Regular Session - April 8, 2019
2917
1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
2
3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
5
6
7
8
9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 April 8, 2019
11 3:24 p.m.
12
13
14 REGULAR SESSION
15
16
17
18 SENATOR BRIAN A. BENJAMIN, Acting President
19 ALEJANDRA N. PAULINO, ESQ., Secretary
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25
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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: In the
9 absence of clergy, let us bow our heads in a
10 moment of silent reflection or prayer.
11 (Whereupon, the assemblage respected
12 a moment of silence.)
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
14 reading of the Journal.
15 THE SECRETARY: In Senate, Sunday,
16 April 7, 2019, the Senate met pursuant to
17 adjournment. The Journal of Saturday, April 6,
18 2019, was read and approved. On motion, Senate
19 adjourned.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Without
21 objection, the Journal stands approved as read.
22 Presentation of petitions.
23 Messages from the Assembly.
24 The Secretary will read.
25 THE SECRETARY: On page 15, Senator
2919
1 Comrie moves to discharge, from the Committee on
2 Corporations, Authorities and Commissions,
3 Assembly Bill Number 433 and substitute it for
4 the identical Senate Bill Number 2267, Third
5 Reading Calendar 287.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
7 substitution is so ordered.
8 THE SECRETARY: On page 18, Senator
9 Carlucci moves to discharge, from the Committee
10 on Investigations and Government Operations,
11 Assembly Bill Number 2640 and substitute it for
12 the identical Senate Bill Number 4114, Third
13 Reading Calendar 321.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
15 substitution is so ordered.
16 Messages from the Governor.
17 Reports of standing committees.
18 Reports of select committees.
19 Communications and reports from
20 state officers.
21 Motions and resolutions.
22 Senator Gianaris.
23 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President,
24 on behalf of Senator Mayer, I wish to call up
25 Senate Print 2100, recalled from the Assembly,
2920
1 which is now at the desk.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
3 Secretary will read.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 309, Senate Print 2100, by Senator Mayer, an act
6 to require the Department of Environmental
7 Conservation to report on coyote management
8 techniques in urban and suburban areas.
9 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President, I
10 move to reconsider the vote by which the bill was
11 passed.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
13 Secretary will call the roll on reconsideration.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 50.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
17 bill is restored to its place on the Third
18 Reading Calendar.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: I offer
20 the following amendments.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
22 amendments are received.
23 Senator Gianaris.
24 SENATOR GIANARIS: On behalf of
25 Senator Hoylman, on page 17 I offer the following
2921
1 amendments to Calendar 307, Senate Print 25, and
2 ask that said bill retain its place on Third
3 Reading Calendar.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
5 amendments are received, and the bill shall
6 retain its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
7 SENATOR GIANARIS: On behalf of
8 Senator Krueger, on page 16 I offer the following
9 amendments to Calendar 292, Senate Print 2958,
10 and ask that said bill retain its place on Third
11 Reading Calendar.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
13 amendments are received, and the bill shall
14 retain its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
15 SENATOR GIANARIS: On behalf of
16 Senator Carlucci, on page 6 I offer the following
17 amendments to Calendar 127, Senate Print 2038,
18 and ask that said bill retain its place on Third
19 Reading Calendar.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
21 amendments are received, and the bill shall
22 retain its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
23 SENATOR GIANARIS: And on behalf of
24 Senator Kennedy, on page 19 I offer the following
25 amendments to Calendar Number 347, Senate Print
2922
1 3657A, and ask that said bill retain its place on
2 the Third Reading Calendar.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
4 amendments are received, and the bill shall
5 retain its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
6 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President,
7 can we now take up previously adopted Resolution
8 772, by Senator Griffo, read the resolution in
9 its entirety, and call on Senator Griffo.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
11 Secretary will read.
12 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
13 772, by Senator Griffo, congratulating the
14 Harrisville High School Boys Varsity Basketball
15 team upon the occasion of capturing the 2019
16 New York State Public High School Athletic
17 Association Basketball Class D Championship on
18 March 17, 2019.
19 "WHEREAS, Individual and team
20 championships are highly sought after in high
21 school sports; this Legislative Body commends
22 rare athletic achievements and pays special
23 recognition to those who pursue such excellence
24 and become examples for the youth of this great
25 Empire State; and
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1 "WHEREAS, Athletic competition helps
2 to enhance both the moral and physical
3 development of young athletes, preparing them for
4 the future by instilling in them the importance
5 of teamwork, encouraging a standard of healthy
6 living, and developing a sense of fair play and
7 competition; and
8 "WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is
9 justly proud to congratulate the Harrisville High
10 School Boys Varsity Basketball Team upon the
11 occasion of capturing the 2019 New York State
12 Public High School Athletic Association
13 Basketball Class D Championship; and
14 "WHEREAS, To the praise and applause
15 of their excited fans, the Pirates defeated
16 Oppenheim-Ephratah/St. Johnsville High School in
17 a decisive 67-54 victory to capture their first
18 championship on Sunday, March 17, 2019, at the
19 Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena in
20 Binghamton, New York; and
21 "WHEREAS, Proudly donning the
22 school's colors of maroon and white, family,
23 friends, and the community at large loyally and
24 enthusiastically supported the Pirates throughout
25 their journey as they ended their season with an
2924
1 impressive 21-6 overall record; and
2 "WHEREAS, In a sport such as
3 basketball, which demands athletic prowess, speed
4 and agility, Coaches Brian Coloney, Tom Coloney,
5 Rick Chartrand and Ed Jenack have worked hard to
6 hone the skills of this championship team,
7 teaching these outstanding athletes lessons which
8 will prove invaluable both on and off the court;
9 and
10 "WHEREAS, Coaches Brian Coloney, Tom
11 Coloney, Rick Chartrand and Ed Jenack and all of
12 the outstanding athletes on the Harrisville High
13 School Boys Varsity Basketball Team have clearly
14 utilized dedication, determination and teamwork
15 in providing a lasting contribution to the spirit
16 of excellence which is a tradition of their
17 school; now, therefore, be it
18 "RESOLVED, That this Legislative
19 Body pause in its deliberations to congratulate
20 the members of the Harrisville High School Boys
21 Varsity Basketball Team: Nathan Schmitt, Mathias
22 Duut, Bill Monira, Nolan Parow, Nikola Granolic,
23 Jadon Sullivan, Dalton Church, Adam Szlamczyski,
24 Nathaniel Woodward, Matthew Allen, Peyton
25 Schmitt, Scott Roberts, Foster Neeley and
2925
1 Christian Butler; Coaches Brian Coloney, Tom
2 Coloney, Rick Chartrand and Ed Jenack upon the
3 occasion of capturing the 2019 New York State
4 Public High School Athletic Association
5 Basketball Class D Championship on March 17,
6 2019; and be it further
7 "RESOLVED, That copies of this
8 resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to
9 the members of the Harrisville High School Boys
10 Varsity Basketball Team; Coaches Brian Coloney,
11 Tom Coloney, Rick Chartrand and Ed Jenack; and
12 Managers Maddox Sullivan and Jackson Jenack."
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Senator
14 Griffo on the resolution.
15 SENATOR GRIFFO: Thank you,
16 Mr. President.
17 May I add, Gerald, you did a great
18 job there. I had the student-athletes in my
19 office today, trying to make sure that we got to
20 know them all and be able to make sure that we
21 got the names right, so he did a pretty good job.
22 And thank you all for being here.
23 And as you heard, it's been a
24 tremendous season. And Senator Seward just said,
25 "Where is Harrisville?" Well, everybody knows
2926
1 now where Harrisville is, right, particularly in
2 the state basketball championship arena. It is a
3 community in northern Lewis County in northern
4 New York. And they've done an extraordinary job
5 regularly.
6 (Crying baby in audience.)
7 SENATOR GRIFFO: Tonight, as we are
8 prepared to crown an NCAA -- in fact, even the
9 youngster thinks you did a great job, you see
10 that?
11 (Laughter.)
12 SENATOR GRIFFO: He was rooting for
13 Oppenheim-Ephratah, I think, right?
14 So they accomplished a lot over the
15 last number of seasons. This is the third time
16 that they've gone to the Final Four. The third
17 time was a charm. And as I said, as we begin
18 tonight to watch the NCAA crown a national
19 champion, I think we can see in these young
20 student-athletes how important it is to have
21 teamwork, how important it is to learn from your
22 experiences and to develop long-standing
23 friendships and relationships that will carry on
24 throughout your lifetime.
25 These young men and their coaches
2927
1 have been exemplary role models for the community
2 that they play for and that they represent. When
3 they're on the road, they conduct themselves with
4 character and integrity, and they play the sport
5 and the game hard and fairly. And I think that's
6 what it's all about.
7 So this experience -- we had a short
8 time to speak before -- is not only a rewarding
9 experience because you've achieved the
10 championship, thanks to a lot of dedication,
11 commitment and effort, and a great coaching
12 staff, but also that you've learned life lessons.
13 And these lessons you will carry with you through
14 the remainder of your lives.
15 And this is an important milestone
16 and a very important memory that you will reflect
17 upon throughout your lives. But yet it's only
18 the beginning of your lives, and there's so much
19 more that you can and will achieve as a result of
20 what you've learned here, and if you continue to
21 apply yourselves accordingly. And I know each
22 and every one of you will, and have.
23 And it was my pleasure to host you
24 today, with Assemblyman Blankenbush. Again, we
25 congratulate you, and I'd like you all to stand
2928
1 and request that the President extend the
2 courtesies of the house.
3 (Standing ovation.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
5 resolution was previously adopted on March 26th.
6 Senator Gianaris.
7 SENATOR GIANARIS: And at the
8 request of Senator Griffo, can we please open
9 that resolution for cosponsorship.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
11 resolution is open for cosponsorship. Should you
12 choose not to be a cosponsor of the resolution,
13 please notify the desk.
14 Senator Gianaris.
15 SENATOR GIANARIS: Can we now move
16 to previously adopted Resolution 793, by Senator
17 Sepúlveda, read that resolution in its entirety,
18 and call on Senator Sepúlveda.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
20 Secretary will read.
21 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
22 793, by Senator Sepúlveda, memorializing Governor
23 Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 2019 as Russian
24 American History Month in the State of New York.
25 "WHEREAS, The history and
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1 participation of people of Russian heritage in
2 the American experience will be greatly enhanced
3 and appreciated through the observation of
4 April 2019 as Russian American History Month in
5 the State of New York; and
6 "WHEREAS, Individuals of Russian
7 heritage such as Ivan Turchaninov, Union Army
8 brigadier general; Igor Sikorsky, inventor of the
9 helicopter and the multi-engine airplane; Sergei
10 Rachmaninoff and Igor Stravinsky, composers;
11 Vladimir Zworkin, engineer and a pioneer of
12 television technology; Nikolai Timashev,
13 sociologist; Michael Chekhov, actor; Boris
14 Backhmeteff, scientist and diplomat; Wasilly
15 Leontiev, economist; Yul Brynner and Kirk
16 Douglas, Hollywood legends; Serge Brin, cofounder
17 and head of the Google Corporation; Irving
18 Berlin, author of the song 'God Bless America,'
19 Alexander Ovechkin, captain, Washington Capitals,
20 National Hockey League; Vladimir Zvorikin,
21 physicist; and many others have made important
22 contributions to the United States and the world;
23 and
24 "WHEREAS, The recognition of such
25 significant contributions will enhance the
2930
1 opportunities for Russian American youth to take
2 pride in their forebears and to identify with
3 them as role models; and
4 "WHEREAS, Better knowledge of the
5 role of all immigrant groups, including Russian
6 Americans, in the history of the United States
7 can lead to more productive opportunities for
8 all; now, therefore, be it
9 "RESOLVED, That this Legislative
10 Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize
11 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 2019,
12 as Russian American History Month in the State of
13 New York, and to urge that during this month
14 there be active efforts to examine the subject in
15 public schools, colleges, universities and other
16 venues, and that events and activities supporting
17 interest and attention to Russian American
18 history and how Russian Americans have retained
19 their cultural identity while contributing
20 significantly to the enrichment of New York State
21 and America be encouraged; and be it further
22 "RESOLVED, That copies of this
23 resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted
24 to the Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the
25 State of New York and to the Honorable Anatoly I.
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1 Antonov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to
2 the United States; the Honorable Sergey K.
3 Ovsyanikov, Consul General of the Russian
4 Federation in New York; His Grace Matthew, Bishop
5 of Sourozh, interim administrator of the
6 Patriarchal Parishes in USA; His Eminence
7 Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America and
8 New York; Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard), Orthodox
9 Church in America; Dr. Olga Zatsepina, president,
10 Russian American Cultural Heritage Center, Inc.,
11 and chair, Russian American History Month
12 Coalition; Mr. John Pouschine, president, Russian
13 Nobility Association in America; Mrs. Tatiana
14 Zacharin-Geringer, chief scoutmaster of
15 St. George Pathfinders; and Mrs. Marena Maltsev,
16 president of the American-Russian Aid
17 Association, Otrada, Inc."
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Senator
19 Sepúlveda on the resolution.
20 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: Spasibo,
21 Mr. President, for allowing me to speak on this
22 resolution today.
23 I'm honored to commemorate
24 April 2019 as Russian American History Month in
25 the State of New York. Russia's rich history
2932
1 includes many individuals that have made
2 contributions to the United States. These
3 contributions include inventors such as Igor
4 Sikorsky, who invented the helicopter and the
5 multi-engine airplane; composers who have
6 delighted the world with their music, like Sergei
7 Rachmaninoff and Igor Stravinsky, as well as
8 Irving Berlin, widely known as the greatest
9 songwriter and famously known as the author of
10 the song "God Bless America."
11 We're also lucky to have recognized
12 leaders in the Russian American Heritage
13 organization here with us today. I would like to
14 honor Oxana Adler, Julia Artemenko, Georgy
15 Artemenko, Leon Brook, Olga Filyuskaya, Mark
16 Rashkov, Julio Rodriguez, Irina Zagornova, Olga
17 Zatsepina, and although she's not here, I want to
18 recognize her because she's done a lot of work
19 for the community, Oxana Golovina. Thank you for
20 being here today.
21 The recognition of this month is
22 important because it will give our Russian
23 American and Russian-speaking youth an incentive
24 to learn more about their history and take pride
25 in where their ancestors came from. Our
2933
1 communities can benefit from a deeper
2 understanding or a more active engagement with
3 Russian American history and how it can continue
4 to evolve and benefit all of us.
5 It is up to us to celebrate the
6 diverse cultures that make up New York State and
7 the contributions they have made to our
8 communities. It is also an important reminder to
9 strengthen our cultural and social ties to
10 maintain our good relationship between our
11 countries.
12 Now, a year and a half ago I had --
13 I was part of a delegation trip that went to
14 Moscow, St. Petersburg, we went to Kazan, in the
15 Republic of Tatarstan, with a delegation from the
16 New York State Assembly and the New York State
17 Senate. I daresay two of my colleagues here in
18 the Senate survived that trip, Senator Savino and
19 Senator Joe Griffo, who I now understand has a
20 fine appreciation for shopping for good things.
21 Thank you, Joe.
22 But it was a real wonderful trip
23 where we got to interact with the people that
24 live in Russia. Nothing political about it, it
25 was strictly conversations with individuals that
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1 live there every day and to see that in some
2 cases we have the same struggles and in some
3 cases we all want the same, especially for our
4 families.
5 So I want to thank everyone who
6 joined us today. It is a privilege to have you
7 all here and celebrate your heritage and our
8 shared values. Spasibo.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Senator
10 Jackson on the resolution.
11 SENATOR JACKSON: Thank you,
12 Mr. President and my colleagues. I rise this
13 afternoon in order to pay tribute to this
14 coalition in celebration of Russian American
15 History Month.
16 So my colleague Luis, Senator
17 Sepúlveda, mentioned how important it is that we
18 recognize the cultural diversity of our great
19 country. And obviously we have two individuals
20 here that I know personally and I have worked
21 with previously, because both of them live in my
22 district in Northern Manhattan, and that is Olga
23 Zatsepina and Julio Rodriguez.
24 And they are the ones that are
25 founders of the Russian American Cultural
2935
1 Heritage Center. And when I was a member of the
2 City Council, we had events up in Inwood Hill
3 Park in order to celebrate the cultural diversity
4 that they bring.
5 But I also -- I reflect on our
6 shared cultural heritage between American and
7 Russian people. And there are some names which
8 my colleague mentioned that have shaped the way
9 we think about how we laugh and how we enjoy many
10 of the things.
11 So my daughter is a dancer, and
12 George Balanchine was one of the greatest
13 choreographers ever. And his move to New York in
14 1930 brought new life to American ballet and
15 musical stage.
16 And obviously my colleague mentioned
17 Yul Brynner and Kirk Douglas, two great actors of
18 stage and screen. And Douglas, if you're not
19 aware, was a native of Amsterdam, New York, with
20 parents from Belarus, and was famous for dozens
21 of screen roles and for helping to break the
22 Hollywood blacklist against political and union
23 activists. And Brynner, who was born in Russia,
24 brought us joy in his many Academy Award-winning
25 roles. And obviously George and Irwin Gershwin,
2936
1 sons of Brooklyn, New York, with Russian Jewish
2 parents, helped create the Great American
3 Songbook, and George's first classical work,
4 Rhapsody in Blue, is still played before adoring
5 audiences.
6 But there are many, many others.
7 The most important thing is I thank this
8 coalition for coming together to communicate and
9 educate all of us in celebrating April of this
10 year as Russian American History Month.
11 But finally, with that in mind, let
12 me say that while there may be some clouds in the
13 current relationship between the leaders of our
14 countries, we will never forget the strong ties
15 and friendship that bind us and the people
16 together. And I thank the coalition for being up
17 here today.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Senator
19 Savino on the resolution.
20 SENATOR SAVINO: Thank you,
21 Mr. President.
22 I also want to thank Senator
23 Sepúlveda for bringing this resolution today and
24 for leading the delegation a year and a half ago
25 to Russia. I was very happy to be able to attend
2937
1 that and interact with the community over there.
2 I just want to say Russian history
3 happens every day in the 23rd Senate District.
4 New York City is the home to the largest Russian
5 American Russian-speaking population in the
6 Western Hemisphere, and the largest Russian
7 American community in New York City right now is
8 located in Brighton Beach and Sheepshead Bay.
9 Brighton Beach is actually nicknamed Little
10 Odessa because of its population of
11 Russian-speaking immigrants from the Ukraine and
12 Russia.
13 You know, the Russian American
14 community is not new. It goes back to the first
15 wave of immigrants back in the late 1800s. But
16 the current wave of Russian immigrants dates back
17 to about the 1970s, and they were largely Russian
18 Jews who left the former Soviet Union to come in
19 search of religious freedom. And they settled
20 mostly in New York City and the metropolitan
21 region, and almost overwhelmingly in Brooklyn.
22 And they stayed there and they raised their
23 families there, and they have become part and
24 parcel of what is now one of the most vibrant
25 parts of Brooklyn.
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1 For those of you who have never been
2 to Brighton Beach or Sheepshead Bay or Coney
3 Island, I encourage you to come there -- not just
4 because it's the beaches and not just because of
5 the amusements. Come and see the Russian
6 American community. Come and see their shops,
7 see what goes on in the restaurants, the
8 nightclubs. It is an amazing community to
9 interact with.
10 They are not -- you know, they're
11 not just a great place to visit, they're also a
12 very civic-minded and civic-engaged community.
13 They get involved in every level of the
14 community. They're involved in the community
15 boards, they're involved in civic associations.
16 They want to engage in government. They want to
17 engage in their community organizations. They
18 want to make their communities a better place to
19 be, not just for the Russian American community
20 and Russian-speaking community, but for
21 everybody.
22 So I am very proud to represent the
23 largest Russian-speaking community in the Western
24 Hemisphere, and I welcome you here to Albany in
25 celebration of Russian American history.
2939
1 Thank you, Mr. President.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Senator
3 May on the resolution.
4 SENATOR MAY: {Welcoming in
5 Russian.}
6 I don't have any Russian heritage of
7 my own, but I taught Russian language and
8 literature and cultural history for many years.
9 I have a very, very deep attachment to the
10 history of Russian culture and Russian people. I
11 particularly admire a nation that has come
12 through some of the worst tragedies in human
13 history with this indomitable spirit and
14 commitment to the deep humanity in all of us that
15 has allowed them to generate the beautiful music
16 and literature and opera and art and philosophy
17 that has informed so much of how we understand
18 ourselves as human beings.
19 And so I welcome you and am very
20 pleased that you are here, and I am grateful to
21 Senator Sepúlveda for sponsoring this resolution.
22 Thank you.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Senator
24 Little on the resolution.
25 SENATOR LITTLE: Thank you,
2940
1 Mr. President.
2 And I would like to welcome you to
3 our chamber and to New York State, and we're glad
4 to have you here.
5 I just had the privilege of spending
6 a week in Krasnoyarsk. We attended the World
7 University Games that were held in Krasnoyarsk;
8 Russia was the host. And we are going to host
9 those games in 2023 here in New York State in
10 Lake Placid.
11 So the phenomenal dancing and music
12 and choreography and athletes and venues that we
13 attended were outstanding. And just a wonderful
14 opening ceremony, and the people were very
15 welcoming. Our young attaches who took us all
16 around were so accommodating and helpful too. So
17 I appreciate that.
18 Also, you need to know that in the
19 Adirondacks, which I represent, the Adirondack
20 Park, we have in Essex County the Hamlet of New
21 Russia. So -- very small. I would invite you
22 there, but there's not much to see. Don't tell
23 them I said that.
24 But nevertheless, thank you for
25 being here, and we welcome you.
2941
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Senator
2 Krueger on the resolution.
3 SENATOR KRUEGER: Thank you very
4 much. I also rise to welcome you.
5 I am a Russian American of the first
6 wave of Russian Jews who came here in the 1890s.
7 My grandfather came from near Minsk, and my
8 husband's family, Zelakovitch {ph}, came from
9 Moscow around the same time, although we didn't
10 get together until almost the 21st century.
11 But the fact is if you are from
12 New York, there's a good chance that you either
13 have some Russian American in your own history or
14 you certainly know Russian Americans. So I'm
15 delighted that you're here with us today.
16 Welcome.
17 Thank you, Mr. President.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
19 resolution was previously adopted on March 26th.
20 To our guests, I welcome you on
21 behalf of the Senate. We extend to you the
22 privileges and courtesies of this house. Please
23 rise and be recognized.
24 (Standing ovation.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Senator
2942
1 Biaggi.
2 SENATOR BIAGGI: Thank you,
3 Mr. President.
4 Please take up previously adopted
5 Resolution 828, by Senator Boyle, read that
6 resolution in title only, and recognize
7 Senator Boyle on the resolution.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
9 Secretary will read.
10 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
11 828, by Senator Boyle, commemorating the
12 50th Anniversary of the charter of the Order Sons
13 and Daughters of Italy in America, Constantino
14 Brumidi Lodge Number 2211, and paying tribute to
15 this year's honorees.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Senator
17 Boyle on the resolution.
18 SENATOR BOYLE: Thank you,
19 Mr. President, in support of this resolution.
20 It is to honor the 50th anniversary
21 of the Constantino Brumidi Lodge of the Order of
22 the Sons and Daughters of Italy. It's located in
23 Deer Park, New York. It's a great organization,
24 a charitable one. It celebrates Italian culture,
25 food and heritage. They've been around for
2943
1 50 years now, and they are so much ingrained in
2 our community. We thank them for everything they
3 do.
4 I can tell you, Mr. President, that
5 my 23 and Me DNA test just came back, I am zero
6 percent Italian --
7 (Laughter.)
8 SENATOR BOYLE: -- but I truly
9 appreciate what they do, as all of us do.
10 Thank you very much.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
12 resolution was previously adopted on March 26th.
13 Senator Biaggi.
14 SENATOR BIAGGI: At the request of
15 Senator Boyle, the resolution is open for
16 cosponsorship.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
18 resolution is open for cosponsorship. Should you
19 choose not to be a cosponsor of the resolution,
20 please notify the desk.
21 Senator Biaggi.
22 SENATOR BIAGGI: The previous
23 resolution by Senator Sepúlveda is also open for
24 cosponsorship.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
2944
1 resolution is open for cosponsorship. Should you
2 choose not to be a cosponsor of the resolution,
3 please notify the desk.
4 Senator Biaggi.
5 SENATOR BIAGGI: Thank you. Can
6 you recognize Senator Boyle for an introduction.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Senator
8 Boyle, you are recognized for an introduction.
9 SENATOR BOYLE: Thank you,
10 Mr. President.
11 I am very privileged to recognize
12 with us today Frank Romeo. Frank Romeo is a
13 constituent from Bay Shore, New York, and he's a
14 Vietnam veteran. And what Frank is doing now is
15 literally walking across New York State. Started
16 in Buffalo, he's with us here today in Albany on
17 his way down to the mid-Hudson Valley and
18 New York City and out to Long Island.
19 And his mission and goal is to bring
20 awareness to the difficulties and struggles of
21 veterans. Frank is one of the longest sufferers
22 of PTSD in American history.
23 He also has brought about a
24 curriculum which is taught in Bay Shore School
25 District, and I urge all of my colleagues to look
2945
1 at this curriculum as well. It is taught, war
2 and military, through the eyes of the soldier.
3 So many times our students learn about a battle,
4 a war from the presidential, the policy
5 perspective. But Frank's curriculum looks at it
6 from the outlook of the soldier.
7 We were Skyping earlier today with
8 students from Bay Shore, with some of our
9 colleagues here in this chamber and the Assembly.
10 The students loved it. They felt -- several of
11 them said "We've taken many history courses" --
12 they're in high school now -- but they really
13 felt like they learned so much from Frank's
14 curriculum. He went and talked to the students
15 as part of this curriculum.
16 Please keep it in mind and thank
17 Frank for being with us today, and thank all
18 veterans.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Senator
20 Biaggi.
21 SENATOR BIAGGI: Would you
22 recognize Senator Brooks to also speak on the
23 introduction.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Senator
25 Brooks.
2946
1 SENATOR BROOKS: Thank you,
2 Mr. President.
3 I wish to join Senator Boyle in
4 welcoming Frank. I had an opportunity earlier in
5 the year, he came into the office and discussed
6 what he's doing.
7 You know, last week we paid tribute
8 to Vietnam veterans, and one of the things we
9 talked about is that war, already more than
10 50 years old, so many people don't remember it
11 other than what's in the history books. In this
12 case we have an opportunity, as he goes across
13 the state and speaks to these students, to get
14 the perspective of an individual who went through
15 that war and who is suffering from that war.
16 As Senator Boyle said, there was a
17 Skype session earlier today. I think the
18 students from Bay Shore got a great deal out of
19 it. I think Frank is doing an outstanding job
20 bringing this information to these students.
21 And he's actually walking across the
22 state. He's walking from Buffalo down to the
23 Island. I think he's going to cover some
24 750 miles. I'm lucky I can walk across the room.
25 So it's great to have him here.
2947
1 It's outstanding what he's doing and the
2 information he's giving to the students. And we
3 thank him for his service to this country and
4 what he's still doing for the vets today.
5 Thank you, Mr. President.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: To our
7 guest, I welcome you on behalf of the Senate. We
8 extend you the privileges and courtesies of this
9 house. Please rise and be recognized.
10 (Sustained standing ovation.)
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Senator
12 Biaggi.
13 SENATOR BIAGGI: Thank you,
14 Mr. President.
15 Can we now take up the reading of
16 the calendar.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
18 Secretary will read.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
20 287, Assembly Print 433, substituted earlier by
21 Assemblymember Paulin, an act to amend the
22 Not-For-Profit Corporation Law.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Read
24 the last section.
25 THE SECRETARY: Section 6. This
2948
1 act shall take effect immediately.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Call
3 the roll.
4 (The Secretary called the roll.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:
6 Announce the results.
7 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
8 Calendar Number 287, those Senators voting in the
9 negative are Senators Akshar, Antonacci, Helming,
10 Jacobs, Jordan, Ortt, Robach and Tedisco. Also
11 Senator Little.
12 Ayes, 48. Nays, 9.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
14 bill is passed.
15 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
16 315, Senate Print 4134, by Senator Skoufis, an
17 act to amend the Retirement and Social Security
18 Law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Read
20 the last section.
21 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
22 act shall take effect immediately.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Call
24 the roll.
25 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2949
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:
2 Announce the results.
3 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 57.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
5 bill is passed.
6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
7 320, Senate Print 2899, by Senator Kaplan, an act
8 to amend the State Administrative Procedure Act.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Read
10 the last section.
11 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
12 act shall take effect on the 60th day after it
13 shall have become a law.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Call
15 the roll.
16 (The Secretary called the roll.)
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:
18 Announce the results.
19 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 57.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
21 bill is passed.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23 321, Assembly Print Number 2640, substituted
24 earlier by Assemblymember Lavine, an act to amend
25 the State Administrative Procedure Act.
2950
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Read
2 the last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
4 act shall take effect immediately.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Call
6 the roll.
7 (The Secretary called the roll.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:
9 Announce the results.
10 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 57.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
12 bill is passed.
13 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
14 335, Senate Print 1847, by Senator Hoylman, an
15 act to amend the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Read
17 the last section.
18 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
19 act shall take effect immediately.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Call
21 the roll.
22 (The Secretary called the roll.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:
24 Announce the results.
25 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
2951
1 Calendar 335, those Senators recorded in the
2 negative are Senators Akshar, Antonacci, Brooks,
3 Flanagan, Funke, Gaughran, Griffo, Helming,
4 Jacobs, Jordan, LaValle, Little, Martinez, Ortt,
5 Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Robach, Serino, Seward and
6 Tedisco. Also Senator Amedore and Senator Boyle.
7 Ayes, 36. Nays, 22.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
9 bill is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 344, Senate Print 3106, by Senator Addabbo, an
12 act to amend the General Business Law.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Read
14 the last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
16 act shall take effect on the 60th day after it
17 shall have become a law.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Call
19 the roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:
22 Announce the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
25 bill is passed.
2952
1 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
2 346, Senate Print 3610, by Senator Comrie, an act
3 to amend the Public Authorities Law.
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:
12 Announce the results.
13 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
15 bill is passed.
16 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
17 350, Senate Print 3917, by Senator Stavisky, an
18 act to amend the General Municipal Law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Read
20 the last section.
21 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
22 act shall take effect immediately.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: Call
24 the roll.
25 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2953
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:
2 Announce the results.
3 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: The
5 bill is passed.
6 Senator Biaggi, that completes the
7 reading of today's calendar.
8 SENATOR BIAGGI: Thank you,
9 Mr. President.
10 Is there any further business at the
11 desk?
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: There
13 is no further business at the desk.
14 SENATOR BIAGGI: Great. I move to
15 adjourn until Tuesday, April 9th, at 3:00 p.m.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN: On
17 motion, the Senate stands adjourned until
18 Tuesday, April 9th, at 3:00 p.m.
19 (Whereupon, at 3:59 p.m., the Senate
20 adjourned.)
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