Regular Session - March 1, 2023

                                                                   1126

 1                NEW YORK STATE SENATE

 2                          

 3                          

 4               THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD

 5                          

 6                          

 7                          

 8                          

 9                  ALBANY, NEW YORK

10                    March 1, 2023

11                     11:32 a.m.

12                          

13                          

14                   REGULAR SESSION

15  

16  

17  

18  SENATOR JEREMY A. COONEY, Acting President

19  ALEJANDRA N. PAULINO, ESQ., Secretary

20  

21  

22  

23  

24  

25  


                                                               1127

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

 2                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   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 COONEY:   Reverend 

 9    Kevin T. Taylor, pastor of Israel African 

10    Methodist Episcopal Church in Albany, New York, 

11    will deliver today's invocation.  

12                 Pastor.  

13                 PASTOR TAYLOR:   Thank you.  

14                 Let us pray.

15                 God, we thank You for this day, and 

16    we thank You for this opportunity.  

17                 We thank You, Lord, for allowing us 

18    to come together to do the work of the people of 

19    New York State.  

20                 We pray, Lord, right now for each 

21    and every Senator, for each and every staff 

22    member, for each and every family that is 

23    represented here today.  And we are asking, God, 

24    that this time that we have allotted to do the 

25    people's work would be pleasing in Your sight.


                                                               1128

 1                 Lord, as we begin this session, this 

 2    budget season, Lord, we know that there are so 

 3    many priorities on the calendar, Lord, from 

 4    hunger to climate change, from healthcare to our 

 5    children.  And, God, we're just asking that as 

 6    this body deliberates, that they would do their 

 7    work, Lord, without being disagreeable, that they 

 8    can disagree without being disagreeable, that 

 9    they can disagree and commit to doing what is 

10    pleasing in Your sight.  

11                 We ask, God, right now that You 

12    would help them to come together to be able to 

13    work for Your glory.  

14                 And as we begin this Women's History 

15    Month, we thank You, God, for the many women who 

16    have served this institution well and are 

17    continuing to make history today and always.  

18                 It's in Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.  

19                 (Response of "Amen.")

20                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Thank 

21    you, Pastor.

22                 Reading of the Journal.

23                 THE SECRETARY:   In Senate, Tuesday, 

24    February 28, 2023, the Senate met pursuant to 

25    adjournment.  The Journal of Monday, February 27, 


                                                               1129

 1    2023, was read and approved.  On motion, the 

 2    Senate adjourned.

 3                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Without 

 4    objection, the Journal stands approved as read.

 5                 Presentation of petitions.

 6                 Messages from the Assembly.

 7                 The Secretary will read.

 8                 THE SECRETARY:   Senator 

 9    Scarcella-Spanton moves to discharge, from the 

10    Committee on Investigations and Government 

11    Operations, Assembly Bill Number 2902 and 

12    substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 

13    3364A, Third Reading Calendar 281.

14                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   So 

15    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:   Good morning, 

24    Mr. President.  

25                 Can we begin by taking up previously 


                                                               1130

 1    adopted Resolution 478, have it read in its 

 2    entirety, and recognize Senator Webb on the 

 3    resolution.

 4                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The 

 5    Secretary will read.

 6                 THE SECRETARY:   Senate Resolution 

 7    478, by Senator Stewart-Cousins, memorializing 

 8    Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 2023 as 

 9    Women's History Month in the State of New York.

10                 "WHEREAS, March is Women's History 

11    Month; and 

12                 "WHEREAS, March 8th is International 

13    Women's Day; and 

14                 "WHEREAS, Each year New York State  

15    officially sets aside time to recognize the 

16    unique contributions that New York women have 

17    made to New York State and beyond; and 

18                 "WHEREAS, New York State has a 

19    distinguished history of monumental achievements 

20    in the area of women's rights; and 

21                 "WHEREAS, In 1826, New York State 

22    opened one of the first public high schools for 

23    girls, resulting in a future for women in which 

24    they were no longer confined to the home, a 

25    future in which they were educated and able to 


                                                               1131

 1    use this education to better their social and 

 2    economic status; and 

 3                 "WHEREAS, In 1848 in New York, the 

 4    first women's rights convention was held at 

 5    Seneca Falls to secure for all women the right to 

 6    vote; and 

 7                 "WHEREAS, In 1903, The Women's Trade 

 8    Union League of New York was formed to represent 

 9    working women, later becoming the nucleus for the 

10    International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union; and 

11                 "WHEREAS, In 1917, New York 

12    guaranteed women the right to vote in all 

13    elections, and in the following year the first 

14    two women, Ida Sammis and Mary Lilly, were 

15    elected to the New York State Legislature and 

16    became the first women to then serve in 1919; and 

17                 "WHEREAS, In 1955, Bessie Buchanan 

18    was the first African-American woman to serve in 

19    the New York State Legislature; and 

20                 "WHEREAS, In 1967, Muriel Siebert 

21    became the first woman to own a seat on the 

22    New York Stock Exchange, opening the door for 

23    women to gain positions of greater economic 

24    power; and 

25                 "WHEREAS, In 1968, New York State 


                                                               1132

 1    Assemblywoman Shirley Chisholm became the first 

 2    Black woman elected to Congress, and in 1972 she 

 3    ran for President of the United States, another 

 4    first for Black women; and 

 5                 "WHEREAS, In 1970, New York City was 

 6    the site of the first Women's Strike for Equality 

 7    in which 50,000 people marched for equal rights; 

 8    and 

 9                 "WHEREAS, In 1978, Olga Mendez 

10    became the first Latina woman to serve in the 

11    New York State Legislature; and 

12                 "WHEREAS, In 1983, New York State 

13    women legislators established the Legislative 

14    Women's Caucus to improve the participation of 

15    women in all areas of government, support issues 

16    that benefit women, and provide a network of 

17    support for women in the State Legislature; and 

18                 "WHEREAS, In 2007, Ellen Young was 

19    the first Asian-American woman to serve in the 

20    New York State Legislature; and 

21                 "WHEREAS, In 2009, New Yorker Sonia 

22    Sotomayor became the first Hispanic Justice 

23    appointed to the United States Supreme Court; and 

24                 "WHEREAS, In 2015, New Yorker 

25    Loretta Elizabeth Lynch was appointed as 


                                                               1133

 1    Attorney General of the United States, becoming 

 2    the first African-American woman to serve in this 

 3    esteemed position; and 

 4                 "WHEREAS, New York has been the home 

 5    of many extraordinary women who have led society 

 6    to a better future:  Elizabeth Cady Stanton and 

 7    Susan B. Anthony led the campaign for women's 

 8    suffrage; Sojourner Truth spoke out for the 

 9    abolition of slavery and for suffrage for all 

10    women; and 

11                 "WHEREAS, Carrie Chapman Catt  

12    became the first president of the League of 

13    Women Voters; Emma Willard opened the first 

14    endowed institution for the education of women; 

15    Civil War surgeon Dr. Mary E. Walker was the only 

16    woman ever awarded the Congressional Medal of 

17    Honor; Harriet Tubman was an abolitionist who led 

18    slaves to freedom by way of the Underground 

19    Railroad in the 19th century; and 

20                 "WHEREAS, Elizabeth Blackwell and 

21    Belva Lockwood were the first women in the fields 

22    of medicine and law; pioneer birth control 

23    educator and advocate Margaret Sanger established 

24    a research center in New York City; and 

25                 "WHEREAS, Emma Goldman founded the 


                                                               1134

 1    Free Speech League which led to the American 

 2    Civil Liberties Union; humanitarian Eleanor 

 3    Roosevelt served as United States Delegate to the 

 4    United Nations; and 

 5                 "WHEREAS, New Yorker Edith Windsor 

 6    fought to expand marriage equality in the 

 7    United States prior to the Marriage Equality Act 

 8    of New York, which became law in 2011; and 

 9                 "WHEREAS, Civil rights lawyer and 

10    New York State Senator Constance Baker Motley 

11    became the first Black woman to sit on the U.S. 

12    District Court in New York; and there have been 

13    so many more known and unknown women who 

14    championed rights and opportunity for all; and 

15                 "WHEREAS, New York State has hosted 

16    many conventions, campaigns and events of the 

17    Women's Rights Movement, from the 1848 convention 

18    at Seneca Falls to the 1999 Berkshire Conference 

19    of Women Historians, which was held to improve 

20    the status of women in history and in the 

21    historical professions; and 

22                 "WHEREAS, 50 percent of statewide 

23    elected officials are women, and for the first  

24    time a woman has been elected Attorney General in 

25    the State of New York; and 


                                                               1135

 1                 "WHEREAS, 2023 marks the 

 2    103rd anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which 

 3    guaranteed women the right to vote in the 

 4    United States; and 

 5                 "WHEREAS, Today, 73 women serve in 

 6    the New York State Legislature, making up 

 7    34 percent of the seats, holding leadership 

 8    positions in both houses and bringing the diverse 

 9    experiences of women into law and public policy; 

10    now, therefore, be it 

11                 "RESOLVED, That this Legislative 

12    Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize 

13    Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 2023 as 

14    Women's History Month in the State of New York; 

15    and be it further 

16                 "RESOLVED, That copies of this 

17    resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to 

18    the Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State 

19    of New York, and the Legislative Women's Caucus 

20    of New York State."

21                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Senator 

22    Webb on the resolution.

23                 SENATOR WEBB:   Thank you.

24                 I rise to thank my Senate 

25    colleagues, and Mr. President, for supporting 


                                                               1136

 1    this resolution memorializing Governor 

 2    Kathy Hochul to proclaim the month of March as 

 3    Women's History Month in the State of New York.

 4                 As we gather here today in the 

 5    Senate chamber, we also are marking the end of 

 6    Black History Month -- though we celebrate Black 

 7    History Month every day in this chamber -- and 

 8    also commemorate the beginning of Women's History 

 9    Month.  And as the Secretary read, we have such a 

10    rich legacy of women leaders right here in our 

11    State of New York.  

12                 And so we also continue that legacy 

13    right here in the Senate chamber because we do 

14    this under the leadership of Majority Leader 

15    Andrea Stewart-Cousins, who is the first 

16    Black woman to lead the New York State Senate, 

17    and we do this also with a historic class of 

18    freshmen Senators.  We made women's history when 

19    we were sworn in just two months ago -- though it 

20    feels like it's been longer -- as the first 

21    all-women class of incoming Senators in the 

22    245-year history of the Senate.

23                 I am inspired by the good work we 

24    have already done for our communities, and I am 

25    proud that we will pave the way for future 


                                                               1137

 1    generations of women leaders.

 2                 And I also want to share a quote 

 3    from one of my own personal sheroes and also a 

 4    former great leader here in New York and in our 

 5    country, Shirley Chisholm.  And this particular 

 6    quote speaks to why it's important to lift up 

 7    historic months like this, because, as she said:  

 8    "At present our country needs women's idealism 

 9    and determination perhaps more in politics than 

10    anywhere else."

11                 Mr. President, as the chair of the 

12    Women's Issues Committee, I would also like to 

13    take a moment, as we mark the beginning of 

14    Women's History Month here today, to applaud the 

15    critical work we are doing in this Senate chamber 

16    to protect the rights of women and ensure that 

17    our state remains a sanctuary for reproductive 

18    health in the wake of the Supreme Court's 

19    decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.  

20                 It is also important that we 

21    continue to work to improve outcomes from 

22    maternal health for all women, but especially for 

23    Black mothers and their babies, and also other 

24    historically marginalized groups, because we know 

25    that they experience the worst childbirth 


                                                               1138

 1    outcomes in the United States, regardless of 

 2    their socioeconomic status.

 3                 So again, as we mark the beginning 

 4    of Women's History Month, I hope you will join me 

 5    in reaffirming our commitment to equal rights, 

 6    representation, and full access to reproductive 

 7    health for all women and girls of New York.

 8                 I am very proud to be voting in 

 9    favor of this resolution, and I hope you all will 

10    join me as colleagues in celebrating Women's 

11    History Month by voting aye.

12                 Thank you.

13                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Thank 

14    you, Senator Webb.

15                 Senator May on the resolution.

16                 SENATOR MAY:   Thank you, 

17    Mr. President.

18                 I want to thank Senator Webb for 

19    bringing this resolution, the Majority Leader, 

20    and all of my colleagues who are giving us this 

21    moment to recognize the importance of women's 

22    history in New York.

23                 The City of Auburn is new to my 

24    district, and I have been trying to learn what I 

25    can about the history there.  They call it 


                                                               1139

 1    "History's Hometown."  And one of the important 

 2    historical sites is the home of the Seward 

 3    family.  William Henry Seward was a New York 

 4    State Senator and Governor, and then the 

 5    Secretary of State in the Lincoln administration, 

 6    and he was renowned for his abolitionist 

 7    tendencies and advocating the end of slavery.

 8                 But every time he waffled on this 

 9    issue, every time he backtracked, his wife 

10    Frances was there, pushing and pushing and 

11    pushing.  And the more I learn about her and her 

12    influence on her husband and on the -- what the 

13    Lincoln administration eventually did, the more I 

14    realize we -- there are a lot of unsung heroes 

15    among the women of this state.  

16                 And I'm very proud to represent the 

17    City of Auburn, and I hope everybody will come 

18    and visit the Seward House, because it's an 

19    amazing historical site here in New York State 

20    and, I think, a place we can really celebrate 

21    women's history, among many others in this state.

22                 Thank you.

23                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Thank 

24    you, Senator May.

25                 Senator Cleare on the resolution.


                                                               1140

 1                 SENATOR CLEARE:   Thank you, 

 2    Senator Webb, for introducing this important 

 3    resolution.  

 4                 And thank you to my colleagues for 

 5    celebrating this important month.  

 6                 As was mentioned, Constance Baker 

 7    Motley was among the first, but she was among 

 8    many firsts.  And I just wanted to speak on her 

 9    being the original author of the complaint in 

10    Brown v. Board of Education.  And she was the 

11    first African-American Senator in New York State.  

12                 I walk in her footsteps.  I am the 

13    second from my district.  But every day I think 

14    about her, and because of her, there is me.  And 

15    there are others.

16                 So I am very proud of our 

17    achievements and our accomplishments, and I just 

18    want us to uplift women at all times and keep 

19    that door open.  

20                 So today I am very proud of Women's 

21    History Month, and I vote aye.  Thank you.

22                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Thank 

23    you, Senator Cleare.

24                 The resolution was previously 

25    adopted on February 28th.


                                                               1141

 1                 Senator Gianaris.

 2                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   Thank you, 

 3    Mr. President.

 4                 Can we now move to previously 

 5    adopted Resolution 313, by Senator Griffo, read 

 6    that resolution's title, and recognize 

 7    Senator Griffo.

 8                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The 

 9    Secretary will read.

10                 THE SECRETARY:   Senate Resolution 

11    313, by Senator Griffo, commemorating the 

12    31st Anniversary of the Independence of Bosnia 

13    and Herzegovina on March 1, 2023.

14                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Senator 

15    Griffo on the resolution.

16                 SENATOR GRIFFO:   Thank you, 

17    Mr. President.

18                 It's a pleasure to be joined today 

19    by a distinguished group of citizens from our 

20    community, the Bosnian community in the City of 

21    Utica.  

22                 As you know, that we in this chamber 

23    have traditionally celebrated and commemorated 

24    the fight for independence.  I know on Monday it 

25    was Dominican Independence Day for the Dominican 


                                                               1142

 1    Republic, and today we -- it's a pleasure to have 

 2    so many people join us to commemorate and to 

 3    celebrate Bosnian Independence Day.

 4                 With us today in the audience in the 

 5    East Gallery are Hanka Grabovica, who is an 

 6    educator with the Utica Academy of Science and 

 7    also heads the Bosnian American Community 

 8    Association of Utica.  She is joined by a number 

 9    of citizens, and I'll just identify a couple who 

10    are here from various sectors:  Osman Ruznic, who 

11    is a distinguished businessman in the city of 

12    Utica; and Mirza Tihic, who is from academia, a 

13    professor at Syracuse University; and 

14    Investigator Dino Jukic, who is with the 

15    Utica Police Department, law enforcement.  

16                 Bosnia and Herzegovina became 

17    independent from the former Yugoslavia with a 

18    referendum held between February 29th and 

19    March 1st of 1992.  That independence was 

20    officially declared on March 3rd, and Bosnia and 

21    Herzegovina was then admitted as a member state 

22    of the United Nations in May of 1992.

23                 Unfortunately, as we all recall 

24    through history, there was a political upheaval 

25    that would eventually turn into a bloody and 


                                                               1143

 1    brutal war, and there was no doubt that that war 

 2    had a devastating effect on the country's 

 3    population and no doubt that it's still felt to 

 4    this day.

 5                 There were major efforts undertaken 

 6    with refugee programs, and the United States and 

 7    our communities here in New York benefited from 

 8    receiving a number of individuals from Bosnia.

 9                 Studies have concluded that the 

10    death toll from that war unfortunately was over 

11    100,000 individuals.  More than 2 million were 

12    displaced during that conflict.

13                 So today we're provided with an 

14    opportunity to remember and to reflect on all 

15    those who lost their lives in their quest for 

16    freedom, and to recognize the significance and 

17    the many contributions that Bosnians have made to 

18    communities throughout this state since their 

19    arrival here.

20                 I see these contributions each and 

21    every day in my Senate district, especially in 

22    the City of Utica, where over 8,000 refugees from 

23    Bosnia and Herzegovina have been resettled.  

24    These individuals and their families have helped 

25    to rebuild our community, to reenergize our 


                                                               1144

 1    community and the region.  They are great 

 2    examples of putting forth hard work, 

 3    determination, and resolve, and they have done so 

 4    much to improve the quality of life for the 

 5    Mohawk Valley, Central New York, and New York 

 6    State as a whole.

 7                 So it is my pleasure to have all 

 8    these guests join us from the Bosnian community 

 9    today.  And I would ask, Mr. President, that we 

10    give to them all of the privileges and courtesies 

11    of this house, and thank them for their many 

12    contributions and recognize the significance of 

13    what this day means relative to commemorating and 

14    recognizing their independence.

15                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Thank 

16    you, Senator Griffo.

17                 To our guests, I welcome you on 

18    behalf of the Senate.  We extend to you the 

19    privileges and courtesies of this house.  

20                 Please rise and be recognized.

21                 (Standing ovation.)

22                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The 

23    resolution was previously adopted on 

24    January 31st.

25                 Senator Gianaris.


                                                               1145

 1                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   And now can we 

 2    move to previously adopted Resolution 459, by 

 3    Senator Stec, read that resolution's title, and 

 4    recognize Senator Stec, please.

 5                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The 

 6    Secretary will read.

 7                 THE SECRETARY:   Senate Resolution 

 8    459, by Senator Stec, mourning the death of 

 9    Sue Montgomery Corey, distinguished citizen, 

10    caring family member and devoted member of her 

11    community.

12                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Senator 

13    Stec on the resolution.

14                 SENATOR STEC:   Thank you very much 

15    for allowing me to briefly interrupt our 

16    proceedings to recognize and mourn the death of a 

17    great North Country citizen who passed away in 

18    January of this year:  Sue Montgomery Corey.  

19                 I had the good fortune of knowing 

20    Sue since my entry into politics up north.  And 

21    she was many things.  She was certainly a mother 

22    and a grandmother and well thought of in her 

23    community.  

24                 But as we kick off the beginning of 

25    Women's History Month, I think it's important to 


                                                               1146

 1    note and recognize that Sue Montgomery Corey was 

 2    elected the first female town supervisor of the 

 3    Town of Minerva in Essex County back in 2009.  

 4                 She was a Democratic elections 

 5    commissioner for Essex County.  She spent a lot 

 6    of time mentoring young people in the local 

 7    schools.  

 8                 She was born and raised in the 

 9    North Country.  It's amazing that she touches 

10    just about every corner of my Senate district.  

11    She was born in Potsdam.  She attended 

12    Altona Central School and graduated from 

13    Northern Adirondack Central High School.  She was 

14    educated at St. Lawrence University.  She also 

15    got a degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic 

16    Institute.  

17                 But again, the first female 

18    supervisor of the Town of Minerva.  A friend to 

19    everyone in Essex County.  A hard worker.  She 

20    spent the last eight years of her life in 

21    Indian Lake as the director of the Indian Lake 

22    Theater.  

23                 And just wonderful to recognize her, 

24    especially today when we wanted to pause because 

25    I also know that there's a connection that she 


                                                               1147

 1    has to this chamber, in that her daughter Emma 

 2    works for one of our colleagues, Senator Skoufis.  

 3    And I believe Senator Skoufis would like to also 

 4    speak on the resolution.  

 5                 But on behalf of myself and my 

 6    Senate district and I'm sure the entire chamber 

 7    here, we certainly mourn the loss of Sue 

 8    Montgomery Corey's life, and we certainly extend 

 9    our condolences and sympathies to her family and 

10    especially her daughter Emma, who works with us.

11                 Thank you.

12                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Thank 

13    you, Senator Stec.

14                 Senator Skoufis on the resolution.

15                 SENATOR SKOUFIS:   Thanks very much, 

16    Mr. President.  

17                 And I first want to extend my 

18    gratitude to my colleague for his kind words for 

19    the family and for introducing this resolution.

20                 Yes, Sue Montgomery Corey -- I've 

21    never met her, but by everything I've heard and 

22    everything I've read and certainly what we just 

23    heard on the floor, she was a remarkable woman in 

24    not just her specific community but the entire 

25    North Country region.


                                                               1148

 1                 And she was taken from her 

 2    family and her community at the far too early age 

 3    of 64, after a long battle with cancer.

 4                 Everyone that knew her characterized 

 5    her as a woman of immense kindness and wisdom.  

 6    But in addition to being a loving and caring 

 7    spouse and mother, she was also a dedicated 

 8    professional.  And usually at the core of that 

 9    work was public service -- as we just heard, 

10    first as the first woman supervisor of Minerva, 

11    but also as an elections commissioner for her 

12    county, also as the director of the local 

13    community theater, and so many other roles.

14                 She's survived by her husband, Mike; 

15    her son, Eben, who's here, along with her 

16    daughter -- who, as mentioned before, is my 

17    office's director of communications -- Emma.  

18                 And it is just so wonderful to know, 

19    as I'm sure it's wonderful for her family to 

20    know, that so many of the qualities that 

21    Sue possessed live on through her daughter Emma:  

22    The love for creativity and the arts, the 

23    intellect, the care, the thoughtfulness, and 

24    certainly the -- at the core of Emma's 

25    professionalism, and that's public service.


                                                               1149

 1                 And so I want to thank the sponsor, 

 2    my colleague.  I want to thank you, 

 3    Mr. President.  And I want to thank the chamber 

 4    for pausing to remember Sue Montgomery Corey.  

 5                 And it's heartwarming for me to know 

 6    that Sue's legacy and her memory lives on through 

 7    her family, and especially Emma.  May her memory 

 8    indeed be a blessing.  

 9                 Thank you.

10                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Thank 

11    you, Senator Skoufis.

12                 The resolution was previously 

13    adopted on February 28th.

14                 Senator Gianaris.

15                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   At the request 

16    of the sponsors, all the resolutions we took up 

17    today are open for cosponsorship.

18                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The 

19    resolutions are open for cosponsorship.  Should 

20    you choose not to be a cosponsor of the 

21    resolutions, please notify the desk.

22                 Senator Gianaris.

23                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   Mr. President, 

24    there's a privileged resolution at the desk.  Can 

25    we please take that up, read its title, and 


                                                               1150

 1    recognize Senator Mayer on the resolution.

 2                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   There is 

 3    a privileged resolution at the desk.  

 4                 The Secretary will read.

 5                 THE SECRETARY:   Resolution 479, by 

 6    Senator Mayer, Concurrent Resolution of the 

 7    Senate and Assembly providing for the election of 

 8    three Regents of the University of the State of 

 9    New York.

10                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Senator 

11    Mayer on the resolution.

12                 SENATOR MAYER:   Thank you, 

13    Mr. President.

14                 It's my honor to rise in support of 

15    this resolution by which the Legislature is 

16    naming three members to the Board of Regents.  

17                 And everyone doesn't really 

18    understand the importance of the Board of 

19    Regents; they get it confused with the Regents, 

20    the exam.  But the Board of Regents is 17 members 

21    who are elected by the State Legislature for 

22    five-year terms, and each comes from one of the 

23    state's 13 Judicial Districts, and four members 

24    who serve at large.

25                 This group is responsible for the 


                                                               1151

 1    vast majority of the education policy of New York 

 2    State as well as many areas of professional 

 3    responsibility that are handled by the State 

 4    Education Department.

 5                 They are people who are not paid for 

 6    their work, and yet their work impacts almost 

 7    every -- certainly every student and many, many 

 8    adults.  It is one of the most important 

 9    institutions of New York State government.

10                 So I'm pleased that today we are 

11    voting to reappoint Judith Chin, who is the 

12    current Regent from the 11th Judicial District in 

13    Queens, and Aramina Vega Ferrer, who is currently 

14    the Regent from the 12th Judicial District in the 

15    Bronx; and one new Regent, Adrian Hale, from the 

16    Seventh Judicial District in Rochester.  

17                 And these three individuals will 

18    join the Board of Regents pursuant to this 

19    Concurrent Resolution adopted by the Assembly and 

20    the Senate.  And under the direction of 

21    Chancellor Lester Young, who is the chair of the 

22    Board of Regents and Commissioner Betty Rosa, 

23    they will help determine probably one of the most 

24    important areas of state government, which is the 

25    state's education policy.


                                                               1152

 1                 So I encourage all my colleagues to 

 2    vote in support of these three very fine members 

 3    who will join the Board of Regents and help us 

 4    move New York State forward.

 5                 I vote aye and encourage all my 

 6    colleagues to do the same.

 7                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Thank 

 8    you, Senator Mayer.

 9                 Senator Stavisky on the resolution.

10                 SENATOR STAVISKY:   Yes, thank you, 

11    Mr. Chairman.

12                 And I too rise in support of the 

13    three candidates, two for reelection and one new 

14    candidate.

15                 I've spoken many times, both here 

16    and when we were in the Assembly chamber with the 

17    Concurrent Resolution, about the long history of 

18    the Regents in New York State.  It goes back to 

19    the colonial period.  And I used to enjoy reading 

20    about former Regent Alexander Hamilton.  

21                 And I say to the three Regents -- in 

22    fact, to the entire board -- you are continuing a 

23    tradition that is unique to New York State.  Very 

24    few states elect their chief education officers 

25    the way we do, by concurrent resolution or a 


                                                               1153

 1    joint resolution of the Legislature.

 2                 I particularly want to mention 

 3    Regent Chin, because she is a resident of my new 

 4    district.  I've known her for many years, since 

 5    her days as superintendent in Community School 

 6    District 25.  And she went on to other 

 7    supervisory positions.  

 8                 And to Chancellor Lester Young, 

 9    who's also a constituent.  

10                 And I commend the entire Board of 

11    Regents for volunteering, for doing the people's 

12    work and continuing the tradition started by our 

13    colonial leaders during the federal period.

14                 Thank you, Mr. President.  I vote 

15    aye.

16                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Thank 

17    you, Senator Stavisky.

18                 Senator Murray on the resolution.

19                 SENATOR MURRAY:   Thank you very 

20    much.  

21                 I'd like to echo some of the 

22    sentiments here about the importance of what 

23    we're doing, of voting on the Regents, and the 

24    service they provide.  

25                 I spent time in the Assembly, and in 


                                                               1154

 1    my time there I sat in on all of the interviews, 

 2    the entire interview process.  It was long, but 

 3    it was -- it was very good.  It was a good 

 4    process.  They've done it again this time, 

 5    weeding through and picking out the best 

 6    candidates.  

 7                 So why are we lumping them together 

 8    in one vote?  These are three individual 

 9    candidates, individual resumes.  There have been 

10    individual interviews conducted.  And yet we're 

11    voting, one vote, three different candidates.  

12    There may be one that we think is fantastic, one 

13    maybe we could have chosen better.  But our 

14    choice today is up or down, yes or no on all 

15    three.  

16                 I think it's ridiculous.  We should 

17    have the opportunity to vote on each individual 

18    one, on their merits.  And that would be the best 

19    process to get the best people.

20                 So I will not be supporting this.

21                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Thank 

22    you, Senator Murray.

23                 The question is on the resolution.  

24    The Secretary will call the roll.

25                 (The Secretary called the roll.)


                                                               1155

 1                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Announce 

 2    the results.

 3                 THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

 4    Resolution 479, those Senators voting in the 

 5    negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello, 

 6    Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, 

 7    Lanza, Martins, Mattera, Murray, Ortt, Palumbo, 

 8    Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber 

 9    and Senator Weik.  

10                 Ayes, 41.  Nays, 19.

11                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The 

12    resolution is adopted.

13                 Senator Gianaris.

14                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   Can we take up 

15    the reading of the calendar, please.

16                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The 

17    Secretary will read.

18                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

19    183, Senate Print 201, by Senator Cleare, an act 

20    to amend the Insurance Law.

21                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Read the 

22    last section.

23                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

24    act shall take effect on the first of January.  

25                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Call the 


                                                               1156

 1    roll.  

 2                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

 3                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Senator 

 4    Cleare.

 5                 SENATOR CLEARE:   Thank you.

 6                 Mr. President, when a woman is 

 7    pregnant, the ability to not only access but 

 8    receive comprehensive healthcare is vital -- not 

 9    only for the mother, but for the entire life 

10    trajectory of the child upon birth.  

11                 New York wisely added pregnancy to 

12    the special enrollment period in 2016, allowing 

13    pregnant women to apply for insurance in an 

14    expedient manner.  However, this cannot be done 

15    as easily as it should be, and applying is not 

16    the same thing is receiving.  It requires a 

17    medical visit to certify the pregnancy, which can 

18    mean fees, bills and charges.  Then you have to 

19    navigate the marketplace and find a plan, and 

20    many plans charge premiums or require 

21    contributions.

22                 On top of these premiums, health 

23    insurers have the discretion to charge fees to 

24    pregnant women who exercise the special 

25    enrollment period option.


                                                               1157

 1                 Women have shared with us that fees 

 2    and impediments exist, and we believe them.  

 3    Given that the law does not prohibit fees in this 

 4    instance and no health plan denies the right to 

 5    do so, preventive measures are required.

 6                 Accordingly, today we have the 

 7    foresight to remove one more barrier to care.  I 

 8    urge my colleagues to support this legislation 

 9    and join me in voting aye.

10                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Senator 

11    Cleare to be recorded in the affirmative.

12                 Announce the results.

13                 THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 60.

14                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The bill 

15    is passed.

16                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

17    196, Senate Print 1733, by Senator Mayer, an act 

18    to amend the Education Law.

19                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Read the 

20    last section.

21                 THE SECRETARY:  Section 2.  This act 

22    shall take effect on the first of July.

23                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Call the 

24    roll.

25                 (The Secretary called the roll.)


                                                               1158

 1                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Announce 

 2    the results.

 3                 THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

 4    Calendar Number 196, those Senators voting in the 

 5    negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello, 

 6    Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, 

 7    Martins, Mattera, Murray, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, 

 8    Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.

 9                 Ayes, 42.  Nays, 18.

10                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The bill 

11    is passed.  

12                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

13    234, Senate Print 2623, by Senator Parker, an act 

14    to direct the Department of State and the 

15    Public Service Commission to jointly study 

16    consumer credit reporting.

17                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Read the 

18    last section.  

19                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 4.  This 

20    act shall take effect immediately.

21                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Call the 

22    roll.

23                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

24                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Announce 

25    the results.


                                                               1159

 1                 THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

 2    Calendar Number 234, voting in the negative:  

 3    Senator Ortt.

 4                 Ayes, 59.  Nays, 1.

 5                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The bill 

 6    is passed.

 7                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

 8    246, Senate Print 1451, by Senator Sanders, an 

 9    act to amend the Public Health Law.

10                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Read the 

11    last section.

12                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

13    act shall take effect immediately.

14                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Call the 

15    roll.

16                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

17                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Announce 

18    the results.

19                 THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 60.

20                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The bill 

21    is passed.

22                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

23    248, Senate Print 1867, by Senator Brouk, an act 

24    to amend the Public Health Law.  

25                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Read the 


                                                               1160

 1    last section.

 2                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 3.  This 

 3    act shall take effect six months after it shall 

 4    have become a law.

 5                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Call the 

 6    roll.

 7                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

 8                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Senator 

 9    Brouk to explain her vote.

10                 SENATOR BROUK:   Thank you, 

11    Mr. President.

12                 I wanted to speak on this because I 

13    wanted to make sure that we all understood the 

14    importance of it, because sometimes in this 

15    chamber we do really, really big things that 

16    change the course of history, like passing the 

17    Equal Rights Amendment consecutively in two 

18    legislative sessions.  And sometimes we do things 

19    that are quite small, incremental changes that 

20    maybe affect a few hundred people in a town or a 

21    village in New York.  

22                 And then sometimes we do things that 

23    seem small but that will actually have huge 

24    implications for people in the State of New York.  

25    And that's what I think this directory bill will 


                                                               1161

 1    do.  

 2                 But to understand the importance of 

 3    this bill is also to understand what is a doula.  

 4    And doulas are nonclinical professionals who 

 5    provide informational, emotional and physical 

 6    support to birthing people before they give 

 7    birth, during the birthing process, and in the 

 8    postpartum time.  

 9                 And when you look at the statistics 

10    of what a doula can mean for someone, they make 

11    it so that they decrease the overall Cesarean 

12    rate, which can be dangerous procedures, by 

13    50 percent.  They can decrease the length of 

14    labor by 25 percent.  Anyone who's been in labor 

15    knows that 25 percent is a real, real positive.  

16                 And when you think about where we 

17    live in New York State and in this country, this 

18    is the worst place in the developed world to give 

19    birth to a child.  Black women are five times 

20    more likely in New York State to die in 

21    childbirth, or thereafter.  In New York City, 

22    they're nine times more likely.  And so when you 

23    think about doula care, it truly is lifesaving 

24    care.  

25                 The reason why this directory is so 


                                                               1162

 1    important is that it will actually make sure this 

 2    information is out there, because you can't have 

 3    doula care without making sure it's accessible to 

 4    those who need it.  

 5                 But the truth is, our work is not 

 6    done with this bill.  We must also act in this 

 7    budget session to actually make a Medicaid 

 8    reimbursement rate for doula care so that the 

 9    women and birthing people who need this care the 

10    most -- and who often don't have two, three, four 

11    thousand dollars to spend on it -- are able to 

12    use doula care and to also, eventually, save 

13    their own lives or their babies' lives.  

14                 With that, I want to say thank you 

15    to this chamber.  Thank you to leadership for 

16    seeing the importance of doula care and for 

17    pushing this legislation forward.  

18                 I'm proud to vote aye.

19                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Thank 

20    you, Senator Brouk.  You will be recorded in the 

21    affirmative.

22                 Senator Scarcella-Spanton.

23                 SENATOR SCARCELLA-SPANTON:   Thank 

24    you, Mr. President.

25                 Thank you to my colleague and 


                                                               1163

 1    fellow mother, Senator Brouk, for this important 

 2    piece of legislation, another step closer to 

 3    making New York a safer place to give birth.  

 4                 As we focus on ways to ensure that 

 5    we prioritize maternal health, the option of 

 6    utilizing a doula is a critical piece.  New York 

 7    has made great strides in maternal health, as we 

 8    see certain legislation being pushed forward.  

 9                 But I wanted to point out that a 

10    doula is different than a midwife.  A doula 

11    supports your emotional growth in labor.  A 

12    midwife is a medical professional.  I highlight 

13    this because they both serve very vital but very 

14    different roles in the birth process.  While 

15    doulas are nonmedical, they can be there for 

16    women in ways that a midwife or a doctor may 

17    traditionally not be able to.  

18                 As we start to highlight the 

19    importance of maternal health, and as public 

20    awareness increases, the demand for these 

21    services will increase as well.  Having community 

22    doula directories for doulas serving Medicaid 

23    patients will streamline the information process 

24    for those who are looking to have a safer birth 

25    experience that is covered by their insurance.  


                                                               1164

 1                 I proudly vote aye for this 

 2    legislation, and again I thank my colleague for 

 3    her work on this.  

 4                 Thank you.

 5                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Senator 

 6    Scarcella-Spanton to be recorded in the 

 7    affirmative.

 8                 Announce the results.

 9                 THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 60.

10                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The bill 

11    is passed.

12                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

13    281, Assembly Print Number 2902, by 

14    Assemblymember Cunningham, an act to amend the 

15    Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.

16                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Read the 

17    last section.

18                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

19    act shall take effect on the 30th day after it 

20    shall have become a law.

21                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Call the 

22    roll.

23                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

24                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Senator 

25    Scarcella-Spanton to explain her vote.


                                                               1165

 1                 SENATOR SCARCELLA-SPANTON:   Thank 

 2    you, Mr. President.

 3                 As our businesses continue to 

 4    recover from the initial restrictions that were 

 5    put in place during the pandemic, now more than 

 6    ever we need to do all we can to support our 

 7    local establishments with common-sense 

 8    legislation to make their operations easier.

 9                 There is no good reason that we 

10    don't allow businesses to sell premixed drinks, 

11    and I'm happy to see this bill being put forward 

12    today.  It's a simple fix that cuts some of the 

13    red tape that our small businesses have to go 

14    through, and something I hope we can all agree 

15    on.  

16                 I urge my colleagues to vote aye, 

17    and I of course vote aye as well.  

18                 Thank you.

19                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Senator 

20    Scarcella-Spanton to be recorded in the 

21    affirmative.

22                 Announce the results.

23                 THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 60.

24                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The bill 

25    is passed.


                                                               1166

 1                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

 2    335, Senate Print 2076, by Senator Addabbo, an 

 3    act to amend the Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and 

 4    Breeding Law.

 5                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Read the 

 6    last section.

 7                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

 8    act shall take effect immediately.

 9                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Call the 

10    roll.

11                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

12                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Announce 

13    the results.

14                 THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 60.

15                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The bill 

16    is passed.

17                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

18    338, Senate Print 3219, by Senator Cleare, an act 

19    to amend the Public Health Law.

20                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Read the 

21    last section.

22                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

23    act shall take effect on the 180th day after it 

24    shall have become a law.

25                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Call the 


                                                               1167

 1    roll.

 2                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

 3                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Announce 

 4    the results.

 5                 THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 60.

 6                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The bill 

 7    is passed.

 8                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

 9    339, Senate Print 3609A, by Senator Webb, an act 

10    to amend the Public Health Law.

11                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Read the 

12    last section.

13                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

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

15    same manner as Chapter 137 of the Laws of 2022.

16                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Call the 

17    roll.

18                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

19                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Announce 

20    the results.

21                 THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

22    Calendar Number 339, those Senators voting in the 

23    negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello, 

24    Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Felder, Griffo, Gallivan, 

25    Helming, Lanza, Mattera, Murray, Ortt, Palumbo, 


                                                               1168

 1    Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber 

 2    and Weik.  Also Senator Martins.  

 3                 Ayes, 40.  Nays, 20.

 4                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The bill 

 5    is passed.

 6                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

 7    374, Senate Print 2208, by Senator Liu, an act to 

 8    amend the Education Law.

 9                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Read the 

10    last section.

11                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 3.  This 

12    act shall take effect immediately.

13                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Call the 

14    roll.

15                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

16                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Announce 

17    the results.

18                 THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 60.

19                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The bill 

20    is passed.

21                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

22    381, Senate Print 2125, by Senator Rivera, an act 

23    to amend the Social Services Law.

24                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Read the 

25    last section.


                                                               1169

 1                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 5.  This 

 2    act shall take effect immediately.

 3                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Call the 

 4    roll.

 5                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

 6                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Announce 

 7    the results.

 8                 THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 60.

 9                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The bill 

10    is passed.

11                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

12    387, Senate Print 3605, by Senator Webb, an act 

13    to amend the Executive Law.

14                 SENATOR LANZA:   Lay it aside.

15                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Lay it 

16    aside.

17                 Senator Gianaris, that completes the 

18    reading of today's calendar.

19                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   Can we now move 

20    to the reading of the controversial calendar, 

21    please.

22                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The 

23    Secretary will read.

24                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

25    387, Senate Print 3605, by Senator Webb, an act 


                                                               1170

 1    to amend the Executive Law.

 2                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The 

 3    Secretary will ring the bell.

 4                 Senator Murray.

 5                 SENATOR MURRAY:   Thank you.  

 6                 Through you, Mr. President, would 

 7    the sponsor yield for a few questions?  

 8                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Will the 

 9    sponsor yield? 

10                 SENATOR WEBB:   I will yield.

11                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The 

12    sponsor yields.

13                 SENATOR MURRAY:   Thank you very 

14    much.  Through you, Mr. President.  

15                 Can you tell us today -- we're 

16    amending the annual report regarding MWBE, and 

17    you're offering up some amendments and more 

18    information.  Can you tell us what amendments and 

19    what additional information we're adding?  

20                 SENATOR WEBB:   Through you, 

21    Mr. President.  What my bill is proposing to do 

22    with regards to data collected, it looks at 

23    several things, points, including the total 

24    number of MWBEs per year, categorized by minority 

25    group and any gender; whether an MWBE contract is 


                                                               1171

 1    for goods or for services; whether each MWBE 

 2    contract was awarded to a minority-owned business 

 3    or a woman-owned business, and which minority 

 4    group the business is reporting; the names and 

 5    business addresses of any prime contractors and 

 6    subcontractors providing services under each MWBE 

 7    contract; and the dollar value of each MWBE 

 8    contract.

 9                 SENATOR MURRAY:   Through you, 

10    Mr. President, would the sponsor continue to 

11    yield.

12                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Does the 

13    sponsor yield?

14                 SENATOR WEBB:   I will yield.

15                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The 

16    sponsor yields.

17                 SENATOR MURRAY:   Is there anything 

18    in here that we're adding to address the 

19    certification and in fact, more importantly, the 

20    recertification process?

21                 SENATOR WEBB:   Through you, 

22    Mr. President, the bill as it currently stands 

23    does not have that language explicitly.  

24                 However, it is the intent with this 

25    legislation to create a much more expanded scope 


                                                               1172

 1    related to data collection, and most certainly 

 2    that is something that could be considered at a 

 3    separate time.

 4                 SENATOR MURRAY:   Very good.  

 5                 On the bill, Mr. President.

 6                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Senator 

 7    Murray on the bill.

 8                 SENATOR MURRAY:   And thank you, 

 9    Senator.

10                 That is an issue that I've heard 

11    quite a bit.  And in speaking to the sponsor off 

12    to the side, we agree that that -- the 

13    recertification process is a difficult process 

14    and at times is a bit ambiguous.  

15                 And I think adding that information, 

16    the recertification numbers, so that we can track 

17    to see if there is a falling off of -- from the 

18    certification to recertification, and maybe track 

19    why, that would be very important.  

20                 So I appreciate your willingness to 

21    work on this together.  I'll be voting aye.  

22                 Thank you.

23                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Thank 

24    you, Senator Murray.

25                 Are there any other Senators wishing 


                                                               1173

 1    to be heard?  

 2                 Seeing and hearing none, the debate 

 3    is closed.  The Secretary will ring the bell.

 4                 Read the last section.

 5                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

 6    act shall take effect immediately.  

 7                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Call the 

 8    roll.

 9                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

10                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   Mr. President.  

11                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Senator 

12    Gianaris.  

13                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   We have agreed 

14    to restore this bill to the noncontroversial 

15    calendar.  So if we could do that and take it up 

16    that way, please.

17                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The bill 

18    is restored to the noncontroversial calendar.

19                 Read the last section.

20                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

21    act shall take effect immediately.

22                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Call the 

23    roll.

24                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

25                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Announce 


                                                               1174

 1    the results.

 2                 THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 60.

 3                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The bill 

 4    is passed.

 5                 Senator Gianaris, that completes the 

 6    reading of the calendar.

 7                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   Is there any 

 8    further business at the desk?

 9                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   There is 

10    no further business at the desk.

11                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   I move to 

12    adjourn until Wednesday, March 8th, at 3:00 p.m., 

13    intervening days being legislative days.

14                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   On 

15    motion, the Senate stands adjourned until 

16    Wednesday, March 8th, at 3:00 p.m., with the 

17    intervening days being legislative days.

18                 (Whereupon, at 12:18 p.m., the 

19    Senate adjourned.)

20

21

22

23

24

25