Regular Session - March 12, 2025

                                                                   992

 1                NEW YORK STATE SENATE

 2                          

 3                          

 4               THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD

 5                          

 6                          

 7                          

 8                          

 9                  ALBANY, NEW YORK

10                   March 12, 2025

11                      3:32 p.m.

12                          

13                          

14                   REGULAR SESSION

15  

16  

17  

18  SENATOR JAMAAL T. BAILEY, Acting President

19  ALEJANDRA N. PAULINO, ESQ., Secretary

20  

21  

22  

23  

24  

25  


                                                               993

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

 2                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   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 BAILEY:   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 BAILEY:   Reading 

14    of the Journal.

15                 THE SECRETARY:   In Senate, Tuesday, 

16    March 11, 2025, the Senate met pursuant to 

17    adjournment.  The Journal of Monday, March 10, 

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

19    Senate adjourned.

20                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   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.


                                                               994

 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                 We have a number of resolutions to 

 9    take up today.  Let's begin with three 

10    resolutions we're going to take up together, 

11    previously adopted Resolutions 457, 458 and 459, 

12    all by Senator May.  Please read their titles and 

13    recognize Senator May.

14                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   The 

15    Secretary will read.

16                 THE SECRETARY:   Senate Resolution 

17    457, by Senator May, congratulating the 

18    Marcellus Girls Varsity Soccer Team upon the 

19    occasion of winning the New York State 

20    Public High School Athletic Association Class B 

21    Championship on November 17, 2024.  

22                 Resolution 458, also by Senator May, 

23    honoring the Syracuse Central School District's 

24    first ever Girls Wrestling Team for being 

25    trailblazers in the sport of wrestling.  


                                                               995

 1                 Resolution 459, by Senator May, 

 2    congratulating Coach Edward Curle upon the 

 3    occasion of being named the Section 1 

 4    Swimming and Diving Coach of the Year by the 

 5    National Federation of State High School 

 6    Associations.

 7                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Senator 

 8    May on the resolutions.

 9                 SENATOR MAY:   Thank you, 

10    Mr. President.  

11                 I am very proud that we're joined 

12    today by the Marcellus Mustangs Girls Varsity 

13    Soccer Team.  

14                 Not only did they win the state 

15    championship with a 4-0 win over Cold Spring 

16    Harbor; not only was this Marcellus's first 

17    championship in 20 years; not only were they the 

18    top-ranked team in state standings all season 

19    long; not only did they not allow a single goal 

20    in the postseason -- but they also had the team's 

21    first undefeated season, and their head coach, 

22    Laurie Updike, was inducted into the New York 

23    State High School Girls Soccer Hall of Fame.

24                 Big congratulations to this 

25    unbeatable team from Marcellus.  I ask that we 


                                                               996

 1    give them all of the privileges and courtesies of 

 2    the house.

 3                 Should I do all three?  Okay.  

 4                 I also get to honor a different sort 

 5    of team.  I'll put on my pink instead of my green 

 6    and black.  This team doesn't have decades of 

 7    history or sparkling row of trophies, but they 

 8    have heart and courage and a beautiful team 

 9    spirit.  We are joined by the Syracuse City 

10    School District's Titans Girls Wrestling Team.  

11                 Coach Heather Niver was inspired by 

12    her late son's love of wrestling to start a team 

13    for Syracuse girls.  She has inspired these young 

14    ladies to try something they never imagined 

15    doing, and to overcome all obstacles to become 

16    successful wrestlers.  

17                 They started out practicing in socks 

18    before the community rallied around and raised 

19    funds for wrestling shoes.  

20                 They won their inaugural match this 

21    winter and are making big plans to travel to 

22    Virginia Beach this May.  I have no doubt these 

23    dedicated, diverse and caring teammates and their 

24    beloved coach will have plenty of trophies to 

25    show off before long.


                                                               997

 1                 And finally, I am proud to recognize 

 2    Syracuse City School District Swimming and Diving 

 3    Coach Edward Curle for being named 

 4    National Federation of State High School 

 5    Associations Division 1 Swimming and Diving 

 6    Coach of the Year.

 7                 Coach Curle started out as a 

 8    lifeguard for the Syracuse City School District 

 9    in 1993 and worked his way up to head coach.  

10                 His philosophy is to give everyone a 

11    chance to learn and grow.  He welcomes everyone, 

12    from nonswimmers to accomplished swimmers and 

13    divers.  And through discipline, teamwork and 

14    perseverance, he inspired inspires them to excel.

15                 Syracuse City School District has 

16    one consolidated swim team for all five high 

17    schools, but Coach Curle has been able to 

18    overcome the rivalries and develop strong team 

19    spirit among kids from all across the city.  

20                 Please join me in congratulating 

21    this inspiring leader on his national 

22    recognition.

23                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Thank you, 

24    Senator May.  

25                 To our guests from the Marcellus 


                                                               998

 1    Girls Soccer Team, the Syracuse Central 

 2    School District's Girls Wrestling Team, and 

 3    Coach Edward Curle, we welcome you to the Senate.  

 4    We extend to you all the privileges and 

 5    courtesies of the house.  

 6                 Please rise and be recognized.

 7                 (Standing ovation.)

 8                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Senator 

 9    Gianaris.

10                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   Next let's take 

11    up previously adopted Resolution 466, by 

12    Senator Ryan, read that resolution's title and 

13    recognize Senator Ryan.  Sean Ryan.

14                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   The 

15    Secretary will read.

16                 THE SECRETARY:   Resolution 466, by 

17    Senator Sean Ryan, commemorating the 

18    150th Anniversary of the Buffalo Zoo.

19                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Senator 

20    Ryan on the resolution.

21                 SENATOR SEAN RYAN:   Thank you, 

22    Madam President.  

23                 I rise to celebrate the 

24    150th anniversary of the Buffalo Zoo, which I 

25    know you visited as a former Buffalo resident.  


                                                               999

 1                 The Buffalo Zoo has been one of 

 2    Western New York's greatest cultural touchstones 

 3    for over a generation.  It opened in 1875.  It's 

 4    one of the oldest zoos in the country.  It's been 

 5    a fixture throughout most of our Buffalo history.  

 6    It's an indelible part of our community.  

 7    Everyone has memories of being at the 

 8    Buffalo Zoo.  

 9                 It also is a big contributor to our 

10    economy.  People come to see the zoo from all 

11    over Western New York and around the globe.  It's 

12    one of our most popular attractions.  And I'm 

13    happy to report that we have Lisa Smith, the 

14    zoo's president and CEO, with us here today.  

15                 She took over that role in 2023, and 

16    with over two decades of institutional knowledge, 

17    she's been doing this Buffalo institution proud.

18                 Lisa and her team care deeply about 

19    the work.  It's important work.  Zoos have 

20    changed a lot in the last 150 years.  The Buffalo 

21    Zoo is involved in all sorts of breeding 

22    programs.  Whether it's working with the 

23    Seneca Nation to breed the hellbender salamander 

24    or working on the black rhino recovery program, 

25    Buffalo Zoo has become a contributor to the 


                                                               1000

 1    national conservation movement.  

 2                 Big focus on educating visitors 

 3    about animals, habitat and conservation 

 4    initiatives.  So they're providing a service to 

 5    our citizens but also helping our patrons become 

 6    better global citizens.  

 7                 So as we celebrate this milestone, I 

 8    applaud Lisa and her team and everyone who works 

 9    so hard every day to make the Buffalo Zoo the 

10    regional treasure that it is.

11                 Thank you, Madam President.

12                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Thank you, 

13    Senator Ryan.

14                 Senator Baskin on the resolution.

15                 SENATOR BASKIN:   Thank you, 

16    Madam President.  

17                 I too rise in support and 

18    celebration of the Buffalo Zoo and the hard work 

19    of Ms. Smith.  

20                 The Buffalo Zoo is something that's 

21    very important to the constituents that I serve.  

22    As a mother raising school-age children, there is 

23    nothing more fabulous than spending a weekend at 

24    our Buffalo Zoo any time of the year.  And it 

25    brings such joy -- and, like my colleague says, 


                                                               1001

 1    such economic value to the City of Buffalo and 

 2    the Erie County region.

 3                 I want to also point out the 

 4    Buffalo Zoo's most recent efforts in equity and 

 5    inclusion when it comes to providing 

 6    accessibility for residents across the City of 

 7    Buffalo and our surrounding areas who do not 

 8    always have the means or the finances to be able 

 9    to have cultural excursions as working-class 

10    families.  

11                 Lisa has made it a point to make 

12    sure that the zoo is accessible to all residents 

13    across Buffalo and Erie County.  And for that, I 

14    am extremely grateful.  

15                 So again, congratulations to the 

16    Buffalo Zoo on 150 years of service to our 

17    region, and to Ms. Smith for her commitment to 

18    the residents of Buffalo and Erie County.

19                 Thank you.

20                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Thank you, 

21    Senator Baskin.

22                 Senator Gallivan on the resolution.

23                 SENATOR GALLIVAN:   (Rushing to 

24    seat.)  Thank you, Madam President.  I too rise 

25    to --


                                                               1002

 1                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Take your 

 2    time.

 3                 SENATOR GALLIVAN:   -- thank you and 

 4    congratulate you -- 

 5                 (Laughter.)

 6                 SENATOR GALLIVAN:   -- on being here 

 7    and for all the work that you and your 

 8    predecessors have done at the zoo.  

 9                 That is among the earliest memories 

10    I have of growing up in Buffalo:  Going to the 

11    zoo.  The smell of the elephants -- 

12                 (Laughter.)

13                 SENATOR GALLIVAN:   -- and then that 

14    great big Sampson, Sampson the Gorilla, who was 

15    like one of the best things.  And the turtle was 

16    bigger than life.

17                 But nonetheless, it really is -- it 

18    adds to the fabric of Buffalo and Western 

19    New York.  And there are not many people who have 

20    grown up in Western New York who haven't enjoyed 

21    it over time.  

22                 And you'll be happy to know that 

23    we've continued the process -- or we've continued 

24    the tradition.  I have two new grandchildren, and 

25    their families at Christmastime were gifted a 


                                                               1003

 1    Buffalo Zoo membership.  So keep treating them 

 2    all well.  

 3                 Thank you very much, 

 4    Madam President.

 5                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Thank you 

 6    Senator.

 7                 To our guest Lisa Smith, we welcome 

 8    you on behalf of the Senate.  Congratulations on 

 9    the anniversary of the Buffalo Zoo.  We extend to 

10    you the privileges and courtesies of the house.  

11                 (Standing ovation.)

12                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Senator 

13    Gianaris.

14                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   Thank you, 

15    Madam President.  

16                 I want to pause in our normal course 

17    of business to recognize that today is 

18    Senator Lanza's birthday.

19                 (Reaction from members.)

20                 (Cheers; standing ovation.)

21                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   And 

22    Senator Rhoads grabbed me earlier and pointed out 

23    that yesterday was the 144th anniversary, to the 

24    day, of this chamber being open, and he wanted me 

25    to make sure to ask Senator Lanza how it was on 


                                                               1004

 1    that day.

 2                 (Laughter.)

 3                 SENATOR LANZA:   Better.

 4                 (Laughter.)

 5                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   The resolutions 

 6    we took up are open for cosponsorship, 

 7    Madam President.

 8                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   The 

 9    resolutions are open for cosponsorship.  

10                 Should you choose not to be a 

11    cosponsor on the resolutions, please notify the 

12    desk.

13                 Senator Gianaris.

14                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   Please take up 

15    the calendar.

16                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   The 

17    Secretary will read.

18                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

19    264, Senate Print 2067, by 

20    Senator Scarcella-Spanton, an act to amend the 

21    Veterans' Services Law.

22                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Read the 

23    last section.

24                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

25    act shall take effect on the 120th day after it 


                                                               1005

 1    shall have become a law.

 2                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Call the 

 3    roll.

 4                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

 5                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Announce 

 6    the results.

 7                 THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 56.

 8                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   The bill 

 9    is passed.

10                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

11    295, Senate Print 2050, by Senator Webb, an act 

12    to amend the Election Law.

13                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Read the 

14    last section.

15                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

16    act shall take effect immediately.  

17                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Call the 

18    roll.

19                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

20                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Announce 

21    the results -- oh.  (Pause.)

22                 Announce the results.

23                 THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

24    Calendar 295, voting in the negative are 

25    Senators Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Martins 


                                                               1006

 1    and Rhoads.

 2                 Ayes, 52.  Nays, 4.

 3                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   The bill 

 4    is passed.

 5                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

 6    402, Senate Print 1194A, by Senator Addabbo, an 

 7    act to amend the Public Service Law.

 8                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Read the 

 9    last section.

10                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

11    act shall take effect immediately.

12                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Call the 

13    roll.

14                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

15                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Announce 

16    the results.

17                 THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

18    Calendar Number 402, voting in the negative:  

19    Senator Walczyk.

20                 Ayes, 55.  Nays, 1.

21                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   The bill 

22    is passed.

23                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

24    419, Senate Print 4850, by Senator Chris Ryan, an 

25    act to amend the Insurance Law.


                                                               1007

 1                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Read the 

 2    last section.

 3                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 4.  This 

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

 5    shall have become a law.

 6                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Call the 

 7    roll.

 8                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

 9                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Senator 

10    Chris Ryan to explain his vote.

11                 SENATOR CHRIS RYAN:   Thank you, 

12    Madam President.  

13                 I just want to say that I am 

14    tremendously proud to carry this legislation 

15    today.  This bill will add preventive care and 

16    expand access to breast cancer screenings for 

17    women who are from families that have already 

18    suffered from this horrible, horrible disease 

19    called cancer.

20                 This bill ensures that when a doctor 

21    believes you should have a screening for breast 

22    cancer because your second-degree relative was 

23    affected by this disease, the screening will be 

24    covered.

25                 Women will no longer be hit with 


                                                               1008

 1    exorbitant costs and forced to dip into their 

 2    pockets to cover the cost of a screening that 

 3    potentially could save their lives.

 4                 Breast cancer remains a significant 

 5    health concern in both our nation and our state.  

 6    Nationally, the American Cancer Society estimates 

 7    that in 2025, approximately 280,000 new cases of 

 8    invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among 

 9    women, and about -- unfortunately -- 43,000 women 

10    will lose their lives to this terrible disease.  

11                 In New York State alone, we 

12    anticipate over 17,000 new cases this year, with 

13    nearly 2500 deaths.

14                 Family history is a well-established 

15    risk factor for breast cancer.  While 

16    first-degree relatives have always been 

17    long-covered, evidence indicates that if you have 

18    a second-degree relative who had breast cancer, 

19    then you are also at increased risk as well, and 

20    you should be screened.  You should definitely, 

21    definitely be screened.  

22                 By broadening the screening 

23    criteria, doctors can catch the disease earlier 

24    and save more lives.

25                 So thank you for the support of this 


                                                               1009

 1    bill.  You know, and I'll say from somebody who 

 2    lost a loved one -- I lost my mother to cancer 

 3    early, far, far too early in her life.  And I 

 4    know this terrible disease touches so many.  But, 

 5    you know, what we do here matters.  It matters 

 6    deeply.  And if we can take a step forward to 

 7    beat breast cancer in this great New York State, 

 8    I believe we should.

 9                 Thank you.

10                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Senator 

11    Chris Ryan to be recorded in the affirmative.

12                 Senator Mattera to explain his vote.

13                 SENATOR MATTERA:   Yes, thank you, 

14    Madam President.  

15                 And I just want to commend 

16    Senator Ryan for bringing this forward.  This is 

17    so, so important.  

18                 For somebody that became a new 

19    Senator, and I had the screening units that would 

20    go out into our neighborhoods that people didn't 

21    have any insurance, to save lives.  And it meant 

22    so much to me.  And then to find out that my 

23    beautiful wife two years ago was diagnosed with 

24    breast cancer.  

25                 And when I received that phone call, 


                                                               1010

 1    I couldn't believe it.  I couldn't believe what I 

 2    heard.  There I am, I have the mammogram buses 

 3    and the mobile units, and doing all this.  And I 

 4    said, Let's get a second opinion, this and that.  

 5    No.  And there was my beautiful wife who would go 

 6    every year to get tested, and to find out that 

 7    she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  

 8                 It was one of the hardest two years 

 9    of our lives as a family member, with my family 

10    and my daughters -- and as a husband, to be 

11    there, to show support all that time.  That I 

12    love my wife very dearly, 31 years, and a family 

13    member.  

14                 So please, please, this is so, so 

15    important.  This shouldn't be even a question.  

16    This is very, very important for our families and 

17    our loved ones.

18                 So again, Senator Ryan, thank you so 

19    much for bringing this forward.  And I gladly say 

20    vote yes on this very, very important bill.

21                 Thank you.

22                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Thank you.  

23                 Senator Mattera to be recorded in 

24    the affirmative.

25                 Announce the results.


                                                               1011

 1                 THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 56.

 2                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   The bill 

 3    is passed.

 4                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

 5    458, Senate Print 4892, by Senator Stavisky, an 

 6    act to amend the Education Law.

 7                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Read the 

 8    last section.

 9                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   Lay it aside for 

10    the day.

11                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   The bill 

12    is laid aside for the day.

13                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

14    463, Senate Print 4907, by Senator Fahy, an act 

15    to amend the Mental Hygiene Law.

16                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Read the 

17    last section.

18                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

19    act shall take effect on the 20th day after it 

20    shall have become a law.

21                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Call the 

22    roll.

23                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

24                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Announce 

25    the results.


                                                               1012

 1                 THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 56.

 2                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   The bill 

 3    is passed.

 4                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

 5    465, Senate Print 257, by Senator Martinez, an 

 6    act in relation to authorizing a study on 

 7    lithium-ion battery fires and prevention.

 8                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Read the 

 9    last section.

10                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 3.  This 

11    act shall take effect immediately.

12                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Call the 

13    roll.

14                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

15                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Senator 

16    Rhoads to explain his vote.

17                 SENATOR RHOADS:   Thank you, 

18    Madam President.  

19                 I want to thank Senator Martinez and 

20    I want to thank the members of this chamber for 

21    voting for this important legislation.

22                 We all -- and I think it's a 

23    recognition of the fact that we all recognize 

24    that lithium-ion batteries are a true concern.  

25    We see the news reports on a continuing basis, 


                                                               1013

 1    and we see the devastation that these lithium-ion 

 2    fires create.  Getting to the root cause of these 

 3    fires is incredibly important.  

 4                 But as we recognize that there's an 

 5    issue, I do want to note for everyone here in the 

 6    chamber and for those watching at home, we 

 7    continue to push our climate-change goals, which 

 8    are requiring the full electrification, for 

 9    example, of vehicles.  We have a school bus 

10    mandate that's requiring the full electrification 

11    of every school bus.  And we are literally 

12    playing with fire.

13                 Lithium-ion battery fires occur 

14    because there are fuels and oxidizers in a 

15    confined space.  You see many of those fires in 

16    very small areas, even though small fires are 

17    very difficult to contain.  But when you're 

18    talking about larger batteries, which are simply 

19    bundles of these small lithium-ion batteries 

20    bundled together in larger units -- that's all a 

21    larger battery is -- the danger of those fires 

22    only becomes worse and more intense.  

23                 And when it's a small fire -- for 

24    example, in a household appliance -- you have the 

25    ability to remove one of the elements of what 


                                                               1014

 1    they call a fire triangle.  Fires occur only when 

 2    there's fuel, when there's heat, and when there's 

 3    oxygen.  And so in a smaller fire, like for 

 4    example on an airplane, if they have something 

 5    charged with a lithium-ion battery, you have the 

 6    opportunity to fully submerge it.  

 7                 You can't do that with a car 

 8    battery.  You can't do that with an electric bus 

 9    battery to power that electric bus.  That makes 

10    those fires very dangerous.  It makes those fires 

11    very intense.  And it makes those fires very 

12    quick, as you see on some of those videos.

13                 And so for both firefighter safety 

14    and, more importantly, for the safety of those 

15    who are in that vehicle, and for the safety of 

16    the kids that are in the school bus, while we 

17    recognize that there's a need to conduct a study 

18    to try and figure out why these are occurring and 

19    trying to figure out what safety measures we can 

20    have to prevent them from occurring, perhaps we 

21    should pump the brakes on some of these mandates 

22    so that we can put safety first.

23                 We may be able to get to the fully 

24    electrical --

25                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Excuse me, 


                                                               1015

 1    Senator Rhoads.  How do you vote?  

 2                 SENATOR RHOADS:   Sure.  I vote in 

 3    the affirmative.  

 4                 I was just going to finish up that 

 5    we may be able to get there, but let's get there 

 6    at a time when safety and technology has caught 

 7    up with where we need to be.

 8                 Thank you, Madam President.  

 9                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Senator 

10    Rhoads to be recorded in the affirmative.

11                 Senator Murray to explain his vote.

12                 SENATOR MURRAY:   Thank you, 

13    Madam President.  

14                 I'd like to add my voice to those 

15    and echo the sentiments of my colleagues to thank 

16    Senator Martinez for bringing this forward.  

17                 But I'd also like to say that yes, 

18    maybe we do have to pump the brakes.  There are 

19    quite a few battery storage facilities now being 

20    proposed for my district, and every area I hear 

21    back from the constituents saying, Whoa, we're 

22    not ready for this.  

23                 Just as important, I'm hearing from 

24    our firefighters, who are very concerned, saying 

25    we really are not ready for this.  These fires 


                                                               1016

 1    are extremely hot, extremely dangerous, and we 

 2    really don't know yet exactly how to handle them.

 3                 So I would add my voice to the 

 4    concerns of maybe we pump the brakes on such 

 5    facilities until we have a little more 

 6    information.

 7                 I know the Governor has put together 

 8    a task force, but they really haven't met yet, 

 9    really haven't come to any conclusions.  The 

10    training isn't there yet.  So I'd really suggest 

11    that we pump the brakes.

12                 With that said, I support this bill.

13                 Thank you.

14                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Senator 

15    Murray to be recorded in the affirmative.

16                 Senator Harckham to explain his 

17    vote.

18                 SENATOR HARCKHAM:   Thank you very 

19    much, Madam President.  

20                 I want to thank the Senator for 

21    bringing this legislation to the floor.  I'll be 

22    voting in the affirmative.  

23                 I just would like to state for the 

24    record that in New York and nationally, there are 

25    far more gasoline automobile and school bus fires 


                                                               1017

 1    than there are electric automobile and school bus 

 2    fires.  

 3                 And if you look at the amount of 

 4    homes and apartment buildings and businesses 

 5    destroyed by natural gas explosions versus 

 6    battery fires, the number is not close.

 7                 So I'll be voting aye.  Thank you.

 8                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Senator 

 9    Harckham to be recorded in the affirmative.

10                 Announce the results.

11                 THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 57.

12                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   The bill 

13    is passed.

14                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

15    466, Senate Print 381, by Senator Brouk, an act 

16    to amend the Labor Law.

17                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Read the 

18    last section.

19                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

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

21    shall have become a law.

22                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Call the 

23    roll.

24                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

25                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Announce 


                                                               1018

 1    the results.

 2                 THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

 3    Calendar 466, voting in the negative are 

 4    Senators Borrello, Gallivan and Walczyk.

 5                 Ayes, 54.  Nays, 3.

 6                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   The bill 

 7    is passed.

 8                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

 9    469, Senate Print 1075, by Senator Serrano, an 

10    act to create a temporary state commission to 

11    study and make recommendations concerning the 

12    incidence of asthma in the Borough of the Bronx.

13                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Read the 

14    last section.

15                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 6.  This 

16    act shall take effect immediately.

17                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Call the 

18    roll.

19                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

20                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Announce 

21    the results.

22                 THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 57.

23                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   The bill 

24    is passed.

25                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 


                                                               1019

 1    478, Senate Print Number 5397, by 

 2    Senator Scarcella-Spanton, an act to amend the 

 3    Veterans' Services Law.

 4                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Read the 

 5    last section.

 6                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 4.  This 

 7    act shall take effect immediately.

 8                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Call the 

 9    roll.

10                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

11                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   Announce 

12    the results.

13                 THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 57.

14                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   The bill 

15    is passed.

16                 Senator Gianaris, that completes the 

17    reading of today's calendar.

18                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   Is there any 

19    further business at the desk?

20                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   There is 

21    no further business at the desk.

22                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   I move to 

23    adjourn until tomorrow, Thursday, March 13th, at 

24    11:00 a.m.

25                 ACTING PRESIDENT MAYER:   On motion, 


                                                               1020

 1    the Senate stands adjourned until Thursday, 

 2    March 13th, at 11:00 a.m. 

 3                 (Whereupon, the Senate adjourned at 

 4    3:56 p.m.)

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