Regular Session - May 7, 2026
4196
1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
2
3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
5
6
7
8
9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 May 7, 2026
11 11:18 a.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
4197
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,
16 Wednesday, May 6, 2026, the Senate met pursuant
17 to adjournment. The Journal of Tuesday, May 5,
18 2026, 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 The Secretary will read.
25 THE SECRETARY: Senator Hinchey
4198
1 moves to discharge, from the Committee on
2 Finance, Assembly Bill Number 1740A and
3 substitute it for the identical Senate Bill
4 Number 3866B, Third Reading Calendar 846.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: So
6 ordered.
7 Messages from the Governor.
8 Reports of standing committees.
9 Reports of select committees.
10 Communications and reports from
11 state officers.
12 Motions and resolutions.
13 Senator Gianaris.
14 SENATOR GIANARIS: Good morning,
15 Mr. President.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Good
17 morning.
18 SENATOR GIANARIS: Let's begin
19 today with a little bit of good news. Our
20 colleague Senator Weik has just become a
21 grandmother for the second time, 10 minutes ago.
22 (Applause; cheers.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:
24 Congratulations, Senator Weik.
25 Senator Gianaris.
4199
1 SENATOR GIANARIS: Now on to the
2 work of the day.
3 Let us call an immediate meeting of
4 the Rules Committee in Room 332.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: There
6 will be an immediate meeting of the
7 Rules Committee in Room 332.
8 SENATOR GIANARIS: The Senate will
9 stand at ease.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
11 Senate will stand at ease.
12 (Whereupon, the Senate stood at ease
13 at 11:20 a.m.)
14 (Whereupon, the Senate reconvened at
15 11:24 a.m.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
17 Senate will return to order.
18 Senator Gianaris.
19 SENATOR GIANARIS: There's a report
20 of the Rules Committee at the desk. Let's take
21 that up, please.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
23 Secretary will read.
24 THE SECRETARY: Senator
25 Stewart-Cousins, from the Committee on Rules,
4200
1 reports the following bill:
2 Senate Print 10221, by
3 Senator Serrano, an act making appropriations
4 for the support of government.
5 The bill reports direct to third
6 reading.
7 SENATOR GIANARIS: Move to accept
8 the report of the Rules Committee.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: All those
10 in favor of accepting the report of the
11 Rules Committee please signify by saying aye.
12 (Response of "Aye.")
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Opposed,
14 nay.
15 (No response.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
17 report of the Rules Committee is accepted.
18 Senator Gianaris.
19 SENATOR GIANARIS: Please take up
20 the supplemental calendar.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
22 Secretary will read.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24 991, Senate Print 10221, by Senator Serrano, an
25 act making appropriations for the support of
4201
1 government.
2 SENATOR GIANARIS: Is there a
3 message of necessity and appropriation at the
4 desk?
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: There is
6 a message of necessity and appropriation at the
7 desk.
8 SENATOR GIANARIS: Move to accept
9 the message.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Those in
11 favor of accepting the message please signify by
12 saying aye.
13 (Response of "Aye.")
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Opposed,
15 nay.
16 (Response of "Nay.")
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
18 message is accepted, and the bill is before the
19 house.
20 SENATOR LANZA: Lay it aside.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
22 is laid aside.
23 Senator Gianaris.
24 SENATOR GIANARIS: Let's now move
25 on to the supplemental controversial calendar.
4202
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
2 Gianaris, that completes the reading of the
3 supplemental calendar.
4 The Secretary will ring the bill.
5 The Secretary will read.
6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
7 991, Senate Print 10221, by Senator Serrano, an
8 act making appropriations for the support of
9 government.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
11 O'Mara, why do you rise?
12 SENATOR O'MARA: Yes, thank you,
13 Mr. President.
14 Will the Senator yield for some
15 questions?
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
17 Serrano, do you yield?
18 SENATOR SERRANO: Yes.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
20 Senator yields.
21 SENATOR O'MARA: Good morning,
22 Senator.
23 The Governor has informed us all
24 today that there's a final budget deal. Do you
25 have any of the details you can share with us?
4203
1 And have any of the nine remaining budget bills
2 been put to print yet?
3 SENATOR SERRANO: Through you,
4 Mr. President. Senator O'Mara, the bill before
5 us indeed is our tenth budget extender. It will
6 take us through Monday, May 11th.
7 It has -- it contains $482 million
8 in new spending, which brings us to a total of
9 $20.3 billion in all of these extenders.
10 It covers some really important
11 funding that allows for the continuation of state
12 government until we have a final budget that we
13 are voting on.
14 And in this budget bill -- this
15 extender bill we have WIC payments, workers'
16 comp, unemployment insurance, mass transit
17 operating funds, funding for developmental
18 disabilities, and homeless veterans' housing
19 payments, among other payments.
20 SENATOR O'MARA: Thank you,
21 Senator.
22 Mr. President, if the Senator will
23 continue to yield.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
25 sponsor yield?
4204
1 SENATOR SERRANO: Yes.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
3 Senator yields.
4 SENATOR O'MARA: Well, Senator,
5 since the Governor's come out and announced this
6 morning a budget deal at $268 billion, 15 billion
7 more than last year, every extender we've gone
8 through now -- this is the tenth one -- these
9 major policy issues are out there.
10 Where did we end up? Where do we
11 end up on CLCPA?
12 SENATOR SERRANO: Through you,
13 Mr. President. Senator O'Mara, talks continue to
14 happen. We are certainly moving closer to a set
15 of budget bills that we can vote on and come
16 forward with a final enacted budget.
17 But right now the bill before the
18 house is another extender, as -- you are correct,
19 our tenth extender, so quite a few.
20 But again, we are getting extremely
21 close to having those bills before us. And until
22 we have those bills before us in print, it is
23 very difficult to speculate on where we landed on
24 all of the policy issues.
25 SENATOR O'MARA: Thank you,
4205
1 Senator.
2 Mr. President, if the Senator will
3 continue to yield.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
5 sponsor yield?
6 SENATOR SERRANO: Yes.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
8 sponsor yields.
9 SENATOR O'MARA: Speaker Heastie in
10 the Assembly has just recently stated to the
11 media that there is no budget deal, while the
12 Governor came out a couple of hours ago and said
13 there is.
14 What is the Senate Majority's
15 perspective on -- is there a budget deal or not?
16 SENATOR SERRANO: Through you,
17 Mr. President. The bill before us is a budget
18 extender. Clearly, we do not have budget bills,
19 final budget bills in print before us.
20 I believe we're getting very close.
21 I think -- I am unable to give you much more
22 information beyond that, other than the fact that
23 we are extremely close and hopefully we will be
24 in this chamber voting on our final enacted
25 budget.
4206
1 SENATOR O'MARA: Thank you.
2 Mr. President, if the Senator will
3 continue to yield.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
5 sponsor yield?
6 SENATOR SERRANO: Yes.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
8 sponsor yields.
9 SENATOR O'MARA: Thank you,
10 Senator.
11 The Governor has stated this morning
12 that the budget total is going to be
13 $268 billion. Are you in agreement with that
14 final number?
15 SENATOR SERRANO: Through you,
16 Mr. President. Without budget bills in print,
17 it's hard for me to speculate on what the final
18 numbers are.
19 But I can tell you that the things
20 that we have been fighting for as a conference,
21 as a legislative body -- indeed, all parties
22 involved -- are for things to ensure that we have
23 a functioning state government, that we account
24 for things like economic development, funding for
25 parks and arts and culture and different things
4207
1 that are extremely important for our social
2 safety net.
3 Whatever that final number winds up
4 being, I am pretty confident that it will
5 hopefully address all of the different needs that
6 we have as a state.
7 SENATOR O'MARA: Thank you.
8 Mr. President, if the Senator would
9 continue to yield.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
11 sponsor yield?
12 SENATOR SERRANO: Yes.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
14 sponsor yields.
15 SENATOR O'MARA: From the
16 additional $15 billion increase from last year's
17 budget that the Governor has stated, can you tell
18 us how much of that is earmarked to New York
19 State?
20 SENATOR SERRANO: Through you,
21 Mr. President. I'm unable to do that. I don't
22 have that information.
23 SENATOR O'MARA: Mr. President, if
24 the Senator will continue to yield.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
4208
1 sponsor yield?
2 SENATOR SERRANO: Yes.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
4 sponsor yields.
5 SENATOR O'MARA: Senator, do you
6 expect that we're going to have budget bills in
7 print over this weekend and we'll be taking them
8 up on Monday?
9 SENATOR SERRANO: Through you,
10 Mr. President. It's hard to say. I really can't
11 give you a definitive answer. I don't want to
12 give an incorrect answer.
13 But again, I feel that we are
14 getting extremely close to that moment. We --
15 you know, we have been working diligently, all
16 parties involved, to close down on a number of
17 policy issues, ensuring that we have the best
18 product, the best work product this budget can
19 be.
20 And I do feel very confident that we
21 are getting to that point, but I can't give you
22 an exact time frame of when we will start voting.
23 SENATOR O'MARA: Thank you,
24 Senator.
25 Mr. President, if the Senator will
4209
1 continue to yield.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
3 sponsor yield?
4 SENATOR SERRANO: Yes.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
6 sponsor yields.
7 SENATOR O'MARA: Senator, what tax
8 increases or revenue raisers are in this proposal
9 to get us up to an increased spending amount of
10 268 billion?
11 SENATOR SERRANO: Through you,
12 Mr. President. In the bill before us, we don't
13 have any of those issues outlined here.
14 Again, as I mentioned in the
15 beginning of our conversation, there are a number
16 of different funding items that are here, as well
17 as some local government assistance payments for
18 the City of Yonkers. But beyond that, there's no
19 additional revenue raisers in the bill before us.
20 SENATOR O'MARA: Thank you.
21 Mr. President, if the Senator will
22 continue to yield.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
24 sponsor yield?
25 SENATOR SERRANO: Yes.
4210
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
2 sponsor yields.
3 SENATOR O'MARA: Senator, would you
4 agree that it's important that we have an open
5 and robust discussion of this budget and have an
6 understanding of what is going to be in this
7 budget before we actually vote on it in the
8 State Legislature?
9 SENATOR SERRANO: Through you,
10 Mr. President, of course. I do believe that that
11 is important, and we all endeavor to ensure that
12 we have those discussions both here as a body and
13 back at home in our districts.
14 And I've been trying to do the best
15 that I can to convey the different machinations
16 of this budget process throughout with my
17 constituents, and soliciting that sort of
18 feedback has been very important.
19 But as we get closer to the end, I
20 believe it will be widely reported, a lot of the
21 different issues that this budget will contain.
22 And I feel confident that the public
23 will have a good idea of what we're voting on.
24 SENATOR O'MARA: Through you,
25 Mr. President, if the Senator will continue to
4211
1 yield.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
3 sponsor yield?
4 SENATOR SERRANO: Yes.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
6 sponsor yields.
7 SENATOR O'MARA: When do you expect
8 that we're going to have these budget bills in
9 place that we can review and prepare for a debate
10 on the budget?
11 SENATOR SERRANO: Through you,
12 Mr. President. It's hard to give you an exact
13 time frame at this moment.
14 But I feel that through what we're
15 seeing in news reports and what we're hearing as
16 a legislative body, we are getting closer to that
17 moment. I can't give you an exact time frame,
18 though.
19 SENATOR O'MARA: Thank you.
20 On the bill, Mr. President.
21 Thank you, Senator Serrano.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
23 O'Mara on the bill.
24 SENATOR O'MARA: I appreciate that,
25 I suppose, although it gives us absolutely no
4212
1 information whatsoever on where we stand on this
2 budget.
3 And I do find it alarming that the
4 Governor was out two hours ago stating there's a
5 budget deal, that we're going to spend
6 $268 billion, another $15 billion than last year,
7 yet there apparently is no agreement. Speaker
8 Heastie has come out and said there is no
9 agreement.
10 We have no details from the Majority
11 here today on any details of what's been agreed
12 for in this budget of $268 billion.
13 And, you know, New Yorkers, as I
14 repeatedly say in these extenders, New Yorkers
15 deserve to know what we're considering here,
16 because we really have nothing. Twice a week
17 we're doing these extenders, and we get no
18 information.
19 And then the Governor comes out and
20 says there a deal, and yet there's still no
21 information from the majority here on what if
22 anything has been agreed to, whether this
23 $268 billion figure is real or not. But it's
24 certainly a concerning amount, with increasing
25 spending by $15 billion from year to year.
4213
1 And we have no details on where that
2 money's going, what are the policy issues that
3 have been resolved on this budget that have
4 seemingly held it up for well over a month now.
5 That, you know, we just -- we need more
6 information.
7 And I'm sure that it will probably
8 show up here on Monday, and there will be bills
9 that were printed overnight, and we'll get
10 messages of necessity from the Governor, and
11 we'll be expected to debate these bills and vote
12 on them with very little time to review these, a
13 $268 billion budget proposal -- New Yorkers
14 deserve better.
15 Thank you, Mr. President.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
17 you, Senator O'Mara.
18 Senator Helming, why do you rise?
19 SENATOR HELMING: Thank you,
20 Mr. President. If the sponsor will yield for a
21 few questions.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
23 sponsor yield?
24 SENATOR SERRANO: Yes.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
4214
1 sponsor yields.
2 SENATOR HELMING: Thank you.
3 So as Senator O'Mara pointed out,
4 the budget's over a month late. He asked several
5 questions; there were really no concrete answers.
6 So, Senator Serrano, can you tell
7 me, does this budget extender provide any
8 certainty for our local governments?
9 And just to let you know, it's
10 pothole season. Our local municipalities are
11 trying to do road repairs, plan for bridge
12 repairs, culvert work, et cetera. Does this
13 budget provide any certainty?
14 SENATOR SERRANO: Through you,
15 Mr. President. The budget extender bill before
16 us does provide for funding for some really
17 important functions of our state government,
18 including local government assistance payments
19 for the City of Yonkers, which I think speaks to
20 the question that you have.
21 But generally speaking, this
22 extender, which brings us up to $20.3 billion on
23 all of these extenders together, has significant
24 funding for the functioning of our state and
25 local government, depending on the timing of the
4215
1 payments needed.
2 SENATOR HELMING: Thank you.
3 Mr. President, if the sponsor will
4 continue to yield.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
6 sponsor yield?
7 SENATOR SERRANO: Yes.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
9 sponsor yields.
10 SENATOR HELMING: Senator Serrano,
11 just so I can get some clarification, my
12 understanding is under local government
13 assistance, the Executive provides 11 million for
14 the following, and then it says 11 million for
15 the City of Yonkers.
16 So for the rest of our communities,
17 is there any certainty in this extender as far as
18 what they can anticipate receiving in funding?
19 SENATOR SERRANO: Through you,
20 Mr. President. You're correct, in this current
21 budget extender bill there is funding for the
22 City of Yonkers, which is a local government
23 payment, as you've mentioned.
24 But throughout this process there
25 have been other payments to other localities.
4216
1 And it really depends on the timing of when
2 certain payments are due. I know that there are
3 a lot of concerns about certain deadlines for
4 school districts and things of that nature.
5 But again, I feel very confident
6 that we will conclude this entire budget process
7 in the near future, and we will get up-to-date on
8 all of those payments.
9 But at the moment the bill before us
10 accounts for some local government assistance
11 payments for the City of Yonkers, and a bunch of
12 other items that I did enumerate earlier.
13 SENATOR HELMING: Thank you.
14 Through you, Mr. President, if the
15 sponsor will continue to yield.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
17 sponsor yield?
18 SENATOR SERRANO: Yes.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
20 sponsor yields.
21 SENATOR HELMING: Senator Serrano,
22 you have mentioned our school districts. They're
23 literally just days away now from being legally
24 mandated to hold their budget votes. Is there
25 anything in this tenth budget extender that
4217
1 provides them some certainty, some information on
2 what they can anticipate receiving for funding
3 this year?
4 SENATOR SERRANO: Through you,
5 Mr. President.
6 Senator, no, the budget bill before
7 us just allows for the functioning of state
8 government to get us through the next few days
9 until Monday. It does not have any additional
10 information.
11 But we are really, really moving
12 along here, and I do feel confident that we can
13 get that done in a timely manner.
14 SENATOR HELMING: Thank you.
15 Through you, Mr. President, if the
16 sponsor will continue to yield.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
18 sponsor yield?
19 SENATOR SERRANO: Yes.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
21 sponsor yields.
22 SENATOR HELMING: Senator Serrano,
23 I think it was during the eighth budget debate I
24 had asked a question specifically about whether
25 or not the extender had included any funding or
4218
1 addressed the Rural Healthcare Transformation
2 funding, that if we don't spend it by September,
3 the State of New York is going to lose it.
4 I explained how that funding is so
5 critical, especially for our rural communities.
6 Is there anything in this tenth
7 budget extender that addresses, that gives the
8 DOB the opportunity to start moving that money or
9 soliciting requests?
10 SENATOR SERRANO: Through you,
11 Mr. President. I agree, these are all really
12 important issues. And there is a definite sense
13 of urgency to get everything done in order to
14 address that and many other issues.
15 This budget extender does not speak
16 to that, but I think the overall sentiment of all
17 involved is to move with haste so that we can
18 help address these issues before anything bad
19 happens, and to make sure that that money gets
20 spent.
21 SENATOR HELMING: Through you, if
22 the sponsor will continue to yield.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
24 sponsor yield?
25 SENATOR SERRANO: Yes.
4219
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
2 sponsor yields.
3 SENATOR HELMING: Senator Serrano,
4 you mentioned that hopefully we'll have
5 information on Monday. Will our local
6 governments or our schools or our healthcare
7 providers, will they and will this body, will we
8 have details and information on Monday?
9 SENATOR SERRANO: Through you,
10 Mr. President. It's hard to say at this time
11 what information we will have on Monday.
12 So no, I cannot answer that.
13 SENATOR HELMING: Thank you,
14 Mr. President.
15 Thank you to the sponsor for your
16 responses.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
18 you, Senator Helming.
19 Are there any other Senators wishing
20 to be heard?
21 Seeing and hearing none, debate is
22 closed.
23 Senator Gianaris.
24 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President,
25 we've agreed to restore this bill to the
4220
1 noncontroversial calendar.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: On
3 consent, the bill is restored to the
4 noncontroversial calendar.
5 Read the last section.
6 THE SECRETARY: Section 17. This
7 act shall take effect immediately.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
9 roll.
10 (The Secretary called the roll.)
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
12 the results.
13 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
14 Calendar 991, voting in the negative:
15 Senator Weik.
16 Ayes, 60. Nays, 1.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
18 is passed.
19 Senator Gianaris, that completes the
20 reading of today's supplemental controversial
21 calendar.
22 SENATOR GIANARIS: Let's go back to
23 motions and resolutions and take up previously
24 adopted Resolution 1849, by Senator Ortt, have
25 its title read and call on Senator Ortt.
4221
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
2 Secretary will read.
3 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 1849, by
4 Senator Ortt, congratulating the North Tonawanda
5 High School Girls Varsity Basketball Team upon
6 the occasion of capturing the 2026 New York State
7 Public High School Athletic Association Class AA
8 Varsity Girls Basketball Championship.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
10 Ortt on the resolution.
11 SENATOR ORTT: Well, thank you,
12 Mr. President. I appreciate the opportunity to
13 welcome several players from the North Tonawanda
14 Lady Jacks State Championship Team who are here
15 today.
16 I don't get to do a lot of these, so
17 I'm going to bask in the glow of their victory
18 just only a few weeks ago.
19 So for those who don't know,
20 North Tonawanda plays in the Class AA. I know
21 we're going to hear a little bit after this from
22 the champions in the Class A, represented by
23 Senator Weber. And I propose we do maybe like a
24 scrimmage game afterward --
25 (Laughter.)
4222
1 SENATOR ORTT: -- to see who really
2 is the best ladies basketball team.
3 Now, we only have six players,
4 Senator Weber, but I like our chances.
5 (Laughter.)
6 SENATOR ORTT: So with that, you
7 know, 2025-2026 was a great year for our
8 Lady Jacks. It was the best season in
9 North Tonawanda Girls Basketball history. And
10 the first time a North Tonawanda team, basketball
11 team, or any Section VI AA team ever brought home
12 the New York State Class AA championship.
13 So it's a big deal. Incredible
14 achievement.
15 I think maybe it's just timely -- I
16 don't know if our players know this, but of
17 course we had our Women of Distinction event this
18 week where we celebrate women who have made great
19 contributions to our community, to our state.
20 And every Senator, ostensibly, is allowed to
21 choose a nominee.
22 And I think it's fitting that you're
23 all here, because nothing could be more distinct
24 to me at your age than to have achieved what you
25 have. And it's fitting, not only are you
4223
1 distinct as individuals, but you came together as
2 players, as a team, to accomplish something that
3 no individual can accomplish. And I'm grateful
4 that you're here.
5 I'll walk you through a little bit
6 of the path. You came into the Section VI AA
7 Tournament as the No. 3 seed. So, Mr. President,
8 I know you're a big Knicks fan -- they're the
9 No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, so
10 hopefully they can follow the blueprint of the
11 Lady Jacks to get where they're trying to get to.
12 So -- and they shocked everybody.
13 First, they took down the No. 1 seed,
14 Orchard Park, 62-40. Which is why I'm doing the
15 resolution and Senator Gallivan's not.
16 (Laughter.)
17 SENATOR ORTT: Then, then, at a
18 tournament at Buffalo State, they dominated
19 Williamsville East, 73-52, to claim the
20 first-ever Section VI AA title.
21 From there they went to the state
22 tournament. After a bye, they beat
23 Webster Schroeder, 62-48. They took care of
24 Horseheads, 57-35. And in spite of that,
25 Senator O'Mara is still going to support the
4224
1 resolution.
2 And on March 22nd they finished the
3 job, defeating Bethlehem Central, 57-37.
4 So, Senator Fahy, I'm sorry that
5 didn't work out for you, but --
6 (Laughter.)
7 SENATOR ORTT: So you can see,
8 right, this is a great day for me. This is a
9 "I'm not going to miss this."
10 (Laughter.)
11 SENATOR ORTT: Their final record,
12 23 and 3. Which is pretty incredible -- first
13 sectional champions, first real champions, first
14 state champions.
15 And of course not only do I
16 represent North Tonawanda, but I live there. So
17 as a North Tonawanda resident, it's very proud --
18 I know everyone in North Tonawanda is very proud
19 of these young women.
20 We're joined -- now,
21 Coach Ryan Bradt could not be here today. But
22 Coach Ryan Bradt is not only the coach -- in his
23 first year, led them to this great
24 accomplishment -- he's also a police officer when
25 he's not coaching girls basketball. So this is
4225
1 someone -- and I know his family, he comes from
2 very good stock. I wish he could be here today,
3 but he's not.
4 We are joined by Assistant Coach
5 Desiree Doucette; I want to thank her for being
6 here with our players. And I know she certainly
7 played an important role in their success.
8 I do want to recognize the players
9 who are here. So we have -- and if this is
10 wrong, let me know, and we'll get rid of that
11 person who gave me this list.
12 So Jakayla Brown. Jakayla, if you
13 can stand up.
14 (Applause from gallery.)
15 SENATOR ORTT: We have
16 Ella Cashion, Annabelle Day, Lilly Day,
17 Tiana King, and Sophia Virgilio. Right? So
18 we've got everybody up there.
19 And I do want to make a special
20 note. Annabelle Day was the Buffalo Player of
21 the Year, McDonald's All-American nominee,
22 Team MVP, all-time scoring leader in North
23 Tonawanda school history, boys or girls -- boys
24 or girls -- with 2,023 career points. That's
25 even more than Jim Tedisco had when he played
4226
1 basketball.
2 (Laughter.)
3 SENATOR ORTT: But it was -- that
4 was a peach basket. That was a long time ago.
5 (Laughter.)
6 SENATOR ORTT: So she broke 2,000
7 in the state semifinals. And she's going to be
8 playing at the University of Buffalo this coming
9 fall.
10 But to all the players, they have
11 made our community so proud. And that they're
12 here today actually makes me incredibly proud
13 that I get to do this on the floor.
14 I know you guys got a tour. But,
15 Mr. President, I'd just like to extend all the
16 courtesies of the house. In a week where we
17 honored women, where we get to honor young women
18 who did something incredible and I know will go
19 on to do incredible things in the future.
20 So thank you very much.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
22 you, Senator Ortt.
23 To the No. 3 seeded but first in our
24 heart state champions, Western New York
25 superstars, we look forward to your continued
4227
1 success as student scholar athletes. We
2 congratulate the Lady Jacks on their championship
3 run. May this be the first of many.
4 Thank you to the coach and the
5 champions.
6 Please continue to be standing and
7 be recognized.
8 (Standing ovation.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
10 Gianaris.
11 SENATOR GIANARIS: I believe that
12 resolution was previously adopted on April 21,
13 Mr. President?
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
15 resolution was previously adopted on April 21st.
16 Yes, Senator Gianaris.
17 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President,
18 the roster of teams defeated by Tonawanda that
19 Senator Ortt mentioned, he notably did not
20 mention the Tappan Zee Girls High School
21 Basketball Team, a name that Senator Skoufis
22 appreciates particularly.
23 (Laughter.)
24 SENATOR GIANARIS: So let's move on
25 to previously adopted Resolution 1932, by
4228
1 Senator Weber, for that purpose. Read its title
2 and call on Senator Weber, please.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Today in
4 the chamber, ball is life.
5 The Secretary will read.
6 THE SECRETARY: Resolution 1932, by
7 Senator Weber, congratulating the Tappan Zee
8 High School girls Basketball Team and
9 Coach Riley Chevrier upon the occasion of
10 capturing the New York State Public High School
11 Athletic Association Class A Championship.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
13 Weber on the resolution.
14 SENATOR WEBER: Thank you,
15 Mr. President.
16 You know, in continuing the theme of
17 honoring women this week, we have special young
18 women here from Tappan Zee.
19 In 2023, the first state champions
20 from my district that I had up here in Albany
21 were the Tappan Zee School boys, who won the
22 state championship that year.
23 And today I'm proud to welcome the
24 Tappan Zee High School Girls Basketball Team.
25 Clearly the Flying Dutchmen are doing something
4229
1 right in our district.
2 The Tappan Zee High School Girls
3 Basketball Team and Coach Riley Chevrier captured
4 the Class A championship for the first time ever,
5 with a 54-48 victory over Utica Notre Dame.
6 Now, Senator Griffo and I were
7 talking about this a little while ago, and I know
8 he's going to support this resolution. But it
9 was an exciting win for these young women, and
10 they finished the season with a 22 and 4 overall
11 record.
12 You know, as the father of student
13 athletes, something that I'm proud of, I know the
14 high demands that are put on these students as
15 they juggle their commitment to the team to
16 compete at a championship level while maintaining
17 their academic responsibilities.
18 So we're really proud of the
19 accomplishment that you did, and we know that you
20 worked really hard. These struggles build
21 character that will benefit you for the rest of
22 your lives.
23 I'd like to thank the Tappan Zee
24 High school administration for allowing the team
25 to come to the Capitol today to receive this
4230
1 much-deserved recognition.
2 As I read off your names, I would
3 like you to please rise so we'll continue to
4 recognize you.
5 We have Emma McHugh, who's a senior.
6 We have Eve Girardi, a senior as well. We have
7 Alyssa Sanchez, a sophomore. We have
8 Devin Cunney, a junior. We have
9 Niamh Donnelly -- eighth-grader? Okay, wow.
10 Ella Pagels, a senior. Adrianna D'Orio, a
11 senior. Abby Walsh, a sophomore. Jody Long, a
12 sophomore. Maureen O'Donnell, a freshman. We
13 have Addy Zayac, a freshman. We have
14 Bridget Linehan, a junior. We have Zaria Desir,
15 an eighth-grader. We have Lilly Lennon, a
16 sophomore. We have Savannah Nordstrom, a senior.
17 And I hope I have everyone. Right?
18 Okay, excellent.
19 I want to also recognize Head Coach
20 Riley Chevrier. Please rise.
21 We have Assistant Coaches
22 Sarah Kukla and Darrell Flynn,
23 Student Manager Kelly Kukla, and
24 Athletic Director William Pilla.
25 Mr. President, please extend the
4231
1 courtesies of the house for the Tappan Zee -- as
2 Senator Skoufis, I think, loves that name as
3 well. Please recognize the Tappan Zee Girls
4 High School Team.
5 And as Leader Ortt said, I know the
6 Tappan Zee girls are ready for a scrimmage.
7 Mr. President, I know you're a big basketball
8 fan, so maybe you'll referee the game outside for
9 a little pickup game.
10 (Laughter.)
11 SENATOR WEBER: But please extend
12 them all the courtesies of the house.
13 Thank you.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
15 you, Senator Weber.
16 I will certainly be happy to
17 referee, because I can't guard any of you
18 anymore.
19 (Laughter.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: But to
21 the champions from Class A, the Tappan Zee
22 school, indeed you have crossed the bridge to
23 your championship run.
24 (Laughter.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: We
4232
1 congratulate you on behalf of the Senate. The
2 ladies are truly running the chamber on your
3 championship run.
4 We recognize you, celebrate you, and
5 we look forward to more championships in the
6 future. Please remain standing and receive all
7 of the accolades.
8 (Standing ovation.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
10 resolution was previously adopted on April 28th.
11 Senator Gianaris.
12 SENATOR GIANARIS: At this time
13 please call on Senator Rolison for an
14 introduction.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
16 Rolison for the purposes of an introduction.
17 SENATOR ROLISON: Thank you,
18 Mr. President.
19 It is my distinct honor to introduce
20 to all of you today Chriss-Ann Pryce.
21 Mr. President, I met
22 Chriss-Ann Pryce last June 16th at
23 Dutchess Community College. You know,
24 Mr. President, there are times when you meet
25 someone for the very first time -- it doesn't
4233
1 always happen that often -- that you say, This is
2 a special person. This is a person who has
3 already accomplished so much -- because I learned
4 about it that day -- but also was going to go on
5 to do great things.
6 That particular day, Mr. President,
7 I was at Dutchess Community College to meet
8 Chriss-Ann to congratulate her on her nomination
9 for the highest SUNY award that can be awarded.
10 It's the Chancellor's Award for Student
11 Excellence. Just interesting, though, that day
12 the SUNY chancellor was there. And I actually
13 was going be with him in a little while after
14 meeting Chriss-Ann. He was going to be touring
15 the campus, specifically the daycare facility at
16 DCC.
17 And I said to Chriss-Ann, I said,
18 Hey, you know, do you have a little bit? The
19 SUNY chancellor is actually here today. And I
20 said, Would you like to go on the tour of part of
21 the campus with me? And she looked at me sort
22 of, you know, in that inquisitive kind of look,
23 like, well can I?
24 And I said, I think so, Chriss-Ann,
25 because I'm a State Senator and you can probably
4234
1 go with me. And we laughed a little bit about
2 that, and she did. And she met the SUNY
3 chancellor.
4 And ever since that day,
5 Mr. President, June 16th of last year, she has
6 become my friend. And we have actually done a
7 lot of cool things together. But I want to tell
8 you about what she has done.
9 She began her academic and
10 leadership journey at DCC by the way of a program
11 called the Educational Opportunity Program, which
12 was established in 1967 by Arthur O. Eve, then
13 Assemblyman from Buffalo. And it was done during
14 the Civil Rights Era and movement, and it was
15 done with the intention to give every individual,
16 every student, an opportunity to have higher
17 education that they may not necessarily have been
18 able to get as easy as others.
19 Now, at DCC Chriss-Ann went on to
20 cement herself within the DCC community. She was
21 a peer mentor and navigator, she was the EOP
22 Summer Academy Student Leader. And I actually
23 went, at her invitation, to DCC to meet the
24 students, who a lot came from the New York City
25 area to DCC to see, hey, could I go here. And
4235
1 many of them did.
2 She became a resident assistant
3 while successfully, Mr. President, completing her
4 associate's degree in health services.
5 Now, she also was the director of
6 social media for both the EOP program and
7 academic housing, strengthening the student
8 engagement of the campus and all the outreach
9 initiatives.
10 Now, in addition to her leadership
11 roles at DCC, she actually interned in our office
12 during the summer of last year.
13 And she was selected for the highly
14 competitive EOP Premedical Opportunity Program,
15 where she has gained exposure to healthcare
16 professions, mentorship, and the importance of
17 addressing, Mr. President, inequities in
18 healthcare access.
19 And also because of many of those
20 things, Mr. President, her commitments earned her
21 the Norman R. McConney Jr. Award for Student
22 Excellence and Resilience.
23 Now, she's now at the University at
24 Albany, and she continues expanding her
25 leadership role and advocacy efforts as,
4236
1 Mr. President, a SUNY EOP ambassador, academic
2 resource mentor, and certified mental health
3 leader.
4 Now, through her role as an
5 ambassador she has traveled across the state.
6 She has actually been here at the Capitol,
7 recently participated in a session of the Senate
8 with her peers. And today she gets to go across
9 the state and speak with students, parents,
10 counselors, legislators, educational leaders
11 about the impact of EOP, importance of
12 educational access, and bridging the gap to
13 higher education for underserved communities.
14 And we go on a little bit longer,
15 Mr. President, because this is a very
16 accomplished young woman. She has also
17 participated in this year's SUNY-CUNY Model
18 Senate, which I just spoke about, and she has
19 spoken on panels alongside SUNY Chancellor King.
20 She remains passionate about
21 mentorship, public service, healthcare equity,
22 and creating meaningful change through
23 leadership.
24 Now, she is also continually seeking
25 opportunities to grow, serve her community, and
4237
1 make her mark within medicine, health policies,
2 and higher education.
3 Chriss-Ann Pryce is a matriculated
4 student at the University at Albany studying
5 human biology. She aspires to become a
6 physician, pursuing work and research in
7 healthcare advocacy as well as health policy.
8 She is joined here today by her
9 family, friends, and members of the SUNY EOP
10 team.
11 And as I've heard before from the
12 members, this has been the week of Women of
13 Distinction. Mr. President, I would say without
14 a doubt that we have a young Woman of Distinction
15 in the chambers today.
16 And would you please recognize her
17 and extend the cordialities of this house to her?
18 Thank you, Mr. President.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
20 Rolison, as a proud UA graduate -- UA U Know -- I
21 am incredibly proud to recognize the
22 multi-talented, multifaceted future
23 Dr. Chriss-Ann Pryce.
24 Thank you for all that you do. We
25 appreciate your success now, and we look forward
4238
1 to your success in the future. EOP proud, EOP
2 strong -- but most importantly, community strong.
3 Please rise and be recognized.
4 (Standing ovation.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
6 Gianaris.
7 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President,
8 the resolutions we took up today are open for
9 cosponsorship.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: These
11 resolutions are open for cosponsorship. Should
12 you choose not to be a cosponsor, please notify
13 the desk.
14 Senator Gianaris.
15 SENATOR GIANARIS: I have a motion
16 here, Mr. President.
17 On behalf of Senator Skoufis, on
18 page 22 I offer the following amendments to
19 Calendar 435, Senate Print 4037A, and ask that
20 said bill retain its place on Third Reading
21 Calendar.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
23 amendments are received, and the bill will retain
24 its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
25 Senator Gianaris.
4239
1 SENATOR GIANARIS: Please take up
2 the reading of the calendar.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
4 Secretary will read.
5 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
6 115, Senate Print 1811, by Senator Fernandez, an
7 act to amend the Executive Law.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
9 last section.
10 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. 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 Fernandez to explain her vote.
17 SENATOR FERNANDEZ: Thank you,
18 Mr. President.
19 I'm very proud and grateful to see
20 this bill come to the floor again, because as the
21 chair of the Committee on Substance Use Disorder,
22 and along with my many colleagues that are
23 advocates in making sure that we are bringing
24 accessibility, affordability, and breaking the
25 stigma when it comes addiction services, this
4240
1 bill is so important.
2 This bill is creating -- is making
3 May 9th Overdose Awareness Day in New York State.
4 And we've seen enough harm, we've
5 seen -- we've felt a lot of pain, we've lost a
6 lot of people. And those numbers are still high,
7 while we have seen improvements in what our
8 services are doing. Our services that we've
9 funded in harm reduction and recovery care and in
10 everything in between has been doing good work.
11 And now more than ever, we need to
12 make sure we keep those resources fulfilled, that
13 we continue to fight in this budget process for
14 those programs to be supported, and that we
15 continue to speak about those that have been
16 lost, in their memory, and utilize the pain into
17 passion into purpose, to make sure that we don't
18 see the overdoses continue, that we continue to
19 push the numbers down, that we invest more in
20 communities that are harmed more, and that we
21 forever keep those loved ones in mind that have
22 lost their lives, unfortunately, to overdose.
23 So I thank this body for your
24 support, and I proudly vote aye.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
4241
1 Fernandez to be recorded in the affirmative.
2 Announce the results.
3 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 61.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
5 is passed.
6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
7 289, Senate Print 2280C, by Senator Webb, an act
8 to amend the Executive Law.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
10 last section.
11 THE SECRETARY: Section 6. This
12 act shall take effect immediately.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
14 roll.
15 (The Secretary called the roll.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
17 Murray to explain his vote.
18 SENATOR MURRAY: Thank you,
19 Mr. President.
20 I want to thank the sponsor for
21 bringing this bill forward. We recently did some
22 crime victims' roundtables across the state.
23 Some of the feedback we got when we did these and
24 heard was the domestic violence incidents very
25 often lead to more incidents that end,
4242
1 unfortunately, tragically.
2 By doing these assessments, this
3 allows law enforcement to take steps to prevent
4 there being future violence and prevent them from
5 having lethal results.
6 So I want to thank the sponsor for
7 this. It's a very important step already being
8 done in Maryland, Utah and Florida, and we've
9 seen great results from that. And I believe in
10 New York State, Dutchess County is one of the
11 counties that also does this. And we need to
12 have this statewide.
13 So again, I thank the sponsor. This
14 will prevent terrible tragedies and also prevent
15 us from seeing more victims.
16 So I proudly vote yes.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
18 Murray to be recorded in the affirmative.
19 Senator Rolison to explain his vote.
20 SENATOR ROLISON: Thank you,
21 Mr. President.
22 And, Senator Murray, you are right,
23 and just one part of that that I want to add to.
24 Dutchess County was the first county in the State
25 of New York to use these lethality assessment
4243
1 tools to better protect and warn victims of
2 domestic violence on the potential for further
3 harm to them.
4 And it actually came out of a
5 homicide that took place in Dutchess County in
6 2010. Linda Riccardulli was assaulted by her
7 husband. He was arrested and sent to the
8 Dutchess County Correctional Facility. He was --
9 he bailed out, and he killed his wife.
10 And at the time, I was chairman of
11 the legislature, and I asked the Citizens
12 Advisory Committee on Domestic Violence to
13 examine all the things that we were doing and
14 what we needed to do in Dutchess County to
15 prevent fatalities like this from happening.
16 Because at the time Linda
17 Riccardulli was doing everything that she could
18 do. She was getting the services and talking to
19 individuals. But it happened so quickly, and she
20 did not have time to leave.
21 So this was part of the report. And
22 over a period of years, it was introduced in
23 Dutchess County, starting with one police agency
24 and then, of course, all. And then subsequently
25 Westchester and Broome counties are the other two
4244
1 counties that are employing it countywide.
2 But, Mr. President, I want to thank
3 the sponsor for again moving this forward and not
4 stopping until we see this as a statewide
5 implementation.
6 And we've passed it here for
7 two years ago in a row, and it was working its
8 way through the Assembly. But to my colleague
9 and friend Senator Webb, it looks like it's
10 really now moving through the Assembly.
11 And this will be something that I
12 hope that the Governor, once this is passed in
13 both houses, can sign immediately, Mr. President,
14 if it's possible to do that. Because certainly
15 we know, through history, lives are lost all too
16 often through incidents of domestic violence that
17 continue for far too long.
18 And, Mr. President, that's the
19 reason -- and I appreciate that -- why I'm voting
20 aye on this very important bill.
21 Thank you, Mr. President.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
23 Rolison to be recorded in the affirmative.
24 Announce the results.
25 Senator Webb to explain her vote. I
4245
1 apologize.
2 SENATOR WEBB: Thank you,
3 Mr. President.
4 I want to thank all of my colleagues
5 in the chamber for expressing support for this
6 legislation.
7 You know, we've seen a lot in the
8 news over the last, I'd say, three to four weeks,
9 a significant increase in not only domestic
10 violence cases, but a lot of those cases have
11 unfortunately ended in fatalities.
12 And so the rate of femicide most
13 certainly is up, which in large part is connected
14 to domestic violence. I know I've personally
15 lost a good friend because of domestic violence.
16 And so I think this legislation is
17 an important measure because it not only helps to
18 predict potential fatalities, but it also gives
19 victims opportunities to connect to resources, to
20 get them out of harmful situations. And it gives
21 law enforcement the tools to connect with local
22 organizations that provide resources for victims
23 and their families.
24 And the assessment looks at things
25 such as: Has your significant other made threats
4246
1 to you or your pet? Just different things like
2 that that, again, may seem simple but most
3 certainly have been demonstrated to predict very
4 tragic, potential tragic outcomes.
5 So again, I want to thank my
6 colleagues for their support, and of course the
7 Assembly sponsor, Assemblymember Clark, for her
8 continued advocacy.
9 I proudly vote aye. Thank you,
10 Mr. President.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
12 Webb to be recorded in the affirmative.
13 Senator Ramos to explain her vote.
14 SENATOR RAMOS: (Tearfully.) Thank
15 you, Mr. President.
16 I rise to thank Senator Webb for
17 this bill. I think very often, in a society
18 where marital rape isn't recognized, there are
19 still very clear indicators of violence that can
20 ensue in someone's life.
21 And unfortunately, the law still
22 does not recognize many of those patterns.
23 There's no greater indicator that your partner is
24 going to kill you than that person choking you.
25 And as much strength as it takes to
4247
1 leave a situation like that, even afterwards, the
2 abuse continues.
3 And so I really thank you,
4 Senator Webb, for doing this for so many of us,
5 in the hopes that any partner in any romantic
6 relationship can learn how to deal with conflict
7 in a way that is constructive and that doesn't
8 destroy families.
9 Thank you.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
11 you, Senator Ramos.
12 Senator Ramos to be recorded in the
13 affirmative.
14 Announce the results.
15 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 61.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
17 is passed.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
19 403, Senate Print 3208, by Senator Kavanagh, an
20 act to repeal paragraph 3 and 4 of subdivision A
21 of Section 26-405 of the Administrative Code of
22 the City of New York.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
24 last section.
25 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
4248
1 act shall take effect immediately.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
3 roll.
4 (The Secretary called the roll.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
6 the results.
7 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
8 Calendar 403, voting in the negative are
9 Senators Chan, Gallivan, Oberacker and Stec.
10 Ayes, 57. Nays, 4.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
12 is passed.
13 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
14 700, Senate Print 4867A, by Senator Fahy, an act
15 to amend the Insurance Law.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
17 last section.
18 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
19 act shall take effect on the first of January.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
22 Fahy to explain her vote.
23 SENATOR FAHY: Thank you,
24 Mr. President.
25 And thank you; I'm rising in support
4249
1 of the bill before us right now, S4867.
2 And it is one that would prohibit
3 insurers from imposing a first-fail step therapy
4 or prior authorization on medications used to
5 treat serious mental health conditions.
6 Mental health crises do not wait for
7 insurance paperwork or bureaucratic delays. For
8 patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder,
9 severe depression, PTSD, substance use and more,
10 some of the -- the medication can be life-saving,
11 but current insurance practices often force a
12 patient to do a fail-safe medication when their
13 doctor may know that it is not effective or may
14 not be appropriate.
15 And these delays can lead to more
16 psychiatric deterioration, hospitalization, or
17 emergency room visits.
18 Mental health treatment is highly
19 individualized. What works for one patient may
20 not work for another. It can take weeks or
21 months to figure out the right medication and
22 dosage and to get a patient stable.
23 The insurance company barriers can
24 actually destabilize a patient if they are not
25 moving more rapidly. And studies have shown that
4250
1 the policies of this fail-safe approach can
2 actually increase long-term costs through
3 increased inpatient admission and emergency care.
4 And that's why I think that this
5 bill is so important, that we must provide
6 meaningful access to treatment.
7 And with that, I vote in the
8 affirmative and thank you, Mr. President.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
10 Fahy to be recorded in the affirmative.
11 Announce the results.
12 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
13 Calendar Number 700, voting in the negative:
14 Senator Walczyk.
15 Ayes, 60. Nays, 1.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
17 is passed.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
19 744, Senate Print 8904A, by Senator Mayer, an act
20 to amend the Education Law.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
22 last section.
23 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
24 act shall take effect immediately.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
4251
1 roll.
2 (The Secretary called the roll.)
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
4 the results.
5 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 61.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
7 is passed.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 757, Senate Print 664, by Senator Skoufis, an act
10 to amend the Real Property Tax Law.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
12 last section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
14 act shall take effect on the first of January.
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: In relation to
21 Calendar 757, voting in the negative are
22 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
23 Chan, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Mattera,
24 Murray, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rolison, Stec,
25 Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
4252
1 Ayes, 42. Nays, 19.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 790, Senate Print 654, by Senator Krueger, an act
6 to amend the Election Law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
8 last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
10 act shall take effect immediately.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
12 roll.
13 (The Secretary called the roll.)
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
15 the results.
16 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
17 Calendar 790, voting in the negative are
18 Senators Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Ortt, Skoufis
19 and Walczyk. Also Senator Oberacker.
20 Ayes, 54. Nays, 7.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
22 is passed.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24 831, Senate Print 3695, by Senator Sanders, an
25 act to amend the General Business Law.
4253
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
2 last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
4 act shall take effect on the 90th day after it
5 shall have become a law.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
7 roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
10 the results.
11 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
12 Calendar 831, voting in the negative are
13 Senators Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick,
14 Chan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Oberacker, O'Mara,
15 Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco,
16 Walczyk, Weber and Weik.
17 Ayes, 43. Nays, 18.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
19 is passed.
20 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
21 845, Senate Print 3561, by Senator Cleare, an act
22 in relation to requiring the Empire State
23 Development Corporation, in consultation with the
24 Department of Agriculture and Markets and the
25 Office of New Americans, to conduct a study on
4254
1 the economic impact of the establishment of
2 kitchen incubators.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
4 last section.
5 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. 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 845, voting in the negative:
14 Senators Martinez and Skoufis.
15 Ayes, 59. Nays, 2.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
17 is passed.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
19 846, Assembly Bill Number 1740A, by
20 Assemblymember Rosenthal, an act to amend the
21 Public Buildings Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
25 act shall take effect one year after it shall
4255
1 have become a law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
3 roll.
4 (The Secretary called the roll.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
6 the results.
7 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 61.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 849, Senate Print Number 6281, by
12 Senator Scarcella-Spanton, an act to amend the
13 State Finance Law.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
15 last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. 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: Announce
22 the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 61.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
25 is passed.
4256
1 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
2 872, Senate Print 5900, by Senator Lanza, an act
3 to amend the Mental Hygiene Law.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
5 last section.
6 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
7 act shall take effect on the 60th day after it
8 shall have become a law.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
10 roll.
11 (The Secretary called the roll.)
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
13 the results.
14 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 61.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
16 is passed.
17 Senator Gianaris, that completes the
18 reading of today's calendar.
19 SENATOR GIANARIS: Is there any
20 further business at the desk?
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: There is
22 no further business at the desk.
23 SENATOR GIANARIS: I move to
24 adjourn -- well, before I adjourn, let me just
25 say, because we had so much success last night,
4257
1 let's once again root for both the Sabres and the
2 Knicks throughout the weekend.
3 I move to adjourn until Monday,
4 May 11th, at 3:00 p.m., with the intervening days
5 being legislative days.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: On
7 motion, we are mandated to root for the Sabres
8 and Knicks.
9 And we are adjourned until Monday,
10 May 11th, at 3:00 p.m., with intervening days
11 being legislative.
12 (Whereupon, the Senate adjourned at
13 12:17 p.m.)
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25