Regular Session - May 12, 2025
3377
1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
2
3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
5
6
7
8
9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 May 12, 2025
11 3:14 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
3378
1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The Senate
3 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: The
9 Reverend Linda Smith-Cherry, of the
10 Glover Memorial Baptist Church in Brooklyn,
11 New York, will deliver today's invocation.
12 Rev?
13 REVEREND SMITH-CHERRY: Let us
14 pray.
15 Father, we come today in Your
16 presence seeking wisdom. We are seeking what is
17 necessary and what comes from You. We are asking
18 You that You would please give us everything that
19 we are in need of during this particular time.
20 We ask it in the mighty and matchless name of
21 Jesus the Christ.
22 Father, we ask You that You give us
23 guidance and wisdom. We ask that You bless all
24 the Senators, Assemblymen, elected officials.
25 Give them the wisdom and strength and discernment
3379
1 as they navigate the complexities of their roles.
2 Guide them in making decisions that
3 serve the best interests of their constituents
4 and the state as a whole. We ask it all in Your
5 name.
6 And even when it is difficult that
7 they make the right decisions, we ask that as
8 well. May they be a source of hope, Father, and
9 unity for those they represent.
10 Amen.
11 (Response of "Amen.")
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Reading
13 of the Journal.
14 THE SECRETARY: In Senate, Friday,
15 May 9, 2025, the Senate met pursuant to
16 adjournment. The Journal of Thursday, May 8,
17 2025, was read and approved. On motion, the
18 Senate adjourned.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Without
20 objection, the Journal stands approved as read.
21 Presentation of petitions.
22 Messages from the Assembly.
23 Messages from the Governor.
24 Reports of standing committees.
25 Reports of select committees.
3380
1 Communications and reports from
2 state officers.
3 Motions and resolutions.
4 Senator Serrano.
5 SENATOR SERRANO: Thank you very
6 much, Mr. President.
7 On behalf of Senator Rivera, on
8 page 31 I offer the following amendments to
9 Calendar 743, Senate Print Number 355, and I ask
10 that said bill retain its place on Third Reading
11 Calendar.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
13 amendments are received, and the bill will retain
14 its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
15 Senator Serrano.
16 SENATOR SERRANO: Thank you,
17 Mr. President.
18 On behalf of Senator Sanders, I wish
19 to call up Bill Number -- Print 4728, recalled
20 from the Assembly, which is now at the desk.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
22 Secretary will read.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24 391, Senate Print 4728, by Senator Sanders, an
25 act in relation to establishing the New York
3381
1 State Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Study
2 Task Force.
3 SENATOR SERRANO: I now move to
4 reconsider the vote by which this bill was
5 passed.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
7 roll on reconsideration.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 56.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
11 is restored to its place on the Third Reading
12 Calendar.
13 SENATOR SERRANO: I now offer the
14 following amendments.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
16 amendments are received.
17 Senator Serrano.
18 SENATOR SERRANO: Please recognize
19 Senator Lanza for a motion.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
21 Lanza.
22 SENATOR LANZA: Thank you,
23 Senator Serrano.
24 Mr. President, on behalf of
25 Senator Rhoads, on page 34 I offer the following
3382
1 amendments to Calendar 779, Senate Print 290, and
2 ask that said bill retain its place on
3 Third Reading Calendar.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: These
5 amendments are received, and the bill will retain
6 its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
7 Senator Serrano.
8 SENATOR SERRANO: Thank you,
9 Mr. President.
10 Please recognize Senator Sepúlveda
11 for an introduction.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
13 Sepúlveda for the purposes of an introduction.
14 Senator Sepúlveda.
15 SENATOR SEPÚLVEDA: Thank you.
16 Thank you, Mr. President, for allowing me to make
17 this introduction.
18 Honorable authorities, esteemed
19 colleagues, cherished Dominican community,
20 friends: It is my honor to welcome today, at the
21 New York State Senate, distinguished government
22 officials and members of the legislative branch
23 of the Dominican Republic. This meeting not only
24 strengthens institutional ties but also serves as
25 a bridge of cooperation and brotherhood between
3383
1 our communities, reflecting the historical and
2 cultural bonds that unite our nations.
3 I am filled with satisfaction and
4 gratitude to be here with you to recognize the
5 effort, dedication, and tireless work of the
6 Dominican leaders who, day after day, commit
7 themselves passionately to the well-being of
8 their communities. Their commitment inspires and
9 leaves a profound impact on those who have the
10 privilege of witnessing their work.
11 Just a few days after the one-month
12 anniversary of the tragic tragedy at the Jet Set
13 nightclub in Santo Domingo, I would like to
14 extend my sincerest gratitude to the brave and
15 efficient emergency authorities of the Dominican
16 Republic.
17 I especially thank General Juan
18 Manuel Méndez, director of the Emergency
19 Operations Center; Colonel Randolfo Rijo,
20 director of the National 911 Emergency and
21 Security Systems; and the director of
22 Civil Defense, Juan Salas, for their swift,
23 coordinated and deeply humane response to the
24 tragedy where 233 people died.
25 Your actions in the face of this
3384
1 tragedy were admirable examples of
2 responsibility, solidarity and commitment. In
3 the midst of uncertainty, pain and anguish, many
4 families held on to hope. With steadfast hearts
5 and committed souls, you became a beacon of light
6 in the darkness. You were a source of confident
7 comfort to those in grief, strength to those who
8 could go no further, and decisive action in
9 moments when fear took hold.
10 Today we recognize you not only for
11 what you did, but for what you represented:
12 Solidarity, bravery, and compassion. In every
13 decision made, in every effort carried out, you
14 showed that human greatness can flourish even in
15 the saddest of circumstances. It comes in
16 silence -- in the form of outstretched hands and
17 a word of encouragement, or in sleepless nights
18 in the service of others.
19 I also want to offer special
20 recognition to the Honorable Senator for the
21 Province of Monseñor Nouel, Hector Acosta. His
22 distinguished career in public service and his
23 unwavering commitment to the development and
24 well-being of his community and the
25 Dominican Republic are worthy of admiration and
3385
1 respect.
2 Monseñor Nouel, a beautiful province
3 located in the heart of the country, has
4 benefited from his visionary leadership and close
5 connection to the people, resulting in real and
6 positive changes in the lives of its citizens.
7 His example inspires all of us who believe in
8 politics as a tool for social transformation.
9 From this honorable chamber in the
10 heart of New York -- a city that is home to the
11 vibrant and hardworking Dominican community -- I
12 reaffirm my commitment to continue strengthening
13 those bonds and to always recognize the greatness
14 of the men and women who work for a better future
15 for our peoples.
16 I thank the President of the
17 Dominican Republic, Ricardo de los Santos
18 Polanco, and the Senator for the province of
19 María Trinidad Sánchez, my brother,
20 Alexis Victoria Yeb, for their constant support
21 and willingness in every legislative initiative
22 we have shared.
23 I also thank my colleagues from both
24 sides of the chamber.
25 (Repeating remarks in Spanish.)
3386
1 "Honorables autoridades, estimados
2 colegas, apreciada comunidad dominicana, amigas y
3 amigos. Es para mí un honor dar la bienvenida
4 hoy, en la sede del Senado del Estado de Nueva
5 York, a distinguidos funcionarios del gobierno y
6 miembros del poder legislativo de la República
7 Dominicana.
8 "Este encuentro no solo fortalece
9 los lazos institucionales, sino que también
10 representa un puente de cooperación y hermandad
11 entre nuestras comunidades, reflejando los
12 vínculos históricos y culturales que unen a
13 nuestros países.
14 "Me llena de satisfacción y gratitud
15 estar aquí con ustedes para reconocer el
16 esfuerzo, la dedicación y el trabajo incansable
17 de líderes dominicanos que, día tras día, se
18 entregan con pasión al bienestar de su comunidad.
19 Su compromiso inspira y deja huellas profundas en
20 quienes tienen el privilegio de conocer su labor.
21 A pocos días de cumplirse un mes de la lamentable
22 tragedia ocurrida en la discoteca Jet Set de
23 Santo Domingo, quiero extender un sincero
24 reconocimiento a las valientes y eficientes
25 autoridades de emergencia de la República
3387
1 Dominicana.
2 "Agradezco especialmente al general
3 Juan Manuel Méndez, director del Centro de
4 Operaciones de Emergencias; al coronel Randolfo
5 Rijo, director del Sistema Nacional de Atención a
6 Emergencias y Seguridad 9-1-1 y al director de la
7 Defensa Civil, licenciado Juan Salas, por su
8 respuesta rápida, coordinada y profundamente
9 humana ante la tragedia ocurrida en la discoteca
10 Jet Set, en la que fallecieron 233 personas.
11 "Su labor en este lamentable suceso
12 fue un ejemplo admirable de responsabilidad,
13 solidaridad y compromiso. En medio de la
14 incertidumbre, el dolor y la angustia, muchas
15 familias se aferraban a la esperanza. Con el
16 corazón firme y el alma comprometida, ustedes se
17 convirtieron en la luz en medio de la oscuridad.
18 Fueron consuelo para quienes sufrían, fuerza para
19 los que ya no podían más, y acción decidida
20 cuando el miedo paralizaba.
21 "Hoy queremos reconocerlos no solo
22 por lo que hicieron, sino por lo que
23 representaron: Solidaridad, valentía y
24 compasión. En cada decisión que tomaron, en cada
25 esfuerzo que realizaron, demostraron que la
3388
1 grandeza humana florece incluso en los escenarios
2 más tristes. Nos recordaron que el heroísmo no
3 siempre lleva uniforme ni espera aplausos; a
4 veces llega en silencio, en forma de una mano
5 extendida, de una palabra de aliento o de una
6 jornada sin descanso.
7 "De igual modo, quiero reconocer de
8 manera especial a este grand senador por la
9 provincia Monseñor Nouel, Héctor Acosta conocido
10 en el mundo El Torito. Su destacada trayectoria
11 en el servicio público, así como su firme
12 compromiso con el desarrollo y bienestar de su
13 comunidad, y la Republica Dominicana, constituyen
14 un ejemplo digno de admiración y respeto.
15 "Monseñor Nouel, una hermosa
16 provincia ubicada en el corazón del país, ha
17 contado con su liderazgo visionario y cercano al
18 pueblo, lo cual ha generado cambios reales y
19 positivos en la vida de sus ciudadanos. Su
20 ejemplo inspira a todos los que creemos en la
21 política como herramienta de transformación
22 social.
23 "Desde esta honorable Cámara en el
24 corazón de Nueva York, una ciudad que también es
25 hogar de una vibrante y trabajadora comunidad
3389
1 dominicana, reitero mi compromiso de seguir
2 fortaleciendo estos Lazos y de reconocer siempre
3 la grandeza de los hombres y mujeres que trabajan
4 por un mejor futuro para nuestros pueblos.
5 "Agradezco al presidente del Senado
6 de la República Dominicana, Ricardo de los Santos
7 Polanco, y al senador de la provincia María
8 Trinidad Sánchez, Alexis Victoria Yeb, por el
9 respaldo constante y la disposición demostrada en
10 cada una de las iniciativas legislativas que
11 hemos compartido.
12 "Asimismo, agradezco a mis colegas
13 de ambas cámaras por unirse a este evento."
14 Thank you very much. Muchas
15 gracias.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
17 you, Senator Sepúlveda.
18 To our guests, I welcome you on
19 behalf of the Senate. Bienvenidos al Senado. We
20 extend to you all of the privileges and
21 courtesies of this house.
22 Personal point of privilege: Dios,
23 Patria y Libertad.
24 Please rise and be recognized.
25 (Standing ovation.)
3390
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
2 Serrano.
3 SENATOR SERRANO: Thank you,
4 Mr. President.
5 There is a privileged resolution at
6 the desk. I ask that you please take that up and
7 recognize Senator Addabbo.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
9 Secretary will read.
10 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 904, by
11 Senator Addabbo, recognizing the atrocities of
12 the Thomas Indian School and the impact it had on
13 Indigenous communities.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
15 Addabbo on the resolution.
16 SENATOR ADDABBO: Thank you,
17 Mr. President.
18 Good afternoon, everyone.
19 I believe in order to resolve and to
20 address bad behavior and disrespect, we first
21 have to acknowledge it. As chair of the
22 Subcommittee for the State-Native American
23 Relations, I, along with Senator Borrello,
24 introduced this resolution to acknowledge the
25 horrific treatment that the Native American
3391
1 children and families experienced at the
2 Thomas Indian School back in the 1800s -- also
3 known as the Thomas Asylum for Orphaned and
4 Destitute Indian Children.
5 Founded in Irving, New York, in
6 1855, the initially good intentioned site turned
7 ugly when the state took it over in 1875,
8 resulting in children being taken away from their
9 families and these children being stripped of
10 their language, their native language, and their
11 culture.
12 The emotional and psychological
13 impact of this mistreatment done by the Thomas
14 Indian School over 150 years ago is still being
15 felt by the Native Americans today.
16 With us today are some of the
17 Nations behind me in the gallery. This
18 resolution seeks to raise awareness, acknowledge
19 the unacceptable behavior, and learn from it as
20 we go forward, showing the respect that the
21 Native Americans deserve, and we work with them
22 to address this issue.
23 Mr. President, I'll be voting yes on
24 this resolution. Thank you.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
3392
1 you, Senator Addabbo.
2 Senator Borrello on the resolution.
3 SENATOR BORRELLO: Thank you,
4 Mr. President.
5 I rise in solemn support of this
6 resolution. And I do so not only as a member of
7 this legislative body, but as a representative of
8 a district that includes the sovereign
9 territories of the Seneca Nation of Indians. The
10 Cattaraugus Territory of the Seneca Nation is
11 located in the southwestern corner of New York
12 State, along the Cattaraugus Creek from Gowanda
13 to Lake Erie. It spans parts of Cattaraugus,
14 Chautauqua, and Erie counties.
15 The Allegany Territory is also
16 within Cattaraugus County and includes the City
17 of Salamanca.
18 These are not just places on a map.
19 These are communities with deep historical roots
20 and an enduring cultural legacy.
21 The Seneca Nation has contributed
22 enormously to the fabric of Western New York.
23 Despite centuries of policies aimed at their
24 erasure, the Seneca people have never surrendered
25 their identity. They have fought tirelessly to
3393
1 preserve their language, their customs, and their
2 sovereignty, even as the forces of assimilation
3 bore down on them.
4 The Thomas Indian School, located on
5 the Cattaraugus Territory, stands as a stark and
6 shameful reminder of a chapter in American
7 history that saw government power used to strip
8 away language, culture and identity from the
9 Native children.
10 It's been called a school, but as
11 this resolution rightly says, it was not a haven.
12 It was a tool of forced assimilation. It was
13 part of a system designed to "kill the Indian and
14 save the man." That's in quotes. That's what
15 their mission was stated as, to "kill the Indian
16 and save the man." Those words still echo with
17 horror today.
18 This ideology and the institutions
19 it gave rise to inflicted wounds that didn't just
20 last a generation -- they have echoed across
21 time. They have shaped lives, stolen futures,
22 and fractured families. What happened at the
23 Thomas Indian School and places like it was not
24 just child abuse, it was cultural erasure, and it
25 was sanctioned by the government.
3394
1 As legislators, we're often called
2 to look forward, to create policies for tomorrow.
3 But sometimes the most meaningful thing we can do
4 is pause and confront the full truth of our past.
5 That's what this resolution does. And while
6 words alone are never enough, words matter.
7 Acknowledgment matters. Dignity matters.
8 We cannot undo the harm done, but we
9 can and must support the Seneca people and all of
10 the Haudenosaunee Nation in their pursuits of
11 healing.
12 That means respecting their
13 ceremonies, honoring their efforts to bring their
14 lost children home, and ensuring that history is
15 taught honestly for future generations. It's
16 about standing with those who endured the
17 unimaginable and saying, clearly and without
18 condition: We see you, we acknowledge you, and
19 we will not forget.
20 I want to thank Senator Addabbo and
21 my fellow sponsors of this resolution. I thank
22 the survivors and the descendants of the
23 Thomas Indian School for their courage. And I
24 respectfully urge my colleagues to join me in
25 this solemn support.
3395
1 I want to thank President JC Seneca,
2 my friend; First Lady Nicole Seneca; the members
3 of the Tribal Council that are here, and everyone
4 who has fought hard to bring this forward, to
5 acknowledge what has happened, to ensure that it
6 never happens again. And to my friends, Nya:wëh.
7 (Responses from gallery.)
8 SENATOR BORRELLO: Thank you.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
10 you, Senator Borrello.
11 Senator Gallivan on the resolution.
12 SENATOR GALLIVAN: Thank you,
13 Mr. President.
14 I too rise to condemn something that
15 should have never taken place. I am grateful
16 that Senator Addabbo, Senator Borrello brought
17 this resolution forward that's been a long time
18 coming. I'm certainly glad we're past those
19 types of actions.
20 And I'm very glad and grateful to
21 have President Seneca, members of the
22 Tribal Council and other members of the Nation
23 here today. Proud to represent a portion of the
24 Cattaraugus Territory. Proud to have had a
25 relationship with so many in their government for
3396
1 so many years.
2 And it's because of relationships --
3 I'd like to thank my relationship, Senator
4 Borrello's relationship -- other governments,
5 working together with the Senecas, were able to
6 do better things for our community. Certainly
7 not at types of things that were done in the
8 past, the negative things. But working together
9 in a positive manner to make Western New York a
10 better place.
11 So I am grateful for our
12 relationship, grateful for our friendship, and
13 very proud to stand here today where we are
14 condemning what took place.
15 Thank you, Mr. President.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
17 you, Senator Gallivan.
18 To our guests in the chamber -- but
19 we are guests on your land -- I welcome you on
20 behalf of the Senate. We extend to you the
21 privileges and courtesies of this house.
22 Please rise and be recognized.
23 (Extended standing ovation.)
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
25 Serrano.
3397
1 SENATOR SERRANO: Thank you --
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Excuse
3 me, I'm sorry.
4 The question is on the resolution.
5 All in favor please signify by saying aye.
6 (Response of "Aye.")
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Opposed,
8 nay.
9 (No response.)
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: I didn't
11 think so.
12 The resolution is adopted.
13 Senator Serrano.
14 SENATOR SERRANO: Thank you very
15 much, Mr. President.
16 Please take up previously adopted
17 Resolution 905, by Senator Baskin, read the
18 resolution title only, and recognize
19 Senator Baskin.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
21 Secretary will read.
22 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 905, by
23 Senator Baskin, recognizing May 2025 as
24 Apraxia Awareness Month in the State of New York.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
3398
1 Baskin on the resolution.
2 SENATOR BASKIN: Thank you,
3 Mr. President.
4 I rise today to welcome my good
5 friends from the Western New York region, the
6 Malicki family, as we acknowledge and celebrate
7 Apraxia Awareness Month.
8 It's wonderful to have the Malicki
9 family join us here in Albany as we honor you for
10 raising awareness about apraxia, a rare and
11 serious speech disorder.
12 Back home, Mom Courtney is a
13 Buffalo public school special ed teacher at
14 Lorraine Elementary, and Richard, Dad, works in
15 sales. They're proud and busy parents of
16 Matthew, who is here today; Andrew, who is here
17 today; and my good friend Jack.
18 The Malickis have been tireless
19 advocates as they educate our community about
20 apraxia, which Jack was diagnosed with at
21 5 years old, at the Robert Wagner Center at
22 Oishei Children's Hospital in my district.
23 Now, Jack, who's 8 years old, is a
24 student at Blasdell Elementary. He is receiving
25 intensive speech and therapy sessions, and he is
3399
1 doing great.
2 I first met this amazing family when
3 I served in the Erie County Legislature. And
4 while apraxia may not be a well-known term
5 amongst us, many others are now learning about it
6 because of this family's tireless advocacy.
7 Courtney and her family speak to
8 people across our state, and even throughout
9 Canada, about how they can help their loved ones
10 who struggle with apraxia. Through their
11 determination and advocacy, they are lending a
12 helping hand to individuals locally and beyond.
13 After all, every child deserves a voice.
14 The Malickis' efforts have lit up
15 our area, and I mean that quite literally. A
16 couple of examples are on May 16th, the
17 Peace Bridge in Buffalo, New York, which connects
18 the United States to Canada, will be lit up blue.
19 And one day later, in Niagara Falls, on both the
20 American and Canadian sides, it will also be
21 illuminated in blue, in celebration of apraxia
22 awareness.
23 Mr. President, I've had the
24 privilege of celebrating this month with this
25 family year after year after year in my previous
3400
1 role. And I have to say that as much as I like
2 them, I'm a fearless advocate for people who
3 struggle with different abilities. I admire that
4 about this family.
5 But the day after Mother's Day, I
6 have to highlight Courtney, because what I admire
7 most is her advocacy as a mother. I'm a mother,
8 and nobody, nobody can advocate for my children,
9 nobody can advocate for my baby like me. And I
10 see that in you, Courtney.
11 I am so proud to see Jack, after all
12 of these years, had nearly a full-fledged
13 conversation with me, which I don't think he's
14 ever been able to do before. But he's talking up
15 a storm. And this different way of learning is
16 certainly not going to hold him back.
17 So it is a privilege, in my first
18 year as a Senator, to welcome them in my new
19 capacity here in Albany. And I am so grateful
20 for all that this family does.
21 Happy Mother's Day, Courtney. And
22 may so many women and mothers across our region
23 learn to fight for their babies the way you have.
24 Thank you, Mr. President.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
3401
1 you, Senator Baskin.
2 Senator Gallivan on the resolution.
3 SENATOR GALLIVAN: Thank you,
4 Mr. President.
5 I too rise to recognize the
6 Malicki family, welcome them to Albany, and thank
7 Senator Baskin for bringing this resolution
8 forward. And more importantly, thank the
9 Malicki family for standing up. Certainly -- oh,
10 you're going to get to stand up later, but --
11 (Laughter.)
12 SENATOR GALLIVAN: You can stand up
13 if you want. I meant for standing up and
14 advocating.
15 (Laughter.)
16 SENATOR GALLIVAN: For standing up
17 and advocating for others.
18 And certainly you stand up and we
19 hear about Mother's Day and how a mother will
20 stand up for her children. We know fathers will
21 stand up for their children as well. But very
22 few people are willing to have the courage and
23 the energy to stand up and try to help others and
24 educate people about something that many of us do
25 not know very much about.
3402
1 This is something I just learned,
2 thanks to Senator Baskin, thanks to you. And I
3 hope all of us here continue to advocate for this
4 to help educate people so that we can help others
5 throughout the state.
6 But today is your day, Jack. I'm
7 thrilled that you're here.
8 And I thank you, Mr. President, for
9 your time.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
11 you, Senator Gallivan.
12 To the Malicki family, especially
13 Jack --
14 (Laughter.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: -- I
16 welcome you on behalf of the Senate. I extend to
17 you all of the privileges and courtesies of this
18 house.
19 Now, please rise and be recognized.
20 (Standing ovation.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
22 resolution was adopted on May 6th.
23 Senator Serrano.
24 SENATOR SERRANO: At the request of
25 the sponsors, the resolutions are open for
3403
1 cosponsorship.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: These
3 resolutions are open for cosponsorship. Should
4 you choose not to be a cosponsor, please notify
5 the desk.
6 Senator Serrano.
7 SENATOR SERRANO: Please take up
8 the reading of the calendar.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
10 Secretary will read.
11 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
12 114, Senate Print 1811, by Senator Fernandez, an
13 act to amend the Executive Law.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
15 last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
17 act shall take effect immediately.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
19 roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
22 Fernandez to explain her vote.
23 SENATOR FERNANDEZ: Thank you,
24 Mr. President.
25 This legislation introduced is a
3404
1 solemn recognition of a crisis that has touched
2 every corner of our state. By designating
3 May 9th as Opioid Awareness Day, we are naming a
4 truth that too many families already know. This
5 epidemic is still with us, and it's still costing
6 us lives.
7 We are remembering the sons, the
8 daughters, the neighbors, the friends gone too
9 soon from overdose. We are honoring those in
10 recovery who have made it through another day,
11 and those who are still trying.
12 We are thanking the harm reduction
13 workers, the EMTs, the grief counselors, and the
14 parents who have lost -- who have turned loss
15 into action.
16 Awareness is a commitment to
17 education, to prevention, and to care that meets
18 people where they are. It's a recognition that
19 stigma kills and that silence is not an option.
20 So let this day be a starting point,
21 a day where we tell the truth about what opioids
22 are doing to our communities. A day where we
23 reject shame and choose compassion. A day where
24 we remember that every life has value and that no
25 one is disposable.
3405
1 I urge my colleagues to support this
2 bill because awareness is the first step, and the
3 lives we have tomorrow may depend on the actions
4 that we choose to take today.
5 Thank you.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
7 Fernandez to be recorded in the affirmative.
8 Senator Webb to explain her vote.
9 SENATOR WEBB: Thank you,
10 Mr. President.
11 I want to thank our esteemed chair
12 of Substance Use Disorder here in the Senate,
13 Senator Fernandez, who has been a tireless
14 advocate for this important issue.
15 This legislation that we are doing
16 today is not a symbolic gesture, it is a call to
17 action. It is a declaration that we as a state
18 will no longer look away, we will no longer speak
19 of the opioid crisis in hushed tones and most
20 certainly in secret conversations, or leave
21 families to grieve in silence.
22 Every corner of our state has felt
23 the weight of this epidemic and continues to feel
24 it. From rural towns to urban centers, opioid
25 addiction has claimed lives, shattered families,
3406
1 and left communities reeling. Behind every
2 overdose statistic it is someone's child, their
3 son, their daughter, a parent, an aunt and an
4 uncle, a cousin, someone they went to school
5 with, a coworker. These are people whose lives
6 mattered and who should still be here.
7 May 9th will serve as a solemn
8 reminder of the lives that were lost, and as a
9 moment for education, conversation and ultimately
10 prevention. It will give voice to families who
11 have suffered in silence. It will encourage those
12 who are battling addiction to seek help without
13 shame. And it will remind us as policymakers
14 that year after year our work is far from done on
15 this important issue.
16 Mr. President, awareness is not just
17 simply a passive act, it is a commitment. It is
18 a foundation for action. When we understand the
19 scope of this crisis, when we humanize it, we
20 make better policy.
21 We must fund and continue to fund
22 better treatment, and we must continue to build
23 compassionate systems.
24 I vote aye and encourage our
25 colleagues to do the same.
3407
1 Thank you, Mr. President.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
3 Webb to be recorded in the affirmative.
4 Senator Scarcella-Spanton to explain
5 her vote.
6 SENATOR SCARCELLA-SPANTON: Thank
7 you, Mr. President.
8 And thank you, Senator Fernandez,
9 for your work in designating May 9th as Opioid
10 Awareness Day, and for all of the work that
11 you're doing through your committee.
12 The stark reality is that opioid
13 addiction continues to devastate our communities
14 here in New York State. Staten Island in
15 particular has faced an unrelenting opioid crisis
16 with overdose rates disproportionately high
17 compared to other parts of the state.
18 These sobering statistics are not
19 just numbers. They represent real people whose
20 lives were cut shortly, families left shattered,
21 and communities left grieving.
22 But beyond these statistics, I speak
23 from personal experience. I've lost more friends
24 than I can count due to overdoses, including one
25 as early as last week.
3408
1 To keep the privacy of some of the
2 people who have overdosed, I will read some of
3 their first names. I spoke with their families
4 to make sure that's okay.
5 But just in the last few years:
6 Anastasia, Michael, Brandon, Michael, Julie,
7 Peter, Matthew, John, Robert, Tommy. And of
8 course I always make mention of one of my closest
9 friends, Joey Fellini. Everything I do up here
10 on this, I do for him and for all the ones that
11 we have lost.
12 This is a real issue. These are
13 real people. All of these people have families,
14 children, moms, dads, siblings that this has
15 impacted. Truly, again, Senator Fernandez, for
16 my own children growing up on Staten Island, I
17 cannot thank you enough for the work that you're
18 doing through your committee.
19 So thank you, and I proudly vote
20 aye.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
22 Scarcella-Spanton to be recorded in the
23 affirmative.
24 Senator Martins to explain his vote.
25 SENATOR MARTINS: Thank you,
3409
1 Mr. President.
2 I also rise to support this bill,
3 and I want to thank the sponsor.
4 It's about time we realize that
5 we're not going to arrest our way through this
6 crisis. It's a mental health crisis that impacts
7 every corner of our state. Although,
8 Mr. President, I'm clear I also don't support
9 injection sites, I also don't support arresting
10 our way through this crisis.
11 When someone overdoses and they are
12 brought back, it's a cry for help. And it's
13 about time we treated it as a mental health
14 crisis. It's about time we made sure that they
15 have the resources that they need so that they
16 can combat the demons that they face each and
17 every day.
18 There isn't a family in this state
19 that hasn't suffered through this crisis. There
20 isn't a community that hasn't felt the grief of
21 having lost loved ones to this crisis.
22 So I'm happy to rise and thank the
23 sponsor and to vote aye, Mr. President. But it's
24 about time we treated it as a mental health
25 crisis and, as a mental health crisis, make sure
3410
1 that each and every one of our friends and
2 colleagues and loved ones receive the help that
3 they deserve.
4 Thank you.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
6 Martins to be recorded in the affirmative.
7 Announce the results.
8 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 56.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
10 is passed.
11 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
12 347, Senate Print 2546, by Senator Myrie, an act
13 to amend the Real Property Actions and
14 Proceedings Law.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
16 last section.
17 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
18 act shall take effect on the 120th day after it
19 shall have become a law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
21 roll.
22 (The Secretary called the roll.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
24 the results.
25 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
3411
1 Calendar 347, voting in the negative are
2 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
3 Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martins,
4 Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Palumbo,
5 Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber
6 and Weik.
7 Ayes, 35. Nays, 21.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 520, Senate Print 5983A, by Senator Harckham, an
12 act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: 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 BAILEY: Call the
19 roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
22 the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
24 Calendar 520, voting in the negative are
25 Senators Borrello, Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Lanza,
3412
1 Oberacker, O'Mara, Stec and Tedisco.
2 Ayes, 47. Nays, 9.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
4 is passed.
5 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
6 602, Senate Print 5563, by Senator Mayer, an act
7 to amend the General Municipal Law.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
9 last section.
10 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
11 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
12 shall have become a law.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
14 roll.
15 (The Secretary called the roll.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
17 the results.
18 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 56.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
20 is passed.
21 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
22 637, Senate Print 5285, by Senator Sepúlveda, an
23 act to amend the Surrogate's Court Procedure Act.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
25 last section.
3413
1 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
2 act shall take effect on the 30th day after it
3 shall have become a law.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
5 roll.
6 (The Secretary called the roll.)
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
8 the results.
9 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
10 Calendar 637, voting in the negative are
11 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
12 Chan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martins, Mattera,
13 Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Palumbo, Rhoads, Stec,
14 Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
15 Ayes, 37. Nays, 19.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
17 is passed.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
19 640, Senate Print 6739, by Senator Hoylman-Sigal,
20 an act to amend the Uniform City Court Act.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
22 last section.
23 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
24 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
25 shall have become a law.
3414
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
2 roll.
3 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
5 the results.
6 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
7 Calendar 640, voting in the negative are
8 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
9 Chan, Griffo, Martins, Oberacker, O'Mara,
10 Palumbo, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
11 Ayes, 42. Nays, 14.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
13 is passed.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
15 648, Senate Print 6442, by Senator Harckham, an
16 act directing the commissioner of the Division of
17 Criminal Justice Services to study gender
18 disparity in sentencing outcomes.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
20 last section.
21 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
22 act shall take effect immediately.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
24 roll.
25 (The Secretary called the roll.)
3415
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
2 the results.
3 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
4 Calendar 648, voting in the negative are
5 Senators Borrello, Chan, Martins, Murray, O'Mara,
6 Walczyk and Weik.
7 Ayes, 49. Nays, 7.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 673, Senate Print 4612, by Senator Ramos, an act
12 to amend the Workers' Compensation Law.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
14 last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
16 act shall take effect on the 30th day after it
17 shall have become a law.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
19 roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
22 the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
24 Calendar 673, voting in the negative:
25 Senator Lanza.
3416
1 Ayes, 55. Nays, 1.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 678, Senate Print 2491, by Senator Gounardes, an
6 act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
8 last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
10 act shall take effect on the 180th day after it
11 shall have become a law.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
13 roll.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
16 the results.
17 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
18 Calendar 678, voting in the negative are
19 Senators Borrello, Chan, Gallivan, Griffo,
20 Helming, Lanza, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker,
21 O'Mara, Rhoads, Stec, Walczyk and Weik.
22 Ayes, 42. Nays, 14.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
24 is passed.
25 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3417
1 700, Senate Print 374, by Senator Gianaris, an
2 act to amend the Legislative Law.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
4 last section.
5 THE SECRETARY: Section 7. This
6 act shall take effect immediately.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
8 roll.
9 (The Secretary called the roll.)
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
11 the results.
12 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
13 Calendar 700, those Senators voting in the
14 negative are Senators Ashby, Borrello,
15 Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan, Gallivan, Griffo,
16 Helming, Lanza, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker,
17 O'Mara, Palumbo, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber
18 and Weik.
19 Ayes, 38. Nays, 18.
20 SENATOR GIANARIS: The bill is
21 passed.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23 712, Senate Print 7672A, by Senator Martinez, an
24 act to amend the General Municipal Law.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
3418
1 last section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 6. This
3 act shall take effect immediately.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
5 roll.
6 (The Secretary called the roll.)
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
8 the results.
9 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
10 Calendar 712, voting in the negative:
11 Senator Walczyk.
12 Ayes, 55. Nays, 1.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
14 is passed.
15 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
16 717, Senate Print 5280, by Senator Sepúlveda, an
17 act to amend the Real Property Tax Law.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
19 last section.
20 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
21 act shall take effect immediately.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
23 roll.
24 (The Secretary called the roll.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
3419
1 the results.
2 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 56.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
4 is passed.
5 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
6 728, Senate Print 6023, by Senator Baskin, an act
7 to amend the State Administrative Procedure Act.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
9 last section.
10 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
11 act shall take effect immediately.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
13 roll.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
16 Baskin to explain her vote.
17 SENATOR BASKIN: Thank you,
18 Mr. President.
19 I rise in support of my bill to
20 require the state to publish a small business
21 compliance guide online to make it easier for our
22 small businesses to understand the new rules and
23 the regulations of their industry.
24 We know our small businesses are
25 what make our neighborhoods thrive and what keep
3420
1 our economy going. We also know that small
2 businesses don't always have the capacity to keep
3 up with the latest laws and rules that impact
4 them.
5 So as we here in this chamber pass
6 new laws and state agencies create new policies
7 and rules, this bill will make it so that we can
8 clearly communicate these new standards to our
9 small businesses.
10 This guide that we will publish
11 online annually will include all relevant
12 information in laymen's terms. It will include
13 information on permits, licenses, taxes,
14 insurance, workplace safety, workers'
15 compensation, wages, hours and benefits.
16 We want to put our small businesses
17 in a position to succeed. And in order to do
18 that, we need to provide them with the
19 information so that it's easy to understand.
20 This will help our small businesses quickly
21 understand the new information and get them back
22 to the day-to-day tasks to help their businesses
23 grow and make our state thrive.
24 As the chair of the Procurement and
25 Contracts Committee, it is important to me that
3421
1 we engage as many small businesses as possible to
2 benefit from state projects and spending.
3 Making this guide more accessible
4 and easier to read is the first step towards
5 growing our state's relationship with small
6 businesses.
7 Mr. President, I proudly vote in the
8 affirmative, and I encourage my colleagues to do
9 the same. Thank you.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
11 Baskin to be recorded in the affirmative.
12 Senator Borrello to explain his
13 vote.
14 SENATOR BORRELLO: Thank you,
15 Mr. President.
16 First of all, I want to thank
17 Senator Baskin for bringing this forward. As a
18 small business owner, I can tell you that
19 navigating the complicated web of regulations
20 that change every year is a difficult thing.
21 You know, if you're a big business
22 you've got lawyers, you've got consultants,
23 you've got people telling you -- analyzing the
24 laws and telling you how to proceed. But not a
25 small business owner. It's really up to yourself
3422
1 to figure out for yourself what -- how it's going
2 to impact your business. And oftentimes that
3 results in people unintentionally violating those
4 rules, and there's fines and fees and lawyers
5 fees.
6 So this guide should be I think a
7 step in the right direction so people can at
8 least understand what the new rules are and how
9 they impact their business. I think it's an
10 important step.
11 The best thing we could really do is
12 deregulate more things here in New York State and
13 really just make it easier to do business here.
14 But absent that, a guide on what the new
15 regulations are will certainly help.
16 So I vote aye. Thank you.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
18 Borrello to be recorded in the affirmative.
19 Announce the results.
20 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 56.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
22 is passed.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24 769, Senate Print 4408, by Senator May, an act to
25 amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
3423
1 SENATOR LANZA: Lay it aside.
2 SENATOR SERRANO: Lay it aside for
3 the day.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
5 will be laid aside for the day.
6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
7 909, Senate Print 7620, by Senator Martinez, an
8 act to authorize certain healthcare professionals
9 to provide professional services in the state in
10 connection with the 2025 Ryder Cup.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
12 last section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
14 act shall take effect September 22, 2025.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
16 roll.
17 (The Secretary called the roll.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
19 the results.
20 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 56.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
22 is passed.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24 910, Senate Print 7623, by Senator Serrano, an
25 act in relation to authorizing certain medical
3424
1 professionals to provide medical services during
2 the FIFA Club World Cup.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
4 last section.
5 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
6 act shall take effect June 1, 2025.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
8 roll.
9 (The Secretary called the roll.)
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
11 the results.
12 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 56.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
14 is passed.
15 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
16 911, Senate Print 7636, by Senator C. Ryan, an
17 act in relation to authorizing certain healthcare
18 professionals in connection with the
19 Milan Cortina Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid
20 in 2026.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
22 last section.
23 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
24 act shall take effect January 27, 2026.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
3425
1 roll.
2 (The Secretary called the roll.)
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
4 the results.
5 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 56.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
7 is passed.
8 Senator Serrano, that completes the
9 reading of today's calendar.
10 SENATOR SERRANO: Thank you.
11 On behalf of Majority Leader
12 Stewart-Cousins, in consultation with
13 Minority Leader Ortt, I hand up the following
14 committee assignments of the Minority Conference
15 and ask that they please be filed in the Journal.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
17 handup is received and shall be filed in the
18 Journal.
19 Senator Serrano.
20 SENATOR SERRANO: Can we return to
21 motions.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
23 Serrano.
24 SENATOR SERRANO: I'm sorry.
25 Mr. President, on behalf of Senator
3426
1 Hinchey, on page 25 I offer the following
2 amendments to Calendar Number 657, Senate Print
3 Number 3838, and I ask that said bill retain its
4 place on Third Reading Calendar.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
6 amendments are received, and the bill will retain
7 its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
8 Senator Serrano.
9 SENATOR SERRANO: Is there any
10 further business at the desk?
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: There is
12 no further business at the desk.
13 SENATOR SERRANO: I move to adjourn
14 until tomorrow, Tuesday, May 13th, at 3:00 p.m.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: On
16 motion, the Senate adjourns until Tuesday,
17 May 13th, at 3:00 p.m.
18 Go New York, Go New York, Go!
19 (Whereupon, at 4:02 p.m., the Senate
20 adjourned.)
21
22
23
24
25