Plugged In @ Hinman Straub – May 20, 2016

PluggedInMastheadCoverage of Albany and New York State government – May 20, 2016

What’s Inside 

  • Governor Calls for Reforms of Laws Governing Secondary Ticket Markets
  • Governor Announces Excellence in Teaching Program
  • Governor Announces Winners of Clean Energy Competition for College Students
  • Assembly Approves Extension of Mayoral Control of NYC Schools
  • Senate Approves Legislation to Address Heroin and Opioid Addiction Crisis
  • Governor Proposes Changes to Alcoholic Beverage Control Laws
  • Governor Proclaims Hurricane Preparedness Week
  • Voters Approve Most School Budgets
  • Business Groups Push for Regulatory Reforms
  • Political Update
  • Coming Up

 

Governor Calls for Reforms of Laws Governing Secondary Ticket Markets

On Monday, Gov. Cuomo announced that while he has signed a one-year extender of the state’s law that allows the resale of entertainment and sporting event tickets, he will appoint “a working group representing stakeholders, including advocates, regulators, and industry representatives, to study and make recommendations to be acted on before the law next expires on June 30, 2017.”

Gov. Cuomo said:

“Recent reports, including findings from the Attorney General’s Office, document a series of unfair and illegal ticket selling and reselling practices that deceive New York State consumers and leave them paying prices well above face value for tickets to concerts and other events. These include the withholding of huge portions of ticket inventory from primary sale, and the use of specialized computer software that allow ticket speculators to purchase large chunks of premium tickets, which they then resell at huge markups…. It is clear steps must be taken to properly inform consumers about ticket availability, and protect them against the intrusion of unfair technology employed by unscrupulous speculators for profit.”

 

Governor Announces Excellence in Teaching Program

On Monday, Gov. Cuomo announced the Empire State Excellence in Teaching Program.  The program recognizes successful educators, and provides them with a $5,000 stipend to support their professional development.

Anyone can nominate a teacher for this award here. Applications are due by June 10, 2016 and recipients will be announced on June 17, 2016.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“New York State has thousands of excellent teachers who prepare our students for the future and help them reach their full potential. This new program will recognize our most outstanding educators, while supporting their professional growth. I commend all teachers for their dedication to making a difference in the lives of students across the state.”

 

Governor Announces Winners of Clean Energy Competition for College Students

On Monday, Gov. Cuomo announced that the state will award $1 million each to Bard College, the University at Buffalo and SUNY Broome Community College through the “Energy to Lead Competition.” The competition “challenged student-led coalitions from New York colleges and universities to design and develop innovative plans for campus and community-wide clean energy projects.”

Gov. Cuomo said:

“The ‘Energy to Lead Competition’ is challenging New York’s emerging energy leaders to turn innovative ideas into cutting-edge solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower energy bills and improve resiliency in communities across the state.  I congratulate our winning students and faculty, and commend them for their commitment to helping to build a cleaner, greener New York.”

 

Assembly Approves Extension of Mayoral Control of NYC Schools

On Tuesday, the Assembly passed a bill that would extend mayoral control of New York City’s schools for three years.  The current law is set to expire at the end of June.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said:

“We all value the importance of education and its critical role in shaping our students’ future.  It is our responsibility to give them every opportunity to succeed and Mayor de Blasio has shown himself to be a committed and enthusiastic steward of that mission. The Assembly Majority Conference supports his vision for positive changes that will strengthen both our students and the greater public education system in the City of New York.”

On Thursday, the Senate held its second hearing on mayoral control in New York City.   After the Senate’s first hearing, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan released a statement that criticized Mayor de Blasio, and threatened not to extend mayoral control.

Last year, the Senate Republicans extended mayoral control by just one year.  Mayor de Blasio is again seeking a multi-year extension.

 

Senate Approves Legislation to Address Heroin and Opioid Addiction Crisis

On Tuesday, the State Senate approved a package of 22 bills that “take a comprehensive approach to fighting the ongoing heroin and opioid addiction crisis.”

The bills reflect many of the recommendations in a report that the Senate’s Joint Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction released on the same day, calling for better prevention efforts, increasing access to treatment, expanding recovery options and, providing greater resources to law enforcement to aid in combating this crisis. They include limiting initial prescriptions of controlled substances to treat acute pain to a five-day supply, pending further consultation with a physician; requiring counseling on the dangers of opioid abuse to patients before they receive prescriptions; increasing penalties for selling drugs at parks and on playgrounds; and creating the crime of homicide by sale of an opioid.

 

Governor Proposes Changes to Alcoholic Beverage Control Laws

On Wednesday, Gov. Cuomo announced that he is proposing legislation, which arose out of the recommendations of his Alcoholic Beverage Control Law Working Group, to modernize the state’s 80-year-old Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.

The Governor is proposing:

  • expanding on-promises Sunday sales of alcoholic beverages;
  • modernizing the licensing process to allow greater discretion for restaurant applications;
  • reducing paperwork for craft manufacturers;
  • authorizing the sale of wine in growlers;
  • reducing fees for craft beverage salespeople; and
  • reducing fees for small wholesalers.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“New York’s investments in the craft beverage industry have driven growth, created hundreds of jobs and unleashed a new optimism and energy amongst wineries, breweries, distilleries and cideries across the state.  This new legislation will build on that progress by modernizing the state’s Blue Laws, cutting through the red tape and removing artificial barriers to growth”

 

Governor Proclaims Hurricane Preparedness Week

On Monday, Gov. Cuomo proclaimed the week of May 15-21 as Hurricane Preparedness Week in the state. The focus is on urging the public to prepare for possible disasters, including developing a family emergency plan and stocking up on emergency supplies.  Preparedness information is available here.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“Climate change has made extreme weather the new reality and it is essential New Yorkers understand the dangers and how to properly prepare for what Mother Nature throws our way.  New York State is not only committed to preparing our citizens for the next big storm, but we continue to improve our forecasting and the coordination of our responses to be as prepared as possible when the next storm hits.”

 

Voters Approve Most School Budgets

According to an analysis by the NYS School Boards Association (NYSSBA), voter approved the vast majority of school budget votes this week.  Overall, 98.5% of school budgets statewide passed on Tuesday, with 10 failing. NYSSBA was awaiting results from 11 districts Wednesday morning.

Of the 640 districts that proposed budgets with tax levies within the cap, 638 (99.7%) were approved.  Of the 36 districts that proposed tax levies above the cap, 28 (78%) had their budgets approved by the 60% supermajority required.

The average tax levy increase statewide was 0.7%, but a state education funding increase allowed for an average 2.1% spending increase for the 2016-17 school year.

NYSSBA Executive Director Timothy Kremer said:

“Despite a near-zero tax cap, school districts managed to put together spending plans that in some cases restored educational programs and services, thanks to a large infusion of state aid.  The question is, will the state be able to sustain that commitment going forward?  The tax cap may be helping to keep taxes down, but it comes at a cost to our schools, which now need the state to make up for the funding they cannot raise locally.”

School districts whose budgets failed can seek a second vote on June 21.

 

Business Groups Push for Regulatory Reforms

On Wednesday, a coalition of 42 business-backed organizations wrote to the members of the Temporary Commission to Review the State’s Business Climate that the Governor and legislative leaders announced in April.

The group, which includes Unshackle Upstate, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and others, urge the commission to address workers compensation, the Wicks Law, health-care costs, medical liability and the Scaffold Law.

Read the groups’ letter here.

The Temporary Commission to Review State’s Business Climate is expected to make its recommendations by June 3.

 

Political Update

Fundraising Reports Show Senate Republicans With Big Cash Advantage Over Senate Democrats

According to the disclosure reports submitted to the State Board of Elections (SBOE) this week, the Senate Republican Campaign Committee (SRCC) has $2.2 million cash on hand, while Democratic Senate Campaign Committee (DSCC) has just over $5,000.

Political fundraising by these two conferences will be critical as the Senate GOP fights to maintain control of the State Senate in presidential election year, which often benefits “down ballot” Democratic candidates.

Nassau County GOP Nominates Senate Candidates

On Thursday, the Nassau County Republican Party nominated Flower Hill Mayor Elaine Phillips to run for the 7th Senate District seat, which incumbent State Senator Jack Martins (R- Mineola) is giving up to run for Congress. She will face Democrat Adam Haber.

The party also nominated attorney Christopher McGrath to take on State Senator Todd Kaminsky (D-Long Beach) in the 9th Senate District, setting up a rematch of the April special election that Kaminsky won by 780 votes.

 

Winners & Losers

Each week, City & State New York publishes a list of the week’s political “winners” and “losers.”  Read this week’s list here.

This week, City & State New York released its annual ‘Power 100’ list for Albany.  Read this year’s list here.

 

Coming Up

The Senate and Assembly are in Albany next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  Just 12 session days remain on the 2016 legislative session calendar.

The state Gaming Commission holds its next meeting on May 23.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) holds its next meeting on May 24.

The Temporary Commission to Review State’s Business Climate, which was announced by the Governor and the legislative leaders in April, is expected to make its recommendations by June 3.

The state Board of Regents holds its next meeting on June 13 and 14.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) holds its next meeting on June 15.

The 2016 state legislative session is scheduled to end on June 16.

The state’s Congressional primary will be held on June 28.

The state Board of Elections holds its next meeting on June 30.