MONDAY, JUNE 5, 2023 12:52 P.M.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: The House will come

to order.

In the absence of clergy, let us pause for a moment of

silence.

(Whereupon, a moment of silence was observed.)

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 Sunday, June the 4th.

Mrs. Peoples-Stokes.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: Mr. Speaker, I move to

dispense with the further reading of the Journal of Sunday, June the

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

4th and that the same stands approved.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Without objection, so

ordered.

Mrs. Peoples-Stokes.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: Thank you so much, sir.

To guests and colleagues that are in the Chambers, this is the first day

of the last week of our 2023 Session. We're going to start this one

with a quote from the Dalai Lama. He is described as a Buddhist

monk, a spiritual leader and the head of Tibet. He said, The [sic] only

two days in the year that nothing can be done about [sic]. One is

called yesterday, the other one [sic] is called tomorrow. So [sic]

today is the day [sic] to love, to [sic] believe, and to [sic] mostly live.

Again, these words are from the Dalai Lama.

Mr. Speaker, colleagues have on their desk a main

Calendar. We also have a debate list, and after any housekeeping

and/or introductions, we're going to be calling for the following

Committees to meet: Ways and Means and Rules. These Committees

are going to produce an A-Calendar of which we will take up today on

consent. We will be working from the debate list, we're going to start

with Rules Report No. 282 by Mr. Otis, followed by Rules Report No.

232 by Ms. Solages, and Rules Report No. 319 by Mr. Vanel.

Members should also note that we will be taking up the Calender

resolutions at the end of today. So if you have one you'd like to speak

on, you want to be in and around the Chamber when that happens. I

will announce further floor activity if need be, Mr. Speaker. For sure,

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

the Majority Conference will be having a conference in Hearing Room

B at the conclusion of our work on the floor, and I will check with our

colleagues on the other side of the aisle to determine what their needs

are. But, Mr. Speaker, that's the general outline of where we're going

today. If you have housekeeping and/or introductions, now would be a

great time, sir. Thank you.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: We have both, Mrs.

Peoples-Stokes, thank you.

On a motion by Mr. McGowan, page 32, Calendar

No. 206, Bill No. A04793-A, amendment is -- bill is amended to the

original number of 4793.

On a motion by Mr. Epstein, page 23, Calendar No.

27, Bill No. A02177, the amendments are received and adopted.

And for the purposes of a introduction, Mr. Sayegh.

MR. SAYEGH: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Today, later in the day, we will be introducing -- introducing

Resolution No. 613 declaring Yoga Day in New York State. Yoga

Day has been already declared by the United Nations, and nationally

as a day to respect all the benefits of yoga. And I wanted today to

introduce some very special guests that are here with us, a delegation

of national and international both leaders and students of yoga, and

advocates of peaceful coexistence, advocates of collaboration and

interfaith dialogue. And to head this group today, Mr. Speaker, a dear

friend and international scholar on yoga and peaceful initiatives is

Guruji, His Holiness Dileepkumar Thankappan, who is the Global

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

Chairman of World Yoga Community and the Main NGO

representative to the United Nations. Joining him with -- with his

group is Mr. K.L.S. Bhushan, Esq., Trustee, World Yoga Community;

Dr. Oluremi Alapo, who is an Advisor to the World Yoga Community;

the Reverend Francis Marsal, Pastor and Coordinator of Heavenly

USA, an international/national organization that promotes dialogue

and interfaith celebration. And the yoga students from Heavenly USA

that are with us today, JungSun Rosanna Batino, Mihwa Janay Prieto,

Desiree Esther Contreras, Yeon Sun Asif Tariq, Ko-Song Victor

Morimoto, In-Ju Keiko Mims, Jean Prieto, Zachariah Thomas Iverson,

and Hiroki Kamioka. These are all individuals that are with us today

to witness the resolution on World Yoga, and to all help us celebrate

the expansion of world yoga.

I would appreciate if we can extend the full cordiality

of this Chamber, Mr. Speaker.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Certainly. On behalf

of Mr. Sayegh, 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 spending this time with us, and peace be to

you. Thank you so very much.

(Applause)

Mr. Burdick for the purposes of a introduction.

MR. BURDICK: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my

pleasure to introduce a number of residents visiting here in Albany

today, three high school seniors doing their "senior experience" with

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

us: Ian Rhodes of Bedford, John Jay High School senior going to

Colgate University in the fall; Michael O'Donnell of Bedford, also a

John Jay High School senior going to Fordham University in the fall;

Julia Sun of New Castle, a Horace Greeley senior going to Wellesley

College in the fall, and she's here with her family, Uncle Larry Liu,

mom, Angela Liu, and brother, Andy Sun. And another one of my

interns who has been with us since the fall, Divya Sharma of Bedford,

a junior in high school and a math whiz, joined by her mother, Mukta

Sharma. I have two other constituents here, Christina Rae of

Lewisboro, and Iris Weintraub of New Castle.

Mr. Speaker, I would appreciate it if you would

extend the courtesies of the People's House. Thank you.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Certainly. On behalf

of Mr. Burdick, the Speaker and all the members, we welcome this

distinguished group here to the New York State Assembly, extend to

you the privileges of the floor. Our congratulations and well wishes to

those of you young people who are going on to college. I hope that

that experience is going to be successful, and all that you have learned

will make that successful even more pleasant. Thank you again, and

families, for coming and supporting your children. That is most

important, that is how we improve our world and the future. Thank

you so very much.

(Applause)

Mr. Miller for the purposes of a introduction.

MR. MILLER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

me the privilege of an introduction. Today we have with us my son,

Nick Miller, and his girlfriend, Brianna O'Drain. They have just

finished their first year at Elmira College. Nick is on the baseball

team as a pitcher and a first baseman, and is majoring in criminal

justice. Brianna is a triple major in psychology, human services and

sociology and anthropology. They are here today to learn more about

State government and legislation as it pertains to their fields of study.

So on behalf of myself, the Speaker and members of

the House, please extend the cordialities of the floor.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Certainly. On behalf

of Mr. Miller, the Speaker and all the members, two distinguished

young people, we welcome you both here to the New York State

Assembly. We extend to you the privileges of the floor.

Congratulations on what you've done. We look forward to a brilliant

future for both of you, and maybe one day returning here in another

capacity, who knows? Thank you so very much for joining us today.

(Applause)

Ms. Fahy for the purposes of a introduction.

MS. FAHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today is a

special day. We have a resolution later today, but I have guests here

who are health practitioners, researchers and volunteers who provide

scleroderma services throughout this Capital Region, particularly

researching the disease at the Albany College of Pharmacy and those

who serve on the board for the Steffens Scleroderma Foundation.

Some of our guests today include Dr. Lee Shapiro, Dr. Tadros, Dr.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

Farrukh [sic], Jessica Farrell, Pradeepa Jayachandran, and an old, dear

friend of ours, Donna Langan, who is no -- no stranger to this Body.

Scleroderma is an auto -- auto-immune connective

tissue and rheuma -- rheuma -- rheumatic disease that causes

inflammation of the skin and other areas of the body. It tricks the

body into thinking they are injured and it causes inflammation. The

body then makes too much collagen, leading to scleroderma. There

are two different types of it and there is no cure. The goal of the

treatment is to relieve the symptoms and stop the progression of the

disease. Today we are here to try to draw attention to scleroderma, the

disease, as well as promote awareness and encourage collaborative

efforts nationally and internationally.

Mr. Speaker, if you would greet our -- our guests

today who are here, and it's a life work for them. Thank you.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Certainly. On behalf

of Ms. Fahy, the Speaker and all the members, welcome to the

People's House. We extend to you the privileges of the floor. Our

thanks for the work that you're doing to inform us of this particular

disease, and continue that work so that maybe one day a cure will be

found. Thank you so very much for all the work that you do and are

doing. Thank you.

(Applause)

Mr. Slater for the purposes of a introduction.

MR. SLATER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today

to welcome a familiar face to our Chamber here in Albany, my

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

predecessor, the current County Executive for Putnam County, my

good friend Kevin Byrne. Kevin served six years in this legislative

Body, and seeing all the smiles, I think he left on -- on good footing

with his colleagues. First elected in 2016, Kevin eventually became

the Ranker on the Health Committee. I think it's important to note that

Kevin's also an Eagle Scout, he is also a volunteer firefighter, an EMT,

where he served previously with the Kent Volunteer Fire Department.

And most notably, as I think anyone who knows him knows, Kevin is

a master of the bagpipes, something that I think is fantastic especially

around his favorite holiday, St. Patrick's Day. But Kevin is a great

friend of mine, having been friends since we were in high school

before we entered public service. And so to be able to share this day

with him and to welcome him back to this great Chamber is an honor.

So Mr. Speaker, please, if you could extend the

cordialities of the House to my good friend, County Executive Kevin

Byrne.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Certainly. On behalf

of Mr. Slater, the Speaker and all the members, Kevin, welcome back.

Once a member, always a member. You always have the privileges of

the floor. Glad to see you, hope that you have had a time in your

County Exec position. And, don't worry, nobody has come to the hall,

to this Body wearing kilts other than you, so we'll always remember

that. Thank you so very much, Kevin.

(Applause)

Mr. Bendett.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

MR. BENDETT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise

today for the purpose of an introduction to introduce my good friend

and former colleague, Bob Loveridge. Bob Loveridge is the Vice

Chairman of the Rensselaer County Legislature. He spent nearly 40

years in law enforcement, starting his career in this building, in the

Capitol, became an Albany Police Department policeman, worked for

the State of New York in Corrections, developed a policy for

HIV/AIDS throughout the correction system, helping keep

incarcerated individuals and COs safe. He has ended his career as the

colonel in our county correctional facility which, again, was a model

for safety for both the people in -- in the facility, as well as the COs.

And Bob is also a member of Kiwanis, which he has been for the last

40 years. Colleagues, Mr. Loveridge is somebody who has given his

life to service, to his community, and he's one of my heroes in this

public service realm, and I'd like ask you if you could afford him all

the cordialities and the privileges of the floor.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Certainly. On behalf

of Mr. Bendett, the Speaker and all the members, Bob, welcome to the

New York State Assembly. We extend to you the privileges of the

floor. Our gratitude for a life-long service that you've provided the

people of this State, keeping them safe, taking care of the processes

that need to be done in this State. We appreciate you, and you're

always welcome here.

(Applause)

Mrs. Peoples-Stokes.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: Mr. Speaker, if you

would please call the Ways and -- the Rules Committee -- no, I'm

sorry, the Ways and Means Committee to the Speaker's Conference

Room.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Certainly. Ways and

Means, Speaker's Conference Room immediately, please.

(Pause)

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: Page 12, Rules

Report No. 282, the Clerk will read.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A07166, Rules Report

No. 282, Otis, Burdick, Paulin, Rozic, Sayegh, Seawright, Simon,

Thiele, Zebrowski. An act to amend the Public Service Law, in

relation to the contents of emergency response plans required to be

submitted to the Public Service Commission by electric corporations.

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: An explanation's

been requested.

MR. OTIS: Thank you, Mr. [sic] Speaker. This

legislation amends the Public Service Law section related to

emergency management plans by electric utilities. What the bill does,

it requires the plan's detail, staffing, equipment and a performance

schedule with the goal of achieving restoration of service based upon a

time-based restoration schedule. This deals with a little more detail in

terms of making sure that utilities are moving as quickly as possible to

restore service after an electrical outage.

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: Mr. Palmesano.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

MR. PALMESANO: Yes, Madam Speaker. Will the

sponsor yield for some questions?

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: Will the sponsor

yield?

MR. OTIS: Of course.

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: The sponsor

yields.

MR. PALMESANO: Thank you, Mr. Otis. Mr. Otis,

right now -- I mean, last year there was legislation in the law passed

that was signed into law by our colleague that basically had put in

place -- it was a combination bill that -- dealing with resiliency in

infrastructure improvements, and also credits to ratepayers for food

spoilage and things of that nature. How would this either compliment

that or -- or differentiate with that?

MR. OTIS: Well, I was a cosponsor of that bill, but

that really covers different terrain.

MR. PALMESANO: Yeah.

MR. OTIS: So what we're talking about here, and I

think that probably everybody in this Chamber has had constituents or

themselves been without electricity for an inordinate number of days

after some storms. Six, seven, eight days has become, since

Superstorm Sandy, somewhat of a routine around the State by many

different electric utilities in this State. And so what we need to do to

enhance our protections is to include in this section of law that focuses

on emergency management plans, a time-based schedule that would be

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

established, the details would be established by the Public Service

Commission.

MR. PALMESANO: Okay.

MR. OTIS: But we need to provide a little more

discipline in the process so that our constituents and our businesses get

turned on in a more timely fashion. And let me just add one other

element to this is many of our utilities in New York State depend upon

mutual aid, sometimes coming from Washington State, from Canada,

from Tennessee, after a storm. That means that our constituents are

waiting three days before anyone does much of anything in terms of

restoration. Unacceptable. And so we had in -- after the storm Isaias

in 2020, the Public Service Commission actually came down on some

utilities --

MR. PALMESANO: Yes, I know.

MR. OTIS: -- because they didn't have adequate local

staffing.

MR. PALMESANO: Right.

MR. OTIS: This is meant to try and -- and push that

to a better place for all of us.

MR. PALMESANO: Well, isn't it true that each

event that happens is a different event? Some could be widespread

outages, some could be different. How do we -- how do we -- how do

we determine these time-based restorations? I mean, isn't it -- it's just

an arbitrary time-based restoration. What's the purpose of that?

MR. OTIS: Absolutely not. And, in fact, the

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

language of the bill is quite precise. The benchmark should include,

but not limited to, number of customers restored within each 24

interval, considering the different kinds of storm -- storms. And so

what we task in this bill is for the Public Service Commission to

decide what the metrics are, what the flexibilities are, allow them to do

the nuanced changes for different kinds of storms. It's the right way to

go.

MR. PALMESANO: So the PSC has to establish a

target for each outage event and then dictate the restoration time frame

of it?

MR. OTIS: Well, they would set up benchmarks that

would accommodate for different kinds of storms. The language of

the bill gives that kind of flexibility to the Commission where rather

than detailing that in the bill, which we don't do, it is left for the Public

Service Commission to come up with a system of those kinds of

metrics that would include those kinds of flexibilities.

MR. PALMESANO: So your bill doesn't provide any

guidance to the PSC in establishing this schedule based on time?

MR. OTIS: Well, the guidance is to say come up with

a benchmark system that is time-based, something that we do not have

now, something that we sorely need.

MR. PALMESANO: And would these time-based

targets have to take into account these many variables that are

involved with restoration? Some, we have poles and wires down,

some we're not, some where it's, you know, a bigger swatch of land.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

All those things would have to be taken into consideration by the --

MR. OTIS: That's what the bill says.

MR. PALMESANO: So you would agree that the

number one priority in the establishment of a -- of a -- when a storm is

out, is, number one, to make safe, and obviously the utilities want to

get the storm restoration as quickly as possible, so how would they,

you know, determine that -- that communication with the PSC when

they're out there trying to fix the storms, trying to give feedback, and

then they're supposed to give feedback to the PSC and the PSC's

supposed to come back with something that (inaudible).

MR. OTIS: Well, you know, the way it currently

works, the Public Service Commission evaluates storm recovery

performance by all utilities now.

MR. PALMESANO: Right.

MR. OTIS: And -- and so they factor into all those

different kinds of variables that occur since every storm is different,

and that would continue. But what we want to get in to the emergency

plans a -- a sense that time matters and a sense that we're going --

MR. PALMESANO: Sure.

MR. OTIS: -- to try and have goals in terms of

timetable of restoration. But nothing is fixed, and so -- but I'll give

you one example. We had a storm in the Capital District a few years

ago that was a storm that just hit a single area, not the whole region or

the whole State, and it still took like six days for that utility to get

people back on, which is a different scenario than a storm that hits the

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

entire Northeast and all the mutual aid capabilities are -- are tapped

out because everyone's dealing with their own areas. Six days when

you're the only storm, unacceptable.

MR. PALMESANO: Well, and I think you would

also agree with me, I mean, I know those examples, you know, any

storm that can cause widespread damage where they have heavy snow

-- snow down that washed out bridges, you know, can't get trucks and

the equipment in there. How would that figure into this time

restoration? I mean it seems like you're spending more time on having

a time restoration schedule instead of making sure we get the power on

as quickly as we can. I think that's what they're all trying to work

towards.

MR. OTIS: I think that's the same question you asked

just before, and all those -- and all those variables would be worked

into the -- the benchmark system.

MR. PALMESANO: So you don't have any concern

that this time-based restoration plan is going to put more of a premium

on time restoration over safety?

MR. OTIS: Absolutely not. No one is going to

forsake safety. And -- and the concern I have is people being out six,

seven, eight days when --

MR. PALMESANO: I understand that.

MR. OTIS: -- they don't need to be.

MR. PALMESANO: I understand that, and I think

that's what I'm trying to get at. So if a -- if a utility fails to meet any of

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

these really -- really generic-based restoration targets that's set-up by

the PSC, will they be subject to penalties?

MR. OTIS: The bill does not change the system of

penalties that exists now, and the Public Service Commission has a

format by which they judge and -- and try to be fair to utilities in -- in

making those judgments. This is bill does not change those protocols.

MR. PALMESANO: Wouldn't it better to be

(inaudible) this with the PSC through a proceeding involving

customers and utilities rather than having the PSC make a

determination without any such input? Wouldn't it be better to have

that input through a proceeding to make sure that we're addressing this

issue?

MR. OTIS: No.

MR. PALMESANO: Okay, fair enough. And I think

my last question is if there are penalties that would happen through

this if they don't meet this time-based restoration that's going to be

now part of the statute if your bill becomes signed into law, these

penalties and all -- and taking (inaudible) we already have penalties in

-- in the law that were -- that we already passed last year with the

resiliency bill and then the -- the time deadline bill that we passed as a

joint bill, which was a good bill that I supported, it just seems like

we're adding more to the mix. So are these penalties, would they be

recoverable from the ratepayers as well, or would that be recoverable

for the shareholders?

MR. OTIS: The existing system would -- would

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

continue as is. And -- and generally, I think that the Public Service

Commission exercises good judgment. I know we -- we did increase

some penalty capability, but they're going to continue to exercise good

judgment.

MR. PALMESANO: Okay. Thank you, Mr. Otis, for

your time.

Madam Speaker, on the bill.

MR. OTIS: Thank you.

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: On the bill.

MR. PALMESANO: Yes, Mr. -- Madam Speaker

and my colleagues. I appreciate the intention behind this legislation.

Over the past couple of years we've passed a series of bills dealing

with widespread storms we had, and I think probably the most

significant legislation we passed that we mentioned was legislation

sponsored by our -- our colleague that dealt with two issues; it dealt

with storm hardening and resiliency, and it combined another bill that

had basically restoration for families and individuals who are out of

power for so many days for food and for medicines, and I think that

was a better approach. And I think now just adding another part to

this equation with the storm-based restorations, an arbitrary timeline I

think is -- is going to be more problematic.

The first and foremost thing for our utilities to do

when there's a storm is make -- make safe, and that always has to be

the precedent because each storm is different. And it seems like we're

putting an arbitrary time frame for these storms. Each storm is

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

different, some are more widespread, some are -- power can be down

for longer periods of time, maybe being able to get equipment in there

or not get equipment in this. I just think this is kind of

counterproductive. I think, again, not every storm is the same. There's

a different degree of outages that happen, and I don't think this is

going to help us restore power any quicker. I think we need to

continue to focus (inaudible) and try to do -- let -- let them do the job

they need to do. But I think -- I think this could be done much better,

and I just think adding the arbitrary timelines to this process is just

going to make it much more difficult. Our utility crews when there's a

storm out, like said, their first job is to make safe, get out there, make

sure the damage is being taken care of and try to restore the power as

quickly as possible. And I just think now you're going to have to be

reporting back on how do you determine when the storm -- when the

power could be returned based on -- on that process, and to just have

arbitrary time frame in there, I think it's going to make it much more

difficult, it's going lead to more -- just lead to penalties which often

will paid by the ratepayer, and I just think there's a better way we can

do -- go about doing this.

Again, I think the legislation is well-intentioned, but I

just don't think it's going to actually help with the safe and timely

restoration of the power to those people who are affected by storms,

widespread storms, and given each one is different. So for that reason

Mr. -- Madam Speaker and my colleagues, I'm going to be voting in

the negative. Thank you.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: A Party vote has

been -- oh. Read the last section.

THE CLERK: This act shall take effect on the 180th

day.

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: A Party vote has

been requested.

Mr. Goodell.

MR. GOODELL: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The

Republican Conference is generally opposed to this, although there are

certainly members that will likely support it and they can do so by

voting yes on the floor of the Assembly. Thank you, sir [sic].

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: Mrs.

Peoples-Stokes.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: Thank you, Madam

Speaker. The Majority Conference is going to be in favor of this piece

of progressive legislation; however, there may be colleagues who

would decide to be an exception, they should feel free to do so. Thank

you.

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: The Clerk will

record the vote.

(The Clerk recorded the vote.)

Mr. Goodell to explain his vote.

MR. GOODELL: Thank you, Madam Speaker. We

all want the power restored as quickly as possible after a major storm,

and I appreciate the sponsor's desire to make that accomplished. At

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

the same time, we also want the lowest utility rates we can get, and

they are not entirely compatible. And so every time we ask a utility to

ramp up their response time, which we understand why, it also ramps

up their cost. And so as a Legislature, it's important for us to consider

the cost-benefit analysis. And as pointed out by my colleague, since

storms can range from a very high-intensity but very local, a

microburst, for example, to a very widespread storm, creating a plan

that purports to give us a schedule on how the power will be restored

is really very illusionary. Nobody can predict. If it's Superstorm

Sandy, it's gonna be weeks. If it's a microburst, it's gonna be hours.

But those studies and those reports cost money to prepare, and it costs

money on the State side by the PSC, and at the end of the day, it's not

gonna result in the power be on -- being put back on faster because the

utility is going to move as fast as they can under the unique

circumstances that apply to each storm.

So I'm voting against this because I want lower utility

rates and I want our utilities to focus on what will have the most

cost-benefit positive return in restoring power in an outage. Thank

you, sir -- thank you, Madam.

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: Mr. Goodell in

the negative.

Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

(The Clerk announced the results.)

The bill is passed.

Page 10, Rules Report No. 232, the Clerk will read.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A04956, Rules Report

No. 232, Solages, Simon, Wallace, Otis. An act to amend the Social

Services Law, in relation to establishing an emergency heating energy

assistance program benefit.

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: An explanation

has been requested.

MS. SOLAGES: Thank you, Madam Speaker. So,

we know that nearly 1.3 million New Yorkers are more than $1.7

billion in arrear on -- excuse me -- on energy bills, and that's according

to the New York State Public Service Commission in December of

2021. So this bill would require the Office of Temporary Disabilities

and Assistance [sic] to establish a Statewide program to provide

energy home -- effic -- excuse me, energy home and -- excuse me --

emergency home energy assistance program, further known as HEAP,

to eligible home -- households.

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: Mr. Maher.

MR. MAHER: Madam Speaker, will the sponsor

yield for a few questions?

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: Will the sponsor

yield?

MS. SOLAGES: Yes.

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: The sponsor

yields.

MR. MAHER: Thank you. Okay, I appreciate the

explanation. In my mind I have a different way of going about this.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

From everything that I can read and research on HEAP and both

EHEAP, what this tends to do is it creates a scenario where folks

would not be eligible for EHEAP until they were -- reached a

threshold of over 60 days or $300 that they owed, correct?

MS. SOLAGES: So, this bill, number one, codifies

HEAP into law, which is very important, and then it allows an

individual to be eligible for HEAP prior to their power being shut off.

And so in addition, as you mentioned before, it does allow some

flexibility with the payment.

MR. MAHER: And currently right now, in order to

qualify for EHEAP and the Federal funding only allocates for only one

EHEAP application, they would have to have a notification of

termination, and that's how this is triggered, correct?

MS. SOLAGES: Yeah, and so, you know, I believe

an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of a cure. And so what we

want to do is we don't want people being threatened with a shutoff. We

want to be preventative. So we want to ensure that if you are in

significant arrears, you can be -- you can access this program.

Because we know eventually these people are going to access the

program, so this will just make sure that we're not letting them, you

know, be in financial stress.

MR. MAHER: So you just -- I want to catch

something you just said. How do we know that certain folks will

absolutely be eligible for this program? And to me it seems a little bit

more like this will create more of an incentive for folks not to pay and

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

then receive a benefit.

MS. SOLAGES: You know, so -- and I believe in

New Yorkers. You know, I know that the vast majority of individuals

who are in arrears are not doing it because they purposely want to

game the system, and so we're not loosening the requirements; instead,

we're just allowing customers to receive the HEAP grant without

putting themselves in a risk of termination. So they still have to have

-- there's still a burden of proof. And remember, the funds go to the

utility company, so the utility companies are going to know who are

these individuals. And also finally, for the purposes of an argument,

you know, fraud -- there's fraud investigation enforcement that's being

carried out on a Federal, State and county level, on a city level as well,

and there's other legislation that's proposed like data matching, which

is another bill that we have and hopefully can debate, that will ensure

that we're keeping government efficient and accountable.

MR. MAHER: No, I agree. I think at the end of the

day, though - and I'll get to this a little bit more when I speak on the

bill - this seems to go a little bit deeper to make it much, much harder

for folks that are involved in these agencies to figure out who is

actually committing fraud. Because at the end of the day, while these

funds do go to the utility directly, that just allows for -- and if this is a

way around, you know, to help this individual keep more money in

their pocket for their expenses, there's not really a way that we can

track that. And that leads to a question that I have is, in your

justification it does show -- let me take it right here -- it talks about

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

eliminating this requirement and setting a financial threshold will

reduce the administrative burden from the Office of TDA, vendors,

fuel suppliers and customers. My question is, what about the county

social service agencies? Have they been talked to when this

legislation was being crafted? And I know that I believe a colleague

of yours was the first to introduce this, so you may not know that, but

what conversations took place with the county social services

agencies, and is this something where they're also signing off or is this

going to create an additional hardship for them?

MS. SOLAGES: So, this is not an additional

hardship, this is Federal funds that come through the State. And so

whether it's, you know, State or local, these are Federal funds that are

already allocated. And this is not a new piece of legislation. This has

been submitted about two to three years prior to me having this bill

and, you know, it was thoroughly vetted and it's already passed this

House once before. So any locality that is familiar with this legislation

already knows of it and should speak now or forever hold their peace.

MR. MAHER: Just following up on your Federal

funding point because I think it's a good one. So, how this works

currently is the Feds will cover one EHEAP application. Are there any

limits to how many times you can apply for EHEAP in this legislation?

MS. SOLAGES: The only thing that we're changing

is the -- to allow them to apply beforehand. It's still the same program

with the same requirements, the same eligibility and the same, you

know, initiative that it's only, I think, once a year that you're allowed

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

to take HEAP.

MR. MAHER: I -- the way I read it, I would disagree

but I would love for you to clarify. So by establishing a State program

you're going to be using Federal funding, but in this legislation it

doesn't necessarily communicate how the Federal funding, which only

allocates for one, will relate if, say for example, in this newly-

established State program for EHEAP, people have multiple EHEAP

applications. So if only one is funded by the Federal Government,

how will the counties bear the cost for additional EHEAP

applications?

MS. SOLAGES: So, it's -- it's all coordinated. So if

there's additional funding it would be subject to Federal funding as

well.

MR. MAHER: Okay. So it's possible that you will

have a situation where the State program that's been created will allow

for multiple HEAP applications, there will be no Federal funding and

it will be on the counties to fund it.

MS. SOLAGES: So if there's extra Federal funding

available, it would be distributed to the counties. So that -- that would

be the answer to your question.

MR. MAHER: And just my knowledge of how

EHEAP works is there's an application deadline or until the Federal

funds run out. So May 19th would be the application deadline where

you wouldn't be eligible or if the funds run out. So if we're worrying

about funds -- funds running out, and from the county social services

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

agents that I talked to, they do run out. What would happen to the

folks, let's say, who aren't in arrears, who are paying on time but then

have some sort of issue where they're really in a tremendous spot and

folks have had multiple EHEAP applications and let's say it comes

May, there's no funding left and you have somebody who really did

things the right way, got into an unfortunate situation, but they won't

have the funding to help them in this emergency? I think that's a

concern that -- that we have.

MS. SOLAGES: Yeah, so this -- this bill doesn't

address that, but I have known that, you know, there's a lot of

advocacy going on to increase the amount of Federal funding we have

for HEAP. Just last year, you know, we -- I was standing

hand-in-hand with U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer to ask for more

HEAP funding be put into the pool. And so, you know, we definitely

want to make sure that funding is pro -- is, you know, allocated and

fully funded and additional money is coming through. But just to

highlight the note, any district authorized to make additional

emergency payments in one calendar year would be subject to Federal

funding. So if there's that additional funding, they could use that.

MR. MAHER: Okay. So your -- your reading of that

particular section is if a individual has a second EHEAP allocation that

they would only qualify for one, or are you saying -- I'm trying to

clarify that.

MS. SOLAGES: So, your question was about the

county.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

MR. MAHER: Yes.

MS. SOLAGES: The county. So, if -- if any district

is -- is -- has the ability to make additional payments in one calendar

year, but that would be subject to Federal funding.

MR. MAHER: So --

MS. SOLAGES: I think the county would have to

make that decision.

MR. MAHER: Understood. Which again, puts all of

our counties in a very tough spot. Right now, from my knowledge of

Orange County, one of the six counties that I represent, they have a

situation where they budget another $100,000 for residents who get

into emergencies, some that qualify for HEAP and EHEAP and some

that do not. They would basically be depleting that 100,000, and if

they didn't have any left, they wouldn't be able to help those folks in

need. So I think there certainly, I believe, should be some clarity on

only allowing for one EHEAP application. I think that's a very

important piece that should be more clearly defined.

But moving on to another question that I have. Is

there any data available to suggest that this actually is an issue, aside

from the fact that it is very unaffordable for New Yorkers, especially

those that are qualifying for -- for HEAP in the first place? Aside from

that fact, is there any data that shows that this process is an issue right

now and needs to be fixed?

MS. SOLAGES: So, in my -- my district office we

frequently hold forums to help people fill out the form for HEAP, and

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

just from personal, you know, experience it's -- it's -- I've seen people

have trouble filling out the application, especially for our older New

Yorkers who may not be computer savvy, filling out the documents

and waiting for paperwork, working with Social Services, counties. It

has become burdensome. So, you know, I've seen with personal

anecdote some of these -- these issues as well, and in speaking to my

colleagues, you know, we -- we have this concern.

MR. MAHER: So I feel like I completely agree on

that one point. The problem is, the way this bill reads is the arrears

process is more complicated. So it used be where, how it is right now,

hey, you get a shutoff notice, you know, you can qualify, you can get

one break. Now you actually have more criteria and more paperwork

and more items you're asking folks to fill out in order to get this

assistance. So I do agree with that argument, I just don't know if this

bill helps it or hurts it.

MS. SOLAGES: Yeah, I definitely think this bill

helps it because, again, you know, when you receive a termination

notice you obviously are choosing between different, you know, items

to pay, you're -- you're in a situation mentally, you're -- you're

exhausted. And so instead of waiting for the point where you're --

you're at the breaking point, we're just saying, hey, let's take a step

forward and look at it from a preventative measure and helping people

through the process.

MR. MAHER: Okay. I just want to see if you

answered all my questions. Okay. So at this time right now, just to

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

clarify, there is nothing in the -- the State program that we'd really be

establishing here that would prevent someone from multiple EHEAP

applications?

MS. SOLAGES: All -- all we're doing is codifying --

codifying HEAP into law, which is great because we don't want it

subject to the whims of any Executive or any -- or any sort of entity or

Body, and then we're also making sure that we're being preventative

and trying to capture people before the actual termination, especially

when it's during the winter or, you know, during a, you know, stressful

time in the summer, you know, we're increasing the use of electricity.

And so we just want to be preventative. So we're not changing the

program at all except for that tiny aspect of it. You know, there's still

quantifications, they're still requirements, eligibility, and -- and so

forth and so on.

MR. MAHER: All right. Thank you so much to the

sponsor.

On the bill.

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: On the bill.

MR. MAHER: Okay. I have -- just recently was

elected and it's been really amazing meeting so many folks here. My

colleague who sponsored this bill is one individual who I

wholeheartedly believe is completely well-intended and -- and wants

to help people. And I think in the justification and how she articulated

what this bill will do, I believe in my heart that she wants to help folks.

We all want to help folks, hopefully. I don't believe this is the way

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

that will actually truly do that in the way that we hope to, in a -- kind

of a sustainable way, right? So, as much as we want to trust New

Yorkers to do what this law is meant to do, I think there's nothing that

really beats what parents are going through and what they will do to

protect and to raise and to provide for their children. And I think at

the end of the day, this bill will create a workaround that is

unavoidable, that will be harder for counties to charge in terms of

fraud, that will have folks incentivized to be caught in this arrears

situation as opposed to a termination notice. I think at the end of the

day this probably is -- is better for some of the utilities who will then

receive multiple applications because at the end of the day, they're not

the ones that are worried about the bills being paid, the families are.

And when you talk about financial literacy, which is an important

piece to social services in general, what are we doing when we're

sitting down folks and saying, Hey, this what you're going to do to

make sure you pay all these bills, but then create some sort of

incentive, whether we mean to or not, that is going to really reward

folks by not paying their bills. Because although these funds will go

straight to the utility, other dollars that are coming to them will then be

spent in ways that maybe are for the best of the -- the household and

maybe not. And I think at the end of the day it sends the wrong

message. I hope that if this bill either does not come to law, if it's

vetoed for a funding issue of any reason, that I'll be able to work with

my colleague to see if we can sit down and in a bipartisan way, see if

we can do something that's a little more sustainable. I do believe that

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

we want to help folks that are in need. There's no argument here that

those that qualify for HEAP, household of one, 34,000 and change;

household with two, 44,000 and change; household of three, 55-;

household of four, just under 66-. No, yeah, it's not affordable right

now. You know, we do need to do things to help folks. But this

particular bill, I think, from a sustainability argument, I'm not sure if it

does create more issues for those that are being responsible in paying

their bills and maybe don't have the funding from the counties and that

creates some challenges for our counties who are then gonna make

some really tough decisions, especially in Orange County and others

that I represent.

So I would love to take a hard look at this if it does

not become law, and if it does, I -- I wish it the best and I hope I'm

wrong. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: Mr. Vanel for the

purposes of an announcement.

MR. VANEL: I request that the Rules Committee

meet in the Speaker's Conference Room.

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: Rules Committee

to the Speaker's Conference Room.

Mr. Goodell.

MR. GOODELL: Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Would the sponsor yield?

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: Will the sponsor

yield?

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

MS. SOLAGES: I yield.

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: The sponsor

yields.

MR. GOODELL: Thank you, Ms. Solages. As my

colleague mentioned, most of the counties I'm aware of run out of

HEAP before the heating system is over. Are you aware, is there any

counties that have a surplus?

MS. SOLAGES: I do not have that information on

hand, so I -- I don't want to answer because I don't have the accurate

information for the calendar year.

MR. GOODELL: I see. And you mentioned that

Senator Schumer was seeking to get more HEAP funding?

MS. SOLAGES: Yeah, you know, HEAP is actually

a bipartisan issue. In southern states they use HEAP for cooling of

homes and, you know, in the northern states, Northeast especially in

New York, we use it primarily for heating our homes. So --

MR. GOODELL: My question is did he get any

additional funding for New York State for HEAP for this next budget

year?

MS. SOLAGES: So, for the next budget year?

MR. GOODELL: Yeah, the one we're in now.

MS. SOLAGES: The one we're in now?

MR. GOODELL: Yes.

MS. SOLAGES: Yeah, so we did actually receive an

additional 600 million this year.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

MR. GOODELL: 620 million.

MS. SOLAGES: 600 million.

MR. GOODELL: 600 million. And then what's the

total amount of Federal aid we received for HEAP?

MS. SOLAGES: I --I don't have that information on

hand, but if you give me a second I can find out. I can -- I can get

back to you, but it's --

MR. GOODELL: I was just curious, you know,

whether it's a 1 percent increase in Federal HEAP or 10 percent or

double.

MS. SOLAGES: I'll be sure to get that information

for you.

MR. GOODELL: Okay.

MS. SOLAGES: I don't have that exactly on hand

and I -- I wish not to provide inaccurate information.

MR. GOODELL: Now, this bill says that social

services on the local level can make the decision whether to provide

emergency HEAP more than once; is that correct?

MS. SOLAGES: Correct, and -- and that's within the

other program.

MR. GOODELL: So you envision then that if this

bill goes into effect you might have a patchwork of systems where one

county authorizes multiple emergency HEAP applications and another

does not?

MS. SOLAGES: So, I just want to clarify for the

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

record, this bill requires the Commissioner of OTDA to establish a

Statewide program, and then there's -- there's eligibility requirements.

And so in this, one of the eligibility requirements for the household,

they have to receive regular HEAP which is -- so they have to receive

a regular HEAP benefit which is insufficient or unavailable in an

emergency --

MR. GOODELL: I -- I understand --

MS. SOLAGES: -- and then this, the program that we

are discussing whether additional applications kick in.

MR. GOODELL: Right. We're just talking about

emergency HEAP. I'm looking at page 2 --

MS. SOLAGES: Okay.

MR. GOODELL: -- line 6, a social services district,

may authorize one or more, correct?

MS. SOLAGES: Yeah, so --

MR. GOODELL: So it's optional on the part of social

services districts --

MS. SOLAGES: No, it's completely up to the county

if they want to do additional applications.

MR. GOODELL: Okay. Thank you very much for

those clarifications.

On the bill.

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: On the bill.

MR. GOODELL: Several years ago I was working

with county government and our Department of Social Services

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

established a program for financial literacy, and we would meet with

people on social services who were receiving public assistance and

we'd give them budget counseling. And we'd point out, as all of us

here in this Chamber know, that if you pay your bills on time your

credit rating will go up. And it was reported back to me that one of

our public assistance recipients responded by, Do I look stupid? Does

it stay "stupid" across my forehead? Because if I pay my utility bill on

time I'm ineligible for emergency home energy assistance. And the

recipient went on to say, Maybe for you, several hundred dollars in the

middle of winter doesn't mean anything, but for me it makes all the

difference in the world. So we have a social services program funded

by taxpayers that say if you pay on time, you will only get half as

much money as if you default. And this bill, in fact, makes that very

clear. You can't get extra funds unless you're at least $300 in arrears.

So we are spending millions and millions of taxpayer dollars, paying

people not to pay on time. And this bill takes it one step further by

saying instead of getting one emergency HEAP assistance payment,

you can get as many as the local district will allow you to get. Maybe

we should think about redesigning our social services program to

encourage responsible financial behavior rather than to reward it. And

then sadly, this bill takes a bad situation and makes it worse, and for

that reason I will not be supporting it.

Thank you.

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: Read the last

section.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

THE CLERK: This act shall take effect in 30 days.

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: A Party vote has

been requested.

Mr. Goodell.

MR. GOODELL: Thank you, Madam Speaker. For

the reasons mentioned by my colleague, the Republican Conference is

generally opposed to this. Those who support it are certainly

encouraged to vote yes here on the floor. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: Mrs. Peoples-

Stokes.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: Thank you, Madam

Speaker. The Democratic Conference generally cares about the needs

of its constituency and will be in favor of this piece of legislation.

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: The Clerk will

record the vote.

(The Clerk recorded the vote.)

Mr. Maher to explain his vote.

MR. MAHER: Thank you, Madam Speaker. As the

Ranker on Social Services I have gotten a great education this year on

this issue. For me, my background is more economic development.

This is an issue that is definitely new to me, and for that I really

appreciated my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for allowing me

that opportunity. One thing that I love doing with my staff is I'll keep

some knowledgeable on an issue and some not, just so that when we

get to a point where we need to make a decision, someone with a fresh

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

pair of eyes can take a look at it, and I hope that that's the value that I

can bring not just to this bill, but also to social services in general. At

the end of the day, I think there are some ways that we can really make

this problem a little more sustainable and help folks that I believe truly

need help, which I believe wholeheartedly is the intent of my

colleagues. Balanced billing is something that we ought to look into.

Out of all the services, the utilities that are in here, National Grid,

O&R or ConEd, researched most of them, they offer this. Maybe

there's something they can to do to incentivize balanced billing so we

know what these folks can -- can pay and allow that budget to be

something that can play more of a central role. I do believe that, as my

colleague said, if there's an opportunity for the Commissioner to create

a Statewide program, we really ought to figure out a way to limit or

just allow in very extreme circumstances multiple EHEAP

applications because this may have a detrimental effect to those that

are being responsible and paying their bills. And as much as I also

have faith in New Yorkers, again, parents are going to do whatever

they have to do, within reason and their morals, to take care of their

children and their household, and I think this potentially could do

some negative. So if this is something that does not get passed into

law, I hope to work with my colleague on the other side of the aisle

and many more to -- to really do something that will help on this issue,

as we're all trying to do.

Thank you. I'll be voting in the negative.

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: Mr. Maher in the

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

negative.

Mr. Goodell.

MR. GOODELL: Thank you, Madam Speaker, to

explain my vote. There's a limited amount of Federal funding that we

receive for HEAP, and it's within the State's discretion on how they

allocate it between regular HEAP, home energy assistance, and

emergency HEAP. And as we allocate more and more of that pie to

emergency HEAP, there's less and less available for regular HEAP.

And I think if we want to be compassionate to those who are in

poverty, we want to encourage them in every way we can to break free

from those chains of poverty, and we want to treat them all fairly. And

so I would hope that over time that we devote more resources into

regular home energy assistance to help all those who are doing their

best to pay the bills, and encourage people to sign up for balanced

billing and make their credit score higher so that they can break free

from poverty by encouraging financial responsibility.

And so with that compassionate view in mind, with a

long-term objective of helping people break those chains of poverty, I

will not support this bill that will cause a shift toward emergency

HEAP at the expense of all those who are making that hard decision to

live within their means with emer-- with regular HEAP. For that

reason, I won't be supporting it. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: Mr. Goodell in

the negative.

Ms. Solages to explain her vote.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

MS. SOLAGES: Thank you, Madam Speaker, to

explain my vote. I'm voting in the affirmative and I encourage my

colleagues to vote in the affirmative, because nearly 1.3 million New

Yorkers right now are in arrears. And I take offense to anyone who

may think that a lion's share of them just want to benefit off the

system. People are one paycheck away from disaster. With the

COVID pandemic, with the cost of inflation, the affordability crisis,

now is the time for the State to respond. And so with this piece of

legislation we are just ensuring that in New York State we're being a

safety net and we're trying to be proactive.

So I encourage all my colleagues to support this

legislation and I look forward to doing more to ensure that New

Yorkers are helped. Thank you.

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: Ms. Solages in

the affirmative.

Mrs. Peoples-Stokes to explain her vote.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: Thank you, Madam

Speaker, for the opportunity to explain my vote. I would first like to

commend the sponsor of this piece of legislation, and at the same time

I want to commend the Ranker because I really do appreciate the way

he handled the questions and his responses to this issue. I will say,

though, that, you know, much of the legislation that we put forth as a

Democratic Conference in this Chamber is generally about loosening

people from poverty. But there's still are some things that we get

pushed back on a lot of times on how to get people out of poverty.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

Sometimes we have to release some things that industry doesn't want

to release. I don't mind doing a cost-benefit analysis for national fuel

or national gas, but I don't think we can just look at that cost from the

perspective of how it impacts their bottom line as a business, but we

also have to look at that cost impact on how it impacts their personal

lives and the salaries that they gained and their shareholders, et cetera.

Because if we really want to look at eradicating poverty for people

who live in it, we have to make the cost of them living less expensive.

This is one of the ways that we do that, and I do appreciate the

opportunity to be voting in favor of it.

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: Mrs. Peoples-

Stokes in the affirmative.

Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

(The Clerk announced the results.)

The bill is passed.

Page 13, Rules Report No. 319, the Clerk will read.

THE CLERK: Senate No. S01891, Rules Report No.

319, Senator Sanders (A00954, Vanel). An act in relation to

establishing the New York State Cryptocurrency and Blockchain

Study Task Force; and providing for the repeal of such provisions

upon expiration thereof.

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: An explanation

has been requested, Mr. Vanel.

MR. VANEL: This bill establishes the State

Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Study Task Force. New York is

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

arguably the financial capital of the world, and we must ensure that we

help foster and create an -- an economic environment that allows us to

continue to lead the world in the financial sector. New York Stock

Exchange, NASDAQ, are two of the world's most valued -- valued

stock exchanges, and -- and the financial industry accounts for nearly

20 percent of New York State revenue. However, it's not guaranteed

that we will continue to be the world's financial leader. In reality, in

the current economic environment, we are competing with London,

Tokyo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong for financial investments and our

position -- and -- and for our position as a fiscal leader. In the current

digital technological world, New York is vying for a future for

financial transactions and activities with almost every other global

market and state. Cryptocurrencies have been making inroads in New

York's digital economy over the last decade. A rising number of

businesses around the State are accepting cryptocurrencies as payment.

Throughout the State there are a number of cryptocurrency-related

investments and companies. Furthermore, our State hosts a substantial

portion of blockchain mining. Blockchain technology is technology

that undergirds the industry. Its benefits include decentralization,

immutable security, transparency, amongst other things. New York

State should consider the usage of this technology. The bit license,

which is the business license for virtual currencies in New York State

was promulgated by the New York DFS back in 2015, and it has

protected many New Yorkers from unscrupulous investments. We

thoroughly -- we must thoroughly comprehend the impacts of

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

blockchain technology and its innovation and its potential for jobs,

economic growth, energy consumption, environmental issues, comp --

and competition in order to supplement the bit license with the correct

legislative framework. New York must be a state where, one,

consumers and investors are safeguarded; two, money laundering is

prevented; three, New Yorkers are prevented from unscrupulous users

and actors; four, employment and economic growth are promoted;

five, fiscal and economic inclusion is -- is -- is supported, blockchain

technology uses are considered; and six, environmental damage is

minimized.

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: Ms. Walsh.

MS. WALSH: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Will the

sponsor yield for some questions?

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: Will the sponsor

yield?

MR. VANEL: Yes.

ACTING SPEAKER LUNSFORD: The sponsor

yields.

MS. WALSH: Thank you very much. It's king of

weird because you're kind of behind me, so I apologize. I'm not really

looking at you too well. I just have a couple of questions because this

-- this bill -- we voted on this bill last year. I think it was introduced

maybe in 2018, we voted on it last year and then the Governor vetoed

it. Have you -- has the bill changed in any way since the Governor's

veto from the last time that we voted on it?

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

MR. VANEL: So, this bill first passed in 2018, it's --

this bill -- this bill actually became law in 2019. The reason why we

were working -- as a matter of fact, when the bill became law in 2019

we were working to fill the members of the -- of the Task Force, but

something happened in 2020 and we couldn't continue with it. So this

bill passed again last year, and the Governor vetoed the bill last year.

And the reason was being was I guess the Governor vetoed a package

of task forces all together.

MS. WALSH: Yeah, there were several -- several

dozen task forces that were bundled together with one veto,

specifically talking about the lack of money appropriation. It would

be more, in her view, better done within the confines of the budget, so

-- which leads me to my next question. The budget that we just

passed, does it contain any funding for this task force?

MR. VANEL: This bill -- this bill didn't -- doesn't

have -- none of the members of the task force are going to be

compensated, so this bill has no funding with respect to this -- to this

task force.

MS. WALSH: Okay. So this is -- this is not going to

cost anybody anything, this task force.

MR. VANEL: No.

MS. WALSH: Okay. So, one thing that I was

interested in knowing about was that the Attorney General's Office has

also been working on developing legislation to try to address

regulation and transparency issues, address consumer fraud issues.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

And she actually came out with a very lengthy press release in early

May, and I was -- I was surprised that you weren't quoted in it because

we consider you to be kind of the crypto person in this Chamber. But

in any event, how has -- do you know whether that press release

referenced that there was going to be legislation introduced in this

legislative Session to address all these issues? To your knowledge, has

there been anything introduced by the Attorney General's Office along

those lines?

MR. VANEL: So, we're -- we're very excited -- we've

been working in this -- in this Chamber for years on trying to figure

out the proper balance in this space, right? This is a new space, this is

the future -- it's part of the future of finance and we have to make sure

that we get it right. Also, the whole world is watching how New York

moves in this space, the Federal Government and so -- so do other

countries. So we were perplexed by the Attorney General's full

proposed bill or what have you, but at this point we're working with

the Attorney General's Office on this matter. As a matter of fact, there

may be a proposed amendment to include the Attorney General's

Office on the Task Force.

MS. WALSH: Oh, to include the -- okay. But have

you seen any bill language from the Attorney General's Office?

Because I saw that in the -- in this lengthy press release there were

different bulleted points of what she was saying that she was going to

address, but I mean, honestly, I -- I haven't been able to find the bill.

MR. VANEL: Again, keep in mind --

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

MS. WALSH: Was it introduced?

MR. VANEL: -- everybody -- everyone is in the

same -- has the same interest. We all -- we all want to make sure --

MS. WALSH: Sure.

MR. VANEL: -- that we protect investors. We want

to make sure that protect New Yorkers. We also want to make sure

that we have an environment for economic growth and that people

could participate in the new economy for tomorrow. So many of the --

many of the policies that the Attorney General was promulgating, we

agree with, but we -- we just disagree with the approach.

MS. WALSH: And in what way do you disagree with

the approach?

MR. VANEL: The approach is -- listen, this is -- this

-- we have to make sure that in this new changing dynamic industry

that we make sure that we balance all these interests. And it's really

important in a -- in a narrative-based marketplace that we do that

properly. And that means that we have to work with -- for example,

this task force makes sure that we work with all the stakeholders to

figure out how to move forward; meaning we work with economists,

we work with the industry, we work with community folks, we work

with academia. We also have to work with the Attorney General's

Office and the Department of DFS to figure out a proper framework to

move forward. So the proper approach is -- is -- is moving with all the

stakeholders to try to figure out how to -- you know, how to create the

proper guardrails in this space.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

MS. WALSH: Yeah, that sounds -- that sounds right,

to bring all the people to the table that -- that are stakeholders and to

try to develop a plan based on that. And I -- and I have to mention that

in this task force bill that you've put forward, there is no Minority

Republican representation or appointments to the Task Force. Why is

that?

MR. VANEL: So, when we passed -- when we

passed the law back in 2019 we worked -- we actually worked closely

with the -- with the Minority for it with appointments, and I -- I hope

we can do that moving forward.

MS. WALSH: Okay. So you think that you'll --

you'll amend the bill, then, to add for Minority appointments?

MR. VANEL: I -- I can't guarantee that I can amend

the bill, but in practice we actually worked with your -- with your

members to help on a number of appointments.

MS. WALSH: Yeah. No I -- I under-- I appreciate

that. It's just it's -- it's not in your bill, so I figured I'd better ask about

it. Okay. So, I think that we -- we can agree that the crypto industry is

in need of regulation and oversight. And I can appreciate what you're

saying in terms of the AG's Office and their proposal that came out on

May 5th not necessarily being at odds with this task force

recommendation and what the task force is going to be looking at, but

it's just a little bit confusing. Do you think that it maybe would make

more sense to see the legislation that the Attorney General is put

forward and see if that can be -- rather than have two different kind of

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

separate parallel efforts going, even though you're saying that this --

this doesn't cost anything, you know, to see what she's putting forward

for real before we -- we take any action here.

MR. VANEL: Well, it's very important -- again, I

respect the Attorney General's Office, I respect the Department of

Financial Services, I respect the Senate, I respect the Governor and

this House. But we have to move forward together. So it's -- it's -- I

think it's really important instead of one Body coming out with a full

comprehensive manifesto for the entire industry, I think it's really

important for us to sit down together, but not just us from our House. I

don't think we should come back from our Houses or from the

legislative side or from the -- the Executive side. I think we need to

work with industry, we need to work with community organizations,

we need to work with the stakeholders to try to figure out this way

forward. New York -- New York is really important --it's a really

important piece in this financial policy space for the world and how

we move is really important.

MS. WALSH: Thank you very much, Mr. Vanel.

Mr. Speaker, on the bill.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On the bill, Ms.

Walsh.

MS. WALSH: I think that -- a couple of things. I

think that this type of proposal for a task force to look at

cryptocurrency and blockchain is something that would enjoy some

wide support, and from the general public. I think a lot of people are

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

just very confused about this. As -- as with any other, you know,

emerging thing there's a lot of confusion, there's a lot of dis -- there's a

need to educate. So I do think that the idea of a task force could be a

very good one. What I'm just confused about is that it looks as though

the Attorney General's Office has come -- has already come out with

something, although I haven't been able to read or see the language,

I've only gotten a press release and some articles that have been

written about it. There was a very big press push about four weeks

ago that this was -- this whole thing was going to get rolled out and we

haven't seen it. So, you know, I -- I think -- I appreciate what the

sponsor is saying, I agree with him. I think that bringing all

stakeholders to the table and not having just one part of government

kind of coming out and occupying, you know, all the space in terms of

regulation and is a good idea and I -- I applaud him for thinking about

it that way. I do wish that there were -- there was Minority

representation on the task force, and while I appreciate what the

sponsor has said about working with our side of the aisle, the -- the

sure way to really indicate that would be to have at least one or a

couple members of the task force appointed through the Minority

Leader's Office. So I'm a little dismayed by that. I think that -- I think

it's really important that we kind of get it -- get the act together here,

so if the Attorney General is going to participate as a member of the

Task Force and in some amended version of this bill later or chaptered

version, that may happen according to the sponsor. But I think, you

know, it doesn't really do our government a lot of good to have

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

different parts of the government all kind of doing their own thing.

We do need to all come together.

For that reason, despite the Governor's veto last year I

do support the concept behind this task force. I just -- I just don't

really want to see overall us all working on cross purposes on

something that's this important. So I will support this, and -- but I

think that you may see a mix of votes on -- on our side of the aisle or

within the Chamber just because of kind of the complicating factor of

what the Attorney General has -- has put forward. So thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Thank you, Ms.

Walsh.

Mr. Blumencranz.

MR. BLUMENCRANZ: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

On the bill.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On the bill, sir.

MR. BLUMENCRANZ: I just want to speak in

support of this piece of legislation as well. I think that this task force

is not only necessary, but also extremely important for making sure

that we don't have what we're seeing now, which is too many cooks

trying to solve this issue at the same time. I think when you do read

the language of the AG's bill you'll see things that are inherently

duplicative of what we're seeing in DFS' role as well as some of the

things we're trying to do here as well as some of the things we're

seeing proposed in the Senate. So, finally allowing the industry to

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

come in and say, We need a framework, this is what the framework

should look like, and having a voice on this is -- is extremely

important. I will say it would be great to see a Minority appointment

as well, and I know that the sponsor is willing to work with us on that.

But in general, I think that it's important that we finally take the time

to make our stance clear on this industry. Unfortunately, we saw with

mining and the mining industry was -- was very sad, because I work

closely with a lot of groups that take mining to extremely rural areas,

and now they're moved to other states and do these programs that help

rural and indigenous populations understand currency, understand the

mining operations, teaching them skills, no longer doing that here in

New York because of the fact that we did not bring in the partners who

were building out this infrastructure in that sector of cryptocurrency.

So I hope that we listen to our partners and listen to

the stakeholders, and I think that this task force will do just that.

Thank you.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Thank you, sir.

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.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

Mr. Goodell for the purposes of a introduction.

MR. GOODELL: Thank you very much, sir. It is my

great pleasure on behalf of Minority Leader Will Barclay and the

entire Republican Conference to introduce a number of distinguished

Latino leaders from Downstate New York. They're here today to learn

about the legislative process and to build meaningful partnerships with

leaders in State government and the community stakeholders. And

with us today are Federico Guerrero, General Consul to El Salvador --

and I -- I hope I pronounce these names well enough that I'm not

permanently banned from any of these great -- great nations.

Alejandro Zayas, who is the Chairman of New York City Clergy;

Wendy Rodriguez, community leader and entrepreneur; Wanda

Arroyo, a community leader; Alejandro Buruca, a restaurant owner;

Ronnie Hernandez, an entrepreneur; Walter Mejia; Caleb Slater;

Pastor Basilio, who is the Freeport Pastor; Pastor Eli Samuel,

community leader and pastor; Sofia Aboubacar; Professor Henry, a

New York City Dominican leader; Pastor Daliza Rodriguez; with the

Dominican Chamber of Commerce, the Peruvian Chamber of

Commerce; Argilio Rodriguez, a New York City Latino leader; and

Adam Solis, a New York City community leader.

Sir, on behalf of all of us and particularly Minority

Leader Will Barclay, please welcome these distinguished guests.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Certainly. On behalf

of Assemblymember Barclay, the Speaker and all the members, we

welcome you all here to the New York State Assembly, extend to you

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

the privileges of the floor. So glad that you could come and share this

day with us. We are always glad to have you. Please know you're

always come here. Thank you so very much.

(Applause)

Again, Mr. Barclay -- I mean, I'm sorry, Mr. Goodell.

MR. GOODELL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And

again, on behalf of Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, please

welcome Sean Metcalf and his father Adam - a name I can more easily

pronounce - a teacher at Mexico Central School District. Sean is a

senior at Owas -- Oswego High School and serves as the President of

the National Honor Society. For the past nine months he's been an

intern in Minority Leader Barclay's office, in his district office, as a

participant in the New Vision Specialized Career Program. Sean is a

dedicated student, remains active in his community. Participates in

Youth Court, served as vice president of his class, played a variety of

sports, and currently works at the Children's Museum of Oswego. He's

one of three students nominated at his high school in 2022 to receive

Leader Barclay's Annual Service Leadership Award. Sean will be

attending SUNY Albany to major in political science and looks

forward to serving as an Assembly intern in the future.

It's my honor to introduce Sean Metcalf and his father

Adam. Please join me in welcoming here -- them here to the New

York State Assembly. Thank you, sir.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Certainly. On behalf

of Assemblymember Barclay, the Speaker and all the members,

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

gentlemen, we welcome you both here to the New York State

Assembly, extend to you the privileges of the floor. Our thanks to you

joining us here today, and of course you've chosen a great member to

intern with, and we hope to see you in Albany again very soon. Thank

you so very much. Enjoy your day.

(Applause)

Ms. Solages for the purposes of a introduction.

MS. SOLAGES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for an

introduction. I want to draw our eyes to the back of the Chamber. We

have one of New York State's most cutest young gentleman here, baby

-- baby Jack Knight, who is son of Kate and John Knight, who is our

Floor Counsel here. And he's with his grandmother, Lori Korkwere

(phonetic). They are here for a fun day in the Capitol, showing off all

of his many talents, like his new ability to walk.

So with that, Mr. Speaker, if you can please extend

the cordialities of the House to one of New York State's cutest little

blue-eyed babies, I would appreciate it.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Certainly. On behalf

of Ms. Solages, the Speaker and all the members, we welcome the

Knight family here to the New York State Assembly, especially that

handsome young man that you have between you. Congratulations.

We are all pleased to have you here, family is always welcome here.

Family always has the privileges of the floor. God bless both. Take

care.

(Applause)

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

Ms. Solages.

MS. SOLAGES: Members have on their desks an

A-Calendar. Mr. Speaker, I now move to advance the A-Calendar.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On Ms. Solages'

motion, the A-Calendar is advanced.

Page 3, Rules Report No. 482, the Clerk will read.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A00129, Rules Report

No. 482, Cruz, De Los Santos, Simone, Kelles, Simon, Raga, Taylor,

Seawright, Levenberg, Otis, Joyner, Walker, Davila, Glick, Zaccaro,

L. Rosenthal. An act to amend the Criminal Procedure Law, in

relation to requiring accurate interpretation of statements made by

deponents with limited English proficiency in accusatory instruments

and supporting depositions.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Ms.

Cruz, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is advanced

and the bill is laid aside.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A00463-A, Rules

Report No. 483, McDonald, Steck, Gunther, Stirpe, K. Brown,

Weprin, Colton, Bendett. An act to amend the Insurance Law and the

Public Health Law, in relation to requiring notice of adverse step

therapy determinations.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Read the last section.

THE CLERK: This act shall take effect on the 90th

day.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: The Clerk will record

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

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. A01278-B, Rules

Report No. 484, Joyner, Bores, Burdick, Simon, Ardila, Reyes, Taylor,

Gibbs, Lunsford, Walker, L. Rosenthal. An act to amend the Labor

Law, in relation to prohibiting non-compete agreements and certain

restrictive covenants.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: The bill is laid aside.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A01645-A, Rules

Report No. 485, Simon, Taylor, Forrest, Colton, Kelles, Shimsky,

Glick, Levenberg. An act to amend the Correction Law, in relation to

a reading proficiency level assessment and dyslexia screening for

incarcerated individuals.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Read the last section.

THE CLERK: This act shall take effect on the 90th

day.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: The Clerk will record

the vote.

(The Clerk recorded the vote.)

Ms. Simon to explain her vote.

MS. SIMON: I -- I will say that I am very happy to

see all the green yeses on this board today. This is a bill that I have

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

been working hard on for a number of years. As you know, we are --

have been talking a lot about dyslexia and reading difficulties for a

number of years, and this is one way that we can really make a

difference in the lives of people who have been incarcerated. We

know that the numbers of people who are incarcerated are at least 50

percent have signs of dyslexia, and many more have great difficulty

reading. And this is a way that we can make a difference by

identifying those who are at risk for dyslexia early on, providing them

the support that they need so when they reenter society they will be

much better able to reenter and get those jobs and not allow the

difficulty they have with reading to impact their lives in the way it has

in the past.

So I'm very happy to be able to vote in the

affirmative. Thank you.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Ms. Simon in the

affirmative.

Mr. Pirozzolo to explain his vote.

MR. PIROZZOLO: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I

would like to thank the sponsor for introducing this bill. Chances are

very good that the reason these people are incarcerated in the first

place are -- or at least most of the -- the problem is because of

dyslexia. And anything that we can do to recognize dyslexia amongst

any portion of our population is a great thing.

So thank you very much.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Mr. Pirozzolo in the

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

affirmative.

Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

(The Clerk announced the results.)

The bill is passed.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A01926-A, Rules

Report No. 486, Gonz�lez-Rojas, Gallagher, Hevesi, Seawright,

Dinowitz, Simon, Forrest, Colton. An act to amend the Public Health

Law, in relation to reporting of home care service usage.

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. A02252, Rules Report

No. 487, Weprin, Braunstein, Carroll, Cruz, Darling, Durso, Cook,

Fahy, Hyndman, Jean-Pierre, Rozic, Simon, Steck, D. Rosenthal,

Pheffer Amato, Ra, Vanel, Mamdani. An act in relation to order a

study and report on a proposed extension of the Long Island Motor

Parkway Trail, a part of the Brooklyn-Queens Greenway, east from

Winchester Boulevard to Little Neck Parkway in the County of

Queens to the railhead of the planned Motor Parkway Trail in the

County of Nassau; and providing for the repeal of such provisions

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

upon expiration thereof.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Mr.

Weprin, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. 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. A02307-A, Rules

Report No. 488, Lupardo. An act to amend the Education Law, in

relation to the computation of Building Aid for construction,

reconstruction or modernizing of projects for Binghamton City School

District.

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. A02356, Rules Report

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

No. 489, Morinello. An act to amend Chapter 19 of the Laws of 1985

creating the Volunteer and Exempt Firemen's Benevolent Association

of Upper Mountain, Inc., and providing for its powers and duties, in

relation to its purpose and the use of foreign fire insurance premium

taxes.

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. A02479, Rules Report

No. 490, Hevesi, Epstein, Simon, McDonough, Clark, Alvarez,

Jackson, Raga. An act to amend the Social Services Law, in relation

to the administration of the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse

and Maltreatment.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: The bill is laid aside.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A02672-B, Rules

Report No. 491, Paulin, Dinowitz, Reyes, L. Rosenthal. An act to

amend the General Business Law, in relation to requiring sellers to

clearly post the price of a credit card surcharge.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Read the last section.

THE CLERK: This act shall take effect on the 60th

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

day.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: The Clerk will record

the vote.

(The Clerk recorded the vote.)

Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

(The Clerk announced the results.)

The bill is passed.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A02725, Rules Report

No. 492, E. Brown. An act authorizing the Congregation Beis

Medrash of Lawrence to receive retroactive real property tax-exempt

status.

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. A02943, Rules Report

No. 493, Simpson, Blankenbush, Maher, Norris, DeStefano,

Manktelow, Lemondes, Bendett, Palmesano. An act to amend the

Highway Law, in relation to designating a portion of the State highway

system as the "Trooper Lawrence P. Gleason Memorial Bridge."

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Read the last section.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

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. A03288, Rules Report

No. 494, Slater, Levenberg, Gray, Maher, E. Brown, Bendett,

DeStefano, Tague, Durso, Morinello, Brabenec, Angelino, Lemondes,

Flood, J.M. Giglio. An act to amend the Highway Law, in relation to

naming a portion of Route 202 in the Town of Yorktown the "Captain

Kenneth Sgroi Memorial Highway."

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.)

Mr. Slater to explain his vote.

MR. SLATER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just

wanted to take a moment to thank my colleagues for supporting this

piece of legislation. This would rename a portion of Route 202 in my

hometown of Yorktown in memory of Captain Kenneth Sgroi. This

Body has honored Captain Sgroi since his untimely death earlier this

year, and my hope is that this really brings some closure to our police

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

department in my hometown of Yorktown, as well as to his family.

His wife and daughter, Gabriella; son, Joseph; his sister, Pam, who is

also a police officer in the City of Peekskill; and his mother, Alice.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I'll of course be supporting this --

this bill and I thank my colleagues for their support as well.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Mr. Slater in the

affirmative.

Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

(The Clerk announced the results.)

The bill is passed.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A03381-A, Rules

Report No. 495, Woerner, McMahon, Thiele, D. Rosenthal, Simpson,

Mikulin, Durso, Colton, Sillitti, Sayegh, McDonald, Simon. An act to

amend the Real Property Tax Law, in relation to clarifying he

definition of "veteran" to include career members of the Armed Forces

for purposes of the veterans alternative tax exemption.

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. A03679-A, Rules

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

Report No. 496, Manktelow. An act to amend the Tax Law, in

relation to authorizing Wayne County to impose a hotel, motel or

seasonal rental occupancy tax; and providing for the repeal of such

provisions upon expiration thereof.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Home Rule message

is at the desk, and the bill is laid aside.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A03861, Rules Report

No. 497, Jackson, Tapia, Cunningham, Taylor, Dickens, Septimo,

Epstein, Kelles, Forrest. An act to amend the Executive Law, in

relation to requiring agencies to provide unsuccessful bidders that are

certified minority and women-owned business enterprises with a

written statement articulating the reasons for such rejection.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Ms.

Jackson, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced and the bill is laid aside.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A04104-A, Rules

Report No. 498, Hunter, Buttenschon, Pheffer Amato, Rajkumar,

Jean-Pierre, Eachus. An act to amend the Veterans' Services Law, in

relation to establishing a searchable database of veteran-owned

businesses.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Ms.

Hunter, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced, and read the last section.

THE CLERK: This act shall take effect April 1st.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: The Clerk will record

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

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. A04187, Rules Report

No. 499, Peoples-Stokes, Epstein, Simone. An act to amend the

Executive Law, in relation to establishing the Office of Racial Equity

and Social Justice.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Mrs.

Peoples-Stokes, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. Read the last section.

THE CLERK: This act shall take effect April 1,

2024.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: The Clerk will record

the vote.

(The Clerk recorded the vote.)

Mrs. Peoples-Stokes to explain her vote.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker,

for allowing me the opportunity to explain my vote. I want to

appreciate my colleagues who are able to join me in pushing forward

this piece of legislation. There is no question that -- you know, I think

if we look -- take hard looks at the data we'll come up with better

solutions on how to fix things, and I think this is an office that could

perhaps begin to look at that data. I was actually moved by one of our

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

colleagues comments earlier today about, you know, eradicating

poverty and helping people figure out how to be financially or fiscally

more responsible. And it just occurred to me as he was saying that

that he's -- he's exactly right. We do need to do that. But sometimes

we need to dive deep into the policies that we create before we create

them, to see what their impact would be on people who are currently

living in poverty. And sometimes we need to look at the data that

impacts people's lives right now today and why they may be still in

poverty. And sometimes we need to look at what -- what other -- what

companies are doing that impact people's lives in a way that keeps

them in poverty. And I think if you set up an office established to do

things and look into these issues, you will -- we will find the ways to

do exactly what my colleague said that we should be doing. Because I

agree 100 percent we should be doing that, is finding ways to help

people get out and stay out of poverty and actually have access to the

real American Dream as promised to all of us.

So I really do appreciate people who can join me in

supporting this, and I think that we are going to see a good result at the

end of the day. Thank you, sir.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: You're welcome.

Mrs. Peoples-Stokes in the affirmative.

Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

(The Clerk announced the results.)

The bill is passed.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A04275, Rules Report

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

No. 500, Barrett, Hevesi, Wallace, Magnarelli, Burdick, Sillitti,

Buttenschon, Jones, Kelles, Bichotte Hermelyn, Jacobson, Colton,

Otis, Raga. An act requiring a multi-agency study on the issues

impacting the continuum of caregiving in the State of New York.

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. A04916, Rules Report

No. 501, Byrnes. An act to authorize Michael Telesca to take a

competitive Civil Service examination and be placed on the eligible

Civil Service list for employment as a full-time police officer for the

County of Livingston.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Ms.

Byrnes, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. Home Rule message is at the desk. 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.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

(The Clerk announced the results.)

The bill is passed.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A04984-B, Rules

Report No. 502, D. Rosenthal, Weprin. An act to amend the Insurance

Law, in relation to the examination of records maintained by the

Excess Line Association; and to amend Chapter 630 of the Laws of

1988 amending the Insurance Law relating to establishing an excess

line advisory organization, in relation to extending the effectiveness

thereof.

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. A04986-A, Rules

Report No. 503, Hevesi. An act to amend the Social Services Law, in

relation to child care assistance under the Child Care Block Grant.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: The bill is laid aside.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A04987-A, Rules

Report No. 504, Pheffer Amato, Hevesi, Paulin, L. Rosenthal, Colton,

Seawright, Shimsky, Simon, Dickens. An act to amend the Public

Health Law, in relation to establishing a video on the dangers of

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

drowning for infants and young children to be viewed by a parent

and/or parents of newborn children.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Ms.

Pheffer Amato, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. Read the last section.

THE CLERK: This act shall take effect on the 120th

day.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: The Clerk will record

the vote.

(The Clerk recorded the vote.)

Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

(The Clerk announced the results.)

The bill is passed.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A05052-C, Rules

Report No. 505, Woerner, McDonald, Gunther, Stirpe, Hunter, Thiele,

Glick, Stern, Jacobson, Magnarelli, Bendett, K. Brown, Cunningham,

Fahy, Durso, Gandolfo. An act to amend the Public Authorities Law,

in relation to conducting a highway and depot charging needs

evaluation.

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.)

Mr. Palmesano to explain his vote.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

MR. PALMESANO: Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker

and my colleagues. To explain my vote. You know, I understand the

intention behind this legislation, but the fact of the matter is back in

2018 with much fanfare, Governor Cuomo announced a $250 million

for the Evolve New York program that was supposed to put in place

10,000 EV charging stations by the end of 2021. Last year Governor

Hochul announced that we just hit our 100th (inaudible) fast charging

stations, so we have a long ways to go. What we should be doing is

this should have been done a long time ago. We should be doing a

thorough cost-benefit analysis on top of it. Even the Comptroller has

cited problems with the dispatch of these charging stations. There's

going to be a significant demand on the grid. Just recent -- this

morning we toured the New York Independent System Operators.

They are very concerned about the reliability of our grid. You know,

for every megawatt of fossil fuel and natural gas has to be replaced by

three times the number of solar or wind. That's problematic, that's

going to test the affordability and the reliability of the grid. We have

major resources that need to be developed that aren't developed yet.

Twenty-seven to 45 gigawatts of new generation are needed to -- of

dispatchable emission-free resources and that technology is not even in

place yet. But we continue to move forward with -- to meet the Green

New Deal for New York. On top of it, when we talk about electric

vehicles there's safety issues for our first responders, and I know

there's another bill on the Calendar that's coming up soon. But also

when we talk about electric vehicles, I can't let it go by to recall and

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

remind everyone in this Chamber that cobalt, 70 percent of it is

extracted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is used to produce

these lithium ion batteries, and there are children today, some 35- to

40,000 children working in these mines in the -- in the Congo, mining

-- hand-mining for this stuff so they could produce these electric --

these batteries to power these electric vehicles. So I hope when we

think and continue to adopt these types of legislation, we start to think

about the safety aspect of it for them; not only for our first responders,

but for those individuals who are being exploited to produce these

electric vehicles so we can meet our Green New Deal goals.

So for that reason I'm going to be voting no.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Mr. Palmesano in the

negative.

Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

(The Clerk announced the results.)

The bill is passed.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A05119, Rules Report

No. 506, Gunther, Kelles, Alvarez, Santabarbara, Mamdani, De Los

Santos, Gibbs, Dickens, Reyes, Stern, Eachus, Cruz, McDonald,

Epstein, Levenberg, Tapia, Shrestha, Zaccaro, Hevesi, Burdick,

Maher, Gandolfo, Bendett, Novakhov, Slater, Seawright, K. Brown,

Gallahan, Chang, Walsh, Clark. An act in relation to establishing a

task force to study aging in pace in mental health housing; and

providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Mrs.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

Gunther, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. 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. A05142-B, Rules

Report No. 507, E. Brown, DeStefano, K. Brown. An act in relation to

establishing the Long Island -- Long Island [sic] Park LIPA Power

Plant Tax Assessment Reserve Fund.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Read the last section.

THE CLERK: This act shall take effect immediately.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: The Clerk will record

the vote.

(The Clerk recorded the vote.)

Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

(The Clerk announced the results.)

The bill is passed.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A05200-B, Rules

Report No. 508, McDonald, Bendett, McDonough, Fahy, Forrest. An

act to amend the Public Health Law, in relation to enacting "Matthew's

Law."

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Mr.

McDonald, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. Read the last section.

THE CLERK: This act shall take effect on the 30th

day.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: The Clerk will record

the vote.

(The Clerk recorded the vote.)

Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

(The Clerk announced the results.)

The bill is passed.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A05326-A, Rules

Report No. 509, Curran. An act authorizing Vineyard Christian

Fellowship South Shore, Inc. to file with the County of Nassau

assessor an application for a retroactive real property tax exemption.

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. A05359-A, Rules

Report No. 510, Palmesano. An act to amend the Tax Law, in relation

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

to extending the authorization of the County of Steuben to impose an

additional 1 percent of sales and compensating use taxes.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Mr.

Palmesano, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. Home Rule message is at the desk. 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. A05435-A, Rules

Report No. 511, Solages, Thiele, Shimsky, Gonz�lez-Rojas,

Cunningham, Hyndman, McDonough, J.A. Giglio, Walker, Raga,

Novakhov, Woerner. An act to amend the Public Health Law, in

relation to establishing the New York State Community Doula

Directory for doulas serving Medicaid patients.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Read the last section.

THE CLERK: This act shall take effect on the

(inaudible).

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: The Clerk will record

the vote.

(The Clerk recorded the vote.)

Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

(The Clerk announced the results.)

The bill is passed.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A05448-A, Rules

Report No. 512, Gunther, Jean-Pierre. An act to amend the Public

Health Law, the Social Services Law and the Family Court Act, in

relation to establishing the Maternal-Infant Care Centers Pilot

Program; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon

expiration thereof.

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. A05588, Rules Report

No. 513, Barrett, Dickens, Zinerman, Magnarelli, Thiele, Simon,

Seawright, Stern, Gonz�lez-Rojas, Forrest, Reyes, Burgos, Burdick,

Dinowitz, Hevesi, Aubry, Jackson, Buttenschon, Otis, Meeks,

Lupardo, Kelles, Weprin. Concurrent Resolution of the Senate and

Assembly proposing amendments to Sections 3 and 4 of Article XVII

of the Constitution, in relation to the protection and promotion of the

mental health of New Yorkers.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: The bill is laid aside.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A05775-A, Rules

Report No. 514, Friend. An act to amend the Tax Law, in relation to

extending the authorization of the County of Tioga to impose an

additional 1 percent of sales and compensating use taxes.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Mr.

Friend, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. Read -- Home Rule message is at the desk. 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. A05799-A, Rules

Report No. 515, Gandolfo. An act to authorize the Town of Islip,

County of Suffolk, to discontinue as parklands and lease certain lands.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Home Rule message

is at the desk. 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.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

(The Clerk announced the results.)

The bill is passed.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A05817-A, Rules

Report 516, Solages. An act to amend the Civil Service Law, in

relation to certain reports relating to health benefits for State and

retired State employees.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Ms.

Solages, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. 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.)

Mr. Goodell to explain his vote.

MR. GOODELL: Thank you very much, sir. I will

be supporting this bill that requires the Civil Service Commission to

issue a report analyzing the medical expenditures through the State

system. I would note, however, that this bill language only requires a

report be given to Majority members. And I would remind my

Majority colleagues that about half of New York State is represented

by Republicans. And we, as with our Democratic colleagues, are

interested in the results of all reports, including this. So I hope, as a

matter of comity, the Majority shares this report with Minority, and I

hope as a matter of policy, that future legislation requires report to be

shared with both parties, thank you, sir.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Mr. Goodell in the

affirmative.

Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

(The Clerk announced the results.)

The bill is passed.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A05970, Rules Report

No. 517, Aubry, Weprin, Rozic, Hyndman, Hevesi, Cook, Anderson,

Rage. An act in relation to directing the Department of Health to

conduct a study relating to the opening of a public hospital in

SouthEast Queens; and providing for the repeal of such provisions

upon expiration thereof.

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. A06054, Rules Report

No. 518, DiPietro. An act to amend the Tax Law, in relation to

extending the expiration of the authorization to the County of

Wyoming to impose an additional one percent sales and compensating

use tax.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Mr.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

DiPietro, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. Home Rule message is at the desk. 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. A06129-A, Rules

Report No. 519, Blumencranz. An act in relation to authorizing the

Gold Coast Public Library District to file with the County of Nassau

assessor an application for a retroactive real property tax exemption.

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. A06324, Rules Report

No. 520, Stirpe, Hevesi, Sillitti, Taylor, Woerner, Simon, Stern,

Zinerman, Lupardo, Zebrowski. An act to amend the Elder Law, in

relation to creating the Office of Older Adult Workforce Development

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

within the Office for the Aging.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Mr.

Stirpe, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. 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. A06412, Rules Report

No. 521, Barclay. An act to amend the Highway Law and the Vehicle

and Traffic Law, in relation to establishing minimum maintenance

roads in designated towns; and providing for the repeal of such

provisions upon expiration thereof.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Home Rule message

is at the desk. Read the last section.

THE CLERK: This act shall take effect on the 120th

day.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: The Clerk will record

the vote.

(The Clerk recorded the vote.)

Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

(The Clerk announced the results.)

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

The bill is passed.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A06431, Rules Report

No. 522, Magnarelli. An act to amend the City of Syracuse and the

Board of Education of the City School District of the City of Syracuse

Cooperative School Reconstruction Act, in relation to construction and

design contracts entered by the JSC Board.

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.)

Mr. Goodell to explain his vote.

MR. GOODELL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, to explain

my vote. This bill would increase the bonding authority for the

Syracuse Reconstructive Act from 300- to 400 million. It's $100

million increase in debt for the Syracuse school system. And in

addition, this bill would provide that those funds that are not approved

by, certainly not by State other than to this bill would be spent on

projects that are Design-Build, which means there's no competitive

bidding, and a mandatory project agreement which means that anyone

who wants to do that work is funded by this debt has to have a union

contract. I think that's a double whammy against being cost

competitive because it eliminates competitive bidding and we've seen

through hundreds of years of experience that competitive bidding

tends to bring us the best prize, and by requiring a competitive -- a

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

project labor agreement, we're not only going to make competitive

bidding but we make it impossible, or virtually impossible for

non-union contractors to do this work. So we eliminate non-union

contractors from even bidding to establish that they can do the work in

a more cost effective manner. And for those two primary -- three

primary reasons, a huge increase in debt, no competitive bidding, and

no opportunity for private sector, non-union employers to work on this

job, I will be voting against it. Thank you, sir.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Mr. Goodell in the

negative.

Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

(The Clerk announced the results.)

The bill is passed.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A06492, Rules Report

No. 523, Shimsky. An act to authorize the Village of Dobbs Ferry to

offer an optional twenty-year retirement plan to a certain police officer

formerly employed by such village.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Ms.

Shimsky, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. Home Rule message is at the desk. 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.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

(The Clerk announced the results.)

The bill is passed.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A06499, Rules Report

No. 524, Pheffer Amato. An act to amend the General Municipal

Law, in relation to special accidental death benefits for widows or

widowers of certain deputy sheriff members of the New York City

Sheriff's Department.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Home Rule message

is at the desk. 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. A06517, Rules Report

No. 525, Eachus. An act to amend the Executive Law, in relation to

the establishment of a specialized electric vehicle emergency response

training program.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Read the last section.

THE CLERK: This act shall take effect immediately.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: The Clerk will record

the vote.

(The Clerk recorded the vote.)

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

Mr. Eachus to explain his vote.

MR. EACHUS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank

you my colleagues for backing this. Every day we send volunteer

firemen, professional firemen, policemen, ambulance folks, EMTs into

situations which are very dangerous, very dangerous because there is

no educational system out there to teach them how to deal with

electric car fires or electric vehicle accidents. It is my hope that we

will create a training program perhaps on a video, that can be shown to

every fire department, every police department and every EMT group

out there so they will know how to safely approach this situation. I'm

in the affirmative.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Mr. Eachus in the

affirmative.

Mr. Palmesano.

MR. PALMESANO: Yes, Mr. Speaker, to explain

my vote. I also rise to express my support for this legislation. I think

this is good legislation. We had similar legislation on our side to

present. If I had to make two changes to the bill, one I would ask the

Minority Leader and the respective Rankers of those Committees also

receive a copy of that report. And also, I think I would like to see that

this report made to the public given what's at stake here. I mean, this

is a very serious issue and concern as facing many of our communities

with the deployment of more electric vehicles. Many of our fire

departments have no idea how to handle this. I mean, what needs to

be done for the training perspective, the amount of water that's needed

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

to put out with these electric vehicle fires is tremendous. We all saw

the Felicity Ace, the cargo ship that sank to the bottom of the Atlantic

when they had a breakout on that ship that had the electric vehicles

that combusted. Most advised us to stay away from them and let them

burn out and that could be days, it could be many hours. They burn

hot and long. And we have to really be cognizant of that and in fact,

we should really be addressing some of these issues before we require

mandate of this massive electric mandate going across the board,

especially with our school buses and our school districts, given the fact

that every new school bus right now after 2027 school districts has to

purchase a zero emission school bus which most likely is going to be

electric school bus in regard to the costs and challenges there and just

think about that if our kids are on one of these school buses that they

burn, they burn hot and they burn long. When we talk about safety of

our fire departments, we should also be remised it doesn't give this bill

the safety of the individuals who are producing these materials to

produce our electric vehicles, the cobalt that is needed to produce

lithium ion batteries. We know it, I've said it over and over again and

I will continue to say it, 70 percent of the cobalt is extracted in the

Democratic Republic of the Congo for using child labor. These kids

are being maimed, they're being killed each and every day. Some

estimated 35 to 40,000 kids working in these mines, hand-mining it for

as little as $1 to $2 a day. I wish we could have more people speaking

up on this issue and address this issue. These kids are being exploited

so we can meet our clean energy goals and green energy goals, and it's

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

really not so clean and green if we really look at it. So for that reason,

I will be voting for this legislation, we need this and it's a step in the

right direction, so thank you.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Mr. Palmesano in the

affirmative.

Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

(The Clerk announced the results.)

The bill is passed.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A06557-A, Rules

Report No. 526, Sillitti. An act in relation to authorizing the County

of Nassau assessor to accept an application for a real property tax

exemption from the Maritime Administration, a component of the

United States Department of Transportation.

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. A06588, Rules Report

No. 527, Kelles. An act to amend the Tax Law, in relation to

extending the authorization for imposition of additional sales tax in the

County of Cortland.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Ms.

Kelles, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. Home Rule message is at the desk. 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. A06590, Rules Report

No. 528, Kelles. An act to amend Chapter 443 of the Laws of 2007

amending the Tax Law relating to authorizing the County of Cortland

to impose an additional mortgage recording tax, in relation to

extending the effectiveness of such provisions.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Ms.

Kelles, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. Home Rule message is at the desk. 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.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A06680, Rules Report

No. 529, Paulin, Sillitti, Woerner, Lupardo, Lavine, Simpson, Walsh,

Simon, McDonald, Stirpe, Beephan. An act to amend the General

Business Law, in relation to prohibiting unsolicited telemarketing

sales calls during certain declared states of emergency.

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. A06686, Rules Report

530, Magnarelli, Hunter. An act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic

Law and the Public Officers Law, in relation to owner liability for

failure of operator to comply with traffic control indications in the City

of Syracuse; 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.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A06687-A, Rules

Report 531, Magnarelli, Hunter. An act to amend the Vehicle and

Traffic Law and the Public Officers Law, in relation to authorizing the

City of Syracuse to establish a demonstration program imposing

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

monetary liability on the owner of a vehicle for failure of an operator

thereof to comply with posted maximum speed limits in a school

speed zone; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon

expiration thereof.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Mr.

Magnarelli, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. Home Rule message is at the desk and the bill is laid aside.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A06690-A, Rules

Report No. 532, Blumencranz. An act in relation to authorizing the

North Shore Land Alliance, Inc. to file with the County of Nassau

assessor an application for a retroactive real property tax exemption.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Mr.

Blumencranz, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. 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. A06724, Rules Report

No. 533, Bronson, Lunsford, Meeks. An act in relation to authorizing

the City of Rochester to convey by appropriate instruments to the

Rochester Pure Waters District, an easement in Genesee Valley Park,

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

for installation and maintenance of sanitary sewer facilities.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Home Rule message

is at the desk. 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. A06725, Rules Report

No. 534, Tague. An act to amend the Public Officers Law, in relation

to the qualifications for holding the Office of Assistant District

Attorney in the County of Greene.

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. A06731, Rules Report

No. 536, Stern. An act to amend the Retirement and Social Security

Law, in relation to providing accidental disability retirement for

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

deputy sheriffs in Suffolk County.

Assembly No. A06728, Rules Report No. 535, Sillitti.

An act in relation to authorizing the County of Nassau assessor to

accept an application for a real property tax exemption from Torah

Ohr Hebrew Academy.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Ms.

Sillitti, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. 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. A06731, Rules Report

No. 536, Stern. An act to amend the Retirement and Social Security

Law, in relation to providing accidental disability retirement for

deputy sheriffs in Suffolk County.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Home Rule message

is at the desk. Read the last section.

THE CLERK: This act shall take effect immediately.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: The Clerk will record

the vote.

(The Clerk recorded the vote.)

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

Mr. Fitzpatrick to explain his vote.

MR. FITZPATRICK: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just

rise to explain my vote. Again, this time of year when we have so

many benefit enhancements and pension sweeteners coming through,

I'm not opposed to improving benefits or enhancing benefits, but it's

how it's done that's the problem. This should be done through the

collective bargaining process and not done behind the taxpayer's back

through the Legislature, in my view. Collective bargaining is, you

know, a hard fought for benefit for organized labor and I believe they

should use it more aggressively, especially when it comes to benefit

enhancements. It's not unfair, nor is it unreasonable to ask them for

something in return to help offset the cost of what are becoming very

and very expensive benefits. We have a crisis in this State where

people are leaving because of the high tax burden, it is situations like

this which are contributing to that high tax burden. So in fairness to

the taxpayers, something should be put on the table in return, that's

what collective bargaining is all about, it should be used in cases like

this and for that reason, I'll be voting in the negative.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Mr. Fitzpatrick in the

negative.

Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

(The Clerk announced the results.)

The bill is passed.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A06750, Rules Report

No. 537, Pheffer Amato. An act to amend the Administrative Code of

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

the City of New York and the Retirement and Social Security Law, in

relation to permitting certain New York City Correction members to

borrow from their accumulated member contributions; and to repeal

certain provisions of the Retirement and Social Security Law relating

thereto.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Home Rule message

is at the desk. 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. A06866, Rules Report

No. 538, Lavine. An act to amend the Civil Practice Law and Rules,

in relation to court confirmation of arbitration awards for public sector

arbitrations.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Mr.

Lavine, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. Read the last section.

THE CLERK: This act shall take effect immediately.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: The Clerk will record

the vote.

(The Clerk recorded the vote.)

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

ACTING SPEAKER REYES: Are there any other

votes? Announce the results.

(The Clerk announced the results.)

The bill is passed.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A07041-A, Rules

Report No. 539, Sillitti. An act in relation to authorizing Saddle Rock

Minyan to file an application for retroactive real property tax

exemption.

ACTING SPEAKER REYES: Read the last section.

THE CLERK: This act shall take effect immediately.

ACTING SPEAKER REYES: 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. A07117, Rules Report

No. 540, Fahy. An act to amend Chapter 405 of the Laws of 2005

amending the Tax Law relating to authorizing the County of Albany to

impose a county recording tax on obligations secured by a mortgage

on real property, in relation to extending the effectiveness thereof.

ACTING SPEAKER REYES: On a motion by Ms.

Fahy, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is advanced.

Home Rule message is at the desk. Read the last section.

THE CLERK: This act shall take effect immediately.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

ACTING SPEAKER REYES: 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. A07207, Rules Report

No. 541, Thiele. An act to amend the Tax Law, in relation to

extending the authority of the County of Suffolk to impose an

additional one percent of sales and compensating use tax.

ACTING SPEAKER REYES: On a motion by Mr.

Thiele, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. Home Rule message is at the desk. Read the last section.

THE CLERK: This act shall take effect immediately.

ACTING SPEAKER REYES: 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. A07237, Rules Report

No. 542, Pretlow. An act to amend the Tax Law, in relation to

authorizing the City of Yonkers to impose additional sales tax; and to

amend Chapter 67 of the Laws of 2015, amending the Tax Law

relating to authorizing the City of Yonkers to impose additional sales

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

tax, in relation to extending provisions relating thereto.

ACTING SPEAKER REYES: On a motion by Mr.

Pretlow, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. Home Rule message is at the desk. Read the last section.

THE CLERK: This act shall take effect immediately.

ACTING SPEAKER REYES: 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. A07238, Rules Report

No. 543, Pretlow. An act to amend the Tax Law, in relation to

extending the expiration of the mortgage recording tax imposed by the

City of Yonkers.

ACTING SPEAKER REYES: On a motion by Mr.

Pretlow, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. Home Rule message is at the desk. Read the last section.

THE CLERK: This act shall take effect immediately.

ACTING SPEAKER REYES: 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.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A07239, Rules Report

No. 544, Pretlow. An act to amend the Tax Law and Chapter 535 of

the Laws of 1987, amending the Tax Law relating to the City of

Yonkers personal income tax surcharge, in relation to extending the

expiration date of the personal income tax surcharge.

ACTING SPEAKER REYES: On a motion by Mr.

Pretlow, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. Home Rule message is at the desk. Read the last section.

THE CLERK: This act shall take effect immediately.

ACTING SPEAKER REYES: 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. A07246, Rules Report

No. 545, Woerner. An act to amend the Education Law, in relation to

the award of grants to support preservation and/or conservation of

library research materials.

ACTING SPEAKER REYES: Read the last section.

THE CLERK: This act shall take effect immediately.

ACTING SPEAKER REYES: The Clerk will record

the vote.

(The Clerk recorded the vote.)

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Are there any other

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

votes? Announce the results.

(The Clerk announced the results.)

The bill is passed.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A07247-A, Rules

Report No. 546, Burdick. An act to amend Chapter 538 of the Law of

1975 incorporating the South Salem Exempt Volunteer Firemen's

Benevolent Association, and providing for its powers and duties, in

relation to the purposes of the South Salem Exempt Volunteer

Firemen's Benevolent Association and to foreign fire insurance

premium taxes.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Mr.

Burdick, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. 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.)

Mr. Burdick to explain his vote.

MR. BURDICK: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for

allowing me to explain my vote. As so many of us in this Chamber

know, volunteer fire departments struggle to attract and retrain

members. The establishment of parallel benevolent associations

allows for very modest benefits to be provided to members, such as for

group life or disability insurance, vision insurance and uniforms. The

South Salem firefighters asked me to carry this bill which will expand

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

the purposes of the existing South Salem Exempt Volunteer Firemen's

Benevolent Association. This all volunteer department serves the

community selflessly and this bill will help them to carry out their

mission. I vote in the affirmative. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Mr. Burdick in the

affirmative.

Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

(The Clerk announced the results.)

The bill is passed.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A07253, Rules Report

No. 547, Santabarbara. An act to amend the Tax Law, in relation to

extending the authorization granted to the County of Montgomery to

impose an additional one percent sales and compensating use taxes.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Mr.

Santabarbara, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. Home Rule message is at the desk. 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. A07258-A, Rules

Report No. 548, Benedetto. An act to amend the Education Law, in

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

relation to replacing the words "handicapping conditions" with the

word "disabilities."

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Mr.

Benedetto, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. 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. A07328, Rules Report

No. 549, Paulin, D. Rosenthal, Reyes, Weprin. An act to amend the

Public Health Law, in relation to establishing a four-year

demonstration project and workgroup to reduce the use of temporary

staffing agencies in residential health care facilities.

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.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A07350, Rules Report

No. 550, Stern, Rajkumar, Santabarbara, Eachus. An act to amend the

Veterans' Services Law, in relation to the Veterans Employment Task

Force.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Mr.

Stern, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is advanced.

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. A07368-A, Rules

Report No. 551, Magnarelli, Stirpe. An act enacting the "Syracuse

Regional Airport Authority Design-Build Act"; and providing for the

repeal of such provisions upon expiration.

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.)

Mr. Goodell to explain his vote.

MR. GOODELL: Thank you, sir. This is bill

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authorizes the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority to proceed on

construction contracts without any competitive bidding and without

any opportunity whatsoever for private contractors that might be

non-union to vote or to participate. I think it is good policy to have

competitive bidding on municipal projects, and I think it's good policy

to allow everyone who is qualified to have a fair and reasonable

opportunity to submit such a bid. This takes it out of the competitive

bidding process which means the contractors will be hand-picked

without any competitive bidding to ensure that the taxpayers get the

lowest price and without any opportunity for those who may be

non-union to submit a bidding. And for those reasons, I will not be

supporting it. Thank you, sir.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Mr. Goodell in the

negative.

Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

(The Clerk announced the results.)

The bill is passed.

THE CLERK: Assembly No. A07381, Rules Report

No. 552, Burke. An act to amend Chapter 492 of the Laws of 1993

amending the Local Finance Law relating to installment loans and

obligations evidencing installment loans, in relation to extending the

effectiveness thereof.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Mr.

Burke, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. Read the last section.

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

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. A07382, Rules Report

No. 553, Sillitti. An act to amend Chapter 629 of the Laws of 2005,

amending the Local Finance Law relating to refunding bonds, in

relation to extending the effectiveness thereof.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Ms.

Sillitti, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. 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. A07420, Rules Report

No. 554, Pheffer Amato. An act to amend the Retirement and Social

Security Law, in relation to the eligibility of certain participants in the

New York City Employees' Retirement System to opt into the

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twenty-five year retirement program for EMT members.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Home Rule message

is at the desk. 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. A07427, Rules Report

No. 555, Jackson. An act to amend Chapter 303 of the Laws of 1999,

amending the New York State Medical Care Facilities Finance Agency

Act relating to financing health facilities, in relation to the

effectiveness thereof.

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. A07445, Rules Report

No. 556, Jacobson. An act to amend Part X of Chapter 62 of the Laws

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of 2003 amending the General Business Law and other laws generally

relating to implementing the State Fiscal Plan for the 2003-2004 State

Fiscal Year, in relation to extending certain provisions of the General

Municipal Law and the Local Finance Law relating to electronic

bidding.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Mr.

Jacobson, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. 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. A07453, Rules Report

No. 557, Shimsky. An act to amend Chapter 372 of the Laws of 2020,

relating to authorizing the Town of Mount Pleasant to adopt a local

law to impose a hotel/motel occupancy tax for hotels not located in a

village, in relation to extending the expiration thereof.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Ms.

Shimsky, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. Home Rule message is at the desk. Read the last section.

THE CLERK: This act shall take effect immediately.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: The Clerk will record

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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. A07474, Rules Report

No. 558, Shimsky. An act to amend the Environmental Conservation

Law, in relation to extending the authority of the Department of

Environmental Conservation to manage Atlantic herring.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On a motion by Ms.

Shimsky, the Senate bill is before the House. The Senate bill is

advanced. 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. A07580, Rules Report

No. 559, Hunter. An act to amend Chapter 746 of the Laws of 1957

relating to incorporating the Volunteer and Exempt Firemen's

Benevolent Association of East Syracuse, Onondaga County, New

York, and providing for the powers and duties of such corporation and

for the payment to it of certain fire insurance premium tax monies, in

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

relation to the purposes of such corporation and the use of certain tax

monies received.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Read the last section.

THE CLERK: This act shall take effect immediately.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: The Clerk will record

the vote.

(The Clerk recorded the vote.)

Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

(The Clerk announced the results.)

The bill is passed.

Mrs. Peoples-Stokes.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: Mr. Speaker, if you

could please now go back to our main Calendar and go to page 3 and

take up our resolutions.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Resolutions, page 3,

Assembly No. 611, the Clerk will read.

THE CLERK: Assembly Resolution No. 611, Ms.

Solages.

Legislative Resolution memorializing Governor

Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 10, 2023 as Belmont Stakes Day in the

State of New York, and commending the New York Racing

Association upon the occasion of the 155th running of the Belmont

Stakes.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On the resolution, all

those in favor signify by saying aye; opposed, nay. The resolution is

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

adopted.

THE CLERK: Assembly Resolution No. 612, Mr.

Durso.

Legislative Resolution memorializing Governor

Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 17, 2023 as Sanitation Workers 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. 613, Mr.

Sayegh.

Legislative Resolution memorializing Governor

Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 21, 2023 as Yoga Day in the State of

New York.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Mr. Sayegh on the

resolution.

MR. SAYEGH: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: We're going to wait a

minute, though, Mr. Sayegh, because there's a lot of milling and

conversations. We're not quite finished. Members, please take your

seats.

MR. SAYEGH: Thank you very much. Earlier we

had the pleasure of meeting here in the Chamber members of the

World Yoga Community under the leadership of Guruji Dileephumar

Thankappan, and Mr. Bhushan and Dr. Alapo and Reverend Marsal

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and many students, students of yoga from the Heavenly School [sic]

USA. And we wanted them to share the celebration of yoga and to

join us in this resolution as we proclaim June 21, 2028 [sic] as Yoga

Day in the State of New York. The United Nations General Assembly

declared June 21st as the International Day of Yoga, and on December

11, 2014 the United Nations, along with the Federal Government,

announced such. Yoga roots stretch back to ancient India. This

age-old traditional practice embodying the unity of mind, body and

well-being has survived the test of time, and the year 2023 is more

popular than ever. Yoga was introduced to the USA in the 1890's, and

today ten of millions of Americans practice yoga, including millions in

New York State. Research suggests that yoga helps improve general

wellness by relieving stress, supporting good health habits, improving

mental and emotional health, sleep, flexibility and balance, as well as

relief of lower back and neck pain, and possible pain from

tension-related headaches and knee-related injuries. Yoga has added

many benefits for helping both youth and adults significantly improve

their quality of life by -- by aiding them to lose weight, quit smoking,

manage anxiety, manage opioid addiction, relieve menopause

symptoms and help people with chronic disease manage their

symptoms and improve their quality of life. Again, this is really a

trend that goes beyond traditional or heritage. It's really a new form of

well-being that really is on the move, a positive move forward. So

today is really a recognition of that and honoring both individuals that

are sitting up there that really have led the cause of yoga here in New

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2023

York, New York State, the nation and the world.

Thank you very much.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On the resolution, all

those in favor signify by saying aye; opposed, no. The resolution is

adopted.

(Applause)

THE CLERK: Assembly Resolution No. 614, Ms.

Glick.

Legislative Resolution memorializing Governor

Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 2023 as Gay Pride Month in the State

of New York.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Ms. Glick on the

resolution.

MS. GLICK: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In New York

State and across the country and, indeed, the world, June is viewed as

Gay Pride Month, dating back to the beginning of what is viewed as

the modern gay movement is traced to the Stonewall uprising or

rebellion in 1969. That was not the first acts of protest which actually

started more in the 50's and 60's with the creation of organizations like

the Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis. Those

organizations protested discrimination, discrimination which sadly

continues today. The -- I will remind members that as a sitting

member of this House, for the first ten years my basic civil rights were

not protected by State law in many parts of New York State. Even as

a sitting member of this Chamber. The rebellion was based on the

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continued and pernicious raids by the police on gay establishments.

And after years of frustration, individuals who feared these raids

because they could lose their jobs, they could lose their housing, they

could lose their families, they stood up against the police and they

were what we would -- what was called at the time, many of the

individuals were transvestites or drag queens. They stood up for the

rights of the LGBT community against that harassment. And today we

see coming full circle this resurgence of hatred towards the LGBTQ

community and the violence that is reminiscent of the Brownshirts of

Germany 1930's where groups of people, many of whom identified as

white supremacists, attacked people, attacked gay pride displays. And

I would just remind people that gay people are everywhere, and gay

people come from all families. My family was basically a straight

family, so how did I emerge? Because gay people are who they are.

And in 19 -- in 2007 the first Marriage Equality bill passed this

Chamber, and in 2011 New York State became the sixth state in which

Marriage Equality was passed by both Houses and signed into law.

And in 2016 under President Obama, the first national monument that

relates to LGBTQ history was designated at the Stonewall Memorial.

And in 2021, President Biden signed an Executive Order allowing all

qualified Americans to serve in the Armed Services. Which isn't to

say that they weren't always there, they were. An Air Force Sergeant

in San Francisco on his tombstone it said, "They gave me a medal for

killing a man, and they gave me a dishonorable discharge for loving

one." In 2022 when the Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade they

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indicated that they were also looking to reverse Marriage Equality and

access to contraceptives. So the fight continues for basic equality.

And in later that same year, in December of 2022, President Biden

signed the Respect for Marriage Act which codified in law, not leaving

it up to the Supreme Court, but codifying in law the Respect for

Marriage Act which passed with a bipartisan vote. I will just say that

across this country there are laws being passed to criminalize and

demonize people who are LGBTQ. When you demonize, when you

pass laws that marginalize people, you incite not just hatred, but also

violence. And I will just say to you all that we are proud that the

Governor is going to proclaim June Pride Month, but I can assure you,

none of us are going back in the closet. We are proud. We are proud

to be Americans. We're proud to be New Yorkers, and we're proud to

be contributing members of this society.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Thank you.

(Applause)

Mr. Bronson.

MR. BRONSON: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I first

want to thank Assemblymember Glick for sponsoring this resolution,

but more importantly, for being a trailblazer in our LGBTQ

movement. To me, pride means that it's an important time for us to

remember the LGBTQ liberation, our movement and our journey. It's

a time to celebrate our authentic selves. But it's most important that

we use pride to say out loud and proudly that no matter who you are,

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what you look like, who you love or how you identify, we all have

dignity. And with that dignity we deserve equality and we deserve

justice. Pride is a time to remember that love and unity will always,

always, always conquer hate. And today we see that hate. We see that

bigotry. We see states and localities passing laws that would

dismantle our LGBTQ protections and our rights and, indeed, try to do

away with our very existence. We will not go away. We will be here.

We will proudly say we are a member of the LGBTQ community, and

you will not be able through hate or your legislation to make us go

away. Because we will live our authentic selves. We will see the

strength in our differences and we will celebrate those differences.

And we will meet that hate with love.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Thank you.

Mr. Simone.

MR. SIMONE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in

support of this resolution. Someone once asked me the question, Why

do you celebrate pride at your age? I wanted to be mean and tell the

person off, but I paused, smiled and said, Happy Pride and walked

away. I celebrate Pride for the hundreds of thousands of my brothers

and sisters who cannot. I celebrate for all the beautiful souls who lost

their lives to the horrible AIDS pandemic our government ignored for

so long. Could you imagine if they treated it as seriously as they did

COVID how many young lives would have been saved today? I

celebrate for the LGBTQ individual who is scared to be who they are

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due to their ignorant family or bigoted community or autocratic

government they live under. I celebrate for the transgender youth who

sees hate spreading across the country, coming after them and their

parents trying to protect them, laws being enacted and threatening

their own health and well-being. My coming out story was positive

and I am so grateful. My family and friends never rejected me or

stopped loving me. I found true love with Jason Coughlin, my

amazing partner and husband who lets me be me. I celebrate and

protest during Pride because not everyone on this planet can be

LGBTQ+ openly and be safe, free and happy. And I will always fight

for everyone's civil rights, including my community's, until every

LGBT individual, kid, adult can live free and love who they want to

love.

I am proud to be a member of this legislative Body

that stands behind the spirit of Pride. Happy Pride, everyone.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Thank you.

Ms. Gonz�lez-Rojas.

MS. GONZ�LEZ-ROJAS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

And Happy Pride. LGBTQ Pride is held every year during the month

of June to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall uprising, a pivotal

moment in the ongoing fight for LGBTQ liberation. So today we

honor trans women of color leaders like Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P.

Johnson, women at the forefront of the fight for trans liberation and

who are considered the mothers among so many marginalized and

vulnerable LGBTQ youth in New York City. They opened the first

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LGBTQ youth homeless shelter in the United States, in fact, in North

America, and showed love and compassion to young people who faced

hatred and rejection. Celebrating Pride this year is more important

than ever. We are at a time when legislatures across the country are

introducing and passing an unprecedented number of bills that strip

away the rights of LGBTQ people. It is imperative that we do

everything we can in New York State to protect and uplift our LGBTQ

family, neighbors and loved ones. My neighborhood of Jackson

Heights is home to the second-oldest and second-largest Pride Parade

in New York City. We celebrated Queens Pride yesterday,

remembering the lives of so many whose shoulders we stand on. We

remembered Julio Rivera, Edgar Garzon and so many lives lost to

violence against our LGBTQ siblings from Queens. We march for

resources, for our human rights, and reminded each other that we got

us. So, Pride is not just a time for rainbows and glitter, and while

many of us love rainbows and glitter, Pride is about commemorating

the lives lost to homophobia, honoring the courageous legacy of those

who have paved the way for so many of us, and fighting for the safety,

love and joy of future generations.

I commend the sponsor, who I admire so deeply, of

this resolution and I'm so honored to vote in the affirmative.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: On the resolution --

I'm sorry, Mrs. Peoples-Stokes on the resolution.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker,

for giving me this opportunity to speak on this resolution. I first want

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to commend the sponsor of this resolution. I have watched her for

years, stand and defend a community sometimes all by herself, and I

hope she understands that you don't need to do that anymore. There

are a lot of people who will not only defend your community who are

a part of it, but there are some who are not a part of it that will defend

it to the dying day. Everybody deserves to be proud of who they are.

It doesn't mean everybody else has to like it, but they have a right to be

proud of who they are. I can tell you that on yesterday in the great

City of Buffalo, the Pride community celebrated in a phenomenal way.

I was amazed at the number of people who actually showed up on this

parade route. In fact, I was thinking maybe a couple hundred

thousand. I think it was more than that, because there's -- it was

families, it was people who are LBGTQ [sic], but it was their families

supporting them, it was their children, it was the entire community.

And I just think that we are -- we should be past the point where we

can't allow people to be happy with who they are, and accept that and

not challenge it or create conflict for them in their lives. I -- I just

really hope that we're past that, but until we get past it we have to keep

doing things like this and saying, Yes, it's okay to be proud of who you

are.

I congratulate the sponsor on this piece of legislation

and I look forward to Pride Day next year. And I don't think that

there'll ever be another time in this society with what happened at

Stonewall will be tolerated under any circumstances, for any person

regardless of their choice in life. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank

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the sponsor.

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. 615, Ms.

Fahy.

Legislative Resolution memorializing Governor

Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 2023 as Scleroderma 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

adopted.

THE CLERK: Assembly Resolution No. 616, Ms.

Williams.

Legislative Resolution memorializing Governor

Kathy Hochul to proclaim -- to declare June 2023 as North American

Hurricane Awareness Month in the State of New York, at the start of

the Atlantic hurricane season.

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. 617, Mr.

DeStefano.

Legislative Resolution memorializing Governor

Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 2023 as Great Outdoors Month in the

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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. 618, Ms.

Solages.

Legislative Resolution memorializing Governor

Kathy Hochul to proclaim July 2023 as Plastic Free 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. 619, Mr.

Zebrowski.

Legislative Resolution memorializing Governor

Kathy Hochul to proclaim August 2023 as Indian 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. 620, Mr.

Aubry.

Legislative Resolution memorializing Governor

Kathy Hochul to proclaim September 7, 2023 as Wheelchair Charities

Day the State of New York.

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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. 621, Mr. K.

Brown.

Legislative Resolution memorializing Governor

Kathy Hochul to proclaim October 2, 2023 as Custodial Worker's

Recognition 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. 622, Ms.

Buttenschon.

Legislative Resolution memorializing Governor

Kathy Hochul to proclaim October 28, 2023 as First Responders 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.

Mrs. Peoples-Stokes.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: Mr. Speaker, do we have

any further housekeeping or resolutions?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: We do have

housekeeping.

On a motion by Mr. Weprin, page 25, Calendar No. 8,

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Bill No. A04668-A, the amendments are received and adopted.

On a motion by Ms. Rosenthal, page 31, Calendar No.

187, Bill No. A00043-B, the amendments are received and adopted.

And on a motion by Mr. Epstein, page 9, Rules

Report No. 22 -- 227, Cal -- Bill No. A04717-A, amendments are

received and adopted.

On behalf of Mr. Vanel, Bill No. A01057-B,

Assembly bill recalled from the Senate, the Clerk will read the title of

the bill.

THE CLERK: An act to amend the General Business

Law.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: 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.

And 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. 623-635

were unanimously approved.)

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Mrs. Peoples-Stokes.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: Mr. Speaker, would you

please call on Mr. Jacobson for the purposes of an announcement?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Mr. Jacobson for the

purposes of an announcement.

MR. JACOBSON: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The

much-anticipated conference for the Majority will be held at 6:30 p.m.

in Hearing Room B.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: Majority Conference,

6:30, Hearing Room B. Thank you very much.

Mrs. Peoples-Stokes.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I now move that the Assembly stand adjourned until 10:00 a.m.,

Tuesday, June the 6th, tomorrow being a Session day. That's 10:00

a.m., tomorrow being a Session day.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: 10:00 a.m. it is, Mrs.

Peoples-Stokes.

The Assembly stands adjourned.

(Whereupon, at 6:00 p.m., the Assembly stood

adjourned until Tuesday, June 6th at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday being a

Session day.)

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