THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2020 11:15 A.M.

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: THE HOUSE WILL

COME TO ORDER.

IN THE ABSENCE OF CLERGY, LET US PAUSE FOR A MOMENT OF

SILENCE.

(WHEREUPON, A MOMENT OF SILENCE WAS OBSERVED.)

VISITORS ARE INVITED TO JOIN THE MEMBERS IN THE PLEDGE

OF ALLEGIANCE.

(WHEREUPON, ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO LED VISITORS

AND MEMBERS IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.)

A QUORUM BEING PRESENT, THE CLERK WILL READ THE

JOURNAL OF WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MR. SPEAKER, I MOVE TO

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 27, 2020

DISPENSE WITH THE FURTHER READING OF THE JOURNAL OF WEDNESDAY,

FEBRUARY THE 26TH AND ASK THAT THE SAME STAND APPROVED.

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: WITHOUT

OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MR.

SPEAKER. IF I CAN HAVE MEMBERS' ATTENTION, THERE'S -- I WOULD LIKE TO

SHARE A QUOTE FOR TODAY. IT'S FROM MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE, WHO WAS AN

AMERICAN EDUCATOR, A STATESWOMAN AND A HUMANITARIAN AND VERY ACTIVE

IN BOTH THE WOMEN'S RIGHTS MOVEMENT AS WELL AS THE CIVIL RIGHTS

MOVEMENT. HER WORDS FOR US TODAY, WHICH I THINK ARE VERY

APPROPRIATE, IS TO "BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, LEARN, AND NEVER STOP WANTING TO

BUILD A BETTER WORLD", WHICH I THINK IS WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT IN THIS

ROOM TODAY.

TO THAT REGARD, MR. SPEAKER, MEMBERS SHOULD BE

AWARE THERE IS A MAIN CALENDAR ON -- AND A DEBATE LIST ON THEIR DESK, AND

AFTER THERE ARE ANY INTRODUCTIONS AND/OR HOUSEKEEPING, WE WILL

CONTINUE OUR CONSENT OF MAIN CALENDAR BILLS WHICH WE LEFT OFF FROM

YESTERDAY AT 317 ON PAGE 49. WE WILL ALSO WORK OFF THE DEBATE LIST ON

TODAY.

THAT'S THE GENERAL OUTLINE, MR. SPEAKER, OF WHERE

WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING TODAY FROM THE FLOOR. IF THERE INTRODUCTIONS

AND/OR HOUSEKEEPING, NOW WOULD BE A GREAT TIME.

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: NO

HOUSEKEEPING, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE AN INTRODUCTION.

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 27, 2020

MS. MALLIOTAKIS.

MS. MALLIOTAKIS: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I'M

JOINED TODAY BY A VERY SPECIAL CONSTITUENT, AVA ROSE GARNETT. SHE'S

HERE TODAY WITH HER BROTHER, JOHNNY, AND HER PARENTS, HEATHER AND

JOHN. AVA IS HERE BECAUSE WE WILL BE DOING A RESOLUTION ON RARE

DISEASE DAY. AVA IS 12 YEARS OLD, AND ONE OF THE MANY PEOPLE WHO

MAKE ME EXCEPTIONALLY PROUD TO REPRESENT STATEN ISLAND. WHILE I'M

SURE YOU LOOK AT AVA AND SEE HER AS A VIBRANT, BEAUTIFUL YOUNG GIRL,

WHICH SHE IS, SHE, IN FACT, SUFFERS FROM A RARE GENETIC DISEASE KNOWN AS

NAIL-PATELLA SYNDROME. NAIL-PATELLA SYNDROME CAUSES SERIOUS

ABNORMALITIES OF THE JOINTS AND NAILS AND CAN CAUSE SERIOUS HEALTH

PROBLEMS. BUT ANYONE WHO KNOWS AVA, KNOWS THAT IT HAS NOT STOPPED

HER. AVA ATTENDS THE 7TH GRADE IN I.S.75 AND HAS GROWN UP PLAYING

SOCCER. SHE PLAYED ON THE BLESSED SACRAMENT BASKETBALL TEAM AND

CURRENTLY PLAYS SECOND -- SECOND BASE AND OUTFIELD FOR THE STATEN ISLAND

PATRIOTS. SHE WAS A GIRL SCOUT, AND DURING THAT TIME SHE BEGAN TO CRAFT

HUNDREDS OF RIBBONS EACH YEAR TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR RARE DISEASE

DAY. AFTER MEETING AVA AS SHE ADVOCATED FOR RARE DISEASES AT MY

WOMEN'S HISTORY EVENT BACK IN 2018, I FELT SO INSPIRED THAT MY STAFF

AND I WORE HER RIBBONS DURING SESSION AND PRESENTED HER WITH A

PROCLAMATION. SHE VISITED US LAST YEAR AND SHE'S HERE AGAIN TODAY. SHE

HAS A SINCE CREATED A RIBBON SPECIFICALLY FOR HER DISEASE, NAIL-PATELLA

SYNDROME. SHE ALSO MODELS ADAPTIVE CLOTHING FOR RUNWAY OF DREAMS

FOR OTHERS DIFFERENTLY-LIMBED BY YOUNG WOMEN AND -- AND MENTORS

OTHER -- OTHER YOUNG WOMEN AS WELL. SHE ALSO RECENTLY HAD HER FIRST

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 27, 2020

TASTE OF SHOW BUSINESS WHEN SHE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR ON AN

EPISODE OF CBS'S GOD FRIENDED ME, AND WILL SOON BE IN A FASHION

INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY FASHION SHOW FOR ADAPTIVE CLOTHING.

I AM THRILLED THAT AVA IS ABLE TO JOIN US TODAY TO HEAR

FIRSTHAND ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION AND HOW MUCH NEW YORK STATE CARES

ABOUT THE CAUSE. AND I SHOULD BE CONCERNED BECAUSE SHE'S ALSO A

MEMBER OF THE DEBATE TEAM, SO I MAY HAVE AN OPPONENT ONE DAY IN

AVA. BUT TODAY WE ARE ADVERSE -- WE ARE FRIENDS AND WE ARE WORKING

TOGETHER. AND, AVA, IT'S WONDERFUL TO HAVE YOU, ONCE AGAIN, HERE IN THE

STATE'S CAPITAL OF ALBANY.

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: ON BEHALF OF MS.

MALLIOTAKIS, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, AVA, WE WELCOME YOU

HERE WITH YOUR FAMILY TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY. WE EXTEND TO

YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. AND FOR SOMEONE SO YOUNG AND YET SO

ACCOMPLISHED, YOU MAKE US ALL PROUD NOT ONLY BY YOUR

ASSEMBLYWOMAN, BUT ALL MEMBERS HERE ACROSS THE STATE WHERE WE WILL

HAVE SUCH A BRIGHT FUTURE IF WE CONTINUE TO HAVE YOUNG, BRIGHT, SMART,

INTELLIGENT, WONDERFUL HUMAN BEINGS CONTINUING THE -- AND FEATURING

THE -- THE LEGACY OF NEW YORK STATE. SO AGAIN, WE EXTEND TO YOU THE

PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR, WE WELCOME YOU AND WE HOPE THAT YOU ENJOY

THE PROCEEDINGS WITH YOUR FAMILY. AND I KNOW YOUR FAMILY WILL

CONTINUE AND ALWAYS BE PROUD OF THE WORK THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO

THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. MCDONALD.

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 27, 2020

MR. MCDONALD: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. AS

YOU KNOW, WE WILL BE VOTING ON A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING FEBRUARY

29TH AS RARE DISEASE -- RARE DISEASE DAY HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW

YORK. WE HAVE MANY REPRESENTATIVES HERE FROM MANY DIFFERENT

ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE HERE TO VISIT US TODAY. AS YOU KNOW, RARE

DISEASE DAY TAKES PLACE THE LAST THE DAY OF FEBRUARY EACH YEAR, THIS

YEAR BEING A BONUS, THE 29TH. WHILE EACH OF THESE DISEASES AND

DISORDERS MAY AFFECT A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE, RARE AND GENETIC

DISEASES TOGETHER AFFECT APPROXIMATELY 30 MILLION AMERICANS OR 1 IN 10

PEOPLE. RARE DISEASE AWARENESS DAY IS A CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE THE

GENERAL PUBLIC AND DECISION-MAKERS, SUCH AS US, ABOUT RARE DISEASES

AND THE IMPACT THEY HAVE ON THEIR PATIENTS AND ALSO THEIR FAMILIES. THE

POLITICAL MOMENTUM RESULTING FROM THIS DAY HAS ALSO SERVED GREAT

ADVOCACY PURPOSES. THIS CAMPAIGN HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE

ADVANCEMENT OF NATIONAL POLICIES FOR RARE DISEASES IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES,

AND NOW IS THE TIME FOR THEM ALL TO JOIN TOGETHER FOR BETTER CARE. I AM

NOT GOING TO NAME ALL THE INDIVIDUALS; WE HAVE OVER 35 INDIVIDUALS

HERE. YOU'RE WELCOME. HOWEVER --

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: THANK YOU.

MR. MCDONALD: -- I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR RARE DISEASES, WHO'S COORDINATING THIS DAY.

WE THANK THEM, THIS NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT HAS THREE LOCATIONS IN

THE COUNTRY. BUT I DO WANT TO NAME BRIEFLY EACH ORGANIZATION: THE

NORD RARE ACTION NETWORK OF NEW YORK; THE NEW YORK STATE

BLEEDING DISORDERS COALITION; THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION; THE

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 27, 2020

NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION; THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY; CANCER

ACTION NETWORK OF NEW YORK; THE OLAY FOUNDATION; THE SICKLE CELL

THALASSEMIA PATIENTS NETWORK; THE QUEENS SICKLE CELL ACTION

NETWORK; THE ALS ASSOCIATION CHAPTER OF THE GREATER NEW YORK; AND

OF COURSE, WHAT'S A DAY WITHOUT THE GIRL SCOUTS BEING HERE AS WELL. AS

YOU CAN TELL, AS I LISTED EACH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION, I THINK WE ALL KNOW

WE HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS OR FRIENDS THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THESE DISEASES

ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

MR. SPEAKER, IF YOU COULD PLEASE WELCOME THIS GREAT

ORGANIZATION TO THE HOUSE, IT WOULD BE SINCERELY APPRECIATED.

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: ABSOLUTELY, MR.

MC DONALD. ON BEHALF OF ASSEMBLYMEMBER MCDONALD, THE SPEAKER

AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME THESE DISTINGUISHED GUESTS TO THE

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY. WE EXTEND TO YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE

FLOOR, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING THIS SUCH

IMPORTANT WORK AND SHINING A LIGHT ON RARE DISEASES TO MAKE SURE THAT

EVERYBODY AND EVERY NEW YORKER CAN HAVE A BRIGHTER FUTURE. THANK

YOU SO VERY MUCH, AND WE HOPE THAT YOU ENJOY THE PROCEEDINGS TODAY.

(APPLAUSE)

MS. BUTTENSCHON.

MS. BUTTENSCHON: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, FOR

THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERRUPT OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY AS I ENTHUSIASTICALLY

HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE FRANKFORT-SCHUYLER SECTIONAL

CHAMPIONS FROM MY DISTRICT AS THEY ARE HERE TODAY. I ASK THE SPEAKER

AND MY COLLEAGUES TO WELCOME THE MAROON KNIGHTS FOOTBALL TEAM; THE

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 27, 2020

TEAM THAT FOUGHT HARD FOR THEIR ENDING SEASON OF AN 8-3 VICTORY AND THE

TEAM HAD A TOTAL OF 1,002 PASSING YARDS AND A TOTAL OF 28 TOUCHDOWNS.

THE MAROON KNIGHTS SUCCESSFULLY WENT TO THE SYRACUSE CARRIER DOME

WHERE THEY DEFEATED WATERVILLE IN THE CLASS D FINALS AND WERE NAMED

THE NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION SECTION

III CHAMPIONS. THIS WAS THE TEAM'S FIRST SECTIONAL TITLE SINCE 1982.

THEY ARE HERE TODAY, 26 OF THEM, ACCOMPANIED BY THEIR TWO COACHES,

COACH MR. JEFF LAGASE AND COACH MR. GATTO. THEY ARE HERE AS THEY

HAVE TOURED THE CAPITOL AS WELL. WE'LL BE HEADING BACK THROUGH A

SNOWSTORM, SO I SINCERELY APPRECIATE THEIR PERSEVERANCE AND THEIR

DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO COME TO THE CAPITOL TODAY.

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: CERTAINLY. ON

BEHALF OF MS. BUTTENSCHON, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE

WELCOME THESE FINE GENTLEMEN HERE TO THE NEW YORK STATE

ASSEMBLY -- TO THE ASSEMBLY. WE EXTEND TO YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE

FLOOR. AND I WILL TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, WHERE ARE THE

LINEMEN IN THAT GROUP?

(APPLAUSE)

YOU ALL DON'T GET SHOUTED OUT ENOUGH. I WAS A FORMER

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN MYSELF. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, GENTLEMEN. BUT

MORE IMPORTANTLY, AGAIN, WE EXTEND TO YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR.

WE HOPE THAT YOU ENJOY THE PROCEEDINGS THIS MORNING, AND AGAIN,

CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

(APPLAUSE)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 27, 2020

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MR. SPEAKER, IF WE CAN

NOW BEGIN OUR WORK WITH RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE 3. FOLLOWING THAT WE

WILL GO RIGHT TO PAGE 49 AND TAKE UP CALENDAR NO. 317.

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: THE CLERK WILL

READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 798, MR.

MCDONALD. LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR ANDREW

M. CUOMO TO PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 29, 2020, AS RARE DISEASE AWARENESS

DAY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: ON THE

RESOLUTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE

RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 799, MR.

DESTEFANO. LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR ANDREW

M. CUOMO TO PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 2020, AS LIBRARY LOVER'S MONTH IN

THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: ON THE

RESOLUTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR --

OH, I'M SORRY. MR. DESTEFANO ON THE RESOLUTION.

MR. DESTEFANO: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, FOR THE

OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THIS RESOLUTION. LIBRARIES ARE A VALUABLE

COMMUNITY RESOURCE TO RESIDENTS ACROSS NEW YORK STATE. NOT ONLY DO

THEY PROVIDE ACCESS TO BOOKS, PERIODICALS AND MANY OTHER CULTURAL,

HISTORICAL, ENTERTAINMENT AND RESEARCH MATERIALS, THEY ALSO CONNECT

PEOPLE BY PROVIDING INTERNET SERVICES, PROGRAMS, TRIPS, EVENTS, TRAINING,

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 27, 2020

TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION, AND EQUALLY IMPORTANT, OPPORTUNITIES TO INTERACT

FACE-TO-FACE. LIBRARIES PROVIDE A SAFE HAVEN FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WHO

ARE TRULY A SANCTUARY FROM THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF EVERYDAY LIFE.

PEOPLE LOVE THESE ESTABLISHMENTS DEDICATED TO READING, HOUSING,

ORGANIZING, CATEGORIZING, FINDING, STUDYING AND OTHERWISE LOVING BOOKS

AND MANY OTHER RESOURCES THAT ENRICH OUR LIVES. FEBRUARY IS RECOGNIZED

NATIONALLY AS LIBRARIES [SIC] LOVER'S MONTH BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE

OF THE INSTITUTIONS TO NEW YORKERS. I PROUDLY SUBMIT THIS RESOLUTION

DESIGNATED LIBRARY LOVER'S MONTH IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITH SUCH

NOBLE AIMS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS. LIBRARIES SHOULD BE CELEBRATED AND

RECOGNIZED BY ALL CITIZENS OF THE EMPIRE STATE.

THANK YOU, SIR.

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: ON THE

RESOLUTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE

RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 800, MS.

JOYNER. LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR ANDREW M.

CUOMO TO PROCLAIM MARCH 2020, AS NUTRITION MONTH IN THE STATE OF

NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: ON THE

RESOLUTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE

RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

PAGE 49, CALENDAR NO. 317, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08195, CALENDAR NO.

317, THIELE. AN ACT TO AMEND THE TOWN LAW, IN RELATION TO THE

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 27, 2020

PRESERVATION OF LANDS NECESSARY TO PROTECT FISHERIES AND

WATER-DEPENDENT USES ESSENTIAL TO MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE MARITIME

HERITAGE.

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MR.

SPEAKER. JUST TO REMIND COLLEAGUES THAT THIS IS OUR FIRST VOTE OF TODAY.

TODAY HAPPENS TO BE THE LAST DAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF THE SEVENTH

WEEK, AND THIS IS THE -- STILL THE 243RD SESSION. SO, IF MEMBERS ARE IN

AND AROUND THE CHAMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR FIRST VOTE OF TODAY. THANK

YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: THANK YOU FOR

THAT REMINDER, MADAM LEADER. SO, MEMBERS, IF IN THE SOUND OF MY

VOICE, IF YOU ARE NEAR OR AROUND THE CHAMBERS OR IN YOUR DESK, PLEASE

VOTE. THIS IS THE FIRST VOTE OF THE DAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ARE THERE ANY OTHER

VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08212, CALENDAR NO.

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 27, 2020

318, GLICK, SIMON, GOTTFRIED, JAFFEE, GRIFFIN, L. ROSENTHAL, MOSLEY,

LENTOL, SIMOTAS, EPSTEIN, BUCHWALD, BLAKE. AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE

COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH TO CONDUCT A STUDY AND ISSUE A REPORT

EXAMINING THE UNMET HEALTH AND RESOURCE NEEDS FACING PREGNANT

WOMEN IN NEW YORK AND THE IMPACT OF LIMITED SERVICE PREGNANCY

CENTERS ON THE ABILITY OF WOMEN TO OBTAIN ACCURATE, NON-COERCIVE HEALTH

CARE INFORMATION AND TIMELY ACCESS TO A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF

REPRODUCTIVE AND SEXUAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08215-A, CALENDAR

NO. 319, MCDONOUGH. AN ACT TO AMEND THE HIGHWAY LAW, IN RELATION

TO DESIGNATING A PORTION OF THE STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM AS THE "DETECTIVE

BETSY HORNER-MILLER CUTRONE MEMORIAL BRIDGE."

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08222-A, CALENDAR

NO. 320, PALMESANO. AN ACT TO AMEND THE VILLAGE LAW AND THE PUBLIC

OFFICERS LAW, IN RELATION TO AUTHORIZING THE VILLAGE OF RIVERSIDE TO HIRE

A VILLAGE CLERK/TREASURER AND CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WHO IS NOT A

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 27, 2020

RESIDENT OF SUCH VILLAGE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08256-A, CALENDAR

NO. 321, GOTTFRIED, GRIFFIN, GALEF. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC HEALTH

LAW, IN RELATION TO CONSIDERATION AND PRESCRIPTION OF NON-OPIOID

TREATMENT ALTERNATIVES FOR TREATMENT OF NEUROMUSCULOSKELETAL

CONDITIONS.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08280-A, CALENDAR

NO. 322, WALKER, CARROLL, ORTIZ, STIRPE, L. ROSENTHAL, JEAN-PIERRE,

COLTON, PERRY, LIFTON, REYES, HYNDMAN, GOTTFRIED, MOSLEY, SIMON,

WEPRIN, WRIGHT, BICHOTTE, JOYNER, FRONTUS, TAYLOR, JACOBSON,

SEAWRIGHT, BLAKE, BARRON, DINOWITZ, VANEL, HEVESI, COOK, RODRIGUEZ,

DARLING, DE LA ROSA, STECK. AN ACT TO AMEND THE ELECTION LAW, IN

RELATION TO ESTABLISHING AN AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION PROCESS.

INTEGRATED WITHIN DESIGNATED AGENCY APPLICATIONS.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08308-A, CALENDAR

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 27, 2020

NO. 324, ZEBROWSKI. AN ACT TO AMEND THE VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAW,

IN RELATION TO PROHIBITING RETAIL DEALERS OF SECONDHAND MOTOR VEHICLES

FROM SELLING MOTOR VEHICLES REQUIRED TO CONTAIN AN INFLATABLE RESTRAINT

SYSTEM BY THE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD APPLICABLE TO THAT

VEHICLE UNLESS SUCH VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A FUNCTIONING INFLATABLE

RESTRAINT SYSTEM WHICH CONFORMS TO THE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY

STANDARD APPLICABLE TO THAT VEHICLE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MR. SPEAKER, IF WE

COULD NOW GO TO OUR DEBATE CALENDAR, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP CALENDAR

NO. 4 BY MR. BUCHWALD; FOLLOWED BY CALENDAR NO. 81, MR. LENTOL;

AND CALENDAR NO. 275 BY MR. LAVINE. IN THAT ORDER, MR. SPEAKER.

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CALENDAR NO. 4, BILL

NO. A.119-B, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A00119-B, CALENDAR

NO. 4, BUCHWALD, GALEF, PAULIN, GOTTFRIED. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC

OFFICERS LAW, IN RELATION TO ACCESSING RECORDS UNDER THE FREEDOM OF

INFORMATION LAW.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 27, 2020

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01656-A, CALENDAR

NO. 81, LENTOL. AN ACT TO AMEND THE TAX LAW AND THE STATE FINANCE

LAW, IN RELATION TO THE RESCUED ANIMALS SPAY AND NEUTER FUND.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MR. SPEAKER, IF WE CAN

CONTINUE OUR WORK ON THE DEBATE CALENDAR, WE ARE GOING TO GO TO

CALENDAR NO. 96 BY MR. CAHILL, FOLLOWED BY CALENDAR NO. 114 BY MS.

GLICK.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A02226-B, CALENDAR

NO. 96, CAHILL. AN ACT TO AMEND THE HIGHWAY LAW, IN RELATION TO

DESIGNATING A PORTION OF THE STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM AS THE "JOHN 'JODY'

ROSSITZ MEMORIAL BRIDGE."

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 27, 2020

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ACTING SPEAKER JONES: ARE THERE ANY OTHER

VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A02559-A, CALENDAR

NO. 114, GLICK, L. ROSENTHAL, M.G. MILLER, SEAWRIGHT, OTIS. AN ACT TO

AMEND THE TAX LAW AND STATE FINANCE LAW, IN RELATION TO PROVIDING A

TAX CHECK-OFF BOX ON PERSONAL INCOME TAX AND CORPORATE FRANCHISE TAX

RETURNS FOR GIFTS TO THE NEW YORK STATE HORSE RETIREMENT AND RESCUE

FUND; AND DIRECTING THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS TO

COMPILE A LIST OF APPROVED HORSE RETIREMENT AND RESCUE PROGRAMS.

ACTING SPEAKER JONES: READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT JANUARY 1ST,

2021.

ACTING SPEAKER JONES: THE CLERK WILL RECORD

THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ARE THERE ANY OTHER

VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 27, 2020

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MR. SPEAKER, DO YOU

HAVE ANY FURTHER HOUSEKEEPING OR RESOLUTIONS?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: WE HAVE NO

HOUSEKEEPING, BUT WE DO HAVE RESOLUTIONS.

THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 801, DEL LA

ROSA.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE 176TH

ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TO BE

CELEBRATED ON FEBRUARY 27TH, 2020.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. DE LA ROSA ON

THE RESOLUTION.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE.

MS. DE LA ROSA: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I'M

PROUD TO RISE TO COMMEMORATE THE 176TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE

INDEPENDENCE OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

ACQUIRED AUTONOMY AND SOVEREIGNTY ON THE 27TH DAY OF FEBRUARY OF

1844, WHEN JUAN PABLO DUARTE, FRANCISCO DEL ROSARIO SANCHEZ,

RAMON MATIAS MELIA FORMED LA TRINITARIA AND FOUGHT FOR THE

INDEPENDENCE OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. TODAY AND IN THE MONTH OF

FEBRUARY, DOMINICAN NATIONALS ACROSS THE NATION CELEBRATE DOMINICAN

INDEPENDENCE DAY AND THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE DOMINICAN COMMUNITY

ABROAD AND IN OUR HOMELAND. THERE ARE OVER ONE MILLION DOMINICANS

WHO CALL NEW YORK STATE THEIR HOME, AND OVER TWO MILLION DOMINICAN

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 27, 2020

NATIONALS WHO CALL THE UNITED STATES THEIR HOME TODAY. IN THIS MOMENT

WHERE WE CELEBRATE AND COMMEMORATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE

DOMINICAN COMMUNITY, WE ALSO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE

AND STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE POLITICAL CHAOS THAT HAS EMBARKED OUR

ISLAND OVER THE LAST MONTH. AS MANY OF YOU HAVE KNOWN AND HAVE

SEEN IN THE MEDIA, THE RECENT MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN THE DOMINICAN

REPUBLIC WERE CANCELLED, AND THERE HAS BEEN PROTESTS THAT HAS ERUPTED

THROUGHOUT OUR ISLAND. AS WE STAND HERE AND RECOGNIZE DOMINICAN

INDEPENDENCE DAY, WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT FREEDOM IS NOT FREE AND THAT

DEMOCRACY MUST BE PROTECTED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. AND SO WE STAND

IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE YOUTH WHO HAVE TAKEN TO THE STREETS TO PROCLAIM

THAT AS DOMINICANS, WE HAVE A RIGHT TO LIBERTY AND WE ALSO HAVE A RIGHT

TO DEMOCRACY.

WITH THAT, I COMMEMORATE DOMINICAN INDEPENDENCE

DAY AND WE CELEBRATE AS A UNITED COMMUNITY ALL THE CONTRIBUTIONS, THE

VIBRANCY, THE CULTURAL VIBRANCY AND THE ECONOMIC VIBRANCY THAT THIS

COMMUNITY HAS BROUGHT TO OUR STATE. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

MR. PICHARDO ON THE RESOLUTION.

MR. PICHARDO: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, FOR

INDULGING ME AND ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON THIS RESOLUTION. AGAIN, I

WANT TO THANK AND CONGRATULATE MY COLLEAGUE AGAIN FOR INTRODUCING THIS

IMPORTANT RESOLUTION. AND AS THE ASSEMBLYWOMAN WAS ALLUDING TO

AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THE DOMINICAN COMMUNITY HAS MADE ITS -- AN

INDELIBLE MARK NOT ONLY HERE IN THE UNITED -- IN THE UNITED STATES BUT

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 27, 2020

ACROSS THE WORLD. AND RIGHT NOW OUR COUNTRY, OUR TINY ISLAND, IS GOING

THROUGH A PRETTY DIFFICULT AND ROUGH TIME. AND RIGHT NOW AS WE FIGHT

FOR FREEDOM AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY TO HAVE THEIR FRANCHISE,

TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD AND THE RIGHT TO VOTE, THERE WAS A

CATASTROPHIC FAILURE THAT HAPPENED WITH THE -- THE CONDUCTING OF THE

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. WE, AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, WHETHER IT'S HERE IN THE

UNITED STATES, THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC OR ANYWHERE ELSE, THE MOST

SACRED TRUST THAT OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR CONSTITUENTS AND OUR

NEIGHBORS ENTRUST TO US IS TO PROTECT THAT FRANCHISE. AND WHAT

HAPPENED, UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE FEW WEEKS AGO ROBBED THE VOICE OF

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOMINICANS FOR THEIR RIGHT TO EXERCISE AND

CHOOSE THEIR GOVERNMENT AND THEIR LEADERS. I ADD MY VOICE TO MY

COLLEAGUES NOT ONLY HERE IN THIS COUNTRY, IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

AND ACROSS THE WORLD, WHICH I HAVE SEEN PROTESTS NOT ONLY HERE IN WASH

-- IN NEW YORK STATE AND WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, BUT WE HAVE SEEN

PROTESTS FROM AS FAR AWAY AS FRANCE, BELGIUM, ARGENTINA, SOUTH

AMERICA AND ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTRY IN MAKING SURE THAT THE MOST

IMPORTANT THING THAT OUR GOVERNMENT, AND PARTICULARLY THE DOMINICAN

GOVERNMENT HAS TO DO IS TO PROTECT THAT FRANCHISE. WE MUST AND I KNOW

THAT WE WILL DO BETTER, MR. SPEAKER, BUT I ADD MY VOICE TO THE HUNDREDS

OF THOUSANDS OF DOMINICANS SAYING RIGHT NOW THAT THEIR VOICE AND THEIR

OPPORTUNITY TO EXERCISE THAT RIGHT TO VOTE WAS TAKEN FROM THEM AND WE

MUST AND WE WILL DO BETTER. STILL, WE CELEBRATE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF

MANY DOMINICANS THAT HAVE MADE THEIR MARK HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

BUT AGAIN, I RISE TO ADD MY VOICE TO MY COLLEAGUE WHO INTRODUCED THIS

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 27, 2020

IMPORTANT LEGISLATION AND THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION -- EXCUSE ME, MR.

SPEAKER -- IN MAKING SURE THAT WE RECOGNIZE THIS IMPORTANT MOMENT IN

THE DOMINICAN HISTORY. BUT AGAIN -- AGAIN, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT

IS CLEAR THAT WE, AS -- AS SONS AND DAUGHTERS FROM THE DOMINICAN

REPUBLIC, THAT WHAT HAPPENED THAT TIME AND THOSE FEW WEEKS AGO, THAT

IT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN NOT ONLY IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, BUT

ANYWHERE ACROSS THE WORLD.

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, FOR ALLOWING ME TO --

INDULGE ME ONCE AGAIN.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY.

MS. REYES.

MS. REYES: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. AS A

ONE-THIRD OF THE DOMINICAN CAUCUS IN THIS BODY, I JOIN THAT OF MY

COLLEAGUES IN COMMEMORATING THE 176TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR

INDEPENDENCE. WE ARE, LIKE MY COLLEAGUE SAID, TWO MILLION

DOMINICANS NATIONWIDE AND ONE MILLION OF THOSE CALL NEW YORK STATE

HOME. AND DOMINICANS HAVE REALLY DEEP TIES TO NEW YORK CITY. THE

FIRST RECORDED IMMIGRANT AND LATINO TO SETTLE MANHATTAN ISLAND IN 1613

WAS OF DOMINICAN DESCENT. AND FOR US, WE LOVE THIS COUNTRY BUT AS --

AS DOMINICAN YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THE DIASPORA WE BELIEVE IN THE

SOVEREIGNTY OF OUR COUNTRY, AND I LEND MY VOICE TO DEMAND THAT

DEMOCRACY BE UPHELD NOT JUST HERE BUT ACROSS THE WORLD, AND

PARTICULARLY ON OUR ISLAND THAT WE FOUGHT SO HARD FOR.

SO, THANK YOU, AND (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE).

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 27, 2020

MR. RIVERA.

MR. RIVERA: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. THE

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC IS FULL OF HISTORY. I, AS A PUERTO RICAN, AM VERY

GRATEFUL TO THE REPUBLIC AND THE PEOPLE OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

BECAUSE ONE OF OUR HEROES, A PUERTO RICAN, (INAUDIBLE), IN ONE OF HIS

TRAVEL TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC DECIDED TO SETTLE THERE AND LIVE THERE.

AND HE DECIDED TO HELP CREATE THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM FOR THE

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AFTER HE DID THAT FOR THE COUNTRY OF CHILE. SO,

WHEN (INAUDIBLE) WAS ABOUT READY TO PASS ON, HE ASKED THE PEOPLE OF

THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TO PLEASE ALLOW HIM TO BE BURIED AND TO REST IN

THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC UNTIL THE DAY COMES WHEN PUERTO RICO WILL BE

LIKE THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, A FREE COUNTRY. THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

WERE THE FOUNDERS OF THE IDEA OF CREATING THE FEDERATION OF THE ANTILLES,

OF THE ANTILLES, MEANING CUBA, PUERTO RICO AND THE DOMINICAN

REPUBLIC. THEY SET OUT TO HELP LIBERATE CUBA, AND THEY DID. AND THEY

DID. THE ONLY COUNTRY STILL NOT LIBERATED IS MINE, PUERTO RICO. SO I AM

VERY GRATEFUL. AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, THE

PEOPLE OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ACCOMPLISHMENT IN THIS COUNTRY, IT

ONLY HAPPENED, IT ONLY HAPPENED WHEN ON APRIL 8TH, 1965, 40,000

UNITED STATES MARINES INVADED DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. THEY WERE

AFRAID UNDER THE PRESIDENT, JUAN BOSCH, THAT THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

WILL BECOME ANOTHER CUBA. THEY INVADED THEM. SO, IN OTHER WORDS,

WE GO INTO OTHER COUNTRIES TELLING THEM, THIS IS THE WAY WE

DEMOCRATIZE ALL OF YOU. AND YOU KNOW WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THE

DOMINICANS? ALL RIGHT, LISTEN, THEY WERE WELCOME AT THE JUAN PABLO

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 27, 2020

DUARTE BRIDGE IN A SIMILAR MANNER. YOU SHOOT AT US, WE'RE GOING TO

SHOOT AT YOU. SOME OF THOSE YOUNGSTERS WHO DARE CHALLENGE THE

INVASION CAME TO THE UNITED STATES SETTLED HERE, OPENED UP BUSINESSES

-- THEY'RE MY FRIENDS, SOME OF THEM ARE MY FRIENDS. YOU WOULD THINK,

OF COURSE, THEY'RE RADICAL LIKE YOU ARE. SO WHAT? SO I'M RADICAL. I LIKE

TO WEAR A TWO-PIECE SUIT WITH A TIE, BUT I'M STILL RADICAL, IF THAT'S WHAT

YOU WANT TO CALL ME.

SO I AM VERY HONORED TO HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE

DOMINICAN COMMUNITY. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PEOPLE FROM THE

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TODAY, THEY SAY, YOU INVADED US, NOW WE'RE GOING

TO INVADE YOU. NOW AS A RESULT OF THAT INVASION, WE BEGAN TO HAVE A

MIGRATION OF THOUSAND, MILLIONS, THERE'S OVER TWO MILLION DOMINICANS

MAYBE ALL OVER THE CITY OF NEW YORK, MAYBE IN THE BRONX. I DON'T

KNOW. MAYBE MARCOS CRESPO HAS ALL THAT INFORMATION HE CAN SHARE

WITH ME, I DON'T KNOW. BUT THEY HAVE MADE TREMENDOUS CONTRIBUTION

TO THE ECONOMY OF THE CITY, OUR CITY. AND WHAT'S BEAUTIFUL ABOUT THEM

IS THAT IT'S ALL WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. YOU SHOULD VISIT THEM AND YOU

SEE HOW MUCH OF A CONTRIBUTION. NOT ENOUGH IN THE STATE OF NEW

YORK. GO TO ORLANDO, FLORIDA. GO TO MIAMI. GO ANYWHERE IN THIS

COUNTRY AND YOU CAN SEE HOW THE COMMUNITY FROM THE DOMINICAN

REPUBLIC, ITS PEOPLE, HAVE MADE TREMENDOUS CONTRIBUTION.

SO IN THE NAME OF DUARTE, SANCHEZ AND MELIA, THESE

WERE THE HEROES OF THOSE DAYS. I CONGRATULATE MY COLLEAGUES AS THEY

INTRODUCE THIS RESOLUTION TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, SIR.

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 27, 2020

MR. CRESPO.

MR. CRESPO: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I'M NOT

SURE HOW TO FOLLOW THAT OTHER THAN TO CONGRATULATE, ALSO, MY COLLEAGUES

OF DOMINICAN DESCENT FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION. WHILE I AM WHAT

YOU WOULD CONSIDER PUERTO RICAN, MY FAMILY IS PERUVIAN AND PUERTO

RICAN, I ALSO CAN SAY THAT I AM PART OF THE DOMINICAN FAMILY. MY WIFE

IS OF DOMINICAN DESCENT, MY DAUGHTERS HAVE DOMINICAN BLOOD. MY

CHIEF OF STAFF IS A PROUD DOMINICAN. MY INTERN THIS SESSION IS A PROUD

DOMINICAN. I'M SURROUNDED BY POWERFUL DOMINICAN WOMEN IN THIS

CHAMBER AND IN MY -- IN MY LIFE AND IN MY COMMUNITY. AND I'M

PROUD, AS HAS BEEN SAID, OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE DOMINICAN

COMMUNITY TO THE STATE OF NEW YORK, TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, TO OUR

COMMUNITIES. CERTAINLY IN MY HOME BOROUGH OF THE BRONX. BUT

SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE, YOU KNOW, REALLY CONSIDERED BY EVERYONE AS

YOU WATCH THE NEWS AND YOU'RE SEEING THE MANIFESTATIONS AROUND IN

DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY, AROUND THE GLOBE, REALLY, THE

DOMINICAN DIASPORA AND THE DOMINICAN COMMUNITIES IN THE ISLAND OF

THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ARE REALLY CLAMORING TO MAINTAIN THEIR

INDEPENDENCE. WHAT IS HAPPENING IS DISASTROUS. AND WE'VE SEEN THIS

NOW IN PUERTO RICO, WE'RE SEEING IT IN VENEZUELA, WE'RE SEEING IT IN

DIFFERENT PARTS, PARTICULARLY THROUGHOUT LATIN AMERICA AND AROUND THE

WORLD. PEOPLE ARE CLAMORING FOR -- TO PROTECT THEIR RIGHT FOR -- FOR A

DEMOCRATIC PROCESS TO ELECT THEIR LEADERSHIP. AND -- AND AS WE

CELEBRATE THIS INDEPENDENCE AND KNOWING THE -- THE STRUGGLE AND THE

HISTORY THAT IS INVOLVED IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, TO KNOW THAT THEY

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 27, 2020

ARE NOW, ONCE AGAIN, CONFRONTED WITH ALL OF THESE -- THIS TURMOIL REALLY

REQUIRES US TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY, TO PAY ATTENTION AND TO STAND WITH

THAT DIASPORA AS A CALL FOR FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE IN THEIR OWN

COMMUNITIES.

I WILL SHARE WITH YOU AS I CLOSE THAT IN THE NATIONAL

ANTHEM OF -- OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC THERE'S A -- A PIECE THAT SAYS

(SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE). BASICALLY, IT TALKS ABOUT THAT -- THAT

STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE FROM -- FOR BEING ENSLAVED MUST BE FOUGHT

FOR AT ALL TIMES BY A FIRE THAT MUST BURN IN EVERY ONE OF THE HEROIC

PEOPLE OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, AND CERTAINLY ALL OF THOSE THAT ARE

MOBILIZING TODAY ACROSS THE WORLD TO FIGHT FOR JUSTICE IN THE DOMINICAN

REPUBLIC HAVE LIVED UP TO THE WORDS OF THE ANTHEM.

AND SO WITH THAT, I CONGRATULATE MY COLLEAGUES AND ALL

OF YOU, ASK THAT YOU REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT IS HAPPENING BOTH IN

THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND ACROSS LATIN AMERICA, AND WE CELEBRATE

THE INDEPENDENCE OF THIS GREAT COMMUNITY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

MS. BUTTENSCHON.

MS. BUTTENSCHON: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER,

AND THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR IN REGARDS TO THIS WONDERFUL RESOLUTION. I

HAD THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE THIS WEEKEND TO ATTEND THE ANNIVERSARY

CELEBRATION OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC IN UTICA, NEW YORK, AND IT WAS

EXCITING, ENTHUSIASTIC GROUP THAT I WAS ABLE TO SPEND TIME WITH IN

REGARDS TO SO MANY BUSINESSOWNERS THAT PROVIDE FOR OUR COMMUNITY OF

DOMINICAN DESCENT, AND AS UTICA, NEW YORK, A SMALL COMMUNITY WITH

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 27, 2020

OVER 3,000 RESIDENTS THAT ARE OF DOMINICAN DESCENT.

SO, AGAIN, I COMMEND THE SPONSORS AND THANK YOU FOR

BRINGING THIS FORWARD TODAY TO US. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

MR. VANEL.

MR. VANEL: I'D LIKE TO THANK THE -- ALSO, I'D LIKE TO

THANK THE SPONSOR OF THIS -- OF THIS RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE

176TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FREEDOM OF -- OF DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. THE

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC IS MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF THE SAME ISLAND, AND

THIS IS ONE OF THE OLDEST DEMOCRACIES AND -- AND COUNTRIES IN THE

CARIBBEAN AND IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. THAT'S WHY WE STAND IN

COMMEMORATION AND WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR BROTHERS AND

SISTERS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, ESPECIALLY IN THIS TRYING TIME.

WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC IS SOMETHING THAT CAN GO

ON ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, AND AS HUMANS, AS PEOPLE, AS FELLOW HUMANS

THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY, WE MUST

STAND IN SOLIDARITY TO MAKE SURE THAT RIGHT DEMO -- DEMOC -- DEMOCRACY

GOES THROUGH IN THIS COUNTRY. SO KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS, AS WE

STATED, ONE OF THE OLDEST COUNTRIES IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE, AND WE

HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF THE DOMINICAN

REPUBLIC. AND I STAND IN -- IN SOLIDARITY WITH -- WITH MY BROTHERS AND

SISTERS HERE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, HERE IN NEW YORK, AND IN THE

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

MR. BLAKE.

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 27, 2020

MR. BLAKE: THANK YOU. I WANT TO COMMEND THE

SPONSOR AND OUR FELLOW COLLEAGUES, OBVIOUSLY, WHO RECOGNIZE THE -- THE

JOY AND THE BEAUTY OF OUR SISTERS AND BROTHERS FROM THE DR. AND WE,

OF COURSE, CELEBRATE THE 176TH ANNIVERSARY. WHEN WE THINK, FIRST AND

FOREMOST, ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, SEVERAL OF US HAVE TALKED

ABOUT IT IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, THE -- THE PEOPLE THAT ARE RISING UP AND

SPEAKING OUT AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE A FAIR DEMOCRACY IS

ABSOLUTELY IS WHAT IS DESERVED. AS SOMEONE WHO IS THE SON OF

IMMIGRANTS MYSELF, MY FAMILY WOULD OFTEN SAY THAT EVEN WHILE WE'RE

FROM JAMAICA, WE CAN UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAD THAT SAME EXPERIENCE IN

THE CARIBBEAN ITSELF. OF COURSE BEING A BRONXITE, WE HAVE A LOT OF

PRIDE IN OUR DOMINICAN COMMUNITY. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR FELLOW

COLLEAGUES LETTING ME HANG OUT IN WASHINGTON HEIGHTS AND THE BRONX.

I WILL SHARE SOME OXTAIL IF THEY SHARE SOME OF THEIR FOOD AS WELL. SO

WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN. BUT CLEARLY, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE

BRONX, SPEAKER AND COLLEAGUES, WHICH IS NOW THE MOST DIVERSE COUNTY

IN THE COUNTRY ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS, 89.7 PERCENT LIKELIHOOD THAT

ANY TWO PEOPLE YOU MEET BE A DIFFERENT ETHNICITY, IN LARGE PARTS

BECAUSE OF THE JOY AND THE -- AND THE POWER AND THE IMPACT OF OUR

DOMINICAN SISTERS AND BROTHERS.

SO WE -- WE CELEBRATE, WE SAY HAPPY ANNIVERSARY ON

YOUR INDEPENDENCE. BUT LET'S TAKE A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY OF

UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AND MAKING SURE THAT

PEOPLE HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD AND THE ELECTION HAPPENS IN THE PROPER

WAY IS SOMETHING ALL OF US SHOULD BE STANDING UP FOR. SO, WE CELEBRATE

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 27, 2020

OUR -- OUR COLLEAGUES AND WE CELEBRATE DR.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, SIR.

MS. DAVILA.

MS. DAVILA: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I ALSO

WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE SPONSOR OF THIS RESOLUTION; 176 YEARS OF

INDEPENDENCE OF LA REPUBLICA DOMINICANA I'M SURE HAS BEEN A

TREMENDOUS STRUGGLE AND CONTINUES TO BE A STRUGGLE. BUT NEVERTHELESS,

AS A PUERTO RICAN-BORN WOMAN, I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT WE'RE -- WE'RE

NOT VERY DIFFERENT IN -- IN TERMS OF CULTURE AND OUR FOOD AND THE WAY WE

CELEBRATE. BUT, YOU KNOW, I -- I -- I DO UNDERSTAND. I HAVE A LARGE

COMMUNITY OF DOMINICAN RESIDENTS, BUT I ALSO HAVE A SON THAT'S HALF

DOMINICAN.

SO I WANT TO THANK THE SPONSOR ONCE AGAIN FOR -- FOR

THIS RESOLUTION, AND (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE).

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

MR. FITZPATRICK.

MR. FITZPATRICK: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I'D

ALSO LIKE TO RISE TO CONGRATULATE OUR DOMINICAN FRIENDS ON THEIR 176TH

ANNIVERSARY. IT WAS BACK SIX YEARS AGO ON THE 170TH ANNIVERSARY THAT

MY DAUGHTER, CORINA, MARRIED A SON OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, JOSE

MIGUEL ROSARIO. AND HE'S MADE OUR FAMILY MUCH RICHER AND A

WONDERFUL ADDITION AND A GREAT GUY, GIVING US WITH CORRIE TWO

WONDERFUL GRANDCHILDREN.

SO, I JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS. AND WITH SO

MANY DOMINICAN MEMBERS AND COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS HERE, IT BEGS

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 27, 2020

ONE VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION: WHO MAKES THE BEST SANCOCHO?

(LAUGHTER)

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL

THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS

ADOPTED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES, WE HAVE A VARIETY OF GREAT

RESOLUTIONS HERE WHICH WE WILL TAKE UP IN ONE VOTE.

ON THE RESOLUTIONS, ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE;

OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTIONS ARE ADOPTED.

(WHEREUPON, ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NOS. 802-805

WERE UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED.)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MR. SPEAKER, I NOW

MOVE THAT THE ASSEMBLY STAND ADJOURNED UNTIL FRIDAY, FEBRUARY THE

28TH, TOMORROW BEING A LEGISLATIVE DAY, AND THAT WE WILL RECONVENE AT

2:00 P.M. ON MARCH THE 2ND, MONDAY BEING A SESSION DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE ASSEMBLY STANDS

ADJOURNED.

(WHEREUPON, AT 12:34 P.M., THE ASSEMBLY STOOD

ADJOURNED UNTIL FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH, THAT BEING A LEGISLATIVE DAY,

AND TO RECONVENE ON MONDAY, MARCH 2ND AT 2:00 P.M., THAT BEING A

SESSION DAY.)