TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2025 2:44 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 MAY 12TH.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, I MOVE

TO DISPENSE WITH THE READING -- FURTHER READING OF THE JOURNAL OF MAY

THE 12TH, AND THAT THE SAME STAND APPROVED.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WITHOUT OBJECTION,

SO ORDERED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU. TO

COLLEAGUES THAT ARE IN THE CHAMBER AS WELL AS GUESTS THAT ARE WITH US

TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A QUOTE. THIS ONE COMES FROM CARY

GRANT. IF THERE WAS NOT SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, I WOULDN'T

HAVE TO DESCRIBE WHO HE IS, BUT CARY GRANT IS AN ENGLISH-AMERICAN

ACTOR AND HE WAS A LEADING MAN IN MANY HOLLYWOOD CLASSIC FILMS. HIS

WORDS FOR US TODAY: "DESTINY IS NOT NECESSARILY WHAT WE GET OUT OF

LIFE, RATHER IT'S WHAT WE GIVE." AGAIN, THESE WORDS FROM CARY GRANT.

MADAM SPEAKER, COLLEAGUES HAVE ON THEIR DESKS A

MAIN CALENDAR AND A DEBATE LIST. BEFORE ANY HOUSEKEEPING OR

INTRODUCTIONS, WE WILL BE CALLING FOR THE CODES COMMITTEE.

IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE CODES COMMITTEE, WE WILL BE CALLING FOR

THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEES TO MEET: WAYS AND MEANS, AND RULES.

THESE COMMITTEES ARE GONNA PRODUCE AN A-CALENDAR OF WHICH WE WILL

TAKE UP TODAY. WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN OUR FLOOR WORK BY TAKING UP RULES

REPORT NO. 175 BY MS. LUNCEFORD. THEN WE WILL WORK OFF THE DEBATE

LIST TAKING UP THE FOLLOWING BILLS: RULES REPORT NO. 174 BY MS. CRUZ,

CALENDAR NO. 88 BY MS. ROSENTHAL. AFTERWARDS, WE'RE GONNA CONSENT

THAT A-CALENDAR STARTING WITH RULES REPORT NO. 187. AND THEN WE'RE

GONNA TAKE UP SOME ADDITIONAL BILLS ON DEBATE: RULES REPORT NO. 156

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

BY MR. BORES, CALENDAR NO. 87 BY MR. DINOWITZ, AND CALENDAR NO. 99

BY MR. COLTON. THERE MAY BE A NEED FOR FURTHER FLOOR ACTIVITY AS WE

PROCEED, MADAM SPEAKER, BUT WE WILL LET YOU KNOW SHOULD THAT

HAPPEN. SO, THAT'S A GENERAL OUTLINE OF WHERE WE'RE GOING TODAY. IF

YOU CAN PLEASE BEGIN BY CALLING THE CODES COMMITTEE TO THE SPEAKER'S

CONFERENCE ROOM.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU, MA'AM.

CODES COMMITTEE IMMEDIATELY TO THE SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM.

CODES COMMITTEE. PLEASE SEE CHAIR DINOWITZ IN THE SPEAKER'S

CONFERENCE ROOM.

HOUSEKEEPING AND RESOS WILL BE AT THE END OF OUR

SESSION. WE'LL MOVE RIGHT INTO INTRODUCTIONS.

MS. ROZIC FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MS. ROZIC: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. I RISE

TODAY TO WELCOME BACK A FORMER MEMBER OF OURS, THE GREAT CATHY

NOLAN WHO'S JOINING US IN THE BACK OF THE CHAMBER. FOR THOSE OF YOU

WHO DON'T KNOW, CATHY IS A STORIED LEGISLATOR. SHE WAS ELECTED IN 1984

AND SERVED IN THIS GREAT HOUSE FROM 1985 TO 2022, REPRESENTING THE

37TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT IN QUEENS. SHE CHAIRED LOTS OF DIFFERENT

COMMITTEES, INCLUDING LABOR AND EDUCATION. AND WHEN I FIRST GOT

HERE, SHE WAS ONE OF THE FEW BUT AMAZING WOMEN LEGISLATORS WHO

REALLY TOOK ALL OF US UNDER HER WING, AND I'M ETERNALLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR

LEADERSHIP. AND IT'S SO GREAT TO SEE YOU BACK AND IN GOOD SPIRITS.

SO ON BEHALF OF MYSELF, THE QUEENS DELEGATION AND

ALL THE MEMBERS, PLEASE EXTEND THE CORDIALITIES OF THE FLOOR. THANK

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: YES, OF COURSE. ON

BEHALF OF MS. ROZIC, THE SPEAKER AND ALL MEMBERS, WELCOME BACK

CATHY, TO THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER.

(APPLAUSE)

ONCE A MEMBER ALWAYS A MEMBER.

(APPLAUSE)

WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU HERE TODAY. THANK YOU SO

MUCH FOR JOINING US, AGAIN.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. ZACCARO FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. ZACCARO: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

TODAY I RISE WITH GREAT PRIDE TO RECOGNIZE AND WELCOME A REMARKABLE

GROUP OF CONSTITUENTS FROM MY DISTRICT AND MANY FROM ACROSS THE STATE.

IF YOU'VE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION, YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN SEEING A LOT OF

RED, WHITE AND BLACK TODAY AND THAT IS BECAUSE WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE

YEMENI AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. AND I

HAVE A GROUP WITH ME WHO ARE HERE TODAY FOR A HISTORIC OCCA -- FOR THAT

HISTORIC OCCASION, AND CELEBRATING THE INAUGURAL AMERICAN -- YEMENI

AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK WHICH THIS CHAMBER

PASSED JUST TWO WEEKS AGO. AND FOR ALL OF US, TODAY IS MORE THAN A

CELEBRATION OF HERITAGE. IT'S A RECOGNITION OF RESILIENCE, OF DEEP

CULTURAL ROOTS AND OF MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC

AND CIVIL LIFE OF NEW YORKERS. AND SO, FROM THE BUSTLING STREETS OF

LITTLE YEMEN IN THE BRONX, TO NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS OUR STATE, YEMENI

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

AMERICANS ARE SMALL BUSINESSOWNERS. THEY ARE EDUCATORS. THEY ARE

FRONTLINE WORKERS AND THEY ARE COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO ARE BUILDING

BRIDGES AND STRENGTHENING THE FABRIC OF OUR STATE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AND THEIR PRESENCE HERE TODAY HONORS NOT ONLY WHERE THEY ARE FROM,

BUT THE FUTURE THAT THEY ARE SHAPING.

AND SO, MADAM SPEAKER, WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN ME

IN WELCOMING THEM TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE TODAY AND EXTENDING THEM

THE PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE AS WE CELEBRATE YEMENI AMERICAN

HERITAGE DAY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON BEHALF OF MR.

ZACCARO, THE SPEAKER AND ALL MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU YEMENI

AMERICANS FROM THE BRONX FOR YOUR CELEBRATION OF YEMENI AMERICAN

HERITAGE DAY. WE EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR TO YOU. HOPE YOU

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

(APPLAUSE)

MR. PRETLOW FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. PRETLOW: THANK -- THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER. IT IS MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TO WELCOME A GROUP OF

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS AND TO INTRODUCE AN ORGANIZATION THAT PLAYS A VITAL

ROLE IN THE FINANCIAL PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPE OF OUR STATE. THE NEW

YORK STATE SOCIETY OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS. SINCE ITS

FOUNDING IN 1897, THE NEW YORK STATE SOCIETY OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC

ACCOUNTANTS -- WHEN THE YEMENI'S LEAVE I'LL FINISH.

(PAUSE)

SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1897, THE NEW YORK STATE

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

SOCIETY OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS HAS DEDICATED ITSELF TO

EDUCATING, CONNECTING AND GROWING THE CPA PROFESSION ACROSS NEW

YORK STATE THROUGH INNOVATIVE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS, BOTH IN PERSON

AND VIRTUAL NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, AND RESPECTED EDUCATIONAL

CONFERENCES. THE NEW YORK STATE SOCIETY OF CPAS HAS EMPOWERED

THOUSANDS OF CPAS, ACCOUNTANTS, LAWYERS, BANKERS AND OTHER INDUSTRY

PROFESSIONALS TO ACHIEVE REMARKABLE SUCCESS IN THEIR CAREERS. TODAY,

THE ORGANIZATION REPRESENTS APPROXIMATELY 20,000 PROFESSIONALS FROM

EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE, COMMITTED TO ADVOCATING ON ISSUES THAT

IMPACT CPA FIRMS, THEIR CLIENTS AND THE GREATER PUBLIC GOOD. JOINING

US TODAY ARE SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS KEY LEADERS INCLUDING THEIR

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CALVIN HARRIS JR., PRESIDENT KEVIN O'LEARY,

AND SENIOR LEADERS DAVID EVANGELISTA, KEVIN MATZ, AND ALICIA

TORRANCE, WHO IS ALSO THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF THE ADAPT

NETWORK. PLEASE JOIN ME AND JOIN -- IN WELCOMING THIS DISTINGUISHED

GROUP TO OUR CHAMBER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON BEHALF OF MR.

PRETLOW, THE SPEAKER AND ALL MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU, THE NEW

YORK STATE SOCIETY OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS, EXTEND THE

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

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

MS. HYNDMAN FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MS. HYNDMAN: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. SO,

TODAY JOINING US IN THE CHAMBER, IF YOU SEE I'M -- I'M WEARING RED AND

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

SO ARE THE WOMEN THAT ARE BEHIND ME, ARE MEMBERS OF DELTA SIGMA

THETA SORORITY, INCORPORATED. WE ARE OVER 350,000 COLLEGE EDUCATED

WOMEN AND OVER 1,000 CHAPTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND INTERNATIONALLY.

SO, TODAY, WE HAVE THE UPSTATE COORDINATOR, SOROR DR. HARRIS, AND

DOWNSTATE COORDINATOR FOR SOCIAL ACTION, SOROR MICHELLE AKYEMPONG.

WE HAVE MEMBERS FROM OUR ALBANY ALUMNI CHAPTER, BROOKLYN, EAST

KINGS COUNTY ALUMNI CHAPTERS. ITHACA, MID-HUDSON NEW YORK,

ROCHESTER, STATEN ISLAND, SYRACUSE, WESTCHESTER AND NASSAU. SO, A LOT

OF YOU PROBABLY HAVE DELTAS IN YOUR DISTRICT. WE ARE KNOWN FOR SOCIAL

ACTION, ENCOURAGING VOTER TURNOUT, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING CARE

OF THE NEXT GENERATION.

SO, ON BEHALF OF SORO ASSEMBLYWOMAN RODNEYSE

BICHOTTE HERMELYN AND MYSELF, PLEASE AFFORD THEM THE CORDIALITIES OF

THE HOUSE. THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU. ON

BEHALF OF MEMBER HYNDMAN, MEMBER BICHOTTE HERMELYN, THE

SPEAKER AND ALL OF THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU SORORS FROM THE

DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR TO YOU.

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

JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

MS. LUCAS FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MS. LUCAS: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, AND GOOD

AFTERNOON. I AM HONORED TO RECOGNIZE BE'ER HAGOLAH INSTITUTE VISITING

FROM MY DISTRICT TODAY, WHICH IS THE 60TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT. BE'ER

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

HAGOLAH IS A SCHOOL THAT HAS APPROXIMATELY 400 STUDENTS. THE

MAJORITY OF THE STUDENT BODY ARE CHILDREN OF IMMIGRANTS. THEY OFFER

THE CHILDREN A CHANCE TO GET A PROPER EDUCATION, AS WELL AS A CHANCE TO

LEARN ABOUT THEIR JEWISH HERITAGE AND CULTURE. THEIR STUDENTS GRADUATE

AND GO ON TO COLLEGE GIVING THEM OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEIR PARENTS NEVER

HAD. THE BE'ER HAGOLAH INSTITUTE IS IN ALBANY TODAY VISITING THE STATE

CAPITOL AND WITNESSING, AT THEIR YOUNG AGE, OF HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS

FOR THEM. AND, BY THE WAY, THEY'RE ALL YOUNG WOMEN. TODAY WE HAVE

THE BRIGHT MINDS OF 11TH AND 12TH GRADE CLASSES.

IN 1979, A GROUP OF VISIONARIES, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP

OF OUR GEDOLIM, RABBI YAAKOV KAMENETSKY, RABBI SHNEUR KOTLER,

RABBI AVROHOM PAM, RABBI ELYA SVEI AND RABBI YISROEL BELSKY, MAY

THEY ALL REST IN PEACE, FOUNDED THE BE'ER HAGOLAH INSTITUTES TO MEET THE

EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF THE FLOOD OF JEWISH CHILDREN

FROM THE FORMER SOVIET -- SOVIET UNION. AFTER A LIFETIME UNDER

COMMUNISM RULE, THESE NEW ARRIVALS ENTERED THE U.S. WITH LITTLE

KNOWLEDGE OF JEWISH HISTORY, TRADITIONS AND PERHAPS FAINT RECOLLECTION

OF PRACTICING THEIR SPIRITUAL HERITAGE.

IN 1989, GROUND WAS BROKEN FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF

THE CAROLINE ZELAZNIK GRUSS EDUCATIONAL CENTER, DONATED BY JOSEPH S.

GRUSS OF NEW YORK AND THE REICHMANN FAMILY OF CANADA ON LAND

DONATED BY THE OWNERS OF STARRETT CITY AT SPRING CREEK. THE BUILDING

OPENED IN 1992 TO ACCOMMODATE 800 BOYS AND GIRLS WHO WERE

FASHIONING A NEW LIFE WITH A STRONG JEWISH IDENTITY. OVER THE YEARS,

THE SCHOOL HAS GRADUATED THOUSANDS OF NOW PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

JEWISH AMERICAN AND WORLD JEWISH COMMUNITIES. THE MISSION AT

BE'ER HAGOLAH INSTITUTES IS TO GIVE JEWISH CHILDREN AN OPPORTUNITY TO

SHARE IN THEIR OWN RICH SPIRITUAL LEGACY, AS ALL STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE THE

OPPORTUNITY TO DO, AND I EMPHASIZE THAT. BHI PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE

JUDAIC AND SECULAR STUDIES, PRE-K THROUGH 12TH GRADE PROGRAM,

FOCUSING ON STUDENTS PERSONAL GROWTH. PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING

THESE STUDENTS TO OUR CHAMBERS, BECAUSE I'M GETTING THE SANDMAN.

(LAUGHTER)

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU. ON

BEHALF OF MS. LUCAS, THE SPEAKER AND ALL MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU

YOUNG WOMEN SCHOLARS FROM BE'ER HAGOLAH INSTITUTE TO OUR ASSEMBLY

CHAMBER AND EXTEND TO YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. HOPE YOU

ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY. BEST WISHES TO ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU SO

VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. BLUMENCRANZ FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. BLUMENCRANZ: THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER. I RISE TODAY TO WELCOME AN EXCEPTIONAL GUEST TO THE PEOPLE'S

HOUSE. SOMEONE WHO HAS NOT ONLY -- NOT ONLY REPRESENTS THE GOLD

STANDARD IN PATIENT CARE, BUT WHO ALSO PROUDLY HAILS FROM MY DISTRICT IN

SYOSSET. JOINING US IN THE GALLERY TODAY IS DR. STEVEN SCHULMAN, A

TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ALL NEW YORKERS. DR.

SCHULMAN IS IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK STATE SOCIETY

OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS, AND TODAY HE'S IN ALBANY TO CONTINUE THAT MISSION

REMINDING US THAT NO MATTER A PATIENT'S BACKGROUND, INSURANCE STATUS OR

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

ZIP CODE, THEY DESERVE THE HIGHEST LEVEL AND STANDARD OF CARE, SAFELY

ADMINISTERED BY PHYSICIAN-DIRECTED -- BY PHYSICIAN-DIRECTED

INDIVIDUALS AS GUARANTEED BY LONGSTANDING NEW YORK STATE

REGULATIONS, BUT DR. SCHULMAN'S IMPACT EXTENDS WELL BEYOND THE

OPERATING ROOM. HE SERVES AS ASSOCIATE MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR ST.

FRANCIS HOSPITAL WHERE HE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN IMPROVING

PERIOPERATIVE CARE, AND LEADING QUALITY INITIATIVES THAT HAVE IMPROVED

OUTCOMES AND HOSPITAL STAYS. UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, THE TOTAL JOINT

REPLACEMENT PROGRAM AT ST. FRANCIS SAW A 30 PERCENT REDUCTION IN

LENGTH OF STAY, AND A 300 PERCENT INCREASE IN PATIENTS DISCHARGED TO

HOME. REAL RESULTS THAT BENEFIT REAL PATIENTS AND PROVIDERS ALIKE. HE

ALSO OVERSEES A LARGE GROUP PRACTICE AS PRESIDENT OF NEW YORK

CARDIOVASCULAR ANESTHESIOLOGISTS, WHERE HE MANAGES STAFFING, HUMAN

RESOURCES AND STRATEGIC GROWTH FOR OVER 35 PHYSICIANS AND SEVERAL

CRNAS. EVEN SUCCESSFULLY LEADING A MERGER WITH THE NATIONAL

HEALTHCARE CORPORATION. DR. SCHULMAN EMBODIES WHAT IT MEANS TO BE

BOTH A SKILLED PHYSICIAN, AND A CAPABLE ADMINISTRATOR.

MADAM SPEAKER, I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU EXTEND

THE PRIVILEGES AND THE CORDIALITIES OF THE FLOOR TO THIS EXCEPTIONAL

PHYSICIAN.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU. ON

BEHALF OF MR. BLUMENCRANZ, THE SPEAKER AND ALL MEMBERS, WELCOME

DR. SCHULMAN TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE, OUR ASSEMBLY CHAMBER, EXTEND

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

TODAY. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

(APPLAUSE)

MR. WEPRIN FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. WEPRIN: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. TODAY

I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING FORMER NBA STAR MICHAEL KIDD-

GILCHRIST TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE. MR. KIDD-GILCHRIST IS WIDELY

RECOGNIZED FOR HIS STELLAR BASKETBALL CAREER AS A UNIVERSITY OF

KENTUCKY MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPION, AND AS A SECOND OVERALL PICK IN

THE 2012 NBA DRAFT BY MICHAEL JORDAN AND THE CHARLOTTE BOBCATS,

NOW THE HORNETS. OVER THE EIGHT -- OVER HIS EIGHT YEAR NBA CAREER,

MICHAEL PLAYED FOR THE CHARLOTTE BOBCATS, HORNETS AND THE DALLAS

MAVERICKS. HIS NUMEROUS HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGIATE AND PROFESSIONAL

ACCOLADES SOLIDIFY HIS LEGACY IN BASKETBALL. BEYOND HIS ATHLETIC

ACHIEVEMENT, MICHAEL IS A LEADING ADVOCATE FOR THE STUTTERING

COMMUNITY. IN 2021, HE FOUNDED CHANGE & IMPACT INC., A NON-PROFIT

ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO IMPROVING HEALTHCARE ACCESS AND EXPANDING

RESOURCES FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO STUTTER. AS FOUNDER AND CEO, MICHAEL

TRAVELS AROUND THE COUNTRY ON THE CHANGE & IMPACT STUTTERING

AWARENESS TOUR, ENGAGING UNIVERSITIES, CORPORATIONS, AND CHILDREN'S

HOSPITALS NATIONWIDE. THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE, CHANGE & IMPACT

PARTNERS WITH AGENCIES TO PROVIDE FREE SPEECH THERAPY SERVICES FOR

CHILDREN AND TEENS WHO STUTTER, CONDUCTS COMPLIMENTARY CONTINUING

EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS AND HOSTS

SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THE STUTTERING COMMUNITY.

I WANT TO THANK MICHAEL FOR HIS WORK IN ADVOCACY.

EARLIER TODAY AT THE INSURANCE COMMITTEE, WHICH I CHAIR, WE REPORTED

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

OUT A BILL, OUT OF THE COMMITTEE, WHICH WILL REQUIRE FULL INSURANCE

COVERAGE WITHOUT CO-PAYS FOR STUTTERING SERVICES. MICHAEL IS JOINED BY

DR. PEGGY CONNOR, WHO IS A -- AN OUTSTANDING ADVOCATE FOR THE

STUTTERING COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS MICHAEL'S BROTHER ROLAND MAYO

(PHONETIC). PLEASE GIVE THEM ALL A WARM -- YOUR NORMAL WARM

WELCOME.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU. ON

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

YOU MR. KIDD-GILCHRIST TO THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER, EXTEND THE

PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR TO YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING ATHLETIC

EXCELLENCE AND ACHIEVEMENT, AND YOUR ADVOCACY ON AND OFF THE COURT.

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

JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE).

MR. CARROLL FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. P. CARROLL: GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM

SPEAKER, ESTEEMED COLLEAGUES. IT'S MY HONOR TODAY TO WELCOME FROM

NYACK, NEW YORK THE 96 DISTRICT, EMILY RODRIGUEZ TO ALBANY. EMILY

IS A STUDENT AT NYACK HIGH SCHOOL, SHE'S A JUNIOR. SHE RECENTLY WON

THE 2025 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

GIRLS WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE 185 POUND WEIGHT CLASS ON

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH, WHICH IS ACTUALLY ALSO MY BIRTHDAY, IN THE

MVP ARENA. JOINED BY EMILY HERE TODAY ARE HER MOTHER LISA VIERA,

HER DAD STEVEN RODRIGUEZ, HER SISTER ARIELLE RODRIGUEZ AND HER COACH

VICTOR MYERS.

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

THROUGHOUT THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET, EMILY

PINNED ALL OF HER OPPONENTS TO SECURE THIS CHAMPIONSHIP. IT WAS THE

FIRST NYACK CHAMPIONSHIP SINCE 1988 AND THE FIRST GIRLS WRESTLING

CHAMPIONSHIP IN STATE HISTORY.

IN ADDITION TO HER WRESTLING SKILLS ACUMEN AND

CHAMPIONSHIP, SHE'S ALSO A -- A-- A DECORATED ATHLETE ON THE LACROSSE

FIELD, HAVING WON THE 2024 COACHES AWARD IN LACROSSE. SHE'S A

SECTION 1 WRESTLER OF THE YEAR AND SECTION 1 OF -- OF NEW YORK AND

SHE'S AN ALL LEAGUE FIELD HOCKEY PLAYER IN 2022, 2023 AND 2024. SHE

HOLDS THE MOST SAVES IN FIELD HOCKEY FOR HER SCHOOL FIELD HOCKEY TEAM.

ALSO, LAST WEEK, AS I KNOW BECAUSE I HEARD IT FROM MY OWN FAMILY, SHE

RECENTLY NOTCHED HER 100TH SAVE ON THE LACROSSE FIELD. IN ADDITION TO

DOING ALL OF THESE GREAT THINGS ON THE FIELD AND ON THE MAP, EMILY IS

ALSO A GREAT STUDENT. SHE'S BEEN MAINTAIN [SIC] HIGH ROLE -- HONOR ROLE

STATUS FROM 2022 THROUGH 2025. SHE'S ONLY A JUNIOR, I CAN ONLY

IMAGINE WHAT HER SENIOR YEAR WILL BRING.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOM -- WELCOMING EMILY AND

HER FAMILY TO THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE AND EXTEND HER ALL THE CORDIALITIES

WE HAVE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON BEHALF OF MR.

CARROLL, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU, EMILY, TO

THE SPEAKER'S HOUSE. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ON ALL YOUR ACADEMIC AND

ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS, IT SOUNDS WONDERFUL. YOU ARE OUR FUTURE. WE

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

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

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

(APPLAUSE)

MR. BURDICK FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. BURDICK: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. IT IS

MY HONOR AND PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE TWO DISTINGUISHED CONSTITUENTS

HERE WITH US TODAY. SUSAN VAN DOLSEN, A RESIDENT OF HARRISON, WHO

HAS LIVED IN WESTCHESTER FOR OVER 60 YEARS. SHE IS COMMITTED TO

SUPPORTING SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES AND IS HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF SENT --

SENT -- SENTENCING REFORM BILLS INTO REMEDYING PAST INJUSTICES. SHE ALSO

SUPPORTS OTHER LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS INJUSTICES AND DEFICIENCIES IN THE

CARCERAL SYSTEM INCLUDING FAIR AND TIMELY, ELDER PAROLE, EARNED TIME

AND THE SECOND LOOK ACT. IT ALSO IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE STEPHANIE

REED, A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF WHITE PLAINS. SHE'S A MOTHER, MINISTER AND

ANTI-VIOLENCE ADVOCATE IN WHITE PLAINS, WESTCHESTER COUNTY AND

ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SHE WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN TO

BECOME A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER IN WHITE PLAINS, AND FOR OVER 20 YEARS

SHE VOLUNTEERED WITH THE CLERGY TEAM INSIDE WESTCHESTER COUNTY'S

CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN VALHALLA, NEW YORK, AND IS PROGRAM DIRECTOR

FOR RUFF RYDERS 2, THE RESCUE FOUNDATION IN WHICH SHE HELPS BRIDGE THE

GAP BETWEEN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THE COMMUNITY AT-LARGE AND

ELECTED OFFICIALS.

MADAM SPEAKER, KINDLY JOIN ME IN WELCOMING SUSAN

VAN DOLSEN AND STEPHANIE REED AND EXTEND TO THEM THE PRIVILEGES AND

CORDIALITIES OF THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON BEHALF OF MR.

BURDICK, THE SPEAKER AND ALL MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU TO THE

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

CHAMBER. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. YOU ARE SO IMPRESSIVE FOR ALL OF

THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. YOUR ADVOCACY WILL SPEAK VOLUMES HERE

AND BEYOND THESE WALLS. WE HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

MS. LEVENBERG FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MS. LEVENBERG: THANK YOU-- THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER. IT IS MY GREAT PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE SOME MEMBERS AND

FRIENDS OF HUDSON LINK FOR HIGHER EDUCATION IN PRISON. THEY ARE HERE

TODAY TO -- THIS ORGANIZATION IS IN MY DISTRICT IN OSSINING AND I HAVE

SEEN THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT THEY DO. THEY PROVIDE COLLEGE

EDUCATION, LIFE SKILLS AND RE-ENTRY SUPPORT TO CURRENTLY AND FORMALLY

INCARCERATED PEOPLE SO THEY CAN MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THEIR OWN

LIVES, THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES, RESULTING IN LOWER RATES OF

RECIDIVISM AND HIGHER RATES OF EMPLOYMENT AND COMMUNITY

REGENERATION, COHESIVENESS AND RECIPROCITY. THEY PROVIDE

POST-SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR INCARCERATED STUDENTS

ENROLLED IN PROGRAMS AT SIX CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES IN THE GREATER NEW

YORK AREA. THEY PARTNER WITH ACCREDITED NEW YORK STATE COLLEGES TO

DELIVER QUALITY UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION THAT IS BOTH COST-EFFECTIVE AND

-- AND GENERALLY EFFECTIVE. NATIONALLY, OVER 67 PERCENT OF FORMALLY

INCARCERATED PEOPLE RETURN TO PRISON WITHIN THREE YEARS OF THEIR INITIAL

RELEASE DATE. HOWEVER, LESS THAN 2 PERCENT OF HUDSON LINK GRADUATES

RETURN TO PRISON FOR A NEW CRIME WITHIN THIS THREE-YEAR PERIOD.

EDUCATING A FULL-TIME UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT IS ESTIMATED TO COST

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

$5,000 ANNUALLY, SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THE 60,000 A YEAR IT TAKES TO

INCARCERATE A PERSON IN NEW YORK STATE. THIS AMAZING SUCCESS IS THE

DIRECT RESULT OF THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF EDUCATION AND THE SUPPORT

NETWORK THAT HUDSON LINK PROVIDES FOR STUDENTS AND ALUMNI. I AM SO

PROUD THAT THEY ARE ALL HERE TODAY ALSO TO TALK TO US ABOUT SENTENCING

REFORM, FAIR AND TIMELY PAROLE, THE SECOND LOOK ACT AND EVEN EARLIER

I MET WITH SOME STUDENTS WHO WERE TALKING TO ME ABOUT SOLUTIONS, NOT

SUSPENSIONS.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK AND PLEASE,

MADAM SPEAKER, EXTEND THE CORDIALITIES OF THE HOUSE TO THEM.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU. ON

BEHALF OF MS. LEVENBERG, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE

WELCOME YOU FROM THE HUDSON LINK PROGRAM, EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF

THE FLOOR TO YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK AND ADVOCACY AND

TRAINING, EDUCATION YOU'RE PROVIDING FOR THOSE WHO NEED YOUR SERVICES

THE MOST. HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY. THANK YOU SO VERY

MUCH FOR JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

ON CONSENT, PAGE 5, RULES REPORT NO. 175, THE CLERK

WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08018, RULES REPORT

NO. 175, LUNSFORD, DAIS, LEVENBERG, COLTON. AN ACT TO AMEND THE

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION LAW, IN RELATION TO EXTENDING THE

AUTHORITY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION TO

MANAGE OYSTERS.

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

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, WOULD

YOU PLEASE CALL WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE TO THE SPEAKER'S

CONFERENCE ROOM?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WAYS AND MEANS

COMMITTEE TO THE SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM. WAYS AND MITTY [SIC]

-- COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO THE SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM.

MS. WALSH FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, FOR

ALLOWING ME TO INTERRUPT THE PROCEEDINGS TO MAKE AN INTRODUCTION ON

BEHALF OF ASSEMBLYMEMBER LESTER CHANG. WE'RE JOINED TODAY BY

SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY ADVOCATES AND LEADING BUSINESS

LEADERS FROM MR. CHANG'S DISTRICT. THEY INCLUDE JING LIANG, JENNY FU,

LUCY TAYLOR, JEFF CHAN, XIUMEI WENG, HUAZHAO LIANG, ROBIN MUI,

YUE LIN, XIUGAN ZHENG AND LI ZHU. WOULD YOU PLEASE EXTEND TO

THEM ALL THE CORDIALITIES OF THE HOUSE ON BEHALF OF MR. CHANG. THANK

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

YOU SO MUCH.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU. ON

BEHALF OF MS. WALSH, MR. CHANG, THE SPEAKER AND ALL MEMBERS, WE

WELCOME DISTINGUISHED GUESTS FROM MR. CHANG'S DISTRICT TO THE

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

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

US.

(APPLAUSE)

PAGE 4, RULES REPORT NO. 174, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A07928, RULES REPORT

NO. 174, CRUZ, TAYLOR. AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 730 OF THE LAWS OF

2019, AMENDING THE EXECUTIVE LAW RELATING TO THE AUTHORITY OF THE

NEW YORK BLACK CAR OPERATORS' INJURY COMPENSATION FUND, INC., IN

RELATION TO THE EFFECTIVENESS THEREOF.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: AN EXPLANATION HAS

BEEN REQUESTED, MS. CRUZ. IF WE CAN HAVE SOME QUIET IN THE CHAMBER,

PLEASE. TAKE YOUR SEATS IF YOU'RE WANDERING. WE'RE GOING TO BE ON

DEBATE. THANK YOU.

MS. CRUZ.

MS. CRUZ: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. THIS BILL

WOULD EXTEND TO THREE -- FOR THREE YEARS THE AUTHORITY ALREADY GRANTED

TO THE NEW YORK BLACK CAR OPERATORS' INJURY COMPENSATION FUND TO

CONTINUE PROVIDING SUPPLEMENTAL HEALTH-RELATED BENEFITS FOR BLACK CAR

DRIVERS THROUGHOUT NEW YORK STATE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MS. GIGLIO.

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

MS. GIGLIO: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. WILL THE

SPONSOR YIELD, PLEASE?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MS. CRUZ: YES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: SPONSOR YIELDS.

MS. GIGLIO: THANK YOU. SO, I JUST HAVE A FEW

QUESTIONS JUST TO CLARIFY THE INTENT OF THE ORIGINAL BILL FROM 1999. SO, IF

-- IF YOU CAN JUST PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THE ORIGINAL INTENT WAS FROM

1999?

MS. CRUZ: SURE. THE BLACK CAR FUND WAS CREATED

BY NEW YORK STATE STATUTE IN 1999 TO PROVIDE WORKERS' COMPENSATION

COVERAGE FOR -- TO OVER 100,000 INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS, DRIVERS

AFFILIATED WITH OVER 500 MEMBER BASIS, INCLUDING UBER AND LYFT.

FUNDED BY PASSENGER SURCHARGE, IT ENSURES DRIVERS INJURED ON THE JOB

RECEIVE BENEFIT WITHOUT TAXPAYER COSTS. IN 2018, THE BLACK CAR FUND

EXPANDED TO OFFER NO COST VISION CARE AND TELEMEDICINE SERVICES

ADDRESSING GAPS IN GIG WORKER HEALTHCARE. IN 2019, THE WORKERS'

COMPENSATION BOARD RAISED CONCERNS THAT THESE TWO NEW PROGRAMS

MAY NOT MEET THE STRICT READING OF THE THEN CURRENT LAW, WHICH

AUTHORIZED THE BLACK CAR FUND TO SPEND MONEY ON SECURING THE

PAYMENT OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION AND ANY STATUTORY PENALTY

RESULTING FROM FAILURE TO SECURE SUCH PAYMENT. THAT SAME YEAR,

LEGISLATION WAS PASSED TO EXPLICITLY AUTHORIZE THESE HEALTH BENEFITS

WITH SUNSET CLAUSE EXPIRING IN 2022. LEGISLATORS THEN EXTENDED THE

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

PROGRAM TO 2025 AND THIS BILL WOULD FURTHER EXTEND IT TO 2028.

MS. GIGLIO: OKAY. SO, WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL --

MS. CRUZ: I'M SORRY, MADAM SPEAKER, I CAN'T HEAR.

IF WE CAN -- THANK YOU. GO AHEAD, I'M SORRY.

MS. GIGLIO: THAT'S OKAY. WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL

SURCHARGE RATE THAT THEY COULD CHARGE THE RIDERS OF THESE BLACK CARS?

MS. CRUZ: TWO PERCENT.

MS. GIGLIO: TWO PERCENT. AND WHAT IS THE CURRENT

RATE?

MS. CRUZ: 2.5.

MS. GIGLIO: 2.5. IS THAT JUST FOR THE WORKERS'

COMP AND THEN ANOTHER .5 PERCENT ON TOP FOR THE --

MS. CRUZ: THAT'S CORRECT.

MS. GIGLIO: -- HEALTH BENEFITS?

MS. CRUZ: THAT'S CORRECT.

MS. GIGLIO: SO, IT'S UP TO 3 PERCENT NOW FROM 2

PERCENT IN 1999?

MS. CRUZ: NO. IT'S 2 PERCENT, PLUS HALF-A-POINT.

THAT'S 2.5.

MS. GIGLIO: OKAY, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT -- AND I'M

FORTUNATE THAT I WAS ABLE TO MEET WITH THE BLACK CAR BENEFIT FUND, AND

THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD DROPPED THE RATE FROM 2.75 PERCENT IN 2023,

DOWN TO 2.5 PERCENT. SO, I JUST WANTED A LITTLE BIT OF CLARIFICATION ON

THAT.

MS. CRUZ: THAT'S NOT MY UNDERSTANDING, NO.

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

MS. GIGLIO: OKAY. SO, IT'S --

MS. CRUZ: HOWEVER, I WILL SAY THAT BECAUSE THE

HEALTHCARE FUND HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL, THERE HAVE BEEN -- THERE HAS

BEEN A -- A DECREASE IN THE COST TO -- OF -- OF ACTUAL HEALTHCARE TO THESE

FOLKS. SO, THERE IS SOME DECREASE IN THE COST, BUT I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE

THAT IS EXACTLY THE ONE YOU'RE SAYING.

MS. GIGLIO: OKAY. SO, ARE NEW YORKERS

SUBSIDIZING HEALTHCARE FOR GIG WORKERS AND FOR THE DRIVERS, NEW

YORKERS AND VISITORS TO NEW YORK? ARE THEY SUBSIDIZING HEALTHCARE

FOR GIG WORKERS THAT DRIVE THESE BLACK CAR [SIC]?

MS. CRUZ: CONSUMERS WHO ARE USING BLACK CAR --

BLACK CARS OR LIVERY CARS, UBER, LYFT AND SOME BASIS THAT STILL EXIST, ARE

PAYING A SMALL PORTION INTO A FUND THAT NOT ONLY PROVIDES WORKERS'

COMPENSATION, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THESE FOLKS ARE CONSIDERED

CONTRACTORS, NOT EMPLOYEES OF UBER AND LYFT, AND, YOU KNOW, SIMILAR

SITUATIONS, AND INTO A FUND THAT PROVIDES CERTAIN HEALTHCARE BENEFITS.

MS. GIGLIO: OKAY. SO THEN YES, THEY ARE

SUBSIDIZING HEALTHCARE, THE RIDERS OF THESE UBER, LYFTS AND BLACK CARS.

THEY'RE SUBSIDIZING HEALTHCARE FOR THE DRIVERS.

MS. CRUZ: AGAIN, THEY ARE PAYING INTO A SYSTEM

THAT WAS CREATED BY THE STATE OF NEW YORK TO ACT AS WORKERS'

COMPENSATION, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ENTITLED TO IT, AND TO PROVIDE CERTAIN

HEALTHCARE BENEFITS.

MS. GIGLIO: RIGHT. THE ORIGINAL INTENT WAS JUST THE

WORKERS' COMP AND THEN IT GOT CHANGED IN 2019 FOR VISION AND ONE

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

PAIR OF GLASSES A YEAR, AND I BELIEVE THAT WAS IT.

MS. CRUZ: I WOULD DISAGREE WITH SAYING THAT THE

ORIGINAL INTENT HAS CHANGED. I ACTUALLY THINK THAT IT HAS EXPANDED.

MS. GIGLIO: OKAY. SO, THE ORIGINAL INTENT WAS --

SHALL BE LIMITED TO SECURING THE PAYMENT OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION IN

ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 6-F OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW TO BLACK CAR

OPERATORS AS DEFINED IN SUCH ARTICLE, WHOSE INJURY AROSE OUT OF AND IN

THE COURSE OF PROVIDING SERVICES FOR ESSENTIAL DISPATCHED FACILITY AS

DEFINED IN SUCH ARTICLE THAT A REGISTERED MEMBER OF SUCH FUND ANY

STATUTORY PENALTY RESULTING FROM THE FAILURE TO SECURE PAYMENT. IT ALSO

-- IT -- IT WAS SPECIFICALLY FOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION, WHICH IS WHY

THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION BOARD SAID: WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE

PROVIDING THESE HEALTH BENEFITS, SO YOU HAVE TO GO BACK AND CREATE

LEGISLATION TO DO SO. AM I CORRECT IN SAYING THAT?

MS. CRUZ: I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND

YOUR QUESTION.

MS. GIGLIO: SO, IN 1999 IT WAS SPECIFICALLY FOR

WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

MS. CRUZ: MM-HMM.

MS. GIGLIO: AT 2 PERCENT.

MS. CRUZ: MM-HMM.

MS. GIGLIO: AND IN 2019, IT INCREASED TO ADD

HEALTH BENEFITS SUCH AS VISION CHECKS AND ONE PAIR OF EYEGLASSES PER

YEAR.

MS. CRUZ: WELL, IT -- IT EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THAT

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

AND A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS. AND THE REASON WHY IT EXPANDED IT'S

BECAUSE AS CONTRACTORS, THEY'RE NOT CONSIDERED EMPLOYEES, THEREFORE

THEY DON'T HAVE CERTAIN HEALTHCARE COVERAGE. AND THIS ACTUALLY ENSURES

THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DRIVING MANY OF US AROUND EVERYDAY, ARE

HEALTHY ENOUGH TO DO SO.

MS. GIGLIO: YEAH. I -- I COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH

THE VISION AND THE PAIR OF GLASSES. IT'S THE OTHER HEALTH BENEFITS AND THE

DEATH BENEFIT AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE OF CONCERN

TO ME, WHICH IS WHY I'M ASKING THE QUESTIONS. BECAUSE IN 2019, IT SAID

THE BLACK -- BLACK CAR FUND LAUNCHED TWO NEW CLAUSE CONTAINMENT

STRATEGIES. THE FIRST WAS TO OFFER DRIVERS IN NEW YORK STATE FREE VISION

BENEFITS INCLUDING A FREE ANNUAL EYE EXAM AND ACCESS TO A FREE PAIR OF

EYEGLASSES WHEN NECESSARY. THE SECOND WAS TO OFFER DRIVERS ACCESS TO

FREE TELEMEDICINE SERVICES AS A LOW COST ALTERNATIVE TO EMERGENCY ROOM

VISITS AND COSTLY IN-PERSON FOLLOW-UP WHEN APPROPRIATE. SO, THAT'S WHY

I -- I -- I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS JUST FOR THE VISION AND ONE PAIR OF GLASSES

AND ALSO, I'M SORRY, TELEMEDICINE, YES.

MS. CRUZ: AND IT'S TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE

BENEFITS THAT MANY OF US WHO ARE CONSIDERED EMPLOYEES OF AN ENTITY

RECEIVE THAT THEY, BECAUSE THEY ARE DESIGNATED AS CONTRACTORS, CANNOT

RECEIVE. AND IT'S AT THE EXCHANGE OF AN EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY,

EXTREMELY LOW COST TO THE PASSENGER.

MS. GIGLIO: OKAY. SO, DOES THE RECENT BENEFIT

EXTENDER, WHICH NOW INCLUDES DENTAL, HEARING AND MENTAL HEALTH

SERVICES, DEVIATE FROM WHAT THE LEGISLATURE AUTHORIZED IN 2019?

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

MS. CRUZ: NO. IT'S -- WE'RE ONLY EXTENDING THE

AMOUNT OF TIME.

MS. GIGLIO: OKAY. AND SO, HOW MANY HOURS PER

MONTH MUST A BLACK CAR DRIVER WORK TO QUALIFY FOR THOSE BENEFITS?

MS. CRUZ: THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BILL.

MS. GIGLIO: WELL, IT -- IT KINDA DOES BECAUSE WE'RE

ALL -- THE NEW YORKERS AND VISITORS ARE SUBSIDIZING HEALTHCARE AND

THESE UBER AND LYFT AND BLACK CAR DRIVERS ONLY HAVE TO WORK 40 HOURS

A MONTH IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THESE BENEFITS.

MS. CRUZ: I'M GOING TO DISAGREE. THAT IS YOUR

OPINION THAT THEY SHOULD -- THAT THEY -- IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOU'RE

SAYING IF THEY'RE ONLY DRIVING 40 HOURS A MONTH THEY'RE NOT -- THEY

SHOULDN'T BE ENTITLED. THAT'S YOUR OPINION. WE DISAGREE WITH THAT AND

THE BILL ACTUALLY MAKES SURE THAT IF THEY ARE DRIVING A CAR, WHETHER IT'S

AS A PART-TIME INDIVIDUAL OR A FULL-TIME INDIVIDUAL, THAT SMALL FEE THAT IS

CHARGED GOES TO A LARGER FUND THAT THEN MAKES SURE THAT EVERY SINGLE

PERSON WHO IS DRIVING A LIVERY CAR, A BLACK CAR, AN UBER DRIVER, CAN

ACCESS THOSE BENEFITS.

MS. GIGLIO: THE -- THE HEALTH BENEFITS?

MS. CRUZ: OH, ALL OF THE BENEFITS INCLUDING

WORKERS' COMPENSATION AND THE HEALTH BENEFITS.

MS. GIGLIO: AND DEATH BENEFITS OF $50,000.

MS. CRUZ: OH, I MEAN, I THINK WE ALL WOULD AGREE

HERE THAT IF SOMEONE IS WORKING AND IF THEY HAVE AN UNFORTUNATE

PASSING, THEY SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE BENEFITS.

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

MS. GIGLIO: OKAY. CAN SOMEONE QUALIFY FOR

BENEFITS WHILE HOLDING A SEPARATE FULL-TIME JOB? AND DOES THAT CREATE

THE POSSIBILITY OF DUAL MEDICAL COVERAGE OR INSURANCE BUYBACKS?

MS. CRUZ: THE BILL DOES NOT DEAL WITH THAT, BUT I

THINK MANY OF US COULD AGREE THAT IF YOU ARE IN A FINANCIAL SITUATION

WHERE YOU ARE FORCED TO WORK A FULL-TIME JOB PLUS BE A LIVERY DRIVER,

YOU PROBABLY SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS THOSE BENEFITS.

MS. GIGLIO: ACTUALLY, THEY MAKE PRETTY GOOD

MONEY. IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S UP TO LIKE $23 AN HOUR NOW WHICH IS --

MS. CRUZ: THAT IS YOUR OPINION, YES.

MS. GIGLIO: YES. SO, HAS THE BOARD OF THE BLACK

CAR BENEFIT FUND PREVIOUSLY RAISED OR LOWERED THE SURCHARGE? AND

WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR SUCH CHANGES?

MS. CRUZ: THEY ESTABLISH THEIR OWN BYLAW SO THAT

WOULD BE A QUESTION THAT'S OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE OF THIS BILL.

MS. GIGLIO: OKAY. SO, IT'S OUTSIDE OF THE

LEGISLATURE WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN RAISE TO, YOU KNOW, 2.75 PERCENT

AND THEN LOWER DOWN TO 2.5 PERCENT AND -- AND THEN EVEN --

MS. CRUZ: THE SURCHARGE IS CAPPED.

MS. GIGLIO: I KNOW IT'S CAPPED BUT THEY CAN -- THE

RATE CAN FLUCTUATE.

MS. CRUZ: YES, BUT IT'S UP TO THE DISCRETION OF THE

BOARD AND THAT'S OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE OF THIS BILL.

MS. GIGLIO: DO YOU THINK THE BOARD SHOULD BE

ALLOWED TO ADJUST THE SURCHARGE WITHOUT LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL AND

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

OVERSIGHT?

MS. CRUZ: I THINK THAT WHAT I THINK ABOUT THAT IS NOT

IMPORTANT. IT IS WHAT'S ON THE BILL, AND THE BILL SAYS THAT IT'S CAPPED,

AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.

MS. GIGLIO: OKAY. AN ANNUAL REPORT IS REQUIRED TO

BE SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR, LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND THE DEPARTMENT

OF STATE BY MAY 1ST OF EACH YEAR. HAVE YOU SEEN THIS YEAR'S REPORT?

MS. CRUZ: MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE REPORT HAS

BEEN DELIVERED TO THE PEOPLE THAT IT NEEDS TO, BEING THE SPEAKER OF THE

LEGISLATURE, AND THAT'S WHERE THE -- THE REPORT IS AT.

MS. GIGLIO: OKAY. SO, WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR

NOT THERE ARE SURPLUS FUNDS IN THE ACCOUNT, WHETHER OR NOT, YOU KNOW,

WE SHOULD DETERMINE THAT THE RATE SHOULD BE LOWERED? I MEAN, WITH

CONGESTION PRICING IN THE CITY AND WITH THE TAXES THAT THE CITY CHARGES

FOR THESE UBER AND LYFT DRIVERS, IT COULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE FOR PEOPLE

TO MOVE AROUND THE CITY. DON'T YOU THINK THAT IT -- AND THROUGHOUT THE

STATE. DON'T YOU THINK THAT IF THERE WAS A RATE THAT WOULD BE FLUCTUATED

THAT THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD -- THE LEGISLATURE

WOULD LOOK AT AND SAY: OKAY, YOU'RE STILL CHARGING 2.5 PERCENT BUT YOU

HAVE 100 MILLION IN THE BANK AND YOU ONLY SPENT 50- YOU KNOW, 25

MILLION LAST YEAR. SO, DO YOU STILL NEED TO BE CHARGING THAT SAME

SURCHARGE? AND IF NOT, WHO'S DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT THAT

SURCHARGE SHOULD FLUCTUATE BASED ON SUSTAINABILITY OF THE BENEFITS THAT

ARE BEING OFFERED?

MS. CRUZ: THE BILL DOES NOT DEAL WITH THAT. THE

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

BILL DEALS WITH AN EXTENSION TO AN EXISTING PROGRAM.

MS. GIGLIO: OKAY. GIVEN THE RIDE-HAILING DRIVERS

ARE REQUIRED TO CARRY LIABILITY INSURANCE AND THAT THIRD-PARTY INSURANCE

ACTUALLY PROVIDES UP TO $1 MILLION IN BODILY INJURY COVERAGE, WHY IS AN

ADDITIONAL SURCHARGE FOR THE FUNDS STILL NEEDED WHEN THEY CAN -- THEY'RE

-- THEY'RE GETTING UP TO $1 MILLION FOR BODILY INJURY IN THE CARS?

MS. CRUZ: THAT KIND OF INSURANCE DOESN'T COVER YOU

AS AN INDIVIDUAL, IT COVERS THE PERSON WHO IS INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT

WITH YOU, WHOEVER YOU HAPPEN TO HIT.

MS. GIGLIO: SO, YOU'RE SAYING THAT IF A DRIVER OF AN

UBER OR LYFT HAD PASSENGERS IN THE BACK AND THE PASSENGERS GOT HURT IN

AN ACCIDENT, THAT THOSE PASSENGERS WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY THAT $1

MILLION FROM THE THIRD-PARTY --

MS. CRUZ: THEY -- THEY ARE COVERED.

MS. GIGLIO: THEY ARE COVERED?

MS. CRUZ: YOU ASKED A DIFFERENT QUESTION AND THEY

ARE COVERED.

MS. GIGLIO: OKAY. IS THE DRIVER COVERED, ALSO?

MS. CRUZ: NO.

MS. GIGLIO: OKAY. THE DRIVER'S NOT COVERED.

THAT'S INTERESTING, MAYBE WE SHOULD LOOK AT THAT.

SO, OKAY. WITH CONGESTION PRICING GENERATING

SIGNIFICANT REVENUE FOR THE MTA, DOES THIS ADDITIONAL COST JUSTIFY

FURTHER SURCHARGES ON RIDE-HAILING SERVICES?

MS. CRUZ: IT'S A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE ON THE COST

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

OF A RIDE. THAT IS NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FOLKS WHO ARE UBER,

LYFT DRIVERS AND OTHER LIVERY DRIVERS ARE HEALTHY ENOUGH TO DRIVE US

AROUND.

MS. GIGLIO: AND -- AND THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

SO, WHY AREN'T COMPANIES LIKE UBER AND LYFT PROVIDING THESE BENEFITS

DIRECTLY AS OPPOSED -- AS PROPOSED IN -- IN SOME LEGISLATIVE MODELS?

MS. CRUZ: THAT'S A QUESTION --

MS. GIGLIO: NEW YORK STATE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT

ACTUALLY --

MS. CRUZ: THAT'S A QUESTION FOR UBER AND LYFT.

MS. GIGLIO: OKAY, WELL...

SO, WITHIN NEW YORK CITY, TLC DRIVERS MUST UNDERGO

FINGERPRINT, BACKGROUND CHECKS, PROVIDE A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND

BE LEGALLY AUTHORIZED TO WORK. DO THE 20 PERCENT OF DRIVERS OUT --

OPERATING OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK CITY MEET SIMILAR SAFETY AND LEGAL

REQUIREMENTS?

MS. CRUZ: MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT OUTSIDE OF

NEW YORK CITY, IT IS THE LOCALITIES THAT SET THOSE REQUIREMENTS. SO, IT

COULD CONCEIVABLY VARY LOCALITY BY LOCALITY.

MS. GIGLIO: OKAY. SO, BACKGROUND AND FINGERPRINT

CHECKS, WHICH I THOUGHT THAT WE HAD BANNED IN THIS BODY, YOU KNOW,

LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR BEFORE, THAT YOU COULDN'T DO BACKGROUND CHECKS

UNLESS IT WAS A NURSING HOME OR AN ASSISTED LIVING OR A GROUP HOME,

AND YOU WERE DOING THE BACKGROUND CHECKS --

MS. CRUZ: YOU'RE -- JODI, YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

SOMETHING I'M PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH AND THAT'S THE CLEAN SLATE BILL, AND

YOU ARE INCORRECT. WE BANNED IT FOR CERTAIN INSTANCES, FOR THERE IS A

SPECIFIC CAVEAT TO ALLOW NEW YORK CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COMPLY

WITH FEDERAL LAW AND WITH THOSE REQUIREMENTS.

MS. GIGLIO: WELL, THAT'S FOR THE TLC DRIVERS, RIGHT?

MS. CRUZ: YES.

MS. GIGLIO: OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AND -- OKAY. WELL,

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS.

MS. CRUZ: THANK YOU.

MS. GIGLIO: MADAM SPEAKER, ON THE BILL, PLEASE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE BILL.

MS. GIGLIO: SO, I -- I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING

ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE EFFECTING

NOT ONLY HARD-WORKING DRIVERS IN OUR CITY AND STATE, BUT ALSO THE

MILLIONS OF NEW YORKERS AND VISITORS WHO RELY ON BLACK CAR SERVICES

EVERYDAY. I WANT TO THANK THE BLACK CAR BENEFIT FUND FOR MEETING

WITH ME AND ANSWERING SOME OF MY QUESTIONS SO I COULD BETTER

UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN NEW YORK STATE.

THE NEW YORK STATE BLACK CAR BENEFIT FUND WAS

CREATED WITH A CLEAR AND MEANINGFUL PURPOSE, TO PROVIDE WORKERS'

COMPENSATION COVERAGE FOR BLACK CAR DRIVERS WHO ARE OFTEN CLASSIFIED

AS INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS AND THEREFORE NOT ENTITLED TO TRADITIONAL

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS. THIS FUND FILLED A CRITICAL GAP ENSURING THAT DRIVERS

INJURED ON THE JOB HAD ACCESS TO THE CARE AND SUPPORT THEY NEEDED.

OVER TIME, THE FUND HAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL BENEFITS SUCH

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

AS VISION CARE AND EYEGLASSES. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A

POSITIVE AND JOB-RELATED ADDITION. FOR DRIVERS WHO SPEND LONG HOURS

BEHIND THE WHEEL, MAINTAINING HEALTHY VISION IS NOT A LUXURY, IT'S A

NECESSITY. THIS EXPANSION DIRECTLY SUPPORTS DRIVER SAFETY AND PUBLIC

SAFETY AND IT ALIGNS WITH THE CORE MISSION OF THE FUND. HOWEVER, WE

MUST ALSO BE CAUTIOUS AND RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS OF PUBLIC AND CUSTOMER

DOLLARS. THE RECENT INCLUSION AND PROPOSED EXPANSION OF BROADER

MEDICAL BENEFITS RAISE SERIOUS QUESTIONS. ARE THESE BENEFITS TRULY

ESSENTIAL TO MISSION OF THE FUND? OR --

TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE? OH, I CAN CONTINUE? THANK

YOU.

-- OR ARE WE MOVING INTO TERRITORY THAT SHOULD BE

COVERED BY OTHER SYSTEMS SUCH AS AUTO INSURANCE POLICIES AND THE

DISPATCHING COMPANIES THAT CONTRACT THESE DRIVERS? LET'S BE HONEST, IT

IS ALREADY EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO GET AROUND NEW YORK. FROM

MANHATTAN TO THE OUTER BOROUGHS AND BEYOND, RIDERS ARE FEELING THE

PINCH. EVERY ADDED COST TO THE FUND TRANSLATES INTO HIGHER FEES PASSED

DOWN TO CUSTOMERS. BOTH NEW YORKERS AND TOURISTS, MANY OF WHOM

ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING WITH THE COST OF LIVING AND TRANSPORTATION.

THERE'S ALSO THE ISSUE OF ELIGIBILITY. REQUIRING JUST 40 HOURS OF WORK

PER MONTH, THE EQUIVALENT OF ROUGHLY TEN HOURS A WEEK TO QUALIFY FOR

FULL BENEFITS MAY BE TOO LOW A BAR FOR RECEIVING COMPREHENSIVE

COVERAGE. SHOULDN'T WE CONSIDER TRYING BENEFITS -- TYING BENEFITS MORE

CLOSELY TO ACTUAL HOURS WORKED OR REVISITING WHO QUALIFIES AND FOR

WHAT? I BELIEVE IT'S TIME WE TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THIS BILL, NOT TO STRIP

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

AWAY WHAT'S WORKING, BUT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE STAYING TRUE TO THE

ORIGINAL INTENT. LET'S PRESERVE THE CORE BENEFITS THAT PROTECT OUR DRIVERS

WHEN THEY NEED IT MOST. LET'S CONTINUE TO SUPPORT SAFETY-RELATED

ADDITIONS LIKE VISION CARE, BUT LET'S ALSO STOP THIS SLOW CREEP TOWARD

UNNECESSARY SPENDING THAT ONLY DRIVES UP COSTS FOR EVERYONE. IN THE

END, OUR GOAL SHOULD BE FAIR, FOCUSED AND SUSTAINABLE BENEFITS, NOT

BLOATED BUREAUCRACY. WE OWE THAT TO OUR DRIVERS, TO OUR RESIDENTS AND

TO EVERY VISITOR WHO PUTS THEIR TRUST AND MONEY INTO NEW YORK'S

TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. I WILL BE VOTING IN THE

NEGATIVE BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS SO FAR OUTSIDE THE ORIGINAL INTENT

THAT IT'S NOT DETERMINED WHETHER OR NOT BACKGROUND CHECKS WOULD BE

NECESSARY IN ORDER TO DRIVE OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK CITY. AND I -- I THINK

THAT FOR THE SAFETY OF NEW YORKERS AND THOSE THAT ARE VISITING, WE

SHOULD REALLY ISOLATE DOWN ON THIS BILL AND MAKE IT BETTER. SO, THANK

YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MRS.

PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU. WILL THE

SPONSOR YIELD FOR A QUESTION?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MS. CRUZ: ABSOLUTELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: SPONSOR YIELDS.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU. MS. CRUZ, I

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

WONDER IF YOU COULD JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE, WHO

ARE EXISTINGLY A PART OF THE BLACK FUND [SIC], ACTUALLY HAVE ACCESS TO

HEALTHCARE?

MS. CRUZ: WELL, WITHOUT THE BLACK CAR FUND, ZERO

WOULD HAVE ACCESS. YOU KNOW, RIGHT --

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: I'M SORRY, WITHOUT THAT

FUND THEY WOULD NOT HAVE HEALTHCARE?

MS. CRUZ: YEAH. UNLESS THEY COULD QUALIFY FOR

MEDICAID OR SOME SORT OF EMERGENCY, YOU KNOW, THE STATE WOULD BE

CARRYING THE COST OF ANY TIME THEY GOT SICK OR ANY TIME THEY HAD TO GO

TO THE HOSPITAL.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: WELL, I WANT TO JUST

THANK YOU FOR -- FOR PUTTING THE BILL IN BECAUSE THE -- THE LAST THING I

THINK WE NEED IN NEW YORK STATE IS ANYMORE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE

THEIR OWN INSURANCE. AND SO, IF WE GET OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO

HAVE INSURANCE, PARTICULARLY WHEN WE'RE AT A POSITION WHERE THERE MAY

BE CUTS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACCESS

TO MEDICAID, DO WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE UNABLE TO GET HEALTHCARE IN THE

STATE? I DON'T THINK SO. AND SO, I WANT TO COMMEND THE SPONSOR FOR

THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION, AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN ALL SEE WHAT THIS REALLY

MEANS TO THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO GO TO WORK, TAKE CARE OF THEIR

FAMILIES, TAKE CARE OF THEIR COMMUNITY AND AT THE SAME TIME, BE

HEALTHY DOING THAT. SO, THANK YOU FOR THE LEGISLATION. I LOOK FORWARD TO

SUPPORTING IT.

MS. CRUZ: THANK YOU.

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MS. CRUZ.

MS. CRUZ: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

ON THE BILL.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE BILL.

MS. CRUZ: THE BLACK CAR FUND AND THIS ADDITIONAL

VERY TINY, SMALL SURCHARGE IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK, IF YOU COULD AFFORD

A $20 UBER DRIVE, YOU COULD AFFORD THE TEN CENTS THAT GOES INTO THIS

AMAZING FUND. AND I CALL IT AMAZING BECAUSE I'VE ACTUALLY GONE TO SEE

SOME OF THE HEALTHCARE SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED BY THE FUND. THEY

HAVE A TRAVELING VAN THAT DOES EYESIGHT CARE THAT HELPS PEOPLE ACTUALLY

GET TESTED, GET GLASSES AND MAKES SURE THAT WHEN THEY'RE BEHIND A

WHEEL, THEY CAN ACTUALLY SEE. IT'S ALSO BEEN A FUND THAT HAS HELPED

MORE THAN 80,000 NEW YORKERS BECAUSE THESE ARE NEW YORKERS, THESE

ARE FOLKS WHO ARE DRIVING US AROUND, MAKING SURE WE GET TO WORK, WE

GET TO SCHOOL, WE GET TO A RESTAURANT AND HAVE FUN, SO THAT WE DON'T

HAVE TO DRIVE OR EVEN BE BEHIND A WHEEL WHEN WE MAY BE DRINKING,

WHEN WE MAY BE PARTYING AND WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE FUN. THESE ARE THE

FOLKS WHO ARE HELPING US MAKE SURE THAT WE GET TO FUN PLACES, THAT WE

GET TO WORK, THAT WE GET TO CHURCH. AND WHY CAN'T WE AS THE STATE STEP

IN WHEN THERE'S A GAP? AND THE GAP EXISTS BECAUSE, UNFORTUNATELY, THEY

ARE NOT DEEMED EMPLOYEES OF AN ENTITY, THEY ARE SUBCONTRACTORS.

TECHNICALLY, THEY'RE THE EMPLOYEES OF THE PERSON WHO HIRED THEM,

MEANING THE -- THE RIDER. AND SO IF I, AS THEIR EMPLOYER, HAVE TO PAY

ONLY TEN CENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN GET HEALTHCARE, THAT THEY CAN

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

GET EXTRA BENEFITS, I'M GOING TO HAPPILY DO IT. THIS FUND HAS BEEN

WORKING PERFECTLY AND HAS BEEN ACTUALLY HELPING PEOPLE FOR A VERY LONG

TIME. AND I WANT TO THANK THE UNION, AND ACTUALLY, IT'S THE MACHINIST

UNION, WHICH I BELIEVE OUR COLLEAGUE IS FAMILIAR WITH, WHO HAD THE

IDEA TO ACTUALLY MOVE THIS FORWARD AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE

CREATING SOMETHING THAT STEPS IN TO FILL A VOID. IF WE EVER CHANGE THE

LAW, AND I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE THAT THESE TWO GIGANTIC COMPANIES,

SHOULD BE THE ONES ACTUALLY CARRYING THE COST THE WAY THAT ANY OTHER

COMPANY WOULD. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THESE ARE FOLKS THAT NEED OUR

SUPPORT, THAT ARE WORKING, THAT ARE PAYING TAXES AND THAT IT'S ONLY

COSTING US A COUPLE OF CENTS EVERY RIDE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE

SUPPORTING THEM AND GIVING THEM THE BENEFITS THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF

US HAS.

ADDITIONALLY, THE FUND ISN'T WITHOUT OVERSIGHT. THE

DEPARTMENT OF STATE STEPS IN AND ACTUALLY LOOKS AT THEIR PLAN OF

OPERATION AND IS ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FUND IS FUNCTIONING THE WAY

THAT IT WAS INTENDED TO FUNCTION. AND EVERY YEAR THEY PROVIDE US, AS

THE LEGISLATURE, WITH A REPORT. AND I CAN ALMOST SPEAK ON BEHALF OF

THOSE WHO READ THE REPORT, THAT IF THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG IN THAT

REPORT, THERE WOULD BE NOISE MADE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WOULD CHANGE

THE -- THE PLANS ACCORDINGLY, BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE

FUND WORKS AND CONTINUES TO WORK. AND IT WORKS SO WELL THAT THIS IS

OUR FOURTH TIME, I THINK, RENEWING IT AND EXTENDING IT TO MAKE SURE THAT

WE CONTINUE THIS. IF IT WAS UP TO ME, WE'D MAKE IT PERMANENT AND WE

WOULDN'T HAVE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AGAIN. BUT, I DO WANT TO THANK

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

THE TEAM AT THE BLACK CAR FUND AND THE DRIVERS WHO I'VE HAD

OPPORTUNITY TO MEET, TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION AND TO SEE FIRSTHAND THE

GOOD WORK THAT THEY DO. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE BILL PASSING AGAIN,

TO GETTING SIGNED AND TO MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE

DRIVERS WITH THESE MUCH-NEEDED BENEFITS. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MS. LUNSFORD.

MS. LUNSFORD: THANK YOU SO MUCH. WOULD THE

SPONSOR YIELD BRIEFLY? I JUST HAVE A QUICK CLARIFYING QUESTION.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MS. CRUZ: ABSOLUTELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MS. LUNSFORD: I'M JUST LOOKING AT THE LANGUAGE

HERE. JUST TO CLARIFY, THIS IS -- THIS IS AN EXTENSION, CORRECT?

MS. CRUZ: YES.

MS. LUNSFORD: DOES THIS INCREASE ANY OF THE

SURCHARGE FROM PRIOR YEARS?

MS. CRUZ: NO.

MS. LUNSFORD: THIS IS -- WE'RE JUST EXTENDING

CURRENT LAW.

MS. CRUZ: THAT'S RIGHT. WE'RE EXTEND -- IT'S EXACTLY

THE ONE THAT IT WAS THREE YEARS AGO WHEN THE -- WE LAST PASSED IT. IT'S

JUST THREE MORE YEARS.

MS. LUNSFORD: AND IF THESE DRIVERS DIDN'T HAVE

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

THIS COVERAGE, WHO WOULD BE PAYING FOR THEIR MEDICAL COVERAGE

CONSIDERING THAT AT $23 AN HOUR, ASSUMING THEY WORK FULL-TIME, THEY

ACTUALLY WOULDN'T QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID. SO, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN THEN?

MS. CRUZ: OH, WE WOULD BE AS THE STATE. THEY'D

PROBABLY BE ON ONE OF THE MEDICAL PLANS THAT WE OFFER.

MS. LUNSFORD: SO, UNDER THIS CURRENT PLAN, ONLY

THE USERS OF THE PRODUCT, THE PEOPLE WHO TAKE THE BLACK CARS, ARE THE

ONES PAYING INTO THE SYSTEM FOR THE PEOPLE PROVIDING THEM THE SERVICE.

MS. CRUZ: THAT'S CORRECT.

MS. LUNSFORD: IT'S ACTUALLY VERY COST-EFFECTIVE FOR

NEW YORKERS AS OPPOSED TO SPREADING THAT ACROSS EVERY SINGLE CITIZEN

WHO MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THESE CARS.

MS. CRUZ: I WOULD ARGUE SO, YES.

MS. LUNSFORD: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MS. CRUZ: THANK YOU.

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.)

MS. GIGLIO TO EXPLAIN HER VOTE.

MS. GIGLIO: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, TO

EXPLAIN MY VOTE. SO, I TRIED TO GET A COPY OF THE REPORT THAT WAS

SUBMITTED ON MAY 1ST. I ACTUALLY ASKED THE BLACK CAR BENEFIT FUND

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

FOR IT, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS PROPRIETARY. I REACHED OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT

OF STATE ASKING FOR A REPORT, THEY TOLD ME THAT I COULDN'T HAVE IT. I

BELIEVE THAT OUR LEADER HAS -- IS TRYING TO GET A COPY OF THAT REPORT FOR

ME. SO, IT -- THAT REPORT IS NOT AVAILABLE TO THE LEGISLATURE AND I WOULD

FEEL MUCH BETTER IF IT WAS BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SURPLUS IS IN

THE ACCOUNT, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE SPENDING FOR WORKERS' COMP,

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE SPENDING FOR BENEFITS. BUT THE COST TO GET

AROUND NEW YORK CITY AND NEW YORK STATE KEEP GOING UP WITH

CONGESTION PRICING, WITH THE NEW YORK CITY SALES TAX THAT GOES ON TOP

OF IT. I MEAN, I TOOK AN UBER LAST NIGHT FROM THE RUDDERS DINNER AND IT

COST ME $30 TO GET FROM, YOU KNOW, ALBANY TO TROY. SO, THESE COSTS

JUST KEEP GOING UP AND THERE'S NO OVERSIGHT. DEPARTMENT OF STATE GETS

A COPY OF THE REPORT ALSO, THEY DO NOT OVERSEE THE OPERATION. THEY ONLY

GET REPORTS AS -- AS WELL AS THE MAJORITY LEADER, THE SPEAKER,

DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND THERE WAS ONE OTHER ENTITY. BUT THE BLACK CAR

BENEFIT FUND DID TELL ME THAT THE SPEAKER WAS -- WANTED THIS REPORT TO

BE TRANSPARENT. SO, I APPRECIATE THAT AND I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN DO

BETTER, NOT ONLY FOR NEW YORKERS AND TO KEEP COSTS DOWN, BUT TO ALSO

HOLD COMPANIES THAT HIRE THESE WORKERS. YOU KNOW, IT'S THE

INDEPENDENT DRIVERS GUILD, NOT A UNION, WHICH IS WHY THE ORIGINAL BILL

HAD THE SUPPORT OF THE ALF-CIO IN 1999, AND THEY ARE NOT TAKING A

POSITION TODAY. SO, IT'S, YOU KNOW, THERE SOME THINGS THAT ARE BEING

SAID, BUT ANYWAY. I THINK THAT ADDING BENEFITS JUST BECAUSE THERE'S

MORE MONEY IN THE FUND; MAYBE WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT LOWERING THE

PERCENTAGE THAT WE'RE CHARGING NEW YORKERS AND VISITORS, RATHER THAN

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

FINDING OTHER EXPENSES. THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU. MS.

GIGLIO IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES TO EXPLAIN HER VOTE.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER, TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE. ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE IS NOT FREE. IT'S NOT.

AND SO UNTIL WE GET TO A PLACE IN THIS COUNTRY, AND WE'RE NOT ANYWHERE

NEAR IT, WHERE THERE'LL BE UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, EVERYTHING WE

BUY, EVERYTHING WE USE, WE WILL BE PAYING FOR THE EMPLOYERS AND

EMPLOYEES' HEALTHCARE. THAT'S THE WAY IT IS. THAT'S WHERE WE LIVE AND

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH. SO, TO DENY SOME PEOPLE HEALTHCARE

BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO PAY A HIGHER PRICE, IS NOT NECESSARILY FAIR.

DEAL WITH THE REALITY OF IT. YOU BUY A CAR, YOU'RE PAYING FOR PEOPLE'S

HEALTH INSURANCE. YOU BUY A DRESS, YOU'RE PAYING FOR PEOPLE'S HEALTH

INSURANCE. YOU GO TO THE STORE, YOU'RE PAYING FOR PEOPLE'S HEALTH

INSURANCE, BECAUSE THE EMPLOYER IS NOT CARRYING THAT WHOLE COST

THEMSELVES, THEY'RE PASSING IT ON TO THE CONSUMER. AND IT'S THE REASON

WHY WE SEE PRICES CONTINUE TO GO UP AND UP AND UP BECAUSE WE WON'T

DO WHAT WE COULD DO AND THAT'S PROVIDE INSURANCE TO EVERY AMERICAN

AS AN AMERICAN.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MRS.

PEOPLES-STOKES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE

THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

THE BILL IS PASSED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, IF YOU

COULD PLEASE CALL THE RULES COMMITTEE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: RULES COMMITTEE TO

THE SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM. RULES COMMITTEE TO THE SPEAKER'S

CONFERENCE ROOM.

PAGE 12, CALENDAR NO. 88, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01865-A, CALENDAR

NO. 88, ROSENTHAL, BURDICK, EPSTEIN, SEAWRIGHT, LUCAS, LEVENBERG.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE REAL PROPERTY LAW, IN RELATION TO THE INSTALLATION

OF APPLIANCES OR FIXTURES BY TENANTS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: AN EXPLANATION HAS

BEEN REQUESTED.

MS. ROSENTHAL.

MS. ROSENTHAL: THIS BILL WOULD PROHIBIT A

LANDLORD FROM RESTRICTING A RESIDENTIAL TENANT FROM INSTALLING APPLIANCES

OR FIXTURES IF THEY COMPLY WITH APPLICABLE BUILDING CODES AND THE

TENANT HAS SOUGHT AND OBTAINED WRITTEN CONSENT FROM THE LANDLORD.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. FITZPATRICK.

MR. FITZPATRICK: WILL THE SPONSOR YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

MR. FITZPATRICK: THANK -- THANK YOU, LINDA.

THE -- SO, IN -- IN A -- AN APARTMENT BUILDING OR A RENTAL UNIT,

APPLIANCES ARE PROVIDED, CORRECT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: USUALLY.

MR. FITZPATRICK: USUALLY. ARE THERE EXAMPLES

WHERE IT'S NOT? I MEAN, ARE PEOPLE --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YEAH, BUT THAT'S LIKE IN THE

WEEDS, SO I'LL SAY YES.

MR. FITZPATRICK: ARE THERE ANY SITUATIONS WHERE

PEOPLE WHO MOVE INTO AN APARTMENT OR A DWELLING AND THEY HAVE TO

PROVIDE THEIR OWN APPLIANCES?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YOU KNOW, AT TIMES, IN GENERAL,

AT LEAST IN THE CITY, THEY DO PROVIDE APPLIANCES.

MR. FITZPATRICK: IN -- IN THE CITY THEY DO.

OKAY.

MS. ROSENTHAL: YEAH, GENERALLY.

MR. FITZPATRICK: YEAH, GENERALLY. THAT'S WHAT

-- SO, THE -- THE PROPERTY OWNER, THE PROVIDER OF THE HOUSING IS -- HAS TO

MEET CERTAIN STANDARDS IN ORDER TO ATTRACT A BUYER SO HE PUT -- HE OR SHE

IS GOING TO PROVIDE A -- A DECENT REFRIGERATOR, A DECENT RANGE, A DECENT

WASHER OR DRYER IF THAT'S AVAILABLE, CORRECT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: NOT THE WASHER/DRYER BUT THE

REFRIGERATOR.

MR. FITZPATRICK: WELL, YEAH, YES, IF-- IF

APPLICABLE. SO, WHY WOULD SOMEONE WANT TO, I'M GONNA ASSUME,

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

UPGRADE AN APPLIANCE? MOST LIKELY PERHAPS A REFRIGERATOR IS WHAT

WE'RE TALKING MOSTLY HERE?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YOU KNOW, IF -- IF SOMEONE'S

REFRIGERATOR, A RENTER'S REFRIGERATOR BREAKS, OFTEN THEY ARE GIVEN A

REFURBISHED REFRIGERATOR. AND SOMETIMES, PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE A

BIGGER FREEZER, FOR EXAMPLE. SO, THEY'D LIKE TO BUY THEIR OWN

REFRIGERATOR, AND OFTEN THE LANDLORD SAYS NO. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT

REASON THEY HAVE, BUT THIS WOULD ENABLE PEOPLE TO BUY THEIR OWN

APPLIANCE, IT'S A SHORT LIST, AND THE LANDLORD WOULD HAVE TO SAY IF IT -- IT

DOES NOT CONFORM TO A PARTICULAR CODE THEN THEY COULD DENY IT.

OTHERWISE, THEY'D HAVE TO ALLOW THEM.

MR. FITZPATRICK: SO, DOES, UNDER THE CURRENT

LAW, IS A SURCHARGE PERMITTED TO BE APPLIED?

MS. ROSENTHAL: NO. WELL, IT COULD BE AN IAI IF

THE LANDLORD WANTED TO PROVIDE A NEW ONE. BUT, YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD

THIS BILL FOR -- FOR A WHILE AND IT'S BASED ON EXPERIENCE WITH DIFFERENT

CONSTITUENTS AND DIFFERENT STORIES I'VE HEARD; WHERE THE CONSTITUENT JUST

WANTS TO BUY THEIR OWN APPLIANCE AND THE LANDLORDS HAVE JUST SAID NO

WITHOUT GOOD REASON. THIS BILL, YOU KNOW, IT -- IT ENSURES THAT THE

TENANT PAYS FOR EVERYTHING, DOES NOT CAUSE ANY BURDEN ON THE LANDLORD,

IT SIMPLY LET'S THEM PURCHASE AN APPLIANCE THAT THEY WANT.

MR. FITZPATRICK: SO, IS THE TENANT REQUIRED TO

REMOVE THAT NEW APPLIANCE UPON --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YEAH. WHEN THEY MOVE OUT?

MR. FITZPATRICK: WHEN THEY MOVE OUT?

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

MS. ROSENTHAL: YEAH. AT THE TERMINATION OF THE

TENANCY, THE TENANT IS RESPONSIBLE EITHER FOR RESTORING APPLIANCES THAT

WERE INSTALLED OR -- OR LEAVE -- LEAVING WHAT -- WHAT THEY BOUGHT

BEHIND.

MR. FITZPATRICK: OKAY. SO, IN A SITUATION LIKE

THE CITY WHERE MOST OF THE HOUSING STOCK PREDATES WORLD WAR II, IT'S

VERY OLD, THE CONCERN IS IF YOU HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF TENANTS SAYING, I

WANT TO UPGRADE THE REFRIGERATOR. WHAT IF THE ELECTRIC SERVICE IS NOT

ABLE TO HANDLE THAT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL, THEN THE LANDLORD COULD

PROVIDE THAT REASON AND DENY IT.

MR. FITZPATRICK: OKAY.

MS. ROSENTHAL: BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK

REFRIGERATORS, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY SHOULD -- THEY ALL MUST BE IN GOOD

WORKING CONDITION, SO THEY PROBABLY CAN'T BE THAT OLD THAT THEY NEED A

DIFFERENT CURRENT. BUT, IF THE WHOLE BUILDING HAS NEWER ONES AND IT'S A

TAX ON THE ELECTRICITY, THEN THE LANDLORD CAN SAY NO.

MR. FITZPATRICK: I -- AND THAT'S A LEGITIMATE --

THAT'S A LEGITIMATE EXCUSE OR A LEGITIMATE REASON TO DENY THAT -- IF --

MS. ROSENTHAL: IF -- IF THEY FIND THAT APPLICABLE

BUILDING CODE IS NOT ADHERED TO.

MR. FITZPATRICK: OKAY. SO, THE PROPERTY OWNER

WHO OWNS, THIS IS PRIVATE PROPERTY --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YEAH.

MR. FITZPATRICK: -- OWNED BY AN INDIVIDUAL OR

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

CORPORATION --

MS. ROSENTHAL: RIGHT.

MR. FITZPATRICK: -- THEY -- THEY DICTATE THE

TERMS. YOU ARE RENTING SPACE FROM THEM.

MS. ROSENTHAL: INDEED.

MR. FITZPATRICK: SO, YOU ARE -- I'M GOING TO RENT

AN APARTMENT FROM THEM. I'M MOVING INTO THEIR PROPERTY, NOT MY

PROPERTY.

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL, YOU'RE PAYING MONTHLY FOR

THAT PRIVILEGE.

MR. FITZPATRICK: I'M PAYING FOR THAT PRIVILEGE,

BUT I'M ALSO PAYING FOR A REFRIGERATOR AND ANY OTHER APPLIANCE THAT

MIGHT BE THERE. YEAH, I MAY DESIRE AN ADDITIONAL OR A LARGER FREEZER OR

SOMETHING. WHY NOT RATHER THAN REPLACE THE ENTIRE UNIT, YOU BUY

MAYBE A SMALL FREEZER OR SEEK PERMISSION TO DO THAT RATHER THAN A LARGE

OR AN -- AN ENTIRE REFRIGERATOR?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I DON'T -- I DON'T THINK IT'S THAT

UNREASONABLE TO WANT TO BUY A NICER REFRIGERATOR PERHAPS THAN THE ONE

THAT YOU HAVE. AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT BUYING LIKE A, I FORGET, SOME

LIKE VERY MIELE, M-I-E-L-E, I'M NOT SURE HOW TO SAY IT, OR SUB-ZERO,

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. YOU KNOW, AS I SAID EARLIER, THE

LANDLORD HAS TO PROVIDE A WORKING REFRIGERATOR, BUT OFTEN IT'S NOT AS

EFFICIENT --

MR. FITZPATRICK: SO -- SO IF YOU HAVE --

MS. ROSENTHAL: -- IT'S NOT AS EFFICIENT, FOR

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

EXAMPLE.

MR. FITZPATRICK: SO, WE'RE NOT TALKING LARGE

SPACES. GENERALLY, YOU KNOW, CITY APARTMENTS GENERALLY HAVE PRETTY

TIGHT QUARTERS, ESPECIALLY --

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL, SOME -- SOME DO, SOME

DON'T.

MR. FITZPATRICK: SOME DO, SOME DON'T. BUT, I --

I THINK MANY DO. I KNOW WHEN MY -- WHEN MY TWO KIDS LIVED IN THE

CITY, THEY WERE IN A STABILIZED -- RENT-STABILIZED UNITS AND THE SPACES

WERE PRETTY TIGHT. SO, IF YOU'RE -- YOU'RE LIMITED IN TERMS OF SPACE,

MAYBE 19 CUBIC FEET MIGHT BE A -- A LARGE REFRIGERATOR. MIGHT BE SMALL

FOR A RESIDENTIAL HOME IN SUBURBIA, BUT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE 17, 19 FEET IS

PROBABLY A LARGE UNIT FOR A CITY APARTMENT. THAT -- IF -- IF THE -- IF THE

LANDLORD OR THE PROPERTY OWNER IS PROVIDING A REFRIGERATOR THAT'S IN

GOOD WORKING ORDER, WHY IS HE DENIED THE RIGHT TO DETERMINE WHAT IS

PERMITTED IN HIS OWN OR HER OWN PROPERTY? WHY -- WHY -- WHY ARE YOU

REMOVING THE OWNER'S RIGHT TO DETERMINE WHAT GOES INTO HIS OR HER

PROPERTY?

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL, IF YOU LIVE THERE AND YOU

PAY RENT, YOU FURNISH IT YOURSELF --

MR. FITZPATRICK: RIGHT.

MS. ROSENTHAL: -- IF THE REFRIGERATOR IS SOME

CLUNKY MACHINE WHERE IT DOESN'T CLOSE PROPERLY AND THEY REFUSE TO

REPLACE IT, MAYBE YOU WANT TO BUY YOUR OWN REFRIGERATOR.

MR. FITZPATRICK: YOU CAN --

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

MS. ROSENTHAL: YOU CAN ALSO -- LET ME FINISH --

YOU CAN ALSO BUY A FREEZER UNDER THIS. IF THE FREEZER'S NOT BIG ENOUGH

AND YOU DON'T WANT TO BUY A NEW REFRIGERATOR, YOU CAN BUY A FREEZER.

THIS JUST GIVES SOME FLEXIBILITY. THE LANDLORD CAN DENY IT, BUT THIS JUST

ACCOMMODATES PEOPLE. SOME PEOPLE HAVE VERY OLD REFRIGERATORS THAT

THEY ARE NOT GETTING REPLACED AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT ADHERES TO

THE WARRANTY OF HABITABILITY. SOMETIMES THEY GET INTO A THING WHERE

THE LANDLORDS LIKE, WELL, THE REFRIGERATOR WORKS, BUT YOU KNOW THAT IT

DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. AND IF YOU'RE PAYING THE ELECTRIC BILL, YOU

WANT SOMETHING THAT IS ENERGY EFFICIENT AS WELL.

MR. FITZPATRICK: WELL, DO WE NOT -- DO WE --

DOES -- DOES NOT THE TENANT HAVE THE ABILITY TO CALL THE SUPERINTENDENT

OR THE -- OR THE -- THE -- OR THE PROPERTY OWNER AND SAY, LOOK, YOU KNOW,

THE HANDLE IS BROKEN, IT'S NOT CLOSING --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MR. FITZPATRICK: -- IT WORKS FINE.

MS. ROSENTHAL: THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE GOING

TO FIX IT PROPERLY. THEY CAN SAY IT'S IN WORKING ORDER AND PUT TAPE

AROUND THE HANDLE. I MEAN, I'M SURE YOU'D WANT A BETTER REFRIGERATOR

THAN SOMETHING THAT'S GLUED AND PASTED TOGETHER AND THAT THE DOOR HAS A

GOOD SUCTION AND DOESN'T OPEN WITHOUT FORCE.

MR. FITZPATRICK: SURE. I --

MS. ROSENTHAL: THOSE ARE JUST SOME EXAMPLES

BASED ON REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE WHERE LANDLORDS HAVE SAID NO BECAUSE

THEY DON'T LIKE THE TENANT, THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE THEM HAVE A BETTER

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

REFRIGERATOR.

MR. FITZPATRICK: CAN YOU PROVIDE ME WITH -- DO

YOU HAVE A NUMBER? ANY STATISTICS TO SHOW HOW --

MS. ROSENTHAL: I DON'T -- I DON'T NEED STATISTICS --

MR. FITZPATRICK: -- HOW BIG THIS PROBLEM IS?

MS. ROSENTHAL: -- I HAVE REAL --

MR. FITZPATRICK: YOU -- YOU DON'T HAVE

STATISTICS?

MS. ROSENTHAL: NO, I DON'T. BUT I HAVE REAL LIFE

EXPERIENCE. I HAVE MANY CONSTITUENTS WHO HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR

YEARS. THIS BILL IS VERY NARROW. WE NARROW IT TO A NUMBER OF

APPLIANCES, WE HAVE THEM ASK THE LANDLORD FOR PERMISSION, WE REQUIRE

THAT THEY RESTORE IT, WE SAY THE LANDLORD HAS NO OBLIGATION TO CHANGE THE

-- CHANGE ANYTHING TO ACCOMMODATE THE PURCHASE. WE ALSO HAVE

SMALLER FIXTURES LIKE SHOWER HEADS AND FAUCETS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS.

AND, AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN I HAD TO CHANGE MY BATHROOM SINK

BECAUSE IT WAS VERY OLD, I DISCUSSED IT WITH MY LANDLORD AND I BOUGHT A

NEW ONE AND WE SPLIT THE COST. SO, THAT'S SOMEONE WHO'S

ACCOMMODATING. OFTEN, OR SOMETIMES, THERE'S NO ACCOMMODATION.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS REALLY A HARMLESS BILL. A LANDLORD MIGHT EVEN LUCK

OUT WHEN THE TENANT MOVES AND THEY GET A NEW REFRIGERATOR.

MR. FITZPATRICK: VERY WELL. THANK YOU, MS.

ROSENTHAL.

MS. ROSENTHAL: THANK YOU.

MR. FITZPATRICK: MADAM SPEAKER, ON THE BILL.

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE BILL. CAN WE

HAVE SOME QUIET, PLEASE? THANK YOU.

MR. FITZPATRICK: THE -- THE SPONSOR IS MAKING --

MAKING THIS SOUND LIKE IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL. AND IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF

THINGS, IT MAY NOT BE AS MAJOR A PROBLEM AS -- AS SOME MIGHT THINK.

HOWEVER, THE -- THE OWNER HAS AN OBLIGATION. OVER THE YEARS, WE HAVE

PASSED MANY PIECES OF LEGISLATION REQUIRING OWNERS TO FIX THEIR

PROPERTIES, TO UPGRADE THEIR PROPERTIES. WE'VE TAKEN AWAY THEIR ABILITY

TO LEVY SURCHARGES FOR THE ADDITIONAL COST OF PROVIDING THIS EQUIPMENT

ALL WHILE KEEPING THEIR RENTS AT BELOW MARKET RATES, BELOW THE RATE OF

INFLATION, WHILE THEIR WATER RATES INCREASE, THEIR SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL

RATES INCREASE, THEIR ELECTRICITY RATES INCREASE, OIL RATE -- OIL PRICES

INCREASE. IT COSTS MORE AND MORE TO OPERATE THESE BUILDINGS, MOST OF

WHICH PREDATE WORLD WAR II BEFORE 1947. SO, WE HAVE VERY OLD

HOUSING STOCK. THERE IS A LEGITIMATE CONCERN ABOUT THE ABILITY OF THE

INFRASTRUCTURE TO HANDLE THE ADDITIONAL ELECTRICITY BURDEN IF A LARGE

NUMBER OF TENANTS WANT TO UPGRADE THEIR UNITS. PLUMBING, BECAUSE

MAYBE I WANT AN AUTOMATIC ICE MAKER WHERE I DON'T HAVE ONE NOW AND

IT REQUIRES ADDITIONAL PLUMBING. WHO'S GONNA PERFORM THAT WORK?

WHO GUARANTEES THE WORK? WHO'S GONNA FIX IT IF IT BREAKS? MORE AND

MORE BURDENS WILL LAND UPON THE BUILDING OWNER AND IF THEY'RE NOT A

BURDEN NOW, THEY'LL BE LEGISLATION TO PUT THAT ADDITIONAL BURDOM --

BURDEN ON THEM LATER BECAUSE WE'LL HEAR ABOUT ALL OF THESE STORIES WITH

NO DATA PROVIDED TO BACK IT UP THAT THIS IS A CRISIS, OR A NEW CRISIS HAS

DEVELOPED. SO, IT BOILS DOWN TO THE ABILITY OF A PROPERTY OWNER TO HAVE

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

CONTROL OVER THEIR OWN PROPERTY. YES, THE TENANT RENTS. THE TENANT

PAYS FOR THE PRIVILEGE TO LIVE THERE AND GETS IN RETURN A CLEAN PLACE TO

LIVE WITH WORKING APPLIANCES. BUT THIS, I THINK, IS A BACK-DOOR EFFORT TO

PUT ADDITIONAL BURDEN WITHOUT PAYING A SURCHARGE FOR THAT ADDITIONAL

PRIVILEGE, ALL THE WHILE EXPLAINING A WAY THAT IT IS A -- NOT A BIG DEAL.

WELL, WHEN LITTLE THINGS ADD UP AS THEY HAVE DONE, ESPECIALLY IN THE

CITY, IT HAS BECOME A BIG DEAL. IT'S SUCH A BIG DEAL THAT WE HAVE

PROPERTY OWNERS LITERALLY TAKING THEIR UNITS OFF THE MARKET AND WE HAVE

A SHORTAGE OF RENTAL HOUSING AT AFFORDABLE RATES BECAUSE OWNERS CAN'T

AFFORD TO RENT THEM ANYMORE. THEY CAN'T RECOVER THEIR COSTS AND MEET

THEIR EXPENSES BECAUSE THE RENT GUIDELINES BOARD WILL NOT ALLOW THEM

TO CHARGE REASONABLE RATES TO COVER THEIR COSTS. AND NOW, WE'RE GONNA

PUT ADDITIONAL BURDENS ON THEM WITH THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION. I BELIEVE

IT'S WRONG. I WOULD ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO CONSIDER A NO VOTE AND LET'S

ALLOW PEOPLE TO OWN -- WHO OWN PROPERTY TO OPERATE THEIR PROPERTY.

THEY KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO IS PROVIDE A SAFE, CLEAN, REASONABLE

PLACE TO LIVE. LET THEM DO THAT WITHOUT PUTTING ADDITIONAL BURDENS ON

THEM. THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MR. NOVAKAHOV.

MR. NOVAKHOV: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

WOULD THE -- WOULD THE SPONSOR YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MR. NOVAKHOV: THANK YOU, MS. CHAIR -- MADAM

CHAIR. SO, DOES THE LANDLORD HAVE ANY RESPONSIBILITIES ON REMOVING

AND STORING THE OLD APPLIANCES? LET'S SAY I WANT TO USE THE NEW

APPLIANCES IN MY RENTAL APARTMENT, BUT THEN I WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE THE

APPLIANCES FROM THE APARTMENT. SO, DOES THE LANDLORD --

MS. ROSENTHAL: IT'S THE TENANT'S RESPONSIBILITY.

MR. NOVAKHOV: YEAH.

MS. ROSENTHAL: TENANT'S RESPONSIBILITY.

MR. NOVAKHOV: I'M SORRY, I CAN'T HEAR YOU.

MS. ROSENTHAL: IT'S THE TENANT'S RESPONSIBILITY.

MR. NOVAKHOV: IT'S THE TENANT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO

-- TO MOVE IT OUT? TO MOVE OUT THE OLD APPLIANCES AND THEN TO --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MR. NOVAKHOV: -- TO STORE THE APPLIANCES IF HE

WANTS TO, YOU KNOW, GET THE APPLIANCES BACK IN THE APARTMENT WHILE

HE'S --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MR. NOVAKHOV: AND HOW'S IT GOING TO WORK WITH

THE RENTER'S INSURANCE OR LANDLORD INSURANCE? SHOULD THE NEW

APPLIANCES BE INCLUDED OR NOTED IN -- IN THE POLICY?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I DON'T -- I DON'T THINK INSURANCE

HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.

MR. NOVAKHOV: OKAY. SO, IF -- IF THE APPLIANCES

ARE A PART OF THE, KIND OF INCLUDED IN THE APARTMENT, SO USUALLY WE RENT

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

THE APARTMENTS WITH THE -- WITH APPLIANCES, RIGHT? SO, IT IS THE PART OF

THE APARTMENT, AND WHEN WE PURCHASING A RENTER'S INSURANCE, WE'RE

INSURING OUR BELONGINGS AND THE -- AND THE APARTMENT, RIGHT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I DON'T THINK THAT THE MAKE AND

MODEL NUMBER OF A REFRIGERATOR IS INCLUDED IN THE INSURANCE POLICY.

MR. NOVAKHOV: BUT -- BUT THIS IS A PART OF THE --

THIS -- THIS IS A PART OF THE ACTUAL APARTMENT, SO IT BECOMES KIND OF A --

KIND OF A PART OF THE APARTMENT, SO... BUT -- BUT IF THIS IS MY APPLIANCES,

NOT THE LANDLORD'S APPLIANCES, AND LET'S SAY SOMETHING HAPPENS WITH THE

APARTMENT, LET'S SAY IT GOES ON, YOU KNOW, ON FIRE OR SOMETHING --

MS. ROSENTHAL: THIS IS NOT AN INSURANCE BILL.

SO, I DON'T -- I DON'T THINK THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.

MR. NOVAKHOV: NO, I UNDERSTAND. BUT IT

CHANGES THE OWNERSHIP OF THE APPLIANCES IN THE APARTMENT FROM

LANDLORDS TO THE TENANT. AND THIS IS WHY I'M CURIOUS LIKE HOW IT'S

GONNA WORK WITH THE INSURANCE POLICY.

MS. ROSENTHAL: BY THE SAME TOKEN, THEN YOU

SHOULDN'T INSURE THE APPLIANCES THAT DON'T BELONG TO YOU, LET THE

LANDLORD INSURE THE REFRIGERATOR. I THINK -- I THINK, YOU KNOW, RENTERS

BUY THEIR OWN POLICY AND COVER THEIR OWN BELONGINGS. SO, LIKE, THE

DIAMOND NECKLACE IS COVERED, BUT THE REFRIGERATOR IS NOT THEIR PERSONAL

ONE UNLESS THEY BUY IT.

MR. NOVAKHOV: NO, I MEAN LIKE IF LET -- LET'S SAY

THERE'S A FIRE IN THE BUILDING AND -- AND THE LANDLORD GETS -- IS

COMPENSATED FROM -- FROM HIS INSURANCE, BUT THE APPLIANCES BELONG TO

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

THE TENANT.

MS. ROSENTHAL: UH- HUH.

MR. NOVAKHOV: IS HE GOING TO BE COMPENSATED?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YOU KNOW, THIS IS A --

MR. NOVAKHOV: IS IT -- IS IT REPORTED SOMEWHERE

THAT --

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL, HE DOESN'T NEED TO BE

COMPENSATED IF NOTHING HAPPENED TO THE REFRIGERATOR THAT HE OWNS.

MR. NOVAKHOV: WELL, IF THERE IS A FIRE,

EVERYTHING WILL HAPPEN TO THE REFRIGERATOR.

MS. ROSENTHAL: BUT IF -- IF THERE'S A FIRE RIGHT

NOW WITH THE LANDLORD-SUPPLIED REFRIGERATOR, IT DEPENDS ON HIS POLICY

OR HER POLICY AND THE RENTER'S POLICY. BUT, WHEN YOU GET RENTAL

INSURANCE, YOU'RE NOT INSURING THE APPLIANCES. UNLESS YOU OWN THEM,

YOU'RE INSURING YOUR OWN BELONGINGS. SO, IF THERE'S A FIRE, SOMETHING

HAPPENS TO THE REFRIGERATOR SUPPLIED BY THE LANDLORD, THEN HE OR SHE

WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE IT. IF IT'S THE TENANT'S REFRIGERATOR, THEN IT HAS

NOTHING TO DO WITH THE LANDLORD.

MR. NOVAKHOV: THIS WAY YES, BUT -- BUT-- BUT

THE DIFFERENT WAY, IF -- IF THE LANDLORD IS GETTING PAID BY THE INSURANCE

COMPANY FOR THE DAMAGES, HOW THE TENANT CAN PROVE THAT HE NEEDS TO

BE COMPENSATED FOR HIS APPLIANCES?

MS. ROSENTHAL: IT'S NOT THE -- IT'S NOT THE TENANT'S

OBLIGATION TO NEGOTIATE A LANDLORD'S INSURANCE POLICY PAYMENT. I -- I

THINK YOU'RE -- YOU'RE -- YOU'RE CONJURING THINGS UP. THE TENANT IS

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

RESPONSIBLE FOR RESTORING THE UNIT, SO THE LANDLORD WOULD RECEIVE ANY

INSURANCE BENEFIT. BUT, YOU KNOW, I -- I --I THINK THIS IS A FARFETCHED

EXAMPLE.

MR. NOVAKHOV: OKAY. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

MS. ROSENTHAL: THANK YOU.

MR. NOVAKHOV: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MR. BOLOGNA.

MR. BOLOGNA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM

SPEAKER. WOULD THE SPONSOR YIELD FOR A FEW QUICK QUESTIONS?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MR. BOLOGNA: IN READING THROUGH THE TEXT, I'M

NOTICING THAT THERE'S NO CARVE-OUTS FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF --

MS. ROSENTHAL: I CAN'T HEAR YOU.

MR. BOLOGNA: IN READING THROUGH THE TEXT, I'M

NOTICING THAT THERE'S NOT ANY TYPES OF CARVE-OUTS FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF

OWNERS. SO, IN MY NECK OF THE WOOD [SIC] IN WESTERN NEW YORK, I'M

NOT SURE IF YOU GUYS GET THIS DOWNSTATE, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF DUPLEXES

THAT ARE OFTENTIMES OWNER-OCCUPIED. SO, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, I

ACTUALLY STILL OWN A HOUSE BUT I USED TO LIVE IN THE UPPER UNIT OF THE

APARTMENT THAT I RENT OUT. SO, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, IS THERE ANY TYPE

OF EXEMPTIONS FOR OWNER-OCCUPIED LANDLORDS?

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

MS. ROSENTHAL: NO. IF -- IF -- IF YOU'RE RENTING

OUT AN APARTMENT, THEN IT'S THEIR APARTMENT. YOU KNOW, THIS DOESN'T

HAVE TO BE A HOSTILE I WANT A REFRIGERATOR YES OR NO. IT'S A DISCUSSION,

IT'S AN AGREEMENT, IT'S A COURTESY. THAT'S PURELY WHAT THIS IS.

MR. BOLOGNA: YEAH, AND ABSOLUTELY. AND I

DEFINITELY APPRECIATE -- I -- I APPRECIATE WHERE, I THINK, WHERE YOU'RE

TRYING TO COME FROM HERE. I ALSO WAS TRYING TO GIVE -- OFFER SOME

COUNTERPOINTS FROM -- FROM SOMEONE WHO WOULD CONSIDER THEMSELF A

RESPONSIBLE LANDLORD AND WHO TRIES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF MY TENANTS

BEST AS POSSIBLE. I -- THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS IN HERE JUST -- THAT JUST ARE

RAISING MY EYEBROWS A LITTLE BIT. SO, I DO WANT TO JUST CONFIRM

SOMETHING. SO, IN THE -- IN THE TITLE HERE, IT SAYS PROHIBITS LANDLORDS

FROM RESTRICTING THE INSTALLATION. BUT, THEN IT SAYS THAT THERE HAS TO BE

SOME TYPE OF WRITTEN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TENANT AND THE LANDLORD.

SO, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS: WHAT -- WHAT DOES IT ENTAIL? WHAT IS THAT --

WHAT IS THE WRITTEN AGREEMENT AND WHAT IS -- WHAT ARE GROUNDS FOR A

DENIAL? IS IT JUST THE BUILDING CODES, OR CAN IT BE SOME LANDLORD

DISCRETION?

MS. ROSENTHAL: SO LONG AS THE APPLIANCES OR

FIXTURES ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE BUILDING CODES OR OTHER

PROVISIONS OF LAW, AND FURTHER, PROVIDED THE RESIDENTIAL TENANT HAS

SOUGHT IN WRITING AND OBTAINED WRITTEN CONSENT FROM THE LANDLORD FOR

SUCH INSTALLATION. SO, THOSE ARE THE PARAMETERS.

MR. BOLOGNA: SO, THEY -- SO LONG AS THEY SOUGHT

WRITTEN CONSENT FROM -- FROM THE LANDLORD. SO, AS A LANDLORD CAN I JUST

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

SAY, UNFORTUNATELY, THIS REQUEST IS DENIED?

MS. ROSENTHAL: NO. IF -- IF THEY -- THEY CAN DO

THAT, BUT THAT WOULD BE AGAINST THE LAW.

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY. SO, THEN I'M GONNA GIVE

YOU -- SO, KNOWING THAT NOW, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A COUPLE EXAMPLES.

SO, LET'S SAY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A GAS STOVE -- GAS-POWERED STOVE, RIGHT?

AND THE -- AND THE TENANT NOW WANTS AN ELECTRIC STOVE --

MS. ROSENTHAL: RIGHT.

MR. BOLOGNA: -- BUT THERE'S NO 220 LINE FOR AN

ELECT -- FOR AN ELECTRIC STOVE. AND THE TENANT TAKES IT UPON THEMSELF TO

INSTALL A 220 --

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL -- WELL, THAT -- THE TENANT IS

NOT ALLOWED TO DO.

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY. OKAY, THEN I'LL GIVE -- OKAY,

LET'S TRY ANOTHER EXAMPLE. YOU MENTIONED A SINK. WOULD A DISPOSAL BE

PART OF A SINK FIXTURE? A GARBAGE DISPOSAL?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I DON'T KNOW.

MR. BOLOGNA: WELL, IT'S YOUR BILL. THESE ARE

PRETTY IMPORTANT THINGS TO ASK.

MS. ROSENTHAL: OKAY, OKAY. THAT -- THAT'S REALLY

ALSO A LITTLE MINUTIA. HOWEVER --

MR. BOLOGNA: NO, IT'S NOT. AS A LANDLORD, I CAN

TELL YOU THAT'S NOT MINUTIA.

MS. ROSENTHAL: OKAY, AS A LANDLORD. AS A

TENANT, I'M TELLING YOU THEY HAVE TO ASK FOR PERMISSION. IF THE LANDLORD

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

SAYS, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S IT CALLED? (CONFERENCING) THAT PIECE DOES NOT

CONFORM TO BUILDING CODE ABC, NO, YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY. BUT, I GUESS -- THERE --

THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, LIKE, WHAT IS IN ACTUAL BUILDING CODE

VERSUS, LIKE, WHAT MAKES SENSE FOR A HOUSE. IN OTHER WORDS, A -- A

SMALL APARTMENT AND A SMALL SINK HAS A -- IF SOMEONE WANTS TO PUT IN A

GARBAGE DISPOSAL. THERE'S LIKE, AN 8TH HORSEPOWER, 4TH HORSEPOWER,

HALF HORSEPOWER, FULL HORSEPOWER. IF -- IF A -- IF A TENANT DOESN'T KNOW

WHAT THE HECK THEY'RE DOING AND THEY WANT TO INSTALL ONE OF THOSE

THINGS, WELL, THAT'S A MASSIVE -- IT'S GONNA SHAKE THE WHOLE HOUSE IF

THEY'RE PUTTING IN A FULL HORSEPOWER ONE.

MS. ROSENTHAL: THE LANDLORD CAN SAY, YOU KNOW

WHAT, THE ELECTRICITY - THE WAY IT'S WIRED - WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN

USING THAT KIND OF SINK.

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY. BUT AGAIN, THEN YOU'RE SAY

-- BUT THAT'S NOT GROUNDS FOR A DENIAL.

MS. ROSENTHAL: YEAH, IT IS.

MR. BOLOGNA: BUT YOU -- BUT YOU JUST SAID THAT IT

WAS -- IT HAD TO BE -- IF IT WAS OUTSIDE OF THE CODE, THAT -- THAT WOULD BE

THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD DENY THEM. YOU CAN'T DENY THEM BECAUSE

SOMETHING DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

MS. ROSENTHAL: NO, ELECTRICAL CODE.

MR. BOLOGNA: WHAT I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU IS THAT

-- THAT --

MS. ROSENTHAL: CODE IS ELECTRICAL AS WELL.

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

MR. BOLOGNA: -- THE TYPE OF DISPOSAL THAT YOU

USE IS NOT -- IS NOT REGULATED BY CODE. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT -- THAT'S A

PREFERENCE.

MS. ROSENTHAL: ELECTRICITY HAS --

MR. BOLOGNA: NO. THE HORSEPOWER IN WHICH THE

GARBAGE DISPOSAL IS USED. THAT -- THAT IS NOT REGULATED BY CODE.

MS. ROSENTHAL: ELECTRIC WIRING IS REGULATED.

YOU WANT TO -- YOU WANT TO INTERPRET THIS VERY NARROWLY, I'M

INTERPRETING IT BROADLY. SO, IF YOU HAVE -- MY APARTMENT USED TO HAVE

FUSES.

MR. BOLOGNA: MM-HMM.

MS. ROSENTHAL: SO, IF I SAID, I WANT A BRAND-NEW

REFRIGERATOR OR INSTALL SOME HIGH-POWERED LAMP, THE LANDLORD COULD

SAY, NO BECAUSE THE ELECTRICITY CANNOT BEAR THAT LOAD. AND, NOTHING

REQUIRES THE LANDLORD TO ALTER ANYTHING.

MR. BOLOGNA: I -- I'M GONNA DISAGREE WITH THAT,

AND I WILL GIVE YOU ANOTHER EXAMPLE THAT YOU USED EARLIER. LET'S SAY

YOU WANT TO HAVE A REFRIGERATOR, BUT YOU NOW WANT TO ATTACH -- LET'S SAY

THE REFRIGERATOR THAT YOU'RE USING DOES NOT HAVE ONE OF THE LITTLE, LIKE,

ICE MAKER WATER MACHINE THINGS. SO, NOW YOU HAVE TO RUN A LINE FROM

THE SINK -- SORRY, FROM THE FRIDGE TO THE SINK. THERE IS NO CODE AGAINST

ANY OF THAT. SO, IS THAT NOW ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE TENANT, THE

LANDLORD? WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE?

(CONFERENCING)

SO, IF THERE'S A (INDISCERNIBLE) IN IT, TOO, THAT IS --

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

MS. ROSENTHAL: SO, OKAY. I KNOW -- I KNOW YOU,

YOU KNOW, TENANTS DON'T DESERVE AN ICE MAKER, WHATEVER. HOWEVER --

MR. BOLOGNA: I NEVER SAID THAT. I ASKED YOU

ABOUT THE INSTALLATION.

MS. ROSENTHAL: IF YOU WANT ME TO ANSWER IT, I

WILL ANSWER IT. THE TENANT WOULD HAVE TO ALTER SOMETHING IN THE

KITCHEN IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THAT. THE LANDLORD CAN SAY NO.

MR. BOLOGNA: AGAIN, I'M -- I'M JUST TRYING TO

HONE IN ON WHAT ALLOWS THE LANDLORD TO SAY NO BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S

SOME CONFUSION HERE. YOU KEEP TELLING ME THAT IT'S -- IF IT'S OUTSIDE OF

THE CODE, IF THE CODE -- THE BUILDING CODE IS NOT ALLOWED FOR SOMETHING,

THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN DENY IT, CORRECT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: BUILDING CODE COMPLIANCE WITH

ELECTRICITY MANDATES THINGS LIKE THAT.

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY. WHAT I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU

IS, THAT -- THAT IF YOU WANT TO RUN A HOSE FROM A FRIDGE TO A SINK, THERE'S

NO CODE THAT -- THAT PROHIBITS THAT. THAT'S NOT ILLEGAL.

MS. ROSENTHAL: THE -- THE -- THE TENANT'S NOT

ALLOWED TO MAKE CERTAIN CHANGES TO THE APARTMENT. THAT'S SEPARATE

LAW. YOU CANNOT -- I MEAN, THERE'S VERY STRICT LAW, AND THEN THERE'S

OTHER LAW THAT PEOPLE GENERALLY IGNORE. LIKE, IF YOU PAINT YOUR WALLS

PINK, THE LANDLORD MAY NOT LIKE THAT, BUT WHEN YOU LEAVE, YOU HAVE TO

RESTORE IT TO THE WHITE. I MEAN, THERE ARE MANY, MANY RULES AND LAWS

AROUND HOUSING. YOU'RE CONCOCTING SITUATIONS THAT DON'T HAVE TO EXIST.

THIS IS MEANT TO BE A FRIENDLY, HEY, I WANT A NEW REFRIGERATOR.

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

PERHAPS YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO GIVE ME ONE, I WILL BUY IT, I WILL PAY FOR ITS

INSTALLATION, I WILL PAY FOR THE ELECTRICITY. HOPEFULLY, THE ELECTRICITY

COSTS LESS BECAUSE YOU'RE GETTING AN ENERGY-EFFICIENT, ALTHOUGH THE

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S TRYING TO ELIMINATE ENERGY-EFFICIENT APPLIANCES

AND THE LANDLORD HAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

MR. BOLOGNA: RESPECTFULLY, IN THESE SITUATIONS

THAT DON'T EXIST, I'VE ACTUALLY ENCOUNTERED SOME OF THE ONES THAT I'M --

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL, HAVE YOU SAID NO TO YOUR

TENANT?

MR. BOLOGNA: AS SOMEONE CONSIDERS THEMSELF A

GOOD LANDLORD, I HELP THEM ACTUALLY INSTALL IT.

MS. ROSENTHAL: OKAY, THAT'S GREAT. I WISH THEY

ALL WERE LIKE THAT.

MR. BOLOGNA: BUT I'M JUST SAYING SOME LANDLORDS

MIGHT NOT HAVE THAT SITUATION. SOME MIGHT --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT GONNA BE THAT

SITUATION. I WISH ALL LANDLORDS WERE --

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: OKAY. JUST WANT TO

REMIND YOU, WE NEED TO BE ASKING A QUESTION, THEN WAITING FOR A

RESPONSE, PLEASE. THANK YOU.

MR. BOLOGNA: MADAM SPEAKER, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. ROSENTHAL, FOR ANSWERING SOME OF MY

QUESTIONS.

MADAM SPEAKER, ON THE BILL.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE BILL.

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

MR. BOLOGNA: I AM THRILLED THAT WE ARE SO

FLIPPANT ABOUT THIS. BUT AS SOMEONE WHO CONSIDERS THEMSELVES, YOU

KNOW, A VERY RESPONSIBLE LANDLORD, THIS IS PUTTING -- AND AGAIN, THIS IS

SOMETHING THAT I -- I HAVE A NUMBER OF FRIENDS THAT ARE A PART OF THE

CITY OF BUFFALO REVITALIZATION [SIC]. I THINK IT'S -- IT'S GREAT WHEN WE'RE

ABLE TO GO IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND -- AND TURN HOUSES AND I THINK THAT IT'S

GREAT TO ENCOURAGE THAT KIND OF DEVELOPMENT FROM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE

WHO WOULD BE SMALL LANDLORDS. I THINK THIS IS A -- A REALLY UNNECESSARY

BURDEN TO BE PLACING ON THEM. AGAIN, I -- I LOOK AT IT, THESE ARE -- THESE

ARE PEOPLES' PROPERTY. I UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENT WHERE YOU'RE SAYING

THAT TENANTS, YOU KNOW, PAY FOR THE RIGHT TO LIVE THERE. BUT AGAIN, THIS

IS SOMEONE'S PROPERTY, AND AGAIN, THE FACT THAT THERE ARE NO TYPE OF

CARVE-OUTS FOR OWNER-OCCUPIED, YOU KNOW, LANDLORD SITUATIONS IS A

LITTLE CONCERNING TO ME. SO, WITH THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM

SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MR. DURSO.

MR. DURSO: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. WOULD

THE SPONSOR YIELD FOR A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YEP.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MR. DURSO: THANK YOU, MS. ROSENTHAL. SO, I JUST

-- I JUST WANTED TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF CLARITY. AGAIN, SITUATIONAL -- I'M A

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

TENANT, I WANT TO CHANGE MY REFRIGERATOR. I HAVE TO ASK PERMISSION

FROM THE LANDLORD, CORRECT, IF I CAN DO THAT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: CORRECT.

MR. DURSO: THEY CAN ALSO DENY ME TO --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MR. DURSO: -- BE ABLE TO DO THAT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MR. DURSO: ON WHAT GROUNDS AGAIN, SPECIFICALLY?

MS. ROSENTHAL: WE WENT OVER THIS --

MR. DURSO: I KNOW.

MS. ROSENTHAL: -- AND IT SAYS IN THE BILL.

MR. DURSO: I'M SORRY. I GOT A LITTLE CONFUSED.

MS. ROSENTHAL: IT SAYS - I'M SORRY?

MR. DURSO: I GOT A LITTLE CONFUSED WITH THE BACK

AND FORTH.

MS. ROSENTHAL: IT WAS CONFUSING. THE

APPLIANCES OR FIXTURES HAVE TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE

BUILDING CODES OR OTHER PROVISIONS OF LAW.

MR. DURSO: OKAY. SO, THEY JUST HAVE TO FOLLOW THE

BUILDING CODE, CORRECT, ESSENTIALLY?

MS. ROSENTHAL: THAT'S -- YES, AND OTHER

PROVISIONS OF LAW.

MR. DURSO: CAN YOU GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF ANOTHER

PROVISION OF LAW THEY WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I -- I GAVE A -- AN EXAMPLE

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

EARLIER WHICH I CAN REPEAT. IF A BUILDING USED FUSES AND IT -- IT WAS NOT

-- IT WAS -- ACTUALLY, IT'S PROBABLY NOT UP TO CODE, BUT HAS AN OLD -- OLD

ELECTRICITY WIRING IN THE BUILDING --

MR. DURSO: RIGHT.

MS. ROSENTHAL: -- AND IF YOU PUT SOMETHING NEW

IN, IT MIGHT BLOW THE BUILDING ELECTRIC SYSTEM. THEY CAN SAY NO.

MR. DURSO: SO -- SO, IN OTHER WORDS, SO, AS MY

COLLEAGUE WAS SAYING, IF IT'S A REFRIGERATOR OR A STOVE THAT REQUIRES A 220

LINE --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

MR. DURSO: -- AND IT WAS -- IT WASN'T --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MR. DURSO: -- THEY DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE THE

ELECTRIC --

MS. ROSENTHAL: NO, NO, NO. NOT AT ALL.

MR. DURSO: YOU CAN DENY IT FOR THOSE REASONS?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES, OF COURSE.

MR. DURSO: BUT YOU CAN'T DENY IT FOR ANY OTHER

REASONS? SO --

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL --

MR. DURSO: I JUST DON'T LIKE THAT BRAND OF

REFRIGERATOR, I WANNA TO CHANGE IT, I'M GOING TO BUY IT MYSELF. IT'S NOT

REALLY -- IT'S JUST LETTING YOU KNOW THAT I'M GONNA BE CHANGING THE

REFRIGERATOR.

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL, WHY WOULD SOMEONE HAVE

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

MR. DURSO: IT'S -- IT'S JUST A QUESTION IF I --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU KNOW,

LET'S SAY I WANNA TO BUY A FRIGIDAIRE AND THE LANDLORDS LIKE, I LIKE --

WHAT'S ANOTHER BRAND? I WANT A GE.

MR. DURSO: OKAY.

MS. ROSENTHAL: THEY CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION.

MR. DURSO: I'M SORRY?

MS. ROSENTHAL: THEY CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION. IT'S

NOT GONNA BE LIKE, I'M GETTING A FRIGIDAIRE --

MR. DURSO: NO, BUT YOU CAN'T DENY THEM, CORRECT?

IF THEY'RE --

MS. ROSENTHAL: NO, NO. BUT, YOU KNOW, IT --

YOU'RE MAKING IT SEEM LIKE A HOSTILE THING.

MR. DURSO: NO, I'M -- I'M NOT. I'M JUST MERELY --

I'M NOT SAYING IT IN A HOSTILE WAY. LET'S JUST SAY IT'S A COUPLE YEARS OLD,

RIGHT, IT'S A -- A -- A TOP AND BOTTOM REFRIGERATOR FREEZER. I'M THE TENANT,

I WANT THE SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH THE FREEZER ON THE BOTTOM.

MS. ROSENTHAL: RIGHT.

MR. DURSO: IT FITS, RIGHT, BECAUSE YOU -- YOU'RE NOT

ALLOWED TO CHANGE THE STRUCTURE AROUND IT, CORRECT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: RIGHT.

MR. DURSO: I CAN'T BUY A REFRIGERATOR THAT'S BIGGER

THAN THE SPACE IT FITS IN.

MS. ROSENTHAL: NO, NO.

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

MR. DURSO: YOU CAN'T DENY ME ON THOSE GROUNDS,

CORRECT? I JUST WANT A DIFFERENT REFRIGERATOR THAN WHAT'S -- YOU'RE THE

LANDLORD, I'M THE TENANT. I WANT A DIFFERENT FRIDGE, YOU CAN'T TELL ME NO.

MS. ROSENTHAL: I AS THE LANDLORD, OR I AS THE

TENANT?

MR. DURSO: NO, NO. IT'S VERY SIMPLE. SO, I AM THE

TENANT.

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MR. DURSO: YOUR BILL IS STATING THAT IF I'M THE

TENANT --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MR. DURSO: -- I WANT A DIFFERENT REFRIGERATOR --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MR. DURSO: -- I'M ASKING YOU AS, THE LANDLORD, FOR

PERMISSION.

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MR. DURSO: -- AS LONG AS IT FITS, DOESN'T CHANGE THE

CODE OR ANYTHING, YOU CAN'T TELL ME NO.

MS. ROSENTHAL: AND -- AND CONFORMS TO OTHER

PROVISIONS.

MR. DURSO: OKAY. SO, ONCE AGAIN, I WANT A

DIFFERENT STYLE OF REFRIGERATOR,

MS. ROSENTHAL: MM-HMM.

MR. DURSO: WHAT HAPPENS TO THE REFRIGERATOR THAT

I, AS THE LANDLORD, OWN, THAT YOU, AS THE TENANT, WANT TO TAKE OUT. THAT

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

REFRIGERATOR HAS TO GO BACK INTO PLACE IF YOU EVER LEAVE, CORRECT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: OR, YOU CAN LEAVE THE

REFRIGERATOR THAT YOU BOUGHT.

MR. DURSO: OKAY. IN THE MEANTIME, LET'S SAY --

MS. ROSENTHAL: THE SENATE [SIC] HAS -- THE -- THE

-- THE TENANT HAS TO TAKE CARE OF IT.

MR. DURSO: THE TENANT HAS TO TAKE CARE OF IT. SO,

THEY HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY, NO MATTER WHAT, OF MAKING SURE THAT

THERE'S A REFRIGERATOR, EITHER THE ORIGINAL OR THE ONE THEY PURCHASED?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MR. DURSO: WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HOLDING THAT

OTHER REFRIGERATOR, WHICH IS NOW MY REFRIGERATOR, BECAUSE I'M THE

LANDLORD, I BOUGHT IT. YOU DON'T LIKE IT BECAUSE YOU DON'T LIKE THE COLOR

YELLOW OR --

MS. ROSENTHAL: THAT'S A LIE. THAT'S NOT WHY.

MR. DURSO: WELL, WHATEVER THE REASON IS. YOU

COULD SAY IT'S NOT WHY. BUT ALSO AS A TENANT, I'M ALLOWED TO SAY, I DON'T

LIKE THE COLOR YELLOW, I WANT TO CHANGE THE REFRIGERATOR.

MS. ROSENTHAL: OKAY, BUT THAT DOESN'T REALLY

HAPPEN. IT'S MORE A -- A QUESTION OF FUNCTION OF THE REFRIGERATOR.

MR. DURSO: I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT, THE BILL DOESN'T

SAY IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH FUNCTION. IT JUST SAYS, IF I WANT TO CHANGE

THE REFRIGERATOR, I CAN. SO, THEREFORE, IF MY -- IF I -- YOU'RE THE LANDLORD,

I'M THE TENANT, YOU HAVE A YELLOW REFRIGERATOR, I DON'T LIKE IT. I SAY I

WANT TO PUT IN THIS BRAND-NEW SILVER OR WHITE OR WHATEVER REFRIGERATOR,

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

I'M ALLOWED TO DO THAT, CORRECT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I MEAN, THIS IS VERY FARFETCHED.

MR. DURSO: WELL, IT MIGHT BE FARFETCHED, BUT THE

FACT OF THE MATTER IT IS DOESN'T SAY IT IN THE BILL. SO, IT'S POSSIBLE --

MS. ROSENTHAL: SO, SHOULD I PUT THAT LIKE IT

CANNOT BE OBJECTION TO COLOR?

MR. DURSO: NO. IT CAN BE JUST IF IT WORKS OR NOT.

BECAUSE AGAIN, WHAT YOUR BILL DOES IS LEAVE IT VERY BROADLY OPEN, IN MY

OPINION. IF I'M THE TENANT, I'M ALLOWED TO CHANGE THE REFRIGERATOR. MY

QUESTION, AND YOU CAN'T DENY IT AS LONG AS IT FOLLOW CODES AND FITS. SO,

MY QUESTION IS, THAT IS MY REFRIGERATOR, AS THE LANDLORD. I OWN IT. YOU

DON'T WANT IT. YOU'RE SAYING YOU HAVE TO LET ME CHANGE IT. WHO'S

HOLDING ONTO MY REFRIGERATOR FOR THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR YEARS?

MS. ROSENTHAL: THE TENANT HAS TO TAKE CARE OF

THAT. THAT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.

MR. DURSO: SO, I'M GONNA TRUST YOU, AS THE TENANT,

WITH MY REFRIGERATOR?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES. YOU'RE GONNA TRUST ME, AS

THE TENANT. REALLY WHAT SHOULD HAPPENED IS YOU HAVE A CONVERSATION,

THE TENANT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR RESTORING IT, THE LANDLORD COULD CHOOSE TO

HOLD ONTO IT OR NOT. THE TENANT CAN SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WHEN I MOVE

OUT, YOU'RE GOING TO GET THIS BRAND-NEW REFRIGERATOR. AND THE LANDLORD

COULD SAY, OKAY, THAT -- THAT'S A FAIR DEAL.

MR. DURSO: OKAY. SO, IN OTHER WORDS, REGARDLESS

WHEN YOU MOVE OUT; SIX MONTHS, SIX YEARS, WHATEVER, YOU'RE

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

RESPONSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THAT EITHER MY ORIGINAL REFRIGERATOR ENDS BACK

UP IN THAT SPOT, OR THE BRAND-NEW REFRIGERATOR YOU BOUGHT STAYS THERE?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES. AND FRANKLY, I DON'T KNOW

WHY A LANDLORD WOULD CHOOSE LIKE AN OLD --

MR. DURSO: WHAT IF IT'S NOT OLD?

MS. ROSENTHAL: LET ME FINISH.

MR. DURSO: YES, MA'AM.

MS. ROSENTHAL: IF I WERE A LANDLORD, I WOULD

CHOOSE THE BRAND-NEW REFRIGERATOR OVER SOMETHING THAT IS AN OLDER

MODEL.

MR. DURSO: UNDERSTOOD. BUT, LET'S JUST SAY I'M THE

LANDLORD AND I BOUGHT A BRAND-NEW PINK REFRIGERATOR.

MS. ROSENTHAL: YOU KNOW WHAT, IF YOU BOUGHT A

BRAND-NEW PINK REFRIGERATOR, I REALLY DON'T THINK THE TENANT WILL OBJECT.

IT'S REALLY MORE OF --

MR. DURSO: BUT THEY CAN.

MS. ROSENTHAL: OKAY. BUT, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO.

MR. DURSO: WELL, THAT'S -- THAT'S -- I MEAN, I WISH

FOR A LOT THINGS.

MS. ROSENTHAL: YOU'RE CREATING SITUATIONS THAT

REALLY THEY DON'T GET TO THE HEART OF THE BILL. THE HEART OF THE BILL IS,

YOU WANT -- YOU PAY FOR YOUR OWN ELECTRICITY. SO, IF YOU HAVE A

CLUNKER THAT IS NOT ENERGY-EFFICIENT, YOU, THE TENANT, ARE PAYING A

HIGHER ELECTRICITY BILL. IF YOU WANT SOMETHING THAT IS ENERGY STAR AND

USES LESS ELECTRICITY, THEREFORE LOWERS YOUR BILL, YOU SHOULD BE ALLOWED

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

TO DO THAT.

MR. DURSO: SO, WHY DON'T WE HAVE A BILL THAT SAYS

THAT? IF YOU DON'T HAVE ENERGY-EFFICIENT APPLIANCES, YOU CAN INSTALL

THEM AT THE TENANT'S REQUEST --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YOU KNOW, NEXT TIME WE CAN

CONFER ON THE BILL THAT I WRITE, BUT THAT'S NOT THIS BILL.

MR. DURSO: NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT. THAT'S WHY I'LL

BE VOTING AGAINST IT. SO, MY OTHER QUESTION IS --

MS. ROSENTHAL: GOOD FOR YOU.

MR. DURSO: -- WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FIXTURES AND

YOU SAID SOMEBODY WANTS TO CHOOSE A SHOWERHEAD THAT THEY DON'T LIKE,

OR MAYBE THEY DON'T LIKE THE FAUCET YOU PICKED AS A LANDLORD, OR ANY

OTHER MYRIAD OF THINGS THAT ARE IN THE -- IN THE APARTMENT THAT YOU ARE

RENTING. WHO'S RESPONSIBLE IF YOU DECIDE, AS THE TENANT, THAT YOU'RE

GOING TO PUT ON A NEW SHOWERHEAD AND THAT SHOWERHEAD LEAKS AND

FLOODS MY APARTMENT DOWNSTAIRS? WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL, HOPEFULLY YOU'D HAVE THAT

INSURANCE.

MR. DURSO: WHY DID -- WHY ISN'T IT RESPONSIBLE FOR

THE TENANT WHO DECIDED TO CHANGE IT? WHY ISN'T IT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY?

I -- I AS THE LANDLORD OWN THE PROPERTY. I HAD THINGS INSTALLED CORRECTLY.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU'RE GETTING IT INSTALLED. DOES IT SAY ANYWHERE THAT

-- IN HERE THAT THE TENANT HAS TO HAVE A LICENSED INSTALLER PUT THESE IN TO

PROTECT THE LANDLORD?

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T KNOW

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

THAT WHOEVER INSTALLS THE SHOWERHEAD IN THE FIRST PLACE IS A LICENSED

PERSON. HOWEVER, IF YOU HAVE INSURANCE, THEN YOUR INSURANCE SHOULD

COVER IT. THE LANDLORD'S INSURANCE SHOULD COVER IT. HOWEVER, THIS IS A

CONVERSATION.

MR. DURSO: NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT. WELL, THAT'S

WHY I'M ASKING YOU. SO --

MS. ROSENTHAL: NOT BETWEEN YOU AND ME,

BETWEEN THE TENANT AND THE LANDLORD.

MR. DURSO: BUT, THE LANDLORD -- THERE IS NO

CONVERSATION BECAUSE THEY CANNOT DENY THE TENANT.

MS. ROSENTHAL: NO, THERE IS A CONVERSATION. I

MEAN --

MR. DURSO: WELL, NOT ACCORDING TO YOUR

LEGISLATION. IT'S --

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL, ACCORDING TO THE BILL

DRAFTER, THERE IS A CONVERSATION.

MR. DURSO: WELL, THE BILL DRAFTER -- ARE THEY HERE?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YEAH, HERE. (INDICATING)

MR. DURSO: WHERE?

MS. ROSENTHAL: HERE. (INDICATING)

MR. DURSO: OH, OKAY. SO, THEN I'M HAVING THE

CONVERSATION WITH YOU, WHICH IS, IT DOESN'T STATE IN HERE THAT THE PERSON

THAT INSTALLS IT IS RESPONSIBLE. DOES YOUR RENTER'S INSURANCE COVER MY

PART OF THE HOUSE IF I DO LIVE IN A DUPLEX AND I LIVE DOWNSTAIRS FROM

YOU. YOU LIVE UPSTAIRS, YOU CHANGE THE SHOWERHEAD, YOU'RE NOT A

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

PLUMBER, DOES YOUR RENTER'S INSURANCE COVER MY HOUSE DOWNSTAIRS?

MS. ROSENTHAL: HOPEFULLY, YOU'D GET INSURANCE

THAT COVERS THAT.

MR. DURSO: WHY SHOULD I HAVE INSURANCE FOR YOUR

MISTAKE?

MS. ROSENTHAL: EXCUSE ME?

MR. DURSO: WHY SHOULD I HAVE INSURANCE FOR YOUR

MISTAKE IF YOU'RE THE TENANT AND YOU INSTALLED SOMETHING --

MS. ROSENTHAL: THE TENANT HAS INSURANCE.

MR. DURSO: RIGHT. THAT COVERS --

MS. ROSENTHAL: WAIT, HOW MANY -- LET ME ASK

YOU, HOW MANY INSTANCES OF A SHOWERHEAD BEING FAULTILY INSTALLED

CAUSES A HUGE FLOOD UNDER THE APARTMENT UNDERNEATH? HOW OFTEN --

MR. DURSO: FOR A SHOWERHEAD?

MS. ROSENTHAL: DO YOU HAVE STATS ON THAT? DO

YOU HAVE STATS ON THAT?

MR. DURSO: FOR A SHOWERHEAD, PROBABLY NOT A LOT.

BUT, I BET YOU FOR A WASHING MACHINE IT WOULD.

MS. ROSENTHAL: YOU'RE NOT -- THIS IS NOT

INCLUDING WASHING MACHINES.

MR. DURSO: SO, THIS IS -- THIS -- YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED

TO CHANGE OUT A WASHING MACHINE? THAT'S AN APPLIANCE.

MS. ROSENTHAL: I HAVE A SPECIFIC LIST. IT DOES NOT

INCLUDE A WASHING MACHINE.

MR. DURSO: IS THAT IN THE BILL?

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES, IT IS.

MR. DURSO: CAN YOU TELL ME WHERE?

MS. ROSENTHAL: CAN YOU LOOK? I'M -- IT'S

POINTED OUT TO YOU.

MR. DURSO: I JUST DIDN'T SEE IT, MA'AM.

MS. ROSENTHAL: IT IS SUBDIVISION 5. FOR THE

PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, APPLIANCES OR FIXTURES SHALL MEAN ANY

REFRIGERATOR, FREEZER, RANGE INCLUDING ANY COOKTOP OR OVEN, BUILT-IN

MICROWAVE OVEN, SINK, FAUCET OR SHOWERHEAD.

MR. DURSO: OKAY.

MS. ROSENTHAL: SO, IT'S LIMITED --

MR. DURSO: JUST TO THOSE?

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL, FRANKLY, IT'D BE GREAT IF THE

LANDLORDS INSTALLED WASHER/DRYERS, BUT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

MR. DURSO: WELL, AGAIN, LONG ISLAND'S OBVIOUSLY

DIFFERENT THAN THE CITY. THERE'S PLENTY OF APARTMENTS ON LONG ISLAND --

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL, IT -- OKAY, BUT IT DOESN'T

INCLUDE WASHING MACHINES.

MR. DURSO: OKAY. WHICH IS GREAT, ACTUALLY. SO,

NO, THERE IS A LOT LESS FLOODING --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MR. DURSO: -- WHEN IT COMES TO A SHOWERHEAD, NOT

A FAUCET.

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MR. DURSO: THAT I COULD TELL YOU, THAT'LL FLOOD.

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

MS. ROSENTHAL: SO, IT WAS LIMITED ON PURPOSE.

MR. DURSO: SO, AGAIN, MY CONCERN, RIGHT, AND I

UNDERSTAND YOU NEED TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE LANDLORD, BUT

THE LANDLORD, UNFORTUNATELY IN THIS CASE, HAS NO RECOURSE. THEY CAN'T

TELL YOU NO IF IT FITS WITHIN CODE. I WOULD'VE BEEN MORE COMFORTABLE

WITH THE --

MS. ROSENTHAL: THEN WHY WOULD THEY WANT TO

SAY NO IF IT FITS WITHIN CODE?

MR. DURSO: WHY WOULD YOU CHANGE IT IF I BOUGHT

YOU A BRAND-NEW YELLOW REFRIGERATOR?

MS. ROSENTHAL: IF YOU BROUGHT [SIC] A BRAND-NEW

YELLOW REFRIGERATOR, THE CHANCES THAT SOMEONE WOULD SAY, I WANNA BUY

MY OWN BRAND-NEW PINK REFRIGERATOR, ARE VERY SLIM. THIS BILL IS BORNE

OUT OF EXPERIENCE WHERE SOMEONE HAS A CLUNKER --

MR. DURSO: RIGHT.

MS. ROSENTHAL: -- THAT THE LANDLORD SAYS, WELL, IT

WORKS. OKAY, BUT IT MAY COST A LOT IN CONED BILLS, OR WHATEVER

COMPANY YOU HAVE, AND IT MAY MAKE A LOT OF NOISE. MAYBE YOU WANT

SOMETHING THAT RUNS MORE EFFICIENTLY AND FITS IN BETTER WITH YOUR --

WITH YOUR LIFE. LIKE, MAYBE YOU CAN'T REACH UP, BUT YOU CAN GO DOWN.

YOU CAN GET THE FREEZER AT THE BOTTOM.

MR. DURSO: I AGREE WITH YOU AND I THINK THAT

WOULD'VE BEEN A MUCH BETTER PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND SAY THAT IF THE

LANDLORD DOES NOT HAVE ENERGY-EFFICIENT APPLIANCES, YOU AS THE TENANT

HAVE THE RIGHT TO PURCHASE YOUR OWN AND PUT THOSE IN. THE PROBLEM IS,

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

I COULD HAVE A BRAND-NEW APPLIANCE, YOU COULD TAKE IT OUT BECAUSE,

LIKE YOU SAID, YOU HAVE THE TOP AND BOTTOM, YOU HAVE THE SIDE DOORS,

WHATEVER YOU WANT. AESTHETICALLY, YOU COULD CHANGE IT. THERE'S

NOTHING IN THIS BILL SAYING THAT YOU CANNOT. SO, MY PROBLEM IS, IT

DOESN'T SAY WHO'S HOLDING ONTO MY BRAND-NEW REFRIGERATOR IN THE

MEANTIME. DOESN'T SAY YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LICENSE TO --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES, THE -- THE TENANT IS

RESPONSIBLE FOR RESTORING IT.

MR. DURSO: SO, WE'RE GONNA -- SO, YOU WANT THEM

TO SAVE MONEY WITH A BRAND-NEW REFRIGERATOR BUT THEY GOTTA STORE MY

REFRIGERATOR SOMEWHERE ELSE?

MS. ROSENTHAL: THAT'S NOT -- THAT'S NOT OUR

BUSINESS.

MR. DURSO: WELL, I KNOW. BUT WE -- BUT WE'RE --

IT'S NOT -- TO ME, AGAIN, IF I HAVE ENERGY-EFFICIENT APPLIANCES IN MY

APARTMENT THAT I'M RENTING OUT, WE'RE MAKING IT THE BUSINESS OF THE

STATE TO SAY THAT YOU COULD JUST CHANGE IT BECAUSE YOU WANT TO. BUT

THERE'S -- THERE'S NOTHING IN HERE SAYING THAT YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE

STORAGE OF MY STUFF.

MS. ROSENTHAL: NO, YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR

RESTORING IT.

MR. DURSO: RIGHT, BUT WHAT IF I WANT MY

REFRIGERATOR BACK?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YOU CAN GET IT. YOU CAN HAVE

THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE LANDLORD AND YOU SAY, YOU WANT ME TO

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

PRESERVE THIS CLUNKER FOR YOU OR --

MR. DURSO: BUT YOU KEEP SAYING IT'S A CLUNKER,

MA'AM.

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MR. DURSO: WHAT IF IT'S BRAND-NEW?

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL, THEN YOU'RE NOT GONNA ASK

FOR A NEW ONE.

MR. DURSO: WHY ISN'T THERE A PROVISION IN HERE

SAYING THAT IF YOU HAVE A BRAND-NEW APPLIANCE, YOU CANNOT CHANGE IT

OUT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GETTING INTO

THE WEEDS THAT MUCH. WE DON'T, IN MANY OTHER LAWS AND BILLS, WE

DON'T.

MR. DURSO: BUT YOU'RE SAYING --

MS. ROSENTHAL: THIS IS NOT GONNA SAY EVERY

CIRCUMSTANCE THAT MIGHT ARISE.

MR. DURSO: BUT, THIS IS THE EXACT CIRCUMSTANCES

WHY YOU CREATED THE BILL, WHICH IS TO SAY THAT, IT'S HELPING YOU SAVE

MONEY ON AN ENERGY-EFFICIENT APPLIANCE. IF I HAVE ONE, YOU COULD STILL

CHANGE IT OUT BECAUSE YOU FEEL LIKE IT.

MS. ROSENTHAL: OKAY. BUT, THAT'S, YOU KNOW,

KIND OF PREPOSTEROUS. ALSO, NEW APPLIANCES CAN BREAK.

MR. DURSO: OF -- OF COURSE THEY COULD BREAK.

MS. ROSENTHAL: OKAY.

MR. DURSO: THEN WHO'S RESPONSIBLE IF THAT NEW

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

APPLIANCE BREAKS?

MS. ROSENTHAL: THE LANDLORD HAS TO FIX IT OR

PROVIDE A NEW ONE.

MR. DURSO: CORRECT. SO --

MS. ROSENTHAL: BUT THEY DON'T ALWAYS.

MR. DURSO: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR APPLIANCE

BREAKS --

MS. ROSENTHAL: UH-HUH.

MR. DURSO: -- THAT YOU INSTALLED? WHO'S

RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I HAVEN'T INSTALLED MY APPLIANCE.

MR. DURSO: I'M SORRY, MA'AM?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I DON'T INSTALL MY APPLIANCE.

MR. DURSO: NO NO, NO. I'M SAYING THE -- THE ONE

THAT YOU BOUGHT AND PUT IN THE APARTMENT, THAT I'M THE LANDLORD AND I

SAY I HAVE NO RIGHT TO SAY YES OR NO, IT BREAKS. RIGHT? YOU NO LONGER

HAVE A REFRIGERATOR, BECAUSE YOUR REFRIGERATOR'S BROKEN.

MS. ROSENTHAL: SO, THAT'S ON ME.

MR. DURSO: WHERE DOES IT SAY IT IN HERE THAT THAT IS

ON NOW THE TENANT, BECAUSE AS THE LANDLORD, I'M RESPONS --

MS. ROSENTHAL: THE TENANT OWNS IT.

MR. DURSO: NO, NO, NO. I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT, AS

THE LANDLORD, I AM RESPONSIBLE IN RENTING YOU AN APARTMENT THAT HAS A

REFRIGERATOR. NOW IT NO LONGER DOES BECAUSE THE ONE YOU INSTALLED

BROKE. AM I RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT YOU HAVE A REFRIGERATOR

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

STILL?

MS. ROSENTHAL: A REFRIGERATOR? YES.

MR. DURSO: BUT YOU PURCHASED IT, IT'S YOUR

PROBLEM. WHY AM I RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR PROBLEM? YOU LITERALLY JUST

SAID --

MS. ROSENTHAL: THE TENANT -- THE TENANT IS

RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REFRIGERATOR THAT THEY PURCHASED. SO, IF IT BREAKS,

THEY HAVE TO GET IT FIXED.

MR. DURSO: THAT'S IS IN THIS LEGISLATION, ALSO?

MS. ROSENTHAL: IT SAYS RESPONSIBLE FOR USAGE --

LET ME FIND THE EXACT LINE. IT SAYS, RESIDENTIAL TENANTS SHALL BE

RESPONSIBLE FOR EITHER RESTORING THE INSTALLED APPLIANCE OR FIXTURES OF

THE UNIT TO THE CONDITION WHICH EXISTED PRIOR TO THE INSTALLATION, OR

ENSURING THE RESIDENTIAL TENANT INSTALLED APPLIANCE OR FIXTURES REMAIN IN

THE UNIT AT NO COST TO THE LANDLORD.

MR. DURSO: SO, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH -- YOU'RE

RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE AS THE LANDLORD, IF I RENT YOU, AND ADVERTISE ON

MLS OR ANYWHERE ELSE, FULLY FURNISHED KITCHEN REFRIGERATOR, I AM

RESPONSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE A REFRIGERATOR AT ALL TIMES.

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MR. DURSO: BUT, YOU DECIDE TO CHANGE IT OUT, GET

ONE AND THE ONE YOU BUY IS JUNK.

MS. ROSENTHAL: THAT'S MY RESPONS --

MR. DURSO: IT DOESN'T SAY THAT IN YOUR LEGISLATION.

MS. ROSENTHAL: IF YOU OWN IT, THEN YOU ARE

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

RESPONSIBLE.

MR. DURSO: BUT, IT'S AN APPLIANCE AND AFFIXED -- IT'S

A FIXTURE THAT I AM RENTING OUT --

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU, MR.

DURSO.

MR. GANDOLFO.

MR. GANDOLFO: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

WOULD THE SPONSOR YIELD TO PICK UP ON THIS CONVERSATION?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YEP.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY. I'M GONNA PICK OFF -- A

LITTLE BIT WHERE MY COLLEAGUE LEFT OFF BECAUSE I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED BY

THIS NOW.

MS. ROSENTHAL: ARE YOU? OKAY, WELL THEN I

HOPE TO CLEAR IT UP.

MR. GANDOLFO: I'M SORRY?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I SAID I HOPE TO CLEAR IT UP.

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY. I HOPE SO. NOW, SO, IF

THERE'S A WORKING REFRIGERATOR IN THIS APARTMENT, OR WHATEVER UNIT; THIS

HOUSE, THIS RENTAL, THAT WAS -- YOU RENT -- YOU'RE THE LANDLORD AND YOU

RENTED THIS APARTMENT OUT AS CONTAINING A REFRIGERATOR IS IN THE

APARTMENT, WHICH I THINK YOU HAVE TO HAVE. THE TENANT NOW REMOVES

THAT REFRIGERATOR THAT WORKS AND THEIR REPLACEMENT REFRIGERATOR THAT THEY

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

OWN, DOES NOT WORK. SOMETHING HAPPENS TO IT, IT BREAKS. NOW, ISN'T

THE LANDLORD RESPONSIBLE TO PROVIDE A REFRIGERATOR FOR THE APARTMENT

THAT WAS RENTED AS HAVING A REFRIGERATOR AVAILABLE?

MS. ROSENTHAL: SO, YOU'RE SAYING IF I BUY A

REFRIGERATOR AND IT BREAKS AND I THROW IT OUT?

MR. GANDOLFO: IF -- IF YOUR NEW REFRIGERATOR, IF

YOU'RE THE TENANT, BREAKS --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MR. GANDOLFO: -- AND NOW YOU HAVE NO

REFRIGERATOR --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MR. GANDOLFO: HOW DOES THAT NOT FALL BACK ON

THE LANDLORD WHO --

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL, IF I --

MR. GANDOLFO: -- WHO HAS TO PROVIDE THAT

APPLIANCE FOR YOU?

MS. ROSENTHAL: IF THE TENANT BUYS A NEW

REFRIGERATOR, THEN THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT REFRIGERATOR. IF IT BREAKS

DOWN, THEY HAVE TO FIX IT. SO, IF IT BREAKS, YOU BUY A NEW REFRIGERATOR.

IT BREAKS, YOU CALL THE -- THE -- THE STORE AND YOU --

MR. GANDOLFO: BUT WHERE --

MS. ROSENTHAL: -- GET IT FIXED.

MR. GANDOLFO: I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT. BUT,

WHERE DOES IT SAY THAT IN THE BILL? IT DOESN'T REALLY -- I -- I JUST READ THE

BILL A COUPLE OF TIMES. I DON'T SEE IT SPEAKING TO THAT.

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

MS. ROSENTHAL: I MEAN, THAT'S PRETTY -- IT'S

COMMON SENSE BECAUSE IT'S NOT OWNED BY THE LANDLORD, IT'S OWNED BY

THE TENANT.

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY, BUT THE LANDLORD IS RENTING

THE DWELLING WHICH -- AND THE DWELLING IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A

REFRIGERATOR IN IT.

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MR. GANDOLFO: BUT THE TEN -- THE TENANT REMOVED

THE REFRIGERATOR THAT WORKED AND THE REPLACEMENT NOW BROKE --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

MR. GANDOLFO: WHAT'S STOPPING THE TENANT FROM

GOING BACK TO THE LANDLORD AND SAYING, HEY, THIS APARTMENT IS SUPPOSED

TO HAVE REFRIGERATOR AND IT DOESN'T HAVE A WORKING REFRIGERATOR?

MS. ROSENTHAL: AND THE LANDLORD WOULD SAY,

WELL, I SUPPLIED ONE FOR YOU. YOU CAN PUT THAT BACK IN.

MR. GANDOLFO: NOW, WHAT IF THAT REFRIGERATOR

WAS DAMAGED DURING THE TRANSPORT TO THE STORAGE FACILITY?

MS. ROSENTHAL: THEN THE TENANT IS RESPONSIBLE

FOR RESTORING IT TO ITS ORIGINAL CONDITION WHEN THEY GOT IT.

MR. GANDOLFO: WELL, THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR

RESTORING IT WHEN THEY LEAVE -- WHEN THEIR LEASE ENDS.

MS. ROSENTHAL: IF THEY WANT IT BACK, AND IT WAS

BROKEN, IT'S ON THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT TO BE RESTORED TO

ITS ORIGINAL CONDITION.

MR. GANDOLFO: UPON THE LEASE ENDING?

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

MS. ROSENTHAL: I THINK YOU SHOULD WORK FOR

TENANTS, YOU'RE GOOD AT THE 'GOTCHA' QUESTIONS.

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY, THAT'S FINE. BUT I -- I'M

JUST -- SO, IF A TENANT SUED A LANDLORD BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WORKING

APPLIANCE, NO WORKING REFRIGERATOR IN THE APARTMENT, HOW WOULD THE

LANDLORD DEFEND THEMSELF OTHER THAN SAYING, WELL, I HAD A WORKING

REFRIGERATOR. THEY SAID IT WAS A CLUNKER AND THEY REPLACED IT WITH THIS

OTHER REFRIGERATOR THAT BROKE. AND YOU -- YOU SAID WHY WOULD THEY

WANT TO KEEP A CLUNKER? SO, WHERE -- IF THEY SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT,

WE'LL WILL GET RID OF THIS CLUNKER, YOU PUT IN THIS REFRIGERATOR AND THAT

BREAKS?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU MIGHT BE

A TRIAL LAWYER, ALSO. BECAUSE, TENANTS DON'T GO TO COURT OVER THINGS LIKE

THIS.

MR. GANDOLFO: THEY DON'T?

MS. ROSENTHAL: NO, THEY DON'T.

MR. GANDOLFO: CAN THEY?

MS. ROSENTHAL: THE LANDLORDS, BY THE WAY,

USUALLY HAVE EMPLOY ON RETAINER LAW FIRMS. SO --

MR. GANDOLFO: I'M SURE THEY DO.

MS. ROSENTHAL: LET ME FINISH. PROPERTY LAW

STIPULATES YOU MUST REPAIR OR TAKE CARE OF APPLIANCES AND FIXTURES THEY

PROVIDE. IT'S NOT ANYTHING A TENANT OWNS. SO, YOU CAN -- YOU CAN MAKE

UP 200 DIFFERENT SITUATIONS; THIS IS A COMMON SENSE BILL. IT REQUIRES

SOME KIND OF CONVERSATION, HEY, THIS REFRIGERATOR ISN'T WORKING

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

PROPERLY. CAN YOU GET ME A NEW ONE? THE LANDLORD MIGHT SAY NO OR

BUY YOUR OWN. YOU KNOW, THESE ARE EVERYDAY CONVERSATIONS THAT

TENANTS AND LANDLORDS HAVE. LANDLORDS HAVE SAID, NO, YOU HAVE TO STICK

WITH THE CLUNKER. AND, MY ELECTRICITY BILL IS SKY HIGH. I DON'T -- I DON'T

WANNA PAY THAT MUCH. I WANT SOMETHING THAT'S LOWER ELECTRICITY COST.

RIGHT NOW, LANDLORD -- THE LANDLORD COULD SAY WELL, TOO BAD, YOU HAVE

TO PAY A HIGHER ELECTRICITY COST BECAUSE I DON'T WANT YOU TO GET

SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

MR. GANDOLFO: RIGHT. BUT, I THINK THE ISSUE AT

HAND HERE IS THAT THE LEGISLATION DOESN'T SPEAK TO THAT. WE TALK ABOUT

JUST HAVING CONVERSATIONS THAT AREN'T REQUIRED IN THE BILL ITSELF. SO,

WHAT IF THE TENANT GOES TO THE LANDLORD AND SAYS, I WANT TO PUT IN THE

NEW REFRIGERATOR, I WANT TO USE THIS BRAND BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, MY

UNCLE IS GIVING ME THIS REFRIGERATOR. AND THE -- THE LANDLORD SAYS, YOU

KNOW, I DON'T -- YOU KNOW, I'VE READ THAT PARTICULAR BRAND. SOMETIMES

THE ICE MACHINE LEAKS, AND IT MIGHT DAMAGE THE WOOD FLOORING. CAN

THEY SAY NO BASED ON THE BRAND OR POTENTIAL ISSUES WITH THAT MODEL?

MS. ROSENTHAL: NO. IT'S -- IT'S SOME -- I -- I -- I

FAIL TO UNDERSTAND WHY A LANDLORD WOULD ACTUALLY CARE WHAT BRAND YOU

BUY AS LONG AS THE TENANT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS MAINTENANCE, ITS UPKEEP,

THE DAMAGES, ANYTHING; THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE. IF THEY HAVE INSURANCE AND

THE LANDLORD HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT, THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE.

MR. GANDOLFO: WHAT IF -- NOW, WHAT IF THE

LANDLORD -- WHAT IF THE TENANT WANTS TO PUT IN AN APPLIANCE THAT MIGHT

REQUIRE SLIGHT ALTERATION? LET'S SAY YOU HAVE TO SHAVE AN INCH OFF OF THE

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

COUNTERTOP. THAT'S PROHIBITED?

MS. ROSENTHAL: NO. NOPE.

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY.

MS. ROSENTHAL: IT SAYS EXPLICITLY.

MR. GANDOLFO: NOW, DOES THE LANDLORD HAVE ANY

SAY IN WHERE THEIR APPLIANCE, THAT THEY OWN, THAT THE TENANT IS

REMOVING, MUST BE STORED?

MS. ROSENTHAL: NO, IT DOESN'T SAY THAT. IT JUST

SAYS THE TENANT HAS TO RESTORE IT ONCE THEY LEAVE.

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY. SO, WHAT WOULD -- NOW,

LET'S SAY THE TENANT MOVES THIS REFRIGERATOR, PROBABLY TO A STORAGE UNIT,

AND THEY DEFAULT ON THE STORAGE UNIT AND THAT STUFF GOES UP TO AUCTION

AND THEY LOSE THAT REFRIGERATOR. THE LEASE ENDS, NOW THEY CAN'T -- THEY

WANNA TAKE THEIR NEW APPLIANCE WITH THEM, BUT THEY'RE UNABLE TO

RESTORE THE ORIGINAL APPLIANCE. WHAT'S THE RECOURSE THERE?

MS. ROSENTHAL: THEY -- THEY CAN'T BECAUSE THEY

ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WHERE THEY WOULD EITHER RESTORE OR LEAVE IT.

MR. GANDOLFO: SO, CAN THEY GET A -- CAN THEY STILL

TAKE THEIR NEW APPLIANCE AND REPLACE IT WITH A DIFFERENT APPLIANCE?

MS. ROSENTHAL: THAT'S NOT WHAT'S CONTEMPLATED

HERE.

MR. GANDOLFO: SO, THAT'S NOT CONTEMPLATED IN --

IN THIS BILL?

MS. ROSENTHAL: NO. IT'S REALLY NOT THAT

COMPLICATED.

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

MR. GANDOLFO: NOW, WOULD -- SO, THEY HAVE TO --

I'M READING IT HERE NOW -- THEY WOULD HAVE TO -- OKAY, SO, IF THEY CAN'T

RESTORE THE ORIGINAL APPLIANCE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE THEIR NEW

APPLIANCE.

MS. ROSENTHAL: BASICALLY.

MR. GANDOLFO: BASICALLY? OR IS THERE WIGGLE

ROOM THERE?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I'M SURE THERE'S A DISCUSSION --

MR. GANDOLFO: A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS.

MS. ROSENTHAL: AND YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE, YOU --

YOU KNOW WHAT ADVANTAGE THE LANDLORD HAS AT THAT POINT, AND THEY

EMPLOY THIS OFTEN, IS THEY HAVE A SECURITY DEPOSIT THAT THEY ARE

SUPPOSED TO RETURN AT THE END OF A TENANT'S LEASE WHEN THEY MOVE OUT.

OFTEN, THEY SAY, YOU DAMAGE THIS, YOU DIDN'T RETURN THE REFRIGERATOR,

I'M TAKING X DOLLARS OUT OF YOUR SECURITY DEPOSIT. THEN IT'S ON THE

TENANT TO GO TO COURT. BUT, THERE ARE METHODS LANDLORDS HAVE TO WORK

THROUGH THIS.

MR. GANDOLFO: EARLIER, YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, THEY

TYPICALLY DON'T GO TO COURT OVER THESE THINGS, BUT I GUESS THEY DO

SOMETIMES.

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL, IF YOU HAVE A $3,000

SECURITY DEPOSIT, AND I'VE HAD CASES LIKE THIS, TOO, WHERE THEIR LANDLORD

SAYS, I'M NOT GIVING IT BACK TO YOU. THEN, YOU CAN GO TO SMALL CLAIMS

COURT, AND I HAVE CONSTITUENTS WHO ACTUALLY HAVE GONE TO SMALL CLAIMS

COURT WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY.

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY. NOW, WHAT IF -- HANG ON,

LET ME JUST CATCH MY SPOT HERE. OKAY, NOW WHO -- WHO WOULD REVIEW

THE DENIAL THAT'S GIVEN BY THE LANDLORD? IS THERE ANY REVIEW PROCESS TO

DETERMINE IF IT'S A LEGITIMATE DENIAL?

MS. ROSENTHAL: NO. I -- I DON'T THINK IT

ADDRESSES THAT.

MR. GANDOLFO: SO, HOW --

MS. ROSENTHAL: YOU KNOW, LANDLORDS -- I JUST

WANTED TO ELUCIDATE SOMETHING. LANDLORDS TYPICALLY STORE REFRIGERATORS

IN THE BASEMENT, THEY HAVE STORAGE PLACES AND SO IT'S PROBABLY

SOMETHING THAT CAN BE WORKED OUT.

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY. BUT, IF -- IF THE LANDLORD

GIVES A DENIAL, IS THERE ANY PROCESS BY WHICH THAT DENIAL WOULD BE

REVIEWED TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS

BILL?

MS. ROSENTHAL: NO.

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY. SO, HOW -- HOW EXACTLY IS

THIS ENFORCED?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I CAN ADD A PENALTY IF YOU LIKE.

MR. GANDOLFO: I'M SORRY? I DIDN'T -- I COULDN'T --

MS. ROSENTHAL: I COULD ADD A PENALTY.

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY. WELL, WHY -- I -- I -- I JUST

-- SO, THERE'S NO PENALTY FOR ISSUING THIS DENIAL, THERE'S NO REVIEW

PROCESS FOR THE DENIAL. IT'S JUST, I GUESS, MORE CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN

LANDLORD AND TENANTS?

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

MS. ROSENTHAL: I DON'T KNOW. DO YOU WANT

THERE TO BE A PENALTY IF THE LANDLORD SAYS NO AND THEY REALLY SHOULD SAY

YES?

MR. GANDOLFO: I MEAN, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY WHAT I

WANT. I WAS JUST CURIOUS AS TO HOW THIS ACTUALLY GETS ENFORCED IF NO

ONE'S REVIEWING THE DENIALS THAT HAVE TO BE IN WRITING.

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL, YOU KNOW, THEN THE TENANT

IS STUCK AND THEY COME TO THEIR ELECTED OFFICIAL, WHO THEN TALKS TO THE

LANDLORD AND WORKS SOMETHING OUT.

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY. AND I DON'T WANNA TAKE

UP TOO MUCH MORE --

MS. ROSENTHAL: OKAY, BUT LET ME JUST SAY; IN MY

19+ YEARS AS AN ASSEMBLY MEMBER HELPING TENANTS IN MANHATTAN, THIS

HAS NEVER COME UP WITH YELLOW, PINK, ICE MAKERS. I MEAN, THESE ARE

ALL CREATIVE PROBLEMS THAT DON'T ACTUALLY HAPPEN.

MR. GANDOLFO: WELL, I KNOW. BUT, UNDER THIS

BILL, THEY COULD HAPPEN. AND THAT'S -- AND THAT'S

(INDISCERNIBLE/CROSSTALK).

MS. ROSENTHAL: A LOT OF THINGS COULD HAPPEN IN

THE BILLS THAT WE DEBATE.

MR. GANDOLFO: I MEAN, I JUST SEE NO REASON WHY

IT CAN'T BE MORE NARROWLY TAILORED. IT'S KIND OF OUR JOB TO DO THAT HERE.

MS. ROSENTHAL: WELL, WHEN YOU DO A BILL YOU

COULD NARROWLY TAILOR IT.

MR. GANDOLFO: AND, I HAVE A QUESTION ON, YOU

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

KNOW, STARTING IN SECTION 1 OF THE BILL. AND I'LL -- I'LL JUST READ FROM THE

TEXT HERE: INSTALLATION OF APPLIANCES OR FIXTURES BY TENANT, NUMBER ONE.

NO LANDLORD SHALL RESTRICT THE INSTALLATION OF APPLIANCES OR FIXTURES BY A

RESIDENTIAL TENANT SO LONG AS THE APPLIANCES OR FIXTURES ARE IN

COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE BUILDING CODES, THAT'S FINE, OR OTHER

PROVISIONS OF LAW, WE WENT OVER THAT, AND FURTHER PROVIDED THAT THE

RESIDENTIAL TENANT HAS SOUGHT IN WRITING AND OBTAINED WRITTEN CONSENT

FROM THE LANDLORD FOR THE INSTALLATION. SO, IT'S -- IS THAT SAYING THE

LANDLORD CAN'T DENY IT IF THEY GAVE THE WRITTEN CONSENT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: IF THE -- IF THE LANDLORD GAVE

WRITTEN CONSENT, THEN THEY'VE CONSENTED.

MR. GANDOLFO: WELL, THAT'S WHY I'M CONFUSED BY

THE WORDING OF IT. SO, IT SAYS NO LANDLORD SHALL RESTRICT THE INSTALLATION

OF APPLIANCES, YOU MOVE ON AND IT SAYS, IF -- IF THE TENANT CAN OBTAIN

WRITTEN CONSENT FROM A LANDLORD FOR SUCH INSTALLATION. SO, THAT SEEMS --

IT SEEMS LIKE A CONDITION OF BEING UNABLE TO DENY, TO RESTRICT THE

INSTALLATION. ONE OF THE CONDITIONS IS ACTUALLY IF -- IF THE LANDLORD GAVE

CONSENT FOR THE INSTALLATION TO BEGIN WITH.

MS. ROSENTHAL: OKAY. IF A LANDLORD --

MR. GANDOLFO: SO, WHY WOULD THEY GIVE CONSENT

AND THEN RESTRICT THE APPLIANCE?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I DON'T KNOW. YOU SEEM TO BE

IN A LANDLORD'S HEAD, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

MR. GANDOLFO: WELL, I'M JUST READING FROM THE

BILL HERE. ONE OF THE CONDITIONS THAT WOULD TRIGGER THIS PROHIBITION ON

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

RESTRICTING THE INSTALLATION OF THE APPLIANCE, ONE OF THE CONDITIONS TO

TRIGGER THAT IS THE LANDLORD GIVING THE WRITTEN CONSENT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

MS. ROSENTHAL: OKAY.

MR. GANDOLFO: SO, WHY WOULD A LANDLORD GIVE

WRITTEN CONSENT AND THEN GO BACK AND RESTRICT THE APPLIANCE?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE THEY WANT

TO HARASS THE TENANT. I DON'T KNOW.

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY, IT'S JUST -- ALL RIGHT. THANK

YOU TO THE SPONSOR.

THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MR. NORBER.

MR. NORBER: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

WOULD THE SPONSOR YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MR. NORBER: THANK YOU. JUST A FEW QUESTIONS,

MINOR QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND THE RELOCATION OF THE

APPLIANCES, SPECIFICALLY REFRIGERATORS. SO, ACCORDING TO THIS BILL, THE

TENANT IS ALLOWED TO HIRE ANYONE THEY WANT AND -- AND ENTER THE

COMMON SPACE, THE ELEVATORS, THE HALLWAYS, THE STAIRCASES OF THE

BUILDING?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I MEAN, THE TENANT CAN HAVE A

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

VISITOR WHO ENTERS ALL OF THOSE SPACES, SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU MEAN/?

MR. NORBER: WELL, I GUESS IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE

INSURED AND THAT'S MY QUESTION ABOUT IT.

MS. ROSENTHAL: I'M SORRY?

MR. NORBER: SO, MY QUESTION IS IF, LET'S SAY, THEY

WANNA HIRE SOMEBODY, THEY DON'T TALK TO THE LANDLORD, THEY WANNA HIRE

SOMEBODY OFF THE CUFF, THEY HIRE SOMEBODY TO RELOCATE AND INSTALL THEIR

REFRIGERATOR. CAN THEY HIRE WHOEVER THEY WANT?

MS. ROSENTHAL: YOU KNOW, OFTEN WHEN ONE BUYS

A REFRIGERATOR, THE STORE DELIVERS IT AND INSTALLS IT. SO, THAT'S WHO WOULD

DO THAT.

MR. NORBER: OKAY. SO, IF THEY WANT TO, LET'S SAY,

HIRE SOMEBODY WHO'S INEXPENSIVE, WOULD THAT CAUSE A SITUATION IN

WHICH THEY'RE HIRING AN INSTALLER OR SOMEBODY WHO RELOCATES OR A

MOVER WHO ISN'T INSURED? COULD THAT CREATE THAT KIND OF SITUATION, YOU

THINK?

MS. ROSENTHAL: WHEN A LANDLORD CHANGES

REFRIGERATORS, DO THEY HIRE SOMEBODY WHO'S INSURED AND BONDED AND

HAS EXPERIENCE? YOU KNOW, IT'S -- THEY DON'T ACTUALLY DO THAT ALL THE

TIME. A TENANT DOES NOT WANNA DAMAGE THE APARTMENT. THEY WOULD BE

LIABLE IF THEY DAMAGE THE APARTMENT, IF THEY SHAVE OFF AN INCH BECAUSE

THE REFRIGERATOR'S TOO BIG. TENANTS JUST WANT A GOOD WORKING

REFRIGERATOR. THEY HAVE NO INTEREST IN BOLLOXING THIS UP BY HIRING

SOMEONE THEY FOUND OFF THE STREET.

MR. NORBER: WELL, I WOULD BELIEVE THAT THE

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

MAJORITY OF THE BUILDINGS, AT LEAST IN THE CITY, CURRENTLY REQUIRE PROOF

OF INSURANCE FROM ANYBODY WHO ENTERS THE BUILDING, EITHER A

CONTRACTOR, A MOVER, OR ANYBODY.

MS. ROSENTHAL: WHERE IS THAT? WHERE -- WHERE

IS THAT?

MR. NORBER: EXCUSE ME?

MS. ROSENTHAL: I -- I DON'T KNOW THAT TO BE TRUE.

MR. NORBER: NO, THAT IS A FACT. THAT'S A -- I'M IN

THAT TYPE OF BUSINESS AND I UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF THESE LANDLORDS

WANT TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THEIR OWN SPECIFIC PROPERTIES. IT HAS

NOTHING TO DO WITH THE INSIDE THE TENANT'S APARTMENT. BUT, IN THE

COMMON SPACES, THESE ARE VERY EXPENSIVE FIXTURES, LIGHT FIXTURES,

ELEVATORS, STAIRCASES --

MS. ROSENTHAL: IF THERE'S -- IF THERE'S --

MR. NORBER: -- THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT

SOMEBODY'S INSURED, SO I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND OUT.

MS. ROSENTHAL: THAT IS NOT TRUE ACROSS THE BOARD

AND CONCOCTING THAT WE'RE GONNA GET A NE'ER-DO-WELL WHO'S GONNA DRAG

AND DAMAGE THE FLOORS AND THROW YOUR DOOR OPEN AND SHOVE A

REFRIGERATOR IN, THAT'S NOT WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE.

MR. NORBER: THAT CAN HAPPEN AND IT DOES HAPPEN

AND THAT'S WHY MANY OF --

MS. ROSENTHAL: A LOT OF THINGS HAPPEN IN LIFE, IN

LAW.

MR. NORBER: THAT'S WHY -- BUT THAT'S WHY --

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

MS. ROSENTHAL: YOU'RE -- YOU'RE COMING UP WITH

THIS --

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WE'RE ASKING AND

ANSWERING, PLEASE. THANK YOU.

MS. ROSENTHAL: THESE ARE FARFETCHED EXAMPLES.

I'M GLAD YOU ALL ARE SO CREATIVE. COME VISIT ANY APARTMENT BUILDING IN

THE CITY, OR IN OTHER PLACES, AND YOU WILL SEE WHEN LANDLORDS HAVE SAID

YOU CANNOT HAVE A REFRIGERATOR, EVEN THOUGH THE TENANT NEEDS A GOOD

WORKING, CHEAP, IN TERMS OF ELECTRICITY COST, REFRIGERATOR. THIS IS A

MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL. WE CAN CONJURE UP ANY KIND OF

CIRCUMSTANCE FOR ANY BILL THAT IS ON THE FLOOR. YOU SEEM TO HAVE A

PARTICULAR, NOT JUST YOU, THE OTHERS, A PARTICULAR INTEREST IN ANALYZING

THIS BILL TO DEATH. IT'S FINE, I'M HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT IT, ADD INFINITUM.

HOWEVER, SOME OF THESE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE A FICTION, A CREATION OF YOUR

IMAGINATION.

MR. NORBER: OKAY. SO, IN THE INSTANCE AND THE

CIRCUMSTANCE IN WHICH A PROPERTY OWNER OF A BUILDING WANTS TO INSURE

OR PROTECT HIS OWN PROPERTY, DOES THIS BILL HAVE, IN ANY WAY, ANY FORM,

THE ABILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TENANT WHO WANTS TO HIRE SOMEBODY, IS

HIRED SOMEBODY WHO AT LEAST IS -- IS INSURED AND WOULD BE ABLE TO

PROTECT AND HAVE A GOOD CONVERSATION AT LEAST BEFOREHAND WITH THE

LANDLORD TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS COMMON GROUND IN TERMS OF WHO

THEY ARE HIRING?

MS. ROSENTHAL: IF -- IF IN -- IF THE INSTALLER HAS TO

HAVE INSURANCE, USING AN INSTALLER WITHOUT INSURANCE WOULD BE GROUNDS

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

FOR THE LANDLORD TO SAY NO. THE TENANT WOULD HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THAT.

IF THAT'S PART OF THE -- THE LAW, THE COMPLIANCE, YOU KNOW, NO ONE'S

LOOKING TO CAUSE DAMAGE HERE. IF SOMEONE WANTS LIKE, A NEW

SHOWERHEAD OR A NEW FAUCET, IT'S NOT SUCH A BIG DEAL.

MR. NORBER: OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

JUST QUICKLY, ON THE BILL.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE BILL.

MR. NORBER: SO, JUST IN MY EXPERIENCE, I BELIEVE

THAT THIS -- THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S COMING UP AGAIN AND AGAIN IN THIS

DEBATE REGARDING CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN LANDLORDS AND TENANTS. AND

SADLY, REGRETFULLY, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS OFTEN.

SOMETIMES TENANTS FEEL THAT THEY ARE CARTE BLANCHED TO DO WHATEVER

THEY WANT AND ESPECIALLY IF THEY FIND OUT THAT THERE'S SOME TYPE OF A BILL

THAT ALLOWS THEM TO HIRE TECHNICIANS, INSTALLERS, MOVERS OFF THE CUFF.

AND THE -- BECAUSE THEY'VE HIRED THE MOST INEXPENSIVE ONES IN THE

STATE, OF COURSE THEY WILL DO SO. SO, I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A

LITTLE BIT MORE PROTECTIONS OF THIS BILL FOR THE LANDLORDS. THANK YOU.

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 PIECE

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

OF LEGISLATION, BUT, IF ANYONE WISHES TO VOTE YES, THEY MAY DO SO NOW AT

THEIR SEATS. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MR. HEVESI.

MR. HEVESI: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. THE

MAJORITY CONFERENCE WILL BE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ON THIS BILL. ANY

MEMBER WHO WISHES TO VOTE IN THE NEGATIVE, PLEASE GIVE THE MAJORITY

LEADER'S OFFICE A CALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

THE CLERK WILL RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE)

MR. BOLOGNA TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. BOLOGNA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM

SPEAKER. I -- I AM GENUINELY FLUMMOXED BY THE BLEAK OUTLOOK TOWARDS

LANDLORDS IN GENERAL AND -- AND -- AND FRANKLY, THE WAY THAT THIS BILL

WAS WRITTEN. ANOTHER QUESTION I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO ASK, OR GET TO ASK

WAS, STANDARD SHOWERHEADS DISPENSE WATER AT 2.5 GALLONS PER MINUTE.

SO, IF SOMEONE NOW WANTS TO GET A 5 GALLON PER MINUTE SHOWERHEAD, IS

THAT NOW THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE LANDLORD TO PAY FOR THAT EXCESS WATER

THAT'S BEING USED? NOW, PAYING FOR THE HEATING OF THE WATER PAID FOR

THE WATER ITSELF BECAUSE LANDLORDS ARE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR WATER.

IT IS -- THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST FRUSTRATING BILLS THAT I

HAVE SEEN COME ACROSS THIS CHAMBER. SO, AGAIN, I THINK THE WORD

FLUMMOXED IS REALLY THE WORD THAT JUST COMES TO MIND. SO, WITH THAT

MADAM SPEAKER, I WILL BE VOTING IN THE NEGATIVE, ONLY BECAUSE I CAN'T

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

DO IT TWICE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MR. BOLOGNA IN THE NEGATIVE.

MS. ROSENTHAL TO EXPLAIN HER VOTE.

MS. ROSENTHAL: TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE. OVER 19+

YEARS, AND MANY --

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: QUIET, PLEASE.

MS. ROSENTHAL: THANK YOU. OVER MY MANY

YEARS AS AN ASSEMBLY MEMBER WHO DEALS WITH CONSTITUENTS ALL THE TIME,

EVERY DAY, WHO COME UP WITH INSTANCES WHERE, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY'D

LIKE A NEW REFRIGERATOR AND INSTALLATION. THE LANDLORD GENERALLY ASKS

THE TENANTS FOR INSURANCE WHEN CONTRACTORS COME INTO THE APARTMENT.

EVERY SINGLE CONSTITUENT THAT I'VE DEALT WITH HAS COMPLIED WITH THAT,

AND SOME LANDLORDS ACTUALLY HAVE THEIR SUPERS INSTALL THE NEW

APPLIANCE. I KNOW YOU'RE OBSESSED WITH WATER HEADS, WATER PRESSURE,

YELLOW FRIDGES, PINK FRIDGES, THIS IS ALL BESIDE THE POINT. I -- I

UNDERSTAND THAT TENANTS WHO MAY WANT A BETTER QUALITY REFRIGERATOR IS

OF NO CONCERN TO SOME OF YOU, BUT IT IS OF CONCERN TO MY CONSTITUENTS,

MANY OTHER TENANTS WHO LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY AND ELSEWHERE. THIS IS

ABOUT HAVING A NICE CONVERSATION REQUESTING SOMETHING, HAVING DIALOG,

WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT I ENCOURAGE MORE OF HERE ON THE FLOOR. AND, I

VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MS. ROSENTHAL IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

MS. WALSH FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. ON

BEHALF OF ASSEMBLYMEMBER SLATER, I'M PLEASED TO INTRODUCE TO THE REST

OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CHAMBER, JOHN RAVITZ WHO IS A FORMER

ASSEMBLY MEMBER HERE. AND, A FUN FACT, HE WAS THE LAST REPUBLICAN TO

REPRESENT MANHATTAN. AND, HE SERVED FROM 1990 TO 2002 IN THE 73RD

ASSEMBLY DISTRICT. HE IS HERE TODAY AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF BUSINESS

COUNCIL OF WESTCHESTER, ALONG WITH THE BUSINESS COUNCIL OF

WESTCHESTER CEO MARSHA GORDON. THEY BOTH JOINED US TODAY. THIS IS

WESTCHESTER'S LARGEST BUSINESS MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION AND, MADAM

SPEAKER, WILL YOU PLEASE WELCOME THEM TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE AND

AFFORD TO THEM ALL THE CORDIALITIES OF THE HOUSE. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: YES, OF COURSE. ON

BEHALF OF MS. WALSH, MR. SLATER, THE SPEAKER AND ALL MEMBERS,

WELCOME BACK ASSEMBLY MEMBER RAVITZ. ONCE A MEMBER, ALWAYS A

MEMBER. AND ALSO MEMBERS OF THE BUSINESS COUNCIL OF WESTCHESTER.

WE WELCOME YOU TO THE CHAMBER, EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR.

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

JOINING.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. HEVESI.

MR. HEVESI: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

MEMBERS HAVE ON THEIR DESK AN A-CALENDAR. MADAM SPEAKER, I NOW

MOVE TO ADVANCE THE A-CALENDAR.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

ON A MOTION BY MR. HEVESI, THE A-CALENDAR IS

ADVANCED.

ON CONSENT, PAGE 3, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A00033, RULES REPORT

NO. 187, BURDICK, LEVENBERG, SEAWRIGHT, SAYEGH, HEVESI,

GONZ�LEZ-ROJAS, K. BROWN, REYES, EPSTEIN, SMULLEN, SHIMSKY,

SANTABARBARA, KASSAY, P. CARROLL, SLATER. AN ACT IN RELATION TO

ESTABLISHING THE TASK FORCE TO PROMOTE THE UNEMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE

WITH DISABILITIES.

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?

(PAUSE)

MS. WALSH TO EXPLAIN HER VOTE.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS BILL, BUT I WOULD NOTE A

COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE IS THAT THERE IS NOT CURRENTLY ANY MEMBER ON THE

TASK FORCE THAT'S RECOMMENDED BY THE MINORITY CONFERENCE OF THE

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

ASSEMBLY OR THE SENATE. AND GENERALLY SPEAKING, OUR CONFERENCE HAS

AN ISSUE WITH THAT BECAUSE WE WANT TO SEE MORE DIVERSITY IN TERMS OF

MEMBERS ON THE TASK FORCE.

THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO POINT OUT IS THAT THE

CENTER FOR DISABILITY RIGHTS HAS EXPRESSED SOME CONCERNS THAT I WANT

TO BE MADE PART OF THE RECORD. THEY SAID THAT WHILE THEY GENERALLY

SUPPORT THE LEGISLATION, THEY THINK THAT IT COULD STILL BE IMPROVED

BECAUSE THERE IS SEEMINGLY NO SOURCE OF FUNDING, WHICH MAY MAKE THIS

INITIATIVE DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE. AND ALSO, THAT HIS BILL FOCUSES ON

INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WHEN THE DISABLED

COMMUNITY ENCOMPASSES MORE THAN THESE GROUPS AND THAT THIS BILL

COULD BE EXPANDED TO CAPTURE MORE OF THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS.

SO, I DO THINK THAT THE BILL COULD BE IMPROVED;

HOWEVER, I WILL SUPPORT IT IN ITS CURRENT FORM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MS. WALSH IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

(PAUSE)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, WOULD

YOU PLEASE HAVE THE CLERK WITHDRAW THE ROLL ON 187 AND LET US MOVE

RIGHT TO 188?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE ROLL CALL IS

WITHDRAWN.

(PAUSE)

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

ON CONSENT, PAGE 3, RULES REPORT 188, THE CLERK READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A02589-A, RULES

REPORT NO. 188, KELLES, LUPARDO, JACOBSON, MEEKS, SANTABARBARA,

OTIS, EPSTEIN, BUTTENSCHON, SEAWRIGHT, SIMON, STECK, DAVILA, REYES,

COLTON, ANGELINO, BURDICK, WEPRIN, SHIMSKY. AN ACT TO AMEND THE

CIVIL RIGHTS LAW, IN RELATION TO WAIVING THE STATE'S SOVEREIGN

IMMUNITY TO CLAIMS UNDER THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF

1990, THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT OF 1938, THE AGE DISCRIMINATION

IN EMPLOYMENT ACT OF 1967, AND THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THIS BILL IS LAID

ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A06021-B, RULES

REPORT NO. 189, SANTABARBARA, BURDICK, GRIFFIN, SEMPOLINSKI, RAMOS.

AN ACT TO AMEND [SIC] THE "BLUE-RIBBON COMMISSION ON THE FUTURE OF

NEW YORK STATE'S SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH

INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ACT"; AND PROVIDING FOR

THE REPEAL OF SUCH PROVISIONS UPON EXPIRATION THEREOF.

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.)

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A06781-B, RULES

REPORT NO. 190, HOOKS, BERGER, HEVESI, PAULIN, WEPRIN,, BRAUNSTEIN,

RAMOS, FALL, DAVILA, O'PHARROW, MEEKS, ZINERMAN, TAPIA, SCHIAVONI,

WRIGHT, TAYLOR, LAVINE, GIBBS, WIEDER. AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE DIS --

DISCONTINUANCE OF CERTAIN PARKLAND IN FLUSHING MEADOWS CORONA PARK

IN THE BOROUGH OF QUEENS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: HOME RULE

MESSAGE IS AT THE DESK.

READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

MS. HOOKS TO EXPLAIN HER VOTE.

MS. HOOKS: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. I RISE

TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE RESIDENTS OF ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 35, WHO HAVE

STOOD FIRM AND SPOKEN OUT IN SUPPORT OF THIS LEGISLATION AND ARE FINALLY

BEING HEARD BY THE PASSING OF THIS BILL.

FOR TOO LONG, DECISIONS ABOUT THIS AREA HAVE BEEN

SHAPED BY VOICES OUTSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY. WHILE WE LIVED WITH THE

LACK OF INVESTMENT, OTHERS HAVE DECIDED WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR

NEIGHBORHOODS WITHOUT VALUING THE VOICES OF OUR MARGINALIZED

COMMUNITY. THAT ENDS TODAY WITH THIS BILL.

COVID HIT MY DISTRICT HARDER THAN ALMOST ANYWHERE

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

ELSE IN THE COUNTRY. WE LOST BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS LOST JOBS AND HAVE

SUFFERED THE CONSEQUENCES OF ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES FACED BY MINORITY

COMMUNITIES SUCH AS OURS. WHILE OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY HAVE STARTED

TO REBUILD, COMMUNITIES LIKE EAST ELMHURST AND CORONA ARE STILL TRYING

TO RECOVER. THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING REAL INVESTMENT TO OUR

LOCAL ECONOMY. HAVING THE BOLD VISION OF TURNING 50 ACRES OF ASPHALT

INTO AN ENTITY THAT DELIVERS REAL BENEFITS. THIS IS ABOUT GIVING

SOMETHING BACK TO -- TO A RESIDENT -- TO RESIDENTS THAT'S GIVEN MORE THAN

THEY'VE RECEIVED. OUR CONSTITUENTS FROM ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 35 WERE

THE CATALYST FOR PUSHING THIS BILL FORWARD. TODAY I STAND HERE AS THEIR

CHAMPION, PROUD TO LIFT UP THEIR VOICES. I WANT TO THANK THE SPEAKER

FOR HIS LEADERSHIP, AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES, ESPECIALLY

THOSE WHO HAD A TOUGH DECISION TO MAKE ON THIS BILL. I RECOGNIZE THAT

NOT EVERYONE CAME TO THIS VOTE EASILY, BUT FOR THOSE WHO VOTED YES,

THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING

THE WANTS OF MY DISTRICT AND CHOOSING TO STAND WITH US. TO MY FOREVER

ASSEMBLYMAN JEFF AUBRY --

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU, MS.

HOOKS. HOW DO YOU VOTE?

MS. HOOKS: -- THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS BILL UP TO

THE PLATE KNOWING I WOULD HIT IT OUT THE PARK. I WILL BE, OF COURSE,

VOTING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MS. HOOKS IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

(APPLAUSE)

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

(APPLAUSE)

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A07363-A, RULES

REPORT NO. 191, SANTABARBARA, SHIMSKY, BURDICK, RAMOS, ZINERMAN.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE MENTAL HYGIENE LAW, IN RELATION TO PROTECTING THE

COMMUNICATION RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THIS BILL IS LAID

ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08283, RULES REPORT

NO. 192, BUDGET BILL. AN ACT TO AMEND A CHAPTER OF THE LAWS OF 2025,

ENACTING THE AID TO LOCALITIES BUDGET, AS PROPOSED IN LEGISLATIVE BILLS

NUMBERS S.3003-D AND A.3003-D, IN RELATION TO MAKING TECHNICAL

CHANGES THERETO.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: QUIET, PLEASE.

ON A MOTION BY MR. PRETLOW, 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.)

MR. RA TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. RA: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. JUST QUICKLY

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

FOR MY COLLEAGUES, IN PARTICULAR ON OUR SIDE OF THE AISLE, THIS IS AN

AMENDMENT TO THE AID TO LOCALITIES BUDGET BILL. IT IS VERY TECHNICAL.

IT JUST CHANGES THE NAME OF AN ENTITY THAT WAS RECEIVING FUNDING, REALLY

CORRECTS THAT. THE REASON SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES WILL BE VOTING NO IS

BECAUSE THEY WERE NO ON THE BILL-IN-CHIEF, AND MANY ON THE ENTIRE

BUDGET. SO COLLEAGUES ON OUR SIDE OF THE AISLE, IF YOU WANT TO BE NO,

YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY PUSH YOUR BUTTON BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO A PARTY VOTE

WHEN A BILL IS BEING DONE ON CONSENT.

I'LL BE VOTING IN THE NEGATIVE. THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU. MR. RA

IN THE NEGATIVE.

MR. REILLY TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. REILLY: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. JUST

REAL QUICK. I'M A NO BECAUSE THIS DOES NOT AMEND AND ADD ANOTHER

JUDGE FOR RICHMOND COUNTY.

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. REILLY IN THE

NEGATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULT.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER,

MEMBERS HAVE ON THEIR DESK A B-CALENDAR. I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO

100

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

ADVANCE THAT B.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON A MOTION BY

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

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU. IF WE CAN

GO TO PAGE 3 AND TAKE UP RULES REPORT NO. 193.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: PAGE 3, RULES

REPORT 193, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A00033, RULES REPORT

NO. 193, BURDICK, LEVENBERG, SEAWRIGHT, SAYEGH, HEVESI,

GONZ�LEZ-ROJAS, K. BROWN, REYES, EPSTEIN, SMULLEN, SHIMSKY,

SANTABARBARA, KASSAY, P. CARROLL, SLATER. AN ACT IN RELATION TO

ESTABLISHING THE TASK FORCE TO PROMOTE THE EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE

WITH DISABILITIES.

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.)

MS. WALSH TO EXPLAIN HER VOTE.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

SO, WHO WAS IT; WAS IT YOGI BERRA THAT SAID, "IT'S LIKE

D�J� VU ALL OVER AGAIN"? THIS -- IF THIS BILL LOOKS FAMILIAR, THE REASON IS

THAT THERE WAS A NUMBERING MISTAKE AND SO THAT'S WHY THE B-CALENDAR

IS BEING ADVANCED WITH A NEW RULES REPORT NO. 193 INSTEAD OF 187,

101

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

WHICH IS WHAT IT WAS MISTAKENLY CALLED.

SO, JUST -- I WANTED TO EXPLAIN THAT, AND I JUST WANTED

TO SAY FOR THE RECORD, AGAIN, THAT I HAD SAID ON THE PREVIOUS TIME WE

TALKED ABOUT THIS BILL, THAT THE CENTER FOR DISABILITY RIGHTS DOES HAVE

SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE BILL; PRIMARILY THAT THERE WAS NO SOURCE OF

FUNDING AND THAT THEY BELIEVED THAT THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY COULD BE

MORE BROADLY DEFINED IN THE SCOPE OF THIS BILL, AND ALSO THE FACT THAT

THERE'S NO MINORITY APPOINTMENTS.

SO I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS BILL, BUT AGAIN, JUST FOR THE

RECORD, WANTED TO POINT OUT SOME OF THE CONCERNS ABOUT THE BILL.

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MS. WALSH IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

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, IF WE

COULD NOW GO TO OUR RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE 3.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: PAGE 3, CALENDAR

RESOLUTIONS, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 464, MS.

BUTTENSCHON.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM MAY 18-24, 2025, AS EOSINOPHIL AWARENESS

102

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

WEEK IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MS. BUTTENSCHON ON

THE RESOLUTION.

MS. BUTTENSCHON: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

AS A GRANDMOTHER OF A CHILD WHO WAS DIAGNOSED WITH

EOSIPHIC [SIC] ESOPHAGITIS, I RISE TODAY TO RECOGNIZE AWARENESS WEEK

FOR EOSIPHIC [SIC].

WITH THIS DISEASE, A TYPE OF WHITE BLOOD CELL BUILDS UP

IN THE ESOPHAGUS. THIS BUILDUP IS AN ALLERGIC REACTION TO SOME FOODS OR

ALLERGENS AND CAN CAUSE PERMANENT OR THREATENING -- OR LIFE-THREATENING

SYMPTOMS. EOE, AS IT'S BETTER KNOWN, AFFECTS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND

THERE'S NO EXACT CAUSE, AND AT THIS POINT, CURE. I ASK ALL TO RESPECT THOSE

WITH FOOD ALLERGIES, AS MANY ARE EQUATED TO LIFE-THREATENING DISEASES AS

THIS.

I AM HONORED TO CARRY THIS RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE ALL

THOSE, INCLUDING MY GRANDSON WHO TURNED THREE TODAY. SO HAPPY

BIRTHDAY, ALEXANDER. AND PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE THAT FACE THESE

CHALLENGES.

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MR. SLATER ON THE RESOLUTION.

MR. SLATER: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

I JUST WANTED TO RISE AND OFFER MY SUPPORT FOR THIS

RESOLUTION. BOTH OF MY CHILDREN HAVE EOE. MY DAUGHTER, WHO IS NOW

FIVE, SHE HAD -- HER ESOPHAGUS WAS CLOSED TO 94 PERCENT AS A BABY.

103

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

AND DESPITE THOSE CHALLENGES, SHE WAS ABLE TO THRIVE, AND I WOULD

ARGUE SHE'S PROBABLY THE STRONGEST FIVE-YEAR-OLD AND THE MOST

RAMBUNCTIOUS FIVE-YEAR-OLD THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY MEET. MY SON

CHARLIE, 9, HE WAS AT ABOUT 45 PERCENT CLOSURE OF HIS ESOPHAGUS AS

WELL. BUT THANKFULLY, DUE TO SOME GREAT MEDICATION, DUPIXENT, THAT

WAS DEVELOPED ACTUALLY IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY BY REGENERON, THEY ARE

BOTH NOW AT ZERO PERCENT AS OF THEIR LAST ENDOSCOPY.

AND SO, YES, THIS IS A CONDITION THAT IMPACTS CHILDREN

AND ADULTS ALL ACROSS NEW YORK STATE. ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT WE

GET TO DO HERE AS A LEGISLATURE IS RAISE AWARENESS OF THESE TYPES OF

CONDITIONS, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CONTINUE TO SEE INCREASE. BUT

JUST KNOW THAT THERE ARE SUCCESS STORIES OUT THERE. THERE IS HELP THAT'S

OUT THERE. AND THANKS TO OUR FRIENDS AT REGENERON, THERE'S VERY

EFFECTIVE MEDICATION THAT IS OUT THERE.

AND SO TO BOTH MY KIDS, THEY ARE LIVING EXAMPLES THAT

THEY CAN CONTINUE TO THRIVE DESPITE THEIR EOE DIAGNOSIS. BUT AGAIN, I

WANT TO THANK THE SPONSOR AND ALL MY COLLEAGUES FOR RAISING AWARENESS

ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.

THANK YOU.

(APPLAUSE)

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. 484, MS.

SOLAGES.

104

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM MAY 11-17, 2025, AS FIBROMYALGIA

AWARENESS WEEK 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. 485, MR.

PRETLOW.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM MAY 2025, AS CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

(CPA) 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.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, DO YOU

HAVE ANY FURTHER HOUSEKEEPING OR RESOLUTIONS?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: YES, WE HAVE BOTH.

HOUSEKEEPING.

ON A MOTION BY MS. LEVENBERG, PAGE 10, CALENDAR

NO. 73, BILL NO. A.2447-A, THE BILL IS AMENDED TO ITS ORIGINAL NUMBER

OF A.2447.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF RESOLUTIONS, FINE RESOLUTIONS

BEFORE THE HOUSE. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THESE RESOLUTIONS WILL BE TAKEN

UP TOGETHER.

105

NYS ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2025

ON THE RESOLUTIONS, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING

AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTIONS ARE ADOPTED.

(WHEREUPON, ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NOS. 486-493

WERE UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED.)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: I NOW MOVE THAT THE

ASSEMBLY STAND ADJOURNED AND THAT WE RECONVENE AT 11:00 A.M.,

WEDNESDAY, MAY THE 14TH, TOMORROW BEING A SESSION DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON MRS. PEOPLES-

STOKES' MOTION, THE HOUSE STANDS ADJOURNED.

(WHEREUPON AT 5:38 P.M., THE HOUSE STOOD ADJOURNED

UNTIL WEDNESDAY, MAY 14TH AT 11:00 A.M., THAT BEING A SESSION DAY.)

106