Regular Session - January 21, 2020

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 1                NEW YORK STATE SENATE

 2                          

 3                          

 4               THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD

 5                          

 6                          

 7                          

 8                          

 9                  ALBANY, NEW YORK

10                  January 21, 2020

11                      3:41 p.m.

12                          

13                          

14                   REGULAR SESSION

15  

16  

17  

18  

19  SENATOR BRIAN A. BENJAMIN, Acting President

20  ALEJANDRA N. PAULINO, ESQ., Secretary

21  

22  

23  

24  

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 recite 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, Monday, 

16   January 20, 2020, the Senate met pursuant to 

17   adjournment.  The Journal of Sunday, January 19, 

18   2020, 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                Messages from the Governor.

25                Reports of standing committees.


                                                               208

 1                Reports of select committees.

 2                Communications and reports from 

 3   state officers.  

 4                Motions and resolutions.

 5                Senator Gianaris.

 6                SENATOR GIANARIS:   Thank you, 

 7   Mr. President.  I have several motions.  

 8                On behalf of Senator Hoylman, I move 

 9   the following bills be discharged from their 

10   respective committees and recommitted with 

11   instructions to strike the enacting clause:  

12   Senate Bills 1451 and 1489.

13                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   It is 

14   so ordered.

15                SENATOR GIANARIS:   On behalf of 

16   Senator Biaggi, I move the following bills be 

17   discharged from their respective committees and 

18   recommitted with instructions to strike the 

19   enacting clause:  Senate Bill 2036, 2037, and 

20   2492A.

21                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   It is 

22   so ordered.

23                SENATOR GIANARIS:   And I move that 

24   the following bills be discharged from their 

25   respective committees and recommitted with 


                                                               209

 1   instructions to strike the enacting clause:  On 

 2   behalf of Senator Mayer, Senate Bill 5576, and on 

 3   behalf of Senator Carlucci, Senate Bill 6721.

 4                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   It is 

 5   so ordered.

 6                SENATOR GIANARIS:   Please call on 

 7   Senator Griffo.

 8                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Senator 

 9   Griffo.

10                SENATOR GRIFFO:   Thank you, 

11   Mr. President.

12                I also would move that the following 

13   bills be discharged from their respective 

14   committees and be recommitted with instructions 

15   to strike the enacting clause:  Senate Bill 1897, 

16   by Senator Gallivan, and Senate Bill 3876, by 

17   Senator Little.

18                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   It is 

19   so ordered.

20                Senator Gianaris.

21                SENATOR GIANARIS:   Can you please 

22   recognize Senator Martinez for an introduction.

23                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:    

24   Senator Martinez.

25                SENATOR MARTINEZ:   Good afternoon, 


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 1   Mr. President, and thank you.  

 2                I am please to recognize today 

 3   Mr. Henry Salgado, who is the Consul General of 

 4   El Salvador.  He is here with us today joined by 

 5   his family.  He is joined by his wife Yanira, his 

 6   son Bryan and daughter Ashley.  He is also joined 

 7   today by Miguel Bonilla, who is also the vice 

 8   president of the Salvadorian American Chamber of 

 9   Commerce.  

10                The Honorable Mr. Salgado emigrated 

11   to the United States at the young age of 15.  He 

12   came to the U.S. with the hopes of helping the 

13   Salvadorian community, and he did that through 

14   his connections and collaboration with the 

15   immigrant community when he worked as a waiter 

16   and made the decision to serve the whole 

17   Salvadorian community as a whole, now today 

18   serving as the consul.  

19                He represents the ever-growing 

20   population of Salvadorians in the nation and is 

21   the diplomatic relationship between the 

22   United States and El Salvador.  

23                We are honored to have him and his 

24   family here today, who took the tour of our 

25   Capitol, and I look forward to a productive and 


                                                               211

 1   meaningful relationship with our residents.  

 2                Mr. President, if you could please 

 3   recognize the Honorable El Salvadorian Consul 

 4   Mr. Henry Salgado.  

 5                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   To the 

 6   Honorable Henry Salgado, I welcome you on behalf 

 7   of the Senate.  We extend to you all of the 

 8   courtesies and privileges of this house.  

 9                Please all rise and be recognized.

10                (Standing ovation.)

11                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Senator 

12   Gianaris.

13                SENATOR GIANARIS:   Mr. President, 

14   there will be an immediate meeting of the 

15   Rules Committee in Room 332.

16                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   There 

17   will be an immediate meeting of the 

18   Rules Committee in Room 332.

19                SENATOR GIANARIS:   The Senate will 

20   stand at ease.

21                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

22   Senate will stand at ease.

23                (Whereupon, the Senate stood at ease 

24   at 3:45 p.m.)

25                (Whereupon, the Senate reconvened at 


                                                               212

 1   3:54 p.m.)

 2                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

 3   Senate will return to order.  

 4                Senator Gianaris.

 5                SENATOR GIANARIS:   Mr. President, 

 6   can we return to reports of standing committees.  

 7                Is there a Rules report at the desk?  

 8                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   There 

 9   is a report of the Rules Committee at the desk.  

10                The Secretary will read.

11                THE SECRETARY:   Senator 

12   Stewart-Cousins, from the Committee on Rules, 

13   reports the following bills:  

14                Senate Print 7063, by Senator 

15   Little, an act to amend the Real Property Law; 

16                Senate Print 7306, by Senator 

17   Savino, an act to amend the Labor Law; 

18                Senate Print 7307, by Senator 

19   Savino, an act to amend the Labor Law; 

20                Senate Print 7308, by 

21   Senator Sanders, an act to amend the Labor Law; 

22                Senate Print 7309, by Senator Myrie, 

23   an act to amend the Election Law; 

24                Senate Print 7310, by 

25   Senator Kennedy, an act to amend the Labor Law; 


                                                               213

 1                Senate Print 7311, by 

 2   Senator Kennedy, an act to amend the Labor Law; 

 3                Senate Print 7312, by 

 4   Senator Brooks, an act to repeal a chapter of the 

 5   Laws of 2019; 

 6                Senate Print 7313, by 

 7   Senator Skoufis, an act to amend the 

 8   Election Law; 

 9                Senate Print 7314, by Senator Lanza, 

10   an act to amend the Navigation Law; 

11                Senate Print 7315, by 

12   Senator LaValle, an act to amend the 

13   Environmental Conservation Law; and 

14                Senate Print 7321, by 

15   Senator Thomas, an act to repeal a chapter of the 

16   Laws of 2019.  

17                All bills reported direct to third 

18   reading.

19                SENATOR GIANARIS:   Move to accept 

20   the report of the Rules Committee.

21                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   All in 

22   favor of accepting the report of the Rules 

23   Committee signify by saying aye.

24                (Response of "Aye.")

25                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:    


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 1   Opposed, nay.

 2                (No response.)

 3                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

 4   Rules Committee report is accepted.

 5                Senator Gianaris.

 6                SENATOR GIANARIS:   Can we now take 

 7   up the reading of the calendar.

 8                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

 9   Secretary will read.

10                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 12, 

11   Senate Print 6933, by Senator Martinez, an act to 

12   amend the Environmental Conservation Law.

13                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Read 

14   the last section.

15                THE SECRETARY:   Section 3.  This 

16   act shall take effect immediately.

17                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Call 

18   the roll.

19                (The Secretary called the roll.)

20                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:    

21   Announce the results.

22                THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

23   Calendar Number 12, those Senators voting in the 

24   negative are Senators Akshar, Amedore, Gallivan, 

25   Griffo, Helming, Jacobs, Jordan, Little, O'Mara, 


                                                               215

 1   Ortt, Ranzenhofer, Ritchie, Seward and Tedisco.  

 2   Also Senator Robach.  

 3                Ayes, 46.  Nays, 15.

 4                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

 5   bill is passed.

 6                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 20, 

 7   Senate Print 6941, by Senator Rivera, an act to 

 8   amend the Public Health Law.

 9                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Read 

10   the last section.

11                THE SECRETARY:   Section 11.  This 

12   act shall take effect immediately.

13                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Call 

14   the roll.

15                (The Secretary called the roll.)

16                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:    

17   Announce the results.

18                THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

19   Calendar Number 20, voting in the negative:  

20   Senator Lanza.  

21                Ayes, 60.  Nays, 1.

22                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

23   bill is passed.

24                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 29, 

25   Senate Print 6950, by Senator Gounardes, an act 


                                                               216

 1   to amend the Civil Service Law.

 2                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Read 

 3   the last section.

 4                THE SECRETARY:   Section 6.  This 

 5   act shall take effect on the same date and in the 

 6   same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2019.

 7                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Call 

 8   the roll.

 9                (The Secretary called the roll.)

10                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:    

11   Announce the results.

12                THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 61.

13                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

14   bill is passed.

15                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 35, 

16   Senate Print 6956, by Senator Salazar, an act to 

17   amend the Public Health Law.

18                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Read 

19   the last section.

20                THE SECRETARY:   Section 5.  This 

21   act shall take effect on the same date and in the 

22   same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2019.

23                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Call 

24   the roll.

25                (The Secretary called the roll.)


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 1                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:    

 2   Announce the results.

 3                THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 61.

 4                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

 5   bill is passed.

 6                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 39, 

 7   Senate Print 6960, by Senator Kaminsky, an act to 

 8   amend the Environmental Conservation Law.

 9                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Read 

10   the last section.

11                THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

12   act shall take effect on the same date and in the 

13   same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2019.

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:   In relation to 

20   Calendar Number 39, those Senators voting in the 

21   negative are Senators Akshar, Amedore, Jacobs, 

22   Lanza and Serino.

23                Ayes, 56.  Nays, 5.

24                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

25   bill is passed.


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 1                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 44, 

 2   Senate Print 6965, by Senator Salazar, an act to 

 3   amend the Public Health Law.

 4                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Read 

 5   the last section.

 6                THE SECRETARY:   Section 4.  This 

 7   act shall take effect on the same date and in the 

 8   same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2019.

 9                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Call 

10   the roll.

11                (The Secretary called the roll.)

12                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:    

13   Announce the results.

14                THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

15   Calendar Number 44, voting in the negative:  

16   Senator Akshar.

17                Ayes, 60.  Nays, 1.

18                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

19   bill is passed.

20                There is a substitution at the desk.

21                The Secretary will read.

22                THE SECRETARY:   Senator Metzger 

23   moves to discharge, from the Committee on Rules, 

24   Assembly Bill Number 8977 and substitute it for 

25   the identical Senate Bill 6968, Third Reading 


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 1   Calendar 47.

 2                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

 3   substitution is so ordered.

 4                The Secretary will read.

 5                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 47, 

 6   Assembly Print Number 8977, by Assemblymember 

 7   Lupardo, an act to amend the Agriculture and 

 8   Markets Law.

 9                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Read 

10   the last section.

11                THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

12   act shall take effect immediately.

13                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Call 

14   the roll.

15                (The Secretary called the roll.)

16                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:    

17   Senator Metzger to explain her vote.

18                SENATOR METZGER:   Thank you, 

19   Mr. President.

20                The passage of this legislation is 

21   hugely important for our farmers, for New York's 

22   economy.  It is really creating a nation-leading 

23   framework for growing, processing and selling 

24   hemp and hemp-related products in New York.

25                And, you know, it's very rare that a 


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 1   new -- it almost never happens that a new, 

 2   high-value commodity comes along like this.  It's 

 3   an enormous opportunity for our farmers to 

 4   diversify and New York businesses up the value 

 5   chain.

 6                And I also, on -- there's, you know, 

 7   the economic benefits, but also on the consumer 

 8   side this legislation creates the important 

 9   protections we need for consumers.  Right now 

10   there are no protections.  People can buy 

11   products with CBD in it and have no idea what's 

12   actually in it, whether there's even any CBD in 

13   it.

14                So this is very significant 

15   legislation, and I'm proud to be a sponsor and 

16   vote aye.  

17                Thank you very much.

18                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:    

19   Senator Metzger to be recorded in the 

20   affirmative.

21                Announce the results.

22                THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 61.

23                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

24   bill is passed.

25                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 49, 


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 1   Senate Print 4034, by Senator Skoufis, an act to 

 2   amend the General Municipal Law.

 3                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Read 

 4   the last section.

 5                THE SECRETARY:   Section 3.  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:    

11   Announce the results.

12                THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

13   Calendar Number 49, voting in the negative:  

14   Senator LaValle.  

15                Ayes, 60.  Nays, 1.

16                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

17   bill is passed.

18                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 70, 

19   Senate Print 643, by Senator Breslin, an act to 

20   amend the Insurance Law and the Vehicle and 

21   Traffic Law.

22                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Read 

23   the last section.

24                THE SECRETARY:   Section 9.  This 

25   act shall take effect on the 270th day after it 


                                                               222

 1   shall have become a law.

 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:   Ayes, 61.

 8                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

 9   bill is passed.

10                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 90, 

11   Senate Print 7166, by Senator Sanders, an act to 

12   amend the Tax Law.

13                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Read 

14   the last section.

15                THE SECRETARY:   Section 3.  This 

16   act shall take effect on the same date and in the 

17   same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2019.

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, 61.

24                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

25   bill is passed.


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 1                Senator Gianaris, that completes the 

 2   reading of today's calendar.

 3                SENATOR GIANARIS:   Mr. President, 

 4   we will now take up two bills from the 

 5   supplemental calendar.  Please take up Calendar 

 6   Numbers 204 and 208.

 7                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

 8   Secretary will read.

 9                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

10   204, Senate Print 7312, by Senator Brooks, an act 

11   to repeal a chapter of the Laws of 2019.

12                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Read 

13   the last section.

14                THE SECRETARY:   Section 13.  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:   Senator 

20   Brooks to explain his vote.

21                SENATOR BROOKS:   Thank you, 

22   Mr. President.  

23                This, for us in that community, is a 

24   very critical bill.  It provides to a school 

25   district that has significant financial 


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 1   challenges and significant growth in the student 

 2   population -- in fact, it's the fastest-growing 

 3   school district in the State of New York -- it 

 4   provides assistance to help the district manage 

 5   their expense program by appointing a monitor, 

 6   who will be working both with the community and 

 7   the school district, the State Education 

 8   Department, to put together long-term financial 

 9   plans to get this school district back on the 

10   right financial footing.

11                I appreciate the support.  This is a 

12   district that is the poorest school district in 

13   Suffolk County.  They right now have a deficit in 

14   that district of close to $4 million.  This is 

15   the leadership they're going to need to get this 

16   district back in the right position.  

17                So I will be voting aye.

18                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Senator 

19   Brooks to be recorded in the affirmative.

20                Senator Mayer to explain her vote.

21                SENATOR MAYER:   Thank you, 

22   Mr. President.

23                Today I'm proud to stand up and 

24   support the passage of this bill, S7312, by 

25   Senator Brooks, and a bill that I hope we pass 


                                                               225

 1   thereafter, by Senator Thomas.  

 2                Both of these bills are 

 3   unprecedented legislation which will strengthen 

 4   oversight of two struggling school districts, 

 5   Wyandanch and Hempstead.  These measures lead to 

 6   improved academic programs for students and 

 7   greater fiscal accountability for parents and 

 8   communities, while maintaining partnership with 

 9   school boards and local school officials.  

10                Monitors will be appointed by and 

11   accountable to the State Commissioner of 

12   Education as they work with local educators.  

13   Parents and other stakeholders will have an 

14   opportunity to have their voices heard in the 

15   process.  And monitors will have clear lines of 

16   authority, involvement in planning and 

17   budget making, and will work with the local board 

18   of education to establish a positive path forward 

19   for each district.  

20                The students in these districts have 

21   unfortunately waited too long for New York State 

22   to intervene.  Programs have been reduced, and 

23   opportunities for children have been lost.  These 

24   measures are the right balance of oversight, 

25   intervention and hope for the children that we 


                                                               226

 1   are obligated to serve and to educate.  

 2                I want to congratulate the sponsors 

 3   of these bills, their Assembly counterparts, and 

 4   the Governor's office for working together for 

 5   the benefit of the children of these districts.  

 6   That is our utmost responsibility.  

 7                And I proudly vote aye.

 8                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Senator 

 9   Mayer to be recorded in the affirmative.

10                Senator Funke to explain his vote.

11                SENATOR FUNKE:   Thank you, 

12   Mr. President.  

13                I'm going to vote for this 

14   legislation, and I would like to also advise this 

15   body that the City of Rochester is facing 

16   something similar.  We're facing a $34 million 

17   deficit now that's going to grow to $60 million.  

18                This is not the fault of students, 

19   this is not the fault of teachers, this is not 

20   the fault of parents.  This is the fault of the 

21   City School Board and its malfeasance in the City 

22   of Rochester.  It is the fault of the previous 

23   administration of this school district.  

24                So what do we do about it now?  I 

25   have legislation also to create a fiscal and an 


                                                               227

 1   academic monitor in the City of Rochester.  

 2   Senator Robach does as well.  I am hopeful that 

 3   as we move through this session that we will be 

 4   reminded of the fact that we are voting for 

 5   Hempstead and Wyandanch here, and that you will 

 6   support the City of Rochester as well.  They are 

 7   struggling, they are suffering right now, and we 

 8   need to fix that problem.  

 9                I vote aye, Mr. President.  Thank 

10   you.

11                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Senator 

12   Funke to be recorded in the affirmative.

13                Senator Boyle to explain his vote.

14                SENATOR BOYLE:   Mr. President, to 

15   explain my vote.  

16                I'd first like to thank my colleague 

17   Senator Brooks for his leadership and hard work 

18   on this piece of legislation for the Wyandanch 

19   School District, and also Assemblywoman Kimberly 

20   Jean-Pierre, who did such great work in the 

21   Assembly.  It's long overdue for the students of 

22   Wyandanch to have a turnaround, and this is the 

23   beginning of it, I believe.  

24                Importantly, we just saw the 

25   Governor give his budget presentation.  He talked 


                                                               228

 1   about driving money to high-needs school 

 2   districts.  Well, we need to remember it's not 

 3   just where the money goes, it's how it's spent, 

 4   and we've got to keep our eye on the ball.  

 5                I vote in favor.

 6                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Senator 

 7   Boyle to be recorded in the affirmative.

 8                Senator Jackson to explain his vote.

 9                SENATOR JACKSON:   Thank you, 

10   Mr. President and my colleagues.  

11                I rise in order to speak about these 

12   particular bills, about Senator Brooks.  I heard 

13   what he had to say in our conference, and I 

14   support that wholeheartedly.  Because when it 

15   comes to our children's education, we want to 

16   make sure that the elected or appointed school 

17   boards are doing the right thing.  

18                And where the Senator, both either 

19   Senator Brooks or Senator Thomas from Hempstead, 

20   are alleging that things need to be looked at 

21   from a monitor's point of view, I wholeheartedly 

22   support that, especially when my colleagues are 

23   saying that the graduation rate is 31 percent or 

24   around that, which is totally unacceptable to me 

25   as someone that has been involved in education, 


                                                               229

 1   as the father of three girls.  

 2                And, more specifically, last year in 

 3   the budgetary process I went to Rochester, I went 

 4   to Schenectady, I went to Long Island, and I know 

 5   what the conditions are.  I do know this, that 

 6   the State of New York owes our children statewide 

 7   $4 billion.  In Rochester, New York, it was 

 8   almost $3,000 per student that the State of 

 9   New York owed under the lawsuit and under the 

10   Campaign for Fiscal Equity, with the Foundation 

11   Aid formula.  

12                Now, can you imagine -- I don't have 

13   a calculator on me -- 3,000 times 28,000?  That's 

14   how much money Rochester is owed.  

15                And so, Senator, I stand with you, 

16   with the people of Rochester, in supporting 

17   whatever has to be done to ensure that Rochester 

18   gets the money they rightfully deserve and that 

19   it's spent correctly.  So when that 

20   legislation -- if it's already out, I will sign 

21   on to that and support you and the people of 

22   Rochester, just like I support my colleague 

23   Senator Brooks and my colleague Senator Thomas in 

24   their efforts to ensure that our children receive 

25   a good education.


                                                               230

 1                I vote aye.

 2                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Senator 

 3   Jackson to be recorded in the affirmative.

 4                Announce the results.

 5                THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

 6   Calendar Number 204, those Senators voting in the 

 7   negative are Senators Amedore, Borrello, 

 8   Flanagan, Gallivan --

 9                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:    

10   Announce the results.

11                THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

12   Calendar 204, those Senators voting in the 

13   negative are Senators Amedore, Borrello, 

14   Flanagan, Gallivan, Griffo, Jacobs, Jordan, 

15   O'Mara, Ortt, Serino and Tedisco.  

16                Ayes, 50.  Nays, 11.

17                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

18   bill is passed.

19                THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

20   208, Senate Print 7321, by Senator Thomas, an act 

21   to repeal a chapter of the Laws of 2019.

22                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Read 

23   the last section.

24                THE SECRETARY:   Section 12.  This 

25   act shall take effect immediately.


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 1                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Call 

 2   the roll.

 3                (The Secretary called the roll.)

 4                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Senator 

 5   Thomas to explain his vote.

 6                SENATOR THOMAS:   Thank you, 

 7   Mr. President.

 8                This is a very important bill to my 

 9   are district.  For far too long, the students in 

10   Hempstead were suffering.  And now with this 

11   bill, with this chapter amendment, there will be 

12   more equity in education in Hempstead.  

13                The Hempstead School District 

14   educates a large minority population.  These 

15   children deserve high-quality education in order 

16   for them to have upward mobility and to obtain 

17   their American dream.

18                This is exactly why I introduced the 

19   Hempstead school monitor bill.  The monitor will 

20   guide the school district on education and fiscal 

21   matters.  The monitor will hold public hearings, 

22   and recommendations from the public hearings will 

23   have to be followed by the school district.

24                The Hempstead School District has 

25   been struggling, but they are showing that their 


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 1   graduation rates are going up.  This monitor will 

 2   ensure the district succeeds.  

 3                I want to thank the Governor, 

 4   because he had an opportunity to shed light on 

 5   this district and the inequity in education, and 

 6   he took it.  

 7                This will ensure children have a 

 8   right to a sound education.  Equity in education 

 9   will go a very long way in having these young 

10   members of our society obtain their American 

11   dream.

12                I vote yes.

13                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   Senator 

14   Thomas to be recorded in the affirmative.

15                Announce the results.

16                THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

17   Calendar 208, those Senators voting in the 

18   negative are Senators Amedore, Borrello, 

19   Flanagan, Gallivan, Griffo, Jacobs, Jordan, 

20   O'Mara, Ortt, Ranzenhofer and Serino.  Also 

21   Senator Tedisco.

22                Ayes, 49.  Nays, 12.

23                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   The 

24   bill is passed.

25                Senator Gianaris, that completes the 


                                                               233

 1   reading of today's supplemental calendar.

 2                SENATOR GIANARIS:   Mr. President, 

 3   there will be now be an immediate meeting of the 

 4   Crime Victims, Crime and Corrections Committee in 

 5   Room 124 of the Capitol.

 6                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   There 

 7   will be an immediate meeting of the Crime 

 8   Victims, Crime and Corrections Committee 

 9   following session in Room 124 of the Capitol.

10                SENATOR GIANARIS:   Is there any 

11   further business at the desk?

12                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   There 

13   is no further business at the desk.

14                SENATOR GIANARIS:   I move that we 

15   adjourn until tomorrow, Wednesday, January 22nd, 

16   at 3:00 p.m.

17                ACTING PRESIDENT BENJAMIN:   On 

18   motion, the Senate stands adjourned until 

19   Wednesday, January 22nd, at 3:00 p.m.

20                (Whereupon, at 4:13 p.m., the Senate 

21   adjourned.)

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