Regular Session - March 10, 2025

                                                                   940

 1                NEW YORK STATE SENATE

 2                          

 3                          

 4               THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD

 5                          

 6                          

 7                          

 8                          

 9                  ALBANY, NEW YORK

10                   March 10, 2025

11                      3:36 p.m.

12                          

13                          

14                   REGULAR SESSION

15  

16  

17  

18  SENATOR JEREMY COONEY, Acting President

19  ALEJANDRA N. PAULINO, ESQ., Secretary

20  

21  

22  

23  

24  

25  


                                                               941

 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 to please rise and 

 5    recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

 6                 (Whereupon, the assemblage recited 

 7    the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.) 

 8                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   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 COONEY:   Reading 

14    of the Journal.

15                 THE SECRETARY:   In Senate, Friday, 

16    March 7, 2025, the Senate met pursuant to 

17    adjournment.  The Journal of Thursday, March 6, 

18    2025, was read and approved.  On motion, the 

19    Senate adjourned.

20                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   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.


                                                               942

 1                 Reports of select committees.

 2                 Communications and reports from 

 3    state officers.

 4                 Motions and resolutions.

 5                 Senator Gianaris.

 6                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   Good afternoon, 

 7    Mr. President.  

 8                 I offer amendments to the following 

 9    Third Reading Calendar bills:  

10                 By Senator Hinchey, Calendar Number 

11    329, Senate Print 3852; and by Senator Martinez, 

12    Calendar Number 373, Senate Print 688.

13                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The 

14    amendments are received, and the bills will 

15    retain their place on the Third Reading Calendar.

16                 Senator Gianaris.

17                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   Please take up 

18    the reading of the calendar.  

19                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The 

20    Secretary will read.

21                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

22    102, Senate Print 1438A, by Senator Krueger, an 

23    act to amend the Public Health Law.

24                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Read the 

25    last section.


                                                               943

 1                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

 2    act shall take effect on the first of April.

 3                 SENATOR MURRAY:   Call the roll.

 4                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

 5                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Announce 

 6    the results.

 7                 THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

 8    Calendar 102, those Senators voting in the 

 9    negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello, Chan, 

10    Felder, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, 

11    Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, 

12    Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, 

13    Weber and Weik.

14                 Ayes, 39.  Nays, 21.

15                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The bill 

16    is passed.

17                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

18    118, Senate Print 1187, by Senator Addabbo, an 

19    act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law.

20                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Read the 

21    last section.

22                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

23    act shall take effect immediately.

24                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Call the 

25    roll.


                                                               944

 1                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

 2                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Announce 

 3    the results.

 4                 THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

 5    Calendar 118, voting in the negative are 

 6    Senators Brisport, Lanza and Ortt.

 7                 Ayes, 57.  Nays, 3.

 8                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The bill 

 9    is passed.

10                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

11    120, Senate Print 1704, by Senator Harckham, an 

12    act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law.

13                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Read the 

14    last section.

15                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

16    act shall take effect immediately.

17                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Call the 

18    roll.

19                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

20                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Announce 

21    the results.

22                 THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 60.

23                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The bill 

24    is passed.

25                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 


                                                               945

 1    129, Senate Print 1619, by Senator Rivera, an act 

 2    to amend the Education Law.

 3                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Read the 

 4    last section.

 5                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 3.  This 

 6    act shall take effect immediately.

 7                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Call the 

 8    roll.

 9                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

10                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Announce 

11    the results.

12                 THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

13    Calendar 129, voting in the negative:  

14    Senator Walczyk.

15                 Ayes, 59.  Nays, 1.

16                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The bill 

17    is passed.

18                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

19    202, Senate Print 123, by Senator Cleare, an act 

20    to amend the General Business Law.

21                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Read the 

22    last section.

23                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

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

25    shall have become a law.


                                                               946

 1                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Call the 

 2    roll.

 3                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

 4                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Announce 

 5    the results.

 6                 THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

 7    Calendar 202, voting in the negative are 

 8    Senators Gallivan and Weik.

 9                 Ayes, 58.  Nay, 2.

10                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The bill 

11    is passed.

12                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

13    249, Senate Print 2447, by Senator Mayer, an act 

14    to amend the Executive Law.

15                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Read the 

16    last section.  

17                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

18    act shall take effect immediately.

19                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Call the 

20    roll.

21                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

22                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Announce 

23    the results.

24                 THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

25    Calendar 249, those Senators voting in the 


                                                               947

 1    negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello, Griffo, 

 2    Helming, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Stec, Walczyk 

 3    and Weik.

 4                 Ayes, 50.  Nays, 10.

 5                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The bill 

 6    is passed.

 7                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

 8    257, Senate Print 1048, by Senator Salazar, an 

 9    act to amend the Correction Law.

10                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Read the 

11    last section.

12                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 4.  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:   Senator 

18    Salazar to explain her vote.

19                 SENATOR SALAZAR:   Thank you, 

20    Mr. President.

21                 This bill addresses a crucial gap in 

22    our state's occupational licensing process by 

23    enhancing transparency and fairness for 

24    individuals who have records of involvement in 

25    the criminal legal system, removing some of the 


                                                               948

 1    barriers they face as they seek to rebuild their 

 2    life and contribute to our state's economy.  

 3                 Under the current system, 

 4    individuals who have had encounters with the 

 5    criminal justice system often face an unnecessary 

 6    obstacle when applying for professional licenses.  

 7    Many New Yorkers frequently experience 

 8    uncertainty about whether their criminal record 

 9    would automatically disqualify them from 

10    obtaining a license to pursue a profession they 

11    would otherwise qualify for.  

12                 This problem particularly affects 

13    marginalized communities and perpetuates systemic 

14    inequality in our state's professional workforce.

15                 The PLAN Act, this bill, offers a 

16    practical solution to this problem.  It 

17    establishes a preliminary process for applicants 

18    to determine in advance whether their criminal 

19    history would disqualify them from obtaining a 

20    particular professional license in New York.  

21    This includes details on which criminal offenses 

22    may impact eligibility and ones that cannot be 

23    considered, making the process clearer for all 

24    applicants.

25                 Furthermore, they would have the 


                                                               949

 1    ability to submit a preliminary application 

 2    through a low-cost procedure that certainty 

 3    before the applicant commits to a longer, more 

 4    arduous process of obtaining a license.

 5                 By providing a clear and accessible 

 6    pathway to assess eligibility, we would empower 

 7    individuals to make informed decisions about 

 8    their professional futures, while also ensuring 

 9    that public agencies handle these applications 

10    with fairness and with accountability.

11                 This promotes a fairer, more just 

12    system that values hard-earned second chances.  

13    It is a step toward breaking the cycle of poverty 

14    and incarceration by providing meaningful 

15    opportunities for people to move forward 

16    confidently and with dignity.  

17                 Thank you, Mr. President.

18                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Senator 

19    Salazar to be recorded in the affirmative.

20                 Senator Martins to explain his vote.

21                 SENATOR MARTINS:   Thank you, 

22    Mr. President.  

23                 I will be voting no on this bill.  

24    You know, just one more attempt, Mr. President, 

25    that prioritizes criminals over law-abiding 


                                                               950

 1    citizens.  

 2                 I don't want to see and my 

 3    constituents don't want to see somebody with a 

 4    record or a criminal record of alcohol abuses or 

 5    driving while impaired or a criminal felony 

 6    record applying for a liquor license.  I don't 

 7    want to see a criminal who was convicted of some 

 8    sexual offense applying for a license to run a 

 9    daycare center.  

10                 And we should be careful where we 

11    draw the line.  Time and again, we prioritize the 

12    rights of criminals, those who have encountered 

13    the criminal justice system and have been 

14    convicted, over those of law-abiding citizens.  

15    And we should question ourselves as to where we 

16    draw that line.

17                 For me, it's simple.  I draw the 

18    line in favor of those law-abiding citizens who 

19    have expected that our laws would be complied 

20    with.  That is, not worked around, not give them 

21    the benefit of the doubt.  But there are specific 

22    licenses and requirements for licensing in our 

23    state that have existed for decades.  And they 

24    make sense.  And they make sense to us, and they 

25    make sense to our constituents.  


                                                               951

 1                 The idea that we're going to vote to 

 2    prioritize doing away with those, or lessening 

 3    those, is something I won't be part of.  

 4                 I'll be voting no.

 5                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Senator 

 6    Martins to be recorded in the negative.

 7                 Announce the results.

 8                 THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

 9    Calendar 257, voting in the negative are 

10    Senators Borrello, Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, 

11    Helming, Lanza, Martins, Mattera, Oberacker, 

12    O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Stec, Tedisco, 

13    Walczyk, Weber and Weik.

14                 Ayes, 42.  Nays, 18.

15                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The bill 

16    is passed.

17                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

18    285, Senate Print 2040, by Senator Gianaris, an 

19    act to amend the Banking 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 


                                                               952

 1    roll.

 2                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

 3                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Announce 

 4    the results.  

 5                 THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

 6    Calendar 285, those Senators voting in the 

 7    negative are Senators Borrello, Chan, Gallivan, 

 8    Griffo, Helming, Martins, Oberacker, O'Mara, 

 9    Ortt, Palumbo, Stec, Tedisco and Walczyk.

10                 Ayes, 47.  Nays, 13.

11                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The bill 

12    is passed.

13                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

14    292, Senate Print 923, by Senator Skoufis, an act 

15    to amend the Election Law.

16                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Read the 

17    last section.

18                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

19    act shall take effect immediately.  

20                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Call the 

21    roll.

22                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

23                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Announce 

24    the results.  

25                 THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 


                                                               953

 1    Calendar 292, those Senators voting in the 

 2    negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello, Chan, 

 3    Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martins, 

 4    Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, 

 5    Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, 

 6    Weber and Weik.

 7                 Ayes, 39.  Nays, 21.

 8                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The bill 

 9    is passed.

10                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

11    297, Senate Print 934, by Senator Gonzalez, an 

12    act to amend the General Business Law.

13                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Read the 

14    last section.

15                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

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

17    shall have become a law.

18                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Call the 

19    roll.

20                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

21                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Announce 

22    the results.

23                 THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

24    Calendar Number 297, voting in the negative:  

25    Senator Walczyk.


                                                               954

 1                 Ayes, 59.  Nays, 1.

 2                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The bill 

 3    is passed.

 4                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

 5    343, Senate Print 916, by Senator Sean Ryan, an 

 6    act to amend the Judiciary Law.

 7                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Read the 

 8    last section.

 9                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 3.  This 

10    act shall take effect immediately.

11                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Call the 

12    roll.

13                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

14                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Announce 

15    the results.

16                 THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

17    Calendar 343, voting in the negative:  

18    Senator Walczyk.  

19                 Ayes, 59.  Nays, 1.

20                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The bill 

21    is passed.

22                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

23    345, Senate Print 1142, by Senator Gounardes, an 

24    act to amend the Civil Practice Law and Rules.

25                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Read the 


                                                               955

 1    last section.

 2                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

 3    act shall take effect on the 60th day after it 

 4    shall have become a law.

 5                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Call the 

 6    roll.

 7                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

 8                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Announce 

 9    the results.

10                 THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

11    Calendar 345, those Senators voting in the 

12    negative are Senators Borrello, Helming, Lanza, 

13    Martins, O'Mara, Ortt, Rhoads, Walczyk and Weik.

14                 Ayes, 51.  Nays, 9.

15                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The bill 

16    is passed.

17                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

18    346, Senate Print 2422, by Senator Hoylman-Sigal, 

19    an act to repeal Section 470 of the 

20    Judiciary Law.

21                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Read the 

22    last section.

23                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

24    act shall take effect immediately.

25                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Call the 


                                                               956

 1    roll.

 2                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

 3                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Announce 

 4    the results.

 5                 THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

 6    Calendar 346, voting in the negative:  

 7    Senator Skoufis.

 8                 Ayes, 59.  Nays, 1.

 9                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The bill 

10    is passed.

11                 There is a substitution at the desk.  

12                 The Secretary will read.

13                 THE SECRETARY:   Senator Mayer moves 

14    to discharge, from the Committee on Rules, 

15    Assembly Bill Number 5285 and substitute it for 

16    the identical Senate Bill 4587, Third Reading 

17    Calendar 447.

18                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The 

19    substitution is so ordered.

20                 The Secretary will read.

21                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

22    447, Assembly Bill Number 5285, by 

23    Assemblymember Reyes, an act to amend the 

24    Education Law.

25                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Read the 


                                                               957

 1    last section.

 2                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 4.  This 

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

 4    same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2025.

 5                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Call the 

 6    roll.  

 7                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

 8                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   Announce 

 9    the results.

10                 THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

11    Calendar 447, those Senators voting in the 

12    negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello, Chan, 

13    Felder, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, 

14    Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, 

15    Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, 

16    Weber and Weik.

17                 Ayes, 39.  Nays, 21.

18                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   The bill 

19    is passed.

20                 Senator Gianaris, that completes the 

21    reading of today's calendar.

22                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   Is there any 

23    further business at the desk?

24                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   There is 

25    no further business at the desk.


                                                               958

 1                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   I move to 

 2    adjourn until tomorrow, Tuesday, March 11th, at 

 3    3:00 p.m.

 4                 ACTING PRESIDENT COONEY:   On 

 5    motion, the Senate stands adjourned until 

 6    Tuesday, March 11th, at 3:00 p.m.

 7                 (Whereupon, at 3:51 p.m., the Senate 

 8    adjourned.)

 9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25