New York State SmartTranscripts:

[Speaker 0]: The senate will come to order. I ask everyone present to please rise and recite the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. In the absence of clergy, let us bow our heads in a moment of silent reflection or prayer. Reading of the

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: journal. In senate, Monday, 04/27/2026, the senate met pursuant to adjournment. Journal of Friday, 04/24/2026 was read and approved. A motion to senate adjourn.

[Speaker 0]: Without objection, the journal stands approved as read. Presentation of petitions. Messages from the assembly secretary will read.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Senator Krueger moves to discharge from the committee on code to senate bill number twenty two thirty nine, substituted for the identity senate bill twenty two seventy three. The reading count is seven ninety seven.

[Speaker 0]: So ordered. Messages from the governor. Report to standing committees. Report to select committees. Communications reports from state offices, motions of resolution, senator Generis.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Good afternoon, mister president. Good afternoon. On behalf of senator Sanders, I wish to call up senate print 3180 recall from the assembly, which is now at the

[Speaker 0]: Secondary, we'll read.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Driver number 490, senate print 300180 by senator Sanders, enactment of elder law.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Move to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed.

[Speaker 0]: The second senator will call the roll on reconsideration.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: The double with Junauds Kruger, Ort, Zuldt, and Zellner. Ayes, two. The bill is

[Speaker 0]: restored to its place in the third reading calendar.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: I offer the following amendments.

[Speaker 0]: The amendments are

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: received. Amendments are also offered to the following third reading calendar bills by senator Rivera, calendar five ninety, by senator Brisport, calendar seven twenty seven.

[Speaker 0]: The amendments are received in those bills and they will retain their place in the third reading calendar. Senator Generis.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: And I move to adopt the resolution calendar with the exception of resolutions eighteen forty five, eighteen forty seven, nineteen thirty four, nineteen sixty one, and nineteen eighty one.

[Speaker 0]: All those in favor of adopting the resolution calendar with the exception of resolutions eighteen forty five, eighteen forty seven, nineteen thirty four, nineteen sixty one, and nineteen eighty one, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed nay. The resolution calendar is adopted.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Senator Generis. Please call on senator Mayor for an introduction.

[Speaker 0]: Senator Mayor for an introduction.

[Senator Shelley B. Mayer]: Thank you, mister president. I rise today to proudly introduce a terrific group of students from my district who came to Albany as part of the voices unfiltered policy program at the YWCA of White Plains in Central Westchester. These students, if you saw their work, if you came between the LOB and where security is, you would see they shared their research, their very substantive policy proposals, and their advocacy campaigns with legislators and staff. Hopefully, you have had the opportunity to see their work today, but their projects tackle critical issues, including the number of unhoused students, housing affordability, and support for our immigrant neighbors. I continue to be impressed by their creativity, their thoughtfulness, and their deep commitment to addressing the challenges facing all of our communities. Programs like this are so important because they empower young people to engage directly in the policy making process make their voices and opinions heard. New York's youth bring powerful voices and unique perspectives, and we honor them today. Adam Munoz, Aidan Munoz, Austin Munoz, Benjamin Elkin, Ina Borgia, Morgan Bowman, Oliver Chow, Kaylee Coffey, Juliet Anderson Rosen, Maribel Sedeno, and Svara Gaud, along with their chaperone, Leslie Mazota, are here today in the gallery, and I would ask that you extend them all the privileges of the house, welcome them to Albany, and thank them for their work being civic participants at this young age. Thank you, mister president.

[Speaker 0]: Thank you, senator mayor. To these incredible young people making their mark on the world at an early age, we welcome you to our state capitol. We extend to you all the privileges and the courtesy of this house. Please rise and be recognized and keep on doing what you're doing. Senator Generics.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Now, mister president, let's take up resolution eighteen forty seven by senator Clear. Read that resolution's title and call on senator Clear.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Secretary Rareek. Resolution eighteen forty seven by senator Clear commemorating the sixty sixth anniversary of Senegalese independence on 04/04/2026.

[Speaker 0]: Senator Clear on the resolution.

[Senator Cordell Cleare]: Thank you, mister president. First, I wanna say, Albany. That means welcome to Albany. Today represents a very first of its kind occurrence, Senegalese Day in Albany. Paying tribute to our beloved Senegalese community and state in Senate District 30 and statewide, it is a day to honor our great friends on the floor and in the gallery. Today marks the first annual Senegalese Day in Albany celebrating the sixty sixth anniversary of Senegalese independence. Senegalese independence is very unique and notable because it was achieved through negotiation and not bloodshed in 1960. New York is famously known as the melting pot of all cultures, and it is important that we recognize and honor them. In the mid nineteen eighties and late nineteen in '9 late nineteen seventies, individuals and families from many West African countries migrated to The United States, settling in my district, including the great people of Senegal known as the land of Taranga, meaning welcome. Located in Central Harlem on West 116th Street is a vibrant neighborhood founded on family, tradition, and cultural preservation made up of residents and business owners who originated from Senegal, West Africa. This area quickly became a main shopping and locals a social local hub for residents of their community. Today, the Senegalese bring the same spirit of welcome from their homeland to our communities and our beloved hair braiders, restaurateurs, beauty supply shop owners, fabric merchants, car service business owners. So many of their businesses are women led and women owned. For example, at the Malcolm Shabazz marketplace is packed with a large variety of vendors selling goods ranging from traditional African goods and hair braiding boutiques. Truth to be told, when our friends from Synagogue moved in, the neighborhood was in a vulnerable position. Buildings were abandoned, drugs were epidemic, and city disinvestment was rampant. Following in the spirit of the proverb, spilled water is better than a broken jar, the Senegalese made the community their own. They provided car service uptown in an era when taxis did not travel North of Central Park. They endured many struggles but stayed and worked hard to build a beautiful community. They brought with them their faith, both Muslim and Christian, and worked to better our neighborhoods today through groups like the Senegalese Islamic Order such as Mika, the Murid Islamic Community in America, the Harlem Islamic Cultural Center, which is a spiritual home to many of the Tidjani order, the Layin. In addition to the day to day enrichment they bring, twice in this decade, they had the opportunity to celebrate in the streets when the Senegalese national soccer team won the African Cup of Nations tournament in both 2022 and, yes, again, in 2026. For over forty years, the Senegalese have offered a taste of home for immigrants adjusting to their new life in The States, bringing in new shops, restaurants, bakeries, and has have greatly contributed to the cultural and economic structure of New York. Commemorating the past, present, and future of the Senegalese community will continue to strengthen the fabric of New York's cultural identity. Today, are joined by his excellency, mister Demba Kamara, consul general of Senegal, and mister Mamadou Lamingbo, president of the Senegalese Association in America, as well as friends, leaders, colleagues, and staff from these organizations. Also joining us is miss Astutul Andal, form leader of the women's community, women's Senegalese community, mister Laji So, mister Mamadou Drame, former president of the Senegalese Association, and so many others are here with me today. I ask that we extend to them a great sense of Taranga from the chambers. Thank you.

[Speaker 0]: To the consul general, the president of the Senegalese Association, and to our guests from the mighty nation of Senegal, we celebrate your independence, and we welcome you to the senate. I extend to you all of the privileges and the courtesy of Ms. House. Please rise and be recognized. The question is on the resolution. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed nay. The resolution is adopted. Senator Generis.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Mister president, let's move on to resolution nineteen eighty one by senator Sanders. Read its title and call on senator Sanders,

[Speaker 0]: please. Secretary Read.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Resolution nineteen eighty one by senator Sanders is immoralizing governor Kathy Hochul to claim 04/28/2026 as MWBE Advocacy Day in the state of New York.

[Speaker 0]: Senator Sanders on the resolution.

[Senator James Sanders Jr.]: Thank you, mister president. A pillar of American of the American dream is the is the pillar of equality of opportunity, equality of opportunity. Basically, that means that as we understand it, a person who works hard, plays by the rules, and invest their time and treasure has the same opportunity to, to make it big in America to get to the American dream. Sadly, this is really, more dream than reality, not even in New York State. One example is that of this is that more than 54% of New York State is composed of women and people of color. Of the $160,000,000,000 or more budget that New York State has, the state share of, MWBE had been $3,000,000,000. Now I'm not the world's greatest mathematician, but that does not sound like 54% or anywhere close to it. Yet this meager amount even troublesome. We have an ill wind coming out of DC that says that this is too much, that, that this is not fair and somehow this threatens something. They never really say what. But we in the Empire State have taken a different position. We say that we are going to stand for all, that we're going to fight to make sure there's equality of opportunity, that everyone gets a fair chance at competing here. We in the Empire State are not going to let these ill winds, this foul smelling wind, decide determine what we are going to do here. And I want to take a moment to praise the governor and to praise this body for standing firm on this. Now MWBE day is a day where we get to speak and and agree that this is part of part of New York, that everybody here is part of the great culture that we call New York. And we have some of the greatest heroes of MWBE here today. We have and and I will only read a couple of names because if I go further, we will be here for quite a while. I will I would not be do right if I didn't speak of Jason Clark and doctor Tammy Payton, Carla Hernandez, and Michael Gardner, and of course, the the New York Woman's Chamber of Commerce and others. Mister president, I would like to for us to give these great guests and and this great day the benefit of the of this great chamber and to reward them for their great efforts. I thank you, and I thank this great chamber for allowing this day to happen. Thank you, sir.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Thank you, senator Sanders. To our guests, I welcome you on behalf of the senate. We extend to you the privileges and courtesies of this house. Please rise and be recognized. The question is on the resolution. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, nay. The resolution is adopted. Senator Gianaris.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Next up, Mr. President, is Resolution eighteen forty five by Senator Bailey. Please read that resolution's title and call on senator Clear first to speak on that resolution.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Secretary Will Reed.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Resolution eighteen forty five by senator Bailey, celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of John Coltrane, renowned artistic trailblazer and innovative new New York jazz musician.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Senator Clear on the resolution.

[Senator Cordell Cleare]: Thank you, mister president. John Coltrane is a beloved figure whose singularly unique jazz virtuosity built upon Harlem Renaissance legends and influenced the entire world. Many of Coltrane's earliest performances were uptown at the Apollo Theater. One of Coltrane's final performances was at the crisping of the African Cultural Center in Harlem where he dedicated the song Tunji to Babatunde Olatunji. In between, he was simply beloved all over the world. His masterwork, A Love Supreme, was described as a musical prayer in four movements, acknowledgment, resolution, pursuance, and psalm, which combined to form thanks to God for a spiritual awakening. For the past five years, in my district, we have extended and enriched the Coltrane legacy in Harlem with an annual tribute each September called John Coltrane Jazz Appreciation Day Festival. Performers have included legends such as doctor John Satchmo Manan, trombonist Craig Harris, Patience Higgins, Antonio Hart, Bill Saxon, Camille Thurman, and the Dorel Green Quartet. The John Coltrane Jazz Appreciation Day Festival is a treasured event that draws a capacity crowd of nearly 2,000 people. And we hope that this year, on the one hundredth birthday of John Coltrane in the heart of the Harlem Renaissance Cultural District, we will continue to pay proper tribute to the greatest of all time, John Coltrane. I wanna thank senator Jamal Bailey for bringing this important resolution today. This is more than just about art and entertainment. It is about preservation. And in a period in time where much of our culture is threatened with erasure, it is important that we pay tribute and lift up our great artists like John Coltrane. The music of Coltrane represents so much of not only the black experience in America, but also the human experience of struggle and triumph. Mister president, thank you, and I proudly vote aye.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Thank you, senator Clear. Senator Gennardis on the resolution.

[Senator Roxanne J. Persaud]: Oh, Billy.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Senator Guinardes.

[Senator Andrew Gounardes]: Thank you, mister president. I love jazz, mister president. Well, before I got elected and I had free time in my life, I used to go to senator Clear's district to Bill's place Friday nights, right, go listen to some amazing jazz. But among my favorite was John Coltrane. And everyone talks about Love Supreme. To me, it's the live version recorded in 1965 in Paris. That forty eight minutes, that spiritual journey which is a a joyous cacophony of sound and music and energy, and it all starts with that slow haunting humming and he just starts bringing it in. Know, love supreme.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Love

[Senator Andrew Gounardes]: supreme. Nothing nothing is better. Nothing is better. And whenever whenever I'm feeling that I need some spiritual rejuvenation, I put that on because that just fills me up. And it's because of the power that he has, the the way he harnessed the power of music to heal people who may or may not know that they were broken or that they were hurting or that they needed some type of healing is unmatched by any musician, think, that has ever lived on this planet. And so I'm really thankful that we get to take a moment from our deliberations today to pay tribute to mister John Coltrane on the hundredth anniversary of his birth. I wanna thank senator Bailey for reminding of us of just how important that is. I vote I. Thank you.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Thank you, senator. Senator Webb on the resolution.

[Senator Lea Webb]: Thank you, mister president. I too wanna extend my appreciation to senator Clare and senator Bailen, of course, our majority leader for supporting this important resolution. Know, John Coltrane, as we've shared so far and as a lot of us know, he was an incredible pioneer in his shape his shaping of music, not just jazz, but music overall, is something that we most certainly still recognize, and it's important that this resolution is happening today as part of commemorating his hundredth birthday. He has not only inspired generations of musicians to pursue their dreams, he is also noted as one of the most influential and prolific artists in the history of jazz and music. It is also important to note that his inspiration to artists, pushed them to move past what is comfortable or what is safe and to reach for something that is true. John Coltrane also served his country. He enlisted in the navy to fight in World War two, though it was obvious that his true calling was music. And while stationed in Hawaii, he played clarinet clarinet in the navy band, the Melody Masters. Though due to segregation, he was only a guest performer and could not be considered a permanent member. He came of age at a time of pervasive racism and bigotry, yet he dedicated his life to spreading a love supreme and being the force which is truly for good. He collaborated with trailblazing artists like Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk. And we all know that music is one of those things that brings us all together regardless of cultural identity. I shared this story about my family. My parents in particular were, vast collectors of albums. They were known, in my neighborhood as our neighborhood, music store. And most certainly amongst the many albums that, they collected, John Coltrane's music was most certainly prominently featured in that collection. Next month, the black legislative task force is coordinating a celebration, to commemorate black music history month. And of course, we will be recognizing John Coltrane and other icons who have shaped and continue to shape our culture through music and more. John Coltrane's music continues that connection. His music lives on in concert halls, on sidewalks, and in jazz clubs around the world. His music lives on in each and every one of us when we pursue our true calling. And when we find our own song or theme music and refuse to let it go unplayed. I am proud to be voting in favor of this resolution, and I encourage my colleagues most certainly in honorary honoring the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of mister John Coltrane. Thank you, mister president. I proudly vote aye.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Thank you, senator Webb. Senator Martinez on the resolution.

[Senator Monica R. Martinez]: Thank you, mister president. I rise today because this wonderful house sits in my district, and while we're celebrating this milestone, as mentioned before, let's not forget the preservation for future individuals to listen to such great music. And a love supreme, the fact that it was created in Dix Hills on Long Island is one of the proudest, moments that I can possibly say, that I that I have right now because when I found out that senator Bailey was presenting the one hundredth, our district was so big and there's so much history in them and even though jazz is all over the state and the city and Queens and The Bronx and so forth, but he's on Long Island. Alright? So I just needed to stand up for that. And I just wanna say to the family, thank you for uniting so many people through music, through culture, and please know that you will remain in our hearts forever. Thank you.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Thank you, senator Martinez. Senator Sanders on the resolution. It

[Senator James Sanders Jr.]: is true that John Coltrane, was an amazing spirit, a a force of nature, that he chose to harness itself through the question of jazz. It is true that Harlem certainly played a major role with him and and you pointed out, you're part of Long Island, but it is also true that when John Coltrane went home, he went to Queens.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: His

[Senator James Sanders Jr.]: was in Queens. His home was in, Saint Albans as a matter of fact that, perhaps this is the soil that gave him the supreme love that we all are speaking of. Perhaps this is where he was able to bring it together and I invite all of you to discover what John Coltrane discovered, that there's something godly about Queeps and that we all should go there. Jazz is noted by many different things. Improvisation is one of the most important things to jazz. In a good jazz concert, you never hear the music the same way twice. Unlike other musics, you never are hearing the music the same way twice. You're always going to hear it slightly different or sometimes radically different depending on your album, depending on what the feel of the day is. John Coltrane took jazz and took it to just a whole another level that we frankly have yet to figure out where it is. People have branched off. Many people have branched off from him and have gone in so many different ways. This new orchestra quickly comes to mind and and others have just gone all over the place with jazz. So I invite everyone to find two different things. First, of course, to find yourself in jazz. John Coltrane is a great way to start, but jazz is so wide, it has room for everyone. And another place that has room for everyone is, of course, Queens. So find yourself in Queens also because you'll fit in well with John Coltrane. Thank you very much.

[Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie]: Thank you,

[Senator James Sanders Jr.]: sen yes.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Thank you, senator Sanders senator Bailey to share his love supreme and to close.

[Speaker 0]: Thank you, mister president. I'd like to thank leaders to a cousin, senator Martinez for being so gracious, Senator Cleer for sharing her views from Harlem and Senator Gennardis and Senator Webb and Senator Sanders. We talked about the soil that was rooted, we're gonna talk about the soil that John Coltrane came from. Was born in Hamlet, North Carolina. Oh lord. Raised in High Point, which is my state. This one's for North Carolina. Come on and raise up. And North Carolina raised up one of the true legends in music, not just jazz music, mister president, in music. In forty years, this man has created an art form that senator Sanders indicated has never been replicated. The precision or imprecision in which he's able to play, I'll get to hip hop in a second because there is a fusion, but Rakim noted he borrowed his delivery when he heard John Coltrane play two notes at the same time. So he pushed the boundaries of music, not just jazz music. And he did a lot of great things. He said, you know what, sound in music but I'm going to make it soulful with his reinterpolation of my favorite things. Giant Steps, one of my favorite songs, the frenetic energy. And I'd imagine you'd never hear that song played twice. Just a frenetic energy not not so mellow but mellow at the same time. Mister PC, love Supreme of course. But mister president, my favorite Coltrane song was Alabama. Relatively short in comparison to the rest of his magnum opuses, but it plays like the soundtrack to black America's because it in fact in fact was part of the soundtrack to black America. It was inspired by the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. And he actually, without words, mister president, took the same rhythm of Doctor King's eulogy and played the sax in that form. That's not genius, that's beyond genius, mister president. You know, learned a lot about jazz music from my dad. And in preparing for this resolution, I listened to a lot of Cold Train over again. And you know growing up, you don't know the names of the songs, but you know you've heard them quite a few times. So I had to make sure I give do notes to my dad and and speaking to him about it, he talked about how growing up in Carolina, that was the first tenor man that he saw that inspired him. He listened to Blue Train, which was his favorite song. To what my dad says, the seminal song of jazz music, Blue Train. WBGO and Jazzmobile and all of the places that we've heard jazz growing up, So important to our culture. Hip hop and jazz, Mr. President, my opinion are the greatest American art forms. You can argue me if you wish. I don't think you'd be successful. Amen was sampled by Lords of the Underground's Chief Rocker. Functional with Thelonious Monk was sampled in Method Man. As I mentioned, Rakim, one of the greatest MCs of all time was a saxophone player in his youth. And he patterned his rhyme, his flow, one of the most legendary flows in hip hop history after the way that Coltrane played the saxophone. Mister president, there's so much that we can learn. As senator Gennard has said earlier, if you have not listened to Coltrane, I I would implore you, I wanna wonder what you're doing. But in secondly, I'd implore you to listen. You can go on whatever streaming service of your choice. I'm not gonna advertise for them but I want you to go on there and pick any Coltrane song and you will be satisfied. I just wanna make sure we recognize the guests that we have who continue to help bring jazz music at a major level. Mister Charles Wadlington from Universal Records and Ken Druker from the senior vice president of jazz development at the Verve Label Group, the preeminent jazz label of our time. And recognize even though that his family was supposed to be here, I'm gonna recognize them for all that they do to continue the legacy. Ravi Coltrane, Michelle Coltrane and Orin Coltrane, his children, his late wife Alice Coltrane and his late son John Junior. And I wanna leave us with a quote from, John Coltrane in 1966. He said, I know that there are bad forces, forces that bring suffering to others and misery to the world. I want to be the opposite force. I want to be the force which is truly for good. He was truly for good, mister president. May his legacy live on and on his hundredth birthday, we celebrate one of the greatest to ever pick up a sacks, mister John Coltrane. I vote on a resolution, mister president. And please recognize our guests.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Thank you, senator Bailey. To our guests, I welcome you on behalf of the senate. We extend to you the privileges and courtesies of this house. Please rise and be recognized. The question is on the resolution. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, nay. The resolution is adopted. Senator Gionnaires.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Please call on senator Harkom for an introduction.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Senator Harkom for an introduction.

[Senator Peter Harckham]: Thank you very much, mister president. You know, it is said that, we can't know where we're going unless we know where we've been. And so we need to understand the stories of our past to inform the vision of our future. And so I'm proud today that we have folks from my district today from the Sing Sing Prison Museum telling fascinating stories from the folks who in the two hundred year history of that correctional facility, the folks who served there, the folks who worked there, the folks who built the facility, and the complex interaction with the community, of Ossining and the surrounding community and the proximity to New York City. I wanna thank them, for their, really stimulating important conversations about our correction system as it stands today. The where we need to go, conversations around reform, and and just being a catalyst for these important conversations that we as a society need to have. In the wake of the two hundredth anniversary, they've opened the visiting center later this year in in the village of Ossining and continue the difficult work of trying to preserve the original cell block. Imagine trying to create an active, museum within an active correctional facility. And the challenges and the roadblocks they continue to meet, but yet they remain undaunted while they try to continue to tell these important stories. So mister chair, from the Sing Sing Prison Museum, we have Minerva Coffey, Amy Huffnagel, and from the board, retired Sing Sing correctional officer, lieutenant lieutenant, excuse me, John Gilman. If you would please, sir, welcome them to the chamber and extend to them the courtesies and privileges of the house.

[Speaker 0]: Thank you, senator Harkin. To our guests from the Sing Sing Museum, we thank you for coming up here and continuing to impart knowledge upon us. We welcome you on behalf of the senate. We extend to you all the privileges and the courtesy of this house. Please rise and be recognized. Senator Generis.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Now let's take up resolution nineteen thirty four by senator Serrano. Read its title and call on senator Serrano.

[Speaker 0]: Secretary Reid.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Resolution nineteen thirty four by senator Serrano, 05/02/2026 as I love my part day in the state of New York.

[Speaker 0]: Senator Serrano on the resolution.

[Senator José M. Serrano]: Thank you, mister president. For hearing me on this resolution, I would like to thank the senate, my colleagues for adopting this important resolution today recognizing Saturday, 05/02/2026 as I love my park day in the state of New York. I love my park day is a day where everyone can become a steward of their own parks and open spaces. There is always a tremendous amount of support and volunteers for this vital cleanup. We should treasure our parks and historic sites every day. New York has the best park system in the nation. New York's public lands and parks are vital resources that shape communities, support wildlife habitats, and benefit both physical and mental health. The safeguarding of these spaces is paramount as they provide opportunities for everyone to explore, play, wonder, unwind, learn, and find inspiration. My colleagues have heard me speak on both the economic and mental health benefits that access to open spaces offers, as well as the lifelong lessons that environmental stewardship, learning to swim, and exposure to natural world around us provide, for the people of all walks of life. I would like to thank our Parks Friends groups, the office of parks recreation and historic preservation, DEC, and the parks advocates who continue to be fantastic stewards of our state parks and historic sites. Thank you, mister president, for hearing me on this resolution, and I thank my colleagues for supporting this today. Thank you.

[Speaker 0]: Thank you, senator Serrano. The question is on the resolution. All those in favor, signify by saying aye. Opposed nay. The resolution is adopted. Senator Generis.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: And now it's time for resolution nineteen sixty one by senator Martinez. Please read that resolution's title. I'm calling senator Martinez.

[Speaker 0]: The second title will read.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Resolution nineteen sixty one by senator Martinez, memorialized on governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim 04/28/2026 as Animal Advocacy Day in state of New York.

[Speaker 0]: Senator Martinez, for the resolution.

[Senator Monica R. Martinez]: Thank you, mister president. I rise today on this fun day that we have here in our state capital, and that's Animal Advocacy Day. I also wanted to thank senator Hinchy, our chair of Ag and Markets, for continuing this tradition that has been happening here in the state capital for fifteen years and it serves as a tradition to provide our state's animal ambassadors an opportunity to meet with one another and with their elected officials for policies to protect these creatures. This year, I'm proud to sponsor this resolution, joining a bipartisan legacy of respect and support for those who literally do not have a voice. Today, many of us have the opportunity to meet with the people, the organizations who are speaking on their behalf. They came asking that we act on bills pending before us here in Albany to protect the animals both domesticated, wild, those on land, air, and sea, which complement our time here on Earth. Bills such as one nine seven Tucker's Law would allow greater judicial discretion and order consecutive and concurrent sentences when an individual is convicted of multiple counts of aggravated cruelty. Bill number two five two, which would prevent wild and exotic animals from being imported, sold, and owned. No animals should be removed from their native habitat for the purpose of profit. And for those who visited the well, I'm sure you saw an octopus around. You didn't get one? Well, every elector should have received one of these. Alright. Talk to me. But this bill, what it would do, it would prohibit the exploitation and the environmentally damaging octopus farming. Now it is not time for us to roll over on these important issues that we protect animals within our state from being abused, killed as a result of willful negligence and literally just deliberate viciousness against our animals. I thank the leader, my colleagues, all the advocates that were here today for really showing us that animals tend to be a part of our family sometimes. And in honor today too of the package that we're about to pass, we also must recognize that some of these animals are also family and many of our women and men who are victims of domestic violence sometimes do not leave their their environment because they do not have a place to go with their animal. So aside from being Animal Advocacy Day and supporting victims of domestic violence, I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this resolution, and and thank you for for the day.

[Speaker 0]: Thank you, senator Martinez. The question is on the resolution. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed nay. The resolution is adopted. Senator Generis.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Okay. Let's take a previously adopted resolution eighteen twenty seven by senator Webb. Read its title and call on senator Webb,

[Speaker 0]: please. Secretary.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Resolution eighteen twenty seven by senator Webb, memorializing governor Kathy Hobo to claim March 2026 as neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder awareness month in the state of New York.

[Speaker 0]: Senator Webb on the resolution.

[Senator Lea Webb]: Thank you, mister president. I rise to, of course, thank our majority leader for supporting this important resolution, to proclaim March 2026 as neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder awareness month in the state of New York. This condition, also known as NMOSD, is a very rare autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that attacks the optic nerves, spinal cord, and in some cases, the brain stem. NMOSD is often misdiagnosed, and in every delay in diagnosis can, carry significant and devastating consequences. A single relapse could mean permanent loss of vision, mobility, and independence. I think today of a young man named me who's a constituent from my district who is navigating right now this, diagnosis with remarkable resilience. Imagine being a young person pursuing your education and building your future when suddenly your body begins to turn against you. Your vision changes, your strength fades, and your search for answers is inconclusive. That is the reality for those living with NMOSD. Like so many others, Niz's journey has been filled with uncertainty, setbacks, and challenges that no person should have to face, but he continues to push forward, holding on to hope and showing strength in the face of a disease that can change lives in an instant. In 2022, there were about twenty two thousand individuals living with NMOSD in The United States. Studies show that up to ninety percent of those diagnosed are women and that NMOSD is more prevalent among those of African or East Asian descent. We must continue to invest in research and make space in our health care system for rare diseases that often go unseen. We also have to ensure that patients have access to timely, accurate diagnoses, specialized care, and treatments that can prevent further harm. This resolution recognizes individuals like me and the families who walk in this path alongside their loved ones. Ni, we recognize your strength and to all those who are impacted by this condition, your resilience and your courage, and we commit ourselves to ensuring that no one facing this disease or any other underrepresented health condition feels invisible because rare should never mean forgotten. Thank you to senate majority leader Andrea Stewart Cousins for her support. I'm very proud to be voting in favor of this resolution, and I hope my colleagues will join me in voting I in recognizing this month. Thank you, mister president.

[Speaker 0]: Thank you, senator Webb. The resolution was adopted on March 31. Senator Generis.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: And lastly, but not least, previously adopted resolution thirteen ninety nine by senator Prasad. Read that resolution's title and recognize senator Prasad.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Senator Reid. Resolution thirteen ninety nine by senator Prasad memorializing governor Kathy Hochul to claim 04/29/2026 as Denim Day in the state

[Speaker 0]: of New York. Senator Prasad, the resolution.

[Senator Roxanne J. Persaud]: Thank you, mister president. Today, I rise to speak on Denim Day as I usually do. As you know, we stand today in solidarity with survivors of sexual violence and reaffirm a simple but powerful truth. No one ever asks to be harmed and no one should ever be blamed for experiencing this harm. April is considered sexual assault awareness month, but we should not have to speak about sexual assault awareness because it's something that should never happen. Denim Day originated, in response in 1998 because of an Italian court's decision. It overturned a rape conviction, and the reason for them overturning the rape conviction was because the person who was raped was wearing tight denim. And so the judges, in their infinite wisdom, imply that because the person who's wearing these tight denims that she has had to help the person who violated her. And they threw out that conviction, and the person walked free. The young woman was devastated as anyone should be because she was violated. So in response to that decision, women in the Italian parliament the next day, they all wore jeans in solidarity with the victim. Today, across the world, we wear jeans, and it will be tomorrow. So anyone who wants to wear jeans tomorrow, not in the chamber, but anyone who wants to wear jeans tomorrow, take your picture to show solidarity with sexual assault victims. On April 29, the day we wear jeans to show that we will not tolerate sexual assault, sexual violence. It is unacceptable. Sexual violence is not an abstract issue. In our communities, survivors are our neighbors. They're our relatives. They're our friends. They're our coworkers. They're people that we see on a daily basis, and many of them are afraid to speak about the violation that's occurred to them. It also affects people from every background. Sexual assault, sexual violence does not discriminate. And so again, we ask that we stand in solidarity with sexual assault victims. But we have to take action. As a state, we have a responsibility to ensure that survivors have access to services, trauma informed care, and meaningful pathways to justice. We must also continue to strengthen partnerships with our community based organizations and invest in prevention in our prevention efforts. Prevention starts early. Let's have those early conversations. Your voice matters. Please, if you hear of someone who has suffered a sexual assault, Don't turn your back on that person. Have the courage to speak up on their behalf. To every survivor, we want them to know their voice matters. We respect them. We support them, and we will do everything in our power to ensure that it never happens to another person. On Denim Day again, I encourage you to do more than just wear your denim, but to speak up. Speak up. Speak out. Be supportive. Again, I wanna thank leader Stuart Cousins and all of you in the this chamber, all of you, my colleagues, who continue to support this resolution every year that we bring it to the floor. Because sexual assault, sexual violence should not be tolerated, and we should not hide from the realities of what's occurring. So again, I thank you all for your support, and I vote aye. Thank you, mister president.

[Speaker 0]: Thank you, senator Prasad. Senator Webb on the resolution.

[Senator Lea Webb]: Thank you, mister president. I wanna thank senator Prasad for continuing to lift up this important, conversation around Denim Day. I'll just add that it is one of the longest running sexual violence prevention and education campaigns in history. It is, most certainly a testament to how far we've come in the work that has already been done in this space, but it also underscores even more how much further we have to go with respect to, preventing sexual assault. Eighty one percent of women report experiencing sexual harassment in their lifetime, and that statistic is painfully disturbing and unacceptable. Awareness campaigns like Denim Day allow every person to stand together in solidarity with victims of all genders. It creates the time and space for victims and advocates to feel supported, heard, and most importantly, recognized for their truth. No one should be blamed for their sexual assault because of what they were wearing. No article of clothing can ever bear responsibility for violent actions for the violent actions of another person. Mister president, I'll be voting in favor of this resolution. I encourage my colleagues to do the same. Thank you.

[Speaker 0]: Thank you, senator Webb. The resolution was previously adopted on January 21. Senator Generis.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Mister president, the, sponsors of today's resolutions would like to open them for cosponsorship.

[Speaker 0]: All the resolutions are open for cosponsorship. Should you choose not to be a cosponsor, notify the desk.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Please notify the desk.

[Speaker 0]: Senator Generis.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: I have a motion here by senator Mayor on page 25. I offer the following amendments to calendar seven zero seven, senate print 9517, an estimate said bill retains its place on the third reading calendar.

[Speaker 0]: The amendments are received, the bill will retain its place on the third reading calendar.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Please take up the calendar.

[Speaker 0]: Secretary Reed.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Calendar number one ninety nine, senate print 54 a by senator Fernandez, an enactment of penal law. Read the last section. Section two, this act will take effect immediately.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Call the roll.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Adabo, GNR Skruger, or Sukadan Zama. Senator Fernandez, you explain her vote.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez]: Thank you, mister president. Following off the last resolution, Denim Day, proudly wore my denim suit today. But, the message is relevant to this bill. What you wear is not an invitation for assault or attack or rape. And what you choose to consume, should you get intoxicated, is not an invitation to assault, attack or rape. I rise today in support of this legislation. I thank my colleagues for advancing a bill that brings our laws closer to reality. Gaps in the law are leaving survivors without clear protection, allowing the focus to drift away from the actions of those who caused the harm and towards the circumstances surrounding the survivor. This bill addresses that gap and by making clear that a person who is intoxicated to the point where they cannot remember is incapable of consent, regardless of how that condition occurred. It affirms a simple standard, consent cannot exist where capacity does not. I thank this body for passing this bill once again, and I look forward to seeing its full passage so that survivors of rape, when they are intoxicated, however way they got intoxicated, can get justice. Thank you.

[Speaker 0]: Senator Fernandez, it will be recorded in the affirmative. Announce the results.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Ayes, 58.

[Speaker 0]: Bills

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: passed. Candle number two eighty seven, senate print one fifty six a by senator Salazar, enact to amend the executive law. Read the last section. Section three, this action would immediately.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Call the roll.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Dabo, GNR Scruger, Ort, Zukat, and Zoner. Announce the results. I ask 58. Those passed. Calendar number March, center print 871 by senator Baylor, enactment of public housing law. Read the last section. Section two, this action would expect immediately.

[Speaker 0]: Call the roll.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Adabo, GNR's Kruger, Ort, Sukad, and Zoner.

[Speaker 0]: Announce the results.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Ayes, 58. Bills passed. Council number 469, senate print 6750 by senator Webb, an act from the retirement and social security law.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Read the last section.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Section eight is action to confect on 01/1988 day. Shall come along? Call the roll. Adabo. G and R approval. Ort, Zonnen. Announce the results. Ayes, 58. Votes passed. Conduct number five forty six, center print forty five eighty four a by Senator Salazar, and that too amend the executive law.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Read the last section.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Section six is actually taken on 01/20 of day. Shop come along. Call the roll. Adabo. GNR Scruggler. Court. Sue Cotton. Zonan. Announce the results. Ayes, 58.

[Speaker 0]: Bills passed.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Conduct number five forty nine, senate front sixty eight fourteen by senator Bailey, enact too many executive law.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Read the last section.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Section five, this action will take effect on the ninetieth date if shall come along. Call the roll. Adabo, GNR Scrugga, Ort, Swell cut and zoner.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Announce the results.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Ayes, 58. Bills passed. Number seven eleven, front seventy six twelve by senator Martinez, enactment of social services law.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Read the

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: last section. Section three, this act of the defect on the one hundred and twentieth day. Shout out to the law. Call the roll. Adabo. Q and R Scruber, Hort, Sukad and Zellner. Announce the results. Ayes, 58.

[Speaker 0]: Bills passed.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Calendar number 712, senate print 8045 by senator Bino. Announce to amend the executive law.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Read the last section.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Section two, this action will take effect on the ninety day if shall become a law. Call the roll. Adabo. Jynar, Sukad, and Zona.

[Speaker 0]: Announce the results. Ayes, 58. Bills passed.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Calendar number seven thirty, set up in 8870 by senator Genaras, enacted in the labor law.

[Speaker 0]: Bills laid aside and the perfect game is

[Senator George M. Borrello]: over. Calendar

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: number seven thirty seven, set up in ninety three eleven by senator Fasad, an act directing the Department of Environmental Conservation to study pardon me, to conduct the study.

[Speaker 0]: Regal election.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Ecological restoration needs of Jamaica Bay. Section two, this action took effect immediately. Call the roll. Adabo, General R. Schuylkill, Ort, Sukad, and Zellner. Announce the results. Ayes. 58. The bill's passed. Calendar number 756, senate print 17 by senator Schruger, enact to amend the general municipal law.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Read the last section.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Section two, this action will defect immediately. Call the roll. Adabo, GNR Schruger, Wort, Sukadan Zoner. Announce the results. Ayes. 58.

[Speaker 0]: Bills passed.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Calendar number 777, senate print fifty five sixteen a by senator Hinchy, enactment of railroad law. Read the last section. Section two, this is action of the defect on the thirtieth day, shall become law. Call the roll. Adabo. GNR Skruger, Ort, Sukhan, Zum. Announce the results. In relation to calendar seven seventy seven, voting in the negative, senator Walzer. Ayes, fifty seven days one.

[Speaker 0]: Bills passed.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Calendar number 789, senate print four forty one a by senator Myriad. Annette, to amend the election law. Lay it aside. Calendar number July, assembly number 20 239 by assembly member Braunstein, enact to amend the penal law.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Read the last section.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Session two of this action taken effect on the November 1. Call the roll. Adabo, G and R Scruber or Stuart Cousins, Zoner. Announce the results. In relation to calendar, July, vote in the negative. Senator Briskor, aye 57, aye's one.

[Speaker 0]: The bill is passed.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Calendar number 806, senate print thirty three fifty six eight by senator Rivera, enacted on the public health floor.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Read the last

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Section four, this action took effect immediately. Call the roll. Adabo, Gennaro, Scruger, Ort, Sewer Cuttons, Zelner. Announce the results. In relation to counter eight zero six vote in the in the negative, excuse me, are senators Ashby, Barillo, Councilor A. Fitzpatrick, Chan, Griffo, Helman, Lanza, Martins, Ventura, Murray, O'Mara, Ork, Columbo, Rhodes, Rawson, Tedisco, Walzik, Weber, and White. Ayes, 39. Ayes, 19. Bills passed. Calendar number 816, senate print eighty two thirty four a by senator Jackson, enactment of education law. Read the last section. Section two, this action to defect immediately. Call the roll. Adabo, Junar Scuger, or Swakun Zonner. Announce the results. Ayes, 58. Bills passed. Calendar number 820, senate print twenty four sixteen by senator Parker, enactment of public service laws. Read the last section. Section six is action to defect immediately.

[Speaker 0]: Call the roll.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Adabo. Senator Zumner. Announce the results. Ayes, 58. The bill has passed.

[Speaker 0]: Senator Generis, second. Please see reading of today's calendar.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Let's go to the controversial calendar, please.

[Speaker 0]: Secretary will ring the bell. Secretary will read.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Calendar number 730, senate print 80 877 by senator Gennaro. It's an act of the labor law.

[Speaker 0]: Senator Borrelo, why do you rise?

[Senator George M. Borrello]: Mister president, would the sponsor yield for a question, please?

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Will the sponsor yield? Yeah. Sponsor yields. Through you,

[Senator George M. Borrello]: mister president. So I I I read this bill with some curiosity. I'm trying to figure out to what exactly what problem it's trying to solve. Could you just kind of explain to me what the genesis what brought this bill about?

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Sure. There's a phenomenon called ghost jobs, if you're not familiar with it, I encourage you to do some research. It is one where a job is posted, but the, posting company has no real intention of filling the jobs. And so people who are out of work, are trying to plan their lives, who are seeking employment, will apply for these jobs when there is no real job that is pending, to be filled. The companies do this in order to gather data on applicants, in order to create the impression of growth of their company when they're not really trying to hire. There are various reasons why this is a thing that occurs, but it is definitely a phenomenon that is growing and that we would solve for by requiring some very simple disclosures.

[Senator George M. Borrello]: Mister president, sponsor continue to yield.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: The sponsor yield? Mhmm. Sponsor yields.

[Senator George M. Borrello]: That's pretty interesting. So we're gonna really try to delve into the intent of someone that was actually intentionally trying to deceive someone. As someone who's hired a lot of people over the years, you know, jobs don't get filled because the right person doesn't step forward or you want to just make sure that, you're always available to having a good person come forward. So how are we going to determine the bad actors from people that just simply want to make sure that they are, you know, engaging in every opportunity to hire a good person?

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: The bill is very simple. It says if the job is of, for an immediate opening that is intended to be filled within ninety days, that it should say so. This job is for I think the disclosure says, this posting is for a current vacancy. The employer intends to fill this position by such and such a date. If there's a job that they know will be filled beyond the ninety day period, it would require a disclosure saying that. This posting is for a current vacancy. The employer intends to fill this position for a date after such and such. And if in fact it's just an open ended job posting, which I think is the example you're referring to, it would require something to say this posting is not for a current vacancy, but the employer is seeking resumes to review in the future for when jobs do become available.

[Senator George M. Borrello]: Mister president, will sponsor continue to yield?

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Will the sponsor yield? Yes. Sponsor yields.

[Senator George M. Borrello]: Well, but aren't you by giving a certain fill by date within ninety days, you're you're insinuating there has to be some kind of a guarantee. So you have to be guaranteed that you're going to actually fill a position that you're looking for. Sometimes you just don't fight find the right person or at the you know, at the at the at an affordable, your salary. How how are we gonna determine that this is a guarantee?

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Required in this legislation. In fact, it specifically says the employer intends for the position to be filled in ninety days or less.

[Senator George M. Borrello]: Mister president, sponsor continue to yield.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Will the sponsor yield? Yes. Sponsor yields?

[Senator George M. Borrello]: So who's gonna determine the intent, whether or not it was, you know, actually was genuine or not?

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: The Department of Labor would have enforcement powers if they believe that someone was violating this statute, then they could bring action.

[Senator George M. Borrello]: Mister president, sponsor continued yields. For the sponsor yield? Yes. Sponsor yields. You know, was looking at the fines. This is pretty excessive. $2,500 fine, and then that that will double. Even if it's even if it's remedied within thirty days, that fine still applies, and then it doubled to 5,000 after that. Doesn't seem excessive and harsh for for a job posting?

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: I mean, don't no. It was the short answer and senator Barela thinks the company can't in thirty days have a posting taken down. I don't really know what to tell him. It seems pretty reasonable that if you give someone a month's notice to take down a posting, they should be able to do it.

[Senator George M. Borrello]: Mister president, sponsor continue to yield.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Will the sponsor yield? Yes.

[Senator George M. Borrello]: Sponsor yields. But doesn't your bill say that even if they do take it down, they're still subject to a $2,500 fine? It's beyond thirty days at 5,000.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Yes. You were asking about the increase in fines as the months roll on. So, yes, there will be an initial $2,500 fine for a violation. If the posts are taken down within a month of that, notice, then that would be the end

[Senator George M. Borrello]: of it. Mister president, sponsor continued yield.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Sponsor yield? Yes. Sponsor yields.

[Senator George M. Borrello]: One of my pet peeves with a lot of the bills here is they, they don't distinguish between full time equivalents, FTEs, and people. You know, this says a 100 people or a 100, employees. So I know you're trying to set a threshold that you have to be a a business that employs a 100 people or more, but, you know, there's a lot of, companies out there, you know, like myself that are part time seasonal businesses. Does this, does this contemplate FTEs or just the number of people?

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Employees, which is the standard definition we use to delineate what's a small business versus a larger one.

[Senator George M. Borrello]: Does the president sponsor continue to yield?

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Sponsor yield?

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Yes.

[Speaker 0]: Sponsor yields. So this applied to just

[Senator George M. Borrello]: like a minimum wage job, a part time, you know, minimum wage job, this would still apply. There's no threshold where you're going after a professional person that's making a 6 figure salary. What's the determining factor here as to what would be considered violation worthy of a punishment? There's no there's

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: no salary threshold in the in the legislation. It would apply across the board. In fact, people that are applying for minimum wage jobs would perhaps be more in need of protection than people who would be, seeking higher paying jobs.

[Senator George M. Borrello]: Mister president, sponsor continue to yield?

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: The sponsor yield? Yes. Sponsor yields.

[Senator George M. Borrello]: Through you, mister president. So you're gonna allow the you're gonna you're basically gonna task Department of Labor. This could be a very, I think labor intensive, no pun intended, for for the Department of Labor, because you're allowing really any aggrieved person to report this and that that an investigation has to be, you know, commenced after that. I mean, so you you see a job posting a job that maybe you weren't even going to apply for, and now we're gonna create an investigation with the Department of Labor.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Is that what this bill would do? I don't believe it would require investigation if the department's incapable of conducting one, but it authorizes them to conduct investigations.

[Senator George M. Borrello]: Mister president, will continue to yield?

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Will the sponsor yield? Yes. The sponsor yields.

[Senator George M. Borrello]: You're an attorney. I'm not. But, doesn't this bill kinda create some legal ambiguity around what an employer intends to do? No. Mister president, will the sponsor continue to

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: yield? Will the sponsor yield? Yes. Wise yield?

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Every law we pass requires an intentional well, not every law, but predominantly the laws we pass require an intentional violation. I'm a lawyer. That's called mens rea, right, in the legal jargon. Because we don't want to punish people when they do things that they don't intend to do. Right? And so is so much of the statutes of our state and every state and the nation and the world require an intent to commit the crime. And so that is Or not crime, a violation in this case. That is just a part of jurisprudence. So I understand you're not a lawyer, but you probably got some surrounding you that you can ask.

[Senator George M. Borrello]: A few. Mister president, the sponsor continue to yield.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: The sponsor yield?

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: No. Yes. I'm sorry.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: The sponsor does indeed you.

[Senator George M. Borrello]: It's not that late.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: We're almost there, bro. Not yet.

[Senator George M. Borrello]: Through you, mister president. So I I know you say we don't want to you know, somebody did something intentionally that we don't wanna punish them for. I I again, I'm not a legal expert here, but what is to stop who is determining whether or not it was intentionally done or not? You know, I I just think that's an ambiguity in itself. You you you could have, you know, someone that, you know, whatever. The the the job posting company or the publication that they use left it up longer or maybe they're using a a company that hires people for them, a headhunter. Who's liable then if if that was the case? The company or the company hired?

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Sorry to interrupt. That's a determination for the enforcing authority whose decision could be challenged in court if an aggrieved party deems fit to do so. I would point out to Senator Barela, the intent requirement is intended to protect someone who might be accused of violating the law. So if he wants to remove that to make it cleaner, he could put in a bill to, amend this further. But I think the people you are trying to protect would be further hurt by that.

[Senator George M. Borrello]: Mister president, sponsor continue to yield.

[Speaker 0]: Will the sponsor yield?

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Yes. Sponsor yields.

[Senator George M. Borrello]: Okay. This is my my I guess this is my my last question here. Has there been an outcry about ghost jobs? Where where have we heard this? You know, this is the first time I'm hearing from about this. I'm an employer. I'm a member of the NFIB, the New York State Restaurant Associations. I'd never even heard of ghost jobs before I saw this bill. So is there a real outcry? Are we really looking Is this a problem that's really out there to be solved? Yes. That long question, I only get one word for a response. Alright. Mister president,

[Speaker 0]: on the bill. Senator Barrella,

[Senator George M. Borrello]: on the bill. You know, this bill does what a lot of other bills that we pass in the chamber do, that is create a private right of action. So I'm not so much concerned, quite frankly, about someone who's truly, you know, I guess duped if you will. That they thought the job was open, they you know, they applied for the job and they never heard. But I am worried about once again creating an opportunity for someone to create a class action lawsuit and, getting a lot of small companies in particular. Cause a 100 FTEs wouldn't necessarily mean a 100 full time employees, it might mean 10 or 20 employees. You know, it might mean somebody quite frankly that, you know, doesn't necessarily have a huge business but has a lot of labor, like a restaurant. I can speak from personal, I guess, experience there. But what we're really doing here is we're looking we're in search of a problem, a solution for a problem that really doesn't exist in my opinion. And at a very, very hefty fine, this is gonna create what I would consider to be a bounty hunter situation where we're gonna have attorneys out there combing through all the, the the job postings, whether it be on social media or in a newspaper or some kind of a of a job site. And then we're gonna start creating lawsuits and and, you know, issues like that that make it harder and harder and more expensive to do business here. This is why New York State is consistently at the bottom of every list when it comes as to businesses, as as a place friendly place to do business. We rank forty first out of 50 states in the country for starting a new business. Forty first for the great Empire State. We make it harder and harder for people to be able to just have a business, be profitable, employ people, and make a living for themselves and the people and the families that they support in their business. And this is just another step in that direction, unfortunately. I just don't see this as something that a problem is worthy of such a hefty severe fine, $2,500, $5,000 for posting a job for a little too long? That seems excessive to me. As a small business owner, I can tell you. And as a member of the NFIB who also has big problems with this, I can tell you this is already a difficult place to do business. Let's not make it even more difficult with such a heavy burden like this bill. So I'll be voting no.

[Speaker 0]: Thank you. Thank you, senator Borrelo. Senator Murray, why do you rise?

[Senator Dean Murray]: With the sponsor yield for a couple of questions.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: With the sponsor yield? Yes. Sponsor yields.

[Senator Dean Murray]: Thank you. Through you, mister president. Just for clarification, I'm trying to wrap, get a hold of the the time frames. So when it says, that they must be clear about whether it's to be filled before ninety days or after ninety days. Would that be solved easily by them simply saying immediate openings?

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: I'm I'm not sure I understand the question, senator Mike.

[Senator Dean Murray]: So in the I'm sorry. Through you, mister president.

[Speaker 0]: Senator Murray, please rephrase the question.

[Senator Dean Murray]: Sure. So in the you're you're placing an ad, you have some openings, and you start your ad with immediate openings. Would that cover the time frame?

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: No. There's a there's a very exact text that's in the legislation that they would have to use.

[Senator Dean Murray]: Mister president, would sponsor continue to

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: get Will the sponsor yield? Yes. Sponsor yields.

[Senator Dean Murray]: Thank you. Through you, mister president. I also just wanted to cover, the fines where it says a violation, for each print publication or digital platform. Many times, you'll have a print publication that also offers the digital platform as one. So when you purchase the ad, it'll go in the print also on the website or on the digital platform. Would that count if there's a violation? Would it count as one or two?

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: I was talking with staff. Can you repeat that one more time?

[Senator Dean Murray]: Sure. Through you, mister president. So many times when you place a help wanted ad, there is a print publication as well as a digital platform. And and you get it as one. You purchase one ad, it goes on both. For the violation purposes, if you were to be found in violation and you had it on both, is that one violation or two? That would be two. That would be two separate. Thank you, mister president.

[Speaker 0]: On the bill? Senator Murray on the bill.

[Senator Dean Murray]: Thank you, senator Generis. I the the problem is real. I'm I'm I was in this business. I I owned an employment newspaper and website. The problem is real in that, in that it is very, very frustrating. Some companies will place ads that either aren't real or for a ghost position. Sometimes they'll place ads, to gather information, to gather data that later they sell. I'm not saying this is right to do this. I'm just wondering if the punishment may far exceed what's happening. The problem is, as I said, frustrating. That's about as far as it goes. It's not illegal. It's not it's not, putting anybody in jeopardy or anything. It's just frustrating. You you see an ad, you've sent a resume in, you didn't hear anything back. Two months go by, you still see the ad. Well, what happened? Why didn't they get back to me? So, yes, it is frustrating. Is it worth punishing people who are employing people? I'll give you an example. You've got a company that gets a big contract. They're a manufacturer. They've got multiple positions that they're hiring for, and they put that ad in there that they have these multiple positions. Well, they may fill some of them. They may want to do it within ninety days. They just can't. Or maybe they're just going through the resumes very, very carefully and they want to get more. I'll give you another example. Some publications, when it comes to employment, some are biweekly publications, some are monthly publications. If you place an ad in a monthly print publication, once that ad is placed, you can't magically pull it out. So if in fact, it's found that the position was filled but the deadline passed, you're still running that ad for a full another month. You didn't do anything wrong. You just missed the deadline because it was a monthly publication. So thirty days really isn't very realistic. But I'll tell you what, $2,500 is very realistic to the pockets of people of companies that are trying to employ New Yorkers. So I do think we should continue to look at the problem, at the situation, and I appreciate that that's what's being done. But I think the the punishment here far far out outpaces, the so called problem here. So I'll be voting no. Thank you.

[Speaker 0]: Thank you. Senator Murray. Senator Todisco, why do you rise?

[Senator Jim Tedisco]: Yeah. With the Met I mean, the senator Generis rise.

[Speaker 0]: As a Met fan, senator Generis, are

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: you Both of those things. Yes.

[Senator Jim Tedisco]: My condolences. Senator yields. The definition of employer here, is it for part time or full time employment or both? Both. And if I was

[Speaker 0]: just Senator, are you asking are you on the bill? You're asking for these

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: the yield?

[Senator Jim Tedisco]: Yield again?

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: With sponsor yield? Yeah. Sponsored yields.

[Senator Jim Tedisco]: And if I was just a a a citizen and I want somebody to mow my lawn and I put an advertisement in the paper or come to my farm and clean up the horses and do some things around the farm, not hiring them full time, but maybe a one time thing, Would would they have to stipulate anything about that?

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Only if you're hiring more than a 100 people.

[Senator Jim Tedisco]: 100 people?

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Yes.

[Senator Jim Tedisco]: Yeah. It's a pretty

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: pretty big operation at

[Senator Jim Tedisco]: that point. Yeah. Would the gentleman yield again?

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: In San Francisco. Will the sponsor yield?

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: You know, the city, we don't have laws that need a 100 people to mow them, and maybe in Saratoga, you do. Yes. I yield.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Sponsored yields.

[Senator Jim Tedisco]: So one of the things that upsets our constituents to a great extent that they think we treat ourselves differently than we treat them sometimes. Like, they have deadlines and when they have to get something done, they get it done on a deadline. We have budgets. When we've gotta get it done in the last five years, we hadn't got it done. We're late now. I'm wondering, the state of New York and all our divisions and all of us in this room, when we put out advertisements to hire people, these stipulations would relate to us in the state of New York also. Right? Although we're not a business, we shouldn't treat ourselves any differently than the employees we wanna hire. So all the stipulations in this bill relate to, like, the director of some organization here or staffing need that we put out advertisements, and they'd have the same stipulations in your eye if we wanna hire a staff person and we put an advertisement out there, we'd have the same stipulations, as the businesses would. Does that build cover that? Okay. Thank you. This is another illustration.

[Speaker 0]: Senator are you on the bill? Yep. Senator Todisco, on the bill.

[Senator Jim Tedisco]: Another illustration of how we treat others in our state, which has forced them to walk out of the state and vote with their feet. I mean, I can't express it enough. You know, you're gonna treat businesses like this, but then you're gonna treat the employees that, we hire in the state and have the opportunity to put these advertisements in there. And you know what? I have my constituents call me, and, they say they go for interviews. And the same thing you're talking about that businesses might do, they're ghosting and doing to some of my constituents in my district. So why would you treat yourselves differently or the state of New York differently when you hire people? You are employers. You're also elected officials. You're also representatives. You're telling businesses, you better not make any mistakes. You got a certain number of days to to get this done. You better be truthful. But you're treating the constituents, all the state people who we hire here potentially, a little bit differently. We can ghost them. You can ghost them when you when you become their employer with the employees. But the business in this state, oh, they gotta have specific guidelines and mandates. And these specific guidelines and mandates are the reason why people are voting with their feet. And remember what the situation is. You're projected to lose two or three in the next, counting procedure, census. And, every two minutes and twenty four seconds, somebody leaves the state of New York because of this. You're an employer. Everybody who hires somebody in our state agencies are employers. You wanna treat businesses like this, give them guidelines, give them more mandates, and they're gonna pack up and walk out. And then the governor last year who says, I don't care if millionaires leave the state of New York. What do I care if they don't like but then last week, she was on her knees. Please come back. We need your dollars. We why do they need the dollars in their money? Because of spending that takes place, because of taxes in New York State, because of energy policies that are ridiculous, and she's pointed them out with a memo from her own office. And that's part of why we're here today with a late budget in the fifth year in a row. We couldn't do the number one thing that's probably most important by our constitution, good balanced on time budget to keep people in New York State and attract them to come here. And, again, I'll tell you, it's not South Carolina or Florida or Texas. Things like this bill, what you're doing to businesses and jobs in New York State, it's Connecticut. It's Pennsylvania. It's New Jersey. They're leaving the state in Groves. Stop this. Please treat yourselves in the state of New York like you're treating your constituents or do better for them like you're doing better for yourself. Thank you, mister president.

[Speaker 0]: Thank you, senator Todisco. Are there any other senators wishing to be heard? Seeing and hearing none, debate is closed. Secretary, ring the bell. Senator Generis.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: We've agreed to restore this bill to the noncontroversial calendar.

[Speaker 0]: On his consent, the bill is restored to the noncontroversial calendar. Read the last section.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Section two, this act of the confected medium. Call the roll. Adabo. GNR, Spruger, Ort, Sukhan, Zona. Senator Generis, to explain his vote.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Thank you, mister president. As an initial matter, I'm fascinated by how San Francisco is hiring a 100 lawnmowers when he hasn't got a paycheck in a month, but I could ask him that offline. And I appreciate that, Senator Borrelo doesn't have a great knowledge of of the legal system in our state. But there is no private right of action in this bill. A private right of action is when an individual is empowered to bring suit him or herself against a violation. This would have to go through the Department of Labor, so there is not, in fact, a private right of action provided for in this bill. Also, appreciate that his own colleagues contradicted him about whether this is a real problem or not. Senator Barela pointed out that he didn't think this was something he's ever heard of. Senator Murio, who I appreciate his recognition of the problem being a real one that a lot of people who are frustrated deal with. It may seem like it's just a frustration and nothing more, but if you're unemployed and looking for a job, I guarantee you that if you have to wait around for a job that doesn't exist, it's more than just a frustration. And let's talk about the burdens on businesses. Let's be serious. We're talking about a sentence in a job posting. It either says, the job's open right now. We hope to fill it within three months. The job's gonna be open after three months, and we'll fill it then. Or we're not sure when the job's gonna be open, we're collecting resumes. That's all this bill says. One of those three things, when you post a job, just say that. I don't think it's a tremendous burden on a business that employs over 100 people to add one sentence to a job post. I vote yes, mister president. Thank you.

[Speaker 0]: Senator Generis will be recorded in the affirmative. Senator Murray to explain his vote.

[Senator Dean Murray]: Thank you, mister president. I I I I appreciate what the sponsor is saying there, but it's it's it's more than just a sentence because if you put that sentence in and don't fill it within that time frame, then it's a violation. That can cost you $2,505,000 because you're trying to hire someone? I don't think we wanna punish employers. So for that reason, I'm voting no.

[Speaker 0]: Senator Murray, to be recorded in the negative. Announce the results.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: In relation to calendar seven thirty voting in negative are senators Ashby Barrella, Kansas, Fitzpatrick, Chan, Gallatin, Riffle, Helming, Matera, Murray, O'Mara or Palumbo, Rose, Rosson, Todisco, Walzwick, Weberton, White. Also, senator Martens. Ayes, nine. Nays, 19. Bills passed. Calendar number 789, senate print four forty one a by senator Myra. And that's too many election law. Senator Walzig, body rise.

[Senator Mark Walczyk]: Mister president, I hope the sponsor yield.

[Speaker 0]: Will the sponsor yield? Yes. The sponsor yields.

[Senator Mark Walczyk]: Through you, mister president. So the John r Lewis voting rights act provides for assistance for language minority groups currently. That's under section seventeen two zero eight of election law. What does this bill change?

[Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie]: Through you, mister president, it adds two groups to the language minority and protected class language minority groups to the language assistance requirement. Those two groups are the Haitian Creole and Middle Eastern and North African, which has been recognized by the federal government as its own separate category worthy of recognition.

[Senator Mark Walczyk]: Would the sponsor continue to yield? Will the sponsor yield? Yes. Sponsor yields? Through you, Mr. President. So adding Haitian Creole as well as Middle East and North African, as you were pointed out, has been newly defined. And currently in the John R Lewis Voting Rights Act, if there's greater than 2% of those groups or greater than 4,000 individuals in a political subdivision, they would qualify for the language assistance from Board of Elections. What languages in these new additions? Obviously, Haitian Creole, as you've named it, what languages would Board of Elections have to be prepared to provide all of that material for, if this bill becomes law?

[Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie]: Through through you, mister president, in the instance of Middle Eastern North African or MENA, as it is affectionately called, we have in this bill not specified all of the languages as it is not on the federal level exhausted in the explanation of of where those countries of origin or languages, excuse me, may be. However, if you look at where the state of New York is on the top languages that are spoken, Arabic happens to be one of those top languages. And if we approximate the information already provided by OGS on its language diversity dashboard. I would just note that the state already provides language access in 50 state agencies for these top languages of which Arabic is one. We would add some counties to this language assistance requirement.

[Senator Mark Walczyk]: And through you, mister president, would the sponsor continue to yield? The sponsor yield? Yes. Sponsor yields. So of the additional languages that we might be adding here, what's the what's the trigger? Is it on the language proficiency and the actual language that people are speaking or is it based on the census number, know, based on statistical policy directive 15 which you point to in your bill and that's the change that you articulated here on the floor that's adding the new check block in the census for Middle Eastern and North African. Will it be any of the will it be a language trigger within those nations that have been described by the federal government? Or will it be the number of people that have checked that, block within a census tract and then a political subdivision? What's the trigger?

[Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie]: Through through you, mister president, this is not wholly tied to the census numbers. It it refers to the census by way of the American Community Survey as ACS defines, language minorities, and and limited English proficient. That is the language that is used, in the statute, and that would be, how we would categorize.

[Senator Mark Walczyk]: And would the sponsor continue to yield? Will the sponsor yield? Yes. Sponsor yields. Through you, mister president. Yeah. The question is is still the same. So if in the American community survey that's scheduled to go out in 2027, if they've surveyed the political subdivisions of the state of New York and have found 2% or 4,000, which are the thresholds in the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, if they found those thresholds to exceed the 2% or the 4,000, does that mean they'll be providing for all of the languages of all of those countries that are of Middle Eastern and North African descent? Or or is there a particular language? Or will it be language based to find that 2% or that 4,000?

[Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie]: Through you, mister president, I think I understand the the question now. And I think it is a determination, that would have to be made by the board of elections, the the requirement of providing materials, etcetera, that would make it easier for eligible voters to to access the ballot, I think could be determined, by the board of elections zone experience, with limited English proficient voters and and and speakers. And I think we have some of that information by way of what the state already collects through its language access requirement for all of the other state agencies. So it could be the case that there would be more than one language under the MENA requirement should this become law, but that would be a determination made by the local board.

[Senator Mark Walczyk]: Briefly on the bill.

[Speaker 0]: Senator Walzik, on the bill.

[Senator Mark Walczyk]: So the the countries that have been listed in statistical policy directive 15, which the sponsor refers to here and has an impact on the bill that's before us, those countries are Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Morocco, Iran, Israel, Palestine, Iraq, Kurdish, which is not a nation, and others. But of those, many languages spoken, French, Arabic, Armenian, Kurdish, Aramaic, Coptic, Berber, Spanish, Farsi, Lurie, Azeri, Balachi, Hebrew, Russian, Yiddish, Ladino. The list goes on. So I think if I would ask the sponsor to yield.

[Speaker 0]: Will the sponsor again yield? Yes. The sponsor yields.

[Senator Mark Walczyk]: I think for for purposes through you, mister president. For purposes of providing your intent to the board of elections, if we're gonna allow the board of elections to determine whether it's the number of people that are from this region that the federal government is now going to count and account for and provide data for, would you provide some intent as to whether it's to meet the threshold for those languages within that region or whether it's that region at large?

[Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie]: Mister president, in both cases, whether it is a language minority group, or a language by way of limited English proficiency, both of those make reference to language, and what is spoken. And it is our intent that if you are a limited English proficient speaker, if you speak another language but are eligible to vote, and you hit certain thresholds, that you would have the materials provided by the board of elections to to help you. So, if that happens to be other languages, that grow as the Haitian Creole speaker population has grown, as the Arabic speaking population has grown, and certainly, as other language speakers will be growing in our electorate, it is our intent to provide, as much access, as they are eligible for.

[Senator Mark Walczyk]: And mister president, will the sponsor continue to yield?

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Will the sponsor yield?

[Speaker 0]: Yes. The sponsor yields.

[Senator Mark Walczyk]: So then, now that we have this new region, through you, mister president. So now that we have this, new region that we'll be considering under the John r Lewis Voting Rights Act and providing those services, why not just with such a plethora of languages, why not open it up to all languages of the globe with the same thresholds that you've proposed?

[Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie]: Through you, mister president, I welcome my good colleague from the other side of the aisle should he be so moved, to open up language access, for as many New York voters as possible to introduce legislation to that effect. This is not meant to be a limiting principle, but to recognize growing population and language speakers, in this state. And, it is not meant or intended to be an exhaustive or final list. It is a list that recognizes the current growing patterns in our state.

[Senator Mark Walczyk]: Mister president, will the sponsor continue to yield? Will the sponsor yield?

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Yes. Sponsor yields.

[Senator Mark Walczyk]: Yeah. It it is inclusive for some, but not for all. And my my question is why?

[Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie]: Through you, mister president, this bill addresses two growing language speaking populations. I am happy to hear that you support a New York for all. And again, would welcome you to introduce legislation to that effect that would open up access to more languages more specifically. This is not a limiting bill. This would not prevent us from expanding this list. But if you look at the languages that are spoken in this state, the languages that we already are required to provide language access for outside of ballot access, these are two languages that are growing, and that's why we are trying to provide more access.

[Senator Mark Walczyk]: Mr. President, would the sponsor continue to yield? The sponsor yield.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Yes. The sponsor yields.

[Senator Mark Walczyk]: Why why countries of origin and heritage rather than judging the English proficiency of a region?

[Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie]: Through you, mister president, we are matching what the federal, definition of MENA is.

[Senator Mark Walczyk]: Mister president, would the sponsor continue to yield? Will the sponsor yield? Yes. The sponsor yields. Through you, President, only citizens have the right to vote in New York State. There is an English proficiency portion of a naturalization process. Does New York City already provide assistance for Haitian Creole and for Arabic? Through you, mister president, yes. Mister president, would the sponsor continue to yield?

[Speaker 0]: Will the sponsor yield?

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Yes. Sponsor yields.

[Senator Mark Walczyk]: Are there populations outside of New York City that you anticipate that this will impact?

[Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie]: Through you, mister president, there may be. It depends on, what the demographic changes that that may occur in the future. But if you reference the OGS language diversity dashboard, and look at both of these groups, whether it's Haitian Creole or Arabic, for for instance, you would see that in Kings County, Queens County, Rockland County, and Nassau County, they potentially might have a Haitian Creole speaking population that would be triggered. For Arabic, the two or the three rather would be Kings, Queens, and potentially area county that might be included. But I don't wanna say that, with any finality. This would be up to the local boards of elections to determine.

[Senator Mark Walczyk]: Mister president, would the sponsor continue?

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Will the sponsor yield? Yes. Sponsor yields.

[Senator Mark Walczyk]: You, continue to say Haitian Creole and Arabic, but earlier in debate, we talked about the threshold meeting any of the other languages in various nations that are included in this new way to account for people's heritage. Is why why not outline Arabic specifically if that's your intent?

[Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie]: Mister president, I was using Arabic to be illustrative in response to your question. As I have stated previously, the definition here and referenced in the bill refers to the federal definition because for a long time MENA was not its own category and MENA was looped in with categorizing yourself as white for purposes of data collection. Because this was a recent change on the federal level, we thought it important for us to incorporate that for language access purposes in this in this bill.

[Senator Mark Walczyk]: Mister president, will the sponsor continue to yield? Will the sponsor yield?

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Yes. Sponsor yields.

[Senator Mark Walczyk]: You mentioned some additional jurisdictions outside of New York City. Has a fiscal analysis been done for how much this would cost those municipalities to implement?

[Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie]: Through you, mister president, there has not been a fiscal analysis done. We believe that the responsibilities placed on the boards of elections, would be able, to be resourced. And as I have for the entirety of my career here in the senate, continue to advocate for more money for our local boards of elections.

[Senator Mark Walczyk]: And mister president, would the sponsor continue to yield?

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Will the sponsor yield? Yes. The sponsor yields.

[Senator Mark Walczyk]: Through you, mister president, so I I think in your last response, you've answered this next question, but can we anticipate that that will be on the local property taxpayers funding for their local board of elections to meet these new requirements?

[Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie]: Mister president, we cannot anticipate that. Mister president, will

[Senator Mark Walczyk]: the sponsor continue to yield?

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Will the sponsor yield?

[Senator Mark Walczyk]: Yes. The sponsor yields. Through you, mister president, is there a separate pot of money that we can anticipate as available for board of elections to meet the new compliance here?

[Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie]: Through you, mister president, we continue to advocate for more resources for our local boards. I think this majority, and by way of, budgets of years past, have increased the funding going to our local boards of elections. We make changes to the election law every single year, in some years more than others, and our boards of elections, have done their best to keep up with those changes and to try to comport with the law, and we don't anticipate that this would be any different.

[Senator Mark Walczyk]: And mister president, will the sponsor continue to yield? Will the sponsor yield?

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Yes. Spons yields.

[Senator Mark Walczyk]: So the federal government will implement the new statistical policy directive 15 in their 2027, community survey. But this bill goes on into effect a year after it becomes law. How can boards of elections comply with data that hasn't yet been created by the federal government?

[Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie]: Through through you, mister president, the requirement from the federal government in the policy order, SP 15, is a request for agencies to inform them on how they plan to comply. It is not a it does not require them to wait a year until they implement, but simply to by the year's end inform them how they have either implemented or plan to implement. So I don't think that SP 15 serves as a barrier to our local boards of elections determining what languages may fulfill this bill.

[Senator Mark Walczyk]: Thank you, mister president on the bill.

[Speaker 0]: Senator Walzik on the bill.

[Senator Mark Walczyk]: I appreciate your answers. To become a naturalized citizen, you do have to pass an English proficiency test. This bill picks some languages to assist non proficient English sit in English citizens with assistance, but ignores others. Rather than providing select groups to help vote based on their first language, we should be making elections free and fair for everybody. We also shouldn't be burdening local government with additional unfunded mandates. We also shouldn't be constantly changing the rules of our elections to curry favor with singular groups to elevate one political party over the other to a political end. I therefore will be voting no and encourage my colleagues to do the same.

[Speaker 0]: Thank you, senator Walzik. Are there any of the senators wishing to be heard? Seeing and hearing none, debate is closed. The secretary will ring the bell. Senator Generis.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Mister president, we have agreed to restore this bill to the noncontroversial calendar.

[Speaker 0]: On consent. It has been agreed that this bill will be restored to noncontroversial calendar.

[Acting President of the Senate (Presiding Officer)]: Read the last section.

[Secretary (Clerk) of the Senate]: Section two, this action took effect one year of shall become a law. Call the roll. Adabo, GNR, Scruggard, Ortz, or Cousins of it. Announce the results. In relation to counter seven eighty nine, voted in a negative are senators Barello, Kanza, Fitzpatrick, Chan, Galvin, Grifle, Hellman, Lanza, Martin, Meterra, Murray, O'Mara, Ort, Rhodes, Walzik, and White. Ayes, 43. Nays? 15. The bill is passed.

[Speaker 0]: Senator Generis, that completes the reading of today's controversial calendar.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Is there any further business at the desk?

[Speaker 0]: There is no further business at the desk.

[Senator Michael N. Gianaris]: Adjourn till tomorrow, Wednesday, April 29 at 11AM.

[Speaker 0]: On motion, the senate stands adjourn until Wednesday, April 29 at 11AM. Let's go, Knicks.