WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019 10:51 A.M.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE HOUSE WILL COME

TO ORDER.

THE REVEREND ELIA WILL OFFER A PRAYER.

REVEREND DONNA ELIA: LET US PRAY.

COMPASSIONATE AND HOLY GOD, BEFORE YOU GENERATIONS RISE AND FALL.

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THIS MOMENT WHEN THE WORK OF SERVING WITH

INTEGRITY, WISDOM AND COMPASSION IS OURS TO DO. THANK YOU ESPECIALLY

FOR THE COLLECTIVE EFFORTS OF THIS BODY, LEGISLATORS AND STAFF. AS THIS

LEGISLATIVE SESSION NEARS ITS CLOSE, GIVE THEM THE RESOURCES AND

STAMINA THEY NEED, AND THANK YOU FOR THEIR SERVICE. ON THIS DAY, WE

REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE GONE TO THEIR REST. THANK YOU FOR THE

RELATIONSHIPS, THE COLLEGIALITY AND THE GOOD WORK THEY DID. MAY THEIR

MEMORY BE A BLESSING. AND SO TEACH US TO COUNT OUR DAYS, THAT WE MAY

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

GAIN A WISE HEART. GOD, HEALER OF US ALL, TO ANY WHO NEED HEALING THIS

DAY, WE PRAY THAT YOU WILL GRANT IT. FOR ANY WHO NEED COMFORT OR EASE,

WE ASK IT. AND FOR THOSE WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR THE SAKE OF

OTHERS, WE ASK FOR SAFETY, FOR PEACE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR WORLD,

AND HEALTHY AND VIBRANT LIVES FOR CHILDREN EVERYWHERE.

WE PRAY AND WE HOPE IN YOUR HOLY NAME. AMEN,

MEMBERS: AMEN.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: VISITORS ARE INVITED

TO JOIN THE MEMBERS 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, JUNE 11TH.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

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

THAT WE DISPENSE WITH THE READ -- FURTHER READING OF THE JOURNAL OF

TUESDAY, JUNE THE 11TH AND ASK THAT THE SAME STAND APPROVED.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: WITHOUT OBJECTION,

SO ORDERED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MR.

SPEAKER. FOR OUR COLLEAGUES IN -- IN THE CHAMBERS [SIC], STAFF AND

VISITORS AND GUESTS, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO OFFER A QUOTE THIS MORNING FROM

U.S. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE SONIA SOTOMAYOR. THE JUDGE SAYS TO US

THIS MORNING, MR. SPEAKER, THAT, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

APPRECIATE WHERE WE COME FROM AND HOW OUR HISTORY HAS SHAPED US IN

WAYS THAT WE MAY NOT STILL YET UNDERSTAND. AGAIN, MR. SPEAKER, THIS

QUOTE IS FROM SUPREME COURT JUSTICE SONIA SOTOMAYOR.

MR. SPEAKER, THE MEMBERS HAVE ON THEIR DESK A

CALENDAR. I HAVE TO SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PRETTY BUSY TODAY. THERE

ARE QUITE A FEW THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO BEFORE US. THERE IS A MAIN

CALENDAR. THERE'S ALSO A DEBATE LIST. AND AFTER ANY INTRODUCTIONS

AND/OR HOUSEKEEPING, WE WILL BE TAKING UP A PRIVILEGED RESOLUTION

HONORING THE MEMORIES OF MEMBERS WHO HAVE PASSED THIS CURRENT YEAR

-- PAST YEAR. AFTER THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION, WE WILL CONTINUE TO

CONSENT ON THE MAIN CALENDAR, BEGINNING WITH RULES REPORT NO. 91 ON

PAGE 6. WE WILL ALSO WORK OFF THE CALENDAR -- THE -- THE CALENDAR AND

THE DEBATE LIST, INCLUDING TAKING UP RULES REPORT NO. 118 ON PAGE 12

OF THE MAIN CALENDAR BY MR. CRESPO. MEMBERS OF THE FOLLOWING

COMMITTEES SHOULD BE PREPARED TO BE CALLED OFF THE FLOOR FOR A MEETING:

COMMITTEES -- LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, REAL PROPERTY TAXATION, ELECTION

LAW, WAYS AND MEANS AND RULES. MAJORITY MEMBERS SHOULD BE AWARE

THAT THERE WILL PROBABLY -- WE PROBABLY WILL NEED TO CALL ON MR. OTIS AT

THE CLOSE OF SESSION.

THAT'S THE GENERAL OUTLINE, MR. SPEAKER. IF THERE ARE

INTRODUCTIONS AND HOUSEKEEPING, NOW WOULD BE A GREAT TIME.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. THANK

YOU. WE DO HAVE AT LEAST ONE ITEM OF HOUSEKEEPING.

ON A MOTION BY MR. D'URSO, PAGE 11, RULES REPORT

NO. 110, BILL NO. 3199-B, AMENDMENTS ARE RECEIVED AND ADOPTED.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION, MRS.

PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MR.

SPEAKER. THIS IS REALLY AN HONOR TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO -- ACTUALLY

TO GIVE THE CORDIALITIES OF THE FLOOR TO OUR FORMER COLLEAGUE WHO SPENT A

-- A LOT OF YEARS HERE, MADE A LOT OF FRIENDS, INCLUDING MYSELF. DID A LOT

OF GREAT WORK, PARTICULARLY IN THE DISABILITIES COMMUNITY. WE'LL ALWAYS

REMEMBER HIS GREAT SMILE, HIS GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE ADVICE.

SO ON BEHALF OF OUR COLLEAGUES, MS. MILLER AND MS.

GRIFFIN, AND ALL THE OTHER COLLEAGUES WHO ARE FROM THE COUNTY -- GREAT

COUNTY OF NASSAU, WOULD YOU PLEASE EXTEND THE CORDIALITIES OF OUR

HOUSE AND WELCOME BACK OUR FORMER COLLEAGUE HARVEY WEISENBERG.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

OF MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES, MS. MILLER, MS. GRIFFIN, THE SPEAKER AND ALL

THE MEMBERS, WELCOME BACK, HARVEY. YOU ARE A FORMER MEMBER, YOU

WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. IT'S ALWAYS SO GREAT TO

HAVE YOU HERE AND TO SEE YOU AND TO SHARE WITH YOU AGAIN THE

WONDERFUL MEMORIES YOU HAVE, AND TO SALUTE THE GREAT WORK YOU DID AS

A LEGISLATOR. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. PLEASE ENJOY THE DAY.

(APPLAUSE)

FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION, MS. ROZIC.

ACTING SPEAKER ROZIC: THANK YOU, MR.

SPEAKER AND MADAM MAJORITY LEADER. I HAVE -- IN ADVANCE OF TODAY'S

RESOLUTION, I HAVE THE GREAT HONOR TODAY OF INTRODUCING MY DEAR FRIEND,

LAURA KAVANAGH, THE FIRST DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF FDNY, WHO'S THE

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

SECOND-HIGHEST RANKING CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATOR IN FDNY. LAURA, YOU

CAN STAND UP. LAURA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING THE DAY-TO-DAY

OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES OF THE FDNY ACROSS ALL OFFICES. SHE WAS FIRST

APPOINTED TO THIS POSITION IN JANUARY 2018. COMMISSIONER KAVANAGH

FIRST JOINED THE DEPARTMENT SENIOR STAFF IN 2014 AS ASSISTANT

COMMISSIONER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, AND IN 2016 SHE WAS PROMOTED TO

DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS.

COMMISSIONER KAVANAGH OVERSAW THE RECENT FIREFIGHTER RECRUITMENT

CAMPAIGN, WHICH RESULTED IN THE LARGEST AND MOST DIVERSE APPLICANT

POOL IN DEPARTMENT HISTORY. SHE HAS SECURED FUNDING FOR RENOVATIONS

TO FIREHOUSES AND EMS STATIONS ACROSS THE FIVE BOROUGHS.

IT'S MY GREAT HONOR TODAY TO ASK IF YOU CAN EXTEND THE

CORDIALITIES OF THE FLOOR AND WELCOME FIRST DEPUTY COMMISSIONER

LAURA KAVANAGH TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

OF MS. ROZIC, COMMISSIONER KAVANAGH, WELCOME TO THE NEW YORK

STATE ASSEMBLY. WE -- THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME

YOU HERE, EXTEND TO YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. THANK YOU FOR THE

GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, HELPING OUR CITY, KEEPING IT SAFE.

CONTINUE THAT GREAT WORK AND KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME HERE.

WE WILL ALWAYS BE LISTENING TO YOU. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

(APPLAUSE)

FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION, MR. DENDEKKER.

MR. DENDEKKER: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. IT'S A

GREAT HONOR FOR ME TO INTRODUCE GEORGE FARINACCI, WHO SERVED FOR 33

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

YEARS IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK. HE'S FROM

LADDER 28 AND LADDER 148, AND HE'S CURRENTLY THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE

UNIFORMED FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION. AND ALSO JOINING HIM TODAY IS

JAMES MCCARTHY, 31 YEARS WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF

NEW YORK STATE. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO LADDER 25 AND A FORMER MEMBER

OF LADDER 55, AND HE'S THE TREASURER OF THE UNIFORMED FIREFIGHTERS

OFFICERS [SIC] ASSOCIATION.

SO, I WOULD ALSO ASK THAT YOU PLEASE GIVE THEM THE

COURTESIES OF THE HOUSE AND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR AS YOU SO

ELOQUENTLY ALWAYS DO, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

OF MR. DENDEKKER, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, GENTLEMEN, WE

WELCOME YOU HERE TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY. WE EXTEND TO

YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. WE THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING AND

SHARING THIS DAY WITH US, BUT MOST OF ALL FOR THE TREMENDOUS YEARS OF

SERVICE THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED THE CITY OF NEW YORK. PLEASE KNOW

THAT WE ARE FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR THAT AND ALWAYS MINDFUL OF THE WORK

THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, AND CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE DAY.

(APPLAUSE)

MS. PHEFFER AMATO FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN

INTRODUCTION.

MS. PHEFFER AMATO: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

I'M HONORED TODAY TO INTRODUCE LEROY MCGINNIS, WHO IS VICE

PRESIDENT OF THE UNIFORM -- UNIFORMED FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION. HE

ALSO HAS SERVED OVER 33 YEARS IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. BUT I'M MOST

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

PROUD OF, HE'S FROM -- HE SERVED IN ENGINE 266, WHICH IS LOCATED IN

ROCKAWAY BEACH. HE WAS A QUEENS TRUSTEE, RECORDING SECRETARY AND

NOW VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNION. AND MR. SPEAKER, I DON'T KNOW IF

YOU KNOW, BUT THE U.F.A. UNIFORMED FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION, IS A

NON-PROFIT ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION FORMED IN 1917, REPRESENTING THE

HEALTH, SAFETY AND INTERESTS OF NEW YORK CITY'S FIREFIGHTERS AND ITS

CITIZENS THAT THEY ARE SWORN TO PROTECT.

MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU CAN GIVE

LEROY MCGINNIS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY

AND FOR AN INTRODUCTION.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

OF MS. PHEFFER AMATO, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, SIR, WE

WELCOME YOU HERE TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY AND TO EXTEND THE

PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE, AND THE WORK THAT

YOU'VE DONE TO TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, YOU'RE

RIGHT WHERE YOU SHOULD BE. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. CONTINUE THAT

GREAT WORK.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. CUSICK FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION

MR. CUSICK: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RISE FOR

THE PURPOSE OF AN INTRODUCTION. WE ARE JOINED HERE TODAY BY THE

PRESIDENT OF THE UNIFORMED FIREFIGHTERS, MR. GERARD FITZGERALD.

GERARD IS A FRIEND OF MANY OF US IN THIS ROOM. HE IS HERE WITH HIS

COLLEAGUES WHO WERE INTRODUCED BEFORE, TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THE

BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE FDNY, TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR WELL-BEING

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

AND THEIR HEALTH HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE. SO, MR. SPEAKER, GERARD HAS

BEEN A MEMBER OF THE FDNY FOR 20 YEARS. HE IS IN ENGINE 318 IN

BROOKLYN, AND HE SERVES AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIFORMED FIREFIGHTERS

ASSOCIATION.

SO MR. SPEAKER, IF YOU COULD GIVE GERARD AND THE

MEMBERS OF THE U.F.A. THE PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE, I WOULD DULY

APPRECIATE THAT.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

OF MR. CUSICK, ALSO MR. BENEDETTO, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS,

WE WELCOME YOU HERE, SIR, TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY, EXTEND TO

YOU AND THE MEMBERS OF THE U.F.A. THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. THANK

ALL OF YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. CERTAINLY WITH ONLY 20 YEARS,

YOU'RE A ROOKIE ACCORDING TO THESE OTHER GUYS. BUT I HOPE THAT YOU WILL

HAVE A LONG AND PROSPEROUS SERVICE, AS YOU HAVE. AND, OF COURSE, THE

PRESIDENCY HAS ITS OWN WEIGHT AND RESPONSIBILITY. HOPE THAT YOU BEAR

WELL UNDER THAT WEIGHT. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

(APPLAUSE)

FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION, MS. PAULIN.

MS. PAULIN: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I AM VERY

PLEASED TODAY TO WELCOME TO THE ASSEMBLY FLOOR A GROUP OF

DISTINGUISHED MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM THE 88TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

AND THEIR FAMILIES. WITH US TODAY ARE TWO STUDENTS FROM PELHAM

MIDDLE SCHOOL; BATES BLAND AND BENNETT WIES. AND ABIGAIL

RITTENBERG FROM ALBERT LEONARD MIDDLE SCHOOL IN NEW ROCHELLE.

THESE THREE STUDENTS WROTE WINNING ESSAYS FOR MY FOURTH ANNUAL

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

"THERE OUGHT TO BE A LAW" CONTEST. THE CONTEST ASKS MIDDLE SCHOOL

STUDENTS IN MY DISTRICT TO IDENTIFY A PROBLEM IMPACTING NEW YORKERS

THAT COULD BE SOLVED BY CREATING A NEW LAW, AND TO WRITE A PERSUASIVE

ESSAY ARGUING FOR THEIR SOLUTION. WE HAD PARTICIPATION FROM FIVE

MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND 100 STUDENTS. IT WAS A TOUGH COMPETITION, BUT THE

ESSAYS THESE BRIGHT YOUNG ADVOCATES WROTE ON TOPICS INCLUDING MOTOR

VEHICLE SAFETY, REDUCING SINGLE-USE PLASTIC, AND PREVENTING YOUNG

PEOPLE FROM GETTING HOOKED ON SMOKING OR JUULING WERE TRULY THE BEST

OF THE BEST.

I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING THESE

YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS AND EXTEND THEM THE CORDIALITIES

OF THE HOUSE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

OF MS. PAULIN, THE SPEAKER AND ALL OF THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME THESE

EXTRAORDINARY STUDENTS HERE TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY, EXTEND

TO YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. OUR CONGRATULATIONS ON WINNING THAT

CONTEST, BUT ALSO ON PUTTING IN THE WORK THAT CAUSED YOU TO WRITE SUCH

INTERESTING ARTICLES. PLEASE CONTINUE THAT WORK. YOU ARE ALWAYS

WELCOME HERE. WE ALSO WANT TO THANK, I BELIEVE, THE PARENTS THAT HAVE

COME. AND WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM BECAUSE CHILDREN ARE RAISED

BY GOOD PARENTS, THEY PRODUCE GOOD WORK. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WORK. THANK YOU.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. ZEBROWSKI FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

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

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE TWO ORGANIZATIONS AND -- AND FOUR

INDIVIDUALS FROM -- IF THEY COULD STAND, IN THE BACK. THESE

ORGANIZATIONS DO AWARENESS AROUND WELLNESS, AROUND CERTAIN

CONDITIONS AND DISEASES AND TRYING TO MAKE NEW YORKERS AND, REALLY

AROUND THE NATION, PEOPLE HEALTHIER. FROM THE GLOBAL HEALTHY LIVING

FOUNDATION, WE HAVE COREY GREENBLATT AND HANNE GENYN, WHO -- THEY

DO GREAT WORK IN TERMS OF A WHOLE BUNCH OF TREATMENTS AND -- AND, YOU

KNOW, REALLY MAKING PEOPLE AROUND OUR DISTRICTS IN NEW YORK

HEALTHIER. AND SPECIFICALLY ALSO FROM THE CHRONIC MIGRAINE AWARENESS

INCORPORATED, WE HAVE CATHERINE CHARRETT-DYKES AND CHRIS

CHARRETT-DYKES.

NOW, THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS, MR. SPEAKER, ARE FROM

ASSEMBLYMEMBER DESTEFANO'S DISTRICT, SO IF YOU COULD OFFER A

WELCOME FROM HIM AS WELL. THEY'RE UP HERE TODAY SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE

IN A LITTLE WHILE WE'LL BE DOING A -- PASSING, HOPEFULLY, A LEGISLATIVE

RESOLUTION RELATED TO MIGRAINE AND HEADACHE AWARENESS MONTH IN THE

STATE OF NEW YORK RELATED TO THAT CONDITION. SO, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT,

MR. SPEAKER, ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER DESTEFANO, IF

YOU COULD WELCOME THESE INDIVIDUALS HERE TODAY WHO ARE DOING SO

MUCH AROUND OUR STATE TO PROMOTE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

OF MR. ZEBROWSKI, MR. DESTEFANO, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS,

WE WELCOME YOU HERE TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY, EXTEND TO YOU

THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING

IN HELPING INDIVIDUALS AND PEOPLE IN OUR STATE STAY HEALTHY. CONTINUE

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

THAT WORK. VERY IMPORTANT FOR US AS A STATE TO BE MINDFUL OF THE HEALTH

OF OUR COMMUNITIES. PLEASE CONTINUE THAT WORK. THANK YOU SO VERY

MUCH, AND YOU ARE WELCOME HERE AGAIN.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. BRABENEC FOR AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. BRABENEC: TOP OF THE MORNING, MR.

SPEAKER. I HAVE WITH US A VERY DISTINGUISHED GUEST TODAY, MR. JAMES

W. STURR, JR. -- STAND UP, IF YOU WOULD. MR. JIMMY STURR IS THE

WORLD-RENOWNED "POLKA KING," AND HE IS A WORLD-RENOWNED AMERICAN

CLARINETIST, SAXOPHONIST AND BAND LEADER. HE HAS WON 18 OUT OF 25

GRAMMY AWARDS GIVEN OUT FOR THE BEST POLKA ALBUM. WORLD RECORD

HOLDER OF THE TOP 10 GRAMMY AWARDS GIVEN OUT TO ONE INDIVIDUAL.

HE'S PLAYED REMARKABLE VENUES SUCH AS LINCOLN CENTER, CARNEGIE HALL

AND THE PALACE OF CULTURE IN WARSAW, POLAND. SOLD-OUT CROWDS

THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, INCLUDING 20,000-PLUS FANS OF NEW BRAUNFELS,

TEXAS, WHERE I HAVE HAPPENED TO ACCOMPANY HIM ON MANY OCCASIONS.

HE HAS HIS OWN NATIONWIDE TELEVISION SHOW, HAS HIS OWN RECORD LABEL

AND SHOW ON WORLDWIDE SATELLITE RADIO SIRIUSXM. THE ONLY BAND EVER

FEATURED AT THE GRAND OLE OPRY WITH BRASS INSTRUMENTS -- THAT'S THE

JIMMY STURR AND HIS ORCHESTRA. HE HAS RECEIVED FIVE GOLD ALBUMS,

EACH REPRESENTING $5 MILLION IN SALES, HAS BEEN ON ALMOST EVERY SINGLE

TELEVISION NETWORK, HAS BEEN FEATURED ON "WHO WANTS TO BE A

MILLIONAIRE", HAS PLAYED WITH MAJOR NAMES SUCH AS WILLIE NELSON, THE

OAKRIDGE BOYS, ALISON KRAUSS, BRENDA LEE, BOOTS RANDOLPH, MEL

TILLIS, GARY PUCKETT, ARLO GUTHRIE, CHARLIE DANIELS AND COUNTLESS

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

OTHERS. I AM PROUD TO CALL HIM A FRIEND AND A CONSTITUENT. HE HAILS

FROM MY DISTRICT IN FLORIDA, NEW YORK, AND HE WAS BORN AND RAISED

THERE. HE'S ACCOMPANIED BY GUS AND ROSE ZYGMUNT, TIM BLAKINER,

BARBARA JONES -- OR JAMES, AND JOHN BACON.

SO, ON BEHALF OF THE ORANGE COUNTY DELEGATION, MS.

GUNTHER, MR. MILLER, MR. SCHMITT, MR. JACOBSON AND ALSO MY

COLLEAGUE, MR. KEVIN BYRNE, PLEASE WELCOME THE FAMOUS JIMMY STURR

TO THE MIGHTY CITY OF ALBANY AND THANK YOU FOR BEING -- GIVE HIM ALL

THE CORDIALITIES OF THE HOUSE, PLEASE.

(APPLAUSE)

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

OF MR. BRABENEC AND THE ORANGE COUNTY DELEGATION, SIR, WE WELCOME

YOU HERE TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY AND EXTEND TO YOU THE

PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. CERTAINLY CONGRATULATE YOU ON A MARVELOUSLY

SUCCESSFUL CAREER. CONTINUE THAT GREAT WORK. CONTINUE MAKING THE

MUSIC THAT PEOPLE LOVE TO DANCE TO. AND MY COLLEAGUE SAYS WE SHOULD

SAY, "ROLL OUT THE BARREL." WE'LL BE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU. THANK YOU SO

VERY MUCH.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. DIPIETRO.

MR. DIPIETRO: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I DON'T

KNOW HOW TO TOP THAT, BUT I DO HAVE SOME VERY DISTINGUISHED GUESTS

HERE I THINK YOU'LL FIND VERY INTERESTING. THIS IS SANTOS LOPEZ AND HIS

DAUGHTER, DELIA. WHAT'S AWESOME ABOUT THIS IS SANTOS, HIS GRANDFATHER

WAS THE ORIGINAL SIGNER AND CO-DRAFTER OF THE PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

IN 1934. AND HIS GREAT-UNCLE IS DR. JOS� RIZAL, WHO IS THE FATHER OF

PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE. TODAY IS FILIPINO DAY, WHICH I'M HOSTING.

IT'S ON THE THIRD FLOOR. ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO, WE'LL BE BRINGING

THEM DOWN.

BUT IF YOU COULD GIVE THEM ALL THE CORDIALITIES OF THE

HOUSE FOR FILIPINO DAY AND ON BEHALF OF HIS FAMILY, THAT WOULD BE

FANTASTIC. THANK YOU, SIR.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

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

YOU HERE TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY, EXTEND TO YOU THE

PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. AND WHAT AN HISTORIC FAMILY YOU'RE A PART OF.

I'M SURE YOU'RE PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE AND THEY, IN THEIR

WAY, MUST BE PROUD OF THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU SO VERY

MUCH. AND TO -- THAT'S YOUR DAUGHTER, I PRESUME? BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER

THAT YOU HAVE. YOU'VE DONE ALL THE BEST WORK YOU HAVE. THANK YOU

AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

(APPLAUSE)

(PAUSE)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN

INTRODUCTION.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MR.

SPEAKER. WHAT AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE I HAVE TO, ON BEHALF OF

MEMBER JOSE RIVERA, TO INTRODUCE MARCIA CORTEZ. MARCIA IS A STUDENT

AT YORK PREPARATORY SCHOOL. SHE IS 13 YEARS OLD. AND, MR. SPEAKER,

SHE'S A CHAMPION SOCCER PLAYER. WOULD YOU PLEASE WELCOME HER TO OUR

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

CHAMBERS [SIC]?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

OF MR. RIVERA, 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. CERTAINLY, OUR CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR ATHLETIC

ACHIEVEMENTS, BUT ALSO FOR MAINTAINING A GREAT ACADEMIC WORLD. PLEASE

CONTINUE TO DO THAT WORK. KNOW THAT THEY ARE LINKED INEVITABLY IN YOUR

LIFE. THANK YOU, AND YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME HERE.

(APPLAUSE)

(PAUSE)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN

INTRODUCTION, PLEASE.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MR.

SPEAKER. I AM HONORED TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REQUEST AN

INTRODUCTION AND A WELCOME TO OUR CHAMBERS [SIC] FOR MRS. ROSA

AGUDELO. SHE IS A HEAD START TEACHER. SHE WORKS WITH THREE- AND

FOUR-YEAR-OLDS EVERY DAY IN BROOKLYN, WHICH YOU KNOW, MR. SPEAKER,

IS A CHALLENGE. SHE'S AN IMMIGRANT FROM COLUMBIA WHERE SHE WAS A

NURSE FOR MORE THAN A DECADE. SHE IS -- CAME TO THE UNITED STATES IN

1992 WITH HER DAUGHTER, WHO IS NOW OUR COLLEAGUE, ASSEMBLYWOMAN

CATALINA CRUZ. SHE SETTLED IN QUEENS, WHERE ROSA AND

ASSEMBLYMEMBER CRUZ LIVED AS UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS FOR TEN

YEARS. SHE NOW CURRENTLY LIVES IN OZONE PARK WITH HER THREE OTHER

CHILDREN, LAURA, MONICA AND HECTOR, AND HER GRANDDAUGHTER.

MR. SPEAKER, WOULD YOU PLEASE WELCOME THIS

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

ESTEEMED MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER TO OUR CHAMBERS [SIC]?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

OF MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES AND YOUR DAUGHTER, WE WELCOME YOU HERE TO

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

FLOOR. YOU ARE FAMILY, YOU ALWAYS HAVE THAT. WE ARE SO HAPPY THAT

YOU ARE ABLE TO COME UP. AND, OBVIOUSLY, THE JOY THAT YOUR DAUGHTER

HAS IN HAVING YOU JOIN US TODAY. CONGRATULATIONS TO THAT GREAT FAMILY

THAT YOU ARE. AND BEING FROM QUEENS, WE KNOW YOU'RE THE BEST.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

(APPLAUSE)

SHH. SHH. SHH. THAT IS STAFF ALSO, PLEASE. WE ARE

DOING A PRESENTATION. YOU -- WHATEVER THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE, THEY

WILL WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE PRESENTATION. MEMBERS WILL TAKE THEIR SEATS,

PLEASE, IN RESPECT.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

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

PLEASE ASK THE CLERK TO CALL UP THE RESOLUTION HONORING OUR DECEASED

COLLEAGUES?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 544, MR.

HEASTIE.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION HONORING THE MEMORY OF THE

DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY, IN RECOGNITION OF

THEIR CAREERS IN PUBLIC SERVICE.

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

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

COULD NOW PLEASE HAVE A -- THE REMAINDER OF THE COLLEAGUES AND/OR

GUESTS THAT ARE IN THE CHAMBERS [SIC] HAVE A SEAT.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: DOORS WILL BE CLOSED.

NO ONE WILL BE LET IN OR OUT UNTIL THE PRESENTATION IS FINISHED.

MEMBERS WILL STAY IN THEIR SEATS.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MEMBERS AND

COLLEAGUES, THIS IS A SOLEMN OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR OUR PREVIOUS

COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE TRANSITIONED. FOR THOSE OF US WHO BELIEVE IN THE

CREATOR, WE ALL KNOW THAT AS SOON AS WE ARE BORN, WE WILL SOMEDAY

DIE. SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES HAVE GONE ON, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO

HONOR THEM, MR. SPEAKER. THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE FIRST AND MOST

MEMORABLE OPPORTUNITIES I'VE EVER HAD IN THIS CHAMBER WAS THIS

OPPORTUNITY FOR SILENCE. NO WALKING, NO RUNNING. PEOPLE PAYING

ATTENTION TO THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO HAVE WENT BEFORE US. THERE ARE

SEVERAL THIS YEAR, MR. SPEAKER. AND MANY OF OUR COLLEAGUES WHO ARE

IN THE CHAMBERS [SIC] NOW WILL SHARE WITH US OPPORTUNITIES TO HONOR

THEIR MEMORIES.

SEYMOUR BOYERS, WHO SERVED THE 21 -- SERVED THE 21ST

-- 24TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT FROM 1967 TO 1968; JOS� PERALTA, WHO SERVED

THE 39TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT FROM 2003 TO 2010. IN FACT, JOS� AND I

CAME IN THE SAME YEAR. MEL MILLER, WHO SERVED THE 44TH ASSEMBLY

DISTRICT FROM 1971 TO 1991; GUY MOLINARI, WHO SERVED THE 60TH

ASSEMBLY DISTRICT FROM 1965 TO 1980; JAMES TULLY, WHO SERVED THE

61ST ASSEMBLY DISTRICT FROM 1966 -- IN 1966; MARIE RUNYON, WHO

SERVED THE 70TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT IN 1975; GREGORY YOUNG, WHO

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

SERVED THE 88TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT FROM 1983 TO 1992. CHLOE O'NEIL,

WHO SERVED THE 112TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT FROM 1930 -- 1993 TO 1998;

THOMAS HANNA, WHO SERVED THE 130TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT FROM 1973 TO

1982; AND DANIEL B. WALSH, WHO SERVED THE 149TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

FROM 1973 UNTIL 1987.

WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, YOU WILL HEAR FROM SEVERAL OF

OUR COLLEAGUES AS WE HONOR THE LIVES OF THESE GREAT NOT ONLY JUST NEW

YORK STATE CITIZENS, BUT AMERICAN CITIZENS AND HONORABLE COLLEAGUES OF

THIS HONORABLE HOUSE, THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION,

MR. LENTOL.

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

MAJORITY LEADER IS CORRECT. THIS IS A VERY SOLEMN DAY, AND ONE THAT WE

SHOULD ALL BE CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF FORMER COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE COME

AND GONE. AND MANY OF YOU PROBABLY KNOW THE NAMES AND NOT THE

FACES AND NOT THE PEOPLE. UNFORTUNATELY -- OR FORTUNATELY FOR ME, I

SHOULD SAY, I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW MANY OF THE MEMBERS

WHO ARE ON THE LIST THAT WE HONOR TODAY. AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT IT WAS

A VERY HEARTWARMING EXPERIENCE THIS MORNING AT MASS TO LISTEN TO THE

WONDERFUL SERVICE THAT, BY THE WAY, USED TO BE ATTENDED BY ALMOST

EVERYBODY IN THIS HOUSE WHEN WE HAD A MEMORIAL MASS FOR DECEASED

MEMBERS. BUT NOW IT'S KIND OF SPARSELY ATTENDED. BUT I SAY THAT

BECAUSE I HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO SERVED

US SO WELL, EACH IN THEIR OWN WAY, WHO PROTECTED THE PEOPLE OF THE

STATE OF NEW YORK. I MEAN, YOU CAN LOOK OVER THE LIST TO SEE IF YOUR

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

MEMBER OR YOUR PREVIOUS MEMBER IS ON THE LIST, EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T

KNOW HIM, AND LEARN ABOUT WHO HE OR SHE WAS. BECAUSE THEY ALL DID

WHAT WAS RIGHT FOR THE STATE OF NEW YORK, PROTECTING THE NEEDS OF THEIR

CONSTITUENTS AND THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

I PARTICULARLY REMEMBER ONE NAME THAT STANDS OUT ON

THE LIST, AND THAT'S SPEAKER MEL MILLER, WHO SERVED THIS HOUSE --

SERVED THIS HOUSE WITH GREAT DISTINCTION. AND BEFORE I GOT HERE TO DO

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICE AS CHAIRMAN OF THE CODES COMMITTEE, HE WAS

WORKING HARD TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT WHILE PROTECTING THE PEOPLE OF THE

STATE OF NEW YORK, AND ALSO WORKING HARD TO CONVICT THE GUILTY, I

MIGHT SAY. BECAUSE HE WAS TRULY A SPEAKER WHO WAS A MAN OF THE

PEOPLE. HE CAME TO AN IGNO -- IGNOMINIOUS -- TRYING TO GET OUT THOSE

BIG WORDS ARE HARD, AND WHEN YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE

DIED -- FATE, BECAUSE HE WAS ACCUSED OF A CRIME FOR WHICH HE WAS

CONVICTED AND LOST HIS SPEAKERSHIP AND HIS SEAT. BUT THE LORD WAS

GOOD TO HIM, BECAUSE THE COURT REVERSED THAT CASE AND GAVE HIM A NEW

LIFE. OF COURSE HE COULD NEVER COME BACK AS SPEAKER BECAUSE HE HAD

BEEN CONVICTED OF A FELONY, BUT NONETHELESS, HE CONTINUED TO SERVE IN A

CAPACITY -- IN A DIFFERENT CAPACITY AS A LOBBYIST AND AS AN ADVISOR TO

MANY OF US ABOUT BILLS BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE. I KNOW THAT I CALLED

UPON HIM MANY TIMES FOR ADVICE ON BILLS ON CODES, AND JUST IN GENERAL,

FOR HIS LEADERSHIP SO THAT WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD IN A DIRECTION THAT

THIS HOUSE NEEDED.

ANOTHER NAME THAT STANDS OUT OF COURSE, MADAM

MAJORITY LEADER, IS DAN WALSH, WHO WAS MY CLASSMATE AND SAT IN THE

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

BACK WITH ME, RIGHT NEXT TO ME. AND WE TALKED FOR MANY YEARS SIDE BY

SIDE, CHAIRS RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER. BUT HIS SERVICE AS MAJORITY

LEADER STANDS OUT BECAUSE MS. PEOPLES, HE WAS -- HE WAS A GUY WHO

WOULD LOOK AT YOU WHEN THINGS WERE GOING WRONG AND YOU GOT ANGRY

AND HE WOULDN'T SAY ANYTHING. HE'D JUST KIND OF WALK OVER TO YOU AND

PUT HIS HAND ON YOUR SHOULDER AND SAY, CALM DOWN. AND YOU DID,

BECAUSE THAT WAS THE TYPE OF GUY HE WAS. AND HE SERVED HIS

CONSTITUENTS IN CATTARAUGUS COUNTY. ANY OF YOU COME FROM THERE, YOU

MAY REMEMBER THE NAME. HE WAS THE FIRST ASSEMBLYMEMBER, AS I

RECALL IT, TO WALK THE STREETS OF HIS DISTRICT FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER,

GETTING VOTES. AND HE WAS, I THINK, THE FIRST DEMOCRAT EVER -- EVER TO

BE ELECTED FROM CATTA -- CATTARAUGUS COUNTY. EXCUSE ME FOR SAYING IT

WRONG.

MARIE RUNYON WAS A FIREBRAND FROM HARLEM. SHE

WAS A WHITE WOMAN, WHO I THINK MAY HAVE BEEN THE ONLY WHITE

WOMAN THAT I CAN REMEMBER UNTIL DANNY O'DONNELL WAS ELECTED THAT

EVER REPRESENTED HARLEM OR PARTS OF HARLEM. AND SHE WAS AN UNUSUAL

-- AN UNUSUALLY GREAT SPEAKER, I THOUGHT, AND ONE OF THE FIRST WOMEN TO

MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE JUST BY HER BEING HERE AND TEACHING US

WHAT IT WAS TO REPRESENT A POOR DISTRICT AND HAVING US UNDERSTAND HOW

TO SERVE THE POOREST AND THE NEEDIEST AMONG US.

SY BOYERS, UNFORTUNATELY, I DIDN'T KNOW. HE CAME

BEFORE ME.

JOS� PERALTA MADE A MISTAKE IN HIS CAREER THAT

PROBABLY COST HIM HIS SENATE SEAT. BUT HE SERVED WITH DISTINCTION IN

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

BOTH THE ASSEMBLY AND THE SENATE. HE WAS A -- A FRIEND OF MINE, AND

HE HAPPENED TO BE A GOOD JOE. AND, OF COURSE, HE WAS AMONG A

FRATERNITY OF US WHO HAPPENED TO BE GOOD JOES, LIKE JOE LENTOL. AND

I'M PROUD TO CALL HIM MY FRIEND. AND I WAS SADDENED, AS I KNOW MANY

OF YOU WERE, TO HEAR OF HIS PASSING. AND OF COURSE, HE WAS PROBABLY

ONE OF THE YOUNGEST ON THIS LIST WHO DIED WAY TOO SOON.

TOM HANNA; A REPUBLICAN FROM MONROE COUNTY. I

REMEMBER VERY WELL. HE WAS A -- A LEADING OPPONENT -- OR A LEADING

PROPONENT, I SHOULD SAY; I WON'T SAY ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT ANYBODY

TODAY. HE WAS A LEADING PROPONENT FOR PENSION REFORM, AND I NEVER

HEARD ANYBODY SO ELOQUENT ABOUT WHY WE SHOULD REFORM THE PENSION

SYSTEMS OF NEW YORK, ESPECIALLY SINCE HE WAS IN IT. BUT HE UNDERSTOOD

THAT VERY WELL, AS MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES DO ON THE OTHER SIDE, THE NEED

FOR US TO TACKLE REFORM ISSUES EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE DIFFICULT AND WE

DON'T LIKE TO DEAL WITH THEM. HE WAS SOMEBODY THAT I'LL REMEMBER ALSO

WITH A GREAT DEAL OF MEMORY, AS -- AS IS THE CASE OF EVERY MEMBER ON

THIS LIST. WHEN YOU SERVE IN THIS BODY, PEOPLE REMEMBER YOU. YOUR

PEOPLE REMEMBER YOU, AND WE REMEMBER YOU. BECAUSE IN THE END, WE

ARE A FAMILY WHEN YOU ARE ELECTED TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY OR

THE NEW YORK STATE SENATE. AND WE TEND TO REMEMBER OUR OWN, JUST

LIKE EVERY OTHER FAMILY. SO MR. SPEAKER, I COMMEND TO YOU THE NAMES

OF ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY THE ONES I'VE MENTIONED.

AND THE LAST ONE I'LL TALK ABOUT IS GREG YOUNG, WHO

WAS FROM WESTCHESTER COUNTY, WHO WAS ONE OF THE NICEST INDIVIDUALS

AND ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE EVER TO SERVE IN THIS HOUSE. AND HE

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

ALSO DIED TOO YOUNG. AND I'LL REMEMBER HIM FONDLY, AS I WILL

REMEMBER ALL OF THE PEOPLE I SERVED WITH AND TRY TO THINK ABOUT THEM

EVERY TIME WE DO THESE MEMORIALS SO THAT WE NEVER FORGET.

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

SPEAKER HEASTIE: MR. DENDEKKER ON THE

RESOLUTION.

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

ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON THE RESOLUTION. ALSO, LIKE MY COLLEAGUE JUST

MENTIONED, I WAS AT THE LEGISLATORS MEMORIAL SERVICE THIS MORNING,

AND I WOULD HOPE THAT MORE OF YOU WOULD TAKE PART IN IT NEXT YEAR.

BECAUSE THERE WILL COME A DAY WHEN YOU, TOO, WILL NOT BE HERE, AND THE

BODY THAT WILL BE HERE WILL BE REMEMBERING YOU AND YOUR WORK AND

YOUR SERVICE TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

I WAS PROFOUNDLY TOUCHED THIS MORNING TO HEAR THE

NAME JOS� PERALTA MENTIONED. I KNOW JOS� FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. HE

SERVED IN THIS HOUSE FROM 2003 TO 2010, AND THEN SERVED IN THE SENATE

FROM 2010 TO 2018. TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAD THE PLEASURE OF SERVING

WITH JOS�, I WILL TELL YOU, HE WAS A -- A -- A -- A BULL WHEN IT CAME TO

LEGISLATION ON THINGS THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO HIM. AND WE WERE LUCKY

ENOUGH THAT HE FOUGHT VERY HARD FOR THE DREAM ACT, AND THIS YEAR IT

BECAME A REALITY. THAT WAS HIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT HE CARED MOST

ABOUT. I -- I -- I WOULD DISAGREE WITH WHETHER OR NOT HE MADE A

MISTAKE IN HIS CAREER. IT WAS POLITICS, AND I THINK HE WAS TRYING TO DO

WHATEVER HE COULD DO TO CONTINUE THE WORK FOR HIS CONSTITUENCY IN A

MANNER THAT HE THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE HELPFUL. HE WAS NOT THE TYPE

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

OF PERSON WHO WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR A SELF-SERVING REASON. HE ONLY

CARED ABOUT HIS CONSTITUENTS AND TO DO THE BEST HE COULD FOR HIS

COMMUNITY. AND WHETHER OR NOT PEOPLE AGREE WITH HOW HE CHOSE TO

DO THAT, THAT'S NEITHER HERE NOR THERE. BUT WHEN YOU GO TO THE SERVICE,

YOU HEAR THE -- THE YEAR THAT SOMEBODY WAS BORN AND THE YEAR THAT THEY

DIED. AND IN JOS�'S PARTICULAR INSTANCE, 1971 TO 2018. A VERY YOUNG

MAN. HAD JUST TURNED 47 YEARS OLD. BUT WE ALWAYS LISTEN TO PEOPLE

WHO TALK MORE SPIRITUALLY, AND -- AND THEY TALK ABOUT THE DASH BETWEEN

1971 AND 2018. AND THE DASH IS OUR LIFE, AND WE'RE HERE FOR A LIMITED

AMOUNT OF TIME. I DON'T CARE HOW IMPORTANT YOU THINK YOU MAY BE TO

THIS WORLD, WE ARE ALL HERE FOR A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME. WE JUST DON'T

KNOW HOW LONG THE DASH IS GOING TO BE. IN JOSE'S PARTICULAR DASH, THE

THINGS THAT HE DID IN HIS LIFE WERE VERY BENEFICIAL TO HIS CONSTITUENCY, AS

WELL AS TO ME PERSONALLY, AS WELL AS TO HIS FAMILY, IS WIFE, EVELYN, HIS

TWO SONS, MYLES AND MATTHEW. AND I TRULY BELIEVE HE WOULD BE VERY,

VERY HAPPY TO KNOW THAT THE DREAM ACT GOT PASSED. HE PROBABLY

LOOKED DOWN AND WENT, REALLY? YOU KNOW, NOW? WE COULDN'T HAVE

DONE IT THE YEAR BEFORE? BECAUSE THAT'S HOW MUCH HE CARED ABOUT IT,

AND THAT'S HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO HIM. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK

HE'D ALSO BE VERY HAPPY TO KNOW THAT THIS BODY PAUSED FOR A MOMENT TO

ACTUALLY LOOK AT HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER, AND HOPEFULLY ALL OF YOU IN THIS

ROOM WILL THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE TO THIS HOUSE, TO THE OTHER HOUSE,

TO THE CONSTITUENCY THAT HE REPRESENTED, AS WELL AS ALL OF THE RESIDENTS

OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. HE WAS SOMEONE WHO SERVED WITH DIGNITY

AND RESPECT, AND WILL ALWAYS HAVE MY UTMOST PRAISE FOR ALL THE WORK

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

THAT HE DID.

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

SPEAKER HEASTIE: THANK YOU.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MR.

SPEAKER. MANY APOLOGIES, BUT WE DID LEAVE OFF ONE VERY IMPORTANT

COLLEAGUE'S NAME OFF THE LIST. WE WILL BE ADDING THAT TO THE FORMAL

RESOLUTION, AS IT IS APPROPRIATE TO DO. BUT I WANT TO MENTION HIM NOW.

HE IS JAMES F. NAGLE. HE WAS THE MEMBER FOR THE 130 -- 40 -- NO,

135TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT, AND HE SERVED FROM 1976 TO 1991, MR.

SPEAKER. JAMES F. NAGLE.

SPEAKER HEASTIE: THANK YOU, MRS.

PEOPLES-STOKES.

MS. WEINSTEIN ON THE RESOLUTION.

MS. WEINSTEIN: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. LIKE SO

MANY OTHER TIMES THAT WE'VE ACTED ON THESE RESOLUTIONS, I REALIZE THAT

WITH MORE YEARS HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE, I KNOW MORE AND MORE OF THE

PEOPLE ON THE LIST WHO HAVE PASSED THAT I'VE SERVED WITH. AND I JUST

WANTED TO MENTION TWO OF THEM THAT I WAS VERY HAPPY TO -- TO SERVE

WITH, FROM TWO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE. MEL MILLER, SPEAKER,

CHAIRMAN OF THE CODES COMMITTEE, WAS A -- A FRIEND AND A NEIGHBORING

ASSEMBLYMEMBER. IN -- SOME PEOPLE ONLY SAW HIM HERE, BUT BACK IN

BROOKLYN, HE WAS ONE OF THE STRONGEST ADVOCATES FOR PRE-K EDUCATION

FUNDING. AND OUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT HAD SCHOOL -- HAD PRE-K IN

EVERY SCHOOL BECAUSE OF MEL MILLER LONG BEFORE IT BECAME A -- A

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

POPULAR IDEA TO -- TO DO. AND I THINK BECAUSE OF THAT WE WERE ABLE TO

PROVIDE THE EVIDENCE TO ALLOW THAT TO GO BEYOND JUST BROOKLYN AND OUR

LOCAL COMMUNITY, BUT THROUGHOUT THE -- THE STATE. BUT I -- AND I COULD

PROBABLY TELL A NUMBER OF STORIES ABOUT MEL. THEY'D BE VERY ANIMATED

BECAUSE HE ALWAYS LIKED TO USE HIS HANDS WHEN HE SPOKE, AND I DON'T

THINK I COULD DO THOSE -- SOME OF THOSE JUSTICE. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I

DID WANT TO -- TO MENTION IS -- ASSEMBLYMAN LENTOL MENTIONED THAT JOE

-- THAT MEL WAS CHAIR OF THE CODES COMMITTEE. SO IN THE MID-80'S -

ACTUALLY, IT WAS 1984 - THE POST WAS REALLY GOING AFTER HIM AND THE

ASSEMBLY FOR WHAT THEY CALLED "CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM," BUT WE WERE

STANDING UP FOR THE PRINCIPLES HERE OF DEMOCRACY IN THE ASSEMBLY. SO

THERE WAS AN EDITORIAL AFTER WE HAD A VOTE WHERE A NUMBER OF US STOOD

WITH MEL AND REJECTED THE POST'S PUSHING US, AND THE HEADLINE OF THE

EDITORIAL WAS, TO REFORM THE COURTS, LET'S FORGET MILLER TIME. AND THEY

-- THEIR IDEA OF REFORM WAS NOT OUR IDEA OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

THEN THEY LISTED THE GOOD GUYS WHICH WAS SOME DEMS, SOME

REPUBLICANS, AND THEN THERE WAS A LIST OF "THE MILLER GANG." SO THE

ONLY ONES LEFT -- THE ONLY ONES STILL SERVING IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE

MILLER GANG IS ASSEMBLYMAN LENTOL, MYSELF, AND ACTUALLY JOHN

FLANAGAN IN THE SENATE. AND AFTER THE VOTE AND AFTER THE EDITORIAL, MEL

PRINTED UP THESE EDITORIALS - PROBABLY JOANIE UP THERE DID IT FOR HIM -

AND HE GAVE TO ALL OF THE MILLER GANG A SIGNED COPY OF THE EDITORIAL THAT

SAYS "THANKS FOR EVERYTHING. MEL. JUNE, 1984." WELL, I'VE HAD THAT

BEHIND MY DESK IN THE VARIOUS OFFICES THAT I'VE BEEN IN, JUST TO REMIND

ME THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO STAND UP FOR PRINCIPLE AND FOR WHAT'S RIGHT.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

AND EVERY SO OFTEN, I'D LOOK AT IT AND THINK OF MEL. ALSO, HE GAVE OUT

-- THERE WAS A -- OBVIOUSLY, A VERY HUMOROUS SIDE TO MEL. HE GAVE ALL

THE MEMBERS OF THE CODES COMMITTEE T-SHIRTS THAT HAD TOMBSTONES ON

IT WITH BILL NUMBERS THAT SAID, "THE CODES COMMITTEE: WHERE BILLS

GOES TO DIE." SO, IT WAS A -- A PLEASURE SERVING WITH MEL, AND MANY OF

THE ISSUES THAT HE WORKED ON FORMED A FOUNDATION OF SOME OF THE

CRIMINAL JUSTICE WORK THAT JOE LENTOL AND OTHERS HAVE -- HAVE

CONTINUED.

I ALSO WANTED TO JUST SAY SOMETHING ABOUT DANNY

WALSH. HE WAS A MAJORITY LEADER WHEN I WAS A RELATIVELY NEW

MEMBER, THOUGH -- AND HE HAD TO SUFFER SOME OF THE -- SOME OF THE

WOMEN MEMBERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE RESTROOM THAT'S

OUTSIDE THAT WE NOW HAVE WAS ONLY FOR THE MEN. AND THE WOMEN

MEMBERS WOULD SORT OF HAVE A TAG TEAM. BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE

ELECTRONIC VOTING, WE'D HAVE TO LET ANOTHER COLLEAGUE KNOW THAT WE

WERE GOING TO THE RESTROOM. AND WE REALLY WANTED TO HAVE THE

WOMEN'S -- THE RESTROOM BE ADJUSTED SO THAT -- TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE

WERE WOMEN HERE. SO AT ONE POINT, WE GAVE DANNY A PINK -- EILEEN

DUGAN AND I, WHO SERVED IN THE '80S -- GAVE DANNY A PINK TOILET SEAT.

WE PRESENTED HIM WITH A PINK TOILET SEAT. AND IT WAS SHORTLY

AFTERWARDS THAT, ALONG WITH SPEAKER FINK, THAT WE, IN FACT, HAD THE --

THE RESTROOM ADJUSTED TO SUIT BOTH MEN AND -- AND -- AND WOMEN. AND

I THOUGHT -- WHEN I HEARD THAT DANNY HAD PASSED AWAY, I THOUGHT TO MY

MYSELF THAT -- AS PEOPLE ARE -- AS THE FAMILY WAS GOING THROUGH HIS

BELONGINGS AND THROUGH THE VARIOUS THINGS IN HIS ROOM AND HIS GARAGE,

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

THAT I WONDERED IF THEY FOUND THAT PINK TOILET SEAT AND WONDERED, WHAT

THE HELL IS THIS DOING HERE AND WHY DOES THIS MAN HAVE THIS? WE HAD

ACTUALLY SIGNED IT.

SO, IT -- IT WAS A PLEASURE TO -- TO SERVE WITH HIM, AND

HE -- HE REALLY DID HAVE A -- A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR, AND WANTED TO JUST

PAY MY RESPECTS BOTH TO DAN -- DAN AND MEL AND -- AND THE OTHER

MEMBERS, BOTH THOSE THAT I SERVED WITH AND THOSE THAT I CAME TO KNOW

AFTER I BECAME A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE.

SPEAKER HEASTIE: MR. GOTTFRIED, WHO I THINK

HAS SERVED WITH EVERY MEMBER IN THE HISTORY OF THE ASSEMBLY, NEXT ON

THE RESOLUTION.

(LAUGHTER)

MR. GOTTFRIED: ACTUALLY, JUST -- MR. BOYERS

SERVED BEFORE I WAS ELECTED, WHICH MEANS HE MUST HAVE LIVED A LONG

LIFE. BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT MEL MILLER. MEL WAS ELECTED IN 1970,

THE SAME DAY I WAS. HE WAS BY FAR, IN MY ESTIMATION, ONE OF THE MOST

BRILLIANT PEOPLE THAT I'VE KNOWN, NOT ONLY SERVING IN THIS BODY, BUT JUST

OF ALL THE PEOPLE I'VE KNOWN. HE SOMEHOW SEEMED TO READ EVERYTHING

AND KNOW JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING. I AND A LOT OF OTHER MEMBERS WOULD

HAVE THE EXPERIENCE OF SENDING HIM A MEMO --IN THOSE DAYS IT

WOULD'VE BEEN HANDING IT TO HIS OFFICE, NOT E-MAILING IT -- YOU KNOW,

LIKE ON A MONDAY, AND THE NEXT MORNING HE WOULD PASS YOU IN THE HALL

AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SOME POINT ON PAGE 3 OF YOUR MEMO.

AS CHAIR OF THE CODES COMMITTEE, HE WAS, FIRST OF ALL, EXTRAORDINARILY

DELI -- DEVOTED TO CIVIL LIBERTIES AND JUSTICE. BUT ALSO UNDERSTOOD THAT

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

SOMETIMES YOU CAN GET AN AWFUL LOT MORE DONE AS THE SAYING GOES, IF

YOU DON'T CARE, WHO GETS THE CREDIT. YOU KNOW, YEARS AGO WHEN WE,

QUOTE, "REPEALED THE ROCKEFELLER DRUG LAWS," IT WAS A BIG DEAL. IT WAS

A MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT. MR. SPEAKER, YOU PLAYED A -- NO, JEFF -- WHERE'S

MR. AUBRY -- PLAYED A -- A KEY ROLE IN MAKING THAT HAPPEN. WHAT

ALMOST NOBODY KNOWS IS THAT IN THE '80S WHEN MEL CHAIRED THE CODES

COMMITTEE, HE AND RALPH MARINO, THE REPUBLICAN CHAIR OF THE SENATE

CODES COMMITTEE, VERY QUIETLY, YEAR AFTER YEAR, WOULD REPEAL ONE PIECE

OR ANOTHER OF THE ROCKEFELLER DRUG LAWS. AND SO BY THE TIME WE DID

THE BIG REPEAL OF THE ROCKEFELLER DRUG LAWS, THE JOB HAD BEEN ABOUT

HALF DONE IN THE '80S, VERY QUIETLY, BY MEL MILLER. BECAUSE HE KNEW

THAT DOING IT A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME WITHOUT MAKING ANY NOISE ABOUT IT WAS

THE WAY TO GET IT DONE. IRONICALLY, PERHAPS, HE WAS TAKEN FROM THE

ASSEMBLY BY A CRIMINAL CONVICTION THAT I AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE

AND I THINK ULTIMATELY AN APPELLATE COURT AGREED WAS AN INAPPROPRIATE,

SHALL WE SAY, PROSECUTION. BUT AFTER HE LEFT THE ASSEMBLY, HE -- IT

TURNED OUT HE COULDN'T STAY AWAY, AND CAME BACK FOR MANY, MANY YEARS

AS A VERY DECENT AND VERY EFFECTIVE LOBBYIST WHO CONTINUED -- I MEAN,

HE OCCASIONALLY WOULD LOBBY ME AS CHAIR OF THE HEALTH COMMITTEE,

AND IT ALWAYS ASTONISHED ME THE LEVEL OF DETAIL THAT HE KNEW ABOUT

WHAT WE WERE DOING IN THE HEALTH COMMITTEE, INCLUDING THINGS THAT

HAD HAPPENED THE DAY BEFORE. SO, I MISSED HIM WHEN HE WAS TAKEN

FROM THE ASSEMBLY, I MISSED HIM WHEN HE WAS TAKEN FROM US FINALLY.

I JUST WANT TO SAY SOMETHING VERY BRIEF ABOUT JIM

NAGLE. JIM NAGLE WAS, EARLY ON IN MY CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE HEALTH

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

COMMITTEE, I THINK OUR -- MY FIRST RANKING MINORITY MEMBER ON THE

HEALTH COMMITTEE, A DECENT, SMART, CONCERNED, LEVEL-HEADED LEGISLATOR.

A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH AS -- AS RANKING MINORITY MEMBER. AND I

JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT, YOU KNOW, HE -- HE WAS NOT AN EXCEPTION AMONG

OUR RANKING MINORITY MEMBERS TO -- TO HAVE THOSE QUALITIES. WE'VE

REALLY BEEN BLESSED WITH A SERIES OF RANKING MINORITY MEMBERS, UP TO

AND INCLUDING ANDY RAIA, WITH THOSE REALLY IMPORTANT AND USEFUL

CRITERIA.

SO, I MISS MEL MILLER, I MISS JIM NAGLE, AND LET'S TRY

TO REMEMBER THEM AND LIVE IN WAYS THAT HONOR THEM.

SPEAKER HEASTIE: MS. GLICK ON THE RESOLUTION.

MS. GLICK: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. WHEN I FIRST

ARRIVED HERE, MEL MILLER WAS THE -- WAS THE SPEAKER. AND OUR -- OUR

BODY WAS SOMEWHAT LESS DIVERSE. AND I ARRIVED AS THE FIRST OUT

MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE. AND SPEAKER MILLER WAS VERY HELPFUL AND

SUPPORTIVE IN DEFLECTING SOME OF THE QUESTIONS FROM THE PRESS. SO I

WILL ALWAYS THINK OF HIM FONDLY FOR HIS DEAFNESS, HIS WIT, AND HIS

SUPPORT. IT WAS A VERY DIFFERENT TIME, AND NOT NECESSARILY ONE IN WHICH

ONE FELT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SUPPORT. BUT HAVING THE SPEAKER BE

SUPPORTIVE WAS A VERY IMPORTANT START TO MY CAREER HERE, AND I WILL

ALWAYS THINK OF HIM FONDLY.

I ALSO WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT JOS� PERALTA. WE WORKED

ON THE DREAM ACT TOGETHER FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND IT WAS, FOR

HIM, JUST A MATTER OF SIMPLE JUSTICE, WHICH I THINK HE CONVEYED TO OTHER

MEMBERS VERY EFFECTIVELY, EVEN THOUGH IT TOOK A LONG TIME FOR US TO

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

COME TO AN APPROPRIATE CONCLUSION ON THAT MATTER. BUT I ALSO WORKED

WITH HIM ON ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WAS EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO HIM, AND THAT

WAS PROTECTING THE LIVES OF SCHOOL CHILDREN ON THEIR WAY TO SCHOOL.

AND HE REALLY DID EVERYTHING HE POSSIBLY COULD TO MOVE THE SENATE TO

SUPPORT SPEED CAMERAS IN SCHOOL ZONES. IT SEEMS LIKE A VERY SIMPLE

THING. WHY COULD ANYONE FIND THAT OBJECTIONABLE? AND IT GOT CAUGHT

UP IN POLITICS IN THE -- IN THE SENATE, AND I KNOW IT PAINED HIM. IT

PAINED HIM TREMENDOUSLY THAT HE WAS NOT ABLE TO CONVINCE PEOPLE OF

THE VERY SIMPLE JUSTICE OF ENSURING THAT SCHOOL CHILDREN, STAFF AT THE

SCHOOLS, THE GRANDPARENTS WHO WERE TAKING THEIR GRANDCHILDREN TO

SCHOOL, ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE -- HAVE REASON TO GO EITHER TO

DROP A CHILD OFF OR PICK UP A CHILD, WERE NOT GIVEN THE -- THE SUPPORT OF

THE SOCIETY TO SAY CARS SHOULD NOT BE SPEEDING IN AND AROUND OUR

SCHOOLS. AND WE WERE, AGAIN, SUCCESSFUL TOO LATE FOR HIM. AND I JUST

WANT TO SAY THAT HE WAS ALWAYS A GENTLEMAN, BUT HE ALSO ENJOYED LIFE

TREMENDOUSLY AND HE HAD A GREAT SMILE AND A TWINKLE IN HIS EYE. AND

HE WAS A -- A LOVELY MAN, AND A GREAT LOSS. AND TO THE FAMILY, WE ARE

SO VERY SORRY FOR HIS LOSS, AND HE WILL BE REMEMBERED HERE FOR MANY

YEARS TO COME.

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

SPEAKER HEASTIE: MR. CAHILL ON THE RESOLUTION.

MR. CAHILL: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I WILL START

VERY BRIEFLY WITH SORT OF A POST-SERVICE RECOLLECTION ABOUT MEL MILLER.

TO THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW WHO MEL MILLER IS OR DON'T REMEMBER

EVER SEEING HIM IN THE HALLS, ALMOST ON A VERY REGULAR BASIS UNTIL LAST

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

YEAR, HE WAS THE MAN, WHEN HE WALKED INTO A ROOM OR WALKED INTO A

HALL, THERE WAS NO ROOM FOR ANYBODY ELSE IN THAT ROOM. HE ELBOWS THAT

COULD STRETCH FROM WALL TO WALL. HE'S A PERSON WHO WHEN HE SPOKE, HE

SPOKE AUTHORITATIVELY, AND HE IF HE SPOKE AGAINST YOU, WHILE YOU WERE A

LITTLE TROUBLED BY THE FACT THAT YOU WERE ABOUT TO LOSE A -- A POINT WITH

HIM, YOU WENT HOME AND YOU BRAGGED ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT WAS MEL

MILLER WHO TOOK YOU ON. HE WAS A GIANT. ONE OF THE TWO PEOPLE WITH

STANLEY FINK, WHO I THINK WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS THE CREATORS OF THE

MODERN NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY. THOSE TWO INDIVIDUALS

TRANSFORMED THIS INSTITUTION FROM -- FROM WHAT WAS ACTUALLY A CITIZEN

LEGISLATURE TO ONE THAT WE SEE TODAY WHERE WE HAVE STAFFS, WHERE WE

HAVE A GREAT WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF THE LEGISLATION THAT WE DEAL WITH.

WE OWE A DEBT TO MELVIN MILLER FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE NEW

YORK STATE LEGISLATURE, AND I -- I DO HOPE THAT HIS -- HIS FAMILY ACCEPTS

OUR CONDOLENCES AND HE RESTS IN PEACE.

JOS� PERALTA WAS ONE OF THE YOUNG LATINO MEMBERS OF

THIS HOUSE WHO CAME IN WITH A GROUP OF OTHERS WHO ALSO TRANSFORMED

THIS PLACE IN A VERY SIGNIFICANT AND A VERY POSITIVE WAY. DEBORAH

ANNUNCIATED A FEW OF THE ISSUES THAT HE WAS CONCERNED WITH. AND WE

ALL MOURNED HIS PASSING AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE AND SO SUDDENLY. BUT I

CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER IF HE IS NOT ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE HAVE HAD

SUCH A SUCCESSFUL YEAR. I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER IF HIS SPIRIT IS NOT A PART

OF ALL OF US NOW. WILL HIS SPIRIT BE A PART OF US WHEN WE PROTECT

TENANTS LATER THIS WEEK? WAS HIS SPIRIT A PART OF US WHEN WE

TRANSFORMED THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM? IS HIS SPIRIT WITH US AS WE

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

INVITE A GENERATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE HIGHER EDUCATION

BECAUSE THEY ARE CAPABLE, NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE OF MEANS OR THEY

WERE BORN IN THE RIGHT PLACE? WE OWE A GREAT DEBT TO JOS�. WE MISS

HIM GREATLY. AND I WISH HE WERE HERE WITH US TO ENJOY SOME OF HIS

VICTORIES THAT WE ARE PARTICIPATING IN.

BUT, MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY FOR SOMEONE WHO YOU

PROBABLY DON'T KNOW, AND WHO DID SERVE BEFORE DICK GOTTFRIED WAS

HERE, SO THAT MEANS THAT HE WAS ALSO HERE BEFORE THE ADVENT OF THE

AUTOMOBILE AND, PERHAPS, WHEN THE ALPHABET ONLY HAD 23 LETTERS AND

NUMBERS WERE NOT YET INFINITE.

(LAUGHTER)

I SPEAK OF JAMES TULLY, WHO SERVED FOR A SINGLE YEAR

IN 1966, AND THEN SERVED AS A DELEGATE TO THE NEW YORK STATE

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION IN 1967. WHO HAD HIS FIRST TASTE OF

STATEWIDE POLITICS WHEN HE CHAIRED THE CAMPAIGN OF GOVERNOR HUGH

CAREY IN 1982, AND -- AND -- IN 1975, I TAKE IT BACK. AND WHEN

GOVERNOR CAREY BECAME GOVERNOR, JIM TULLY WAS APPOINTED THE

COMMISSIONER OF TAXATION AND FINANCE, WHERE HE DID SERVE WITH

DISTINCTION UNTIL 1982. JIM WAS A REMARKABLE MAN. LET ME TELL YOU A

LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH. AS

THE COMMISSIONER OF TAXATION AND FINANCE, JIM CONDUCTED AN AUDIT OF

A MAN WHO WAS USING A GOVERNMENT VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT HIS CHILDREN.

JIM DETERMINED THAT TO BE INCOME, AND THEN SENT A BILL TO

THEN-GOVERNOR CAREY FOR $972.

(LAUGHTER)

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

THAT WASN'T ENOUGH FOR JIM. HE KEPT ON GOING FROM

THERE. A FEW YEARS LATER IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A RELATIVE OF THE

GOVERNOR HAD BEEN DOING A FEW THINGS THAT MAYBE WHERE THE BOOKS

WEREN'T KEPT QUITE SO WELL, AND HE STARTED AN INVESTIGATION AND

PROSECUTED THE GOVERNOR'S BROTHER WHILE THE GOVERNOR WAS STILL SITTING

AND WAS HIS BOSS. JUST IMAGINE TODAY.

(LAUGHTER)

OKAY. IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN IMAGINE -- AN IMAGINATION

GREAT ENOUGH TO THINK ABOUT HOW THAT COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED TODAY, BUT

THAT'S WHAT IT WAS LIKE UNDER GOVERNOR HUGH CAREY AND WHEN JIM

TULLY RAN THE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE.

BUT LET ME TELL YOU A COUPLE OF REASONS WHY HE'S

IMPORTANT TO YOU: DURING HIS TENURE AS COMMISSIONER OF TAXATION AND

FINANCE, NEW YORK CITY WENT BANKRUPT. AND WHEN NEW YORK CITY

WENT BANKRUPT, THE WAY THAT NEW YORK CITY WAS BAILED OUT WAS HERE IN

THIS ROOM, BY THE IMPOSITION OF A NUMBER OF TAXES FOR WHICH THE

COMMISSIONER OF TAXATION AND FINANCE AND THE PERSON OF JIM TULLY

BECAME, FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, THE SOLE TRUSTEE. UNLIKE OTHER

TAXES THAT WE LEVY IN LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT AND EXECUTIVE

BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT GET TO DETERMINE WHAT TO DO, AS THE TRUSTEE,

JIM TULLY SINGULARLY DECIDED WHAT BILLS GOT PAID IN NEW YORK CITY AND

WHAT BILLS DIDN'T GET PAID IN NEW YORK CITY. AND ONE OF THE TAXES THAT

WAS IMPOSED BACK THEN - AND MAYBE IT'S FAMILIAR TO SOME OF YOU WHO

HAVE BEEN HERE FOR AWHILE - WAS A COMMUTER TAX ON PEOPLE FROM NEW

JERSEY. AND NEW JERSEY BROUGHT JIM TO COURT, AND HE SUED THEM --

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

THEY SUED HIM AND HE WON. AND THE RESULT WAS THAT NEW YORK CITY -

WHICH WAS NOT ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSE, BUT HAD COLLAPSED - WAS ABLE

TO COME THROUGH THE WORST FISCAL CRISIS ANY MAJOR CITY ON THE GLOBE HAS

EVER FACED. AND IT WAS LARGELY BECAUSE OF THE GOOD WORK OF JIM TULLY.

WHEN HE LEFT THE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND

FINANCE, HE CAME BACK TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND HE WAS AN ATTORNEY

WHO REPRESENTED PEOPLE WHO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF

TAXATION AND FINANCE. AND I WILL TELL YOU IN A MOMENT HOW I KNOW

ABOUT THAT, BUT WE'LL GET BACK TO THAT. LATER ON IN LIFE, JIM TULLY

BECAME COUNSEL TO THE NEW YORK STATE COMPTROLLER. THAT WAS AN

OFFICE THAT JIM SOUGHT IN THE EARLY 1980'S. HE RAN IN THE DEMOCRATIC

PRIMARY AND WAS SUMMARILY DEFEATED. BUT THEN HE BECAME FRIENDS

WITH THE COMPTROLLER AND SOON WAS AN INVALUABLE COUNSEL TO THAT

OFFICE. LATER ON, AT A TIME THAT MOST OF US ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO -

EXCEPT FOR DICK, WHO'S LOOKING AT BACK AT IT - IN OUR 70S, OUR LATE 70S

WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT RETIREMENT, JIM WAS ASKED BY THE GOVERNOR

TO STEP UP FOR SERVICE AGAIN, AND IN HIS LATE 70S AGAIN BECAME A

COMMISSIONER IN OUR TAX SYSTEM IN NEW YORK STATE, BECOMING A

MEMBER OF THE NEW YORK STATE TAX APPEALS TRIBUNAL, RETIRING JUST

TWO YEARS AGO AT THE AGE OF 85.

SO, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I KNOW ABOUT JIM TULLY

PERSONALLY. I WILL TELL YOU THAT IN THE MANY, MANY CONVERSATIONS THAT I

HAD WITH HIM, ALMOST ALWAYS, HIS VERY BRIEF TENURE HERE IN THIS HOUSE

CAME UP. ALTHOUGH WHEN I PRESSED HIM FOR DETAILS ABOUT WHAT

HAPPENED THAT YEAR, WE QUICKLY MOVED ON TO OTHER SUBJECTS BECAUSE IT

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

WAS A DIFFERENT LEGISLATURE THEN. IT WAS A PRE-MEL MILLER, PRE-STANLEY

FINK LEGISLATURE THEN. BUT ONE THING HE DID WAS HE LOVED THIS STATE

DEARLY. AND I KNOW THAT BECAUSE HE GAVE ME MY FIRST LEGAL JOB AFTER

LAW SCHOOL. I BECAME A TAX LITIGATOR BECAUSE OF JIM TULLY, AND HE

SUPPORTED ME IN THAT ROLE. AND WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR HIM TO RUN FOR

STATE OFFICE, I SUPPORTED HIM IN THAT ROLE. AND WHEN HE BECAME A TAX

ADVOCATE, HE BECAME MY ADVERSARY - AND A VERY WORTHY ONE - IN TAX

LITIGATION IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. AND LATER ON IN LIFE, I CAME TO

KNOW JIM A COUPLE OF OTHERS WAYS, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS THE FACT

THAT HIS FAMILY IS FROM MY COMMUNITY. AND THAT CAME HOME VERY

CLEARLY ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS LOOKING TO BUY A HOUSE, AND I

SAW A CUTE LITTLE BRICK HOUSE WITH A "FOR SALE" SIGN OUTSIDE AND I CALLED

UP THE REALTOR. AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, IT WAS JIM TULLY ON THE

OTHER END OF THE PHONE. AND HE OWNED THE HOUSE THAT I ACTUALLY LIVE IN

TODAY.

(LAUGHTER)

MY COLLEAGUES, MANY, MANY PEOPLE PASS THROUGH

THESE DOORS, AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE AN IMPACT IN THIS ROOM, AND YOU'VE

HEARD ABOUT A FEW OF THEM ALREADY, AND YOU WILL PROBABLY HEAR MORE

ABOUT EACH OF THEM VERY SOON. BUT EACH PERSON WHO SERVES HERE

SERVES WITH DISTINCTION AND HAS A LIFE THAT IS SEPARATE AND APART FROM

THIS PLACE AND THAT MAKES THEM GREAT UNTO THEMSELVES. SO, I WOULD JUST

ASK THAT YOU SHARE WITH ME OUR CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF JIM TULLY;

EILEEN, HIS DAUGHTERS, ANN, LAUREN, SUSAN, KATHLEEN AND HIS SON,

JAMES; HIS BROTHER, MARTY AND HIS SISTER, DR. MARY LOUISE JOHNSON.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

AND MAY HE REST IN PEACE.

SPEAKER HEASTIE: MS. DICKENS ON THE

RESOLUTION.

MS. DICKENS: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RISE TO

TALK ABOUT HERMAN "DENNY" FARRELL, WHOM I SERVED WITH. HERMAN

REPRESENTED THE NORTHERN PART OF HARLEM AND WASHINGTON HEIGHTS.

LOVINGLY CALLED "DENNY," HE CHAIRED WAYS AND MEANS BEFORE OUR NOW

HELENE WEINSTEIN. DENNY WAS TALL, SLENDER, WITH A COMMANDING SPIRIT

THAT MADE YOU LISTEN. I WANT TO ALSO MENTION, SINCE OUR

ASSEMBLYMEMBER JOE LENTOL MENTIONED MARIE RUNYON - AS THE FIERCE

FIGHTER THAT SHE WAS - I WANT TO THE MENTION THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN WHO

WALKED THESE HALLS, BETSY BUCHANAN. I WANT TO MENTION PERCY ELLIS

SUTTON, WHO SERVED IN THE '60S AFTER MY FATHER, LLOYD E. DICKENS.

PERCY WENT ON TO BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR THAT BROUGHT THE

REVITALIZATION OF 125TH STREET THAT EVERYBODY ELSE IS NOW TAKING CREDIT

FOR.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT BASIL PATTERSON, WHO SERVED IN THE

SENATE AND LATER WENT ON TO BECOME OUR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. THERE

WAS MARK SELLFALL (PHONETIC). THERE WAS THOMAS K. DICKENS, WHO

SERVED IN THE '40S HERE IN THIS -- THIS RENOWNED HALL OF LEGISLATION. AND

SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SPEAKER MEL MILLER, THERE WAS GERALDINE L.

DANIELS, WHO SERVED AS SPEAKER PRO TEM IN THE 1970'S AND '80S.

WE HAVE A RENOWNED AND RICH HISTORY ON WHOSE

SHOULDER THAT TODAY WE ALL STAND ON, FOR ALL THAT THEY BROUGHT TO THIS

HOUSE, TO THIS STATE AND TO THIS COUNTRY. SO THESE WERE JUST A FEW OF

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

THE NAMES THAT I WANTED TO -- TO MENTION AND TALK ABOUT BECAUSE THEY

REPRESENTED MY HARLEM. MY WEST HARLEM, MY EAST HARLEM. THESE

ARE PEOPLE WHOM I DID NOT SERVE WITH OTHER THAN DENNY, BUT WHOM I

WAS ABLE TO WALK THE STREETS OF HARLEM WITH, WHO I GREW UP KNOWING.

WHO GOD GAVE ME THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ABLE TO LEARN FROM THEM.

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, FOR ALLOWING ME THE TIME TO

MENTION THEM.

SPEAKER HEASTIE: MR. AUBRY ON THE RESOLUTION.

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

OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THE RESOLUTION. WHEN -- PARTICULARLY ABOUT

JOS�, BECAUSE HE WAS BOTH MY COLLEAGUE IN THE ASSEMBLY AND MY

SENATOR WHEN HE MOVED ON. AND I, QUITE FRANKLY, HAVEN'T TALKED MUCH

ABOUT IT BECAUSE HIS PASSING WAS A GREAT SHOCK TO ME. FOR A LOT OF

DIFFERENCE REASONS; ONE, OF COURSE, BECAUSE HE WAS YOUNGER, AND YOU

KNOW, WE WERE DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED IN HEIGHT. MR. SPEAKER, YOU

KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

(LAUGHTER)

SPEAKER HEASTIE: THANKS.

(LAUGHTER)

MR. AUBRY: SO WHEN WE WOULD TAKE PICTURES

TOGETHER, AS OFTEN WOULD HAPPEN, I WOULD HAVE TO EITHER SIT DOWN OR

HE'D HAVE TO STAND ON A CHAIR NEXT TO ME.

(LAUGHTER)

BUT WE HAD KINDRED SPIRITS BECAUSE OF HOW HE SAW HIS

COMMUNITY, OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER. AND THE SPEAKER OFTEN DOES THE

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

SAME THING WITH ME.

THE FALL -- THAT TRAGIC FALL WHEN JOS� PASSED, WHY -- IN

PART WHY IT WAS SUCH A SHOCK IS BECAUSE I HAD HEALTH PROBLEMS AT THAT

TIME AND, QUITE FRANKLY, WASN'T SURE THAT I WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET

THROUGH THEM. AND I DID. AND IN MY RECOVERY, JOS� WAS THERE FOR ME.

WE WOULD GO TO EVENTS TOGETHER, AND I WAS STILL A LITTLE WEAK SO I'D

HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND HE COULD STAND OVER ME, WHICH HE WAS VERY

HAPPY TO DO. HIS LOVE FOR HIS COMMUNITY AND HIS PEOPLE WAS

PARAMOUNT. HIS LOVE FOR HIS FAMILY AND HIS CHILDREN WAS OUTSTANDING.

NO MATTER WHAT THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE HE FACED, HE CHOSE THEM OVER

EVERYTHING ELSE. SO I'M -- NOW THAT WE ARE AT THE END OF THIS SESSION,

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO HAPPEN THAT REMIND ME, AS

WE TALKED ABOUT THE DREAM ACT AND HOW FERVENT AN ADVOCATE HE WAS

FOR IT AND PASSING IT ON TO -- TO FRANCISCO MOYA TO TAKE ON THAT BATTLE IN

THE ASSEMBLY. WE HAD SOME LAST BILLS TOGETHER THAT WENT UNFINISHED.

A PRE-K PROGRAM THAT WOULD BE ATTACHED TO OUR HALL OF SCIENCE, WHICH

IS A BILL THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO. THAT WAS A FAVORITE FOR BOTH OF

US, HAD A LOT OF CONTROVERSY IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. BUT HE STOOD UP

TO THAT CONTROVERSY AS WE MOVED TOGETHER BECAUSE WE SAW THAT WAS AN

INVESTMENT IN OUR CHILDREN, WHICH IS WHAT HE WAS ABOUT. HE LOVED THE

CHILDREN OF HIS COMMUNITY, HE LOVED HIS OWN CHILDREN. WE TOOK ON

EVEN MORE CONTROVERSY WHEN WE DECIDED TO TAKE ON THE EXPANSION OF

LAGUARDIA AIRPORT, FOR WHICH I'M GETTING BEAT UP. HE LEFT ME TO TAKE IT

ALL BY MYSELF. BUT JOS� BELIEVED IN STANDING FOR WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS

RIGHT. MANY OF THE FOLKS THAT WE HONOR TODAY, SOME OF WHOM I EITHER

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

SERVED WITH OR KNEW IN THEIR CAPACITIES, THAT WAS A COMMON THEME OF

WHO THEY ARE. AND I THINK THAT IT IS THE MEAT OF WHAT BINDS US TOGETHER

AS COLLEAGUES, IS BECAUSE WE COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE STAND FOR

WHAT WE BELIEVE, EVEN IF WE DISAGREE. EVEN IF THERE'S A FIGHT AMONGST

US. EVEN IF WE GET ANGRY AT EACH OTHER. WE UNDERSTAND IN OUR ESSENCE,

WHEN YOU'RE IN THIS BODY, YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE YOU STAND FOR WHAT YOU

BELIEVE. AND I WAS ALWAYS TOLD WHEN I GOT HERE - SOMETIMES BY MEL,

SOMETIMES BY SOME OF THE OTHER LONGER-SERVING COLLEAGUES - THAT VOTES

OF CONSCIENCE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE RESPECTED. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS

-- IF YOU'RE NOT INVESTED YOU MAY BE MOVED LEFT AND RIGHT. YOU MAY

HAVE TO MAKE NEW INFORMATION. BUT WHERE YOUR CONSCIENCE STANDS IS

WHERE YOU MUST STAND, AND IT MUST BE RESPECTED. AND EACH OF THE

MEMBERS THAT WE HONOR TODAY THAT I KNEW, THAT WAS A HALLMARK OF THEIR

STRENGTH AND WHY THEY WERE HERE.

SO, I'M JUST PLEASED TO PAUSE AT THIS MOMENT TO

REMEMBER THAT, AND TO REMEMBER THE LESSONS THAT THEY HAVE TAUGHT US,

AND THE ESSENTIAL STRENGTH THAT THIS BODY POSSESSES.

MAY THEY ALL REST IN PEACE.

SPEAKER HEASTIE: MR. CRESPO ON THE RESOLUTION.

MR. CRESPO: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I THINK IT'S

AN INTERESTING OPPORTUNITY TO BE REMINDED, AS SOME OTHERS HAVE

MENTIONED, THE FRAGILITY OF LIFE AND THE SHORTNESS OF IT. OFTENTIMES,

ESPECIALLY WHEN SOMEONE IS LOST AT A YOUNG AGE AND -- AND JUST TO THINK

ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS FOR ALL OF US TO BE COLLEAGUES, TO SERVE, WHAT

LEADERSHIP IS ABOUT AND WHAT A LEGACY MEANS IN REGARDS TO THE WORK

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

THAT WE DO AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR NEW YORKERS THAT -- MANY OF WHOM

WILL NEVER KNOW OUR NAMES, BUT WILL BE IMPACTED BY OUR DECISIONS AND

OUR ADVOCACY. AND I REMEMBER COMING HERE AS INTERN IN 2003

OBLIVIOUS TO WHAT THE WORK THAT HAPPENED IN THIS ROOM REALLY MEANT TO

ME AND MY LIFE. I WAS A YOUNG KID WHO HAD GONE THROUGH A LOT, AND I

-- THERE WERE THINGS IN MY LIFE THAT MATTERED TO ME. AND THERE WAS A

GROUP OF YOUNG MEN THAT I MET HERE, A GROUP OF FRIENDS -- AND THERE'S A

PHOTO THAT WE'VE BEEN SHARING THAT TOOK PLACE RIGHT BEHIND ME. IT WAS

A YOUNG RUBEN DIAZ, JR., MY PREDECESSOR. THERE WAS A YOUNG CARL

HEASTIE, WHO WASN'T THAT MUCH TALLER THEN, HE WAS SHORTER.

(LAUGHTER)

THERE WAS A YOUNG JOS� PERALTA. THERE WERE A COUPLE

OF OTHER COLLEAGUES; LUIS DIAZ WAS IN THAT PHOTO AND FEW OTHERS. AND I

ALWAYS KIND OF LOOK BACK TO THAT PHOTO TO REMIND ME OF HOW I STARTED

HERE. AND WHAT WAS REALLY IMPRESSIVE IS THAT NOT ONLY DID THOSE

FELLOWS, WHEN WE WOULD HANG OUT AND SPEND SOME TIME TOGETHER, TALK

ABOUT ISSUES. THEY REALLY SHOWED ME THAT THEIR WORK WAS DRIVEN BY THE

ISSUES THAT MATTERED TO THEM AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY WOULD

IMPACT. AND I REMEMBER JOS� -- YOU KNOW, WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT JOS�

THE ACTIVIST AND THE LEGISLATOR WHO FOUGHT FOR THE DREAM ACT, BUT

REMEMBER, HE CAME OUT OF THE LABOR MOVEMENT ALSO, WORKING FOR THE

CENTRAL LABOR COUNSEL AND WAS COMMITTED TO THE NEEDS AND THE FIGHT

OF WORKING MEN AND WOMEN. HE WAS A CHAMPION ON THE MINIMUM

WAGE FIGHT FOR MANY YEARS. AND -- AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER

ISSUES THAT HE WAS DEVOTED TO AND COMMITTED TO. AND AS THE LABOR

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

CHAIR NOW, I OFTENTIMES REFERENCE JOS� AND HIS WORK AND THE THINGS

THAT I ASPIRE TO DO AS LABOR CHAIR. BUT JOS� ALSO IMPACTED ME IN A -- IN

WAY -- IN A VERY PERSONAL WAY. I'M A PROUD FATHER. JOS� ALWAYS TALKED

ABOUT HIS KIDS. EVERY DAY HE TALKED ABOUT HIS FAMILY AND HIS CHILDREN.

I REMEMBER WATCHING RUBEN DIAZ, JR. WOULD SIT -- THIS WAS BEFORE

FACETIME -- WOULD SIT IN HIS OFFICE, WOULD NOT LEAVE UNTIL HE HAD GONE

AND HELPED HIS KIDS WITH HOMEWORK OVER THE PHONE. JOS� WOULD

OFTENTIMES TALK ABOUT DOING THE SAME THING, AND HE WOULD SHARE STORIES

ABOUT BEING CRITICIZED IN THE DISTRICT BECAUSE HE CHOSE TO SPEND TIME

WITH HIS CHILDREN INSTEAD OF GOING TO EVERY SINGLE EVENT THAT THE

SPEAKER AND I HAD TALKED ABOUT; THE SACRIFICES WE MAKE FOR OUR

CHILDREN TO BE HERE, TO FIGHT FOR THESE ISSUES.

SO, JOS�, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I THANK YOU FOR

SHOWING WHAT IT IS TO BE A FATHER, WHAT IT CAN BE TO BALANCE WORK AND

PERSONAL LIFE. I REMEMBER THAT CALL WHEN YOU MADE THAT DECISION THAT'S

BEEN REFERENCED HERE MORE THAN ONCE. AND I REMEMBER HAVING A

CONVERSATION WITH JOS� PRIOR TO THAT POLITICAL DECISION THAT HE MADE,

AND I CAN TELL YOU, IN THAT CONVERSATION HE PROVED TO ME SOMETHING THAT

I ALREADY KNEW, BUT THAT I THINK MAYBE SOME FOLKS HAVE LOST SIGHT OF,

AND IT IS -- CERTAINLY WAS LOST IN THAT LAST CAMPAIGN. JOS� WAS NEVER

DRIVEN BY HIS OWN AMBITION. IT WASN'T ABOUT HIM. IT WASN'T ABOUT HIM

ACHIEVING SOMETHING NOBODY ELSE ACHIEVED, EVEN THOUGH HE DID THAT IN

HIS LIFE AS THE FIRST LATINO ELECTED IN QUEENS COUNTY TO THE NEW YORK

STATE ASSEMBLY. AND SOMEBODY WHO GREW UP IN JOSE'S DISTRICT -- I

GREW UP IN QUEENS BEFORE I MOVED TO THE BRONX, AND THAT WAS HOME.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

AND HE MADE ME PROUD FOR WHAT -- HOW HE FOUGHT, BECAUSE I WAS -- I

FELT REALLY REFLECTED IN JOSE'S BODY OF WORK. BUT JOS� SHAPED ME AS A

LEGISLATOR TO BE PROUD AND UNAPOLOGETIC ABOUT FIGHTING FOR THE PEOPLE I

BELIEVE IN. I -- I TRY TO DO THAT IN ANYTHING I'LL DO WITH REGARDS TO LABOR,

AS THE COMMITTEE CHAIR. BUT CERTAINLY, ALSO I'LL FIGHT FOR IMMIGRANT

RIGHTS. AND IT WASN'T JUST THE DREAM ACT. THERE WERE SO MANY

THINGS THAT JOS� FOUGHT FOR. I REMEMBER WATCHING HIM AND ADRIANO

ESPAILLAT LEAD THE FIGHT FOR TRANSLATION SERVICES IN HOSPITALS; SOMETHING

THAT WOULD SEEM SO SIMPLE, YET TURNED INTO A LENGTHY DEBATE AND

DISCUSSION OF WHETHER SPENDING THOSE RESOURCES WAS ACTUALLY IN THE

BEST INTERESTS OF THE STATE. IT WAS TALKING ABOUT SAVING SOMEBODY'S LIFE

IN AN EMERGENCY ROOM. WELL, YES, IT WAS. AND THEY LED THAT FIGHT LIKE

SO MANY OTHERS. BUT AS WE VOTE TODAY ALSO ON OTHER ISSUES, I CAN'T HELP

BUT CONTEMPLATE THAT LATER TODAY WHEN A BILL COMES UP WITH ME AS THE

ASSEMBLY SPONSOR, THAT HAD HE STILL BEEN HERE AND WERE HE STILL LEADING

THE WAY, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IT WOULD BE JOSE'S NAME AS MY

COUNTERPART CARRYING ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR IMMIGRANT

FAMILIES IN THIS STATE. I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT IT WOULD BE HIM LEADING

THE WAY, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT HE STOOD FOR. ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM, HE

WOULD OFTEN WEAR THAT SHIRT, "I AM AN IMMIGRANT." I -- I TOOK A PHOTO

WITH THAT SHIRT TODAY IN REFERENCE TO SOMETHING WE'LL DEAL WITH LATER

TODAY. BUT I LEARNED TO BE A BETTER LEGISLATOR, A BETTER ADVOCATE, AND

CERTAINLY, A BETTER FATHER AND A BETTER HUSBAND BECAUSE OF THE EXAMPLE

THAT SOMEBODY LIKE JOS� PERALTA WAS ABLE TO GIVE. AND SO I WANT HIS

FAMILY TO KNOW THAT WE DO LOVE THEM, THAT WE WILL BE THERE FOR THEM

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

AND THAT WE SUPPORT THEM AND ALL OF THE FAMILIES OF THE DECEASED

MEMBERS. THAT THEY SHOULD COUNT ON US MOVING FORWARD. AND

WHETHER I KNEW ANY OF THOSE MEMBERS OR NOT, THERE IS A CERTAIN RESPECT

AND BROTHERHOOD, SISTERHOOD, COMRADERY THAT -- THAT EXISTS WITHIN THIS

CHAMBER IN ALL OF US. DESPITE OUR DISAGREEMENTS, WE ARE A FAMILY THAT

HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE A LEGACY.

JOS� PERALTA IS AMONG THOSE THAT LEFT AN INVALUABLE ONE

FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT CONTINUES TO SHAPE THE WORK THAT WE DO.

AND I HOPE THAT LATER TODAY, JOS�, I CAN MAKE YOU PROUD.

SPEAKER HEASTIE: THANK YOU.

MR. WEPRIN ON THE RESOLUTION.

MR. WEPRIN: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I'D LIKE TO

TALK ABOUT TWO FORMER MEMBERS; ONE WHO ACTUALLY ALSO PRECEDED DICK

GOTTFRIED. HE ONLY SERVED FOR ONE TERM IN THE ASSEMBLY, I'M TALKING

ABOUT SEYMOUR -- OR AS EVERYBODY REFERRED TO HIM, SY -- BOYERS, WHO

SERVED FOR ONE TERM IN 1967 AND 1968. HE THEN WENT ON TO A CAREER IN

THE CITY COUNCIL, AND THEN A VERY DISTINGUISHED JUDICIAL CAREER. SY AND

HIS WIFE, JOAN, WERE VERY CLOSE PERSONAL FRIENDS OF MY PARENTS, SAUL

AND SYLVIA, AND THEY WOULD OFTEN SOCIALIZE TOGETHER. BUT HE WAS

PROBABLY MORE WELL-KNOWN FOR HIS JUDICIAL CAREER, WHERE HE SERVED ON

THE CIVIL COURT, ON THE SUPREME COURT, AND HAD A DISTINGUISHED CAREER

ON THE APPELLATE DIVISION, THE SECOND DEPARTMENT. HE WAS ALSO VERY

INVOLVED WITH MY FATHER IN FOUNDING CUNY LAW SCHOOL AS A LAW

SCHOOL FOR PUBLIC SERVICE, AND I WILL REMEMBER HIM FOR THAT AS WELL.

I'D ALSO LIKE TALK ABOUT OUR FORMER SPEAKER, MEL

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

MILLER, WHO WAS VERY CLOSE TO MY LATE FATHER. MY FATHER ALWAYS

REFERRED TO HIS BECOMING SPEAKER AS BITTERSWEET BECAUSE IN SOME WAYS

IT WAS AT MEL MILLER'S EXPENSE. AS YOU KNOW, HE HAD A CONVICTION

UNRELATED TO HIS PUBLIC OFFICE WHICH WAS OVERTURNED. MY FATHER ALWAYS

FELT BITTERSWEET ABOUT BECOMING SPEAKER AT THAT TIME BECAUSE HE WAS SO

CLOSE TO MEL. MEL GAVE HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS WAYS AND

MEANS CHAIR. AND THEY WERE REALLY PARTNERS IN -- IN SO MANY NEW

THINGS THAT THEY DID IN -- WHEN HE BECAME SPEAKER IN 1987. AND -- AND

THEY WERE VERY CLOSE. AND MY MOTHER AND FATHER WOULD SOCIALIZE WITH

-- WITH LIZ AND -- AND MEL VERY OFTEN. BUT I'LL NEVER FORGET, AND MY

FAMILY WILL NEVER FORGET, THE OPPORTUNITY THAT MEL GAVE TO MY LATE

FATHER TO BECOME WAYS AND MEANS CHAIR AND TO REALLY BE A PARTNER IN

SO MANY THINGS THAT HE DID AS SPEAKER. AND I DO REMEMBER VERY WELL,

BECAUSE I KNEW MEL AS A YOUNG -- AS A YOUNG LEGISLATOR, AS A YOUNG

ASSEMBLYMEMBER, AND ALSO SOCIALIZING WITH -- WITH THEM WITH MY

PARENTS, THAT HE WAS REALLY THE SAME PERSON HE WAS BEFORE HE BECAME

AN ASSEMBLYMEMBER, WHEN HE WAS A JUNIOR ASSEMBLYMEMBER, AND

WHEN HE WAS SPEAKER. HE ALWAYS TREATED PEOPLE WITH RESPECT, WITH

DIGNITY. HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY AIRS ABOUT HIM. IN A LOT OF WAYS, MY FATHER

MODELED HIMSELF AFTER THAT AS WELL, BECAUSE HE WAS THE SAME PERSON.

BUT I REALLY WANT TO PAY MY TRIBUTE TO MEL, WHO LEFT US TOO EARLY. MAY

HE -- MAY YOU REST IN PEACE.

SPEAKER HEASTIE: MR. RIVERA ON THE RESOLUTION.

MR. RIVERA: MR. SPEAKER, LISTENING TO HOW WE ARE

-- REMEMBERING THE GOOD WORK OF SO MANY WHO ARE NO LONGER WITH US,

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

VERY QUICKLY, I WILL TRY TO SAY THAT I REMEMBER DENNY FARRELL AS A

GENTLEMAN. BUT I ALSO REMEMBER HIM AS A TOUGH COUNTY LEADER FOR

MANHATTAN. I SHOULD KNOW, BECAUSE WHEN WE ATTEMPTED TO RUN

CANDIDATES THERE, HE MADE IT CLEAR TO US IN THE BRONX THAT WE HAD TO

TALK. AND WE DID. AND THAT'S HOW WE GOT JOS� MARCOS SERRANO.

THAT'S A LOT OF GOOD STORY BEHIND THAT.

I WANT TO CONCENTRATE ON MEL MILLER. WHAT WE HAVE

HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE -- AND I HOPE AMONG THE PEOPLE WATCHING US,

SOME CAN RECALL THAT WHEN WE WERE APPROACHED TO CHANGE OR TO ELECT A

NEW SPEAKER, THERE WERE TWO LATINOS THAT STOOD WITH THE IDEA OF

CHANGE. I WAS ONE OF THEM, AND I ASKED, CAN WE WAIT AFTER THE BUDGET

PROCESS, BECAUSE BRONX COUNTY IS NOT WITH YOU, MR. NORMAN ADLER,

POLITICAL DIRECTOR AT THAT TIME OF DC 37. SO, USE MY NAME AFTER THE

BUDGET PROCESS. SOME OF YOU MIGHT GET AN IDEA WHY. JOSEPH ISKOWITZ

CAME TO US, TO BOTH OF US AND -- AND ASKED US FOR SUPPORT FOR MEL

MILLER. AND I SAY THAT THE REASON MANY OF US ARE HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE

WHEN MEL MILLER BECAME SPEAKER, HE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE

BLACK AND PUERTO RICAN CAUCUS. AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT BEFORE WE

VOTED ON HIM, WE ASKED HIM FOR ONE THING: TO CREATE A TASK FORCE FOR

LATINO ISSUES. THAT'S HOW WE GOT TODAY WHAT IS CALLED THE PUERTO

RICAN HISPANIC TASK FORCE TODAY, AND AS A RESULT, MOST OF THE MEMBERS

THAT ARE HERE TODAY CAN HEAR THAT IT WAS MEL MILLER THAT MADE SO MANY

THINGS POSSIBLE. HE HELPED EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY. HE HELPED

EMPOWER AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND LATINO.

NOW, IN CONCLUSION, IT IS SAD THAT AFTER WE LEAVE THIS

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

TODAY, REMEMBERING JOS� PERALTA -- MY SPEAKER CAN SHARE WITH YOU

GUYS PRIVATELY -- HE WOULD COME TO THE BRONX AND SAY SOME 15 YEARS

AGO, I'M ABOUT TO PROPOSE AND TAKE A POSITION ON A COUPLE OF ISSUES

THAT MY BOROUGH WOULD NOT LOOK FAVORABLE TO. ONE OF THOSE, DREAM

ACT. GUESS WHAT? DRIVER'S LICENSES. SO I'LL MAKE AN APPEAL BECAUSE

I'VE BEEN HEARING THINGS THAT I REFUSE TO BELIEVE, THAT PEOPLE IN A

HIGH-POWERED POSITION ARE ASKING CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATS - I HOPE I'M

WRONG BECAUSE I READ IT - CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATS TO VOTE NO ON THE

DRIVER'S LICENSE. SHAME ON YOU IF THAT IS THE TRUTH, IF THAT IS HAPPENING.

GOVERNOR, LEND YOUR VOICE. GIVE US THE SUPPORT FOR THOUSANDS OF

UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS WHO ARE ALL OVER THE STATE, AND THEY WANT AN

OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO OPENLY EARN A DECENT SALARY --

SPEAKER HEASTIE: MR. RIVERA, CAN YOU PLEASE

KEEP --

MR. RIVERA: -- FOR THE PEOPLE AND FOR THEIR

FAMILIES.

SPEAKER HEASTIE: MR. RIVERA -- MR. RIVERA, CAN

YOU PLEASE KEEP THE COMMENTS TO THE RESOLUTION.

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

THAT'S IT.

SPEAKER HEASTIE: MRS. GALEF ON THE RESOLUTION.

MRS. GALEF: THANK YOU. ALTHOUGH I REMEMBER

COMING UP HERE TO LOBBY MEL MILLER AND DAN WALSH WHEN I WAS

INVOLVED WITH COUNTY GOVERNMENT A LONG TIME AGO, I HAD GREAT RESPECT

FOR WHAT THEY DID IN THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY. BUT I'M HERE TO

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

SPEAK ABOUT GREG YOUNG. AND GREG YOUNG, I WORKED WITH ON THE

WESTCHESTER COUNTY BOARD OF LEGISLATORS FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE

YEARS WHILE MY HUSBAND WORKED WITH HIM PRIOR TO THAT. AND, YOU

KNOW, THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT ISSUES THAT HE DEALT WITH AT THE COUNTY

LEVEL. WE WERE TRYING TO CREATE A SOLID WASTE SYSTEM IN -- IN THE

COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. WE HAD NO PLACE TO PUT OUR GARBAGE. HE WAS

VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN THAT ISSUE. WE HAD SEWER ISSUE PROBLEMS, HOW

TO PROTECT OUR HUDSON RIVER AND OUR SOUND. AND, OF COURSE, HE WAS

FROM MOUNT VERNON, TRYING TO PROTECT THAT SIDE OF THE COUNTY, THE

SOUND. WORKING ON HOMELESS ISSUES THAT WERE STARTING TO DEVELOP IN

OUR COUNTY AND OUR STATE. AND, OF COURSE, WORKING ON HEALTH CARE

INSTITUTIONS, WHICH WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE OTHER NIGHT. BUT VERY

INVOLVED IN ISSUES THAT WERE REALLY IMPORTANT TO WESTCHESTER. AND THEN

HE CAME TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY, WORKING ON OTHER ISSUES

THAT WERE GOING ON UP HERE. AND WE, AS LEGISLATORS, MANY OF US WOULD

COME UP TO LOBBY GREG YOUNG AND HAVE HIM COME DOWN TO

WESTCHESTER COUNTY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING HERE IN ALBANY.

HE WAS A VERY, VERY CALM MAN. SO WELL-RESPECTED, AS MR. LENTOL HAS

SAID. PEOPLE REALLY ENJOYED BEING WITH GREG YOUNG. HE WAS A

REPRESENTATIVE THAT I THINK WE CAN ALL RELATE TO AND SAY HE WAS A GOOD

MAN, SERVED HIS GOVERNMENT SO WELL AND HIS COMMUNITY SO WELL AND HE

WILL BE MISSED. AND AS YOU KNOW -- YOU MAY NOT KNOW, JOHN

MCDONALD, WHO IS THE NEW YORK STATE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER,

WHO IS NOW CHIEF OF STAFF TO COUNTY EXECUTIVE GEORGE LATIMER, WAS

HIS WIFE AND WONDERFUL PARTNER, AND THE TWO OF THEM HAVE DONE A LOT

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

FOR US ALL OF US.

SO, ON BEHALF OF THOSE WHO WORKED WITH HIM, I OFFER

MY RESPECT AND CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY. THANK YOU.

SPEAKER HEASTIE: MR. CUSICK ON THE RESOLUTION.

MR. CUSICK: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

THIS PROCEEDING TODAY IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE GREAT TRADITIONS OF THIS

GREAT HOUSE AND WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE TO OTHER STATE LEGISLATURES

THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. AND WHAT ALSO IS AN EXAMPLE OF THIS HOUSE IS

THAT WE ARE A FAMILY. AND PART OF THAT FAMILY IS THE STAFF THAT MAKES THE

EVERYDAY EVENTS IN THIS HOUSE MOVE AND MAKE US LOOK GOOD. AND

TODAY WE ALSO RECOGNIZE STAFF WHO PASSED IN THE LAST YEAR, AND I TAKE

THIS MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE STAFF FROM THE ASSEMBLY WHO PASSED IN

THE LAST YEAR. MARY ANN DRAGO, RUTH HARBECK, GENEVA FARMER,

CHRISTINE MORSE-SICKO, SANDRA SHAPARD, PATRICK MCGUIRE, BRENDAN

WILLIAM FITZGERALD, KATHLEEN WISE, ESTHER MARY FORBES TWENTYMAN,

ELAINE BLYDEN, PETER MARTIN, ALEXANDER REM, JR., KIMBERLY

MCCAFFREY, FRANK KENNEDY, MAUREEN LARKIN MCNAMARA.

MR. SPEAKER, AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE A BIG FAMILY HERE IN

THE ASSEMBLY, AND AN INTEGRAL PART OF THAT IS OUR STAFF. BEING A FORMER

STAFFER, I UNDERSTAND AND WE ALL UNDERSTAND THE SACRIFICES THAT OUR STAFF

MAKE TO MAKE THIS BODY LOOK GREAT, AND THEY DON'T ALWAYS GET THE

RECOGNITION THEY DESERVE. AND THAT'S WHY TODAY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE

RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO PASSED, AND MAY THEY REST IN PEACE.

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

SPEAKER HEASTIE: MR. OTIS ON THE RESOLUTION.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

MR. OTIS: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RISE WITH THE

REMEMBRANCE OF ASSEMBLYMAN GREG YOUNG, WHO ASSEMBLYWOMAN

GALEF JUST MENTIONED. GREG YOUNG SERVED IN THE ASSEMBLY FROM 1983

TO 1992, AND DURING THOSE YEARS OVERLAPPED, AND I GOT TO KNOW HIM AS A

STAFF MEMBER IN THE NEW YORK STATE SENATE. AND WHAT I WILL TELL YOU,

AND I THINK WE SHOULD REMEMBER GREG YOUNG FOR TODAY, IS THAT HE WAS

A GOOD COLLEAGUE. A GOOD COLLEAGUE TO HIS SENATOR THAT HE SERVED

WITH, A GOOD COLLEAGUE TO HIS COLLEAGUES HERE IN THIS HOUSE. AND SO

WHEN WE WOULD GO -- WE OVERLAPPED MOUNT VERNON AND -- AND GREG

REPRESENTED MOUNT VERNON AND PART OF YONKERS -- WHEN YOU'D GO TO

GREG YOUNG'S OFFICE TO TALK ABOUT AN ISSUE THAT WE SHARED JOINTLY, HE

HAD A SMILE ON HIS FACE, TOTAL TEAMWORK, A TOTAL ATTITUDE OF HOW ARE WE

GOING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM TOGETHER? AND THAT IS A MODEL, I THINK, TO

ALL OF US. HE DIED TOO YOUNG. HE WAS A PUBLIC SERVANT. BEYOND HIS

TIME HERE, HE STARTED AS CORPORATION COUNSEL OF THE CITY OF MOUNT

VERNON, AND SERVED ON THE COUNTY BOARD OF LEGISLATORS AND DID TEN

GOOD YEARS HERE. AND HE IS MISSED BY MANY AND MISSED BY THIS HOUSE.

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

SPEAKER HEASTIE: THANK YOU, MR. OTIS.

AND TO CONCLUDE, I WANT TO GIVE MY CONDOLENCES AND

-- AND MY PRAYERS TO THE FAMILIES OF ALL OF THE MEMBERS THAT WE LOST IN

THE LAST YEAR. AND AS I'VE ALWAYS SAID, THAT IT IS AN HONOR AND A

PRIVILEGE TO SERVE IN THIS HOUSE. BUT I WANT TO SPEAK PARTICULARLY OF

TWO OF THE DECEASED MEMBERS WHO I HAD PRETTY CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS

WITH. ONE IS MEL MILLER, AND MANY PEOPLE MENTIONED HIM. BUT I'M A

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

MEMBER WHO NEVER SERVED WITH MEL MILLER, BUT I DO REMEMBER, YOU

KNOW, WHEN I GOT ELECTED SPEAKER, EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD WANTED TO

GIVE ME ADVICE. AND I THOUGHT THAT THE FIRST TIME THAT MEL MILLER ASKED

ME FOR A MEETING THAT HE, AGAIN, WOULD BE ONE OF THESE PEOPLE TO OFFER

ME ADVICE. BUT MEL DID NOT DO THAT. THE FIRST THING HE SAID TO ME WAS,

HOW ARE YOU DOING? AND, HOW IS THE JOB TREATING YOU? AND HE AND I

BECAME QUICK FRIENDS AFTER THAT. AND WE WOULD LAUGH, AND HE WOULD

KNOW DURING TOUGH TIMES, WHETHER IT WAS BUDGET TIME OR END OF

SESSION TIME, HE WOULD ALWAYS KNOW SOMETHING TO SAY BECAUSE HE

KNEW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT HE SAT IN THE VERY SAME PLACE THAT I SAT. BUT

NEVER ONE TIME DID MEL MILLER EVER GIVE ME A SUGGESTION OR TOLD ME

WHAT TO DO, WHEN YOU WOULD EXPECT SOMEONE WHO HAD HAD THAT JOB

WOULD BE THE FIRST PERSON TO WANT TO OFFER ADVICE. ALL MEL EVER DID

WAS ALWAYS OFFER ME HIS FRIENDSHIP, AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY, VERY

IMPORTANT, AND IT SHOWED WHAT KIND OF HUMAN BEING THAT MEL MILLER

WAS. AND MEL COULD HAVE DECIDED ONCE -- WHEN HE WAS WRONGLY TAKEN

FROM BEING A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE, HE COULD HAVE SAID, YOU

KNOW, "TO THE HECK WITH THIS BUSINESS", BUT HE FELT ADVOCATING AND

BEING A PART OF THIS PROCESS WAS STILL SO IMPORTANT TO HIM, WHICH AGAIN,

I THINK SHOWED A LOT ABOUT MEL MILLER'S CHARACTER.

AND THEN I WANT TO GET TO MY FRIEND, JOS� PERALTA, WHO

WAS ELECTED HERE TO THE ASSEMBLY I THINK TWO YEARS AFTER I WAS ELECTED,

AND AS ASSEMBLYMAN CRESPO MENTIONED, WE WERE PART OF A CREW THAT

WOULD HANG OUT WITH EACH OTHER. AND I KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE

BELIEVE THAT THE -- THE CHOICE THAT JOS� MADE, THE POLITICAL CHOICE THAT

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

JOS� MADE WAS A -- WAS A WRONGFUL CHOICE, AND POLITICALLY, IT TURNED

OUT TO BE THAT WAY. BUT I KNOW IN THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I HAD WITH

JOS�, AS ASSEMBLYMAN CRESPO MENTIONED, HE NEVER DID IT FOR THE

TRAPPINGS OF EXCEPT THAT HE THOUGHT THAT BEING IN LEADERSHIP WOULD HELP

HIM REPRESENT HIS CONSTITUENTS BETTER THAN BEING IN THE MINORITY. THAT

WAS HIS ONLY REASON FOR DOING IT. AND CHOOSING TO DO THAT PROBABLY

COST HIM HIS SEAT. BUT EVEN BEING IN THAT POSITION, HE STILL STOOD FOR

VERY TWO VERY IMPORTANT THINGS THAT MEANT A LOT TO SO MANY YOUNG

PEOPLE, INCLUDING FIGHTING FOR THE -- FOR THE DREAM ACT. AND I THINK

IT -- IT WAS APTLY THAT WE NAMED THE DREAM ACT AFTER HIM. AND HE

ALSO COSPONSORED THE BILL WITH -- WITH OUR WONDERFUL MEMBER,

ASSEMBLYMEMBER DEBORAH GLICK, ON THE -- ON THE CAMERAS AROUND --

THE SPEED CAMERAS AROUND THE SCHOOLS. SO FOR WHATEVER PEOPLE THINK

ABOUT JOSE'S POLITICAL CHOICES, I KNOW AS A HUMAN BEING, HE IS SOMEONE

WHO DEEPLY CARED ABOUT HIS COMMUNITY, HIS FAMILY. AND IT IS VERY

TOUGH, AND EVERY TIME I THINK ABOUT HIM -- AND I EVEN RECENTLY WENT TO

HIS -- HIS WIFE HAD A BIRTHDAY PARTY. AND IT WAS JUST -- I JUST WENT THERE

TO -- TO WISH HER WELL. AND I SAW JOSE'S MOTHER, AND I SAW HIS BROTHER.

AND IT JUST STILL IS A SHOCK TO ME TO SEE THEM WITHOUT SEEING JOS� THERE.

AND SOMEONE WHO WAS TAKEN SO YOUNG -- TAKEN SO YOUNG AND -- AND

TOO QUICKLY. AND HE DEEPLY, DEEPLY CARED ABOUT HIS CONSTITUENTS. AND

AS I SAID, EVEN AFTER HE LOST, JOS� WAS STILL DOING A TURKEY DRIVE FOR HIS

CONSTITUENTS WHEN MOST PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE LOST THE RACE MAY HAVE

SAID, WELL, THEY DIDN'T WANT ME. I'M GOING TO MOVE ON WITH MY LIFE.

BUT HE STILL WAS REPRESENTING HIS COMMUNITY, EVEN THOUGH HE KNEW HE

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

HAD LOST HIS PRIMARY AND HE WAS GOING TO BE OUT OF OFFICE IN TWO

MONTHS. THAT SHOWS THE CHARACTER OF JOS� PERALTA.

SO, ON THE RESOLUTION HONORING THE MEMBERS OF OUR

DECEASED COLLEAGUES, ALL THOSE MEMBERS WHO ARE IN FAVOR SHALL RISE AND

STAND QUIETLY IN THEIR PLACE.

(WHEREUPON, MEMBERS ROSE.)

THANK YOU. THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

(PAUSE)

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

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

COULD NOW GO TO RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE 3. ON ASSEMBLY NO. 442, WE

WILL EXPECT COMMENTS FROM MEMBER ROZIC, AND ON 538 WE WILL EXPECT

COMMENTS FROM MEMBER HYNDMAN.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 442, MS.

ROZIC.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION URGING THE NEW YORK STATE

CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO SUPPORT H.R.7062 AND S.3592, RELATING TO

THE NEVER FORGET THE HEROES: PERMANENT AUTHORIZATION OF THE

SEPTEMBER 11TH VICTIM COMPENSATION FUND ACT.

(PAUSE)

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON -- ON THE

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

RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 537, MR.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

PERRY.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

ANDREW M. CUOMO TO PROCLAIM JUNE 2019, AS CARIBBEAN AMERICAN

HERITAGE MONTH IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL

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

ADOPTED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 538, MS.

HYNDMAN.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

ANDREW M. CUOMO TO PROCLAIM JUNE 12-19, 2019, AS SICKLE CELL

DISEASE AWARENESS WEEK IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. HYNDMAN ON THE

RESOLUTION.

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

ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON THIS RESOLUTION. THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION HAVE RECOGNIZED THAT SICKLE CELL IS A GLOBAL

PUBLIC HEALTH PRIORITY. SICKLE CELL DISEASE IS A CHRONIC HEREDITY BLOOD

DISORDER THAT IT TURNS YOUR BLOOD CELLS INTO THE SHAPE OF A SICKLE, AND

CAN CAUSE DEVASTATION TO -- TO INDIVIDUALS WITH THIS DISEASE. IT CAUSES

FREQUENT PAIN THAT CAN RESULT IN NECROSIS OF THE HIPS, KNEES, ANKLES AND

SHOULDERS. IT CAN CAUSE SEVERE ANEMIA, ACUTE LUNG COMPLICATIONS AND

DIFFICULTY FOR WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT OR ARE IN THE CHILDBEARING AGE.

IT CAN DEVELOP RAPIDLY IN THE BLOOD -- IN YOUR BLOOD, CAUSING SEPSIS,

MENINGITIS, STROKE, AND CAN AFFECT CHILDREN, SOME AS YOUNG AS 18

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

MONTHS OLD. AND A LOT OF THESE CHILDREN ARE GOING TO WHAT WE CALL

CRISES IF THEY'RE NOT TAKING CARE OF THEIR HEALTH AND BEING FULLY HYDRATED

AT ALL TIMES. SICKLE CELL DISEASE IS COMMON IN MOST

AFRICAN-AMERICANS, BUT THE DISEASE CAN BE FOUND IN OTHER

DEMOGRAPHICS ALSO: IN THE CARIBBEAN, IN SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA,

IN THE MEDIT -- IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AND IN INDIA.

IT IS CURRENTLY ESTIMATED THAT 100,000 AMERICANS ARE

LIVING WITH THE DISEASE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, AND TEN PERCENT OF

THOSE PATIENTS RESIDE IN NEW YORK STATE. THE ACTUAL SICKLE CELL DAY IS

JUNE 19TH, BUT BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THIS BODY, I WANTED TO MAKE

SURE THAT WE TALK ABOUT IT NOW.

I DO WANT TO THANK THE HEALTH COMMITTEE CHAIR IN THE

ASSEMBLY AND THE SENATE FOR ALLOCATING MORE DOLLARS TOWARDS

ERADICATION OF THIS DISEASE. I WANT NEW YORK STATE TO BE A LEADER WHEN

IT COMES TO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING TREATMENT FOR THOSE WHO

HAVE SICKLE CELL DISEASE ACROSS THIS STATE. I WANT US TO LEAD TEXAS AND

NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTH CAROLINA AND THE MONIES WE APPROPRIATE

TOWARDS THE ERADICATION OF THIS DISEASE.

SO I -- I THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON THE

RESOLUTION, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING SURE WE DO MUCH BETTER AS A

STATE IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. BARRON ON THE

RESOLUTION.

MR. BARRON: I WANT TO THANK THE SPONSOR FOR THIS

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

RESOLUTION. A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T PAY A LOT OF ATTENTION TO A VERY

SERIOUS DISEASE THAT WAS PARTICULAR TO PEOPLE OF AFRICAN ANCESTRY. BUT

THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY IN THE 1960'S MADE THIS A VERY POPULAR,

POPULAR ISSUE, AND THEY HAD HEALTH CLINICS ACROSS THE NATION, ABOUT 40

HEALTH CLINICS IN 40 STATES ACROSS THE NATION. AND THERE WAS A LOT OF

FOCUS ON SICKLE CELL ANEMIA.

SO I JUST WANT TO COMMEND THE SPONSOR SO THAT WE CAN

ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT THESE KINDS OF ILLNESSES THAT PARTICULARLY AFFECT

PEOPLE OF AFRICAN ANCESTRY SHOULD GET MORE MONEY AND MORE ATTENTION,

BECAUSE AS THE SPONSOR CLEARLY OUTLINED, IT IS VERY, VERY SERIOUS. FOR

THAT, I HIGHLY COMMEND HER AND I SUGGEST THAT ALL OF US SUPPORT THIS

RESOLUTION. VERY TIMELY AND NEEDED.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL

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

ADOPTED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 539, MR.

ZEBROWSKI.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

ANDREW M. CUOMO TO PROCLAIM JUNE 2019, AS MIGRAINE AND HEADACHE

AWARENESS MONTH IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. ZEBROWSKI ON

THE RESOLUTION.

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

WE PASS THI -- HOPEFULLY PASS THIS RESOLUTION TO BRING SOME AWARENESS

TO THIS -- TO THIS PROCESS. MIGRAINES ARE A NEUROLOGICAL DISEASE, ONE

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

THAT CAN INCAPACITATE INDIVIDUALS. JUST A FEW DETAILS AND STATISTICS THAT I

THINK WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO MY COLLEAGUES AND TO PEOPLE AROUND THE

STATE OR ANYONE THAT'S LISTENING: MIGRAINES ARE AN ILLNESS THAT AFFECTS

APPROXIMATELY 39 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE US AND ONE BILLION PEOPLE

WORLDWIDE. THERE IS APPROXIMATELY 1.2 MILLION ER VISITS EACH YEAR FOR

ACUTE MIGRAINE ATTACKS. THERE'S OVER FOUR MILLION PEOPLE THAT HAVE

CHRONIC DAILY MIGRAINES, AND AMERICAN EMPLOYERS LOSE APPROXIMATELY

$13 BILLION EACH YEAR DUE TO THE 113 MILLION LOST WORKDAYS. AND THEN

MOST IMPORTANTLY, MR. SPEAKER, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE -- IN

2017 THERE WERE JUST 500 CERTIFIED HEADACHE SPECIALISTS NATIONWIDE.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS A LOT OF NEW YORKERS, A LOT OF

PEOPLE IN OUR DISTRICT. AND WE HOPE BY PASSING THIS RESOLUTION THAT WE

CAN BRING SOME AWARENESS AND POSSIBLY GET SOME ADVANCEMENTS IN THE

TREATMENT OF THIS DISEASE.

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

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. 540, MS.

SOLAGES.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

ANDREW M. CUOMO TO PROCLAIM JULY 2019, AS FIBROID AWARENESS

MONTH IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL

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

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

ADOPTED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 541, MR.

DENDEKKER.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

ANDREW M. CUOMO TO PROCLAIM JUNE 2019, AS POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS

INJURY AWARENESS MONTH, AND JUNE 27, 2019, AS POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS

INJURY AWARENESS DAY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL

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

ADOPTED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 542, MR.

BRABENEC.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

ANDREW M. CUOMO TO PROCLAIM OCTOBER 2019, AS CZECH-AMERICAN

HERITAGE MONTH IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

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, THANK YOU

FOR ALLOWING ME TO INTERRUPT OUR PROCEEDINGS AS I -- ON BEHALF OF OUR

COLLEAGUE, PHIL RAMOS, WE WELCOME SOME GUESTS WHO CAME ALL THE

WAY FROM LONG ISLAND TODAY. THEY ARE HERE FROM THE PERUVIAN

GASTRONOMY RE -- GASTRONOMY ORGANIZATION. THEY ARE WILLIAM DIAZ,

VICKI DIAZ, CYNTHIA DIAZ, MARINA ROSELLA CLARK, ADLINA MONTINEZ,

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

ROMI M. ZONRON, JOS� PERETES, NORMA PERETES, BLANCA GARCIA DIAZ,

CHEF DAGO SANCHEZ, ALEXANDRA JILLIAN, CHRIS SANCHEZ, MARIA P. LLOYD,

JOSEPH LLOYD, ALLEJANDRO ROMAN, CHEF IZEKIAL VALENCIA, AND HUGO

DELZELLA.

MR. SPEAKER, THESE ARE HONORABLE FOLKS WHO HAVE

JOINED US FROM -- NOT JUST FROM LONG ISLAND, BUT FROM AROUND THE

WORLD. WOULD YOU PLEASE WELCOME THEM TO OUR CHAMBERS [SIC] AND

OFFER THEM THE FULL CORDIALITIES OF THE HOUSE.

AND BE AWARE, MEMBERS AND COLLEAGUES, THAT THESE

MEMBERS -- THESE FOLKS WILL BE HONORED IN A PRIVILEGED RESOLUTION THAT

WE WILL PASS AT THE END OF OUR SESSION TODAY. AND SO, ON BEHALF OF MR.

RAMOS AND THE PERUVIAN FOOD FESTIVAL, PLEASE WELCOME THESE

WONDERFUL FOLKS TO OUR CHAMBERS [SIC].

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

OF MR. RAMOS, 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. THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE, YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME HERE.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO ENJOYING SOME VERY DELICIOUS FOOD THAT YOU

WILL PROVIDE FOR US LATER IN THE DAY. LOTS OF APPETITES IN THIS HOUSE.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. BUENOS DIAS.

(APPLAUSE)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

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

COULD NOW GO TO PAGE 6, RULES REPORT NO. 91 BY MR. BRONSON.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL READ.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A00648-A, RULES

REPORT NO. 91, BRONSON, BARRON, ABINANTI, D'URSO, WEPRIN, WALLACE,

BUTTENSCHON, ROZIC, SANTABARBARA, FAHY, LUPARDO, RYAN, HUNTER,

STECK, GUNTHER, LIFTON, STIRPE, ROMEO, JONES, MCDONALD, MAGNARELLI,

BURKE, MCMAHON, BARRETT, WOERNER, COLTON. AN ACT TO AMEND THE

SOCIAL SERVICES LAW, IN RELATION TO MAKING CARE AND SERVICES PROVIDED

BY LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS ELIGIBLE FOR COVERAGE UNDER THE

MEDICAID PROGRAMS.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A00972-A, RULES

REPORT NO. 92, L. ROSENTHAL, JACOBSON, DENDEKKER. AN ACT TO AMEND

THE INSURANCE LAW, IN RELATION TO PROHIBITING CO-PAYMENTS FOR

TREATMENT AT AN OPIOID TREATMENT PROGRAM.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.

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

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MR. SPEAKER, IT DID TAKE

A WHILE, BUT THIS IS OUR FIRST VOTE OF TODAY. SO IF WE COULD PLEASE -- IF

YOU'RE IN AND AROUND THE CHAMBERS [SIC], COME IN, CAST YOUR VOTE. IN

THE CHAMBERS [SIC], CAST YOUR VOTE. FIRST VOTE OF TODAY. THANK YOU

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: FIRST VOTE OF THE DAY,

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

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

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

QUICKLY. WE HAVE LOTS OF WORK TODAY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. LET'S GO.

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 YOU

COULD PLEASE CALL THE REAL PROPERTY AND [SIC] TAXATION COMMITTEE TO

THE SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM. MRS. GALEF IS ON HER WAY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: REAL PROPERTY TAX IN

THE SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE [SIC]. MRS. GALEF IS ON HER WAY. PLEASE

FOLLOW QUICKLY.

THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01151, RULES REPORT

NO. 93, GOTTFRIED, DINOWITZ, PAULIN, SCHIMMINGER, ORTIZ, JAFFEE,

D'URSO, ABINANTI, SAYEGH, DESTEFANO, SALKA, BARRON. AN ACT TO AMEND

THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, IN RELATION TO AUTHORIZING THE COMMISSIONER OF

HEALTH TO MAKE GRANTS TO BE USED FOR THE COSTS OF CONDUCTING A LOCAL

BLOOD DONATION DRIVE.

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.)

IF YOU'RE IN THE CHAMBER, THIS IS THE SECOND VOTE. THE

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

QUICKER YOU VOTE, THE MORE BUSINESS WE WILL GET DONE. MEMBERS ARE

REMINDED, VOTE NOW, PLEASE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01307-A, RULES

REPORT NO. 94, L. ROSENTHAL, STECK, D'URSO, ARROYO, STERN, BRABENEC,

LAVINE, MAGNARELLI, BARRON, REYES. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC HEALTH

LAW, IN RELATION TO FOOD ALLERGY AWARENESS IN FOOD SERVICE

ESTABLISHMENTS AND ONLINE FOOD ORDERING SERVICES.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON A MOTION BY MS.

ROSENTHAL, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS

ADVANCED. THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01320-A, RULES

REPORT NO. 95, CAHILL, JACOBSON, D'URSO. AN ACT TO AMEND THE

ELECTION LAW, IN RELATION TO CANVASS OF BALLOTS CAST BY CERTAIN VOTERS.

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.)

ACTING SPEAKER FERNANDEZ: ARE THERE ANY

OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS COMMITTEE IN THE SPEAKER'S

CONFERENCE ROOM. PLEASE, AND THANK YOU.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01772-A, RULES

REPORT NO. 96, PEOPLES-STOKES, CRESPO, RODRIGUEZ, WEPRIN, PERRY,

DICKENS. AN ACT TO AMEND THE BANKING LAW, IN RELATION TO ASSESSMENT

OF THE RECORD OF PERFORMANCE OF BANKING INSTITUTIONS IN HELPING TO MEET

THE CREDIT NEEDS OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

ACTING SPEAKER FERNANDEZ: THE BILL IS LAID

ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01801-A, RULES

REPORT NO. 97, PHEFFER AMATO, D'URSO, ORTIZ, COOK, COLTON, JONES,

NOLAN, GRIFFIN, DENDEKKER. AN ACT TO AMEND THE EDUCATION LAW,

RELATION TO PROVIDING FOR THE OBSERVANCE OF SEPTEMBER 11TH

REMEMBRANCE DAY AND PROVIDING FOR THE OBSERVANCE OF A BRIEF PERIOD

OF SILENCE IN PUBLIC SCHOOL CLASSROOMS AT THE OPENING OF SUCH DAY.

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. A02037-A, RULES

REPORT NO. 98, GUNTHER. AN ACT DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

SERVICE TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF A MUNICIPAL BROADBAND PROGRAM

WITHIN THE STATE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS -- EXCUSE

ME.

ON A MOTION BY MRS. GUNTHER, THE SENATE BILL IS

BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS ADVANCED. THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A02226-A, RULES

REPORT NO. 99, CAHILL. AN ACT TO AMEND THE HIGHWAY LAW, IN RELATION

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

ROSSITZ 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. A02284, RULES REPORT

NO. 100, GUNTHER. AN ACT TO AMEND THE TAX LAW, IN RELATION TO

AUTHORIZING THE TOWN OF WALLKILL TO ADOPT A HOTEL OR MOTEL TAX OF UP TO

5 PERCENT; AND PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF SUCH PROVISIONS UPON

EXPIRATION THEREOF.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: HOME RULE MESSAGE

IS AT THE DESK. THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A02468-C, RULES

REPORT NO. 101, WALLACE, DENDEKKER. AN ACT TO AMEND THE GENERAL

BUSINESS LAW, IN RELATION TO REQUIRING THAT A HOMEOWNER BE PROVIDED A

COST ESTIMATE FOR INSTALLATION OF A FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A02559, RULES REPORT

NO. 102, GLICK, L. ROSENTHAL, M.G. MILLER, SEAWRIGHT, OTIS. AN ACT TO

AMEND THE TAX LAW AND THE 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 AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.

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

2021.

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 YOU

COULD PLEASE CALL THE ELECTION LAW COMMITTEE TO THE SPEAKER'S

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

CONFERENCE ROOM. I BELIEVE MR. LAVINE IS ALREADY THERE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ELECTION LAW

COMMITTEE, SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM, PLEASE, IMMEDIATELY.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: AND, MR. SPEAKER, ON

BEHALF OF OUR COLLEAGUES NICK PERRY, DIANA RICHARDSON AND MARITZA

DAVILA, WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME TO OUR CHAMBERS [SIC] SOME VERY

SPECIAL GUESTS FROM LITERALLY ALL OVER THE WORLD. MR. SPEAKER, WE HAVE

HIS EXCELLENCY JUAN AVILA CABELLOS. HE IS THE AMBASSADOR TO THE

UNITED NATIONS FOR THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. WE HAVE THE CONSUL

GENERAL BARBARA ATHERLY FROM GUYANA. WE HAVE THE CONSUL GENERAL

LISA BRYAN-SMART FROM JAMAICA. WE HAVE THE CONSUL GENERAL HOWIE

PRINCE, SAINT VINCENT AND GRENADINES. AND WE HAVE THE CONSUL

GENERAL OLSON DALLAWAY, SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES. VICE

CONSUL, INVESTMENT AND TRADE PROMOTIONS, BERNADETTE AMBROSE

BLACK, SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES. AND CONSUL GENERAL ANDRE

LAVEAU FROM TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO.

MR. SPEAKER, THE WEST INDIAN AMERICAN DAY CARNIVAL

ASSOCIATION IS HERE AS WELL. WE HAVE THE PRESIDENT, JEAN JOSEPHS; THE

VICE PRESIDENT, ANGELA SEELEY; THE OFFICIAL DJ FOR LABOR DAY, DJ RED

MAN; AND JONATHAN DJ NAJI JAHEEN.

MR. SPEAKER, WOULD YOU PLEASE WELCOME THESE

AWESOME, OUTSTANDING GUESTS TO OUR CHAMBERS [SIC], GIVE THEM THE

COURTESIES OF THE FLOOR AND EXTEND YOUR WELCOME.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

OF MEMBERS PERRY, RAYNOR, RICHARDSON AND ROMERO [SIC], WE

WELCOME YOU HERE TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY. WE EXTEND TO

YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. ON BEHALF OF THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE

MEMBERS, WE ARE PLEASED TO SHARE THIS TIME WITH YOU. YOU HAVE

GRACED US WITH YOUR PRESENCE. TO THOSE CONSUL GENERALS FROM ALL OF

THOSE COUNTRIES, THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDE YOUR

COUNTRY AND THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT YOU HAVE CREATED WITH OURS. THANK

YOU SO VERY MUCH. YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME HERE.

(APPLAUSE)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MR. SPEAKER, ON BEHALF

OF OUR COLLEAGUE, MR. EICHENSTEIN, WE HAVE MEMBERS OF THE

METROPOLITAN COUNCIL ON JEWISH POVERTY. THEY ARE IN THE CHAMBERS

[SIC]. THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, AS YOU KNOW, MR. SPEAKER, SERVES

OVER 200,000 CLIENTS THROUGHOUT THE 16 COMMUNITY JEWISH COUNCILS IN

EACH OF THE FIVE BOROUGHS OF THE GREAT CITY OF NEW YORK. THEY WORK

ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING, CRISIS INTERVENTION, FAMILY VIOLENCE SERVICES AND

IMMIGRATION SERVICES, AS WELL AS A FOOD DISTRIBUTION.

MR. SPEAKER, IF YOU COULD WELCOME ALEX WO,

MICHAEL DAVIS, DAVID LAZARUS, WILLIE PINKO AND DAVID SCHWARTZ TO

OUR CHAMBERS [SIC] ON BEHALF OF OUR MEMBER EICHENSTEIN.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

OF MR. EICHENSTEIN, MS. RICHARDSON, I THINK, WHO IS BACK THERE WITH

YOU, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME THIS DISTINGUISHED

GROUP HERE TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY, EXTEND TO YOU THE

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICES THAT YOU PROVIDE THE

MANY COMMUNITIES IN NEW YORK CITY AND THE STATE. AGAIN, CONTINUE

YOUR GREAT WORK. YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME HERE. THANK YOU.

(APPLAUSE)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

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

BEEN JOINED BY SOME YOUNG PEOPLE. THIS IS A GROUP OF STUDENTS FROM

THE PUBLIC SCHOOL IN MR. DILAN'S DISTRICT. IN FACT, HIS OWN SON IS ONE OF

THE STUDENTS IN THIS FIFTH-GRADE CLASS, DANIEL DILAN. SO, MR. SPEAKER,

THEY'RE JOINED -- OR CHAPERONED, I SHOULD SAY, BY MR. GALASSI, MR.

HEALEY, MR. TABBITA, AND MR. GROSSARTH, WHO ARE THE TEACHERS. AND

THESE ARE STUDENTS AT PUBLIC SCHOOL NUMBER 65. FIFTH GRADERS, THAT'S

THE BEST GRADE EVER, MR. SPEAKER.

IF YOU WOULD WELCOME THEM TO OUR CHAMBERS [SIC].

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. ON BEHALF

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

FIFTH GRADE HERE TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY, EXTEND TO YOU THE

PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE. YOU ARE ALWAYS

WELCOME HERE. WE'RE SO PROUD TO HAVE YOU. HOPE THAT YOU HAVE HAD A

GREAT ACADEMIC YEAR AND WILL HAVE EVEN BETTER A SUMMER. AND TO THE

YOUNG MR. DILAN, YOU'RE FAMILY. YOU'RE ALWAYS HERE. I SEE YOU HIDING

IN THE BACK THERE. MAKE YOUR FATHER VERY PROUD. THANK YOU SO VERY

MUCH. AND TO THOSE WHO HAVE SUPERVISED YOU, THANK YOU.

(APPLAUSE)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

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

COULD CONTINUE OUR WORK ON PAGE 12, RULES REPORT NO. 118 BY MR.

CRESPO ON DEBATE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A03675-B, RULES

REPORT NO. 118, CRESPO, NOLAN, GLICK, DINOWITZ, L. ROSENTHAL,

ABINANTI, SIMOTAS, QUART, SEAWRIGHT, SIMON, GOTTFRIED,

PEOPLES-STOKES, WEPRIN, MOSLEY, DE LA ROSA, HYNDMAN, PERRY,

JAFFEE, DILAN, WALKER, DICKENS, ORTIZ, BRONSON, EPSTEIN, SAYEGH,

RAMOS, PICHARDO, BUCHWALD, THIELE, CRUZ, OTIS, MAGNARELLI, JACOBSON,

CARROLL, REYES, NIOU, PAULIN, FERNANDEZ, BENEDETTO, TAYLOR, RAYNOR,

ARROYO, RODRIGUEZ, HEVESI, PRETLOW, DENDEKKER, LIFTON,

D. ROSENTHAL, RIVERA, CAHILL, BLAKE, JEAN-PIERRE, KIM, HUNTER, DAVILA,

STECK, RICHARDSON, GALEF, JOYNER, FALL, LAVINE, FRONTUS, BARRON,

O'DONNELL, WRIGHT, SOLAGES, FAHY, GANTT. AN ACT TO AMEND THE

VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAW, IN RELATION TO THE ISSUANCE OF

NON-COMMERCIAL DRIVERS' LICENSES AND LEARNERS' PERMITS; AND TO REPEAL

CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF SUCH LAW RELATING TO DRIVER'S LICENSE APPLICATIONS.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: AN EXPLANATION IS

REQUESTED, MR. CRESPO. BUT BEFORE WE BEGIN THAT, LADIES AND

GENTLEMEN, WE ARE ON DEBATE. PLEASE, MEMBERS WHO ARE IN THE

CHAMBER, PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEAT. CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE BEING HAD IN

THE CHAMBER SHOULD BE TAKEN OUTSIDE OR CEASED. THANK YOU VERY

MUCH.

PROCEED, MR. CRESPO.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

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

DRIVER'S LICENSE ACCESS AND PRIVACY ACT, AKA 3675-B OR OTHERWISE

KNOWN AS THE "GREEN LIGHT NEW YORK" BILL, WOULD DO A NUMBER OF

THINGS: THIS BILL EXPANDS THE PROOFS OF IDENTITY TO APPLY FOR A STANDARD

DRIVER'S LICENSE, WHICH IS A NON-COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE AND DOES

NOT MEET FEDERAL STANDARDS FOR IDENTIFICATION. AND APPLICANTS WHO

LACK A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER MAY INSTEAD SUBMIT A SIGNED AFFIDAVIT

THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ISSUED A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. THE PROOFS

UNDER THIS BILL THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO DMV IN LIEU OF THAT SOCIAL

SECURITY NUMBER WOULD BE A VALID UNEXPIRED FOREIGN PASSPORT ISSUED

BY THE APPLICANT'S COUNTRY OF CITIZENSHIP; A VALID, UNEXPIRED CONSULATE

IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENT ISSUED BY A CONSULATE FROM THE APPLICANT'S

COUNTRY OF CITIZENSHIP; A VALID FOREIGN DRIVER'S LICENSE THAT INCLUDES THE

APPLICANT'S PHOTO IMAGE AND WHICH IS EITHER UNEXPIRED OR HAS EXPIRED

FOR LESS THAN 24 MONTHS FROM ITS DATE OF EXPIRATION. THE BILL RESTRICTS

THE DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION FROM STANDARD DRIVER'S LICENSE

APPLICATIONS, THE SOURCE DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATIONS AND

WHETHER OR NOT A DRIVER'S LICENSE OR LEARNER'S PERMIT MEETS OR DOES NOT

MEET FEDERAL STANDARDS FOR IDENTIFICATION. HOWEVER, DISCLOSURE WOULD

BE PERMITTED TO THE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS THE SUBJECT OF THE RECORDS WHERE

REQUIRED UNDER THE NATIONAL DRIVER REGISTER OR TO COMPLY WITH A LAWFUL

COURT ORDER OR JUDICIAL WARRANT SIGNED BY A FEDERAL JUDGE, OR SUBPOENA

ISSUED UNDER STATE LAW. THE BILL ALSO RESTRICTS THE RELEASE OF DMV

RECORDS TO AGENCIES PRIMARILY ENFORCING IMMIGRATION LAW. HOWEVER,

DISCLOSURE WOULD BE PERMITTED WHERE NECESSARY FOR THE COMMISSIONER

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

TO ISSUE ENHANCED AND REAL ID DRIVER'S LICENSES, AND PURSUANT TO

COOPERATIVE CITY, STATE, FEDERAL ARRANGEMENTS THAT IS NOT ENFORCING

IMMIGRATION LAW, AND THE DISCLOSURE IS LIMITED TO THE SPECIFIC RECORDS

SOUGHT UNDER THE ARRANGEMENT. THERE ARE A FEW OTHER PROVISIONS THAT

I'M SURE WE'LL DISCUSS AS THE QUESTIONS COME UP, BUT I DO WANT AS PART

OF THE EXPLANATION TO CLARIFY ALSO THAT -- WHAT THIS BILL DOES NOT DO.

THIS BILL DOES NOT PROVIDE A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP. THIS BILL DOES NOT

EXTEND VOTING RIGHTS TO NONCITIZENS. THIS BILL DOES NOTHING MORE THAN

REAUTHORIZE WHAT HAD BEEN ALLOWED UNDER STATE LAW AND DMV

REGULATIONS FOR DECADES, WHICH IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SECURE A DRIVER'S

LICENSE WITHOUT A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. IT IS A BILL THAT WILL HAVE

ECONOMIC -- POSITIVE ECONOMIC BENEFITS FOR THE STATE OF NEW YORK. IT

IS A BILL THAT WILL HELP ADDRESS THE RISING INSURANCE PREMIUMS ACROSS

THIS STATE, AND WILL, IN OUR OPINION, LEAD TO A REDUCTION IN INSURANCE

COSTS FOR ALL DRIVERS. AND MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, IT IS A BILL THAT

ENHANCES THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF OUR ROADWAYS FOR ALL NEW YORKERS. AND

-- AND THAT IS KNOWN THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE OF THOSE STATES THAT HAVE

ALREADY AUTHORIZED THESE PROVISIONS AND THE REDUCTION IN HIT-AND-RUNS

AND OTHER ACCIDENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THEIR ROADWAYS.

AND SO, I HOPE THAT GIVES A BROAD EXPLANATION, BUT I'M

SURE WE'LL DISCUSS IT FURTHER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. RA.

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

YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: WILL YOU YIELD, MR.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

CRESPO?

MR. CRESPO: CERTAINLY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MR. RA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I KNOW A

NUMBER OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE QUESTIONS, BUT I'M GOING TO TRY TO JUST

GO THROUGH SOME OF THE BASICS AND THEN I'LL -- I'LL LEAVE IT TO -- TO SOME

OF THEM. SO YOU TALKED ABOUT, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE PROOF OF IDENTITY

THAT HAS TO BE SUBMITTED UNDER THIS BILL. AND IN PARTICULAR, YOU KNOW,

THE CHANGING OF -- OF THE REQUIREMENT IN TERMS OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE

SUBMITTED. PART OF WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, THIS LIST OF DOCUMENTS, AND I --

AND I -- I ASSUME OR I BELIEVE IN THE TEXT OF THE BILL, THE COMMISSIONER

MIGHT BE ABLE TO DETERMINE IN THE FUTURE THAT OTHER DOCUMENTS MIGHT BE

CAPABLE OF BEING USED?

MR. CRESPO: YES.

MR. RA: OKAY. AND THEN THERE'S THIS PIECE FOR A

[SIC] AFFIDAVIT BY THE APPLICANT THAT THEY'VE BEEN ISSUED A SOCIAL -- THAT

THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ISSUED A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. WOULD THAT BE,

YOU KNOW, A FORM THAT WOULD BE PROVIDED BY THE DMV OR WOULD THAT

BE ON A FORM?

MR. CRESPO: IT COULD BE ON THE APPLICATION ITSELF OR

IT COULD BE REQUESTED AS A SEPARATE DOCUMENT TO BE SUBMITTED ALONGSIDE

THE APPLICATION.

MR. RA: OKAY. AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS, YOU

KNOW, FOR -- FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF -- OF IDENTIFICATIONS AND DRIVER'S

LICENSES AND EVEN HOW SOME OTHER STATES HAVE GONE ABOUT THIS THAT

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

THERE -- THERE MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE SOMEBODY SUBMITS --

ACTUALLY HAS TO SUBMIT AND GET, YOU KNOW, A LETTER FROM SOCIAL SECURITY

SAYING YOU'RE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR -- FOR A DRIVER'S LICENSE. THAT WOULD NOT

BE THIS, THOUGH. THIS WOULD JUST BE AN AFFIDAVIT THAT THE PERSON WOULD

SIGN.

MR. CRESPO: THIS WOULD BE AN AFFIDAVIT, AS THERE

ARE OTHER AFFIDAVITS AS PART OF THE APPLICATION ALREADY, THAT WOULD SIGNAL

THAT THAT INDIVIDUAL AFFIRMS THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ISSUED A SOCIAL

SECURITY NUMBER.

MR. RA: OKAY. IS THERE ANY REQUIREMENT AS THE

PERSON IS APPLYING THAT THEY DO ANY TYPE OF AFFIDAVIT OR REPRESENTATION

THAT THEY INTEND TO FILE FOR CITIZENSHIP SHOULD THEY BECOME ELIGIBLE, LIKE

WE DID WITH THE DREAM ACT?

MR. CRESPO: NO, THAT IS NOT A PART OF THIS BILL.

MR. RA: OKAY. AND WITH REGARD TO THESE RECORDS,

ONCE THEY'RE GIVEN TO THE DMV, I KNOW MY, YOU KNOW, MY EXPERIENCE

GOING THERE LAST FALL WHEN MY LICENSE EXPIRED, YOU KNOW, THEY SCANNED

SOME DOCUMENTATION THAT I GAVE THEM. OF COURSE, I -- I WAS APPLYING

FOR, I GUESS, THE ENHANCED AT THE TIME. BUT WHAT -- WHAT TYPE OF RECORD

RETENTION WOULD BE DONE HERE ON THESE TYPE OF PROOFS THAT ARE BEING

SUBMITTED?

MR. CRESPO: WELL, A COUPLE OF THINGS TO -- TO POINT

OUT. IN THE INSTANCE YOU -- YOU SUGGESTED, FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES FOR THE

ENHANCED OR -- OR THOSE LICENSES THAT MEET FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS OR

FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION, THERE IS A MANDATE THAT CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BE

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

KEPT AS PART OF THAT PROCESS AND THAT APPLICATION. THAT IS NOT BEING

CHANGED HERE. WHAT IS NOT CURRENTLY IN REGULATION IS ANY REQUIREMENT

FOR DMV TO MAINTAIN SOURCE DOCUMENTS, AND THERE'S EVEN A -- AN

UNDERSTANDING, THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE TO KEEP THE APPLICATION ITSELF

CURRENTLY FOR STANDARD DRIVER'S LICENSES. AND SO TO ANSWER YOUR

QUESTION, IN YOUR INSTANCE, THEY WERE KEEPING THOSE DOCUMENTS AND

SCANNED THEM BECAUSE FEDERAL LAW MANDATES IT. THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE

PRACTICE BY DMV FOR STANDARD LICENSES IN THE PAST. I DON'T BELIEVE

THEY'RE DOING THAT TODAY, AND UNDER THIS BILL IT WOULD BE MADE CLEAR THAT

THE DOCUMENTS ARE ONLY TO BE KEPT UNTIL THEY ARE VERIFIED. IT'S NOT THAT

DIFFERENT THAN WHEN I APPLIED FOR MY LICENSE THE FIRST TIME. ONE OF THE

THINGS I GAVE THEM WAS MY BIRTH CERTIFICATE. THEY TOOK A GLANCE AT IT,

VERIFIED THAT IT WAS A LEGITIMATE BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND HANDED IT RIGHT

BACK TO ME. IT NEVER WENT IN A FILE. NOT THAT DISSIMILAR.

MR. RA: OKAY. BUT UNDER CURRENT LAW, YOU'RE SAYING

THEY DON'T KEEP IT. IS THERE ANY DIRECTION IN CURRENT LAW THAT SAYS THEY

CAN'T KEEP IT OR THEY SHOULDN'T KEEP IT, THE DOCUMENTS?

MR. CRESPO: NO. THERE IS NO REGULATION THAT STATES

THAT THEY MUST MAINTAIN THOSE RECORDS OR KEEP THOSE RECORDS. IT -- IT IS

IN LAW FOR FEDERAL-COMPLIANT IDENTIFICATION.

MR. RA: WHICH WOULD BE EITHER THE -- THE REAL ID --

MR. CRESPO: REAL ID OR ENHANCED.

MR. RA: -- OR ENHANCED. CORRECT. SO UNDER THIS,

THOUGH, IT -- IT -- IT WOULD BE EXPLICIT THAT THEY ARE NOT TO RETAIN THE

DOCUMENTS, CORRECT?

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

MR. CRESPO: UNDER THIS BILL, WE SIMPLY STATE THAT

SOURCE DOCUMENTS SHOULD ONLY BE RETAINED FOR THE TIME NECESSARY TO

PROVE THEIR VALIDITY.

MR. RA: OKAY. AND, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF

DOCUMENTS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN ISSUED BY, YOU KNOW, A FOREIGN

GOVERNMENT OR OTHER ENTITY, WHAT IS THAT VERIFICATION PROCESS? I MEAN,

IT MIGHT BE -- DOES IT REALLY DEPEND ON WHERE IT'S COMING FROM IN TERMS

OF -- OR THE DEPARTMENT'S EXPERIENCE WITH THOSE TYPE OF DOCUMENTS IN

TERMS OF HOW THEY WILL ACTUALLY VERIFY THEM?

MR. CRESPO: A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH, ACTUALLY. AND IT'S

IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT, THE DEPARTMENT IS NOT -- IT IS NOT UNKNOWN TO

THEM HOW TO HANDLE THIS PROCESS. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF

FOREIGN DOCUMENTS, PASSPORTS IN PARTICULAR, AND OTHERS, THAT THEY WILL

ACCEPT. AND THEY HAVE -- HAVE HAD FOR -- FOR DECADES OR YEARS A LIST OF

WELL OVER 200 COUNTRIES WITH WHOM THEY ARE ABLE TO VERIFY THOSE

FOREIGN DOCUMENTS. SO THIS IS NOT AN UNKNOWN PRACTICE, IT'S NOT

UNIQUE. THERE ARE MARKERS THAT ARE KNOWN. THERE ARE OTHER DESIGN

FEATURES AND SAFETY FEATURES THAT ARE BUILT INTO A NUMBER OF THESE, AND IT

WOULD STILL BE UP TO THE DEPARTMENT TO DETERMINE WHICH -- WHICH

FOREIGN COUNTRY-ISSUED DOCUMENTS THEY ARE ABLE TO PROCESS. AND THERE

ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS THEY CAN DO THAT. THERE'S TECHNOLOGY THAT ALLOWS

THEM TO SCAN AND TO VERIFY THOSE DOCUMENTS. THERE ARE SYSTEMS THAT

I'M SURE THEY CAN TAP INTO TO -- TO DO THAT. AND THERE ARE OFTENTIMES

EVEN JUST BOOKS, LITERALLY A BOOK THAT WILL SIT AT THE COUNTER THAT IF YOU

LOOK UP A PARTICULAR DOCUMENT FROM A PARTICULAR COUNTRY, IT WILL

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

IDENTIFY WHICH MARKERS TO LOOK FOR TO -- TO VERIFY THEIR AUTHENTICITY. IT'S

IMPORTANT TO NOTE ALSO, WE'RE ONLY ASKING THEM TO ACCEPT THOSE THAT ARE

UNEXPIRED, UNLESS IT'S IN THE INSTANCE OF A DRIVER'S LICENSE THAT HAS BEEN

EXPIRED LESS THAN 24 MONTHS.

MR. RA: OKAY. AND WITH REGARD TO -- YOU KNOW, IF

THERE'S AN UNEXPIRED VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE FROM -- FROM ANOTHER, YOU

KNOW, JURISDICTION, CURRENTLY, YOU KNOW, A FOREIGN DRIVER'S LICENSE, SAY,

DOES NEW YORK STATE LAW CURRENTLY ALLOW THAT INDIVIDUAL TO DRIVE IN

NEW YORK STATE?

MR. CRESPO: YES.

MR. RA: THE LAST QUESTION I HAVE WITH REGARDS TO

JUST THE -- THE IDENTIFICATION ITSELF. IT STATES IN HERE THAT WE MAY

INDICATE ON THE LICENSE THAT THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT FOR FEDERAL PURPOSES.

SO I -- SO I GUESS -- UNDER CURRENT LAW, DOES IT REQUIRE US TO -- TO HAVE

THAT INDICATION?

MR. CRESPO: YES, IT REQUIRES THAT IT HAVE THAT

STATEMENT.

MR. RA: OKAY. SO WHAT -- I'M JUST WONDERING --

AND I -- AND I KNOW THERE WAS RECENTLY AN AMENDMENT MADE WITH

REGARD TO THIS PIECE OF THE BILL, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF FONT AND FONT SIZE

IN TERMS OF INDICATING THIS ON THE -- ON THE LICENSE, WHICH I THINK IS -- IT

NO LONGER INDICATES HOW IT -- HOW IT SHOULD BE INDICATED, IT JUST SAYS IT

MAY STATE NOT FOR FEDERAL PURPOSES, CORRECT?

MR. CRESPO: YEAH, AND I APPRECIATE YOU

MENTIONING THAT POINT. I MEAN, ALL ALONG WE HAVE MADE AMENDMENTS TO

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

ADDRESS CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED FROM -- FROM A NUMBER OF

INDIVIDUALS AND LEADERS, AND THAT PARTICULAR CONCERN WAS RAISED BY YOUR

COLLEAGUE, THE RANKER ON THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE. IT WAS

BROUGHT UP A GOOD POINT IN REGARDS TO THE UNNECESSARY REGULATION OF THE

FONT, WE TOOK THAT LANGUAGE OUT AND LEAVE THAT UP TO THE DEPARTMENT.

MR. RA: OKAY.

MR. CRESPO: IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, BY THE WAY,

MR. RA, ON THAT POINT. I BELIEVE THAT DRIVER'S LICENSES, STANDARD LICENSES

CURRENTLY ISSUED OR AS OF OCTOBER, SEPTEMBER OF 2017 ALREADY HAVE THE

STATEMENT OF NOT FOR FEDERAL PURPOSES. KEEP IN MIND THAT THAT -- IT'S

IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS TO KNOW, THESE STANDARD LICENSES WOULD BE FOR

EVERYONE WHO IS NOT SEEKING ONE OF THE ENHANCED AND/OR REAL ID. SO,

YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE YOU OR I CARRYING THAT SAME LICENSE AND WOULD

HAVE THE OPTION TO STICK WITH THE STANDARD DRIVER'S LICENSE WHICH WOULD

HAVE THAT NOTIFICATION ON IT.

MR. RA: AND I BELIEVE OUR -- OUR STANDARD LICENSE

CURRENTLY IN NEW YORK STATE IS NOT FEDERAL COMPLIANT, AND I THINK,

RIGHT, THERE'S AN UP -- UPCOMING DEADLINE BY WHICH IF WE DON'T MAKE

CHANGES TO THAT PROCESS, A STANDARD DRIVER'S LICENSE WILL NOT BE

SUFFICIENT IDENTIFICATION TO BOARD A PLANE FOR ANYBODY IN NEW YORK

STATE THAT HAS ONE. IS THAT CORRECT?

MR. CRESPO: RIGHT. NEW YORK IS FULLY COMPLIANT

WITH FEDERAL REAL ID PROVISIONS.

MR. RA: OKAY. SO ONE -- ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT

HAS ALSO BEEN RAISED WITH REGARD TO THIS -- AND -- AND I CERTAINLY, YOU

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

KNOW, APPRECIATE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT ENTITIES WHO HAVE

WEIGHED IN IN SUPPORT OF THIS. BUT, YOU KNOW, ORDINARILY, YOU KNOW,

AN EMPLOYER OR -- OR -- OR SOMEONE ELSE WHO, YOU KNOW, SEES AN ID

PRESENTED TO THEM, YOU KNOW, THEY MAKE CERTAIN ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT,

YOU KNOW, THAT INDIVIDUAL AND THEIR STATUS. AND IN PARTICULAR, IN THE

EMPLOYMENT REALM, WHETHER THEY ARE SOMEBODY THAT THEY CAN VALIDLY

HIRE. IF -- IF THIS, YOU KNOW, PASSES, YOU KNOW -- WE ALL KNOW ANY OF

US WHEN WE'VE -- WE'VE HIRED SOMEBODY IN OUR OFFICE, WE HAVE TO, YOU

KNOW, FILL OUT THAT FORM THAT -- THAT REQUIRES CERTAIN IDENTIFICATION.

HOW WILL THAT BE IMPACTED BY THIS?

MR. CRESPO: SO, I'M NOT SURE THAT -- THAT -- THAT IT

WOULD BE. THERE IS A PROVISION WITHIN THE LANGUAGE OF THIS IN TERMS OF

THE LICENSE NOT BEING USED TO DETERMINE SOMEBODY'S STATUS. BUT IF YOU

ARE AN EMPLOYER, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER REQUIREMENTS THAT A

POTENTIAL EMPLOYEE MUST MEET, AND THOSE ARE NOT CHANGED IN THIS BILL.

WE ARE SIMPLY RETURNING TO THE OLD PRACTICE OF ALLOWING FOR ALTERNATIVES

TO SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS. I DON'T BELIEVE IT'LL IMPACT THAT

EMPLOYMENT PROCESS.

MR. RA: OKAY. AND YOU -- YOU SAID ABOUT GOING

BACK, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT MANY YEARS AGO, YOU KNOW, THE STATE ADDED

THIS REQUIREMENT OF HAVING A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. AND THIS IS, YOU

KNOW, GIVING AN ALTERNATIVE PATH TO GETTING A DRIVER'S LICENSE IF YOU

DON'T HAVE OR YOU'RE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. DO YOU

KNOW WHAT -- WHAT WAS REQUIRED PRIOR TO THAT CHANGE IN NEW YORK

STATE TO GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE, WHAT TYPE OF IDENTIFICATION IF YOU DID NOT

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

HAVE A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER?

MR. CRESPO: I BELIEVE -- I BELIEVE IF YOU WERE

ISSUED A LETTER FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SECURITY STATING THAT YOU

HAD NOT BEEN ISSUED A SOCIAL SECURITY, THEY -- THEY HAD REGULATIONS

PERTAINING TO WHAT ELSE YOU COULD SUBMIT. I DON'T HAVE IN FRONT OF ME

EXACTLY WHAT THEY ALLOW FOR, BUT THERE WAS -- THAT CHANGED OVER TIME,

BUT THERE HAS BEEN MULTIPLE PATHWAYS AND DOCUMENTS THAT INDIVIDUALS

WERE ABLE TO SUBMIT. I'VE OFTEN REFERENCED MY OWN FATHER, WHO AT ONE

POINT LIVED HERE AS AN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT, AND HE'S ALWAYS,

DURING HIS TENURE HERE, HAD ACCESS TO A DRIVER'S LICENSE. SO, IT WAS A

VERY ACCESSIBLE PRIVILEGE FOR ALL.

MR. RA: OKAY. MY UNDERSTANDING JUST IN LOOKING

AT, YOU KNOW -- AND I'M AWARE THERE'S A NUMBER OF STATES WHO MAKE

UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE FOR DRIVER'S LICENSES AND, YOU KNOW,

SOME HAVE DIFFERENT CRITERIA. BUT IT LOOKS LIKE ONE OF THE MOST COMMON

THINGS I -- I'VE SEEN IN THE OTHER STATES FROM -- FROM MY RESEARCH, YOU

KNOW, WAS THE PROVIDING OF -- OF SOME TYPE OF TAX IDENTIFICATION

NUMBER. AND AS YOU STATED, I THINK IN ORDER TO GET ONE OF THOSE, YOU

WOULD NEED THAT -- THAT TYPE OF LETTER FROM -- FROM THE SOCIAL SECURITY

ADMINISTRATION SAYING YOU ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A SOCIAL SECURITY

NUMBER. SO, IS THAT -- IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WAS -- WAS LOOKED AT IN

THE DEVELOPING OF THIS LEGISLATION?

MR. CRESPO: WE LOOKED AT -- CERTAINLY LOOKED AT

ALL OF THE APPROACHES THAT OTHER STATES HAVE TAKEN. I WOULD ALWAYS

ARGUE NEW YORK STATE IS BETTER THAN EVERY OTHER STATE AT WHAT WE DO,

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

ESPECIALLY ON POLICY. AND WE FEEL THAT WE HAVE CONSTRUCTED A PROCESS

THAT IS BOTH EFFICIENT, FAIR, ACCESSIBLE, BUT YET STRONG IN TERMS OF

DETERMINING THE VALIDITY OF DOCUMENTS USED TO PROVE SOMEONE'S

IDENTITY, AND WE FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT WAS INCLUDED. SO, NO, THAT

PROVISION OR THE REQUEST FOR THAT PROVISION WAS NOT INCLUDED IN OUR

DRAFT.

MR. RA: OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CRESPO.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. REILLY.

MR. REILLY: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. WILL THE

SPONSOR YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. CRESPO, WILL YOU

YIELD?

MR. CRESPO: ABSOLUTELY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MR. REILLY: THANK YOU, MR. CRESPO. I JUST HAVE A

COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. ACTUALLY, ONE IN PARTICULAR THAT I WANTED TO TRY

AND GET SOME CLARIFICATION ON. I KNOW THAT WE WENT THROUGH SOME OF

THE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED IN ORDER FOR -- TO GET THIS LICENSE IF -- IF

IT PASSES TODAY AND THE GOVERNOR SIGNS IT. IS THERE -- WHEN IT COMES TO

LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHEN THEY'RE DOING A VEHICLE STOP AND THEY ARE

RUNNING A DRIVER'S LICENSE THROUGH NYSPIN, WHICH IS THE NEW YORK

STATE INFORMATION WHERE WE CAN SEE IF SOMEONE IS WANTED FOR A CRIME,

MAYBE THEIR LICENSE IS SUSPENDED. WHETHER THEY ARE -- SHOULD BE

ARRESTED BASED ON A VEHICLE STOP. AND WE ALSO USE NCIC, WHICH IS THE

NATIONAL CRIME INFORMATION CENTER DATABASE. WOULD THIS LEGISLATION

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

PREVENT DMV FROM COOPERATING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO

ISSUE AN ALERT WHICH POSSIBLY COULD BE FOR A CRIME THAT WOULD BE -- THAT

WOULD SUBJECT THE -- THE OPERATOR WHO NOW HAS THIS DRIVER'S LICENSE, TO

ARREST BECAUSE IT MAY TRIGGER A [SIC] ICE ENFORCEMENT EVENT?

MR. CRESPO: SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, WE HAVE --

IN THE PROCESS OF -- OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURRED, BEEN IN CONSTANT

COMMUNICATION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. IT WAS NEVER THE

INTENTION OF ANY DRAFT OF THIS BILL TO DENY OR CHANGE OR LIMIT LOCAL LAW

ENFORCEMENT FROM ITS REGULAR DUTIES OF ENFORCING MOTOR VEHICLE LAW OR

ANY OTHER INVESTIGATORY ACCESS THAT THEY'VE HAD. AND -- AND ONE OF THE

MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WE'VE DONE TO THE BILL IS THE WAY IN WHICH WE

HAVE ADDRESSED THAT LANGUAGE. THERE WAS A CONCERN THAT THE WAY THAT

WE HAD ORIGINALLY DRAFTED IT WAS EXTREMELY RESTRICTIVE AND COULD HAVE

IMPACTED THAT PROCESS. SO WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS CHANGE THE LANGUAGE

TO BE EXPLICIT IN THAT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTINUES TO HAVE ALL OF ITS

CURRENT ACCESS. NONE OF THAT IS IMPACTED OR CHANGED. ANY EXAMPLE

YOU MAY COME UP WITH OF WHAT A POLICE OFFICER DOES TODAY WILL

CONTINUE TO TAKE PLACE ONCE THIS BILL BECOMES LAW, EXCEPT IN THE

INSTANCE OF REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION REGARDING FEDERAL IMMIGRATION

AGENCIES AND/OR ENSURING THAT THE LICENSE THAT WOULD BE ISSUED OR THE

DATABASES THAT DMV MAINTAINS DOES NOT EXPLICITLY SEPARATE THOSE THAT

APPLIED WITH THE SOCIAL SECURITY FROM THOSE THAT APPLIED WITHOUT.

MR. REILLY: SO IF -- IF THE CRIME -- SAY THE WANTED

PERSON ALERT IS PUT OUT, AND IT'S -- AND IT'S FOR A CRIME THAT WAS

COMMITTED AND THEY'RE WANTED BY FEDERAL AUTHORITIES AND IT'S ON THE

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

NCIC, WOULD IT BE ATTACHED TO THE DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER FOR THESE --

THESE INDIVIDUALS?

MR. CRESPO: IF I -- IF I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION,

NO. I DON'T -- ANY ALERT BY LAW ENFORCEMENT WOULD NOT BE STOPPED OR

IMPACTED BY THIS. ANY ISSUES OR VIOLATIONS COMMITTED BY A DRIVER, A

LICENSED DRIVER, WOULD BE A PART OF THE NATIONAL DRIVER REGISTRY WHICH

NEW YORK STATE SUBMITS INFORMATION TO. AND -- AND IF YOU HAPPEN TO

BE A NOW-UNDOCUMENTED DRIVER OR LICENSED DRIVER IN THE STATE OF NEW

YORK AND YOU ARE INVOLVED IN ANY CRIMINAL ACTIVITY PERTAINING TO YOUR

DRIVING OR ANYTHING RELATED TO YOUR LICENSE OR THE USE OF A VEHICLE, YOU

WOULD STILL BE REFERRED TO THAT REGISTRY AND THOSE RECORDS WOULD STILL BE

MAINTAINED.

MR. REILLY: SO IF US CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT OR

ICE ISSUE A WARRANT FOR THE PERSON AND THEY PUT IT IN THE NCIC SYSTEM

AND IT'S ATTACHED TO THAT DRIVER'S LICENSE, THEY WOULD STILL BE SUBJECT TO

APPREHENSION?

MR. CRESPO: TRADITIONAL WARRANTS, YES.

MR. REILLY: TRADITIONAL WARRANTS. WHAT ABOUT

WARRANTS THAT --

MR. CRESPO: I'M SORRY, JUDICIAL.

MR. REILLY: OH, JUDICIAL.

MR. CRESPO: JUDICIAL.

MR. REILLY: OH, OKAY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

MR. CRESPO: OR A LAWFUL -- I'M SORRY, OR A LAWFUL

COURT ORDER.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

MR. REILLY: OKAY. SO IF THERE'S -- SO IN OTHER

WORDS, IF THERE'S AN ALERT THAT COMES FROM A FEDERAL AGENCY THAT WOULD

BE ON NCIC, THAT WOULD PROHIBIT THEM FROM -- FROM ATTACHING IT TO THAT

DRIVER'S LICENSE BECAUSE IT'S NOT -- IT WOULDN'T BE A JUDICIAL WARRANT. SO

WE -- WE WOULD ACTUALLY BE DETERRING LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THE FIELD -- IN

THE FIELD PERFORMING CAR STOPS.

MR. CRESPO: THE LANGUAGE THAT WE HAVE RESTRICTS

DMV'S ABILITY TO SHARE CERTAIN DATA THAT THEY COLLECT AS PART OF THE

LICENSING PROCESS WITH THOSE AGENCIES. WE DON'T SPEAK TO THOSE

AGENCIES PROVIDING THE DEPARTMENT RELEVANT INFORMATION ABOUT A DRIVER

AND THAT THE DMV MAY, IN FACT, ATTACH THAT INFORMATION TO THEIR RECORD.

IF THERE'S CURRENTLY A PROVISION THAT WOULD -- OR PROCESS WHERE THEY

WOULD DO THAT, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE LANGUAGE OF OUR BILL WOULD

RESTRICT THAT.

MR. REILLY: SO THAT -- THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK

WE NEED TO CLARIFY, BECAUSE IF -- IF THE LANGUAGE IN THE CURRENT BILL IS

PROHIBITING DMV FROM SHARING THE INFORMATION UNLESS THEY HAVE A

JUDICIAL WARRANT, THAT WILL DETER OFFICERS FROM THE FIELD FROM BEING ABLE

TO GET THAT INFORMATION ATTACHED TO THE DRIVER'S LICENSE. BECAUSE IF YOU

LOOK AT IT IN LAYMAN'S TERMS, IF DMV CANNOT ATTACH IT TO THIS NEW

DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER, THEN THEY WOULD BE PROHIBITED FROM SHARING IT

WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND THEN WE ARE NOW POTENTIALLY ENDANGERING

PUBLIC SAFETY, OFFICER SAFETY, AND WE'RE STOPPING THE -- THE CRIMINAL

JUSTICE PROCEDURES FROM MOVING FORWARD.

MR. CRESPO: THIS IS I THINK THE -- THE -- I DISAGREE

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

THAT THAT WOULD OCCUR. UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE RESTRICTING DMV'S

DATABASES, AND WE'RE NOT RESTRICTING OTHER DATABASES, WE'RE NOT

RESTRICTING THE FEDERAL AGENCIES FROM PROVIDING INFORMATION RELEVANT TO

DMV. THE SHARING THAT IS RESTRICTED HERE IS WHERE DOCUMENTS ARE

REQUESTED PERTAINING TO A DRIVING RECORD BY A FEDERAL IMMIGRATION

AGENCY - EXCEPT UNDER THOSE NUMBER OF CATEGORIES THAT WE OUTLINED -

WHAT WE SHARE, WHAT DMV PUTS OUT TO THOSE AGENCIES REGARDING THAT --

THAT APPLICANT'S INFORMATION OR ANY SOURCE DOCUMENTS THAT WOULD BE

RELEVANT, THAT IS WHERE THE -- THE LIMITATION TAKES PLACE. BUT THE IDEA

THAT FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT COULD NOT COMMUNICATE TO DMV RELEVANT

INFORMATION PERTAINING TO A PARTICULAR DRIVER IN THEIR DATABASE AND THAT

THAT INFORMATION BE ATTACHED TO THE DRIVER RECORD WHERE APPROPRIATE, I

DON'T BELIEVE THAT ANY OF THE PROVISIONS WOULD RESTRICT THAT FROM TAKING

PLACE.

MR. REILLY: OKAY. SO WHEN DMV -- WILL -- WILL

DMV -- IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE BILL THAT WOULD PROHIBIT DMV FROM

ACTIVELY SHARING THAT INFORMATION? SAY THAT THEY HAD A -- THEY HAD THE

INFORMATION OF THE PERSON THEY IDENTIFIED, AND NOW THEY ASK DMV,

CAN YOU RUN THE NAME AND SEE IF YOU HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE UNDER THIS

PERSON'S NAME? BECAUSE IF THEY DO HAVE A NEW YORK STATE DRIVER'S

LICENSE, WE WOULD LIKE TO ATTACH IT TO THE NCIC, NYSPIN DATABASE.

BECAUSE WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS THEN NOW THAT WOULD PROHIBIT DMV FROM

-- FROM ACTIVELY ENGAGING WITH THE FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES,

WHICH AGAIN, IN MY OPINION, WOULD ENDANGER PUBLIC SAFETY.

MR. CRESPO: IN YOUR SCENARIO, IS THE -- IS THE

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

INVESTIGATION RELATED TO CRIMINAL ACTIVITY?

MR. REILLY: EVERY INVESTIGATION THAT A POLICE

OFFICER DOES WOULD BE INVOLVED --

MR. CRESPO: WELL, IT'S AN INVITATION --

MR. REILLY: IF YOU DO A CAR STOP -- IF YOU DO A CAR

STOP --

MR. CRESPO: UH-HUH.

MR. REILLY: -- AND YOU ARE RUNNING A DRIVER'S

LICENSE, THE IDEA OF THE WHOLE NYSPIN AND NCIC SYSTEM IS TO ALERT

POLICE OFFICERS AROUND THE STATE AND THE NATION TO LET THEM KNOW THAT

THERE IS SOMEONE WANTED FOR A CRIME, OR AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION AND

WE'RE LOOKING TO DETER -- WE'RE LOOK -- LOOKING TO APPREHEND OR DETAIN

THAT PERSON FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. NOW, IF WE DON'T PROVIDE THAT

INFORMATION, THEN WE'RE NOW SETTING IT UP WHERE POLICE OFFICERS DOING

CAR STOPS AND THEY'RE WALKING UP TO A VEHICLE AND THEN THEY'RE TALKING TO

THE PERSON AND THEY GO TO TAKE -- AND THEY ASK THEM FOR A DRIVER'S

LICENSE AND SAY THEY DON'T GIVE THEM ONE, RIGHT? SO NOW YOU'RE ONLY

RUNNING A NAME. BUT IF THEY HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER AND IT'S

ATTACHED TO THAT DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER, IT MAKES LAW ENFORCEMENT'S

ABILITY TO DO A SEARCH ON THAT PERSON AS THEY STOPPED THEM, EASIER.

NOW, THE ISSUE -- THE ISSUE THAT I THINK IS -- IS IN QUESTION HERE IS IF

DMV WILL COOPERATE WITH FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT - AND ACTUALLY ALL

OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES - TO ENSURE THAT IF THEY CAN IDENTIFY THE

PERSON, THEY ASKED DMV, THEY PUT A REQUEST IN AND SAY, CAN YOU DO A

CHECK AND SEE IF YOU HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER FOR THIS PERSON? IF

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

THEY DO, I NEED YOU TO ATTACH IT TO THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER SO THAT

WHEN WE -- WHEN THEY GET PULLED OVER, WHEN THEY GET STOPPED AND IT'S --

AND THEIR LICENSE NUMBER IS RAN, IT WOULD POP AS AN ALERT?

MR. CRESPO: THERE'S A COUPLE -- COUPLE OF THINGS.

I -- I -- I'M A LITTLE CONFLICTED ON THIS NOTION OF ATTACHING CERTAIN

DOCUMENTS TO THE DMV DATABASE. AND AGAIN, NOTHING IN OUR BILL

CHANGES LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCESS FOR THE INFORMATION THAT THEY

WOULD BE PREVIEW TO CURRENTLY, AND WE CLARIFY THAT IN -- IN THE LANGUAGE

OF THE BILL. THE ONLY RESTRICTION IS SHARING DATA WITH AGENCIES THAT

PRIMARILY ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAWS FOR IMMIGRATION-RELATED VIOLATIONS.

WE'RE NOT -- IF THERE IS A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, IF THERE IS A WARRANT, IF

THERE IS A COOPERATION WITH LOCAL AGENCIES, THAT -- NONE OF THAT IS

IMPACTED BY OUR BILL.

MR. REILLY: THAT -- THAT'S WHERE I WAS GETTING AT,

THAT IF IT IS A CRIME THAT WOULD TRIGGER AN ICE ENFORCEMENT ACTION, AND

NOW ICE OR US CUSTOMS --

MR. CRESPO: CAN YOU GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF SUCH

A CRIME?

MR. REILLY: THERE'S 176 --

MR. CRESPO: (INAUDIBLE)

MR. REILLY: -- LISTED THAT NEW YORK CITY HAS TO

MANDATE REPORT TO ICE. SO WE'RE TALKING SERIOUS CRIMES. WE'RE TALKING

MAYBE ROBBERY IN THE FIRST DEGREE, MAYBE RAPE IN THE FIRST DEGREE.

MAYBE, YOU KNOW, MURDER, MANSLAUGHTER. ALL THOSE SERIOUS CRIMES --

BURGLARY IN THE FIRST DEGREE. SO THE -- THE POINT THAT I'M TRYING TO

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

MAKE IS, IF IT -- IF IT'S KNOWN THAT THE PERSON IS UNDOCUMENTED BUT NOW

HAS A DRIVER'S LICENSE, UNDER THE BILL IT'S SAYING THAT THEY WILL NOT SHARE

DOCUMENTATION WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT --

MR. CRESPO: IMMIGRATION AGENCIES.

MR. REILLY: -- THAT -- I WAS GOING -- I WAS GOING TO

GET TO THAT -- THAT PRIMARILY ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAWS. NOW, IF ICE

KNOWS THAT THERE'S AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION FOR THAT PERSON FOR A SERIOUS

CRIME THAT SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THEM, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THAT

INFORMATION AND BE ABLE TO HAVE IT ON A DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER, SO THEN

IF THEY COME IN CONTACT WITH THEM OR ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT IS -- HAS

TO REPORT IT BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THOSE 176 CRIMES - ESPECIALLY IN NEW

YORK CITY- THAT HAVE TO BE REPORTED TO ICE OR US CUSTOMS

ENFORCEMENT, I -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT PRECLUDING THAT

FROM HAPPENING.

MR. CRESPO: SO, A COUPLE -- A COUPLE OF THINGS,

BECAUSE I'M -- I'M REALLY STRUGGLING TO APPLY YOUR SCENARIO TO REAL LIFE

ENCOUNTERS AND/OR HOW THESE DATABASES WORK. I'LL GIVE YOU AN

EXAMPLE, IN MY OPINION.

MR. REILLY: OKAY.

MR. CRESPO: IF I WAS ACCUSED OF A CRIME AND I AM

A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES, I'M ACCUSED OF A CRIME THAT HAS -- OR MAY

HAVE A NUMBER OF IMPLICATIONS, FELONY, YOU NAME IT. UNLESS THE COURT

DETERMINES THAT MY PUNISHMENT INVOLVES LOSING MY DRIVING PRIVILEGES

OR SOMETHING SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO MY LICENSE OR MY ABILITY TO DRIVE,

THAT WOULDN'T BE IMPACTED IN THOSE SCENARIOS. DMV WOULDN'T KEEP A

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

DATABASE OF EVERY MISDEMEANOR I WAS CHARGED WITH. SO THIS IDEA THAT

SOMEHOW WE ARE CREATING A LOOPHOLE, I THINK, IS -- IS SOMEWHAT

EXAGGERATED. IN REGARDS TO ENFORCEMENT, ONE EXAMPLE: WE HAVE

ENSURED IN THE LANGUAGE THAT THE TASK FORCES THAT NEW YORK CITY AND

NEW YORK STATE HAVE WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES, SOME OF WHOM INVOLVE

MEMBERS OF IMMIGRATION-RELATED AGENCIES, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE

ACCESS BECAUSE THEIR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO ENFORCE OR -- OR

INVESTIGATE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. THE ONLY RESTRICTION WE'RE MAKING IS THE

-- IS SHARING INFORMATION WITH AGENCIES WHOSE PRIMARY GOAL IS TO

ENFORCE CIVIL IMMIGRATION-RELATED MATTERS. IF YOU COMMIT -- IF YOU'RE

UNDOCUMENTED AND YOU HAVE A LICENSE AND YOU VIOLATE A PROVISION THAT

WOULD HAVE TO BE REFERRED TO ICE, THE COURT IS MANDATED TO REPORT THAT

AND OTHER AGENCIES WOULD BE AWARE OF THAT THROUGH OTHER PROCEDURES

THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH DMV'S RESPONSIBILITIES.

MR. REILLY: BUT WE WERE -- I WASN'T TALKING ABOUT

CONVICTED. I WAS TALKING ABOUT IF THE PERSON IS WANTED, THERE'S

PROBABLE CAUSE. THAT'S WHAT NYSPIN AND NCIC IS USED FOR, TO ALERT

LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT THE PERSON IS WANTED FOR THAT CRIME. AND THE

ONLY THING THAT I WAS TRYING TO CLARIFY IS THAT SINCE ONE OF THOSE

UNDERLYING CRIMES MAY BE A MANDATED REPORT TO ICE, WOULD THAT

PREVENT IT FROM BEING ATTACHED TO THIS DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER? THAT'S

THE -- THAT'S THE CLARIFICATION I WAS LOOKING FOR. AND IS THERE ANYWHERE

-- ANYWHERE IN THE BILL THAT WOULD OUTLINE THAT AND STATE THAT ALL

INFORMATION THAT RELATES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT ALERTS VIA NYSPIN AND

NCIC, ARE THEY IN THE BILL?

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

MR. CRESPO: WE DON'T HAVE ANY REFERENCE IN THE

LANGUAGE TO ALERTS. BUT I WILL REITERATE, MR. REILLY, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT,

I STILL CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE SCENARIO YOU'RE PRESENTING. I DON'T BELIEVE

THAT THE LANGUAGE OF THE BILL -- AND WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH

SHERIFFS, WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH POLICE DEPARTMENTS, WE'VE HAD

CONVERSATIONS WITH DISTRICT ATTORNEYS AND OTHER AGENCIES INVOLVED IN

LAW ENFORCEMENT IN OUR STATE, AND WE HAVE ADDRESSED THEIR CONCERNS

WITH REGARDS TO ACCESS AND THE CONTINUATION OF THEIR REQUIREMENTS FOR --

YOU KNOW, TO ENSURE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT

NONE OF THE RESTRICTIONS IN THE LANGUAGE HAVE TO DO WITH THOSE CRIMINAL

INVESTIGATIONS. WE ARE LIMITING INFORMATION WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT

PRIMARILY ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAW FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF SUCH

IMMIGRATION-RELATED MATTERS. IF THERE WAS A REASONABLE OR PROBABLE

CAUSE FOR SOME ACTIVITY, THERE WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE COURT ORDER

ISSUED, AND THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE UNDER OUR REGULATIONS.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. REILLY, YOUR TIME

HAS EXPIRED.

MR. REILLY: THANK YOU, MR. CRESPO.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, SIR.

MR. REILLY: THANK YOU.

MR. SMITH.

EXCUSE ME, MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MR.

SPEAKER. COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE CITIES COMMITTEE TO THE SPEAKER'S

CONFERENCE ROOM?

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CITIES COMMITTEE,

SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM IMMEDIATELY.

MR. SMITH.

MR. SMITH: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. WILL THE

SPONSOR YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. CRESPO, WILL YOU

YIELD?

MR. CRESPO: ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU, SIR.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. CRESPO YIELDS.

MR. SMITH: I THINK THIS QUESTION WAS ANSWERED, BUT

I DIDN'T SEE IT IN THE BILL. THE INDIVIDUALS UNDER THIS BILL, WILL THEY BE

ISSUED A DMV IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, A NINE DIGIT...

MR. CRESPO: YES. A DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER.

YES.

MR. SMITH: OKAY. AND WILL THERE BE -- AND I,

AGAIN, DIDN'T SEE THIS ISSUE ADDRESSED IN THE BILL. WILL THERE BE ANY WAY

TO DISTINGUISH FROM THAT IDENTIFICATION NUMBER THAT THE PERSON IS NOT A

CITIZEN VERSUS ANY CITIZEN?

MR. CRESPO: NO.

MR. SMITH: OKAY. IN THIS BILL, IS THERE ANYTHING

THAT CHANGES THE WAY THAT WE CURRENTLY REGISTER TO VOTE? AND THE

REASON FOR MY QUESTION IS, CURRENTLY TO PUT IN A VOTER REGISTRATION IT

REQUIRES EITHER THE DMV NUMBER OR THE LAST FOUR DIGITS OF THE SOCIAL

SECURITY NUMBER, NOT BOTH.

MR. CRESPO: I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP, AND --

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

AND IT'S COME UP A LOT IN DISCUSSIONS WITH FOLKS AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF

MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THAT. SO, NO. NOTHING IN THIS BILL QUALIFIES A

[SIC] UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENT OF OUR STATE TO -- TO REGISTER TO VOTE OR TO

CAST A VOTE. AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT IS FEDERAL LAW THAT REQUIRES THAT

AN APPLICATION FOR A DRIVER'S LICENSE INCLUDE AN APPLICATION FOR A VOTER

REGISTRATION. AND -- AND YOU SHOULD NOTE THERE'S, I BELIEVE, THREE

SECTIONS WHERE YOU ARE REMINDED THAT ONLY CITIZENS ARE GIVEN THE

PRIVILEGE OR THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND CAN SIGN THAT SECTION. THERE IS A SORT

OF A STATEMENT BY -- ADDED BY DMV, AND THEN AGAIN, IT'S THE VERY FIRST

QUESTION YOU'RE ASKED ON YOUR VOTER APPLICATION. ARE YOU A CITIZEN?

YES OR NO? IF NO, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SUBMIT. IF YOU CAN'T PROVIDE

-- IF YOU'RE NOT A CITIZEN, YOU WOULD NOT QUALIFY TO VOTE. IF A --

SOMEBODY ANSWERED THAT QUESTION, NO, I AM NOT A CITIZEN, BUT THEN

PROVIDED THE LAST FOUR OF THAT DRIVER NUMBER, THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS

WOULD -- WOULD CAPTURE THAT THAT APPLICATION IS NOT VALID AND NOT

VOTE WHO IS NOT ALLOWED TO. I ASSURE YOU, THERE IS NOT A SINGLE

INDIVIDUAL IN THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY WHO WANTS TO PUT THEMSELVES

AT RISK OF DEPORTATION AND WOULD NOT SEEK TO DO THAT.

MR. SMITH: OKAY. THANK YOU.

ON THE BILL.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE BILL, SIR.

MR. SMITH: OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I

APPRECIATE MR. CRESPO'S RESPONSE ON THAT. HOWEVER, UNFORTUNATELY, I

ACTUALLY HAVE A NUMBER OF EXAMPLES FROM THE SUFFOLK COUNTY BOARD OF

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

ELECTIONS OF CASES WHERE INDIVIDUALS WITH DMV NUMBERS THAT ARE NOT

CITIZENS HAVE ACTUALLY REGISTERED TO VOTE WITH THAT NUMBER, CHECKED THE

BOX THAT THEY WERE A CITIZEN OR THE BOX WAS CHECKED ON THE APPLICATION

THAT THEY SIGNED AND THEY ACTUALLY DID VOTE. AND IN ORDER -- THE ONLY

REASON THAT THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS -- BECAUSE,

YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT A NUMBER OF THINGS WITH AGENCIES NOT BEING

ABLE TO VERIFY WHETHER A PERSON IS A CITIZEN OR NOT -- IS BECAUSE THESE

INDIVIDUALS HAVE COME TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, AND IN THE COURSE OF

THEM GETTING THEIR CITIZENSHIP HAVE HAD TO REMOVE THEMSELVES FROM THE

ROLLS. SO I HAVE A NUMBER OF EXAMPLES. I'M NOT GOING TO STATE THE LAST

NAME, BUT, I, MELISSA, WISH TO BE REMOVED FROM THE SUFFOLK COUNTY

VOTER ROLLS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. I AM NOT A CITIZEN, AND MY

APPLICATION FOR CITIZENSHIP REQUIRES PROOF THAT I AM NO LONGER ON THE

VOTER ROLLS. SHE VOTED IN EAST HAMPTON IN 2008, 2010, 2012. I,

MARVIN, WISH TO BE REMOVED FROM THE SUFFOLK COUNTY VOTER ROLLS

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. I AM NOT A CITIZEN, AND MY APPLICATION FOR

CITIZENSHIP REQUIRES PROOF THAT I AM NO LONGER ON THE VOTER ROLLS.

MARVIN VOTED IN 20 -- IN THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY IN 2016, THE GENERAL

IN 2016 AND THE GENERAL IN 2017 IN THE TOWN OF ISLIP. I, GLEATON, AM

APPLYING FOR MY CITIZENSHIP AND NEED TO BE TAKEN OFF THE LIST TO VOTE. I

NEED CONFIRMATION THAT I HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE LIST SENT TO ME,

MY RETURN ADDRESS. HE VOTED IN THE TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN IN 2008.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE, TINA. MY APPLICATION WILL BE -- SHE'S APPLYING FOR

CITIZENSHIP STATUS -- MY APPLICATION WILL BE DENIED UNLESS I SUBMIT

PROOF THAT MY NAME HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE VOTER REGISTRATION

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

ROLLS. SHE VOTED IN 2004 AND 2008. MARCELL: I HAVE VOTED IN 2006,

2007, 2008 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY, 2008 GENERAL, 2009 GENERAL

ELECTION. SO THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE EXAMPLES THAT I HAVE FROM THE

SUFFOLK COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO REACHED OUT TO

THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO REMOVE THEMSELVES ON THE COURSE OF

BECOMING A CITIZEN THAT WERE ABLE TO REGISTER TO VOTE WITH THAT DMV

IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. AND I'M CONCERNED OF UNINTENDED

CONSEQUENCES. I THINK THE INTENTIONS OF THIS BILL ARE GOOD, AND I THINK

THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD REALLY TAKE PAUSE ON, SOLVING THIS

ISSUE BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD. IT'S VERY CONCERNING. I -- I'VE

RESEARCHED IT, I CAN'T FIND ANY OTHER PLACE ON EARTH THAT ALLOWS CITIZENS

OF ANOTHER COUNTRY TO VOTE IN THE ELECTION. AND WHILE THIS BILL DOES NOT

INTEND TO DO THAT, ONE OF THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT HAS BEEN

BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS ARE THAT THIS PRACTICE

HAPPENS, AND THIS WILL FURTHER EXACERBATE THE SCENARIO.

SO FOR THAT REASON, I'LL BE VOTING NO AND ENCOURAGING

MY COLLEAGUES IN THE ASSEMBLY AND THE SENATE TO ALSO VOTE NO. THANK

YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

MR. MONTESANO.

MR. MONTESANO: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. WILL

THE SPONSOR YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: WILL YOU YIELD, MR.

CRESPO?

MR. CRESPO: SURE.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

MR. MONTESANO: MR. CRESPO, I JUST BASICALLY

HAVE ONE QUESTION. IN THE -- IN THE BILL, I KNOW WE'RE ADDING SOME

SUBDIVISIONS TO -- TO SECTION 201 OF THE VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAW, AND

ONE OF THEM IS SUBDIVISION 12. AND IT PROVIDES THAT IF THE DEPARTMENT

OF MOTOR VEHICLES GETS AN INQUIRY FROM A FEDERAL AGENCY, THAT THEY

HAVE TO -- PRIOR TO DISCLOSING THE INFORMATION WITHIN THREE DAYS, THEY

HAVE TO NOTIFY THE MOTORIST WHO IS THE SUBJECT OF THE INQUIRY UNDER THIS

BILL. WHAT'S THE REASON FOR THAT?

MR. CRESPO: A COUPLE. WE ARE ENSURING THAT

DMV MAINTAINS ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO REGULATE DRIVING PRIVILEGES IN THE

STATE AND TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE AN EXTENDED AGENCY OF

IMMIGRATION AND -- FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. BUT I'LL

ADD THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY REMAINING CONSISTENT WITH THE FEDERAL DRIVER

PRIVACY PROTECTION ACT. IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE FEDERAL ACT, IT

AUTHORIZES -- ALLOWS DMV TO NOTIFY AN INDIVIDUAL OF ANY REQUESTS FOR

INFORMATION FROM A SOURCE OR AN AGENCY THAT IS NOT ONE OF THE EXEMPTED

ACCEPTABLE AGENCIES FOR SHARING OF INFORMATION. IN OTHER WORDS, DMV

CURRENTLY HAS THE ABILITY TO MAKE THAT NOTIFICATION UNDER FEDERAL DRIVER

PRIVACY PROTECTION ACT. WE MAINTAIN A VERY SIMILAR STANDARD APPLIED

TO THIS PROVISION.

MR. MONTESANO: BUT CURRENTLY, FOR THE AVERAGE

MOTORIST WHO CURRENTLY HAS A DRIVER'S LICENSE, IF A FEDERAL LAW

ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, FOR THAT FACT,

MAKES AN INQUIRY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES ABOUT THAT

PERSON'S DRIVING RECORD, ABSTRACT, DOCUMENTATION OR HOW THEY GOT THEIR

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

DRIVER'S LICENSE, DO THEY HAVE TO NOW NOTIFY THAT MOTORIST THAT AN

INQUIRY'S BEEN MADE?

MR. CRESPO: NO. AND THE BILL WOULD NOT REQUIRE

ALL THOSE AGENCIES -- ALL THOSE NOTIFICATIONS TO GO OUT ON EVERY INSTANCE.

ONLY IN INSTANCES WHERE FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT PRIMARILY ENFORCES

IMMIGRATION LAW, WHICH IS NOT ONE OF THE EXEMPTED AGENCIES FOR

ACCESS, AND IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT NOTIFICATION WILL NOW TAKE

PLACE, WHICH AGAIN, IS A PRACTICE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE FEDERAL

DRIVER -- DRIVER PRIVACY PROTECTION ACT ALLOWS FOR NON-EXEMPTED

SOURCES.

MR. MONTESANO: SO -- SO YOU USED THE PHRASE,

YOU KNOW, A FEDERAL AGENCY THAT'S PRIMARILY INVOLVED IN THE

INVESTIGATION OF IMMIGRATION LAWS. SO, THE FBI, WHILE IT DOESN'T DO IT

IN THE ORDINARY -- YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T DO IT EVERY DAY. THEY HAVE

SOME HAND IN INVESTIGATING IMMIGRATION VIOLATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH

CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, WHETHER IT BE DRUG TRANSPORTATION, SEX TRAFFICKING

MATTERS OR WHATEVER. SO IT'S YOUR POSITION UNDER THIS BILL THAT THEY'RE

NOT ENTITLED TO GET INFORMATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR

VEHICLES?

MR. CRESPO: I WOULD NOT CONSIDER THAT AGENCY ONE

THAT PRIMARILY ENFORCES IMMIGRATION LAW. AND ACTUALLY IN THE BILL WE

GIVE EXAMPLES OF THE AGENCIES THAT WE ARE REFERRING TO, AND WE DEFINE

THEM AS UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT, UNITED

STATES CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION AND ANY SUCCESSOR AGENCIES

HAVING SIMILAR DUTIES.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

MR. MONTESANO: OKAY. AND WITH REGARD TO THE

-- THE TYPES OF SUBPOENAS THAT COULD BE ISSUED, SO MANY AGENCIES HAVE

THE ABILITY TO ISSUE A SUBPOENA, WHETHER COMMISSIONERS OR DIRECTORS OF

CERTAIN AGENCIES. IN FACT, THE POLICE COMMISSIONER OF THE CITY OF NEW

YORK HAS SUBPOENA POWER. DOES THE DEPARTMENT NOW HAVE THE ABILITY

TO DISREGARD THOSE SUBPOENAS AND ONLY HONOR A JUDICIAL COURT ORDER?

MR. CRESPO: WE, AS A MATTER OF PRACTICE IN STATE

LAW, DO NOT CODIFY LOCAL JURISDICTION SUBPOENA POWERS. THAT HAS NOT

BEEN THE PRACTICE IN OTHER BILLS, AND CERTAINLY NOT THE PRACTICE HERE. I

WOULD ARGUE THAT -- AND WE'VE HAD EXCESSIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE

POLICE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE, HIS TEAM AND THE CITY OF NEW YORK. IT

IS UNCLEAR TO ME ANY INFORMATION THAT -- THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN -- IN

DMV RECORDS THAT IS NOT ALREADY AVAILABLE TO THOSE AGENCIES, AND THE

FACT IS THAT IF -- IF THEY NEEDED ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, THEY COULD

REQUEST IT THROUGH A COURT ORDER. SO THEY COULD JUST AS EASILY GET A

COURT-ISSUED REQUEST FOR THAT SAME INFORMATION. SO, NO, I DON'T BELIEVE

THAT ANYTHING WE'RE DOING TODAY WOULD LIMIT THAT PRACTICE FROM

CONTINUING. IT MAY REQUIRE THEM TO DO SO SLIGHTLY DIFFERENTLY THAN THEY

CURRENTLY DO IT. BUT ANYWAY, THEY -- THEY'RE NOT LOSING THE -- THE ABILITY

TO INVESTIGATE.

MR. MONTESANO: THANK YOU, MR. CRESPO.

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, SIR.

MR. RAMOS.

MR. RAMOS: MR. SPEAKER, WILL THE SPONSOR YIELD

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

FOR A QUESTION?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: WILL YOU YIELD -- MR.

CRESPO, DO YOU YIELD?

MR. CRESPO: YES, I DO.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. CRESPO YIELDS.

MR. RAMOS: MR. CRESPO, JUST FOR A LITTLE

CLARIFICATION ON THE LINE OF QUESTIONING THAT -- THAT I HEARD BEFORE.

WHAT'S -- WHAT'S -- THE INFORMATION THAT'S LIMITED IS THE UNDERLYING

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS, RIGHT?

MR. CRESPO: CORRECT.

MR. RAMOS: SO, POLICE AGENCIES HAVE ACCESS TO THE

ACTUAL INFORMATION GIVEN FROM THOSE DOCUMENTS, RIGHT? THEIR NAME,

ADDRESS...

MR. CRESPO: CORRECT.

MR. RAMOS: ALL THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION. SO

THE ONLY THING THEY'RE NOT GETTING IS THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT WHICH,

UNDER THIS BILL, THE -- MOTOR VEHICLES DOES NOT KEEP THOSE ORIGINAL

DOCUMENTS ANYWAY.

MR. CRESPO: CORRECT.

MR. RAMOS: THAT WHOLE LINE OF QUESTIONING REALLY

IS MOOT. IT -- IT DOESN'T --

MR. CRESPO: WELL, THE IDEA THAT THERE WOULD BE --

WE ARE SOMEHOW CREATING A SECRET LIST OF DOCUMENTS OR ANYBODY WHO'S

UNDER THAT IMPRESSION, YOU'RE RIGHT. IT WOULD BE WRONG. WE ARE

CLARIFYING THAT SOURCE DOCUMENTS WOULD NOT BE MAINTAINED. ALL OTHER

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

RELEVANT INFORMATION, ONCE YOU'VE BEEN LICENSED AND APPROVED AND

EXTENDED THAT PRIVILEGE OR ANY DRIVER-RELATED RECORDS, ALL OF THAT

BECOMES PART OF YOUR RECORD AND ALL OF THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO LAW

ENFORCEMENT.

MR. RAMOS: SO, A POLICE OFFICER WOULD BE ABLE TO

ACCESS THAT INFORMATION UPON A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION?

MR. CRESPO: YES.

MR. RAMOS: YOU'RE NOT LIMITING ANYTHING AS FAR AS

LAW ENFORCEMENT.

MR. SPEAKER, ON THE BILL.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE BILL, SIR.

MR. RAMOS: I'D LIKE TO COMMEND THE SPONSOR OF

THIS BILL. SOMETHING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO MANY. AND, YOU KNOW,

WE -- WE ALL KNOW THE BENEFITS OF THIS THROUGH THE IMMIGRANT

COMMUNITY. WE ALL KNOW WHAT THIS DOES TO ALLOW SOMEBODY TO DRIVE,

TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE, TO LESS -- YOU KNOW, IT -- IT

REALLY HURTS ME INSIDE WHEN ON A JANUARY OR A FEBRUARY NIGHT, I SEE A

PARADE OF PEOPLE WALKING TO WORK IN THE SNOW, JUST TRYING TO MAKE

ENDS MEET AND WHO HAVE DONE NOTHING OTHER THAN WANTING TO HAVE A

BETTER LIFE FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR THEIR FAMILY. AND TO HEAR A LOT OF THE

RHETORIC THAT WE HEAR IN THIS COUNTRY, DEMONIZING THOSE PEOPLE AND

THEN, YOU KNOW, LONG DEBATES AS WE'RE HAVING NOW, OF PEOPLE TRYING TO

POSTURE AND SLICE AND DICE AND FIND A REASON WHY WE SHOULDN'T DO THIS.

THERE ARE -- YOU KNOW, LET'S -- LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BENEFITS TO AMERICAN

CITIZENS. GIVING A LICENSE TO PEOPLE MEANS THAT THEY HAVE TO QUALIFY TO

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

DRIVE. THAT MEANS THEY HAVE TO PROVE TO MOTOR VEHICLES THAT THEY CAN

DRIVE. DOING THAT MAKES OUR STREETS SAFER. WOULD WE RATHER PEOPLE

DRIVE -- TAKE A RISK AND DRIVE WITHOUT A LICENSE AND HAVE AN UNSAFE

SITUATION? IF A -- THAT BENEFITS US CITIZENS BY MAKING THE STREETS SAFER.

IF A US CITIZEN HAS AN ACCIDENT WITH SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T HAVE ANY

DOCUMENTS, DOESN'T HAVE A LICENSE, DOESN'T HAVE INSURANCE, THAT FALLS ON

THEIR INSURANCE. AND THERE IS NO OPTION TO SUE. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO

SUE? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO GET? ALL YOU HAVE IS WHAT YOUR INSURANCE

-- THAT BENEFITS US CITIZENS. MILLIONS IN REVENUES. WHEN SOMEBODY

GETS A LICENSE AND THEY PAY THE FEE TO GET A LICENSE TO MOTOR VEHICLES,

THAT COMES INTO THE STATE. THE FIRST YEAR, IT'S OVER $50 MILLION COMING

BACK. THAT COMES BACK TO US CITIZENS IN THE FORM OF REVENUES THAT

HELP WITH INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER BENEFITS THAT US CITIZENS GET AS A

RESULT OF ALLOWING IMMIGRANTS TO HAVE THESE LICENSES, AND NOW ALL THESE

NEW REVENUES ARE GOING TO BE COMING IN. THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY WHERE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE NOW WILL BE ABLE TO

PURCHASE -- PURCHASE CARS. THE MILLIONS IN EXTRA DOLLARS TO THE

INSURANCE INDUST -- INDUSTRY THAT ARE -- THAT'S IMPORTANT TO MANY OF OUR

COLLEAGUES. THAT ADDS TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE ALL KNOW

HOW INSURANCE WORKS. THE BIGGER THE POOL OF INSURANCE, THE LOWER THE

RATES GO. THIS BENEFITS US CITIZENS. ADDING THOUSANDS OF NEW PEOPLE

ON THE INSURANCE ROLLS HELPS US CITIZENS. IN -- THE DRIVER'S LICENSE --

YOU KNOW, AND I KEEP HEARING THE ISSUE OF THIS IMPEDING LAW

ENFORCEMENT. I WAS A COP FOR 20 YEARS. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE WORLD

THAT WOULD HELP ME BETTER THAN TO HAVE SOMEBODY HAVE A LICENSE. THAT

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

GIVES ME THEIR NAME, THEIR ADDRESS, WHERE THEY WERE WHEN THEY HAD A

TICKET, WHERE THEY'VE GOTTEN A TICKET, THEIR DRIVING RECORD. WHAT OTHER

CARS THEY OWN, WHAT OTHER CARS ARE REGISTERED IN THEIR HOME. YOU WANT

US TO BELIEVE THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT WOULD RATHER HAVE A PERSON BE

ANONYMOUS? THAT SOMEHOW GIVING THEM A LICENSE IS HURTING LAW

ENFORCEMENT? COME ON NOW. THIS IS LIKE -- YOU KNOW, IT'S GRASPING

FOR STRAWS TO FIND A REASON NOT TO DO THIS; TWISTING THEMSELVES INTO A

PRETZEL TO FIND ONE REASON SO THEY CAN SAY, I GOTCHA. MOBILITY. THE

FACT THAT SOMEBODY CAN NOW DRIVE AND IS NOT LIMITED TO IN-TOWN MEANS

THEY CAN MOVE -- THEY -- THEY CAN GO TO OTHER PARTS OF WHERE -- YOU

KNOW, WHEREVER THEIR VICINITY IS, THEY CAN GO WHERE THEY SPEND MONEY

IN OTHER AREAS. THAT ADDS TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. IN OTHER STATES

THAT HAVE PASSED THIS LAW, THERE HAS BEEN A DRAMATIC DECREASE IN

HIT-AND-RUN ACCIDENTS. IN THE FIRST YEAR AFTER HAVING PASSED THIS AND A

DIRECT NEXUS HAS BEEN PROVEN IN OTHER STATES BETWEEN THAT LAW AND THE

REDUCTION OF HIT-AND-RUN ACCIDENTS. IT BENEFITS US CITIZENS.

EMPLOYERS. EMPLOYERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO

MANY OF OUR COLLEAGUES HERE, THEIR EMPLOYEES CAN NOW GET TO WORK ON

TIME, ON A TIMELY BASIS. THEY CAN COUNT ON THEM. THERE'S MORE

REGULARITY FOR THEIR BUSINESSES. THESE ARE ALL REASONS THAT AFFECT US

CITIZENS. BENEFITS. AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN -- WHEN WE -- THE PRACTICE OF

THIS, YOU KNOW, THE TRYING -- ANALYZING, SLICE AND DICE AND FIND SOME

REASON TO SAY NO. YOU KNOW -- I MEAN, THE BIGGEST DEBATE THEY CAN

COME OUT WITH IS THE SIZE OF THE FONT ON THE -- ON THE ADVISEMENT THAT

SAYS, THIS CAN'T BE USED FOR FEDERAL PURPOSES. THERE'S BEEN A GAZILLION

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

AMENDMENTS MADE BY THE SPONSOR TO THIS BILL ABOUT THINGS AS FRIVOLOUS

AS THAT, AS THE FONT USED ON -- ON THE LICENSE. LET'S REALLY TALK ABOUT

WHAT THIS IS REALLY ABOUT. WE KNOW WHY THE RESISTANCE. WE KNOW

WHAT IT'S ABOUT. IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO WE ARE GIVING LICENSES TO.

JUST SAY IT. I WOULD RESPECT MORE IF IT'S JUST SAID. SOME PEOPLE DON'T

WANT IMMIGRANTS TO GET LICENSES. THEY DON'T WANT ANYTHING GIVEN TO

IMMIGRANTS TO BENEFIT THIS SEGMENT OF THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT

SEGMENT OF THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN DEMONIZED AND USED POLITICALLY AS

A WEAPON TO -- TO GARNER VOTES. SO THE MORE YOU PUNISH THIS GROUP, THE

MORE YOU MAKE ANOTHER GROUP HAPPY. THAT, IN THE END, IS WHAT IT IS

ABOUT. I JUST LISTED A WHOLE BUNCH OF REASONS WHY WE SHOULD DO THIS.

AND I HOPE THAT ALL MY COLLEAGUES HERE LOOK AT THE FACTS. AND I KNOW

THE FACTS DON'T MEAN MUCH TO HAVE -- TO THOSE WHO HAVE THOSE NEGATIVE

EMOTIONS AGAINST THIS SEGMENT OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT I -- THIS IS A -- A

BILL THAT MAKES SENSE FOR US CITIZENS. THIS IS A BILL ABOUT HUMANITY. I

HOPE THAT OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE SENATE GARNER THE COURAGE TO MAKE THIS

VOTE ABOUT WHAT'S RIGHT, NOT WHAT'S POPULAR. ABOUT WHAT'S RIGHT. IF -- IF

LEADERS IN THIS COUNTRY WENT BY WHAT'S POPULAR, THEY WOULD'VE NEVER

FREED THE SLAVES AT THE TIME. THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO STOOD UP ON

PRINCIPLE AND SAID, LOOK, THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, REGARDLESS OF THE

NEGATIVE EMOTIONS THAT WE SEE AROUND US.

SO I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO PLEASE STAND UP ON PRINCIPLE

AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT AND PASS THE GREEN LIGHT BILL.

(APPLAUSE)

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. ASHBY.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

MR. ASHBY: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. WILL THE

SPONSOR YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. CRESPO, WILL YOU

YIELD?

MR. CRESPO: ABSOLUTELY.

MR. ASHBY: THANK YOU, MR. CRESPO. I HAD A

COUPLE QUESTIONS REGARDING SECTION 5 IN THIS BILL. COULD YOU EXPLAIN

THE CHANGES THAT ARE BEING MADE TO THE AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION FOR

SELECTIVE SERVICE?

MR. CRESPO: SELECTIVE SERVICE?

MR. ASHBY: YES.

MR. CRESPO: OKAY. A COUPLE OF THINGS. YES. WE

HAVE IN NEW YORK STATE ALLOWED INDIVIDUALS TO, AND REQUESTED THAT

INDIVIDUALS REGISTER FOR SELECTIVE SERVICE AS PART OF THE APPLICATION. TO

BE CLEAR, AGAIN, IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN

IMPLEMENTED HERE. I'M AWARE -- UNAWARE OF ANY OTHER STATE THAT

CURRENTLY USES THEIR LOCAL DMVS FOR THIS PURPOSE. BUT -- AND NOT ONLY

WOULD YOU CURRENTLY BE FORCED TO REGISTER, BUT THAT INFORMATION WOULD

BE SENT TO THOSE AGENCIES. WE'RE NOT -- WE'RE NOT ELIMINATING THAT

PROCESS, WE'RE SIMPLY CLARIFYING THAT IT IS AN OPTIONAL PROCESS WITHIN

THAT APPLICATION. SO, SOMEBODY MAY STILL CHOOSE TO REGISTER FOR

SELECTIVE SERVICE WITH THEIR LOCAL APPLICATION. WE'RE NOT PREVENTING

THAT, BUT WE'RE NOT MAKING IT A MANDATED PROCESS. IT'S -- I -- I WOULD --

I WOULD MAKE AKIN TO THE DONOR REGISTRATION, THE ORGAN DONOR

REGISTRATION PORTION OF THE APPLICATION. AGAIN, IT'S AN OPTION YOU HAVE

100

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REGISTER FOR THAT, BUT WE'RE SIMPLY CHANGING

THE FACT THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO AS A CONDITION TO SECURING A DRIVER'S

LICENSE.

MR. ASHBY: ISN'T IT -- ISN'T IT FEDERAL LAW THAT

MANDATES EVERY -- EVERY MALE AGES 18 TO 25 WITHIN THE UNITED STATES,

DOCUMENTED OR UNDOCUMENTED, REGISTER FOR SELECTIVE SERVICE?

MR. CRESPO: YES, BUT IT'S NOT FEDERAL LAW THAT YOU

DO SO AS A CONDITION TO ACCEPT -- TO SECURING A DRIVING PRIVILEGE. THAT

IS SOMETHING WE AT SOME POINT ADDED TO THE PROCESS FOR DMV, AND

WE'RE SIMPLY NOW MAKING IT SO THAT IT'S NOT A CONDITION, A MANDATED

CONDITION AS PART OF SECURING A DRIVING PRIVILEGE.

MR. ASHBY: WELL, OF THE OTHER STATES THAT HAVE

IMPLEMENTED SIMILAR LEGISLATION, INCLUDING COLORADO, CONNECTICUT,

DELAWARE, HAWAII, ILLINOIS, NEW MEXICO AND UTAH, IT'S ALL AUTOMATIC.

SO, WHAT'S THE POLICY RATIONALE BEHIND -- BEHIND THIS?

MR. CRESPO: DMV SHOULD BE PRIMARILY CONCERNED

WITH IDENTIFYING, TRAINING, EDUCATING DRIVERS, ENSURING THAT THEY ARE

PROPERLY TRAINED TO OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE AND REGULATING THE TIME AND

THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY DO SO. THEIR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES DO NOT

INVOLVE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SELECTIVE SERVICE OR A NUMBER OF

OTHER THINGS, AND WE FEEL THAT IT'S UNNECESSARY TO MAKE THAT A CONDITION

TO IDENTIFY WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO DRIVE AND DO SO SAFELY.

MR. ASHBY: WHAT ALTERNATIVE MEANS TO REGISTER FOR

SELECTIVE SERVICE ARE AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO ARE REQUIRED TO REGISTER?

MR. CRESPO: THERE MAY BE MULTIPLE PATHWAYS. I

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WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TELL YOU ALL OF THEM. AND AGAIN, NOT EVERY DMV,

NOT EVERY STATE -- IT'S NOT FEDERALLY MANDATED THAT THAT BE A PART OF THIS

APPLICATION, THE WAY THAT THE VOTER REGISTRATION IS MANDATED TO BE A PART

OF THE APPLICATION.

MR. ASHBY: BASED ON THAT RESPONSE, I -- I DON'T

THINK --

MR. CRESPO: I'M SORRY?

MR. ASHBY: -- WOULD YOU KNOW -- BASED ON THAT --

BASED ON YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT, I DOUBT YOU WOULD KNOW THE

PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO'VE TAKEN THOSE ALTERNATIVE MEANS TO REGISTER

FOR SELECTIVE SERVICE THAT WAY.

MR. CRESPO: NO. I DON'T -- I WOULDN'T KNOW THAT.

I ALSO WOULDN'T KNOW THE NUMBER OF UNDOCUMENTED AMERICANS SERVING

IN OUR MILITARY TODAY. I KNOW THERE ARE MANY, AND I HAVE REFERENCED

THEIR NAMES IN THE PAST. BUT NO, I DON'T HAVE THOSE NUMBERS OFF THE TOP

OF MY HEAD.

MR. ASHBY: JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, COULD YOU

EXPLAIN WHO IS REQUIRED TO REGISTER?

MR. CRESPO: I'M SORRY?

MR. ASHBY: JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, CAN YOU EXPLAIN

WHO IS REQUIRED TO REGISTER FOR SELECTIVE SERVICE?

MR. CRESPO: TO REGISTER FOR WHAT?

MR. ASHBY: SELECTIVE SERVICE.

MR. CRESPO: NO, I -- I DON'T KNOW. AND AGAIN, IT'S

JUST NOT RELATIVE TO OUR BILL NOR THE RESEARCH THAT I'VE DONE PERTAINING TO

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THIS BILL.

MR. ASHBY: WELL, I -- I THINK IT IS PERTINENT TO THE

BILL BECAUSE IT'S REQUIRING AN OPTION THAT'S KIND OF GOING AGAINST THE

GRADE WITH A LOT OF LEGISLATION THAT WE'VE SEEN PUT FORTH THAT'S SIMILAR

ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND WITH VERY FEW EXCEPTIONS, ALL MALES BETWEEN

THE AGES OF 18 AND 25 MUST REGISTER WITH SELECTIVE SERVICE WITHIN 30

DAYS OF ARRIVING IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS INCLUDES US BORN AND

NATURALIZED CITIZENS, PAROLEES, UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS, LEGAL

PERMANENT RESIDENTS, ASYLUM SEEKERS, REFUGEES AND ALL MALES WITH

VISAS OF ANY KIND WHICH EXPIRED MORE THAN 30 DAYS AGO. CAN YOU TELL

US WHAT THE PENALTIES ARE FOR FAILING TO REGISTER?

MR. CRESPO: NOT RELATIVE TO THIS BILL. I COULD NOT

TELL YOU.

MR. ASHBY: WELL, IT'S A FELONY PUNISHABLE BY A FINE

UP TO $250,000, FOR A PRISON TERM OF UP TO FIVE YEARS, LOSS OF ACCESS TO

CITIZENSHIP, ACCESS TO FEDERAL JOBS AND STUDENT AID AND FEDERAL JOB

TRAINING.

MR. CRESPO: MR. ASHBY, I -- I -- I UNDERSTAND -- I

GUESS I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE -- WHAT THE POINT YOU'RE MAKING IN

REGARDS TO THOSE REGULATIONS AND WHO'S MANDATED. BUT NONE OF THAT IS

CHANGED BY THIS BILL. WE'RE NOT SUGGESTING THAT THE STATE OF NEW YORK

- AND I HAVE NOT SUGGESTED AS THE SPONSOR OF THIS BILL - THAT DMV

SIMPLY NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF SELECTIVE SERVICE AT ALL. BUT RATHER, IT IS

NOT THE MANDATED PATHWAY FOR THAT SELECTIVE SERVICE TO BE APPLIED FOR.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE PATHWAYS. THERE MAY BE OTHER AGENCIES WHERE IT'S

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MORE APPROPRIATE. THERE MAY BE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES. AND WE'RE NOT

CERTAINLY CHANGING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR WHO MUST AND WHEN REGISTER

FOR SELECTIVE SERVICE. WE'RE SIMPLY SAYING THAT FROM A PRECONDITION OF

SECURING A DRIVING PRIVILEGE, IT WILL NOW BE -- NOT UNLIKE THE ORGAN AND

TISSUE DONATION, IT WOULD BE AN OPTION FOR AN APPLICANT FOR A DRIVING

PRIVILEGE. DMV IS -- EXISTS TO REGULATE THOSE WHO ARE DRIVING, WHO CAN

DRIVE, WHEN AND HOW. WE'RE NOT CHANGING ANY OF THE OTHER PROVISIONS

OF WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO.

MR. ASHBY: WELL, I CAN APPRECIATE THE ANALOGY TO

ORGAN DONATION. THERE IS A SUBTLE DIFFERENCE THERE, IN THAT IT'S UNDER

FEDERAL LAW THAT THIS IS A REQUIREMENT.

MR. CRESPO: UNDER FEDERAL LAW IT'S REQUIRED

WHAT? I'M SORRY.

MR. ASHBY: THAT IT'S -- THAT IT'S FEDERAL LAW THAT ALL

MALE -- MALES AGES 18 TO 25 REGISTER FOR SELECTIVE SERVICE.

MR. CRESPO: CORRECT. AND WE'RE NOT CHANGING

THAT, AS I SAID. BUT IT'S NOT -- IS IT FEDERAL LAW THAT IT BE A PART OF YOUR

DMV -- LOCAL DMV APPLICATION?

MR. ASHBY: WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO INCREASE ACCESS

FOR THAT?

MR. CRESPO: THAT'S A LAUDABLE GOAL, BUT IT'S NOT THE

RESPONSIBILITY OF DMV, AND IT'S NOT THE ONLY AVENUE FOR THEM TO DO SO.

AND THE FEDERAL LAW DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT TO BE A PART OF YOUR DRIVING

APPLICATION. I THINK THE -- WHAT I'M TRYING TO JUST SORT OF RECONFIRM, MR.

ASHBY, I AM NOT IN ANY WAY TRYING TO INTERFERE WITH ENCOURAGING

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INDIVIDUALS TO -- TO MEET THAT FEDERAL MANDATE OR TO APPLY FOR SELECTIVE

SERVICE. SIMPLY SAYING IT IS NOT PERTINENT TO YOUR ABILITY TO DRIVE A

MOTOR VEHICLE. IT DOESN'T ADDRESS THE WORKERS, THE FAMILIES THAT NEED TO

GET AROUND IN OUR STATE. IT DOESN'T ADDRESS THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES OF

INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE FORCED TO DRIVE UNLICENSED OR UNINSURED AND --

AND, THEREFORE, IT IS NOT A PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DMV. THERE

ARE OTHERS WAYS THAT FOLKS CAN DO THAT. WE'RE NOT CHANGING WHO IS

ELIGIBLE OR MUST REGISTER FOR SELECTIVE SERVICE. WE'RE SIMPLY SAYING

THAT MOVING FORWARD, DMV WOULD MAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE IN

YOUR APPLICATION, BUT IT'S NOT A MANDATED CONDITION FOR SECURING DRIVING

PRIVILEGES.

MR. ASHBY: I CAN APPRECIATE THAT, AND I APPRECIATE

THE INTENT OF THE LEGISLATION AND WANTING TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE

AND HELPING THEM ACCESS PROGRAMS. BUT I FEEL LIKE BY NOT MAKING THIS

IS AN AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION LIKE SEVERAL OTHER STATES ARE, YOU'RE OPENING

UP THE POSSIBILITY FOR ACCESS TO BE HINDERED BECAUSE OF THESE PENALTIES.

DO YOU RECOGNIZE THAT?

MR. CRESPO: NO. I -- I'M NOT SURE WHAT ACCESS

WE'RE DENYING, I'M SORRY.

MR. ASHBY: SO UNDER THE PENALTY FOR NOT

REGISTERING, YOU HAVE UP TO A $250,000 FINE, A PRISON TERM OF UP TO FIVE

-- FIVE YEARS, A LOSS OF ACCESS TO CITIZENSHIP, FEDERAL JOBS, FEDERAL

STUDENT AID AND JOB TRAINING. PUTTING ALL OF THOSE THINGS AT RISK BECAUSE

YOU'RE NOT REGISTERED

MR. CRESPO: WELL, AND -- AND ACTUALLY IN OUR

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LANGUAGE WE ALSO STATE THAT DMV HAS TO PUT ON THE APPLICATION WHAT

THOSE CONSEQUENCES ARE FOR FAILING TO REGISTER. SO, WE ARE TAKING THE

OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND PEOPLE OF THE VERY CONCERN YOU HAVE, WHAT IT

MEANS NOT TO MEET THAT OBLIGATION. BUT AGAIN, WHETHER YOU MEET THAT

OBLIGATION OR NOT AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN

TRAINED AND PROPERLY VETTED IN ORDER TO OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE, THEY'RE

TWO DIFFERENT THINGS, AND ONE IS RELATIVE TO THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF

THE DMV, THE OTHER IS NOT.

MR. ASHBY: THANK YOU, MR. CRESPO.

ON THE BILL, SIR.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE BILL, MR.

ASHBY.

MR. ASHBY: THE BILL BEFORE US REMOVES THE

AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION THAT ASSEMBLY MAJORITY FOUGHT FOR BACK IN 2002.

THIS BILL MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR APPLICABLE NEW YORKERS TO COMPLY

WITH FEDERAL LAW, A LAW THAT APPLIES TO BOTH CITIZENS AND UNDOCUMENTED

IMMIGRANTS ALIKE. THE PENALTY FOR FAILING TO REGISTER WITH SELECTIVE

SERVICE IS A FELONY, AND COULD INCLUDE A FINE UP TO $250,000, A PRISON

TERM UP TO FIVE YEARS, AND COULD PREVENT ACCESS TO BENEFITS LIKE

CITIZENSHIP, FEDERAL JOBS AND A FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN -- OR FEDERAL

STUDENT FINANCIAL AID. WHAT'S MORE, CHOOSING AN OPT-IN MECHANISM

UNNECESSARILY PUTS NEW YORKERS AT RISK OF PERMANENTLY LOSING ACCESS

FOR THE AFOREMENTIONED BENEFITS. BY PROVIDING AN OPT-IN MECHANISM

ON THIS BILL, APPLICANTS COULD BE CONSIDERED TO BE KNOWINGLY AND

WILLFULLY FAILING TO REGISTER, BARRING THEM FROM CITIZENSHIP, FINANCIAL

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AID AND FROM JOINING THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE. FINALLY, THE SELECTIVE

SERVICE SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THEY HAVE NOT NOW OR IN THE PAST

COLLECTED OR SHARED ANY INFORMATION WHICH WOULD INDICATE A MAN'S

IMMIGRATION STATUS, EITHER DOCUMENTED OR UNDOCUMENTED. CIVIL

SERVICE HAS NO AUTHORITY TO COLLECT SUCH INFORMATION, HAS NO USE FOR IT,

AND IT IS IRRELEVANT TO THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT. CONSEQUENTLY, THERE

IS NO IMMIGRATION DATA TO SHARE WITH ANYONE. ELEVEN OTHER STATES,

INCLUDING NEW YORK, THAT ALLOW SOME TYPE OF DRIVING PRIVILEGE TO

UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS HAVE ENACTED LEGISLATION THAT PROVIDES

AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION WITH THE SELECTIVE SERVICE ON DMV FORMS.

ONLY WASHINGTON, D.C. AS OF RIGHT NOW HAS AN OPT-IN POLICY.

THIS BILL IS FLAWED IN MANY WAYS, NOT LEAST OF THEM THE

HEAD-SCRATCHING PUBLIC POLICY DECISION TO REMOVE AUTOMATIC

REGISTRATION WITH THE SELECTIVE SERVICE ON DMV FORMS. WHILE WE

SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO MAKE REGISTERING FOR THE SELECTIVE

SERVICE EASIER FOR NEW YORKERS, LIKE THE ASSEMBLY MAJORITY DID BACK

IN 2002, THIS BILL UNDOES THAT GOOD WORK AND NEEDLESSLY PUTS YOUNG

MEN OF ALL CITIZENSHIP STATUSES IN JEOPARDY BY MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT

TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL LAW.

I WILL VOTE -- BE VOTING NO ON THIS AND I ENCOURAGE MY

COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

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

COULD PLEASE CALL THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE TO THE SPEAKER'S

CONFERENCE ROOM. MS. WEINSTEIN IS ON HER WAY.

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ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: WAYS AND MEANS,

SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM.

MS. CRUZ.

MS. CRUZ: WILL THE SPONSOR YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. CRESPO, WILL YOU

YIELD?

MR. CRESPO: CERTAINLY, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MS. CRUZ: MR. CRESPO, FIRST, THANK YOU FOR YOUR

SPONSORSHIP AND YOUR WORK ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY. I HAVE A FEW

QUESTIONS THAT I HOPE WILL DISPEL SOME OF THE MISINFORMATION

PROMULGATED OUT THERE ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION. ARE UNDOCUMENTED

PEOPLE CURRENTLY DRIVING IN OUR STATE?

MR. CRESPO: DRIVING? YES.

MS. CRUZ: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AN UNDOCUMENTED

PERSON WHO IS UNINSURED GETS INTO A CAR ACCIDENT WITH A PERSON WHO IS

LICENSED AND INSURED?

MR. CRESPO: UNFORTUNATELY, IN MANY INSTANCES THAT

PERSON WILL FLEE THE SCENE OUT OF FEAR OF OTHER CONSEQUENCES PERTAINING

TO THAT. IT ALSO IMPACTS ALL THE REST OF US AS INSURED MOTORISTS WITH

REGARDS TO THE RISK POOL THAT EXISTS IN THE MARKET.

MS. CRUZ: IF YOUR PROPOSED LEGISLATION FAILS TO

BECOME LAW, WILL UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS CONTINUE TO DRIVE IN OUR

STATE'S ROADS?

MR. CRESPO: YES.

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MS. CRUZ: DOES THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS LAW

CARRY ANY FINANCIAL BURDEN ON OUR STATE? IN OTHER WORDS, IS THERE A

FISCAL IMPACT?

MR. CRESPO: ONLY WHERE IT WOULD RAISE SIGNIFICANT

REVENUES. TWENTY -- THERE ARE FISCAL POLICY INSTITUTE NUMBERS

SOMEWHERE IN FIRST-TIME FEES OF $20-PLUS MILLION. IN ANNUALIZED

REVENUE TO THE STATE, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN $50- TO $60 MILLION.

MS. CRUZ: WILL AN UNDOCUMENTED PERSON BE ABLE TO

USE THIS PIECE OF IDENTIFICATION TO FLY IN AND OUT OF THE COUNTRY?

MR. CRESPO: NO.

MS. CRUZ: WHAT ABOUT TO ANOTHER STATE?

MR. CRESPO: NO.

MS. CRUZ: CAN AN UNDOCUMENTED PERSON VOTE WITH

THIS PIECE OF IDENTIFICATION?

MR. CRESPO: NO.

MS. CRUZ: HAS THE SKY FALLEN ON CALIFORNIA OR NEW

MEXICO WHERE THIS ALREADY LAW?

MR. CRESPO: THE ONLY THING THAT'S FALLEN IS THE

NUMBER OF MOTOR VEHICLE-RELATED ACCIDENTS AND HIT-AND-RUNS.

MS. CRUZ: THANK YOU, MR. CRESPO.

MR. SPEAKER, ON THE BILL.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE BILL.

MS. CRUZ: I WANT TO THANK THE SPONSOR FOR HIS

POLITICAL COURAGE IN CARRYING THIS BILL. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE ORIGINAL

DREAMERS -- OUR PARENTS -- AND THE GREEN LIGHT COALITION AND THE NEW

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YORK IMMIGRATION COALITION AND MAKE THE ROAD, AND ALL THE OTHER

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR DECADES TO BRING

BACK THE RIGHT TO DRIVE. I KNOW FIRSTHAND WHAT ANTI-IMMIGRANT

SENTIMENT LOOKS LIKE, AND CAN SPEAK FROM THE HEART ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF

HATE MAIL AND DEATH THREATS THAT I HAVE RECEIVED SIMPLY BECAUSE I'VE

BEEN WANTING TO TELL THE STORY OF WHAT IT MEANS TO GROW UP

UNDOCUMENTED AND WITHOUT A DRIVER'S LICENSE AND HOW THAT CHANGES A

FAMILY'S LIFE. I ALSO WANT TO COMMEND MY COLLEAGUES WHO TODAY WILL

VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS BILL DESPITE THE BACKLASH THAT I KNOW MANY OF THEM

WILL RECEIVE BACK HOME, BECAUSE IN THEIR HEARTS THEY UNDERSTAND THAT

THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. THE SAFETY AND SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACT THAT

THIS BILL WILL HAVE ON ALL THE PEOPLE OF OUR STATE IS CLEAR. IT IS

WELL-DOCUMENTED. AND SO I'M LEFT TO WONDER IF THOSE VOTING AGAINST IT

ARE SIMPLY PLACING THEIR ANIMUS TOWARD A CERTAIN GROUP OVER THE CLEAR

MERITS OF THIS BILL AND THE BENEFITS THAT IT WILL HAVE ACROSS COMMUNITIES

IN OUR STATE.

AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I GREW UP UNDOCUMENTED AND

CAN TELL YOU HOW THIS WILL CHANGE THE LIFE OF A FAMILY. BEING DENIED THE

RIGHT TO DRIVE, TO A DRIVER'S LICENSE, MERELY BECAUSE YOU LACK

IMMIGRATION STATUS ALONE CREATES UNNECESSARY BOUNDARIES FOR FAMILIES

TO THRIVE. FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS, IT MAKES AN ALREADY DIFFICULT

LIFE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT. THIS IS AN ISSUE OF SHEER HUMANITY. NOT

HAVING A DRIVER'S LICENSE OUTSIDE OF THE FIVE BOROUGHS OF NEW YORK

CITY WHERE THERE IS LITTLE TO NO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION CAN BE AN ULTIMATE

DEATH SENTENCE FOR THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES. THEY CAN'T TRAVEL TO THEIR

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CHILDREN'S SCHOOL. THEY CAN'T TRAVEL TO A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT. THEY

CAN'T TRAVEL TO WORK. I FLED VIOLENCE AND POVERTY IN COLUMBIA WHEN I

WAS NINE YEARS OLD, WITH MY MOTHER, WHO IS HERE WITH US TODAY. WE

SETTLED IN QUEENS AND WORKED TO SURVIVE TO EARN THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A

BETTER LIFE. I WATCHED AS MY MOTHER CLEANED OFFICES, SOLD TAMALES, AND

TOOK ON ANY JOB SO THAT SHE COULD PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND I WOULD

HAVE A CHANCE TO DO WELL IN SCHOOL. BUT ALTHOUGH HER PERSEVERANCE

WAS LIMITLESS, OUR ABILITY TO SUCCEED WAS LIMITED BY OUR IMMIGRATION

STATUS. AT FIRST, NOT HAVING A DRIVER'S LICENSE WAS ONLY AN

INCONVENIENCE. MY MOTHER'S LONG TRAIN RIDES HOME AFTER WORK, AFTER AN

OVERNIGHT SHIFT, OR HAVING TO TAKE THREE TRAINS JUST TO GET MY SISTER TO THE

DOCTOR. BUT LATER, AS I GOT OLDER AND REALIZED THE SUBTLE WAYS THAT LACK

OF A DRIVER'S LICENSE CAN ENTIRE -- CAN IMPACT AN ENTIRE FAMILY, I BEGAN

TO PLAN -- TO EMERGENCY PLAN WHEN I WAS 13 YEARS OLD. MY MOTHER

COULD BE PICKED UP BY ICE AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT - BACK THEN IT WAS

CALLED INS - AND I WOULD BE LEFT TO CARE FOR MY SISTERS AND BE SEPARATED

FROM THE ONLY HOME I EVER KNEW, ALL BECAUSE MY MOTHER WANTED TO

MAKE SURE THAT SHE COULD GO TO WORK AND I WOULD GET A CHANCE TO LIVE.

A 13 YEAR-OLD SHOULD NOT BE WORRIED ABOUT EMERGENCY PLANNING. A 13

YEAR-OLD SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT HIGH SCHOOL SHE'S GOING TO GO

TO. I GREW UP IN PARTS OF QUEENS THAT HAVE TRANSIT DESERTS. OFTEN, THE

NEAREST SUBWAY STATION WAS A 20-MINUTE BUS RIDE AWAY. THIS MEANT

THAT MY EDUCATION AND MY EMPLOYMENT CHOICES WERE LIMITED BY MY

COMMUTE. I COULDN'T CONSIDER COLLEGES FURTHER AWAY THAN MANHATTAN.

AND EVEN THEN, I'D HAVE TO TRAVEL HOURS ON THE TRAIN TO GET TO MY CLASSES

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AT JOHN JAY COLLEGE. TWO TRAINS AND A BUS. THAT'S WHAT I WOULD HAVE

TO TAKE EVERY MORNING TO GET TO SCHOOL, JUST SO THAT I HAD A SHOT AT AN

EDUCATION. SIMILARLY, MY MOTHER WAS FORCED TO TURN DOWN JOBS TO EARN

MORE MONEY BECAUSE SHE HAD NO WAY TO GET TO THEM. SHE COULD ONLY

TAKE A WORK THAT WAS ACCESSIBLE BY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, PUSHING OUR

FAMILY DEEPER INTO POVERTY. MOMMY IS NOW A HEAD START TEACHER, BUT

FOR YEARS SHE STRUGGLED BY TAKING CARE OF OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN AND

CLEANING OTHER PEOPLE'S HOMES. HER INABILITY TO DRIVE ALSO MEANT THAT

SHE COULDN'T ALWAYS BE THERE TO WITNESS HER HARD WORK COME TO FRUITION.

WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE, I WAS INDUCTED INTO THE HONOR SOCIETY, AND I

STOOD ON STAGE ALONE BECAUSE MY MOTHER COULDN'T ATTEND THE CEREMONY.

SHE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE CEREMONY AFTER WORK USING THE

SUBWAY. BUT OUR STORY IS NOT UNIQUE. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF NEW

YORKERS ACROSS THE STATE STILL LIVE THE WAY WE DID. WE SIMPLY WANT AN

OPPORTUNITY. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE TO OUR JOBS, PICK UP OUR KIDS

FROM SCHOOL, GO TO THE DOCTOR IN AN EMERGENCY. TO DO THE EVERYDAY

THINGS THAT THE REST OF US GET TO DO. (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

AND SO WE'RE BEING DENIED THIS OPPORTUNITY. WE'RE

NOT LOOKING FOR A FREE PASS. WE JUST WANT THE SAME ABILITY TO APPLY FOR

A LICENSE PROVIDED TO ANY OTHER ELIGIBLE PERSON WHO HAS PASSED A ROAD

SAFETY AND A PROFICIENCY EXAM TO QUALIFY. TWELVE STATES, INCLUDING

CALIFORNIA, AND EVEN MORE POLITICALLY-CONSERVATIVE PLACES LIKE UTAH

HAVE PASSED SIMILAR LEGISLATION, AND MORE STATES LIKE WISCONSIN AND

NEW JERSEY ARE ON THEIR WAY TO THAT. IT'S SHAMEFUL THAT NEW YORK,

WHICH IS SUPPOSEDLY A BEACON OF JUSTICE AND THE GATEWAY TO

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OPPORTUNITY, HAS FALLEN SO HARD BEHIND. STATES THAT ALLOW DRIVER'S

LICENSES FOR ALL HAVE SEEN THEIR NUMBERS OF UNINSURED MOTORISTS DROP,

WHILE ENSURING THAT DRIVERS ARE PROPERLY REGISTERED AND REGULATED. AND

IMPORTANTLY, THE SKY HAS NOT FALLEN ON THEM. HAVING A GREATER NUMBER

OF LICENSED AND INSURED DRIVERS ON THE ROAD WILL GUARANTEE SAFER STREETS

FOR EVERYONE, AND THEY WILL OPEN THE DOOR TO EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AS A NEW POPULATION OF WORKERS AND CUSTOMERS

CAN ACTUALLY SPEND MONEY.

LASTLY, THE FISCAL IMPACTS OF THE BILL ARE OUTSTANDING.

ACCORDING TO A REPORT BY THE NEW YORK CITY COMPTROLLER, LEGALLY

LICENSING UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS TO DRIVE WILL GENERATE $9.6

MILLION IN DRIVER'S LICENSE FEES TO NEW YORK STATE. AN ADDITIONAL

$1.3 MILLION WOULD GO TO THE MET -- THE MTA - AND WE'RE ALWAYS

COMPLAINING THAT THE MTA DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY - A BOOST IN

SALES TO THE AUTO INDUSTRY TO THE TUNE OF ALMOST 3 PERCENT, GENERATING

$4.2 MILLION IN REGISTRATION AND TITLE FEES AND ANNUAL REVENUES OF ABOUT

$730,000. ANOTHER ALMOST $1 MILLION IN VEHICLE USE TAXES WILL GO TO

NEW YORK CITY, AND $1.4- ADDITIONAL TO THE MTA. VEHICLE AND

GASOLINE TAXES RELATED TO THE AUTO INDUSTRY WOULD INCREASE BY

$10.3 MILLION. ANOTHER $11 MILLION WILL GO TO THE CITY, AND YET

ANOTHER $1 MILLION TO THE MTA. ALL AND ALL, WE'RE LOOKING AT MORE

THAN $50 MILLION IN MONEY THAT CAN COME TO THE STATE. EVERY YEAR OUR

LEGISLATURE COMPLAINS THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR ALL THE

WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND THIS IS A CLEAR WAY

TO GET THAT MONEY. YET WE STAND HERE WITH THE EVIDENCE AND WANT TO

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VOTE NO. THAT CAN'T BE THE KIND OF STATE THAT WE ARE. AS LEGISLATORS, WE

KNOW THERE ARE TIMES THAT WE MUST LEAD OUR COMMUNITIES DOWN THE

PATH OF HISTORICAL CHANGE. THAT IS HOW WOMEN GOT THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

AND THAT IS HOW RECENTLY WE GOT BAIL REFORM AND GENDA.

OUR VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS BILL TODAY CAN BEGIN TO RIGHT

THIS WRONG, AND EXPAND ACCESS TO DRIVER'S LICENSES FOR ALL NEW YORKERS.

TODAY WE SHOW THE WORLD THAT NEW YORK IS A TRUE BEACON OF

IMMIGRANT HOPE. AND TO MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF OUR

AMAZING LEGISLATURE, DO NOT LET HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF. GARNISH THE

POLITICAL COURAGE OVER AT THE SENATE AND DO THE RIGHT THING BY VOTING

YES. TODAY WE GET TO SEE WHO TRULY STANDS WITH IMMIGRANTS AND WHO

USES OUR FAMILIES' PAIN FOR POLITICAL PANDERING.

I WILL VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, AND I URGE MY

COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME AND STAND IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY.

(APPLAUSE)

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: QUIET, PLEASE.

MEMBERS, PLEASE BE REMINDED WE'RE ON DEBATE. AND ALSO, WHEN ON

DEBATE PLEASE ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS TO THE CHAIR.

MR. EPSTEIN.

MR. EPSTEIN: WILL THE SPONSOR YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: DO YOU YIELD,

MR. CRESPO?

MR. CRESPO: EH, SURE.

(LAUGHTER)

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: THE SPONSOR

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YIELDS.

MR. EPSTEIN: NOT SURE.

MR. CRESPO: EH....

(LAUGHTER)

MR. EPSTEIN: SO YOU MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT

INSURANCE RATES. WHAT INFORMATION DO YOU HAVE -- HOW THIS MIGHT HAVE

AN IMPACT ON INSURANCE RATES?

MR. CRESPO: WELL, WE DO HAVE SOME MEMOS OF

SUPPORT FROM THE INDUSTRY, BUT ESSENTIALLY, A COUPLE OF THINGS: NUMBER

ONE, CLEARLY, AS WAS STATED IN A PREVIOUS LINE OF QUESTION, THERE ARE A

NUMBER OF PEOPLE FORCED TO DRIVE TODAY WITHOUT INSURANCE. THEY WANT

TO BE INSURED, THEY DON'T HAVE THE OPTION TO. THIS BILL WOULD ENSURE

THAT -- THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THAT. THE -- THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT IS

THAT ALL OF US, AS INSURANCE HOLDERS, ARE PAYING INTO PREMIUMS FOR THE

UNINSURED MOTORIST FUND, AND -- AND -- AND THAT PROTECTION COSTS US AS

-- AS TAXPAYERS, AS INSURED DRIVERS. BY EXPANDING THE LIST OR THE

NUMBER OF INSURED DRIVERS ON THE ROAD, YOU ARE REALLY SORT OF SPREADING

OUT THE RISK, WHICH LOWERS OVERALL PREMIUMS AND -- OR OTHER WAYS IN

WHICH THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY IS BEST SERVED. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, ALL

OF US, AS INSURANCE HOLDERS, ARE SERVED WELL BY THIS BILL. AND I -- JUST TO

CLARIFY, THE MEMO IS FROM THE AMERICAN PROPERTY CASUALTY AND

INSURANCE ASSOCIATION THAT EXPLAINS THE PUBLIC SAFETY MATTERS AS WELL.

MR. EPSTEIN: SO THEY'RE SAYING THAT WITH MORE

PEOPLE INSURED, IT WILL AFFECT THE INSURANCE POOL IN TOTAL AND HELP ALL

INSURED DRIVERS?

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MR. CRESPO: CORRECT.

MR. EPSTEIN: AND SO HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WE

TALKING ABOUT WHO MIGHT GET THESE DRIVER'S LICENSES?

MR. CRESPO: DEPENDING ON THE REPORTS YOU READ,

ANYWHERE BETWEEN -- WE BELIEVE THERE ARE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 700- TO

800,000, MAYBE SLIGHTLY MORE INDIVIDUALS, NON-CITIZENS RESIDING IN THE

STATE. OF THOSE, IT IS EXPECTED THAT 200- TO 300,000 MAY ULTIMATELY

APPLY, SO -- AND AGAIN, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, WE ARE BEING VERY CLEAR

ABOUT THE TYPES OF DOCUMENTS YOU WOULD NEED IN ORDER TO SECURE A

DRIVER'S -- A DRIVER'S LICENSE UNDER THIS PROVISION. SO, THE VAST MAJORITY

OF THE UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY STILL WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME

ACHIEVING THIS GOAL OR THIS PRIVILEGE. AND WE SHOULD ALSO KEEP IN MIND

THAT CURRENTLY, EVERYONE ENROLLED IN THE DACA PROGRAM DOES HAVE

ACCESS TO A DRIVER'S LICENSE TODAY.

MR. EPSTEIN: THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT. AND

JUST ON -- SO YOU'RE SAYING WITH THE POTENTIAL 200,000 NEW PEOPLE

ENTERING THE POOL, RATES GOING POTENTIALLY DOWN FOR THE REST OF THE

DRIVERS BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE LESS UNINSURED MOTORISTS ON THE -- ON THE

STREETS?

MR. CRESPO: YEAH. YES, AND VERY SPECIFICALLY,

THOSE THAT ARE PAYING PREMIUMS TO THAT -- WHICH I BELIEVE IS EVERYONE --

TO THAT UNINSURED MOTORIST FUND WILL SEE A REDUCTION IN THOSE

PREMIUMS.

MR. EPSTEIN: AND SO -- SO THIS LICENSE WE'RE

TALKING ABOUT IS A DRIVER'S LICENSE. IS THAT GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR

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EVERYONE, OR JUST UNDOCUMENTED NEW YORKERS?

MR. CRESPO: THE STANDARD LICENSE WE'RE REFERRING

TO IS EXACTLY THAT, A STANDARD DRIVER'S LICENSE. IT IS OPEN TO ANYONE WHO

CHOOSES NOT TO SEEK A FEDERALLY-COMPLIANT, REAL ID COMPLIANT LICENSE

LIKE THE ENHANCED LICENSE OR THE REAL ID LICENSE. AND IT'S -- AND -- AND

-- A NON -- AND ALSO, IT'S A DISTINCTION FROM COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSES.

THIS IS JUST A STANDARD DRIVER'S LICENSE WHICH WOULD BE OPEN TO EVERY

ONE OF THE -- YOU KNOW, WHO CAN MEET THE CRITERIA WE SET FORWARD. SO I

WILL BE ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD GET A STANDARD DRIVER'S

LICENSE THAT WILL SAY, NOT FOR FEDERAL ID PURPOSES.

MR. EPSTEIN: SO, SOMEONE LIKE YOU OR MYSELF

COULD GET THAT LICENSE AND STILL TRAVEL AROUND THE COUNTRY USING OTHER

FORMS OF ID AS WELL AS OUR STATE LICENSE?

MR. CRESPO: ABSOLUTELY.

MR. EPSTEIN: THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW. AND YOU

KNOW, THERE'S A CONVERSATION WE'VE BEEN HAVING ABOUT FRAUD. PEOPLE

COMMITTING FRAUD ON VOTING RECORDS OR OTHER FRAUD. I WANTED TO HEAR --

YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, FRAUD IS SOMETHING WE'RE ALL DEEPLY CONCERNED

ABOUT. HOW DO YOU THINK THIS ATTACKS THE ISSUE OF FRAUD OR PEOPLE

COMMITTING FRAUD ON VOTING OR OTHER ISSUES THAT CAME UP EARLIER?

MR. CRESPO: I DON'T BELIEVE IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT.

FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE PROPER DEBATE AT THE RIGHT TIME

AROUND THE ISSUE OF WHETHER VOTER FRAUD EXISTS AS IS SOMETIMES

PRESENTED BY LEADERS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY. BUT LOOK, NOTHING IN THIS BILL

CHANGES THE FACT THAT IF YOU ARE NOT A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES, YOU

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DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE. THERE WERE INSTANCES THAT WERE SHARED

WITH US EARLIER WHERE INDIVIDUALS APPLIED. MY UNDERSTANDING, IF THEY --

IF UNDER THE SCENARIO THAT WAS PRESENTED PRIOR, IT WAS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO

USED A DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER, THAT MUST HAVE BEEN BECAUSE AT THE TIME

THEY WERE ISSUED THAT DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER, THEY WERE A QUALIFIED

APPLICANT BECAUSE THEY WERE HERE ON A VISA OR SOME OTHER PROCESS THAT

WOULD HAVE AUTHORED THEM A DRIVER'S LICENSE OR THAT NUMBER OR SOCIAL

SECURITY NUMBER, FOR THAT MATTER. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THAT INDIVIDUAL AT

THAT TIME WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION ERRONEOUSLY THAT THAT ALONE

QUALIFIED THEM TO VOTE. AND, YES, THERE WERE EXAMPLES MENTIONED, BUT

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN INTERESTING TO ALSO KNOW WHAT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF

VOTES CAST IN THAT COMMUNITY. WHILE READING OFF A LIST OF A HANDFUL OF

-- OF NAMES IS CERTAINLY NOT SYMBOLIC OF A COMMON PRACTICE. AND

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DEBATES IN THIS COUNTRY AROUND VOTER FRAUD AND

WHETHER THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY IS INVOLVED IN IT, AND NONE OF THAT

HAS EVER BEEN SUBSTANTIATED AND IS NOT RELEVANT, I BELIEVE, TO -- OR WE'RE

NOT IMPACTING THAT IN ANY NEGATIVE WAY.

MR. EPSTEIN: YEAH, SO JUST TO BE CLEAR. IT'S YOUR

ASSERTION, I THINK, AND THE DOCUMENTS AND THE INFORMATION SUPPORTS

THAT, THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY ABNORMAL VOTER FRAUD IN THE IMMIGRANT

COMMUNITY, AND THIS WOULD NOT CHANGE THAT DYNAMIC.

MR. CRESPO: NO. AND AGAIN, THE APPLICATION IS

VERY SPECIFIC. IT -- IT STATES IN MULTIPLE SPACES WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO

DOING SO, WHAT THE PENALTIES ARE. AND SO, YOU KNOW, CAN INDIVIDUALS

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MAKE A MISTAKE? YES. WE'VE ALSO SEEN EXAMPLES OF CITIZENS WHO HAVE

CAST MORE THAN ONE VOTE BECAUSE THEY'VE MADE A MISTAKE. I MEAN,

MISTAKES WILL HAPPEN, AND -- AND THERE'S NO LAW UNDER THE SUN THAT CAN

PREVENT THOSE FROM TAKING PLACE. BUT THE IDEA THAT THIS IS A GATEWAY TO

VOTER FRAUD IS A COMPLETE EXAGGERATION OF THE TRUTH, AND THERE'S BEEN NO

DOCUMENTATION TO SHOW A RELEVANT CONNECTION TO THE TWO ISSUES.

MR. EPSTEIN: I DO WANT TO SPEND A LITTLE MORE TIME

ABOUT CRIMES IN GENERAL. I MEAN, HIT-AND-RUN, THAT'S CURRENTLY A CRIME

IN NEW YORK, RIGHT? SO -- SO ARE YOU ARGUING THAT THIS WOULD OVERALL

REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF CRIMES THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR STATE IF PEOPLE

HAD LICENSES?

MR. CRESPO: WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN DATA IS THAT STATES

THAT AUTHORIZE UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS TO ACHIEVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE

HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS BECAUSE

JUST BY THE FACT THAT YOU ARE NOW ENSURING THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE

PROPERLY TRAINED TO OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE WILL RESULT IN THAT

CONSEQUENCE. THE FACT THAT FOLKS WILL HAVE PROPER INSURANCE. THE FACT

THAT THERE IS A GREATER POOL OF -- OF PREPARED AND TRAINED AND EDUCATED

DRIVERS IS GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT. AND IN TERMS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT,

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IN ANY SCENARIO WHERE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE

ON OUR ROADWAYS CAN BE -- FEEL COMFORTABLE AND SAFE IDENTIFYING

THEMSELVES TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IS, I BELIEVE, A BIG BOOM TO

ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY ACROSS THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

MR. EPSTEIN: THANK YOU.

ON -- ON THE BILL.

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ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: ON THE BILL, MR.

EPSTEIN.

MR. EPSTEIN: I JUST WANTED TO ALSO THANK MR.

CRESPO FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE. AND THIS IS PRETTY CLEAR AND

EVIDENT TO ME THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY

ACROSS OUR STATE. THIS BILL ALLOWS THAT TO HAPPEN. IT MAKES DRIVERS

MORE -- DRIVERS MORE ACCOUNTABLE, MORE QUALIFIED TO BE ON OUR ROADS.

SECOND, IT CREATES EQUITY FOR ALL NEW YORKERS. SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE

BEEN PUSHED INTO THE SHADOWS BECAUSE OF THIS SYSTEM THAT'S UNFAIR.

THIS IS A COMMONSENSE PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD BRING EQUITY TO

OUR STATE. ALL NEW YORKERS WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE SAFELY -- AND

DRIVE SAFELY AND LEGALLY THROUGHOUT OUR STATE; GET TO WORK, PICK UP

THEIR KIDS FROM SCHOOL, GOING TO DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS. YOU KNOW, I'M

FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN A CITY -- A PART OF THE CITY THAT HAS SUBWAY ACCESS,

WHERE FOLKS ALL OVER THE STATE -- YOU CAN'T DO DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES

WITHOUT A CAR. PASSING THIS MEASURE IS A MATTER OF RACE AND ECONOMIC

JUSTICE, AND CREATING ECONOMIC BENEFITS FOR OUR STATE. THIS FACILITATES

COMMUTERS ALL OVER NEW YORK TO BE ABLE TO MOVE AROUND AND LIVE THEIR

LIVES.

I AM PROUD TO COSPONSOR THIS BILL. I WANT TO THANK THE

SPONSOR, AND WHEN IT COMES TO THAT POINT I'LL BE VOTING IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: THANK YOU, MR.

EPSTEIN.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

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

COULD CALL THE RULES COMMITTEE TO THE SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM.

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: RULES

COMMITTEE, SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM. MEMBERS OF THE RULES

COMMITTEE START MAKING YOUR WAY TO THE SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM.

MR. SMULLEN.

MR. SMULLEN: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. WILL THE

SPONSOR YIELD FOR A FEW QUESTIONS, PLEASE?

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: MR. CRESPO, DO

YOU YIELD?

MR. CRESPO: ABSOLUTELY.

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: THE SPONSOR

YIELDS.

MR. SMULLEN: SO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR

CONTRIBUTIONS, MR. CRESPO. ON A COUPLE ISSUES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL

DEALING WITH NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES, I WANTED TO ASK A FEW MORE

QUESTIONS IN THAT REGARD.

MR. CRESPO: SURE.

MR. SMULLEN: SO, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU'D MADE

SOME COORDINATION WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES. CAN YOU LET US KNOW WHICH

AGENCIES YOU HAD CONTACTED OR HAD EXPERTS TESTIFY FROM?

MR. CRESPO: NO, MY -- MY CONVERSATIONS HAVE

BEEN WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, STATE AGENCIES, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS,

THE TROOPERS, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND A NUMBER OF OTHER INDIVIDUALS

WITHIN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

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MR. SMULLEN: AND -- AND YOU MENTIONED

SPECIFICALLY IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE BILL, IMMIGRATION-CENTRIC AGENCIES,

ICE AND CBP. HAVE YOU -- HAVE YOU HAD TESTIMONY FROM ANY CURRENT

OR FORMER ICE OR CBP OFFICIALS?

MR. CRESPO: NO. THE ONLY TIME I'VE INTERACTED

WITH THEM IS WHEN THEY'VE BEEN MAKING UNCONSCIONABLE ARRESTS IN

PUBLIC SPACES OF IMMIGRANT FAMILIES. BUT, NO, I'VE NEVER HAD THE

OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY SIT AND DISCUSS THE POLICY BEHIND THEIR ACTIONS.

MR. SMULLEN: AND REGARDING ANY OTHER FEDERAL

AGENCIES THAT WORK IN THE COUNTER-TERRORISM AREA AND NATIONAL SECURITY,

HAVE YOU DISCUSSED THIS AND -- AND THE BILL'S EFFECT ON THIS WITH ANY OF

THOSE ORGANIZATIONS?

MR. CRESPO: TO AN EXTENT, YES, IN THAT THE NYPD,

WHICH PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE TASK FORCE THAT -- ANTI-TERRORISM TASK

FORCE PUT FORWARD SOME -- SOME RECOMMENDATIONS. WE ACTUALLY TOOK

THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, INCLUDED THEM IN THE BILL TO ENSURE THAT THEIR

CURRENT PROCESS AND ACCESS OF INFORMATION IS NOT IMPEDED BY THE

ACTIONS OF THIS BILL. AND WE'VE, I BELIEVE, SATISFIED THAT CONCERN. SO TO

THAT EXTENT, YES. IN TERMS OF TERRORISM-RELATED INVESTIGATIONS, WE DO

NOTHING TO IMPEDE THAT.

MR. SMULLEN: AND -- AND COULD YOU TELL ME, I

NOTED FROM MANY OF THE OTHER STATES WHICH ENACTED SIMILAR LEGISLATION

THAT THEY HAD INCLUDED FINGERPRINTS OR SOME OTHER SORTS OF BIOMETRICAL,

YOU KNOW, PERSON-SPECIFIC IDENTIFYING DATA. WHY THAT WASN'T INCLUDED

IN NEW YORK'S BILL?

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MR. CRESPO: I DON'T KNOW THAT MANY STATES THAT USE

BIOMETRICS CURRENTLY. I DON'T BELIEVE DMV IS USING BIOMETRICS

CURRENTLY FOR STANDARD LICENSES. CERTAINLY NOT --

MR. SMULLEN: CERTAINLY, FINGERPRINTS OR

BIOMETRICS. SOMETHING THAT COULD BE UNIQUELY SPECIFIC TO AN INDIVIDUAL

AND THEN COULD BE USED IN A DATABASE.

MR. CRESPO: NO. IT WAS NEVER BROUGHT UP AS A

CONSIDERATION, NOT CONSIDERED BY US.

MR. SMULLEN: AND THE REASON --

MR. CRESPO: NOT FOR THIS TYPE OF LICENSE.

MR. SMULLEN: -- I SAY THAT IS IS THAT THE LARGE

STATES THAT HAVE IMPLEMENTED THIS HAVE ACTUALLY USED EITHER FINGERPRINTS

OR SOME SORT OF OTHER SORT OF BIOMETRIC DATA THAT WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE TO

BE INDIVIDUALLY IDENTIFIED AS WHOM THEY ARE. AND THERE'S -- CERTAINLY,

EVERYONE CAN SEE THE NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERN OF SOMEONE NOT BEING

IDENTIFIABLE IF THEIR DOCUMENTATION CAME FROM SOURCES THAT COULDN'T BE

VERIFIED BY US PERSONS. THAT'S THE CONCERN.

NOW, WE MENTIONED A COUPLE THINGS ABOUT THESE

THINGS. IS -- IS DRIVING -- IS THIS DRIVING LICENSE, IS IT A RIGHT OR A

PRIVILEGE UNDER NEW YORK STATE LAW?

MR. CRESPO: IT'S A PRIVILEGE.

MR. SMULLEN: SO IT -- IT BEING A PRIVILEGE, IT'S NOT

SUBJECT TO, SAY, FOR INSTANCE, U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS THAT ARE -- THAT

ARE HELD AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL FOR ADJUDICATION. IT'S -- INSTEAD, IT'S AT THE

NEW YORK STATE LEVEL WHERE WE HAVE OUR CONSTITUTION AND LAWS THAT

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ARE -- ARE IN EFFECT.

MR. CRESPO: YES.

MR. SMULLEN: SO, COULD YOU SEE IN -- IN THIS CASE

THAT THIS LICENSE IS CONDITIONAL, THEN, AT THIS POINT?

MR. CRESPO: I'M SORRY, REPEAT THAT.

MR. SMULLEN: IS THIS LICENSE CONDITIONAL TO ALL OF

THESE APPLICANTS, THESE NEW APPLICANTS, THAT ARE UNDOCUMENTED

IMMIGRANTS?

MR. CRESPO: AS LONG AS THE INDIVIDUALS ARE FIT,

THEY MEET THE STANDARDS, THEY GO THROUGH THE TRAINING AND ARE APPROVED

BY THAT TRAINING AND MEET ALL THE OTHER REQUIRED IDENTIFIABLE

INFORMATION, THEY WOULD QUALIFY. IN TERMS OF CONDITIONS, IT'S NO

DIFFERENT THAN THE CONDITIONS YOU AND I GET IN OUR LICENSE. THERE'S AN

EXPIRATION DATE, WE HAVE TO MEET CERTAIN STANDARDS AND CRITERIA. SO THAT

ALL WOULD REMAIN THE SAME.

MR. SMULLEN: SO THERE ARE NO SPECIFIC CONDITIONS

TO -- TO ANY OF THESE. THEY'RE JUST THE GENERAL ONES THAT FALL UNDER

EVERYONE IN NEW YORK STATE AT THIS POINT?

MR. CRESPO: YEAH, I WOULD SAY SO. I MEAN, AGAIN,

THE REAL SUBSTANTIATIVE CHANGE IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU ARE PRESENTING IS

SIMPLY THAT YOU WOULD HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE TO A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

IN THE CASE IF YOU NEED TO PROVIDE A FOREIGN DOCUMENT AS THE ONES

WE'VE LISTED HERE.

MR. SMULLEN: CERTAINLY. SO, WHAT IS THE RENEWAL

PERIOD FOR THESE -- THESE DRIVER'S LICENSES THAT WILL THEN BE GRANTED

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GOING FORWARD? IS THERE ANY SHORTER PERIOD TO ALLOW FOR SUFFICIENT

DOCUMENTATION TO BE PROVIDED, OR ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION AT A -- AT A

FURTHER POINT WHEN PEOPLE WANT TO UPGRADE THESE LICENSES AND PERHAPS

AFTER THEY GO THROUGH OTHER PROCESSES TOWARDS THE -- THE GOAL AND THE

PATH OF CITIZENSHIP?

MR. CRESPO: NO. WE DON'T ADDRESS THE QUESTION.

IT REMAINS THE SAME. THE FIVE YEARS FOR AN ORIGINAL LICENSE AND

RENEWALS ARE EIGHT YEARS. THAT WOULD REMAIN IN PLACE. THERE WERE

EXAMPLES THAT WERE BROUGHT UP IN OTHER CONVERSATIONS WHERE EVEN

TODAY, IF YOU HAVE A STUDENT WITH A STUDENT VISA WHO USES -- WHO HAS

ACCESS TO A DRIVER'S LICENSE THAT MAYBE AT SOME POINT THEY OVERSTAY THEIR

VISA, THERE'S A SCENARIO WHERE THEIR LICENSE IS STILL ISSUED OR ELIGIBLE FOR

PRIVILEGES, BUT THEIR VISA HAS SINCE EXPIRED. SO THERE ARE REAL-LIFE

SCENARIOS AFFECTING EVEN INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HERE AND SECURED IT UNDER

CURRENT EXISTING LAW WHERE THOSE DISCREPANCIES MAY TAKE PLACE. BUT IT

TERMS OF WHAT THIS BILL DOES, IT DOES NOT CHANGE -- WE DON'T SPEAK TO THE

LENGTH OF TIME OR CRITERIA FOR THE TIMELINE FROM THE -- FOR THE ORIGINAL OR

THE REISSUED -- OR RENEWED LICENSE.

MR. SMULLEN: SO, FOR INSTANCE, A COUNTY CLERK,

WHAT -- WHAT SORT OF PROCEDURES OR TRAINING ARE THEY GOING TO BE GIVEN

OR ALLOWED OR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THIS LAW?

MR. CRESPO: WELL, A COUPLE OF THINGS ON THAT.

WITH -- WITH REGARDS TO TRAINING, MY -- MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT

FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES TRAINING FOR ALL DMV OR ANY OFFICE THAT ISSUES A

REAL ID-COMPLIANT LICENSE, LIKE DMV AND THE COUNTY CLERKS CURRENTLY

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OFFER. PART OF THE TRAINING ISSUED TO ALL EMPLOYEES WHO ARE PART OF THAT

PROCESS INCLUDE TRAINING RELATED TO THE IDENTIFICATION OF FOREIGN

DOCUMENTS. WHATEVER TECHNOLOGY IS NECESSARY IS SOMETHING THEY

CURRENTLY HAVE IN PLACE, AND IF THERE WERE ADDITIONAL THINGS NECESSARY

THEN THAT'S SOMETHING THE DEPARTMENT WOULD HAVE TO ADJUST TO. BUT IT

IS MY UNDERSTANDING, BY AND LARGE, THE CURRENT TRAINING THAT DMV AND

COUNTY CLERK OFFICE OFFICIALS OR -- OR STAFF WHO ARE A PART OF THE

PROCESSING OR VERIFICATION OF DOCUMENTS CURRENTLY GET TRAINING THAT

WOULD BE EQUAL TO OR NECESSARY FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE RIGHTS. SO

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE -- THE THEORY THAT THIS IS GOING TO REQUIRE

EXTENSIVE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES NECESSARILY HOLDS TRUE.

MR. SMULLEN: SO, AS A -- AS SOMEONE FROM MY

BACKGROUND WHO'S DEEPLY INVOLVED IN NATIONAL SECURITY, I'M ALWAYS

WORRIED ABOUT PEOPLE SLIPPING THROUGH THE CRACKS. AND WE HAVE, YOU

KNOW, 62 COUNTIES IN NEW YORK STATE THAT ARE VERY DIVERSE AND THEY'RE

GEOGRAPHICALLY SEPARATED, SO THEY GET A LOT OF DIFFERENT -- PEOPLE

COMING FROM DIFFERENT AREAS. AND I'M -- I'M A BIT CONCERNED ABOUT BAD

PEOPLE WITH BAD INTENT, TERRORISTS, SLIPPING THROUGH THOSE CRACKS

BECAUSE OF A HOLE IN THE LAW.

SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS,

MR. CRESPO.

MR. SPEAKER, ON THE BILL.

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: ON THE BILL, SIR.

MR. SMULLEN: SO I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED. I -- I'M

IN FAVOR OF BRINGING PEOPLE OUT OF THE SHADOWS BECAUSE I THINK THE

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SHADOWS ARE WHERE TERRORISTS HIDE BEST. AND I -- AND I FIRST AND

FOREMOST WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT WHEN I SERVED IN THE MILITARY THAT

I WAS SWORN TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION UNDER FEDERAL LAW. AND IT'S A

GOOD BENCHMARK IN WHICH TO COMPARE THINGS. NOW I STAND HERE IN THE

ASSEMBLY BEFORE YOU, AND THINK ABOUT OUR STATE AND ITS CONSTITUTION

AND STATE LAW. AND I DO NOT WANT TO PUT OUR COUNTY CLERKS OR ANYONE

IN A POSITION WHERE THEY HAVE TO VIOLATE FEDERAL LAW, ESPECIALLY IF

THERE'S A POTENTIAL OF ANY SORT OF NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT THAT'S INVOLVED.

AFTER SPEAKING TO MULTIPLE LOCAL OFFICIALS IN MY DISTRICT WHO WILL BE

IMPACTED BY THIS, I STILL DON'T SEE HOW THE BILL AS IT'S CURRENTLY WRITTEN

WILL HELP OUR DMVS VERIFY THESE FOREIGN DOCUMENTS, AND WILL ONLY

SLOW DOWN AN ALREADY INEFFICIENT BUREAUCRACY.

NOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CHANCES OF A TERRORIST

EVADING OUR SECURITY --

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: MR. BLAKE, WHY

DO YOU RISE, SIR?

MR. BLAKE: I -- I WAS JUST HOPING IF I COULD JUST

ASK ONE QUESTION FOR CLARITY.

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: MR. SMULLEN,

WILL YOU YIELD TO MR. BLAKE'S QUESTION?

MR. SMULLEN: UPON COMPLETION OF MY COMMENTS

ON THE BILL, SIR

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: HE WILL NOT YIELD

AT THIS TIME, SIR.

MR. BLAKE: CERTAINLY.

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MR. SMULLEN: SO, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE TERRORIST --

THE CHANCES OF A TERRORIST INVADING OUR SECURITY MEASURES ARE SLIM, AND

WE WOULD DESIRABLY WANT THEM TO BE SO TO NOT HAVE A REPEAT OF

SEPTEMBER 11TH. BUT I'M REALLY CONCERNED THAT WE'RE GOING TO CREATE A

-- A NEW AVENUE FOR SOMEONE TO EVADE THE LAW AND OBTAIN OTHER LEGAL

DOCUMENTS.

AS I SAID BEFORE, IMMIGRATION IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR

OUR COUNTRY AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN. BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE

FEDERAL AND THE STATE LEVEL THAT WE ARE IN-SYNCHRONIZED TO BE ABLE TO

KEEP OUR SECURITY SURE SO THOSE WHO ARE HERE TO PURSUE THE AMERICAN

DREAM CAN DO SO, BUT TO KEEP OUT THOSE WHOSE INTENTIONS ARE TO SOW

VIOLENCE. SO LET'S WORK TO FIX OUR IMMIGRATION SYSTEM AND LET'S WORK

HARD, ALLOWING OUR INDIVIDUAL -- WORKING INDIVIDUALS SO THEY CAN GET

GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS TO HELP THEM LIVE THEIR LIVES BETTER.

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND I'M STANDING BY.

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: MR. BLAKE, WHY

DO YOU RISE?

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

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: YOU CAN'T.

THERE'S -- WE'RE ON HIS TIME --

MR. BLAKE: (INAUDIBLE) IS HE OPEN TO --

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: NO, HE'S NOT

DONE. YOU CAN GO ON THE LIST, MR. BLAKE. BUT WE'RE ON -- STILL ON MR.

SMULLEN'S TIME, BUT HE DID YIELD TO YOU.

MR. BLAKE: HE DID YIELD? I JUST WANTED CLARITY ON

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

A QUESTION. I JUST WANTED CLARIFY.

MR. SMULLEN: CERTAINLY.

MR. BLAKE: I -- I DID NOT RECALL THE SPONSOR OF THE

BILL AT ALL SAYING THAT THIS WOULD PERMIT TERRORIST ACCESS. I WAS JUST

TRYING TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING ON WHERE DID THE TERRORIST CLAIM JUST

COME IN?

MR. SMULLEN: I -- I THOUGHT I EXPLAINED IT QUITE

THOROUGHLY. IT'S THE SLIPPING THROUGH THE CRACKS PHENOMENON. IT'S

HAPPENED BEFORE, AND WE DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN.

MR. BLAKE: BUT JUST FOR CLARITY, I'M JUST TRYING TO

UNDERSTAND. THE BILL ITSELF IS TO PROVIDE ACCESS FOR DRIVER'S LICENSES.

I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE CONNECTION OF HOW PERMITTING PEOPLE

OF COLOR, PARTICULARLY LATINO AND OTHER IMMIGRANTS, IS CONNECTED TO

TERRORISM. I'M JUST ASKING FOR CLARITY. IT WAS REFERENCED AT LEAST THREE

TIMES.

MR. SMULLEN: I MADE NO MENTION OF -- OF THAT. I

-- I SPOKE GENERICALLY ABOUT THE NATIONAL SECURITY THREATS THAT OUR

COUNTRY HAS FACED.

MR. BLAKE: SO, IT IS FAIR TO SAY AS IT RELATES TO THIS

SPECIFIC BILL, AS IT RELATES TO THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WOULD BE BENEFIT, YOU

DO OR DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WOULD BENEFIT FROM THIS

BILL ARE TERRORISTS?

MR. SMULLEN: NO. WHAT I SPOKE TO MR. CRESPO

IN OUR QUESTIONING WAS THE NATIONAL SECURITY IMPLICATIONS AND THE

AGENCIES WHICH HAD BEEN CONTACTED FOR COORDINATION IN REGARDS TO THE

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LANGUAGE OF THE BILL.

MR. BLAKE: UNDERSTOOD. SO, JUST FOR CLARITY, YOU

DO NOT BELIEVE THIS BILL IS GOING TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO TERRORISTS?

MR. SMULLEN: NO. I DON'T -- I'M NOT REALLY SURE

WHAT -- WHAT YOU'RE GETTING AT --

MR. BLAKE: UNDERSTOOD.

MR. SMULLEN: -- BUT THANK YOU.

MR. BLAKE: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MR. SMULLEN: YOU BET.

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: MR. REILLY, WHY

DO YOU RISE?

MR. REILLY: I DON'T KNOW IF I'M ALLOWED TO DO THIS,

THOUGH, BUT I WANTED TO KNOW IF I CAN -- DOES MR. SMULLEN STILL HAVE

TIME? WOULD MR. SMULLEN YIELD? WOULD YOU YIELD ON YOUR TIME OR IS

HE DONE?

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: MR. SMULLEN HAS

YIELDED THE FLOOR, BUT IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, MR. REILLY, YOU CAN COME

ON TO THE LIST FOR A SECOND OPPORTUNITY. MR. SMULLEN HAS YIELDED THE

REST OF HIS TIME, SO HE CANNOT -- HE CANNOT YIELD HIS TIME. BUT IF YOU

ARE INTERESTED IN SPEAKING ON THE BILL, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO

COME BACK ON THE LIST, SIR.

MR. REILLY: THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: MR. PALUMBO.

MR. PALUMBO: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. WOULD

THE SPONSOR YIELD, PLEASE, FOR A FEW QUESTIONS?

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: MR. CRESPO, DO

YOU YIELD?

MR. CRESPO: ABSOLUTELY.

ACTING SPEAKER PICHARDO: THE SPONSOR

YIELDS.

MR. PALUMBO: THANK YOU, MR. CRESPO. JUST A

FEW QUESTIONS. THESE WERE GLEANED OVER SOMEWHAT, BUT REGARDING THE

VERIFICATION OF THE DOCUMENTS THAT WOULD NOW BE REQUIRED FOR SOMEONE

TO OBTAIN A DRIVER'S LICENSE, IS THERE ANY SORT OF A DATABASE THAT CAN BE

ACCESSED, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR PASSPORTS? I KNOW YOU SAID THAT THERE MAY

EVEN BE A BOOK, I THINK, ABOUT WHEN YOU'RE IN ANOTHER STATE AND

SOMEONE'S TRYING TO VERIFY A DRIVER'S LICENSE. THEY HAVE A BOOK THAT

SHOWS THE GENERAL LAYOUT AND WATERMARKS AND SO FORTH OF A PARTICULAR

DOCUMENT, AND AS A RESULT THEY CAN VERIFY WHETHER OR NOT IT LOOKS

ACCURATE. BUT THERE IS NO SPECIFIC WAY TO VERIFY WHETHER OR NOT IT IS

ACTUALLY A VALID DOCUMENT. DO WE HAVE ANYTHING OF -- OF THAT SORT

REGARDING CONSUMER DOCUMENTS OR PASSPORTS OR ANYTHING OF THE LIKE?

MR. CRESPO: THERE IS SOFTWARE AND TECHNOLOGY

THAT ALLOWS THOSE MARKERS TO BE IDENTIFIED, AND THERE IS A METHODOLOGY

THAT DMV HAS IMPLEMENTED IN THE PAST TO LEARN ABOUT AND/OR VERIFY

WHAT THOSE MARKERS ARE AND KEEP THAT UP TO DATE SO THAT LOCAL OFFICES

WOULD KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR AND HOW TO VERIFY IT. SO MY

UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE IS A VERY THOROUGH TECHNOLOGY SOFTWARE

RELATED TO AND NECESSARY FOR THAT VERIFICATION TO TAKE PLACE.

MR. PALUMBO: SO IN THE EVENT SOMEONE WERE TO

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ACTUALLY PRODUCE - AND THIS IS A CONCERN - SOMEONE, SAY, WERE TO

PRODUCE A YEMENESE PASSPORT THAT WOULD BE -- BEAR ALL THE APPROPRIATE

MARKINGS, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO SPECIFICALLY CONFIRM THAT THAT'S A

VALID DOCUMENT, RIGHT?

MR. CRESPO: I -- I WOULDN'T SUGGEST THAT. I MEAN I

THINK -- LOOK, UNDER CURRENT REGULATIONS, PUT ASIDE FOREIGN DOCUMENTS,

IT'S -- YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT TECHNOLOGY HAS ADVANCED. 3D PRINTERS

ALLOW PEOPLE TO COME UP WITH ALL SORTS OF THINGS OR OTHER WAYS THAT

FOLKS CAN ATTEMPT TO FALSIFY. I THINK THAT'S A CHALLENGE FOR A NUMBER OF

AGENCIES, INCLUDING DMV, TO ALWAYS UPDATE THEIR SECURITY MEASURES.

AND -- AND -- AND RELATIVE TO THE DISCUSSION THAT WAS MOST RECENTLY HAD

FOR NATIONAL SECURITY MEASURES, IT IS IMPORTANT, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I

THINK IS CONSTANTLY BEING UPGRADED. DMV WOULD BE A PART OF THAT

PROCESS AS WELL, AND KEEP TRACK OF -- OF THAT ABILITY AND HAVE THAT --

NOTHING PREVENTS THEM FROM HAVING THOROUGH COMMUNICATIONS WITH

SOME OF THESE OTHER FOREIGN COUNTRIES OR THEIR AGENCIES TO KEEP THAT

UPDATED. SO WHILE IT IS A CHALLENGE, I MEAN, THE NOTION THAT SOMEBODY

COULD ATTEMPT TO CIRCUMVENT, IT'S NOT THAT DIFFERENT FROM SOMEBODY

MAYBE PRINTING UP A FALSIFIED BIRTH CERTIFICATE OR SOME OTHER DOCUMENT

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUALS. THAT WOULD BE A CONCERN. I MEAN,

IN THE CASE OF TERRORISM, THERE IS A -- YOU KNOW, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT

FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, I WOULD BE JUST AS CONCERNED ABOUT DOMESTIC

TERRORISTS WHO WOULD MOVE FROM STATE X INTO NEW YORK WITH ILL

INTENTIONS AND FALSIFY A DRIVER'S LICENSE FROM ANOTHER STATE. BUT AGAIN,

THE POINT IS THERE IS TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE. THERE ARE WAYS TO VERIFY IT.

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NONE OF THIS IS NECESSARILY FOREIGN TO THE WORK OF DMV IN THE PAST OR

WHAT IT CURRENTLY DOES FOR REAL ID-COMPLIANT LICENSES. SO, I -- I

UNDERSTAND THE -- THE PRINCIPLE YOU'RE BRINGING UP, BUT I THINK THAT THEY

WILL EASILY MEET THAT END TO HAVE IN PLACE MEASURES TO ENSURE THE VER --

VERIFICATION OF DOCUMENTS PRESENTED TO THEM.

MR. PALUMBO: UNDERSTOOD. AND IT'S AN EVOLVING

PROCESS. I THINK NOW WE CHECK WITH RECIPROCITY WITH OTHER STATES. AND

IN THAT REGARD, AS FAR AS SUSPENSIONS ARE CONCERNED. SINCE SOMEONE

HASN'T BEEN LICENSED, THEY CERTAINLY WOULD -- THEY MAY EVEN HAVE

SUSPENSIONS OR HAVE BEEN -- HAVE OTHER OFFENSES FROM OTHER LICENSES.

BUT DMV DOESN'T -- DOESN'T CONDUCT A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK AT

ALL OF ANY KIND, RIGHT? SO, REGARDLESS TO SAY, NEW JERSEY, IF SOMEONE

HAS NUMEROUS OFFENSES STILL PENDING, THEY COULD COME IN AS A

NON-RESIDENT WITH THE APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION AND STILL ULTIMATELY

GET A LICENSE IN NEW YORK.

MR. CRESPO: WELL, WE -- WE TREAT THE PROCESS NO

DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE DO NOW FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE APPLYING FOR A

FIRST-TIME LICENSE. IF -- AND AGAIN, YOU HAVE THE THREE DOCUMENTS; THE

PASSPORT, A FOREIGN DRIVER -- A FOREIGN ID, A DRIVER'S ID AND/OR THE

CONSUL ID ARE -- ARE RECOGNIZABLE DOCUMENTS USED IN A NUMBER OF

INDUSTRIES. THE PROCESS FOR VERIFICATION, AGAIN, EXISTS. THE DRIVING

RECORD IS NOT SOMETHING CURRENTLY NECESSARILY CONSIDERED UNLESS THEY'VE

BEEN AUTHORIZED TO DRIVE IN A PLACE THAT PARTICIPATES WITHIN THE NATIONAL

DRIVER REGISTRY AND THE INFORMATION THAT'S PROVIDED THERE. BUT AGAIN,

IT'S NOT THAT DISSIMILAR FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO APPLY FOR A LICENSE FOR THE

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FIRST TIME THAT IS NOT LOOKED AT.

MR. PALUMBO: UNDERSTOOD.

MR. CRESPO: OR -- OR FOR -- OR FOR THOSE THAT ARE

AUTHORIZED BECAUSE OF A VISA OR SOMETHING ELSE, TO APPLY FOR A LICENSE.

THAT INFORMATION WOULDN'T BE OBTAINED EITHER, CURRENTLY.

MR. PALUMBO: UNDERSTOOD. SO IN THE EVENT -- SO

REALLY, EVEN UNDER THE CURRENT PROCESS, RESIDENT OR NOT, YOU'D BE ABLE TO

OBTAIN A LICENSE AND, SAY, GO TO VIRGINIA AND BE ABLE TO BUY A GUN WITH

THE -- WITH THE PRODUCTION OF THAT LICENSE. THAT WOULD NOT CHANGE AT

ALL. THIS BILL DOESN'T REALLY AFFECT THAT. ALTHOUGH, AGAIN, IT'S AN

EVOLVING PROCESS. I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT THAT'S SOMETHING OF CONCERN,

AND I HAVE GOTTEN SOME -- SOME INPUT IN THAT REGARD, THAT THERE WERE

ISSUES THAT HOPEFULLY WE CAN RECTIFY THAT AS BEST WE CAN IN ALL INSTANCES.

MR. CRESPO: YEAH. NO, AND I -- AND I THINK THAT'S

FAIR, EXCEPT JUST TO POINT OUT AGAIN, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INSTANCES

WHERE TODAY FOR CERTAIN LICENSES OR CERTAIN IMMIGRANT NEW YORKERS

QUALIFY FOR DRIVER'S LICENSES, AND SO THAT RISK EXISTS EVEN NOW. IT'S NOT

-- AND -- AND I THINK THAT WHILE THAT'S A LAUDABLE CONCERN TO BE

DISCUSSED, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS BILL IS GOING TO NECESSARILY MAKE THAT

CONDITION OR -- OR POTENTIAL IMPACT WORSE IN ANY WAY, RATHER -- AGAIN,

I'M ALWAYS GOING TO COME BACK TO THIS QUESTION OF SAFETY, AND THAT THE

MORE PEOPLE THAT COME FORWARD, THE BETTER IT IS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY

REASONS. THE IDEA OF ANYBODY BEING ENCOURAGED OR ALLOWED TO OR

FORCED INTO DRIVING OR BEING INVOLVED IN THE STATE IN SOME WAYS

WITHOUT PROPER IDENTIFICATION DOES NOT HELP PUBLIC SAFETY. I THINK THIS

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ENHANCES IT.

MR. PALUMBO: UNDERSTOOD. NOW, JUST TWO OTHER

FAIRLY QUICK POINTS. REGARDING THE THREE-DAY NOTICE, MY CONCERN WAS

THAT IN THE EVENT ONE OF THESE, SAY WE HAVE FROM ONE OF THOSE

IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, ICE ISSUES A SO-ORDERED GRAND JURY

SUBPOENA FROM A FEDERAL MAGISTRATE OR JUDGE. IT'S A COURT ORDER NOW.

IT'S A SECRET PROCEEDING. UNDER THE LANGUAGE OF THIS BILL, THE WAY I

UNDERSTAND IT, IS THAT DMV WILL STILL BE REQUIRED TO NOTIFY THE

INDIVIDUAL THAT THEY ARE, IN FACT -- SOMEONE IS SEEKING THAT INFORMATION,

BEFORE THEY RELEASE IT. SO JUST IN THAT VERY RARE CIRCUMSTANCE - AND I

UNDERSTAND IT'S RARE - BUT IN THE EVENT ONE OF THESE AGENCIES THAT ARE --

THE FLAG ONES THAT ARE CHARGED WITH IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, IF THEY

ISSUE A LAWFUL ORDER TO -- TO DMV THAT THEY STILL HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO

DISCLOSE WHAT OTHERWISE WOULD BE A VIOLATION OF LAW IN THE EVENT THAT

THEY DO DISCLOSE IN A GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION. SO HOW CAN WE GET

AROUND THAT, OR IF YOU COULD JUST PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR INTENT IN THAT

REGARD.-

MR. CRESPO: MY UNDERSTANDING IS IF THERE IS A

GRAND JURY SUBPOENA PRESENTED BY A FEDERAL AGENCY, THAT LAW WOULD

SUPERCEDE ANYTHING WE PROPOSE IN THIS BILL. I THINK IT'S THE -- THE NOTION

OF ROUTINE CIVIL IMMIGRATION-RELATED ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS AND/OR THE

INFORMATION, WHAT IS PROVIDED AND WHEN IT'S PROVIDED, THAT IS WHAT

WE'RE LOOKING TO -- TO LIMIT AS UNNECESSARY TO THE OBLIGATIONS OR

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES. BUT ALL THE OTHER

LAW ENFORCEMENT CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS AND ACCESS REMAIN IN PLACE.

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MR. PALUMBO: SO IN THAT SITUATION, I WOULD

ASSUME, THEN, THE US ATTORNEYS COULD OBVIOUSLY PASS THAT OFF TO A SISTER

AGENCY; MAYBE THE FBI OR SOME -- ANOTHER AGENCY AND HAVE THEM ISSUE

THE SUBPOENA AND THEN IT WOULD BE OTHERWISE OKAY?

MR. CRESPO: I -- NOT SURE HOW THAT SCENARIO WOULD

PLAY OUT. BUT LET -- AGAIN, THE LIMITATION OF SHARING OF DMV DOCUMENTS

AND DATA IS LIMITED TO THE -- TO THE AGENCIES THAT WE LIST WHOSE PRIMARY

PURPOSE IS THE ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL IMMIGRATION MATTERS.

MR. PALUMBO: NOW, ON SOMEWHAT OF A SIMILAR

NOTE REGARDING THE SHARING OF INFORMATION. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT

THERE'S -- SOME BILLS HAVE GAINED SOME TRACTION REGARDING AUTOMATIC --

AND I BELIEVE SOME OTHER STATES MAY HAVE DONE IT -- REGARDING

AUTOMATIC REGISTRY TO VOTE IN THE EVENT YOU OBTAIN A DRIVER'S LICENSE.

HOW WOULD THIS IMPACT THAT? NOW, WOULD THERE BE ANY CARVE-OUTS,

PARTICULARLY FOR THESE TYPES OF APPLICANTS, OR WOULD THEY AUTOMATICALLY

BE REGISTERED TO VOTE AND THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO AFFIRMATIVELY TAKEN IT

-- TAKE THE STEP TO REMOVE THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT TECHNICALLY A

CITIZEN AT THAT POINT?

MR. CRESPO: I APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK IT'S A MATTER

FOR ELECTION LAW TO -- TO ADDRESS. NONE -- NOTHING IN THIS BILL

AUTHORIZES OR QUALIFIES SOMEONE WHO IS NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE TO HAVE

ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE. SO, WE'RE NOT CHANGING THAT. WE'RE NOT ENCOURAGING

THIS BEHAVIOR. WE'RE NOT MAKING IT MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR -- FOR ANY OF --

MISBEHAVIOR REGARDS TO THAT TO TAKE PLACE. AND IF THERE WAS TO BE AN

AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION PROCESS -- AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT

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ELECTION LAW AND POLICY WOULD HAVE TO ADDRESS TO ENSURE THAT ONLY

THOSE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE. BUT THIS BILL DOES

NOT IMPACT THAT.

MR. PALUMBO: VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, MR.

CRESPO. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. MALLIOTAKIS.

MS. MALLIOTAKIS: WILL THE SPONSOR YIELD,

PLEASE?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: WILL YOU YIELD, MR.

CRESPO?

MR. CRESPO: ABSOLUTELY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MS. MALLIOTAKIS: I ACTUALLY WANT TO PICK UP

WHERE MY COLLEAGUE LEFT OFF, BECAUSE I ALSO WAS CONCERNED ABOUT

POTENTIAL FOR AUTO -- AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION IN THE FUTURE, BECAUSE

THIS YEAR THERE WERE GROUPS ADVOCATING THAT WE DO THAT. THERE'S BEEN

COLLEAGUES OF OURS THAT HAVE ALSO BEEN VERY VOCAL ABOUT THE NEED FOR US

TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION OF AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION. THERE WAS AN

ARTICLE IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR IN NPR THAT STATED THAT IN PENNSYLVANIA

THERE WERE NONCITIZENS THAT WERE ACCIDENTALLY REGISTERED TO VOTE. NOT

DUE TO AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION, BUT DO MORE TOWARDS THE DRIVER'S

LICENSES BEING GIVEN TO NONCITIZENS. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO -- TO -- IS

THERE NOTHING IN THIS BILL THAT ACTUALLY WOULD DIFFERENTIATE SOMEONE --

SOMEONE'S LICENSE -- A LICENSE FOR SOMEONE WHO IS UNDOCUMENTED AND

SOMEONE WHO IS A CITIZEN, JUST FOR THE MATTER OF ENSURING THAT THERE'S NO

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MIXUP IN RECORDS BETWEEN THE DMV AND THE -- AND THE BOARD OF

ELECTIONS IN THE FUTURE, SHOULD THIS STATE GO FORWARD WITH AUTOMATIC

VOTER REGISTRATION?

MR. CRESPO: SO, IN A VERY TECHNICAL SENSE, THE

ANSWER IS NO. WE DON'T ADDRESS THAT BECAUSE IT'S NOT A CURRENT CONCERN.

IF WE WERE TO ENDEAVOR INTO DRAFTING LEGISLATION TO CREATE THAT

IMMEDIATE REGISTRATION, WE WOULD HAVE TO FIND A WAY AROUND THAT

CONCERN AND -- AND IMPLEMENT WHAT WOULD BE AUTOMATIC VOTER

REGISTRATION. BUT AGAIN, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, NOTHING THAT

WE'RE DOING HERE GIVES VOTING RIGHTS TO ANYONE WHO IS NOT CURRENTLY

ELIGIBLE TO VOTE, AND THAT'S ONLY CITIZENS. SO WE'RE NOT -- WE'RE NOT

CHANGING THAT. AND SO IF WE EXPAND ELIGIBLE -- I MEAN, THE PROCESS FOR

REGISTERING SOMEONE, WE WOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT DMV'S

DATABASE HAS OR DOESN'T HAVE AND HOW IT WOULD MEET OR COMPLY WITH

WHATEVER GOALS WE WOULD HAVE IN THOSE ELECTION POLICY PROPOSALS.

MS. MALLIOTAKIS: AND I -- AND I UNDERSTAND THAT

THIS LEGISLATION IS NOT LOOKING TO GIVE VOTING RIGHTS. HOWEVER, THE

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JUST PASSED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR

AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION. SO, I MEAN, IT WOULD MAKE SENSE THAT

WHILE WE'RE CRAFTING THIS BILL, THAT WE HAVE ANTICI -- WE SHOULD BE

ANTICIPATING THAT AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION WILL BE COMING DOWN THE

PIPE. I MEAN, WHAT HAPPENS IF WE -- WE ISSUE, LET'S SAY, HALF A MILLION

DRIVER'S LICENSES AND LEARNER'S PERMITS, AND THEN LATER ON DOWN THE LINE

WE SEE THAT AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION? HOW WILL YOU BE ABLE TO

DIFFERENTIATE AT THAT POINT BETWEEN THOSE WHO ARE CITIZENS ELIGIBLE TO

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VOTE AND THOSE WHO ARE NONCITIZENS?

MR. CRESPO: NO. IN -- AND IN -- NICOLE, I THINK IT'S

IMPORTANT ALSO TO NOTE, THAT CONCERN IS ACTUALLY ALREADY IN PLACE

WHETHER OR NOT WE PASS THIS. THERE ARE LEGAL RESIDENTS, NONCITIZENS,

WHO CURRENTLY HAVE DRIVER'S LICENSES, AND THEY'RE IN THE DATABASE. AND

SO IF WE ALL -- IF WE DID NOT PASS THIS BUT YET IMPLEMENTED AUTOMATIC

VOTER REGISTRATION, THAT'S A CONCERN WE WOULD STILL HAVE TO TAKE INTO

ACCOUNT IN TERMS OF HOW WE IMPLEMENT THAT NEW POLICY. BUT I'M SURE

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FUTURE POLICIES THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE IMPACTED

DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY BY WHAT WE DO HERE, BUT SIMPLY, THAT DOES NOT

CHANGE THE FACT THAT OUR STATE IS BETTER SERVED, OUR ECONOMY AND OUR

PUBLIC SAFETY IS BETTER SERVED BY ENSURING THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE ON THE

ROAD LICENSED AND INSURED.

MS. MALLIOTAKIS: OKAY. WITH REGARDS TO THE --

THE INDIVIDUALS WHO QUALIFY FOR A LICENSE. I MEAN, IS THERE ANY -- ARE

WE LOOKING AT ALL IF THEY HAVE DRIVEN UNLICENSED, IF THEY'VE -- ARE

CONVICTED OF A DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED OR UNDER THE INFLUENCE?

WOULD THAT PREVENT ANYONE FROM BEING ABLE TO NOW APPLY FOR A

LICENSE?

MR. CRESPO: THERE'S NO DATABASE NOW FOR PEOPLE

GETTING LICENSES IN REGARDS TO ANY PRIOR HISTORY. SO IF -- IF IT'S -- RIGHT,

IN THE CASE OF A FOREIGN LICENSE. BUT. LOOK. IF I UNDERSTOOD THE

QUESTION CORRECTLY, NO. THE ANSWER IS NO.

MS. MALLIOTAKIS: OKAY. MOVING TO SECTION 2,

PARAGRAPH 12 WHERE -- WHERE YOU DISCUSS THE -- THE REQUIREMENT THAT

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THE COMMISSIONER, NO LATER THAN THREE DAYS AFTER SUCH A REQUEST FOR

INFORMATION COMES FROM AN IMMIGRATION AGENCY, THEY HAVE TO NOTIFY

THE LICENSED INDIVIDUAL ABOUT WHOM SUCH INFORMATION WAS REQUESTED,

AND SO -- AND THAT THEY -- THAT THIS EXISTING -- THIS AGENCY HAS REQUESTED

THEIR -- THEIR DOCUMENTATION AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION. SO, I

ASSUME THAT'S IN THERE BECAUSE YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN PROTECTING

INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HERE UNDOCUMENTED FROM -- FROM DEPORTATION.

NOW, WHAT IF -- WHAT IF THE SITUATION WAS THAT AN INDIVIDUAL WAS HERE

AND THEY HAD COMMITTED A CRIME THAT MAY BE PROTECTED UNDER -- MAYBE

A SANCTUARY POLICY OR NOW LAW ENFORCEMENT IS FORCED TO FIND THAT

PERSON ON THEIR OWN AND THEY'RE -- THEY'RE UTILIZING THIS DATABASE TO DO

SO. CAN YOU JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT? LIKE, WHAT IS THE PURPOSE

OF PUTTING IN THAT PROTECTION THERE IF AN INDIVIDUAL -- I MEAN, BECAUSE

CLEARLY, THERE'S -- WELL, WHY DON'T YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY YOU PUT

THAT PROVISION IN THERE.

MR. CRESPO: AS I MENTIONED EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON,

THE -- TWO REASONS: NUMBER ONE, WE ARE CONSISTENT IN TERMS OF THE

PRIVACY PROTECTIONS THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO AFFORD WITHIN THE BILL. AND

WHILE WE EXEMPT A NUMBER OF AGENCIES OR CLARIFY THE LIMITED AGENCIES

THAT WOULD NOT HAVE DIRECT ACCESS, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF EXEMPTIONS OF

THOSE THAT DO. THIS NOTIFICATION WOULD ONLY APPLY TO THOSE FEDERAL

AGENCIES THAT -- THAT ENFORCE CIVIL IMMIGRATION MATTERS. AND AGAIN,

THAT'S NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF DMV. AND WHEN APPROPRIATE UNDER THE

PROVISIONS THAT WE WOULD PUT FORWARD, THEY WOULD -- THEY WOULD LET

THAT INDIVIDUAL KNOW THAT THEIR INFORMATION WAS REQUESTED. IT IS NOT

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THAT DISSIMILAR FROM THE EXISTING PROVISION IN THE FEDERAL DRIVER

PRIVACY PROTECTION ACT THAT TALKS ABOUT EXEMPTED ACCESS, AND THEN

STATES THAT IF A NON-EXEMPTED ENTITY OR AGENCY WERE TO REQUEST

INFORMATION, THE -- THE DRIVER WOULD RECEIVE A NOTIFICATION THAT THAT

INFORMATION WAS REQUESTED PERTAINING TO THEIR RECORDS. SO IN A SENSE,

WE'RE REMAINING CONSISTENT WITH HOW THE FEDERAL POLICY ADDRESSES

NOTIFICATIONS IN SOME INSTANCES.

MS. MALLIOTAKIS: OKAY. BUT IF AN INDIVIDUAL

COMMITTED A CRIME AND NOW THERE'S A DETAINER REQUEST FOR THIS

INDIVIDUAL TO BE REMOVED FROM THE COUNTRY, THIS WOULD ACTUALLY REQUIRE

THE COMMISSIONER TO NOTIFY THE PERPETRATOR THAT AN AGENCY, A LAW

ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, IS SEEKING THEM?

MR. CRESPO: IT -- I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT THE

QUESTION, BECAUSE WE'RE ONLY LIMITING THE INFORMATION WHEN IT'S RELATED

TO IMMIGRATION-SPECIFIC. IF THERE WAS A CRIMINAL ACT COMMITTED, AN

INVESTIGATION PERTAINING TO CRIMINAL ACTS, THAT WOULD -- THAT IS NOT, IN

MY OPINION, BEING IMPACTED, THOSE INVESTIGATIONS.

MS. MALLIOTAKIS: WELL, WHAT I'M SAYING IS, IF

THERE IS A DETAINER REQUEST FOR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS -- WHO IS -- WHO HAS

COMMITTED A CRIME IN THE UNITED STATES AND NOW THEIR -- THEIR LAW

ENFORCEMENT IS SEEKING TO HAVE THEM REMOVED FROM THE COUNTRY

PERMANENTLY, MY QUESTION WOULD BE, WOULD THIS REQUIRE THE -- THE

COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO NOTIFY THE

LICENSED INDIVIDUAL WHICH IS BEING -- WHO IS BEING SOUGHT, THAT THERE IS

A LAW ENFORCEMENT ENTITY THAT IS SEEKING THEM?

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MR. CRESPO: THE NOTIFICATION WOULD BE THAT A

REQUEST WAS MADE AND FOR WHICH DOCUMENTS, NOT THE INTENT OF THAT

AGENCY'S --

MS. MALLIOTAKIS: OKAY.

MR. CRESPO: -- THE REASONS WHY THEY'RE REQUESTING

THAT INFORMATION. ALSO, IF THERE -- AS WAS STATED EARLIER, THERE ARE

SCENARIOS WHERE CERTAIN FEDERAL WARRANTS OR COURT ORDERS WOULD --

WOULD STILL ALLOW ACCESS TO CERTAIN INFORMATION, BUT IT'S -- I -- I DON'T SEE

HOW THAT SCENARIO REALLY PLAYS OUT IN PRACTICE.

MS. MALLIOTAKIS: WELL, I -- I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT

BECAUSE FIRST OF ALL, YOU KNOW, U.S. CODE 1324 PROHIBITS INDIVIDUALS

FROM AIDING AND ABETTING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HERE UNLAWFULLY. AND IF

YOU HAVE A FEDERAL AGENCY WHO IS -- HAS A DETAINER REQUEST FOR

SOMEONE'S REMOVAL AND YOU'RE DIRECTING NOW THE COMMISSIONER OR THE

INDIVIDUALS WHO REPORT TO THE COMMISSIONER TO NOW NOTIFY THIS

INDIVIDUAL THAT THEY'RE BEING SOUGHT BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, YOU

KNOW, YOU'RE -- YOU'RE ASKING -- YOU'RE ASKING AN EMPLOYEE OF THE

DMV TO COMMIT A CRIME AGAINST U.S. CODE 1324.

MR. CRESPO: NO --

MS. MALLIOTAKIS: I MEAN, I DON'T THINK WE

SHOULD BE PUTTING LEGISLATION FORWARD --

MR. CRESPO: WE'RE NOT ASKING THEM TO COMMIT A

CRIME. DMV'S RESPONSIBILITIES PERTAIN TO THE REGULATION OF INDIVIDUALS

WHO ARE WITHIN OUR STATE WHO CAN OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE, UNDER WHAT

CONDITIONS AND WHAT MANNER THEY CAN DO SO, ENSURING THAT THEY ARE ABLE

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TO DO SO. AND THAT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF DMV. IT IS FEDERAL AGENCIES'

RESPONSIBILITY TO GO ABOUT THEIR INVESTIGATIONS TO DETAIN THE INDIVIDUALS

THEY ARE SEEKING. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT UNDERLYING THIS QUESTION IS

THIS BROADER DISCUSSION AROUND THE ROLE OF LOCAL AGENCIES OR SUPPORT FOR

FEDERAL EFFORTS IN REGARDS TO IMMIGRATION LAW. AND YES, THERE WILL BE

SOME OF THOSE POINTS THAT WE WILL SIMPLY NOT AGREE ON. BUT I -- I -- I

THINK THAT OUR EFFORTS HERE SPEAK MORE TO PUBLIC SAFETY FOR OUR

ROADWAYS, FOR OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, FOR ROAD SAFETY, FOR A NUMBER

-- LOCAL INVESTIGATIONS, LOCAL INTERACTIONS BY POLICE AND INDIVIDUALS IN

OUR STATE. MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO OPERATE WITHIN OUR

STATE, NOT HAVING TO LIVE UNDER THE SHADOWS. I THINK ALL OF THOSE THINGS

FAR OUTWEIGH PUBLIC SAFETY IN A POSITIVE WAY THAN THE DMV ITSELF BEING

ONE OF THE ENTITIES THAT WOULD HELP FACILITATE OR BE INVOLVED IN HELPING

OR ASSISTING OR PROVIDING INFORMATION TO IMMIGRATION OFFICES FOR THEIR

PURPOSES. I -- I CAN UNDERSTAND THE PHILOSOPHICAL DIFFERENCE WE'LL HAVE

ON THAT, BUT I THINK THERE'S A CLEAR ARGUMENT THAT THERE ARE MUCH MORE

PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURES BEING ACHIEVED IN THIS THAN NOT.

MS. MALLIOTAKIS: OKAY. LOOK, OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE

NOT GOING TO AGREE ON THIS PARTICULAR POINT. AND I DO SEE SOME OF THE

MERIT THAT YOU'RE -- YOU'RE SAYING THIS BILL CARRIES. BUT WHAT I -- WHAT I

DO WANT TO GO BACK INTO -- IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY ASPECT IS ON A MUCH

MORE GLOBAL SCALE. DID YOU -- HAVE YOU HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE

NEW YORK STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY CLERKS?

MR. CRESPO: NO.

MS. MALLIOTAKIS: OKAY. SO THEY -- I MEAN,

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BECAUSE THEY PUBLICLY HAVE SAID THAT THEY WILL HAVE DIFFICULTY VERIFYING

WHETHER THESE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE PROVIDED, THAT ARE FOREIGN DOCUMENTS

THAT THEY'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH, ARE GENUINE AND WHETHER THEY ARE

AUTHENTIC OR NOT.

MR. CRESPO: I -- I -- I'VE HEARD THOSE CONCERNS.

THEY HAVE NOT REACHED OUT EITHER TO EXPRESS THOSE CONCERNS TO ME AS

THE SPONSOR. I'VE ONLY HEARD THEIR CONCERNS THROUGH THEIR PRESS

CONFERENCES AND SOME EDITORIALS THAT THEY PUT OUT. BUT I CAN TELL YOU, I

DON'T SEE HOW THAT IS IN FACT OR IN TRUTH. THE FACT IS LOCAL DMV

PERSONNEL, AS WELL AS COUNTY CLERK PERSONNEL THAT ISSUE -- AND I BELIEVE

THEY ALL DO -- THE FEDERAL -- THE STANDARD LICENSES OR THE REAL

ID-COMPLIANT LICENSES ALREADY HAVE A METHOD -- A METHOD OF TRAINING

AND A PROCESS TO VERIFY FOREIGN DOCUMENTS. YES, THIS WILL MAYBE ADD

TWO OTHERS -- OR ONE OTHER, REALLY, DOCUMENT THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO

VERIFY. BUT THERE ARE EXTENSIVE TECHNOLOGY SOFTWARE AND OTHER

PROCESSES THAT ARE USED WIDELY IN BANKING AND OTHER INDUSTRIES THAT DO

THIS. WE ARE LIMITING IT TO THOSE THREE AND -- IDENTIFICATIONS WHICH ARE,

YOU KNOW, NOT EASILY ACCESSIBLE. NOT EVERYBODY HAS ONE. THEY ARE

COMING FROM LEGITIMATE AGENCIES, FROM COUNTRIES THAT DMV HAS HAD AN

UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE PROTOCOLS ARE. SO THIS -- AGAIN, I STRONGLY

BELIEVE THAT BASED ON THE TRAINING THAT STAFF ALREADY GETS, THEY ARE

FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROCESS. THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING. COULD IT --

IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THEY'LL NEED A PERSON OR TWO EXTRA THAT THEY MAY NEED

ADDITIONAL REVENUES? THAT'S -- IF FOR THE TECHNOLOGY OF SOFTWARE NEEDS

TO BE PROVIDED TO THEM, THAT'S SOMETHING THE DEPARTMENT WOULD HAVE TO

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ADJUST TO. AND I WILL ARGUE THAT THE REVENUES RAISED WILL MORE THAN

ENOUGH COVER THOSE EXPENSES, AND LOCAL COUNTY CLERKS WILL SEE ALSO

TREMENDOUS FINANCIAL BENEFITS FOR THEIR LOCAL JURISDICTIONS THROUGH THE

IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS BILL.

MS. MALLIOTAKIS: YOU KNOW, I -- I SHARE A

CONCERN THAT WAS BROUGHT UP BY -- BY ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES, AND IT IS A

VERY LEGITIMATE CONCERN. AND I BELIEVE THAT THE MAJORITY OF INDIVIDUALS

WHO WILL BE -- WHO WILL BE SEEKING THESE LICENSES ARE GOOD PEOPLE.

THEY'RE HERE, THEY WANT TO WORK HARD, THEY WANT TO ACHIEVE THE

AMERICAN DREAM LIKE MY PARENTS, LIKE YOUR FAMILY. AND I HAVE -- YOU

KNOW, I'M -- I'M SUPPORTIVE OF -- OF ACTUALLY LOBBYING WASHINGTON, SO

THAT WAY THEY CAN COME OUT OF THE SHADOWS AND BECOME -- BECOME

PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF OUR -- OF OUR SOCIETY. BUT THERE IS -- THERE IS

REALLY A SECURITY ISSUE HERE AS WELL. AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU -- WHEN

YOU LOOK AT OUR HISTORY AS A NATION, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL

OF THOSE WHO ALSO WANT TO DO US HARM. ALL RIGHT. AND THAT IS

SOMETHING I DON'T THINK THAT THIS BILL TAKES INTO ACCOUNT. YOU KNOW,

THERE'S ONE THING THAT WE WANT TO FIGHT FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE

HERE, THEY WANT TO WORK HARD, THEY WANT TO ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN

DREAM. BUT THOSE THAT SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS THAT ARE HERE TO TRY TO DO

US HARM, I DON'T THINK THIS BILL DOES ENOUGH. AND THE FACT THAT THE NEW

YORK STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY CLERKS IS SAYING THAT THEY CAN'T

VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY OF DOCUMENTS -- I MEAN, THEY'RE SAYING IT. I

UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT THEY HAVE SOME TOOLS TO DO SO, BUT IF

THE ASSOCIATION ITSELF IS SAYING THAT THEY CAN'T DO IT, I MEAN, ISN'T THAT

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SOMETHING THAT CONCERNS YOU IN A POST-9/11 WORLD?

MR. CRESPO: CERTAINLY. AND -- AND AGAIN, I THINK

IT'S IMPORTANT -- I -- I DON'T WANT ANYBODY IN ANY DISTRICT TO MISINTERPRET

OUR EFFORTS TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY. I THINK PUBLIC SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT

IN WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE HERE. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WILL

ALWAYS BE SCENARIOS AND, YOU KNOW, EXAMPLES WHERE SOMETHING CAN

SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS, AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER. BUT MAKE NO

MISTAKE ABOUT IT. WE ARE ENHANCING PUBLIC SAFETY THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

EVEN -- IN FACT, MS. MALLIOTAKIS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY THAT I

CAN JOIN YOU IN THAT LOBBYING EFFORT IN DC FOR -- FOR IMMIGRATION

REFORM IN THIS COUNTRY -- BUT THE FACT IS, IF YOU LOOK AT THE 9/11

TERRORISTS --

MS. MALLIOTAKIS: YUP.

MR. CRESPO: THE FACT THAT ALL OF THEM HAD BEEN

ISSUED LICENSES AND PILOT LICENSES IN SOME INSTANCES ACTUALLY HELPED LAW

ENFORCEMENT TO BETTER INVESTIGATE AND MORE RAPIDLY INVESTIGATE WHERE

THOSE INDIVIDUALS LIVED, WHO WAS ASSOCIATED WITH --

MS. MALLIOTAKIS: BUT YOU'RE TRYING TO BLOCK

ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION.

MR. CRESPO: -- INFORMATION THAT TODAY IS

OFTENTIMES NOT ACCESSIBLE TO LAW -- LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES BECAUSE

THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE FORCED TO LIVE IN THE SHADOWS AND DON'T SHARE

INFORMATION WHERE NECESSARY. SO I -- I WOULD ARGUE, WE ARE MAKING

OUR PUBLIC SAFETY GOALS MUCH CLEARER TO ACHIEVE BY IMPROVING THE

NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT -- ENHANCING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT CAN BE A

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PART OF OUR LICENSING AND OUR -- AND OUR SYSTEM, RATHER THAN THE

OPPOSITE, KEEPING THE CURRENT STRUCTURE MAKES THIS MORE DANGEROUS IN

OUR COMMUNITIES.

MS. MALLIOTAKIS: ALL RIGHT. BUT YOU'RE -- YOU'RE

NOT SHARING -- YOU'RE BLOCKING THOSE INFORMATION FROM BEING SHARED --

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. MALLIOTAKIS,

YOUR TIME HAS ELAPSED.

MS. MALLIOTAKIS: IT WAS UP WHEN YOU LET HIM

KEEP GOING.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: WELL, UNFORTUNATELY,

YOU ASKED HIM THE QUESTION AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.

MS. MALLIOTAKIS: THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. WALCZYK.

MR. WALCZYK: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. IF THE

SPONSOR WOULD BE SO KIND AS TO YIELD ANOTHER TIME.

MR. CRESPO: ABSOLUTELY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. CRESPO YIELDS.

MR. WALCZYK: THROUGH YOU, MR. SPEAKER, I

WONDER IF THE SPONSOR WOULD ENLIGHTEN US AS TO THE ORIGIN OF THE -- THE

IDEA OF THIS BILL, WHERE IT CAME FROM AND WHO WROTE THE LEGISLATION.

MR. CRESPO: WAIT. YOU WANT THE HISTORY OF THIS

CONCEPT, OR THIS BILL?

MR. WALCZYK: THIS BILL.

MR. CRESPO: SO, THERE HAD BEEN A NUMBER OF

PROPOSALS OVER THE YEARS OR SINCE THE REGULATIONS WERE CHANGED IN THE

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EARLY 2000'S TO ENSURE THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAD BEEN LICENSED

PRIOR BUT THEN LOST IT WHEN THE REGULATIONS WERE CHANGED CONTINUED TO

HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR DRIVING PRIVILEGES. THAT HAS COME IN A NUMBER OF

FORMS. I -- I KNOW A COUPLE OF COLLEAGUES OF MINE WHO ARE SITTING IN

THIS CHAMBER TODAY HAVE CARRIED AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER A VERSION OF

THIS BILL. THIS BILL MOST CLOSELY RESEMBLES A BILL BY FORMER COLLEAGUE,

FRANCISCO MOYA, WHO HAD A SIMILAR DRAFT. BUT A COALITION OF ADVOCATES

AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS RECOMMENDED ADDITIONAL CHANGES

WHICH I INTRODUCED AND IS THE CURRENT FORM YOU SEE BEFORE YOU WHICH

HAS BEEN AMENDED MORE THAN ONCE TO ADDRESS MANY OF THE CONCERNS

RAISED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT, AS WELL AS MEMBERS ON YOUR SIDE OF THE

AISLE.

MR. WALCZYK: I APPRECIATE THAT ANSWER. AND

THROUGH YOU, MR. SPEAKER, YOU'VE BEEN CARRYING THIS BILL FOR ROUGHLY A

YEAR. IS THAT ABOUT RIGHT?

MR. CRESPO: THAT'S RIGHT.

MR. WALCZYK: OKAY. EXCELLENT. SO, OVER THE

PAST YEAR, WHAT CONVERSATIONS HAVE YOU HAD WITH THE STATE BOARD OF

ELECTIONS OR WITH LOCAL BOARD OF ELECTIONS ACROSS NEW YORK STATE AS TO

HOW THIS WILL IMPACT AND HOW THEY'LL BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH MOTOR VOTER

REGISTRATE -- REGISTRANTS WHEN IT COMES TO REGISTERED VOTERS?

MR. CRESPO: SO, I CAN'T SAY THAT SPECIFIC TO THIS BILL

I'VE HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS, BUT YOU MAY NOT KNOW, IN ANOTHER

CAPACITY I SERVED AS THE PARTY CHAIR IN MY COUNTY TO MY PARTY. AND IN

THAT, I HAVE CONSISTENT INTERACTIONS WITH THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, AND

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UNDERSTAND AND I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE CONCERNS AS THEY PLAY OUT ON

ELECTION DAY IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. AND HAVE OBVIOUSLY STAYED,

YOU KNOW, UP-TO-DATE ON THE NARRATIVES AND THE DISCUSSIONS THAT HAVE

HAPPENED NATIONALLY, REALLY, AROUND THOSE CONCERNS. BUT NONE OF THAT

NECESSARILY IS RELEVANT TO WHAT WE ARE CHANGING HERE TODAY. IF IT HAS AN

UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE DOWN THE LINE BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL POLICIES,

WE WILL SEE. WE'LL ADDRESS THEM AT THE RIGHT TIME.

MR. WALCZYK: AND THROUGH YOU, MR. SPEAKER, IF

THE SPONSOR WOULD CONTINUE TO YIELD, WOULD YOU ENLIGHTEN US AS TO WHO

YOUR LOCAL BOARD OF ELECTIONS COMMISSIONERS ARE AND YOU, CHAIRMAN,

ABOUT YOUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ABOUT THIS BILL?

MR. CRESPO: SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A LONG

DEBATE, AND GIVING YOU SPECIFIC NAMES, AND I'M NOT SURE THAT THEY WANT

TO SHARE THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD THAT HAVE BEEN SOME IN PUBLIC

FORUMS, SOME HAVE BEEN IN PRIVATE FORUMS. BUT I GUESS IT WOULD BE

MORE RELEVANT TO THIS DISCUSSION IF YOU MAYBE CLARIFY IN YOUR QUESTION

WHAT IS THE CONCERN THAT YOU WANT ME TO ADDRESS. IF YOU'RE ASKING ME

ABOUT IF I HAD CONVERSATIONS, YES. DO I -- HAVE I HAD NUMEROUS

CONVERSATIONS REGARDING THE IMPACT OF THIS BILL AND POTENTIAL VOTER

FRAUD, WHAT THE APPLICATION WILL LOOK LIKE, HOW IT WILL AFFECT, YOU KNOW,

VOTING PROCESSES, YES, I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF THOSE. AND I'M NOT SURE

HOW THEY'RE RELEVANT BECAUSE WE DO NOTHING IN THIS BILL TO CHANGE WHO

HAS A RIGHT TO VOTE AND HOW THEY DO SO TODAY. AND IF THERE'S A SEPARATE

CONVERSATION TO BE HAD ABOUT THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS NEEDING TO

ENHANCE THEIR EFFORTS, THAT'S FOR A DIFFERENT DEBATE, DIFFERENT TIME,

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DIFFERENT PROPOSAL.

MR. WALCZYK: I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THAT

QUESTION THROUGH YOU, MR. SPEAKER. WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT, MR.

SPONSOR, OR MR. CHAIRMAN, IS THAT I'VE HEARD FROM MY ELECTIONS

COMMISSIONERS AND THEY HAVE SOME CONCERNS WITH HOW THEY WILL VET

MOTOR VOTER REGISTRANTS. THEY'RE CONCERNED THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE

ABILITY, THE STAFF. AND THE WAY THAT THIS INFORMATION WILL COME TO THEM

THROUGH DMV, THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO PURGE THOSE RECORDS OF

NONCITIZENS WHO MAY HAVE ACCIDENTLY JUST PRESSED YES ON A

CONSUMER-FORWARD DEVICE, OR MAY HAVE CHECKED YES AS THEY'RE QUICKLY

FILLING OUT AN APPLICATION, SIGNED THE BOTTOM AND NOW THEY'RE REGISTERED

TO VOTE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND MAYBE THAT WASN'T EVEN

THEIR INTENT, BUT NOW EVERYONE IN THIS CHAMBER IS WORKING VERY HARD TO

SHOW -- TO GET THEM TO SHOW UP ON ELECTION DAY, AND THIS IS -- THIS IS A

RIGHT OF UNITED STATES CITIZENS THAT WE'RE NOW PUSHING MAYBE SOMEONE

THAT'S NOT A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES WHO ACCIDENTLY, IN THIS SHUFFLE

OF PAPERWORK, THROUGH LEGISLATION THAT WASN'T PROPERLY VETTED THROUGH A

BOARD OF ELECTIONS IN YOUR AREA OR IN MINE, WE HAVEN'T CREATED A

PROCESS THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO VET THOSE RECORDS.

MR. CRESPO: I -- I APPRECIATE THAT. I -- I MEAN,

YOUR -- YOUR SUGGESTIONS ARE BASED ON A NUMBER OF HYPOTHETICALS. BUT

KEEP IN MIND, THAT IS CURRENTLY A CONCERN FOR THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS

AND THEIR PROCESS BECAUSE THERE ARE DOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS,

NONCITIZENS, WHO HAVE DRIVER'S LICENSES ISSUED TODAY. SO, YES. IF THERE

IS A STRENGTHENING OF THE WAY OR THE MANNER IN WHICH THE BOARD OF

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ELECTIONS ENSURES THAT THE RIGHT PEOPLE ARE REGISTERED, IT'S AN AFFIDAVIT IN

YOUR APPLICATION, YOU SHOULD KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SIGNING. AND I ASSURE

YOU, THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY IS EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS OF WHAT THEY SIGN

TO, WHAT THEY AGREE TO, BECAUSE THEY HAVE CONSEQUENCES THAT NEITHER

YOU OR I HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT. BUT I ASSURE YOU, IF YOU OR I WERE

THREATENED WITH MAKING A MISTAKE LIKE CHECKING OFF A BOX WITHOUT --

WITHOUT LOOKING AT IT, AND IT COULD MEAN THAT YOU WILL NEVER SEE YOUR

CHILDREN AGAIN, I ASSURE YOU, YOU'D BE VERY CAREFUL TO CHECK THAT BOX OR

NOT.

MR. WALCZYK: WELL, I -- I APPRECIATE THAT, MR.

SPEAKER, AND I'LL -- I'LL RESPOND VERY QUICKLY BEFORE MY NEXT QUESTION IF

YOU'LL ALLOW. OUR -- OUR DEMOGRAPHICS IN OUR DISTRICTS ARE OBVIOUSLY

VERY DIFFERENT. I SHAKE HANDS WITH MANY CANADIANS WHO ARE

NONCITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES WHO TELL ME ON A REGULAR BASIS, I

WOULD LOVE TO VOTE FOR YOU, BUT I CAN'T BECAUSE I'M A CITIZEN IN CANADA.

MY CONCERN A LITTLE BIT AND MY -- MY -- THE CONCERN OF MY BOARD OF

ELECTIONS COMMISSIONERS IS THAT IF WE'RE EASING THIS PROCESS, SOME OF

THOSE FOLKS MIGHT BE CAUGHT IN THE SHUFFLE. AND WHILE I WOULD

ACCIDENTLY LOVE TO HAVE THEM VOTE FOR ME, I THINK THIS IS A RIGHT THAT

UNITED STATES CITIZENS EARNED. AND IF YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO YIELD.

MR. CRESPO: YEAH. BUT JUST TO RESPOND TO THAT.

WE DO NOT CHANGE THAT. I AGREE WITH YOU, THE VOTING RIGHTS ARE

EXTENDED TO CITIZENS. THAT IS THE LAW. THAT REMAINS THE LAW. NOTHING

IN THIS BILL ALLOWS OR AUTHORIZES SOMEONE NEW THE PRIVILEGE TO VOTE.

WE CAN SAY THAT IN 20 DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT IT'S JUST A FACT. WE DO

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NOTHING TO CHANGE WHO HAS ACCESS OR THE ABILITY TO VOTE. THERE ARE

EFFORTS TO EXPAND ACCESS TO VOTER APPLICATIONS NOT JUST WITH DMV, BUT

WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER AGENCIES. WE WANT ONLINE REGISTRATION. WE

HAVE OTHER EFFORTS TO MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO REGISTER.

NONE OF THAT CHANGES WHAT QUALIFIES YOU TO VOTE. SO I THINK THE IDEA,

THE HYPOTHETICAL YOU PRESENT, IS NOT, IN FACT, GOING TO BE A GREAT

CONCERN. IT'S NOT IN PRACTICE GOING TO MATERIALIZE IN THAT MANNER. AND

WHERE IT OCCURS, IT'LL BE ROOTED. MISTAKES WILL HAPPEN, WITH THIS BILL OR

NOT THIS BILL. AND DMV ALREADY -- MOTOR VOTER ISSUES MAY ALREADY BE

RELEVANT GIVEN THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF NONCITIZENS WHO ARE ISSUED

DRIVER'S LICENSES. SO I DON'T THINK THAT -- THAT THIS EXPANSION IS GOING TO

EXACERBATE THAT, BUT RATHER, THAT'S A CONVERSATION TO BE HAD IN REGARDS TO

ELECTION LAW POLICY.

MR. WALCZYK: THANK YOU. THROUGH YOU, MR.

SPEAKER, I WONDER IF THE SPONSOR WOULD CONTINUE TO YIELD.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE SPONSOR

CONTINUES.

MR. WALCZYK: I'M GOING TO SHIFT --

MR. CRESPO: INDEFINITELY, BY THE WAY, I CONTINUE TO

YIELD.

MR. WALCZYK: I APPRECIATE THAT. I -- I'M GOING TO

SHIFT GEARS A LITTLE BIT HERE. AND IN THE LAST 14 MONTHS THAT YOU'VE

SPONSORED THIS LEGISLATION - OR MAYBE BEFORE WHEN YOU WERE PLANNING

TO PUT IT IN AND WORKING ON A BILL DRAFT - WHAT CONVERSATIONS DID YOU

HAVE WITH OTHER STATES OR PROVINCES OF CANADA THAT HAVE RECIPROCAL

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AGREEMENTS THROUGH OUR DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES THAT SHARE

LICENSING INFORMATION, ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THIS LEGISLATION? WHAT

CONVERSATIONS HAVE YOU HAD?

MR. CRESPO: WE HAVEN'T HAD DIRECT CONVERSATIONS.

WE'VE OBVIOUSLY DONE RESEARCH ON WHAT OTHER JURISDICTIONS HAVE DONE

IN AND AROUND THESE -- THESE PROPOSALS OR THIS POLICY. BUT OTHER THAN

VERIFYING A QUESTION WE MAY HAVE HAD WHEN THINKING THROUGH, NO, I

HAVEN'T HAD DIRECT CONVERSATIONS. I COULD ASSURE YOU, THOUGH, MANY OF

THE COALITION MEMBERS AND ADVOCATES WHO HAVE HELPED SHAPE THE

LANGUAGE OR THE SUGGESTIONS OF WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED HAVE BEEN A

PART OF EFFORTS TO DRAFT SIMILAR LEGISLATION ELSEWHERE, AND THEY'RE VERY

FAMILIAR WITH WHAT THE IMPACTS WOULD BE. AND ACTUALLY DURING THE

CAUCUS WEEKEND EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE TALKED AT LENGTH AROUND THE

POSSIBILITIES WHERE SOMEBODY WAS ISSUED THIS LICENSE, WHAT WOULD IT

MEAN IF THEY'RE DRIVING IN ANOTHER STATE, AND THOSE TYPES OF QUESTIONS

WERE ADDRESSED. THERE IS -- THE STATE PARTICIPATES IN THAT NATIONAL

REGISTRY OF DRIVER INFORMATION. SO AS IT RELATES -- AND ACTUALLY, CANADA

DOES AS WELL. SO ANY DRIVER-RELATED INFORMATION OR RECORDS WOULD BE

AVAILABLE TO ALL THOSE AGENCIES, TO ALL THOSE STATES, AND TO CANADA AS

WELL.

MR. WALCZYK: THAT'S GREAT, AND WILL SAVE ME A

COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. WE HAVE AGREEMENTS WITH 45 DIFFERENT STATES AND

A -- A NUMBER OF PROVIDENT -- PROVINCES OF CANADA. THE RECIPROCAL

AGREEMENT, WILL THIS IMPACT INFORMATION THAT WE SHARE OVER THE -- OVER

ANY OF THOSE AGREEMENTS?

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MR. CRESPO: NO.

MR. WALCZYK: DO WE CURRENTLY SHARE DRIVER'S

LICENSE PHOTOS?

MR. CRESPO: I DON'T THINK WE DO.

MR. WALCZYK: DO WE SHARE ADDRESSES?

MR. CRESPO: I WILL -- I'LL SAY THAT THE CURRENT

INFORMATION BEING SHARED IN THOSE REGISTRIES DOES NOT CHANGE WITH THIS

BILL.

MR. WALCZYK: OKAY. SO, NO --

MR. CRESPO: AND -- AND TO BE CLEAR, IF IT'S ALLOWED

UNDER THE FEDERAL DRIVER PRIVACY PROTECTION ACT, THAT ALSO REMAINS

CONSISTENT.

MR. WALCZYK: OKAY. SO ARE YOU -- ARE YOU

AWARE OF SOME OF THE OFFENSES THAT WOULD -- WOULD TRIGGER SOME OF THE

SHARING AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER STATES?

MR. CRESPO: CLARIFY THE QUESTION FOR ME, PLEASE.

MR. WALCZYK: YEAH SURE -- WELL, MAYBE I --

MAYBE I COULD JUST ENLIGHTEN A LITTLE BIT.

MR. CRESPO: THANK YOU.

MR. WALCZYK: MANSLAUGHTER IS ONE OF THEM.

ANY FELONY -- FELONY IN THE COMMISSION OF WHICH A MOTOR VEHICLE IS

USED. ANY SPEEDING OFFENSE, ANY OFFENSE CONSISTING OF DISOBEYING A

TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE. ANY OFFENSE INVOLVING FAILURE TO YIELD TO A

RIGHT-OF-WAY. ANY OFFENSE INVOLVING DIRECTION OF TRAFFIC, OVERTAKING OR

PASSING. ANY OFFENSE INVOLVING FAILURE TO USE A SAFETY BELT OR A CHILD

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RESTRAINT DEVICE. RECKLESS DRIVING, PASSING A STOPPED SCHOOL BUS.

THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE EXAMPLES OF INFORMATION THAT TRIGGER US

SHARING WITH ONE OF THOSE RECIPROCAL AGREEMENTS WITH PROVINCES IN

CANADA OR 45 OF THOSE STATES IN THE UNITED STATES.

MR. CRESPO: AND THAT DOES NOT CHANGE.

MR. WALCZYK: OK. SO IN -- IN THE INSTANCE WHERE

ONE OF THOSE VIOLATIONS HAPPENS WITH A NEW YORKER UNDER THIS NEW

LICENSE AGREEMENT, WE'LL STILL SHARE THEIR NAME AND THEIR ADDRESS, WE'LL

SHARE INFORMATION THAT COULD BE LINKED TO THEIR LEGAL ADDRESS --

MR. CRESPO: WHATEVER -- WHATEVER IS CURRENTLY

SHARED. THE SAME SUBSET OF DATA CURRENTLY SHARED FOR ALL DRIVERS IN THE

CURRENT REGISTRY AND -- AND OPEN DATABASE REMAINS THE SAME.

MR. WALCZYK: OKAY. WELL, I COULDN'T -- I

COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE THE -- THE TITLE OF THIS ACT IS THE "DRIVER'S

LICENSE ACCESS AND PRIVACY ACT." SO YOU COULD SEE HOW SOME

CONCERNS ABOUT SHARING DATA WOULD CERTAINLY COME TO THE FOREFRONT FOR

ME. DO YOU SEE ANY OF THAT DATA THAT WE SHARE IN OUR RECIPROCAL

AGREEMENT CURRENTLY AS SHOWING THE LEGAL STATUS IF -- IF THESE NEW

UNDOC --

MR. CRESPO: NO, THAT -- NO. WE -- WE -- THE WAY

IN WHICH DMV WOULD BE INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN THIS DATABASE WILL NOT

IDENTIFY LEGAL STATUS, LAWFUL PRESENCE IN THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE

THAT'S NOT PERTINENT TO WHAT DMV RESPONSIBILITIES ARE. IT'S NOT RELATED

TO THEIR JURISDICTION OR -- OR NECESSARY TO EVALUATE WHETHER YOU ARE AN

INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS PASSED THE ROAD TEST, CAN OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE,

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AND/OR WOULD BE ISSUED THAT PRIVILEGE TO DRIVE. SO -- BUT TO BE CLEAR,

WE'RE NOT ADDRESSING OR CHANGING THE DATA POINTS THAT ARE SHARED IN THAT

NATIONAL REGISTRY OR ACCESS TO THAT REGISTRY. SO, IT REMAINS CONSISTENT IN

TERMS OF ANY DATA SHARED CURRENTLY UNDER THOSE PROVISIONS.

MR. WALCZYK: THE -- THE INDIVIDUAL -- THE REST OF

NEW YORKERS THAT PLAN TO TRAVEL INTERNATIONALLY WILL HAVE TO GET REAL

ID IN OCTOBER 2020. SO I ANTICIPATE A NUMBER OF CONSTITUENTS FROM MY

DISTRICT WILL GO THROUGH THE PROCESS TO THAT UPGRADE. AND I COULD EASILY

SEE THE -- THE PROVINCES OF CANADA OR OTHER STATES AND NEW YORK

SEEING THEIR -- THEIR LICENSE, THE STATUS OF THEIR LICENSE, THE TYPE OF

LICENSE THAT THEY HAVE WITHIN NEW YORK STATE AND DOING SOME OF THE

VETTING ON THEIR OWN TO SEPARATE THE TWO GROUPS. MY CONCERN, AND

MAYBE -- MAYBE YOU COULD HELP ME OUT HERE, IS THAT IF WE HAVE TWO

DIFFERENT LICENSES IN NEW YORK STATE STARTING IN 2020, ARE YOU

CONCERNED THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE THE -- THE NON-REAL ID DRIVER'S

LICENSE IN NEW YORK STATE WILL BE MORE LIKELY TO HIT AND RUN BECAUSE

THEY'RE CONCERNED THAT IN ANOTHER STATE, NAME YOUR RECIPROCITY STATE, IN

SOUTH CAROLINA THEY GET PULLED OVER, THEY KNOW THAT THAT STATE WILL NAIL

THEM FOR NOT HAVING A REAL ID?

MR. CRESPO: NO, I DON'T HAVE THAT CONCERN.

MR. WALCZYK: WOULD YOUR CONCERN BE THE -- BE

THE CASE IN CANADA IN THAT CASE?

MR. CRESPO: NO.

MR. WALCZYK: OKAY.

ON THE BILL.

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE BILL, SIR.

MR. WALCZYK: I DO HAVE A CONCERN, AND I PLAN TO

VOTE NO. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. BLANKENBUSH.

MR. BLANKENBUSH: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

I'M GOING TO GIVE THE SPONSOR A BREAK AND HE COULD SIT DOWN BECAUSE

I'M GOING TO SPEAK ON THE BILL, MARCOS. SITTING HERE LISTENING TO ONE OF

MY COLLEAGUES TALK A WHILE AGO ABOUT SOME ECONOMIC BENEFITS AND

AUTOMOBILE SALES AND SO FORTH AND DRIVERS, I -- I GOT TO PUT MY... I GUESS

MY INSURANCE HAT ON. I'VE BEEN IN THE INSURANCE BUSINESS LONGER THAN

I'M GOING TO TELL YOU. SO, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS I SEE THAT'S HAPPENING

WITH THE PASSING OF THIS BILL, WHICH IS GOING TO BE FOR ALL OF THE -- ALL OF

OUR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE GOING TO BE LICENSING FOR THE FIRST TIME, MANY

OF THEM, I WOULD IMAGINE, WOULD BE INTERESTED IN BUYING AUTOMOBILES

FOR THEIR OWN. NOW, THE ONE CAUTION I -- I HAVE ABOUT THIS, IS THAT

ANYONE WHO IS GOING TO BE LICENSED IMMEDIATELY, THEY'RE ALL GOING TO BE

CONSIDERED INEXPERIENCED OPERATORS BECAUSE THERE'S NO THREE-YEAR

SETBACK DATA AN INSURANCE COMPANY COULD LOOK AT TO -- TO SEE WHAT KIND

OF A DRIVER THEY ARE. AND THEY'RE PROBABLY A LOT OF GOOD DRIVERS. BUT IN

THE INSURANCE COMPANIES, UNDER THE UNDERWRITING PROCEDURES, THEY

NEED THREE YEARS EXPERIENCE. ANYONE HERE WHO HAS A CHILD THAT THEY

PUT ON THEIR INSURANCE POLICY AT 16 YEARS OLD UNDERSTANDS THAT THOSE

16-YEAR-OLDS ARE CONSIDERED INEXPERIENCED OPERATORS. AND YOU COULD

-- YOU ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR PREMIUMS. THIS IS GOING TO BE A

LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF ADULTS THAT ARE

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE GOING TO BE APPLYING FOR A -- A LICENSE, AND MANY

OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE OUT LOOKING TO BUY AUTOMOBILES FOR THEIR

REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF THEIR AUTOMOBILE. WHAT I THINK THAT

EVERYONE SHOULD REALIZE THAT WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THE INSURANCE

COMPANIES ARE NOT GOING TO WRITE THEM UNDER STANDARD INSURANCE

POLICIES. MOST OF THEM, OR PROBABLY ALL OF THEM, ARE GOING TO HAVE TO

BE IN THE ASSIGNED RISK POOL. IN MY AREA, WHICH I DON'T HAVE AS MANY --

IN THE NORTH COUNTRY, I DON'T HAVE AS MANY DRIVERS AS NEW YORK CITY

AND LONG ISLAND AND IN AREAS DOWN THERE, AND OUR PREMIUMS ARE

SOMETHING LIKE ANYWHERE BETWEEN $2,500 AND $3,000 FOR MINIMUM

COVERAGE. AND THE CONCERN IS -- AND I'LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER EXAMPLE. A

LOT OF TIMES IN MY AREA, YOUNG GUYS COME IN AND THEY -- FROM THE FORT

DRUM, THEY'VE NEVER BEEN LICENSED IN NEW YORK, THEY'VE NEVER HAD

INSURANCE. THEY GO OUT AND THEY BUY A CAR, AND THEN THEY COME IN AND

THEY FIND OUT THAT THEIR PREMIUMS ARE MORE THAN WHAT THEIR CAR IS WORTH.

SO THE CONCERN I HAVE IS WHEN -- AND BY THE WAY, WE DON'T WRITE THE

ASSIGNED RISK ANYMORE. I KNOW MR. HAWLEY'S AGENCY DOESN'T WRITE THE

ASSIGNED RISK ANYMORE, IT'S JUST A PAIN IN THE NECK. AND SO WHAT'LL

HAPPEN IS WHEN THEY GO INTO THE ASSIGNED RISK, THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT

THOSE PREMIUMS. MANY OF THEM MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE

PREMIUMS ON THAT -- ON THEIR CAR INSURANCE. SO WHAT COULD HAPPEN, AND

WHICH IN MY EXPERIENCE HAPPENS ALL THE TIME -- NOT ALL THE TIME, 60, 70

PERCENT OF THE TIME -- WHEN SOMEONE GETS A POLICY IN THE ASSIGNED RISK

POOL, THEY TAKE THAT POLICY, THEY APPLY FOR IT, THEY GET THEIR INSURANCE

CARDS. THEY NOW GO IN AND THEY REGISTER THEIR VEHICLE, THEY DRIVE THE

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

VEHICLE, AND WHEN THE SECOND PREMIUM COMES DUE, THEY LET IT LAPSE

BECAUSE THEY JUST CAN'T AFFORD IT. SO, SOMETIMES, AND A LOT OF TIMES, IT'S

BECAUSE EITHER THEY'RE -- THEY'RE YOUTHFUL OPERATORS OR THEY'RE JUST

INEXPERIENCED OPERATORS. SO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PREMIUMS IN THE

ASSIGNED RISK IS IN NEW YORK CITY OR LONG ISLAND. I DO KNOW WHAT

THEY WOULD BE FACING UP HERE, AND I -- I THINK THAT -- I THINK THAT THAT'S A

CONCERN. SO, WILL IT EVENTUALLY -- ONCE THEY EVENTUALLY GET THREE YEARS

DRIVING EXPERIENCE AND THEY CAN PROVE THAT, THAT'S A DIFFERENT -- THAT'S A

DIFFERENT STORY. BUT I'M CONCERNED THAT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS THAT

MANY MORE DRIVERS ARE GOING -- AND BY THE WAY, I THINK IT'S ONE OUT OF

SEVEN DRIVERS IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK RIGHT NOW DRIVE WITHOUT --

WITHOUT INSURANCE. SO IS THAT GOING TO INCREASE? I DON'T KNOW. BUT

WHEN YOU PUT SO MANY DRIVERS IN THAT -- IN -- IN THAT POOL, YOU'RE REALLY

LOOKING AT MAYBE NOT REALLY HELPING THE MATTER ABOUT SAFETY, ABOUT

NUMBERS THAT ARE DRIVING WITH INSURANCE OR WITHOUT INSURANCE. IT'S JUST

REALITY THAT WHEN THEY -- WHEN THEY SEE THAT INSURANCE BILL, THAT MANY OF

THEM MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT. SO THE -- THE PROBLEM THAT ALL MY

COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN SPEAKING ABOUT IS ONE THING. BUT I LOOK AT IT A

LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE I'M IN THAT BUSINESS. I'VE BEEN IN THAT

BUSINESS FOR YEARS, AND I THINK THAT FOR THOSE THAT HAVE NEVER TRIED TO

GET INSURANCE AS -- AS INEXPERIENCED OPERATORS ARE GOING TO BE SHOCKED

WHEN THEY SEE THE TYPE OF PREMIUMS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PAY. SO,

DOES IT HELP THE ECONOMY LIKE MY COLLEAGUE SAID? DOES IT HELP THE

AUTOMOBILE -- AUTOMOBILE INSURE -- AUTOMOBILE BUSINESS? DOES IT HELP

DRIVER SAFETY? MAYBE NOT, IF, IN FACT, THERE'S NOT A WAY THAT THEY CAN

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AFFORD THE POLICIES AND THEY BASICALLY ARE DRIVING UNINSURED -- THEY'RE

UNINSURED. NOW MAYBE, BUT MAYBE THEY'RE STILL GOING TO BE UNINSURED

BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE ASSIGNED RISK IS AND THE PREMIUMS ARE. AND I'M

CONCERNED THAT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AN

ECONOMIC BENEFIT TO THE CAR INSURANCE BUSINESS.

SO, MR. SPEAKER, I JUST THINK THAT WHEN WE -- WE

WHEN -- WHEN WE APPROVE A BILL OR VOTE A BILL, PUT A BILL IN -- IN PLACE,

WE'RE CAUSING SOME OTHER PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT DOWN

THE ROAD. AND IT'S A CONCERN OF MINE, AND I THINK FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO

ARE GOING TO GO LIGHT, PLEASE GO FIND OUT WHAT YOUR INSURANCE COVERAGE

IS GOING TO COST YOU BEFORE YOU BUY THE AUTOMOBILE. BECAUSE THERE ARE

CERTAIN AUTOMOBILES THAT -- THAT ARE HIGHER-RATED AND WILL COST YOU

MORE. AND I'M JUST SAYING TO YOU, IF THE BILL PASSES AND IT GOES IN -- IN

EFFECT, GO ASK THE INSURANCE COMPANY WHAT -- IF YOU HAVE X CAR, GO ASK

THEM AND SAY, GIVE ME A QUOTE ON MY INSURANCE BEFORE I BUY THIS CAR.

BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO BUY A CAR AND THEN REALIZE THE -- THE COST OF

THAT INSURANCE IS GOING TO CHOKE YOU.

SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT OUT. THANK YOU, MR.

SPEAKER. THANK YOU, SPONSOR OF THE BILL.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

MR. BYRNES.

MS. BYRNES, I'M SORRY.

MS. BYRNES: THANK YOU. I THOUGHT I WAS A LITTLE

FARTHER DOWN THE LINE THAN THAT, BUT...

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: WELL, WE CAN COME

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BACK.

MS. BYRNES: NO, NO, NO. THANK YOU.

WILL THE SPONSOR YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. CRESPO, WILL YOU

YIELD?

MR. CRESPO: ABSOLUTELY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MS. BYRNES: THE GOOD NEWS IS A LOT OF MY

QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ASKED. BUT I -- THE BAD NEWS IS I STILL HAVE A

COUPLE MORE.

MR. CRESPO: SURE.

MS. BYRNES: I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE ISSUE OF

RECIPROCITY.

MR. CRESPO: OKAY.

MS. BYRNES: IF SOMEBODY HAS ONE OF THESE NEW

LICENSES ISSUED BY NEW YORK STATE, IS IT STILL ILLEGAL FOR THEM TO DRIVE IN

ANOTHER STATE? PENNSYLVANIA OR ANOTHER STATE BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOOD FOR

FEDERAL PURPOSES?

MR. CRESPO: NO. IT'S... STANDARD LICENSES IN

RECIPROCITY -- WHERE RECIPROCITY EXISTS -- MY OPINION SHOULD BE HONORED

NONETHELESS. THERE MAY BE OTHER RISKS IN TERMS OF THE INTENTIONS OR THE

APPROACHES TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND WITH THEIR COOPERATION WITH

FEDERAL AGENTS. BUT IF YOU'RE REFERRING TO WHETHER SOMEBODY WHO IS

UNDOCUMENTED WOULD HAVE THIS LICENSE AND IS NOW DRIVING PAST --

THROUGH A STATE WHERE THERE IS RECIPROCITY BUT THEN -- YOU KNOW, I --

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THERE MAY BE AN IMPACT, BUT IT'S NOT RELATED TO THE RECIPROCITY ITSELF.

THAT WOULD REMAIN FOR STANDARD LICENSES.

MS. BYRNES: ACCORDING TO THIS BILL, YOU'RE STILL

CONSIDERING THAT -- THAT LICENSES ISSUED IN NEW YORK STATE WOULD BE

VALID IN ANY OTHER STATE IN THE UNION.

MR. CRESPO: MY UNDERSTANDING, IT WOULD REMAIN

THE WAY IT IS NOW. MY STANDARD LICENSE ALLOWS ME TO DRIVE IN FLORIDA

AND OTHER PLACES, AND THAT WOULD REMAIN THE CASE.

MS. BYRNES: EVEN THOUGH THOSE STATES DO NOT

ALLOW FOR THOSE TYPES OF LICENSES?

MR. CRESPO: BUT THOSE STATES ALLOW -- THEY MAY

NOT ALLOW IT FOR THE ISSUANCE OF THEIR LICENSE, BUT THEY ALLOW RECIPROCITY

FOR NEW YORK STATE-ISSUED LICENSES, AND SO LONG AS IT'S A VALID LICENSE

ISSUED BY THE STATE OF NEW YORK, I BELIEVE THAT WOULD ALLOW THAT

INDIVIDUAL TO DRIVE IN THAT AREA.

MS. BYRNES: SO, BASICALLY, BY VOTING ON THIS BILL

TODAY WE ACTUALLY ARE CHANGING THE ENTIRE LAW OF THE UNITED STATES OF

AMERICA.

MR. CRESPO: NOT AT ALL. NOT AT ALL.

MS. BYRNES: YOU GET A DRIVER -- OR YOU GET A

LICENSE AND YOU FAIL TO PAY CHILD SUPPORT. YOUR LICENSE WILL, OF

WHATEVER VERSION, WILL STILL BE SUSPENDED OR REVOKED?

MR. CRESPO: YES.

MS. BYRNES: OR IF YOU HAVE A LICENSE FOR A CERTAIN

PROFESSION AND IT'S SUSPENDED OR REVOKED, THAT WILL REVOKE YOUR DRIVER'S

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LICENSE ON THIS NEW LICENSE THE SAME AS IT WOULD A REGULAR LICENSE?

MR. CRESPO: THOSE LICENSES ARE NOT CONNECTED.

MS. BYRNES: BUT, FOR AN EXAMPLE, LET'S GO WITH THE

CHILD SUPPORT.

MR. CRESPO: OKAY.

MS. BYRNES: IF -- IF YOU FAIL TO PAY CHILD SUPPORT,

AND I FAIL TO PAY CHILD SUPPORT, MY DRIVER'S LICENSE CAN BE SUSPENDED.

MR. CRESPO: THAT REMAINS CONSISTENT.

MS. BYRNES: AND I COULD BE ARRESTED AND BROUGHT

INTO COURT.

MR. CRESPO: THAT -- THAT REMAIN -- THAT REMAINS

CONSISTENT. WE'RE NOT ADDRESSING OR CHANGING THOSE REGULATIONS.

MS. BYRNES: OKAY. AND THAT'S THE CASE EVEN

THOUGH THAT WOULD BE A CIVIL ARREST, NOT A CRIMINAL ARREST. SO YOU CAN

STILL BE ARRESTED FOR A CIVIL MATTER AND BROUGHT BEFORE A JUDGE.

MR. CRESPO: CORRECT.

MS. BYRNES: OKAY. GOING TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY

CARDS. OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE NOT REQUIRING THAT ANYMORE, CORRECT? YOU NO

LONGER HAVE TO SHOW A SOCIAL SECURITY CARD OR HAVE A SOCIAL SECURITY

NUMBER TO GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE, CORRECT?

MR. CRESPO: WELL, YOU COULD STILL CHOOSE THAT

OPTION AND SUPPLY IT IF YOU HAVE ONE. IT'S JUST CREATING A PROCESS FOR

SOMEONE WHO HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED A SOCIAL SECURITY TO PROVIDE CERTAIN

FOREIGN DOCUMENTS AS ALTERNATIVE PROOF. AS WELL AS THE AFFIDAVIT -- OR

THE STATEMENT THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ISSUED A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.

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MS. BYRNES: WHAT TYPE OF VALID EXPLANATIONS

WOULD BE ALLOWED FOR FAILURE TO HAVE A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER?

MR. CRESPO: DMV WOULD NOT ASK THAT QUESTION.

SIMPLY, THEY WOULD ASK IF YOU ARE CHOOSING TO PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE

FOREIGN DOCUMENT, YOU WOULD FIRST ATTEST THAT YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ISSUED

A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND THEN MEET WHATEVER OTHER CRITERIAS WOULD

BE SET UNDER THIS BILL OR WHATEVER DMV WOULD OTHERWISE REGULATE WITH

REGARDS TO PROOF OF IDENTITY.

MS. BYRNES: YOU GO IN, YOU DO THE DMV ONLINE.

ALL THERE IS IS A BOX TO HIT IF YOU WANT TO SIGN UP TO VOTE, CORRECT?

MR. CRESPO: WAIT. I'M SORRY, SAY THAT AGAIN.

MS. BYRNES: IF YOU GO IN TO GET YOUR DRIVER'S

LICENSE, THERE -- THERE -- ON THE FORM THERE IS A BOX THAT YOU CAN CHECK

TO BE ENROLLED TO VOTE, CORRECT?

MR. CRESPO: THERE IS A SECTION, A VOTER APPLICATION

SECTION INCLUDED IN THE -- PAGE THREE, I BELIEVE, OF THE DRIVER'S LICENSE

OR DRIVER'S PERMIT APPLICATION, BY FEDERAL LAW THAT IS IN PLACE, YES.

THAT REMAINS.

MS. BYRNES: OKAY. AND ALL ANYBODY HAS TO DO IS

CHECK THAT BOX, CORRECT?

MR. CRESPO: WELL, WHICH -- NO, THEY -- FIRST OF ALL,

THE APPLICATION IS MADE AVAILABLE TO YOU, THE VOTER APPLICATION WITHIN

YOUR DMV APPLICATION IS MADE AVAILABLE, BUT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO

CHOOSE THAT ROUTE IN ORDER TO REGISTER. I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S A CONDITION TO

FILL THAT. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THERE IS A STATEMENT THAT CLARIFIES WHO

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IS ELIGIBLE, AND IT -- AND IT REMINDS YOU OF WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES ARE IF

YOU ARE NOT ELIGIBLE AND -- AND STILL REGISTER. AND IT ALSO, IN THE FIRST

VERY FIRST QUESTION OF THE VOTER APPLICATION PORTION ITSELF, IS A QUESTION

IS, ARE YOU A CITIZEN? YES OR NO. SO THERE ARE MORE THAN ONE STEP

WHERE YOU WOULD BE CONFRONTED WITH A REMINDER AND/OR ACKNOWLEDGE

THAT YOU HAVE TO BE A CITIZEN.

MS. BYRNES: ARE THE DMV RECORDS SET UP SUCH

THAT IF YOU DO CHECK NO AS BEING A CITIZEN, THEN THE OTHER PART, EVEN IF

YOU CHECK YES AND SIGN UP TO VOTE, IS AUTOMATICALLY NOT DONE? IS THERE

A STOPGAP MEASURE--

MR. CRESPO: DMV --

MS. BYRNES: -- TO ENSURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN?

MR. CRESPO: DMV PROVIDES YOU THE APPLICATION.

IF THE APPLICANT FILLS OUT THAT SECTION, THAT INFORMATION IS SHARED WITH

THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS WHO WOULD THEN VERIFY THE INFORMATION AND

ENSURE THAT IT IS APPROPRIATELY FILLED AND THAT IT QUALIFIES FOR REGISTRATION.

IF -- IF YOU DON'T -- IF YOU CHECK NO, THEY WOULD ISSUE YOU THE -- THERE

WOULD BE THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS THAT WOULD ISSUE YOU A LETTER STATING

THAT THEY'VE RECEIVED YOUR APPLICATION AND THEY HAVE DETERMINED YOU'RE

INELIGIBLE TO VOTE.

MS. BYRNES: A LOT OF THIS RELIES ON THE TRUST OF THE

PERSON FILLING OUT THE DOCUMENTS, CORRECT?

MR. CRESPO: IT'S NOT TRUST, IT'S AN AFFIRMATIVE

STATEMENT BY THE APPLICANT WHETHER OR NOT THEY KNOW THAT THEY ARE

FILLING THAT OUT, THAT THEY KNOW THE CONSEQUENCE THAT THEY ARE STATING

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AFFIRMATIVELY THAT THEY ARE A CITIZEN OR NOT. SO, NO, I THINK -- JUST TO BE

CLEAR, THERE ARE MANY WAYS IN WHICH AN INDIVIDUAL TODAY CAN HAVE

ACCESS TO A VOTER APPLICATION. AND WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING TO EXPAND

THE ACCESSIBILITY OF THOSE APPLICATIONS.

MS. BYRNES: RIGHT.

MR. CRESPO: FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES THAT A VOTER

APPLICATION BE INCLUDED IN YOUR DMV APPLICATION. WE DON'T CHANGE

THAT. WE HAVE TO MEET FEDERAL LAW. BUT THIS IDEA THAT THIS BILL WILL

SOMEHOW ENCOURAGE OR FACILITATE A -- NONCITIZENS FROM REGISTERING TO

VOTE IS BASED ON AN ASSUMPTION THAT THEY WOULD SEEK TO DO THAT -- ARE

INTERESTED IN DOING THAT OR WOULD WANT TO RISK -- AS I MENTIONED EARLIER

IN A SCENARIO -- THE POSSIBILITY OF NEVER SEEING THEIR CHILDREN AGAIN

BECAUSE THEY ARE THEN DEPORTED FOR COMMITTING A SEPARATE CRIME FOR

REGISTERING OR FOR VOTING WHEN THEY ARE INELIGIBLE. AND THE ANSWER IS

THAT IS NOT THE PLACE --

MS. BYRNES: NO, BUT THAT'S --

MR. CRESPO: -- THAT WOULD NOT PLAY OUT.

MS. BYRNES: -- WE'VE ALREADY THIS AFTERNOON HEARD

NUMEROUS EXAMPLES WHERE THAT, IN FACT, HAS OCCURRED. AND THOSE --

MR. CRESPO: IT'S --

MS. BYRNES: -- WERE THE PEOPLE WHO CALLED UP ONE

BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND ADMITTED THEY HAD DONE IT.

MR. CRESPO: SO -- SO, IF YOU --

MS. BYRNES: SO HOW MANY ARE OUT THERE THAT --

MR. CRESPO: BUT THAT'S A DIFFERENT --

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MS. BYRNES: -- HAVEN'T ADMITTED IT?

MR. CRESPO: ALL RIGHT, BUT THAT'S A DIFFERENT ISSUE.

I THINK THERE ARE -- YES, THERE ARE INSTANCES WHERE, BY MISTAKE, IN SOME

RARE INSTANCES, MAYBE SOMEBODY ON PURPOSE. AND YES, THERE ARE --

PEOPLE VIOLATE THE LAW. AMERICAN CITIZENS VIOLATE THE LAW ON A REGULAR

BASIS --

MS. BYRNES: NO QUESTION.

MR. CRESPO: -- AND WE HAVE RULES AND REGULATIONS

TO DEAL WITH THAT. BUT LOOK, THIS NOTION AGAIN THAT THIS IS MAKING THAT

ANY EASIER IS NOT THE CASE. THOSE INSTANCES OCCUR UNDER CURRENT

PRACTICE. BECAUSE THERE ARE NONCITIZENS WHO ARE ISSUED DRIVER'S

LICENSES --

MS. BYRNES: AND YOU WILL --

MR. CRESPO: -- WHO HAVE ACCESS -- LET ME JUST

COMPLETE THE ANSWER -- WHO HAVE ACCESS TO DRIVER'S LICENSES, AND

WOULD CONFRONT THAT APPLICATION, THAT PORTION OF THE APPLICATION. AND

IN THOSE INSTANCES WHERE THEY MADE THE MISTAKE --

MS. BYRNES: AND WITH THE DEEPEST RESPECT, SIR --

MR. CRESPO -- THEY WOULD TRY TO CORRECT IT --

MS. BYRNES: -- YOU ONLY WANT TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR

THAT TO HAPPEN, NOT HARDER.

MR. CRESPO: NO, I DON'T. NOT AT ALL. I SIMPLY WANT

MS. BYRNES: THANK YOU, SIR. I'M DONE.

MR. CRESPO: -- MORE INDIVIDUALS IN THIS STATE TO

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HAVE ACCESS TO THE PRIVILEGE TO DRIVE, WHICH ENHANCES PUBLIC SAFETY,

ECONOMIC BENEFITS AND EVERYTHING ELSE WE'VE DISCUSSED. THE INTENTION

IS NOT AT ALL RELATED TO VOTER REGISTRATION OR VOTER LAWS. AS A MATTER OF

FACT, IF IT WAS COMPLETELY UP TO ME, I WOULD LIKE TO STREAMLINE AND

LEAVE DMV SOLELY WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY TO DEAL WITH REGULATING

DRIVERS IN THE STATE. BUT WE PROVIDE FOR THEM AND MEET FEDERAL LAW,

AND WE WANT TO CREATE ACCESS FOR APPLICANTS TO REGISTER TO VOTE. KEEP

IN MIND THAT THE STANDARD LICENSE APPLICATION IS ALSO OPEN TO YOU OR I AS

CITIZENS IF WE CHOOSE TO KEEP A STANDARD LICENSE. SO, IT IS IMPORTANT

THAT THAT FORM BE THERE. THERE ARE MULTIPLE WAYS IN WHICH SOMEBODY

WOULD BE ROOTED OUT WHO'S NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE AND -- AND WE WOULD

KEEP THAT IN PLACE AND THOSE PROTECTIONS REMAIN.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE MEMBER YIELDED,

AND SO IT'S MS. WALSH.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU. WILL THE SPONSOR YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. CRESPO, WILL YOU

YIELD?

MR. CRESPO: CERTAINLY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. CRESPO YIELDS.

MS. WALSH: I DO JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M

UNDERSTANDING EXACTLY HOW THIS WORKS. AS A RESULT OF SOME OF THE

EARLIER DEBATE, I DID PULL UP THE DRIVER'S LICENSE APPLICATION AND I

REVIEWED IT. AND I DO SEE WHAT YOU MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT THE BOX

THAT NEEDS TO BE CHECKED FIRST SAYING ARE YOU -- ARE YOU A CITIZEN. I

CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY HOW THAT'S -- I THINK IT IS ON PAGE 3 OF THE

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APPLICATION.

MR. CRESPO: YUP.

MS. WALSH: BUT THROUGH WHATEVER MISTAKE,

PERHAPS LANGUAGE BARRIER, INADVERTENCE, YOU KNOW, OR -- OR

PURPOSEFULNESS, YOU KNOW, THAT BOX COULD GET CHECKED BY SOMEBODY

WHO'S NOT, IN FACT, A CITIZEN AND WHO WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE. BUT

IT COULD HAPPEN, AND WE'VE HEARD SOME -- SOME DEBATE TODAY TALKING

ABOUT THAT. AT THAT POINT, THAT APPLICATION IS THEN REFERRED DIRECTLY TO

THE BOARDS OF ELECTIONS. IS THAT CORRECT?

MR. CRESPO: YES.

MS. WALSH: ALL RIGHT. AND THEN THE BOARD OF

ELECTIONS REVIEWS THE APPLICATION ON ITS FACE. AND IS THERE ANY WAY FOR

THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS OFFICIALS TO LOOK AT THE FOUR CORNERS OF THAT

DOCUMENT AND DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THAT PERSON IS ACTUALLY ELIGIBLE

TO VOTE?

MR. CRESPO: THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS WILL

IMPLEMENT THE SAME PROCESS AND CRITERIA THEY CURRENTLY UTILIZE FOR

APPLICATIONS THEY RECEIVE TODAY. THIS -- THE FACT THAT THE DRIVER'S

LICENSE OR DMV'S APPLICATION WILL NOW BE ACCESSIBLE TO INDIVIDUALS

WHO ARE NONCITIZENS OR WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ISSUED A SOCIAL SECURITY

NUMBER DOES NOT CHANGE THAT. THOSE SAME INDIVIDUALS WHO PARTICIPATE

IN EVERYDAY LIFE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WHO ARE WORKING IN THE

STATE OF NEW YORK, WHO HAVE CHILDREN WHO GO TO SCHOOL IN THE STATE

OF NEW YORK COME ACROSS ACCESSIBLE VOTER APPLICATIONS. THEY CHOOSE

NOT TO FILL THOSE OUT, THEY KNOW THE CONSEQUENCES OF DOING SO. SO I

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THINK IN A TECHNICAL SENSE, IF -- IF THE QUESTION IS WILL THAT POSSIBILITY

EXIST? WELL, MY ANSWER IS IT EXISTS TODAY. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT'S

NECESSARILY GOING TO MAKE IT EASIER AT ALL. THE ASSUMPTION THAT I ASSURE

YOU YOU CAN TAKE TO THE BANK WITH YOU IS THAT UNDOCUMENTED

IMMIGRANTS ARE EXTREMELY CAREFUL NOT TO MAKE THOSE MISTAKES, NOT TO

APPLY FOR THINGS THEY'RE NOT QUALIFIED. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THEY TEND

NOT TO APPLY FOR THINGS THEY ARE QUALIFIED FOR UNDER FEAR OF

CONSEQUENCES THAT THE INFORMATION THEY SHARED. SO THE CONSEQUENCES

THEY FACE ARE SOMETHING EXTREMELY FOREIGN TO YOU OR I AS CITIZENS.

THEY UNDERSTAND THOSE CONSEQUENCES, THEY DON'T PLAY GAMES WITH THOSE

CONSEQUENCES. THAT ASSUMPTION YOU CAN TAKE TO THE BANK WITH YOU.

MS. WALSH: BUT MR. CRESPO, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT,

THE QUESTION I ASKED YOU WAS, IS THERE ANY WAY FOR THE BOARD OF

ELECTIONS OFFICIALS TO LOOK STRICTLY AT THE FOUR CORNERS OF THAT DOCUMENT

AND DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THAT PERSON IS TRULY ELIGIBLE TO VOTE?

AND THEN YOU GAVE ME A DIFFERENT -- YOU KNOW, IF I WERE IN COURT I

WOULD SAY IT WAS NONRESPONSIVE. BUT I DO APPRECIATE YOUR ANSWER.

MR. CRESPO: WELL, LET ME -- LET ME TRY TO BE MORE

SPECIFIC. AGAIN, THE ANSWER -- I -- I BELIEVE THE ANSWER IS YES, THEY CAN.

THEY DO SO NOW. WE -- OUR VOTER APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN. ANYBODY CAN

SIGN THE QUESTIONS, SUBMIT THE -- THE NUMBER, THE DRIVER ID NUMBER,

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. YOU ANSWER ALL OF THE QUESTIONS. DMV

-- THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS HAS METHODS TO VERIFY OR MATCH THAT DATA. BUT

IT IS ALSO -- IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THESE -- THESE ARE AFFIDAVITS WHERE YOU

SWEAR AND AFFIRM THAT THIS INFORMATION IS CORRECT, IT'S ACCURATE. AND --

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AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INSTANCES WHERE THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO

RESIDE IN. OR THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT -- THAT MAY -- A PERSON

MAY AFFIRM THAT NOT TO -- THAT IS ULTIMATELY FOUND OUT TO BE TRUE. AND

THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS HAS THE CHALLENGE TO CONSISTENTLY REVIEW THAT

INFORMATION, UPDATE THAT INFORMATION AND MAINTAIN ACCURATE VOTER

RECORDS. NONE OF THAT CHANGES WITH REGARDS TO THIS. IF SOMEBODY FILLS

OUT AN APPLICATION TO VOTE AS PART OF THEIR DMV APPLICATION, THE BOARD

OF ELECTIONS WOULD HAVE THE SAME, AND IMPLEMENT THE SAME PROCESS

THAT THEY CURRENTLY DO TO ROOT OUT OR -- OR CONFIRM THE INFORMATION THAT'S

PROVIDED TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY CAN. A LARGE PORTION OF THIS IS ALWAYS

AN AFFIRMATION OR AN AFFIDAVIT BY THE INDIVIDUAL WHO SIGNS THAT FORM.

AND THEY WOULD FACE THE CONSEQUENCES IF THEY ARE SWEARING TO

SOMETHING NOT TO BE TRUE.

MS. WALSH: IN -- IN ACTUAL FACT, THE WAY IT REALLY

WORKS IS THAT AN INDIVIDUAL HAS TO EITHER PROVIDE THE LAST FOUR OF THEIR

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, OR THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE A DRIVER'S LICENSE

NUMBER. EITHER/OR. THEY DON'T NEED TO PROVIDE BOTH, THEY NEED TO JUST

PROVIDE ONE.

MR. CRESPO: CORRECT.

MS. WALSH: SO, THEREFORE, IF THE -- THE FORM IS

BEING REFERRED OVER TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS WITH A DRIVER'S LICENSE

NUMBER ON IT, THE INQUIRY ENDS THERE. THERE IS NO OTHER MECHANISM AT

THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, IN FACT, TO DETERMINE -- THEY GO BY THE NUMBER

THAT'S ON THE DRIVER'S -- THE DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER THAT'S PROVIDED.

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AND TO FOLLOW UP ON A COMMENT THAT YOU MADE EARLIER

IN DEBATE WITH ANOTHER ASSEMBLYMEMBER, YOU HAD SAID THAT THERE WAS

-- THERE WAS NO WAY THAT THIS -- THAT THIS WAS -- THIS WAS UNAVOIDABLE.

THERE WAS NO WAY OF CORRECTING THIS. BUT, IN FACT, WHAT DO YOU THINK

ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF MAKING THE DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER ISSUED TO AN

INDIVIDUAL UNDER THIS BILL TO BE CODED OR IN SOME WAY DIFFERENT FROM

THAT ISSUED TO PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT HERE IN AN UNDOCUMENTED WAY?

WOULDN'T --

MR. CRESPO: SO --

MS. WALSH: WOULDN'T THAT BE A WISE AMENDMENT

THAT WOULD ALLOW BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO INTELLIGENTLY DECIDE WHO WAS

QUALIFIED TO VOTE BASED ON THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE APPLICATION?

MR. CRESPO: SO AGAIN, LET'S STAY WITHIN THE FOUR

CORNERS OF THE APPLICATION. THE -- THERE ARE CURRENTLY INDIVIDUALS

ISSUED DRIVER'S LICENSES AND DRIVER ID NUMBERS THAT ARE NONCITIZENS. SO

ALREADY, THAT POTENTIAL, THAT -- THAT POSSIBILITY COULD EXIST. IN REGARDS TO

-- BEFORE YOU EVEN GET TO THE QUESTION OF WHETHER YOU'RE GOING TO

PROVIDE YOUR SOCIAL OR YOUR FOUR DIGITS OF YOUR DRIVER ID OR THE FULL

DRIVER ID NUMBER, YOU FIRST HAVE TO ANSWER THE VERY FIRST QUESTION ON

THE FORM, ARE YOU A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES?

MS. WALSH: UNDERSTOOD. YES.

MR. CRESPO: THAT IS A VERY CLEAR QUESTION, THAT IS A

VERY DIRECT QUESTION. ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO ANSWERS YES KNOWING THAT

THEY ARE NOT AND THEN SIGNS AT THE BOTTOM, IRREGARDLESS OF WHAT NUMBER

THEY GAVE, IF THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS VERIFIES YES, THAT NUMBER BELONGS

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TO THAT INDIVIDUAL BUT THEY HAVE ANSWERED IN THE FIRST PART THEY ARE NOT A

CITIZEN, THEN THAT APPLICATION WOULD NOT BE VALIDATED. THAT PERSON

WOULD NOT BE ENROLLED.

MS. WALSH: CORRECT.

MR. CRESPO: SO THERE ARE IN THE FOUR CORNERS WAYS

FOR DM -- FOR THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO VERIFY BASED ON THE

INFORMATION PROVIDED.

MS. WALSH: CORRECT. BUT AS I THINK YOU KNOW, MY

QUESTION IS REALLY DIRECTED TO THE INDIVIDUAL WHO EITHER INNOCENTLY OR

NOT CHECKS THE BOX THAT THEY ARE A CITIZEN, FULL -- PUTS IN THEIR -- THEIR

NEW DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER, THAT APPLICATION GOES TO THE BOARD OF

ELECTIONS, AND THAT BOARD OF ELECTIONS OFFICIAL IS UNABLE, BASED ON THE

FOUR CORNERS OF THAT DOCUMENT, TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THAT PERSON

IS TRULY ELIGIBLE TO VOTE. THAT PERSON IS A PLACED ON THE VOTER ROLLS.

AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER SMITH MENTIONED EARLIER WITH SOME EXAMPLES

OUT OF SUFFOLK COUNTY, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO GOT PUT ON THE ROLLS AND

WHO, IN FACT, WENT IN AND VOTED. AND TO YOUR POINT THAT YOU MADE

EARLIER ABOUT THAT THIS DOESN'T -- THIS BILL DOESN'T REALLY CHANGE THAT, THIS

IS -- IT ISN'T GOING TO INCREASE IT OR MAKE IT ANY EASIER, I WOULD DISPUTE

THAT, SIR. BECAUSE I WOULD SAY THAT THIS BILL IS GOING TO LEAD TO A LOT OF

PEOPLE WHO PREVIOUSLY WOULD NOT HAVE WALKED INTO A DMV OFFICE WHO

WILL NOW WALK INTO A DMV OFFICE AND BE CONFRONTED WITH THIS FORM

AND THE BOXES TO CHECK AND THE THINGS TO FILL OUT. AND SO, THE VOLUME

OF INDIVIDUALS AND, THEREFORE, THE -- THE GREATER LIKELIHOOD OF MISTAKES,

INNOCENT OR NOT, TO END UP ON THE VOTER ROLLS WILL INCREASE.

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SO -- BUT AT THAT POINT IF I COULD JUST -- I'M GOING TO

JUMP TO ANOTHER TOPIC, ALTHOUGH IF YOU WANTED TO RESPOND TO THAT I --

MR. CRESPO: JUST -- JUST VERY BRIEFLY.

MS. WALSH: WELCOME THAT.

MR. CRESPO: I -- I -- I UNDERSTAND, AND I DON'T

DISPUTE THAT THOSE POSSIBILITIES IF EXPANDING THE ACCESS TO THIS

APPLICATION BY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE OTHERWISE NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE WILL

-- WILL MORE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAVE ACCESS TO VOTER APPLICATION VERY

DIRECTLY AS PART OF THIS PROCESS? YES, THEY WILL. ARE -- IS IT MORE LIKELY

THAT THEY WILL MAKE THAT MISTAKE? I DON'T BELIEVE THAT TO BE TRUE,

BECAUSE THEY ARE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS AROUND THE ANSWERS THEY PROVIDE

AND WHAT THEY SUBJECT THEMSELVES TO. BECAUSE THEY HAVE -- THEY FACE

PENALTIES THAT YOU OR I DO NOT, AND THOSE PENALTIES ARE SEVERE AND -- AND

LENGTHY. SO, AGAIN, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE WHEN I SAY THAT IT IS NOT GOING

TO LEAD TO MORE OF IT, NOT ONLY IS IT NOT A -- A VERY COMMON ISSUE, THERE

ARE THOSE INSTANCES, THERE ARE GOING TO BE MISTAKES MADE, WITH THIS BILL

OR NOT. BUT THEY DO NOT OUTWEIGH THE MANY BENEFITS THAT I BELIEVE THIS

BILL PROVIDES, AND I THINK IT'S A MATTER FOR THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO

CONTINUE TO ALWAYS UPGRADE THEIR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO ENSURE THAT

THE RENT -- THE VOTER ROLLS ARE ACCURATE AND UP-TO-DATE.

MS. WALSH: AND -- AND JUST AS A FINAL COMMENT

BEFORE I MOVE ON TO THE NEXT TOPIC. I DID REACH OUT TO ONE OF MY BOARD

OF ELECTIONS OFFICIALS FOLLOWING ASSEMBLYMEMBER SMITH'S COMMENTS

IN -- IN DEBATE WITH YOU, AND ASKED HIM WHETHER THERE WERE ANY

EXAMPLES THAT HE COULD RECALL AND HE SAID THAT, YES, THERE -- THERE WERE.

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THEY WERE NOT -- BECAUSE WHERE I -- WHERE I REPRESENT WE HAVE A -- WE

HAVE A RACETRACK. WE HAVE A LOT OF SEASONAL EMPLOYEES COMING IN

FROM REALLY ALL OVER THE WORLD, SO YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT OUR -- OUR

DMV DOES HAVE INSTANCES WHERE WE MIGHT RUN INTO THIS. HE DID RECALL

ONE INSTANCE WHERE AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY CONTACTED HIM AND SAID,

COULD WE PLEASE GET MY CLIENT OFF THE VOTER ROLLS BECAUSE HE -- I'M IN

THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO HAVE HIM APPLY AND COMPLETE HIS CITIZENSHIP

AND HE NEEDS TO COME OFF THE VOTER ROLLS. SO, I KNOW THAT SOME

EXAMPLES WERE GIVEN OUT OF SUFFOLK COUNTY, I'M RAISING MY HAND AND

SAYING ALSO OUT OF SARATOGA COUNTY WE DO HAVE SOME -- SOME

ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE, ANYWAY. AND IN TERMS OF HARD NUMBERS

THROUGHOUT THE STATE, I COULDN'T SAY.

BUT THE NEXT THING I'D LIKE TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT A LITTLE

BIT IS YOU -- WE HAD SOME DISCUSSION EARLIER IN DEBATE ABOUT HOW THE

MEMBERS OF DMV WERE SUPPOSED TO BE ANALYZING SOME OF THESE

FOREIGN DOCUMENTS. AND SO I REACHED OUT TO MY COUNTY CLERK. AND

ONE OF -- ONE OF THE BIG CONCERNS THAT THEY HAVE IS THAT UNDER THIS BILL, IT

REALLY WOULD FORCE DMV EMPLOYEES AND COUNTY CLERKS TO BE, IN

ESSENCE, IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES. NOW, WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

SPECIFICALLY IS THAT FOREIGN DOCUMENTS THAT COME IN CURRENTLY INTO THE --

INTO THE DMV ARE ACCOMPANIED BY PAPERWORK FROM THE FEDERAL

GOVERNMENT VERIFYING THE -- VERIFYING THE DOCUMENTS. SO, IN FACT,

UNDER OUR CURRENT SETUP, THE -- THE CLERK'S -- I'M SORRY, I'M JUST BRINGING

THIS UP -- THE CLERK'S OFFICE DOES NOT VET THESE DOCUMENTS THEMSELVES.

AND (REVIEWING) JUST GETTING TO THIS FOR A SECOND, I'M SORRY. IT SAYS

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THEY -- THEY DON'T HAVE TRAINING IN FOREIGN DOCUMENTS. THEY SEND SCANS

TO THE STATE, AND THE CLERKS ONLY LOOK AT THE FEDERAL STAMP OR

INFORMATION. IT IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT VETS THE PERSON, NOT

DMV CLERKS. AND WHEN I ASKED WHAT -- WHAT TRAINING OR -- OR

MECHANISMS THEY WOULD NEED TO PUT IN PLACE AT THE DMV LEVEL, I GOT A

VERY, VERY LONG RESPONSE. BUT IT WOULD -- BASICALLY SAID THAT IT WOULD

BE AN ENORMOUS TASK. WE SEE FOREIGN DOCUMENTS, BUT THEY HAVE TO BE

ACCOMPANIED BY PAPERWORK FROM THE FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT THE

APPLICANT BRINGS IN WITH THEM. SO, I DO BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD PROBABLY

BE A -- A PRETTY HEAVY LIFT ON THE PART OF OUR LOCAL COUNTY CLERKS TO BE

ABLE TO TRY TO VET AND UNDERSTAND THE DOCUMENTATION THAT WAS BEING

PRESENTED BY THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WOULD BE RESPONDING TO THIS

LEGISLATION IF IT PASSES.

MR. CRESPO: SO, WE'VE HEARD THOSE CONCERNS AND

MS. WALSH: YEAH.

MR. CRESPO: BUT AGAIN, THERE IS TRAINING, THERE IS

PROCEDURES WHERE THEY ARE ACCEPTING DOCUMENTS. THEY ALREADY HAVE A

PROCESS TO VERIFY THOSE DOCUMENTS. THERE ARE CLEAR MARKERS TO

DETERMINE -- AND THEY'RE DIFFERENT COUNTRY TO COUNTRY, AND THERE ARE

METHODS CURRENTLY USED IN A NUMBER OF INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING IN DMV

CURRENTLY, AND IS PART OF THE TRAINING IF YOUR LOCAL -- DOES YOUR LOCAL

CLERK PROVIDE APPLICATIONS FOR REAL ID OR ENHANCED DRIVER'S LICENSE?

MS. WALSH: YES.

MR. CRESPO: SO, THEY -- SO THEY DO THAT. THEY WILL

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HAVE BEEN AND MUST HAVE BEEN TRAINED, IF THEY FOLLOW FEDERAL LAW, IN

THE PROCEDURES TO UTILIZE THE EXISTING TECHNOLOGIES TO VERIFY CERTAIN

FOREIGN DOCUMENTS. AND THE DOCUMENTS THAT WE ARE SUGGESTING ARE

DOCUMENTS THAT ARE ROUTINELY VERIFIED IN A NUMBER OF OTHER INDUSTRIES.

SO, THIS, AGAIN, YES, THE DEPARTMENT WOULD ISSUE THE REGULATIONS HOW TO

IMPLEMENT THIS, MAKE THOSE RESOURCES AVAILABLE WHERE NEEDED, AND

THERE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH NEW REVENUE COMING IN FROM THIS TO MEET

THOSE NEEDS IF THAT'S THE CASE. BUT THE FACT STILL REMAINS, THEY CURRENTLY

DO THAT NOW. THEY WOULD -- AND THEY CURRENTLY HAVE THE TRAINING NOW,

OR AT LEAST THEY SHOULD HAVE HAD IT IF THEY ARE PROVIDING THOSE EXISTING

APPLICATIONS. SO I -- I WOULD DISPUTE THE NOTION THAT THIS WOULD BE A --

A TREMENDOUS BURDEN OR NEW FOREIGN CONCEPT THAT --THAT THEY'VE NEVER

COME ACROSS. THAT JUST DOESN'T -- DOESN'T SEEM TO MATCH THE

INFORMATION WE HAVE FROM DMV OR WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE TRAINING

THEY GET FOR THE APPLICATIONS THEY CURRENTLY PROVIDE.

MS. WALSH: AND -- AND I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE.

WE PROBABLY WON'T AGREE ON THAT. BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY AND

THE AMOUNT OF TIME YOU'VE SPENT ON YOUR FEET DEBATING THIS BILL.

AND, MR. SPEAKER. ON THE BILL.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE BILL, MA'AM.

MS. WALSH: SO, FOR MANY OF THE REASONS STATED

BECAUSE OF THE -- THE DEBATE THAT WE'VE HAD THIS AFTERNOON, I'M ONLY SAD

THAT WE DON'T HAVE MORE MEMBERS IN THEIR SEATS REALLY LISTENING TO IT. I

THINK IT'S BEEN VERY INTERESTING FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE -- THE --

THE DIFFERENT MEMBERS THAT WE HAVE IN THIS CHAMBER AND THE DIFFERENT

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WALKS OF LIFE THAT BROUGHT THEM HERE. YOU KNOW, WE REALLY -- WHEN

YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WE HAVE A VERY -- A --A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS HERE

WHO HAVE DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS. WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE RETIRED FROM

THE MILITARY. WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE RUN OR DO RUN INSURANCE

AGENCIES. WE HAVE ATTORNEYS. WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO -- REALLY COMING

FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, AND HAVE WHAT I BELIEVE ARE SIGNIFICANT

CONCERNS AS -- AS I HAVE WITH THIS LEGISLATION. I AM -- I AM CONCERNED

ABOUT VOTER FRAUD ISSUES. AND I -- I BELIEVE THAT -- I BELIEVE THAT THERE

ARE WAYS TO AMEND THIS BILL TO MAKE IT FAR LESS LIKELY, IF THERE WAS SOME

WAY THAT WE COULD CODE THE DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER IN A WAY THAT

WOULD ALERT THE BOARDS OF ELECTIONS WHEN THEY DO RECEIVE THESE

APPLICATIONS, I THINK THAT THAT WOULD GO A LONG WAY TO REDUCING THE

CHANCE OF HAVING SOME OF THESE SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS. AND I'M -- I'M

EVEN MORE UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE BILLS THAT ARE LIKELY TO

COME NEXT. WE HAVE SEVERAL BILLS WHICH WOULD BE ADDRESSING

AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION.

AND WITH THAT, I'LL -- I'LL CLOSE. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MR. MANKTELOW.

MR. MANKTELOW: YES, MR. SPEAKER. WILL THE

SPONSOR YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. CRESPO, WILL YOU

YIELD?

MR. CRESPO: ABSOLUTELY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. CRESPO IS

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RESOULIENT [SIC] AND HOLDING TIGHT. HE WILL YIELD.

MR. MANKTELOW: THANK YOU, SIR. YOU'RE DOING

GOOD. JUST TO -- JUST TO PIGGYBACK A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT ASSEMBLYWOMAN

WALSH HAD TALKED ABOUT. HAS THERE EVER BEEN ANY CONSIDERATION OF

POSSIBLY WHEN SOMEONE GOES IN TO GET AN UNDOCUMENTED DRIVER'S

LICENSE, AT THAT POINT IN TIME DMV TAKES THAT LICENSE NUMBER, SENDS

THAT DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER TO THE STATE DMV, AND IN TURN, THE STATE

DMV TURNS THAT NUMBER OVER TO EVERY SINGLE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IN

NEW YORK STATE SO IT TAKES OUT THE -- THE GUESSWORK OF WHETHER THIS

PERSON IS OR IS NOT A CITIZEN?

MR. CRESPO: I'M SORRY, ARE YOU DESCRIBING WHAT

YOU BELIEVE TO BE THE PROCESS NOW? ARE YOU -- ARE YOU ASKING IF THAT'S

WHAT WE SHOULD --

MR. MANKTELOW: NO. NO. I'M ASKING, WOULD

YOU -- WOULD YOU CONSIDER DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

MR. CRESPO: NO. AND CERTAINLY NOT IN REGARDS TO

THIS BILL. YOU'RE -- YOU'RE -- I THINK THAT SUGGESTION IS SOMETHING FOR THE

ELECTION LAW FOLKS TO -- TO CONSIDER AS TO WHAT PROCESS THE BOARD OF

ELECTIONS COULD UNDERTAKE IN TERMS OF ENHANCING SOME OF THOSE

MEASURES. BUT NO, IT WASN'T A CONSIDERATION, NOR DO I THINK IT'S RELEVANT

TO WHAT DMV RESPONSIBILITIES ARE.

MR. MANKTELOW: WELL, HAVING THE SAME

CONCERNS FROM SOME OF OUR LOCAL COUNTY CLERKS BACK HOME, THAT WHOLE

GUESSWORK OF DOING THAT, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, DOING THE DOCUMENTS,

ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO AS A STATE LEGISLATOR ENTITY TO EASE UP THE -- THE

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WORK -- AT THE -- AT THE DMVS AS -- AS WELL AS THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS

WOULD BE GREATLY -- PROBABLY GREATLY APPRECIATED BACK HOME.

MR. CRESPO: AND NOW, AND -- AND I APPRECIATE

THAT, AND WILL ALWAYS LOOK AT IMPROVING THINGS AND A POSSIBILITY WE

COULD ALWAYS REVISIT THIS BILL AND ADDRESS CERTAIN ISSUES. BUT IT'S

IMPORTANT ALSO TO POINT OUT IN REGARDS TO THAT LINE OF THINKING, IF I AM AN

UNDOCUMENTED APPLICANT FOR A DRIVER'S LICENSE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF

THIS BILL, THE PROTECTIONS WE HAVE BUILT IN IN TERMS OF SHARING OF DATA ARE

LIMITED TO DMV. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS HAS THOSE

SAME STANDARDS FOR SHARING OF DOCUMENTS OR WHETHER THEY ARE A -- A LAW

ENFORCEMENT -- IMMIGRATION LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY COULD ATTEMPT TO

SUBPOENA. I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT WORKS. IT'S NOT RELATED HERE. THERE

ARE OTHER WAYS IN WHICH SOMEBODY WOULD PUT THEMSELVES IN THAT

POSITION AND DANGER OR HAVE THEIR PRIVACY NOT PROTECTED THE SAME WAY

WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO WITH THIS BILL. I GUESS WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS, I

APPRECIATE AND -- AND UNDERSTAND THE SENSITIVITY OF ENSURING ACCURATE

VOTER DATA. NOTHING IN THIS BILL -- AND -- AND I ASSURE YOU FROM EVERY

CONVERSATION I'VE HAD WITH ADVOCATES AND IMMIGRANT FAMILIES,

INCLUDING MY OWN FAMILY MEMBERS, NO ONE WANTS TO PUT THEMSELVES IN

THAT POSITION. THEY REALIZE THE DANGERS THEY -- THEY DO, ESPECIALLY

SHARING DATA WITH AGENCIES THAT DON'T HAVE OR WOULDN'T HAVE THE SAME

LEVELS OF -- OF PROTECTION HERE. SO, IT WOULD BE THEMSELVES PUTTING

THEM -- IT WOULD BE THOSE INDIVIDUALS PUTTING THEMSELVES IN THAT RISK.

NOT -- SO, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.

MR. MANKTELOW: ALL RIGHT. I APPRECIATE THAT

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ANSWER. SO -- SO, MAYBE ANOTHER OPTION WOULD BE WHEN AN

UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUAL GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE, WE COLOR CODE THAT

DOCUMENT, OR THAT DRIVER'S LICENSE, SO WHEN THAT INDIVIDUAL SHOWS UP TO

DMV -- I'M SORRY, TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, THEY CAN -- HE OR SHE

COULD DO THAT. NO?

MR. CRESPO: WELL, YOU'RE NOT -- YOU DON'T -- UNDER

STATE LAW YOU DON'T HAVE TO PROVIDE IDENTIFICATION TO GO VOTE. SO, THE

ANSWER IS NO. AS A MATTER OF FACT -- AND WE -- WE MAKE IT VERY CLEAR,

WE -- OUR INTENTION IS TO HAVE ONE STANDARD LICENSE FOR ANYONE WHO

DOES NOT APPLY FOR A FEDERAL REAL ID-COMPLIANT LICENSE. IT'LL BE A

STANDARD LICENSE, IT'S NOT LIMITED TO INDIVIDUALS -- IT WOULDN'T BE LIMITED

TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED. AND THE WHOLE POINT IS TO HAVE

A STANDARD UNIFORM LICENSE THAT DOES NOT MAKE THOSE DISTINCTIONS, AS

THOSE DISTINCTIONS ARE IRRELEVANT TO DRIVER ELIGIBILITY OR PRIVILEGES.

MR. MANKTELOW: OKAY. WE'LL PROBABLY

DISAGREE ON THAT, BUT I -- I UNDERSTAND YOUR POSITION ON IT.

ALSO, MY OTHER CONCERN IS, ONCE THESE INDIVIDUALS

ACCIDENTLY GET ON THE VOTING ROLLS, THAT MEANS THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE IN

SCHOOL BOARD VOTES, TOWN VOTES, VILLAGE VOTES. IS THAT CORRECT?

MR. CRESPO: WHATEVER -- YOU -- YOU KEEP ALLUDING

TO, AND A LOT OF THESE QUESTIONS PERTAIN TO BOARD OF ELECTIONS ISSUES THAT

ARE NOT RELEVANT TO DMV NOR WHAT THIS BILL ACTUALLY DOES. BUT EVEN IN

THAT SCENARIO, I -- IF SOMEBODY IS REGISTERED TO VOTE, AND SOMEBODY WHO

IS -- SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ELIGIBLE IS -- IS BY MISTAKE, BY WHATEVER

CONSEQUENCE, MADE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE, I'M ASSUMING THEY WOULD VOTE IN

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ANYTHING THAT THAT REGISTRATION MAKES THEM ELIGIBLE TO VOTE FOR. BUT, IT'S

-- IT'S AN ISSUE FOR THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO ADDRESS. IT'S AN ISSUE FOR

FUTURE OTHER POLICY PROPOSALS TO SEEK TO REMEDY. BUT, AGAIN, NOT -- NOT

-- NOT ONLY NOT RELATED TO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS. BUT EVEN IN THAT

SCENARIO WHERE SOME INSTANCES MAY OCCUR, WHERE SOME MISTAKES MAY

HAPPEN, I THINK THE ARGUMENT OR THE SUGGESTION THAT THOSE OUTWEIGH --

THAT THAT IS SUFFICIENT TO DENY THIS PRIVILEGE BECAUSE THEY OUTWEIGH

EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT, WOULD COME TO THE STATE;

THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS, THE PUBLIC SAFETY BENEFITS, THE INSURANCE ISSUES,

THE ROAD SAFETY ISSUES. THOSE ISSUES, IN MY MIND, FAR OUTWEIGH THE

MINUTE NUMBER OF INSTANCES WHERE SOMEBODY MAY INADVERTENTLY

FOR.

MR. MANKTELOW: OKAY. WELL, I -- I'M NOT SURE

IT'S -- I'M NOT SURE IT WOULD BE A MINUTE AMOUNT OF NUMBERS. I DON'T

KNOW THAT, BUT JUST HEARING QUICKLY TODAY ON HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE

DOING IT ACCIDENTLY, OR MAYBE NOT ACCIDENTLY, WE DON'T KNOW. JUST --

JUST GRAVE CONCERN TO THAT, AS WELL AS ONE OF MY FELLOW

ASSEMBLYMEMBERS BRINGING UP THE -- THE TERRORIST ISSUE. I HAD THAT

SAME THOUGHT AS WELL. YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE IT

EASIER FOR A TERRORIST TO FUNCTION IN NEW YORK STATE IS NOT A GOOD THING.

I JUST HAVE GRAVE CONCERN ABOUT THAT AS WELL.

MR. CRESPO: YEAH. AND I WANT TO -- I WANT TO BE

EXPLICIT ABOUT THAT: NEITHER DO I. THERE IS NO ARGUMENT WHERE I WOULD

DEFEND, SUPPORT OR PROMOTE A TERRORIST OR TERRORIST ACTS. THAT IS -- BUT

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-- BUT BRINGING THAT ISSUE UP RELATED TO WHAT THIS BILL DOES, I BELIEVE

MAKES AN ERRONEOUS CONNECTION. AND I'LL BE CLEAR AGAIN: IF YOU'RE

TALKING ABOUT ENFORCEMENT PROTECTIONS OF -- IN OUR COUNTRY, IF YOU LOOK

AT TERRORISM, IT HAS BEEN DOMESTIC TERRORISM THAT HAS MOSTLY AFFECTED THE

LIVES OF AMERICAN CITIZENS IN NOT ONLY NEW YORK STATE, BUT ACROSS THIS

COUNTRY. IN THE INSTANCE OF 9/11 INVOLVING FOREIGN TERRORISTS, ALL OF

THOSE INDIVIDUALS, IT WAS -- IT ACTUALLY HELPED LAW ENFORCEMENT TO

IDENTIFY THEM, TO INVESTIGATE THEM, TO FIND OTHER LINKS AND CONNECTIONS

AND NETWORKS WITHIN THEIR LIVES BECAUSE WE HAD THIS INFORMATION. AND

I WILL REITERATE AGAIN THAT ALLOWING PEOPLE TO LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE

SHADOWS, EVEN THOSE THAT ARE UNDOCUMENTED, RECOGNIZING THEIR MANY

CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR ECONOMY, TO OUR WORKFORCE, TO -- TO BUSINESS

DEVELOPMENT, TO SO MANY ASPECTS OF LIFE IN OUR STATE IS MUCH MORE

BENEFICIAL. IT FAR OUTWEIGHS THE COUPLE OF INSTANCES OR THE HANDFUL OF

INSTANCES COMPARED TO THE OVERALL NUMBER OF VOTER REGISTRATIONS OF

VOTERS IN THE STATE. THERE IS NO COMPARISON IN THE BENEFITS VERSUS

THOSE LIMITED CONCERNS. NO BILL IS PERFECT. EVERY BILL, EVERYTHING WE

DO MAY HAVE THOSE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. THE REASON WE CONTINUE

TO HAVE WORK TO DO, BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO CORRECT, SOME

LOOPHOLE TO CLOSE. AND WE CAN CERTAINLY HAVE THAT CONVERSATION

MOVING FORWARD. BUT IT'S CERTAINLY IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF PUBLIC SAFETY

AND OUR STATE, AND FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT IN PARTICULAR, FOR TERRORISM IN

PARTICULAR, THAT WE HAVE MORE INDIVIDUALS' INFORMATION ACCESSIBLE.

MR. MANKTELOW: WELL, I -- I APPRECIATE YOUR

COMMENTS ON THAT, ON THE MINUTE NUMBER OF INSTANCES, AND WE'LL DEBATE

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THAT ON ANOTHER DAY. I WANT TO STICK TO THE BILL. BUT I APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

AND ON THE BILL, SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE BILL, SIR.

MR. MANKTELOW: SO AGAIN TODAY WE'VE -- WE'VE

LISTENED TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT SPEAKERS HERE, UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S GOING

ON, THEIR CONCERNS, WHERE WE'RE REALLY AT. AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT

IMMIGRANTS, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS. BUT REALLY,

WE'RE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME, TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS, BRINGING THIS BILL

FORWARD AGAIN. AND AGAIN, WE HAVE MANY, MANY UNDOCUMENTED

IMMIGRANTS IN THIS COUNTRY, IN THIS STATE. MY GRANDFATHER WAS AN

IMMIGRANT, CAME OVER ON THE SHIP AT THREE YEARS OLD. CAME IN NEW

YORK STATE THROUGH STATEN ISLAND AND DID IT THE RIGHT WAY. SO WHAT WE

NEED TO DO AS A STATE AND AS A COUNTRY, WE HAVE UNDOCUMENTED

WORKERS, UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE. WE SHOULD BE TAKING EVERYTHING WE

CAN DO TO HELP THESE INDIVIDUALS BECOME LEGAL CITIZENS OF NEW YORK

STATE. INSTEAD -- INSTEAD OF SPENDING ALL THIS TIME ON GETTING -- GOING

AROUND THE WAY TO GET THEM A DRIVER'S LICENSE, WHY DON'T WE WORK WITH

THESE INDIVIDUALS TO GET THEM TO BE CITIZENS OF THIS STATE? WE HAVE A

GREAT STATE. WE HAVE A GREAT COUNTRY. AND LIKE IT OR NOT, MOST OF US

CAME FROM IMMIGRANTS IN THIS STATE. SO HOPEFULLY DOWN THE ROAD WE

CAN DO SOMETHING HERE AT THE STATE LEVEL TO HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE THEM LEGAL CITIZENS OF THE UNITED

STATES, LEGAL CITIZENS OF OUR STATE, WOULD BE A GREAT THING.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, MR. SPONSOR.

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THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. MALLIOTAKIS FOR A

SECOND.

MS. MALLIOTAKIS: THANK YOU. WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD? I JUST -- YOU KNOW, I WASN'T GOING TO SPEAK AGAIN, BUT I HEARD A

-- BECAUSE YOU -- YOU'RE NOT --

MR. CRESPO: I'M HAVING A HARD TIME HEARING YOU,

NICOLE, I'M SORRY.

MS. MALLIOTAKIS: DURING OUR CONVERSATION

PREVIOUSLY, YOU HAD BROUGHT UP THE TERRORISTS OF 9/11 AND -- AND THEN I

HEARD IT BEING BROUGHT UP AGAINST HERE -- AGAIN WITH MY COLLEAGUE.

AND YOU SAY THAT IT WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE US MORE SAFE BECAUSE THEY

WILL HAVE INFORMATION ON THE INDIVIDUALS. HOWEVER, THE BILL

SPECIFICALLY RESTRICTS THAT INFORMATION NOT BE SHARED WITH OTHER -- OTHER

AGENCIES, AND SO -- AND IT PARTICULARLY ALSO REQUIRES THAT AGENCIES NOTIFY

THE LICENSE HOLDER IF THEY ARE SEEKING ANY INFORMATION ON THAT

INDIVIDUAL.

MR. CRESPO: THAT LIMITATION IS FOR IMMIGRATION

ENFORCEMENT. THERE IS SPECIFIC LANGUAGE IN THIS BILL THAT WOULD

AUTHORIZE THE JOINT TASK FORCE ON TERRORISM TO DO AND CONTINUE TO

HAVE ACCESS. THEY'RE ONE OF THE EXEMPTED CATEGORIES TO CONTINUE TO

HAVE ACCESS AND TO REQUEST DATA. SO AS IT PERTAINS TO INVESTIGATIONS

RELATED TO TERRORISM, WE HAVE BEEN VERY EXPLICIT IN ALLOWING THOSE

INVESTIGATIONS TO CONTINUE. SO, AGAIN, I -- THE NOTION THAT WE ARE

MAKING IT HARDER FOR THOSE INVESTIGATIONS TO TAKE PLACE IS JUST NOT

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ROOTED IN FACT.

MS. MALLIOTAKIS: OKAY. SO, I MEAN, THERE --

THERE WOULDN'T BE A SITUATION WHERE AN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT

AGENCY THEN WOULD BE SEEKING DOCUMENTATION AS IT RELATES TO TERRORISM?

YOU'RE SAYING -- YOU'RE SAYING THAT WOULD BE HANDLED BY A DIFFERENT

AGENCY, IT WOULD NEVER BE HANDLED BY IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT?

MR. CRESPO: THEY COULD BE PARTICIPATING IN THESE

JOINT TASK FORCES. THERE ARE -- IF THERE IS REASONABLE DOUBT THAT

SOMEBODY'S INVOLVED IN A TERRORIST ACT, I ASSURE YOU, NOTHING IN THIS BILL

WILL PREVENT THOSE AGENCIES FROM GETTING THE APPROPRIATE INFORMATION

NECESSARY TO CONDUCT THEIR INVESTIGATIONS. AND SO, WE CAN SORT OF

REPHRASE THAT A -- A NUMBER OF WAYS, BUT IT'S NOT LIMITED TO THAT. A

NUMBER OF LOCAL AGENCIES ARE PART OF A JOINT EFFORT IN REGARDS TO TERRORIST

INVESTIGATIONS. THEY SHARE DATA. A LOT OF THAT DATA IS COLLECTED BY

THOSE OUTSIDE AGENCIES. SO NONE OF THAT IS AFFECTED BY THIS, AND SO I'M

GOING TO REPEAT AGAIN: IT IS MY CLEAR UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS BILL DOES

NOT IMPEDE ONE IOTA THE EFFORTS TO ROOT OUT AND INVESTIGATE TERRORIST ACTS

OR PEOPLE MAY -- WHO MAY BE INVOLVED IN TERRORISM.

MS. MALLIOTAKIS: OKAY. BUT IT DOESN'T

SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS IT, EITHER. YOU SAID THAT IT SPECIFICALLY GIVES

AUTHORITY TO SHARE INFORMATION WHEN NECESSARY?

MR. CRESPO: I'M SORRY, REPEAT THE QUESTION.

MS. MALLIOTAKIS: IT DOESN'T SPECIFICALLY MENTION

ANYTHING -- YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING THAT IT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES

COOPERATION WITH ANYTHING THAT'S RELATED TO A TERRORIST TASK FORCE. COULD

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YOU JUST POINT THAT OUT?

MR. CRESPO: SURE. IT IS THE -- PAGE 3, LOOK AT LINE

4, AGENCY -- UNLESS SUCH DISCLOSURE IS PURSUANT TO A COOPERATIVE

ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN CITY, STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES WHICH

ARRANGEMENT DOES NOT ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAW AND WHICH DISCLOSURE

IS LIMITED TO SPECIFIC RECORDS OR INFORMATION BEING SOUGHT PURSUANT TO

SUCH ARRANGEMENT. AND ACTUALLY, JUST SO YOU KNOW, THAT -- THAT WAS

ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS BY THE NYPD, WHICH PARTICIPATES IN THOSE JOINT

TASK FORCES, AND -- AND BROUGHT UP THAT VERY CONCERN. AND WE ENSURED

THAT THAT LANGUAGE WAS IN SO THAT THOSE TASKS FORCES WERE NOT IMPEDED

AND WERE EXPLICITLY LISTED AS AGENCIES THAT WOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE

ACCESS TO DATA.

MS. MALLIOTAKIS: OKAY. GREAT. ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CLARIFYING.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: READ THE LAST SECTION.

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

DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

MR. CRESPO TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. CRESPO: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. JUST -- I'M

GOING TO TRY TO GET THROUGH THIS VERY QUICKLY. THERE WERE A LOT OF

THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP, AND I APPRECIATE THE CONCERNS THAT

WERE RAISED. BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND IN THIS STATE,

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THIS LEGISLATION IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE ENTIRE STATE OF NEW YORK.

IT IS MORE BENEFICIAL TO COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK,

WHERE TRANSPORTATION IS FULLY ACCESSIBLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AS

OPPOSED TO LITTLE COMMUNITIES ON LONG ISLAND AND UPSTATE. THERE ARE

CLEAR ECONOMIC GAINS FOR THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THERE ARE GREAT

REVENUES COMING TO RURAL COMMUNITIES. THERE ARE SPONSORS AND

SUPPORT FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, TO OUR AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY.

THERE ARE CLEAR INDICATIONS BY THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY ABOUT THE BENEFITS

THAT WILL BE EXTENDED TO ALL DRIVERS IN OUR STATE. THERE -- AND FOR

PUBLIC SAFETY REASONS, WE HAVE ADDRESSED THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT

NEEDS. THIS BILL IS COMMON SENSE. IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE ENTIRE

STATE OF NEW YORK, AND IT RESPONDS TO THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR

IMMIGRANT FAMILIES WHO MAKE OUR STATE RUN. AND WE -- AND YES, I

WOULD LOVE TO JOIN ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES IN ADDRESSING THE NEED FOR

FEDERAL IMMIGRATION REFORM. BUT AS A STATE, WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO

WHAT'S IN OUR BEST INTEREST AND OUR BEST ECONOMIC INTEREST AND IN THE

BEST SOCIAL INTEREST OF OUR STATE, AND ALLOWING A WORKER TO GET TO WORK.

AND ALLOWING A MOTHER TO DRIVE HER SON TO SCHOOL OR TO A DOCTOR'S

APPOINTMENT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. AND WE

CAN MAKE OUR ROADS SAFER BY DOING THIS.

I WANT TO THANK THE SPEAKER. I WANT TO THANK THE

CHAIR OF THE TRANSPORTATION, BILL MAGNARELLI; EMMA, ZACH, YARITZA,

JAVIER, STEVE, CARLENE. ALL OF THE ADVOCATES, NYCLU, MAKE THE ROAD,

IMMIGRATION COALITION. OUR TEAM, JULIE, DAVID, JONATHAN. MY STAFF,

KATHRYN AND STEISY, MY INTERN WHO DEBATED THIS BILL IN THE MOCK

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

SESSION. TO FRANCISCO MOYA, TO FELIX ORTIZ, TO PRIOR SPONSORS OF

VARIATIONS TO THIS BILL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP TO GET US TO THIS

DAY. I ENCOURAGE ALL MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THIS IS A

BILL THAT WOULD ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE SAFETY AND THE

PROTECTIONS OF ALL NEW YORKERS, AND WOULD RAISE REVENUES THAT I HOPE

WE CAN REINVEST INTO THE TRANSPORTATION NEEDS OF RURAL COMMUNITIES.

IT'LL HELP OUR AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY AND THEIR VITAL WORKFORCE. IT IS

COMMONSENSE, GOOD POLICY. THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

RESTORING DRIVER'S LICENSES TO ALL NEW YORKERS IS THE

BEST THING WE CAN DO -- ONE OF THE BEST THINGS WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE THE

QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL NEW YORKERS IN THE STATE, AND I ENCOURAGE ALL MY

COLLEAGUES TO VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. CRESPO IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MRS. ARROYO.

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

THAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TODAY ARE LEARNING HISTORY IN THE

STATE OF NEW YORK. THE RHETORIC AGAINST THIS BILL HAS BEEN VERY

EXTENSIVE, AND WE LEARNED FROM IT. BUT NOBODY MENTIONED -- IT WAS

MENTIONED, BUT NOT IN THE WAYS THAT CONTRIBUTION THAT THESE PEOPLE THAT

OBTAIN THESE LICENSE, MAN AND WOMAN, THAT CAN WORK AND HAVE A

PERMANENT JOB, THE CONTRIBUTION THAT THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE TO OUR

SOCIETY. BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY MAKING A CONTRIBUTION, BUT IT'S NOT

RECOGNIZED.

AND WE HAVE TO ALSO OBTAIN THE PROPER INFORMATION OF

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

OUR LICENSES. BECAUSE -- AND WHEN I WENT TO CHANGE MY LICENSE, I HAD

TO PAY MORE THAN $100 TO OBTAIN MY NEW LICENSE. THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT

GOING TO HAVE A FREE SERVICE. TAXPAYERS DOESN'T PAY THAT. THAT COMES

FROM THEIR POCKETS. BECAUSE TO OBTAIN THE LICENSE, THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR

IT.

I THINK THAT AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF A POOR COMMUNITY IN

THIS ASSEMBLY, AS A PUERTO RICAN DESCENDANT THAT HAD LIVED WITH SO

MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME HERE UNDOCUMENTED, BUT HAVE BEEN AN

ASSET TO OUR SOCIETY, I'M PROUD TO VOTE YES IN THIS BILL. AND REMEMBER

THIS: THE LESSON THAT WE ARE GETTING TODAY IS THE ONE THAT OUR PARENTS

AND OUR -- THE PARENTS AND THE GRANDPARENTS THAT CAME HERE

UNDOCUMENTED YEARS AGO WENT THROUGH.

IT'S A PLEASURE FOR ME, I THANK THE SPEAKER AND THE

SPONSOR FOR THE BILL. AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT AND LOOK AT IT CAREFULLY

AND WITH INTELLIGENCE, BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO GET --

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MRS. ARROYO --

MRS. ARROYO: -- ANYTHING FREE FROM THIS

GOVERNMENT. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: HOW DO YOU VOTE?

MRS. ARROYO: I VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU SO VERY

MUCH.

MR. ORTIZ.

MR. ORTIZ: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, FOR ALLOWING

ME TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE. I, TOO, WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND THE SPEAKER FOR

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

REALLY TAKING THE STAND ON BRINGING THIS BILL FINALLY TO THE FLOOR. I'VE

BEEN HERE A LITTLE BIT, I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 1995. IN 1987, THE STATE OF

MICHIGAN WAS THE FIRST STATE IN THE COUNTRY TO ALLOW UNDOCUMENTED

PEOPLE TO USE THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, WHAT THEY CALL THE ITIN

NUMBER, TO HAVE DRIVER LICENSING. PEOPLE FROM NEW YORK WILL GO TO

MICHIGAN TO GET DRIVER LICENSING. WHEN I GOT ELECTED IN 1995, I GOT

INVOLVED IN THE CRUSADE TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN HAVE DRIVER LICENSE FOR

ALL. IN 2001, UNFORTUNATELY WHEN 9/11 HAPPENED, THEREFORE, THE DRIVER'S

LICENSE WAS TAKEN AWAY AND WAS A LOT OF RESTRICTIONS. 2003, I DECIDED

TO INTRODUCE THE SAME-AS BILL THAT WAS IN 1987 PASSED BY THE STATE

LEGISLATORS IN MICHIGAN. WE HAD (INAUDIBLE) DUE TO THE POLITICS OF THE

INDIVIDUAL AND THE PEOPLE BY PUTTING POLITICS FIRST RATHER THAN PUTTING

PEOPLE FIRST.

LASTLY, WE -- THIS IS A GREAT DAY. THIS IS A GREAT DAY

NOT ONLY FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, NOT ONLY FOR PUBLIC

SAFETY, NOT ONLY FOR THE QUALITY OF LIFE, BUT FOR ALL THOSE IMMIGRANT

WORKING-CLASS FAMILY WHO ARE STANDING OVER THERE IN -- IN THE -- ON TOP

OF YOU, MR. SPEAKER, RIGHT ON THE -- ON THE PODIUM. AND THESE

INDIVIDUALS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE IN 2019.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE SPONSOR. I WOULD LIKE

TO THANK THE CHAIR OF THE -- OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE. AND

WHEN YOU SAY SO MANY RED, THEY WILL BECOME TO BE GREEN BECAUSE WE

CAN BEGIN TO SEE SOME YELLOW. AND THOSE YELLOW WANT TO BECOME

GREEN, AND THE GREEN LIGHT WON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL THE

ADVOCATE. (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE).

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. ORTIZ IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

(APPLAUSE)

PLEASE, PLEASE. THANK YOU.

MR. PICHARDO.

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

ALLOWING ME TO EXPLAIN -- ABSTAIN AND EXPLAIN MY VOTE.

FIRST OF ALL, WE -- IN THIS CHAMBER, WE'VE HEARD

CONVERSATIONS IN THE PAST, IN DEBATES IN THE PAST AND AROUND THIS

COUNTRY, IN STATE LEGISLATURES AND IN CONGRESS TALKING ABOUT THE

DIGNITY OF WORK AND THE ABILITY OF INDIVIDUALS TO EARN A LIVING AND NOT

DEPEND ON ANTIPOVERTY MEASURES AND FOOD STAMPS AND OTHER SNAP

BENEFITS IN ORDER TO SUSTAIN THEIR FAMILIES. THERE ARE IMMIGRANTS RIGHT

NOW IN THIS COUNTRY FOR IN ORDER FOR THEM AROUND THIS STATE TO GET A JOB,

THEY NEED TO DRIVE. SO, NOT ONLY WILL THIS HAVE A DIRECT ECONOMIC

IMPACT ON GETTING FOLKS REGISTERED AND -- AND INSURED TO DRIVE, BUT ALSO

GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO EARN A LIVING, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY WILL BE OFF

OF ANY ANTIPOVERTY MEASURE ROLLS. THESE FOLKS DESERVE TO EARN A LIVING.

THEY WANT TO EARN A LIVING. THEY WANT TO TAKE THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL.

AND ON TOP OF ALL OF THIS, IMMIGRANTS ACROSS THIS STATE, BARRING 20 YEARS

AGO, WERE ALLOWED TO DO THIS REGARDLESS.

I WANT TO THANK THE SPONSOR FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE

CLARIFY THIS ISSUE IN THE LAW. I WANT TO THANK THE SPEAKER, THE ADVOCATES

AND EVERYONE THAT WAS ABLE TO PUSH TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS LEGISLATION

MADE IT TO THE FLOOR.

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

I'M VOTING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, AND I ENCOURAGE MY

COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR ALL

NEW YORKERS.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. PICHARDO IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MR. CAHILL.

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

LEGISLATION IS SUPPORTED BY THE AMERICAN PROPERTY CASUALTY INSURANCE

ASSOCIATION, BY THE NEW YORK INSURANCE ASSOCIATION. THE NEW YORK

BUSINESS COUNCIL HAS COME OUT IN FAVOR OF THIS LEGISLATION. LAW

ENFORCEMENT, INCLUDING THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND THE SHERIFF FROM THE

CITY AND COUNTY WHERE I LIVE SUPPORT IT. DOZENS OF ELECTED OFFICIALS

ACROSS THE STATE; NYSUT, RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, AGRICULTURAL

ORGANIZATIONS, HUMANITARIAN COALITIONS AND NUMEROUS OTHER GROUPS AND

INDIVIDUALS HAVE REGISTERED IN FAVOR OF THIS LEGISLATION. THE PUBLIC IS

DIVIDED. BUT COLLEAGUES, I SUGGEST THAT IF THEY HAD THE SAME

INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THEM THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US, IT'S CLEAR

THAT THEY, TOO, WOULD OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT THIS MEASURE. IT WILL

SAVE LIVES, SAID -- SAYS A STUDY FROM STANFORD UNIVERSITY. IT WILL MAKE

OUR DRIVERS SAFER, SAYS THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS. IT WILL SAVE EVERY

SINGLE DRIVER MONEY ON THEIR INSURANCE PREMIUMS, SAY A NUMBER OF

OBJECTIVE, CAREFULLY VETTED STUDIES, SOME OF WHICH ARE SUMMARIZED IN

THE SOUTHERN ECONOMIC JOURNAL IN A 2015 REPORT BY PROFESSORS FROM

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH. HOW? IT REDUCES

UNINSURED MOTORISTS. IT SAVES EVERY SINGLE REGISTERED DRIVER IN THIS

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

STATE WHO RECEIVES INSURANCE $17 PER PERSON BY CUTTING THEIR UN -- THEIR

UNINSURED MOTORIST INSURANCE COVERAGE BY CUTTING THEIR PERSONAL INJURY

PROTECTION COVERAGE. IT WILL SAVE LITERALLY MILLIONS, PROBABLY HUNDREDS

OF THOUSANDS, AT LEAST, FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN EACH ONE OF OUR DISTRICTS,

AND MAYBE AS MUCH AS $1 MILLION. WE DON'T HAVE A MORAL LITMUS TEST

WHEN IT COMES TO THE ISSUANCE OF DRIVER'S LICENSES. CONVICTED BANK

ROBBERS ARE ALLOWED TO GET DRIVER'S LICENSES. CORRUPT POLITICIANS CAN GET

DRIVER'S LICENSES. EVEN PEOPLE INVOLVED IN SERIOUS AND NUMEROUS CAR

ACCIDENTS CAN GET OR KEEP THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSES. WE USE OUR CARS TO

GET PEOPLE TO GO TO SCHOOL. WE USE THEM TO GO TO THE DOCTOR. WE USE

THEM TO GO TO WORK AND TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS --

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. --

MR. CAHILL: IT WAS THE LAW OF THE LAND--

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. CAHILL --

MR. CAHILL: -- IN 48 STATES --

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: HOW DO YOU VOTE?

MR. CAHILL: AND IT SHOULD BE THE LAW OF THE LAND

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. CAHILL --

MR. CAHILL: -- IN NEW YORK STATE AGAIN. I

WITHDRAW MY REQUEST AND VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. CAHILL IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MY FRIENDS AND GUESTS UP -- IN THE BALCONY, WE DO ASK

THAT YOU BE SEATED AND NOT STAND. WE DO ASK THAT YOU BE SEATED AND NOT

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

STAND. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE THAT.

MS. CRUZ.

WE HAVE, MEMBERS, TWO MINUTES, PLEASE. IT'S BEEN A

LONG DAY. WE DON'T NEED TO BE REMINDING YOU OF THAT.

MS. CRUZ: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I'LL BE VERY

BRIEF. WE'VE HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT OUR STATE STANDS TO MAKE

MORE THAN $50 MILLION IN YEARLY REVENUE. THAT HAVING LICENSED, TESTED,

INSURED DRIVERS WILL HELP PROTECT OUR ROADS. WE HAVE SEEN FAMILIES LIKE

MINE WHOSE LIVES WOULD BE CHANGED FOREVER WITH THIS PIECE OF PAPER.

A NO VOTE IS CLEARLY NOT BASED ON THE MERITS, BUT RATHER, IN A

DEEP-ROOTED FEAR OF BACKLASH FROM CONSTITUENTS WHO MAY HARBOR

ANTI-IMMIGRANT SENTIMENTS. TODAY, ON BEHALF OF MY MOTHER, WHO

ENDURED HUMILIATION AND STOLEN WAGES, ON BEHALF OF ALFREDO FLORES, MY

CONSTITUENT WHO WAS ARRESTED AND COULD BE DEPORTED SIMPLY BECAUSE HE

WAS TRYING TO GET TO WORK. ON BEHALF OF THOUSANDS OF 13-YEAR-OLDS

WHO TODAY ARE EMERGENCY PLANNING IN CASE MOM OR DAD IS PICKED UP BY

ICE AND NEVER COMES HOME, I VOTE YES, PROUDLY YES, TO GIVE

IMMIGRANTS AN OPPORTUNITY AT SURVIVAL.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. CRUZ IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MS. DE LA ROSA.

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

TO THANK THE SPONSOR OF THIS LEGISLATION, THE FORMER SPONSORS AND THE

COALITION OF ADVOCATES WHO ARE HERE TODAY. TODAY WE'VE HEARD

ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR AND AGAINST THIS IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION. BUT

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

WHAT'S ABUNDANTLY CLEAR TO ME IS THAT THIS LEGISLATION MAKES SENSE. IT

MAKES SENSE TO OUR STATE FINANCIALLY. AS WE'VE HEARD OVER AND OVER

AGAIN, $57 MILLION PER YEAR IN REVENUE. IT ALSO MAKES SENSE IN REGARD

TO PUBLIC SAFETY. AN INSURED DRIVER, A DRIVER WHO CAN PASS A ROAD TEST,

A DRIVER WHO CAN REACH AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, A HOSPITAL OR A DOCTOR.

THAT IS PUBLIC SAFETY. UNTIL 2013, ALL NEW YORKERS, REGARDLESS OF

IMMIGRATION STATUS, WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE. I BELIEVE

THAT MORALLY IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MAKING

SURE THAT IMMIGRANTS ARE NOT SEPARATED FROM THEIR FAMILIES DUE TO

SIMPLE TRAFFIC INFRACTIONS. I VISITED ORANGE COUNTY CORRECTIONAL

FACILITY WITH SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE TODAY. AND I CAN TELL YOU

THAT A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DETAINED WERE PICKED UP FOR TRAFFIC

INFRACTIONS. IN A MOMENT WHERE WE HAVE A CRISIS, A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

AT THE BORDER, WE MUST ENSURE THAT WHERE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FAILS

TO STAND UP, WE HAVE THE POLITICAL AND MORAL COURAGE TO SAY THAT

IMMIGRANTS ARE NEW YORKERS AND THAT THEY DESERVE THIS PRIVILEGE.

LET'S NOT DIVIDE OUR STATES INTO THE HAVES AND THE HAVE-NOTS.

THIS IS ABOUT DIGNITY FOR IMMIGRANT NEW YORKERS.

AND TODAY I'M PROUD TO VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. DE LA ROSA IN

THE AFFIRMATIVE.

MR. WEPRIN.

MR. WEPRIN: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I'D LIKE TO

BE EXCUSED FROM VOTING TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE. MY ASSEMBLY DISTRICT HAS

CLOSE TO 60 PERCENT FIRST-GENERATION IMMIGRANTS. AND I'M VERY PROUD

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

OF THAT CONSTITUENTS. MANY ARE DOCUMENTED, MANY ARE NOT, AMONG

THOSE CONSTITUENTS. MY MOTHER IMMIGRATED HERE FROM CUBA IN 1938,

AND I'VE BEEN A STRONG SUPPORTER OF IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE MADE THIS

STATE AND COUNTRY GREAT. THIS, FOR ALL THE REASONS WERE MENTIONED BY

SO MANY PEOPLE, WILL BE -- WILL ENSURE SAFETY ON OUR ROADS. IT WILL SAVE

MONEY. IT WILL HELP THE ECONOMY. AND IT WILL GIVE UNDOCUMENTED

IMMIGRANTS THE ABILITY TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILY AND TO CONTINUE TO BE

PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY.

I WITHDRAW MY VOTE AND PROUDLY VOTE IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. WEPRIN IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MS. FERNANDEZ.

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

ALLOWING ME TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE. I DON'T THINK THIS BILL SHOULD HAVE

BEEN AS CONTROVERSIAL AS IT HAS -- AS IT HAS BEEN, BUT WE SAW THAT IT WAS.

BUT THIS IS A GOOD BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS

THAT ARE ALREADY DRIVING TO DRIVE SAFELY AND INSURED. THAT MEANS THAT A

LITTLE FENDER-BENDER WILL NOT PUT LIVES IN DANGER THROUGH THREATS OF

DEPORTATION. NO ONE SHOULD FEEL THE URGE TO DITCH THE -- THE SCENE OF AN

ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THEIR LACK OF INSURANCE. AND THIS IS JUST A PLUS FOR

EVERYONE FOR THAT, PEDESTRIANS AS DRIVERS ALIKE. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT IT

OPENS UP MORE ECONOMIC AVENUES, AS WE'VE HEARD, FOR UNDOCUMENTED

RESIDENTS. THOSE FINANCIAL GAINS THEN COME BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IN

TAXES AND SALES. FURTHER, WE, AS A STATE, WOULD GAIN FROM LICENSE FEES,

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

INSURANCES AND SO ON. THE FINANCIAL ASPECT OF THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO BELIEVE THAT DRIVING

SHOULD BE A PRIVILEGE AND THAT IT IS KEPT FROM A LARGE POPULATION OF NEW

YORKERS WHO WORK AND CONTRIBUTE TO WHAT MAKES THE STATE GREAT. IT IS

OUR JOB AS LEGISLATORS TO SERVE EVERYONE WHO LIVE IN THE STATE. WE

DON'T DRAW LINES OR BORDERS OR PUT UP WALLS OR WHO WE CHOOSE TO

REPRESENT. IF WE'RE HERE TO START DOING THAT NOW, THERE'S NO TELLING WHAT

WE COULD DO LATER. AND THERE ARE SO MANY DAILY ACTIVITIES, AS WE SAID,

DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS AND TAKING YOUR KIDS TO SCHOOL, WHICH ARE VERY

IMPORTANT, OBVIOUSLY, TO US ALL. BUT EVEN THE ABILITY AND THE LEISURE TO

GO TO THE BEACH, TO TAKE YOUR FAMILY OUT TO THE PARK, THAT SHOULDN'T BE --

PUT FEAR ON ANY FAMILY JUST TO SPEND TIME IN THIS WORLD. WITH OR

WITHOUT A LICENSE, PEOPLE WILL KEEP DRIVING, AND WE KNOW THAT. SO, THIS

IS IMPORTANT TO JUST KEEP MAKING THE STREETS MORE SAFER. SO, WE, AS

LEGISLATORS, IF WE DIDN'T USE THIS TIME TO PUT THE SAFETY OF CONSTITUENTS OF

NEW YORKERS FIRST, THEN WE'RE NOT DOING OUR JOB. BUT, I'M VERY HAPPY

THAT THIS HAS COME TO THE FLOOR. I STRONGLY COMMEND THE SPONSOR FOR

THIS AND FOR THE SUPPORTERS AND ACTIVISTS THAT HAVE MADE IT LOUD AND

CLEAR THAT -- IS MY TIME UP?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: YES.

MS. FERNANDEZ: -- THAT ALL NEW YORKERS DESERVE

THIS PRIVILEGE.

SO, THANK YOU. I VOTE YES.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. FERNANDEZ IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

MR. RAMOS.

MR. RAMOS: MR. SPEAKER, I -- I RISE TO EXPLAIN MY

VOTE. IN THIS DEBATE WE HEARD A LOT OF RE -- REOCCURRING THINGS. WE

HEARD A LOT ABOUT VOTER FRAUD, PEOPLE SPEAKING ABOUT VOTER FRAUD. THIS

-- THERE ARE OVER A MILLION VOTERS IN SUFFOLK COUNTY, AND SOMEBODY

BROUGHT UP ABOUT FOUR CASES. BUT ARE -- ARE WE -- YOU KNOW, A LOT OF

THESE REOCCURRING THEMES ARE JUST -- THEY GET TO THE POINT OF RIDICULOUS.

ARE WE TO BELIEVE THAT A PERSON WHO'S LIVING IN THE SHADOWS, SOMEBODY

WHO IS UNDOCUMENTED, WHO HAS COME HERE, WHO'S HAPPY WITH THIS

PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE EVEN WITH MEAGER MEANS FOR HIS FAMILY,

IS GOING TO SIGN SOMETHING THAT SAYS, UNDER PENALTY OF LAW, A FELONY, IF

YOU SIGN THIS, IT'S A LIE, YOU'RE GOING TO GO TO JAIL? IT JUST GOES AGAINST

LOGIC TO EVEN BRING UP THE ISSUE OF -- OF VOTER FRAUD. THE ISSUE OF

POSSIBLY THAT SOMEBODY, IF THEY CHECK THE WRONG BOX, AND -- IF THEY

CHECK THE WRONG BOX AND THEN THEY -- THEY BECOME A REGISTERED VOTER --

OR RIGHT NOW, FIRST OFF, MOTOR VEHICLE IS ONLY OFFERING THE REGISTRATION.

IT'S OFFERING IT. IF ANY ONE OF YOU, AS ASSEMBLYPERSONS, HAD AN EVENT

AND YOU HAD A PILE OF REGISTRATION THERE, SOMEBODY COULD EASILY PICK

THAT UP AND ALSO FILL IT OUT FALSELY. THE FACT THAT IT'S ATTACHED TO THE

LICENSE IN -- TO GIVE THAT ARGUMENT, IS TO ASSUME THAT IMMIGRANTS WOULD

HAVE A PREDISPOSITION TO COMMIT THIS CRIME OF -- OF VOTER FRAUD. WE'VE

HEARD YESTERDAY IN COMMITTEE SOMEBODY BRING UP, DOES ANYTHING --

ANYTHING IN THIS BILL PREVENT SOMEBODY WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD FROM

APPLYING AND GETTING A LICENSE. WELL, A US CITIZEN WHO HAS A CRIMINAL

RECORD CAN APPLY AND GET A LICENSE. IT HAS NO RELEVANCE ON WHETHER THE

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

PERSON CAN -- CAN DRIVE OR NOT. ANOTHER REOCCURRING THEME IS TERRORISTS.

ARE WE TO BELIEVE THAT THE POLICE, THAT THE FBI WOULD RATHER HAVE A

TERRORIST BE ANONYMOUS, OR HAVE A TOOL TO BE ABLE TO -- TO CATCH THAT

PERSON? BUT THE REAL UNDERLYING QUESTION IS, WHY ARE ALL THESE THEME --

THEMES COMING UP? AND THE REASON --

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. --

MR. RAMOS: -- I'M ENDING NOW.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. --

MR. RAMOS: THE REASON IS --

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: -- RAMOS --

MR. RAMOS: -- BECAUSE IT'S TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION

THAT IMMIGRANTS HAVE A PREDISPOSITION --

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: SIR, HOW DO YOU

VOTE?

MR. RAMOS: -- TO BE VOTER FRAUD, CRIMINAL RECORDS

AND TERRORISTS --

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. RAMOS, PLEASE --

MR. RAMOS: -- IN REPETITION.

I PROUDLY VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. RAMOS IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MR. FALL.

MR. FALL: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. YOU KNOW, AS

THE FIRST-GENERATION AFRICAN-AMERICAN THAT COMES FROM AN IMMIGRANT

FAMILY AND THAT ALSO REPRESENTS A GREAT DEAL OF IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

IN MY DISTRICT, THIS BILL IS NEAR AND DEAR TO OUR HEARTS. AND, YOU KNOW,

I ALSO WANTED TO REALLY GIVE A BIG SHOUT-OUT AND THANK THE SPONSOR FOR

HIS LEADERSHIP FOR HELPING TURN THIS VISION INTO A REALITY. THERE ARE

MANY PEOPLE THAT COME TO THIS WONDERFUL COUNTRY THROUGH THE LEGAL

ROUTES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW -- THEY HAVE THEIR WORKING PAPERS AND THEY

WERE JUST ONLY LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE THAT

CAN HELP THEM ECONOMICALLY AND FOR A NUMBER OF OTHER REASONS.

ALMOST TWO DECADES AGO WHEN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS WERE NO

LONGER PERMITTED TO OBTAIN A DRIVER LICENSE IN OUR STATE, I BELIEVE THAT

WAS A POLICY AT THE TIME THAT COULD ARGUABLY BE CONSIDERED SHORTSIGHTED

BECAUSE IT MADE OUR STREETS LESS SAFE. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE FOLKS WERE

DRIVING WITHOUT LICENSES, AND THEY WERE ALSO DRIVING WITHOUT INSURANCE.

AND SO, WITH THIS BILL, OUR STREETS WILL BE MORE SAFE, IMMIGRANT

COMMUNITIES WILL HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO THRIVE, AND OUR STATE WILL

GENERATE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN REVENUE. WHILE WE ARE NOT THE FIRST

STATE TO INTRODUCE OR VOTE ON SUCH A BILL, I BELIEVE THIS IS A STEP IN THE

RIGHT DIRECTION.

I WITHDRAW MY REQUEST AND WILL BE VOTING IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. FALL IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MS. GLICK.

MS. GLICK: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I WITHDRAW

MY REQUEST SO I CAN EXPLAIN MY VOTE. IT'S A GREAT COUNTRY. AND PEOPLE

COME HERE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. AND AS I LOOK AROUND, THOSE OF YOU

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

-- ALL OF US, I THINK, IF WE WERE NOT NATIVE BORN -- OR IF WE WERE NATIVE

BORN, RATHER, OUR ANTECEDENTS WERE NOT. AND THEY CAME HERE AND THEY

FREQUENTLY WERE NOT WELCOME. AND WE ARE FACED WITH AN APPALLING

SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY TODAY THAT SOMEHOW -- A COUNTRY THAT HAS

ALWAYS SAID HOW IT WELCOMES IMMIGRANTS, HAS SOMEHOW BEEN TURNED

INTO A COUNTRY AFRAID OF IMMIGRANTS. THIS COUNTRY'S STRENGTH IS OUR

DIVERSITY. PEOPLE COME HERE BECAUSE THEY WANT A BETTER LIFE. THEY

COME HERE AND MAKE OUR COUNTRY BETTER. GIVING UNDOCUMENTED

IMMIGRANTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE IS JUST THE MOST

SMALL STEP WE CAN TAKE TOWARDS MAKING THEIR ABILITY TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR

FAMILY AND TO USE OUR ROADS SAFELY, IS JUST THE SMALLEST STEP. AND TO

HAVE SUCH A LONG DEBATE IS SORT OF SURPRISING, AND MAYBE A LITTLE

DISAPPOINTING.

BUT I DO WANT TO THANK THE SPONSOR. I WANT TO THANK

THE SPEAKER, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL THE ADVOCATES WHO HAVE WORKED SO

LONG AND HARD TO BRING US TO THIS POINT TODAY.

I WITHDRAW MY REQUEST AND PROUDLY VOTE IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. GLICK IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MR. BARRON.

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

THE WORD "TERRORIST" WAS USED FREQUENTLY IN THIS DISCUSSION. I JUST

WANT TO INFORM PEOPLE THAT FROM 2008 TO 2016, THERE WERE 201 ACTS OF

PLOTS AND ATTACKS REGARDING TO TERRORISM. OF THAT, 115 OF THOSE ACTS

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

WERE WHITE MALE, RIGHT-WING EXTREMISTS. TIMOTHY MCVEIGH, IN 1995,

BLEW UP A BUILDING IN OKLAHOMA THAT KILLED 168 PEOPLE AND INJURED

OVER 600-AND-SOME-ODD PEOPLE IN THE PROCESS. I DON'T WANT US TO LEAVE

HERE, WHEN WE'RE ALWAYS ASSOCIATING THE WORD "TERRORISM" WITH

IMMIGRATION THAT HAS A FACE OF BLACK AND BROWN. NO FORM OF TERRORISM

IS GOOD AND SHOULD BE ACCEPTED BY ANY HUMAN BEING CONCERNED ABOUT

LIFE. BUT WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW PEOPLE TO ALWAYS ASSOCIATE THAT WITH THE

FACE OF IMMIGRATION AND THE FACE OF BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE.

SO, I WANT TO COMMEND THE SPONSOR ON THIS BILL. IT

WOULD HELP THE ECONOMY. IT WOULD HELP THOSE WHO ARE CONTRIBUTING

CULTURALLY, INTELLECTUALLY AND ECONOMICALLY TO THIS COUNTRY. GOOD JOB.

I VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. BARRON IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MS. HYNDMAN.

MS. HYNDMAN: THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO

EXPLAIN MY VOTE. I WANT TO THANK THE SPONSOR FOR YOUR UNDYING PASSION

AND STAMINA TO WITHSTAND ALL OF THE QUESTIONS YOU RECEIVED THIS

AFTERNOON. I REMEMBER AS A -- AS A CHILD WATCHING MY PARENTS AND --

MY MOTHER A NURSE AND MY FATHER A CARPENTER, WERE ABLE TO LEAVE HOME,

UNDOCUMENTED, BUT HAD LICENSES BEFORE THE CHANGE WAS MADE. AND I

FEEL THAT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE FAITH IN THE PEOPLE THAT

WORK IN THE DMV. WE HAVE EMPLOYEES RIGHT NOW IN THE STATE

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT THAT EVALUATE FOREIGN DOCUMENTS FOR DOCTORS, FOR

SURGEONS, FOR DENTISTS, SO THAT WHEN YOU GO UNDER THE KNIFE, YOU HOPE

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THAT THE PERSON THAT'S BEEN -- THAT'S DO -- PERFORMING THE PROCEDURE ON

YOU HAS BEEN EVALUATED. SO WHY WOULDN'T WE HAVE THE SAME FAITH IN

THOSE EMPLOYEES OF THE DMV? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO -- WHO

CUT OUR GRASS, FIX OUR HAIR, BABYSIT OUR CHILDREN, TAKE CARE OF OUR SICK

AND OUR ELDERLY, BUILD OUR HOMES, PREPARE OUR MEALS IN THE THOUSANDS

OF RESTAURANTS THAT TAKE -- THAT ARE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. WE WANT

TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN GET TO AND FROM WORK AND NOT HAVE TO TAKE

TIME AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES. BECAUSE NO ONE COMES HERE TO FLOUT THE

SYSTEM, THEY COME HERE FOR A BETTER LIFE. AND THAT'S WHAT THESE

IMMIGRANTS OR UNDOCUMENTED WILL BE DOING. MAKING SURE THEY CAN GET

TO WORK. TAKE CARE OF US AND OUR FAMILIES. MAKING SURE THERE'S A

PROCESS THAT WE WILL PUT IN PLACE THAT WE HAVE THE POWER TO DO IN THIS

ASSEMBLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GO THROUGH THE NECESSARY

REQUIREMENTS TO OPERATE A VEHICLE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THAT'S

WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR. AND I JUST HOPE OUR COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER

SIDE, IN THE OTHER HOUSE, WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE

STRENGTH TO DO THIS HEAVY LIFT AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE LICENSED IN THE

STATE OF NEW YORK.

AND WITH THAT, I WITHDRAW MY REQUEST AND VOTE IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. HYNDMAN IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MR. BUCHWALD.

MR. BUCHWALD: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. MR.

SPEAKER, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION DURING THIS DEBATE ABOUT THE

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CONNECTION BETWEEN DRIVER'S LICENSES AND VOTING, AND SO I WANTED TO

PUT FORWARD WHAT I THINK IS A DEMONSTRABLE FACT THAT MAYBE WILL HELP

CLARIFY THINGS. I BELIEVE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK WHO ARE LEGAL IMMIGRANTS, NOT US CITIZENS,

WOULD HAVE DRIVER'S LICENSES IN OUR STATE. AND I'VE HEARD NOTHING

ABOUT HOW THAT FACILITATED THEIR ABILITY TO VOTE, BECAUSE, OF COURSE, IT

DOESN'T. YOU CANNOT VOTE IF YOU ARE NOT A US CITIZEN. THAT -- THERE ARE

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF EXAMPLES, THEREFORE, OF SITUATIONS IN WHICH

HAVING A DRIVER'S LICENSE IS NOT CONNECTED TO THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

SO, SINCE I'VE HEARD NOTHING IN THIS DEBATE TO DISSUADE

ME FROM THE NOTION THAT THERE IS NO CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO, I

PROUDLY THANK THE SPONSOR FOR HIS PUTTING FORTH THIS LEGISLATION AND CAST

MY VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. BUCHWALD IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MR. MOSLEY.

MR. MOSLEY: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, TO EXPLAIN

MY VOTE. I WANT TO FIRST AND FOREMOST THANK OUR COLLEAGUE, OUR BILL

SPONSOR BOTH -- IN BOTH CHAMBERS. I WANT TO THANK OUR SPEAKER, AND I

WANT TO THANK ALL COLLEAGUES, BOTH PAST AND PRESENT, WHO HAVE WORKED

ON THIS IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION. DR. KING SO NOTED THAT, THE ARC

OF THE MORAL UNIVERSE IS LONG, BUT IT BENDS TOWARDS JUSTICE. BUT THE ONE

THING THAT HE DOES NOT DISTINGUISH IS THAT HOW DOES IT BEND? IT BENDS

THROUGH THE CONSCIENCE -- THE GOOD CONSCIENCE OF MEN AND WOMEN TO

DO WHAT IS RIGHT. YOU KNOW, WE OFTEN THROW AROUND THE MONICKER THAT

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

THIS LEGISLATIVE BODY IS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE. AND OFTEN WE TEND TO

FORGET THAT IT'S THE PEOPLE WHOM WE REPRESENT, REGARDLESS OF THEIR POINT

OF DESTINATION, REGARDLESS OF THEIR STATUS. AND ULTIMATELY, WE

UNDERSTAND THAT THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE A PART OF OUR ECONOMY.

THEY ARE ON OUR FARMS. THEY ARE IN OUR HOMES. THEY ARE IN OUR

SCHOOLS. BUT YET, WE DON'T WANT TO GIVE THEM THE PRIVILEGE THAT ANY

NEW YORKER SO RIGHTFULLY DESERVES AND NEEDS IN AN EFFORT TO

MATRICULATE THROUGH THIS ECONOMY AND THROUGH OUR SOCIETY. YOU KNOW,

THESE ARE MEN WHO FIGHT IN OUR BATTLEFIELDS, LOSE THEIR LIVES FOR THIS

COUNTRY IN AN EFFORT TO PRESERVE OUR PRINCIPLES. THESE ARE MEN AND

WOMEN WHO HAVE -- SOME HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE, BUT YET, WE

CAN'T GIVE THEM THE PRIVILEGE TO DRIVE IN NEW YORK STATE. WE

UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS, THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS, THE SOCIAL BENEFITS, THE

SAFETY BENEFITS. BUT IF WE'RE TRULY ABOUT BEING -- ABOUT BEING THE

PEOPLE'S BUSINESS, LET US SPEAK TO OUR CONSCIENCE. LET US ADHERE TO OUR

CONSCIENCE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. BECAUSE IF THAT'S NOT THE CASE, WHY ARE

WE HERE, COLLEAGUES? WHY ARE WE HERE PROCLAIMING TO BE ABOUT THE

PEOPLE AND YET NOT DOING THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS?

SO I STAND PROUDLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS PIECE OF THIS

LEGISLATION. (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(APPLAUSE)

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. -- MR. MOSLEY IN

THE AFFIRMATIVE.

MS. FAHY.

MS. FAHY: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, FOR ALLOWING

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

ME TO RISE TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE. THIS DEBATE HAS BEEN CERTAINLY A

DIFFICULT ONE AND IT'S BEEN QUITE A LONG ROAD. AND I KNOW THE ONE THING

THAT BOTH SIDES HAVE AGREED ON, AND I FULLY AGREE WITH, IS THAT PART OF

THE REASON WE'RE IN THIS -- THIS -- WE'RE FACED WITH THIS IS BECAUSE WE

DESPERATELY NEED IMMIGRATION REFORM RIGHT ACROSS THE BOARD. BUT WE

HAVE A CONGRESS AND A -- AND A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT IS COMPLETELY

PARALYZED, AND IN THE MEANTIME WE NEED TO -- TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

I TEND TO TAKE A VERY BROAD LENS OF -- OR CAREFUL LENS TO BILLS SUCH AS

THIS, AND I'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE SPONSOR AND APPRECIATE HIS

RESPONSIVENESS. I'M FIRST GENERATION, I'M THE DAUGHTER OF IMMIGRANTS

AND I ALWAYS REMIND MYSELF, THERE, BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, GO I. I

DO BELIEVE THAT THIS BILL, IN THE END, REALLY DOES ASSIST US WITH ROAD

SAFETY, WHICH IS A BIG ISSUE IN UPSTATE IN PARTICULAR. IT ALSO ALLOWS -- IT

ALLOWS FOR BETTER INSURANCE COVERAGE, WHICH IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT ON

UPSTATE ROADS. I TALK A LOT ABOUT IMPAIRED DRIVING AND MY CONCERNS,

AND WE WANT TO DO ALL WE CAN TO HAVE SAFER ROADS, SAFER DRIVERS, AS WELL

AS BETTER INSURED DRIVERS. AND WE HAVE MORE FARM WORKERS UP HERE

WHO NEED ACCESS AND DON'T HAVE THAT TYPE OF ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSIT.

THERE ARE OTHER STATES THAT HAVE DONE THIS. THERE IS A PRECEDENCE FOR

THIS PRIOR TO 9/11. I ALSO BELIEVE -- I HAD A NUMBER OF CONCERNS WHERE

THE SPONSOR WAS VERY RESPONSIVE TO -- TO THOSE CONCERNS. AND SOME OF

THOSE WERE ON LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCESS TO -- TO RECORDS, AS WELL AS

STRONGER DOCUMENTATION. AND I HAVE BEEN VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SOME

OF THE TACTICS OF ICE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK, LET ALONE THROUGHOUT THE

STATE. SO WHILE WE NEED ACCESS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, I ALSO UNDERSTAND

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

THE NEED FOR PROTECTIONS, GIVEN THE OVERREACH OF ICE IN SOME RATHER

HORRIFIC INCIDENCES IN RECENT TIMES. I ALSO APPRECIATE THE FONT CHANGE,

AND COMMEND THE SPONSOR AND THE SPEAKER --

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. FAHY --

MS. FAHY: -- AND I VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK

YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. FAHY IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MR. RIVERA.

MR. RIVERA: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. WHEN I

SPOKE EARLIER - AND I WANT TO BE AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE - WHEN I SPOKE

EARLIER, THERE'S HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WATCHING WHAT'S GOING

ON HERE TODAY, THANKS TO TRANSPARENCY. BECAUSE YEARS AGO, WE MADE

SURE THAT WE HAVE TRANSPARENCY BECAUSE WE GOT FOUR TV CAMERA AIMED

AT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US. SO, PEOPLE OUT THERE KNOW WHERE WE

STAND. MR. SPEAKER, BUT AT THIS MOMENT, VERY QUICKLY, I WANT TO

EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO OUR LEADER, MARCOS CRESPO. (SPEAKING FOREIGN

LANGUAGE) TRANSLATION: I JUST SPOKE IN THE FIRST EUROPEAN LANGUAGE

SPOKEN IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND WHEN THOSE PEOPLE

TRAVEL FROM NEW YORK WITH THEIR FAMILY OUT WEST LOOKING FOR A BETTER

OPPORTUNITY ON COVERED WAGONS, THE MEXICAN MADE A MISTAKE: THEY

DIDN'T ASK THEM, WHERE IS YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE? THEY DIDN'T ASK THEM,

DO YOU SPEAK SPANISH? ALL RIGHT? NEITHER DID THE AMERICAN -- NATIVE

AMERICANS IN THIS COUNTRY.

SO, I CONGRATULATE MY SPEAKER, LOOKING AT US IN

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ACTION. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. THANK YOU, MARCOS CRESPO. THANKS

ALL OF YOU FOR MAKING IT CLEAR THAT THIS BODY -- AND WHAT GOT ME ANGRY,

AND I'M STILL ANGRY, IS BECAUSE WHEN I SPOKE -- WHEN I SPOKE, I SAW

THIS: JAY JACOBS TO SENATE DEMOCRATS: DON'T VOTE ON DRIVER LICENSES

AND MARIHUANA THIS YEAR. THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THIS WAS SENT TO ME

BY LUIS MENDEZ, FROM (INAUDIBLE), WHO'S WATCHING US FROM

HEMPSTEAD, LONG ISLAND. HUNDREDS OF THOUSAND OF LATINO --

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. --

MR. RIVERA: -- HEMPSTEAD, LONG ISLAND AREA --

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. --

MR. RIVERA: -- ARE WATCHING US.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. RIVERA, HOW DO

YOU VOTE, SIR?

MR. RIVERA: HOW DO I VOTE? OH. OH.

(LAUGHTER)

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. OF COURSE I'M GOING TO VOTE

YES. (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE) --

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. --

(APPLAUSE - CHEERS)

MR. RIVERA IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

MR. OTIS.

MR. OTIS: THANK YOU -- THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I

WANT TO CONGRATULATE MR. CRESPO FOR HOURS OF ANSWERS THAT HE GAVE

WITH GREAT EASE. HE WAS NOT STUMPED ONCE. HE HAS RESEARCHED THE

ISSUE COMPLETELY. AND SO IT POINTS UP THE FACT THAT THIS IS SOMETHING

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE YEARS AGO. THIS IS A SIMPLE MATTER OF

PUBLIC SAFETY. PEOPLE THAT DRIVE IN THIS STATE SHOULD BE -- HAVE A

LICENSE, SHOULD BE TRAINED, SHOULD TAKE THE TEST. AND WE'RE HERE TODAY

-- A LONG DEBATE -- BUT YEARS TOO LATE. IT ALSO SPEAKS TO HUMAN DIGNITY.

BECAUSE THE REASON WHY THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN SOONER IS CONFUSION OVER

HUMAN DIGNITY, AND THE FACT THAT WE OWE THAT TO EVERYBODY WHO IS A

RESIDENT OF THIS STATE. AND THIS IS ONE WAY WE CAN COMMUNICATE THAT.

I WANT TO THANK THE SPEAKER. I WANT TO THANK

FRANCISCO MOYA, THE PREVIOUS SPONSOR OF THIS BILL. BUT I ESPECIALLY

WANT TO THANK THE ADVOCATES WHO HAVE GONE FROM TOWN TO TOWN ACROSS

THIS STATE, ACTIVELY SPEAKING TO POLICE DEPARTMENTS, SPEAKING TO

EDUCATORS, SPEAKING TO COMMUNITIES ALL OVER THIS STATE TO EXPLAIN WHY

THIS IS NEEDED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY, BECAUSE YOUR ADVOCACY

IS WHAT BRINGS US HERE TODAY WITH THIS SUCCESSFUL VOTE.

I VOTE AYE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. OTIS IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MR. GOTTFRIED.

MR. GOTTFRIED: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. YOU

KNOW, TODAY'S DEBATE WAS ENORMOUSLY ENRICHED BY THE PERSONAL FAMILY

STORIES OF SO MANY OF OUR COLLEAGUES. IF WE HAD HAD THIS DEBATE A

DOZEN YEARS AGO WHEN THIS CONCEPT WAS FIRST ADVANCED IN NEW YORK,

WE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THAT DEBATE, BECAUSE OUR MEMBERSHIP TODAY IS

SO MUCH MORE DIVERSE THAN IT WAS JUST 10 OR 12 YEARS AGO. AND I THINK

TODAY'S DEBATE IS A FINE EXAMPLE OF WHY WE NEED TO BE PLEASED AND TO

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CELEBRATE THAT GROWTH IN THE DIVERSITY OF OUR MEMBERSHIP.

AND I'M DELIGHTED TO JOIN WITH ALL THE REST OF MY

COLLEAGUES IN VOTING YES.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. GOTTFRIED IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MR. PERRY.

MR. PERRY: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, FOR ALLOWING

ME TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE. THE PEOPLE SEND US HERE, MR. SPEAKER, TO

MAKE COMMONSENSE DECISIONS. TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON FACTS AND

REASON, AND NOT TO ALLOW OUR PREJUDICES AND OUR AFFAIRS OF EACH OTHER TO

CLOUD OUR REASONING. FEAR OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T LOOK EXACTLY LIKE US

AND FEAR OF JUST LETTING GO AND GIVING POOR PEOPLE WHO NEED A CHANCE

JUST A LITTLE HELP TO ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS. PEOPLE SEEKING FREEDOM AND

OPPORTUNITY SHOULD NOT ALWAYS HAVE TO CLIMB OVER A WALL TO REALIZE

THEIR DREAM. THIS BILL IS APTLY CALLED THE "GREEN LIGHT BILL", BECAUSE

THE CURRENT POLICY SEEMS TO BE NOTHING MORE THAN JUST A BIG STOP SIGN IN

THEIR ROAD TO A BETTER LIFE. WHEN WE VOTE YES TODAY, MR. SPEAKER, WE

WILL OPEN THAT ROAD. WE WILL REMOVE THAT WALL THAT STANDS IN THEIR WAY.

I VOTE YES FOR THE GREEN LIGHT BILL. I CONGRATULATE THE

SPONSOR WHO WORKED SO HARD, ALL THOSE WHO HAVE WORKED SO HARD OVER

THE YEARS TO BRING ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER AND TO GET THIS BILL TO THE

FLOOR. I THANK THE SPEAKER FOR ALLOWING US TO VOTE ON IT TODAY, AND I

THANK ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION TO VOTE

YES, AND I VERY PROUDLY CAST MY VOTE YES. LET'S MOVE THAT RED LIGHT --

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. --

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

MR. PERRY: -- OUT OF THE WAY AND GO GREEN FOR

THOSE PEOPLE. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. PERRY IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MR. BLAKE.

MR. BLAKE: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. FIRST TO

COMMEND THE SPONSOR FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND ENDURANCE, NOT JUST TODAY,

BUT CONSISTENTLY AMONG, CLEARLY, A FLURRY OF LANGUAGE THAT WAS

DISCRIMINATORY. MR. SPEAKER, WE COME HERE AT THIS MOMENT AS A SON OF

IMMIGRANT, WHICH I REMIND ALL OF US, UNLESS WE ARE NATIVE AMERICAN,

WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT. A TRAFFIC STOP SHOULD NOT

BE THE REASON WHY YOUR LIFE IS AT RISK. AND FOR THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN

TALKING ABOUT JUSTICE, I WOULD REMIND US TO LOOK THAT IN 2015 THERE WAS

A SUPREME COURT RULING IN RODRIGUEZ V. THE UNITED STATES, IN WHICH

BY A SIX TO THREE MARGIN, THE SUPREME COURT RULED THAT A TRAFFIC STOP

SHOULD NOT BE EXTENDED JUST FOR UNREASONABLE CAUSE, WHICH, QUITE

FRANKLY, HAPPENS REPEATEDLY FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO COME OUT OF

SHADOWS AND LIVE OUT THEIR PROMISE IN LIFE. IMMIGRANTS ARE NOT

TERRORISTS, THEY SCHOLARS. IMMIGRANTS ARE NOT HERE COMMITTING VOTER

FRAUD, THEY ARE LEADERS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO BECOMING THE 13TH STATE

TO MAKE THIS A REALITY, MR. SPEAKER. AND I ALWAYS WANT TO REMIND ALL

THOSE THAT ARE IN OPPOSITION WHENEVER WE TALK ABOUT THIS FROM A FAITH

PERSPECTIVE, NEVER FORGET THAT JESUS WAS AN IMMIGRANT WHO HAD TO

TRAVEL, AND NEVER FORGET THE REALITY AT ROMANS 13:10, STEERLICK

(PHONETIC) SAYS: LOVE DOES NO HARM TO THE LABOR -- TO THE NEIGHBOR,

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

LOVE IS THE FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW.

I AM PROUD TO STAND AND VOTE AYE FOR THIS LEGISLATION

FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE ACCESS FOR DRIVER'S LICENSES AND

PROVIDE GREEN LIGHT OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR SISTERS AND BROTHERS THAT ARE

COMING OUT OF THE SHADOWS. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. BLAKE IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MR. DINOWITZ.

MR. DINOWITZ: THANK YOU. I KNOW FOR SOME

PEOPLE THIS IS A -- A TOUGH BILL. I'M ACTUALLY NOT SURE WHY, BECAUSE TO

ME IT'S A NO-BRAINER. THERE ARE PEOPLE DRIVING, AND I WOULD THINK WE

WOULD WANT PEOPLE WHO ARE DRIVING TO GET A LICENSE, TO TAKE A TEST, TO

PASS A TEST AND TO DRIVE SAFELY. TO GET INSURANCE AND TO -- AND TO BE

ABLE TO DRIVE SAFELY WITH THAT INSURANCE. I WOULD THINK WE WOULD WANT

PEOPLE WHO WORK TO BE ABLE TO GET TO WORK, WE WOULD WANT PEOPLE

WHO NEED TO GO TO THE DOCTOR TO GET TO THE DOCTOR, AND TO TAKE THEIR KIDS

TO SCHOOL. THIS BILL IMPROVES SAFETY. I'LL BE HONEST. I ACTUALLY THINK IT'S

MEAN NOT TO -- NOT TO ALLOW UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS THE ABILITY TO

ATTEMPT TO GET A LICENSE. AND FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN ON THE ROAD -- AND

WE ALL DRIVE, OR MOST OF US DRIVE -- THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE ON

THE ROAD RIGHT NOW WHO HAVE LICENSES WHO DON'T BELONG THERE. THAT'S

THE REALITY. I DIDN'T GET MY LICENSE UNTIL I WAS 30. NOT EVERYBODY GETS

LICENSES SO QUICKLY. BUT IF PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE A DECENT LIFE AND BE

ABLE TO GO TO THE DOCTOR AND GO TO WORK AND TAKE THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL,

WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO PASS A TEST AND TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE SAFELY.

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

AND I HAVE TO AGREE WITH ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO'S NOT SITTING THERE

AT THE MOMENT, WE KNOW WHAT THE FACE OF TERRORISM IN THIS COUNTRY IS,

AND IT'S NOT THE FACE OF AN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT. AND WE ALL KNOW

THAT TO BE A REALITY. SO, LET'S BE HONEST ABOUT IT. AND I'VE NEVER SEEN

THE SLIGHTEST EVIDENCE OF VOTER FRAUD BY IMMIGRANTS WHO WERE EITHER

NONCITIZENS OR UNDOCUMENTED AT ALL. IT JUST DOESN'T EXIST. IT'S A RED

HERRING, IT'S JUST NOT TRUE.

SO, I THINK THAT VOTING FOR THIS BILL IS THE RIGHT THING TO

DO. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE SPONSOR WHO LASTED TO, I

WOULD SAY, DENNY FARRELL LENGTHS TODAY, IN STANDING UP AND DEBATING

AND EXPLAINING. HE DID A GREAT JOB. AND THANK YOU TO THE SPEAKER,

AND I PROUDLY CAST MY VOTE YES.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. DINOWITZ IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MR. JACOBSON.

MR. JACOBSON: THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO

EXPLAIN MY VOTE. TO ME, THIS WAS A VERY SIMPLE ISSUE OF SAFETY. I WANT

EVERYBODY LICENSED AND EVERYBODY INSURED. THE DISTRICT I REPRESENT

DOES NOT HAVE SUBWAYS. WE HAVE LIMITED BUSES. AND PEOPLE WHO --

THAT WILL GET THE LICENSES, MOST OF THEM ARE ALREADY DRIVING. BUT I WANT

PEOPLE TO BE LICENSED AND INSURED, AND I THINK IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

I WANT TO COMMEND THE SPONSOR FOR WORKING SO HARD

AND DOING SO WELL IN THE DEBATE. AND FOR THOSE THAT HAVE CONCERNS,

REMEMBER, 12 YEARS AGO, COMPARED TO THEN, WE HAVE DIFFERENT LICENSES

NOW. YOU HAVE THE STANDARD LICENSE, WHAT THIS BILL IS ABOUT. YOU

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

CANNOT USE IT TO GET ON A PLANE. YOU NEED THE ENHANCED LICENSE. AND

-- AND THE PEOPLE GETTING -- THAT WILL BE BENEFITTING FROM THIS BILL

CANNOT GET THE ENHANCED LICENSE.

SO, TO ME, IT'S A MATTER OF SAFETY. I WANT EVERYBODY

INSURED. AND I VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. JACOBSON IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MR. LAVINE.

MR. LAVINE: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. WE CANNOT

LIVE IN THE WORLD OF ALTERNATIVE REALITY AND HOPE TO BE EFFECTIVE

LEGISLATORS. AND THIS IS REALITY. THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER TELLS US THAT

NEW YORK STATE IS HOME TO THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILLION, 750,000 PEOPLE

WITHOUT DOCUMENTATION. OF THAT NUMBER, 250,000 LIVE IN THE SUBURBS

WHICH I REPRESENT AND THE EXURBS OF OUR METROPOLITAN REGIONS. THEY

ARE A LARGE PART OF OUR NEW YORK ECONOMY, AND OF THAT THERE IS NO

DOUBT AND CAN BE NO DOUBT. I'VE LISTENED TO THE DEBATE AND I WORRY. I

WORRY WHEN THE SYMBOLISM SURROUNDING A CHALLENGE BEGINS TO TAKE ON

MORE SIGNIFICANCE THAN THE CHALLENGE ITSELF. AND I ALSO WORRY BECAUSE

TO DENY THAT MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE DOES

NOTHING MORE THAN TO ENABLE AN UNDERGROUND ECONOMY AND TO DEMEAN

750,000 PEOPLE. GREAT NATIONS FAIL WHEN THEY DENY REALITY. AMERICA IS

A GREAT NATION, AND NEW YORK IS A GREAT STATE.

I'M GOING TO VOTE YES, AND I WANT TO THANK THE

SPEAKER. AND TO THE SPONSOR - AND I SAY THIS AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP

IN AN IMMIGRANT HOME, AN IMMIGRANT HOME THAT WAS NOT ALWAYS VALUED

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

BY ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS - SO TO THE SPONSOR, MUCHAS GRACIAS, CABALLERO.

MY VOTE IS YES.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. LAVINE IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MRS. GALEF.

MRS. GALEF: MY SPANISH ISN'T SO GOOD.

(LAUGHTER)

ANYWAY, I'D LIKE TO COMMEND THE SPONSOR OF THIS

LEGISLATION. YOU DID A FANTASTIC JOB OF DEBATING IT. I ACTUALLY LEARNED

MORE ABOUT IMMIGRATION LAW THAN I HAD BEFORE. I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT

I WAS AN INDIVIDUAL LEGISLATOR THAT DID NOT SUPPORT THIS A NUMBER OF

YEARS AGO. I OPPOSED THE LEGISLATION, AND I BELIEVE THAT MY CONSTITUENTS

DID, ALSO. BUT OVER TIME, THE BILL HAS CHANGED AND WE MADE SURE THAT IN

THE LEGISLATION PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TAKE A WRITTEN TEST AND A ROAD TEST,

AND THAT REALLY IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE ON OUR

HIGHWAYS DRIVING CARS. ALTHOUGH I BELIEVE THAT THEY -- MANY PEOPLE

ARE THERE RIGHT NOW AND WE NEED TO BE SURE EVERYBODY IS SAFE.

BUT I WANT TO SAY WITHIN MY OWN COMMUNITY OF

OSSINING, THEY -- THE VILLAGE OF OSSINING PASSED A RESOLUTION VERY

MUCH IN FAVOR OF THIS. THE OSSINING POLICE CHIEF CAME OUT IN FAVOR OF

THIS BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. AND THEY HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN

SPOKESPEOPLE THROUGHOUT WESTCHESTER COUNTY ON THE POSITION. I'VE

HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE IN MY OFFICE ON THIS ISSUE, PROBABLY MORE THAN

SOME OTHER ISSUES. AT MY TOWN MEETINGS, PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN OUT VERY

MUCH IN FAVOR OF THE LEGISLATION. AND AS A CONCLUSION TO IT, I ACTUALLY,

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

IN MY LAST NEWSLETTER DID -- OR MY NEXT TO THE LAST, I ASKED PEOPLE IN MY

DISTRICT -- I DO A QUESTIONNAIRE. AND I ASKED PEOPLE HOW THEY FELT ABOUT

THIS LEGISLATION. AND FRANKLY, I WAS SURPRISED. FIFTY-EIGHT PERCENT OF

THE PEOPLE WHO RESPONDED TO MY QUESTIONNAIRE - WHICH WAS ABOUT

1,000 PEOPLE - SAID YES, THEY SUPPORT IT. AND I THINK OVER TIME, PEOPLE

HAVE JUST CHANGED, THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A CHANGING WORLD. WE

NEED TO GET ON WITH THOSE CHANGES AND -- AND BE SURE THAT EVERYBODY

THAT IS ON A ROAD IS DRIVING SAFELY. AND, IN FACT, I THINK WE ALSO NEED --

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MRS. --

MRS. GALEF: -- TO TAKE TESTS PERIODICALLY, SO WE DO

THE SAME. I WILL BE VOTING YES. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MRS. GALEF IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

(APPLAUSE/CHEERS).

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MR. SPEAKER. MR.

SPEAKER.

(CHANTING/CHEERS)

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU. THANK

YOU. THANK YOU. GRACIAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SILENCIAR.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MR. SPEAKER, LET ME TAKE

THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, THE SPONSOR OF

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

THE LEGISLATION, AS WELL AS MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE WHO HAD

QUESTIONS AND ALL OF THOSE WHO VOTED IN SUPPORT OF THIS ISSUE. TODAY

WE HAVE MADE SOME REALLY GREAT HISTORY, AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST, AND

I'M REALLY VERY PROUD OF EVERYBODY IN THE CHAMBERS [SIC]. THANK YOU.

MR. SPEAKER, WE NEED TO ADVANCE OUR A-CALENDAR.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON A MOTION BY MRS.

PEOPLES-STOKES, THE A-CALENDAR IS ADVANCED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU. IF YOU COULD

CALL ON MR. OTIS FOR AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. OTIS FOR THE

PURPOSES OF AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

MR. OTIS: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. THERE WILL BE

AN IMMEDIATE MEETING OF THE DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE IN THE SPEAKER'S

CONFERENCE ROOM IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE CLOSURE OF SESSION

MOMENTARILY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: DEMOCRATIC

CONFERENCE, SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM FOLLOWING SESSION.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES, WE DO HAVE SOME --

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

ONE MORE PERSON YOU NEED TO CALL ON, MR. CROUCH.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: SHH, LADIES AND

GENTLEMEN.

MR. CROUCH.

MR. CROUCH: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. THERE WILL

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

BE AN IMMEDIATE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE IN THE PARLOR.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: IMMEDIATE

REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE IN THE PARLOR.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

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

HAVE ANY FURTHER HOUSEKEEPING OR RESOLUTIONS?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: YES, WE DO. AND I

WILL GO THROUGH THEM.

ON THE MAIN CALENDAR, ON A MOTION BY MR. DINOWITZ,

PAGE 36, CALENDAR NO. 252, BILL NO. 5776-A, AMENDMENTS ARE

RECEIVED AND ADOPTED.

ON A MOTION BY MS. SOLAGES, ON THE MAIN CALENDAR,

PAGE 34, CALENDAR NO. 228, BILL NO. 2317, AMENDMENTS ARE RECEIVED

AND ADOPTED.

ON A MOTION BY MR. ZEBROWSKI, PAGE 38, CALENDAR

NO. 282, BILL NO. 1881, AMENDMENTS ARE RECEIVED AND ADOPTED.

ALSO, ON THE MAIN CALENDAR, MS. MCMAHON, PAGE 23,

RULES REPORT NO. 166, BILL NO. 7432-A, AMENDMENTS ARE RECEIVED AND

ADOPTED.

ON THE A-CALENDAR, ON A MOTION BY MS. WALKER, PAGE

10, RULES REPORT NO. 208, BILL NO. 7981, AMENDMENTS ARE RECEIVED

AND ADOPTED.

ON BEHALF OF MS. PHEFFER AMATO, BILL NO. 1801-A,

ASSEMBLY BILL RECALLED FROM THE SENATE. THE CLERK WILL READ THE TITLE

OF THE BILL.

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019

THE CLERK: AN ACT TO AMEND THE EDUCATION LAW.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE CLERK WILL READ

-- THE CLERK WILL -- MOTION TO RECONSIDER THE VOTE BY WHICH THE BILL

PASSED THE HOUSE.

THE CLERK WILL RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE

RECEIVED AND ADOPTED.

WE HAVE NUMEROUS FINE RESOLUTIONS. WE WILL TAKE

THEM UP WITH ONE VOTE.

ON THE RESOLUTIONS, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING

AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTIONS ARE ADOPTED.

(WHEREUPON, ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NOS. 544-551

WERE UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED.)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

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

MOVE THAT THE ASSEMBLY STAND ADJOURNED UNTIL 10:00 A.M., THURSDAY

JUNE THE 13TH, TOMORROW BEING A SESSION DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE ASSEMBLY STANDS

ADJOURNED.

(WHEREUPON, AT 5:40 P.M., THE HOUSE STOOD ADJOURNED

UNTIL THURSDAY, JUNE 13TH AT 10:00 A.M., THAT BEING A SESSION DAY.)

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