WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2019 11:03 A.M.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: 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.)

WHEREUPON, ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY INVITED VISITORS

AND MEMBERS TO JOIN IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

(WHEREUPON, ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY LED VISITORS AND

MEMBERS IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.)

A QUORUM BEING PRESENT, THE CLERK WILL READ THE

JOURNAL OF TUESDAY, MARCH 19TH.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

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

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

THAT WE DISPENSE WITH THE FURTHER READING OF THE JOURNAL FOR TUESDAY,

MARCH THE 19TH AND ASK THAT THE SAME STAND APPROVED.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO

ORDERED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MR.

SPEAKER. I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE OUR QUOTE FOR THE DAY FOR COLLEAGUES,

GUESTS AND STAFF THAT ARE IN THE CHAMBERS. IT IS FROM A YOUNG LADY WHO

IS A STORYTELLER. SHE LIVES IN WASHINGTON, D.C. SHE ALSO WRITES POETRY

AND SHE DOES A LOT OF HER WORK ON SELF-HELP. SO, HER QUOTE TODAY HER -

HER NAME IS ALEXANDRA ALI - "WHEN WE LEARN HOW TO WORK TOGETHER

VERSUS AGAINST EACH OTHER, THINGS JUST MIGHT START GETTING BETTER."

AGAIN, MR. SPEAKER, THAT'S A YOUNG POETRESS FROM WASHINGTON, D.C.

WHO IS SHARING HER POWERFUL WORDS WITH US TODAY.

THE MEMBERS HAVE ON THEIR DESKS A MAIN CALENDAR.

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

THE RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE 3, BEGINNING WITH ASSEMBLYMEMBER BARRETT,

COMMEMORATING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. THERE ARE AN ADDITIONAL

FOUR WOMEN FROM OUR CHAMBERS WHO WILL BE SPEAKING ON THIS

RESOLUTION AS WELL, MR. SPEAKER. OUR PRINCIPAL WORK FOR THE DAY WILL

BE TAKING UP CALENDAR NO. 64 BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER JOYNER. WE WILL

ALSO CONTINUE OUR CONSENT ON THE MAIN CALENDAR BEGINNING WITH NO.

137 ON PAGE 14. FOR OUR MAJORITY MEMBERS, THERE WILL BE A NEED FOR A

DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE AT THE CONCLUSION OF SESSION AND, AS ALWAYS,

WE WILL CONFER WITH OUR COLLEAGUES TO SEE IF THEY HAVE A SIMILAR NEED.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

WITH THAT AS A GENERAL OUTLINE, MR. SPEAKER, IF THERE

ARE INTRODUCTIONS AND HOUSEKEEPING, NOW WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE

TIME. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: FOR THE PURPOSES OF

AN INTRODUCTION, MR. REILLY.

MR. REILLY: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RISE -- I

RISE TODAY TO WELCOME REVEREND TIMOTHY J. MERCALDO, WHO IS THE

LEAD PASTOR OF GATEWAY CHURCH IN MY DISTRICT ON THE SOUTHERN-MOST

POINT OF NEW YORK STATE. I -- HIS GATEWAY CHURCH WAS ESTABLISHED IN

1965 BY HIS FATHER, WHO WAS THE LEAD PASTOR AND STILL REMAINS ON THE

STAFF. THEY DO SOME WONDERFUL THINGS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THEY HAVE

A GREAT CAMPUS THAT HOSTS MANY EVENTS FOR OUR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. SO,

I WOULD LIKE TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE GREAT WORK THAT HE DOES AND

PLEASE EXTEND ALL THE CORDIALITIES OF THE HOUSE TO HIM, PLEASE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

OF MR. REILLY, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU HERE

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

THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US HERE TODAY AND HOPE THAT

YOU ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. DIPIETRO FOR A [SIC] INTRODUCTION.

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

ALLOWING THIS INTRODUCTION. THANKS, WAYNE. FIRST OFF, I'D LIKE TO

INTRODUCE PASTOR AL ROBINSON FROM THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH URBAN MINISTRY,

PASTOR JACQUELYN ZAMBITO AND DR. DONNA POTTER. THEY'RE ALL HERE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

ADVOCATING FOR THE FOR NEW YORK GREATER ERIE COUNTY - WHICH IS ALL OF

WESTERN NEW YORK - DRUG REHABILITATION CENTER. THEY HAVE A

FAITH-BASED CENTER BATTLING THE OPIOID AND DRUG ADDICTION. THEY'VE

SHOWN GREAT RESULTS IN BATTLING THIS. THEIR ADVOCACY SPEAKS SO LOUDLY

IN WESTERN NEW YORK. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF WHAT THEY DO AND GOING

INTO COMMUNITIES AND TACKLING THIS HORRENDOUS ADDICTION AND I'D LOVE

IF YOU COULD GIVE THEM ALL THE CORDIALITIES OF THE HOUSE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

OF MR. DIPIETRO, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME THESE

DISTINGUISHED INDIVIDUALS HERE TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY. WE

EXTEND TO YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. OUR GRATITUDE AND THANKS FOR

THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING TO HELP INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM

ADDICTION ISSUES. IT IS A CRITICAL ISSUE IN TODAY'S TIMES, AS IT HAS BEEN IN

THE PAST. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. WEPRIN FOR AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. WEPRIN: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I WANT TO

WELCOME THE AMERICAN PAKISTANI ADVOCACY GROUP, MOST OF WHO --

MANY OF WHOM HAIL FROM MY ASSEMBLY DISTRICT WHO ARE HERE TODAY TO

SUPPORT A RESOLUTION I'M SPONSORING TO DECLARE MARCH 23RD PAKISTAN

DAY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. SPECIFICALLY, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE

APAG PRESIDENT ALI RASHID; VICE PRESIDENT NAVEED CHAUDHRY;

GENERAL SECRETARY ADEEL GONDAL; TREASURER AMIN GHANI; AND

DIRECTORS FAISAL RASHID, FAISAL KHAN AND TAHIR MIAN.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

OF MR. WEPRIN, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME THIS

DISTINGUISHED GROUP OF PAKISTANIS HERE -- AMERICAN PAKISTANIS HERE TO

THE UNITED STATES -- TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY. WE EXTEND TO

YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR, HOPE THAT YOUR VISIT HERE HAS BEEN

HELPFUL AND, OF COURSE, WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT FOR THE RESOLUTION,

WHICH WE WILL TAKE UP LATER. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. YOU ARE

ALWAYS WELCOME HERE.

(APPLAUSE)

THE CLERK WILL READ, RESOLUTIONS, PAGE 3.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 200, MRS.

BARRETT. LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR ANDREW M.

CUOMO TO PROCLAIM MARCH 2019 AS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH IN THE

STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION,

MRS. BARRETT.

MRS. BARRETT: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I THINK

AT SOME POINT I HOPE THAT WE WILL GET MORE THAN A MONTH HERE, BUT FOR

NOW WE ARE HAPPY TO CELEBRATE MARCH AS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH AND

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS RESOLUTION. AS EVERYONE

KNOWS, NEW YORK HAS A DEEP AND RICH HISTORY IN -- IN WOMEN

LEADERSHIP AND WOMEN'S HISTORY, INCLUDING THE OPENING OF THE FIRST

PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS IN 1826, AND IN 1848, THE SENECA FALLS

CONFERENCE CONVENTION WHICH SECURED, FOR ALL WOMEN, THE RIGHT TO

VOTE, AND THEN IN 1970, NEW YORK CITY WAS THE SITE OF THE FIRST

WOMEN'S STRIKE FOR EQUALITY.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

SO AS WE CELEBRATE THIS YEAR, THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF

THE FIRST WOMEN WHO WERE SEATED IN THE NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE,

MARY LILLY AND IDA SAMMIS, WE ALSO HAVE A -- A REALLY HISTORIC MOMENT

IN TIME FOR US RIGHT NOW. IN OUR OWN LEGISLATURE, WE HAVE THE LARGEST

NUMBER OF WOMEN EVER IN THE LEGISLATURE. THAT IS AN INCREDIBLY RICH

AND DIVERSE GROUP OF WOMEN FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE OF NEW

YORK. OUR AGE SPAN IS FROM -- IS SOMETHING LIKE 50 YEARS BETWEEN

BEING IN THEIR 20'S TO BEING IN THEIR 80'S, AND IT'S A RANGE OF ETHNIC

GROUPS, IT'S A RANGE OF A LOT OF EXPERIENCES THAT WOMEN BRING TO THE

LEGISLATURE. WE HAVE FOR THE FIRST TIME TWO WOMEN AS OUR MAJORITY

LEADERS, OUR VERY OWN CRYSTAL PEOPLES-STOKES AND IN THE SENATE, WE

HAVE ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS. WE HAVE 50 PERCENT OF THE WOMEN --

50 PERCENT OF THE STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICES FOR THE FIRST TIME ARE

WOMEN; THIS IS OUR SENATORS, OUR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND OUR

ATTORNEY GENERAL.

SO, THIS IS REALLY A MOMENT IN TIME THAT WE WANT TO

CONTINUE, AND WILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE WOMEN'S CAUCUS, WILL CONTINUE

TO SPEAK OUT AND LEAD ON CHILD CARE, ON OUT-OF-SCHOOL, ON EQUALITY IN

THE WORKPLACE, ON SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND

CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND ALL OF THE THINGS AFFECTING ALL THE WOMEN OF NEW

YORK STATE. AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION,

BECAUSE WE WANT WOMEN AND GIRLS GROWING UP TODAY TO UNDERSTAND

THAT THIS IS WHAT ELECTED OFFICIALS LOOK LIKE. SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH,

MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

MS. DE LA ROSA.

MS. DE LA ROSA: THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK MY

COLLEAGUE FOR PRESENTING THIS RESOLUTION. AS WE MEMORIALIZE WOMEN'S

HISTORY MONTH, LET US ALSO REMEMBER AND CELEBRATE THE WOMEN WHO

BLAZED THE TRAIL FOR US TO ENJOY THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES THAT WE DO

TODAY. I CELEBRATE IMMIGRANT WOMEN, LIKE MY MOTHER, WHO CAME TO

THIS COUNTRY WITH NOTHING BUT A DREAM FOR A BETTER LIFE FOR US, HER

CHILDREN. WE CELEBRATE WOMEN OF COLOR, WHO HAVE HISTORICALLY HAD TO

WORK THREE TIMES AS HARD TO HOLD THE DOOR OPEN FOR US TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

WE CELEBRATE A HISTORIC MOMENT WHERE NOW, WE HAVE 70 WOMEN IN

THIS LEGISLATURE, AND THE HISTORIC EXTENSION OF WOMEN LIKE OUR MAJORITY

LEADER, CRYSTAL PEOPLES-STOKES, WHO FOR THE FIRST TIME, AN

AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN TO HOLD THIS POSITION. WE CELEBRATE OUR

SISTERHOOD IN THIS CHAMBER AND WE CELEBRATE THE WOMEN OF NEW YORK

STATE AS WE CONTINUE TO SUCCEED AND REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITIES IN THIS

GREAT BODY. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

MS. DICKENS.

MS. DICKENS: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND I, TOO,

THANK MY COLLEAGUE, ASSEMBLYMEMBER DIDI BARRETT, FOR BRINGING FORTH

THIS RESOLUTION. THIS MID-POINT OF THE 2019 WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

CALLS US TO LOOK BACK AND HONOR OUR PROUD LEGACY AS THE BIRTHPLACE OF

THE WOMEN'S RIGHTS MOVEMENT. I QUOTE FROM A DAILY NEWS OP-ED OF

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL: I TOOK HER OPENING AS THE

SHOULDERS WE STAND ON, THOSE WHO BROKE GLASS CEILINGS AT DIFFICULT

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

TIMES, NOT EASY DUE TO SEXISM AND RACISM.

THIS BRINGS ME TO THE FIRST, NOT SECOND, NOT 31ST, BUT

THE VERY FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN, WOMAN OF COLOR, BLACK

WOMAN, ELECTED TO THIS AUGUST ASSEMBLY BODY, WHO WALKED THESE HALLS

REPRESENTING HARLEM, WHAT IS NOW PARTIALLY ASSEMBLYMEMBERS AL

TAYLOR AND CARMEN DE LA ROSA'S DISTRICTS, THE HONORABLE

ASSEMBLYWOMAN BESSIE ALLISON BUCHANAN, A POLITICAL FRONTIER WOMAN

WHO OPENED THE DOORS 66 YEARS LATER FOR OUR MAJORITY LEADER,

ASSEMBLYMEMBER CRYSTAL PEOPLES-STOKES WHO, IN 2019, BECAME THE

FIRST WOMAN AND THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO SERVE IN THAT CAPACITY.

AS I LOOK AROUND THIS BODY TODAY AND SEE 70 WOMEN

SERVING IN THESE HALLS, THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE, OF WHICH 22 ARE BLACK,

HISPANIC AND ASIAN, I CANNOT HELP BUT REFLECT UPON THE EXTREME

HARDSHIPS ASSEMBLYMEMBER BUCHANAN FACED, THE FEAR, THE LONELINESS,

THE BACKS TURNED; YET SHE, AS WE STILL DO TODAY IN MANY SECTORS FACE THE

SAME HARDSHIPS, YET WE CONTINUE TO FIGHT, RAISING OUR HEADS HIGH AS

POET LAUREATE MAYA ANGELOU WROTE: BE A PHENOMENAL WOMAN AND

STILL I RISE. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING

AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 201, MR.

WEPRIN. LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR ANDREW M.

CUOMO TO PROCLAIM MARCH 23, 2019 AS PAKISTAN DAY IN THE STATE OF

NEW YORK.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. WEPRIN ON THE

RESOLUTION.

MR. WEPRIN: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. PAKISTAN

DAY IS A NATIONAL HOLIDAY IN PAKISTAN, COMMEMORATING THE FOUNDING

OF PAKISTAN ON MARCH 23RD, 1956, MAKING IT THE WORLD'S FIRST ISLAMIC

REPUBLIC. EACH YEAR ON THIS DAY, THE CITIZENS OF PAKISTAN CELEBRATE

WITH PARADES, AWARDS AND MEMORIALS TO MUHAMMAD IQBAL, REGARDED AS

HAVING INSPIRED THE PAKISTAN MOVEMENT, AND MUHAMMAD ALI JINNAH,

THE FOUNDER OF PAKISTAN. NEW YORK CITY ALONE IS THE HOME TO 194,000

AMERICAN-PAKISTANIS, MANY OF WHOM WHO LIVE IN MY ASSEMBLY

DISTRICT. THIS RESOLUTION PROVIDES THE MEANS BY WHICH ALL NEW

YORKERS CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT PAKISTANI HERITAGE AND FOSTER

APPRECIATION FOR DIFFERENT CULTURES.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER IN

THIS DIVIDED TIME AND OVERCOME THE BARRIERS TO RECOGNIZE EACH OTHER AS

FELLOW NEW YORKERS AND FELLOW AMERICANS. IT IS MY HOPE THAT THIS

LEGISLATIVE BODY, IN KEEPING WITH THE TIME-HONORED TRADITIONS, WILL

TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY THE

PAKISTANI-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, AND EXTEND BEST WISHES TO ALL OF ITS

MEMBERS AND SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING MARCH 23RD AS

PAKISTAN DAY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

ON THE RESOLUTION, MS. BICHOTTE.

MS. BICHOTTE: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I, TOO,

JUST WANT TO HONOR THE PAKISTANI-AMERICANS IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

I, TOO, HAVE A LARGE CONSTITUENCY BASE OF PAKISTAN-AMERICAN [SIC]. THIS

YEAR, WE MADE HISTORY IN NEW YORK CITY WHERE WE NAMED A CONEY

ISLAND AVENUE AFTER THE LEADER OF PAKISTAN, MUHAMMAD ALI JINNAH,

AND I'M JUST REALLY EXTREMELY EXCITED TO HAVE THIS RESOLUTION TODAY.

AND SO, I JUST WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE FOR COMMEMORATING

PAKISTANI DAY IN NEW YORK STATE. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. SAYEGH.

MR. SAYEGH: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.

I WANTED TO ALSO COMMEND FELLOW COLLEAGUE ASSEMBLYMAN WEPRIN ON

HONORING PAKISTAN DAY. I ALSO HAVE THE PLEASURE OF HAVING A VERY LARGE

PAKISTANI-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN THE CITY OF YONKERS IN WESTCHESTER

COUNTY, AND TO ATTEST TO THEIR LOYALTY IN AMERICAN VALUES AND TRADITIONS

AND THEIR FOCUS ON EDUCATION, THEIR FOCUS ON BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND

BECOMING THE VERY BEST CITIZENS THAT THEY CAN. SO, I COMMEND MY

COLLEAGUE FOR HONORING PAKISTANI-AMERICANS AND WISH THEM VERY WELL

ON THIS WORTHY DAY. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

MR. RAMOS.

MR. RAMOS: MR. SPEAKER, I, TOO, WOULD LIKE TO

COMMEND THE SPONSOR FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION TO THE FLOOR. THE

PAKISTANI COMMUNITY HAS BEEN THE FASTEST GROWING AND THE LARGEST

SEGMENT OF THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY ON -- ON LONG ISLAND. IN THE PAST

15 YEARS, THEY WENT FROM A VERY SMALL COMMUNITY TO A VERY LARGE ONE

TODAY THAT IS IN ALL PARTS OF SOCIETY. THEY'RE WORKING IN GOVERNMENT;

I'VE HAD SEVERAL WORK IN MY OFFICE. THEY'RE REALLY MAKING THEIR MARK,

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

AS OTHER GROUPS HAVE DONE, THAT HAVE IMMIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES.

IT IS BEFITTING THAT WE HONOR THEIR -- THEIR HOLIDAY TODAY, THEIR

INDEPENDENCE. WE EMBRACE THEM AS WONDERFUL NEIGHBORS IN OUR

COMMUNITY AND TO OUR PAKISTANI GUESTS, I SAY PAKISTAN ZINDABAD.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL

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

ADOPTED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

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

NOW GO TO, ON THE MAIN CALENDAR, PAGE 8, CALENDAR NO. 64 BY MS.

JOYNER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A03276, CALENDAR NO.

64, JOYNER, GOTTFRIED, JEAN-PIERRE, L. ROSENTHAL, THIELE, OTIS, BRONSON,

HUNTER, ABINANTI, HEVESI, FAHY, ENGLEBRIGHT, SIMON, BICHOTTE,

SEAWRIGHT, BARRON, TAYLOR, ARROYO, GALEF, PEOPLES-STOKES, RA,

FERNANDEZ, RIVERA, WRIGHT, DICKENS, D'URSO, JAFFEE, LAVINE, SOLAGES,

BARRETT, EPSTEIN, DAVILA, LIFTON, NIOU, ROZIC, MONTESANO, COOK,

GLICK, MOSLEY, ORTIZ, STERN, LENTOL, COLTON, BYRNE, VANEL, CRUZ,

WEPRIN, WOERNER, WALKER, STIRPE, LUPARDO, QUART. AN ACT TO AMEND

THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, IN RELATION TO MATERNAL MORALITY REVIEW BOARDS

AND THE MATERNAL MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY ADVISORY COUNCIL.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: FIRST VOTE OF THE DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: FIRST VOTE OF THE DAY,

MEMBERS. IF YOU ARE IN YOUR SEATS, PLEASE VOTE NOW. IF YOU ARE IN THE

SOUND OF OUR VOICE, PLEASE COME TO THE CHAMBER AND CAST YOUR VOTE.

MS. JOYNER TO EXPLAIN HER VOTE.

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

ALLOWING ME TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE. TODAY WE ARE PASSING LEGISLATION THAT

WILL ADDRESS THE DEVASTATING REALITY THAT OUR MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE

RANKS 30TH IN THE NATION. BLACK WOMEN ARE FOUR TIMES AS LIKELY TO DIE

DURING CHILDBIRTH COMPARED TO WHITE WOMEN. WE ARE SEEING THIS ISSUE

IMPACT WOMEN OF COLOR ACROSS ALL SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS. THESE

STARTLING STATISTICS REQUIRE OUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION, AND TODAY IS A

CRITICAL STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO ENSURE THAT WOMEN THROUGHOUT OUR

STATE WILL HAVE CONFIDENCE IN OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

THIS LEGISLATION WILL CREATE A STATEWIDE REVIEW BOARD

IN STATUTE THAT WILL INCLUDE A DIVERSE GROUP OF EXPERTS THAT ARE REFLECTIVE

OF THE COMMUNITY. THIS REVIEW BOARD WILL WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH

A COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCIL TO REDUCE THE RISK OF MATERNAL MORTALITY.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE ADVOCATES. A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE

HEALTH COMMITTEE CHAIR, DICK GOTTFRIED, AND HIS HALF, MY ALBANY STAFF

AND ALL OF MY ASSEMBLY COLLEAGUES. THIS IS AN ISSUE OF GREAT

IMPORTANCE TO WOMEN OF COLOR, AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

SUPPORT. THANK YOU. I VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. JOYNER IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MS. BICHOTTE.

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

ALLOWING ME TO AFFIRM MY VOTE, AND I CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK THE

SPONSOR OF THIS BILL, LATOYA JOYNER. THIS BILL FINALLY ADDRESSES THE

PERVASIVE RACIAL DISPARITY OF MATERNAL MORBIDITY. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF

THE MATERNAL MORTALITY REVIEW BOARD IS CRUCIAL TO PROVIDING THE

CULTURALLY COMPETENT CARE THAT OUR STATE NEEDS IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE THE

MATERNAL DEATH RATE BY ASSESSING THE CAUSE OF DEATH, FACTORS LEADING TO

DEATH AND DEVELOPING STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING THE RISK OF MATERNAL

MORTALITY.

I AM PLEASED TO TAKE THIS BILL AS AN INITIATIVE BECAUSE IT

WOULD REMOVE NEW YORK FROM RANKING THE 30TH IN THE STATE IN THE

COUNTRY OF MATERNAL DEATH RATES. AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE 42ND

ASSEMBLY DISTRICT, I HAVE THE LARGEST CARIBBEAN IMMIGRANTS, WHICH

MANY OF WHOM SPEAK DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, LIKE HAITIAN CREOLE, AND I

UNDERSTAND THE CRITICAL NEED OF OUR CULTURAL COMPETENT CARE FOR MANY OF

OUR CONSTITUENTS. NOW, AS -- AS YOU HEARD BEFORE, EACH YEAR 700

WOMEN DIE OF PREGNANCY-RELATED CAUSES IN THE U.S., AND A

DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF THEM ARE BLACK WOMEN, ACCORDING TO THE

CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL.

I CANNOT EXPRESS HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS TO ME BECAUSE

ON OCTOBER 4TH IN 2016 WHEN I WAS PREGNANT, I WAS RUSHED TO NEW

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

YORK PRESBYTERIAN COLUMBIA HOSPITAL AFTER REALIZING I WAS DILATING.

AND EVEN WITH THE EMOTIONAL AND EXCRUCIATING PAIN, COLUMBIA

HOSPITAL TURNED ME AWAY. BECAUSE OF HOSPITAL POLICIES, THEY SAID THAT

THEY HAD NO BEDS. AND SO, I INTERPRETED IT AS YOU'RE SENDING ME HOME

TO DIE WITH MY BABY. THEY SENT ME AWAY. AND NEVER ONCE DID I TELL

THEM THAT I WAS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. THEY TREATED ME HORRIBLE.

SO, MR. SPEAKER, I WANT TO SAY THAT I VOTE IN SUPPORT

OF THIS BILL ON BEHALF OF MOTHERS ACROSS THE STATE AND ACROSS THE

COUNTRY. I VOTE IN SUPPORTING ESTABLISHING CULTURAL COMPETENT HEALTH

CARE AND I VOTE FOR THIS BILL TO PREVENT ANY FURTHER DISCRIMINATION LIKE

HOW I WAS DISCRIMINATED AT COLUMBIA HOSPITAL. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. BICHOTTE IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

(APPLAUSE)

PAGE 14, CALENDAR NO. 137, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A04259, CALENDAR NO.

137, DENDEKKER, SEAWRIGHT, D. ROSENTHAL, D'URSO. AN ACT TO AMEND

THE GENERAL BUSINESS LAW, IN RELATION TO REQUIRING THAT ADVERTISEMENTS

WHICH INCLUDE A DISCOUNT OR REBATE IN THE ADVERTISEMENT PRICE ALSO

INCLUDE THE ACTUAL SELLING PRICE PRIOR TO ANY DEDUCTIONS IN THE SAME

FONT AND SIZE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A04413, CALENDAR NO.

138, STERN, D'URSO, BUTTENSCHON. AN ACT TO AMEND THE EXECUTIVE LAW,

IN RELATION TO THE LISTING OF COUNTY AND CITY VETERANS' SERVICE AGENCIES.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 90TH

DAY.

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. A04421, CALENDAR NO.

139, ZEBROWSKI, ENGLEBRIGHT, SIMON, DICKENS, DE LA ROSA, JAFFEE,

CRESPO, GUNTHER, MCDONOUGH. AN ACT TO AMEND THE GENERAL BUSINESS

LAW, IN RELATION TO ENACTING "HARPER'S LAW" REQUIRING TIP RESTRAINT

DEVICES ON CERTAIN FURNITURE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A04438, CALENDAR NO.

140, DENDEKKER, BRONSON, HAWLEY, BRABENEC, MCDONALD, D'URSO.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAW, IN RELATION TO THE

DISPLAY OF AMBER AND BLUE LIGHTS ON CERTAIN HAZARD VEHICLES.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A04879, CALENDAR NO.

141, RAMOS, WEPRIN, TAYLOR, L. ROSENTHAL, GOTTFRIED, THIELE, COLTON,

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

ABINANTI, ORTIZ. AN ACT TO AMEND THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND RULES, IN

RELATION TO TIME LIMITATIONS FOR FILING CLAIMS FOR CERTAIN INJURIES.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A04959, CALENDAR NO.

142, CUSICK, MALLIOTAKIS, COLTON, FALL, D'URSO, GRIFFIN. AN ACT TO

AMEND CHAPTER 395 OF THE LAWS OF 1978, RELATING TO MORATORIUMS ON

THE ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES OF ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY FOR THE SITING OF

FACILITIES AND CERTIFICATION OF ROUTES FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF LIQUEFIED

NATURAL OR PETROLEUM GAS, IN RELATION TO EXTENDING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF

THE PROVISIONS OF SUCH CHAPTER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A05219, CALENDAR NO.

143, GALEF, WALKER, TAYLOR, D'URSO, JACOBSON, ARROYO, BLAKE, EPSTEIN,

STIRPE. AN ACT TO AMEND THE ELECTION LAW, IN RELATION TO CERTIFICATES OF

ACCEPTANCE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A05318, CALENDAR NO.

144, ROZIC, ABBATE, ABINANTI, BLAKE, BRONSON, COLTON, CRESPO, JONES,

OTIS, RAIA, RICHARDSON, RODRIGUEZ, SIMON, SEAWRIGHT, PHEFFER AMATO,

BICHOTTE, GRIFFIN, L. ROSENTHAL, FALL, PERRY, CRUZ. AN ACT TO AMEND THE

PUBLIC SERVICE LAW AND THE GENERAL BUSINESS LAW, IN RELATION TO

REQUIRING COMPANIES TO ALLOW VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO CANCEL

CONTRACTS WHEN THERE IS A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENT REPORT, A POLICE

REPORT, AN ORDER OF PROTECTION, OR A SIGNED AFFIDAVIT.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A05622, CALENDAR NO.

145, WEINSTEIN, TAYLOR, WEPRIN. AN ACT TO AMEND THE DEBTOR AND

CREDITOR LAW, THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND RULES, THE ESTATES, POWERS

AND TRUSTS LAW AND THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW, IN RELATION TO

ENACTING THE "UNIFORM VOIDABLE TRANSACTIONS ACT"; AND TO REPEAL

CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE DEBTOR AND CREDITOR LAW RELATING TO

FRAUDULENT CONVEYANCES.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL -- THIS ACT SHALL TAKE

EFFECT ON THE 120TH DAY.

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. A05355 [SIC]

(A05955), CALENDAR NO. 146, JAFFEE, D'URSO. AN ACT TO AMEND THE

VILLAGE LAW AND THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW, IN RELATION TO PERMITTING

BUILDING INSPECTORS, FIRE INSPECTORS AND CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS OF

THE VILLAGE OF AIRMONT TO LIVE WITHIN ROCKLAND COUNTY OR ADJOINING

COUNTIES.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL RECORD

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

MR. GOODELL.

MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.

SPEAKER, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERRUPT OUR PROCEEDINGS TO INTRODUCE

SOME VERY IMPORTANT GUESTS FROM ASSEMBLYMAN SCHMITT'S DISTRICT.

THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE KNOWN HIM HIS ENTIRE LIFE. JOHN SCHMITT,

HIS FATHER, IS HERE MAKING SURE THAT HIS SON IS DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB

ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS. HIS FATHER, JOHN SCHMITT, RETIRED AFTER 35

YEARS IN THE -- THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OF NEW YORK. ALSO JOINING US IS

DENISE HARFORD, WHO IS A GOOD FRIEND. AND IF YOU WOULD EXTEND THE

CORDIALITIES OF OUR HOUSE TO MR. SCHMITT'S FATHER AND HIS GOOD FRIEND.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIR.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

OF YOUR SON, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU HERE

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

THE FLOOR. THANK YOU FOR THE PAST SERVICE THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED US IN

NEW YORK CITY, KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. THANK YOU FOR SENDING

YOUR SON HERE TO THIS AUGUST BODY, AS WE CALL IT. THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S

HOUSE. YOU ARE FAMILY. YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME. THANK YOU SO

VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

(APPLAUSE)

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

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

NOW GO TO THE MAIN CALENDAR, CALENDAR NO. 47 ON PAGE 6, MR.

BRAUNSTEIN, IN DEBATE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A00431, CALENDAR NO.

47, BRAUNSTEIN, ABINANTI, GUNTHER, MOSLEY, GOTTFRIED, WEPRIN,

MONTESANO, L. ROSENTHAL, COLTON, JAFFEE, CAHILL, O'DONNELL,

PEOPLES-STOKES, STECK, RAIA, PERRY, SIMOTAS, OTIS, RODRIGUEZ, BLAKE,

SIMON, BUTTENSCHON. AN ACT TO AMEND THE GENERAL BUSINESS LAW, IN

RELATION TO THE SALE AND USE OF EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. BRAUNSTEIN, AN

EXPLANATION IS REQUESTED. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE ARE ON DEBATE.

PLEASE, LET'S HAVE A LITTLE QUIET IN THE CHAMBER. CONVERSATIONS SHOULD

BE TAKEN TO THE BACK OF THE CHAMBER OR OUTSIDE THE CHAMBER IF YOU

MUST HAVE THEM.

PROCEED, MR. BRAUNSTEIN.

MR. BRAUNSTEIN: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. THIS

BILL WOULD REQUIRE CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCIES TO OBTAIN A STANDALONE

DOCUMENT BEFORE THEY CAN SELL AN INDIVIDUAL'S EMPLOYMENT DATA TO A

DEBT COLLECTOR.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. RA.

MR. RA: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MR. BRAUNSTEIN: YES.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. BRAUNSTEIN

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

YIELDS.

MR. RA: THANK YOU. SO I KNOW WE HAD THE

OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS BILL LAST YEAR AND, YOU KNOW, WE ALL KNOW

THERE ARE A VARIETY OF INSTANCES IN WHICH SOMEBODY MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE

THEIR INFORMATION DISCLOSED AND THEY, YOU KNOW, IN CERTAIN INSTANCES

THEY MAY BE APPLYING FOR CREDIT AND AT WHICH POINT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE

APPLYING FOR CREDIT, YOU'RE APPLYING FOR A MORTGAGE, CREDIT CARD,

USUALLY YOU SIGN SOME TYPE OF DOCUMENT TO ALLOW THE INFORMATION TO BE

DISCLOSED. SO, I DON'T THINK THIS IS AIMED AT THOSE TYPES OF INSTANCES,

THOUGH, THIS IS SITUATIONS WHERE I GUESS THERE ARE CERTAIN TYPES OF

CLEARINGHOUSES THAT DEBT COLLECTORS WOULD USE TO GET THAT INFORMATION;

IS THAT CORRECT?

MR. BRAUNSTEIN: SURE. YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED

ABOUT THIS BEFORE. THE CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCY EQUIFAX HAD THIS

PRODUCT CALLED "THE WORK NUMBER". ABOUT 30 PERCENT OF ALL

AMERICANS' EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION, THEIR SALARY, THEIR POSITION,

SOMETIMES THEIR HEALTH -- HEALTH INSURANCE INFORMATION IS INCLUDED IN

"THE WORK NUMBER". AND "THE WORK NUMBER" PROVIDES A SERVICE, FOR

EXAMPLE, LENDERS TO VERIFY SOMEONE'S EMPLOYMENT STATUS. AND IT

MAKES SENSE, IF YOU'RE APPLYING FOR A MORTGAGE AND YOU WANT TO -- AND

THE LENDER WANTS TO VERIFY YOUR EMPLOYMENT STATUS, YOU CERTAINLY

WOULD BE WILLING TO SIGN A STANDALONE DOCUMENT TO LET THEM VERIFY

YOUR EMPLOYMENT SITUATION. HOWEVER, WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON IS THAT THE

-- EQUIFAX, THROUGH "THE WORK NUMBER", HAS BEEN SELLING THIS

INFORMATION TO DEBT COLLECTORS AND THE DEBT COLLECTORS MONITOR PEOPLE'S

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

EMPLOYMENT SITUATION. AND WHEN PEOPLE GET A RAISE OR THEY GET A NEW

JOB, THEN THE DEBT COLLECTOR STARTS RAMPING UP THEIR -- THEIR COLLECTION

EFFORTS. SO, THIS BILL WOULD SAY THAT THE -- THE AVAILABILITY OF ACCESS TO

SOMEONE'S EMPLOYMENT DATA IS ONLY USEFUL FOR THAT ONE TRANSACTION.

MR. RA: OKAY. SO FIRST OFF, THIS -- THIS DEALS WITH

JUST THE TRANSFER OF THE INFORMATION. THIS DOESN'T RESTRICT THE ABILITY TO

ACTUALLY COLLECT THE INFORMATION; IS THAT CORRECT?

MR. BRAUNSTEIN: NO.

MR. RA: SO WOULD THE ENTITY -- I MEAN, THE -- THE

INITIAL HOLDER OF THE INFORMATION WOULD STILL HAVE IT. THEY -- THEY JUST

CAN'T TRANSFER IT TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS WORK NUMBER?

MR. BRAUNSTEIN: UNLESS -- UNLESS SOMEONE SIGNS

A DOCUMENT PERMITTING THEM TO TRANSFER THAT INFORMATION.

MR. RA: SO -- AND THAT DOCUMENT WOULD BE, YOU

KNOW, IN THE INDIVIDUAL INSTANCE SAYING, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A REQUEST

FOR THIS INFORMATION AND YOU'D HAVE TO, IT'S NOT LIKE A -- A GENERAL -- I

THINK YOU'RE SAYING, YOU KNOW, YOU'D INITIALLY SAY YOU APPLIED FOR

SOMETHING, YOU'D -- YOU'D SIGN SOME TYPE OF CONSENT TO RUN YOUR CREDIT.

THAT DEBT WILL ONLY BE EFFECTIVE FOR THAT INSTANCE, THEY COULDN'T

CONTINUE TO AGGREGATE.

MR. BRAUNSTEIN: SO -- SO IT'S -- IT MAKES SENSE IF

YOU'RE APPLYING FOR A MORTGAGE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SIGN THE DOCUMENT

TO SAY, YES, YOU HAVE ACCESS TO CHECK THE WORK NUMBER TO VERIFY MY

EMPLOYMENT STATUS. SAME THING IF YOU'RE APPLYING FOR A NEW JOB AND

THE NEW EMPLOYER SAYS, WELL, YOU KNOW, YOUR RESUME SAYS YOU WORKED

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

AT, YOU KNOW, THIS FIRM. WILL YOU GIVE ME PERMISSION TO GO CHECK TO

VERIFY THAT THROUGH THE WORK NUMBER? YOU WOULD DEFINITELY SIGN THAT

DOCUMENT TO GIVE THEM PERMISSION TO DO THAT. WHAT YOU DON'T WANT TO

BE DOING IS GIVING THAT EMPLOYER OR THAT LENDER THE OPPORTUNITY TO

CONTINUALLY CHECK YOUR EMPLOYMENT STATUS AND THEN FOR YEARS IN

PERPETUITY, IN THE EVENT THAT YOU GET A NEW JOB WHERE THEY WANT TO START

INTENSIFYING THEIR COLLECTION EFFORTS.

MR. RA: NOW, WHO -- WHO IS THE ONUS ON TO VERIFY

THERE IS -- THERE IS SOMETHING THAT -- WRITTEN CONSENT HAS BEEN OBTAINED,

BECAUSE IT'S PRESUMABLY IT'S A DEBT COLLECTOR WHO IS TRYING TO GET THIS

INFORMATION FROM, SAY, AN EQUIFAX AND -- AND, AS WE KNOW, OFTENTIMES

DEBT MAY BE TRANSFERRED, CHANGE HANDS A NUMBER OF TIMES AND THEN IT

GETS IN THE HANDS OF, YOU KNOW, SAY A DEBT COLLECTOR OR SOME OTHER

AGENCY THAT'S GOING TO COLLECT ON IT. SO, IS IT -- IS IT THE ENTITY LIKE AN

EQUIFAX THAT -- THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR VERIFYING THAT THEY HAVE THE

CONSENT, OR WOULD IT BE THE DEBT COLLECTOR?

MR. BRAUNSTEIN: IT WOULD BE THE CONSUMER

REPORTING AGENCY.

MR. RA: OKAY. WOULD THIS ALLOW INFORMATION, SAY,

JUST, YOU KNOW, GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT AN EMPLOYER THAT'S NOT, YOU

KNOW, IDENTIFIABLE TO ANY PARTICULAR EMPLOYEE TO BE TRANSFERRED?

MR. BRAUNSTEIN: IT'S EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION

ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL.

MR. RA: SO WE DEAL WITH IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION

THEN, OKAY. I THINK ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT'S BEEN RAISED IS, YOU KNOW,

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

I THINK WE ALL, IN THIS DAY AND AGE, ARE VERY CONCERNED WITH, YOU KNOW,

OUR INFORMATION AND HOW MANY DIFFERENT PLACES IT'S OUT THERE, BUT -- BUT

OFTENTIMES, TOO, I THINK WE PAY MORE ATTENTION TO, YOU KNOW, OUR CREDIT

ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, WHEREAS MAYBE YEARS AGO YOU'D ORDER A CREDIT

REPORT ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR AND YOU'D TAKE A LOOK AT IT, AND NOW WE

HAVE ALL THESE, YOU KNOW, APPS ON OUR PHONES AND CREDIT CARDS WITH

MONITORING SERVICE SO WE PAY A LITTLE MORE REGULAR ATTENTION TO IT. IF,

YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THIS TYPE OF INFORMATION, ONE OF

THE INSTANCES IN WHICH THEY'RE OBSERVINGLY GOING TO USE IT IS WHEN THEY

WANT TO COLLECT ON A DEBT AND THEY MAY HAVE A JUDGMENT AND MAY NEED

TO GO AFTER A PARTICULAR EMPLOYER SO THAT THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, GARNISH

WAGES OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.

SO, PRESUMABLY, THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO FIND SOME

ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION. THIS -- WE -- I THINK, GENERALLY IS FAIRLY

RELIABLE INFORMATION. DO YOU KNOW WHAT OTHER SOURCES THERE MIGHT BE

THAT THEY MIGHT GO AFTER THE INFORMATION? BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN A

CONCERN RAISED THAT YOU MAY END UP ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEBODY

HAS, SAY, A COMMON NAME, THEY MAY ACTUALLY END UP CAUSING SOME

TROUBLE FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT THE DEBTOR THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.

MR. BRAUNSTEIN: I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND THE

QUESTION.

MR. RA: WELL, PRESUMABLY THE CREDITOR OR THE DEBT

COLLECTOR IS GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR, YOU KNOW, AN INDIVIDUAL, AND THIS

MAY BE, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST GENERAL INFORMATION, BUT THEY MAY HAVE A

JUDGMENT THAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO EXECUTE. SO, MAYBE THEY'RE LOOKING TO

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

GO TO THE EMPLOYER AND GARNISH THE INDIVIDUAL'S WAGES. THIS PROCESS

AS CURRENTLY IN LAW I THINK PROVIDES, YOU KNOW, RELIABLE INFORMATION FOR

THEM SO THAT THEY GO AFTER THE RIGHT PERSON. THERE'S BEEN A CONCERN

RAISED THAT WITHOUT SOME -- WITHOUT ACCESS TO THIS TYPE OF INFORMATION,

THEY MAY HAVE TO GO TO, YOU KNOW, OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION THAT

MAY NOT BE AS ACCURATE AND MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO FIND THE CORRECT

PERSON. AND SAY IF YOU HAVE A VERY COMMON NAME, THAT THEY BE

CONTACTING AN EMPLOYER OF SOMEBODY'S WHO'S NOT THE PERSON THEY'RE

LOOKING FOR.

MR. BRAUNSTEIN: WHEN -- WHEN SOMEONE TAKES

OUT A LOAN, I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON THE LENDER TO GET THEIR -- THEIR

PROPER CONTACT INFORMATION SO THEY COULD FOLLOW UP AND -- AND GET

REPAID. I THINK THAT'S THE POINT, THAT THE LENDER SHOULD BE GETTING

ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BORROWER.

MR. RA: OKAY. AND JUST WITH REGARD TO HOW, YOU

KNOW, THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN THIS AND THE FAIR DEBT COLLECTION

PRACTICES ACT WHICH I KNOW, YOU KNOW, LIMITS THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH

THIS TYPE OF INFORMATION CAN BE -- CAN BE TRANSFERRED AND USED AND I

THINK HAS SOME REQUIREMENTS IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, NOTIFYING

SOMEBODY WHEN THEIR -- WHEN THEIR INFORMATION HAS BEEN REQUESTED. IS

THERE ANY CONCERN WITH CONFLICT BETWEEN THE FEDERAL LAW AND HOW THIS

WOULD OPERATE?

MR. BRAUNSTEIN: NO.

MR. RA: ONE LAST QUESTION I HAD. SO, YOU KNOW, IN

A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SAY, YOU KNOW, IT'S PERHAPS A

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY LOOKING FOR AN INDIVIDUAL, YOU KNOW, MISSED

TAXES, CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS. WOULD -- WOULD THE GOVERNMENTAL

ENTITY THAT -- THAT NEEDS TO LOOK FOR THIS INDIVIDUAL BE ABLE TO ACCESS

THIS INFORMATION, OR WOULD THEY ALSO NEED THE SIGNED -- THE SIGNED

DISCLOSURE?

MR. BRAUNSTEIN: GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES ARE

SEPARATE. THEY'RE NOT COVERED UNDER THIS.

MR. RA: OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MR. BRAUNSTEIN: THANKS, ED.

MR. RA: MR. SPEAKER, ON THE BILL.

THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, I THINK CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW,

IN THE YEAR 2019 WE'RE ALL -- WE'RE ALL CONCERNED WITH -- WITH OUR DATA

BEING OUT THERE AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE -- WE'VE PROBABLY ALL AT SOME

POINT EITHER HEARD ABOUT, YOU KNOW, A STORE OR A BANK CREDIT CARD THAT

WE HAVE THAT HAD A DATA BREACH AND, YOU KNOW, HAD TO DEAL WITH CREDIT

MONITORING AND TRYING TO HOPEFULLY MAKE SURE THAT OUR DATA HASN'T

FALLEN INTO THE WRONG HANDS.

SO -- SO I THINK THE INTENT IS CERTAINLY GOOD FOR THERE TO

BE -- FOR THERE TO BE, YOU KNOW, DISCLOSURE AND INFORMED CONSENT FROM

A PERSON THAT THEIR INFORMATION IS BEING SHARED, BUT I DO THINK THERE ARE,

YOU KNOW, LEGITIMATE USES OF A LOT OF THIS INFORMATION THAT DEBT

COLLECTORS, UNFORTUNATELY, HAVE TO RELY ON TO COLLECT DEBTS THAT ARE --

THAT ARE LEGALLY OWED TO THEM. SO -- SO I THINK THAT THERE ARE LEGITIMATE

CONCERNS WITH THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION, BECAUSE THERE ARE FEDERAL LAWS

IN EFFECT THAT -- THAT GOVERN THE USE OF THIS INFORMATION AND RESTRICT ITS

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

USE, MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOTIFICATION. SO -- SO I THINK SOME MAY BE

OPPOSED BECAUSE OF THAT -- THAT REASON. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: MR. GOODELL.

MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU. WOULD THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: DOES THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MR. BRAUNSTEIN: YES.

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: THE SPONSOR

YIELDS.

MR. GOODELL: AS I UNDERSTAND THE BILL, THE CREDIT

CARD -- THE CREDIT COMPANIES LIKE EQUIFAX WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE

AVAILABLE CREDIT INFORMATION --

MR. BRAUNSTEIN: EMPLOYMENT; EMPLOYMENT.

MR. GOODELL: -- TO A DEBT COLLECTOR WITHOUT THE

DEBTORS' CONSENT; THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THIS BILL?

MR. BRAUNSTEIN: YES.

MR. GOODELL: AND, OF COURSE, IT'S UNLIKELY THAT

MOST DEBTORS WILL GIVE THAT CONSENT. I WOULD FIND THAT VERY UNUSUAL IF A

DEBTOR WOULD COOPERATE WITH A DEBT COLLECTION COMPANY TO SEEK THEIR

ASSETS OR THEIR INFORMATION; IS THAT CORRECT?

MR. BRAUNSTEIN: IT'S -- YES, IT'S -- THE CONSUMER

REPORTING AGENCY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SELL THE INDIVIDUAL'S

EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION TO A DEBT COLLECTOR WITHOUT GETTING CONSENT,

YES.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

MR. GOODELL: SO, THE BASIC PURPOSE OF THIS BILL IS

TO ELIMINATE THE ABILITY OF DEBT COLLECTORS, AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, TO

ACCESS THAT TYPE OF INFORMATION IN SEEKING TO COLLECT THE DEBT?

MR. BRAUNSTEIN: YEAH.

MR. GOODELL: BUT AS WE KNOW, ALL THESE BILLS

HAVE FINANCIAL RAMIFICATIONS THAT GO WELL BEYOND THE INDIVIDUALS. AND

SO, WHEN WE TAKE OUT A CREDIT CARD, THE FEES THAT WE PAY AS A LEGITIMATE

CREDIT CARD HOLDER, THE INTEREST RATE THAT WE PAY, THE INTEREST RATE WE

PAY ON MORTGAGES, THE COSTS THAT WE PAY WHEN WE BUY GOODS, ALL OF

THOSE COSTS REFLECT THE FACT THAT NOT EVERYONE WHO USES A CREDIT CARD OR

TAKES OUT A MORTGAGE OR BUYS GOODS ON CREDIT PAYS, RIGHT? AND SO, THE

UNCOLLECTED DEBT IS, IN A SENSE, PASSED ON TO THE CONSUMER.

MR. BRAUNSTEIN: SAY -- SAY THAT AGAIN.

MR. GOODELL: CERTAINLY. WE KNOW WHENEVER WE

BUY GOODS OR SERVICES, OR TAKE OUT A LOAN OR ACQUIRE A CREDIT CARD THAT

PART OF WHAT WE ARE PAYING FOR IN INTEREST RATES OR IN A CHARGE IS PART OF

THAT CHARGE COVERS THE FACT THAT NOT EVERYONE ELSE PAYS ON TIME. AND

SO WHEN A DEBT COLLECTOR IS SUCCESSFUL IN COLLECTING ON A CREDIT CARD

DEBT, THAT DEBT COLLECTOR'S SUCCESS RESULTS IN LOWER CHARGES TO EVERYONE

ELSE. SO, DON'T WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO PAY THEIR LEGITIMATE

DEBT? BECAUSE OTHERWISE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PAYING END UP PAYING A

HIGHER PRICE OR A HIGHER INTEREST RATE OR MORE EXPENSE. THEY HAVE TO

PICK UP THE LOSS.

MR. BRAUNSTEIN: I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT, BUT

RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THEIR EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

IS BEING SHARED. WHEN THEY GO TO TAKE OUT A MORTGAGE AND THEIR

INFORMATION IS ACCESSED THROUGH THE WORK NUMBER, THEY HAVE NO IDEA

THAT TEN YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, THAT THEIR INFORMATION IS STILL GOING TO BE

AVAILABLE TO A DEBT COLLECTOR, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO

PREVENT.

MR. GOODELL: SO SHOULDN'T -- WOULDN'T THAT ISSUE

BE RESOLVED BY A NOTICE OF SOME SORT?

MR. BRAUNSTEIN: BY A NOTICE?

MR. GOODELL: WELL, AGAIN, I GO BACK TO THIS -- THE

BASIC QUESTION: SHOULDN'T WE MAKE IT EASIER FOR DEBT COLLECTORS TO

COLLECT DEBT SO THAT THE REST OF THE STATE, ALL THE REST OF THE RESIDENTS

WHO ARE PAYING ON TIME, WON'T HAVE TO PAY HIGHER RATES TO COVER THOSE

LOSSES?

MR. BRAUNSTEIN: I'M SORRY, SAY THAT AGAIN.

MR. GOODELL: SURE. DON'T WE WANT --

MR. BRAUNSTEIN: PEOPLE MAKE A DECISION,

PEOPLE MAKE A DECISION.

MR. GOODELL: DON'T WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE

TO PAY THEIR OWN DEBTS SO THAT EVERYONE ELSE DOESN'T HAVE TO PAY HIGHER

COSTS TO COVER THEIR DEBT?

MR. BRAUNSTEIN: PEOPLE MAKE A DECISION AT THE

TIME OF TAKING OUT THEIR MORTGAGE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO ACCEPT

THE RATE THAT'S BEING OFFERED OR NOT. AND THIS AFFORDS THEM AN

OPPORTUNITY TO PREVENT THEIR EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION FROM BEING SOLD

TO DEBT COLLECTORS TEN YEARS, 20 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. THAT'S WHAT THIS

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

BILL ACCOMPLISHES.

MR. GOODELL: OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR

YOUR COMMENTS, I APPRECIATE IT.

ON THE BILL, SIR.

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: ON THE BILL.

MR. GOODELL: THIS, UNFORTUNATELY, IS SOMEWHAT

OF A ZERO-SUM GAME. SO, THE MORE PEOPLE DEFAULT ON THEIR CREDIT CARD,

THE HIGHER THE CREDIT CARD INTEREST IS FOR EVERYONE ELSE. AND SO,

IRONICALLY, WHEN A DEBT COLLECTOR IS SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING SOMEONE TO

PAY THE DEBT THAT THEY PROMISED TO PAY IN THE FIRST PLACE, THEIR SUCCESS

IN GETTING PEOPLE TO PAY FOR THEIR OWN DEBT MEANS THAT THE REST OF US

DON'T PAY HIGHER CHARGES TO PAY FOR THAT DEBT. AND SO, IF YOU'RE

INTERESTED IN HELPING THE CONSUMERS WHO PAY THEIR DEBT ON TIME TO PAY

LOWER CHARGES OR LOWER INTEREST RATE, THEN YOU EQUALLY OUGHT TO WANT TO

ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO DON'T PAY TO BRING THEIR CREDIT CARD DEBT OR THEIR

MORTGAGE DEBT OR THEIR CONSUMER DEBT CURRENT BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T

BRING THEIR OWN DEBT CURRENT, YOU AND ALL YOUR CONSTITUENTS WILL BE

PAYING MORE TO COVER THOSE LOSSES. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 180TH

DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

MR. VANEL TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. VANEL: MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TO -- TO THANK THE

SPONSOR IN -- IN --IN PUTTING IN THIS BILL. THIS BILL IS SIMPLE. IT'S ABOUT

MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE AND NEW YORKERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO THEIR

INFORMATION. IT'S VERY UNFAIR FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO -- FOR EMPLOYERS,

FOR EQUIFAX OR FOR ANY OF THE REPORTING AGENCIES TO BE ABLE TO TAKE NEW

YORKERS' INFORMATION AND RESELL THEM WITHOUT -- WITHOUT OUR

PERMISSION. WE'RE MOVING TO A POINT WHERE DATA IS VERY VALUABLE. IN

AMERICA AND IN NEW YORK STATE, DATA IS THE NEW GOLD AND CONSUMERS

MUST HAVE MORE RIGHTS AND -- AND AUTONOMY OVER THEIR DATA. THIS IS A

GOOD STEP AHEAD AND A GOOD STEP FORWARD. I VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. KIM.

MR. KIM: YEAH, I WANT TO THANK THE SPEAKER --

ASSEMBLYMEMBER ED BRAUNSTEIN FOR PUTTING THIS BILL TOGETHER. THIS IS

-- YOU KNOW, WE ALREADY LIVE IN A SOCIETY WHERE THE RULES AND

REGULATIONS HEAVILY FAVOR THE LENDERS AND BY CREDIT CARD -- CREDIT CARD

RATING COMPANIES JUST SELLING DATA OF CONSUMERS LEFT AND RIGHT WITHOUT

ANY OVERSIGHT, WE'RE ACTUALLY PERPETUATING THE FAVORITISM TO OUR

LENDERS. THEY'RE MINING DATA EVERY SINGLE DAY TO PREDICT PUBLIC

BEHAVIOR AND -- AND HOW THEY CAN TREAT CONSUMERS, AND THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

AND THIS BILL PROTECTS CONSUMERS' DATA AND I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUE,

EDWARD BRAUNSTEIN, FOR CHAMPIONING THIS LEGISLATION. BUT WE HAVE TO

DO MORE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN OWN OUR DATA MOVING FORWARD.

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. KIM IN THE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

AFFIRMATIVE.

MS. NIOU TO EXPLAIN HER VOTE.

MS. NIOU: I JUST WANTED TO COMMEND THE SPONSOR OF

THE BILL FOR PUTTING TOGETHER SUCH A STRONG CONSUMER PROTECTION. I THINK

THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THIS BILL DOES IS REALLY BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME

TEETH IN PUTTING TOGETHER SOME ABILITY FOR FOLKS TO ACTUALLY HAVE A FINE

RELATED TO THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING. SO, I THINK THAT THAT'S A REALLY,

REALLY STRONG PROTECTION FOR CONSUMERS AND I JUST WANTED TO COMMEND

THE SPONSOR FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, BECAUSE WITHOUT THESE

PROTECTIONS, A LOT OF FOLKS CAN FALL PREY TO HAVING THEIR INFORMATION SOLD

WITHOUT THEIR KNOWING. SO FEW OF MY CONSTITUENTS KNEW THAT THEIR

INFORMATION WAS BEING SOLD WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE.

AND SO, I JUST WANTED TO THANK OUR SPONSOR, AGAIN,

BECAUSE I THINK THAT OUR CONSUMER PROTECTION ISSUES, THERE ARE SO MANY

DIFFERENT LITTLE NUANCES TO THE THINGS THAT ARE BEING LEAKED NOWADAYS

WITH TECHNOLOGY, AND I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS A GOOD

EXAMPLE OF A STRONG CONSUMER PROTECTION. SO, THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER BUTTENSCHON: MS. NIOU IN

THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

MR. GOODELL.

MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, FOR

THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERRUPT OUR PROCEEDINGS FOR AN IMPORTANT

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

INTRODUCTION ON BEHALF OF OUR ASSEMBLYMAN CLIFF CROUCH. WE HAVE

WITH US THE CHIEF OF THE CHENANGO FORKS FIRE DEPARTMENT, DARIN

JOHNS. AND ACCOMPANYING MR. JOHNS, AS WELL, IS A VERY IMPORTANT

PERSON, LISA JOHNS. SO, IF YOU WOULD WELCOME TO OUR CHAMBER ON

BEHALF OF ASSEMBLYMEMBER CLIFF CROUCH, DARIN AND LISA JOHNS FROM

CHENANGO FORKS. THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER BUTTENSCHON: ON BEHALF

OF MR. CROUCH, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME THE

CHIEF AND HIS WIFE FROM THE CHENANGO FORKS TO THE CHAMBER, AND

EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR AND WE HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR

PROCEEDINGS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

(APPLAUSE)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER. IF WE CAN NOW TURN TO CALENDAR NO. 88, IT'S ON PAGE 10 AND

IT'S ON DEBATE, AS WELL, BY MR. O'DONNELL.

ACTING SPEAKER BUTTENSCHON: THE CLERK

WILL READ.

THE CLERK: SENATE NO. S00300, CALENDAR NO. 88,

SENATOR HOYLMAN (O'DONNELL, SEAWRIGHT, DE LA ROSA -- A05604). AN

ACT TO AMEND THE ESTATES, POWERS AND TRUST LAW AND THE SURROGATE'S

COURT PROCEDURE ACT, IN RELATION TO MAKING TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS

RELATED TO MARRIAGE EQUALITY.

ACTING SPEAKER BUTTENSCHON: AN

EXPLANATION HAS BEEN REQUESTED.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

MR. O'DONNELL.

MR. O'DONNELL: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IN 2007 I

WROTE A BILL THAT THIS HOUSE PASSED WHICH AFFORDED SAME-SEX COUPLES

THE SAME RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES THAT THE STATE GIVES TO GENDER DISCORDANT

COUPLES, THAT IS THE RIGHT TO MARRY. FIVE YEARS LATER IN 2011, THE SENATE

FINALLY TOOK UP THAT BILL AND MARRIAGE EQUALITY WAS THE LAW OF THE STATE

OF NEW YORK. AT THE TIME, IT WAS THE LARGEST STATE IN THE NATION THAT

PROVIDED THAT OPPORTUNITY. SINCE THEN, THE SUPREME COURT HAS RULED IN

THE WINDSOR CASE THAT THE DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT WAS VIOLATIVE OF

THE EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE AND THAT MY RIGHT TO MARRY HAD TO BE

TREATED EQUALLY TO ANYONE ELSE'S RIGHT TO MARRY BY THE FEDERAL COURTS --

BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SUBSEQUENT, IN THE OBERGEFELL CASE, THE

SUPREME COURT RULED THAT STATES WERE REQUIRED TO ISSUE LICENSES TO

SAME-SEX COUPLES TO HAVE A LICENSE TO MARRY, JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

THIS IS A SIMPLE TECHNICAL AMENDMENT TO TWO PORTIONS

OF THE STATE LAWS THAT WERE WRITTEN IN A NON-GENDER NEUTRAL WAY. IT

DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING, IT SIMPLY CHANGES WORDS LIKE "PATERNAL

GRANDPARENT" TO "GRANDPARENTS", OR "HUSBAND AND WIFE" TO "SPOUSE".

ACTING SPEAKER BUTTENSCHON: MR.

MONTESANO.

MR. MONTESANO: THANK YOU.

ON THE BILL, PLEASE.

ACTING SPEAKER BUTTENSCHON: ON THE BILL.

MR. MONTESANO: THANK YOU. WHILE I

UNDERSTAND THE SPONSOR'S INTENT WITH THE LAW AND DON'T DISPUTE ANY OF

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

THE FACTS ABOUT SAME-SEX MARRIAGE AND THE RIGHTS THAT TRAVEL WITH IT,

AND MANY OF OUR LAWS HAVE BEEN AMENDED TO REFLECT THOSE CHANGES, THE

CONCERNING ISSUE IN -- IN -- IN AMENDING THIS LAW ALONG THE LINES THAT

THIS BILL PROVIDES FOR CREATES A PROBLEM FOR ESTATE PLANNING ATTORNEYS

AND ATTORNEYS THAT PRACTICE BEFORE THE SURROGATE'S COURT. BECAUSE ON

MANY OF OCCASION WHEN SOMEONE DIES, ESPECIALLY INTESTATE WITHOUT A

WILL, WE HAVE TO SUBMIT A VERY LENGTHY FAMILY TREE THAT EXPLAINS THE

LINEAGE OF THE DECEDENT. AND IN THAT LINEAGE, YOU HAVE TO DESCRIBE NOT

ONLY WHO THE PARENTS WERE OF THAT DECEDENT, BUT THE GRANDPARENTS OF

THAT DECEDENT. AND SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO GO AS FAR BACK AS TO THE

GREAT-GRANDPARENTS OF THE DECEDENT. AND THEN YOU HAVE TO DO IT ON

BOTH SIDES; SO, ON THE MOTHER'S SIDE AND ON THE FATHER'S SIDE.

AND THE LANGUAGE THAT'S USED IS THE "MATERNAL SIDE"

AND THE "PATERNAL SIDE". AND THIS IS USED THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTRY TO

TRACK FAMILY TREES. IT'S ALSO USED IN INTERNATIONAL LAW. IN MANY CASES

THAT I'VE HAD OVER THE YEARS THAT I APPEARED IN AS A GUARDIAN FOR SOME

PEOPLE, WE SEE THESE FAMILY TREES COME IN FROM ENGLAND, FROM ITALY,

FROM SPAIN, FROM FRANCE AND THE DOCUMENTATION IS CONTINUALLY THE

SAME, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW IT'S TRACED. SO, WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO

TRACK THE LINEAGE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FAMILY AND PROPERLY IDENTIFY WHO

THE PARENTS WERE FOR THE DECEDENT, GRANDPARENTS, SIBLINGS ARE ALSO

INCLUDED IN THAT. IT GOES TO THE FIRST COUSIN, IT GOES TO THE SECOND

COUSIN, IT GOES TO THE THIRD COUSIN. BECAUSE WHEN A PERSON DIES

INTESTATE, YOU HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO TRACK DOWN THE DIFFERENT CLASSES OF

RELATIVES BECAUSE THAT'S WHO WOULD BE ENTITLED TO THE MONEY THAT THE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

DECEDENT LEFT. AND YOU HAVE TO ESTABLISH IF THERE'S TWO SIDES TO THE

LINEAGE AND TRACK DOWN AS MANY AS YOU CAN DURING THAT DISCOVERY.

SO, THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE AND OTHER ATTORNEYS HAVE IS

WHAT DO WE DO, HOW DO WE ADJUST THE VERBIAGE IN THE LAW TO ADDRESS

THE FAMILY TREE? HOW DO WE EXPLAIN IF WE'RE LOOKING AT A DECEDENT

WHO IS A CHILD OF -- HAS TWO FATHERS. HOW DO WE DESCRIBE THAT ON THE

FAMILY TREE? DO WE SAY FATHER ONE ON ONE SIDE AND FATHER TWO ON THE

OTHER SIDE? AND THEN WE HAVE TO SHOW THEIR PARENTAL LINEAGE. SO, THEN

YOU WOULD HAVE TO USE THE TERM "MOTHER" AND "FATHER" IF THEY WERE

BORN TO A MOTHER AND FATHER.

SO, IT CREATES A COMPLEX PROBLEM THAT I DON'T THINK

THIS PARTICULAR BILL ADDRESSES, AND I THINK IT WOULD CAUSE MORE TROUBLE

IN LAYING OUT A FAMILY TREE AND TRACKING DOWN THE RELATIVES IN ALL

CLASSES, WHETHER IT BE PARENTAL, WHETHER IT BE A SIBLING, WHETHER IT BE A

COUSIN, TO MAKE SURE THEY GET WHAT'S COMING TO THEM UNDER THE

DECEDENT'S ESTATE. SO, FOR THOSE REASONS, I WOULD ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO

GIVE THIS SOME DEEP CONSIDERATION. WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE INTENT OF

THE SPONSOR AND WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ALL THINGS EQUAL AND ALL THINGS

APPLY ACROSS THE BOARD IN ALL THE LAWS OF THE STATE THAT WE HAVE, I THINK

THIS ONE HAS TO REALLY BE THOUGHT OF IT AND I WOULD ASK THEM AT THIS

TIME -- AS I WILL BE VOTING AGAINST THIS BILL AND WOULD ASK THEM TO

CONSIDER DOING THE SAME. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER BUTTENSCHON: READ THE

LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

ACTING SPEAKER BUTTENSCHON: THE CLERK

WILL RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

MR. O'DONNELL TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. O'DONNELL: I'M A LITTLE SURPRISED I'M STANDING

UP AGAIN. THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE STATE CURRENTLY WHO DON'T HAVE A

MOTHER AND A FATHER, THEY HAVE TWO PARENTS. SOMETIMES IT'S TWO

WOMEN AND SOMETIMES IT'S TWO MEN. TO CHANGE THE LAW THAT DOESN'T

SAY "MATERNAL" OR "PATERNAL" IS TO REFLECT THE REALITY OF WHAT WE LIVE IN.

THE COURTS ALLOW FOR THAT, IT ALSO ALLOWS FOR ADOPTIONS. NO ONE HAS

EVER SUGGESTED THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ADOPTED THAT THEY ARE

NOT -- THAT THEY DON'T HAVE PARENTS.

SO, IN THE END, THIS IS JUST CONFORMING LEGISLATION THAT

IS NOT AT ALL COMPLICATED. YOU TAKE ONE PARENT AND YOU GO UP THE

FAMILY TREE ON THAT ONE PARENT'S SIDE, AND YOU TAKE THE OTHER PARENT AND

GO UP THE FAMILY TREE ON THAT FAMILY SIDE, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE WHOLE

FAMILY TREE WITHOUT EVER HAVING TO ASSUME THE GENDER OF EITHER PARTY. I

URGE A YES VOTE.

ACTING SPEAKER BUTTENSCHON: MR.

O'DONNELL IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

MR. GOODELL.

MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

SPEAKER. ON BEHALF OF ASSEMBLYMAN KEVIN BYRNE AND

ASSEMBLYWOMAN SANDY GALEF, IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE SOME

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS WHO ARE VISITING US TODAY. THESE ARE FRIENDS OF

RECOVERY FOR PUTNAM COUNTY, AND THEIR FOCUSING ON HELPING ADDICTS

RECOVER FROM THEIR ADDICTION AND TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND

EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR ADDICTION SERVICES. AND HERE TODAY JOINING US IS

VICTORIA METZ, KATHY NUGENT, RICHARD MALREY [SIC] (MALVEY), DEBBIE

MOLFETTA, TAMMY BENDER AND BRIANNA ADAMS. IF YOU WOULD EXTEND

THE CORDIALITIES OF THE HOUSE TO THESE IMPORTANT RESIDENTS WHO ARE

DOING SO MUCH GOOD IN PUTNAM COUNTY ON BEHALF OF ASSEMBLYMAN

BYRNE AND ASSEMBLYWOMAN GALEF. THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER BUTTENSCHON: THANK YOU.

ON BEHALF OF ASSEMBLYMAN BYRNE AND MS. -- ASSEMBLYWOMAN GALEF,

THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU FROM PUTNAM

COUNTY HERE TODAY. WE APPRECIATE YOU HERE -- BEING HERE TODAY AND

ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO HELPING INDIVIDUALS IN NEED. TO THE CHAMBER,

WE EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR AND HOPE YOU ENJOY THE

PROCEEDINGS, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, IF WE

COULD TAKE UP ANOTHER DEBATE BILL, IT'S CALENDAR NO. 102 AND IT'S ON

PAGE 11, BY MEMBER SEAWRIGHT.

ACTING SPEAKER BUTTENSCHON: THE CLERK

WILL READ.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

THE CLERK: SENATE BILL NO. S03134, CALENDAR NO.

130 -- 102, MS. -- SENATOR MYRIE (SEAWRIGHT, D'URSO--A01740). AN

ACT TO AMEND THE ELECTION LAW, IN RELATION TO SATISFYING FILING

REQUIREMENTS.

ACTING SPEAKER BUTTENSCHON: AN

EXPLANATION HAS BEEN REQUESTED.

MS. SEAWRIGHT.

MS. SEAWRIGHT: THANK YOU. THIS BILL IS ONE OF

THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS 2019 BIPARTISAN LEGISLATIVE

RECOMMENDATIONS. IT ALLOWS CANDIDATES TO SATISFY BOTH LOCAL AND STATE

REQUIREMENTS WHEN FILING TO RUN FOR ELECTION BY FILING ONLY ONCE.

FILING WITH A LOCAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE BOARD MAY FULFILL BOTH LOCAL AND

STATE REQUIREMENTS, AS WELL. UNDER THE CURRENT SYSTEM, CANDIDATES ARE

REQUIRED TO FILE WITH BOTH THEIR LOCAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE BOARD AND WITH

THE STATE, WHOSE SYSTEMS AND REQUIREMENTS MAY NOT ALIGN. THE ONLY

LOCALITY THAT HAS LOCAL MORE RESTRICTIVE CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS IS IN

NEW YORK CITY.

ACTING SPEAKER BUTTENSCHON: MR.

GOODELL.

MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER,

WOULD THE SPONSOR YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER BUTTENSCHON: DOES THE

SPONSOR YIELD?

MS. SEAWRIGHT: YES.

MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

SEAWRIGHT. UNDER THE CURRENT LAW, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, EVERY STATE

OFFICIAL AND LOCAL OFFICIAL THAT'S RUNNING HAS TO FILE WITH THE STATE BOARD

OF ELECTIONS, CORRECT, THEIR FINANCIAL REPORT?

MS. SEAWRIGHT: THAT IS CORRECT.

MR. GOODELL: AND THAT PROVIDES EVERY RESIDENT IN

THE STATE A STANDARDIZED DATABASE THAT THEY CAN EASILY AND QUICKLY

ACCESS BY GOING TO ONE LOCATION, CORRECT?

MS. SEAWRIGHT: THAT IS CORRECT.

MR. GOODELL: AND IT ALSO ENSURES THAT THE STATE

BOARD OF ELECTIONS, WHICH HAS THEIR PRIMARY STATEWIDE RESPONSIBILITY

FOR ENFORCING OUR FINANCE LAWS, HAS THE INFORMATION ITSELF.

MS. SEAWRIGHT: AND UNDER THIS BILL, THEY WOULD

HAVE THE INFORMATION, AS WELL.

MR. GOODELL: BUT AS YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE TOOLS

THAT THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS HAS TO ENFORCE THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE

LAW IS THE PENAL PROVISIONS THAT MAKE IT A CRIME TO FILE A FALSE

INSTRUMENT. UNDER THIS LAW, CANDIDATES WOULD NO LONGER -- SOME

CANDIDATES WOULD NO LONGER BE FILING WITH THE STATE BOARD OF

ELECTIONS, CORRECT?

MS. SEAWRIGHT: ENFORCEMENT COUNCIL WOULD

STILL BE ABLE TO ENFORCE THE PENAL LAW.

MR. GOODELL: IF -- IF THERE'S A FILING WITH A LOCAL

FINANCE BOARD AND THE LOCAL FINANCE BOARD FOR SOME REASON DOESN'T DATA

ENTER THE INFORMATION CORRECTLY OR ACCURATELY OR TIMELY. WHAT REMEDY

IS THERE UNDER THIS LAW? IS THERE A PENALTY THAT'S IMPOSED ON THE LOCAL

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

BOARD FOR FAILING TO FILE IN A TIMELY MANNER SO THE DATA'S AVAILABLE ON

THE STATE BOARD?

MS. SEAWRIGHT: SO, UNDER THIS BILL THE STATE HAS

THE AUTHORITY TO REMOVE IF -- IF IT'S NOT BEING FOLLOWED CORRECTLY UNDER

THE LOCAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE BOARD.

MR. GOODELL: WELL, ACTUALLY THE REMOVAL

PROVISIONS APPLY IN THREE SITUATIONS, CORRECT? ONE IS -- DEALS WITH THE

FILING FORMAT, THE SECOND IS THAT THE LOCAL FINANCE BOARD DATA IS PUBLICLY

AVAILABLE, AND THIRD IS AN AUTHORIZATION OF THE CHIEF ENFORCEMENT

OFFICER. THOSE THREE CRITERIA COULD BE MET EVEN THOUGH THE LOCAL

CAMPAIGN FINANCE BOARD IS NOT FILING THE INFORMATION IN A TIMELY

MANNER; ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

MS. SEAWRIGHT: IF THE CANDIDATE IS NOT FOLLOWING

THE LAW UNDER THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE BOARD, THE STATE HAS THE RIGHT TO

REVERT IT BACK AND REQUIRE FILING WITH THE STATE.

MR. GOODELL: I UNDERSTAND IF THE CANDIDATE

DOESN'T COMPLY, THE STATE WOULD BE ABLE TO ENFORCE. WHAT HAPPENS

WHEN THE LOCAL BOARD FAILS TO COMPLY?

MS. SEAWRIGHT: SAME THING.

MR. GOODELL: SO YOU'RE SAYING THE STATE BOARD OF

ELECTIONS COULD BRING AN ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST THE LOCAL FINANCE

BOARD IF THEY DON'T FILE ON TIME?

MS. SEAWRIGHT: NO, I'M SAYING THAT THE STATE CAN

NOTIFY THE LOCAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE BOARD THAT THE FILING HAS TO BE WITH

THE STATE BECAUSE THEY'RE IN NON-COMPLIANCE.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

MR. GOODELL: HOW MANY LOCAL FINANCE BOARDS DO

WE HAVE ACROSS NEW YORK STATE?

MS. SEAWRIGHT: WE HAVE ONE -- NEW YORK CITY,

WHICH IS MORE STRINGENT IN ITS RULES AND LAWS THAN NEW YORK STATE.

MR. GOODELL: SO YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S ONLY ONE

LOCAL FINANCE BOARD, THERE'S NO OTHER LOCAL FINANCE BOARD ANYWHERE ELSE

IN THE STATE?

MS. SEAWRIGHT: AT THIS TIME.

MR. GOODELL: WELL THEN WHY DON'T WE PASS A LAW

REQUIRING THE NEW YORK CITY FINANCE BOARD TO ACCEPT THE DATA THAT'S

FILED IN NEW YORK STATE RATHER THAN CREATE A PATCHWORK SITUATION?

MS. SEAWRIGHT: THIS SAVES TIME, RED TAPE,

RESOURCES BY ALLOWING A MORE STRINGENT CAMPAIGN FINANCE BOARD FOR A

CANDIDATE TO SATISFY THE FILING REQUIREMENTS BY FILING LOCALLY WITH THE

CAMPAIGN FINANCE BOARD.

MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR

ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS, I APPRECIATE IT.

ON THE BILL.

ACTING SPEAKER BUTTENSCHON: ON THE BILL.

MR. GOODELL: I, AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE DESIRE OF

THE SPONSOR OF THE BILL TO ELIMINATE DUPLICATE FILING SITE, I SUPPORT THAT

CONCEPT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE GO FROM A STATEWIDE DATABASE THAT IS

AVAILABLE TO ANY RESIDENT IN THE STATE AND IT'S VERY EASY TO ACCESS AND

IT'S ALL THE SAME, SO YOU CAN COMPARE FILINGS ANYWHERE YOU WANT.

THAT'S THE SYSTEM WE HAVE NOW. THE SYSTEM WE HAVE NOW MAXIMIZES

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

TRANSPARENCY, IT MAXIMIZES EASE OF ACCESS. IT MAXIMIZES THE ABILITY OF

ANY VOTER TO FIND OUT ANY INFORMATION THEY NEED ABOUT CAMPAIGN

FINANCES.

THIS BILL SUGGESTS THAT INSTEAD OF HAVING A TRANSPARENT

SINGLE DATABASE THAT APPLIES EQUALLY TO EVERYONE, WE INSTEAD NOW WILL

RELY ON LOCAL FINANCE BOARDS INSTEAD OF A SINGLE STATEWIDE FINANCE

BOARD. SO, INSTEAD OF HAVING A SINGLE TRANSPARENT FINANCE BOARD, WE'LL

NOW HAVE A PATCHWORK. UNDER THIS BILL, IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT A

CANDIDATE'S FINANCES ARE, INSTEAD OF LOOKING IT UP ON THE STATE BOARD,

YOU HAVE TO FIND OUT WHERE THEY FILED WITH THE LOCAL BOARD AND THEN

YOU HAVE TO ACCESS THE LOCAL BOARD. IT MAKES IT HARDER TO GET

COMPREHENSIVE, OPEN, TRANSPARENT INFORMATION ABOUT CAMPAIGN

FINANCE.

ACTING SPEAKER BUTTENSCHON: MS.

SEAWRIGHT, WHY DO YOU RISE?

MS. SEAWRIGHT: THANK YOU. MR. GOODELL, WITH

ALL DUE RESPECT, THAT'S FACTUALLY INCORRECT. THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS

UNDER THIS BILL WILL BE --

ACTING SPEAKER BUTTENSCHON: ARE YOU

ASKING MR. GOODELL TO YIELD?

MS. SEAWRIGHT: YES.

MR. GOODELL: I THOUGHT THAT WAS IMPLIED, AND DID

YOU HAVE A QUESTION?

MS. SEAWRIGHT: ARE YOU AWARE THAT UNDER THE

NEW YORK STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS LAW THAT THEY WILL BE MAINTAINING

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

A LINK, VERY TRANSPARENT FOR ANYONE THAT WANTS TO ACCESS THE DATA?

MR. GOODELL: YES, I AM AWARE OF THAT.

AND SO, GOING BACK ON THE BILL, INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT A

DATABASE THAT'S MAINTAINED BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS THAT ALLOWS

FOR A VERY SIMPLE, COMPREHENSIVE, COMPATIBLE ANALYSIS, IF THE

CANDIDATE FILED WITH A LOCAL BOARD UNDER THIS -- THIS BILL, ALL YOU WOULD

-- YOU WOULD HAVE A LINK THAT WOULD TAKE YOU TO A DIFFERENT SITE THAT

REPORTS THE INFORMATION IN A DIFFERENT MANNER. AND THE ACCURACY OF

THAT DIFFERENT SITE AND HOW FAST THAT INFORMATION IS RECORDED DOESN'T

RELY ON OUR STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, IT RELIES ON A LOCAL BOARD -- A

FINANCE BOARD.

AND SO IF THE LOCAL FINANCE BOARD DOESN'T GET IT UP

QUICKLY, THEY'RE NOT SUBJECT TO ANY PENALTIES. THERE'S NO REPERCUSSIONS.

IN THEORY, THEY COULD HAVE THEIR RIGHTS WITHDRAWN, BUT NOT FOR FAILURE TO

COMPLY IN A TIMELY MANNER; THAT'S OMITTED UNDER THIS BILL. SO, FOR ALL OF

US WHO WANT OPEN, TRANSPARENT FINANCIAL DATA ON ELECTIONS, ON A SINGLE

PLATFORM THAT ENABLES US TO COMPARE FINANCIAL DATA AND UNDERSTAND AND

ACCESS IT EASILY, WE SHOULD STAY WITH THE SAME SYSTEM. AND TO MEET

MY COLLEAGUE'S LEGITIMATE ISSUE ABOUT DUPLICATE FINANCING, INSTEAD OF

REPLACING OUR SINGLE, COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM WITH A PATCHWORK, WHY

DON'T WE SIMPLY PASS A BILL THAT REQUIRES THE LOCAL FINANCE BOARD TO

ACCEPT WHAT'S FILED ON THE STATE LEVEL? THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM

SPEAKER, AND, AGAIN, THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUE.

ACTING SPEAKER BUTTENSCHON: MS. GRIFFIN.

MS. GRIFFIN: THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

FOR ASKING -- HAVING -- WELCOMING ME TO SPEAK. I WANTED TO ASK

EVERYONE TO JOIN ME IN WELCOMING MEMBERS OF 32BJ --

VOICE: WE'RE ON THE BILL.

MS. GRIFFIN: OH, I'M SORRY. THIS WAS SOMETHING

ELSE.

ACTING SPEAKER BUTTENSCHON: READ THE

LAST SECTION.

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

ACTING SPEAKER BUTTENSCHON: THE CLERK

WILL RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

MS. SEAWRIGHT TO EXPLAIN HER VOTE.

MS. SEAWRIGHT: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. IN

1988, NEW YORK CITY PASSED A REFORM TO ITS CHARTER THAT ENACTED

PUBLIC FINANCING AND CREATED THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE BOARD, WHICH HAS

MORE STRINGENT LAWS AND RULES THAN NEW YORK STATE. I APPRECIATE MY

COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING THIS BILL TODAY TO REDUCE THE RED TAPE AND THE

BUREAUCRACY, AND TO PROMOTE EFFICIENCY ON THIS ELECTION REFORM BILL

THAT IN 2019 HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FROM THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AS A

LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATION. I CAST MY VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK

YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER BUTTENSCHON: MS.

SEAWRIGHT IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

THE BILL IS PASSED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERRUPT OUR PROCEEDINGS BRIEFLY TO

ACKNOWLEDGE GUESTS OF OUR COLLEAGUE, MS. GRIFFIN. THEY ARE FROM THE

32BJ FROM LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK CITY AND THE HUDSON VALLEY.

MADAM SPEAKER, WOULD YOU PLEASE WELCOME AND GIVE THEM THE

CORDIALITIES OF OUR FLOOR.

ACTING SPEAKER BUTTENSCHON: ON BEHALF

OF MS. GRIFFIN, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME THE

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS FROM LONG ISLAND TO THE CHAMBERS, EXTEND THE

PRIVILEGES TO THE FLOOR AND HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PROCEEDINGS, AND THANK

YOU FOR JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, IF YOU

COULD PLEASE CALL ON MR. DILAN TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR MR. OTIS.

ACTING SPEAKER BUTTENSCHON: MR. DILAN.

MR. DILAN: THERE WILL BE AN IMMEDIATE

DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE IN THE SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM FOLLOWING

THE CONCLUSION OF SESSION.

ACTING SPEAKER BUTTENSCHON: DEMOCRATIC

CONFERENCE AFTER SESSION.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, IF YOU

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2019

COULD PLEASE CALL ON MR. CROUCH FOR AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

ACTING SPEAKER BUTTENSCHON: MR.

CROUCH.

MR. CROUCH: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. THERE

WILL BE AN IMMEDIATE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE, MEMBERS-ONLY, IN THE

PARLOR.

ACTING SPEAKER BUTTENSCHON:

MEMBERS-ONLY CONFERENCE IN THE PARLOR.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, DO WE

HAVE ANY FURTHER HOUSEKEEPING OR RESOLUTIONS?

ACTING SPEAKER BUTTENSCHON: NO, WE DO

NOT.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THEN I MOVE THAT THE

ASSEMBLY STAND ADJOURNED UNTIL MARCH THE 21ST, TOMORROW BEING A

LEGISLATIVE DAY, THAT WE'LL RECONVENE AT 2:00 P.M. ON MARCH THE 25TH,

THAT MONDAY BEING A SESSION DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER BUTTENSCHON: THANK YOU.

THE ASSEMBLY STANDS ADJOURNED.

(WHEREUPON, AT 1:05 P.M., THE ASSEMBLY STOOD

ADJOURNED UNTIL THURSDAY, MARCH 21ST, THURSDAY BEING A LEGISLATIVE

DAY, AND TO RECONVENE ON MONDAY, MARCH 25TH AT 2:00 P.M., MONDAY

BEING A SESSION DAY.)