TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2025 2:39 P.M.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE HOUSE WILL

COME TO ORDER.

GOOD AFTERNOON, 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 THE 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 MONDAY, APRIL 7TH.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, I MOVE

TO DISPENSE WITH THE FURTHER READING OF THE JOURNAL OF MONDAY, APRIL

THE 7TH AND THAT THE SAME STAND APPROVED.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WITHOUT OBJECTION,

SO ORDERED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER.

TO THE COLLEAGUES THAT ARE IN THE CHAMBER AS WELL AS

GUESTS THAT ARE WITH US TODAY, I WANT TO SHARE A QUOTE WITH YOU FROM

ALBERT EINSTEIN. NO NEED TO TELL THE FOLKS WHO HE IS. EVERYBODY

ALREADY KNOWS HIM. AND WHAT HE CONTRIBUTED TO OUR SOCIETY. HIS

WORDS FOR US TODAY: "IN THE MIDDLE OF DIFFICULTY LIES OPPORTUNITY."

STRAIGHTFORWARD, BUT REALLY TRUE.

MEMBERS HAVE ON THEIR DESK, MADAM SPEAKER, A MAIN

CALENDAR. AND BEFORE WE DO ANY HOUSEKEEPING OR INTRODUCTIONS, WE'RE

GONNA BE CALLING FOR THE RULES COMMITTEE TO -- THIS COMMITTEE'S GONNA

PRODUCE AN A-CALENDAR, WHICH WE ARE GOING TO TAKE UP TODAY. WE'LL

BEGIN OUR FLOOR WORK BY TAKING UP CALENDER RESOLUTIONS. THEY'RE ON

PAGE 3. THEN WE'RE GONNA TAKE UP CALENDAR 75. IT'S ON PAGE 14.

IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THAT, WE'LL ALSO CONTENT -- CONSENT RULES REPORT

NO. 36 THROUGH 143, BEGINNING ON PAGE 6. THERE MAY BE A NEED TO

ANNOUNCE ADDITIONAL FLOOR ACTIVITY AS WE PROCEED, MADAM SPEAKER. IF

SO, I WILL MAKE YOU AWARE OF THAT IMMEDIATELY.

MEMBERS SHOULD ALSO BE -- MAJORITY MEMBERS SHOULD

BE AWARE THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR A CONFERENCE AS SOON AS WE CONCLUDE

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

OUR WORK TODAY ON THE FLOOR. AND AS ALWAYS, I WILL CHECK WITH MS.

WALSH TO DETERMINE WHAT OUR COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE MIGHT NEED.

THAT'S THE GENERAL OUTLINE OF WHERE WE'RE GOING TODAY.

MADAM SPEAKER, IF YOU COULD BEGIN BY CALLING THE RULES COMMITTEE TO

THE SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

RULES COMMITTEE TO THE SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM

IMMEDIATELY. RULES COMMITTEE, SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM.

WE HAVE NO HOUSEKEEPING.

MR. MCDONALD FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. MCDONALD: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

I HAVE THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TODAY TO INTRODUCE

STUDENTS AND FACULTY FROM MY ALMA MATER, THE ALBANY COLLEGE OF

PHARMACY AND HEALTH SCIENCES, WHICH, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I'M

CELEBRATING 40TH YEAR OF ANNIVERSARY OF GRADUATION FROM THERE. AND I

WAS NOT A CHILD PRODIGY BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION.

SO, ANYWAYS [SIC], THESE YOUNG FUTURE PHARMACISTS ARE

HERE TODAY, AND THEY'VE BEEN VISITING MANY MEMBERS THROUGHOUT OUR

BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS TO TALK ABOUT THEIR PROFESSION AND ADVOCATING FOR

THE IMPORTANT ASPECTS THAT PHARMACISTS PLAY DAY IN AND DAY OUT

THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITIES. I WILL ALSO MENTION BECAUSE I KNOW OUR

MAJORITY LEADER AND OUR -- AND ALSO MR. PALMESANO ON LEADING THE

EFFORT TODAY ON ORGAN DONOR AWARENESS, THAT THESE YOUNG PHARMACY

STUDENTS, AND MANY PHARMACISTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, ARE NOW PARTNERS

WITH DONATE LIFE CALLED DONATE LIFE RX. AND THEY ARE ENCOURAGING

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

INDIVIDUALS, AS THEY SEE THEM DAY IN AND DAY OUT IN THEIR PRACTICES, TO

CONSIDER BEING ORGAN DONORS. BUT THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN, WE

WANT TO THANK THEM, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEM FOR THEIR DEDICATION,

THEIR PASSION, AND THE VITAL ROLE THEY HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY IN

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE IN NEW YORK.

MADAM SPEAKER, PLEASE EXTEND TO THEM THE

CORDIALITIES OF THE HOUSE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON BEHALF OF

MR. MCDONALD, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU,

STUDENTS, FROM THE ALBANY COLLEGE OF PHARMACY. I EXTEND THE

PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR TO YOU. ACKNOWLEDGE THE VERY IMPORTANT WORK

THAT YOU'RE DOING IN HEALTHCARE. KEEP ADVOCATING. KEEP GOING. HOPE

YOU ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING

US.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. WEPRIN FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. WEPRIN: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE REINHARD MABRY, PRESIDENT

AND CEO OF ALPHAPOINTE. ALPHAPOINTE IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

LOCATED IN MY ASSEMBLY DISTRICT IN RICHMOND HILL, QUEENS, DEDICATED

TO EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS WITH VISION LOSS BY PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT

OPPORTUNITIES, JOB TRAINING AND REHABILITATION SERVICES. ALPHAPOINTE IS

THE LARGEST EMPLOYER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED IN

NEW YORK STATE.

UNDER REINHARD'S LEADERSHIP, ALPHAPOINTE HAS

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

EXPANDED ITS NATIONAL IMPACT AND ESTABLISHED A HOST OF NEW ENDEAVORS,

INCLUDING A MAJOR EXPANSION OF YOUTH AND TEEN PROGRAMMING AND THE

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ALPHAPOINTE FOUNDATION TO ADVANCE THE

ORGANIZATION'S MISSION OF EMPOWERING PEOPLE WITH VISION LOSS.

MR. MAYBERRY [SIC] -- MABRY IS A TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR

ACCESSIBILITY, INCLUSION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. HIS DEDICATION

HAS LED TO MORE GOOD JOBS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND AND -- AND MORE

SERVICES FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WITH VISION LOSS REGARDLESS OF THEIR

ABILITY TO PAY.

I AM HONORED TO HAVE HIM HERE WITH US TODAY IN THE

PEOPLE'S HOUSE. PLEASE EXTEND THE CORDIALITIES OF THE HOUSE TO

MR. MABRY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON BEHALF OF

MR. WEPRIN, THE SPEAKER AND ALL MEMBERS, WELCOME MR. MABRY TO THE

PEOPLE'S HOUSE, THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER. WE EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF

THE FLOOR TO YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK YOU'RE

DOING TO PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE WHO MAY

OTHERWISE NOT BE ABLE TO BE IN THE EMPLOYMENT INDUSTRY, IN THE MARKET.

SO WE HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY. THANK

YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. ALVAREZ FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. ALVAREZ: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

ON BEHALF OF DOMINICAN DELEGATION WE WOULD LIKE TO

INTRODUCE THREE DISTINGUISHED GUESTS FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC;

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

CONGRESSMAN IGNACIO ARACENA, VICE-MINISTER ANGEL ENCARNACION AND

MS. RAQUEL SORIANO.

IN A TIME WHERE OUR HEARTS ARE HEAVILY WITH SORROW AS

WE JUST STAND IN THE SHADOW OF IMAGINABLE TRAGEDY THAT HAS STRUCK OUR

BELOVED COUNTRY IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC YESTERDAY, THE TRAGIC

COLLAPSE OF THE ROOF OF THE JET SET NIGHTCLUB IN SANTO DOMINGO, WHICH

HAS CLAIMED THE LIFE OF MANY AND LEFT HUNDREDS INJURED, (INAUDIBLE) LOSS

WITH ALL PROFOUNDING GRIEF. AT THIS MOMENT OF PAYING A LOSS, I EXTEND

MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LOVED ONE.

(SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE) AND THE MOURNING, AND I SHARE IN THE

COLLECTIVE HEARTACHE THAT HAS BEFALLEN THIS GREAT NATION. NO WORDS CAN

TRULY (INAUDIBLE) THE ANGUISH THAT OUR COUNTRY ARE FEELING RIGHT NOW.

THE DOMINICAN PEOPLE ARE STRONG. AND THIS DIFFICULT TIME, OUR

RESILIENCY AND UNITY WILL BE A SOURCE OF STRENGTH AS THE COUNTRY COME

TOGETHER TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER.

TO THE FAMILY WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED, AND TO ENTIRE

NATION, PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU IN OUR THOUGHT AND PRAYERS. WE STAND

WITH YOU IN THIS TIME OF DARKNESS AND WILL BE IN YOUR SIDE AS YOU HEAL

AND REBUILD. MAY THE SOULS OF THOSE LOST REST IN PEACE, AND MAY THE

STRENGTH AND COMFORT FIND THEM AT THE DAY AHEAD.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

ON BEHALF OF MR. ALVAREZ, THE SPEAKER AND ALL

MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU DISTINGUISHED REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, EXTEND TO YOU OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES FOR THE

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

TRAGEDY THAT YOU EXPERIENCED OVER THE PAST 24 HOURS. WE DO EXTEND

THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR TO YOU. HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

(APPLAUSE)

RESOLUTIONS, PAGE 3, CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 309, MR.

PALMESANO, MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES, MR. SMULLEN.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM APRIL 2025, AS ORGAN AND TISSUE DONOR

AWARENESS MONTH IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE

OBSERVANCE OF NATIONAL DONATE LIFE MONTH.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. PALMESANO ON

THE RESOLUTION.

MR. PALMESANO: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER,

MY COLLEAGUES, ESPECIALLY TO OUR NEW MEMBERS. EVERY YEAR WE PASS

THIS RESOLUTION IN CONJUNCTION WITH NATIONAL DONATE LIFE MONTH. IT'S

BEEN A PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO WORK WITH THE MAJORITY LEADER ON THIS

RESOLUTION AND THIS ISSUE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. BUT FROM 1992 TO

2012, OUR FORMER COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND JIM CONTE LED THIS RESOLUTION.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DIDN'T KNOW JIM, JIM WAS A

TWO-TIME KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT, A GREAT HUMAN BEING, AND A

STAUNCH AND TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR ORGAN DONATION AWARENESS. HE SAT

RIGHT HERE WHERE MS. WALSH SITS. HE WAS OUR FLOOR LEADER. BUT MORE

IMPORTANTLY THAN THAT, HE WAS THE HEART AND SOUL OF OUR CONFERENCE.

UNFORTUNATELY, IN OCTOBER 2012, WE LOST JIM WHEN HE PASSED AWAY. IT

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

IS INCUMBENT UPON EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US TO CARRY ON HIS MESSAGE

BECAUSE IT LITERALLY IS ABOUT SAVING LIVES.

NOW WHEN JIM SPOKE ABOUT THIS ISSUE, HE SPOKE WITH

EMOTION, PASSION, AND ABOUT THE FACTS. SO LET ME SHARE SOME OF THE

FACTS WITH YOU TO KEEP THIS ISSUE IN PERSPECTIVE.

RIGHT NOW IN NEW YORK, WE HAVE NEARLY 8,000 NEW

YORKERS WAITING FOR AN ORGAN TRANSPLANT. NEARLY 1,000 HAVE BEEN

WAITING FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS. WE HAVE 52 REGISTRIES ACROSS OUR

STATES AND TERRITORIES. NEW YORK IS NUMBER 47 OUT OF 52. THE NATIONAL

DONATION RATE -- REGISTRATION IS 66 PERCENT. NEW YORK IS 51 PERCENT.

WE HAVE THE THIRD HIGHEST NEED FOR ORGANS, BUT THE SIXTH WORST

ENROLLMENT REGISTRY. AND SADLY LAST YEAR, WE LOST NEARLY 400 MEN,

WOMEN AND CHILDREN WAITING FOR A LIFESAVING ORGAN TRANSPLANT. MADAM

SPEAKER, MY COLLEAGUES, WE CAN AND WE MUST DO BETTER. BUT PROBABLY

THE MOST IMPORTANT FACT WE SHOULD ALL KNOW, THAT A SINGLE PERSON, JUST

ONE PERSON WHO DONATES AT THE TIME OF THEIR DEATH CAN SAVE UP TO EIGHT

LIVES AND IMPACT THE LIVES OF 75 OTHERS THROUGH EYE AND TISSUE

DONATION.

THIS ISSUE HAS TOUCHED MANY MEMBERS OF OUR

ASSEMBLY FAMILY, PAST AND PRESENT. I URGE YOU AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO

SHARE YOUR STORIES. THE MORE WE TALK, THE MORE WE SHARE, THE MORE WE

CAN CONNECT, THE MORE WE CAN EDUCATE, AND WE CAN CHANGE THESE

NUMBERS FOR THE BETTER, AND, YES, SAVE LIVES.

I TALKED ABOUT JIM A LITTLE BIT EARLIER. I ALSO WANT TO

MENTION ANOTHER COLLEAGUE. ASSEMBLYMAN BILL HOYT IN 1992 HAD A

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

HEART ATTACK ON OUR ASSEMBLY FLOOR. HE PASSED AWAY. AND WE FOUND

OUT HE WAS WAITING FOR A HEART TRANSPLANT. NOT MANY PEOPLE KNEW IT AT

THE TIME. BUT FOR ME PERSONALLY, WHEN I TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I THINK

OF MY SISTER TERESA. TERESA WAS A JUVENILE DIABETIC WHICH RAVISHED HER

BODY AND HER ORGANS. TERESA WAS A TWO-TIME ORGAN TRANSPLANT

RECIPIENT. FIRST FROM THE KINDNESS OF A STRANGER IN 2000, AND THEN IN

2006, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO DONATE A KIDNEY TO MY SISTER. SO I'VE SEEN

FIRSTHAND HOW ORGAN DONATION CAN IMPACT A FAMILY AND THEIR QUALITY OF

LIFE.

SADLY IN 2013 I LOST MY SISTER TERESA AT THE AGE OF 50,

BUT I STILL TELL PEOPLE TODAY, TERESA WAS LUCKY. SHE HAD TWO

TRANSPLANTS. THERE ARE SOME THAT NEVER RECEIVE ONE. I DID NOT KNOW

HOW BAD THE NUMBERS WERE UNTIL I STEPPED ON THIS FLOOR IN 2011. BUT

MADAM SPEAKER AND MY COLLEAGUES, WE'VE MADE JUST TREMENDOUS

PROGRESS SINCE THAT TIME.

IN 2011 WHEN I TALKED ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I WAS TALKING

ABOUT A DONATION RATE OF 23 PERCENT, NOT 51 PERCENT LIKE IT IS TODAY. I

WAS TALKING ABOUT MORE THAN 10,000 NEW YORKERS ON THE TRANSPLANT

LIST, NOT NEARLY 8,000 NEW YORKERS. I WAS TALKING ABOUT OVER 1,700

NEW YORKERS WAITING MORE THAN FIVE YEARS, NOT NEARLY 1,000 NEW

YORKERS LIKE IT IS TODAY. I WAS -- WHEN I TALKED ABOUT THIS ISSUE THEN,

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT 600 MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN LOSING THEIR LIVES

WAITING FOR A LIFESAVING ORGAN TRANSPLANT, NOT 400.

WE'VE MADE PROGRESS BECAUSE THIS BODY HAS ACTED.

PROBABLY THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ACTION WE TOOK I THINK IS IN 2012 WHEN

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

WE PASSED LAUREN'S LAW. IT WAS NAMED AFTER LAUREN SHIELDS, A HEROIC

12-YEAR-OLD LITTLE GIRL WHO HAD A LIFESAVING HEART TRANSPLANT, THEN SHE

LENT HER NAME, BUT NOT JUST HER NAME, HER FACE AND POWERFUL VOICE AND

BECAME A FIERCE ADVOCATE FOR ORGAN DONATION. SO NOW WHEN YOU GO TO

GET YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE, WHEN PEOPLE APPLY FOR THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE

YOU HAVE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION: DO YOU WANT TO BE AN ORGAN DONOR?

YOU CAN EITHER SAY YES OR SKIP THE QUESTION. YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY YES

BUT YOU HAVE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION TO GET YOUR LICENSE PROCESSED.

THAT HAS MADE A BIG IMPROVEMENT.

IN 2015 WE PASSED A LAW ALLOWING 16 AND 17 YEAR OLDS

TO REGISTER, INTEND TO BE AN ORGAN DONOR. AS A PROUD FATHER OF TWO, I'VE

NEVER BEEN SO PROUD WHEN MY SON AND DAUGHTER CAME HOME WITH THEIR

PERMIT AND SAID "ORGAN DONOR" ON IT. AND I DIDN'T EVEN TALK TO THEM

ABOUT THAT.

IN 2017, WE CREATED AN ONLINE ORGAN REGISTRY. YOU

ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS, AND YOU BECOME AN ORGAN DONOR. SO, YES, WE

HAVE MADE PROGRESS, BUT WE STILL CAN AND MUST DO BETTER. AND I

UNDERSTAND SOME PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE BECAUSE

YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT ONE'S OWN DEATH. I SAY TO YOU, THINK ABOUT IT AS A

LOVED ONE, YOUR MOM OR DAD, YOUR BROTHER OR SISTER, YOUR HUSBAND OR

WIFE, OR GOD FORBID YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER, AND THEY WERE IN NEED OF A

LIFESAVING ORGAN TRANSPLANT, MAYBE, JUST MAYBE YOU WOULD THINK

DIFFERENTLY ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

SO IN CONCLUSION, MADAM SPEAKER AND MY

COLLEAGUES, LET'S WORK TOGETHER. YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALLY, NO ONE COULD

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

DO AS MUCH AS JIM CONTE DID THIS -- INDIVIDUALLY, BUT COLLECTIVELY, AS A

BODY, WE CAN DO SO MUCH, MUCH, MUCH MORE. SO TOGETHER LET'S MOVE

FORWARD. LET'S IMPROVE THESE NUMBERS. LET'S BRING AWARENESS. LET'S

BRING ATTENTION. LET'S BRING EDUCATION. LET'S PASS MEANINGFUL

LEGISLATION. LET'S PROVIDE CRITICAL FUNDING. AND LET'S REENFORCE OUR

COMMITMENT TO THIS MISSION. AND LET'S SAVE LIVES. THAT'S ALL JIM

WOULD ASK US TO DO. IN FACT, THAT'S WHAT JIM WOULD WANT US TO DO.

SO AS APRIL PASSES US BY, LET'S NOT JUST MOVE ON. LET'S

DO THIS YEAR-ROUND. PLEASE USE YOUR OFFICES OR YOUR MAIL OR YOUR SOCIAL

MEDIA TO HELP GET THE WORD OUT AND PROMOTE ORGAN DONATION. SO

TOGETHER LET'S DO MORE. TOGETHER LET'S BE BETTER. LET'S WORK TOGETHER.

AND, YES, LET'S SAVE LIVES.

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES ON THE RESOLUTION.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER.

I FIRST OF ALL WANT TO APPLAUD MY COLLEAGUE FOR

INTRODUCING THIS LEGISLATION. IT'S MY HONOR TO SERVE WITH HIM AS A

CO-CHAIR OF THE GREAT EVENT THAT WE HAD THIS MORNING, THAT IS GROWING,

NOT JUST IN NUMBERS, BUT OUR COLLEAGUES FROM THE ASSEMBLY AS WELL AS

THE SENATE, BUT GROWING IN NUMBERS OF THE CITIZENS THROUGHOUT THE

STATE OF NEW YORK WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE DONATE LIFE EVENT. AND

ABSOLUTELY, TOTALLY IMPRESSED BY WHAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR AS A LEGISLATIVE

BODY TO GET MORE PEOPLE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT WE -- SOMEONE MAY

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

NEED YOUR ORGANS WHEN YOU'RE NOT HERE ANY LONGER. BUT IF YOU DON'T

CHECK A BOX ON SOME APPLICATION THAT YOU'RE FILLING OUT, YOUR ORGANS

CANNOT BE USED. YOU HAVE TO GIVE YOUR FULL PERMISSION TO DO THAT.

AND THE OTHER THING WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL, THEY'VE

BEEN ABLE TO DO IS INCREASE OUR NUMBERS TO 51 PERCENT. BUT -- BY THE

WAY, THE 51 PERCENT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH. I MEAN, IT'S GOOD, BY THE WAY,

BECAUSE IT WAS A LOT WORSE, AS MY COLLEAGUE STATED. BUT IT'S NOT GOOD

ENOUGH WHEN THERE'S STILL SO MANY PEOPLE WHO LITERALLY JUST NEED

ACCESS TO A TRANSPLANT. THEY ARE ON A LIST FOR IT ALREADY, AND THEY'RE

WAITING. BUT LET'S NOT MAKE THEM WAIT MUCH LONGER. LET'S GET MORE

PEOPLE ENGAGED IN THIS PROCESS, AND SO THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THERE'S A

BIT -- OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE.

I -- I WILL ACTUALLY SAY THIS. MOST OF YOU ALL KNOW MY

STORY. MY -- MY DAUGHTER LIVED WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE FOR MOST

OF HER LIFE. SHE WAS TOLD WHEN HER SON WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL -- NO, HE

WASN'T IN HIGH SCHOOL. HE WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THAT HE WAS NOT

GOING TO -- WOULD NOT SEE HER -- HE -- SHE WOULD NOT SEE HIM GRADUATE

FROM HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE SHE WOULDN'T LIVE THAT LONG. WELL, DOCTORS

DON'T ALWAYS KNOW HOW LONG YOU'RE GONNA LIVE. AND, FORTUNATELY, MY

DAUGHTER WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE A KIDNEY. AND IT GAVE HER FOUR YEARS OF

ADDITIONAL LIFE. QUALITY LIFE. ONE THAT'S NOT TETHERED TO A MACHINE

EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS JUST IN ORDER TO SURVIVE. AND SO I THINK

EVERYBODY -- EVERY FAMILY DESERVES THAT SAME OPPORTUNITY, TO GET

ACCESS TO A TRANSPLANT SHOULD ANY ONE OF YOUR LOVED ONE NEED IT. QUITE

FRANKLY, IT COULD BE YOUR NEIGHBOR THAT NEEDS IT. ALL OF US HAVE TWO

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

KIDNEYS. WE ONLY NEED ONE TO LIVE. SO WE CAN BECOME LIVE DONORS,

GIVEN OUR HEALTH CONDITION IS IN THE RIGHT POSITION BECAUSE IF YOU'RE NOT

IN GOOD HEALTH, NO DOCTOR WILL ACCEPT YOUR KIDNEY BECAUSE THEY WANT TO

MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A FULL LIFE AFTERWARDS AS

WELL. SO IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GIVE.

I ALWAYS SAY THIS, AND THIS IS REALLY TRUE, NONE OF US ARE

GETTING OUT OF HERE ALIVE. BUT THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN STILL LIVE IN THE

AFTERLIFE BY GIVING LIFE TO SOMEONE ELSE. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL, IF

YOU'RE NOT ALREADY ENGAGED, GET ENGAGED WITH THIS.

AND I WANT THE RECORD TO SHOW, FOR PEOPLE WHO THINK

THAT ON A PART -- WE ONLY WORK ON A PARTISAN BASIS, THAT'S NOT TRUE. THIS

WAS NOT ONLY BIPARTISAN BUT IT WAS BICAMERAL. BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO

HAVE NEED FOR TRANSPLANTS, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT PARTY YOU'RE

IN. NOTHING TO DO WITH WHERE YOU LIVE. NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR

ETHNICITY, OR NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR FAMILY. WHAT IT HAS TO DO WITH IS

YOU HAVE A NEED. AND IF THERE ARE NEW YORKERS WHO CAN HELP YOU BY

PROVIDING YOU ASSISTANCE WITH THAT NEED, YOU SHOULD DO IT. WE ALL STILL

HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY.

SO I WANT TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUE, BROTHER PALMESANO,

FOR SAYING GET THIS ON YOUR WEBSITES, PUT IT OUT IN YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE PUT EVERYTHING ELSE OUT. HOW ABOUT WE PUT OUT, WHY DON'T YOU

DONATE LIFE?

PEOPLE CAN TAKE EIGHT ORGANS ONCE THE PERSON IS

DECEASED. THAT'S EIGHT LIVES YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IS [SIC].

THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MR. DESTEFANO ON THE RESOLUTION.

MR. DESTEFANO: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, FOR

THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT RESOLUTION.

THIS IS MY SEVENTH YEAR IN THE ASSEMBLY, AND I'VE

LISTENED TO NUMEROUS INSPIRING STORIES ABOUT FAMILY MEMBERS AND

FRIENDS THAT HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN THIS GREAT WORK THAT'S BEING

DONE. IT WASN'T UNTIL A YEAR OR SO AGO WHEN I WAS LISTENING TO ONE OF

MY COLLEAGUES SPEAK ABOUT HIS SON WHO WAS UNFORTUNATELY KILLED IN A

TRAGIC ACCIDENT THAT I DECIDED THAT IT WAS TIME FOR JOE DESTEFANO TO DO

SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

WHEN I GOT MY LICENSE RENEWAL LAST YEAR I MADE SURE

THAT I CHECKED THAT BOX. AND I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL THAT I DID THAT

BECAUSE I KNOW, BASED ON WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS BEEN SAYING SO FAR,

AND I'M SURE THERE'S MORE, IT MAKES IT FEEL -- IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I'M

DOING MY PART TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO LIVE IF I

NO LONGER CAN BE HERE.

FOR ANYBODY WHO DOESN'T THINK THAT THAT'S A GREAT

THING TO DO, THEN THERE MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOU, BECAUSE FOR

A LONG, LONG TIME I KIND OF SHIED MYSELF AWAY FROM SOMETHING LIKE

THAT. MY WIFE HAS BEEN AN ORGAN DONOR EVER SINCE I [SIC] KNOW [SIC]

HER. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE INSPIRE OTHERS TO NOW DO. I'M A VOCAL

PERSON NOW THAT'S GOING TO GO OUT DAY-TO-DAY AND PUT THIS TOGETHER.

WHEN I GOT MY NEW LICENSE IN THE MAIL, I SENT

ASSEMBLYMAN PALMESANO A PICTURE OF IT, AND HE WAS SO HAPPY THAT I

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

WAS ABLE TO DO THAT. BUT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE INSPIRING STORIES THAT

I'VE HEARD IN THIS CHAMBER FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS THAT MADE ME DO

THAT, AND I FEEL SO GRATEFUL THAT I DID.

SO THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MS. JACKSON ON THE RESOLUTION.

MS. JACKSON: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

IN AUGUST OF 2022 MY DAD PASSED AWAY SUDDENLY

FROM A HEART ATTACK. AND THEY CALLED ME LIKE AN HOUR AFTER HE PASSED

FOR HIS EYES. AND I WAS EXTREMELY DEVASTATED, JUST REALLY UNSURE, LIKE,

WHAT TO DO SO OR TO SAY IN THIS SITUATION. AND I SAID -- I THOUGHT THEY

WERE BEING INSENSITIVE. ONCE I CAME TO, YOU KNOW, MY SENSES, IT WAS,

MAYBE 13, 14 HOURS LATER, AND I CALLED THEM BACK TO SAY I WOULD LIKE TO

DO THE DONATION, AND IT WAS TOO LATE.

SO MY POINT IN STANDING UP TODAY IS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN

MAKE A CHOICE. MAKE SURE YOUR FAMILY KNOWS WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IN

CASE YOU -- IN THE TIME IN WHICH YOU PASS. I WISH MY DAD WOULD HAVE

TOLD ME WHAT HE WANTED TO DO WITH HIS ORGANS SO I WOULDN'T HAVE TO

MAKE THE DECISION AT THE LAST MINUTE.

SO I'M URGING ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES TODAY, NOT JUST TO

BE AN ORGAN DONOR, BUT TO TELL EVERYONE WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WISH TO DO.

AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO HE PEOPLE WHO HAVE

DONATED ORGANS BECAUSE MY FRIEND, BRITTANY STOKES (PHONETIC), HER

MOM TRACY RECEIVED A HEART. YOU KNOW, IT'S ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO.

AND SO I KNOW THAT HER MOM WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT THAT.

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

SO, THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, FOR ALLOWING ME TO

SPEAK ON THE RESOLUTION.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MR. ARI BROWN ON THE RESOLUTION.

MR. A. BROWN: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO DONATE LIFE THE WAY

OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR POLICE OFFICERS, OUR FIRE -- FIRE PEOPLE, FIREMEN

AND WOMEN, THROUGH EACH AND EVERY DAY GIVING OF THEIR OWN LIVES,

WHO, IN THEIR REMARKABLE WAY, ROBERT, MEGAN AND A.J. SMULLEN GAVE

OF THEMSELVES AND SAVED COUNTLESS LIVES.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY A YEAR AGO TO DONATE A KIDNEY TO

A -- SOMEONE I DIDN'T KNOW. IT TURNED OUT TO BE A PURPLE HEART VETERAN.

AND WHEN HE WOKE UP AND WE FINALLY MET SOMETIME LATER, HE SAID, YOU

GAVE ME A LIFE. AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.

SO, EVERYBODY, PLEASE CONSIDER THAT. IT WAS RELATIVELY

EASY. TWO DAYS LATER I HOSTED A DINNER FOR 60-SOMETHING PEOPLE.

REALLY -- IT WAS ONE OF THE SIMPLIST THINGS I'VE EVER DONE.

SO PLEASE AND THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR PUTTING THIS

WONDERFUL RESOLUTION AND EVENT TOGETHER TODAY.

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MR. SMULLEN ON THE RESOLUTION.

MR. SMULLEN: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, MY WIFE MEGAN AND I LOST OUR

SON A.J. JUST OVER A YEAR AGO. THE KIND REGARDS FROM THIS BODY HAD

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

BEEN ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS THAT I COULD POSSIBLY APPRECIATE, FROM --

FROM EVERYONE WHO OFFERED CONDOLENCES, FROM EVERYONE WHO'S OFFERED

SUPPORT, BUT I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

WE'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF SPEAKERS, AND IT IS, IT'S RIGHT

AND IT'S JUST TO TALK ABOUT DONATING LIFE, BECAUSE AT SOME POINT EVERYONE

IS GOING TO BE FACED WITH THAT DECISION. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT

NEW YORKERS ARE FACED WITH THAT DECISION SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, THE

DECISION TO DECIDE. TO DECIDE PROACTIVELY THAT WE SHOULD BE A STATE

LEADING OUR NATION IN THIS ENDEAVOR, NOT LAGGING. AS WE'VE HEARD FROM

THE STATISTICS, AND THERE ARE A VARIETY OF REASONS FOR THEM, IT'S SOMETHING

THAT YOU HAVE TO THINK AHEAD. AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO ASK THIS BODY HERE

ON THIS RESOLUTION, ON THIS DAY, TO TALKING ABOUT DONATING LIFE IS FOR THIS

BODY TO ACT. I WOULD LIKE THIS BODY TO ACT ON ASSEMBLY BILL NO.

A07011, WHICH IS A COMMONSENSE PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD

ENCOURAGE MANY MORE NEW YORKERS, THROUGH THEIR TAX FORMS, TO SIGN

UP FOR THE DONATE LIFE PROGRAM. BECAUSE IF THEY DID SO, MANY -- MANY

CITIZENS, MANY NEW YORKERS, WHEN THEY FILE THEIR TAXES, MAY CHOOSE TO

DO SO. AND OUR NUMBERS WOULD GO UP. AND IT'S NOT JUST THE DMV, IT'S

NOT JUST YOUR HUNTING LICENSE, IT'S NOT A VARIETY OF THINGS, BUT EVERY

OPPORTUNITY THAT WE AS -- AS LEGISLATORS CAN PUT THIS COMMONSENSE

DECISION BEFORE OUR FELLOW CITIZENS TO DO THE RIGHT THING, ALONG WITH

OUR ENCOURAGEMENT AND OUR LOVE AND OUR ENTHUSIASM FOR OUR FELLOW

NEW YORKERS, WE WOULD BE BETTER OFF. WE COULD LITERALLY SAVE

HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF NEW YORKERS EACH YEAR FROM THIS BODY.

SO I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO SIGN UP TO COSPONSOR

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

ASSEMBLY BILL NO. A07011 BY MY COLLEAGUE, WHO HAS A PERSONAL

EXPERIENCE AS WELL THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT IN THIS DONATE LIFE DISCUSSION.

ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY, THANK YOU. ON BEHALF OF MY

SON, MY HERO, A.J., THANK YOU FOR TAKING ACTION.

THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MS. WALSH ON THE RESOLUTION.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

I JUST WANT TO ADD MY VOICE TO THIS RESOLUTION. I'M SO

GRATEFUL THAT IT'S BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD AGAIN THIS YEAR. I THINK THAT

THERE ARE -- THERE'S A LOT THAT WE CAN DO AS A BODY TO HELP WITH THE -- TO

FURTHER ORGAN DONATION. AND I SPECIFICALLY WANTED TO ADD MY VOICE TO

A PREVIOUS SPEAKER, MS. JACKSON, WHO WAS TALKING ABOUT EYE DONATION.

EYE AND TISSUE DONATION IS SOMETHING THAT CAN OCCUR -- IT'S GOT A LITTLE

BIT OF A LONGER TIME FRAME THAN OTHER ORGANS AS FAR AS DONATION. AND

IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES IF YOU -- IF YOU PASS AWAY IN THE

HOSPITAL, YOU CAN DONATE CERTAIN ORGANS. BUT IF YOU PASS AWAY OUTSIDE

OF THE HOSPITAL, THE -- THE CLOCK REALLY IS TICKING, AND IT ALMOST MAKES IT

SO THAT ORGAN DONATION IS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT, IF -- IF IMPOSSIBLE.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU --

IF YOU DO WANT TO BE A DONOR, YOU COULD DONATE EYE AND TISSUE DONATION

EVEN IF YOU OR YOUR LOVE ONE PASSES AWAY OUTSIDE OF THE HOSPITAL. AND

I'VE BEEN WORKING, AGAIN, AS -- AS MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES MENTIONED, IN A

BIPARTISAN MANNER WITH MY COLLEAGUE, ASSEMBLYWOMAN WOERNER ON A

BILL TO TRY TO VERY SIMPLY RAISE AWARENESS AND MAKE A PHONE CALL IF

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

THERE IS A DEATH THAT'S OUTSIDE OF THE HOSPITAL THAT THE PERSON WOULD

HAVE WISHED TO DONATE AN EYE TISSUE.

I ALSO JUST WANT TO MENTION MY AUNT'S NAME JOYCE

EATON (PHONETIC) AGAIN TODAY. IT -- IT WAS AMAZING TO ME THAT WHEN

SHE PASSED AWAY HER -- HER ORGAN DONATION BENEFITED -- I -- I WAS

TRYING -- I WAS TRYING TO QUICKLY MESSAGE MY SISTER AND FIND OUT HOW

MANY. I THINK IT WAS SEVEN INDIVIDUALS THAT BENEFITED FROM THE

DONATION OF HER ORGANS; HER HEART AND OTHER ORGANS. SO IT REALLY CAN

HAVE SUCH AN IMPACT. AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IN A BIPARTISAN WAY, A

PACKAGE OF BILLS COME FORWARD. I THINK THAT, FROM THE SOUND OF IT, WE

HAVE A NUMBER OF BILLS THAT COULD REALLY MOVE THIS ISSUE FORWARD. AND,

REALLY, IT WOULD BE A TRIBUTE TO OUR FORMER FLOOR LEADER, MR. CONTE,

AND -- AND, REALLY, EVERYBODY HERE WHO HAS HAD SUCH STORIES OF GIVING

AND OF LOSS AND OF TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING GOOD COME FROM

SOMETHING BAD.

SO I'M VERY GLAD THAT THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD.

THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MS. TAPIA ON THE RESOLUTION.

MS. TAPIA: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER -- MS --

MADAM SPEAKER.

MANY OF YOU ALREADY KNOW MY STORY ABOUT ORGAN

DONORS AND -- AND WHAT HAPPENED TO FAMILIES LIKE MINE. MY -- THREE OF

MY CHILDREN WERE DIAGNOSED WITH EARLY, YOUNG AGE, WITH KIDNEY

DISEASE. AND MY OLDEST ONE, WE LOST 17 -- 16 YEARS WAITING FOR A

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

TRANSPLANT. AND IT WAS -- IT WAS TOUGH, HARD, BECAUSE HE COULDN'T -- HE

COULDN'T EVEN HAVE A LIFE BECAUSE HE WAS 13 YEARS OLD WHEN HE WAS

DIAGNOSED. AND -- BUT BELIEVING IN GOD, LIKE WE DO, AND HAVING -- AND

FEELING THAT HE HAS SOMETHING TO DO IN THIS LIFE. THAT'S WHAT HE USED TO

TOLD -- TO TELL ME WHEN HE WANTED -- WHEN HE FEELING SO BAD THAT HE

THOUGHT THAT HE DIDN'T WANT TO LIVE. AND -- AND ONE DAY, AFTER 16 YEARS,

(INAUDIBLE) GIVE US A KIDNEY FOR HIM TO -- TO LIVE. AND THAT WAS IN

2021, DECEMBER 5TH. AND I WAS HERE IN THE ASSEMBLY. AND I WAS

CALLED THAT THEY HAVE FOUND A KIDNEY FOR MY SON THAT DAY. AND I HAD

SPOKE TO THE SPEAKER AND HE TOLD ME, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? RUN TO

YOUR SON BECAUSE HE NEEDS YOU NOW. BECAUSE IT WAS JUST THE NIGHT

BEFORE THAT HE GOT THE NEWS THAT THERE WAS A KIDNEY, THAT HE COULD BE

COMPATIBLE WITH. AND I RUN THERE. I DROVE LIKE CRAZY BACK TO THE CITY.

AND I WAS ABLE TO BE IN THE OPERATION -- IN THE SURGERY OF SEEING MY

SON GETTING A GOOD, NEW LIFE. AND WE HAVE.

I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY NOW OF HAVING TWO BEAUTIFUL

GRANDCHILDREN THAT I WOULD -- DIDN'T THINK THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE

BECAUSE HE WAS TOLD THAT HE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE CHILDREN BECAUSE

OF 16 YEARS IN DIALYSIS. AND I WAS GIVEN THAT GIFT. AND THAT'S BEEN THE

BEST -- THE BEST EVER GIFT THAT ANY MOTHER CAN HAVE. I MEAN, SEEING

YOUR SON THAT WANTED TO LIVE FINALLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO LIVE AND SERVE TO

OTHERS.

AND, OF COURSE, MY YOUNGEST SON IS -- ALSO HAVE

KIDNEY DISEASE. NOW HE'S IN DIALYSIS. AND WE'RE WAITING FOR A KIDNEY

AGAIN. AND -- BUT I HAVE -- I BELIEVE THAT, YES, WHEN YOU HAVE THE WILL

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

TO LIVE, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAME TO THIS EARTH TO CHANGE LIVES

AND TO SERVE THE PEOPLE, IT CAN HAPPEN. THOSE ARE MY BELIEVES. AND

NOW I THINK -- I MEAN, WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT.

AND TODAY I HAVE A BILL THAT -- THAT -- THAT WE WOULD

GET TO THE BEST THAT WE CAN GET FROM BEING -- IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK,

HAVING 51 PERCENT OF ALL THE PEOPLE THAT CAN ACTUALLY DONATE AN ORGAN

TO BE ON THE LIST TO DO IT. AND IT'S BECAUSE OF ALL THE WORK THAT MANY OF

MY COLLEAGUES IN HERE, AND IN OTHER PLACES, GETTING TOGETHER, FIGHTING

THAT -- THAT DISEASE, HAVING ABLE TO DO DURING THIS TIME.

AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR THEM. AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR

EVERYONE THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY, I MEAN, PRAY FOR US.

AND I HAVE A BILL THAT I -- AS A CPA, I FIGURE OUT THAT IF

WE -- WE USE DMV, FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN DONATE AND THEY

CAN BECOME DONOR, I -- I PUT A BILL, THAT IS THE 7011, 7-0-1-1 BILL, THAT IS

ABOUT GIVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO EVERY SINGLE ONE THAT FILE TAXES EVERY

YEAR TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO BECOME A DONOR FOR ALL OF OUR

FAMILIES THAT ARE IN NEED OF A DONOR.

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER [SIC]. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL

MY COLLEAGUES FOR ALL WHAT THEY DO EVERY SINGLE YEAR AND EVERY SINGLE

DAY FOR -- FOR US TO FIGHT -- THIS FIGHT THAT IS FOR US TO WIN.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING

AYE; OPPOSED, NO.

THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 319, MS.

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

WALSH.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM APRIL 11, 2025, AS SUBMARINE DAY IN THE

STATE OF NEW YORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE OBSERVANCE OF NATIONAL

SUBMARINE DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MS. WALSH ON THE

RESOLUTION.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

SO FROM ORGAN DONOR TO SUBMARINES, I DON'T KNOW.

BUT THIS IS A RESOLUTION I ENJOY CARRYING EVERY YEAR

BECAUSE IN BALLSTON SPA, WHICH I REPRESENT, WE HAVE THE NEW YORK

STATE SUBMARINERS MEMORIAL THAT'S IN THE VILLAGE OF BALLSTON SPA. IT'S

THE FIRST MEMORIAL DEDICATED TO THE SUBMARINERS FROM THE STATE, RATHER

THAN THE SUBMARINE FROM WHICH THEY SERVED. AND EVERY YEAR WE HAVE

A TOLLING OF THE BELLS, WHICH IS -- WHICH IS REALLY AWESOME. BUT, I DON'T

KNOW IF ANY OF YOU KNEW THIS, BUT THE -- THE UNITED STATES NAVY WAS

BORN IN WHITEHALL, NEW YORK IN 1775. AND NEW YORK CITY IS HOME TO

THE INTREPID SEA, AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM.

I -- I JUST THINK THAT IT'S REALLY COOL THAT WE'VE HAD 125

YEARS OF AMERICAN SUBMARINE HISTORY. THEY'VE PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN

WARS IN WHICH OUR NATION'S FREEDOM WAS AT STAKE, AS WELL AS THE

PRESERVATION OF NAVAL SECURITY AND STRATEGIC READINESS DURING

PEACETIME.

SO I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT NEW

YORK HAS ITS OWN LITTLE PIECE OF HISTORY WHEN IT COMES TO OUR NAVY AND

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

SPECIFICALLY OUR SUBMARINES.

SO, FOR THAT REASON, I'M VERY HAPPY TO ADVANCE THIS

RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING

AYE; OPPOSED, NO.

THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. 320, MS. JACKSON.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM APRIL 24, 2025, AS TAKE A CHILD TO WORK

DAY IN THE STATE -- AND BEYOND 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. 321, MR.

EACHUS.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM APRIL 20 - 26, 2025, AS VOLUNTEER WEEK IN

THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. EACHUS ON THE

RESOLUTION.

MR. EACHUS: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. JUST

VERY QUICKLY.

I FEEL VERY PRIVILEGED TO BE ABLE TO SPONSOR THIS

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION HONORING ALL THE VOLUNTEERS ACROSS NEW YORK

STATE. WHEN YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ALL OF THEM, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT

MILLIONS OF HOURS OF VOLUNTEER WORK, WHICH WORKS OUT TO BE HUNDREDS

OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS SAVED THROUGHOUT NEW YORK STATE.

AND WE CERTAINLY OWE ALL THE VOLUNTEERS ALL THE CREDIT

AND -- AND THANKS THAT WE CAN GIVE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING

AYE; OPPOSED, NO.

THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 322, MS.

MCMAHON.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM APRIL 2025, AS ESOPHAGEAL CANCER

AWARENESS MONTH 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 NO. RESOLUTION 323, MR.

DESTEFANO.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM APRIL 2025, AS BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. DESTEFANO ON

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

THE RESOLUTION.

MR. DESTEFANO: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, FOR

THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION.

BULLYING IS A PERVASIVE ISSUE THAT AFFECTS INDIVIDUALS

ACROSS ALL AGES, BACKGROUNDS AND ENVIRONMENTS, WHETHER IT OCCURS IN

SCHOOLS, WORKPLACES OR ONLINE. ITS IMPACT CAN BE DEVASTATING AND LONG

LASTING. UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE OF BULLYING, ITS EFFECTS AND THE

STRATEGIES NEEDED TO COMBAT IT, IS ESSENTIAL FOR FOSTERING A SAFE AND

INCLUSIVE SOCIETY. THE VARIOUS DIMENSIONS OF BULLYING, ITS

CONSEQUENCES AND THE IMPERATIVE AND IMPLEMENTING EFFECTIVE

ANTI-BULLYING PROGRAMS.

BULLYING IS DEFINED AS REPEATED AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR

THAT INVOLVES THE IMBALANCE OF POWER. IT COULD TAKE MANY FORMS,

INCLUDING PHYSICAL, VERBAL, SOCIAL AND CYBERBULLYING. PHYSICAL BULLYING

INVOLVES HARMING SOMEONE PHYSICALLY OR THREATENING VIOLENCE. WHILE

VERBAL BULLYING INCLUDES NAME CALLING, TAUNTING AND SPREADING RUMORS.

SOCIAL BULLYING AIMS TO HARM SOMEONE'S REPUTATION OR RELATIONSHIPS.

AND CYBERBULLYING TAKES PLACE THROUGH DIGITAL PLATFORMS WHERE

ANONYMITY CAN EXACERBATE THE SEVERITY OF THE ATTACKS.

THE EFFECTS OF BULLYING AND ITS RAMIFICATIONS EXTEND

FAR BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE VICTIM. INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BULLIED OFTEN

EXPERIENCE A RANGE OF EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGY EFFECTS INCLUDING

ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, LOW SELF-ESTEEM, AND EVEN SUICIDAL THOUGHTS.

THESE CONSEQUENCES CAN AFFECT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, SOCIAL

INTERACTION, AND OVER -- OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE.

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

THOSE WHO ENGAGE IN BULLYING BEHAVIOR MAY ALSO FACE

NEGATIVE OUTCOMES SUCH AS INCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE,

CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, AND DIFFICULTIES IN FORMING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS.

TO COMBAT BULLYING EFFECTIVELY, SCHOOLS AND

COMMUNITIES MUST IMPLEMENT COMPREHENSIVE ANTI-BULLYING PROGRAMS.

THESE PROGRAMS SHOULD FOCUS ON EDUCATION, PREVENTION, AND

INTERVENTION. FIRST, EDUCATING STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND PARENTS ABOUT THE

SIGNS AND CONSEQUENCES OF BULLYING IS CRUCIAL. AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS

CAN HELP CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE BULLYING IS RECOGNIZED AND

ADDRESS -- ADDRESSED SWIFTLY. PREVENTION STRATEGY SHOULD PROMOTE A

POSITIVE SCHOOL CULTURE BY ENCOURAGING EMPATHY, RESPECT, AND

INCLUSION. PROGRAMS THAT FOSTER TEAMWORK, CONFLICT RESOLUTION, AND

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE CAN HELP STUDENTS DEVELOP THE SKILLS NECESSARY

TO NAVIGATE SOCIAL INTERACTIONS WITHOUT RESORTING TO BULLYING BEHAVIORS.

ADDITIONALLY, CLEARLY REPORTING SYSTEMS SHOULD BE

ESTABLISHED SO THAT VICTIMS AND WITNESSES CAN SAFELY REPORT INCIDENTS OF

BULLYING. SCHOOLS MUST ENSURE THAT THESE REPORTS ARE TAKEN SERIOUSLY

AND THE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS ARE TAKEN TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION.

COMBATING BULLYING IS NOT SOLELY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SCHOOLS, IT

REQUIRES THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. PARENTS PLAY A

CRUCIAL ROLE IN DISCUSSING -- DISCUSSING BULLYING WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND

MODELING RESPECTFUL BEHAVIOR.

LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENT

ENTITIES CAN COLLABORATE TO SUPPORT ANTI-BULLYING INITIATIVES, PROVIDING

RESOURCES AND FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS THAT AIM TO RAISE AWARENESS AND

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

FORCED THROUGH A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

IN CONCLUSION, BULLYING IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT

DEMANDS OUR ATTENTION AND ACTION BY UNDERSTANDING ITS NATURE,

RECOGNIZING ITS DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS, AND IN IMPLEMENTING EFFECTIVE

ANTI-BULLYING PROGRAMS, WE HAVE THE POWER TO CREATE A MORE

COMPASSIONATE AND SUPPORTIVE SOCIETY.

EACH INDIVIDUAL CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THIS EFFORT BY

PROMOTING KINDNESS, STANDING AGAINST INJUSTICE, AND ADVOCATING FOR

THOSE WHO CANNOT ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES.

TOGETHER WE CAN WORK TOWARDS A FUTURE WHERE

BULLYING -- BULLYING IS NO LONGER TOLERATED AND INDIVIDUAL [SIC] FEELS

SAFE AND -- AND VALUED.

THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO

SPEAK ON THIS RESOLUTION.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING

AYE; OPPOSED, NO.

THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 324, MS.

RAJKUMAR.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 1, 2025, AS UZBEKISTAN

INDEPENDENCE DAY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MS. RAJKUMAR ON

THE RESOLUTION.

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

MS. RAJKUMAR: MADAM SPEAKER, TODAY I RISE TO

PROUDLY INTRODUCE THE FIRST EVER NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION

COMMEMORATING UZBEKISTAN INDEPENDENCE DAY, OBSERVED EACH YEAR

ON SEPTEMBER 1ST, WHICH IS ALSO MY BIRTHDAY. AND ON THAT DAY IN

1991, AFTER DECADES UNDER SOVIET RULE, UZBEKISTAN DECLARED ITS

INDEPENDENCE AND RECLAIMED ITS FUTURE.

FOR GENERATIONS THE UZBEKISTAN PEOPLE HAD ENDURED

REPRESSION OF THEIR LANGUAGE, RELIGION, AND CULTURE UNDER THE SOVIET

REGIME. BUT WITH INDEPENDENCE CAME THE RESTORATION OF NATIONAL PRIDE,

THE REVIVAL OF THEIR ANCIENT HERITAGE, AND THE FREEDOM TO DETERMINE

THEIR OWN PATH. AS SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES DEEPLY IN THE RIGHT OF EVERY

PEOPLE TO SELF-DETERMINATION, I AM MOVED BY WHAT THIS DAY REPRESENTS.

IT IS A CELEBRATION OF THE UNSHAKABLE DESIRE TO BE FREE.

AND HERE IN NEW YORK WE ARE FORTUNATE TO BE HOME

TO ONE OF THE LARGEST UZBEKISTAN COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES,

FROM BROOKLYN; ESPECIALLY IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE KENSINGTON,

SHEEPSHEAD BAY, AND MIDWOOD, TO QUEENS AND BEYOND.

I'VE WALKED THE STREETS OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. I'VE

EATEN IN UZBEK RESTAURANTS, VISITED THE FAMED TASHKENT SUPERMARKET,

AND PARTAKEN IN IFTAR DINNER WITH UZBEK LEADERS.

I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE ENERGY AND OPTIMISM THEY

BRING TO OUR STATE. THEY ARE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, CAB DRIVERS,

DOCTORS, TECH WORKERS, AND FAITH LEADERS. THEY BRING WITH THEM THE

FLAVORS OF PILAF AND SAMSA, THE WARMTH OF FAMILY VALUES AND THE

STRENGTH OF A TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY.

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

BY INTRODUCING THIS RESOLUTION, WE SEND A CLEAR

MESSAGE TO THE UZBEK COMMUNITY; YOU ARE SEEN, YOU ARE VALUED, AND

YOUR HISTORY MATTERS. AS UZBEKISTAN MARKS 34 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE,

LET US HONOR THEIR JOURNEY FROM REPRESSION TO FREEDOM, FROM SOVIET

CONTROL TO NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY. AND LET US CELEBRATE THE VIBRANT

UZBEK AMERICAN COMMUNITY RIGHT HERE IN NEW YORK.

RAHMAT, AND THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING

AYE; OPPOSED, NO.

THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

MR. BLUMENCRANZ FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. BLUMENCRANZ: THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER.

IT'S MY DEEP HONOR TODAY TO WELCOME TWO

EXTRAORDINARY NEW YORKERS TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE; MARK AND DANIELA

LONGO, THE FOUNDERS AND OPERATORS OF P'NUTS FREEDOM FARM ANIMAL

SANCTUARY IN PINE CITY, NEW YORK, AND THE MOURNING, BUT HOPEFUL,

HUMAN PARENTS OF THE LATE, GREAT PEANUT THE SQUIRREL AND FRED THE

RACCOON.

I RISE TO RECOGNIZE THEM NOT ONLY FOR THEIR COURAGE,

BUT FOR THEIR COMPASSION. THE KIND OF COMPASSION THAT CHANGES LIVES,

GIVES SECOND CHANCES, AND REMINDS US ALL WHAT HUMANITY SHOULD LOOK

LIKE.

AT P'NUTS FREEDOM FARM, OVER 350 ANIMALS, HORSES,

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

SQUIRRELS, BIRDS, RACCOONS, AND MANY MORE HAVE FOUND SOMETHING TOO

MANY ARE DENIED; SAFETY, CARE, AND LOVE.

WHAT BEGAN WITH A TINY ORPHANED SQUIRREL NAMED

PEANUT, HAS BLOSSOMED INTO A SANCTUARY THAT HAS INSPIRED MILLIONS

ACROSS THE WORLD, WITH HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF

IMPRESSIONS.

AND WHILE WE ARE HERE BECAUSE OF A HEARTBREAKING

TRAGEDY, WE ARE ALSO HERE TO LIFT UP HOPE. BECAUSE OUR HEARTBREAK, THE

LONGOS -- BECAUSE OF HEARTBREAK, THE LONGOS HAVE BUILT SOMETHING

EVEN MORE POWERFUL; A MOVEMENT ROOTED IN EMPATHY, MERCY, AND

JUSTICE. SO MUCH SO, THAT ANIMAL ADVOCATES FROM AROUND THE STATE HAVE

COME TO JOIN THEM IN THEIR ADVOCACY HERE IN ALBANY TODAY.

MADAM SPEAKER, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU

EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES AND CORDIALITIES OF THE FLOOR TO WELCOME MARK

AND DANIELA LONGO, AND FORMERLY RECOGNIZE THEIR WORK THROUGH P'NUTS

FREEDOM FARM ANIMAL SANCTUARY. THEIR MISSION IS NOTABLE. THEIR

IMPACT IS IMMEASURABLE.

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

ON BEHALF OF MR. BLUMENCRANZ, THE SPEAKER AND ALL

MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU TO THE CHAMBER, EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF

THE FLOOR TO YOU. HOPE UP ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY. THANK YOU

FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK YOU DO FOR ANIMAL ADVOCACY IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

(APPLAUSE)

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

MR. MAHER FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. MAHER: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

I RISE TODAY TO WELCOME JONATHAN WILLIAMS AND

LANEIGH PFALSER. JONATHAN IS THE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF ECONOMIST. AND

LANEIGH IS THE LEGISLATIVE OUTREACH MANAGER FOR THE AMERICAN

LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE COUNCIL, WHICH IS A NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION

MADE UP OF FELLOW STATE LEGISLATORS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTY THAT SEEKS

TO PROVIDE ECONOMIC SECURITY AND FREEDOM THROUGHOUT EVERY SINGLE

COMMUNITY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND IN THE COUNTRY.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EXCHANGING IDEAS, IT IS SOMETHING

THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IN MANY ORGANIZATIONS. FOR US,

BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH ALEC PROVIDES PUBLICATIONS

AND FORMS WITH COUNTLESS OF HOURS OF RESEARCH. AND IT HAS BEEN A VERY

VALUABLE RESEARCH FOR MANY FOLKS FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

I WAS ABLE TO BECOME STATE CHAIR FOR NEW YORK STATE

DUE TO OUR COLLEAGUE, COLONEL BOB SMULLEN, NOW BECOMING PART OF THE

NATIONAL BOARD AT ALEC. I THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE. AND LOOK

FORWARD TO ALL OF YOU BEING INTRODUCED TO THIS WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION.

THANK YOU. AND PLEASE EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR TO OUR

GUESTS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON BEHALF OF

MR. MAHER, THE SPEAKER AND ALL MEMBERS, WELCOME OUR SPECIAL GUESTS

FROM ALEC. WE EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR TO YOU. HOPE YOU

ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

MR. PIROZZOLO FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. PIROZZOLO: GOOD DAY, MADAM SPEAKER.

IT IS MY DISTINCT HONOR TO INTRODUCE AN OUTSTANDING

GUEST, MR. TAULANT HODAJ. MR. HODAJ IS A DISTINGUISHED LEGAL

PROFESSIONAL AND DYNAMIC YOUNG LEADER FROM THE REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO.

MR. HODAJ HAS BEEN CELEBRATED HERE FOR HIS

EXCEPTIONAL LEGAL ACUMEN, HAS EARNED THE REPUTATION AS ONE OF HIS

REGIONS LEADING ATTORNEYS. MR. HODAJ HAS PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN

ADVANCING KOSOVO'S LEGAL SYSTEM, AND HE HAS PROVIDED EXPERT COUNSEL

ON KEY LEGISLATIVE REFORMS, AND HAS WORKED IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH

DOMESTIC INSTITUTIONS AND INTERNATIONAL STAKEHOLDERS TO STRENGTHEN THE

RULE OF LAW AND TO PROMOTE ACCESS TO JUSTICE.

MR. HODAJ ALSO SERVES AS THE HONORARY CONSUL

GENERAL OF THE KINGDOM OF NORWAY IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO, A ROLE

THAT UNDERSCORES HIS COMMITMENT TO INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND

DIPLOMACY.

HE IS A MEMBER OF THE UEFA LEGAL COMMITTEE IN

NION (PHONETIC), AND THE FORMER GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE FOOTBALL

FEDERATION OF KOSOVO, REFLECTING HIS LEADERSHIP NOT ONLY IN LEGAL

AFFAIRS, BUT ALSO IN GOVERNANCE -- GOVERNANCE INTENTION OF -- OF

INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT.

TODAY MR. HODAJ IS DEEPLY ENGAGED WITH ALBANIAN

AMERICAN COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE OF NEW YORK

OFFERING HIS LEGAL AND PUBLIC EX-AFFAIRS -- EXPERTISE TO STRENGTHEN TIES

BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND KOSOVO, AND TO SUPPORT ONGOING

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

COOPERATION AT BOTH INSTITUTIONAL AND COMMUNITY LEVELS.

MADAM SPEAKER, PLEASE JOINING ME IN WARMLY

WELCOMING MR. TAULANT HODAJ TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON BEHALF OF

MR. PIROZZOLO, THE SPEAKER AND ALL MEMBERS, WE WELCOME OUR

DISTINGUISHED GUEST FROM KOSOVO, MR. HODAJ. WE WELCOME YOU TO THE

CHAMBER, EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR TO YOU. HOPE YOU ENJOY

OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

ON CONSENT, PAGE 14, CALENDAR NO. 75.

THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A04159-A, CALENDER

NO. 75, JACKSON, BURDICK, DAVILA, MEEKS, EPSTEIN. AN ACT TO AMEND

THE CORRECTION LAW, IN RELATION TO PROHIBITING CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES

FROM BLOCKING ENTRY TO PEER SUPPORT ADVOCATES BASED ON SUCH

ADVOCATES' PRIOR HISTORY OF INCARCERATION.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 60TH

DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULT.)

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

THE BILL IS PASSED.

ON CONSENT, PAGE 6, RULES REPORT NO. 136.

THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A00034, RULES REPORT

NO. 136, EACHUS, LUPARDO, BUTTENSCHON, SHIMSKY, LEVENBERG, SIMON,

OTIS, LUNSFORD, DE LOS SANTOS, ZACCARO, JACOBSON, BLANKENBUSH,

GALLAHAN, TAGUE, BRABENEC, MAHER, DESTEFANO, ANGELINO, BERGER,

PAULIN, WILLIAMS, BLUMENCRANZ, REYES, GANDOLFO, BEEPHAN,

MANKTELOW, JENSEN, GIBBS, SEAWRIGHT, BARRETT, COOK, SAYEGH,

WOERNER, WALSH, COLTON, EICHENSTEIN, KELLES, STECK, GRIFFIN,

CUNNINGHAM, CHLUDZINSKI. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES

LAW, IN RELATION TO THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS TO EXEMPT AMBULANCES AND

FIRE VEHICLES FROM PAYING TOLLS ON THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY WHEN

ENGAGED IN AN EMERGENCY OPERATION.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

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? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULT.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01455, RULES REPORT

NO. 137, HUNTER. AN ACT TO AMEND THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

LAW, IN RELATION TO EXEMPTING THE SOUTH ONONDAGA FIRE DEPARTMENT

FROM THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE PERCENTAGE OF NONRESIDENT FIRE

DEPARTMENT MEMBERS NOT EXCEED 45 PERCENT OF THE MEMBERSHIP.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

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? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A02684, RULES REPORT

NO. 138, SHIMSKY. AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 123 OF THE LAWS OF 1945,

INCORPORATING THE VOLUNTEER AND EXEMPT FIREMEN'S BENEVOLENT

ASSOCIATION OF THORNWOOD, NEW YORK, IN RELATION TO THE PURPOSES OF

THE VOLUNTEER AND EXEMPT FIREFIGHTERS' BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION OF

THORNWOOD, NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

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? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A03984, RULES REPORT

NO. 139, JONES. AN ACT TO AMEND THE TAX LAW, IN RELATION TO

AUTHORIZING AN OCCUPANCY TAX IN THE TOWN OF PLATTSBURGH.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: HOME RULE MESSAGE

IS AT THE DESK.

THIS BILL IS LAID ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A06457, RULES REPORT

NO. 140, WOERNER, KAY. AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 473 OF THE LAWS OF

2010, AMENDING THE RACING, PARI-MUTUEL WAGERING AND BREEDING LAW

RELATING TO THE NEW YORK STATE THOROUGHBRED BREEDING AND

DEVELOPMENT FUND, IN RELATION TO THE EFFECTIVENESS THEREOF.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON A MOTION BY

MS. WOERNER, 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 HUNTER: 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. A06521, RULES REPORT

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

NO. 141, MILLER. AN ACT TO AMEND THE TAX LAW, IN RELATION TO

EXTENDING THE PERIOD DURING WHICH THE COUNTY OF HERKIMER IS

AUTHORIZED TO IMPOSE ADDITIONAL SALES AND COMPENSATING USE TAXES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: A HOME RULE

MESSAGE IS AT THE DESK.

READ THE LAST 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? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A06538, RULES REPORT

NO. 142, SCHIAVONI, GRIFFIN. AN ACT TO AMEND THE COUNTY LAW, THE

LABOR LAW, THE MENTAL HYGIENE LAW, THE MILITARY LAW, THE PUBLIC

HEALTH LAW, AND THE REAL PROPERTY TAX LAW, IN RELATION TO CHANGING

REFERENCES TO THE NAME OF THE DIVISION OF VETERANS' SERVICES TO THE

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' SERVICES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A06952, RULES REPORT

NO. 143, BARRETT. AN ACT TO AMEND THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL

LAW, IN RELATION TO AN EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN PROPERTY FROM THE

PROHIBITION OF ALCOHOL SALES WITHIN A CERTAIN DISTANCE OF A CHURCH.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

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? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER,

COLLEAGUES HAVE ON THEIR DESKS AN A-CALENDAR. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A

MOTION TO ADVANCE THAT A-CALENDAR.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON A MOTION BY

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES, THE A-CALENDAR IS ADVANCED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: WE'RE GONNA GO RIGHT TO

RULES REPORT NO. 147, BY MS. WOERNER. IT'S ON PAGE 3.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

PAGE 3, RULES REPORT NO. 147.

THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A06762, RULES REPORT

NO. 147, WOERNER. AN ACT TO AMEND THE ABANDONED PROPERTY LAW, IN

RELATION TO ENSURING ESCOS ARE SUBJECT TO THE SAME CONSUMER

PROTECTION REGULATIONS REGARDING UNCLAIMED DEPOSITS AND REFUNDS

CURRENTLY FACING UTILITY COMPANIES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

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

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE BILL IS PASSED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, DO YOU

HAVE ANY FURTHER HOUSEKEEPING OR RESOLUTIONS?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: YES, MA'AM. WE

HAVE A BIT OF HOUSEKEEPING.

ON BEHALF OF MS. BARRETT, BILL NO. A00355-B.

ASSEMBLY BILL RECALLED FROM THE SENATE.

THE CLERK WILL READ THE TITLE OF THE BILL.

THE CLERK: AN ACT TO AMEND THE REAL PROPERTY

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

TAX LAW.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: A MOTION TO

RECONSIDER THE VOTE BY WHICH THE BILL PASSED THE HOUSE.

THE CLERK WILL RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE

RECEIVED AND ADOPTED.

WE DO HAVE A RESOLUTION BY MR. LAVINE.

THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 326, MR.

LAVINE.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE

OBSERVANCE OF HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY IN THE STATE OF NEW

YORK --

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

CAN WE HAVE QUIET, PLEASE.

MR. LAVINE ON THE RESOLUTION.

MR. LAVINE: THANK YOU, SPEAKER.

WE GATHER TODAY TO OBSERVE HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE

DAY IN OUR STATE AND THAT IS GOING TO OCCUR ON APRIL THE 23RD OF THIS

MONTH. AND WE OBSERVE YOM HASHOAH AS A SOLUM OCCASION TO HONOR

THE MEMORY OF THE MILLIONS OF MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO WERE THE

SUBJECT OF THE NAZI AND HIS ALLIES RITUALIZE SLAUGHTER OF THE JEWS OF

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

EUROPE.

AS HORRIBLE -- AS HORRIBLE AS THAT OCCURRENCE WAS, AND

IT'S HORRIBLE FOR ME BECAUSE EVERY MEMBER OF MY EUROPEAN FAMILY WAS

MURDERED DURING THOSE YEARS. NOT ONE SURVIVED. NOT ONE. AND I GREW

UP IN A HOME IN WHICH MY GRANDMOTHER, WHO I LIVED WITH, WHO WAS

ONE OF 14. AND ONE OF THOSE CHILDREN HAD BEEN MURDERED IN A POGROM

IN THE EARLY 1900S. AND SHE AND A SISTER, AGAINST THEIR WILL, WERE SENT

TO THE UNITED STATES. ALL THEIR OTHER BROTHERS AND SISTERS PERISHED.

WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS. WE MUST LEARN TO NOT ONLY

LOVE, BUT TO CHERISH AND PROTECT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US. AND

WHETHER SOMEONE IS A JEW, A LATINO, BLACK, ASIAN, BI OR TRANS, WE

MUST REMEMBER EACH OF US, EACH OF US IS QUOTE, UNQUOTE, "THE OTHER".

AND WE MUST REMEMBER AND REFLECT UPON HOW EASY IT IS FOR US IN

GOVERNMENT TO USE RHETORIC TO INFLAME PEOPLE'S EMOTIONS AND TO TAP

INTO THE ANCIENT HATREDS THAT STILL EXIST.

IT IS VERY FITTING THAT WE GATHER HERE TODAY TO

COMMEMORATE ONE OF THE GREAT TRAGEDIES OF HISTORY. BUT WHAT IS MORE

IMPORTANT TODAY -- OR AS I SHOULD SAY, IS AS IMPORTANT TODAY, WE MUST

STAND UP FOR THE RIGHTS OF EVERYONE. AND NOT ISOLATE ANYONE. AND NOT

LABEL ANY GROUP OF PEOPLE AS BEING LESS WORTHY THAN ANY OTHER GROUP OF

PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT RACISM IS. AND IT WAS RACISM, PURE AND

SIMPLE, THAT MURDERED EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY IN EUROPE, AND SO MANY

OTHERS.

LET'S COMMIT OURSELVES TO THE SPIRIT OF AMERICANISM.

AND THAT SPIRIT IS, WE ARE ALL EQUAL. WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. AND

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

EACH OF US MUST STAND UP TO PROTECT EVERYBODY ELSE.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MR. NORBER ON THE RESOLUTION.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. NORBER: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE FOR INTRODUCING THIS

IMPORTANT RESOLUTION.

I'M ALSO THE GRANDSON OF THE HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS. MY

GRANDFATHER'S ENTIRE FAMILY WAS COMPLETELY DECIMATED DURING THE

HOLOCAUST. HE WAS THE ONLY LONE SURVIVOR. HE FLED TO COMMUNIST

RUSSIA TO SIBERIA. AND HE -- MY MOTHER WAS THERE, BORN. SO AT SOME

POINT THEY ALSO HAD TO FLEE ALSO THE COMMUNISM OF THE SOVIET UNION

AND COME BACK TO ISRAEL, THROUGH WHICH THEY ARRIVED FIRST IN POLAND

AND ENDED UP IN ISRAEL. WHERE THERE, ALSO, IN 1948, WITH ISRAELI

INDEPENDENTS, AGAIN, MY FAMILY FOUGHT -- MY FAMILY WAS COMPLETELY

MASSACRED IN ONE OF THE TERRORIST ATTACKS DURING THE WAR OF

INDEPENDENCE OF -- ISRAELI INDEPENDENCE.

I -- LIKE YOU JUST SAID RIGHT NOW, WE CANNOT TOLERATE

HATE IN ANY TYPE OF FORM, NOT AGAINST ANY TYPE OF MINORITY, NOT ANY TYPE

OF SEX, NOT ANY TYPE OF RELIGION. AND IT REALLY IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY HERE

ON THE FLOOR TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY TYPE OF HATE, ANY TYPE OF

HARASSMENT, WHEREVER IT MIGHT TAKE PLACE, ESPECIALLY IN SCHOOLS AND

UNIVERSITIES, ON OUR STREETS. WHEN WERE SENDING OUR KIDS, IN MY

DISTRICT, TO THE -- THEIR COLLEGES IN NEW YORK CITY, THEY ARE FEARFUL

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

EVERY TIME THAT THEY WILL BE HARASSED BY PEOPLE -- BY DEMONSTRATORS.

AGAIN, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE HAVE IN THIS

COUNTRY IS THE FIRST AMENDMENT. AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT

PEOPLE'S RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED WHILE PROTECTING -- WHILE PRACTICING THEIR

FIRST AMENDMENT. BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS DONE IN A SAFE

WAY TOWARDS THEMSELVES AND TOWARDS OTHERS.

SO I CAN ONLY SAY THANK YOU FOR PUTTING FORWARD THIS

RESOLUTION. AND I -- THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MR. WEPRIN ON THE RESOLUTION.

MR. WEPRIN: YES, I TOO RISE IN SUPPORT OF THIS

RESOLUTION. THE AMOUNT OF RECENT HATE CRIMES AGAINST PEOPLE OF JEWISH

FAITH MAKES IT EVEN MORE RELEVANT THAT THIS WAS THE VERY BEGINNING OF

THE HOLOCAUST WHEN YOU HAD MANY HATE CRIMES, DISCRIMINATED AGAINST

PEOPLE OF THE JEWISH FAITH. AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE REMEMBER

THE HOLOCAUST AND COMMEMORATIONS LIKE THIS.

AT LEAST WE REPEAT HISTORY, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE SLOGAN,

"NEVER AGAIN" RELATES TO THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, THE HOLOCAUST

SHOULD -- SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. HATE AGAINST ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL

IS A HATE AGAINST ALL OF US. AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL STICK

TOGETHER WHETHER YOU'RE A MEMBER OF THE JEWISH FAITH OR NOT, AND

PREVENT HATE CRIMES THAT ULTIMATELY COULD LEAD TO SOMETHING LIKE THE

HOLOCAUST.

SO I SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION AND I PRAISE THE SPONSOR

FOR BRINGING IT TO LIGHT.

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MS. LEVENBERG ON THE RESOLUTION.

MS. LEVENBERG: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

AGAIN, I THANK THE SPONSOR OF THIS RESOLUTION, AND FIND

THAT IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO RECOGNIZE THE HOLOCAUST ON THIS

REMEMBRANCE DAY IN APRIL.

MY FAMILY, TOO, WAS -- MY MOTHER'S FAMILY FLED

GERMANY IN THE LATE '30S, AND WENT TO HOLLAND. AND I RECENTLY HAD THE

OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND A HOLOCAUST MISSION TO THE NETHERLANDS TO SEE

EXACTLY WHAT HAD HAPPENED THERE, AND HOW THE DUTCH PEOPLE HAD SORT

OF COME BACK AROUND, BECAUSE THEY CERTAINLY WELCOMED THE JEWISH

PEOPLE. AND THE JEWISH PEOPLE WERE INTRICATELY A PART OF THEIR

COMMUNITIES THERE FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS PRIOR TO HITLER COMING IN.

AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK IT -- IT WAS -- IT'S

APPROPRIATE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO CREATE THE SITUATION FOR

THE HOLOCAUST AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME, WHERE HITLER SOWED HATRED AND

OTHER -- SO MANY PEOPLE WHETHER -- BECAUSE OF THEIR RELIGION, THEIR

HEALTH STATUS, THEIR AGE, THEIR NATIONAL ORIGIN, OR FOR SO MANY OTHER

REASONS, FOR PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T PERFECT IN HIS EYES. AND HE ALSO

GENERATED A LOT OF BLIND FAITH FOR PEOPLE LOOKING TO SCAPEGOAT.

AND AT THIS TIME, I THINK MORE THAN EVER, WE THINK --

WE NEED TO FOLLOW THE LESSONS OF THE HOLOCAUST AND FIGHT BACK AGAINST

HATRED AND ANYBODY ELSE WHO BELIEVES THAT THIS IS A PATH FORWARD IN OUR

COUNTRY.

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

SO, AGAIN, I -- I THANK MY SURVIVING PARENTS, AND ALL

THE PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE FOR THEM, AND THE RIGHTEOUS CHRISTIANS WHO

SAVED THEIR LIVES AND HID THEM. ALTHOUGH MY GREAT GRANDFATHER DIDN'T

MAKE IT, I'M GRATEFUL TO THE DUTCH FAMILIES THAT SAVED MY GRANDPARENTS

AND MY MOTHER.

THANK YOU.

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.

ON THE RESOLUTIONS, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING

AYE; OPPOSED, NO.

THE RESOLUTIONS ARE ADOPTED.

(WHEREUPON, ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NOS. 325-330

WERE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN

INTRODUCTION.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERRUPT OUR PROCEEDINGS TO MAKE AN

INTRODUCTION FOR OUR COLLEAGUE, BROTHER FALL. I KIND OF FEEL LIKE GIVEN

THE LAST TOPIC THAT WE JUST DISCUSSED IS DIVINE ORDER TO HAVE THE

OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE BISHOP VICTOR BROWN AND HIS WIFE. THEY ARE

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

HERE FROM THE MT. SINAI CHURCH IN STATEN ISLAND, ON BEHALF OF OUR

COLLEAGUE, MR. FALL.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON BEHALF OF THE

MAJORITY LEADER, MR. FALL, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE

WELCOME YOU, BISHOP AND THE FIRST LADY, TO THE CHAMBER, EXTEND THE

PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR TO YOU. HOPE YOU WERE ABLE TO ENJOY SOME OF

THE PROCEEDINGS TODAY WITH US.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

(APPLAUSE)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: NOW, MADAM SPEAKER,

IF YOU COULD PLEASE CALL ON OUR COLLEAGUE, MEMBER CLARK TO MAKE --

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MS. --

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: -- AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: -- MS. CLARK FOR THE

PURPOSES OF AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

MS. CLARK: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

I AM ANNOUNCING THAT THERE WILL BE MAJORITY

CONFERENCE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING SESSION IN HEARING ROOM C.

MAJORITY CONFERENCE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING SESSION.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

IMMEDIATE MAJORITY CONFERENCE ROOM IN HEARING --

IN HEARING ROOM C AFTER THE ADJOURNMENT OF SESSION.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: I NOW MOVE THAT THE

NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 8, 2025

ASSEMBLY STAND ADJOURNED, AND THAT WE RECONVENE AT 10:00 A.M.,

WEDNESDAY, APRIL THE 9TH, TOMORROW BEING A SESSION DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES' MOTION, THE HOUSE STANDS ADJOURNED.

(WHEREUPON, AT 4:22 P.M., THE HOUSE STOOD ADJOURNED

UNTIL WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9TH AT 10:00 A.M., THAT BEING A SESSION DAY.)