Plugged In @ Hinman Straub — June 17, 2016

PluggedInMastheadCoverage of Albany and New York State government – June 17, 2016

What’s Inside 

  • Lawmakers Go Into Extra Time; Still Working to Conclude 2016 Legislative Session
  • Governor Calls on Congress to Enact Stronger Gun Control Laws
  • PSC Approves Sale of Cablevision
  • Political Update
  • Coming Up

 

Lawmakers Go Into Extra Time; Still Working to Conclude 2016 Legislative Session

Although the state’s 2016 legislative session was scheduled to end this past Thursday, the lack of agreement on several outstanding issues kept lawmakers working into Friday.  As of this writing (6:00 p.m. on Friday evening), it appears that lawmakers will continue working into the evening, most likely into Saturday morning, in an effort to finish their work for the year.

Unresolved issues include:  pension forfeiture for public officials convicted of public corruption offenses; extending New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s control over New York City schools for an additional year; authorizing daily fantasy sports; legalizing ‘e-hailing’ services, such as Uber and Lyft, outside of New York City; requiring greater disclosure of and releasing millions of dollars in state funding to go toward supportive housing for the homeless.

The Governor and Legislature did reach agreement on the following issues:

Heroin and Opioid Abuse

On Tuesday, Gov. Cuomo and the legislative leaders announced agreement on a package of bill that are intended to help address the state’s crisis of heroin and opioid abuse.

The bills include provisions to limit the over-prescription of opioids; to remove barriers to access for inpatient treatment and medication; to increase evaluation period for persons incapacitated by drugs from 48 to 72 hours; to require hospitals to provide follow-up treatment service options to individuals upon hospital discharge; and to expand wraparound services to support long-term recovery.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“New York and the nation as a whole is grappling with how to combat heroin and opioid addiction and, with this comprehensive plan, we are continuing to take decisive action to end this epidemic and protect our families and communities.  This multi-faceted legislative package will increase access to treatment, expand prevention strategies, and save lives by helping ensure New Yorkers struggling with addiction have access to the services and resources they need to get well.”

Breast Cancer Prevention

On Sunday, Gov. Cuomo and the legislative leaders announced an agreement on expanding screening for breast cancer, eliminating annual deductibles, co-payments and co-insurance payments for mammograms and ending cost-sharing for diagnostic imaging for breast cancer.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“Early detection is key to fighting breast cancer and New York State is proud to be home to the most aggressive cancer screening operation in the country….By expanding screening hours and removing insurance barriers, this agreement will give our wives, daughters and sisters better access to life-saving health services so they too can get ahead of this disease.”

Railroad Crossing Safety

On Monday, Gov. Cuomo announced that they have reached an agreement on legislation to improve rail safety measures, which are intended to reduce train-motor vehicle collisions at grade crossings.

Railroads, local governments and state agencies will be required to conduct inspections of traffic control devices at least every other year. Private railroad companies will be required to submit railroad bridge inspection reports to the state Department of Transportation (DOT) annually.  The state will increase penalties for railroads’ failure to notify the state of an accident or submit their required reports. Drivers will face a fine up to $750 for a second offense of driving through a train signal, and a $1,000 fine for a third offense within 30 months.

The state will launch a public-awareness campaign about the dangers of rail crossings.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“New York’s railways are critical to this state’s transportation network and we must ensure they meet the highest possible safety standards.  By requiring frequent inspections at grade crossings and increasing penalties for those who continue to violate the law and ignore important safety requirements, this agreement will help to reduce the amount of preventable tragedies that have occurred at these crossings over the years. I thank my partners in the Legislature for reaching this agreement and their commitment to ensuring a safer rail system for all.”

 

PSC Approves Sale of Cablevision

On Wednesday, the state Public Service Commission (PSC) voted to approve the sale of Cablevision Systems Corp. to Altice N.V., a multinational cable television provider, for $17.7 billion after imposing certain conditions on the transaction.

Among the conditions approved by the PSC are:  requiring Altice to create a new broadband program with speeds of 30 Mbps at $14.99 per month to serve 600,000 low-income households in the franchise area that receive certain federal income assistance; to participate in the new federal Lifeline program; to upgrade its system to deliver at least 300 Mbps by the end of 2017, tripling the current maximum speed of 101 Mbps; and prohibiting reducing any customer-facing jobs for four years.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the deal last month. The sale also includes Cablevision’s media properties, Newsday, the News 12 networks and amNewYork.

 

Governor Calls on Congress to Enact Stronger Gun Control Laws

In the wake of the recent massacre in Orlando, Gov. Cuomo published an editorial in the Daily News that calls on Congress to enact “strong national gun bill.”

Gov. Cuomo wrote:

“On Sunday, nearly 50 people were murdered in cold blood in a mass shooting targeting LGBT Americans. The senselessness of this attack is staggering.  The fact that after thousands of lives lost — mothers and fathers, sons and daughters — the federal government still allows a madman to buy an assault weapon defies common sense. How many more lives must be cut short before Congress decides to act?”

Read the Governor’s full editorial here.

 

Political Update

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.

Also this week, City & State New York published its annual 40 Under 40 list of Albany’s rising stars.

 

Coming Up

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

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) holds its next meeting on June 28.

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

The Board of Regents holds its next meeting on July 12 and 13.

The Public Service Commission holds its next meeting on July 14.