji Firuz plays a tambourine and sings as people 

14   gather around him and his troupe of musicians, 

15   spreading good cheer and the news of the coming 

16   New Year; and 

17                "WHEREAS, The 13th day of Nowruz is 

18   called Sizdah Bedar, celebrated by spending all 

19   day outdoors in nature having picnics and 

20   parties; and 

21                "WHEREAS, Day of Nowruz is a time to 

22   celebrate the aspirations and values that have 

23   been shared with the Persian people for 

24   generations, and to recognize the countless  

25   contributions of Americans and New Yorkers of 


                                                               1982

 1   Persian descent to every aspect of society; now, 

 2   therefore, be it 

 3                "RESOLVED, That this Legislative 

 4   Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize  

 5   Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 21, 

 6   2019, as Day of Nowruz in the State of New York; 

 7   and be it further 

 8                "RESOLVED, That a copy of this  

 9   resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to 

10   the Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the 

11   State of New York."

12                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Senator 

13   Kaplan on the resolution.

14                SENATOR KAPLAN:   Thank you, 

15   Mr. President.

16                As the first Persian American 

17   elected to the New York State Legislature, it is 

18   my distinct honor and privilege to share the 

19   traditions of Persian culture with all of you and 

20   with all of our colleagues in state government.

21                I would also like to acknowledge the 

22   many distinguished guests who have joined us 

23   today in the gallery, who have come from all 

24   around the state and even well beyond our borders 

25   to celebrate this historic occasion with us.


                                                               1983

 1                Today we are officially 

 2   commemorating Nowruz for the very first time in 

 3   the Senate.  Nowruz, or "New Day" in Persian, is 

 4   an ancient festival dating back to the time of 

 5   Zoroaster that marks the beginning of spring and 

 6   celebrates the rebirth of nature.  

 7                This secular holiday is celebrated 

 8   by thousands of New Yorkers each year, as we 

 9   celebrate it here today, by gathering family 

10   around a ceremonial table known as Haft-sin, and 

11   counting down the moment of equinox, when 

12   everyone cheers {in Farsi}, or "Happy New Year."

13                Nowruz is the most important 

14   celebration of all Persian holidays, embodying a 

15   wealth of ancient rites and customs, and 

16   symbolizing the continuity of ancient Persian 

17   culture, which has survived many adversities over 

18   thousands of years.  

19                Nowruz is really a favorite holiday 

20   for Persian kids.  It is a little bit like 

21   Christmas or Hanukkah.  Because no matter how 

22   rich or how poor your family is, this is the time 

23   that you are getting gifts and new clothes.  You 

24   would always at least get one new outfit to wear 

25   for the new year, and then would go to the homes 


                                                               1984

 1   of elders in your family, and grandparents and 

 2   aunts and uncles, and each other, they would 

 3   shower you with gifts, usually a token for 

 4   New Year of a gold or silver coin.

 5                Today I'm honored to bring this 

 6   celebration here to our grand State Capitol, and 

 7   I invite you to join me in the Lieutenant 

 8   Governor's ceremonial office immediately after 

 9   the session so that we can all celebrate the 

10   New Year around the Haft-zin table together.

11                Thank you so much.  Happy New Year 

12   {in Farsi}, and {in Hebrew} to all my Jewish, 

13   Persian and non-Persian friends.

14                Thank you.

15                (Standing ovation.)

16                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

17   resolution was previously adopted on March 5th.

18                Senator Gianaris.

19                SENATOR GIANARIS:   Mr. President, 

20   can we now please take up previously adopted 

21   Resolution 117, by Senator Akshar, read that in 

22   its entirety, and call on Senator Akshar.

23                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

24   Secretary will read.

25                THE SECRETARY:   Senate Resolution 


                                                               1985

 1   Number 117, by Senator Akshar, memorializing 

 2   Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim --

 3                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Senator 

 4   Gianaris.

 5                SENATOR GIANARIS:   Forgive me, 

 6   Mr. President, that's read the title only on that 

 7   resolution, please.

 8                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

 9   Secretary will read.

10                THE SECRETARY:   Senate Resolution 

11   Number 117, by Senator Akshar, memorializing 

12   Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 21, 

13   2019, as Down Syndrome Awareness Day in the State 

14   of New York, in conjunction with the observance 

15   of World Down Syndrome Day.

16                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Senator 

17   Akshar on the resolution.

18                SENATOR AKSHAR:   Mr. President, 

19   thank you very much for your indulgence.  

20                Before I begin my remarks, allow me 

21   to personally thank, with a great deal of 

22   sincerity, the Majority Leader and the Deputy 

23   Majority Leader for their willingness to allow me 

24   to bring this resolution to the floor.

25                I also want to thank former Senator 


                                                               1986

 1   Marchione, who carried this resolution for a very 

 2   long time, and her successor now, Senator Jordan, 

 3   for allowing me to carry this as well.

 4                I rise, Mr. President, with a great 

 5   deal of happiness today.  This resolution is 

 6   probably my -- one of the most favorite ones that 

 7   we do.  And it's not because we get to wear these 

 8   really cool socks that many of us have on today, 

 9   but really because this resolution is important 

10   to not only me personally but so many families 

11   across my Senate district and across this great 

12   state.

13                Tomorrow is World Down Syndrome Day, 

14   where we will celebrate the lives of millions and 

15   millions of people who live with Down syndrome 

16   across the globe.  And this year's theme is 

17   "Leave No One Behind," because it serves as a 

18   reminder of the reality that today, even in 2019, 

19   there are still prevailing negative attitudes.  

20   There are still low expectations, there is still 

21   discrimination and exclusion, and there are still 

22   people who look down upon those that have Down 

23   syndrome.  That should be unacceptable to all of 

24   us.  

25                And at the end of the day, those who 


                                                               1987

 1   are looked down upon feel as though that they're 

 2   not equal.  Right?  Well, that's not the case 

 3   today.

 4                Let us all remember that those with 

 5   Down syndrome dream like every one of us in this 

 6   room.  They celebrate, they cry, they smile, they 

 7   love, they laugh, just like every single one of 

 8   us.  All they want to do is live a life of 

 9   happiness and to be included.  They want and they 

10   deserve to be respected and appreciated, just 

11   like every single one of us in this room wishes 

12   to be.

13                Today we're blessed with a very 

14   special guest in the Senate chamber, a very good 

15   friend of mine, someone who brings so much joy 

16   and happiness to the families across the 52nd 

17   Senate District.  Everywhere I go I see this 

18   young lady at local community events across my 

19   districts.  So much so that if she ever decides 

20   to run for office, I am in a lot of trouble.  A 

21   lot of trouble.  

22                (Laughter; scattered applause.)

23                SENATOR AKSHAR:   Mr. President -- 

24   go ahead.  It's all right, go ahead. 

25                (Applause.)


                                                               1988

 1                SENATOR AKSHAR:   Mr. President, I 

 2   want to introduce to this body a very special 

 3   member of the 52nd Senate District, Julianne 

 4   "Juice" Horton.  Juice has such a passion and a 

 5   joy for all that life has to offer, and that joy 

 6   helps remind us what life is really about, what 

 7   love is all about, what family and community are 

 8   about.  And how important it is to smile and to 

 9   laugh, especially now, this time, in this crazy 

10   city.  We should in fact laugh.  We should in 

11   fact smile.  

12                I'll tell you a very quick story, if 

13   I may.  Special Olympics.  I'm sure many of us in 

14   this room participate.  Back at home, the event 

15   draws more than a thousand people.  And I was so 

16   proud to speak to the group of Special Olympians 

17   who were out on the football field.  And on the 

18   bleacher were hundreds and hundreds of parents.  

19   And as I was speaking, this young lady, with all 

20   of her bravery and all of her tenacity, stepped 

21   up in front of everybody and gave me a big heart, 

22   made me feel really special.  Really, really 

23   special.  

24                Juice and I are best friends.  Just 

25   ask her.  But I would happily share her with 


                                                               1989

 1   anyone in this room or anyone across this great 

 2   state.  You ask yourself why?  Because of the joy 

 3   and the smiles and the love that this young woman 

 4   brings to life.  It's those very traits that give 

 5   her the ability to unite people when we as a 

 6   society have grown so divided, as the rabbi said.  

 7                And she can put a smile on your 

 8   face, I promise all of you, even if you were in 

 9   your darkest hour.  If you were in the darkest 

10   hour of your life and Juice came into your world, 

11   she would put a smile on your face.  

12                It brings me to another person 

13   that's not here with us.  Last year I had the 

14   great opportunity to recognize a young man that 

15   we lost, 4 years old, Cooper Busch.  Many of you 

16   remember that.  He lost his battle with leukemia.  

17   He also had Down syndrome.  I promised the Busch 

18   family that day, and it still rings true in my 

19   mind, that I would do everything in my power to 

20   ensure that their son's legacy lived on and 

21   people never forgot Super Cooper.  And Super 

22   Cooper was somebody that both Juice and I loved 

23   very much.

24                For me personally, I have come to 

25   know so many beautiful and inspiring people at 


                                                               1990

 1   home that live every day with Down syndrome -- 

 2   like Juice.  Like Cooper.  Like Birdie.  Like 

 3   Austin.  Like Katie and like Morgan.  The list 

 4   goes on and on and on.  

 5                And every person that has Down 

 6   syndrome -- I just want to repeat this -- they 

 7   deserve to be included, they deserve to be 

 8   celebrated, to be loved, to be hugged, showered 

 9   with blessings.  And they deserve the very same 

10   opportunities that we all enjoy.  And quite 

11   frankly, that's what today is all about.

12                God knows that those with Down 

13   syndrome treat those in their life in an 

14   incredibly special way.  And to be frank, I'll 

15   repeat it, the state and the nation need more 

16   people like those that I've described who show 

17   unconditional love without prejudice.  

18                Juice, you are a shining example of 

19   that.  For the past week, I want all of you to 

20   know that Juice, when she knew that she was 

21   coming here to be a guest, she started making 

22   friendship bracelets.  She didn't make friendship 

23   bracelets for this side of the aisle, she made 63 

24   of them.

25                ("Aww," from audience.)


                                                               1991

 1                SENATOR AKSHAR:   She didn't care if 

 2   you were a Republican, she didn't care if you 

 3   were a Democrat --

 4                (Laughter.)

 5                SENATOR AKSHAR:   -- what Juice 

 6   cared about was ensuring that we were one.  She 

 7   cared about doing what was right.  

 8                So I'll end on this, Mr. President, 

 9   and I appreciate your indulgence.  I'm 

10   encouraging everyone in this room, whether we're 

11   a Republican or a Democrat, to do our part and 

12   simply do what's right.  I don't care if you're a 

13   Republican or a Democrat, from Buffalo to 

14   Binghamton to Bed-Stuy to Bridgehampton on 

15   Long Island's East End:  Do your part to ensure 

16   those with Down syndrome know that they are 

17   loved, and they know that they are no different 

18   than you and I.  

19                Allow this day to serve as a 

20   reminder that we should cherish every life and 

21   that we are all God's children regardless of 

22   ability.  Every single life matters.  Every life.

23                So thank you, Juice, from the bottom 

24   of my heart for opening my eyes and allowing me 

25   to see a side of our community that is so 


                                                               1992

 1   incredibly beautiful.  

 2                Mr. President, I would ask that you 

 3   welcome Juice and her mom, Maryanne, to the 

 4   chamber and extend all the privileges and the 

 5   courtesies of this great house to these two 

 6   beautiful human beings.

 7                Thank you, Mr. President.

 8                (Standing ovation.)

 9                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Senator 

10   Seward on the resolution.

11                SENATOR SEWARD:   Thank you, 

12   Mr. President.

13                Juice is going to be a very hard act 

14   to follow.  

15                (Laughter.)

16                SENATOR SEWARD:   But I want to 

17   first of all thank Senator Akshar for presenting 

18   this resolution before us today, because World 

19   Down Syndrome Day holds a very special place in 

20   my heart.  

21                For well over the last 30 years, I 

22   have been fortunate to serve on the board of 

23   trustees at Pathfinder Village, which is located 

24   in Edmeston, New York, a very small village about 

25   14 miles west of Cooperstown, in Otsego County.  


                                                               1993

 1                This is a world-renowned residential 

 2   home as well as being a research facility.  It is 

 3   a leader in community-based services for both 

 4   children and adults primarily with Down syndrome.  

 5   You know, plain and simple, Pathfinder Village is 

 6   a very special place.  The teachers and staff at 

 7   Pathfinder do an incredible job every day and are 

 8   truly changing lives for the better.

 9                You know, there's a lot happening at 

10   Pathfinder Village particularly this week.  Right 

11   now Pathfinder is in the middle of celebrating 

12   Pathfinder School Spirit Week with a number of 

13   special events.  And of course on Thursday, World 

14   Down Syndrome Day, everyone on campus will be 

15   wearing their special socks, just as we are 

16   today.

17                And there will be a special 

18   celebration marking the sixth anniversary of the 

19   school's weekly farmers market -- it's called 

20   Pathfinder Produce -- which offers affordable, 

21   nutritious food to the entire community.  

22                And the connection between the 

23   residents at Pathfinder Village and the 

24   surrounding community is truly very special.  In 

25   fact, those residents are a very important part 


                                                               1994

 1   of that local community.  And it's really 

 2   inspiring to see firsthand the boundless 

 3   capabilities of those with Down syndrome.  

 4                Pathfinder's strategic vision says 

 5   it best:  "That each life may have meaning."  

 6   Each life may have meaning.  

 7                So I'm pleased, Mr. President, to 

 8   stand and pay tribute to those very special 

 9   individuals with Down syndrome, as well as their 

10   families, their caregivers and their teachers, 

11   and to stand in support of World Down Syndrome 

12   Day.

13                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Senator 

14   Serino on the resolution.

15                SENATOR SERINO:   Thank you, 

16   Mr. President.

17                You know, at home in my community we 

18   have made celebrating abilities a priority with 

19   our Think Differently campaign that was started 

20   by our county executive.  And I know it's making 

21   its way all around the state.  It's a wonderful 

22   initiative.

23                Very proud to wear my Lots of Socks 

24   today in support of amazing New Yorkers just like 

25   Juice.  


                                                               1995

 1                And Juice, I want to say thank you 

 2   for being here today.  I think we need a little 

 3   bit of Juice every day in here.  

 4                (Laughter.)

 5                SENATOR SERINO:   And also I just 

 6   want to say to her mom, I hope you have an 

 7   awesome time at WrestleMania.  And I know you're 

 8   a very proud mama.  

 9                So thank you, and have a great day.

10                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Senator 

11   Tedisco on the resolution.

12                SENATOR TEDISCO:   Thank you, 

13   Mr. President.  

14                I too want to congratulate and thank 

15   Senator Akshar for carrying the ball on this 

16   resolution.  And welcome, Juice.  And Marianne, 

17   her lovely mother, and the fact that she's become 

18   a wonderful advocate for other parents.

19                I always feel compelled on this day 

20   to stand up, not only as an advocate but as a 

21   family member who had the opportunity to 

22   experience a family -- a brother who was not a 

23   burden but was a gift to our family, to speak a 

24   little bit about my experience and my family's 

25   experience.


                                                               1996

 1                Everybody in this room today and in 

 2   the balcony has challenges we deal with.  

 3   Everybody that's watching this has challenges we 

 4   deal with.  Everyone in the world that's ever 

 5   come into it has challenges we deal with.  

 6                I think none of us could deal with 

 7   it as well as Juice, my brother Joey, or those 

 8   who face the challenge of Down syndrome in one 

 9   way or another.  They have shown such, as has 

10   been mentioned, love, unconditional love.  Every 

11   day to them, they are a joy.  They smile.  I 

12   don't think I got more kisses or hugs combined 

13   from all the people in the world than I did from 

14   my brother Joey.  He brought such unbelievable 

15   power to our family and brought us together in an 

16   unbelievable way.

17                I've told the story before about 

18   being 10 years old and having a brother Tom that 

19   was 14 years old, and my mother becoming pregnant 

20   with our third brother, Joey.  And in the midst, 

21   in the middle of that pregnancy, we would hear my 

22   mom and my dad speaking and we understood 

23   something was happening with the baby and our 

24   brother that my mother was going to give birth 

25   to.


                                                               1997

 1                And in our neighborhood -- and I'm 

 2   so happy we've come such a long way from where we 

 3   were with Down syndrome -- there were some people 

 4   that weren't that nice.  There were some children 

 5   that weren't that nice.  And the day that my 

 6   mother was ready to give birth and we all had to 

 7   get into the vehicle, my brother and I looked at 

 8   ourselves, and we weren't certain we wanted to 

 9   go.  We were a little bit afraid.  We didn't know 

10   what we were going to see, what our brother was 

11   really like, because of the rumors in our 

12   neighborhood from some of the people that weren't 

13   that kind at that time.  

14                And we got to the hospital, my 

15   mother went into the delivery room, we stayed in 

16   the outer area sitting room.  And it was a fairly 

17   quick birth for my brother.  And I'll never 

18   forget this, that we were seated there and the 

19   doctor came out and walked up to my father and 

20   said, "Your child is a mongoloid."  I'm so happy 

21   they never use that term anymore.  It's an extra 

22   chromosome.  

23                And he looked at my father and said, 

24   "You're not going to want to take this child 

25   home.  There's a place out West where there's a 


                                                               1998

 1   home where you can send your child.  I'll get you 

 2   the information on it."  

 3                And my father had a perplexed look 

 4   on his face and he said to the doctor -- and we 

 5   were listening -- "Is our son sick?  Is there 

 6   something wrong with him?  Is it his heart?"  

 7                He said, "No, no, he's very healthy.  

 8   But you're not going to want to take this child 

 9   home."  

10                And my father again hesitated and 

11   said, "Could me and my sons go see their mother 

12   and their brother?  We'd like to go see them." 

13   "Yeah, sure."  He took us into the room.  

14                And my brother and I kind of stayed 

15   back a little bit, because we didn't know what we 

16   were going to see, from what we were thinking, 

17   what we were told, and some of these 

18   expectations.  And I looked at my mother clinging 

19   to this beautiful child.  But I looked around the 

20   room, because I was looking for my brother.  And 

21   then I realized that was my brother.  And it was 

22   the most beautiful baby I have ever seen in my 

23   life.  

24                And the love in my mother's arms and 

25   the way she was clutching that baby, you weren't 


                                                               1999

 1   going to get that baby out of her hands.  And the 

 2   doctor made the mistake of walking up to my 

 3   mother and repeating what he had said to my 

 4   father.  And if she could have got out of that 

 5   bed and ripped his head off his shoulders, she 

 6   would have done that on that particular day.

 7                She looked at the doctor and said, 

 8   "We're a family.  We're an Italian family.  We 

 9   don't send kids to homes, we take our children 

10   home."  And she wanted to get out of that 

11   hospital as quick as she could.  

12                And Joey came home.  He spent 

13   15 wonderful years with us.  And today I talk to 

14   the family members also, and the love they 

15   provide for these children in return for the love 

16   that they get from Down syndrome children.  And 

17   I'm so thankful for my mom and my dad, who for 

18   15 years cared for my brother.  We were very 

19   active in school so they had to make sure we got 

20   to the sports events and all the events we would 

21   do.  

22                But for 15 years at that time, 

23   because the services weren't there, there weren't 

24   people to come in and give you a respite where 

25   you could leave.  And my mom or dad never went to 


                                                               2000

 1   a movie in those 15 years, never went out to 

 2   dinner, never went to a party.  My dad worked in 

 3   the foundry at the General Electric, my mom 

 4   stayed at home, took care of Joey, made sure when 

 5   he was able to go to school, he got to school, in 

 6   the limited area he could get to school.  

 7                And there were days at that time in 

 8   the schools where there was a revolving door in 

 9   some of the people who were providing services, 

10   the aides and things of that nature.  And 

11   children like consistency when they're challenged 

12   in certain ways.  And when someone would leave 

13   that Joey was used to, or a day went wrong, I 

14   remember he'd come home on the bus and he'd get 

15   off the bus and his shoes and socks were not on 

16   his feet.  He threw them out the window.  And he 

17   would be disturbed and upset and angry, and we'd 

18   have to comfort him, my mom would comfort him.  

19                And -- but all through that period, 

20   unbelievable love.  He was joyous usually every 

21   day with us in the house.  And at the age of 15, 

22   got child leukemia.  And at that time there 

23   wasn't the technology to cure that.  If he was 

24   alive today, he probably would still be alive.  

25   But he passed away at the age of 15.  


                                                               2001

 1                And I'll never forget the fact that 

 2   because there was not the technology, he suffered 

 3   quite a bit from that disorder, was in the 

 4   hospital for a month or five or six weeks.  And 

 5   then my dad took over.  And he'd go to work in 

 6   the foundry in the morning, he'd go to the 

 7   hospital when he came home.  He'd sleep next to 

 8   Joey in the bed and rub Joey's head and comfort 

 9   Joey.  

10                In the last two weeks, just there 

11   every night, staying with Joey, and tells the 

12   story that his breathing got very shallow on the 

13   last day he was alive, and he took one last 

14   breath and then he was calm.  And Joey passed 

15   away at the age of 15.  

16                But his legacy and his love lives on 

17   and continues to live on and continues to 

18   illustrate that sometimes we think our 

19   challenges are great and we don't know how to 

20   handle them.  And we get upset and we get angry.  

21   Well, they illustrate for us how to handle our 

22   challenges.  And it's not only about how they 

23   handle their challenges, it's about how their 

24   family does, how society does, how our direct 

25   care services handle it sometimes.  And that's 


                                                               2002

 1   why that is so important, this year and every 

 2   year.  We think about those men and women who are 

 3   trained to deal with some of the challenges our 

 4   kids have, and it's so important that we pay them 

 5   commensurately.  

 6                So today I remember Joey and I'm 

 7   proud to say that we see children now doing 

 8   television movies, in series, going to college -- 

 9   in days when they were telling family members 

10   like mine, Send them out to a home.  They can 

11   achieve such unbelievable successes and be 

12   everything they can be if we expedite that in 

13   everything we can do as elected officials and as 

14   individuals and as parts of their family.

15                So as Senator Akshar has said, we've 

16   come a long way, but we have a ways to go and to 

17   continue to support them and understand that 

18   they're beautiful individuals, that they give us 

19   unconditional love, and they can also provide 

20   tremendous parts of our families and parts of our 

21   communities.  

22                So thank you, Mr. President.  And 

23   welcome, Juice.  And welcome, Mom.  We're so 

24   happy to have you here.

25                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:    The 


                                                               2003

 1   resolution was previously adopted on January 

 2   15th.

 3                To Juice and her mom, I welcome you 

 4   on behalf of the New York State Senate.  We 

 5   extend to you the privileges and courtesies of 

 6   this house.  Please rise and be recognized for an 

 7   encore.

 8                (Extended standing ovation.)

 9                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Senator 

10   Gianaris.

11                SENATOR GIANARIS:   Thank you, 

12   Mr. President.

13                And I'd like to thank Senator 

14   Tedisco as well for sharing his story with us in 

15   the chamber today. 

16                At the request of Senator Akshar, 

17   the resolution is open for cosponsorship.

18                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

19   resolution is open for cosponsorship.  Should you 

20   choose not to be a cosponsor of the resolution, 

21   please notify the desk.

22                Senator Gianaris.

23                SENATOR GIANARIS:   I neglected to 

24   say earlier that at the request of Senator 

25   Kaplan, the previous resolution that was 


                                                               2004

 1   discussed is also open for cosponsorship.

 2                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

 3   resolution is open for cosponsorship.  Should you 

 4   choose not to be a cosponsor of the resolution, 

 5   please notify the desk.

 6                Senator Gianaris.

 7                SENATOR GIANARIS:   Can we now 

 8   please take up previously adopted Resolution 706, 

 9   by Senator Jacobs, read its title only and call 

10   on Senator Jacobs.

11                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

12   Secretary will read.

13                THE SECRETARY:   Senate Resolution 

14   706, by Senator Jacobs, congratulating Jada 

15   Kenner upon the occasion of capturing the 

16   New York State Public High School Athletic 

17   Association Girls Indoor Track and Field 

18   300 Meter Girls Dash Championship on March 2, 

19   2019.

20                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Senator 

21   Jacobs on the resolution.

22                SENATOR JACOBS:   Thank you, 

23   Mr. President.

24                As we all know, athletic competition 

25   helps foster both personal growth and physical 


                                                               2005

 1   development within young athletes.  It is for 

 2   this reason that this legislative body commends 

 3   rare and outstanding athletic accomplishments.  

 4                I cannot think of an individual more 

 5   deserving of our recognition for exceptional 

 6   athletic achievement than Jada Kenner.  Jada is a 

 7   7th-grade student at the Tapestry Charter School, 

 8   which is in my district, in Buffalo, New York.  

 9                At only 12 years of age, Jada is a 

10   standout sprinter for the Thunderhawks, the 

11   Tapestry School's track and field team.  On 

12   Saturday, March 2nd, at the Ocean Breeze Athletic 

13   Complex in Staten Island, Jada won the New York 

14   State Public High School Athletic Association 

15   championship in the Girls 300-Meter Dash.  Not 

16   only did she win the state championship, but she 

17   did so in an astonishing 39.24 seconds.  In 

18   accomplishing this incredible feat, Jada broke 

19   the world record for 12-year-old sprinters.  

20                Jada has proven achievements both on 

21   and off the track, all of which are very, very 

22   impressive.  It is my understanding that one of 

23   Jada's personal goals is to one day compete in 

24   the Olympics.  With her hard work, talent and 

25   determination, there's no reason, I think, that 


                                                               2006

 1   she cannot accomplish this achievement.  I and 

 2   this entire legislative body would like to wish 

 3   her all the best in achieving that goal and many 

 4   more.  

 5                For these reasons, I wish to 

 6   congratulate Jada Kenner upon her New York State 

 7   Girls 300-Meter Championship and the world record 

 8   she has achieved.

 9                Thank you.

10                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

11   resolution was previously adopted on March 19th.

12                Senator Gianaris.

13                SENATOR GIANARIS:   I believe 

14   Senator Jacobs would like that open for 

15   cosponsorship as well, Mr. President.

16                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

17   resolution is open for cosponsorship.  Should you 

18   choose not to be a cosponsor of the resolution, 

19   please notify the desk.

20                Senator Gianaris.

21                SENATOR GIANARIS:   Can we now take 

22   up the reading of the calendar -- oh, excuse me, 

23   I forgot.  Can we please call on Senator Little 

24   for an introduction.

25                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Senator 


                                                               2007

 1   Little.

 2                SENATOR LITTLE:   Thank you, 

 3   Mr. President.  And thank you, Senator Gianaris.

 4                It's my privilege today to welcome 

 5   to the Senate a very special group of students 

 6   from St. Mary's-St. Alphonsus Regional Catholic 

 7   School in Glens Falls, New York.  They're here 

 8   today with their teacher, Mrs. Marcy Carbone.  

 9                And as we know, they're 

10   fourth-graders and they are studying New York 

11   State history.  So they're getting to see where 

12   we are and where laws are made.  But how 

13   wonderful it is for them to be here today to see 

14   what else we do here in the chamber.  

15                And to Senator Kaplan for 

16   recognizing the Persian New Year for the first 

17   time in this chamber, and letting us all be more 

18   aware of that, and for those who are here on that 

19   behalf, the students are getting to see that, as 

20   well as our recognition of Juice and the need for 

21   and help for and recognition of all those with 

22   Down syndrome.  So this is a special day for them 

23   to see all of this, not just the fact that we 

24   make laws.

25                It's a special day for me because in 


                                                               2008

 1   this class is my granddaughter, Josephine 

 2   Hogan -- I ask her to stand -- and also her 

 3   mother, my daughter Elizabeth Hogan.  So you're 

 4   now looking at three generations of Littles.  

 5                (Laughter.) 

 6                SENATOR LITTLE:   But I'm very happy 

 7   to have them here, and I would ask their class to 

 8   stand and be recognized by the chamber.  And 

 9   thank you for this introduction.  

10                Thank you.

11                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   To our 

12   guests.

13                (Standing ovation.)

14                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Senator 

15   Gianaris.

16                SENATOR GIANARIS:   Mr. President, 

17   can we now take up the reading of the calendar.

18                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

19   Secretary will read.

20                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 63, 

21   Senate Print 1978A, by Senator Addabbo, an act in 

22   relation to establishing the legislative task 

23   force on responsible gaming.

24                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Read 

25   the last section.


                                                               2009

 1                THE SECRETARY:   Section 6.  This 

 2   act shall take effect immediately.

 3                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Call 

 4   the roll.

 5                (The Secretary called the roll.)

 6                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:    

 7   Announce the results.

 8                THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 62.

 9                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

10   bill is passed.

11                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

12   108, Senate Print 2174, by Senator Bailey, an act 

13   to amend the Social Services Law.

14                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Read 

15   the last section.

16                THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

17   act shall take effect on the 90th day after it 

18   shall have become a law.

19                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Call 

20   the roll.

21                (The Secretary called the roll.)

22                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Senator 

23   Bailey to explain his vote.

24                SENATOR BAILEY:   Thank you, 

25   Mr. President.  


                                                               2010

 1                And I rise to thank my colleagues 

 2   for voting in support of this very important 

 3   piece of legislation.  

 4                To put it as briefly as possible, 

 5   when individuals are applying for SNAP, they are 

 6   in a position where they are looking to 

 7   supplement their lives and be able to eat.  And 

 8   eating is something that we all need to do, 

 9   Mr. President.  It is a basic necessity of human 

10   life.  And just because you have language 

11   barriers, you should not be precluded from being 

12   able to seek assistance in finding what is our 

13   basic need.  

14                So I am grateful for everybody in 

15   this house understanding how important that is.  

16   And I vote aye, Mr. President, and I once again 

17   thank my colleagues for doing the same.

18                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Senator 

19   Bailey to be recorded in the affirmative.

20                Announce the results.

21                THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 62.

22                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

23   bill is passed.

24                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

25   169, Assembly Print 5029A, substituted earlier by 


                                                               2011

 1   Assemblymember Cusick, an act in relation to 

 2   creating the Finger Lakes Community Preservation 

 3   Act.

 4                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Read 

 5   the last section.

 6                THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

 7   act shall take effect immediately.

 8                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Call 

 9   the roll.

10                (The Secretary called the roll.)

11                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Senator 

12   May to explain her vote.

13                SENATOR MAY:   Thank you, 

14   Mr. President.  

15                I'm not sure how many of my 

16   colleagues from New York are aware of this, but 

17   about a third of your solid waste gets trucked 

18   upstate through my district into the Finger 

19   Lakes, to landfills at the northern end of Cayuga 

20   and Seneca lake.

21                Now Circle Energy has proposed a 

22   giant incinerator very close to the shore of 

23   Seneca Lake, farther down the lake, so that those 

24   trucks would have to travel not just across on 

25   the Thruway, but they would have to take rural 


                                                               2012

 1   roads right along the lake, the same roads that 

 2   people take to go to the vineyards along the 

 3   lake, and the cheese tasting rooms.  

 4                And there's a lot of tourism along 

 5   that lake.  It's a beautiful area of the state, 

 6   and I hope that you will visit if you've never 

 7   been there.  

 8                But what we don't need, the last 

 9   thing we need is giant trash trucks just clogging 

10   those roads and going to a giant incinerator 

11   which would then also pollute the waters of 

12   beautiful Seneca Lake.

13                So this bill is important for 

14   tourism.  It is important for small business in 

15   the area.  It is important for the ecology of 

16   this region.  

17                I want to thank Senator Helming for 

18   her leadership on making this happen, as well as 

19   Assemblymembers Cusick and Lifton.  

20                This is a really important bill.  I 

21   am excited that it is -- I want to thank the 

22   leadership of the Majority Leader for bringing 

23   this to the floor today, because this is going to 

24   make a big difference for tourism, for just the 

25   ecological health of the Finger Lakes.  


                                                               2013

 1                As chair of the Commission on Rural 

 2   Resources, this is a very important step toward 

 3   protecting our rural areas in this state, and I 

 4   am very proud to vote aye.

 5                Thank you.

 6                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Senator 

 7   May to be recorded in the affirmative.

 8                Senator Helming to explain her vote.

 9                SENATOR HELMING:   Thank you, 

10   Mr. President.  

11                I rise today to explain my vote, and 

12   I'd like to begin by thanking this body for 

13   passing this bill for the second year in a row.  

14   Last year it was unanimous approval; I hope it's 

15   unanimous again today.

16                Also, I'd just like to say that with 

17   unanimous support it continues the theme of what 

18   we're talking about today, pulling together on 

19   issues regardless of partisan politics.  When it 

20   comes to issues like protecting our lakes, 

21   protecting a region like the Finger Lakes, doing 

22   what's best for people, the people that we 

23   represent in New York State, it's so wonderful to 

24   see this body come together.

25                As Senator May stated, our Finger 


                                                               2014

 1   Lakes will now be protected from the construction 

 2   of new incinerators along the Finger Lakes.  And 

 3   what's so significant about that, along with 

 4   those incinerators, these beasts are fed with 

 5   trash.  And our area already takes more trash 

 6   that's imported from outside of the Finger Lakes 

 7   than in any other area in the State of New York.

 8                This bill is very important to so 

 9   many people.  And it shows what can be done when 

10   people set aside differences and work together.  

11   We had so many people come to the table to make 

12   this possible from both sides of the aisle.  And 

13   I want to thank all of the environmental 

14   advocates who met with the independent business 

15   owners, with the winery owners.  I want to thank 

16   Assemblyman Cusick and his staff for their work, 

17   their time, their energy they spent on making 

18   this bill possible.  Senator O'Mara's office and 

19   Senator O'Mara himself.  Senator Griffo's office; 

20   Senator Griffo.  

21                Also the former staff of the Rural 

22   Resources Department, Jillian Kassow and Caitlyn  

23   Gilligan, who worked tirelessly on this, and my 

24   own staff.  I mean, I just can't express how many 

25   hours were spent working here in Albany, bringing 


                                                               2015

 1   groups and individuals together to get this bill 

 2   done, and traveling out to the Finger Lakes to 

 3   meet with people and to see the area that we're 

 4   talking about.

 5                So to my own staff, Kristin Frank, 

 6   and also Chris Catt, I also extend a tremendous 

 7   thank you.  And to Senator May, for lending your 

 8   name to support this bill to get it to the floor, 

 9   I thank you for that too.  

10                This bill does not stop -- this bill 

11   does not do everything that is needed to be done 

12   to protect the Finger Lakes, but it is a good 

13   first measure, and again I thank everyone for 

14   your support.

15                Thank you.

16                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Senator 

17   Helming to be recorded in the affirmative.

18                Senator O'Mara to explain his vote.

19                SENATOR O'MARA:   Yes, thank you, 

20   Mr. President.  

21                I'm proud to stand here as the 

22   sponsor of this bill today to prevent this 

23   incinerator project in the middle of Finger Lakes 

24   Wine Country, between the Seneca Lake and 

25   Cayuga Lake, where there is already incredible 


                                                               2016

 1   garbage truck traffic.  It doesn't just flow 

 2   across the Thruway and drop down to those 

 3   northern landfills that are close to the Thruway, 

 4   it comes up from the Southern Tier to the Finger 

 5   Lakes region, as it is already overwhelming our 

 6   local roads and highways with garbage trucks 

 7   flowing through night and day to the facilities.  

 8                This would just add to that, 

 9   together with the environmental consequences of 

10   that increased truck traffic through the 

11   beautiful Finger Lakes region.  We want to be 

12   known for our wine and our tourism, not our 

13   landfills and not our garbage truck traffic.

14                This is an incinerator project that 

15   has tried to have been sold as being very 

16   environmentally friendly with the emissions that 

17   come out of it.  And if that is the case, then I 

18   say why not build these incinerators closer to 

19   the source of the garbage and avoid the 

20   transportation, negative environmental 

21   consequences, the extra cost in transporting that 

22   garbage through our upstate districts, impacting 

23   our tourism?  

24                And for those reasons I urge an aye 

25   vote on this legislation today.


                                                               2017

 1                Thank you.

 2                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Senator 

 3   O'Mara to be recorded in the affirmative.

 4                Announce the results.

 5                THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 62.

 6                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

 7   bill is passed.

 8                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

 9   177, Senate Print 3238, by Senator Comrie, an act 

10   to amend the Tax Law.

11                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Read 

12   the last section.

13                THE SECRETARY:   Section 3.  This 

14   act shall take effect immediately.

15                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Call 

16   the roll.

17                (The Secretary called the roll.)

18                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:    

19   Announce the results.

20                THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

21   Calendar 177, those Senators voting in the 

22   negative are Senators Akshar, Flanagan, Helming, 

23   Jordan, LaValle, O'Mara and Tedisco.

24                Ayes, 55.  Nays, 7.

25                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 


                                                               2018

 1   bill is passed.

 2                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

 3   182, Senate Print 2106A, by Senator Sanders, an 

 4   act to amend the Banking Law.

 5                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Read 

 6   the last section.

 7                THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

 8   act shall take effect on the 90th day after it 

 9   shall have become a law.

10                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Call 

11   the roll.

12                (The Secretary called the roll.)

13                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:    

14   Announce the results.

15                THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

16   Calendar Number 182, those Senators recorded in 

17   the negative are Senators Akshar, Boyle, Funke, 

18   Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Jacobs, Jordan, Lanza, 

19   Little, O'Mara, Ortt, Serino, Seward and Tedisco.  

20   Also Senator LaValle.  

21                Ayes, 46.  Nays, 16.

22                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

23   bill is passed.

24                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

25   201, Senate Print 102, by Senator Kaminsky, an 


                                                               2019

 1   act authorizing the Sunrise Day Camps 

 2   Association, Inc., to receive retroactive real 

 3   property tax-exempt status.

 4                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Read 

 5   the last section.

 6                THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

 7   act shall take effect immediately.

 8                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Call 

 9   the roll.

10                (The Secretary called the roll.)

11                THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

12   Calendar 201, those Senators in the negative are 

13   Senators Akshar, O'Mara, Ortt and Tedisco.  

14                Ayes, 58.  Nays, 4.  

15                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

16   bill is passed.

17                THE SECRETARY:   On page 16, Senator 

18   Rivera moves to discharge, from the Committee on 

19   Finance, Assembly Bill Number 3276 and substitute 

20   it for the identical Senate Bill 1819, Third 

21   Reading Calendar 224.

22                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

23   substitution is so ordered.

24                The Secretary will read.

25                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 


                                                               2020

 1   224, Assembly Print 3276, by Assemblymember 

 2   Joyner, an act to amend the Public Health Law.  

 3                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Read 

 4   the last section.

 5                THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

 6   act shall take effect immediately.

 7                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Call 

 8   the roll.

 9                (The Secretary called the roll.)

10                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Senator 

11   Rivera to explain his vote.

12                SENATOR RIVERA:   Thank you, 

13   Mr. President, to explain my vote.  

14                I want to thank Senators both 

15   Salazar and Krueger for moving this quickly 

16   through their committees, as well as 

17   Assemblymember Joyner, who just passed it in the 

18   Assembly a little bit earlier today.

19                This bill would create the Maternal 

20   Mortality Review Board as well as Advisory 

21   Council.  The fact is that in the State of 

22   New York, out of 50 states in the nation, 

23   unfortunately and sadly, New York is number 30.  

24   There are way too many women that are dying right 

25   after birth from complications that happened 


                                                               2021

 1   after birth.  And we need to make sure that we 

 2   have more information about this issue.  

 3                It is even more tragic that it is 

 4   women of color, particularly black women, that 

 5   are struck by this.  

 6                We need to make sure that we have 

 7   information, that we figure out exactly what is 

 8   going on so that we can have better practices at 

 9   medical facilities all across the state.  And so 

10   we want to make sure when we're talking about 

11   maternal deaths or maternal morbidity, that we 

12   address it.  

13                So this is the reason why this bill 

14   has been pushed forward.  And we want to make 

15   sure that new mothers are provided the necessary 

16   level of healthcare not only to give birth 

17   safely, but to prevent them from developing 

18   life-threatening complications after birth.

19                I'm glad that we've been able to 

20   move this piece of legislation.  I'm glad for all 

21   the support from my colleagues.  And hopefully 

22   the Senate -- after we move it in the Senate and 

23   the Assembly, the Governor would sign it into 

24   law.  

25                Thank you so much, Mr. President.


                                                               2022

 1                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Senator 

 2   Rivera to be recorded in the affirmative.

 3                Senator May to explain her vote.

 4                SENATOR MAY:   Thank you, 

 5   Mr. President.  

 6                I want to thank Senator Rivera for 

 7   bringing this very important bill and the 

 8   leadership for moving it forward.

 9                In Sweden, four women out of 100,000 

10   die from complications of childbirth, which is a 

11   tragedy.  But in the United States, among women 

12   of color, the rate is ten times that high -- 

13   40 women out of 100,000 die either in childbirth 

14   or soon after.

15                This is a national disgrace, and it 

16   is time that we took action on it.  In my home 

17   county, Onondaga County, overall the number is 

18   31.6 women per 100,000.  That is just shameful.  

19                So it is high time that we did this.  

20   I am very pleased to vote aye on this bill.  And 

21   I hope that we can begin the process of reversing 

22   the trend that has doubled maternal death rates 

23   in the last 20 years.  I hope we can start the 

24   trend in the opposite direction and move quickly 

25   toward being a country that can take pride in the 


                                                               2023

 1   way we treat women in childbirth.

 2                Thank you.

 3                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Senator 

 4   May to be recorded in the affirmative.

 5                Announce the results.

 6                THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 62.

 7                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

 8   bill is passed.

 9                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

10   288, Senate Print 2709, by Senator Kennedy, an 

11   act to amend the Business Corporation Law.

12                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Read 

13   the last section.

14                THE SECRETARY:   Section 4.  This 

15   act shall take effect immediately.

16                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Call 

17   the roll.

18                (The Secretary called the roll.)

19                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:    

20   Announce the results.

21                THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 62.

22                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

23   bill is passed.

24                Senator Gianaris, that completes the 

25   reading of today's calendar.


                                                               2024

 1                SENATOR GIANARIS:   Mr. President, 

 2   is there any further business at the desk?

 3                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   There 

 4   is no further business at the desk.

 5                SENATOR GIANARIS:   I move to 

 6   adjourn until Monday, March 25th -- which happens 

 7   to be Greek Independence Day, for all those who 

 8   might care -- at 3:00 p.m., intervening days 

 9   being legislative days.

10                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   On 

11   motion, the Senate stands adjourned until Monday, 

12   March 25th, at 3:00 p.m., intervening days being 

13   legislative days.

14                (Whereupon, at 12:14 p.m., the 

15   Senate adjourned.)

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