New York State SmartTranscripts:

[Assemblymember Charles D. Fall]: Madam speaker, will you please call the house to order? The

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: house will come to order. Good afternoon, colleagues and guests. As we open today's session, let us pause for a moment of silence to honor major Davias who died serving his country on March 6 while deployed to Kuwait. Let us keep his family, colleagues, and fellow service members in our thoughts. Reverend Donna Alaya will offer a prayer.

[Reverend Donna Alaya]: Let us pray. Holy and eternal God, you are with us in times of certainty and in times of trouble, and we thank you for your loving presence which never fails. Thank you for the privilege of serving, for the gifts of intellect and reason, courage and perseverance. Pour out a generous measure of those gifts upon these assembly members and the whole legislative body. Thank you for the many staff members who make the work possible, both those whom we see and those who work behind the scenes. Bless all of them. In this Women's History Month, thank you especially for women legislators and staff. We remember women who went before us and who have made this time possible and empower us to carry the mantle until the time comes when we pass it to those who come after us. Preserve the human rights of women and men throughout the world. By your spirit, enliven all who are gathered, heal any who suffer, give courage to those who struggle, comfort those who grieve, and lift up the hearts and minds and spirits of those who feel discouraged. Pour out your hope, o God. Help the body make wise decisions on this day that they might build a more whole and just society. Help them to work for peace and reconciliation. And even though the goals that we lift before you are lofty, oh god, help us and equip us to work together to achieve them and bring us peace in our time, o holy one. Amen. Visitors are invited to join members in the pledge of allegiance.

[Assemblymember Michael J. Fitzpatrick]: Hello?

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The quorum being present, the clerk will read the journal of Friday, March 6. Mister Fall.

[Assemblymember Charles D. Fall]: Madam speaker, I move to dispense with the further reading of the journal of Friday March 6 and at the same stand approved.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Without objection, so ordered.

[Assemblymember Charles D. Fall]: We have a quote for today from anonymous and the quote is love your parents and treat them with loving care for you will only know their value when you see their empty chair. And these words are by anonymous. Madam speaker, members have on their desk a main calendar with five new bills. After any house keeping and or introductions, we will begin our floor work by taking up calendar resolutions on page three. We will then consent the new bills to the calendar beginning with calendar two eighty three on page four. After that, we will continue to consent where we left off last week with calendar 192 on page 34. I will announce any further floor activities as we proceed. So with that as a general outline, Madam Speaker, let us begin with any housekeeping and or introductions.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Thank you. We have a few pieces of housekeeping. On a motion by miss Pollan, page 11, calendar number 30, bill number a seven five five a. The amendments are received and adopted. On a motion by mister Kim, page 32, calendar number one sixty nine, bill number a six six three nine. The amendments are received and adopted. On a motion by mister Kim, page 34, calendar number one eighty six, bill number a seven two seven nine. The amendments are received and adopted. We have several introductions today. We'll get started with Ms. McMahon for the purpose of an introduction.

[Assemblymember Karen McMahon]: Thank you Madam Speaker for allowing me to introduce a distinguished group from SUNY Buffalo. With us today are some medical students from the SUNY Buffalo Medical School led by student leaders Benjamin Semigran and Megan Barber. There they are. And some undergraduate pre med students led by Sri Ijapuradi and her group is known as Doctors Not Debt. They are joined by faculty advisors Karen Craik from

[Assemblymember Karen McMahon]: the UB School of Public Health and Ken Snyder from

[Assemblymember Karen McMahon]: the Medical School and Kaleida Health. These young people are here to advocate today in light of federal changes to student lending. They're advocating for legislative changes here in New York that would help medical students better afford their medical education. So madam speaker, please welcome these young advocates to the floor and afford them all the cordialities of the house.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: On behalf of Ms. McMahon, the speaker and all members, we welcome our guests today from SUNY Buffalo Medical School and extend to you the privileges of the floor. Hope you enjoy the proceedings today. We wish you the best of luck on your continued medical healthcare endeavors. We need you now more than ever so we appreciate your commitment to healthcare advocacy and continued good luck to you. Thank you so very much for joining us today. Mister De Stefano, for the purpose of an introduction.

[Assemblymember Joseph P. DeStefano]: Thank you, madam speaker, for allowing me to introduce a very special guest of mine, my wife Linda. It took almost eight years to get her here to agree to this, but today she finally said it's okay. So here she is, and I'd like to introduce her. Most people can't take me for forty two minutes. She's taken me for almost forty two years. I just wanna say she is the matriarch stand up, honey.

[Assemblymember Michael J. Fitzpatrick]: I

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: told

[Assemblymember Joseph P. DeStefano]: I told him to be nice to you. She is the matriarch of our family. She's always supported me in all my endeavors, no matter whatever it was that I wanted to do in life, whether it was running the fire department or running the State Association of Fire Districts or being a fire commissioner in my district. She's always held it together. She keeps the glue of the family together. And I just wanna say thank you to her because without her, you probably wouldn't even have ever saw me here because she was the one that said it was okay to be here. So I wanna say thank you to my wife of forty two years. I just wanna let everybody know she is my confidant, my best friend, and the woman that I love. So thank you for being here. On

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: behalf of mister DeStefano, the speaker and all members, welcome Linda to the Assembly Chamber of the People's House, extending to you the privileges of the floor. We know the time commitment it takes for all of us to be here today and knowing those at home are the backbone of our families. And we appreciate that you allow for him to be here with us because it is a huge time commitment. But forty two years, kudos to you. Thank you so very much for joining us today. Miss Kay, for the purpose of an introduction.

[Assemblymember Paula Kay]: Thank you, madam speaker. I rise today to introduce Lori Oristano James. Lori has over forty years in the field of education as a teacher, building administrator, district administrator, board of education member, president, and she was actually the principal of the high school that my two children attended. Laurie is retired, but she's not, we all know that. She is currently the state president for the New York State Council of Educational Associations, and immediate past president for New York State Alliance for Arts Education. She is also a force of nature in our community in Sullivan County. She is active in just about every community organization you can imagine, And whenever I am out and about in the community, there is Laurie. She is a member of Rotary International, the executive secretary for Sullivan Central Rotary. She is a steering committee member for SALT, Sullivan Alliance Allies Leading Together. She is the longest serving volunteer for our partathon in our district, and also importantly active in her faith, serving on the board of directors and secretary of the Landfield Avenue Synagogue. I could go on, but it is clear that Laurie is a wonderful special person, and I'm proud to introduce her today as my friend. So Madam Speaker, I ask that you please give Laurie Aristano James a warm welcome and extend her all the privileges of the house.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: On behalf of Ms. Kay, the speaker and all members, we welcome you Ms. James to the Assembly Chamber of People's House and extend to you the privileges of the floor. You have a very long rich history with community involvement. You truly, after hearing all of this, truly are the epitome of tireless advocacy. So we thank you very much for all of the things you continue to do in our community. We hope you enjoy our proceedings today. Thank you so very much for joining us. Miss Jackson for the purpose of an introduction.

[Assemblymember Chantel Jackson]: Well, thank you madam speaker for allowing me to introduce some very important people in the house today. And I must say that if they were not here, we would not be here. We have the parents, the parents of Assembly Member Gabriela Romero, which is Renee and Doris Romero. We have the parents of Amanda Septimo, which is Reynaldo Adino and Francis Septimo. We have my mom, Lynn Cato here. Hey mom. And, we have the mother of Assemblymember Monique Chandler Waterman, Yvonne Chandler, and we have the father of Monique's father as well, which is Randolph Waterman. And, we also have Kiera Sistafaerta Assemblymember Waterman, Diane Caruth Bennett here with us. And I must say that these parents have made some phenomenal people because they are former or currently social workers, mental health workers, parole, military, MTA Port Authority, US Postal Service, Rehab Therapy Hospital Supervisor. We're talking about twenty plus years of civil service and I have to say madam speaker, please give them all the cordiality of the floor because they have deserved all of it.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: On behalf of miss Jackson, the speaker, and miss Romero, miss Septimo, miss Chandler Waterman, we thank you parents for being here today and bring your parents to work day. And it was a long trip for some of you to come here today. So we know your commitment to your children and to the state of New York for sure. Extending to you the privileges of the floor and hope you enjoy our proceedings for as long as you're able to stay with us today, but truly, thank you. Really, if it wasn't for you, it wouldn't we wouldn't be here today. So we appreciate all of your advocacy. Thank you for joining us today. Resolutions page three. Clerk will read.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Assembly number ten eleven. Mr. Levine, legislative resolution memorializing governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim February 2026 as court reporting and captioning week in the state of New York.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: On the resolution, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, no. The resolution is adopted.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Assembly number one zero one two, mister Santa Barbara. Legislative resolution memorializing governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim 03/13/2026 as canine Veterans Day in the state of New York.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: On the resolution, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed, no. The resolution is adopted.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Assembly number one zero one three, mister Fitzpatrick. Legislative resolution memorializing governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 2026 as Irish American Heritage Month in the state of New York.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Mister Fitzpatrick on the resolution.

[Assemblymember Michael J. Fitzpatrick]: Thank you, madam speaker. Today, ladies and gentlemen, we recognize Irish American Heritage Month. Traditionally, the Saint Patrick's Day, we call it and those of us who are Irish, we call it the season where we celebrate for an entire month. But the month of March designated as Irish American Heritage Month to commemorate the many contributions of Irish Americans. Our Irish immigrants have long have a long history of passion for liberty and their loyalty defending American ideals in our American nation. The famous fighting sixty ninth at the Regiment Armory located and headquartered in Manhattan fought on the battlefields of the American Civil War, World War one, World War two, the Iraq War, and the conflict in Afghanistan. Navy Seal lieutenant Michael Murphy of Smithtown, my hometown, made the supreme sacrifice for our country during the conflict in Afghanistan and was awarded the military's highest honor, the congressional medal of honor. He was the first member of the United States Navy to receive this award since the Vietnam War. After participating in several, in several missions during that conflict, he was killed on 06/28/2005, giving his life the highest form of sacrifice for our freedoms. As we celebrate the many contributions of our Irish immigrants during this month of March, I would also like to point out that countless public officials, civil servants, legislators, mayors, and governors, including our own governor, the honorable Kathleen Mary Courtney Hochul, have made their mark on this great state of New York. And this evening, at the AOH Hall down the block on Ontario Street, we will have our annual Saint Patrick's Day dinner. This evening, we will be honoring noted Albany author William Kennedy and our own sister Kath Karen McMahon of Buffalo and senator Jake, Ashby, from the senate. So all are welcome. We hope to see you there. And, again, thank you madam speaker for allowing me to speak on this resolution.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Thank you, miss Walsh on the resolution.

[Assemblymember Mary Beth Walsh]: Thank you madam speaker. And I want to thank the sponsor for bringing this forward again this year. I agree. In addition to the list of all of the very famous people that the sponsor just indicated in his remarks, I wanted to just take a moment and speak about somebody that probably none of you have ever heard of, but she's my great grandmother. Martha Hart Eaton, my mother's namesake, or my mother was her namesake, Martha. She, as a young woman, came from Belfast and emigrated to Troy, New York where she lived on Scotch Hill, which if you know Troy, know where Scotch Hill is. And she was a remarkable lady. She came from literally nothing. She was indentured for eight years as a servant, oppressor, to the family that owned the Tilly Ladder Company in Troy, New York. And she worked, terribly hard, ended up marrying my great grandfather and they who was a widower. They were fixed up through the church and went on to have several children together including my grandfather, Enoch. She my mother spoke of her. I never knew her. She passed away right around World War two, a little bit after. And, but my mother spoke of her often and her work ethic was unbelievable. She had chickens and a full garden in Troy at a time when that was still allowed. She baked bread and my mother was mortified that she was sent to school with bread to sell to the teachers at school in order to raise some money. And when she when she ultimately passed away, she had not only helped so many other Irish immigrants come to The United States, but she also was a property owner, which was an amazing feat for a woman of that day and certainly an immigrant Irish woman to come over. So I just wanted to speak and honor her and everyone else of Irish heritage. I know I don't look it, but I, with a name like Walsh, you'd think I'm more Irish than I am, but I'm probably a good quarter Irish and sometimes I think the best part of me is. So anyway, many thanks again to the sponsor for bringing this resolution forward. And thank you, Madam Speaker.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Thank you. Miss Buttonshawna on the resolution.

[Assemblymember Marianne Buttenschon]: I just wanna thank the sponsor and as we all think back of family and heritage, I too, as we spend much time thinking of the Irish culture, My mother, Margaret Mary McConaughey McNamara, so I think that says it all. Clearly, with so many aunts and uncles that we spent every Sunday listening to Irish heritage and struggles that had come about. So again, thank you to the sponsor and congratulations Karen, well deserved. And as we say in Utica, everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day. So everyone enjoy.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Thank you. Mr. Brown on the resolution.

[Assemblymember Keith P. Brown]: Thank you Madam Speaker. And I want to thank the sponsor for this great resolution. Every year it comes up and I want to just pause for a second. Yesterday we had the Huntington St. Patrick's Day Parade, the oldest and largest St. Patrick's Day Parade on Long Island. And I was very proud to be the grand marshal last year. And this year we had our town supervisor was the grand marshal. But I had the honor and privilege of calling the parade, which my father did for twenty five years. The late Justice Harry Richard Brown ran the parade and he called the parade. And one statistic that came up yesterday that made me particularly proud of my Irish ancestry, and I'm sure everyone else in this room, is that of The US Medal of Honor recipients, over 250 were Irish born individuals representing more than half of all the foreign born recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor. With over 2,000 additional recipients of Irish descent, Irish Americans have received more medals of honor than any other ethnic group in our nation's history. That is a proud fact of my Irish ancestry, and I am pleased to to rise in support of this this great resolution. I hope everybody has a great Saint Patrick's Day, and we enjoy the festivities later on this evening. Thank you, madam speaker.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Thank you. On the resolution, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed, no. The resolution is adopted.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Assembly number ten fourteen, Ms. Jackson. Legislative resolution memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim 11/04/2026 as bring your parents to work day in the state of New York.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Miss Jackson, on the resolution.

[Assemblymember Chantel Jackson]: Well, thank you madam speaker. I am back to say we are on our third year of bring your parents to work day. I know many of you have participated in bring your children to work day where you went with your parents to see what it is that they do and meet their colleagues and be as awkward as you possibly could. But I thought it was absolutely necessary for our parents to see what it is that we do and I know that most of us would not be here if it wasn't for the support of our parents. They are the reason that we are here. Some of some of them helped us on our campaigns to even get us here doing videos and calls and all those things. And now, I think it's important for them to visit the capital and see all the lives that you all will be changing. Listen, I don't know what Will Smith was talking about when he said parents don't understand. But I do know that Tupac told us there's no way we can pay you back but our plan is to show you that we understand, you are fully appreciated. So, on behalf of myself and everyone else who brought their parents here, I hope to encourage more people next year to bring their parents, it's just one day, you can send them back home as soon as they finish. But it's important for them to see what you do and they're extremely proud of all the work that you guys are doing. And when you can't answer their phones, they'll know why, you're passing all this great legislation and passing an amazing budget. So, on behalf of all the parents that are here, I say thank you for this day and next year I'm hoping to see way more parents. Thank you, madam speaker.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Thank you. On the resolution, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed, no. The resolution is adopted. On consent, page four, calendar number two eighty three. Clerk will read.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Assembly number 78 98, calendar two eighty three, mister Dinowitz, an act to amend the civil practice law and rules. This bill is laid aside. Assembly number ten thousand one twenty nine, calendar two eighty four, mister Scavoni, an act to amend the Indian law.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Read the last section.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: This act shall take effect immediately.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The clerk will record the vote.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Mister Scaffoni to explain his vote.

[Assemblymember Tommy John Schiavoni]: Madam speaker, I rise today in support of bill number one zero one two nine, which would restore New York state recognition of the Montaukit Indian nation. This is the eighth time this body will vote on this measure. In 1910, the Montaukits were stripped of their state recognition by a court decision. That court ruled that the, quote, tribe had disintegrated and been absorbed into the mass of citizens at the time of commencement of this action, and there was no tribe of Montaukian Indians. While the judge was presiding over that case, Farrow versus Benson, there were 75 members of the Montaukit nation that were present in the courtroom. I grew up with members of the Montaukits. They still exist. There are over a thousand of them on Long Island. The judicial branch had no authority to determine the status of an Indian tribe. Only the United States Congress had the ability to eliminate state recognition. In New York State, we have nine recognized tribes. Eight of them are federally recognized, one is state recognized. The Cayuga Nation, the Oneida Indian Nation, the Onondaga Indian Nation, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, the Seneca Nation, the Tonawana Seneca Nation, the Shinnecock Indian Nation, and the last one in 1978, the Uncle Chug Indian Nation. All of these groups have been recognized through the legislative process in New York State. So it is in this state where tribes are recognized, the legislative process is the avenue to reinstate recognition for the Montaukits.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Thank you, mister Scavoni. How do you vote?

[Assemblymember Tommy John Schiavoni]: I vote in the affirmative. Thank you, chair.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Thank you very much, mister Scavoni, in the affirmative. Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Ayes, one thirty three. Nose, zero.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The bill is passed. Mister Fall, for the purpose of an announcement introduction, excuse me.

[Assemblymember Charles D. Fall]: Yes. Thank you, madam speaker. On behalf of assembly member Cunningham, I would like to introduce two members of the future caucus. Here joining us today is Amos who is the membership director for the national future caucus team and Xavier. The future caucus works with legislators across the country to build relationships among emerging leaders and to encourage collaboration, dialogue and forward thinking solutions to the challenges our communities face. Amos and Xavier spend their time connecting lawmakers across the state lines and strengthening this growing network of public servants committed to working together. Madam speaker, would you kindly introduce and welcome the guest of Mr. Cunningham.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: On behalf of Mr. Fall, Mr. Cunningham, the speaker, and all members, we welcome you Amos and Xavier to the People's House, our Assembly chamber. Extending to you the privileges of the floor. Hoping you enjoy our proceedings today. Thank you for the important work you do with the Futures Caucus for our emerging leaders. Leadership is now. It's happening right now. So we look forward to all of the things that you are doing for our future leaders. Thank you so very much for joining us today. On consent, page four, calendar number two eighty five. Clerk will read.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Assembly number 10338, calendar two eighty five, mister Levine, enact to amend chapter four fifty five of the laws of 1997.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Read the last section.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: This act shall take effect immediately.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The clerk will record the vote.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Ayes, one thirty. Noes, two.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The bill is passed.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Assembly number 10344, calendar two eighty six, miss Kaye, enact to amend chapter 63 of the laws of 2021.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Read the last section.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: This act shall take effect immediately.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The clerk will record the vote.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Ayes, one thirty two. Nose, zero.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The bill is passed.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Assembly number 10350, calendar two 87, mister Powers. An act to amend chapter two seventy four of the laws of 2010.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Read the last section.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: This act shall take effect immediately.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The clerk will record the vote.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Ayes, one thirty three. Nose, zero.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The bill is passed. Congratulations, mister Powers, on your very first bill. On consent, page 34, calendar number one ninety two. Clerk will read.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Assembly number seventy six thirty three, calendar one ninety two, miss Barrett, an act to amend the public service law.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: This bill is laid aside.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Assembly number 7683, calendar one ninety three, mister Levine, an act to amend the executive law.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Read the last section.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: This act shall take effect immediately.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The clerk will record the vote.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Ayes, one thirty three. Noes, zero.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The bill is

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: passed. Assembly number 7770, calendar one ninety four, miss Torres, enact to amend the labor law.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: This bill is laid aside.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Assembly number seven 814, calendar 195, Ms. Rosenthal. Enact to amend the public health law.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: This bill is laid aside.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Assembly number 7992A, calendar 199, Ms. Heinman. An act to direct the City Of New York to conduct an analysis of stormwater and groundwater issues.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Read the last section.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: This act shall take effect immediately.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The clerk will record the vote.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Ayes, one thirty six. Nose, zero.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The bill is passed.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Assembly number 8004, calendar 200, mister Pretlow, enact to amend the public health law.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: This bill is laid aside.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Assembly number eight zero five two, calendar two zero one, mister Levine, enact to amend the public health law and the insurance law. Disputes, laid aside. Assembly number eighty eighty seven, calendar two zero two, mister Stern, an act to amend the military law. Read the last section. This act shall take it back to April 1.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The clerk will record the vote.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Mister Slater, to explain his vote.

[Assemblymember Matt Slater]: Thank you, madam speaker. I just wanted to rise in in support of this legislation and thank the sponsor for bringing it forward. You know, the Cold War veterans that we all know and serve in our district, they put the uniform on when our nation called on them, and it's fantastic for us to recognize their service to our country in this special way. This is something that I've heard from specifically in my district from our Cold War era veterans, and for the state to recognize them and provide them this commemorative medal would be very special for a lot of our fantastic veterans. So I really, again, wanna thank everybody for their support. I wanna thank the sponsor, and I look forward to seeing this across the finish line. Thank you very much, madam speaker.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Thank you, mister Slater and the affirmative. Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Ayes, one thirty six. Nose, zero.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The bill is passed.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Assembly number 8089, calendar two zero three, mister Days, an act to amend the Veterans Services Law.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Read the last section.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: This act shall take effect immediately.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The clerk will record the vote.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Mister Das, to explain his vote.

[Unknown Member (Veterans bill sponsor)]: I just wanna thank my colleagues for supporting eight zero eight nine in reference to New York State Veterans and Service members law book. It's a very simple law. It's just making sure that the veterans in our great state, their families have access to the resources that is needed and to make sure that we are making it easier for our veterans and our veteran families. Specifically, I would also like to recognize one of our own colleagues who's currently serving and while serving is also serving his constituents while he does both jobs. And I want to make sure that our body continues to support our veterans and I wanna thank everybody for supporting this bill. Thank you kindly.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Thank you, mister Daisen. Affirmative. Miss Walsh to explain her vote.

[Assemblymember Mary Beth Walsh]: Thank you very much, madam speaker. So I too will support this bill as I did last year as did all of us last year. We passed this bill unanimously last year. I would expect we will be doing that again today. It is pending in the senate right now. It hasn't been voted on. Here's my the only concern I have is that this this is a very important but significant undertaking for the Department of Veterans Services. I think that it will be a very useful tool because the bill aims to create an easily accessible and comprehensive catalog on veterans benefit and information, essentially doing the work of all other veterans services and legal organizations. But such a complete compilation of information will be a large undertaking for the department alone. In the memorandum of support, it just indicates that fiscal implications are none. I think that in terms of the effort that the agency will need to be or the department will need to be doing in order to create this will not be nothing. It will be a lift. And I just you know, I've been concerned in the past because just from our tax checkoffs, we've had a problem with Department of Veterans Services just in terms of getting money out the door to our veterans organizations from the money that we collect from tax checkoffs. So I hope that they're gonna be up to the task. I hope the governor will sign this when it does pass. Hopefully, will pass the senate and and the governor will sign it, but I really hope that they're gonna be up to the task because I do think that this is important and will really help our veterans. Thank you very much, madam speaker.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Miss Walsh in the affirmative. Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Ayes, one thirty six. Nose, zero.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The bill is passed.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Assembly number 8091B, calendar 204, miss missus People Stokes, enact to amend the general municipal law.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: This bill is laid aside.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Assembly number 8151, calendar 205, miss Barrett, enact to amend the public service law.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: This bill is laid aside.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Assembly number eight three zero five, calendar two zero seven, mister Berger, an act to amend the civil practice law and rules.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Read the last section.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The clerk will record the vote.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Ayes, one thirty six. Nose, zero.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The bill is passed.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Assembly number 8392, calendar two zero eight, mister Burrows. An act to amend the mental hygiene law.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Read the last section.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: This act shall take effect immediately.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The clerk will record the vote.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Ayes, one thirty seven. Noes, zero. The bill is passed. Assembly number 8399, calendar two zero nine, mister Magnarelli, an act to amend the vehicle in traffic law.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Read the last section.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: This act shall take effect immediately.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The clerk will record the vote.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Ayes, one thirty seven. Nose, zero.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The bill is passed.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Assembly number 8410, calendar two ten, miss Barrett, an act to amend the public authorities law.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Read the last section.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: This act shall take effect January 1.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The clerk will record the vote.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Miss Walsh, to explain her vote.

[Assemblymember Mary Beth Walsh]: Thank you very much, madam speaker. So this bill, because it increases transparency with NYSERDA, is something that I that I will support, and all of us supported it last year when it passed the assembly unanimously. It it doesn't increase the amount or type of reporting that NYSERDA has to do, but it does require that it expand the list of individuals who will receive the report to include the chairpersons of the respective energy committees in each house of the legislature, which is I think a good thing. So I will support it. I think that we all need to be very aware of what NYSERDA is doing, the revenues being collected, the requests for proposals and program opportunity notices that have been issued, a regional report of all projects selected for funding, all disbursements or expenditures of revenues pursuant to requests for proposal, and a list of all contracts executed and completed during the reporting period. All very good information, and now more individuals will be getting it. So I think it is a good bill to support, and I will be supporting it. Thank you.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Thank you. Miss Walsh and the affirmative. Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Ayes, one thirty seven. Noes, zero. Noes passed. Assembly number eighty four forty seven a calendar 02/11, miss Seawright, enact to amend the elder law.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Read the last section.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: This act shall take effect immediately.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The clerk will record the vote.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Miss Walsh, to explain her vote.

[Assemblymember Mary Beth Walsh]: Thank you, madam speaker. So I think that this is a very important bill. I think some of the saddest calls that I receive in my district office and that maybe some of you receive are from the elderly constituents that we have who have been taken advantage of, have been financially exploited. And I think that this bill, requires the Office for the Aging to develop an awareness campaign on financial exploitation of the elderly, I think it's a very important step and it's one that I'm very happy to support. Unfortunately, there's no senate companion bill at this time, but hopefully there will be shortly. So as we supported it unanimously last year, I would expect that to be the case again this year. I do think it's very important. Thank you.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Thank you. Miss Walsh in the affirmative. Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Ayes, one thirty seven. Nose, zero. Bill is passed. Assembly number 8480, calendar two twelve, mister Bronson, an act to amend the workers' compensation law.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Read the last section.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: This act shall take effect immediately.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The clerk will record the vote.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Ayes, one thirty seven. Nose, zero.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The bill is passed.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Assembly number 8482, calendar two thirteen, miss Cruz, enact to amend the workers' compensation law.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: This bill is laid aside.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Assembly number 8 thousand five hundred ninety four, calendar two fifteen, Mr. P. Carroll, an act to amend the general business law.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: This bill is laid aside.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Assembly number eight thousand six and seventy five b, calendar two sixteen, Mr. Braunstein, an act to amend the penal law and the general business law.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Read the last section.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The clerk will record the vote.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Ayes, one thirty seven. Nose, zero.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The bill is passed.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Assembly number 8680 a, calendar two 17, mister Burke, enactment of general city law.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Read the last section.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: This act shall take effect immediately.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The clerk will record the vote.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: Are there any other votes? Announce the results.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Ayes, one thirty five. Noes, two.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: The bill is passed. Miss Lunsford, for the purpose of an introduction.

[Assemblymember Jen Lunsford]: Go ahead, please. Madam speaker, thank you for letting me interrupt these proceedings for an introduction on behalf of member Alvarez and member Torres. The Wildlife Conservation Society in The Bronx is hosting their annual Youth Lobby Day here in Albany. These young people are part of the WCS STEM Career Lattice Program and met with legislators conveying how civics is tied to conservation and community. If you could please welcome them to the chamber.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: On behalf of miss Lunsford, miss Torres, mister Alvarez, the speaker, and all members, we welcome you to our assembly chamber and extending the privileges of the floor to you. I know you all just arrived here, but I hope you're able to enjoy some of the proceedings that you saw here today. Always wonderful to see young future leaders here in our assembly chambers. Thank you so very much for joining us today. On consent, page 38, calendar number two nineteen. Clerk will read.

[Reading Clerk (Assembly)]: Assembly number eight nine zero six, calendar two nineteen, miss Torres, enactment of general business law.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: This bill is laid aside. Miss Lunsford.

[Assemblymember Jen Lunsford]: Madam speaker, do we have any further housekeeping or resolutions?

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: 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 I. I. Opposed, no. The resolutions are adopted. Miss Lunsford.

[Assemblymember Jen Lunsford]: I now move that the assembly stand adjourned and that we reconvene at 02:00PM, Tuesday, March 10, tomorrow being a session day.

[Acting Speaker (Presiding Officer, female)]: On miss Lunsford's motion, the house stands adjourned.