WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2025 10:46 A.M.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE HOUSE WILL
COME TO ORDER.
GOOD MORNING, COLLEAGUES.
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 MEMBERS IN THE PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE.
(WHEREUPON, ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER LED VISITORS AND
MEMBERS IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.)
A QUORUM BEING PRESENT, THE CLERK WILL READ THE
JOURNAL OF TUESDAY, MARCH 4TH.
MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.
MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, I MOVE
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
TO DISPENSE WITH THE FURTHER READING OF THE JOURNAL OF TUESDAY, MARCH
THE 4TH AND THAT THE SAME STAND APPROVED.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WITHOUT OBJECTION,
SO ORDERED.
MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
MADAM SPEAKER AND COLLEAGUES AND THE GUESTS THAT ARE IN THE
CHAMBERS, I'D LIKE TO SHARE SOME WORDS WITH YOU TODAY FROM MALALA
YOUSAFZAI. SHE IS A PAKISTANIAN ACTIVIST AND A NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
LAUREATE WHO ADVOCATES FOR EDUCATION AND EQUALITY FOR ALL. AS A
TEENAGER, SHE SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE TALIBAN'S BAN -- BAN ON GIRLS'
EDUCATION IN PAKISTAN, AND IN 2012 THE TALIBAN LITERALLY SHOT HER IN THE
HEAD WHILE SHE WAS RIDING HOME ON A SCHOOL BUS. THAT EVENT MADE HER
AN INTERNATIONAL SYMBOL IN THE FIGHT FOR GIRLS BEING EDUCATED. HER
WORDS FOR US TODAY: WE CANNOT ALL SUCCEED WHEN HALF OF US ARE LEFT
[SIC] BACK. AGAIN, THESE WORDS FROM MALALA YOUSAFZAI.
MADAM SPEAKER, COLLEAGUES HAVE ON THEIR DESKS A
MAIN CALENDAR. AFTER YOU HAVE DONE ANY INTRODUCTIONS AND
HOUSEKEEPING, WE'RE GONNA BEGIN OUR WORK BY TAKING UP CALENDAR
RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE 3. WE WILL THEN CONSENT TWO NEW BILLS ON THE
CALENDAR, RULES REPORT NO. 106 AND RULES REPORT NO. 107. THEY ARE
BOTH ON PAGE 5. WE WILL ALSO TAKE UP THE FOLLOWING BILLS ON DEBATE:
RULES REPORT NO. 103 BY MS. REYES AND RULES REPORT NO. 96 BY MS.
CRUZ. THERE MAY BE A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FLOOR ACTIVITY, MADAM
SPEAKER, SO I WILL ADVISE AT THAT MOMENT. HOWEVER, MY MAJORITY
COLLEAGUES SHOULD BE FULLY AWARE THAT THERE IS GONNA BE A NEED FOR A
2
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
CONFERENCE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING OUR WORK HERE ON THE FLOOR. AND AS
ALWAYS, MADAM SPEAKER, I WILL CONSULT WITH OUR COLLEAGUES ON THE
OTHER SIDE TO SEE WHAT THEIR NEEDS MAY BE.
THAT'S A GENERAL OUTLINE OF WHERE WE'RE GOING TODAY,
MA'AM. IF YOU COULD BEGIN WITH HOUSEKEEPING AND INTRODUCTIONS SO WE
CAN GET GOING SO WE CAN END AT SOME POINT. THANK YOU, MA'AM.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.
WE HAVE NO HOUSEKEEPING THIS MORNING. WE HAVE A
FEW INTRODUCTIONS. WE WILL START WITH MS. KAY FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN
INTRODUCTION.
MS. KAY: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, AND GOOD
MORNING EVERYONE. I RISE TODAY PROUDLY TO INTRODUCE THE STATE
CHAMPION MONTICELLO TRAP TEAM FROM MONTICELLO HIGH SCHOOL AND
THEIR COACHES JAY MENDELS AND MICHAEL MINGO. AND MIKE MINGO ALSO
DOUBLES AS AN EXTRAORDINARY MUSIC TEACHER WHO HAPPENED TO HAVE
TAUGHT MY DAUGHTER EVERYTHING SHE KNOWS ABOUT PERCUSSION. THE
MONTICELLO HIGH SCHOOL TRAP SHOOTING PROGRAM BEGAN IN 2017 WHEN
THE U.S.A. HIGH SCHOOL CLAY TARGET LEAGUE INTRODUCED THEIR PROGRAM
IN NEW YORK STATE. AT THAT TIME THERE WERE ONLY FIVE SCHOOLS
PARTICIPATING. IT CONTINUES TO GROW RAPIDLY, AND THIS SPRING THERE WILL
BE OVER 250 SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING STATEWIDE. THE PROGRAM TEACHES
FIREARM SAFETY AND HELPS INSTILL CONFIDENCE, RESPECT AND RESPONSIBILITY
FOR OUR STUDENTS. IT IS A COED, ALL-INCLUSIVE SPORT OPEN TO STUDENTS IN
GRADES 6 THROUGH 12, AND IS DESIGNED TO ALLOW ALL ATHLETES TO ACTIVELY
PARTICIPATE, COMPETE AND ADVANCE AT THEIR OWN SKILL LEVEL.
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
DURING THE 2024 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, MONTICELLO
HIGH SCHOOL'S VARSITY TEAM TOOK FIRST PLACE IN THEIR DIVISION AND THE JV
TEAM TOOK SECOND. IN ADDITION, MONTICELLO STUDENTS PLACED FIRST OVERALL
AS A TEAM AMONG THE OVER 900 ATHLETES THERE THAT DAY. ALTHOUGH
SEVERAL STUDENTS GRADUATED LAST YEAR AND CANNOT BE HERE FOR THIS
PRESENTATION AND WE HAVE SOME NEW STUDENTS WHO ARE PROUDLY HERE
WHO HAVEN'T PARTICIPATED YET, THEY ARE ALL PART OF WHAT THE TEAM IS, A
GROUP OF DEDICATED STUDENTS WHO WORK VERY HARD, ENJOYING THEIR SPORT
AND DOING IT SAFELY. THEIR MOTTO IS "SAFETY, FUN, MARKSMANSHIP" IN
THAT ORDER OF IMPORTANCE.
SO, MADAM SPEAKER, PLEASE RECOGNIZE THE MONTICELLO
TRAP TEAM AND GIVE THEM ALL THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR AND THE HOUSE.
THANK YOU.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.
ON BEHALF OF MS. KAY, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE
MEMBERS, CONGRATULATIONS, STATE CHAMPIONS. WE WELCOME YOU TO THE
CHAMBER, EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR
PROCEEDINGS TODAY. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK. I LOVE THAT YOU'RE DOING
THIS SPORT. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
(APPLAUSE)
MR. BURDICK FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.
MR. BURDICK: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. IT
GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE KEVIN WINN -- AND KEVIN, IF YOU
COULD RISE, PLEASE -- WHO IS THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC WORKS FOR THE TOWN OF BEDFORD. HE HAS SERVED IN THAT CAPACITY
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
SINCE 2007, AND I CAN PERSONALLY ATTEST TO THE TERRIFIC WORK THAT HE DOES
SINCE HE WAS MY COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS WHEN I WAS BEDFORD
TOWN SUPERVISOR FROM 2014 THROUGH 2020. HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF A WATER FILTRATION PLANT AND THE FIRST SEWER SYSTEM
FOR THE TOWN IN THE HAMLETS OF BEDFORD HILLS AND KATONAH, PROVIDING
FOR SAFE DISPOSAL OF EFFLUENT AND PROTECTING WATER QUALITY. AND IT WAS A
PROJECT THAT WAS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
AND COMMUNITY SUPERVISION FOR THEIR TWO CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES IN
BEDFORD HILLS.
KEVIN IS HERE WITH HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENTS, DPW
WORKERS AND OTHERS, ADVOCATING FOR FUNDS IN THE STATE BUDGET FOR LOCAL
ROADS, AND I THANK THEM FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BRING THEIR ADVOCACY TO
US HERE IN ALBANY.
MADAM SPEAKER, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU KINDLY
RECOGNIZE MR. WINN AND CONFER UPON HIM THE COURTESIES OF THE HOUSE.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON BEHALF OF MR.
BURDICK, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU,
COMMISSIONER, TO THE CHAMBER, EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR.
HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR
COMING TODAY AND ADVOCATING.
(APPLAUSE)
RESOLUTIONS, PAGE 3, THE CLERK WILL READ.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 164, MS.
TAPIA.
LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR
5
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM MARCH 2, 2025 AS READ ACROSS AMERICA
DAY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE RESOLUTION,
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS
ADOPTED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 165, MS.
ROSENTHAL.
LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR
KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM MARCH 6, 2025 AS LYMPHEDEMA DAY IN THE
STATE OF NEW YORK.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE RESOLUTION,
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS
ADOPTED.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 166, MS.
JACKSON.
LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR
KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM MARCH 7, 2025 AS EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION
DAY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE RESOLUTION,
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS
ADOPTED.
ON CONSENT, PAGE 5, RULES REPORT NO. 106, THE CLERK
WILL READ.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A04045, RULES REPORT
NO. 106, LASHER. AN ACT TO AMEND THE FAMILY COURT ACT, IN RELATION TO
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
FINDINGS IN CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT PROCEEDINGS IN FAMILY COURT.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON A MOTION BY MR.
LASHER, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS
ADVANCED. THIS BILL IS LAID ASIDE.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A04200, RULES REPORT
NO. 107, BURROUGHS. AN ACT TO AMEND THE EDU -- THE ENERGY LAW, IN
RELATION TO REQUIRING NEW BUILDINGS WHERE NEW PARKING IS PROVIDED TO
HAVE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE; AND TO REPEAL CERTAIN
PROVISIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW RELATING TO CERTAIN STANDARDS IN THE
NEW YORK STATE UNIFORM FIRE PREVENTION AND BUILDING CODE.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON A MOTION BY MR.
BURROUGHS, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS
ADVANCED. THIS BILL IS LAID ASIDE.
PAGE 5, RULES REPORT NO. 103, THE CLERK WILL READ.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A05285, RULES REPORT
NO. 103, REYES. AN ACT TO AMEND THE EDUCATION LAW AND THE PUBLIC
HEALTH LAW, IN RELATION TO PRESCRIPTION LABELS FOR MIFEPRISTONE AND
MISOPROSTOL.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: AN EXPLANATION HAS
BEEN REQUESTED, MS. REYES.
MS. REYES: THIS BILL WOULD CLARIFY PROVISIONS OF
CHAPTER 7 OF THE LAWS OF 2025 RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS FOR
MIFEPRISTONE AND MISOPROSTOL PRESCRIPTION LABELS. SO THIS IS A CHAPTER
AMENDMENT TO THE BILL WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER IN THE YEAR.
MS. WALSH: MADAM SPEAKER, WILL THE SPONSOR
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
YIELD FOR SOME QUESTIONS?
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR
YIELD?
MS. REYES: YES.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.
MS. WALSH: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO, WE -- I
FEEL LIKE WE WERE JUST HERE, RIGHT?
MS. REYES: WE WERE.
MS. WALSH: WE JUST PASSED -- THE BILL-IN-CHIEF WAS
PASSED ON JANUARY 22ND, AND HERE WE ARE WITH A CHAPTER AMENDMENT.
COULD YOU JUST BRIEFLY DESCRIBE WHAT THE ORIGINAL UNDERLYING
LEGISLATION DID AND THEN WHAT THIS CHAPTER DOES?
MS. REYES: SO, THE ORIGINAL LEGISLATION ALLOWED FOR
PROVIDERS TO CHOOSE TO HAVE THEIR NAME -- OR THE -- I -- I'M SORRY, THE
NAME OF THEIR PRACTICE RATHER THAN THEIR NAME PRINTED ON THE
MEDICATION LABEL, IF THEY SO CHOOSE TO FOR THESE PARTICULAR MEDICATIONS.
THIS CHAPTER AMENDMENT DOES THE SAME, CLARIFIES IT A LITTLE BIT. IT
REQUIRES THAT THE HEALTHCARE PRESCRIBER INFORM THE PATIENT THAT THEY ARE
AVAILING THEMSELVES OF THAT AND CHOOSING TO USE THE NAME OF THEIR
PRACTICE. IT ALSO ALLOWS THEM TO PUT IN THE ADDRESS INSTEAD -- INSTEAD OF
A NAME BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO'S AN INDIVIDUAL PRACTICE
AND THEIR PRACTICE MAY HAVE THEIR NAME, THEY CAN USE THE ADDRESS OF
THEIR PRACTICE. AND THAT'S IT. THOSE ARE THE CHANGES.
MS. WALSH: OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO --
AND I'M JUST GONNA REFER TO THIS AS A -- AS A SHIELD LAW. IT'S A SHIELD LAW.
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
SO THE -- WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE CHAPTER PROVIDES ADDITIONAL SHIELDING
FOR THE PRESCRIBING INDIVIDUAL OR LESS OR THE SAME?
MS. REYES: NO. IT --
MS. WALSH: WELL, IT HAS TO BE ONE.
MS. REYES: IT SPEAKS TO -- IT -- IT ACTUALLY JUST HELPS
NOTIFY THE PATIENT. REALLY, THAT'S THE -- THE BIGGEST CHANGE THAT WE'VE
MADE IN THIS AMENDMENT IS THE PATIENT NOTIFICATION.
MS. WALSH: OKAY. WELL I'M GONNA -- I'M GONNA
DISAGREE WITH YOU AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY. SO, IF -- SO UNDER THE ORIGINAL
LEGISLATION YOU WOULD HAVE TO PUT -- AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG -- YOU
WOULD HAVE TO PUT EITHER THE NAME OF THE PRESCRIBER OR YOU COULD PUT
THE NAME OF THE PRACTICE, RIGHT? BUT NOW UNDER THIS CHAPTER YOU ONLY
HAVE TO PUT THE ADDRESS OF THE PRACTICE.
MS. REYES: NO, IT'S -- IT'S AN OPTION.
MS. WALSH: WELL, OKAY. BUT --
MS. REYES: NAME OR ADDRESS --
MS. WALSH: IT CAN BE -- BUT IT CAN BE ELECTED TO
ONLY PUT THE ADDRESS OF THE PRACTICE RATHER THAN THE NAME OF THE
PRACTICE; IS THAT CORRECT?
MS. REYES: RIGHT. BECAUSE IF I AM DR. JOHN DOE
AND MY PRACTICE IS DR. JOHN DOE'S INTERNAL MEDICINE OR DR. JOHN DOE
GYNECOLOGY, THEN I -- IT DEFEATS THE PURPOSE IF MY NAME IS THE NAME OF
THE PRACTICE. SO IT ALLOWS THEM TO USE THE ADDRESS AS WELL.
MS. WALSH: OKAY. BUT WHAT IF YOU HAVE, FOR
EXAMPLE, AND THIS IS COMMON, A VERY LARGE MEDICAL BUILDING WITH
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
MULTIPLE PRACTICES IN THAT BUILDING? WOULDN'T THIS CHAPTER AMENDMENT
MAKE IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO ASCERTAIN WHO THE PRESCRIBER IS IF YOU
ONLY HAVE TO PUT, YOU KNOW, 10 STATE STREET ON THE PRESCRIPTION INSTEAD
OF THE ACTUAL PRACTICE THAT HAS PRESCRIBED THE MEDICATION -- THE ABORTION
MEDICATION?
MS. REYES: IF -- THIS IS -- THE ADDRESS OPTION IS ONLY
FOR -- FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHOSE NAME IS ALSO THE NAME OF THEIR PRACTICE.
IF YOU HAVE A PRACTICE, YOU KNOW, CENTRAL NEW YORK INTERNAL
MEDICINE, YOU CAN PUT THAT AND IT WOULDN'T MATTER. THE ADDRESS
WOULDN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE. YOU COULD STILL -- YOU WOULD STILL HAVE
THE OPTION TO -- TO NOT HAVE YOUR NAME PRINTED AND -- AND -- AND USE THE
NAME OF YOUR PRACTICE. I MEAN, I GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS A
HYPOTHETICAL, BUT IF YOU HAVE A BUILDING WITH MULTIPLE --
MS. WALSH: YES.
MS. REYES: -- YOU'RE SAYING WITH MULTIPLE PRACTICES
--
MS. WALSH: YES.
MS. REYES: -- OR WITH A PRACTICE WITH MULTIPLE
PRACTITIONERS?
MS. WALSH: NO, NOT MULTIPLE PRACTITIONERS --
ALTHOUGH THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE -- BUT LET'S SAY THAT YOU HAVE A VERY LARGE
MEDICAL BUILDING WITH 20 DIFFERENT DOCTOR'S PRACTICES WITHIN THAT
BUILDING AND, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE YOU -- YOU KNOW, HOW ARE YOU GONNA
FIGURE OUT -- IF YOU ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PUT THE ADDRESS IN THERE, IT'S
NOT BEING CLEAR ENOUGH ABOUT WHO EXACTLY IS PRESCRIBING. IT'S JUST -- IT'S
10
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
JUST OBSCURING IT AND MAKING IT LESS TRANSPARENT.
MS. REYES: I THINK WE -- WE TALKED ABOUT THIS
DURING THE -- THE -- THE BILL-IN-CHIEF, AND -- AND I THINK WE -- WE
EXPLAINED HOW THE FACT YOU ARE NOT HAVING YOUR NAME PRINTED WOULDN'T
SHIELD YOU FROM BEING ABLE TO FIND OUT WHO YOUR DOCTORS IS. THE
PATIENT ALWAYS KNOWS WHO THEIR DOCTOR IS.
MS. WALSH: BUT DOESN'T IT -- DOESN'T IT PREVENT
ANYBODY ELSE FROM FIGURING OUT WHO THE DOCTOR IS? IT'S ONLY -- YOU
KNOW, BECAUSE THE PATIENT THAT'S REALLY GONNA KNOW, THEN, UNDER THIS,
RIGHT?
MS. REYES: CORRECT. AND FOR A MEDICATION ONLY
THE PATIENT SHOULD KNOW.
MS. WALSH: OKAY. WELL, LET'S TAKE UP -- SO, OKAY.
LET ME JUMP TO THAT FOR A SECOND BECAUSE THAT'S INTERESTING. SO, IN
BETWEEN -- THE INTERIM BETWEEN JANUARY 22ND AND NOW, A COUPLE OF
THINGS HAPPENED REGARDING A DOCTOR FROM NEW PALTZ AND PRESCRIPTIONS
THAT SHE DID THROUGH TELEHEALTH, DR. MAGGIE CARPENTER, INVOLVING
PATIENTS IN TEXAS AND LOUISIANA, RIGHT? SO IN -- IN LOUISIANA, MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE MOTHER OF THE MINOR CHILD IS -- WAS DISPENSED
THE ABORTION MEDICATION BY DR. MAGGIE CARPENTER. AND SO -- AND THE
GIRL HAD COMPLICATIONS, SHE STARTED BLEEDING OUT. SHE CALLED 911, A
POLICE OFFICER RESPONDED AND HELPED THE CHILD. BUT WHO WAS THE
PATIENT? WAS IT THE MOTHER OR WAS IT THE CHILD WHO TOOK THE MEDICINE?
BECAUSE THE GIRL DIDN'T KNOW WHO THE PRESCRIBING DOCTOR WAS.
MS. REYES: I -- I -- I'M -- IS THIS -- I'M CONFUSED
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
ABOUT THE QUESTION. SO YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO THE PATIENT WAS?
MS. WALSH: RIGHT. WHAT YOU JUST SAID ON DEBATE
WAS --
MS. REYES: BUT IT SHOULDN'T --
MS. WALSH: -- THAT ONLY THE PATIENT WOULD KNOW
WHO THE DOCTOR WAS UNDER THIS CHAPTER AMENDMENT, AND YOU -- AND MY
-- IF I READ YOUR BODY LANGUAGE CORRECTLY, YOU WERE SAYING -- YOU
IMPLIED THAT --
MS. REYES: MY BODY LANGUAGE?
MS. WALSH: YOU WERE BASICALLY SAYING THERE WAS
NO PROBLEM WITH THAT, WITH THE FACT THAT THE PATIENT WOULD BE THE ONLY
ONE THAT WOULD KNOW WHO THE PRESCRIBER WAS; IS THAT -- IS THAT YOUR
POSITION?
MS. REYES: I MEAN, I CAN'T SPEAK -- I CAN'T SPEAK TO
WHAT A PARENT DID TO TRY AND GET MEDICAL HELP FOR -- FOR THEIR CHILD. BUT
IF -- IF THE PARENT DIDN'T SPECIFY TO THE DOCTOR WHO THE PATIENT WAS, I --
THIS DOESN'T SPEAK TO -- TO THE LEGISLATION. AND IF --
MS. WALSH: IT ABSOLUTELY DOES.
MS. REYES: AND IF -- AND IF A -- A -- IF SOMEBODY --
IF A PATIENT IS SEEKING CARE AND THEY KNOW WHO THEIR DOCTOR IS, THIS IS --
THIS IS A CIRCUMSTANCE THAT GOES BEYOND EVEN THE LANGUAGE OF THE BILL.
MS. WALSH: IT -- THIS IS ABSOLUTELY WHAT WE DIS --
WHAT WE DISCUSSED WHEN WE ORIGINALLY DEBATED THIS BILL. IT IS EQUALLY,
IF NOT MORE APPLICABLE NOW -- (INAUDIBLE/CROSSTALK) --
MS. REYES: WHO NEEDED TO KNOW --
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
MS. WALSH: -- WITH THE CHAPTER AMENDMENT.
MS. REYES: -- WHO NEEDED TO KNOW WHO THE DOCTOR
WAS? BECAUSE THE -- THE PARENTS --
MS. WALSH: I'M SORRY.
MS. REYES: WHO NEEDED TO KNOW WHO THE DOCTOR
WAS? BECAUSE THE PARENT KNEW WHO THE DOCTOR WAS, CORRECT?
MS. WALSH: THE PARENT WHO -- WHO WAS BEING
CHARGED WITH COERCIVE ABORTION? YEAH, SHE -- I GUESS SHE MAYBE KNEW
WAS PRESCRIBING IT, CERTAINLY THE MINOR CHILD WHO WAS BLEEDING OUT
WOULD KNOW.
MS. REYES: SO WHO REPORTED THIS TO THE AUTHORITIES?
MS. WALSH: WHO WAS THE -- WOULDN'T YOU SAY THAT
THE PERSON TAKING --
MS. REYES: WHO -- WHO --
MS. WALSH: -- THE MEDICATION IS THE PATIENT?
MS. REYES: WHO DECIDED TO CHARGE A MOTHER FOR
SEEKING MEDICAL CARE FOR THEIR CHILD?
MS. WALSH: I -- I THINK THE --
MS. REYES: I MEAN, I THINK -- AND YOU GUYS TALK
ABOUT PARENTAL RIGHTS ALL --
MS. WALSH: I THINK THE STATE --
MS. REYES: -- THE TIME, RIGHT? ISN'T THIS --
MS. WALSH: I THINK THE STATE --
MS. REYES: -- PARENTAL RIGHTS?
MS. WALSH: -- OF LOUISIANA, WHICH IS ONE OF 20
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
STATES THAT HAS EITHER BANNED OR RESTRICTED ABORTION FOLLOWING THE
DOBBS DECISION HAS TAKEN A STATE INTEREST IN THE FACT THAT THIS CHILD AND
THIS -- THIS PRESCRIBING PHYSICIAN FROM NEW PALTZ, THROUGH TELEHEALTH,
IS PRESCRIBING ABORTION MEDICATION TO A MOTHER WHO IS THEN TELLING HER
DAUGHTER TO GO TAKE IT. SO WHO IS THE PATIENT? YOU -- WELL, LET'S MOVE
ON BECAUSE IT --
MS. REYES: BUT IT -- IT -- THAT -- IT'S -- IT'S NOT THE
ISSUE, BUT I -- I -- IF -- IF SOMEBODY IS NOT FORTHCOMING WITH THE DOCTOR,
HOW IS THAT THE DOCTOR'S FAULT?
MS. WALSH: IF SOMEBODY -- OKAY, SO IT'S NOT THE
DOCTOR'S RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW WHO IS GOING TO TAKE THE MEDICATION?
MS. REYES: THE DOCTOR ASSESSED THE PATIENT,
PRESCRIBED THE MEDICATION, AND IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WHERE PEOPLE
SHARE MEDICATIONS AND THEY SHOULDN'T. BUT YOU CAN'T LITIGATE, YOU CAN'T
CONTROL THAT. YOU CAN'T LEGISLATE THAT.
MS. WALSH: WELL, WE -- WE -- WHAT -- I THINK IT'S
PART OF THE ISSUES THAT WE RUN INTO WITH TELEHEALTH, RIGHT, IS THAT I DON'T
KNOW HOW THAT -- HOW DR. MAGGIE CARPENTER IN NEW PALTZ, NEW YORK
FIGURED OUT WHO THE PATIENT WAS, WHETHER THERE WAS A ZOOM, WHETHER
THERE WAS A PHONE CALL, WHETHER IT JUST GOT SCRIPTED OUT. THAT'S GONNA
ALL WEND ITS WAY THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM NOW. BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS
AS WE TAKE UP LEGISLATION TO FURTHER SHIELD PROVIDERS LIKE MAGGIE
CARPENTER IN ANOTHER STATE TO PRESCRIBE ABORTION MEDICATION TO A STATE
THAT HAS IT BANNED, THAT WE NEED TO THINK HARD ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING
HERE. WHY DO WE WANT -- WHY DO WE WANT OUR DOCTORS -- WHY DO WE
14
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
WANT OUR STATE TO BE ALLOWING THIS TO EVEN OCCUR?
MS. REYES: THE BILL DOES NOT SPEAK TO -- TO WHAT A
PATIENT DOES. AND UNFORTUNATELY, EVEN WITHIN -- WITHIN THE BORDERS OF
OUR STATE, PATIENTS GET PRESCRIBED THINGS AND DO -- YOU KNOW, THEY USE
OFF-LABEL -- OFF-LABEL INDICATIONS, THEY -- I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT SENIORS
WHO CUT THEIR DOSES IN HALF BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD THEIR MEDICATIONS.
I MEAN, YOU CAN'T -- ONCE -- ONCE A PATIENT HAS THE MEDICATION, YOU
CAN'T CONTROL THAT. WHETHER YOU HAVE TELEMEDICINE, WHETHER IT'S AN
INPATIENT VISIT, IN-PERSON VISIT. WHETHER IT'S WITHIN NEW YORK OR IN
ANOTHER STATE, UNFORTUNATELY, YOU -- THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN CONTROL
THAT.
MS. WALSH: WELL, I GUESS IN THE END --
MS. REYES: I KNOW YOU'RE USING THIS EXAMPLE, BUT
IT JUST DOESN'T APPLY.
MS. WALSH: NO, I APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK -- I THINK
IN THE END WHAT IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO IS THAT SHE IS LICENSED IN THE
STATE OF NEW YORK, BUT IS PRACTICING THROUGH TELEHEALTH AND
PRESCRIBING IN OTHER STATES. AND SO IT'S GONNA COME DOWN, I WOULD
THINK, ONCE WE GO THROUGH THE COURT -- THE COURT PROCESS, WHETHER HER
-- YOU KNOW, WHAT -- WHAT IMPACT IS THIS COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE ON HER
LICENSE. ALTHOUGH THAT I THINK A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THERE WAS
LEGISLATION THAT WE PASSED THAT WOULD SHIELD THEM FROM ANY
ACCOUNTABILITY AS FAR AS THEIR LICENSE, PRESCRIBING -- RIGHT? WE DID THAT
BILL A COUPLE YEARS AGO. SO I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT ACCOUNTABILITY IS
THERE OUT THERE?
15
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
MS. REYES: ACCOUNTABILITY FOR -- FOR WHAT? FOR
DOING SOMETHING THAT -- THAT IS LEGAL IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK?
THEY'RE ACTING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THEIR LICENSE.
MS. WALSH: IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S POTENTIALLY A
MALPRACTICE SITUATION, WHAT ACCOUNTABILITY WILL THERE BE FOR HER?
MS. REYES: THERE IS NO MALPRACTICE, BECAUSE THEY
ARE ACTING WITHIN THE LAWS OF NEW YORK AND PROVIDING CARE THAT IS
LEGAL IN NEW YORK.
MS. WALSH: OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK TO A STATE THAT --
THAT HAS BANNED IT OR SEVERELY LIMITED IT. OKAY.
WHAT -- WHAT IF THAT GIRL IN LOUISIANA HAD -- HAD -- I
MEAN, WE KNOW THAT SHE CALLED 911, WE KNEW THAT SHE HAD TO RECEIVE
ADDITIONAL TREATMENT. WHAT -- WHAT IF SHE HAD BLED OUT OR DIED OR --
HOW -- HOW WOULD ANYONE, DR. CARPENTER OR ANYBODY ELSE, BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS? AND HOW WOULD WE KNOW IT WAS HER THAT HAD
PRESCRIBED THAT MEDICATION?
MS. REYES: YOU KNOW IT WAS HER THAT -- THAT
PRESCRIBED THE MEDICATION.
MS. WALSH: WELL, RIGHT. BECAUSE THIS -- THIS BILL IN
-- THIS BILL BACK FROM JANUARY WAS NOT IN PLACE AT THE TIME THAT THAT
HAPPENED.
MS. REYES: YOU WILL ALWAYS BE ABLE TO -- YOU WILL
ALWAYS BE ABLE TO FIND WHO THE PRESCRIBER IS. THE STATE -- IT -- IT
DOESN'T REMOVE THE -- THE PRESCRIBER'S NAME FROM THE PRESCRIPTION.
THAT STAYS ON -- ON RECORD FOR FIVE YEARS. THEY -- THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY
16
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
TO FIND THE PRESCRIBER, AS YOU SO CLEARLY TOLD US. YOU KNOW --
MS. WALSH: WELL, THE TEXAS AND LOUISIANA CASES
OCCURRED PRIOR TO THIS BILL BEING --
MS. REYES: CORRECT.
MS. WALSH: -- THE BILL-IN-CHIEF BEING SIGNED. SO
YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK THAT PROBABLY THAT BILL WAS DONE --
MS. REYES: CORRECT. AND THE RECORDKEEPING
DOESN'T CHANGE, AND WE'RE NOT CHANGING THE RECORDKEEPING. THERE WILL
ALWAYS BE A RECORD.
MS. WALSH: LET ME ASK YOU THIS: WHY -- LET ME
ASK YOU THIS: AND I'M -- AND I'M GONNA CONTINUE IF I NEED TO. WHY --
WHY DO THIS CHAPTER AMENDMENT? WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE CHAPTER
AMENDMENT THAT NEEDED -- WHERE YOU NEEDED TO MAKE CHANGES OVER
AND ABOVE WHAT THE ORIGINAL BILL SAID BACK IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO?
MS. REYES: WELL, FIRST I DISAGREE THAT IT'S OVER AND
ABOVE, BECAUSE THE PREMISE OF THE BILL IS STILL THE SAME. WE ADDED "OR
ADDRESS" TO -- TO SPEAK TO THOSE INDIVIDUAL PRESCRIBERS WHOSE NAME IS
ALSO THE NAME OF THEIR PRACTICE, RIGHT, BECAUSE THEN THAT DEFEATS THE
PURPOSE. AND THEN WE ADDED NOTIFICATION FOR THE PATIENT. I WOULD
THINK THAT THIS IS AN OVER AND ABOVE SHIELDING. I THINK THIS IS MORE --
MORE TRANSPARENCY FOR THE PATIENT.
MS. WALSH: HOW IS THAT MORE TRANSPARENCY FOR THE
PATIENT? BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE NOTIFIED IF THE -- IF THE DOCTOR IS -- OR
THE PRESCRIBER IS ELECTING TO DO THIS?
MS. REYES: YES.
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
MS. WALSH: BUT THAT WASN'T THE ONLY CHANGE THAT
WAS MADE. THERE WERE THREE CHANGES MADE.
MS. REYES: NO, I JUST -- I JUST WENT OVER THE OTHER
CHANGES. I SAID WE ADDED "OR ADDRESS", NOT "ADDRESS", "OR ADDRESS", SO
IT'S -- IT'S INCLUDED THE NAME OR ADDRESS. AND WE ADDED THAT AND WE
CHANGED THAT IN SEVERAL PARTS WHERE IT SPEAKS TO THE SAME -- THE NAME
OF THE PRACTICE, AND THEN WE ADDED THE NOTIFICATION TO THE PATIENT.
MS. WALSH: SO YOU'RE -- SO -- AND I JUST WANNA
MAKE THIS POINT FOR EVERYBODY. SO YOU'RE MAKING A DISTINCTION, THEN,
BETWEEN THE PRESCRIPTION THAT IS GOING TO BE ON RECORD SOMEWHERE --
WHERE IS IT -- WHERE IS IT ON RECORD?
MS. REYES: THE PHARMACY KEEPS A RECORD, THE
DEPARTMENT -- THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT KEEPS --
MS. WALSH: OKAY.
MS. REYES: -- A RECORD FOR FIVE YEARS OF ALL
PRESCRIPTIONS.
MS. WALSH: OKAY. AND THAT WILL CONTAIN ALL THE
INFORMATION --
MS. REYES: CORRECT.
MS. WALSH: THE DOCTOR'S NAME, THE DOCTOR'S
PRACTICE, THE DOCTOR'S ADDRESS, CORRECT?
MS. REYES: CORRECT.
MS. WALSH: SO REALLY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S
ON THE PRESCRIPTION BOTTLE, THEN?
MS. REYES: CORRECT.
18
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
MS. WALSH: IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY. SO THE CHAPTER
AMENDMENT, THEN, HOW DOES THAT CHANGE WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY -- SAY,
JANUARY WHEN THE BILL WAS ORIGINALLY SIGNED -- WHAT WOULD HAVE TO BE
ON THE PRESCRIPTION BOTTLE THEN VERSUS WHAT'S THE MINIMUM THAT HAS TO
BE ON THE PRESCRIPTION BOTTLE NOW?
MS. REYES: BUT WE DEBATED THAT FOR THE ORIGINAL
BILL.
MS. WALSH: WELL, REFRESH MY MEMORY. WHAT HAS
TO BE -- WHAT HAS TO BE ON (INAUDIBLE/CROSSTALK) --
MS. REYES: (INAUDIBLE/CROSSTALK) THAT'S NOT
GERMANE TO THE THIS CHAPTER AMENDMENT.
MS. WALSH: I APOLOGIZE, I WAS TALKING OVER YOU.
MS. REYES: I CAN SAY THAT THAT'S NOT GERMANE TO THIS
CHAPTER AMENDMENT, RIGHT, BECAUSE THIS IS AN AMENDMENT ON A BILL THAT
WE DEBATED FAIRLY RECENTLY. BUT I WILL -- I WILL REFRESH YOUR MEMORY.
MS. WALSH: THANK YOU.
MS. REYES: IN THE PAST, BEFORE THE BILL WAS SIGNED
INTO LAW, THE PRESCRIBER WOULD HAVE TO -- THE PHARMACY WOULD PRINT THE
NAME OF THE PRESCRIBER ON THE BILL -- ON THE PILL BOTTLE.
MS. WALSH: CORRECT.
MS. REYES: AND IF NOT NOW, AFTER THE BILL WAS
SIGNED, IF A PRESCRIBER CHOOSED [SIC] TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THIS, THEY
CAN HAVE THE NAME OF THEIR PRACTICE PRINTED ON THE BOTTLE. AND NOW
WITH THIS AMENDMENT, IF THEIR NAME -- IF THE NAME OF THEIR PRACTICE IS
ALSO THEIR NAME, THEY CAN USE THEIR ADDRESS.
19
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
MS. WALSH: OKAY. SO -- BUT IF -- IF YOU'RE NOT A,
SAY, A SOLO -- I -- I'M JUST GONNA SAY LIKE A SOLO PRACTITIONER SORT OF
PROVIDER AND YOU'RE PART OF A DOCTOR'S PRACTICE, A LARGER PRACTICE WHERE
THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT COULD BE PRESCRIBING, THEN WHAT DOES THIS
CHAPTER AMENDMENT SAY AS FAR AS WHAT'S GOTTA BE ON THE PRESCRIPTION
BOTTLE?
MS. REYES: YOU CAN -- YOU CAN USE THE NAME OF THE
PRACTICE.
MS. WALSH: YOU COULD -- YOU CAN, OR CAN YOU JUST
USE THE NAME OF -- THE -- THE ADDRESS?
MS. REYES: YOU CAN USE THE -- THE NAME OR THE
ADDRESS.
MS. WALSH: OKAY. SO, IF YOU'RE IN A PRACTICE THAT
HAS 20 PRACTITIONERS AND YOU'RE IN A BUILDING WITH MULTIPLE PRACTICES,
HOW DOES ANYBODY LOOKING AT THAT PRESCRIPTION BOTTLE KNOW WHO THE
PRESCRIBER IS?
MS. REYES: I WOULD ASSUME -- WELL, THE PATIENT
KNOWS. THE PATIENT KNOWS WHO --
MS. WALSH: ANYBODY BE -- THE -- THE PATIENT ONLY
KNOWS BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN NOTIFIED BECAUSE IT SAYS IT HERE, RIGHT?
MS. REYES: WELL, NO, THE PATIENT HAS ALWAYS KNOWN
BECAUSE THE PATIENT WAS THE ONE THAT WAS SEEKING CARE.
MS. WALSH: WILL ANYBODY ELSE OTHER THAN THE
PATIENT --
MS. REYES: WHY DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYBODY'S
20
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
NAME (INAUDIBLE/CROSSTALK) --
MS. WALSH: NO, JUST PLEASE --
MS. REYES: TO SOMEBODY ELSE'S --
(INAUDIBLE/CROSSTALK)
MS. WALSH: -- LET ASK MY QUESTION, MS. REYES,
PLEASE. BECAUSE GOD KNOWS, IF I LOSE MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT I'M -- IT'S
ONLY GONNA EXTEND OUR DEBATE EVEN FURTHER AND WE DON'T WANT THAT.
IF YOU HAVE A PRESCRIPTION BOTTLE AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO
HAVE THE ADDRESS ON THE PRESCRIPTION BOTTLE, HOW WILL ANYBODY LOOKING
AT THAT PRESCRIPTION BOTTLE WHO IS NOT THE PATIENT WHO HAS OTHER
KNOWLEDGE, KNOW WHO THE PRESCRIBING DOCTOR OR PERSON IS?
MS. REYES: THEY CAN CALL THE PHARMACY. THERE -- I
MEAN, THEY CAN CALL THE PHARMACY AND -- AND FIND THE NAME, BECAUSE
THAT WILL BE ON THE PRESCRIPTION. AND THIS IS I'M -- I'M ASSUMING IN
EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES.
MS. WALSH: WOULDN'T THERE BE SOME TYPE OF
PROTECTION ON THAT INFORMATION THROUGH HIPAA OR SOMETHING ELSE?
LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN -- OKAY, SO HOW -- HOW WOULD SOMEBODY --SO IN
OTHER WORDS --
MS. REYES: THE PRESCRIBER -- BUT -- BUT ANOTHER
PHYSICIAN CAN SEEK INFORMATION IF THEY'RE TREATING THE PATIENT.
MS. WALSH: OKAY.
MS. REYES: AND THAT'S STANDARD HIPAA REGULATIONS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
MS. WALSH: SO IF YOU WERE -- FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE THE
21
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
TEXAS EXAMPLE, IT WAS THE FATHER WHO DISCOVERED THE ABORTION AFTER THE
WOMAN EXPERIENCED COMPLICATIONS REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION. SO THAT
FATHER, SAY HE PICKS UP THE PRESCRIPTION BOTTLE AND HE LOOKS AT IT, AFTER
THIS CHAPTER IS PASSED, AND HE'S GONNA LOOK AT IT. HE'S NOT GONNA BE
ABLE TO SEE ANYTHING ON THERE THAT'S GONNA INDICATE WHO THE PRESCRIBER
WAS. AND IF HE CALLS THE PHARMACY, GUESS WHAT THEY'RE GONNA SAY?
YOU'RE -- YOU'RE NOT THE PATIENT. I'M NOT GONNA TELL YOU ANYTHING, IT'S
PROTECTED. ISN'T THAT THE WHOLE REASON FOR THIS CHAPTER AMENDMENT?
MS. REYES: I'M HAVING A LITTLE DIFFICULTY WITH YOUR
ARGUMENT BECAUSE THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANYBODY ELSE INVOLVED IN
SOMEBODY'S PERSONAL HEALTHCARE. WHO -- WHO ELSE NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT
MEDICATION YOU'RE TAKING? DO WE -- DO I NEED TO KNOW WHO PRESCRIBED
SOMEBODY'S VIAGRA? WHAT BUSINESS IS THAT OF ANYBODY ELSE OTHER THAN
THE PERSON TAKING IT?
MS. WALSH: RIGHT. WELL --
MS. REYES: UNLESS THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN A
CLINICAL EMERGENCY, AND IN WHICH CASE A PROVIDER CAN ALWAYS GET THAT
INFORMATION. A PROVIDER, A PROVIDER WHO IS PROVIDING CLINICAL CARE CAN
ALWAYS REACH OUT TO THE PHARMACY, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THEY
-- AND -- AND PROVIDERS WE ALL KNOW HOW TO GET INFORMATION WHEN WE
NEED IT. THEY WILL ALWAYS HAVE ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION. THAT IS NOT
SHIELDED FROM THEM, THERE IS TRANSPARENCY. SO IF -- IF SOMEBODY NEEDS
FURTHER CARE AND THEY NEED TO FIND OUT WHO THE PRESCRIBER IS, THEY WILL
ALWAYS HAVE ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION. HOWEVER, ANY OTHER
INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS NO BUSINESS MEDDLING IN SOMEBODY'S PERSONAL
22
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
HEALTH DECISIONS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THAT INFORMATION.
MS. WALSH: AND YOU'RE NOT CONCERNED AT ALL -- SO,
FOR EXAMPLE, IN LOUISIANA THE -- THE GIRL THAT TOOK THE PILL WAS
BLEEDING, WAS BY HERSELF AT HOME, CALLED 911 AND THE POLICE APPARENTLY
RESPONDED TO THE CALL. SO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO THEN, BECAUSE IT'S NONE
OF THEIR BUSINESS WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS WOMEN APPARENTLY, OR THIS
GIRL, THEY JUST TAKE THE BOTTLE AND THEY BRING IT WITH THEM TO THE ER AND
THEY HAND IT OFF TO WHOEVER'S THERE AND THEY SAY, WE -- WE -- LIKE, WE
DON'T KNOW WHO WROTE THIS. WE DON'T KNOW WHY OR WHAT THE
CONTRAINDICATIONS MIGHT HAVE BEEN OR WHAT THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF THAT
YOUNG LADY IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHO KNOWS. BUT HERE'S THE BOTTLE,
YOU FIGURE IT OUT, AND IN THE MEANTIME (INAUDIBLE/CROSSTALK) --
MS. REYES: I CAN'T THINK OF A PATIENT --
MS. WALSH: (INAUDIBLE/CROSSTALK)
MS. REYES: I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW OFTEN THAT HAPPENS
-- THAT HAPPENS EVERY DAY IN EMERGENCY ROOMS. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT
HAPPENS, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DO. AND WE ARE TRAINED TO ACT BASED
ON JUST -- JUST THE KNOWLEDGE OF KNOWING WHAT'S -- WHAT'S HAPPENING.
AND I MEAN -- - AND -- AND I THINK THAT WE'RE SPECULATING A LOT WHEN WE
DON'T HAVE THE CLINICAL INFORMATION, BUT I COULD PROBABLY TELL YOU THAT
THAT YOUNG GIRL, BECAUSE THE MOTHER WAS THE ONE THAT WAS TALKING TO THE
DOCTOR AND NOT THE YOUNG GIRL AND MAYBE SHE DIDN'T RELAY THE
INFORMATION TO -- TO HER, THAT THIS IS ALL EXPECTED. IT'S ACTUALLY PART OF
THE COURSE OF TREATMENT AND PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ALARMED.
BUT HERE WE ARE.
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
MS. WALSH: WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS. I APPRECIATE IT.
MADAM SPEAKER, ON THE BILL.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE BILL.
MS. WALSH: SO, THIS IS THE WHOLE PROBLEM, RIGHT? I
MEAN, WE'RE -- WE'RE CREATING SHIELD LAWS, AND IN THIS CASE WE'RE, I -- I
ARGUE, ENHANCING A SHIELD LAW BECAUSE WE'RE MAKING IT EVEN MORE
DIFFICULT FOR ANYBODY ELSE PICKING UP THAT PRESCRIPTION BOTTLE TO FIGURE
OUT WHO WROTE -- WHO WROTE THIS PRESCRIPTION. IT -- HOW IS ANY OF THIS
KIND TO WOMEN? HOW IS THIS KIND TO WOMEN, EXACTLY? WHEN YOU'VE
GOT THE POSSIBILITY FOR SOME REALLY BAD EFFECTS TO OCCUR TO SOMEBODY
TAKING THIS MEDI -- THIS IS SERIOUS MEDICATION. THIS IS NOT AN ASPIRIN,
FOR GOD'S SAKE. THIS -- 20 STATES HAVE BANNED OR HEAVILY RESTRICTED
ABORTION SINCE DOBBS RETURNED THE QUESTION TO THE STATES. I THINK THAT
THIS WHOLE SITUATION, WHICH WILL WEND ITS WAY THROUGH THE COURTS, I
DON'T KNOW WHY WE WOULD WANT TO WADE INTO THIS NOW WITH ANOTHER
CHAPTER AMENDMENT WHEN WE KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE FEDERAL COURTS
WHO WILL SOON HEAR ARGUMENTS OVER THE LEGALITY AND THE
CONSTITUTIONALITY OF STATUTES SUCH AS THIS CHAPTER AMENDMENT, WHY WE
WANT TO WADE IN RIGHT NOW ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE I WOULD DISAGREE
WITH. BUT THIS IS -- THIS RAISES FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS, I THINK, OF WHEN
STATES HAVE TO LISTEN TO ONE ANOTHER. IT RAISES CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS.
IT RAISES QUESTIONS -- QUESTIONS AS TO THE EXTRADITION OR REFUSAL TO
EXTRADITE UNDER THE U.S. CONSTITUTION. I -- I JUST THINK THAT WE HAD A LOT
OF OPPOSITION TO THE ORIGINAL LEGISLATION THAT WE ONLY PASSED JUST A
24
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. THIS CHAPTER, I THINK, MAKES A SITUATION THAT IS
VERY PROBLEMATICAL EVEN WORSE. AND I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST
PROBLEMS WITH TELEHEALTH FOR ABORTION SERVICES.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS -- I -- I JUST -- THIS IS NOT SOMETHING
THAT WE SHOULD BE PASSING TODAY OR EVER. I -- I WILL BE VERY INTERESTED,
AS I'M SURE MANY OF US WILL BE, TO SEE HOW THE COURTS END UP WEIGHING
IN. BUT I -- I CANNOT, I WILL NOT SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION. I WOULD
ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO ALSO NOT SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MADAM SPEAKER.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.
MR. PIROZZOLO.
MR. PIROZZOLO: GOOD MORNING, MADAM SPEAKER.
HOW ARE YOU TODAY?
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WONDERFUL, THANK
YOU.
MR. PIROZZOLO: I'D LIKE TO ASK THE SPONSOR IF SHE
WOULDN'T MIND YIELDING FOR QUESTIONS?
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR
YIELD?
MS. REYES: YES.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.
MR. PIROZZOLO: OKAY. JUST ON THE OUTSET, MS.
REYES, I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT MY CONCERN FOR WHY I DON'T LIKE THIS
BILL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MEDICATIONS, THEIR INTENDED USE OR
ANYTHING LIKE THAT AT ALL.
25
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
MS. REYES: I REMEMBER. I REMEMBER YOUR
CONCERNS.
MR. PIROZZOLO: I'M SORRY?
MS. REYES: I REMEMBER YOUR CONCERNS, YES.
MR. PIROZZOLO: OKAY. WELL, I'M GONNA ADD TO
THAT LIST OF CONCERNS --
MS. REYES: OKAY.
MR. PIROZZOLO: -- BECAUSE SINCE THAT LAST
CONVERSATION, I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO PHARMACISTS FROM THE
PHARMACISTS SOCIETY. AND I'M GONNA HAVE TO READ IN A LITTLE BIT OF
EDUCATION LAW, IF YOU DON'T MIND --
MS. REYES: SURE.
MR. PIROZZOLO: -- SO I CAN ASK YOU SOME
QUESTIONS. BUT BASICALLY, EDUCATION LAW 6810, SECTION 1 IN PART SAYS,
"SUCH DRUG SHALL BE COMPOUNDED OR DISPENSED BY A LICENSED
PHARMACIST, AND NO SUCH DRUG SHALL BE DISPENSED WITHOUT THE AFFIXING
TO THE IMMEDIATE CONTAINER IN WHICH THE DRUG IS SOLD OR DISPENSED, A
LABEL BEARING THE NAME, ADDRESS OF THE OWNER OF THE ESTABLISHMENT IN
WHICH IT WAS DISPENSED, THE DATE COMPOUNDED, THE NUMBER OF
PRESCRIPTION UNDER WHICH IT WAS RECORDED IN THE PHARMACIST'S
PRESCRIPTION FILES, THE NAME OF THE PRESCRIBER." NOW, I COULD GO ON.
BUT SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE THERE IS THAT WE SEEM TO BE
CREATING RULES JUST SO THAT WE CAN SUBVERT THE -- THE LAWS IN OTHER STATES.
MS. REYES: I -- I --
MR. PIROZZOLO: TO CONTINUE --
26
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
MS. REYES: I -- I DON'T HAVE THAT SECTION OF LAW IN
FRONT OF ME, SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S -- IF IT'S SPEAKING TO A SPECIFIC
MEDICATION. BECAUSE WE DID COVER THAT FOR OPIOIDS. YOU HAVE TO,
UNDER FEDERAL LAW, HAVE THE NAME OF THE PRESCRIBER. SO I'M NOT CERTAIN
IF THAT'S THE SECTION OF LAW THAT SPEAKS TO THAT THAT YOU'RE READING. I
DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME SO I'M GONNA HAVE A HARD TIME TO RESPOND.
MR. PIROZZOLO: NO PROBLEM. I'M -- I'M REALLY
JUST POINTING OUT THE CONFLICT MORE SO THAN HAVING A QUESTION FOR YOU.
IN THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS, 63.12 IN PART, IT
GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT THE -- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 6830 OF THE
EDUCATION LAW, AND IT LISTS SPECIFICALLY THE NAME OF THE PRESCRIBER.
WHEN I SPOKE TO SOME OF THE PHARMACISTS, THEY HAVE CONCERNS -- AND
YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT OF WHETHER IT'S AN OPIOID OR NOT AN OPIOID -- OF THE
SYSTEM THAT THEY HAVE TO ENTER THEIR PRESCRIPTION INFORMATION AND JUST
TO PRINT THE LABEL MAY NOT ACCEPT OR DOES NOT ACCEPT THE INFORMATION
THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO PUT IN. IF THE DEA WERE TO COME IN AND DO AN
AUDIT, AND THEY CAN'T LABEL THESE BOTTLES CORRECTLY AND THEY DON'T HAVE
THE RIGHT NUMBER OF PILLS OR THEY LOOK AT THE LABEL AND SAY, OKAY, WELL,
HOW COME YOUR NAME ISN'T ON THIS LABEL, THEY CAN HAVE PROBLEMS. SO
THIS IS REALLY MY OBJECTION, IN ADDITION TO HOW I THINK WE'RE BOTHERING
-- YOU KNOW, WE'RE MEDDLING IN SOMEONE ELSE'S LAWS, ARE THE PLACE THAT
WE COULD BEING PUTTING OUR PHARMACISTS INTO. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
HAVING AN ADDRESS ON THE LABEL, SOME INDIVIDUALS OR SOLO PRACTITIONERS
MAY USE A P.O. BOX. NEED WE AT LEAST SAY WE CAN'T USE A P.O. BOX?
THAT WOULD BE A DIRECT QUESTION, SORRY.
27
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
MS. REYES: NO, IT'S THE ADDRESS OF THE PRACTICE.
MR. PIROZZOLO: ARE YOU SURE?
MS. REYES: YES.
MR. PIROZZOLO: BECAUSE WHAT IF THE ADDRESS OF
THE PRACTICE IS A P.O. BOX?
MS. REYES: YOU CAN'T PRACTICE OUT OF A P.O. BOX.
MR. PIROZZOLO: I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN, A LOT OF
PEOPLE WILL HAVE MAIL SENT TO A P.O. BOX. THEY MAY HAVE DIFFERENT
ADDRESSES.
MS. REYES: IT'S -- IT'S A MAILING ADDRESS, NOT A P.O.
BOX.
MR. PIROZZOLO: I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR YOU.
MS. REYES: IT'S A -- A -- WHAT YOU -- WHAT YOU
MENTIONED IS A MAILING ADDRESS; THIS IS THE ADDRESS OF THE PRACTICE. SO
YOU CAN -- YOU CAN HAVE -- YOU CAN HAVE YOUR MAIL FORWARDED TO A P.O.
BOX FOR CONVENIENCE, BUT YOU HAVE TO LIST THE ADDRESS OF YOUR PRACTICE.
MR. PIROZZOLO: SO WE WILL NOT BE SEEING
INDIVIDUAL SOLO PRACTITIONERS OR PHARMACEUTICAL CONGLOMERATES USING A
P.O. BOX AS THE ADDRESS TO GO ON A BOTTLE THAT'S BEING SHIPPED TO
ANOTHER STATE?
MS. REYES: CORRECT. IT HAS TO BE THE ADDRESS OF THE
PRACTICE.
MR. PIROZZOLO: OKAY. THAT'S GUARANTEED BY THE
-- BECAUSE I DIDN'T -- THAT'S...
MS. REYES: THE BILL SAYS -- IT SAYS MAY INCLUDE THE
28
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
NAME OR ADDRESS OF THE DISPENSING HEALTHCARE PRACTICE.
MR. PIROZZOLO: SO THE ADDRESS WOULD BE --
MS. REYES: THE PRACTICE. YOU CAN'T PRACTICE AT A
P.O. BOX. YOU CAN HAVE YOUR MAIL FORWARDED TO A P.O. BOX, BUT YOU
CAN'T PRACTICE OUT OF A P.O. BOX.
MR. PIROZZOLO: OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ON THE BILL, PLEASE.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE BILL.
MR. PIROZZOLO: OKAY. SO ONCE AGAIN, MY
OBJECTION REALLY GOES TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE REINVENTING OR CREATING LAW
THAT SUBVERTS THE WAY ANOTHER STATE WISHES TO WRITE THEIR OWN LAWS.
THAT'S A PROBLEM FOR ME, AND I'M SURE IT SHOULD BE A PROBLEM HERE FOR
EVERYONE ELSE BECAUSE GOD FORBID FLORIDA OR OHIO OR MONTANA WANTED
TO WRITE A LAW THAT CHANGED THE WAY THAT WE DID BUSINESS HERE IN NEW
YORK, I'M SURE EVERYBODY WOULD BE YELLING AND SCREAMING THAT THAT'S
NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO. IN ADDITION TO DOING THAT, I BELIEVE THAT WE
ARE PUTTING OUR PHARMACISTS IN A POSSIBLE POSITION WHERE THEY CANNOT
ADEQUATELY WRITE OR DISPENSE THIS TYPE OF MEDICATION BECAUSE OF THE
EXISTING SYSTEMS THAT ARE IN PLACE, BECAUSE OF THE COMPUTER SYSTEMS
THAT ARE IN PLACE, AND ALL OF THIS NEEDS TO BE MODIFIED SO THAT NOT ONLY
CAN WE PROTECT OUR PHARMACISTS, BUT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE
SUBVERTING, YOU KNOW, OTHER STATES IN DOING THIS.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. I WOULD URGE MY
COLLEAGUES, IF I MAY, TO ABSOLUTELY VOTE NO.
29
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.
MR. NOVAKHOV.
MR. NOVAKHOV: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
WOULD THE SPONSOR YIELD?
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR
YIELD?
MS. REYES: YES.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.
MR. NOVAKHOV: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I
REMEMBER WE ALREADY DEBATED ON --
MS. REYES: YES.
MR. NOVAKHOV: -- ON THE -- ON THIS BILL. SO, WHY
ARE WE TRYING TO HIDE DOCTOR'S NAME AND NOW A PRACTICE NAME FROM THE
BOTTLE?
MS. REYES: WELL, WHY ARE WE TRYING TO -- WE'RE NOT
HIDING THE DOCTORS' NAMES.
MR. NOVAKHOV: WELL, IF WE ARE REMOVING IT FROM
THE BOTTLE, WE'RE KIND OF HIDING THE NAME.
MS. REYES: FOR THESE PRESCRIPTIONS, PARTICULARLY
BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN SO POLITICIZED, YES. BUT -- AND I KNOW -- AND I
REMEMBER OUR LAST CONVERSATION ON THE -- ON THE BILL-IN-CHIEF YOU HAD
SOME CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR PARENTS, YOU KNOW, THEY -- THEY TAKE
SOMETHING AND YOU BEING ABLE TO REACH THEIR DOCTOR, BUT THAT WOULDN'T
BE THE CASE. THAT WOULDN'T APPLY.
MR. NOVAKHOV: I'M NOT ASKING ABOUT THIS,
30
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
MA'AM.
MS. REYES: NO? OKAY.
MR. NOVAKHOV: BUT THANK YOU FOR REMEMBERING
(INAUDIBLE/CROSSTALK).
MS. REYES: I REMEMBER.
MR. NOVAKHOV: I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. SO, HOW
MANY INCIDENTS HAVE -- SO -- SO IF -- IF WE'RE HIDING THE NAME OF THE
DOCTOR FROM THE BOTTLE OR REMOVING -- LET'S CALL IT REMOVING -- I -- I WAS
-- I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE REASON BEHIND IT. IS THAT -- CAN YOU
GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE LIKE WHY WE'RE REMOVING THE NAME OF THE DOCTOR?
MS. REYES: BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY, YOU HAVE
PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT THE PATIENT WHO HAVE NO BUSINESS MEDDLING IN
INDIVIDUAL -- PEOPLE'S INDIVIDUAL HEALTHCARE CHOICES, TRYING TO
WEAPONIZE SOME UNFORTUNATE LAWS AGAINST -- AGAINST PRESCRIBERS AND
AGAINST INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE AVAILING THEMSELVES OF HEALTHCARE.
MR. NOVAKHOV: HOW DO THEY WEAPONIZE IT?
MS. REYES: BY REPORTING THEM TO POLICE IN PLACES
WHERE THEY ARE RESTRICTING HEALTHCARE FOR WOMEN.
MR. NOVAKHOV: OKAY. AND HOW MANY SUCH
INCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED, LET'S SAY, IN 2023 AND '24?
MS. REYES: I -- I -- I COULDN'T TELL YOU. I DON'T HAVE
THAT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
MR. NOVAKHOV: SO WHY DID YOU CAME [SIC] UP
WITH THIS BILL?
MS. REYES: BECAUSE THE DOCTORS ASKED US FOR IT.
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
MR. NOVAKHOV: DO THEY -- SO WE DON'T KNOW --
SO WE DON'T HAVE THE STATISTICS, RIGHT? WE DON'T HAVE THE KIND OF
RESEARCH AND DATA HOW MANY INCIDENTS WITH THE DOCTORS, BECAUSE THE
DOCTOR'S NAME IS ON THE BOTTLE, OF THIS PARTICULAR MEDICATION HAPPENED,
LET'S SAY A YEAR AGO, FIVE YEARS AGO, LAST MONTH. WE DON'T KNOW THAT.
MS. REYES: WE DON'T HAVE THE DATA, NO.
MR. NOVAKHOV: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ON THE BILL, MADAM SPEAKER.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE BILL.
MR. NOVAKHOV: SO, I WAS TRYING TO LOOK AT IT AT A
DIFFERENT ANGLE, AND I THINK WITHOUT HAVING THIS INFORMATION, LIKE HOW
MANY INCIDENTS THAT REALLY HAPPENED, WHY DOCTORS ASK FOR IT, DO WE
HAVE ANY STATISTICS, DO WE HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THE NUMBER OF
INCIDENTS, I -- I THINK THIS BILL JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. AND FOR
THIS REASON, I WILL BE VOTING NO AND I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO ON
IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MS. GIGLIO.
MS. GIGLIO: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. WILL THE
SPONSOR YIELD?
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR
YIELD?
MS. REYES: YES.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.
MS. GIGLIO: SO, WHEN SOMEBODY IS PREGNANT AND
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
THEY WANT TO TERMINATE THE PREGNANCY THEY USUALLY GO TO A DOCTOR, THE
DOCTOR SEES THEM, THE DOCTOR DOES A PREGNANCY TEST, THE DOCTOR MAKES
SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT OVER 90 DAYS PREGNANT BEFORE TAKING THIS
MEDICATION, AND THAT THEY HAVE BLOOD TESTS TO VERIFY THAT THEY ARE
PREGNANT, NUMBER ONE, AND -- BEFORE THEY PRESCRIBE; AND NUMBER TWO,
THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY UNDERLYING, YOU KNOW, ILLNESSES THAT THEY'RE
TAKING MEDICATION FOR THAT MAY AFFECT THEIR HEALTH, MAY AFFECT THEM
GETTING SEPSIS IF THEY DO TAKE THE MEDICATION.
MS. REYES: YOU CAN'T -- I -- I'M GONNA STOP YOU
THERE. YOU CAN'T GET SEPSIS FROM TAKING THE MEDICATION.
MS. GIGLIO: NO, BUT YOU CAN GET SEPSIS FROM
BLEEDING OUT.
MS. REYES: NO, YOU ACTUALLY GET SEPSIS FROM
RETAINING A FETAL -- FROM RETAINING PREGNANCY MATERIAL OR RETAINING A
DEAD FETUS.
MS. GIGLIO: IF I COULD JUST (INAUDIBLE/CROSSTALK) --
MS. REYES: WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OTHER STATES --
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OTHER STATES WHEN A WOMAN CANNOT HAVE ACCESS TO
THESE MEDICATIONS, WHICH IS THE STANDARD COURSE OF TREATMENT FOR A
MISCARRIAGE, YOU END UP WITH SEPSIS.
MS. GIGLIO: SO, SOMEONE TAKES THE MEDICATION AND
THEIR BODY IS SUPPOSED TO BE PUSHING THE FETUS OUT OF THEIR BODY. WHAT
HAPPENS IF THAT IS NOT A COMPLETE CYCLE AND A -- A PORTION OF THE CHILD
REMAINS INSIDE OF THE WOMB? THEN THEY CAN GET SEPSIS, YES?
MS. REYES: A PORTION OF THE CHILD?
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
MS. GIGLIO: YEAH, A -- YEAH, IF THE -- IF THE --
MS. REYES: YOU MEAN PREGNANCY TISSUE? THERE
WILL BE SOME PREGNANCY TISSUE BECAUSE YOU WILL EXPEL A FETUS.
MS. GIGLIO: IF THE FORCED MISCARRIAGE DOES NOT
REMOVE ALL OF THE TISSUES BECAUSE THE DOCTOR HAS NO IDEA HOW FAR ALONG
IN THE PREGNANCY THIS PERSON IS THROUGH A TELEHEALTH, AND BEING THEIR
REGULAR DOCTOR THAT SUPERVISES THEM, LIKE MY OB-GYN, HE -- WE HAVE A
VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP. THIS IS A TELEHEALTH WITH SOMEBODY FROM NEW
YORK THAT HAS NEVER SEEN THIS PATIENT PHYSICALLY, AND -- AND FOR
INSTANCE, WHERE THEY PRESCRIBED FOR THE MOTHER, HOW DO THEY KNOW THAT
THE MOTHER IS PREGNANT? IS THERE ANYTHING IN YOUR BILL THAT REQUIRES A
DOCTOR FROM NEW YORK STATE TO GET BLOOD TESTS, TO GET INFORMATION ON
ANY OTHER MEDICATIONS THAT THAT PERSON MAY BE ON? BECAUSE THIS
MEDICATION CAN REALLY BE DETRIMENTAL TO SOMEBODY'S HEALTH IF THEY'RE
TAKING IT AND THEY'RE NOT BEING HONEST ABOUT ANY UNDERLYING CONDITION.
SO DOES THE BILL REQUIRE THAT THE DOCTOR SEE THE PATIENT AND THAT THEY GET
BLOOD TESTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE PREGNANT? DO THEY -- BECAUSE THE
MOTHER WAS NOT IN THE ONE CASE THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING, AND IT WAS
PRESCRIBED TO HER AND SHE WAS NOT PREGNANT.
MS. REYES: I MEAN, NONE OF THIS PERTAINS TO
TREATMENT OR THE BILL, BUT I -- YOU -- YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING VERY
EARLY ON IN YOUR REMARKS, IN YOUR QUESTION ABOUT DOING BLOOD TESTS TO
FIND UNDERLYING CONDITIONS THAT WOULD HAVE -- THAT WOULD BE
CONTRAINDICATED IN THIS MEDICATION. BUT EVEN IN AN IN-PERSON VISIT, YOU
CAN'T -- THERE ARE NO BLOOD TESTS FOR -- TO DETERMINE WHETHER SOMEBODY
34
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
CANNOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION. UNFORTUNATELY, ALL OF THAT IS THROUGH
PATIENT HISTORY AND YOU CAN DO THAT VERY WELL DURING A TELEHEALTH MED
-- VISIT, WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENS IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK FOR PATIENTS IN
NEW YORK AND IN OTHER PLACES AS WELL.
MS. GIGLIO: SO THERE'S NO BLOOD TEST TO DETERMINE
WHETHER OR NOT A PERSON IS PREGNANT?
MS. REYES: THERE'S A URINE TEST TO DETERMINE
PREGNANCY, THERE ARE BLOOD TESTS TO -- TO DETERMINE PREGNANCY, BUT YOU
COULD TAKE A PREGNANCY TEST AND IT'S OVER-THE-COUNTER.
MS. GIGLIO: YEAH, BUT IF -- IF -- IF I'M DOCTOR IN
NEW YORK AND I'M PRESCRIBING THIS MEDICATION TO SOMEBODY WHO
CLAIMS THEY'RE PREGNANT, THE MOTHER WHO WASN'T PREGNANT, IS THERE
ANYTHING IN YOUR BILL THAT REQUIRES THAT THE DOCTOR FROM NEW YORK GET
THE ACTUAL TEST RESULTS, THE URINE TEST OR THE BLOOD TEST, TO PROVE THAT THE
PERSON THAT THEY'RE GIVING THE MEDICATION TO IS ACTUALLY PREGNANT?
MS. REYES: THIS BILL IS ABOUT LABELS ON A BOTTLE.
MS. GIGLIO: RIGHT. SO YOU -- YOU'RE BASICALLY
CHANGING THE EDUCATION LAW, ESSENTIALLY, BY DOING THIS BECAUSE WHAT
MY COLLEAGUE READ WAS THAT IT IS A REQUIREMENT THAT THE DOCTOR'S NAME
BE ON THE PRESCRIPTION AND NOW WE'RE CHANGING IT TO SAY IT DOESN'T HAVE
TO BE ON THE PRESCRIPTION. SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS THE DOCTOR --
MS. REYES: THAT -- THAT -- THAT WAS WITHIN THE BILL,
BUT IT'S -- IT'S ONLY REQUIRED FOR OPIOIDS. AND I CLARIFIED THAT WITH YOUR
COLLEAGUE.
MS. GIGLIO: OKAY. SO -- SO, I -- YOU KNOW, THE
35
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
TELEHEALTH IS A GREAT TOOL FOR MANY INSTANCES. BUT WHEN IT REQUIRES A
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT SOMEBODY IS
PREGNANT AND HOW FAR ALONG THEY ARE IN THE PREGNANCY, BECAUSE THIS
DRUG CAN BE DETRIMENTAL TO SOMEBODY IF THEY TAKE IT IN A LATE-TERM
PREGNANCY.
MS. REYES: CAN YOU TELL ME HOW WE DETERMINE
HOW FAR ALONG SOMEBODY IS IN PREGNANCY?
MS. GIGLIO: WELL, I CAN TELL YOU THAT WHEN I WENT
TO MY OB-GYN (INAUDIBLE/CROSSTALK) --
MS. REYES: HOW DO YOU DETERMINE HOW FAR ALONG
SOMEBODY IS IN THEIR PREGNANCY? DO YOU -- DO YOU KNOW HOW THAT'S
DETERMINED?
MS. GIGLIO: WELL, I KNOW HOW THAT'S DETERMINED
BECAUSE I HAVE AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH MY OB-GYN AND WHEN I
WENT IN (INAUDIBLE/CROSSTALK) --
MS. REYES: HOW DID YOUR OB-GYN DETERMINE
HOW FAR --
MS. GIGLIO: -- HE WOULD ASK ME --
MS. REYES: -- ALONG YOU WERE?
MS. GIGLIO: -- WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HAD
YOUR MENSTRUAL CYCLE, AND I WOULD TELL HIM AND THEN HE WOULD EXAMINE
ME, HE WOULD DO A -- HE WOULD EXAMINE MY UTERUS, HE WOULD
(INAUDIBLE/CROSSTALK) --
MS. REYES: IT IS DETERMINED -- IT IS DETERMINED BY
PATIENT HISTORY AND YOUR LAST PERIOD.
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
MS. GIGLIO: SO -- SO IS THE DOCTOR
(INAUDIBLE/CROSSTALK) --
MS. REYES: AND YOU CAN DO THAT OVER THE PHONE.
MS. GIGLIO: SO IS THE DOCTOR GETTING THE PATIENT
HISTORY FROM THE PERSON IN ANOTHER STATE WHO --
MS. REYES: CORRECT.
MS. GIGLIO: -- FROM THEIR OB-GYN? SO THAT'S IN
YOUR BILL THAT THEY HAVE TO DO THE PATIENT HISTORY?
MS. REYES: THIS BILL DOES -- THIS BILL -- YOUR LINE OF
QUESTIONING ISN'T GERMANE TO THE BILL. I'M JUST RESPONDING TO THE
ERRONEOUS ASSERTION THAT YOU NEED TO DETERMINE LENGTH OF PREGNANCY
THROUGH A BLOOD TEST BECAUSE YOU CAN'T.
MS. GIGLIO: YEAH, BUT -- BUT THE DOCTOR PRESCRIBED
TO SOMEBODY THAT WAS NOT PREGNANT, AND THAT PERSON GAVE THOSE PILLS TO
THEIR DAUGHTER. HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT THAT MOTHER WASN'T JUST GONNA
SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS IS AN ANTI-ABORTION STATE AND I'M
GONNA TAKE THOSE PILLS AND I'M GONNA SELL THEM ON THE BLACK MARKET?
MS. REYES: I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE GET
PRESCRIBED OPIOIDS IN THIS STATE AND GIVE THEM TO PEOPLE. IT'S WHY WE
HAVE A PROBLEM WITH OPIOIDS. IT -- IT'S IMPOSSIBLE
(INAUDIBLE/CROSSTALK).
MS. GIGLIO: AND PEOPLE GO TO GO TO JAIL.
MS. REYES: IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL WHAT PEOPLE
DO.
MS. GIGLIO: AND PEOPLE GO TO JAIL FOR GIVING
37
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
OPIOIDS TO SOMEONE THAT IT WAS NOT PRESCRIBED TO. BUT THIS IS PROTECTING
THE DOCTOR, CORRECT?
MS. REYES: THEY -- THEY DO IT WITH OTHER
MEDICATIONS THAT ARE NOT JUST OPIOIDS. I'VE DONE THIS. I -- I MEAN, I -- I
USE THAT AS AN EXAMPLE, I'M SORRY. BUT YOU CAN'T -- UNFORTUNATELY, YOU
CAN'T CONTROL WHAT PATIENTS DO ONCE THEY HAVE THE MEDICATION.
MS. GIGLIO: SO WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMEBODY GETS THIS
MEDICATION FROM A DOCTOR IN NEW YORK, THEY'RE IN ANOTHER STATE AND
THEY TAKE THE PILLS, THEY TAKE THE PILL BOTTLE, THEY THROW IT AWAY AND
THEN THEY HAVE COMPLICATIONS. THEY CALL 911 AND NO ONE EVEN KNOWS
WHY THEY'RE SICK OR WHY THEY'RE BLEEDING OUT, AND THEY'RE JUST GONNA
TREAT THE BLEEDING OUT BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW THE PAST HISTORY OF THE
PATIENT WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAD AN ALLERGIC REACTION TO THIS MEDICATION.
MS. REYES: THAT WOULD BE -- THAT WOULD BE THE
CASE REGARDLESS. IF WE -- WHEN WE TREAT PEOPLE IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM,
WE DON'T ASK THEM WHO THE DOCTOR WAS THAT PRESCRIBED ANYTHING
BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T MATTER. THAT DOESN'T IMPACT OUR -- OUR STANDARD OF
CARE. IT DOESN'T IMPACT OUR INTERVENTIONS. WE WILL INTERVENE BASED ON
THE PRESENTING CASE OF THE PATIENT, AND SOMETIMES IF WE KNOW WHAT THE
MEDICATION IS. BUT THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY REQUIRED, EITHER. SO I UNDERSTAND
THAT YOU -- THAT YOU -- YOU -- YOU'RE MAKING THE ARGUMENT THAT HOW
WOULD THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO. THE NAME OF THE PRESCRIBER WILL NOT
CHANGE WHAT WE DO.
MS. GIGLIO: WELL, I -- I THINK IT WOULD BECAUSE WE
HAVE A RECORD --
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
MS. REYES: YOU MAY THINK SO, BUT THAT'S NOT THE
ACTUALITY IN CLINICAL CARE.
MS. GIGLIO: OKAY. THOSE NEW YORK STATE DOCTORS,
WHEN THEY PRESCRIBE YOU SAID WE HOLD THE RECORDS FOR FIVE YEARS,
CORRECT?
MS. REYES: CORRECT.
MS. GIGLIO: OKAY. SO HOW WOULD ANYBODY IN
ANOTHER STATE KNOW WHO -- WHO THE DOCTOR WAS OR WHAT WAS
PRESCRIBED?
MS. REYES: FOR WHAT -- FOR WHAT PURPOSE?
MS. GIGLIO: IF THEY WERE -- IF THEY WERE BLEEDING
OUT. SAY THEY'RE DEAD, YOU KNOW, SAY THEY DIED FROM SEPSIS BECAUSE
THERE IS SOMETHING THAT'S STILL LEFT IN THE WOMB AND IT DIDN'T EXPEL.
WHAT IF THEY'RE DEAD AND THEY'RE THE ONLY PERSON THAT KNOWS WHO
PRESCRIBED THAT MEDICATION TO THEM BECAUSE OF HIPAA LAWS AND
NOBODY ELSE CAN ACTUALLY SEE WHAT ANYBODY ELSE TOOK. WHAT HAPPENS
IF THEY'RE GONE, IF THEY -- IF THEY --
MS. REYES: THOSE HYPOTHETICALS ARE SO OFF THE WALL.
BUT I WOULD TELL YOU THAT IF THEY WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE PRESCRIBED
MIFEPRISTONE AND MISOPROSTOL, THEY PROBABLY DID NOT DIE OF SEPSIS, AND
THAT'S WHAT ACTUALLY SAVED THEIR LIFE FROM SEPSIS.
MS. GIGLIO: I DON'T KNOW. WELL, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. AND I APPRECIATE ALL NURSES AND ALL EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTORS.
AND I -- I JUST THINK IT'S MUCH EASIER TO BE ABLE TO TREAT SOMEONE WHEN
YOU KNOW ANY UNDERLYING ILLNESSES THAT THEY MAY HAVE OR WHEN YOU
39
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
KNOW ACTUALLY WHETHER OR NOT -- I MEAN, WHO IT WAS EVEN PRESCRIBED TO.
SO, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND I APPRECIATE ALL NURSES. AND I KNOW
THAT YOU ARE ONE. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
MADAM SPEAKER, ON THE BILL.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE BILL.
MS. GIGLIO: I DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE HIDING
INFORMATION THAT COULD BE PERTINENT TO SOMEBODY'S HEALTH AND THEIR LIFE.
AND IF A DOCTOR IS GOING TO PRESCRIBE SOMETHING, THEY SHOULD NOT BE
HIDING BEHIND A NEW YORK STATE SHIELD THAT NO ONE ACTUALLY KNOWS ON
-- ON THE PILL BOTTLE OR WHERE IT CAME FROM. SO, I MEAN, THIS IS JUST SO
CONTRARY TO OUR LAWS AND WHAT DOCTORS SHOULD BE DOING AND
ACCOUNTABILITY, QUITE HONESTLY, IF SOMEBODY SHOULD GET VERY ILL FROM
THIS.
SO I'LL BE VOTING NO AND I -- I ENCOURAGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME. THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.
READ THE LAST SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: A PARTY VOTE HAS
BEEN REQUESTED.
MS. WALSH.
MS. WALSH: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. THE
REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE WILL GENERALLY BE IN THE NEGATIVE ON THIS
CHAPTER AMENDMENT, BUT IF SOMEONE WISHES TO VOTE OTHERWISE THEY
MAY DO SO RIGHT NOW AT THEIR SEATS. THANK YOU.
40
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.
MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.
MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER. THE MAJORITY CONFERENCE IS GENERALLY GONNA BE IN FAVOR OF
THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION; HOWEVER, THERE SHOULD -- IF THERE ARE SOME
WHO WOULD DESIRE TO BE AN EXCEPTION, THEY SHOULD FEEL FREE TO DO SO AT
THEIR SEATS. THANK YOU.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL
RECORD THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE
THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
PAGE 5, RULES REPORT NO. 96, THE CLERK WILL READ.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A02579, RULES REPORT
NO. 96, CRUZ. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC SERVICE LAW, IN RELATION TO
CALL CENTERS FOR GAS AND ELECTRIC CORPORATIONS; TO AMEND A CHAPTER OF
THE LAWS OF 2024 AMENDING THE PUBLIC SERVICE LAW RELATING TO CALL
CENTERS FOR GAS AND ELECTRIC CORPORATIONS, AS PROPOSED IN LEGISLATIVE
BILLS NUMBERS S.8626-A AND A.9444-A, IN RELATION TO THE EFFECTIVENESS
THEREOF; AND TO REPEAL CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE LAW
RELATING THERETO.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON A MOTION BY MS.
CRUZ, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS ADVANCED.
41
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
AN EXPLANATION HAS BEEN REQUESTED, MS. CRUZ.
MS. CRUZ: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. THIS BILL
IS A CHAPTER AMENDMENT THAT WOULD REVISE REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO THE
CLOSURE AND OUTSOURCING OF UTILITY CUSTOMER SERVICE CALL CENTERS.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. PALMESANO.
MR. PALMESANO: YES, MADAM SPEAKER, WILL THE
SPONSOR YIELD FOR SOME QUESTIONS?
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR
YIELD?
MS. CRUZ: YES.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.
MR. PALMESANO: THANK YOU, MS. CRUZ. YOU
KNOW, I HAVE READ IT AND I KNOW YOU MADE SOME CHANGES TO THE BILL
WHICH I'VE --
MS. CRUZ: CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT LOUDER? I'M
SORRY.
MR. PALMESANO: YES, I CAN. I -- YOU KNOW, I
HAVE READ THROUGH THE BILL. I KNOW THERE'S BEEN CHANGES TO THE BILL, I
THINK SOME GOOD CHANGES, BUT I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS I WANT TO ASK.
CAN YOU TELL ME SOME SPECIFIC CHANGES THAT YOU MADE TO THE BILL --
MS. CRUZ: SURE.
MR. PALMESANO: -- RELATIVE TO THE EXEMPTIONS
AND PENALTIES?
MS. CRUZ: THIS -- THIS CHAPTER AMENDMENT REMOVES
THE ADDITIONAL PENALTIES, IT CLARIFIES THAT CUSTOMER SERVICES -- SERVICE
42
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
REQUESTS CAN BE SENT OUTSIDE OF THE STATE IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS AND
FOR TRAINING, AND IT REMOVES THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE PSC ACT ON
CLOSURES WITHIN A SPECIFIC TIME FRAME.
MR. PALMESANO: OKAY. RELATIVE TO THE -- THE
EXEMPTIONS, I THINK THE PENAL -- NOT THE PENALTIES, THE -- CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES. WHAT WOULD BE -- LIKE, IS IT LIKE A STORM, DISASTER?
MS. CRUZ: WHAT WOULD BE THE CIRCUMSTANCES IS
YOUR QUESTION?
MR. PALMESANO: RIGHT, RIGHT.
MS. CRUZ: SURE. GIVE ME 30 SECONDS. THESE
CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD INCLUDE WORKFORCE TRAINING, A DECLARED STATE OF
LOCAL -- OR LOCAL EMERGENCY, NATURAL DISASTER OR A CYBER ATTACK.
MR. PALMESANO: OKAY. DOES A DISASTER HAVE TO
BE DECLARED -- WHO -- WHO DEFINES THE DISASTER? DOES THE UTILITIES SAY
IT'S A DISASTER, DOES THE GOVERNOR HAVE TO DECLARE A DISASTER? I MEAN,
FOR EXAMPLE, YOU COULD HAVE A SNOWSTORM IN BUFFALO AND NOT ALWAYS A
DISASTER IS DECLARED. WHAT CONSTITUTES THE DISASTER?
MS. CRUZ: THE STATE OR THE -- OR THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT AND SOMETIMES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS WHO DECLARES A
STATE OF EMERGENCY OR A NATURAL DISASTER.
MR. PALMESANO: OKAY. AND YOU SAID THAT THE
PENALTIES WERE REMOVED, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE WERE SOME SIGNIFICANT
PENALTIES IN THE BILL WE PASSED.
MS. CRUZ: THAT'S RIGHT.
MR. PALMESANO: BUT THERE'S STILL A PENALTY UNDER
43
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
THE CALL CENTER LAW WE PASSED IN 2020. IS THERE STILL A $10,000 PENALTY
IF THERE'S A VIOLATION?
MS. CRUZ: THAT'S NOT CONTEMPLATED BY THIS BILL. IF
IT'S IN THE LAW, IT STAYS.
MR. PALMESANO: OKAY. FAIR ENOUGH. IS THERE
ANY CONCERN THAT YOU HAVE, AND I KNOW PART OF THE DISCUSSION LAST TIME
WE HAD, I THINK MR. GOODELL BROUGHT IT UP WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT, I
DON'T THINK HE DEBATED IT. BUT IF WE HAVE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE
OPERATIONS IN DIFFERENT STATES, THEY MIGHT -- THEY MIGHT OPERATE IN NEW
YORK, THEY MIGHT OPERATE IN PENNSYLVANIA, WOULDN'T THAT IMPACT THEIR
ABILITY -- IN SOME REGARDS IMPACT THEIR ABILITY TO DO BUSINESS IN OTHER
STATES AS FAR AS IT CONCERNS THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE CLAUSE?
MS. CRUZ: NO, WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT THIS BILL IS
CONFORMING WITH ANY LIMITATIONS ON THE REGULATIONS OF INTERSTATE
COMMERCE. THE FEDERAL POWER ACT GIVES STATES WIDE LATITUDE IN
REGULATING INTRASTATE UTILITIES AND ALL OTHER SIMILAR SERVICES, INCLUDING
CUSTOMER SERVICE. AND UNDER THE EXISTING LAW, EVEN PRIOR TO THIS
CHAPTER AMENDMENT, UTILITIES WERE REQUIRED TO SEND NOTICE AND GET
APPROVAL FROM PSC BEFORE MOVING A CALL CENTER OUT-OF-STATE.
MR. PALMESANO: SO NOW THAT THE UTILITIES WOULD
HAVE TO HAVE MORE EMPLOYEES IN NEW YORK STATE, OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE
TO HIRE MORE AND OBVIOUSLY IT SOUNDS GOOD ON PAPER TO HAVE MORE
EMPLOYEES IN NEW YORK STATE. BUT CERTAINLY, THAT WOULD INCREASE THEIR
COSTS AS A UTILITY TO OPERATE, CORRECT? AND -- AND IF SO, WOULDN'T THAT --
MS. CRUZ: THAT'S NOT CONTEMPLATED BY THIS BILL.
44
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
THIS ONLY HAS TO DO WITH WHEN THEY NEED TO MOVE THE CALL CENTER
OUT-OF-STATE. HOW THEY HIRE, WHO THEY HIRE, THAT'S NOT PERTINENT.
MR. PALMESANO: BUT I THINK I GUESS WHAT I'M
GETTING AT WITH THE BILL, IF THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE PEOPLE IN THE STATE TO
DO THE CALL CENTER, THEY -- THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO HIRE MORE
EMPLOYEES IN THE STATE, WHICH I UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS TO THAT. BUT
THERE WOULD BE A COST TO THE UTILITY OR THE CORPORATION WHO IS HANDLING
THAT. IT WOULDN'T THAT BE --
MS. CRUZ: AGAIN, THAT'S -- YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION.
THAT'S NOT CONTEMPLATED BY THIS BILL.
MR. PALMESANO: OKAY. WELL, YOU KNOW, MS.
CRUZ, THIS WAS A SIMPLE ONE. I'M JUST GONNA GO ON THE BILL NOW.
MS. CRUZ: THANK YOU.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE BILL.
MR. PALMESANO: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER,
AND THANK YOU, SPONSOR, FOR YOUR QUESTIONS. I DO THINK THERE HAVE BEEN
SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO THIS BILL, BUT -- AND I KNOW MANY OF OUR
MEMBERS VOTED FOR IT LAST YEAR AND I EXPECT THAT TO BE THE SAME; THAT'S
OKAY. BUT MY CONCERNS WITH THIS BILL IS MORE ON THE PREMISE OF THE
OPERATION. BASICALLY TELLING BUSINESSES THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE STAFF IN
NEW YORK STATE. I THINK AND I KNOW MAYBE THERE'S A DISAGREEMENT
WITH ME AND THE SPONSOR, I THINK WE SHOULD ALLOW BUSINESSES THE
FLEXIBILITY TO MAKE BUSINESS DECISIONS ON WHAT BEST MEETS THEIR NEEDS.
I THINK -- ALSO, I THINK THIS COULD BE A -- A BAD PRECEDENT BECAUSE WE'RE
DOING IT FOR UTILITIES, GAS, CORPORATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT WHAT'S
45
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
NEXT? WHAT BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED NEXT? I MEAN, WHAT
DOES THAT SAY TO A BUSINESS? WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE DOES THAT SAY TO THE
BUSINESS THAT, WE'RE GONNA TELL YOU HOW YOU HAVE TO OPERATE YOUR
BUSINESS AS FAR AS YOUR STAFFING. I DO THINK, AND I KNOW MY -- MY
COLLEAGUE, THE SPONSOR, MENTIONED THAT DOESN'T FEEL THIS VIOLATES THE
INTERSTATE COMMERCE CLAUSE. I DO THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
COULD BE QUESTIONABLE; I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY. BUT BUSINESSES SHOULD
RETAIN THE RIGHT TO OPERATE THEIR BUSINESSES AND BE ABLE TO DO BUSINESS
IN OTHER STATES AND EMPLOYEES IN OTHER STATES, BUT IF YOU HAVE TO HAVE
MORE EMPLOYEES IN NEW YORK THAN YOU DO SOMEPLACE ELSE, THAT COULD
BE CONSTITUTED, I THINK, IN SOME REGARDS A POSSIBLE VIOLATION OF THE
INTERSTATE COMMERCE CLAUSE. WE -- THE PENALTIES I WAS GONNA ASK
ABOUT IS GOOD. I THINK THE PENALTIES ON THIS BILL BEING REMOVED,
BECAUSE THEY WERE SIGNIFICANT PENALTIES, I HAVE TO GIVE MY THANKS TO
THE SPONSOR FOR THAT. BUT I DO THINK WITH THE INCREASED COSTS THAT'S
GONNA BE -- COME WITH HAVING MORE PEOPLE WORKING FOR THE UTILITY AND
NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE IT SPREAD OUT HOW THEY DEEM, THAT COULD
INCREASE THE COST OF OUR RATES. AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I -- I'M
CONCERNED ABOUT, I'VE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST. I THINK A LOT OF THE LAWS
AND POLICIES THAT WE CONTINUE TO PASS IN THIS HOUSE IS JUST A -- A
CONTINUANT NICK CUT HERE THAT CONTINUES TO SHIFT COSTS THAT HAVE THE
POTENTIAL TO SHIFT COSTS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS AND OUR RATEPAYERS, OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES, OUR FAMILIES.
AGAIN, AND AS I MENTIONED, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE
HAVE BEEN IMPROVEMENTS TO THIS BILL, MAKES IT BETTER THAN IT WAS. SO
46
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE SPONSOR FOR THAT. BUT REALLY, FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE, MY OPPOSITION IS GONNA REMAIN FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE
BILL, THE BASIC PREMISE BEHIND THE BILL THAT BUSINESSES SHOULD BE ABLE TO
OPERATE THE WAY THEY NEED TO OPERATE, THAT THEY FEEL THEY CAN OPERATE
MORE EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY, AND -- AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS.
AND I WILL SAY, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE'VE -- OUR -- OUR COLLEAGUE
ANDY GOODELL ISN'T HERE. WE ALL KNOW HE WAS AN AFICIONADO OF THE
CONSTITUTION. LAST YEAR HE GOT UP AND SPOKE ON THIS BILL, AND I THINK
HIS POINTS RING TRUE, SO I JUST WANT TO READ A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT JUST TO
REINFORCE THAT AS WE REMEMBER OUR COLLEAGUE ANDY GOODELL. MR.
GOODELL STARTED AND SAID, THANK YOU, SIR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I WILL
BE VOTING AGAINST THESE CALL CENTER BILLS. I'M NOT SURE I'LL GET ANY
SERVICE IF I CALL ANY ONE OF THEM AFTER THIS, BUT THE REASON I'M OPPOSED
IS THE FOLLOWING REASONS: ONE, IT SAYS THAT THE UTILITY CENTER OR UTILITY
CALL CENTER CANNOT BE RELOCATED OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK STATE WITHOUT
PSC APPROVAL. AND WHILE AT FIRST BLUSH IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A REALLY
PRO-CALL CENTER NEW YORK EMPLOYEES, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THE REAL
DANGER IS THAT OTHER -- IF OTHER STATES ADOPT SIMILAR LEGISLATION, NONE OF
OUR CALL CENTERS WILL BE ABLE TO GET BUSINESS FROM OTHER STATES. YOU
DON'T NEED TO START A TRADE WAR WITH OTHER STATES ON A SHORT-TERM
PERSPECTIVE OF PROTECTING OUR OWN INDUSTRY. BECAUSE OF THAT POTENTIAL
FOR RETALIATION AND THE IMPACT IT HAS ON INTERSTATE COMMERCE, THIS, IN
MY OPINION, VIOLATES THE FEDERAL INTERSTATE COMMERCE PROVISIONS,
SPECIFICALLY, LIMITING INTERSTATE TRADE. AND HE WENT ON TO TALK ABOUT
THE PENALTIES THAT WERE IN THE BILL. OBVIOUSLY, THE SPONSOR REMOVED
47
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
THOSE, SO WE THANK THEM. BUT HE DID CONCLUDE WITH, SO BECAUSE IT
VIOLATES THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION, BECAUSE IT HAS SERIOUS NEGATIVE
RAMIFICATIONS TO FUTURE CALL CENTERS IN (INAUDIBLE) -- THEIR EFFORTS TO GET
BUSINESS OUT-OF-STATE, AND BECAUSE OF THE FINES WHICH WE KNOW I FIND
UNREASONABLE, I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING IT.
SO, MR. -- MADAM SPEAKER AND MY COLLEAGUES, BASED
ON THAT AND THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE CLAUSE, A BAD PRECEDENT, I -- I DO
HAVE CONCERNS THAT MANDATING THAT ALL THESE -- BASICALLY HAVING THESE
EMPLOYEES IN THE STATE, WHICH I GET THAT YOU'LL HAVE MORE EMPLOYEES IN
NEW YORK STATE, BUT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT COULD INCREASE COSTS
WHICH CAN INCREASE RATES, AND THAT'S THE CONCERN I HAVE. AND WE'VE
SEEN THIS MORE AND MORE AGAIN OF BILLS COMING OUT OF HERE, LITTLE BILLS
HERE THAT CONTINUE TO -- THEY HAVE THE POTENTIAL AND CONTINUE TO SHIFT
COSTS TO RATEPAYERS AND OTHERS. AND I THINK THE OTHER PREMISE BEHIND IS
TELLING A BUSINESS THAT THEY HAVE TO OPERATE THIS WAY, I THINK THAT
DOESN'T SEND A POSITIVE MESSAGE. NEW YORK STATE IS NOT REALLY
BUSINESS-FRIENDLY RIGHT NOW, WE UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT FROM THAT
PERSPECTIVE -- BUT WHEN WE GET TO THE COSTS, AND I'VE TALKED ABOUT THE
COSTS, WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON, I CAN GET IN -- YOU KNOW,
OBVIOUSLY, THE CLCPA. WE KNOW THAT THE COSTS ARE GOING UP FOR OUR
RATEPAYERS. YOU SEE THE UTILITY RATE HIKES THAT ARE GOING ON THAT'S GOING
TO BE PAYING FOR THESE GREEN PROGRAMS. IT'S ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER,
WHETHER IT'S THAT, WHETHER IT'S THE SUPERFUND BILL, $75 BILLION THAT'S
GONNA GET SHIFTED TO CONSUMERS IF IT SURVIVES THE COST. IF WE DON'T
CHANGE THE METHODOLOGY ON HOW WE MEASURE EMISSIONS THAT WE USE IN
48
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
THE CLCPA; 63 CENTS INCREASE IN A GALLON OF GAS, 79 PERCENT INCREASE
IN HOME NATURAL HEATING COSTS. CAP AND INVEST, $35,000 TO CONVERT
YOUR HOME OVER FROM NATURAL GAS TO FULLY ELECTRIFY YOUR HOME. THE
PSC IN JULY OF '23 INSTITUTED -- APPROVED $43 MILLION IN FUTURE
RATEPAYER INCREASES TO PAY FOR THE GREEN ENERGY GOALS. IT'S ONE THING
AFTER ANOTHER. THE SCHOOL BUS MANDATE, THE ACT REGULATION, THE CAR
REGULATION. ALL THESE THINGS ADD UP CAN BE DEVASTATING TO OUR BUSINESS
COMMUNITY AND CONTINUE TO INCREASE COSTS. I THINK ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
WE'RE AT A TIPPING POINT. I JUST THINK WE NEED TO BE A LITTLE COGNIZANT. I
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SPONSOR IS TRYING TO DO, THERE'S BEEN CHANGES IN
THE BILL THAT ARE POSITIVE. BUT I JUST THINK THE GENERAL PREMISE WE SEE
OVER AND OVER AGAIN WITH THE BILLS COMING FORWARD, THE ENERGY POLICY,
IT'S ALL KIND OF TIED TOGETHER. I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONSUMER,
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE MANUFACTURER, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE
FARMER, AND THESE COSTS CONTINUE TO GET SHIFTED. IT'S -- IT'S REALLY A
RUNAWAY FREIGHT TRAIN HEADING DOWN THE TRACKS, AND OUR -- OUR RESIDENTS
THAT WE REPRESENT. AND MANY OF THEM DON'T REALIZE IT YET, BUT WHEN IT'S
ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER.
SO FOR THAT REASON, I KNOW A NUMBER OF MY COLLEAGUES
WILL BE VOTING FOR IT, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT BASED ON THE GENERAL
PREMISE THAT I JUST OUTLINED AND OBVIOUSLY THE COMMENTS OF OUR
COLLEAGUE ANDY GOODELL, I'M GONNA -- I'M GONNA BE VOTING NO ON THIS
LEGISLATION, SO -- BUT I APPRECIATE THE SPONSOR AND THE CHANGES SHE
MADE. THANK YOU.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST
49
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
SECTION.
THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL
RECORD THE VOTE.
(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)
ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE
THE RESULTS.
(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)
THE BILL IS PASSED.
MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.
MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, DO YOU
HAVE ANY FURTHER HOUSEKEEPING OR RESOLUTIONS?
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: NO HOUSEKEEPING.
WE DO HAVE A RESOLUTION BY MS. REYES.
MS. TORRES ON THE RESOLUTION.
OH, THE CLERK WILL READ.
THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. 167, MS. REYES.
LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE 30TH
ANNUAL SOMOS SPRING CONFERENCE TO BE HELD MARCH 7-9, 2025, AND
PAYING TRIBUTE TO ITS HOST, SOMOS, INC. FOR ITS CONTRIBUTIONS AND
ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF THE PUERTO RICAN AND LATINO COMMUNITIES IN THE
STATE OF NEW YORK.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MS. TORRES ON THE
RESOLUTION.
MS. TORRES: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. THANK
50
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
YOU, ASSEMBLYMEMBERS REYES, FOR THE RESOLUTION TODAY. TODAY WE
PROUDLY THANK AND RECOGNIZE SOMOS, INCORPORATED FOR ITS LEADERSHIP
IN BRINGING TOGETHER LATINO LEADERS, ADVOCATES AND YOUNG PEOPLE FOR
THE 38TH ANNUAL SOMOS SPRING CONFERENCE. FOR NEARLY FOUR
DECADES, SOMOS HAS PROVIDED A SPACE TO UPLIFT THE VOICES OF LATINO
COMMUNITIES ACROSS NEW YORK STATE, ENSURING THAT OUR CONCERNS,
ASPIRATIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS REMAIN AT THE FOREFRONT OF PUBLIC POLICY.
SOMOS IS MORE THAN A CONFERENCE, IT IS A MOVEMENT. IT IS A SPACE
WHERE WE COME TOGETHER TO BUILD THE COLLECTIVE POWER NECESSARY TO
MAKE MEANINGFUL CHANGE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, FROM ECONOMIC
EMPOWERMENT, HEALTHCARE, CIVIL RIGHTS, HOUSING AND BEYOND.
ONE THING YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT SOMOS IS THAT
THEY ALL SUPPORT THE ANGELO DEL TORO PUERTO RICAN/HISPANIC YOUTH
LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE WHICH BRINGS HUNDREDS OF LATINO HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS ACROSS NEW YORK STATE, INCLUDING SEVERAL FROM MY DISTRICT IN
THE BRONX, TO LEARN ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. THE STUDENTS WORK
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO LEARN ABOUT OUR PROCESS AND WILL BE SITTING IN
OUR SEATS THIS WEEKEND, INCLUDING A STUDENT GOVERNOR, A STUDENT
SPEAKER, A STUDENT MAJORITY LEADER AND STUDENT LEGISLATORS TO DO A MOCK
DEBATE. SO NOT ONLY WILL THIS BE FUN, BUT IT TRULY EMBODIES THE
INVESTMENT THAT SOMOS BRINGS FOR LATINO EMPOWERMENT ACROSS OUR
STATE.
SO AS WE INTRODUCE THIS RESOLUTION, ESPECIALLY IN THESE
TRYING TIMES, I ASK ALL OF US TO RECOMMIT TO THE VALUES THAT SOMOS
REPRESENTS: EQUITY, JUSTICE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL. SO LET US CONTINUE
51
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
TO DO THIS WORK TOGETHER NOT JUST THIS WEEKEND, BUT EVERY DAY, TO TURN
THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAVE IN THE DAYS AHEAD INTO ACTION FOR OUR
COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.
MR. ZACCARO ON THE RESOLUTION.
MR. ZACCARO: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
TODAY I RISE TO COMMEMORATE THE 38TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SOMOS
SPRING CONFERENCE. IT'S A PIVOTAL GATHERING THAT HAS A PROFOUND IMPACT
ON LATINO COMMUNITIES NOT JUST BACK HOME IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK,
BUT ACROSS THE STATE. AND, YOU KNOW, FOR NEARLY FOUR DECADES THIS
CONFERENCE HAS SERVED AS A POWERFUL PLATFORM FOR ADVOCATING ON BEHALF
OF OUR LATINO AND BLACK COMMUNITIES NOT ONLY HERE IN ALBANY, BUT
ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE SOMOS SPRING CONFERENCE
HAS BEEN A BEACON OF COLLABORATION, OF EMPOWERMENT AND OF PROGRESS.
IT BRINGS TOGETHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, IT BRINGS TOGETHER COMMUNITY
LEADERS AND ADVOCATES TO ADDRESS ISSUES THAT MATTER ACROSS MOST PEOPLE
WHO REPRESENT EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE. IT IS A TIME FOR US TO LISTEN, TO LEARN AND TO CHART A COURSE FOR
THE FUTURE OF WHERE NEW YORKERS AND EVERY NEW YORKER, REGARDLESS OF
THEIR BACKGROUND, HAS ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY DESERVE. THE
CONFERENCE INSPIRE -- HAS INSPIRED GENERATIONS OF LEADERS AND HAS
PROVIDED A SPACE FOR CRITICAL CONVERSATION ABOUT THE NEEDS OF LATINO
AND BLACK COMMUNITIES, AND IT'S MORE THAN JUST A CONFERENCE. IT'S A --
IT'S A CALL TO ACTION. IT'S A REMINDER OF THE RESPONSIBILITY WE HAVE AS
LEGISLATORS TO UPLIFT THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED AND
52
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
TO ENSURE THE CONCERNS ARE HEARD IN THE HALLS OF POWER.
AND AS WE MARK THIS IMPORTANT MILESTONE TODAY, I
WANT TO THANK THE SOMOS ORGANIZERS AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS
CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS EVENT OVER THE LAST 38 YEARS. THEIR
TIRELESS WORK HAS FOSTERED A LASTING LEGACY OF UNITY, OF ADVOCACY, AND
OF CHANGE. AND SO LET US ALL REMEMBER THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS
CONFERENCE AND REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING THE RIGHTS AND
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR LATINO AND BLACK COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.
I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE AND THE SPONSOR FOR THIS
RESOLUTION TODAY, AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE SOMOS ON 38 YEARS OF ITS
IMPACT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM SPEAKER.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.
MR. DAIS ON THE RESOLUTION.
MR. DAIS: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. IT IS MY
HONOR TO SPEAK ON THIS RESOLUTION FOR THE 38TH YEAR OF SOMOS. WE
HAVE COME A LONG WAY AS WE SEE THE DIVERSIFICATION OF THIS BODY,
GOING AS FAR BACK AS, I GUESS, 1978 [SIC], ASSEMBLYMEMBER ROBLES,
WHO WAS A TITAN IN THE LATINO POLITICAL COMMUNITY. MYSELF, MY
NATIONALITY, I AM AFRICAN-AMERICAN, BUT MY FAMILY IS LIKE MUCH OF
NEW YORK. MY WIFE IS DOMINICAN AND PUERTO RICAN, MY CHILDREN ARE
AFRO-LATINO.
I AM AN ADVOCATE FOR SOMOS AND ITS AGENDA BECAUSE
IF YOU LOOK HISTORICALLY IN NEW YORK (INAUDIBLE) EAST HARLEM TO THE
SOUTH BRONX WHO I REPRESENT, OR TO WILLIAMSBURG IN BROOKLYN OR IN
53
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
BROWNSVILLE, THE BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN
BRIDGED TOGETHER. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EDUCATION, WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT HOUSING, WE TALK ABOUT JUSTICE AND OPPORTUNITY AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT IN THOSE COMMUNITIES, THE MISSION OF SOMOS ALIGNS
WITH MY OWN COMMUNITY'S ISSUES.
SO I'M PROUD TO STAND WITH THE CHAIRWOMAN REYES
AND THE TASK FORCE, BECAUSE THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING IS IMPORTANT.
IT'S ENSURING THAT THOSE IN THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES ARE
RECEIVING THE RESOURCES AND HAVE A VOICE THAT IS IN THIS CHAMBER, IN THE
SENATE CHAMBER, AND WITHIN THE HALLS OF THIS -- OF OUR BUILDING. MORE
IMPORTANTLY, I LOVE THE FACT THAT WE ARE CREATING BRIDGES IN THESE
COMMUNITIES TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE CREATING NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR
THOSE IN THESE COMMUNITIES.
LASTLY, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS WEEKEND'S
CONFERENCE. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE GONNA
HAVE ON JUSTICE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY,
TALK ABOUT THE PEOPLE'S AGENDA THAT WE CAN GET DONE IN THIS BUDGET AND
MOVING OFF OUR LEGISLATIVE SESSION. SO THANK YOU AGAIN TO -- TO THE
CHAIRWOMAN AND THANK YOU TO THE SOMOS CONFERENCE.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.
MS. REYES ON THE RESOLUTION.
MS. REYES: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. I WANT TO
THANK ALL MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION, NOT JUST ON THIS
RESOLUTION BUT IN OUR CONFERENCE. WE ARE CELEBRATING THE 30TH -- 38TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE SOMOS CONFERENCE, AND AS WE WERE DIGGING
54
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
THROUGH THE ARCHIVES WE REALIZED THAT THIS RESOLUTION WAS SOMETHING
THAT WOULD HAPPEN EVERY YEAR TO COMMEMORATE OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR
LATINO COMMUNITIES BEING BROUGHT UP AND COMING TO THE SEAT OF
GOVERNMENT TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT IMPACT THEM, TO ADVOCATE FOR
MORE RESOURCES, FOR A SEAT AT THE TABLE. AND WE HAVE MADE GREAT
STRIDES THROUGH OUR TASK FORCE, THROUGH THE SOMOS CONFERENCE. WE
ARE SO PROUD OF THAT. WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS MORE WORK TO BE DONE.
LATINOS ARE 20 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND
WE DESERVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. AND WE ARE HAPPY TO WELCOME THEM,
HOST THEM HERE, AND WE ENCOURAGE ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUES TO COME AND
PARTICIPATE WITH US TO HEAR OUR COMMUNITY, TO HEAR THEIR TROUBLES, TO
CELEBRATE WITH US, TO CELEBRATE OUR WINS AND ALL OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
AND TO PLAN AND STRATEGIZE FOR THE FUTURE AHEAD.
I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE SOMOS, INC. WE ARE THE
NEW YORK -- THE PUERTO RICAN/HISPANIC TASK FORCE IS A LEGISLATIVE
BODY, BUT SOMOS, INC. IS OUR NON-PROFIT ARM THAT HELPS US PUT
TOGETHER THE CONFERENCE EVERY YEAR. THERE OUR GREAT PARTNERS IN THIS
WORK, AND WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TANIA CAPAZ;
THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD, FRANK DIAZ, FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK AND WE LOOK
FORWARD TO THIS WEEKEND.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.
MS. CRUZ ON THE RESOLUTION.
MS. CRUZ: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. I ECHO THE
SENTIMENTS OF ALL MY COLLEAGUES, BUT I -- I WANT TO GET UP SPECIFICALLY TO
55
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
TALK ABOUT HOW THE ANGELO DEL TORO PUERTO RICAN AND HISPANIC YOUTH
LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE THAT IS PART OF THE CONFERENCE HAS CHANGED LIVES IN
MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I HAVE ONE OF THE PAN-AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOLS, AND
I WOULD SAY THAT ABOUT 90 PERCENT OF THE KIDS IN MY PAN-AMERICAN
HIGH SCHOOL ARE UNDOCUMENTED KIDS. SOME OF THOSE KIDS WERE ACTUALLY
IN THE ICE BOXES IN THE BORDER, AND I HAVE ONE SPECIFIC YOUNG MAN
WHO I MET AT THE SCHOOL TOLD ME THE STORY OF HAVING FLED CUBA, HAVING
BEEN AT THE ICE BOXES, HAVING BEEN SEPARATED FROM HIS FAMILY, AND
THEN ONE DAY AT SOMOS MAYBE ABOUT -- NOT THIS SOMOS, LAST
SOMOS, I BUMP INTO HIM RIGHT HERE IN THE CHAMBER. HE WAS PART OF
THE ANGELO DEL TORO LEADERSHIP DAY, AND HE GOT TO BE HERE IN THE
HALLS OF WHERE THE LAWS ARE MADE AND WHERE LIVES ARE CHANGED. AND
BECAUSE OF THE EXPERIENCE THAT HE HAD HERE AT SOMOS, HE DECIDED
WHEN HE GRADUATED THAT HE WAS GOING TO GO STUDY POLITICAL SCIENCE AND
EVENTUALLY BECOME AN ATTORNEY. HE'S STILL GOING THROUGH HIS ASYLUM
PROCESS. BUT I WANT FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT, YES,
WE GET TO HAVE FUN, AND YES, WE LEARN A LOT AND WE HAVE THESE
WORKSHOPS THAT ARE AMAZING, AND WE COME TOGETHER AND WE START
IMAGINING WHAT A WORLD WHERE LATINOS HAVE MORE EQUITY COULD LOOK
LIKE. BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY CHANGING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WE MAY NOT EVEN
KNOW. AND THESE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO MANY OF THEM COME RIGHT
HERE, SIT IN OUR SEATS, THEY MOCK DEBATE, THEY GET TO SPEAK ABOUT THE
WORLD THEY WANT TO SEE, AND THEN THEY GET TO ACT ON IT. AND SO THAT'S THE
KIND OF WORKSHOPS, THAT'S THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP, THAT'S THE KIND OF
CONFERENCE THAT SOMOS IS, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE
56
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
TO DO THAT.
HAPPY 38TH ANNIVERSARY. GIGANTIC SHOUT OUT TO THE
TEAM THAT MAKES IT ALL HAPPEN. TANIA, YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO AMAZING
WORK. AND I WANT TO ALSO THANK OUR SPONSOR AS WELL AS OUR
CHAIRWOMAN AND THE PREVIOUS CHAIR FOLKS. I'VE BEEN COMING TO THIS --
THIS CONFERENCE FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS, AND I'VE GOTTEN TO SEE HOW IT'S
EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS. AND EVERY YEAR WE HAVE MORE FOLKS, AND THIS
YEAR WE HAVE EVEN MORE COLOMBIANS, WHICH WE NEVER DID BEFORE, AND
IT'S AMAZING. AND I CAN'T WAIT TO GET TO SPEND THE WEEKEND WITH YOU
ALL, CHANGING THE LIVES OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND
TEACHING THEM THAT A BETTER TOMORROW DOES EXIST. THANK YOU.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.
MR. SIMONE ON THE RESOLUTION.
MR. SIMONE: I WANT TO SPEAK -- I WANT TO SPEAK TO
THE RESOLUTION ON THE 30TH ANNUAL SOMOS CONFERENCE. I WANT TO
THANK OUR CHAIRWOMAN, KARINES REYES, AND ALL WHO WERE INVOLVED,
AND NOW THE NON-PROFIT ARM SOMOS, INC. WITH THE THEME OF JUSTICE,
ACTION, EQUITY. I WAS RAISED BY AN IMMIGRANT MOM FROM PERU. I KNOW
HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO EMPOWER OUR YOUNG LEADERS, WHICH IS ONE OF THE
SOMOS' MAIN GOALS, AS MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ECHOED BEFORE
ME, TO NOT JUST EMPOWER OUR STUDENTS, BUT COMMUNITY LEADERS TO COME
TO THE CAPITOL TO SHARE THEIR VIEWS AND THEIR ASPIRATION AND DREAMS.
WHILE MANY FOLKS IN OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES ARE FACING CHALLENGES
TODAY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE ARE HERE TO HELP THEM, TO
EMPOWER THEM TO BE FUTURE LEADERS TO MAKE SURE WE HEAR FROM THEM
57
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
DIRECTLY. AS I HAVE BEEN RECENTLY TOLD, YOU KNOW, IT STARTED IN 1987
WITH ONLY SIX MEMBERS AND NOW WE'RE UP TO 30 LATINO MEMBERS AND
GROWING. WE ARE PART OF THE AMERICAN DREAM AND THE AMERICAN
FABRIC TO ASSERT NOT ONLY OUR DREAMS AND NEEDS, BUT OUR STRONG WORK
ETHIC AND CONNECTION TO OTHER COMMUNITIES.
I WANT TO ALSO LAST MENTION ON THE THEME OF JUSTICE,
ACTION, EQUITY THAT IT'S NOT JUST A CONFERENCE TO NETWORK AT RECEPTION,
WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT, BUT EDUCATIONAL POWER PANELS TO LEARN FROM
EACH OTHER. AND WE'RE STRONGER IN LARGE NUMBERS. SO I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO A WEEKEND AT THE SOMOS CONFERENCE, AND THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. DE LOS SANTOS
ON THE RESOLUTION.
MR. DE LOS SANTOS: THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER. I PERSONALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW SIGNIFICANT THIS
CONFERENCE HAS BEEN THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. I FIRST ATTENDED SOMOS
BACK EARLY 2000, ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, WHEN I ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY AT
ALBANY. AND EVER SINCE, IT HAS CREATED AN OPPORTUNITY NOT JUST FOR
MYSELF, BUT ALSO FOR MANY LATINO AND BEYOND. IT -- IT IS ABOUT ACTION,
IT'S ABOUT OUR CONFIRMATION, OUR COMMITMENT TO -- TO WORK TOGETHER AS
ONE AND TO CONTINUE TO -- TO COMMIT TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT. AND TO ALSO TO
BUILD OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION TO ALSO COME UP TO ALBANY
AND LEARN ABOUT OUR LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, BUT ALSO CREATE A NETWORK THAT
PERHAPS NEVER EXISTED FOR THEM BEFORE. SO I WANT TO ALSO COMMEND
OUR CHAIRWOMAN AND THE SPONSOR OF THIS LEGISLATION FOR -- FOR TAKING
58
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
THE TIME TO INTRODUCE IT, BECAUSE FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME WHO HAS BEEN
ATTENDING SOMOS FOR OVER 20 YEARS, IT IS SIGNIFICANT.
SO THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, FOR -- FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEE YOU ALL ON THIS YEAR'S SOMOS.
WELCOME TO SOMOS.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.
MS. ROMERO ON THE RESOLUTION.
MS. ROMERO: THANK YOU. I SHARE THE SENTIMENTS
OF MY COLLEAGUES. THIS IS MY FIRST SOMOS AS A LEGISLATOR. I ACTUALLY
GREW UP HEARING OF SOMOS FROM MY PARENTS, WHO WERE LEADERS IN THE
HISPANIC COMMUNITY IN ALBANY. AND NOW AS THE FIRST LATINA TO BE
ELECTED IN UPSTATE NEW YORK, I AM SO HONORED TO NOW BE PARTICIPATING
IN SOMOS MYSELF. AND IT'S REALLY A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE, FOR THE ALBANY COMMUNITY AND FOR NEW YORKERS AND THE
HISPANIC COMMUNITY TO JOIN TOGETHER. AT A TIME WHERE OUR FEDERAL
LEADERS WANT TO TEAR US APART, WE WILL BE COMING TOGETHER TO FIND WAYS
TO BRIDGE THIS DIVIDE AND MAKE US STRONGER.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS WEEKEND. THANK YOU SO MUCH
TO OUR CHAIRWOMAN, TO OUR SPEAKER, CARL HEASTIE, FOR THE SUPPORT, AND
TO ALL OF THOSE THAT ARE COMING TOGETHER WEEKEND, I REALLY LOOK FORWARD
TO A HISTORIC SOMOS. AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. MAHER ON THE
RESOLUTION.
MR. MAHER: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. I RISE TO
SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION. IT'S INTERESTING THAT SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES
59
NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
MENTIONED YOUNG PEOPLE ATTENDING SOMOS EVENTS. ONE OF THE FIRST
EVENTS I ATTENDED FOR SOMOS WAS ACTUALLY RIGHT HERE IN ALBANY, AND I
GOT TO INTERACT WITH MEMBERS BOTH IN THE SENATE AND THE ASSEMBLY AND
IT WAS QUITE INSPIRING, AND I BELIEVE ABSOLUTELY PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE
IN LEADING ME TO WHERE I AM TODAY. MY MOTHER, WHO CAME FROM
PUERTO RICO, MET MY IRISH-ITALIAN FATHER, HAD A BUNCH OF KIDS. A LOT OF
LOVE, A LOT OF CHURCH, A LOT OF GOOD FOOD. AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS WEEKEND, IT IS ABOUT ADVOCACY, BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT
CELEBRATING MIXED CULTURES AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PUERTO RICAN AND
HISPANIC HERITAGES AND THE GREATNESS THEY PROVIDED TO BOTH OUR STATE
AND OUR COUNTRY. AND I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. LAVINE ON THE
RESOLUTION.
MR. LAVINE: I WAS VERY PLEASED THAT THE NAME
ANGELO DEL TORO WAS MENTIONED EARLIER. ANGELO WAS THE FOUNDER OF
THE PUERTO RICAN AND HISPANIC YOUTH LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE. ANGELO
AND I WENT TO LAW SCHOOL TOGETHER. WE WERE FRIENDS, GOOD FRIENDS IN
LAW SCHOOL. AND HE WENT ON TO SERVE IN THE ASSEMBLY FROM 1975 TO
1994, AND HE WAS CHAIR OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE. HE WAS A GREAT
GUY WHO WE LOST TOO YOUNG. FROM HIS EARLIEST DAYS, ANGELO WANTED TO
CHANGE THE WORLD. AND AS WE LOOK BACK ON THESE MANY YEARS OF
SOMOS, I THINK NO ONE CAN ARGUE WITH THE FACT THAT ANGELO DEL TORO
DID CHANGE THE WORLD.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES ON THE RESOLUTION.
MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER. I RISE TO CONGRATULATE THE CHAIRWOMAN OF SOMOS AND THEIR
38 YEARS OF PROVIDING EDUCATION AND INFORMATION TO THOSE WHO FOLLOW
THEM AND THE FUTURE GENERATIONS THAT ARE COMING. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE
SUPPOSED TO DO AS PEOPLE. WE'RE SUPPOSED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE
HAVE AND WITHIN OUR KNOWLEDGE IS SHARED WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE,
SHARED WITH OUR COMMUNITY SO THAT WE'RE LIFTING AS WE CLIMB. SO I
WANT TO CONGRATULATE HER ON THE WORK THAT'S SHE'S DONE WITH SOMOS IN
THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL MY MEMBERS,
ALL MY -- ALL MY MEMBERS WHO OUR MEMBERS OF THE SOMOS. IT'S A
FABULOUS OPPORTUNITY. I REGRETFULLY CAN'T ATTEND THIS WEEKEND, BUT I
KNOW THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A GREAT TIME. AND IN THE WORDS OF OUR
FORMER COLLEAGUE CARMEN ARROYOS [SIC], WHO USED TO TELL ME, CRYSTAL,
WE'RE ALL THE SAME. WE JUST GOT OFF THE SHIP AT A DIFFERENT PLACE. AND
HONESTLY, SHE'S EXACTLY RIGHT ABOUT THAT. AND IT HASN'T CHANGED, IT'S
BEEN THE WAY OF THE WORLD.
AND SO I'M HONORED TO SUPPORT YOU ALL IN THIS
RESOLUTION. I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST FOR YOUR WEEKEND.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.
ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING
AYE OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL RESOLUTIONS BEFORE
THE HOUSE. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THESE RESOLUTIONS WILL BE TAKEN UP
TOGETHER.
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NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 5, 2025
ON THE RESOLUTIONS, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING
AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTIONS ARE ADOPTED.
(WHEREUPON, ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NOS. 167-169
WERE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.)
MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.
MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, IF YOU
CAN CALL ON MS. CLARK FOR AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MS. CLARK FOR THE
PURPOSES OF AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
MS. CLARK: THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS THAT THE MAJORITY
CONFERENCE WILL HAVE CONFERENCE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING SESSION IN
HEARING ROOM C.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: IMMEDIATE MAJORITY
CONFERENCE FOLLOWING THE ADJOURNMENT OF SESSION IN HEARING ROOM C.
MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.
MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: I NOW MOVE THAT THE
ASSEMBLY STAND ADJOURNED UNTIL THURSDAY, MARCH THE 6TH, TOMORROW
BEING A LEGISLATIVE DAY, AND THAT WE WILL RECONVENE AT 2:00 P.M.,
MARCH THE 10TH, MONDAY BEING A SESSION DAY.
ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON MRS. PEOPLES-
STOKES' MOTION, THE HOUSE STANDS ADJOURNED.
(WHEREUPON, AT 12:24 P.M., THE HOUSE STOOD
ADJOURNED UNTIL THURSDAY, MARCH 6TH, THAT BEING A LEGISLATIVE DAY, AND
TO RECONVENE ON MONDAY, MARCH 10TH AT 2:00 P.M., THAT BEING A
SESSION DAY.)
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