Regular Session - February 17, 2022
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1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
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3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
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9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 February 17, 2022
11 9:04 a.m.
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14 REGULAR SESSION
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18 SENATOR ROXANNE J. PERSAUD, Acting President
19 ALEJANDRA N. PAULINO, ESQ., Secretary
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1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: 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 PERSAUD: 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 PERSAUD: Reading
14 of the Journal.
15 THE SECRETARY: In Senate,
16 Wednesday, February 16, 2022, the Senate met
17 pursuant to adjournment. The Journal of Tuesday,
18 February 15, 2022, was read and approved. On
19 motion, the Senate adjourned.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: 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.
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1 Reports of select committees.
2 Communications and reports from
3 state officers.
4 Motions and resolutions.
5 Senator Gianaris.
6 SENATOR GIANARIS: Madam President,
7 please take up Resolution 1803, by
8 Senator Sepúlveda, read that resolution's title,
9 and recognize Senator Sepúlveda.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
11 Secretary will read.
12 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
13 1803, by Senator Sepúlveda, commemorating the
14 178th Anniversary of the Independence of the
15 Dominican Republic, to be celebrated on
16 February 27, 2022.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Senator
18 Sepúlveda on the resolution.
19 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: Good morning,
20 everyone. And thank you for giving me the
21 opportunity to speak on this important
22 resolution.
23 So the Dominican Republic is home to
24 more than 100,000 U.S. citizens. The
25 relationship of respect, brotherhood, and
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1 solidarity between our two nations grows stronger
2 every day. I share with you the words written on
3 the Dominican National Coat of Arms: Dios,
4 Patria y Libertad. God, Homeland and Liberty.
5 These words and many other things unite all of
6 us.
7 In my district I have a great
8 Dominican community that I'm honored to serve.
9 They come from areas like Punta Cana to Dajabon,
10 from El Cibao to El Sur Profundo. Dominicans are
11 free and sovereign, especially in the Bronx.
12 The Dominican Republic celebrates
13 its independence and sovereignty every 27th day
14 of February. This year we gather to celebrate
15 the 178th anniversary of their independence.
16 I would like to invite all of you to
17 celebrate this date with Dominicans around the
18 world. And New York has the largest
19 Dominican community living outside of the
20 Dominican Republic.
21 From 1613 to today, Dominicans
22 continue to be an important part of our nation,
23 of our state, and certainly of the area that I
24 represent in the New York State Senate. They're
25 hardworking, they are successful, they're good
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1 neighbors and better brothers and sisters.
2 The Dominican heart beats stronger
3 than ever. Thank you to the great State of
4 New York, this body, and my colleagues for
5 recognizing this important date and extending
6 greetings and affection to the great
7 Dominican people with this resolution.
8 Y Quisiera decir estas palabras en
9 español: A los valientes Quisqueyanos, desde
10 Punta Cana a Dajabón, desde El Cibao hasta el
11 Sur Profundo, los dominicanos y dominicanas son
12 libres y soberanos, que dios bendiga al Pueblo
13 Dominicano y que Dios bendiga al gran estado de
14 Nueva York.
15 Thank you. Muchas gracias.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Are
17 there any other Senators wishing to be heard on
18 the resolution?
19 The resolution was previously
20 adopted on February 8th.
21 Senator Gianaris.
22 SENATOR GIANARIS: Madam President,
23 at the request of Senator Sepúlveda, that
24 resolution is open for cosponsorship.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
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1 resolution is open for cosponsorship. Should you
2 choose not to be a cosponsor of this resolution,
3 please notify the desk.
4 Senator Gianaris.
5 SENATOR GIANARIS: Let's take up
6 the reading of the calendar, please.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The
8 Secretary will read.
9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 79,
10 Senate Print 2138, by Senator Ramos, an act to
11 amend the Workers' Compensation Law.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
13 last section.
14 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
15 act shall take effect on the 30th day after it
16 shall have become a law.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
18 roll.
19 (The Secretary called the roll.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
21 the results.
22 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
23 Calendar Number 79, those Senators voting in the
24 negative are Senators Lanza and Ortt.
25 Ayes, 50. Nays, 2.
893
1 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
2 is passed.
3 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
4 106, Senate Print 4784A, by Senator Mayer, an act
5 to amend the Real Property Law.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
7 last section.
8 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
9 act shall take effect immediately.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
11 roll.
12 (The Secretary called the roll.)
13 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
14 the results.
15 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 52.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
17 is passed.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
19 107, Senate Print 5377, by Senator Cooney, an act
20 to amend the Real Property Actions and
21 Proceedings Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 9. This
25 act shall take effect immediately.
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1 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
2 roll.
3 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
5 the results.
6 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
7 Calendar Number 107, voting in the negative:
8 Senator Felder.
9 Ayes, 51. Nays, 1.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
11 is passed.
12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
13 269, Senate Print 238, by Senator Thomas, an act
14 to amend the Social Services Law.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
16 last section.
17 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
18 act shall take effect immediately.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
20 roll.
21 (The Secretary called the roll.)
22 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
23 the results.
24 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 52.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
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1 is passed.
2 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3 278, Senate Print 3330, by Senator Rivera, an act
4 to amend the Education Law.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
6 last section.
7 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
8 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
9 shall have become a law.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
11 roll.
12 (The Secretary called the roll.)
13 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
14 the results.
15 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
16 Calendar Number 278, voting in the negative:
17 Senator Griffo.
18 Ayes, 51. Nays, 1.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
20 is passed.
21 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
22 296, Senate Print 7882A, by Senator Gounardes, an
23 act to amend the Civil Practice Law and Rules.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
25 last section.
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1 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
2 act shall take effect immediately.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
4 roll.
5 (The Secretary called the roll.)
6 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
7 the results.
8 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
9 Calendar Number 296, voting in the negative:
10 Senator Akshar.
11 Ayes, 51. Nays, 1.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
13 is passed.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
15 312, Senate Print 1646, by Senator Skoufis, an
16 act to amend the General Municipal Law.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
18 last section.
19 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
20 act shall take effect immediately.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
22 roll.
23 (The Secretary called the roll.)
24 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
25 the results.
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1 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 52.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 340, Senate Print 6488, by Senator Kavanagh, an
6 act to amend the Private Housing Finance Law.
7 SENATOR GIANARIS: Lay it aside for
8 the day, please.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
10 will be laid aside for the day.
11 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
12 352, Senate Print 952, by Senator Gaughran, an
13 act to amend the Volunteer Firefighters'
14 Benefit Law and the Volunteer Ambulance Workers'
15 Benefit Law.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
17 last section.
18 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
19 act shall take effect immediately.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
21 roll.
22 (The Secretary called the roll.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Announce
24 the results.
25 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 52.
898
1 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
2 is passed.
3 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
4 462, Senate Print Number 3985, by
5 Senator Reichlin-Melnick, an act to amend the
6 General Business Law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Read the
8 last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
10 act shall take effect immediately.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Call the
12 roll.
13 (The Secretary called the roll.)
14 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Senator
15 Borrello to explain his vote.
16 SENATOR BORRELLO: Thank you,
17 Madam Chair.
18 I want to start off by thanking the
19 sponsor for this bill.
20 You know, we often try to limit what
21 businesses can do, but really what we really
22 should be doing is just doing the bare minimum to
23 ensure that they are not engaging in deceptive
24 practices. And I think this bill addresses that
25 with the rental car fees.
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1 I spent nearly 20 years on the road,
2 more than 50 percent of my time traveling. And I
3 can tell you, when dealing with rental car
4 companies, there are a number of, in my opinion,
5 price gouging and deceptive practices that go on.
6 This is probably one of the most egregious.
7 I realize that, look, if I make the
8 mistake of showing up at the airport and haven't
9 refilled my tank with gas, that I should pay a
10 price for that, that there is a cost to that for
11 them.
12 But once you enter that airport,
13 it's very difficult to turn around and go out,
14 especially if you're going to catch a flight, and
15 they know that. So they've set these excessive
16 fees in place.
17 Also, if you rent at a local
18 location, they don't want you even to refill the
19 tank. Because often I would rent a car locally,
20 and it would have a quarter tank of gas or a half
21 a tank of gas. Even though they charged that
22 previous renter the full rate plus the penalty,
23 they gave it to me and said, Well, just bring it
24 back with the same amount of gas in it.
25 That, to me, is price gouging and
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1 deceptive practices, and we should limit that.
2 And that's what this bill does, and
3 I proudly vote aye. Thank you.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: Senator
5 Borrello to be recorded in the affirmative.
6 Announce the results.
7 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 52.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: The bill
9 is passed.
10 Senator Gianaris, that completes the
11 reading of today's calendar.
12 SENATOR GIANARIS: Is there any
13 further business at the desk?
14 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: There is
15 no further business at the desk.
16 SENATOR GIANARIS: I move to
17 adjourn until Monday, February 28th, at
18 3:00 p.m., intervening days being legislative
19 days.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT PERSAUD: On
21 motion, the Senate stands adjourned until Monday,
22 February 28th, at 3:00 p.m., with intervening
23 days being legislative days.
24 (Whereupon, at 9:14 a.m., the Senate
25 adjourned.)