Plugged In @ Hinman Straub

Coverage of Albany and New York State government – March 18, 2016

What’s Inside 

  • State Budget Update
  • Governor Announces Plan to Combat Zika Virus
  • Governor Announces Photonics Companies Moving to Rochester
  • Assembly Releases Plan to Reform, Modernize Operations
  • Assembly Approves ‘Sunshine Week’ Package
  • Governor Announces Farmland Protection Grants
  • Court Rejects Challenge to ‘LLC Loophole’
  • Political Update
  • Coming Up

 

State Budget Update

The state budget process continued moving forward this week, as both houses passed their respective one house budget resolutions and the legislative leaders appointed Joint Legislative Budget Committees to try to resolve differences between the two houses’ versions of the budget.  Budget conference committees held their initial meetings on Wednesday, and are expected to continue meeting next week.

(Read the Senate’s press release describing its one-house budget plan, and the Assembly’s press release, and the list of conference committee members.)

Governor Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Flanagan and Assembly Speaker Heastie are expected to hold regular meetings on the budget, moving the process toward agreement on a 2016-17 state budget on or before the April 1st start of the state’s new fiscal year.

 

Governor Announces Plan to Combat Zika Virus

On Thursday, Gov. Cuomo announced a 6-point action plan to prevent the spread of the Zika Virus in New York, which has so far infected 49 people throughout the state.   The plan targets the virus at its source, with enhanced mosquito trapping and testing throughout the downstate region.

The state will distribute 100,000 larvicide tablets; deploy 1,000 traps and test 60,000 mosquitoes per month; offer pregnant women free kits, which will include literature and condoms; deploy teams to any area that reports a local transmission of the virus; require local health departments submit Zika-control plans; and launch a media campaign at the airports.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“The state is taking aggressive action to reduce the risk of Zika transmission in New York.  We have put in place a first-in-the-nation action plan that will work to eliminate Zika at its source, reduce potential transmissions and safeguard expectant mothers against this dangerous disease. The state is monitoring the situation closely, and continues to work with all partners to protect the public health.”

The state’s efforts also include a public awareness campaign and website.

 

Governor Announces Photonics Companies Moving to Rochester

On Wednesday, Gov. Cuomo announced that Avogy and Photonica, two leading photonics companies, will move their headquarters from the Silicon Valley to Rochester, and will invest $1.6 billion and create more than 1,400 new high-tech jobs.

Initially, the two companies will locate their advanced development, prototyping, and early manufacturing operations in the region.  In the second phase, they will place manufacturing operations at the Eastman Business Park. Both companies will locate headquarters and business operations at SUNY Poly’s photonics headquarters and technology accelerator at Legacy Tower.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“This marks a transformative moment for Rochester that will fuel economic growth, create jobs and further secure this region’s place as the photonics capital of the nation.  By bringing this proven nanotechnology-driven economic development model to Rochester, we are attracting big businesses and building a thriving 21st century economy. Major investments like this are driving our momentum as we ensure that the economic resurgence continues in Upstate New York.”

 

Assembly Releases Plan to Reform, Modernize Operations

On Thursday, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie announced that the Assembly will implement the 42 recommendations of its Workgroup on Legislative Process, Operations, and Public Participation that are intended to promote transparency and increase member effectiveness. To do so, the Assembly will amend its rules, and will also make administrative changes and technology upgrades.

The workgroup’s recommended changes relate to three broad areas: transparency and public participation; altering the legislative process to enable all members to more effectively advance their priorities; and improving resource allocation and efficiency in the Assembly’s operations.

The recommendations include the following:

  • Updating the Assembly web site and making more information available to the public;
  • Making audio and video webcasts of Assembly committee meetings available through the Assembly web site;
  • Making Assembly expenditure reports more easily available;
  • Having committees go paperless;
  • Debating and voting on more bills in the early part of the legislative session, to reduce the “end of session crunch; and
  • Establishing a comprehensive orientation and training program for new and returning Members.

Some of these recommendations require changes to the Assembly’s Rules, which are expected to be made next week.

 

Assembly Approves ‘Sunshine Week’ Package

On Wednesday, the Assembly approved a ‘legislative sunshine package’ that reflects the Assembly’s “long-standing commitment to increasing the availability and accessibility of government records to New Yorkers.”

The measures that the Assembly approved include:

  • 4468, which clarifies that automatic and blanket denial to requests for records that are filed under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) are prohibited;
  • 3149, which provides that the name of a retiree in a public employees’ retirement system can be subject to disclosure under FOIL, but the names of beneficiaries is not;
  • 3489, which provides that government copyrights cannot be the reason for not disclosing a record;
  • 4286-B, which requires all political communications to indicate who paid for them; and
  • 5768, which requires state agencies that maintain websites to permit the online submission of requests for records that are subject to FOIL.

 

Governor Announces Farmland Protection Grants

On Monday, Gov. Cuomo announced that $26 million is now available through the Farmland Protection Implementation Grant program to help farmers across New York State protect valuable and at-risk farmland.

Local governments, soil and water conservation districts and land trusts are eligible to apply for individual grants to protect viable agricultural land from being converted to non-agricultural use. The application is available at www.agriculture.ny.gov/RFPS.html.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“Protecting New York’s farmland is vital to the continued growth of this state’s agricultural industry.  Agriculture is part of our rich history, as well as a major part of this state’s current economy, and these investments will help ensure this industry’s future strength.”

 

Court Rejects Challenge to ‘LLC Loophole’

On Tuesday, a state judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging the way that the state Board of Elections (SBOE) treats limited liability companies (LLCs).

Read more on this story on our Lobbying, Ethics and Election Compliance blog.

 

Political Update

Democratic State Senator from Buffalo Will Not Run for Re-Election

On Tuesday, first-term State Senator Marc Panepinto (D-Buffalo) announced that he will not seek re-election to represent the 60th Senate District this fall “for reasons both personal and professional.”

The seat had been held by Republican Mark Grisanti before Panepinto until a competitive (and expensive) three-way race in 2014.  The absence of an incumbent in that race is expected to make the seat a battleground in the battle for control of the State Senate this November.

The Democrats should have the advantage in holding the seat, as the district has 84,494 registered Democrats and 49,746 Republicans. Political newcomer Amber Small has already announced that she is running, and Democratic Assemblyman Sean Ryan is reportedly considering a run. Earlier today, Christopher Jacobs, a Republican who serves as Erie County Clerk, announced that he will run for the seat.

Poll:  9th Senate District Candidates Running Neck and Neck

A Siena College poll released on Tuesday shows Democratic Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky and Republican Christopher McGrath running almost even in the race to replace former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos.

The poll of likely voters in the 9th Senate District shows Kaminsky (D-Long Beach) leading McGrath 47% to 45%, with 8% of voters undecided.  Read the poll cross-tabs here.

With the Senate GOP holding just 31 of the Senate’s 63 seats, this race is a key one in their effort to maintain control over the State Senate.

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.

 

Coming Up

The Senate and Assembly will be in session Monday through Wednesday next week, March 21, 22 and 23.

The Board of Regents holds its next meeting on March 21 and 22.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) holds its next meeting on March 22.

The Commission on Legislative, Judicial and Executive Compensation holds a public hearing in Albany on March 23 on salaries for state legislators and agency heads.

The State Board of Elections (SBOE) holds its next meeting on March 24.

The last day for first-time voters to register to vote in the state’s Presidential primary election on April 19 is March 25.

The state’s 2016-17 fiscal year begins on April 1.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) holds its next meeting on April 12.

New York’s Presidential Primary is April 19, as are the special elections for the 9th Senate District (to replace Dean Skelos), the 59th Assembly District (to replace Roxanne Persaud), the 62nd AD (to replace Joe Borelli) and the 65th AD (to replace Sheldon Silver).