MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2025 1:17 P.M.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE HOUSE WILL

COME TO ORDER.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES.

RABBI MOSHE TAUB WILL OFFER A PRAYER.

RABBI MOSHE TAUB: HONORABLE SPEAKER CARL

HEASTIE, A GREAT FRIEND AND DEFENDER OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE AND ALL

DENIZENS OF NEW YORK STATE, AS WELL AS MY ASSEMBLYMAN, DAVID

WEPRIN, IN MY BRIEF 45 SECONDS, MY DAUGHTER LAST NIGHT CAME TO ME

AND SAID, DAD, THERE'S -- THERE'S NOTHING IN THIS HOUSE TO EAT. I SAID,

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? WE HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF FOOD IN OUR

DOWNSTAIRS, UPSTAIRS FREEZER, REFRIGERATOR. I -- I SAY THIS BECAUSE WE

ARE IN A TIME IN THIS COUNTRY OF DIVISION AND CONFUSION. AND I OFTEN

HEAR IN THE STREET, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? WHAT ARE WE GOING TO

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

DO? BUT WE HAVE AN ABUNDANCE IN THIS WONDERFUL COUNTRY AND THIS

WONDERFUL STATE, A PRECEDENT OF LOVE, OF UNITY. WE HAVE ALL THE TOOLS AT

OUR DISPOSAL.

EVERY MORNING I WAKE UP AND I BESEECH GOD FOR THE

SAFETY OF THIS COUNTRY, AND I ASK THAT GOD GIVE THE GRATITUDE IN MY

HEART, ALL OF OUR HEARTS, TO ALL THE CITIZENS HOW FORTUNATE WE ARE TO OUR

CREATOR FOR MAKING AND PROTECTING THIS COUNTRY AND MAKING US CITIZENS

OF THE GREATEST COUNTRY ON EARTH, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND ITS

GREATEST STATE, NEW YORK STATE, THAT I LOVE SO MUCH AND THAT I SERVE IT

TOGETHER WITH YOU IN HEALTH. THAT GOD SHOULD SUSTAIN US, OUR FAMILIES.

GIVE US THE WISDOM TO FIND UNITY. GIVE US THE WISDOM TO SOW

DIVISIONS, TO FIND SOLUTIONS.

MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS ALL OF YOU IN YOUR HOLY

WORK, AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: VISITORS ARE INVITED

TO JOIN MEMBERS IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

(WHEREUPON, ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER LED VISITORS AND

MEMBERS IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.)

A QUORUM BEING PRESENT, THE CLERK WILL READ THE

JOURNAL OF SUNDAY, JUNE 8TH.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, I MOVE

TO DISPENSE WITH THE FURTHER READING OF THE JOURNAL OF SUNDAY, JUNE THE

8TH AND THAT THE SAME STAND APPROVED.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WITHOUT OBJECTION,

SO ORDERED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU SO MUCH,

MA'AM.

TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT ARE IN THE CHAMBERS AS WELL AS

OUR MULTIPLE GUESTS, IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU ALL HERE AGAIN, AND HAPPY

MONDAY.

THE WORDS WE HAVE TODAY ARE FROM ALBERT EINSTEIN.

NO NEED TO TELL YOU WHAT HIS BACKGROUND IS, WE SHOULD ALL BE VERY

FAMILIAR WITH HIM. HIS WORDS FOR US TODAY: STRIVE NOT TO BE A SUCCESS,

BUT RATHER TO BE OF VALUE. AGAIN, STRIVE NOT TO BE A SUCCESS, BUT RATHER

TO BE OF VALUE.

MADAM SPEAKER, MEMBERS HAVE ON THEIR DESK A MAIN

CALENDAR AND A DEBATE LIST. BEFORE ANY INTRODUCTIONS AND/OR

HOUSEKEEPING, WE'RE GONNA BE CALLING FOR THE RULES COMMITTEE TO

MEET. THAT COMMITTEE IS GONNA PRODUCE AN A-CALENDAR OF WHICH WE

WILL TAKE UP TODAY. WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE CALLING FOR THE FOLLOWING

COMMITTEES TO MEET AS WELL: CODES AND WAYS AND MEANS.

WE ARE, HOWEVER, GOING TO BEGIN OUR FLOOR WORK TODAY

BY CONTINUING CONSENT WHERE WE LEFT OFF ON FRIDAY WITH RULES REPORT

NO. 471. IT'S ON PAGE 17. MAJORITY MEMBERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT

THERE WILL BE A NEED FOR A CONFERENCE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING OUR WORK

ON THE FLOOR TODAY, AND AS ALWAYS, MADAM SPEAKER, WE WILL CHECK WITH

OUR COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE TO DETERMINE WHAT THEIR

NEEDS MAY BE.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

SO THAT'S THE GENERAL OUTLINE OF WHERE WE'RE GOING

TODAY, MA'AM. IF WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUR RULES COMMITTEE TO THE

SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM, WE CAN GET OUR FLOOR WORK STARTED.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

RULES COMMITTEE TO THE SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM.

RULES COMMITTEE MEMBERS, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE SPEAKER'S

CONFERENCE ROOM.

WE HAVE A PIECE OF HOUSEKEEPING.

ON A MOTION BY MS. LEE, PAGE 12, RULES REPORT NO.

341, BILL NO. A07618-B, THE AMENDMENTS ARE RECEIVED AND ADOPTED.

WE HAVE SEVERAL INTRODUCTIONS THIS MORNING -- EXCUSE

ME, THIS AFTERNOON. WE WILL START WITH MR. WEPRIN FOR THE PURPOSES OF

AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. WEPRIN: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

TODAY I'D LIKE TO WELCOME MY DEAR FRIEND, RABBI

MOSHE TAUB, SENIOR RABBI OF THE YOUNG ISRAEL OF HOLLISWOOD AND

HOLLISWOOD JEWISH CENTER TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.

AT THE YOUNG AGE OF 24, RABBI TAUB WAS APPOINTED

RABBI OF THE ORTHODOX COMMUNITY IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK. AFTER

SERVING FOR 12 YEARS IN BUFFALO, HE MOVED UPSTATE TO -- HE MOVED

DOWNSTATE TO SERVE AS A SENIOR RABBI OF THE YOUNG ISRAEL OF

HOLLISWOOD/HOLLISWOOD JEWISH CENTER. RABBI TAUB ALSO SERVES AS THE

RABBINIC EDITOR AND COLUMNIST AT AM MAGAZINE -- AT AMI MAGAZINE,

THE LARGEST INTERNATIONAL JEWISH MAGAZINE WITH A WEEKLY READERSHIP OF

OVER A QUARTER-MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE. RABBI TAUB HAS SERVED AS

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

THE EXECUTIVE OF THE RABBINICAL COUNCIL OF AMERICA AND MANY OTHER

ORGANIZATIONS.

ASIDE FROM HIS DUTIES IN HIS SYNAGOGUE, HE IS AN

INSTRUCTOR AT YESHIVA UNIVERSITY'S CENTRAL YESHIVA, AS WELL AS TELSHE

YESHIVA IN THE BRONX AND SHEVACH IN QUEENS. RABBI TAUB IS A

SOUGHT-AFTER SPEAKER WHO HAS LECTURED INTERNATIONAL BUSINESSES AS WELL

AS HARVARD LAW SCHOOL.

HE CONSIDERS HIS MOST IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY THE

RAISING OF HIS FOUR GIRLS AND ONE SON, TOGETHER WITH HIS WIFE NECHAMA,

A PROMINENT FORCE IN THE NURSING HOME INDUSTRY.

MADAM SPEAKER, PLEASE EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES AND

COURTESIES OF THE FLOOR TO RABBI TAUB.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON BEHALF OF MR.

WEPRIN, THE SPEAKER AND ALL MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU, RABBI, TO THE

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

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR KIND WORDS THIS MORNING. HOPE YOU

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

(APPLAUSE)

MR. ZACCARO FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. ZACCARO: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

I RISE TODAY TO HONOR AND INTRODUCE TWO REMARKABLE

INDIVIDUALS, EVA DELEON AND LISA SANTIAGO AS WE PAY TRIBUTE TO AN

EXTRAORDINARY LIFE DEDICATED TO THE SAFETY AND DIGNITY OF OTHERS, FDNY

EMT CAPTAIN ROBERT R. DELEON. LATER TODAY WE WILL ADOPT A

RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING CAPTAIN DELEON'S 36 YEARS OF UNWAVERING

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

SERVICE, PARTICULARLY IN THE BRONX, ONE OF OUR CITY'S MOST DEMANDING

EMERGENCY ASSIGNMENTS. HE FACED THESE CHALLENGES WITH UNMATCHED

COURAGE, SKILL AND COMPASSION. AS A 9/11 EMERGENCY RESPONDER,

CAPTAIN DELEON EXEMPLIFIED BRAVERY, RUNNING TOWARDS DANGER TO SAVE

LIVES IN OUR CITY'S DARKEST HOUR. TRAGICALLY, HE LATER SUCCUMBED TO A

TERMINAL ILLNESS LINKED TO HIS HEROIC EFFORTS AT GROUND ZERO, PASSING

AWAY ON APRIL 16, 2024.

ON MAY 20TH, HIS NAME WAS ETCHED INTO THE

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES MEMORIAL, THE TREE OF LIFE, ALONGSIDE

FOUR OTHERS DEDICATE -- FOUR OTHER DEDICATED PROVIDERS WHO MADE THE

ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN SERVICE TO NEW YORKERS. THE COUNTLESS LIVES HE

TOUCHED AND THE COMFORT HE PROVIDED IN MOMENTS OF CRISIS ARE

IMMEASURABLE. HIS COMMITMENT AND SACRIFICE WILL FOREVER BE

REMEMBERED. WE HONOR CAPTAIN DELEON NOT ONLY FOR HIS LIFE, BUT FOR

THE LOVE, THE LEGACY OF SERVICE, COMPASSION AND HEROISM HE LEAVES

BEHIND.

TODAY WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE WITH US HIS WIFE, EVA

DELEON, AND HER SISTER LISA SANTIAGO. MADAM SPEAKER, PLEASE JOIN ME

IN WELCOMING THEM AND EXPRESSING OUR GRATITUDE FOR THEIR STRENGTH IN

THE FACE OF PROFOUND LOSS. THEIR PRESENCE HERE TODAY REMINDS US THAT

BEHIND EVERY UNIFORM IS A FAMILY THAT SERVES ALONGSIDE OF THEM.

THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON BEHALF OF MR.

ZACCARO, THE SPEAKER AND ALL MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU, MRS.

DELEON AND MS. SANTIAGO, TO THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER, THE PEOPLE'S

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

HOUSE, AND EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR TO YOU, AND HONOR YOUR

LATE HUSBAND, CAPTAIN ROBERT DELEON OF THE FDNY FOR HIS HEROIC

EFFORTS. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE WITH US TODAY AND EXTEND

ALWAYS OUR CONDOLENCES TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. THANK YOU SO VERY

MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. SANTABARBARA FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. SANTABARBARA: THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER.

I RISE TODAY IN RECOGNITION OF CAPITAL REGION MILITARY

DAY AND IN PROUD SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION WE'LL BE TAKING UP LATER THIS

AFTERNOON; A RESOLUTION THAT COMMENDS THE WORK OF THE CAPITAL REGION

CHAMBER, A UNIFIED MILITARY AFFAIRS COUNCIL, AND HONORS THE -- THE

VITAL ROLE THAT OUR MILITARY COMMUNITY PLAYS IN NEW YORK STATE AND

HERE IN THE CAPITAL REGION.

WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO BE JOINED IN THE CHAMBER TODAY

BY A DISTINGUISHED GROUP OF GUESTS, LEADERS, SERVICE MEMBERS FROM THE

NEW YORK NATIONAL GUARD, UNITED STATES ARMY, AND UNIFIED MILITARY

AFFAIRS COUNCIL. THEIR SERVICE NOT ONLY PROTECTS OUR FREEDOMS, IT

STRENGTHENS OUR COMMUNITIES, IT SETS AN EXAMPLE OF LEADERSHIP AND

SACRIFICE.

FROM STRATTON -- FROM THE STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD

BASE, HOME OF THE WORLD'S ONLY LC-130 SKI -- SKIBIRD, TO THE

WATERVLIET ARSENAL, THE NAVY RESERVE CENTER IN GLENVILLE, THE U.S.

ARMY RECRUITING BATTALION AND THE SERGEANT HORACE D. BRADT ARMY

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

RESERVE CENTER WHERE I ONCE SERVED, THESE INSTITUTIONS REPRESENT A

PROUD LEGACY OF SERVICE AND READINESS RIGHT HERE IN THE CAPITAL REGION.

A SPECIAL RECOGNITION TODAY GOES TO COLONEL STEVEN

SLOSEK, RECENTLY APPOINTED WING COMMANDER OF THE 109TH AIRLIFT

WING. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ATTENDING THE CHANGE OF COMMAND

CEREMONY JUST THIS PAST WEEKEND, AND IT WAS QUITE THE PRIVILEGE TO SEE

THAT ONCE AGAIN, AND WE CONGRATULATE HIM. HE'S HERE ALONG WITH CHIEF

MASTER SERGEANT RICHARD FELTON.

AND ALSO JOINING US ARE OTHER REPRESENTATIVES FROM

ACROSS OUR ARMED FORCES AND SUPPORT AGENCIES. FROM THE NEW YORK

NATIONAL GUARD OFFICE OF THE AD -- ADJUTANT GENERAL, CHIEF -- CHIEF

STATE WARRANT OFFICER BILL SOLMO, NEW YORK COMMAND CHIEF

WARRANT OFFICER. FROM THE NEW YORK ARMY NATIONAL GUARD,

LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN A. HARDER, COMMANDER, RECRUITING AND

RETENTION BATTALION; STAFF SERGEANT JAKE A. SIMS; STAFF SERGENT

KATELYN EVANS; SPECIALIST JAMESON SPENCER. FROM THE U.S ARMY

ALBANY RECRUITING COMPANY, LIEUTENANT BOYD BLACKWOOD, EXECUTIVE

OFFICER. REPRESENTING THE UNIFIED MILITARY AFFAIRS COUNCIL IS MR.

TOM O'CONNOR, AND MR. STEVE MCCUTCHEON FROM THE SCHENECTADY

COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE AGENCY.

THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT ONLY SERVING WITH

DISTINCTION, THEY ARE MENTORING FUTURE LEADERS, SUPPORTING FAMILIES AND

BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN MILITARY AND CIVILIAN SECTORS.

TO ALL THOSE IN UNIFORM AND THEIR FAMILIES, WE SEE

YOU, WE HONOR YOU AND WE STAND WITH YOU.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

MADAM SPEAKER, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE WELCOME THESE

SPECIAL GUESTS TO THE CHAMBER WHO ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE CAPITAL

REGION MILITARY DAY AND EXTEND TO THEM ALL THE CORDIALITIES OF THE

HOUSE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON BEHALF OF MR.

SANTABARBARA, MS. WALSH, THE SPEAKER AND ALL MEMBERS, WE WELCOME

THE UNIFIED MILITARY AFFAIRS COUNCIL FOR OUR CAPITAL REGION MILITARY

DAY TO OUR ASSEMBLY CHAMBER AND EXTEND TO YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE

FLOOR. WE DO HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY. THANK YOU SO

VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR JOINING US TODAY.

(APPLAUSE)

MS. ROMERO FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MS. ROMERO: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

I RISE TO INTRODUCE FOUR AMAZING GIRL SCOUTS FROM

TROOP 1663. THESE GIRL SCOUTS JUST COMPLETED THEIR SILVER AWARD,

WHICH WAS A REMEDIATION OF THE MEDITATION PARK BEHIND THE FIRST

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN VOORHEESVILLE. THEY NOTICED THAT THIS

PARK, WHICH IS OPEN TO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, WAS IN NEED OF SOME

REPAIR AND THEY TOOK IT UPON THEMSELVES TO REPAIR THIS PARK, WHICH WAS

-- HAD A LOT OF OVERGROWTH. THEY ALSO RESPECTFULLY TOOK A -- TOOK A

TOMBSTONE AND THEY REPAIRED IT. THEY REMOVED TREES WHICH WERE

OBSTRUCTING CREEK FLOW. THEY PLANTED TREES AND FLOWERS, AND THEY ALSO,

AS A PART OF THIS PROJECT, REDEVELOPED A WEBSITE WITH A QR CODE FOR

GUIDED MEDITATION IN THE PARK.

THESE GIRL SCOUTS ARE THE EPITOME OF SELF-STARTERS AND

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

YOUNG WOMEN WHO ARE FUTURE LEADERS, AND I'M SO HONORED TO HAVE

THEM HERE IN THE CHAMBER. I ASK THAT YOU GRANT THEM THE CORDIALITIES

OF THE HOUSE AND THE WONDERFULNESS OF THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBERS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING THEM HERE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON BEHALF OF MS.

ROMERO, THE SPEAKER AND ALL MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU YOUNG

WOMEN, OUR GIRL SCOUTS FROM TROOP 1663 TO THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER

AND EXTEND TO YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. I REMEMBER MANY YEARS

AGO PUTTING MY THREE FINGERS UP EVERY WEEK, TOO, FOR THE GIRL SCOUTS.

IT'S A PROUD TRADITION. IT WILL TAKE YOU A LONG WAY, DISCIPLINE AND

HONOR. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY, AND KEEP UP THE

GREAT CIVIC WORK. THANK YOU.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. NOVAKHOV FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. NOVAKHOV: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

TODAY I RISE ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND MY COLLEAGUE

ALEC BROOK-KRASNY. I RISE WITH THE GREAT HONOR OF RECOGNIZING AN

EXTRAORDINARY ORGANIZATION, TRANA RELIEF ASSOCIATION. THIS VOLUNTEER-

BASED NON-PROFIT IS CELEBRATING ITS THIRD ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR; THREE

YEARS OF UNWAVERING SERVICE TO NEWLY-ARRIVED UKRAINIAN REFUGEES WHO

HAVE COME TO OUR STATE IN SEARCH OF SAFETY, STABILITY AND A NEW

BEGINNING.

SINCE THE START OF THE WAR IN UKRAINE ON FEBRUARY 24,

2022, COUNTLESS FAMILIES HAVE BEEN FORCED TO FLEE THEIR HOMES, MANY

WITH NOTHING BUT THE CLOTHES ON THEIR BACKS. OVER 200,000 REFUGEES

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

HAVE COME TO THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING MANY RIGHT HERE TO NEW

YORK. FROM THE EVERY START -- FROM THE VERY START OF THE WAR IN

UKRAINE, TRANA RELIEF HAS STEPPED UP TO HELP FAMILIES NAVIGATE THE

CHALLENGES OF STARTING OVER IN NEW COUNTRY -- IN A NEW COUNTRY. NO

WEEKENDS OFF, NO BREAKS. JUST A DEEP ONGOING COMMITMENT TO HELPING

OTHERS.

TODAY WE'RE JOINED IN THE CHAMBER BY 50 MEMBERS OF

THIS REMARKABLE COMMUNITY, A MIX OF VOLUNTEERS AND REFUGEES. EACH

REFUGEE HERE FLED UNIMAGINABLE CIRCUMSTANCES AFTER THE WAR IN UKRAINE

BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 24, 2022. TRANA RELIEF HELPS FAMILIES WITH THE

ESSENTIALS; FINDING -- FINDING HOUSING, LEARNING ENGLISH, ACCESSING

EDUCATION AND ADJUSTING TO LIFE HERE IN NEW YORK. I HAVE ATTENDED

THEIR EVENTS MYSELF, AND I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE DIGNITY AND SUPPORT

THEY BRING TO THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE.

AT THE CENTER OF THE ORGANIZATION IS NATALIA TREVINO,

WHO FOUNDED TRANA RELIEF. HER WORK AND THE WORK OF EVERY SINGLE

VOLUNTEER INVOLVED REFLECTS THE VERY BEST OF WHO WE ARE AS NEW

YORKERS. WHEN WE SUPPORT GROUPS LIKE THIS, WE'RE NOT JUST HELPING

INDIVIDUALS, WE'RE STRAIGHTENING COMMUNITIES AND WE'RE LIVING UP TO

THE PROMISE OF WHAT THIS STATE SHOULD STAND FOR.

TO NATALIA, EVERYONE INVOLVED IN TRANA RELIEF, THANK

YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMPASSION AND UNWAVERING SERVICE TO THOSE

YOU ASSIST AND TO OUR STATE.

MADAM SPEAKER, I ASK THAT YOU WELCOME TRANA

RELIEF AND EXTEND ALL CORDIALITIES AND PRIVILEGES OF THIS HOUSE TO THIS

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

GROUP. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON BEHALF OF MR.

NOVAKHOV, THE SPEAKER AND ALL MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS AND NEW AMERICANS TO OUR ASSEMBLY CHAMBER

AND EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR TO YOU. WE DO HOPE YOU ENJOY

OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY AND HOPE YOU COME BACK OFTEN, AND THANK YOU

SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. NOVAKHOV FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. NOVAKHOV: THANK YOU AGAIN, MADAM

SPEAKER.

ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND -- AND ASSEMBLYMAN ALEC

BROOK-KRASNY, I'M HONORED TO INTRODUCE AN ORGANIZATION THAT

REPRESENTS BOTH THE STRENGTH OF CIVIC ACTIVISM AND THE URGENCY OF

GLOBAL SOLIDARITY, SVITANOK.

FOUNDED BY YOUNG UKRAINIAN-AMERICANS IN RESPONSE

TO RUSSIA'S FULL-SCALE INVASION OF UKRAINE, SVITANOK HAS BECOME A

LEADING FORCE IN COUNTERING RUSSIAN DISINFORMATION AND ADVOCATING FOR

U.S. SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE. ENTIRELY VOLUNTEER-RUN, THIS GROUP HAS

ORGANIZED HUNDREDS OF ADVOCACY MEETINGS WITH LAWMAKERS, BUILT

NATIONAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS REACHING MILLIONS, AND MOBIL -- MOBILIZING

-- MOBILIZED COMMUNITIES IN CITIES LIKE NEW YORK, D.C. AND BEYOND.

THEIR MISSION IS NOT ONLY TO SUPPORT UKRAINE, BUT TO DEFEND

DEMOCRACY, TRUTH, AND FREEDOM; VALUES WE ALL SHARE. AS RUSSIA

CONTINUES ITS HYBRID WAR NOT JUST WITH TANKS, BUT WITH PROPAGANDA AND

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

CYBER TACTICS, SVITANOK STANDS ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE INFORMATION WAR

HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. THEIR WORK REMINDS US THAT FOREIGN POLICY IS

NOT DISTANT. IT'S LOCAL, URGENT AND PERSONAL. AND THROUGH THE WORK OF

SVITANOK, THE VOICES OF UKRAINIANS AND THEIR ALLIES HAVE BEEN HEARD

ACROSS AMERICA.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING AND WELCOMING THE

LEADERSHIP OF SVITANOK TO THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER TODAY. MADAM

SPEAKER, PLEASE WELCOME SVITANOK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

ON BEHALF OF MR. NOVAKHOV, MR. BROOKS-KRASNY

[SIC], THE SPEAKER AND ALL MEMBERS, WE WELCOME OUR DISTINGUISHED

GUESTS TO THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE ADVOCATE

WORK THAT YOU DO, AND EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR TO YOU. WE

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

JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. SANTABARBARA FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. SANTABARBARA: THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER.

TODAY I'M PROUD TO INTRODUCE TO THIS CHAMBER A

REMARKABLE YOUNG MAN FROM THE CAPITAL REGION. DOMENIC JOSEPH

POLIMENI IS HERE WITH US. HE'S HERE WITH HIS FATHER, ETHAN. A

12-YEAR-OLD STUDENT FROM DRAPER MIDDLE SCHOOL IN THE MOHONASEN

SCHOOL DISTRICT AND A PROUD RESIDENT OF MY HOMETOWN OF ROTTERDAM.

HE'S ALSO A MEMBER OF SCOUT TROOP 3050. HE RECENTLY COMPLETED A

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

CONSERVATION PROJECT WHICH INCLUDED INSTALLING 40 BLUEBIRD AND WOOD

DUCK HOUSES FOR OUR LOCAL PARKS, AND PLANTING 50 NATIVE TREES TO HELP

PREVENT EROSION AND RESTORE HABITAT. HIS DEDICATION EARNED HIM THE

SCOUTING CONSERVATION GOOD TURN AWARD, AN IMPRESSIVE ACHIEVEMENT

FOR ANY SCOUT, EVEN MORE SO FOR A YOUNG INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS OVERCOME

THE CHALLENGES OF LIVING WITH AUTISM. AND I HEAR THAT HE'S ALSO WORKING

ON GETTING ENOUGH BADGES TO EARN HIS EAGLE SCOUT RANK SHORTLY.

SO WE'RE VERY PROUD TO HAVE HIM HERE, MADAM --

MADAM SPEAKER. IF YOU WOULD PLEASE WELCOME HIM AND HIS FATHER

ETHAN TO THE CHAMBER AND EXTEND TO THEM ALL THE CORDIALITIES OF THE

HOUSE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON BEHALF OF MR.

SANTABARBARA, THE SPEAKER AND ALL MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU,

DOMENIC AND DAD, TO THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER. THE MEMBERS ALL

WELCOME YOU HERE TODAY, AND YOUR GREAT WORKS WITH YOUR SCOUT TROOP

3050. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ON YOUR CONSERVATION AWARD, AND GOOD

LUCK TOWARDS YOUR EAGLE SCOUT. I KNOW YOU WILL DO A GREAT JOB. WE

EXTEND TO YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR, AND WE HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD

TIME HERE WITH US TODAY. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. KIM FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. KIM:. THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

TODAY IS JAPAN DAY IN ALBANY, AND WE ARE JOINED BY

DOZENS OF AMAZING LEADERS FROM THE JAPANESE AND JAPANESE AMERICAN

COMMUNITY.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

FIRST, LET ME INTRODUCE AMBASSADOR MIKIO MORI, THE

CONSUL GENERAL OF JAPAN IN NEW YORK. MR. TAK FURUMOTO, BOARD

MEMBER, JAPANESE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK AND A VETERAN,

A VIETNAM VETERAN AS WELL. MR. KOJI SATO, PRESIDENT OF JAPANESE

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK. MR. TETSUO KAWATE -- TETSUO

KAWATE, THE PRESIDENT OF JAPANESE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND

INDUSTRY OF NEW YORK. MR. HIROSHI KAWANO, EXECUTIVE VICE

PRESIDENT OF JAPANESE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY OF NEW

YORK. MR. FRED KATAYAMA, EXECUTIVE VP OF US-JAPAN COUNCIL. MR.

MASAAKI MAEDA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JAPANESE CHAMBER OF

COMMERCE. MR. BRADLY EDMISTER, BOARD MEMBER OF JAPAN SOCIETY.

MR. SATOSHI MIURA, PRESIDENT OF JAPAN EXTERNAL TRADE ORGANIZATION.

MR. -- AND MR. SUMUTU [SIC] MATSUMOTO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF JAPAN

NATIONAL TOURISM ORGANIZATION OF NEW YORK.

THE JAPANESE COMMUNITY HAS CREATED THOUSANDS OF

JOBS FOR THE STATE OF NEW YORK, CREATED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN REVENUE

FOR OUR ECONOMY, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THAT PARTNERSHIP

LOOKING FORWARD. IT WOULD -- AND THESE GENTLEMEN AND THESE

BUSINESSES -- BUSINESS LEADERS WILL BE SPENDING THE DAY WITH US, AND I

HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL GET A CHANCE TO TALK TO THEM AND TALK ABOUT

HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TOWARDS PROSPERITY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

FOR THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

MS. -- MADAM SPEAKER, PLEASE EXTEND THE

HOSPITALITIES OF THE FLOOR (INDISCERNIBLE).

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON BEHALF OF MR.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

KIM, THE SPEAKER AND ALL MEMBERS, WELCOME, AMBASSADOR AND

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, TO OUR ASSEMBLY CHAMBER. WE WELCOME YOU

AND EXTEND TO YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. WE DO HOPE YOU ENJOY

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

(APPLAUSE)

(PAUSE)

MR. MILLER FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

(PAUSE)

MR. MILLER: I'M JUST WAITING FOR THEM TO COME IN

-- IN THE CHAMBERS.

(PAUSE)

THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

MADAM SPEAKER AND COLLEAGUES, I RISE TODAY TO

RECOGNIZE SOME TRULY WONDERFUL GUESTS WHO HELP BRING A BIT OF MAGIC

TO NEW YORK STATE, STRAIGHT FROM THE LAND OF OZ. PLEASE JOIN ME IN

WELCOMING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE INTERNATIONAL L. FRANK BAUM AND

ALL THINGS OZ HISTORICAL FOUNDATION AND MUSEUM, LOCATED IN

CHITTENANGO, NEW YORK, HOMETOWN OF L. FRANK BAUM, THE AUTHOR OF

THE WIZARD OF OZ.

WITH US TODAY ARE MARC BAUM, FOUNDATION PRESIDENT;

MONICA KINNER, VICE PRESIDENT; MARK SAMPLE, SECRETARY; AND ALLISON

LEHR, MUSEUM MANAGER, WHO MANY -- WHO MANY MAY KNOW AS

DOROTHY.

I HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING THEIR ANNUAL OZ-

STRAVAGANZA PARADE THIS PAST WEEKEND AS PART OF THE LARGE -- AS PART OF

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

THE LARGER OZ -- OZ-STRAVAGANZA CELEBRATION, ONE OF THE BIGGEST AND

MOST BELOVED EVENTS IN THE REGION. THIS YEAR'S THEME, "EASE DOWN THE

WICKED ROAD" [SIC] HIGHLIGHTED THE ENDURING LEGACY AND CREATIVE SPIRIT

THAT MAKES THE WIZARD OF OZ STORY SUCH A CHERISHED PART OF OUR

CULTURE.

THIS YEAR'S SPECIAL GUEST -- PARADE GUEST INCLUDED THE

GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER OF L. FRANK BAUM, DR. GITA DOROTHY MORENA; AND

THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF JUDY GARLAND, VANESSA O'NEIL, AMONG OTHERS.

THESE GUESTS HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE THAT

LEGACY, NOT JUST FOR -- NOT JUST FOR CHITTENANGO, BUT FOR ALL OF NEW YORK

AND BEYOND. FROM EDUCATION TO TOURISM TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT,

THEIR EFFORTS -- THEIR EFFORTS ARE SOMETHING WE SHOULD ALL BE PROUD OF.

REMEMBER, THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME, CHITTENANGO, NEW YORK.

MADAM SPEAKER, PLEASE EXTEND THE CORDIALITIES OF THE

HOUSE TO THESE FINE GUESTS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: OF COURSE.

ON BEHALF OF MR. MILLER, THE SPEAKER AND ALL

MEMBERS, WE WELCOME OUR GUESTS FROM THE L. FRANK BAUM HISTORICAL

FOUNDATION. THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS PORTRAYING SUCH RICH HISTORY. OF

COURSE EVERYONE REMEMBERS THE WIZARD OF OZ. WE WELCOME YOU TO

OUR CHAMBER TODAY AND EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR TO YOU.

HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY. I DON'T SEE TOTO, BUT WE DO

SEE YOUR RED SLIPPERS AND THOSE ARE AMAZING. AND I THINK EVERYONE IN

HERE WILL JOIN YOU IN CLICKING THEIR HEELS THREE TIMES, WISHING THEY

WERE HOME. SO WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

(APPLAUSE)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, RULES

COMMITTEE HAVING COMPLETED THEIR WORK, CAN YOU PLEASE HAVE THE

CODES COMMITTEE TO THE SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: CODES COMMITTEE

MEMBERS TO THE SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM. CODES COMMITTEE

MEMBERS TO THE SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM.

ON CONSENT, PAGE 17, RULES REPORT NO. 471, THE CLERK

WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08480, RULES REPORT

NO. 471, BRONSON, JACOBSON. AN ACT TO AMEND THE WORKERS'

COMPENSATION LAW, IN RELATION TO PAYMENT OF CERTAIN AWARDS FOR

DISABILITY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS BILL SHALL TAKE EFFECT

IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08481-A, RULES

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

REPORT NO. 472, CHANDLER-WATERMAN. AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 192

OF THE LAWS OF 2011, RELATING TO AUTHORIZING CERTAIN HEALTH CARE

PROFESSIONALS LICENSED TO PRACTICE IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS TO PRACTICE IN

THIS STATE IN CONNECTION WITH AN EVENT SANCTIONED BY THE NEW YORK

ROAD RUNNERS, IN RELATION TO EXTENDING THE PROVISIONS 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.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08568, RULES REPORT

NO. 473, LAVINE. AN ACT TO AMEND THE REAL PROPERTY TAX LAW, IN

RELATION TO BASE PROPORTIONS IN ASSESSING UNITS IN NASSAU AND SUFFOLK

COUNTIES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08571, RULES REPORT

NO. 474, ROSENTHAL. AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 514 OF THE LAWS OF

1983 AMENDING THE PRIVATE HOUSING FINANCE LAW AND THE REAL

PROPERTY TAX LAW RELATING TO THE POWERS OF THE NEW YORK STATE

HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY AND THE NEW YORK CITY HOUSING

DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO FINANCE CERTAIN MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING, IN

RELATION TO THE EFFECTIVENESS THEREOF; TO AMEND CHAPTER 396 OF THE

LAWS OF 1984 AMENDING THE PRIVATE HOUSING FINANCE LAW AND THE

REAL PROPERTY TAX LAW RELATING TO THE POWERS OF THE NEW YORK STATE

HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY TO FINANCE CERTAIN MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING, IN

RELATION TO THE EFFECTIVENESS THEREOF; TO AMEND CHAPTER 915 OF THE

LAWS OF 1982 AMENDING THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES LAW RELATING TO THE

POWERS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK MORTGAGE AGENCY, IN RELATION TO THE

EFFECTIVENESS THEREOF; TO AMEND THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES LAW, IN RELATION

TO THE POWERS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK MORTGAGE AGENCY; TO AMEND

CHAPTER 555 OF THE LAWS OF 1989 AMENDING THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES

LAW AND OTHER LAWS RELATING TO ESTABLISHING A NEW YORK STATE

INFRASTRUCTURE TRUST FUND, IN RELATION TO THE EFFECTIVENESS THEREOF; TO

AMEND CHAPTER 172 OF THE LAWS OF 2002, AMENDING THE PUBLIC

AUTHORITIES LAW RELATING TO THE POWERS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

MORTGAGE AGENCY, IN RELATION TO THE EFFECTIVENESS THEREOF; TO AMEND

CHAPTER 208 OF THE LAWS OF 2010 AMENDING THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES

LAW RELATING TO THE POWERS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK MORTGAGE

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

AGENCY, IN RELATION TO THE EFFECTIVENESS THEREOF; AND TO AMEND CHAPTER

246 OF THE LAWS OF 2010 AMENDING THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES LAW RELATING

TO THE POWERS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK MORTGAGE AGENCY, IN RELATION

TO THE EFFECTIVENESS THEREOF.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS BILL [SIC] SHALL TAKE EFFECT

IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08620, RULES REPORT

NO. 475, MCDONALD. AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 434 OF THE LAWS OF

2022 AUTHORIZING THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES

TO CONVEY CERTAIN UNAPPROPRIATED STATE LAND TO KIPP: ALBANY

COMMUNITY PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS, IN RELATION TO THE TIME OF TRANSFER

OF CERTAIN LANDS AND TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SUCH PROVISIONS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08639-A, RULES

REPORT NO. 476, BICHOTTE HERMELYN. AN ACT TO AMEND THE ALCOHOLIC

BEVERAGE CONTROL LAW, IN RELATION TO A LICENSE TO SELL LIQUOR AT RETAIL

FOR CONSUMPTION ON CERTAIN PREMISES.

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 FOR THE PURPOSE OF AN

INTRODUCTION.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, THANK

YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO INTERRUPT OUR PROCEEDINGS TO BRIEFLY INTRODUCE

OUR FORMER COLLEAGUE MONICA WALLACE. AS YOU KNOW, THOUGH, ONCE A

MEMBER, ALWAYS A MEMBER.

SO IF YOU WOULD PLEASE GIVE HER THE CORDIALITIES OF THE

HOUSE AND WELCOME HER BACK TO OUR CHAMBERS IT WOULD BE GRATEFUL.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON BEHALF OF MRS.

PEOPLES-STOKES, THE SPEAKER AND ALL MEMBERS, WELCOME BACK, MONICA,

TO THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER. IT'S ALWAYS WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU. AND

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. EXCITING NEWS FOR YOU. ONCE A MEMBER,

ALWAYS A MEMBER. HAPPY TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU FOR STOPPING BACK TO

SEE US.

(APPLAUSE)

THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08655, RULES REPORT

NO. 477, PHEFFER AMATO. AN ACT TO AMEND THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW

AND THE RETIREMENT AND SOCIAL SECURITY LAW, IN RELATION TO INCREASING

THE SPECIAL ACCIDENTAL DEATH BENEFIT OF CERTAIN DECEASED MEMBERS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON A MOTION BY MS.

PHEFFER AMATO, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS

ADVANCED.

READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT JULY 1, 2025.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08701, RULES REPORT

NO. 478, DILAN. AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 29 OF THE LAWS OF 2011

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

AMENDING THE EXECUTIVE LAW AND OTHER LAWS RELATING TO THE ADOPTION

OF THE INTERSTATE COMPACT FOR JUVENILES BY THE STATE OF NEW YORK, IN

RELATION TO THE EFFECTIVENESS 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.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER,

MEMBERS HAVE ON THEIR DESKS NOW AN A-CALENDAR. I'D LIKE TO MOVE

THAT A-CALENDAR.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON A MOTION BY

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

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: AND TAKE IT UP

IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON CONSENT, PAGE 3,

RULES REPORT NO. 479, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A00249, RULES REPORT

NO. 479, MAGNARELLI, STIRPE, TAPIA, SIMON, CRUZ, BUTTENSCHON, CLARK,

SAYEGH, DAVILA, COOK, PAULIN, LEVENBERG, BURDICK, RAMOS, SHIMSKY,

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

WEIDER, GRIFFIN, DINOWITZ, LUNSFORD, WOERNER, OTIS. AN ACT TO AMEND

THE TAX LAW, IN RELATION TO AUTHORIZING THE USE OF AN ELECTRONIC

SIGNATURE BY A PERSON GRANTED A POWER OF ATTORNEY BY A TAXPAYER WITH

RESPECT TO DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF

TAXATION AND FINANCE AND THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON A MOTION BY MR.

MAGNARELLI, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS

ADVANCED.

READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 120TH

DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A00536-A, RULES

REPORT NO. 480, PAULIN, SEPTIMO, MAGNARELLI, JACOBSON, MCDONOUGH,

DESTEFANO, DURSO, K. BROWN, WEPRIN. AN ACT TO AMEND THE INSURANCE

LAW, IN RELATION TO SUMMARIES OF READABLE AND UNDERSTANDABLE

INSURANCE POLICIES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THIS BILL IS LAID

ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A00804-C, RULES

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

REPORT NO. 481, MAGNARELLI, DILAN, WALKER, SIMON, SAYEGH,

BUTTENSCHON, COOK, WILLIAMS, DINOWITZ, STIRPE, JACKSON, GONZ�LEZ-

ROJAS, HEVESI, TAYLOR, SEPTIMO, BURDICK, SHIMSKY, STECK, COLTON,

GLICK, REYES, GRIFFIN, ALVAREZ. AN ACT TO AMEND THE GENERAL BUSINESS

LAW, IN RELATION TO CONSUMER LITIGATION FUNDING.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 180TH

DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A00836, RULES REPORT

NO. 482, SOLAGES, ROSENTHAL, SIMON, COLTON, OTIS, LUPARDO,

SANTABARBARA, SHRESTHA, KELLES, EPSTEIN, SEAWRIGHT, SEPTIMO, REYES,

SIMONE, JACOBSON. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC SERVICE LAW, IN

RELATION TO UTILITY INTERVENOR REIMBURSEMENT; AND TO AMEND THE STATE

FINANCE LAW, IN RELATION TO ESTABLISHING THE UTILITY INTERVENOR

ACCOUNT.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THIS BILL IS LAID

ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01250, RULES REPORT

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

NO. 483, PAULIN, WOERNER, LUPARDO, SIMPSON, WALSH, SIMON, STIRPE,

BEEPHAN, BUTTENSCHON, OTIS, MILLER, MCDONOUGH, LUNSFORD,

MCMAHON, PIROZZOLO, LEMONDES, GALLAHAN, HAWLEY, MCDONALD,

ALVAREZ. AN ACT TO AMEND THE GENERAL BUSINESS LAW, IN RELATION TO

PROHIBITING UNSOLICITED TELEMARKETING SALES CALLS DURING CERTAIN

DECLARED STATES OF EMERGENCY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01778-C, RULES

REPORT NO. 484, RAJKUMAR, COLTON, SOLAGES, ALVAREZ, WILLIAMS,

O'PHARROW, HOOKS, BRABENEC, PIROZZOLO, YEGER, NOVAKHOV, TAYLOR,

GRIFFIN. AN ACT TO AMEND THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF THE CITY OF NEW

YORK, IN RELATION TO GRANTING MEMBERS OF THE CITY'S POLICE FORCE

ELIGIBILITY FOR RETIREMENT AND PENSION BASED ON PREVIOUS SERVICE AS

TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AGENTS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: HOME RULE

MESSAGE IS AT THE DESK.

READ THE LAST SECTION.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A02163-B, RULES

REPORT NO. 485, JONES. AN ACT TO AMEND THE VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAW

AND THE PARKS, RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION LAW, IN RELATION TO

VINTAGE SNOWMOBILE REGISTRATIONS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON A MOTION BY MR.

JONES, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS

ADVANCED.

READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT DECEMBER

31, 2028.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A02311-A, RULES

REPORT NO. 486, ZACCARO, GONZ�LEZ-ROJAS, CRUZ, BICHOTTE HERMELYN,

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

HEVESI, HYNDMAN, SIMPSON, GRAY, NOVAKHOV, MCDONOUGH,

DESTEFANO, MIKULIN, YEGER, BURDICK, MCDONALD, COLTON, STECK,

PHEFFER AMATO, BEEPHAN, EPSTEIN, REYES, NORBER, SMULLEN, BRABENEC,

MAHER, MANKTELOW, TANNOUSIS, TAGUE, GRIFFIN, SLATER, ROSENTHAL,

KASSAY. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, IN RELATION TO

PROHIBITING CHARGES FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A CERTIFICATE OF STILLBIRTH OR

PREGNANCY LOSS.

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.)

MR. ZACCARO TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. ZACCARO: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU WITH A HEAVY HEART TO

ADDRESS A PROFOUNDLY PAINFUL ISSUE THAT RESONATES DEEPLY WITHIN ME,

AND THAT'S LOSING A CHILD. IT IS A SORROW UNLIKE ANY OTHER; ONE THAT I AND

MY FAMILY HAVE PERSONALLY ENDURED, AND THE EXPERIENCE OF GRIEF IS

ISOLATING. IT'S OVERWHELMING. AND IT'S A PAIN THAT NO PARENT SHOULD

EVER HAVE TO BEAR.

CERTIFICATES OF STILLBIRTH AND PREGNANCY LOSS WERE

CREATED TO PROVIDE FAMILIES WITH A MEASURE OF CLOSURE DURING THEIR

MOST VULNERABLE AND EMOTIONAL TIMES. THESE DOCUMENTS REPRESENT

MORE THAN MERE -- A MERE PIECE OF PAPER. THEY EMBODY LOVE, A

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

MEMORY, AND THE CHERISHED DREAMS THAT WERE NEVER REALIZED.

IN MY OWN JOURNEY THROUGH LOSS, I FOUND THAT EVERY

STEP TOWARDS HEALING WAS OVERSHADOWED OFTENTIMES BY THE BURDEN OF

NAVIGATING A WORLD THAT OFTEN FEELS INDIFFERENT TO OUR GRIEF. DURING

SUCH A DEVASTATING TIME, FAMILIES SHOULD NOT FACE FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO

OBTAIN THESE VITAL CERTIFICATES. THIS IS WHY I'M PROUD TO SPONSOR THIS

COMMONSENSE MEASURE THAT WILL ELIMINATE ALL FEES ASSOCIATED WITH

OBTAINING A CERTIFICATE OF STILLBIRTH OR PREGNANCY LOSS. AND I'M PROUD

TO SEE THIS BILL RECEIVE UNANIMOUS SUPPORT, REFLECTING OUR SHARED VALUE

AND COMMITMENT TO EASING THE BURDENS FACED BY GRIEVING FAMILIES.

AS A FATHER, AS A HUSBAND, AND A LAWMAKER, I'M

DEDICATED TO SERVING NEW YORK FAMILIES DURING BOTH THEIR HIGHEST

MOMENTS AND THEIR DEEPEST LOWS. MY OWN EXPERIENCE HAS FUELED MY

RESOLVE TO ENSURE THAT NO FAMILY HAS TO NAVIGATE THE FINANCIAL STRAIN OF

GRIEF WHILE TRYING TO HONOR THEIR LOVED ONES. AND TODAY WE TAKE A

CRITICAL STEP TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT EVERY FAMILY CAN REMEMBER THEIR

CHILD WITH DIGNITY AND WITHOUT ADDITIONAL HARDSHIP. AND KNOWING THAT

WE WILL HELP COUNTLESS FAMILIES HEAL AND PRESERVE THE MEMORY OF THEIR

LOST LOVED ONES, I PROUDLY VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. ZACCARO IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULT.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES FOR THE PURPOSE OF AN

INTRODUCTION.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER, FOR ALLOWING ME TO INTERRUPT OUR PROCEEDINGS TO BRIEFLY

INTRODUCE ON BEHALF OF THE NEW YORK STATE BLACK LEGISLATIVE TASK

FORCE, THREE GENTLEMEN WHO HAVE JOINED US IN THE CHAMBERS. KURTIS

BLOW, DR. BOB LEE AND G. KEITH ALEXANDER.

KURTIS BLOW IS A TRUE PIONEER OF HIP-HOP AND A PROUD

SON OF HARLEM. IN 1979 HE BECAME THE FIRST RAPPER TO SIGN WITH A

MAJOR RECORD LABEL, LAUNCHING A RECORD-BREAKING CAREER AND HELPING

BRING HIP-HOP INTO THE MAINSTREAM. KURTIS BLOW'S LEGACY EXTENDS

BEYOND MUSIC. HE'S BEEN A FIERCE VOICE AGAINST RACISM, WORKING WITH

ARTISTS UNITED AGAINST APARTHEID AND ALONGSIDE CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS

LIKE JESSE JACKSON AND AL SHARPTON.

WE'RE ALSO PROUD TO HAVE DR. BOB LEE, THE LEGENDARY

VOICE OF WBLS 107.5 FM. HE WAS RAISED IN THE QUEENSBRIDGE

HOUSES. DR. BOB'S LOVE FOR MUSIC BEGAN AT HOME, AND TOOK HIM FROM

HIS HOUSE PARTY AND -- PARTY DJ TO A -- TO WBLS INTERN, EVENTUALLY

BEING ONE OF THE MOST TRUSTED VOICES IN NEW YORK'S RADIO, KNOWN AS

THE "DOCTOR OF TWO TURNTABLES AND A MIC." HE NOW SERVES AS THE

STATION'S COMMUNITY AFFAIRS DIRECTOR, USING HIS PLATFORM TO INFORM,

EMPOWER AND INSPIRE.

WE ALSO HAVE TO WELCOME G. KEITH ALEXANDER, A

VETERAN BROADCASTER AND FOUNDER OF HARLEM AMERICA DIGITAL NETWORK

WITH A CAREER SPANDING [SIC] DECADES IN RADIO, TV AND VOICEOVER.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

KEITH HAS USED HIS VOICE AND HIS VISION TO CHAMPION BLACK EXCELLENCE

IN THE MEDIA. FROM WBLS AND WRKS TO NATIONAL CAMPAIGNS, HIS

WORK UPLIFTS AND INFORMS. THROUGH HARLEM AMERICA, HE'S CREATED A

MULTIMEDIA PLATFORM THAT HIGHLIGHTS BLACK ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH

LEADERS IN HARLEM'S RICH LEGACY HISTORY.

MADAM SPEAKER, IT IS JUNE. JUNE IS BLACK MUSIC

MONTH. SO YOU WOULD PLEASE WELCOME THESE STELLAR ICONS TO OUR

CHAMBERS AND GIVE THEM THE CORDIALITY OF THE FLOOR?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON BEHALF OF MRS.

PEOPLES-STOKES, THE BLACK TASK FORCE [SIC], THE SPEAKER AND ALL

MEMBERS, WE WELCOME OUR DISTINGUISHED GUESTS TO THE ASSEMBLY

CHAMBER. MR. ALEXANDER, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE

DONE. JUST A VETERAN, A BROADCASTER SPEAKS VOLUMES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THE ICONIC DR. BOB LEE, THANK YOU. WE SEE YOU EVERY SINGLE YEAR. IT'S

ALWAYS WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU IN FEBRUARY, BUT IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU HERE

IN THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.

AND TO OUR TRAILBLAZER, MR. KURTIS BLOW, THANK YOU SO

VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF THE WONDERFUL WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE. THERE

ARE STILL EIGHT MILLION STORIES IN THE NAKED CITY.

THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. WE

EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR TO YOU.

THANK YOU.

(APPLAUSE)

THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A02520, RULES REPORT

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

487, MCDONALD, LUPARDO, COLTON, SIMON, MAHER, MCDONOUGH,

BUTTENSCHON, SAYEGH, STIRPE, GALLAHAN, NOVAKHOV, JACKSON, SHIMSKY,

EACHUS, PAULIN,, MORINELLO, ZACCARO, HEVESI, STECK, BENEDETTO,

BURDICK, SEAWRIGHT, PALMESANO, BICHOTTE HERMELYN, DESTEFANO,

TAYLOR, WEPRIN, MEEKS, DINOWITZ, FITZPATRICK, MCMAHON, ROSENTHAL,

BRABENEC, MANKTELOW, SLATER, SEMPOLINSKI, GANDOLFO, RAMOS, CLARK,

LUNSFORD, SMULLEN, JENSEN, HAWLEY, GRAY, KELLES, BAILEY, R. CARROLL.

CHLUDZINSKI, DE LOS SANTOS, LUCAS, GONZ�LEZ-ROJAS, KASSAY. AN ACT

TO AMEND THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW, IN RELATION TO PROVIDING PARITY TO

DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT PROVIDERS BY REQUIRING MEDICAID MANAGED

CARE ORGANIZATIONS TO REIMBURSE SUCH PROVIDERS AT NO LESS THAN 100

PERCENT OF THE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND

COMPLEX REHABILITATION TECHNOLOGY FEE SCHEDULE FOR THE SAME SERVICE OR

ITEM.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 90TH

DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A02611, RULES REPORT

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

NO. 488, OTIS, SEAWRIGHT, SIMON, STIRPE, SAYEGH. AN ACT TO AMEND THE

REAL PROPERTY LAW, IN RELATION TO REQUIRING LANDLORDS TO MITIGATE

DAMAGES WHEN COMMERCIAL TENANTS VACATE PREMISES IN VIOLATION OF THE

TERMS OF THE LEASE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THIS BILL IS LAID

ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A02633, RULES REPORT

NO. 489, LUNSFORD, COLTON, MAGNARELLI, GRIFFIN, TAYLOR, HYNDMAN. AN

ACT IN RELATION TO DIRECTING THE PRESIDENT OF THE STATE CIVIL SERVICE

COMMISSION TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON JOB VACANCIES ACROSS STATE

AGENCIES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THIS BILL IS LAID

ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A02687, RULES REPORT

NO. 490, R. CARROLL, JACOBSON, EPSTEIN, DINOWITZ, GLICK, LUNSFORD,

SIMON, TAYLOR, RA, SCHIAVONI, BUTTENSCHON, CHLUDZINSKI. AN ACT TO

AMEND THE EDUCATION LAW, IN RELATION TO ESTABLISHING A CENTER FOR

DYSLEXIA AND DYSGRAPHIA.

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.)

MR. CARROLL TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

MR. R. CARROLL: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM

SPEAKER.

DYSLEXIA IS THE MOST COMMON LEARNING DISABILITY IN

AMERICA, BUT IT ALSO THE EASIEST TO REMEDIATE. WHEN WE PASS THIS

CENTER, WE WILL ENSURE THAT STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ALIKE HAVE THE

RESOURCES TO REMEDIATE THIS ISSUE. THIS CENTER WILL ENSURE THAT WE NO

LONGER HAVE A PATCHWORK OF INTERVENTIONS AND RESPONSES; WE HAVE

UNIFORMITY, WE HAVE EXPERTISE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE PROVIDE THE

SOUND AND NECESSARY EDUCATION FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS TO BECOME FLUID

AND FLUENT READERS AND SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS.

I STRUGGLED WHEN I WAS A YOUNG PERSON. WE SHOULDN'T

HAVE OUR STUDENTS AND OUR CHILDREN CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WHEN WE KNOW

WHAT IS -- WHAT -- WHAT TO DO -- WHAT IT -- WHEN WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED

TO DO TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE.

AND FOR THAT, I VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE AND I HOPE MY

COLLEAGUES WILL DO THE SAME.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. CARROLL IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A02748, RULES REPORT

NO. 491, BRONSON, REYES, ZINERMAN, CONRAD, RIVERA, SHIMSKY, CRUZ,

LUNSFORD, JACOBSON, HEVESI, STECK. AN ACT TO AMEND THE WORKERS'

COMPENSATION LAW, IN RELATION TO ELIGIBILITY FOR CLASSIFICATION AS

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

PERMANENT TOTAL DISABILITY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A03464, RULES REPORT

NO. 492, RAGA, ALVAREZ, SAYEGH. AN ACT TO AMEND THE BANKING LAW,

IN RELATION TO INFORMATION INCLUDED IN STUDENT FINANCIAL AID AWARD

LETTERS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON A MOTION BY MR.

RAGA, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS ADVANCED.

READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 30TH

DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER 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.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A03687-B, RULES

REPORT NO. 493, WEPRIN, HEVESI, DAVILA, PAULIN, BROOK-KRASNY,

JACOBSON. AN ACT TO AMEND THE INSURANCE LAW, IN RELATION TO

ADDRESSING NONCOVERED DENTAL SERVICES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THIS BILL IS LAID

ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A03862, RULES REPORT

NO. 494, ROZIC, REYES, STIRPE, R. CARROLL, SIMON, GONZ�LEZ-ROJAS,

HEVESI, DINOWITZ, SEAWRIGHT, JACOBSON, KELLES, STECK, GLICK,

ROSENTHAL, BARRETT, OTIS, LEE, DAVILA, TAPIA, BURDICK, LEVENBERG,

HUNTER, SIMONE, SOLAGES, GALLAGHER, RAGA, EPSTEIN, LAVINE,

CUNNINGHAM, BORES, SHIMSKY, WOERNER, SANTABARBARA, LASHER,

BURROUGHS, ZACCARO. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW AND THE

INSURANCE LAW, IN RELATION TO PROVIDING INFORMATION TO PATIENTS AND THE

PUBLIC ON HOSPITAL RULE-BASED EXCLUSIONS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON A MOTION BY MS.

ROZIC, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS

ADVANCED. THIS BILL IS LAID ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A03999-B, RULES

REPORT NO. 495, BRONSON. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES

LAW, IN RELATION TO ESTABLISHING THE MECHANICAL INSULATION ENERGY

SAVINGS PROGRAM.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THIS BILL IS LAID

ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A04030-A, RULES

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

REPORT NO. 496, MCMAHON. AN ACT IN RELATION TO AUTHORIZING THE

DISCONTINUANCE OF CERTAIN PARKLANDS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: HOME RULE

MESSAGE IS AT THE DESK.

READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULT.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A04041-B, RULES

REPORT NO. 497, P. CARROLL. AN ACT TO AMEND THE HIGHWAY LAW, IN

RELATION TO DEDICATING A PORTION OF THE STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM TO HECTOR

L. SOTO.

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.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A04664, RULES REPORT

NO. 498, EPSTEIN, TAYLOR, BURDICK. AN ACT TO AMEND THE TAX LAW, IN

RELATION TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF DELINQUENT TAX LIABILITIES BY MEANS OF

THE SUSPENSION OF LICENSES TO OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON A MOTION BY MR.

EPSTEIN, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS

ADVANCED. THIS BILL IS LAID ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A04677-A, RULES

REPORT NO. 499, JACKSON, WEPRIN. AN ACT TO AMEND THE INSURANCE

LAW, IN RELATION TO REQUIRING INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR LACTATION SUPPORT

SERVICES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT JANUARY 1ST

2027.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

MS. JACKSON TO EXPLAIN HER VOTE.

MS. JACKSON: OKAY. THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER. OKAY. SO SERIOUSLY, BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS A REALLY GOOD BILL,

SO THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR VOTING YES ON IT. THIS BILL CAME UP

WHEN I WAS PREGNANT WITH MY SON, AND THE LACTATION COACH TOLD ME THAT

INSURANCE WASN'T COVERED. SO THAT -- THAT REMINDED ME -- I MEAN, THAT

-- YEAH, THE LACTATION COACH WASN'T COVERED BY INSURANCE. SO THAT

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

REMINDED ME THAT THERE WILL BE SOME PARENTS THAT WILL NOT GET THIS

ASSISTANCE. AND WE KNOW BREAST MILK IS GOOD MILK. AND SO I DON'T

KNOW IF EVERYONE REMEMBERS, BUT A FEW YEARS AGO WE HAD A FORMULA

SHORTAGE, AN INFANT FORMULA SHORTAGE. AND DURING THAT TIME I WAS

REALLY PUSHING THAT WE PASS THIS BILL TO HELP ENCOURAGE MOMS TO

BREASTFEED THEIR CHILDREN AND HAVE THE SUPPORT.

SO I'M GONNA VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE AND I AM GRATEFUL

TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR DOING THE SAME.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MS. JACKSON IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A04873, RULES REPORT

NO. 500, CHANDLER-WATERMAN, HYNDMAN, LUCAS, MEEKS, ANDERSON,

BURROUGHS, OTIS. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES LAW, IN

RELATION TO REQUIRING THE NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT AUTHORITY TO HAVE AT

LEAST ONE CONDUCTOR ON BOARD.

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. CHANDLER-WATERMAN TO EXPLAIN HER VOTE.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

MS. CHANDLER-WATERMAN: THANK YOU SO

MUCH, MR. -- MADAM SPEAKER. SORRY. I AM EXCITED ABOUT THIS BILL AND

ITS PASSAGE, AND I -- I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

NO MATTER WHAT, WE NEED HUMANS ON THE TRAIN SYSTEM.

WE NEVER WANT IT TO BE FULLY AUTOMATED. I REMEMBER AS A CHILD MY

MOM SAID, GO TO THE CONDUCTOR. HE WILL KEEP YOU SAFE. WITH ALL THAT'S

HAPPENING WITH MTA, NO IT'S NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY WITH ALL THE CRIME

AND HOMELESSNESS THAT'S HAPPENING THERE, BUT AT LEAST WE KNOW THAT

THERE WILL BE A HUMAN BEING THERE THAT IF THE TRAIN BREAKS DOWN, IF

THERE'S A SENSORY ISSUE, SOMETHING BREAKS ON THE TRAIN, THERE'S SOMEONE

THERE TO GUIDE US TO SAFETY.

OUR -- THE JOB PROCUREMENT ALONG WITH SAFETY IS VERY

IMPORTANT, AND I WILL VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND

I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TODAY TO DO THE SAME.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MS. CHANDLER-

WATERMAN IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A05254-A, RULES

REPORT NO. 501, KELLES, ROSENTHAL, SIMONE, COLTON, OTIS, SLATER,

LEVENBERG. AN ACT IN RELATION TO ACT -- IN RELATION TO ENACTING THE

"NEW YORK OPEN WATER DATA ACT."

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 180TH

DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A05912, RULES REPORT

NO. 502, BORES, COLTON, DESTEFANO, GIBBS. AN ACT TO AMEND THE CIVIL

SERVICE LAW, IN RELATION TO REQUIRING EXIT SURVEYS FOR RESIGNING

EMPLOYEES.

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.)

MR. BORES TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. BORES: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

CRUCIAL TO OUR ABILITY TO DELIVER TOP-NOTCH SERVICES TO

NEW YORKERS IS ENSURING THAT WE HAVE A LIVELY AND ENGAGED STATE

WORKFORCE. AND THIS BILL SIMPLY ASKS STATE AGENCIES TO CONDUCT EXIT

INTERVIEWS WHEN EMPLOYEES LEAVE SO WE CAN LEARN WHAT IS CAUSING

THEM TO LEAVE, AND HOPE TO IMPROVE THE WORKPLACE FOR THEM AND,

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

THEREFORE, IMPROVE SERVICES FOR NEW YORKERS.

I WANT TO THANK MY GOOD FRIEND, THE COUNCIL MEMBER

FROM THE 7TH DISTRICT OF NEW YORK FOR PASSING A VERSION OF THIS BILL IN

THE CITY COUNCIL AND GIVING ME THE IDEA, ALONG WITH THE FIVE BOROUGH

INSTITUTES AND DC 37, AND MY PARTNERS IN PASSING IT AT THE STATE LEVEL,

PEF AND CSEA. THIS COMMONSENSE BILL WILL ENABLE US TO HAVE MORE

ENGAGED AND HAPPIER EMPLOYEES AND, THEREFORE, BETTER SERVICES FOR ALL

NEW YORKERS.

I PROUDLY VOTE YES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. BORES IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A06004, RULES REPORT

NO. 503, SIMON, CRUZ, REYES, GLICK, WEPRIN, BURDICK, JACOBSON, OTIS,

CUNNINGHAM, SEAWRIGHT, SANTABARBARA, MITAYNES, GONZ�LEZ-ROJAS,

COLTON, FORREST, PHEFFER AMATO, BARRETT, SHRESTHA, LEVENBERG,

MAMDANI, DINOWITZ, TAPIA, LEE, KELLES, TAYLOR, BORES, RAGA, ALVAREZ,

ROSENTHAL, EACHUS. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, IN

RELATION TO PROVIDING PUBLIC NOTICE AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WHEN A

GENERAL HOSPITAL SEEKS TO CLOSE ENTIRELY OR A UNIT THAT PROVIDES

MATERNITY, MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE USE CARE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON A MOTION BY MS.

SIMON, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

ADVANCED. THIS BILL IS LAID ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A06055-A, RULES

REPORT NO. 504, WOERNER, YEGER, BUTTENSCHON, ZINERMAN, MCDONALD,

HAWLEY, DESTEFANO, GIGLIO, SHIMSKY, GRIFFIN. AN ACT TO AMEND THE

EXECUTIVE LAW, IN RELATION TO PROVIDING FOR CERTAIN VICTIM STATEMENTS

TO BE TAKEN AT THEIR WORKPLACE INSTEAD OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THIS BILL IS LAID

ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A06063, RULES REPORT

NO. 505, LUNSFORD, ROSENTHAL, STECK, DINOWITZ, BURDICK, HEVESI,

STIRPE, SIMON, SCHIAVONI, MEEKS, COLTON, MCMAHON, SHRESTHA. AN

ACT TO AMEND THE ESTATES, POWERS AND TRUSTS LAW, IN RELATION TO THE

PAYMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF DAMAGES IN WRONGFUL DEATH ACTIONS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON A MOTION BY MS.

LUNSFORD, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS

ADVANCED.

READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A06097, RULES REPORT

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

NO. 506, WIEDER. AN ACT TO AMEND THE TOWN LAW, IN RELATION TO

AUTHORIZING THE TOWN OF ORANGETOWN, COUNTY OF ROCKLAND, TO

ESTABLISH COMMUNITY PRESERVATION FUNDS; TO AMEND THE TAX LAW, IN

RELATION TO AUTHORIZING THE TOWN OF ORANGETOWN TO IMPOSE A REAL

ESTATE TRANSFER TAX WITH REVENUES THEREFROM TO BE DEPOSITED IN SAID

COMMUNITY PRESERVATION FUND; AND PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF CERTAIN

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.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

CONGRATULATIONS, MR. WIEDER, ON YOUR FIRST BILL.

(APPLAUSE)

THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A06188-C, RULES

REPORT NO. 507, SANTABARBARA. AN ACT TO AMEND THE HIGHWAY LAW, IN

RELATION TO DEDICATING A PORTION OF THE STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM TO CW2

JOHN M. GRASSIA, III.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

MR. SANTABARBARA TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. SANTABARBARA: THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER.

I RISE TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL TO

DEDICATE A BRIDGE IN MY HOMETOWN OF ROTTERDAM TO CHIEF WARRANT

OFFICER 2 JOHN MICHAEL GRASSIA, III. JOHN WAS MORE THAN A DECORATED

SERVICE MEMBER, HE WAS A HOMETOWN HERO. HE ENLISTED IN THE ARMY

NATIONAL GUARD AT JUST 18 YEARS OLD, SERVED OVERSEAS IN KUWAIT AND

ROSE TO THE RANK OF CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 2 AS A UH-60M BLACKHAWK

PILOT. HE LATER CONTINUED HIS COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE AS A NEW

YORK STATE TROOPER, PROTECTING THE COMMUNITIES OF THIS STATE WITH THE

SAME DEDICATION HE SHOWED IN UNIFORM. TRAGICALLY, JOHN LOST HIS LIFE

DURING A MISSION WHEN HIS HELICOPTER CRASHED NEAR THE SOUTHERN BORDER

OF TEXAS. HE WAS ONLY 30 YEARS OLD. AND THIS BRIDGE -- THIS BRIDGE

DEDICATION IS NOT JUST ABOUT HONORING ONE MAN, IT'S ABOUT RECOGNIZING A

LIFE OF SERVICE, SACRIFICE AND STRENGTH. IT'S ABOUT REMEMBERING THE

IMPACT JOHN HAD ON HIS FAMILY, HIS FRIENDS, AND THE ROTTERDAM

COMMUNITY WHERE HE WAS RAISED.

BY NAMING THIS BRIDGE IN HIS HONOR, WE MAKE SURE

THAT HIS LEGACY LIVES ON AND THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS REMEMBER THE

VALUES THAT HE STOOD FOR.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

WITH THAT, MADAM SPEAKER, I'M PROUD TO CAST MY VOTE

IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. SANTABARBARA IN

THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A06277-A, RULES

REPORT NO. 508, LUPARDO. AN ACT TO AMEND THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE

CONTROL LAW, IN RELATION TO ESTABLISHING A BRAND OWNER'S LICENSE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A06300, RULES REPORT

NO. 509, BRONSON. AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY OF MONROE TO OFFER

AN OPTIONAL 20-YEAR RETIREMENT PLAN TO CARL J. ZIMMERMAN, A SERGEANT

EMPLOYED BY SUCH COUNTY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: HOME RULE

MESSAGE IS AT THE DESK.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A06613, RULES REPORT

NO. 510, MCDONALD. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW, IN

RELATION TO PERMITTING RECORDS REQUIRED TO BE DISCLOSED UNDER THE

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION LAW TO HAVE EXEMPT PARTS OF SUCH DOCUMENTS

BE REDACTED BEFORE DISCLOSURE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A06841, RULES REPORT

NO. 511, LUPARDO, FRIEND. AN ACT TO AMEND THE TAX LAW, IN RELATION

TO EXTENDING THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE COUNTY OF BROOME TO IMPOSE AN

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

ADDITIONAL ONE PERCENT OF SALES AND COMPENSATING USE TAXES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON A MOTION BY MS.

LUPARDO, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS

ADVANCED. HOME RULE MESSAGE IS AT THE DESK.

READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A06841, RULES REPORT

NO. 511, LUPARDO, FRIEND. AN ACT TO AMEND THE TAX LAW, IN RELATION

TO EXTENDING THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE COUNTY OF BROOME TO IMPOSE AN

ADDITIONAL ONE PERCENT OF SALES AND COMPENSATING USE TAXES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: HOME RULE

MESSAGE IS AT THE DESK.

READ THE LAST SECTION.

(PAUSE)

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A06942, RULES REPORT

NO. 512, PHEFFER AMATO. AN ACT TO AMEND THE RETIREMENT AND SOCIAL

SECURITY LAW, IN RELATION TO THE RESTORATION OF 20-YEAR SERVICE

RETIREMENT FOR CERTAIN NEW YORK CITY CORRECTIONS OFFICERS AND

SANITATION WORKERS.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(PAUSE)

HOME RULE MESSAGE IS AT THE DESK. READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A07040-B, RULES

REPORT NO. 513, STIRPE, GRIFFIN. AN ACT TO AMEND THE ALCOHOLIC

BEVERAGE CONTROL LAW, IN RELATION TO ESTABLISHING A LICENSE TO SELL

LIQUOR ON PREMISES COMMONLY KNOWN AS A FOR-PROFIT CLUB.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 180TH

DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A07125, RULES REPORT

NO. 514, BICHOTTE HERMELYN, SEAWRIGHT, HYNDMAN, COOK, WALKER,

DAVILA. AN ACT TO AMEND THE STATE FINANCE LAW, IN RELATION TO

REQUIRING THAT PUBLIC CONTRACTS BE DIVIDED BY SIZE INTO LARGE, MEDIUM,

SMALL AND MICRO CONTRACTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES

FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO PARTICIPATE IN STATE CONTRACTS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

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

DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A07320-A, RULES

REPORT NO. 515, JACOBSON. AN ACT TO AMEND THE TAX LAW, IN RELATION

TO MAKING TECHNICAL CHANGES; AND TO AMEND CHAPTER 418 OF THE LAWS

OF 2022, RELATING TO AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF NEWBURGH TO IMPOSE A

HOTEL AND MOTEL TAX, IN RELATION TO EXTENDING THE EFFECTIVENESS THEREOF.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON A MOTION BY MR.

JACOBSON, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS

ADVANCED. HOME RULE MESSAGE IS AT THE DESK.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A07351, RULES REPORT

NO. 516, SOLAGES. AN ACT TO AMEND THE VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAW, IN

RELATION TO EXPANDING THE RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT SYSTEM WITHIN THE

AREA KNOWN AS ELMONT IN THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: HOME RULE

MESSAGE IS AT THE DESK.

READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A07613-B, RULES

REPORT NO. 517, PEOPLES-STOKES, HYNDMAN, BUTTENSCHON, LUPARDO,

WIEDER, CLARK, REYES, GRIFFIN, BURDICK, MCDONALD. AN ACT TO AMEND

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

THE EDUCATION LAW, IN RELATION TO CLARIFYING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A

CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 365TH

DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A07631, RULES REPORT

NO. 518, LUNSFORD, GONZ�LEZ-ROJAS, HEVESI, LAVINE. AN ACT TO AMEND

THE LOCAL FINANCE LAW, IN RELATION TO THE PROBABLE USEFULNESS OF

JUDGMENTS, COMPROMISED CLAIMS OR SETTLED CLAIMS RESULTING FROM

CERTAIN CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE CASES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON A MOTION BY MS.

LUNSFORD, 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.)

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A07762, RULES REPORT

NO. 519, BICHOTTE HERMELYN. AN ACT DIRECTING THE NEW YORK STATE

ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY STUDY FEASIBILITY AND

EFFICIENCY OF A MICRO-GRID IN RELATION TO REDUCING THE CARBON FOOTPRINTS

OF BROOKLYN COLLEGE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON A MOTION BY MS.

BICHOTTE HERMELYN, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE

BILL IS ADVANCED.

READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A07861, RULES REPORT

NO. 520, PEOPLES-STOKES. AN ACT TO AMEND THE RETIREMENT AND SOCIAL

SECURITY LAW, IN RELATION TO PROVIDING ALTERNATIVE RETIREMENT BENEFITS

FOR THE POLICE FORCE AT ERIE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A07915, RULES REPORT

NO. 521, LUPARDO. AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY OF BINGHAMTON TO

OFFER AN OPTIONAL RETIREMENT PLAN TO FIREFIGHTER DAVID EDWARDS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: HOME RULE

MESSAGE IS AT THE DESK.

READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, IF YOU

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

CONFERENCE ROOM.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WAYS AND MEANS TO

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

THE SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM. WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE

MEMBERS TO THE SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM.

THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A07994-B, RULES

REPORT NO. 522, BARRETT. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES LAW,

IN RELATION TO AUTHORIZING THE DORMITORY AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE FINANCING

TO DUTCHESS COMMUNITY COLLEGE ASSOCIATION, INC. FOR THE CONSTRUCTION

OF FACILITIES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08023-A, RULES

REPORT NO. 523, KASSAY, BERGER, CONRAD, P. CARROLL, KAY, VALDEZ,

EPSTEIN, HOOKS, GONZ�LEZ-ROJAS, ROMERO, STIRPE, GRIFFIN, SCHIAVONI,

MCDONALD. AN ACT TO AMEND THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW, IN RELATION TO

REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE TO ALLOW MUNICIPALITIES TO

POST MUNICIPAL EMPLOYMENT POSITIONS ON THE DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL

SERVICE'S STATE JOBS WEBSITE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08074-A, RULES

REPORT NO. 524, JACOBSON. AN ACT TO AMEND THE TAX LAW, IN RELATION

TO MAKING TECHNICAL CHANGES THERETO, AND TO AMEND CHAPTER 371 OF THE

LAWS OF 2020 AMENDING THE TAX LAW RELATING TO AUTHORIZING THE TOWN

OF NEWBURGH TO IMPOSE A HOTEL AND MOTEL TAX, IN RELATION TO THE

EFFECTIVENESS THEREOF.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: HOME RULE

MESSAGE IS AT THE DESK.

READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ACTING SPEAKER TAYLOR: ARE THERE ANY OTHER

VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08077, RULES REPORT

NO. 525, BURDICK. AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 511 OF THE LAWS OF 2016,

AMENDING THE TAX LAW RELATING TO THE IMPOSITION OF AN OCCUPANCY TAX

ON THE VILLAGE OF MOUNT KISCO, IN RELATION TO EXTENDING THE PROVISIONS

OF SUCH CHAPTER.

ACTING SPEAKER TAYLOR: ON A MOTION BY MR.

BURDICK, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS

ADVANCED. HOME RULE MESSAGE IS AT THE DESK.

READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER TAYLOR: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08155, RULES REPORT

NO. 526, KELLES. AN ACT TO AMEND THE TAX LAW, IN RELATION TO

EXTENDING THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE COUNTY OF TOMPKINS TO IMPOSE AN

ADDITIONAL ONE PERCENT OF SALES AND COMPENSATING USE TAXES.

ACTING SPEAKER TAYLOR: HOME RULE

MESSAGE IS AT THE DESK.

THE CLERK WILL READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER TAYLOR: THE CLERK WILL

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08165, RULES REPORT

NO. 527, BURDICK. AN ACT TO AMEND THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW, IN

RELATION TO PERMITTING THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS, WESTCHESTER COUNTY, TO

LEASE CERTAIN SPORTS FIELD FENCES FOR ADVERTISEMENTS.

ACTING SPEAKER TAYLOR: ON A MOTION BY MS.

BUTTENSCHON -- HOLD ON.

HOME RULE MESSAGE IS AT THE DESK. READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER TAYLOR: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08264-A, RULES

REPORT NO. 528, BUTTENSCHON, SMULLEN, HUNTER, MAGNARELLI, MILLER.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE HIGHWAY LAW, IN RELATION TO DEDICATING A PORTION

OF THE STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM IN ONEIDA COUNTY TO OFFICER MICHAEL E.

JENSEN.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

ACTING SPEAKER TAYLOR: ON A MOTION BY MS.

BUTTENSCHON, 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 TAYLOR: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

MS. BUTTENSCHON TO EXPLAIN HER VOTE.

MS. BUTTENSCHON: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

ON APRIL 14, 2024, SYRACUSE POLICE OFFICER MICHAEL

E. JENSEN WAS TRAGICALLY KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY AFTER A SUSPECT FLED

FROM A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP AND ENGAGED IN A STANDOFF WITH SYRACUSE

POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ONONDAGA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. MICHAEL

WAS 29 YEARS OLD, AND HE SERVED HONORABLY WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT

FOR TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS.

LAST MONTH WE HONORED OFFICER JENSEN AT THE POLICE

OFFICER'S MEMORIAL REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY HERE IN ALBANY. THIS BILL

WOULD FURTHER PAY TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE AND SACRIFICE OF OFFICER MICHAEL

JENSEN BY RENAMING A PORTION OF A HIGHWAY AFTER HIM IN HIS HOMETOWN,

ROME, NEW YORK.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN KEEPING MICHAEL'S FAMILY AND HIS

LOVED ONES IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS, AS EVERY DAY IS STILL A

CHALLENGE. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER TAYLOR: THANK YOU.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

MS. BUTTENSCHON IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08289, RULES REPORT

NO. 529, PEOPLES-STOKES. AN ACT TO AMEND THE INDIAN LAW, IN RELATION

TO NON-INDIAN TRESPASS AND DRUG TRAFFICKING ACTIVITIES WITHIN INDIAN

LANDS.

ACTING SPEAKER TAYLOR: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER TAYLOR: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08335, RULES REPORT

NO. 530, KASSAY. AN ACT IN RELATION TO AUTHORIZING THE ASSESSOR OF THE

TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN TO ACCEPT AN APPLICATION FOR A REAL PROPERTY TAX

EXEMPTION FROM ST. MARY AME ZION CHURCH.

ACTING SPEAKER TAYLOR: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER TAYLOR: THE CLERK WILL

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08374-A, RULES

REPORT NO. 531, KASSAY. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES LAW,

IN RELATION TO AUTHORIZING THE DORMITORY AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE FINANCING

TO SB CLINICAL PRACTICE MANAGEMENT PLAN, INC. FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF

FACILITIES.

ACTING SPEAKER TAYLOR: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER TAYLOR: THE COURT -- THE

CLERK WILL RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08412-C, RULES

REPORT NO. 532, BICHOTTE HERMELYN. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC

HOUSING LAW, IN RELATION TO SUCCESSION RIGHTS FOR NEW YORK CITY

HOUSING AUTHORITY PROPERTIES.

ACTING SPEAKER TAYLOR: THE BILL IS LAID

ASIDE.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08447, RULES REPORT

NO. 533, SEAWRIGHT, GRIFFIN, LUPARDO. AN ACT TO AMEND THE ELDER

LAW, IN RELATION TO ESTABLISHING AN ELDER FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION PUBLIC

AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.

ACTING SPEAKER TAYLOR: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER TAYLOR: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08485, RULES REPORT

NO. 534, STERN, KAY, DURSO, JONES, GRIFFIN. AN ACT TO AMEND THE

VETERANS' SERVICES LAW, IN RELATION TO ESTABLISHING VOLUNTARY

OPPORTUNITIES FOR VETERANS.

ACTING SPEAKER TAYLOR: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 90TH

DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER TAYLOR: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

MR. DURSO TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

MR. DURSO: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

I WANT TO COMMEND THE SPONSOR ON THIS BILL AND

GETTING THIS LEGIS -- LEGISLATION BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR. THIS IS AN

IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION NOT ONLY FOR OUR VETERANS, BUT OUR

VOLUNTEER SERVICES.

THE VETS TO VOLLEY PROGRAM ACTUALLY STARTED IN 2022

IN SUFFOLK COUNTY AND HAS SEEN A HUGE GROWTH IN PEOPLE JOINING THE

VOLUNTEER SERVICES, ESPECIALLY OUR VETERANS. THIS WAS ACTUALLY A VISION

OF MY FRIEND PAT BECKLEY, WHO WAS THE -- SERVED AS COMMISSIONER OF

THE SUFFOLK COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES AT THE TIME THAT SUFFOLK

COUNTY IMPLEMENTED THE VETS TO VOLLEY BILL AT THE -- AT THEIR -- IN THE

COUNTY. PAT DREW UPON HIS OWN EXPERIENCE AS A MEMBER OF THE NAVY

AFTER BEING RECALLED TO SERVICE AFTER 9/11 AND WANTED TO GET HIMSELF

REINTEGRATED INTO SOCIETY.

AGAIN, OUR VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICES ARE SHORT ON PEOPLE,

AND OUR VETERANS ARE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO NOT ONLY JOIN BUT BE A PART

OF A TEAM. AND OUR VOLUNTEER SERVICES OFFER THAT. THEY OFFER TRAINING,

THEY OFFER JOB OPPORTUNITIES, AND THEY ALSO OFFER THE ABILITY FOR THEM TO

SERVICE THEIR SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

SO AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE ASSEMBLYMAN FOR

PUSHING THIS BILL ACROSS THE FINISH LINE, AND I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS

BILL. THANK YOU, SIR.

ACTING SPEAKER TAYLOR: THANK YOU.

MR. DURSO IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08489, RULES REPORT

NO. 535, BUTTENSCHON. AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE SCOTT HOAG TO RECEIVE

CERTAIN SERVICE CREDIT UNDER SECTION 384-D OF THE RETIREMENT AND

SOCIAL SECURITY LAW.

ACTING SPEAKER TAYLOR: HOME RULE

MESSAGE IS AT THE DESK.

READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER TAYLOR: 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.

MS. SOLAGES.

MS. SOLAGES: MR. SPEAKER, CAN YOU PLEASE

RECOGNIZE MS. CLARK FOR AN ANNOUNCEMENT?

ACTING SPEAKER TAYLOR: MS. CLARK FOR AN

ANNOUNCEMENT.

MS. CLARK: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I'M HERE TO

ANNOUNCE THAT WE ARE GONNA TO HAVE A -- A MAJORITY CONFERENCE IN

HEARING ROOM C IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING -- ARE WE GOING AT EASE?

OKAY. SO, IMMEDIATE CONFERENCE IN HEARING ROOM C.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

ACTING SPEAKER TAYLOR: IMMEDIATE

CONFERENCE TO FOLLOW IN CONFERENCE [SIC] ROOM C.

MS. SOLAGES.

MS. SOLAGES: I ASK THAT THE HOUSE STAND AT EASE.

ON A MOTION BY MS. SOLAGES, THE HOUSE IS AT EASE.

(WHEREUPON, AT 5:03 P.M., THE HOUSE STOOD AT EASE.)

***********************************

(WHEREUPON, AT 7:34 P.M. THE HOUSE WAS CALLED BACK

TO ORDER.)

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE HOUSE WILL

COME TO ORDER.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU. IF WE COULD

NOW GO TO -- BACK TO OUR A-CALENDAR. WE'RE GONNA START WHERE WE LEFT

OFF AT, AT RULES REPORT NO. 536 BY MS. BUTTENSCHON.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

ON CONSENT, PAGE 14, RULES REPORT NO. 536, THE CLERK

READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08490-A, RULES

REPORT NO. 536, BUTTENSCHON. AN ACT TO AMEND THE TAX LAW, IN

RELATION TO AUTHORIZING OCCUPANCY TAXES IN THE CITY OF UTICA AND THE

CITY OF ROME; AND PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF SUCH PROVISIONS UPON

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

THE EXPIRATION THEREOF.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: HOME RULE

MESSAGE IS AT THE DESK.

READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08558-A, RULES

REPORT NO. 537, LEVENBERG. AN ACT TO AMEND THE VILLAGE LAW AND THE

PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW, IN RELATION TO QUALIFICATIONS TO HOLD THE POSITION

OF ASSISTANT VILLAGE ENGINEER IN THE VILLAGE OF CROTON-ON-HUDSON.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08601-A, RULES

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

REPORT NO. 538, RAMOS. AN ACT AUTHORIZING NEW HOUR FOR WOMEN

AND CHILDREN LONG ISLAND, INC. TO RECEIVE RETROACTIVE REAL PROPERTY TAX-

EXEMPTION [SIC] STATUS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08651-A, RULES

REPORT NO. 539, SIMONE, ROSENTHAL. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PRIVATE

HOUSING FINANCE LAW, IN RELATION TO THE AMOUNT OF TAXES PAID BY A

COOPERATIVE.

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.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08657, RULES REPORT

NO. 540, OTIS. AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 670 OF THE LAWS OF 2022

AMENDING THE REAL PROPERTY TAX LAW RELATING TO PROVIDING ALL LOCAL

GOVERNMENTS WITH THE OPTION TO PROVIDE A PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION TO

VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS AND VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE WORKERS, IN RELATION TO

THE EFFECTIVENESS 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.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08663, RULES REPORT

NO. 541, MITAYNES, HEVESI. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PRIVATE HOUSING

FINANCE LAW, IN RELATION TO INCREASING THE BONDING AUTHORITY OF THE

NEW YORK CITY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THIS BILL IS LAID

ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08678, RULES REPORT

NO. 542, BURKE. AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 322 OF THE LAWS OF 2014

RELATING TO JOINT BIDDING ON CONTRACTS FOR PUBLIC WORK PROJECTS, IN

RELATION TO EXTENDING THE EFFECTIVENESS THEREOF.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 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.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A08679, RULES REPORT

NO. 543, BURKE. AN ACT TO AMEND THE COORDINATED CONSTRUCTION ACT

FOR LOWER MANHATTAN, IN RELATION TO EXTENDING THE EFFECTIVENESS

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.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, IF WE

CAN NOW HAVE OUR COLLEAGUES GO TO OUR DEBATE LIST, WE'RE GONNA BEGIN

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

BY TAKING UP RULES REPORT NO. 300 BY MR. DINOWITZ, FOLLOWED BY

RULES REPORT NO. 309 BY MR. CONRAD, THEN 331 BY MR. SIMONE, AND

333 BY MR. BURDOCK [SIC]. IN THAT ORDER, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

COLLEAGUES, WE'RE GONNA BE ON DEBATE. QUIET IN THE

CHAMBER, PLEASE.

PAGE 9, RULES REPORT NO. 300, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A02468, RULES REPORT

NO. 300, DINOWITZ, PEOPLES-STOKES, PAULIN, ROSENTHAL, WEPRIN,

COLTON, HEVESI, COOK, STIRPE, STECK, LUPARDO, SANTABARBARA, OTIS,

HUNTER, BARRETT, SEAWRIGHT, TAYLOR, SIMON, BENEDETTO, BURDICK,

EPSTEIN, GONZ�LEZ-ROJAS, CRUZ, GLICK, KELLES, GALLAGHER, SAYEGH, RA,

SMITH, BRABENEC, DESTEFANO, KAY, ALVAREZ, REYES, LEVENBERG. AN ACT

TO AMEND THE PUBLIC SERVICE LAW, IN RELATION TO CREATING THE STATE

OFFICE OF THE UTILITY CONSUMER ADVOCATE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: AN EXPLANATION HAS

BEEN REQUESTED.

MR. DINOWITZ.

MR. DINOWITZ: THIS BILL, 2468, ESTABLISHES THE

STATE OFFICE OF THE UTILITY CONSUMER ADVOCATE -- THAT'S THE UCA --

WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE TO REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF

RESIDENTIAL UTILITY CONSUMERS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. PALMESANO.

MR. PALMESANO: YES. THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER. WILL THE SPONSOR YIELD FOR SOME QUESTIONS?

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL YOU YIELD, MR.

DINOWITZ?

MR. DINOWITZ: I WILL.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MR. PALMESANO: THANK YOU, MR. DINOWITZ.

I KNOW WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS BILL A COUPLE TIMES; ONCE

IN 2019 AND ONCE IN 2021. THE LAST TIME, THE -- SHE -- GOVERNOR VETOED

IT IN '19 AND '21, AND I GUESS HER STATEMENT WHEN SHE VETOED THE BILL,

SHE SAID, FUNDAMENTALLY, ENACTMENT OF THIS LEGISLATION WOULD NOT

EXPAND CURRENT CONSUMER PROTECTIONS AVAILABLE TO UTILITY CUSTOMERS IN

NEW YORK, BUT WOULD INSTEAD EXPEND SIGNIFICANT STATE RESOURCES TO

ESTABLISH A NEW AND REDUNDANT STATE AGENCY. I WOULD ASSUME SINCE

WE'RE SEEING THIS BILL AGAIN, YOU DISAGREE WITH THE GOVERNOR?

MR. DINOWITZ: THE GOVERNOR WAS INCORRECT THEN,

AND WOULD BE INCORRECT AGAIN IF THE GOVERNOR TOOK THE SAME POSITION.

BUT I HAVE FAITH THAT THE GOVERNOR WILL TAKE A MORE SENSIBLE POSITION

THIS TIME AROUND.

MR. PALMESANO: SURE.

HAVE YOU MADE ANY CHANGES TO THE BILL SINCE 2019 OR

2021?

MR. DINOWITZ: NO, THE BILL IS PERFECT THE WAY IT IS

MR. PALMESANO: IT IS?

MR. DINOWITZ: -- AND I'M HOPING THAT THE BILL WILL

PASS BOTH HOUSES AND BE SIGNED THIS TIME AROUND.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

MR. PALMESANO: WELL, I -- I UNDERSTAND YOUR

SUPPORT FOR THE BILL.

IN YOUR -- WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BILL, I ASKED A

LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FUNDING. IN YOUR SPONSOR'S MEMO IN 2019 AND 2020

AND THIS ONE, IT SAYS THAT THE COSTS WERE UNDETERMINED. AND I ASKED,

SO HOW WILL THIS BE PAID FOR? WOULD THIS BE PAID FOR THROUGH STATE TAX

DOLLARS? WOULD IT BE PAID FOR THROUGH THE RATEPAYERS? BECAUSE THE

PSC FOR THESE POSITIONS SOMETIMES ARE FUNDED THROUGH THE 18-A

SURCHARGE. HAVE YOU IDENTIFIED WHAT THE COST WOULD BE AND HOW IT

WOULD BE PAID FOR?

MR. DINOWITZ: IT WOULD BE PAID FOR THROUGH THE

STATE TAX DOLLARS.

MR. PALMESANO: STATE TAX DOLLARS. SO NOT 18-A?

MR. DINOWITZ: NO, NOT 18-A.

MR. PALMESANO: WERE YOU ABLE TO CLARIFY -- I

KNOW YOU SAID COST UNDETERMINED. WERE YOU ABLE TO CLARIFY IT SINCE

2019 OR '21 HOW MUCH THE COST WOULD ACTUALLY BE FOR THE STATE

TAXPAYERS?

MR. DINOWITZ: I -- I WOULD HESITATE TO GIVE YOU AN

EXACT NUMBER, BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THE EXPERIENCE THAT OVER 40

OTHER STATES HAVE HAD THAT HAVE CREATED SUCH AN OFFICE, AND NEW YORK

HAPPENS TO BE THE LARGEST STATE THAT HAS FAILED MISERABLY TO CREATE SUCH

AN OFFICE. WE HAVEN'T DONE IT, BUT ALMOST EVERY OTHER STATE HAS,

INCLUDING CALIFORNIA. AND COLLECTIVELY, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT

THOSE STATES, BECAUSE OF THE -- OF THE OFFICES THAT THEY'VE CREATED, HAVE

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

SAVED RATEPAYERS BILLIONS, POSSIBLY TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER THE

YEARS SINCE THEY'VE HAD THESE OFFICES. SO TO WHATEVER EXTENT THERE MAY

BE A RELATIVELY MODEST COST TO THE STATE BUDGET, IT WOULD BE MORE THAN

MADE UP FOR, PROBABLY 100-FOLD, BY THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT OUR

CONSTITUENTS WOULD SAVE BY HAVING THIS OFFICE AND HAVING AN

INDEPENDENT ADVOCATE WORKING ON THEIR BEHALF.

MR. PALMESANO: WHO WOULD THIS UTILITY -- THIS

ADVOCATE BE RESPONSIBLE FOR? TO THE PSC CHAIRMAN? TO THE

LEGISLATURE? WHO WOULD THEY REPORT BACK TO SPECIFICALLY? WOULD IT

BE THE PSC CHAIRMAN?

MR. DINOWITZ: THE -- THE RESIDENTIAL UTILITY

RATEPAYERS THEY'D BE RESPONSIBLE TOWARDS.

MR. PALMESANO: OKAY.

WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BILL BEFORE, YOU KNOW, WE

TALKED ABOUT DIFFERENT STATE-FUNDED ENTITIES THAT REALLY ARE THERE TO

REPRESENT CONSUMER INTERESTS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC

SERVICE'S OFFICE OF CONSUMER SERVICES REPRESENTS THE VOICE OF THE

CONSUMER FOR ALL ACTIVITIES OVERSEEN BY THE COMMISSION, CORRECT? THAT

IS THEIR ROLE, YES?

MR. DINOWITZ: THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC

SERVICE?

MR. PALMESANO: THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC

SERVICE --

(CROSS-TALK)

MR. DINOWITZ: NO, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

SERVICE --

MR. PALMESANO: -- DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER

SERVICES.

MR. DINOWITZ: NO. THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC

SERVICE DOES NOT REPRESENT UTILITY CONSUMERS. THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH

AND I GUESS, I DON'T KNOW, MEDIATE AMONG VARIOUS INTEREST GROUPS.

THIS OFFICE WOULD SPECIFICALLY AND SOLELY REPRESENT UTILITY CONSUMERS.

THERE IS NO OTHER OFFICE THAT DOES THAT.

MR. PALMESANO: WHAT ABOUT THE -- IN 2020 THE

GOVERNOR CREATED THE STATEWIDE SPECIAL COUNSEL ON RATEPAYER

PROTECTION WHO MAY PARTICIPATE IN PSC PROCEEDINGS, CONDUCT HEARINGS

AND INVESTIGATIONS. WOULDN'T THAT POSITION QUALIFY FOR THIS ADVOCATE FOR

THE RATEPAYER?

MR. DINOWITZ: NOT IN LEAST. FIRST OF ALL, THAT

OFFICE, WHILE I'M SURE VERY WELL-INTENTIONED, HAS NOT BEEN EFFECTIVE IN

SAVING THE RATEPAYERS MONEY. IT'S A SMALL OFFICE THAT HAS JUST NOT DONE

THAT MUCH. AND THIS OFFICE WOULD BE INDEPENDENT. IT WOULDN'T BE --

THE PERSON WOULD NOT BE RELIANT ON THE PATRONAGE OF WHETHER IT'S THE

GOVERNOR, WHETHER IT'S A PARTICULAR AGENCY OR SUBAGENCY. THIS PERSON

WOULD BE AN INDEPENDENT ADVOCATE WHOSE SOLE JOB IS TO ADVOCATE ON

BEHALF OF UTILITY CONSUMERS.

MR. PALMESANO: OKAY.

WHAT ABOUT THE UTILITY INTERVENTION UNIT AT THE

DEPARTMENT OF STATE? THEIR DIVISION OF CONSUMER PROTECTION ALREADY

OPERATES WITH TAXPAYER FUNDS ON BEHALF OF CONSUMERS, DOESN'T IT? OR

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

ARE YOU SAYING THEY DO NOT?

MR. DINOWITZ: I THINK THE ANSWER WOULD BE THE

SAME. IN FACT, I WOULD GO SO FAR AS TO SAY THAT ONCE WE CREATE THIS

OFFICE, PERHAPS THAT OFFICE MIGHT NOT EVEN BE NECESSARY. BUT I WOULD --

I -- I GUESS I DON'T WANT TO GO THERE, BUT I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE CASE.

THAT OFFICE HAS NOT DONE THE JOB THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. AND I THINK

PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE NEED SOMEBODY WHO IS AN INDEPENDENT.

WE NEED AN INDEPENDENT ADVOCATE WHO IS GOING TO BE THERE, AND THEIR

ONLY JOB IS TO REPRESENT RATEPAYERS; WHETHER IT'S AT HEARINGS, WHETHER IT'S

INTERVENING IN COURT CASES OR WHATEVER. AND AS I SAID, THE EXPERIENCE

IN OTHER STATES HAS CLEARLY SHOWN THAT RATEPAYERS WOULD BENEFIT

TREMENDOUSLY BY HAVING SUCH AN OFFICE, AN INDEPENDENT ADVOCATE ON

BEHALF OF THE UTILITY CONSUMERS. AND I BELIEVE ALL OF US REPRESENT

UTILITY CONSUMERS, AND THERE'S -- THERE'S KIND OF LIKE TWO CHOICES HERE:

EITHER YOU'RE WITH THE UTILITY CONSUMERS OR YOU'RE WITH THE CORPORATIONS

THAT ARE IN MANY CASES RIPPING OFF THE UTILITY CONSUMERS. SO I WOULD

SAY CHOOSE A SIDE, AND THE SIDE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO CHOOSE IS THE UTILITY

CONSUMERS.

MR. PALMESANO: OH, BELIEVE ME, MR. DINOWITZ,

WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THE RATEPAYERS. DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT.

MR. DINOWITZ: I'M NOT WORRIED.

MR. PALMESANO: AND MY NEXT QUESTION IS, THE

UTILITY INTERVENTION UNIT, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT, THEY DO SUBMIT

COMMENTS ON PROPOSALS AND REGULATIONS AND PROVIDE EXPERTS TO DELIVER

TESTIMONY TO THE PSC WHEN IT COMES TO RATES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

DON'T THEY -- ISN'T THAT THEIR ROLE? BUT YOU'RE SAYING THEY DON'T DO THAT

JOB; IS THAT CORRECT?

MR. DINOWITZ: I AM SAYING THAT PERHAPS THEY'VE

DONE SOME GOOD THINGS. I'M NOT HERE TO TEAR DOWN THE WORK THAT OTHER

PEOPLE HAVE DONE. WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT THIS, THIS WOULD BE WHAT'S

EFFECTIVE ON BEHALF OF UTILITY CONSUMERS, IN LARGE PART BECAUSE THIS

WOULD BE AN INDEPENDENT ADVOCATE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR,

CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE AND THEN A SIX-YEAR TERM. AND THEY -- THEIR

SOLE JOB WOULD BE TO FIGHT FOR ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.

MR. PALMESANO: WHAT ABOUT THE -- THE PUBLIC --

THE PUBLIC UTILITY LAW PROJECT? THEY'RE A NON-FOR-PROFIT ADVOCATE.

THEY -- THEY RECEIVE STATE FUNDING AND ALSO INTERVENE ON MAJOR RATE

CASES AND ARE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS ON BEHALF OF LOW-INCOME CONSUMERS

AND INTERESTS; ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

MR. DINOWITZ: I THINK THE PUBLIC UTILITY LAW

PROJECT, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS PULP, IS TERRIFIC AND IS -- IS HEAVILY

DEPENDENT -- I DON'T KNOW ABOUT SOLELY DEPENDENT, BUT HEAVILY

DEPENDENT UPON FUNDING THAT WE, IN THE ASSEMBLY MAJORITY, PROVIDE

FOR THEM. BUT WE NEED SOMETHING MORE THAN THAT, AND I CAN'T IMAGINE

THAT THEY WOULD DISAGREE WITH THAT, EITHER.

MR. PALMESANO: OKAY.

AND THEN THE OTHER ONE IS THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE

OF ATTORNEY GENERAL. THEY ALSO REPRESENT CONSUMER INTERESTS ON UTILITY

MATTERS, DO THEY NOT? OR YOU'RE SAYING THEY DON'T DO ENOUGH?

MR. DINOWITZ: THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

GENERAL HAS BEEN TERRIFIC IN SO MANY AREAS, BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT

REPRESENTING MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF UTILITY CONSUMERS. AND THAT

OFFICE CAN'T POSSIBLY HANDLE EVERYTHING THAT MAY COME BEFORE THOSE

CONSUMERS, WHICH IS WHY WE NEED SOMEBODY WHOSE FOCUS IS SOLELY ON

UTILITY CONSUMERS. THE AG'S OFFICE -- AND THEY'VE BEEN TERRIFIC --

THEY'VE BROUGHT -- THEY'VE HELPED BRING VARIOUS BAD PEOPLE TO JUSTICE,

AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. BUT THE FOCUS HERE IS ON UTILITY

CONSUMERS.

MR. PALMESANO: OKAY.

SO, YOU SAY THAT THIS POSITION IS GONNA REPRESENT

UTILITY CUSTOMERS. WHAT CAN THIS UTILITY -- SO-CALLED UTILITY ADVOCATE DO

ON BEHALF OF THE RATEPAYER? CAN THEY BRING UP THE CONCERNS RAISED

WITH -- THE CONCERNS I BRING UP AND OTHERS HAVE BROUGHT UP RELATIVE TO

THE EXORBITANT COSTS OF THE CLCPA? CAN THEY BRING UP THOSE

DISCUSSIONS? CAN THEY BRING UP DISCUSSIONS ON WHY THESE BILLS AREN'T --

WHY THESE RATES AND TAXES AND FEES AND ASSESSMENTS TO PAY FOR THESE

GREEN MANDATES THAT HAS [SIC] ADVANCED THROUGH THIS HOUSE ARE COSTING

CONSUMERS MONEY? CAN THEY -- CAN THEY COMMENT ON THAT, OR WHAT --

WHAT IS IT -- WHAT DO YOU ENVISION THIS ROLE OF THEM COMMENTING ON,

SPECIFICALLY?

MR. DINOWITZ: WELL, WELL, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I

MEAN IT'S ALWAYS INEVITABLE THAT ANY TIME WE DISCUSS THIS YOU'RE GOING

TO TRY TO BRING UP REASONS WHY THE EXCELLENT ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS THAT

WE HAVE PASSED ARE COSTING CONSUMERS WHEN WE KNOW VERY WELL THAT

ABSENT THOSE LAWS, THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE WOULD BE AMPLIFIED

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

SIGNIFICANTLY. BUT WE'RE NOT HERE TO DEBATE THAT. WHAT WE'RE HERE TO

TALK ABOUT IS THIS BILL, AND I KNOW THAT YOU SOMETIMES STEER OFF TOPIC

BUT I'LL TRY TO STICK TO THE TOPIC. THEY CAN INTERVENE IN MANY WAYS.

THEY CAN -- THEY CAN INTERVENE IN COURT CASES. THEY CAN TESTIFY IN

HEARINGS ON UTILITY RATES OR ANY ONE OF A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS. RIGHT

NOW THERE'S NOBODY IN STATE GOVERNMENT WHOSE SOLE JOB, NO

INDEPENDENT PERSON WHOSE SOLE JOB IS TO FIGHT FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS, THE

UTILITY CONSUMERS. WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, THESE LITTLE OFFICES THAT YOU

MENTIONED, BUT THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY WHAT THEIR JOB IS. CERTAINLY, IT'S

NOT THE JOB OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO DO THAT. SO IF YOU

WANNA FIGHT FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS, THEN I'M SURE YOU'RE GONNA BE A YES

VOTE ON THIS BILL.

MR. PALMESANO: I WOULDN'T HOLD MY BREATH ON

THAT.

SO WE TALKED ABOUT, I THINK, LIKE, FIVE DIFFERENT

AGENCIES AND -- AND REPRESENTATIVES. SO DOES THIS BILL DO ANYTHING,

BECAUSE YOU -- YOU SAY THEY'RE NOT VALUABLE. DO THEY WANT HELP? DOES

THIS BILL ELIMINATE ANY OF THESE ENTITIES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT OR NO?

MR. DINOWITZ: THERE'S NOTHING IN THIS BILL THAT

ELIMINATES ANYTHING, ALTHOUGH IT IS THEORETICALLY POSSIBLE THAT -- THAT

SOME OF THOSE THAT YOU MENTIONED MAY BE SUPERFLUOUS AT SOME POINT. I

DON'T KNOW. I'M NOT HERE TO ADVOCATE GETTING RID OF ANYTHING. WHAT

I'M SAYING IS THAT THIS OFFICE WILL SAVE OUR CONSUMERS HUGE AMOUNTS OF

MONEY. IN SOME STATES -- I THINK IN ONE STATE IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT THEY

WOULD SAVE -- AND THIS WAS GOING BACK A FEW YEARS -- $150 -- $153 PER

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

CONSUMER. I'M SURE THAT NUMBER IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE. AND I WOULD

THINK THAT AT A TIME WHEN WE ARE FACING ENORMOUS INCREASES IN -- IN

ELECTRIC RATES --

MR. PALMESANO: WE ARE.

MR. DINOWITZ: -- FOR EXAMPLE, I THINK NEXT YEAR

CONED IS EXPECTED TO --

MR. PALMESANO: WE ARE.

MR. DINOWITZ: -- RAISE RATES -- I'M IN THE MIDDLE

OF MY SENTENCE -- RAISE RATES SIGNIFICANTLY --

MR. PALMESANO: I'M AGREEING WITH YOU.

MR. DINOWITZ: THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED,

WHICH IS WHY I'M CONVINCED THAT MOST PEOPLE HERE ARE GOING TO WANT TO

SUPPORT THIS. I MEAN, IF YOU LIVE ON LONG ISLAND WHERE THEY'VE HAD

RIDICULOUS RATES, HOW COULD YOU NOT SUPPORT THIS?

MR. PALMESANO: WELL, THAT'S A GREAT ANSWER.

SO HERE'S -- HERE'S MY QUESTION. SO, WOULD THIS UTILITY

ADVOCATE GO, IN YOUR -- YOUR MIND, TESTIFY BEFORE THE PSC AT RATE

HEARINGS WHEN THE UTILITIES, AS WE'VE SEEN, ARE GOING -- THEY'RE GOING

FOR HIGH RATES AND THEN THEY NEGOTIATE THAT SETTLEMENT. SO IT WOULD BE

THE JOB OF THAT UTILITY ADVOCATE TO NEGOTIATE AT THOSE RATE HEARINGS; IS

THAT CORRECT?

MR. DINOWITZ: I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD USE THE

WORD "NEGOTIATE" SO MUCH --

MR. PALMESANO: (INDISCERNIBLE/CROSS-TALK.)

MR. DINOWITZ: -- AS ADVOCATE, SINCE THE -- IT'S

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

CALLED THE OFFICE OF THE UTILITY CONSUMER ADVOCATE. BUT THAT -- THAT'S

THEIR JOB TO REPRESENT ALL OF US AND OUR CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE UTILITY

CONSUMERS.

MR. PALMESANO: SURE. SO IS IT -- YOU KNOW,

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE COST, IS IT YOUR BELIEF THAT THESE RATE INCREASES

THAT WE'VE SEEN FROM THE UTILITIES WHICH YOU WANT THIS UTILITY ADVOCATE

TO TALK ABOUT, THAT NONE OF THEM ARE ASSOCIATED, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY

GO FOR THOSE RATE INCREASES? NONE OF THAT IS ASSOCIATED TO, LIKE, THE

CLCPA THAT PASSED IN 2019?

MR. DINOWITZ: THERE YOU GO AGAIN.

MR. PALMESANO: YEAH, I'M JUST ASKING A

QUESTION. YOU CAN'T ANSWER IT?

MR. DINOWITZ: NO, THE --

MR. PALMESANO: THAT'S FINE.

MR. DINOWITZ: -- THE ANSWER IS, ABSENT SOME OF

THOSE LAWS THAT WE PASSED, THE COST TO NEW YORKERS WOULD BE

SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER THAN THEY ARE NOW BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING -- WE HAVE

TAKEN STEPS TO FIGHT THE -- NOT ONLY THE -- THE PHYSICAL -- THE DEVASTATING

EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, BUT THE HUGE COST OF CLIMATE CHANGE. SO THAT

-- THAT FITS IN WITH SOME OF THE LAWS THAT WE PASSED IN RECENT YEARS.

AND IF -- IF -- I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA CLAIM THAT IT'S CAUSED AN INCREASE IN

COSTS OF CON EDISON AND OTHER COMPANIES, BUT THE FACT IS THAT WE

HAVEN'T HAD ANYBODY TO GO TO BAT FOR US IN ALL THIS TIME. AND THIS -- AND

IT'S -- I'M TELLING YOU, IT'S NOT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. THEIR

JOB IS NOT TO ADVOCATE FOR UTILITY CONSUMERS. THAT'S JUST NOT THEIR JOB

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

AND THEY DON'T.

MR. PALMESANO: OR MAYBE THIS UTILITY ADVOCATE

COULD HAVE BEEN PRESENT -- PRESENT AT THE PSC COMMISSION MEETING IN

JULY OF 2023 WHEN THE PSC APPROVED $43 BILLION IN FUTURE RATEPAYER

INCREASES TO PAY FOR THE GREEN ENERGY MANDATES THAT HAVE ADVANCED

AND HAVE BEEN ADVOCATED BY THIS HOUSE. WOULDN'T THAT HAVE BEEN A

ROLE THEY COULD HAVE DONE?

MR. DINOWITZ: WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD

HAVE HAPPENED SINCE UNFORTUNATELY, THE LAST TIME THIS BILL PASSED BOTH

HOUSES IT WAS VETOED. HOPEFULLY THAT MISTAKE WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

BUT I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY THAT BASED ON THE EXPERIENCE THAT WE'VE HAD

IN 40-PLUS OTHER STATES -- LIKE, THIS -- WE'RE NOT BREAKING NEW GROUND

HERE. MOST STATES IN THE COUNTRY HAVE THIS OFFICE AND THE OFFICE HAS

BEEN EXTRAORDINARILY EFFECTIVE IN SAVING MONEY FOR UTILITY CONSUMERS.

MR. PALMESANO: MR. DINOWITZ, AS ALWAYS, I DO

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND YOUR DISCUSSION. AS ALWAYS, IT'S ALWAYS VERY

CORDIAL.

MADAM --

MR. DINOWITZ: THAT'S -- THAT'S IT?

MR. PALMESANO: -- SPEAKER, ON THE BILL.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE BILL.

(INDISCERNIBLE/CROSS-TALK)

MR. PALMESANO: THAT'S IT. I GOT MORE TIME FOR

THIS PART.

ANYWAY, MADAM SPEAKER AND MY COLLEAGUES, I CAN

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE INTENT OF THE SPONSOR AND WHAT HE'S TRYING TO

DO WITH THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION. HE MEANS WELL. HE RECOGNIZED THAT,

YES, THE UTILITY BILLS ARE RISING ACROSS THIS STATE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. WE

CAN SEE IT, WHETHER IT'S NATIONAL GRID, NYSEG, RG&E, CONED.

THEY'RE RISING AT HIGH RATES. BUT THERE'S ALSO GOT TO BE A RECOGNITION

THESE HIGH RATES ARE BEING CAUSED BY POLICIES THAT ARE BEING

IMPLEMENTED BY THIS HOUSE. SO IN MY OPINION, THIS BILL IS NOT GONNA

SAVE CUSTOMERS ANY MONEY.

NUMBER ONE, IT'S VERY DUPLICATIVE; I KNOW MY

COLLEAGUE DISAGREES WITH IT. THERE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT STATE

AGENCIES THAT GET INVOLVED IN THIS. AGAIN, I'LL REPEAT THEM: THE

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICES [SIC], OFFICE OF CONSUMER SERVICES

WHO REPRESENT THE VOICE OF THE CONSUMER FOR ALL ACTIVITIES OVERSEEN BY

THE COMMISSION.

NUMBER TWO, IN 2020 THE STATE -- THE GOVERNOR

CREATED THE STATEWIDE SPECIAL COUNSEL FOR RATEPAYER PROTECTION, WHO

CAN PARTICIPATE IN PSC PROCEEDINGS, HEARINGS, AND INVESTIGATIONS.

NUMBER THREE, THE UTILITY INTERVENTION UNIT OF THE

DEPARTMENT OF STATE DIVISION OF CONSUMER PROTECTION ALREADY OPERATES

WITH TAXPAYER FUNDS ON BEHALF OF CONSUMERS. THIS UTILITY INTERVENTION

UNIT SUBMITS FORMAL COMMENTS ON PROPOSALS AND HAS EXPERTS -- BRINGS

EXPERT TESTIMONY TO THESE EVENTS. THE PUBLIC UTILITY LAW PROJECT GETS

STATE-FUNDED DOLLARS TO PRESENT CASES TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THE

RATEPAYERS. AND OF COURSE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ALSO REPRESENTS THESE

INTERESTS.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK THIS IS NOT GONNA HELP THE

RATEPAYERS SAVE MONEY. WHAT IT'S GONNA DO IS IT'S JUST GONNA COST THE

RATEPAYERS MORE MONEY. I KNOW MY COLLEAGUE SAYS IT WILL BE DONE

THROUGH STATE DOLLAR -- TAX DOLLARS. THERE'S NO -- THERE'S NO LINE ITEM

FOR THIS BILL. THE GOVERNOR HAS VETOED IT IN THE PAST, HE TALKED ABOUT

THAT, WHERE THE MONEY'S COMING FROM. I WOULD SEE THIS MONEY COMING

FROM THE RATEPAYERS BECAUSE THE PSC, SOME OF THOSE POSITIONS ARE

ADVOCATED OR -- OR ARE PAID FOR THROUGH THE 18-A ASSESSMENT. IT'S JUST,

WILL THIS UTILITY ADVOCATE ADVOCATE FOR THE TAXES, FEES AND ASSESSMENTS

THAT ARE ON OUR UTILITY BILLS? SOME OF THAT CONSTITUTES UP TO 25 OR 30

PERCENT OF OUR UTILITY BILL. BECAUSE WHEN YOU GO -- THE UTILITY BILL,

ABOUT 50 PERCENT OF IT IS THE -- THE -- IS -- IS THE SUPPLY. THAT -- THAT'S A

PASS-THROUGH. THAT'S FOR THE MARKET RATE. THE COST OF -- WHATEVER THE

COST OF ENERGY. AND SOME OF THAT COST OF ENERGY IS BEING SUB -- SUB --

SOCIALIZED OVER EVERYONE TO PAY FOR THESE GREEN ENERGY MANDATES AS

WELL. SO WILL THIS CONSUMER AD -- ADVOCATE -- UTILITY ADVOCATE BE ABLE

TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THE HIGH TAXES, FEES AND ASSESSMENTS THAT ARE

GOING TO PAY FOR THESE ENERGY COSTS? WILL THIS -- THIS CONSUMER

ADVOCATE, UTILITY ADVOCATE BE ABLE TO HELP ADDRESS REALLY THE SHOCK AND

AWE THAT CUSTOMERS ARE GONNA GET WHEN THEY CONTINUE TO SEE THEIR BILL

TO PAY FOR THESE GREEN ENERGY MANDATES?

IT'S NICE TO SAY YOU'RE LOOKING OUT FOR THE RATEPAYER ON

ONE HAND, BUT THEN MORE LEGISLATION AND POLICIES WHICH KEEP GETTING

ADVANCED, WHICH TAKES MORE MONEY FROM THE RATEPAYERS ON THE OTHER

HAND. I MEAN, SO, LITERALLY, WE COULD HAVE A UTILITY ADVOCATE

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

ADVOCATING AGAINST THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA BE FOR THE STATE,

ADVOCATING IN STATE POLICIES THAT ARE BEING PUT IN PLACE THAT ARE DRIVING

UP THESE UTILITY BILLS. I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON THE

IMPACT. I THINK THE GOVERNOR RECOGNIZES THAT AS WELL. IT'S GONNA BE

DUPLICATIVE.

YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE AND WE BELIEVE IN TRANSPARENCY.

RATEPAYERS DESERVE TO KNOW. SO MAYBE THIS UTILITY ADVOCATE COULD

RECOGNIZE AND ADVOCATE THAT WE SHOULD BE PUTTING THESE -- THESE TAXES,

FEES AND ASSESSMENTS ON THE UTILITY BILLS. I'VE SEEN A NUMBER OF BILLS

COME THROUGH THE HOUSE SAYING WE NEED TO PUT THIS ON THE UTILITY, THIS

PUT ON THE BILL. BUT HOW ABOUT THE GREEN ENERGY MANDATES THAT THIS

HOUSE HAS PASSED THAT ARE -- WHY NOT SHOW THAT TRANSPARENCY TO THE

TAXPAYER, TO THE RATEPAYER, TO THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE PAYING THESE

EXORBITANT UTILITY RATES? BETTER YET, WHY NOT JOIN US IN FINALLY PASSING A

TRUE COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS TO SHOW WHAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT

IS GONNA COST THE RATEPAYER, SENIOR CITIZENS, VETERANS? INDIVIDUALS WITH

DISABILITIES, OUR BUSINESSES, OUR MANUFACTURING. A TRUE COST- BENEFIT TO

SHOW WHAT THESE COSTS WILL BE. YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH IT'S GONNA COST

-- COST THEM TO CONVERT THEIR HOMES OVER FROM NATURAL GAS TO ELECTRIC.

ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER.

THERE'S A POLL -- A RECENT POLL OR SURVEY THAT CAME OUT

THAT I READ, 82 PERCENT OF NEW YORKERS FEEL THEIR ELECTRICITY BILLS ARE

TOO HIGH. THEY FEEL THAT ECONOMIC SITUATION IS TOO STRESSFUL. AND, YES,

NEW YORKERS WANT ENERGY CHOICE. AND, YES, NEW YORKERS WANT TO

CHOOSE NATURAL GAS IF IT'S AVAILABLE TO THEM. SO THEY WANT THAT.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

IT'S NICE TO SAY WE GONNA HAVE AN ADVOCATE, BUT THERE'S

GOT TO BE A RECOGNITION FROM THIS HOUSE THAT THE POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN

ADVANCED, PASSED, DRIVEN, WHETHER IT'S LEGISLATION OR REGULATIONS, AND

I'LL TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF THEM IN A MINUTE. IT ALL REALLY STARTS BACK TO

THE CLCPA IN 2019 AND EVERYTHING SINCE. AND MY COLLEAGUE

MENTIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE DIDN'T DO THE --THE COSTS ARE -- ARE NOT

AS MUCH AS IT WOULD BE WITH GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE. WELL, I'VE SAID

THIS ON THE FLOOR TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THIS BILL DOES NOTHING TO AFFECT

CHINA, INDIA OR RUSSIA. NEW YORK IS JUST 0.4 PERCENT OF TOTAL GLOBAL

EMISSIONS. 0.4. CHINA IS 30 PERCENT, HAS 1,000 COAL PLANTS AND

BUILDING MORE EVERY WEEK. AND, IN FACT, LAST YEAR THEY EXPANDED THEIR

COAL-GENERATING CAPACITY BY 95 GIGAWATTS. NINETY-FIVE GIGAWATTS, THAT'S

DOUBLE OUR TOTAL GENERATING CAPACITY WITH WIND, SOLAR, HYDRO, OIL,

NATURAL GAS AND NUCLEAR.

SO THE POLICIES THAT ARE BEING ADVANCED, THAT WE

WANNA ADD THIS UTILITY ADVOCATE, AND I KNOW THERE'S ANOTHER LEGISLATION

COMING OUT FROM ANOTHER OF MY COLLEAGUE WHO WANTS TO DO IT WITHIN

THE -- THE RATE CASES. THE POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN ADVANCED IN THIS

HOUSE, IF YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST TO THE RATEPAYER, TO THE

CUSTOMER, TO THE NEW YORKER, THE CLCPA THAT WE PASSED IN 2019, THE

METHODOLOGY THAT IT USED WAS A 20-YEAR METHODOLOGY. EVERY OTHER

STATE USES A 100-YEAR METHODOLOGY BUT ONE. THE U.S. USES 100-YEAR

METHODOLOGY, INTERNATIONAL USES A 100-YEAR METHODOLOGY. WE USE 20.

WE TRIED TO CHANGE IT; NO ONE WANTED TO DO ANYTHING WITH IT. IF WE

DON'T CHANGE THAT, IT WILL INCREASE PRICES AT THE PUMP FOR NEW YORKERS

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

BY 63 CENTS A GALLON AND IT WILL INCREASE NATURAL GAS HOME HEATING

COSTS BY 79 PERCENT. AND I MENTIONED THIS, WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU

KNOW, PRO -- ACTING -- THIS UTILITY ADVOCATE TALKING ABOUT RATE CASES. IN

JULY OF 2023 WHEN THE PSC HAD THEIR MEETING, THEY APPROVED $43

BILLION, WITH A B, $43 BILLION IN FUTURE RATEPAYER INCREASES TO

SPECIFICALLY PAY FOR THESE GREEN ENERGY MANDATES. THE UTILITIES ARE

SAYING THEY'RE BEING FORCED TO DO THIS WORK TO MEET THESE MANDATES.

THAT'S WHY RATES ARE GOING UP. BECAUSE THAT ONE PART OF THE BILL, THE

DELIVERY AND TRANSPORTATION FOR THE WIRES, FOR THE GRID, THE SUBSTATION,

THAT'S -- THAT MORE INCREASING DEMAND ON ELECTRICITY IS INCREASING THOSE

PRICES.

SO WHEN WE GO TO FULL ELECTRIFICATION, RIGHT, WHAT'S THE

COST TO CONVERT YOUR HOME OVER FROM NATURAL GAS TO FULL ELECTRIFICATION?

THREE STUDIES; ONE THE CLIMATE ACTION COUNCIL, WHICH IS DERIVED FROM

THE CLCPA, THEY SAID IT WOULD COST, THOSE CONVERSION COSTS, $20- TO

$50,000. THE CONSUMER ENERGY ALLIANCE SAID IT WOULD COST $35,000-

PLUS TO CONVERT YOUR HOME OVER FROM NATURAL GAS TO FULL ELECTRIFICATION.

TELL ME WHAT SENIOR CITIZEN OR WHAT VETERAN OR WHAT DISABLED PERSON

ON A FIXED INCOME CAN AFFORD THIS, AND WHO WOULD WANT TO PAY FOR THIS.

AND THEN YOU HAVE, OF COURSE, THE MOTHER OF ALL

UNFUNDED MANDATES, THE ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUS MANDATE, WHICH IS, YOU

KNOW, FROM A COST OF $8- TO $15 BILLION JUST FOR REPLACEMENT OF BUSES.

THAT DOESN'T EVEN GET INTO THE COST OF THE CHARGERS. AND THEN ALSO THE

GRID IMPROVEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE MADE THAT IS DERIVED FROM THAT.

THOSE ARE BILLIONS UPON BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT IS GONNA BE PAID FOR BY

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

SCHOOL PROPERTY TAXPAYERS.

THEN DON'T FORGET, WE TALKED ABOUT LEGISLATION, THE

OTHER REGULATIONS, THE ACT -- THE ADVANCED CLEAN TRUCK RULE -- AND

THE -- THE ACC -- THE ADVANCED CLEAN CAR RULE. THESE ARE PROGRAMS

THAT WILL DEVASTATE THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY AND THE AUTO INDUSTRY IN NEW

YORK THAT ARE BEING DONE BY REGULATION. THE COST IMPLICATIONS ARE

SIGNIFICANT, NO ONE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT IT. THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY AND

THE CAR INDUSTRY HAVE TOLD US THIS IS PROBLEMATIC MOVING FORWARD, THE

AMOUNT IT'S GONNA TO COST. THE JEP -- THE JOBS IT WILL JEOPARDIZE. HOW

THAT WILL HAVE A RIPPLE EFFECT, ESPECIALLY IN THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY FOR

TRANSPORTATION OF FOOD, TRANSPORTATION OF LUMBER. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE

AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS. PEOPLE WANT FOOD AT A REASONABLE PRICE.

THEY -- THEY OUGHT TO KEEP RECOGNIZING. THESE POLICIES ARE WHAT IS

DRIVING -- DRIVING UP THE -- THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS WE HAVE IN THE STATE

OF NEW YORK, AND ENERGY'S AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.

YES, I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS. YES, I KNOW I

FRUSTRATE YOU WHEN I TALK ABOUT THIS. I'M NOT GONNA STOP TALKING ABOUT

IT UNTIL WE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. BECAUSE THIS IS HEADING -- THIS IS THE

TRAIN HEADING DOWN THE TRACKS AND THE PUBLIC'S NOT AWARE ABOUT IT. THE

MORE THEY FOUND OUT ABOUT IT, THE MORE THEY DON'T LIKE IT. AND WE'RE

NOT SAYING WE'RE FOR OR AGAINST RENEWABLE ENERGY. WE -- WE ARE

SUPPORTIVE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY. IT SHOULD BE PART OF OUR PORTFOLIO, NOT

THE ENTIRE PART OF OUR PORTFOLIO. SO, YES, WE WANT RENEWABLE, WE WANT

WIND AND SOLAR. BUT WE ALSO WANT NATURAL GAS, WE WANT NUCLEAR. WE

WANT A BALANCED PORTFOLIO. JUST LIKE YOUR 401(K), YOU DON'T PUT IT ALL IN

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

STOCKS, CASH AND BONDS. YOU HAVE TO DIVERSIFY IT TO PROTECT -- TO MAKE

IT MORE RESILIENT.

AND LET'S TALK ABOUT THE COST OF ELECTRICITY. IN 2019,

PRE-CLCPA, THE RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICITY RATE WAS 17 CENTS PER KILOWATT

HOUR. THE RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICITY RATE IN NEW YORK STATE RIGHT NOW IS

26 CENTS PER KILOWATT HOUR. THAT'S OVER 40 PERCENT HIGHER THAN THE

NATIONAL AVERAGE. THE COMMERCIAL RATE HAS THE SAME TYPE OF NUMBERS.

THIS IS WHAT THE POLICIES THAT THIS HOUSE, QUITE

FRANKLY, YOUR SIDE OF THE AISLE, THE GOVERNOR, HAS ADVANCED THAT IS

PUTTING THIS CRIPPLING EFFECT ON OUR FAMILIES, ON OUR FARMERS, ON OUR

SMALL BUSINESSES AND OUR MANUFACTURERS. EVEN THE EMPIRE CENTER

CAME OUT WITH A STUDY SAYING THE CLCPA ALREADY HAS INCREASED CON --

ELECTRICITY RATES BY 10 PERCENT. AGAIN, I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. NEW YORK IS

.04 PERCENT, .04 PERCENT OF TOTAL GLOBAL EMISSIONS. CHINA IS 30 PERCENT.

THE POL -- ECONOM -- THE ENERGY POLICIES, THE CLIMATE POLICIES BEING

ADVANCED IN THIS HOUSE ARE DESIGNED TO DO SEVERAL THINGS: ONE,

DISMANTLE THE AFFORDABLE AND RELIABLE NATURAL GAS INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPLY

AND DELIVERY SYSTEM; TWO, TO TAKE AWAY CONSUMER CHOICE ON HOW YOU

HEAT YOUR HOME, COOK YOUR FOOD, POWER YOUR BUILDINGS AND THE VEHICLE

YOU DRIVE. IT WILL JEOPARDIZE THE RELIABILITY OF THE GRID. AND IF YOU ALSO

SAW THE NYISO REPORT, THERE IS A JEOPARDY IN THE GRID RELIABILITY AND

WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT ON THE POLICIES WE IMPLEMENT MOVING

FORWARD. WHEN -- IF YOU LOOK AT THAT REPORT, WE HAVE A BIG PROBLEM.

SO NOT ONLY WILL IT JEOPARDIZE RE -- RELIABILITY OF THE GRID LEADING TO

DANGEROUS BLACKOUTS, IT WILL CONTINUE OUR NATION-LEADING OUTMIGRATION

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

OF MORE FAMILIES, FARMERS, SMALL BUSINESSES AND MANUFACTURERS LEAVING

THIS STATE.

SO IT'S NICE TO SAY WE WANNA HELP RATEPAYERS WITH THIS

UTILITY AND CONSUMER ADVOCATE [SIC], BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A UTILITY

CONSUMER ADVOCATE TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE STATE THAT'S HURTING

THE RATEPAYER. BECAUSE THE POLICIES CONTINUE TO SHIFT COSTS, INCREASE --

DRIVE HIGHER ENERGY COSTS FOR NEW YORKERS TIME AND TIME AGAIN. AND

REMEMBER, WHEN IT COMES TO BUSINESSES ABOUT ENERGY POLICY THEY CARE

ABOUT TWO THINGS: AFFORDABLE -- AFFORDABLE AND RELIABLE. AND IF THEY

CAN'T GET AFFORDABLE AND RELIABLE ENERGY IN NEW YORK, THEY'RE GONNA

MOVE ELSEWHERE. AND I DIDN'T EVEN GET INTO THE CONGO AND THE CHILD

LABOR. I DIDN'T EVEN GET INTO THE WATER POLLUTION AND THE LITHIUM

TRIANGLE FOR MINING FOR -- FOR LITHIUM. THAT'S A WHOLE NOTHER

DISCUSSION. BUT EVEN THAT, TOO.

SO FOR THOSE REASONS, BECAUSE IT'S DUPLICATIVE, IT'S NOT

NEEDED, IT'S NOT GONNA MAKE AN IMPACT AND (INDISCERNIBLE) GET PASSED.

THIS LEGISLATION, WHICH IS FEEL-GOOD LEGISLATION BUT IT'S NOT GONNA MAKE

A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM ARE THE POLICIES THAT HAVE

BEEN ADVANCED IN THIS HOUSE SINCE 2019 AND CONTINUE TO DO SO,

WHETHER IT'S LEGISLATION OR REGULATION. AND WE'LL -- AND I WILL CONTINUE

TO SPEAK UP ON THAT, AND HOPEFULLY SOMETIME SOMEBODY WILL LISTEN.

BUT THE PUBLIC'S GONNA -- THERE'S GONNA BE A BACK ROAR FROM THE PUBLIC

AND -- AND PRETTY SOON ON THIS.

SO FOR THAT REASON, MADAM SPEAKER, MY COLLEAGUES, I

VOTE IN THE NEGATIVE AND I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

READ THE LAST SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT APRIL 1.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: A PARTY VOTE HAS

BEEN REQUESTED.

MS. WALSH.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. THE

REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE WILL BE IN THE NEGATIVE ON THIS PIECE OF

LEGISLATION, GENERALLY. IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS THAT WISH TO VOTE

AFFIRMATIVELY, THEY MAY DO SO NOW AT THEIR SEATS.

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER. THE MAJORITY CONFERENCE IS GONNA BE IN FAVOR OF THIS PIECE

OF LEGISLATION; HOWEVER, THERE MAY BE A FEW WHO WOULD DESIRE TO BE AN

EXCEPTION. THEY SHOULD FEEL FREE TO DO SO AT THEIR SEATS.

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

THE CLERK WILL RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

MS. WALSH TO EXPLAIN HER VOTE.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, AND

GOOD EVENING TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES.

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

I THINK WE JUST HEARD A VERY -- VERY IMPASSIONED

EXPLANATION OF WHY THE PRECEDING SPEAKER IS NOT GONNA VOTE IN FAVOR OF

THIS BILL. I WANTED TO ADD MY VOICE TO IT. BACK IN 2021 I VOTED NO ON

THIS BILL AND I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO VOTE NO BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THAT

WE NEED ANOTHER INDEPENDENT ENTITY TO REPRESENT CONSUMERS BEFORE THE

PSC AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES WITH RESPECT TO UTILITY SERVICE

AND RATE ISSUES BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY GOT ONE.

I THINK THAT THIS BILL MIGHT FEEL GOOD, BUT I DON'T -- I

DON'T BELIEVE IT'S NECESSARY. AND I REALLY DO AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS

SPEAKER THAT IF WE REALLY WANTED TO HELP CONSUMERS AND RATEPAYERS

WITH THE COSTS OF WHAT ENERGY IS RIGHT NOW AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE IN

THE FUTURE, WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE PASSED IN 2019

WITH THE CLCPA. WE'VE GOT TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE I DON'T

THINK THE AVERAGE RATEPAYER REALLY UNDERSTANDS HOW MUCH THEIR RATES

ARE GOING TO BE INCREASING IN THE COMING YEARS, AND HAVE ALREADY

INCREASED.

SO I THINK THAT UNTIL -- WE NEED TO -- WE NEED TO HAVE

THAT UNCOMFORTABLE DISCUSSION. AND I WILL CONTINUE TO VOTE IN THE

NEGATIVE UNTIL WE INJECT SOME COMMON SENSE INTO WHAT IS REALLY A VERY

SERIOUS ISSUE MOVING FORWARD.

THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MS. WALSH IN THE NEGATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

THE BILL IS PASSED.

PAGE 10, RULES REPORT NO. 309, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: SENATE NO. S00916, RULES REPORT NO.

309, SENATOR S. RYAN (A03669, CONRAD, BERGER, BUTTENSCHON,

MCMAHON, LUNSFORD, SCHIAVONI, BURDICK, GONZ�LEZ-ROJAS,

MCDONALD, P. CARROLL, RAMOS, SHIMSKY, SEAWRIGHT, SAYEGH). AN ACT

TO AMEND THE JUDICIARY LAW, IN RELATION TO REQUIRING TOWN AND VILLAGE

COURTS COMPENSATE TEMPORARY INTERPRETERS FOR DEAF OR HARD-OF-HEARING

PERSONS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: AN EXPLANATION HAS

BEEN REQUESTED.

MR. CONRAD.

MR. CONRAD: GOOD EVENING.

SIMPLY PUT, THIS BILL WILL INCREASE THE MINIMUM FEE

RECEIVED FOR TEMPORARY INTERPRETERS IN OUR TOWN AND VILLAGE COURTS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MS. WALSH.

MS. WALSH: MADAM SPEAKER, WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD FOR QUESTIONS?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MR. CONRAD: I WILL.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU, MR. CONRAD. I -- AND I DO

JUST HAVE FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT IT. WE SPOKE ABOUT THIS BILL A LITTLE BIT

EARLIER, AND I'VE READ IT. SO AS YOU SAY, THIS BILL HAS TO DO WITH TOWN

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

AND VILLAGE COURTS EXCLUSIVELY, CORRECT?

MR. CONRAD: CORRECT.

MS. WALSH: AND WHAT IS THE CURRENT RATE FOR

INTERPRETERS IN THOSE TOWN AND VILLAGE COURTS RIGHT NOW?

MR. CONRAD: $25.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. PER DAY, RIGHT?

MR. CONRAD: PER DAY, YES.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. AND HOW HIGH DOES THIS BILL

RAISE IT TO? FROM 25 TO WHAT?

MR. CONRAD: IT RAISES IT TO $110.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AND WHO PAYS FOR

THE -- THE INTERPRETER COST?

MR. CONRAD: THE FEES ARE COLLECTED BY THE COURT

SYSTEM. NOT THROUGH COUNTY REVENUES, BUT THROUGH FINES AND OTHER

THINGS INSIDE, ESSENTIALLY, THE COUNTY. THEY COLLECT THOSE FEES, FINES

AND OTHER COURT-ORDERED PAYMENTS THROUGH THE UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM,

AND THEY PUT THEM IN A TRUST AND THEN THEY RELEASE THEM WHEN THEY'RE

ASKED FOR THOSE.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. AND THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM THE

WAY THAT INTERPRETER FEES ARE PAID FOR IN MATTERS INVOLVING, LIKE, THE

STATE SUPREME COURT, CORRECT? THOSE FEES ARE PAID FOR OUT OF THE

OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION --

MR. CONRAD: CORRECT.

MS. WALSH: -- WHICH IS AT THE STATE LEVEL. THIS

BUMPS IT DOWN TO THE COUNTY LEVEL. THE COUNTIES -- THE TOWNS DON'T --

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

DO THE TOWNS PAY ANY MONEY FOR THESE INTERPRETERS?

MR. CONRAD: THEY -- WELL, THEY PAY WITHIN THE

EXCESS OF THE $25 REIMBURSEMENT. WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS THAT SO MANY

OF THESE COURTS NOW ARE IN A HIGH DEMAND FOR INTERPRETERS, AND THE COST

HAS GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY. AND THE $25, ALTHOUGH IN 1990 IT WAS A

GREAT IDEA AND -- AND PROBABLY VERY GENEROUS, BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING

THE NEED FOR SO MANY MULTIPLE LANGUAGES, AND COURSE FOR OUR DEAF AND

HARD-OF-HEARING, THEY NEED TO PAY AWAY ABOVE 110. SO THAT'S -- THAT'S

THE REASON FOR THE INCREASE.

MS. WALSH: SO IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU HAD, SAY, AN

INTERPRETER THAT SAID, I'M NOT WORKING FOR $25 A DAY. MY RATE IS $200 A

DAY. THEN UNDER THIS LEGISLATION THEY'D GET $110 PER DAY, PAID THROUGH

THE COUNTY?

MR. CONRAD: MM-HMM.

MS. WALSH: AND THEN ANYTHING ABOVE THAT, WOULD

THAT BE PAID FOR BY THE TOWN?

MR. CONRAD: THAT -- THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE PICKED

MS. WALSH: OR VILLAGE?

MR. CONRAD: -- THE TOWN, THEY'RE ALREADY DOING

THAT. THE TOWN AND VILLAGE IS ALREADY PICKING UP THAT TAB, SO ALL WE'RE

DOING IS HELPING THEM ASSIST -- ACCESS MORE FUNDS. BUT YES, ESSENTIALLY

THEY WOULD HAVE TO PICK UP THE REMAINING TAB.

MS. WALSH: SO THIS REALLY ONLY HAS TO DO WITH HOW

MUCH THE MUNICIPALITY, WHETHER IT'S THE COUNTY OR THE TOWN, HAS TO PAY

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

TO THE INTERPRETER. THE INTERPRETER CAN JUST CHARGE WHATEVER THEY WANT?

MR. CONRAD: I -- I -- I GUESS SO. I -- I CAN'T REALLY

ANSWER THAT. I THINK THERE'S SOME FIELDS THAT ARE VERY HIGH IN DEMAND

AND -- AND OTHERS THAT ARE MUCH EASIER TO FIND. AND I KNOW THAT SOME

COURTS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO FIND ONLINE TRANSLATORS AND ALL THAT, BUT WHAT

WE'RE FINDING IS THAT THE TECHNOLOGY -- AND I -- I THINK IN SOME CASES

THEY'RE NOT EVEN PERMITTED TO USE IT. SO THEY HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE IN

PERSON TO DO THAT WITH THEM.

MS. WALSH: NOW, IF SOMEBODY -- AND THIS IS WHAT

I'VE SEEN WHEN I PRACTICED IN LOCAL COURT. SOMEBODY HAS A -- A NON-

ENGLISH-SPEAKING CLIENT OR -- OR A DEFENDANT THAT COMES IN. THEY BRING

THEIR OWN PERSON WITH THEM, ESSENTIALLY, AND THEN THAT PERSON COULD GET

SWORN IN AND THEY'LL DO THE WORK FOR FREE, RIGHT? THEY'LL -- THEY CAN

JUST --

MR. CONRAD: SURE.

MS. WALSH: -- TRANSLATE FOR THEIR, SOMETIMES IT

COULD BE A FAMILY MEMBER, IT COULD BE A NEIGHBOR. IT COULD BE

SOMEBODY THAT THEY KNOW THAT SPEAKS THEIR -- THEIR MOTHER TONGUE AND

THEN THEY -- THEY JUST DO IT. SO DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT THE

OVERALL COST IS PER YEAR TO THE COUNTIES FOR PROVIDING THESE SERVICES?

MR. CONRAD: WELL, I'LL SAY THIS: IN MY COUNTY OF

ERIE IN 2024, WE HAD SIX TOWNS AND ONE VILLAGE SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR

REIMBURSEMENT, AND THEY -- TOTALING ABOUT $4,400. NOW, AT $25 A DAY,

THAT'S ABOUT 176 DAYS. SO YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT THE COSTS ARE. I DO

KNOW THAT OUR OTHER COURTS THAT ARE USING THESE INTERPRETERS ARE PAYING

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

RIGHT NOW, I THINK, FOR A FULL DAY $385, AND FOR A HALF-DAY $220 AS WELL

AS MILEAGE TO MEET THIS DEMAND IN OUR NEW YORK STATE UNIFIED COURT

SYSTEM. SO --

MS. WALSH: RIGHT. AT THE STATE LEVEL --

(INDISCERNIBLE/CROSS-TALK.)

MR. CONRAD: YEAH, AT THE STATE LEVEL. SO THE COST

IS -- IS ALREADY THERE. AND I -- I'M SURE THE INTERPRETERS WANT THE SAME

AMOUNT OF MONEY AND IF THEY HAD TO CHOOSE, THEY'RE GONNA CHOOSE THE

JOBS THAT PAY BETTER.

MS. WALSH: RIGHT. YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING

ABOUT -- AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS WHEN I WAS AT -- I WAS AT A

DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT AND THERE WAS SOMEBODY THAT CAME IN THAT

NEEDED, I BELIEVE, I THINK IT WAS SPANISH INTERPRET -- INTERPRETING WHEN

THEY CAME IN TO DEAL WITH THE FRONT DESK FOR AN APPOINTMENT AND THEY

DIALED UP LIKE A SERVICE THAT WAS RIGHT THERE AND BROUGHT SOMEBODY UP

REMOTELY ON-SCREEN. IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT WHEN YOU

SAID THEIR TECHNOLOGY?

MR. CONRAD: YES. BUT --

MS. WALSH: ARE THE TOWN AND -- I'M SORRY.

MR. CONRAD: I DON'T BELIEVE THEY'RE PERMITTED TO

USE THAT IN THE COURT --

MS. WALSH: OKAY.

MR. CONRAD: -- IN CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS. SO IT -- IT

DEPENDS ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF THE TECHNOLOGY AND THE -- AND THE

JUDGE AND SO ON. SO...

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

MS. WALSH: OKAY. SO IT -- IT'S -- TO YOUR

KNOWLEDGE IT'S NOT BEING USED AT ALL OR IS -- IS IT SPOTTY?

MR. CONRAD: I THINK IT'S SPOTTY --

MS. WALSH: OKAY.

MR. CONRAD: -- IS WHAT I'M GETTING AT.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. VERY GOOD. LET'S SEE.

SO, I WANT TO JUST -- JUST FOR CLARITY, BECAUSE I THINK

THAT AS YOU AND I WERE DISCUSSING EARLIER THERE WAS SOME, I DON'T KNOW,

I DON'T WANT TO SAY DISCREPANCY, BUT THERE WAS -- THERE WAS DIFFERENT

POINTS OF VIEW ABOUT WHETHER THE COUNTY WAS ACTUALLY PAYING FOR THIS,

OR AS YOU'VE REPRESENTED EARLIER IN THIS DEBATE, WHETHER THEY'RE JUST

SIMPLY PASSING THROUGH MONEY FROM FINES THAT HAVE BEEN COLLECTED.

SO I JUST -- COULD YOU JUST REPEAT THAT? BECAUSE I WANT TO BE CLEAR ON

THAT.

MR. CONRAD: SURE. WELL, THE STATUTE REQUIRES THAT

THE COMPENSATION SHALL BE PAID FROM THE COURT FUND OF THE COUNTY UPON

THE ORDER OF THE COURT. SO VILLAGE AND TOWN MUNICIPALITIES SEND A

NOTICE TO THEIR COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF LAW, AND WITH AN ITEMIZED LIST OF

DATES FOR INTERPRETED SERVICES AND WHERE RENDERED. THE NEW YORK

STATE -- ESSENTIALLY, THE FUND COMES FROM THE PAYMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN

MADE TO A TRUST ACCOUNT THAT IS MAINTAINED BY THE CFO OF THE COUNTY --

USUALLY A TREASURER, YOU KNOW, OR WHAT HAVE YOU -- AND THAT IS NOT

ACTUALLY COUNTY FUNDS. THIS FUNDS ARE THEN DEPOSITED FROM FEES, FINES

AND OTHER COURT-ORDERED PAYMENTS THROUGH THE UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM

INTO THAT TRUST, AND THEN THAT COUNTRY TREASURER PULLS IT OUT AND PAYS IT TO

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

THAT LOCAL TOWN OR VILLAGE.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. SO -- OKAY. AND THAT'S

APPLICABLE AT -- FOR THESE CASES THAT ARE AT THE COUNTY OR -- SO SAY --

LIKE, I'LL JUST SAY FAMILY COURT, FOR EXAMPLE. THAT'S A COUNTY-LEVEL

COURT.

MR. CONRAD: I -- I WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS MORE TO

DEAL WITH TOWN AND VILLAGE COURTS, NOT COUNTY COURTS.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MR. CONRAD: IT'S A VERY HYPER-LOCAL ISSUE.

MS. WALSH: YEAH, NO KIDDING. ALL RIGHT. WELL,

THANK YOU -- THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS. I

APPRECIATE IT.

MADAM SPEAKER, ON THE BILL.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE BILL.

MS. WALSH: YEAH, SO I WOULD JUST POINT OUT THAT

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT MIGHT NOT WANT TO APPROVE A QUADRUPLING OF

THE DAILY RATE FOR INTERPRETERS AT THIS LEVEL OF COURT. AS I MENTIONED, I

THINK THAT SOME -- IN ACTUAL PRACTICE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO

WHEN THEY REALIZE THAT THEY HAVE TO APPEAR IN FRONT OF TOWN OR VILLAGE

COURT AND THEY DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH PROFICIENTLY, WILL BRING SOMEBODY

WITH THEM. AND THAT'S -- YOU KNOW, THAT HAPPENS -- I'VE SEEN THAT

HAPPEN A -- A NUMBER OF TIMES. FOR THOSE WHO ARE DEAF OR CANNOT

LOCATE THEIR OWN PERSON TO COME IN AND HELP THEM, WE KNOW THAT WE

NEED TO HAVE SOME INTERPRETATION -- INTERPRETER SERVICES. I THINK -- YOU

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

KNOW, WHEN I SPOKE TO SOMEBODY AT ONE OF MY COUNTY GOVERNMENT

OFFICES EARLIER TODAY, HE WAS SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW -- I DON'T KNOW IF

YOU REMEMBER THIS, BUT A -- A YEAR OR TWO AGO WE DOUBLED THE RATE OF

18B ATTORNEYS, ASSIGNED ATTORNEYS. THEY WERE MAKING $75 AN HOUR

AND WE DOUBLED IT TO 150. SO FOR ALL OF THOSE 18B ATTORNEYS, THAT WAS A

REALLY UNCONTROLLED COST. THAT IS A BIG NUMBER THAT COUNTIES ARE BEING

REQUIRED TO COVER NOW THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO COVER BEFORE.

SO WHAT THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT, THE COUNTIES, ARE

THAT THEY CAN'T REALLY CONTROL OR PREDICT WHATEVER THIS EXPENSE IS GOING

TO BE. THEY DO KNOW THAT IT REPRESENTS AN INCREASE. I -- I HAVE NOT

BEEN ABLE TO REALLY CONFIRM. I DON'T DOUBT THE SPONSOR'S INFORMATION AS

FAR AS THE COUNTIES, WHETHER THIS IS GONNA COME OUT OF THEIR BUDGET OR

WHETHER IT'S REALLY JUST A PASS- THROUGH WITH FINES. I'M NOT SURE ABOUT

THAT. I CAN'T -- I CAN'T REALLY COMMENT ON THAT. BUT I WOULD SAY THAT

SOME PEOPLE MIGHT NOT WANT TO SUPPORT THIS BILL BECAUSE IT DOES

ESSENTIALLY QUADRUPLE A RATE THAT'S BEEN ESTABLISHED AND HAS BEEN IN

PLACE FOR SOME TIME, AND THAT SOME MAY VIEW IT AS AN UNFUNDED

MANDATE ON COUNTIES.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: A PARTY VOTE HAS

BEEN REQUESTED.

MS. WALSH.

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. THE

MINORITY PARTY WILL BE, GENERALLY SPEAKING, IN THE NEGATIVE ON THIS

PIECE OF LEGISLATION. ANYONE WHO WANTS TO VOTE YES MAY DO SO NOW AT

THEIR SEATS.

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, THE

MAJORITY CONFERENCE IS GONNA BE IN FAVOR OF THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION;

HOWEVER, THERE MAY BE A FEW THAT WOULD DESIRE TO BE AN EXCEPTION.

THEY SHOULD FEEL FREE TO DO SO AT THEIR SEATS.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

THE CLERK WILL RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

MR. CONRAD TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. CONRAD: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

1990 WAS A FINE YEAR. SIN�AD O'CONNOR'S HIT

"NOTHING COMPARES TO YOU", WRITTEN BY PRINCE, WAS AT THE TOP OF THE

CHARTS. I HAD A FULL HEAD OF HAIR, AND I WAS IN 6TH GRADE. THAT WAS 35

YEARS AGO, AND WE HAVE NOT INCREASED THE RATE FOR INTERPRETERS SINCE. I

THINK BECAUSE OF THE MULTIPLE LANGUAGES AND OF COURSE ISSUES -- AND OF

COURSE THE RECOGNITION OF HELPING FOLKS WITH THESE ISSUES OF

HARD-OF-HEARING AND BEING DEAF, OF COURSE, THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN

PARAMOUNT FOR MY LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES AND IS A HELP, NOT A HINDRANCE

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

TO OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, OUR TOWNS AND OUR VILLAGES. THIS EFFORT IS

STRONGLY SUPPORTED BY THE NEW YORK STATE MAGISTRATE'S ASSOCIATION

AND THE ASSOCIATION OF TOWNS IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

I VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. CONRAD IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MS. SHIMSKY TO EXPLAIN HER VOTE.

MS. SHIMSKY: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR [SIC].

LEARNING ANOTHER LANGUAGE AND BECOMING FLUENT IN IT

IS A REAL SERIOUS SKILL THAT TAKES THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF EFFORT, WHETHER IN

SCHOOL OR OUT OF SCHOOL. THE FACT THAT WE'RE -- THAT THE MINIMUM IS $25

A DAY IS SCANDALOUS. AND THE IDEA THAT WE SHOULD TAKE PEOPLE WHO

HAVE A SKILL THAT IS MUCH MORE DEMANDING AND TAKES MUCH MORE TO

ACHIEVE THAN SO MANY THINGS WE PAY CONSULTANTS MANY TIMES MORE PER

HOUR, I THINK IS EVEN WORSE.

MADAM SPEAKER, THAT'S WHY I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS BILL.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MS. SHIMSKY IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MS. BUTTENSCHON TO EXPLAIN HER VOTE.

MS. BUTTENSCHON: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

I JUST WANT TO COMMEND THE SPONSOR.

AS A COURT CLERK FOR OVER 30 YEARS IN A TOWN COURT, I

CAN TELL YOU THAT THIS SITUATION ARISED [SIC] MANY TIMES, AND INDIVIDUALS

DESERVE TO UNDERSTAND CHARGES AS WELL AS TO UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS.

SO, CLEARLY, MANY THAT WOULD COME INTO COURT WOULD HAVE CHILDREN OR

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

SOMEONE THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW ATTEMPT TO GUIDE THEM.

SO THANK YOU FOR THIS, AND I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS AND

I WILL BE VOTING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MS. BUTTENSCHON IN

THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

PAGE 11, RULES REPORT NO. 331, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A06741-A, RULES

REPORT NO. 331, SIMONE. AN ACT TO AMEND THE ELECTION LAW, IN

RELATION TO REQUIRING STATE AND COUNTY BOARDS OF ELECTIONS TO POST

SAMPLE BALLOTS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: AN EXPLANATION HAS

BEEN REQUESTED.

MR. SIMONE.

MR. SIMONE: YES, AN EXPLANATION. THE PURPOSE OF

THIS BILL TO PROVIDE VOTERS ACCESS TO THE SAMPLE BALLOT BEFORE ELECTION

DAY.

AS WE ALL KNOW, EXERCISING ONE'S RIGHT TO VOTE IS A

FUNDAMENTAL PILLAR OF OUR DEMOCRACY. HOWEVER, THE PROCESS OF VOTING

CAN BE OVERWHELMING TO MANY VOTERS. THIS SIMPLY ALLOWS VARIOUS

LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT ALL TO APPEAR ON THE SAME BALLOT. THE BILL SEEKS

TO PROVIDE VOTERS WITH EARLY ACCESS TO VIEW THEIR SAMPLE BALLOT SO THAT

THEY MAY BE INFORMED AND PREPARED TO FILL OUT THEIR BALLOT WHEN THEY

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

GO TO CAST THEIR VOTE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. SEMPOLINSKI.

MR. SEMPOLINSKI: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

WILL THE SPONSOR YIELD FOR A FEW QUESTIONS?

MR. SIMONE: YES, OF COURSE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MR. SEMPOLINSKI: I THANK THE SPONSOR FOR

YIELDING.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MR. SEMPOLINSKI: AND I KNOW WE'RE AT AN ODD

ANGLE, SO DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO TURN AROUND.

SO FIRST I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY CURRENT LAW, AND SO

CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. THE CURRENT LAW MANDATES THAT COUNTY BOARDS

OF ELECTIONS HAVE A CHOICE AS TO WHETHER THEY SEND SAMPLE BALLOTS TO

THE VOTERS OR CAN POST IT ON THEIR COUNTY WEBSITE. AM I CORRECT ABOUT

THAT?

MR. SIMONE: YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

MR. SEMPOLINSKI: OKAY.

AND SO AM I ALSO CORRECT THAT THE CURRENT LAW IS "WHAT

MUST BE SENT TO THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IS CANDIDATE AND CONTEST

INFORMATION", QUOTE, FROM THE STATUTE?

MR. SIMONE: YES, I BELIEVE SO.

MR. SEMPOLINSKI: OKAY. SO WHAT WOULD BE

DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR BILL COMPARED TO CURRENT LAW?

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

MR. SIMONE: THIS -- THIS BILL SIMPLY CLARIFIES THAT

SAMPLE BALLOTS MAY BE MAILED THREE DAYS BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF EARLY

VOTING, AS OPPOSED TO SAYING BEFORE THE ELECTION, TO BE MORE SPECIFIC.

AND THE BILL SPECIFICALLY SETS FORTH THAT A SAMPLE BALLOT, THE ENTIRE

BALLOT, FOR EVERY ELECTION DISTRICT IN EVERY COUNTY SHALL BE PUBLISHED, OR

ALSO AN ONLINE DATABASE OR ON THE STATE BOE WEBSITE AS OPPOSED TO JUST

THE CANDIDATES.

MR. SEMPOLINSKI: SO IT WOULD CREATE A, SORT OF,

ONE UNIVERSAL STATEWIDE DATABASE POTENTIALLY.

(CONFERENCING)

MR. SIMONE: YEAH. IT JUST SPECIFICALLY STATES YOU

HAVE TO SUBMIT THE ENTIRE SAMPLE BALLOT TO THE STATE BOE.

MR. SEMPOLINSKI: OKAY. AND -- AND AS YOU

MENTIONED, THE TIMELINE CHANGES IN LIGHT OF US HAVING EARLY VOTING,

WHICH IS SORT OF NOT CONTEMPLATED IN THE EXISTING STATUTE, TO 12 DAYS

PRIOR TO EARLY VOTING. IS THAT --

MR. SIMONE: YES, 12 DAYS TO PRIOR.

MR. SEMPOLINSKI: AND THAT WOULD BE PRETTY

SIGNIFICANTLY A FEW WEEKS EARLIER THAN THE CURRENT PROVISION IN LAW.

MR. SIMONE: YES, CORRECT. IT'S MEANT TO GIVE

VOTERS MORE TIME TO STUDY THE BALLOT, COMPARE CANDIDATES, DO THEIR

RESEARCH ONLINE, AS OPPOSED TO SEEING IT VERY LAST MINUTE.

MR. SEMPOLINSKI: OKAY. THANK YOU.

I JUST AM CURIOUS, I JUST WANTED A -- AN EXPLANATION.

ON PAGE 2 OF THE BILL, LINES 3 THROUGH 5, IT SAYS THAT SAMPLE BALLOTS

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

SHALL HAVE AN EMBEDDED SECURITY TOOL TO PREVENT TAMPERING AND

PRINTING OF SUCH SAMPLE BALLOTS. WHAT WOULD CONSTITUTE AN EMBEDDED

SECURITY TOOL AND HOW WOULD THAT WORK?

(CONFERENCING)

MR. SIMONE: THAT'S ACTUALLY NOT DEFINED MORE

SPECIFICALLY. BASICALLY, YOU'D BE POSTING A SEARCHABLE DATABASE TO

MAKE IT EASIER FOR A VOTER TO FIND THE APPROPRIATE BALLOT, AND HAVING AN

EMBEDDED SECURITY TOOL IS IMPORTANT, CLEARLY, FOR ELECTION INTEGRITY.

THE BILL LANGUAGE IS PERMISSIVE AS IT PERTAINS TO THE COUNTY BOARD OF

ELECTIONS. SO IF A COUNTY IS TRULY UNABLE TO PROVIDE SECURE ONLINE

ACCESS, THE VOTERS WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO VIEW THE SAMPLE BALLOT VIA THE

STATE BOARD'S WEBSITE, AS LONG AS THEY COULD BE DIRECTED THERE.

MR. SEMPOLINSKI: OKAY. COULD THAT POTENTIALLY

BE A COST TO THE COUNTIES TO COME UP WITH A SECURITY TOOL?

MR. SIMONE: WE SEE NO ADDITIONAL COST.

MR. SEMPOLINSKI: OKAY.

THE TIMELINE FOR THIS. THE BILL SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE

90TH DAY; AM I CORRECT ABOUT THAT?

MR. SIMONE: YES.

MR. SEMPOLINSKI: SO OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE WITHIN 90

DAYS OF THE PRIMARY, BUT IN THEORY, IF THIS WAS TO PASS BOTH HOUSES AND

THE GOVERNOR SIGNED IT, THIS COULD TAKE EFFECT FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION

IN 2025.

MR. SIMONE: YES.

MR. SEMPOLINSKI: DO YOU ANTICIPATE ANY

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

CONCERNS ABOUT COUNTIES BEING ABLE TO COMPLY WITH SOMETHING SO

QUICKLY THIS YEAR?

MR. SIMONE: I -- I THINK WE HAVE A LOT SMART

PEOPLE WORKING AT THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS. I THINK THEY COULD COMPLY

IN THAT AMOUNT OF TIME.

MR. SEMPOLINSKI: OKAY.

(CONFERENCING)

MR. SIMONE: IT -- IT SAYS "MAY", SO IT'S NOT -- IT'S

PERMISSIVE. SO IF THEY CAN'T DO IT IN TIME, IT'S NOT A MUST. IT'S TO

ENCOURAGE THEM.

MR. SEMPOLINSKI: OKAY. I APPRECIATE THAT

CLARIFICATION. I'LL -- THAT'S THE LAST QUESTION I HAD.

I'M GONNA GO ON THE BILL.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE BILL.

MR. SEMPOLINSKI: SO, FIRST OF ALL, ONE THING THAT I

THINK IS RATHER POSITIVE ABOUT THIS IS, AS I MENTIONED, THE EXISTING

STATUTE DOES NOT CONTEMPLATE EARLY VOTING. OBVIOUSLY, THE SCHEDULE OF

OUR GENERAL AND PRIMARY ELECTIONS HAS CHANGED AND THERE'S A LOT OF

DIFFERENT PLACES IN LAW WHERE WE HAVE TO ADJUST BECAUSE OF THAT. SO

SINCE PEOPLE ARE VOTING MUCH EARLIER, I THINK THAT IT DEFINITELY DOES

MAKE SENSE THAT THINGS CAN BE POSTED EARLIER.

WHERE I'M -- HAVE SOME CONCERNS AND I THINK OTHERS

MAY HAVE CONCERNS IS, YOU KNOW, WE ALREADY HAVE THE COUNTIES EITHER

SENDING THE BALLOTS OUT OR POSTING THE BALLOTS ON THEIR WEBSITE. SO IT'S

-- WE ALREADY HAVE BALLOTS BEING MADE ACCESSIBLE. AND THE POTENTIAL

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

UNFUNDED MANDATE OF A EMBEDDED SECURITY TOOL, WHICH I WOULD -- I

WOULD PROBABLY PREFER IT WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE DEFINED WHAT EXACTLY

WOULD CONSTITUTE AN EMBEDDED SECURITY TOOL, HOW MUCH TECHNOLOGY

WOULD THE COUNTY BOARDS HAVE TO EMBED INTO THE BALLOT. I UNDERSTAND

THE SPONSOR'S CONCERN, WE WANT TO MAINTAIN ELECTION SECURITY. BUT THAT

STRUCK ME AS A LITTLE BIT UNCLEAR. AND OF COURSE I WOULD ALSO, I THINK,

PREFER -- PREFERRED IF THIS TOOK EFFECT IN 2026 AS OPPOSED TO CHANGING

THINGS IN THE MIDDLE. I KNOW FOLKS IN THE BOARDS OF ELECTIONS HAVE TO

PLAN OUT IN ADVANCE HOW THEY'RE GONNA DO THINGS. SO THE TIMELINE IS A

LITTLE RAPID.

BUT I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE GOAL OF THE BILL, AND

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MR. SIMONE: THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 90TH

DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: A PARTY VOTE HAS

BEEN REQUESTED.

MS. WALSH.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. THE

REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE WILL BE IN THE NEGATIVE ON THIS PIECE OF

LEGISLATION, BUT YES VOTES MAY BE RECORDED AT THEIR SEATS NOW.

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER. THE MAJORITY CONFERENCE IS GONNA BE IN FAVOR OF THIS PIECE

OF LEGISLATION. THERE MAY BE A FEW THAT WOULD DESIRE TO BE AN

EXCEPTION. THEY SHOULD FEEL FREE TO DO SO AT THEIR SEATS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

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.

PAGE 12, RULES REPORT NO. 333, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: SENATE NO. S05983-A, RULES REPORT

NO. 333, SENATOR HARCKHAM (A06930, BURDICK, SEAWRIGHT, COLTON,

ROSENTHAL, OTIS). AN ACT TO AMEND THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

LAW, IN RELATION TO PROHIBITING THE APPLICATION OF PESTICIDES TO CERTAIN

LOCAL FRESHWATER WETLANDS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: AN EXPLANATION HAS

BEEN REQUESTED.

MR. BURDICK.

MR. BURDICK: CERTAINLY. THIS BILL WOULD

AUTHORIZE ANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT HAS ADOPTED A FRESHWATER

WETLANDS LAW OR ORDINANCE PURSUANT TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL

CONSERVATION LAW TO ADOPT A FURTHER LOCAL LAW OR ORDINANCE

PROHIBITING THE APPLICATION OF PESTICIDES TO CERTAIN WETLANDS IT

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

REGULATES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. SIMPSON.

MR. SIMPSON: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

WOULD THE BILL SPONSOR YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MR. BURDICK: OF COURSE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MR. SIMPSON: GOOD EVENING.

I BELIEVE THIS BILL, YOU AND I HAVE TALKED -- TALKED

ABOUT THIS. THIS WOULD BE THE FOURTH TIME, RIGHT?

MR. BURDICK: THIS IS THE THIRD TIME, ACTUALLY.

MR. SIMPSON: OKAY. WHAT -- HAS ANYTHING

CHANGED FROM THE LAST CONVERSATION WE HAD?

MR. BURDICK: WELL, SO THERE HAS BEEN -- THERE

HAVE BEEN CHANGES IN THIS BILL, ACTUALLY EACH TIME, AND THE MOST RECENT

CHANGES, ONE WOULD BE TO LIMIT THE APPLICATION TO ONLY THOSE WETLANDS

WHICH ARE HYDROLOGICALLY-CONNECTED TO ANY PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY. A

FURTHER CHANGE THAT WAS MADE, AND IN LARGE PART IN RESPONSE TO

COMMENTS THAT THE MINORITY HAD EXPRESSED THE LAST TIME AROUND, IS TO

MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED

TO PROHIBIT OR LIMIT THE USE OR APPLICATION OF PESTICIDES USED IN FARM

OPERATIONS AS DEFINED IN SECTION 301 OF THE AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS

LAW. SO EACH ITERATION THERE HAS BEEN NARROWING OF -- OF THE SCOPE, AS

WELL AS INCREASING THE EXEMPTIONS.

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

I SHOULD ALSO MENTION THAT THERE IS AN EXISTING --

PRE-EXISTING, ACTUALLY THIS WAS IN THE VERY FIRST BILL, THAT THE LAW OR

ORDINANCE SHALL NOT PROHIBIT PESTICIDE APPLICATIONS FOR THE CONTROL OF

INVASIVE SPECIES, PESTS, NOXIOUS WEEDS OR FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATIVE

PLANT SPECIES.

MR. SIMPSON: OKAY. SO CURRENTLY, DEC CONTROLS

ALL MATTERS PERTAINING TO PESTICIDES; THE DISTRIBUTION, THE SALE AND THE

TRANSPORTATION, CORRECT?

MR. BURDICK: DID YOU SAY DEC --

MR. SIMPSON: YES.

MR. BURDICK: -- THE DEPARTMENT OF

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION?

MR. SIMPSON: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION. NEW

YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION.

MR. BURDICK: THAT'S CORRECT.

MR. SIMPSON: OKAY. SO IN THAT PROCESS, DEC

SCIENTISTS OR, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT KNOW THESE PRODUCTS, TEST THEM.

THEY DECIDE WHAT IS ALLOWABLE, WHAT IS SAFE FOR USE FOR ITS APPLICATION

ANYWHERE IN NEW YORK STATE; AM I CORRECT IN THAT?

MR. BURDICK: THAT'S CORRECT.

MR. SIMPSON: SO THESE ARE ALREADY BEING

EVALUATED BY DEC AS TO THEIR SAFETY AND CORRECT APPLICATION?

MR. BURDICK: WELL, THERE'S ALSO A PROCESS IN

WHICH THEY WOULD PROVIDE PERMITS TO THOSE WHO ARE CERTIFIED TO APPLY

THOSE PESTICIDES, AND THERE'S A PERMITTING PROCESS THAT THE DEC UTILIZES

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

IN DOING THAT. AND -- AND SO THERE -- THERE'S THAT LAYER THAT HAS TO BE

CONSIDERED AS WELL.

MR. SIMPSON: OKAY. SO WE'RE GONNA SAY MY

COMMUNITY HAS A -- A HARDWARE STORE THAT I CAN PURCHASE PESTICIDES FOR

USE ON MY PROPERTY. WHO DECIDES WHETHER MY PROPERTY IS CONNECTED

HYDRO -- HYDROLOGICALLY?

MR. BURDICK: HYDROLOGICALLY?

MR. SIMPSON: TO THE WATER SOURCE.

MR. BURDICK: SO, AGAIN, THIS ONLY APPLIES TO THOSE

MUNICIPALITIES, AND THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 78 OUT OF THE 1,500

MUNICIPALITIES IN NEW YORK STATE THAT HAS, IN FACT, ADOPTED A LOCAL

WETLANDS LAW. AND IF THIS BILL WERE TO BE ENACTED INTO LAW, THEN IT'S UP

TO THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY WHETHER THEY WANTED TO, IN FACT, ADOPT A

FURTHER LAW TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGULATION OF PESTICIDES. NOW, TO YOUR

POINT, LET'S SUPPOSE --

MR. SIMPSON: I DIDN'T GET TO MY QUESTION.

MR. BURDICK: -- THAT THEY'VE DONE THAT, OKAY, AND

THEY'VE ADOPTED THE LAW. THEN THAT PROPERTY OWNER WOULD NEED TO

APPLY FOR A PERMIT. AND JUST AS THE TOWN IN WHICH I WAS SUPERVISOR

WOULD -- HAS LONG HAD FOR OVER 40 YEARS, A SCIENTIST, A WETLANDS

CONSULTANT WHO LOOKS AT THE MAPPING, DOES SOIL TESTING, AND ALSO LOOKS

AT OVERALL MAPS OF WATER FLOWS AND SUCH THAT ARE AVAILABLE PUBLICLY AND

WOULD MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO HYDROLOGICAL CONNECTION. IT'S

ACTUALLY NOT OPAQUE, IT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY TRANSPARENT IN TERMS OF MAKING

THOSE DETERMINATIONS.

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

MR. SIMPSON: SO BACK TO WHERE I WAS GOING TO GO

WHEN I FIRST STARTED, CAN THE TOWN WHO'S ADOPTED THIS LAW, IF IT BECOMES

LAW, THIS BILL IS PASSED, WILL THEY BE ABLE TO LIMIT THE SALE OF THOSE

PRODUCTS IN A STORE?

MR. BURDICK: NO, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE

SALE. WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED THAT. THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE

APPLICATION OF THE PESTICIDE AND WHETHER OR NOT THE LOCALITY WOULD HAVE

THE AUTHORITY TO LIMIT ITS APPLICATION. IT HAS NOTHING DO WITH THE SALE OF

THE PESTICIDE ITSELF.

MR. SIMPSON: OKAY. SO I OWN PROPERTY IN A

COMMUNITY THAT IS -- THAT FALLS UNDER THIS LAW, HAS DECIDED TO PASS THIS

LAW AND WE GIVE THEM THE AUTHORITY. I GO AND I BUY A PESTICIDE TEN

TOWNS OVER THAT IS NOT PART OF THIS. I APPLY IT TO MY LAWN, MY PROPERTY.

YOU HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING, CORRECT?

MR. BURDICK: I'M SORRY?

MR. SIMPSON: YOU WOULD HAVE NO WAY OF

KNOWING THAT I'VE DONE THAT, CORRECT?

MR. BURDICK: YOU KNOW, IT'S TRUE OF -- OF MANY

LAWS IN WHICH, YOU KNOW, WE TRUST THAT PEOPLE WILL DO THE RIGHT THING

AND OBEY THE LAW.

MR. SIMPSON: BUT SEE, THAT -- IT'S GONNA LEAD TO

CONFUSION BECAUSE DEC IS THE OVERARCHING AUTHORITY IN NEW YORK

STATE. YOUR TOWN OR YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR MUNICIPALITY, WANTS TO --

THEY CAN'T LESSEN THE RESTRICTIONS THAT DEC HAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED.

THEY CAN ONLY BE MORE RESTRICTIVE.

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

MR. BURDICK: ACTUALLY, I DON'T THINK THAT THERE

WOULD BE CONFUSION. AND THE REASON WHY IS SO MANY OF THE PESTICIDES

THAT WE'RE REFERRING TO, OKAY, ARE APPLIED BY PERMIT THROUGH THOSE

LICENSED PERMIT APPLIERS. THOSE THAT HAVE A LICENSE FROM THE DEC AND

HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED TO DO THAT. AND SO ACTUALLY, THE DEC WOULD HAVE A

PROCESS BY WHICH THEY WOULD SAY, OKAY, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO

HAVE TO APPLY TO-- TO LOCALITIES. AND BEAR IN MIND THAT THE EXISTING

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION LAW REQUIRES THAT ANY TOWN THAT WOULD

SO ADOPT ANY KIND OF WETLAND REGULATION NOTIFIES THE DEC. SO THERE IS

THE PROCESS IN PLACE SO THAT IT CAN GO VERY SMOOTHLY. AND I ALSO WOULD

MENTION THAT IT GOES BACK TO THE MID-1970S, 1975. FIFTY YEARS THAT THE

AUTHORITY HAS BEEN IN PLACE UNDER THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

LAW FOR LOCALITIES TO ADOPT LOCAL WETLANDS LAW -- LAWS, AND IT'S GONE

QUITE SMOOTHLY. AND THOSE 78 MUNICIPALITIES THAT DO IT, I DON'T KNOW

ABOUT YOU, BUT I HAVE A HIGH REGARD FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. I THINK THEY

DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB, AND I THINK THEY DO A VERY GOOD JOB IN THIS AREA AS

WELL.

MR. SIMPSON: DO YOU KNOW IF ALL 78 OF THOSE

MUNICIPALITIES -- DO YOU KNOW IF ALL 78 OF THOSE MUNICIPALITIES HAVE

HIRED A SCIENTIST, SOMEBODY WHO HAS THE EXPERTISE AND THE BACKGROUND

MR. BURDICK: I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT

BECAUSE AS BEST I KNOW, THOSE RECORDS ARE NOT MAINTAINED BY THE DEC.

BUT THOSE MUNICIPALITIES WITH WHICH I'VE WORKED AND MANY OF THEM IN

WESTCHESTER COUNTY AND SOME IN OTHER AREAS NEARBY TO WESTCHESTER, IN

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

FACT, WILL HIRE ON RETAINER CONSULTANTS WITH A PROFESSIONAL SCIENTIFIC

BACKGROUND TO BE ABLE TO ADVISE THE WETLANDS AUTHORITY, WHETHER IT BE

THE PLANNING BOARD OR A SEPARATE WETLANDS COMMISSION, SO THAT THEY

KNOW HOW TO ACT. AND IT -- IT'S JUST A MATTER OF PRUDENCE AND GOOD

GOVERNMENT THAT THEY MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE WELL-ADVISED IN THE

DECISIONS THAT THEY MAKE.

MR. SIMPSON: SO, YOU MENTIONED A GOOD POINT

ABOUT A PLANNING BOARD. I WAS A FORMER PLANNING BOARD MEMBER, AND I

CAN TELL YOU THAT IT WAS AN APPOINTED POSITION. THEY DIDN'T BASE

APPOINTMENTS ON -- YOU KNOW, THERE WEREN'T SCIENTISTS THAT MADE UP

THAT PLANNING BOARD. THERE WERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT HAD FREE

TIME TO BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, DONATE THEIR TIME TO THE COMMUNITY

BECAUSE IT'S AN UNPAID POSITION. I'M NOT SURE ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY,

IT'S A MUCH LARGER ONE, BUT --

MR. BURDICK: NO, ACTUALLY NOT. YOU KNOW, MY

COMMUNITY WAS 17,000; MAYBE IT IS MUCH LARGER. BUT, YOU KNOW, I

THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S A PLANNING BOARD OR A ZONING BOARD,

I FIND THAT LIKE THE EXPERIENCE YOU'VE HAD IS THAT THEY'RE WELL-ADVISED.

THEY'RE WELL-COUNSELED. AND AGAIN, THAT'S GOOD GOVERNMENT THAT'S

SMART ON THE PART THE OF THE MUNICIPALITY, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE SURE THAT

THEY'RE AVOIDING LIABILITY, AVOIDING MAKING BAD DECISIONS.

MR. SIMPSON: WELL, I THINK THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING,

IS THAT THEIR ABILITY TO EMPLOY THOSE TYPES OF PEOPLE AND HAVE THOSE

RESOURCES IS ACTUALLY HELD WITHIN THE POLITICAL BODY, THE TOWN BOARD.

IT'S LIMITED TO WHATEVER THAT TOWN BOARD DECIDES. SO FOR A SMALL

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COMMUNITY IN, YOU KNOW, UPSTATE NEW YORK WHERE THIS MAY SOUND

LIKE A GREAT IDEA TO TAKE LOCAL CONTROL, YOU KNOW, I'M DOING SOMETHING,

THERE'S A LOT OF NEWS ABOUT THINGS THAT AFFECT OUR QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE

NEWS. YOU KNOW, I CAN SEE WHERE SOMEBODY COULD GO DOWN THAT ROAD,

BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO MAKE THAT DECISION. AND IT'S -- IT'S

DECIDED BY THE TOWN BOARD.

BUT I WANT TO MOVE BEYOND THAT.

MR. BURDICK: SURE.

MR. SIMPSON: HOW WOULD A GOLF COURSE BE

IMPACTED IF -- BECAUSE A LOT OF GOLF COURSES ARE CLOSE TO OR MAY EVEN

HAVE WETLANDS ON THEIR PROPERTY, MAY BE CLOSE TO MAY BE CONNECTED TO

A DRINKING WATER SOURCE. I'M SURE THAT THERE'S MANY INSTANCES OF THAT IN

NEW YORK STATE. ARE THEY EXEMPT FROM THIS REGULATION?

MR. BURDICK: NO, THEY'RE NOT EXEMPT. AND, YOU

KNOW, I THINK YOU RAISED A GREAT POINT. YOU KNOW, IN MY DAYS AS

CHAIR OF THE WETLANDS CONTROL COMMISSION IN BEDFORD, WE HAD TWO

DIFFERENT GOLF COURSES THAT NEEDED PERMITS FROM THE WETLANDS CONTROL

COMMISSION. AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, THEY DID A SUPER JOB. THEY HAD

AN INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. THEY FULLY DISCLOSED WHAT

PESTICIDES THEY WOULD BE APPLYING, AND WE HAD NO PROBLEM GIVING

THEM A PERMIT. AND, IN FACT, THE WATER GOING IN CAME OUT CLEANER

GOING OUT. AND I -- I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I -- I THINK THAT THE GOLF

COURSES IN NEW YORK STATE DO A REALLY GOOD JOB, AND I DON'T THINK

THEY'D HAVE TROUBLE WITH THIS.

AND I DO WANT TO RETURN A MOMENT TO YOUR QUESTION

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

ABOUT UPSTATE COMMUNITIES. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY UPSTATE

COMMUNITIES ACTUALLY HAVE ADOPTED A LOCAL WETLANDS LAW. SO BEAR IN

MIND THAT THE PREREQUISITE IS THAT THEY FIRST HAVE TO HAVE ADOPTED --

THEY HAVE TO HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE 78 COMMUNITIES THAT HAS AN EXISTING

LOCAL LAW OR ORDINANCE PURSUANT TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

LAW. SO I'M NOT SURE THAT YOUR EXAMPLE WOULD HOLD ON THIS.

MR. SIMPSON: HOW WOULD IT AFFECT FORESTRY AND

AGRIBUSINESS? DO YOU THINK THAT THEY'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO, YOU KNOW,

GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCESSES THAT THEY GO THROUGH, OR DO YOU THINK

THAT THIS WILL AFFECT THEIR WAY OF DOING BUSINESS NOW WHERE THEY'RE -- I

MEAN, THESE ARE GREAT STEWARDS OF -- OF OUR -- OF THE PROPERTIES THAT THEY

-- THEY WORK ON AND THAT THEY MANAGE. ADDING ANOTHER LAYER OF

APPROVAL TO HOW THEY'RE GOING TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTY, IN MY MIND, IS

GONNA CREATE ANOTHER LAYER OF BURDEN REGULATION.

MR. BURDICK: WELL --

MR. SIMPSON: (INDISCERNIBLE) CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW

IS -- IS PERMITTED BY AND OVERSEEN BY DEC.

MR. BURDICK: WELL, I THINK IT WOULD APPLY TO

THEM UNLESS THEY FALL UNDER THE DEFINITION OF FARM OPERATIONS. AND,

YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE HARVESTING OF THE WOOD -- AND WE

CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT TOGETHER, IF YOU WISH, THE -- THE DEFINITION.

MR. SIMPSON: WELL, I -- I BROUGHT THIS UP BECAUSE,

YOU KNOW, THERE IS -- WE'VE RECEIVED LETTERS OF OPPOSITION FROM NEW

YORK STATE AGRIBUSINESS ASSOCIATION, THE EMPIRE STATE FOREST

PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION, AND BOTH OF THEM ARE CITING THE INCONSISTENT

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

PATCHWORK OF REGULATIONS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

THERE'S OVER 1,600 MUNICIPALITIES AND, YOU KNOW, MUNICIPAL

GOVERNMENTS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS.

(INDISCERNIBLE/CROSS-TALK)

MR. BURDICK: AS I MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THERE'S

78 THAT SO FAR HAVE. AND, YOU KNOW, AS BEST I KNOW, WE HAVEN'T HAD A

RUSH IN THE LAST FEW YEARS FOR ADDITIONAL MUNICIPALITIES TO ADOPT A LOCAL

WETLANDS LAW. BUT THEY WOULD BE SUBJECT TO IT. I DON'T KNOW THE EXTENT

TO WHICH THEY'D FIND THAT PRESENT WETLANDS LAWS ARE BURDENSOME. I

HAVEN'T HEARD THAT TO BE THE CASE.

MR. SIMPSON: WELL, I MEAN, THIS IS WHAT THEY SAY:

THIS WOULD DECENTRALIZE THE PESTICIDE APPLICATION RULES AND CREATE

CONFUSION AS TO WHAT APPLICATIONS ARE PERMITTED AND WHERE.

MR. BURDICK: I -- I DON'T DOUBT WHAT YOU'RE

READING. I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE AND APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT TO MY

ATTENTION.

MR. SIMPSON: OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THE

CONVERSATION, AND AT THIS POINT I'LL GO ON THE BILL.

MR. BURDICK: THANK YOU, MR. SIMPSON.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE BILL.

MR. SIMPSON: WELL, WE HAVE THIS BILL AGAIN AND

IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN UPDATED VERSION. IT'S BEEN CHANGED. BUT I AGAIN

HAVE VERY REAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE APPLICATION OF THIS LAW AND THE

IMPACTS AND HOW DILUTED -- THE DILUTED EFFECT THIS WILL HAVE ON DEC'S

OVERSIGHT, REGULATORY RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTROL THE USE OF PESTICIDES

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

THROUGH ITS APPLICATION PROCESS. I THINK IT -- I AGREE WITH THOSE THAT WE

RECEIVED OPPOSITION LETTERS OF. THIS WILL CREATE A PATCHWORK OF

REGULATIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS. AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN I TALKED ABOUT

THE PLANNING BOARDS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S -- THAT'S A POLITICAL BODY THAT --

AND I'M SURE THERE ARE QUALIFIED PEOPLE IN SOME MUNICIPALITIES. BUT AS

I SAID, THOSE RESOURCES ARE CONTROLLED BY THAT LEGISLATIVE BODY, AND NOT

EVERY COMMUNITY IS GONNA HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT, YOU KNOW, OTHERS

DO TO -- TO APPLY THIS. BUT THEY MAY VERY WELL FEEL THE PRESSURE OF

CONTROLLING AND HAVING STRONGER REGULATIONS THAN DEC BECAUSE THAT'S

JUST THE WAY POLITICS IS. ONE SIDE WANTS MORE REGULATION, ONE WANTS

LESS.

SO FOR THOSE REASONS I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO OPPOSE

THIS BILL AND I WOULD URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO CONSIDER THAT AS WELL.

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MS. WALSH.

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

SPONSOR YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MR. BURDICK: CERTAINLY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I JUST -- I JUST

WANTED TO ASK A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR MY OWN -- FOR MY OWN

KNOWLEDGE.

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

SO THIS -- THIS BILL SAYS -- OR DOES IT SAY, THAT IT DOESN'T

APPLY TO WHAT IS PUT ACTUALLY IN THE LAKE, RIGHT? IT HAS TO DO WITH THE

WETLANDS THAT MIGHT BE AROUND THE LAKE IN A PARTICULAR MUNICIPALITY,

SAY? LIKE I -- LIKE, MY HOMETOWN I HAVE A -- I HAVE A LAKE, BALLSTON

LAKE, THAT'S PART OF IT. THEY'VE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH, LIKE, MILFOIL

AND -- AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE IN -- INVASIVE THINGS THAT ARE INSIDE THE

LAKE. THIS DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH WHAT'S IN THE LAKE, IT ONLY

HAS TO DO WITH THE WETLANDS OR -- OR DOES IT?

MR. BURDICK: WELL, THE LAKE ITSELF LIKELY IS

DEFINED AS A WETLANDS [SIC] UNDER THE LOCAL LAW. IT COULD BE A RIVER, IT

COULD BE A STREAM. IT COULD BE A LAKE, IT COULD BE A POND. AND IT COULD

BE HYDRIC SOILS THAT SURROUND THOSE WATER BODIES.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. SO, THAT'S INTERESTING. SO THAT

-- THE LAKE ITSELF COULD BE DEFINED AS BEING A WETLAND THAT WOULD BE

COVERED BY THIS LEGISLATION, AND -- LIKE, WHEN I THINK OF A -- OF A

WETLAND, I THINK OF WELL, LIKE, PROBABLY A LOT OF OUR BACKYARDS RIGHT

NOW. LIKE, I THINK ABOUT, LIKE, YOU KNOW, STANDING WATER. I SEE

CATTAILS. I SEE CERTAIN TYPES OF VEGETATION AND GROWTH THAT WOULD

SUGGEST THAT THIS IS AN AREA THAT IS WET, YOU KNOW, A GOOD PART OF THE

YEAR. OR THAT IT HAS BEEN DELINEATED BY EITHER THE ARMY CORPS OF

ENGINEERS OR BY THE DEC. AND NOW IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S

-- THAT THERE ARE NEW -- AND I -- I USED TO KNOW THIS WHEN I USED TO DO,

YOU KNOW, LIKE, MUNICIPAL WORK BUT I GUESS I'VE FORGOTTEN THE MOST

RECENT CHANGES. BUT HASN'T THAT ALL CHANGED RECENTLY? LIKE, THE

DEFINITION OF WETLANDS AND HOW IT'S DELINEATED?

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

MR. BURDICK: NO, NOT REALLY.

MS. WALSH: OKAY.

MR. BURDICK: WHAT HAS CHANGED IS THE DEC'S

AUSPICES AND WHAT THEY HAVE CONTROL OVER, BECAUSE THE -- BEGINNING IN

JANUARY OF 2025, THE THRESHOLD WAS CHANGED TO REDUCE TO 7.4 ACRES.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE -- THE ACTUAL DEFINITION OF WETLANDS, I THINK THAT'S

BEEN PRETTY CONSTANT FOR QUITE SOME TIME. IT'S BEEN SOME 20, 25 YEARS

SINCE I WAS ON THE WETLANDS CONTROL COMMISSION, BUT THAT DEFINITION

HAD BEEN IN EFFECT SINCE THE LATE '70S.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. THAT'S --

MR. BURDICK: AND -- AND SO -- BUT IT REQUIRES

LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, THE DEFINITION AS IT IS IN LOCAL LAW, AND THEN IF

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SOIL SURROUNDING IT THEN SOIL SAMPLES ARE TAKEN IN

ORDER TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY'RE HYDRIC SOILS. AND THERE ARE ALSO

WETLAND PLANTS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, INDICATION THAT YOU HAVE HYDRIC

SOILS, BUT THEN A DELINEATION WOULD NEED TO BE MADE.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. SO IS IT -- IS THE -- IS THE REASON

FOR THIS BILL THAT YOU WANT TO ALLOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO BE ABLE TO

OVERRIDE WHAT DEC WOULD ALLOW -- IT'D BE -- AND HAVE THE TOWNS BE

MORE RESTRICTIVE OR LESS RESTRICTIVE, WHERE THEY COULD JUST MAKE UP THEIR

MIND WHETHER THEY WANT TO DO ONE OR THE OTHER? IS IT -- IS IT -- CAN THEY

ONLY BE MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN WHAT DEC WOULD BE?

MR. BURDICK: WELL, I THINK YOU ASK A GREAT

QUESTION. AND I'LL GIVE YOU THE CONVERSATION THAT I HAD WITH ONE OF THE

MUNICIPALITIES THAT I REPRESENT IN WHICH THE WETLANDS COMMISSIONER

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

THAT HAD BEEN A COMMISSIONER FOR 25 YEARS SAID THAT IN ALL HIS 25 YEARS,

HE HAS NEVER SEEN THE DEC COME OUT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE CONDITIONS,

THE SITE PERTAINING TO A REQUEST FOR THE APPLICATION OF PESTICIDES AS

APPROVED BY THE DEC. AND I'VE LOOKED AT THE APPLICATION ITSELF. ALL

YOU HAVE TO DO IS FILL OUT A FORM THAT'S -- GIVES THE NUMBER OF YOUR

CERTIFICATION AS A COMMERCIAL APPLICATOR. NOTHING TO EXPLAIN WHY IT'S

NEEDED OR WHETHER THERE ARE ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF DEALING WITH THE ISSUE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S ALGAE BLOOMS OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE,

NOTHING TO THAT EFFECT. AND SO IT CREATES A LOT OF FRUSTRATION ON THE PART

OF THOSE THAT ARE TRYING TO KEEP OUR WATERS SAFE. BECAUSE ONE OF THE

KEY POINTS OF WETLANDS IS IT HELPS TO PURIFY WATER AND IT HELPS TO TAKE

OUT CONTAMINANTS THAT ARE IN IT, SUCH THAT THE WATER WILL BE CLEANER

WHEN THEY GO INTO THE GROUNDWATER OR THE SURFACE WATER OR INTO OUR

PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. SO FROM THE STORY THAT YOU JUST

GAVE, THE -- I -- THE CON -- WHAT I DREW FROM THAT WAS THAT THE DEC

MAYBE DOESN'T HAVE, LIKE, THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND THAT'S BEING

RESPONSIVE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TO REQUEST THAT THEY'RE MORE STAYING IN

THEIR -- IN THEIR -- THE FOUR WALLS OF THEIR AGENCIES AND NOT REALLY GETTING

OUT. IS THAT -- IS THAT WHAT THE CONCERN IS IN THAT THE -- THE LOCALS WILL

BECAUSE THEY'RE RIGHT THERE?

MR. BURDICK: I -- I THINK YOU PUT YOUR FINGER ON

IT.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. I'M JUST TRYING TO --

MR. BURDICK: I WILL SAY --

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

MS. WALSH: I'M JUST ASKING.

MR. BURDICK: I -- I DON'T -- I DON'T MEAN TO

DISPARAGE THE DEC.

MS. WALSH: YEAH, NO, I KNOW.

MR. BURDICK: I THINK THEY DO A GREAT JOB. BUT,

YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE, SO-TO-SPEAK, A -- A BIG WATERFRONT TO COVER AND

LIMITED RESOURCES IN TERMS OF THEIR SCIENTISTS, IN TERMS OF THE FOLKS THAT

ARE IN THE FIELD. AND THEY CAN'T DO IT ALL.

MS. WALSH: YEAH.

MR. BURDICK: AND I'M SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE

ME YOU ALSO HAVE A LOT OF REGARD FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND FOR WHAT

GOOD THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO FOR THOSE WHOM THEY REPRESENT.

MS. WALSH: OH, I DO. I ALSO HAVE A LOT OF REGARD

FOR, LIKE, BALLSTON LAKE THAT I MENTIONED TO YOU EARLIER. THEY HAVE A

SEPARATE NONGOVERNMENTAL GROUP OF -- LIKE A FRIENDS OF THE LAKE KIND

OF GROUP. IT'S CALLED BLIA, THE BALLSTON LAKE IMPROVEMENT

ASSOCIATION, AND THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE REALLY THE -- THE STEWARDS,

REALLY, OF THE LAKE. THEY -- THEY DO THEIR OWN WATER TESTING, THEIR WATER

QUALITY. THEY'RE CONSTANTLY MONITORING THE LAKE TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU

KNOW, THEY'RE NOT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ZEBRA MUSSELS COMING IN OR

THEY'RE NOT HAVING, YOU KNOW, AN UNDUE AMOUNT OF MILFOIL.

SO UNDER THIS LEGISLATION, IF A MUNICIPALITY -- AND FROM

MY UNDERSTANDING THIS IS OPTIONAL -- A MUNICIPALITY MAY OPT TO DO THIS

OR MAY OPT NOT TO DO IT. BUT IF THEY DO OPT TO DO IT AND THEY WANT TO

HAVE IT -- CREATE A LOCAL LAW, MAY THEY DELEGATE ANY DECISION-MAKING TO

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

A GROUP LIKE BLIA, A GROUP THAT -- THIS BALLSTON LAKE IMPROVEMENT

ASSOCIATION THAT'S NOT GOVERNMENTAL, BUT -- AND THEY'RE NOT, LIKE, PAID

EXPERTS OR ANYTHING. BUT THEY'RE PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON THE LAKE. SOME

HAVE GOTTEN VERY GOOD AT UNDERSTANDING THE SCIENCE AND THE TESTING.

CAN -- CAN -- WHAT HAPPENS TO A GROUP LIKE THAT? DO THEY HAVE TO THEN

JUST FEED THEIR THOUGHTS THROUGH THE TOWN, OR MAY THEY BE -- CONTINUE

TO BE THE STEWARDS OF THE LAKE AND MAKE -- HELP MAKE DECISIONS LIKE

THIS?

MR. BURDICK: NO, I -- I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS

IS TO GIVE FLEXIBILITY TO THE MUNICIPALITY. AGAIN, THIS IS -- AS YOU

POINTED OUT YOURSELF, THIS IS A "MAY", NOT A "SHALL" FOR LOCAL OPTION, THAT

IF THEY CHOOSE TO DO IT THEN THEY CAN REGULATE IT AS SUCH. AND WHAT I

WOULD ANTICIPATE IN THE EXAMPLE THAT YOU PROVIDED IS THAT THE

ASSOCIATION WOULD COME BEFORE THE -- THE COMMISSION OR THE PLANNING

BOARD, DEPENDING UPON WHAT THE AUTHORITY IS THAT ISSUES A WETLANDS

PERMIT, AND SAY, LOOK, THIS IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING. THESE ARE THE

PESTICIDES THAT WE HAVE BEEN APPLYING, AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR APPROVAL

BECAUSE WE THINK IT'S BEEN GOING WELL AND IT HASN'T RESULTED IN

DEGRADATION OF WATER QUALITY.

MS. WALSH: AND THEY CAN'T -- AND -- AND -- IS IT --

IS IT ALSO THE IDEA THAT THEY CAN'T GET AN ANSWER OUT OF DEC AND SO

THEY'RE APPEALING TO THE TOWN?

MR. BURDICK: NO, I THINK THEY -- I THINK THEY

COULD.

MS. WALSH: YEAH.

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MR. BURDICK: AND -- AND PART OF MY PROBLEM IS

THAT THE DEC REVIEW PROCESS IS BASICALLY --

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: COLLEAGUES, CAN WE

HAVE SOME QUIET IN THE CHAMBER, PLEASE? THANK YOU.

MR. BURDICK: AS I WAS EXPLAINING, THE -- THE DEC

REVIEW PROCESS IS BASICALLY NONEXISTENT, TO BE VERY CANDID ABOUT IT. IT'S

FILLING OUT A FORM THAT YOU'VE GOT YOUR PERMIT, YOUR CERTIFICATION

NUMBER AS AN APPLICATOR, AND THAT'S ABOUT IT. AND THEN IF IT CHECKS OUT

THEY'LL LOOK AT A DATABASE TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT LICENSE IS

CURRENT AND SO FORTH, AND THAT THE PESTICIDE THAT'S LISTED IS ONE THAT'S

BEEN APPROVED. THAT'S IT. AND SO THAT'S MY CONCERN, IS THAT I THINK WE

HAD A VOID HERE. THAT WE HAVE A GAP HERE. AND IT'S TO PROVIDE THE

OPPORTUNITY, AGAIN, AT THE LOCAL OPTION IF A LOCALITY WANTS TO GO FURTHER.

AND IF I WOULD HAZARD TO GUESS THERE ARE PROBABLY NOT TOO MANY

MUNICIPALITIES IN YOUR OWN DISTRICT THAT HAVE ADOPTED LOCAL WETLAND

LAWS. BUT IF THEY DID, THEN THEY STILL HAVE THE OPTION WHETHER OR NOT

THEY WANNA TAKE THIS FURTHER STEP.

MS. WALSH: OKAY.

I GUESS THE LAST QUESTION I'VE GOT, AND I APOLOGIZE IF

YOU'VE ALREADY TRIED TO ANSWER THIS, BUT MAYBE IT JUST HASN'T SUNK IN FOR

ME YET. IF LET'S SAY THE DEC SAYS, YOU KNOW, HERE'S THE LIST OF THINGS

THAT WE SAY CAN BE APPLIED AS FAR AS PESTICIDES IN THESE WETLAND AREAS.

BUT COULD A -- COULD A TOWN OR LOCALITY THAT'S ADOPTED THEIR OWN RULES

SAY WE DISAGREE WITH WHAT THE DEC IS SAYING AND WE WILL ALLOW YOU TO

APPLY THIS PRODUCT ON YOUR WETLANDS? COULD THEY GO AGAINST WHAT THE

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

DEC HAS SAID?

MR. BURDICK: SO, WHERE YOU HAVE AN INSTANCE --

LET'S -- AND -- AND I THINK THAT THE WAY IN WHICH WE CAN LOOK AT IT IS IF

YOU HAVE A LOCAL WETLANDS THAT'S ALSO WITHIN A STATE WETLANDS, AND SO

YOU HAVE BOTH LOCAL LAW AND STATE LAW, AND WHAT HAPPENS IS THE STRICTER

OF THE TWO WOULD APPLY. THAT SAID, THE LOCALITY CANNOT THEN APPROVE

THE APPLICATION THAT THE DEC WOULD NOT APPROVE.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. SO THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTION.

SO BASICALLY THE -- WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT THE LOCALITY THAT ADOPTS

THESE RULES CAN DO SOMETHING THAT'S MORE RESTRICTIVE, BUT THEY CAN'T --

MR. BURDICK: NO, NO, NO.

MS. WALSH: OH, I APOLOGIZE.

MR. BURDICK: THE -- THE LOCALITY CAN -- CAN BE

MORE RESTRICTIVE.

MS. WALSH: THAT'S WHAT I -- I -- THAT'S WHAT I WAS

JUST TRYING TO SAY.

MR. BURDICK: YEAH, NO, THAT'S RIGHT. THAT IS

CORRECT.

MS. WALSH: THEY CAN BE MORE RESTRICTIVE, NOT LESS.

MR. BURDICK: THAT'S CORRECT.

MS. WALSH: SO IN OTHER WORDS, THEY -- YEAH, OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. BURDICK.

MR. BURDICK: CERTAINLY.

MS. WALSH: I APPRECIATE YOUR ANSWERS.

MADAM SPEAKER, ON THE BILL.

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE BILL.

MS. WALSH: SO I THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS INTERESTING,

AND I APPRECIATE THE ANSWERS THAT WERE GIVEN. I'M GLAD THAT THE ANSWER

TO MY LAST QUESTION WAS WHAT IT WAS BECAUSE I WOULDN'T -- I -- I THINK

THAT KNOWING THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS OPTIONAL WITH EACH LOCALITY.

I DON'T -- IN THE AREA THAT I REPRESENT, I DON'T REALLY SEE THIS BEING

SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE APPEALING TO MANY OF THE TOWNS OR LOCALITIES

THAT I REPRESENT. I MEAN, I RECENTLY STEPPED AWAY FROM BEING TOWN

ATTORNEY FOR A TOWN THAT IS DEFINITELY ALONG THE SHORELINE OF A LAKE, BUT

WOULD NOT AT ALL EVER HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL OR RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO

GO THROUGH -- EVEN ADOPTING A LOCAL LAW IS A HEAVY LIFT FOR A TOWN THAT'S

THIS SMALL, LET ALONE HIRING THE EXPERTS THAT THEY WOULD NEED IN ORDER TO

MAKE THESE DETERMINATIONS. BUT THERE MAY BE SOME TOWNS THAT THEY

WOULD BE INTERESTED IN.

AND -- OH, I'M SO SORRY. I'M -- I'M ON THE BILL. I DIDN'T

KNOW IF YOU WERE JUST STRETCHING, BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS

FOR YOU. I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO HAVE TO BE STANDING THROUGH THAT.

SO, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW THAT -- I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT

IT'S OPTIONAL. I THINK THAT IT IS GOOD THAT THE LOCALITIES THAT DO ADOPT THIS

LOCAL LAW COULD NOT CONTRADICT WHAT THE DEC WOULD -- WOULD ALLOW.

THEY COULD BE MORE RESTRICTIVE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, NOT LESS RESTRICTIVE.

SO I'M GONNA HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THIS ONE. IN THE PAST

I VOTED AGAINST IT, LARGELY BASED UPON THE OPPOSITION THAT'S BEEN

MOUNTED, WHICH WAS MENTIONED BY THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER, INCLUDING THE

FARM BUREAU. I MEAN, THE -- THE FARM BUREAU SAYS THAT, THIS

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

EXEMPTION COVERING COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE IS UNDEFINED BY THIS

LEGISLATION OR IN STATUTE GENERALLY. THIS BILL IS TOO VAGUE AND FAILS TO

CONTEXTUALIZE WHAT WILL FALL UNDER THIS -- UNDER THIS EXEMPTION. SO

THERE COULD BE QUESTIONS THAT OTHERS HAVE ABOUT THIS BILL THAT ARE

BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I ASKED. BUT I DO UNDERSTAND. I

CAN APPRECIATE WHY THE SPONSOR WOULD WANT TO CRAFT SOMETHING. I JUST

-- I'VE GOT TO REFLECT UPON WHETHER I THINK THAT THE BILL IS IN A -- IN A

FORM RIGHT NOW THAT I COULD SUPPORT. BUT I DO APPRECIATE HIS ANSWERS

TO THE QUESTIONS THAT I'VE GOT.

THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MR. MANKTELOW.

MR. MANKTELOW: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

WOULD THE SPONSOR YIELD FOR A FEW QUESTIONS?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MR. BURDICK: OF COURSE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MR. MANKTELOW: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

THANK YOU, MR. BURDICK.

JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS. YOU DID SAY THAT A

MUNICIPALITY COULD BE MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN DEC; IS THAT CORRECT?

MR. BURDICK: CORRECT.

MR. MANKTELOW: BUT WHY WOULD THEY WANT TO

BE MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN DEC?

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

MR. BURDICK: WELL, BECAUSE THEY MAY FEEL THAT

THE APPLICATION OF THE PESTICIDES WOULD BE HARMFUL TO THE WATER SYSTEM,

TO THE PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES. AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THIS ONLY APPLIES

WHERE THERE'S A HYDROLOGICAL CONNECTION TO A PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY.

MR. MANKTELOW: AND -- AND HOW IS THAT

CONNECTION -- HOW DOES THAT CONNECTION HAPPEN?

MR. BURDICK: WELL, YOU KNOW, JUST AS, YOU KNOW,

WE WERE DEBATING LAST WEEK, YOU KNOW, THE BILL WITH RESPECT TO

FRACKING WASTEWATER. YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE RUNOFF OF HARMFUL TOXIC

CHEMICALS THAT ARE WITHIN THAT WASTEWATER. HERE, YOU KNOW THAT YOU

HAVE PESTICIDES WHICH, BY THEIR DEFINITION, ARE INTENDED TO KILL INSECTS,

KILL PESTS. AND SO I DON'T THINK WE WANT THAT IN OUR DRINKING WATER IF

WE CAN AVOID IT. AND SO A MUNICIPALITY MAY FEEL, GEE, YOU KNOW, WE

HAVE SOME PRETTY SENSITIVE PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES. AND IT'S -- YOU

KNOW, YOU TAKE AREAS THROUGHOUT THE STATE WHICH ARE VERY CLOSE TO

RESERVOIRS AND PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES, AND I THINK WE NEED TO DO

EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT THEM, GIVEN THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT

WE, YOU KNOW, ALLOCATE EVERY YEAR IN ORDER TO TAKE OUT SUCH HARMFUL

SUBSTANCES AS PFAS.

MR. MANKTELOW: ABSOLUTELY.

SO ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE, MR. BURDICK, IS YOU WERE

-- YOU WERE INVOLVED IN A TOWN BOARD, RIGHT, AS A TOWN SUPERVISOR, AS --

AS WAS I, AND WE KNOW THE MAKEUPS OF THOSE BOARDS CONSTANTLY

CHANGE. SO WITH THE CHANGING OF THE BOARDS, WHETHER WE LIKE THE

CHANGES OR NOT WE STILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THEM. WILL THERE BE ANY

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REQUIRED TRAINING FOR MUNICIPAL BOARDS TO DO PRIOR TO ADOPTING THIS?

MR. BURDICK: YOU KNOW, IT DEPENDS WHICH ENTITY

IS -- IS -- DUE -- IS -- IS CHARGED WITH ADMINISTERING IT. PLANNING BOARDS,

FOR EXAMPLE, DO, BY LAW, HAVE TO HAVE -- EVERY MEMBER HAS TO HAVE

CONTINUING EDUCATION.

MR. MANKTELOW: RIGHT. BUT I'M TALKING TOWN

BOARDS OR VILLAGE BOARDS OR COUNTY BOARDS, JUST STRICTLY WITH THE

ADOPTION OF THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION. BECAUSE THE PLANNING BOARDS --

MR. BURDICK: WELL, IT -- LOOK, IT COMES DOWN TO

THE ENTITY THAT DOES, YOU KNOW, THE -- THE ADMINISTRATION OF THIS THAT

ACTUALLY WOULD BE ISSUING THE PERMIT. AND SO, I -- I DON'T KNOW ABOUT

THE TOWN THAT YOU WERE INVOLVED IN, BUT, YOU KNOW, OUR PLANNING BOARD

MEMBERS AND THE TOWN BOARD TOOK IT VERY SERIOUSLY THAT EVERY MEMBER

OF THE PLANNING BOARD WOULD UNDERGO THE TRAINING THAT THEY'RE REQUIRED

TO UNDERGO UNDER LAW. MOST OF THE -- THE WETLANDS LAWS ARE

ADMINISTERED BY PLANNING BOARDS, NOT BY SEPARATE WETLANDS

COMMISSIONS. THERE ARE ONLY A FEW, IN MY EXPERIENCE, THAT HAVE

SEPARATE AUTHORITIES TO ISSUE THOSE WETLANDS PERMITS. AND SO I THINK

THAT IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT THE GREAT MAJORITY OF THE 78 MUNICIPALITIES THAT

HAVE LOCAL WETLANDS LAWS DO IT THROUGH THEIR PLANNING BOARD, AND THE

PLANNING BOARDS ARE REQUIRED TO UNDERGO TRAINING.

MR. MANKTELOW: OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I'VE TALKED TO

A FEW OF THOSE PLANNING BOARDS AND A FEW TOWN BOARDS AND THE VILLAGE

BOARD, AND THERE'S NO TRAINING OUTLINED FOR THIS SPECIFIC WORK THAT

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AT THIS TIME. I'D MUCH RATHER SEE THAT TRAINING

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

MOVE FORWARD. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT I DON'T SEE THAT.

SO MY NEXT QUESTION IS, ARE THERE ANY EXEMPTIONS FOR

FARMLAND?

MR. BURDICK: THERE IS, AS I JUST MENTIONED. FARM

OPERATIONS, THAT'S ONE OF THE CHANGES THAT WE MADE. AND I DO WISH TO

SAY THAT IT WAS STATED BEFORE THAT THE FARM BUREAU HAD STATED THAT

THERE'S NO DEFINITION. AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I THINK THE FARM

BUREAU HAD TAKEN THEIR LETTER FROM LAST YEAR AND SIMPLY CHANGED THE

DATE. BECAUSE THERE IS A DEFINITION, AND THAT DEFINITION WAS DIRECTLY IN

RESPONSE TO COMMENTS WHICH THE MINORITY HAD MADE LAST YEAR, AND

ALSO THAT THE FARM BUREAU HAD MADE. AND SO AS I MENTIONED

PREVIOUSLY, IT TIES DIRECTLY INTO THE DEFINITION OF FARM OPERATIONS UNDER

THE AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS LAW.

MR. MANKTELOW: SO ANY -- SO ANY FARMLAND IS

EXEMPT, THEN, FROM THIS?

MR. BURDICK: FARM OPERATIONS ARE EXEMPT.

THAT'S CORRECT. UNDER THAT DEFINITION SO THAT WE'RE NOT CREATING A NEW

DEFINITION, WE'RE USING AN EXISTING DEFINITION.

MR. MANKTELOW: OKAY.

SO MY NEXT QUESTION IS, HOW MANY MUNICIPALITIES

HAVE YOU TALKED TO ABOUT WANTING TO DO THIS THAT ARE NOT OF THE 78?

MR. BURDICK: OH, YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN

CONTACTED BY 20, 30 DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES --

MR. MANKTELOW: OKAY.

MR. BURDICK: -- THAT -- THAT HAVE EXPRESSED AN

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

INTEREST AND SUPPORT FOR THIS.

MR. MANKTELOW: I -- I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO

SHARE THAT WITH ME BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO TALK TO THEM AND SEE WHERE THEY

ARE.

MR. BURDICK: IT -- IT'S A -- ACTUALLY, I -- I THINK IT

MIGHT HAVE BEEN SENT AROUND LAST YEAR, BUT I'LL SEE IF I CAN GET A HOLD OF

IT, SURE.

MR. MANKTELOW: ALL RIGHT. MR. BURDICK, I

APPRECIATE YOUR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS THIS EVENING, AND MUCH

APPRECIATE IT. AND I LIKE CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THE BILL. SOME OF THEM I --

I JUST THINK WE NEED TO TWEAK YET. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

MR. BURDICK: YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

MR. MANKTELOW: MADAM SPEAKER, ON THE BILL.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE BILL.

MR. MANKTELOW: SO, MY CONCERN HERE IS BEING

A FORMER TOWN SUPERVISOR AND TOWN BOARD MEMBER, AS I STATED, BOARDS

CHANGE. AND A LOT OF THE FARMLAND IN MY DISTRICT, IT'S CALLED BLACK DIRT,

MUCK. IT'S A LOT OF THE SOFTER GROUND, IT'S GROUND THAT'S ALWAYS ADJACENT

TO A WETLAND OR USUALLY IS. LOTS AND LOTS OF LITTLE DITCHES AND STREAMS

AND LITTLE EVEN BABY RIVERS THAT CONNECT ALL THIS TOGETHER. MY CONCERN

HERE IS WE GET AN OVERLY AMBITIOUS TOWN BOARD OR VILLAGE BOARD THAT

COMES IN AND PUTS THOSE RESTRICTIONS ON. WE ALWAYS KNOW THAT THOSE

THINGS CAN BE CHANGED, AND WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FARMERS

HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO PROVIDE A SAFE FOOD

PRODUCT FOR NEW YORK STATE AND AS WELL AS OUR COUNTRY. THAT'S WHY I

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

ASKED THE QUESTIONS AND JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CONCERN. IF I COULD SEE SOME

TRAINING IN THERE FOR THE TOWNS AND THE PLANNING BOARDS THAT WOULD HELP

THEM WITH THIS, I -- I WOULD BE MORE APT TO VOTE FOR IT AT THIS TIME.

RIGHT NOW I CANNOT.

BUT, MADAM SPEAKER, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO

SAY A FEW THINGS ABOUT THIS. I'M ASKING EVERYBODY, JUST CONSIDER THIS:

CONSIDER OUR FARMERS AND WHAT THEY'RE ALWAYS UP AGAINST, AND REALLY

THINK ABOUT THIS. WE CAN SLOW THE PROCESS DOWN, MAKE A CHANGE, PUT

SOMETHING IN THERE. A LITTLE BIT OF A CHANGE HAS ALREADY HAPPENED, BUT

I'D LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE MORE.

SO, MADAM SPEAKER, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO

COMMENT. MR. BURDICK, THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY QUESTIONS. THANK

YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MR. DIPIETRO.

MR. DIPIETRO: I'M GOOD.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 90TH

DAY.

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

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

OF LEGISLATION. BUT IF THERE ARE MEMBERS THAT WISH TO VOTE YES, THEY

MAY DO SO NOW AT THEIR SEATS. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER. THE MAJORITY CONFERENCE IS GONNA BE IN FAVOR OF THIS

ENVIRONMENTAL-FRIENDLY PIECE OF LEGISLATION; HOWEVER, THERE MAY BE A

FEW THAT WOULD DESIRE TO BE AN EXCEPTION. THEY SHOULD FEEL FREE TO DO

SO AT THEIR SEATS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

THE CLERK WILL RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

MR. BURDICK TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. BURDICK: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. I DO

WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE OVER THE

LAST FEW YEARS BY THE MINORITY, YOU KNOW, ARE TAKEN TO HEART AND IT'S

THE REASON WHY THIS BILL HAS CHANGED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. AND I

REALLY DO FEEL THAT IT PROVIDES MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY. IT ALSO PROVIDES FOR

THE PROTECTION OF OUR WATER SUPPLIES, WHICH IS REALLY AT THE ROOT HERE.

THAT'S WHY IT WAS DEFINED TO ONLY PROVIDE FOR THOSE WETLANDS THAT ARE

HYDROLOGICALLY-CONNECTED TO PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES. BUT ALSO, IT CARVES

OUT VERY SIGNIFICANT EXEMPTIONS. AND AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THERE IS

THE DEFINITION OF FARM OPERATIONS. AND YOU MIGHT WANT TO EXPLAIN THAT

TO THE FARM BUREAU THAT THEY MIGHT WANT TO UPDATE THEIR LETTER.

BECAUSE THAT CAME ABOUT FROM THE DISCUSSIONS LAST YEAR; AGAIN, VERY

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WELL-TAKEN POINTS THAT WERE MADE BY THE MINORITY AND THE FARM

BUREAU AT THAT TIME.

THIS BILL IS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. THIS BILL TRULY IS ALSO

TO HELP OUR TAXPAYERS SO THEY DON'T HAVE THE ENORMOUS BURDEN THAT

WOULD COME FOR FURTHER TOXIC CHEMICALS BEING REMOVED FROM OUR WATER

SUPPLY.

AND I WANT TO THANK THE SPEAKER. I ALSO WANT TO THANK

THE CHAIR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION COMMITTEE FOR THE

SUPPORT FOR THIS LEGISLATION, AND I VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. BURDICK 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

CAN CONTINUE OUR FLOOR WORK. SO WE'RE GONNA GO TO RULES REPORT NO.

434 BY MR. JACOBSON, RULES REPORT NO. 448 BY MS. HUNTER, AND

CALENDAR NO. 84 BY MS. ROSENTHAL. IN THAT ORDER. AND THEN WE WILL

BE -- FINISH OUR FLOOR WORK FOR TONIGHT. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

PAGE 16, RULES REPORT NO. 434, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A05031-A, RULES

REPORT NO. 434, JACOBSON, LUCAS, HYNDMAN, TAYLOR, SANTABARBARA,

GLICK, DILAN, SAYEGH, SEPTIMO, DAVILA, STECK, REYES, BURDICK,

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

SEAWRIGHT. AN ACT TO AMEND THE BANKING LAW, IN RELATION TO

ESTABLISHING CRITERIA FOR THE CLOSURE OF BANKING ACCOUNTS IN THE STATE OF

NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: AN EXPLANATION HAS

BEEN REQUESTED.

MR. JACOBSON.

MR. JACOBSON: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

THIS BILL WOULD REQUIRE BANKS TO GIVE 60 DAYS' NOTICE BEFORE CLOSING AN

ACCOUNT, AND ALSO GIVE AN EXPLANATION FOR WHY THE ACCOUNT IS BEING

CLOSED. (PROBLEMS WITH MIC.) LET ME -- I'LL START OVER. THIS BILL WILL

REQUIRE BANKS TO GIVE A 60 DAYS' NOTICE BEFORE CLOSING AN ACCOUNT, AND

ALSO PROVIDE THE REASON FOR THE ACCOUNT -- FOR THE ACCOUNT BEING CLOSED.

ALSO, WITHIN 60 DAYS OF THE ACCOUNT BEING CLOSED, THE OUTSTANDING

FUNDS MUST BE RETURNED TO THE ACCOUNTHOLDER. THIS BILL WILL NOT

CONFLICT NOR PREEMPT ANY REQUIREMENTS BY FEDERAL LAW.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. BOLOGNA.

MR. BOLOGNA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM

SPEAKER. WOULD THE SPONSOR YIELD FOR A FEW QUESTIONS?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MR. JACOBSON: YES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MR. BOLOGNA: SO, I -- I THINK THAT WE CAN BOTH

AGREE THAT CLOSING AN ACCOUNT UNNECESSARILY OR WITHOUT JUSTIFICATION IS

DEFINITELY A WORTHY INCONVENIENCE TO ERADICATE. WOULD YOU CONCUR

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WITH THAT?

MR. JACOBSON: SAY THAT AGAIN, PLEASE? I'M SORRY.

BE INSUFFICIENT FOR WHAT?

MR. BOLOGNA: I -- I WOULD SAY THAT -- THAT YOU

AND I COULD BOTH AGREE THAT UNNECESSARILY, OR WITHOUT JUSTIFICATION,

CLOSING AN ACCOUNT IS A WORTHY THING TO ERADICATE.

MR. JACOBSON: YES, OF COURSE. BECAUSE WHAT

HAPPENS WHEN AN ACCOUNT IS CLOSED THAT YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT, YOU

BOUNCE CHECKS.

MR. BOLOGNA: YUP.

MR. JACOBSON: AND IF YOU HAVE A BUSINESS,

YOU'RE BOUNCING CHECKS ON YOUR EMPLOYEES, YOUR SUPPLIERS, AND THEN

THERE'S -- THEN THERE'S A RIPPLE EFFECT.

MR. BOLOGNA: ARE -- ARE THERE ANY SITUATIONS,

THOUGH, WHERE CLOSING AN ACCOUNT COULD ACTUALLY BE BENEFICIAL OR -- OR

IN THE INTEREST OF, YOU KNOW, CRIMINAL JUSTICE OR NATIONAL SECURITY? ARE

THOSE -- ARE THERE SITUATIONS WHERE THAT WOULD OCCUR?

MR. JACOBSON: THE -- IN THE INTEREST OF WHOM?

MR. BOLOGNA: I MEAN, ANY SITUATION. IS THERE ANY

SITUATION WHICH YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT A BANK CLOSING AN ACCOUNT WOULD

BE IN THE INTEREST OF WHETHER IT'S THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, THE PUBLIC

GOOD? IS THERE ANY SITUATION THAT YOU COULD IMAGINE THAT -- THAT CLOSING

AN ACCOUNT WITHOUT 60 DAYS NOTICE WOULD BE NECESSARY?

MR. JACOBSON: WELL, THERE ARE FEDERAL LAWS

CONCERNING MONEY LAUNDERING AND THINGS OF THAT SORT. BUT I THINK

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ANYONE THAT OWNS AN ACCOUNT, IS USING AN ACCOUNT, DOES NOT WANT THE

ACCOUNT CLOSED WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. AND THE REASON YOU WANT TO HAVE

SOME PRIOR NOTICE IS SO YOU CAN MAKE ARRANGEMENTS WITH ANOTHER

BANKING INSTITUTION.

MR. BOLOGNA: THANK YOU.

SO READING THE JUSTIFICATION OF THE ACTUAL TEXT, IT SAID --

IT SUGGESTS THAT BANK ARE CLOSING ACCOUNTS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. SO

THIS IS, TO ME, IMPLYING THAT THE BANKS ARE RANDOMLY AND MALICIOUSLY

CLOSING ACCOUNTS. BUT WOULD IT NOT BE IN THE INTEREST OF THE FINANCIAL

INSTITUTION TO KEEP THE ACCOUNTS OPEN? I MEAN, ISN'T THAT HOW BANKS,

YOU KNOW, REMAIN PROFITABLE?

MR. JACOBSON: WELL, YOU WOULD THINK SO, BUT

THAT'S NOT CASE IN THE REAL WORLD. PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES ARE HAVING

THEIR ACCOUNTS CLOSED. IT HAPPENED TO ONE OF MY STAFFERS, THAT ALL -- THAT

HIS ACCOUNT WAS CLOSED, AND HE CALLED AND THEY SAID, OH, WE DIDN'T

KNOW THAT. AND THEY SAID, WOULD YOU -- THEY FINALLY REOPENED IT. BUT

IF HE HAD NOT CAUGHT IT AND IF HE HAD NOT ACTED SOON ENOUGH, HE WOULD

HAVE BEEN BANKING -- HE WOULD HAVE BEEN BOUNCING CHECKS FOR HIS

RENT, OTHER EXPENSES.

MR. BOLOGNA: I UNDERSTAND THAT. IN -- IN -- IN A

LOT OF CASES IN KIND OF TALKING WITH INSTITUTIONS, WHETHER IT'S CREDIT

UNIONS OR BANKS, THERE'S ACTUALLY A REALLY GOOD ARTICLE BY THE BANKING

POLICY INSTITUTE AND IT'S ACTUALLY ENTITLED, "THE TRUTH ABOUT BANKING

CLOSURES." AND WHAT IT BASICALLY SAID WAS -- THERE'S A QUESTION AT THE

END OF THIS. WHAT IT BASICALLY SAID WAS THAT THE BANKING SECURITY ACT

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REQUIRES BANKS TO FILE SARS, WHICH IS SUSPICION ACTIVITY REPORTS, AND

REGULATORS AND EXAMINERS ACTUALLY EXPECT BANKS TO CLOSE ACCOUNTS AFTER

MULTIPLE SARS ARE FILED. SO, I GUESS, DO YOU CONSIDER THOSE AS PART OF

THE CLOSING ACCOUNTS FOR NO APPARENT -- I MEAN, WOULD -- WOULD THAT BE

A JUSTIFICATION ENOUGH IN YOUR MIND TO CLOSE AN ACCOUNT?

MR. JACOBSON: NO. I MEAN, IT -- THIS BILL DOES NOT

PREEMPT ANY FEDERAL LAWS. ALL RIGHT? AND SO I DON'T SEE HOW THAT

WOULD APPLY OR HOW THIS BILL CAUSES ANY PROBLEMS.

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY.

I'M GONNA SKIP, ACTUALLY, SOME OF MY QUESTIONS HERE

BECAUSE WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FEDERAL ISSUES -- HOLD ON ONE SECOND

HERE. DO YOU ACTUALLY -- OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD -- I KNOW I'M KIND OF

PUTTING YOU ON THE SPOT -- DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY FEDERAL

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THERE ARE THAT ACTUALLY HAVE JURISDICTION OVER THE

BANKS? ROUNDABOUT NUMBER-ISH?

MR. JACOBSON: PROBABLY -- I'M SURE YOU'RE GONNA

TELL ME.

MR. BOLOGNA: YEAH, I MEAN, IT -- IT'S ABOUT --

MR. JACOBSON: SO WHY DON'T YOU TELL ME? I THINK

THERE'S AROUND SIX.

MR. BOLOGNA: YEAH, IT -- IT'S -- ACTUALLY, I GOT -- I

GOT TEN JUST OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. SO I'LL GIVE YOU A COUPLE EXAMPLES.

SO -- AND I -- I THINK THAT I -- I SEE WHERE YOU'RE GOING WITH THIS, BUT I

JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I -- I UNDERSTAND THIS. SO IF THE FBI, FDIC OR

TREASURY DEPARTMENT GOES INTO A BANK WITH A SUBPOENA, THE BANK CAN

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

CLOSE AN ACCOUNT IMMEDIATELY AND NOT WAIT 60 DAYS, CORRECT?

MR. JACOBSON: IF -- IF THE FEDERAL LAW SAYS SO,

YES.

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY. SO IF THE FBI, FDIC OR

TREASURY DEPARTMENT SUSPECTS FRAUD, SCAMS, MONEY LAUNDERING, RICO,

GOD FORBID TERRORISM, THAT IS A SITUATION WHERE A BANK DOES NOT HAVE TO

COMPLY WITH THIS BILL, CORRECT?

MR. JACOBSON: NO. THEY WOULD HAVE TO COMPLY,

AS THEY HAVE TO DO ALL THE TIME, WITH THE FEDERAL LAW.

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY. WELL, WHAT --

MR. JACOBSON: THIS -- SO THEY COULD --

MR. BOLOGNA: THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO COMPLY

WITH THE 60-DAY NOTICE?

MR. JACOBSON: THAT'S CORRECT.

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY. SO LET'S USE THOSE EXACT

SAME SITUATIONS; FRAUD, SCAM, MONEY LAUNDERING, RICO, GOD FORBID

TERRORISM. IF THE STATE POLICE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, DEPARTMENT OF

FINANCIAL SERVICES HAVE THE EXACT SAME CONCERNS AS THE FEDERAL

REGULATOR, THERE IS NO EXEMPTION FOR STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT

AGENCIES, CORRECT?

MR. JACOBSON: NO. WE'RE NOT GONNA INTERFERE

WITH AN INVESTIGATION. WE'RE NOT GONNA INTERFERE WITH CRIMINAL

ACTIVITY. WHAT THIS IS GONNA DO IS GIVE BANK ACCOUNT OWNERS SIMPLE

NOTICE SO THEY CAN MAKE FURTHER ARRANGEMENTS AND GET ON WITH THEIR

PERSONAL BANKING OR THEIR BUSINESS, AS THE CASE MAY BE.

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MR. BOLOGNA: SO I -- I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT

SENTIMENT; HOWEVER, THE LANGUAGE OF THE BILL SAYS THE BANKS "SHALL",

WHICH NOT BEING AN ATTORNEY I THINK THAT REQUIRE -- IS LIKE A

REQUIREMENT. AND I DON'T SEE ANY LANGUAGE IN HERE -- THE ONLY

PREEMPTIVE BODY IS FEDERAL LAW. I DON'T SEE ANY PREEMPTIONS OR

EXEMPT -- EXEMPTIONS FOR STATE ENTITIES.

(CONFERENCING)

MR. JACOBSON: THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL

SERVICES ALREADY REGULATES STATE-CHARTERED BANKING AND CAN MONITOR

COMPLIANCE THROUGH ITS SUPERVISORY POWERS. SO THIS LAW, THIS BILL

SHOULD IT BECOME LAW, WILL BE ENFORCED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL

SERVICES, AND --

MR. BOLOGNA: ARE THERE ANY OTHER --

MR. JACOBSON: -- THAT'S WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

MR. BOLOGNA: ARE THERE ANY OTHER LAW

ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THAT WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE ACCOUNTS OR

JURISDICTION OVER THE ACCOUNTS OUTSIDE OF DFS? SAY, ATTORNEY GENERAL,

LOCAL POLICE, STATE POLICE, SHERIFF'S OFFICES.

MR. JACOBSON: ACCORDING TO MY BILL? ACCORDING

TO THE BILL?

MR. BOLOGNA: SURE.

MR. JACOBSON: WELL, IT'S -- THIS IS NOT GONNA

CHANGE ANYTHING THAT EXISTS NOW. IF THERE IS A -- IF THERE'S A CRIMINAL

INVESTIGATION GOING ON AND -- AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OR THE

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES GETS AN ORDER TO CLOSE THE ACCOUNT,

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

OBVIOUSLY THEY CAN CLOSE THE ACCOUNT. SO THIS DOES NOT CHANGE

ANYTHING ELSE. ALL IT DOES IS WHEN YOU HAVE SITUATIONS WHERE THERE'S NO

MONEY LAUNDERING, WHERE THERE'S NO CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT'S COVERED BY

FEDERAL LAW OR STATE LAW, NOTICE HAS TO BE GIVEN.

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY.

WITH REGARDS TO THE NOTICE, THE TEXT SAYS PROVIDE THE

REASON FOR SUCH CLOSURE. AT WHAT LEVEL OF DETAIL IS CONSIDERED ADEQUATE

REASON? IS IT, LIKE, YOU KNOW, JUST WHEN YOU PROVIDE SOMEONE NOTICE,

IS IT "REGULATORY REQUIREMENT", IN QUOTES? IS IT BANK MUST -- MUST A

BANK DISCLOSE PROPRIETARY RISK MODELS OR ONGOING LAW ENFORCEMENT

INVESTIGATIONS? IN OTHER WORDS, ARE WE --

MR. JACOBSON: IT HAS TO BE REASONABLE. IF THEY

SAY THAT WE'RE CLOSING IT BECAUSE WE HAVE TOO MANY ACCOUNTS AND WE --

WE WANT TO CHANGE WHAT WE'RE DOING AS A BANK, THERE'S THE NOTICE. BUT

THEY GAVE THEM THE NOTICE. IF THEY SAY THAT -- IF THE RULES ARE SUCH THAT

MAYBE THEY WANT TO SAY THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ACTIVITY IN THE ACCOUNT. IF

THAT IS A VALID REASON BASED ON THE DISCLOSURES THAT THE BANK GAVE

BEFORE YOU OPENED THE ACCOUNT AND ANY RULES THEY'VE CHANGED, THEN

THAT WOULD BE THAT. IF YOU WANTED MORE DETAIL YOU, FINALLY, AS A BANK,

AS A HOLDER OF THE ACCOUNT, CAN ASK FOR MORE DETAILS. WHATEVER REASON

THEY GIVE. AT LEAST NOW YOU HAVE NOTICE WHY, AND YOU CAN NOW ASK FOR

MORE DETAILS IF YOU WANT IT.

MR. BOLOGNA: I -- I CAN APPRECIATE THAT. I GUESS,

THOUGH, THERE -- THERE IS A GRAY AREA HERE BECAUSE WHERE -- AND I KNOW

THAT YOU SAID THE TERM, LIKE, WHAT'S REASONABLE. YOU KNOW, THERE'S

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SOME AMBIGUITY THERE. SO I -- I GUESS A QUESTION I WOULD HAVE IS WHAT

SAFEGUARDS, NOW THAT WE'RE REQUIRING THE 60 DAYS AND A NOTICE, IS THERE

-- BECAUSE, I MEAN, YOU COULD THEORETICALLY BE TIPPING SOMEONE OFF

WHO HAS DONE, YOU KNOW, NEFARIOUS ACTIVITY, YOU KNOW, COMMITTED

BANK FRAUD OR TRIED TO COMMIT BANK FRAUD, MONEY LAUNDERING. IF YOU

GIVE THEM 60 DAYS' NOTICE, WHAT'S TO STOP SOMEONE FROM JUST EMPTYING

-- EMPTYING AN ACCOUNT AND FLEEING THE COUNTRY OR THE STATE OR

WHEREVER?

MR. JACOBSON: IF THE ACTIVITY RISES TO -- TO THE

EXTENT THAT IT VIOLATES EXISTING FEDERAL LAW, THE BANK HAS THE RIGHT TO

CLOSE IT. IF --

MR. BOLOGNA: WHAT ABOUT STATE LAW?

MR. JACOBSON: HMM?

MR. BOLOGNA: WHAT ABOUT STATE LAW?

MR. JACOBSON: NO. THE BANKS ARE STILL GOVERNED

BY FEDERAL LAW. AND SO IF THE ACTIVITY OF THE ACCOUNT OWNER VIOLATES

FEDERAL LAW OR ANY OTHER -- OR STATE LAW THAT INVOLVES CRIMINAL ACT --

THAT PROHIBITS CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, OF COURSE THEY CAN ACT ON THAT.

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY. NOW -- AND I -- I

UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT IN TERMS OF AN INVESTIGATION LEADING

TO A PLACE WHERE -- YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY, WHAT --

WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE IN VIOLATION OF SOME FEDERAL OR STATE LAW

AND, YOU KNOW, A BANK ACCOUNT IS A PIECE OF THE PUZZLE OF CREATING A,

YOU KNOW, A -- A STORY OR PART OF AN INVESTIGATION, IN THOSE PARTICULAR

CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU KNOW, IS -- I GUESS WHERE -- IN TERMS OF YOUR BILL,

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

WHERE DO WE ERR? DO WE ERR ON THE SIDE OF THE INVESTIGATION OR ARE WE

ERRING ON THE SIDE OF THE -- OF THE ACCOUNTHOLDER?

MR. JACOBSON: I'M ERRING ON THE SIDE OF COMMON

SENSE. IF THE BANKING ORGANIZATION THINKS THERE'S CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, I

THINK THEY HAVE A DUTY TO GO AHEAD AND REPORT IT TO THE AUTHORITIES IF

THEY CAN'T DEAL WITH IT, AND THEN IT WOULD BE DEALT WITH. OTHER THAN

THAT, I'M EYE -- I'M ERRING ON THE SIDE OF COMMON SENSE FOR THE

CONSUMER SO THE CONSUMER WILL HAVE A REASON -- WILL HAVE -- KNOW THAT

THE BANK IS CLOSING THE ACCOUNT, THEY KNOW HOW TO IT DEAL WITH IT, AND

THEN THEY CAN MOVE ON WITH THEIR LIFE.

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY.

AND SO JUST -- WE -- THIS APPLIES TO STATE-CHARTERED AND

-- I FORGET THE NUMBER, BUT IT APPLIES TO A STATE-CHARTERED BANKS [SIC] OR

BANKS THAT ARE OPERATING IN NEW YORK STATE, NOT -- SO, LIKE, IN MY

DISTRICT THE STATE BANK OF ALDEN [SIC] VERSUS CHASE MANHATTAN OR

WELLS FARGO. LIKE, IT'S ONLY APPLYING TO THE SMALL STATE-CHARTERED

BANKS AND STATE CREDIT UNIONS, CORRECT?

MR. JACOBSON: IT APPLIES TO THE STATE-CHARTERED

BANK, CORRECT. NOT -- NOT A -- NOT A FEDERALLY-CHARTERED BANK.

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY.

THEN I DO HAVE JUST HAVE A COUPLE MORE CLARIFYING

QUESTIONS THAT ARE MORE LOGISTICAL. SO, REGARDING THE -- THE PERSONAL

ACCOUNTS. BECAUSE IT SAYS "SHALL", IF -- IF I WANTED TO GO IN AND CLOSE

MY OWN ACCOUNT, DOES THE BANK HAVE TO HOLD OFF 60 DAYS FOR -- BECAUSE

-- AND THIS IS ACTUALLY COMING FROM FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS BECAUSE THEY

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

WERE CURIOUS AS TO, YOU KNOW, THE -- THE LOGISTICS OF THIS. DO THEY NOW

HAVE TO WAIT 60 DAYS OR HOLD THE ACCOUNT FOR 60 DAYS?

MR. JACOBSON: THIS BILL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH

THAT SITUATION. THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE SITUATION WHERE THE BANK GOES

OUT, CLOSES AN ACCOUNT. THEY HAVE TO GIVE NOTICE, AND AFTER 60 DAYS

AFTER CLOSING THE ACCOUNT THEY HAVE TO GIVE WHATEVER MONEY IS LEFT.

MR. BOLOGNA: NO, I -- I APPRECIATE THAT. I JUST

WANNA -- I'M JUST TRYING TO CLARIFY WITHIN THE TEXT.

MR. JACOBSON: THAT'S FINE. YOU --- YOU ASK YOUR

QUESTIONS. I'M HERE.

MR. BOLOGNA: THANK YOU FOR BEARING WITH ME

HERE.

MR. JACOBSON: THAT'S FINE.

MR. BOLOGNA: I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THINGS LIKE

FRAUD, TERRORISM. BUT SOMETHING LIKE UNPAID CHILD SUPPORT; SO IN NEW

YORK STATE BANKS -- BANK ACCOUNTS CAN BE FROZEN OR CLOSED DUE TO

UNPAID CHILD SUPPORT. SO, THIS --

MR. JACOBSON: I BELIEVE -- I BELIEVE THAT THE

BANKS, THERE -- THE MONEY CAN BE ATTACHED. THEY CAN -- THAT THEY CAN

GRAB THE MONEY. THERE CAN BE AN ENFORCEMENT OF A LIEN OR A JUDGMENT.

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY. SO WOULD -- WOULD SOME --

IN THIS SCENARIO, WOULD THE DELINQUENT CHILD SUPPORT PAYER BE NOTIFIED

60 DAYS AS WELL?

MR. JACOBSON: I'M -- I'M NOT GONNA IN ALL FAMILY

LAW, NOTICES AND WHAT HAS TO BE DONE. THIS HAS TO DO WITH A BANK

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CLOSING AN ACCOUNT. ANYTHING THAT EXISTS WHERE THE COURTS CAN ENFORCE

AN ORDER OF SUPPORT OR -- OR A SEPARATION AGREEMENT, WHATEVER, FOR

DIVORCE -- A DIVORCE ORDER OR A SEPARATION AGREEMENT THAT LEADS TO AN

ORDER OF SUPPORT, THAT DOESN'T CHANGE.

MR. BOLOGNA: ALL RIGHT. SO AND JUST A NUMBER OF

REASONS THAT ACCOUNTS WOULD BE CLOSED ANYWAY; IF SOMEONE PASSES

AWAY, IF AN ACCOUNT IS DORMANT FOR TOO LONG AND I'M -- I'M FAIRLY CERTAIN

THAT THERE ARE PROCESSES IN PLACE FOR SITUATIONS LIKE THAT. DO YOU --

OFFHAND, WOULD YOU KNOW IF THIS LEGISLATION WOULD IMPACT MAYBE THE

STATE COMPTROLLER FOR SWEEPING ACCOUNT FUNDS INTO THE -- THE

UNCLAIMED FUNDS ACCOUNT? WOULD THIS HAVE ANY IMPACT OR BEARING

ON THAT?

MR. JACOBSON: NO. THIS HAS NOTHING -- THIS HAS

NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT.

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY.

LAST QUESTION HERE. HOLD ON. OH. WERE THERE ANY

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS? BECAUSE THE EFFECTIVE DATE IS THIS ACT SHALL

TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY. SO, I GUESS, WERE THERE ANY CONSIDERATIONS

FOR INSTITUTIONS TO POSSIBLY UPDATE THEIR SOFTWARE, THEIR SYSTEMS TO -- TO

COMPLY WITH THIS, AND IF NOT, WOULD THERE EVER BE ANY CONSIDERATION TO

POSSIBLY AMEND THE EFFECTIVE DATE, YOU KNOW, 180 DAYS OR NOT?

MR. JACOBSON: WE'RE VOTING ON A BILL WITH THE

LANGUAGE THAT IT'S IN NOW. I THINK THAT BANKS -- WE GET NOTICES FROM

BANKS ALL THE TIME. MOSTLY TO OPEN MORE ACCOUNTS, OTHER TIMES THEY

GIVE YOU NOTICE ABOUT YOUR ACCOUNT. I HAVE COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN

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THE BANKS TO BE ABLE TO GIVE NOTICE THAT THEY'RE CLOSING YOUR ACCOUNT

AND WHY THEY'RE CLOSING IT.

MR. BOLOGNA: OKAY. FAIR ENOUGH. MR.

JACOBSON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MR. JACOBSON: THANK YOU.

MR. BOLOGNA: MADAM SPEAKER, ON -- ON THE BILL.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE BILL.

MR. BOLOGNA: SO WHILE I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE

THAT -- THAT THE UNNECESSARY PERCEIVED MALICIOUS CLOSURE OF ACCOUNTS

FOR NO APPARENT REASON BY FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IS NOT A -- NOT A GOOD

THING, I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE WITH THE INTENT THERE.

I GUESS I HAVE SOME LOGISTICAL CONCERNS IN TERMS WITH

THE IM -- IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS LEGISLATION. AS I LAID OUT DURING MY

QUESTIONING, SOME OF THE SECURITY ISSUES, WHETHER IT'S INVESTIGATION INTO

FINANCIAL CRIMES, WHETHER IT'S FRAUD, YOU'RE PUTTING UP FIREWALLS

BETWEEN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM EXECUTING

THOSE INVESTIGATIONS AND POTENTIALLY PREVENTING FURTHER FINANCIAL ABUSE,

FURTHER VICTIMS. SO THAT IS SOMETHING I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE

COGNIZANT OF. IN ADDITION TO WHICH I STILL BELIEVE THAT THERE'S

INCONSISTENCIES WITHIN HOW WE'RE TREATING FEDERAL REGULATORS AND STATE

REGULATORS, WHERE IF FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WERE TO -- WERE TO COME

IN AND ASK QUESTIONS OF A BANK OR REQUEST A BANK TO CLOSE AN ACCOUNT,

THEY'D BE REQUIRED TO DO SO. BUT I -- I -- I STILL DON'T -- I STILL DON'T SEE

WHERE IF A STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY WERE TO COME IN TO DO THE

SAME THING, THAT IS -- THAT IS ALLOWABLE OR PERMISSIBLE. THERE IS AN

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IMPLICATION THAT BANKS ARE RANDOMLY CLOSING ACCOUNTS. I -- I DON'T

NECESSARILY AGREE OR CONCUR WITH THAT ASSESSMENT.

AND FINALLY, I -- I -- I'VE SAID THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES

THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THIS SESSION AND I -- I REALLY WANT TO DRIVE THIS

POINT HOME. STATE-CHARTERED INSTITUTIONS, BE THEM CREDIT UNIONS OR

BANKS, ARE KIND OF BECOMING ENDANGERED SPECIES. AND I -- I KNOW THAT

-- THAT BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ARE NOT POPULAR THINGS TO -- TO

LIKE OR ADVOCATE FOR, BUT -- BUT THIS STATE IS HEMORRHAGING

STATE-CHARTERED INSTITUTIONS. OF THE 300 CREDIT UNIONS THAT OPERATE IN

NEW YORK STATE, TEN OF THEM, TEN OF THEM OF ARE STATE-CHARTERED. I'M

NOT SURE ABOUT ANYONE ELSE'S DISTRICTS, I CAN SPEAK FOR MINE. I REPRESENT

RURAL WESTERN NEW YORK. FINANCIAL SMALL STATE-CHARTERED INSTITUTIONS

ARE REALLY CRITICAL WHEN YOU'RE -- WHEN YOU'RE SERVING AND TRYING TO

SERVE UNDER-BANKED COMMUNITIES. SO THAT -- THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I

HAVE SOME -- SOME REAL FEARS WITH. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS WITH THE BUY

NOW, PAY LATER IN THE BUDGET. YOU KNOW, THIS BILL, EVERY TIME WE --

WE ADD A REGULATION ONTO STATE-CHARTERED INSTITUTIONS, IT MAKES THE

PLAYING FIELD THAT MUCH MORE UNLEVEL IN NEW YORK STATE. AND WE'RE

ALLOWING BIG FEDERAL-CHARTERED [SIC] BANKS BASICALLY CARTE BLANCHE IN

NEW YORK STATE AND -- AND WE'RE REALLY HURTING THE LITTLE GUY.

SO FOR THOSE REASONS, MADAM SPEAKER, I WILL BE IN THE

NEGATIVE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MADAM

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

SPEAKER. WILL THE SPONSOR YIELD FOR ONE QUICK QUESTION?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MR. JACOBSON: YES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: DO YOU KNOW -- OR COULD

YOU ESTIMATE HOW MANY BANKS HAVE DOLLARS IN THE COMPTROLLER'S

UNCLAIMED FUNDS ACCOUNT?

MR. JACOBSON: WELL, I DON'T KNOW. I THINK THERE'S

ABOUT MILLION-AND-A-HALF OVER THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE BEEN CLOSED

WITHOUT NOTICE, AND IT -- IT CAUSES HAVOC (INDISCERNIBLE/CROSS-TALK).

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

TO BELIEVE THAT THE FEDERAL RULES PROHIBIT THEM FROM KEEPING SOMEONE'S

MONEY IF THEY CLOSE AN ACCOUNT AND DON'T NOTIFY THEM OR DO NOTIFY

THEM AND THEY DIDN'T HEAR IT OR WHATEVER. THEY CAN'T KEEP IT. SO THEY

HAVE TO TURN IT OVER TO THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, AT LEAST IN NEW YORK

STATE. AND IF THE PERSON WANTS TO GO LOOK FOR IT, THEY CAN AND THEY CAN

FIND IT. THE POINT YOU'RE MAKING, AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR, IS THAT THE

BANK SHOULD JUST NOTIFY PEOPLE, PERIOD, WHEN THEY'RE GONNA CLOSE AN

ACCOUNT AND TELL THEM WHY.

NOW, I'M -- FULL DISCLOSURE -- THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ON THE BILL, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE BILL.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: FULL DISCLOSURE, THERE

PROBABLY ARE SOME BANKS THAT DO DO THAT. I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT MINE

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DOES IT BECAUSE THEY DID IT TO ME. THEY SAID, WE'RE GONNA CLOSE YOUR

ACCOUNT AND THEY SENT BACK THE CHECK. THEY SENT BACK THE TOTAL

AMOUNT THAT WAS IN THE ACCOUNT. BUT THERE CLEARLY ARE SOME BANKS THAT

DON'T DO THAT. AND I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL BANKS THAT

HAVE MONEY ON THE SPEAK -- ON THE COMPTROLLER'S UNCLAIMED FUNDS

LIST BECAUSE PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS THOSE

RESOURCES. THEY HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS MONEY WAS AVAILABLE TO THEM.

THEY HAD NO IDEA THAT THE ACCOUNTS WERE CLOSED. AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT

FOR ALL INSTITUTIONS TO MAINTAIN A LEVEL OF INTEGRITY THAT THEY RESPECT THE

CUSTOMER AND PROVIDE THEM WITH INFORMATION IF THEY'RE GOING TO CLOSE

THEIR ACCOUNT, WHY THEY'RE GOING TO CLOSE IT. AND IF THEY'RE GOING TO

CLOSE IT, SEND THEM A CHECK FOR THE MONEY THAT'S IN THE ACCOUNT.

I THINK THAT'S FAIR, AND I WILL BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS PIECE

OF LEGISLATION AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE MY OTHER COLLEAGUES TO DO

LIKEWISE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: 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

MINORITY CONFERENCE WILL BE IN THE NEGATIVE ON THIS BILL, GENERALLY

SPEAKING. IF ANYBODY WANTS TO VOTE YES THEY CAN DO SO NOW AT THEIR

SEATS. THANK YOU.

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER. MAJORITY COLLEAGUES ARE GONNA BE GENERALLY IN FAVOR OF THIS

CONSUMER PIECE OF LEGISLATION -- CONSUMER-FRIENDLY PIECE OF

LEGISLATION; HOWEVER THERE COULD BE SOME THAT WOULD DESIRE TO BE AN

EXCEPTION. THEY HAVE THAT RIGHT AND THEY SHOULD DO SO AT THEIR SEATS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

THE CLERK WILL RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

MR. JACOBSON TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. JACOBSON: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

THIS IS A VERY SIMPLE BUT IMPORTANT BILL. IT WILL

REQUIRE BANKS, STATE-CHARTERED BANKS, THAT WILL GIVE 60 DAYS' NOTICE OF

WHEN AN ACCOUNT IS BEING CLOSED AND THE REASON FOR IT, AND TO MAKE

SURE THAT THE MONEY IS RETURNED TO THE ACCOUNTHOLDER AFTER -- WITHIN 60

DAYS AFTER THE ACCOUNT IS CLOSED. THE REASON YOU WANT TO HAVE THIS

KIND OF REGULATION IS THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THIS AND YOU END UP

BOUNCING CHECKS BECAUSE THE ACCOUNT WAS CLOSED AND YOU DIDN'T KNOW

IT WAS GONNA HAPPEN, YOU BOUNCE CHECKS ON YOUR EMPLOYERS --

EMPLOYEES. THEY'RE RELYING ON THOSE CHECKS. THEY START BOUNCING

CHECKS BECAUSE THEY PUT IN YOUR CHECK AND THEY'RE -- THEY'RE WRITING

CHECKS TO PAY THEIR RENT OR THEIR MORTGAGE AND IT SNOWBALLS. YOUR

CHECKS GOING TO SUPPLIERS BOUNCE. AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IS YOUR GOOD

NAME, YOUR REPUTATION OF YOUR FINANCIAL HEALTH AND -- AND HONESTY IS

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PUT INTO QUESTION. THIS IS NOT MUCH TO ASK FOR A BANK TO GIVE SIMPLE

NOTICE AND A REASON, AND TO RETURN THE MONEY AT THE END. AND THIS DOES

NOT INTERFERE IN ANY WAY WITH EXISTING FEDERAL LAW.

AND SO THIS BILL IS VERY SIMPLE AND DIRECT, AND WILL

HELP CONSUMERS EVERYWHERE AND I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MR. JACOBSON IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

PAGE 17, RULES REPORT NO. 448, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A06870, RULES REPORT

NO. 448, HUNTER, HEVESI. AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 591 OF THE LAWS OF

2001, AMENDING THE BANKING LAW RELATING TO LIMITING THE CHECK

CASHING EXEMPTION FOR NATIONAL BANKS AND OTHER REGULATED ENTITIES, IN

RELATION TO THE EFFECTIVENESS THEREOF.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: 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 BE IN THE NEGATIVE ON THIS PIECE OF

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LEGISLATION. AFFIRMATIVE VOTES MAY BE CAST NOW AT YOUR SEATS. THANK

YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER. THE MAJORITY CONFERENCE IS GONNA BE IN FAVOR OF THIS PIECE

OF LEGISLATION; HOWEVER, SHOULD SOME DESIRE TO BE AN EXCEPTION, FEEL

FREE TO VOTE AT YOUR SEATS. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

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, IF YOU

COULD PLEASE NOW (INDISCERNIBLE) TO PAGE 3 TO TAKE UP OUR RESOLUTIONS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: PAGE 3, RESOLUTIONS,

THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 719, MS.

SOLAGES.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM JUNE 12-16, 2025, AS INFANT MENTAL HEALTH

AWARENESS WEEK IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE RESOLUTION,

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS

ADOPTED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 720, MR.

DURSO.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM JUNE 16-20, 2025, AS SANITATION WORKERS

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. 721, MS.

WILLIAMS.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM JUNE 2025, AS CARIBBEAN HERITAGE MONTH IN

THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE RESOLUTION,

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS

ADOPTED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 722, MS.

JACKSON.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM JUNE 2025, AS BLACK MUSIC 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

154

NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

ADOPTED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 723, MR.

DESTEFANO.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM JULY 2025, AS CULINARY ARTS MONTH IN THE

STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE RESOLUTION,

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS

ADOPTED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 724, MS.

GRIFFIN.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 7-13, 2025, AS SUICIDE

PREVENTION 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. 725, MR.

SAYEGH.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 27, 2025, AS TEACHING

ASSISTANTS DAY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE RESOLUTION,

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS

ADOPTED.

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 726, MS.

SOLAGES.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM OCTOBER 6, 2025, AS CHILD HEALTH DAY IN

THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE RESOLUTION,

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS

ADOPTED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 727, MR.

LEMONDES.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM OCTOBER 6, 2025, AS COACHES DAY IN THE

STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. LEMONDES ON

THE RESOLUTION.

MR. LEMONDES: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

I RISE TO RECOGNIZE AND PAY TRIBUTE TO THE INCREDIBLE

ROLE COACHES PLAY IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FOR THE FURTHERANCE OF OUR

SOCIETY. NOT ONLY DO THEY DO THE THINGS YOU COMMONLY THINK OF, LIKE

TEACHING THEM THE MECHANICS OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL SPORT, SPORTSMANSHIP

ITSELF, STRATEGY, THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD GRADES, BEING A GOOD PERSON

AND ROLE MODEL FOR YOUNGER KIDS, ET CETERA, BUT THEY -- THEY ARE ALSO

INSTRUMENTAL IN KEEPING KIDS OCCUPIED POSITIVELY AND, THEREFORE, OUT OF

TROUBLE. IT IS PERHAPS THIS ROLE THAT IS PARAMOUNT TO ALL OTHERS.

FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, I CAN ATTEST THAT I AM

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FORTUNATE TO HAVE HAD THE BENEFIT OF INCREDIBLY DEDICATED TEACHER

COACHES THAT DROVE HOME EXCELLENCE IN EVERYTHING THEY DID. REQUIRED

ADHERENCE TO THE RULES TAUGHT CONSTANTLY IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE WORD, THUS

TRANSCENDING THE ROLE AS ATHLETIC COACH AND REALLY HELPING YOUTH

BECOME BETTER ALL-AROUND CITIZENS. THE WINS, THE LOSSES, THE GRUELING

PRACTICES, FIGHTING THROUGH INJURIES AND SETBACKS ALL CONTRIBUTE TO THE

GROWTH OF SOLID CHARACTER TRAITS THAT, AGAIN, HELP MAKE GOOD CITIZENS

THAT KNOW HOW TO FUNCTION AS PART OF A TEAM, WHICH IS THE FOUNDATIONAL

BUILDING BLOCK OF NEARLY EVERYTHING ELSE ONE DOES FOR THE REST OF THEIR

LIVES.

LAST, IN SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO THE COACHES I PERSONALLY

HAD, TWO OF WHOM WERE VIETNAM WAR COMBAT VETERANS, GENTLEMEN,

THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE DISCIPLINE NECESSARY TO SURVIVE THE

DEPLOYMENTS. I COULD HAVE NEVER IMAGINED THEIR DIFFICULTY. THE

INTENSITY, ATTENTION TO DETAIL, NECESSITY OF HARD, CONSTANT TRAINING,

IMPORTANCE OF LOOKING BEYOND YOUR OWN NEEDS AND RECOGNITION OF YOUR

ROLE ON THE TEAM WERE ALL THINGS I GOT FROM YOUR EXAMPLE. THANK YOU.

I PRESENT THIS RESOLUTION IN HONOR OF COACHES BUZZ

WHITE AND JACK WILLIAMS, FOOTBALL AND WRESTLING, LIVERPOOL HIGH

SCHOOL. THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

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. 728, MR.

EPSTEIN.

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 1, 2025, AS VEGAN DAY IN THE

STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE RESOLUTION,

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS

ADOPTED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, DO YOU

HAVE ANY FURTHER HOUSEKEEPING OR RESOLUTIONS?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: YES. WE HAVE

SEVERAL PIECES OF HOUSEKEEPING.

ON A MOTION BY MR. SANTABARBARA, PAGE 5, RULES

REPORT NO. 191, BILL NO. A07363-B, THE AMENDMENTS ARE RECEIVED AND

ADOPTED.

ON A MOTION BY MS. CHANDLER-WATERMAN, PAGE 13,

RULES REPORT NO. 384, BILL NO. A04762-A, THE AMENDMENTS ARE

RECEIVED AND ADOPTED.

ON A MOTION BY MR. OTIS, PAGE 14, RULES REPORT NO.

406, BILL NO. A08295-C, THE AMENDMENTS ARE RECEIVED AND ADOPTED.

ON BEHALF OF MR. BORES, BILL NO. A01191, ASSEMBLY

BILL RECALLED FROM SENATE. THE CLERK WILL READ THE TITLE OF THE BILL.

THE CLERK: AN ACT TO AMEND THE EXECUTIVE LAW.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MOTION TO

RECONSIDER THE VOTE BY WHICH THE BILL PASSED THE HOUSE.

THE CLERK WILL RECORD THE VOTE.

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE

RECEIVED AND ADOPTED.

ON BEHALF OF MR. KIM, BILL NO. A06634, ASSEMBLY

BILL RECALLED FROM SENATE. THE CLERK WILL READ THE TITLE OF THE BILL.

THE CLERK: AN ACT TO AMEND THE PARKS, RECREATION

AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION LAW.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MOTION TO

RECONSIDER THE VOTE BY WHICH THE BILL PASSED THE HOUSE.

THE CLERK WILL RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE

ADOPTED [SIC].

A RESOLUTION BY MR. WEPRIN, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 730, MR.

WEPRIN.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE LIFE OF

RABBI SHMUEL BUTMAN FOR HIS LIFELONG DEDICATION TO JEWISH LIFE,

LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY SERVICE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. WEPRIN ON THE

RESOLUTION.

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

MR. WEPRIN: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, FOR

ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE

LIFE OF RABBI SHMUEL BUTMAN FOR HIS LIFELONG DEDICATION TO JEWISH LIFE,

LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY SERVICE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

RABBI SHMUEL BUTMAN WAS BOTH A DEAR FRIEND AND A

GREAT MAN WHO DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO THE SERVICE OF JEWISH AND

NON-JEWISH PEOPLE ALIKE. THROUGH HIS WORK, RABBI BUTMAN HELP

STRENGTHEN THE SPIRITUAL AND MORAL VALUES OF ALL CITIZENS OF THE WORLD.

HE HEADED UP THE LUBAVITCH YOUTH ORGANIZATION FOR MANY, MANY

YEARS. HE WAS A RIGHT-HAND MAN OF THE LUBAVITCHER REBBE MENACHEM

MENDEL SCHNEERSON. HIS EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE GLOBE

HAVE ENRICHED AND STRENGTHENED THE RELIGIOUS, EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL,

MORAL AND ETHICAL FIBERS OF ALL CITIZENS OF THE WORLD. HE WAS A

REMARKABLE AND HOLY MAN WHO INSPIRED MILLIONS OF JEWS AND NON-JEWS

TO GREATER DEDICATION, LOYALTY AND COMMITMENT TO ALL MATTERS BETWEEN

MAN AND GOD AND BETWEEN AND GOD.

YOU MAY RECALL HIM COMING UP AND GIVING THE

INVOCATION ON THE REBBE'S BIRTHDAY BEFORE PASSOVER EVERY YEAR. HE

WAS A RELATIVELY SMALL MAN IN STATURE, WITH A LONG BEARD AND A ROUND

BLACK HAT. HE WOULD ALWAYS COME UP WITH HIS CHARITY BOX AND ASK FOR

CONTRIBUTIONS AND WOULD ALWAYS SAY, THIS IS NOT A FUNDRAISER, THIS IS

JUST ENCOURAGING YOU TO CONTRIBUTE A DOLLAR TO CHARITY.

RABBI SHMUEL BUTMAN WAS A WELL-RESPECTED AUTHOR,

SPEAKER AND HOST OF JEWISH RADIO PROGRAMMING, USING EVERY MEDIUM AT

HIS DISPOSAL TO SHARE THE RICHNESS OF JEWISH HERITAGE AND THE TIMELESS

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

VALUES OF THE TORAH.

EVERY HANUKKAH FOR DECADES, RABBI BUTMAN

MOUNTED A CHERRY PICKER TO LIGHT A 32-FOOT TALL, TWO-TON MENORAH, THE

LARGEST IN THE WORLD, ON 5TH AVENUE IN MANHATTAN.

RABBI SHMUEL BUTMAN -- BUTMAN PASSED AWAY ON

JULY 22ND OF LAST YEAR AT 81 YEARS OF AGE, LEAVING BEHIND A LEGACY

FORGED ON THE JEWISH PRINCIPLE OF CHESED, WHICH TRANSLATES TO LOVING

KINDNESS. HE WILL BE DEARLY MISSED.

I ASK THAT THIS LEGISLATIVE BODY HONOR AND

COMMUNICATE -- COMMEMORATE THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS

OF RABBI SHMUEL BUTMAN. WE ARE FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR HIS ENDURING

LEADERSHIP, SELFLESS SERVICE, AND HIS INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO RELIGIOUS

LIFE, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT. MAY HIS MEMORY BE

FOR A BLESSING.

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

ALL -- ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY

SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF RESOLUTIONS BEFORE THE HOUSE.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, THESE RESOLUTIONS WILL BE TAKEN UP TOGETHER.

ON THE RESOLUTIONS, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING

AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTIONS ARE ADOPTED.

(WHEREUPON, ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NOS. 729-737

WERE UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED.)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

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NYS ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2025

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, I NOW

MOVE THAT THE ASSEMBLY STAND ADJOURNED AND THAT WE RECONVENE ON

TOMORROW, 10:00 A.M., TUESDAY, JUNE THE 10TH, TOMORROW BEING A

SESSION DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON MRS. PEOPLES-

STOKES' MOTION, THE HOUSE STANDS ADJOURNED.

(WHEREUPON, AT 10:24 P.M., THE HOUSE STOOD

ADJOURNED UNTIL TUESDAY, JUNE 10TH AT 10:00 A.M., THAT BEING A SESSION

DAY.)

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