Plugged In @ Hinman Straub – September 27, 2019
What’s Inside
- Governor Announces $1 Billion Investment in Silicon Carbide Wafer Fabrication Facility
- SUNY Board of Trustees Nominations Announced
- New York and Connecticut Partnering to Develop Uniform Vaping and Marijuana Approach
- DOH Recommends Including Menthol in the E-Cig Flavor Ban
- Governor Directs $3 Million Expansion of SUNY Apprenticeship Program
- Chief Judge Proposes Restructuring of New York Courts
- Governor Directs $3 Million Expansion of SUNY Apprenticeship Program
- Updates, Reminders, and Links
- Coming Up
Governor Announces $1 Billion Investment in Silicon Carbide Wafer Fabrication Facility
Governor Cuomo, joining a press conference by phone, announced a major public-private partnership between the State of New York and Cree, Inc. to invest approximately $1 billion over six years to construct and equip a new 200mm silicon carbide wafer fabrication facility. The investment includes a $30 million research and development commitment by Cree, with plans to create over 600 full-time highly-skilled technician and engineering positions at the Marcy Nanocenter on the SUNY Polytechnic Institute campus near Utica.
Cree has committed to create over 600 new jobs within eight years and provide internships and research opportunities for State University of New York students. SUNY has also committed to match up to $5 million in semiconductor-related research funding from Cree for the SUNY system. New York State will provide $500 million in performance-based, capital grants from Empire State Development to reimburse a portion of Cree’s costs of fitting out the new facility and acquiring and installing machinery and equipment, as well as $1 million in Excelsior Jobs tax credits. Cree has agreed to build the facility subject to prevailing wage requirements.
Governor Cuomo said:
“This partnership is vital to strengthening the research and scientific assets that New York State needs today to attract the high-tech industries and jobs of tomorrow. This is a crucial step in cultivating the advanced manufacturing infrastructure of New York State, growing the upstate economy and transforming the future of the Mohawk Valley.”
Gregg Lowe, CEO of Cree, said:
“Silicon carbide is one of the most pivotal technologies of our time, and is at the heart of enabling innovation across a wide range of today’s most groundbreaking and revolutionary markets, including the transition from the internal combustion engine to electric vehicles and the rollout of ultra-fast 5G networks. This state-of-the-art, automotive-qualified wafer fabrication facility builds on our 30-year heritage of commercializing breakthrough technologies that help our customers deliver next-generation applications. We look forward to connecting our North Carolina and New York innovation hubs to drive the accelerated adoption of silicon carbide.”
SUNY Board of Trustees Nominations Announced
This week, Governor Cuomo announced the appointment of Dr. Merryl H. Tisch to serve as chair and Cesar Perales to serve as vice chair of the State University of New York Board of Trustees. Dr. Tisch recently served as Vice Chairman of the SUNY Board of Trustees since March, 2018. Prior to her appointment, Dr. Tisch was a member of the Board of Regents for 20 years and held the position of Vice Chancellor from 2007 to 2009. Cesar Perales was appointed a member of the SUNY Board of Trustees on June 21, 2019. Prior to his appointment as SUNY Trustee, Mr. Perales served as New York State’s Secretary of State.
SUNY Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson said:
“I commend Governor Cuomo for selecting two distinguished leaders to lead SUNY’s Board of Trustees. I have worked closely with Dr. Merryl Tisch and her intellect, leadership and deep commitment for students has been invaluable to SUNY. Since recently joining the Board, Mr. Cesar Perales’ presence, dedication and advocacy for students will no doubt benefit all our campuses. I congratulate our new leadership as we work together to bring the highest quality and affordable education to our entire system.”
New York and Connecticut Partnering to Develop Uniform Vaping and Marijuana Approach
Governor Cuomo and Governor Ned Lamont announced a strategic partnership between New York and Connecticut to develop a uniform regional approach to policies on e-cigarettes and legal cannabis. On October 17, officials from law enforcement, state health officials and policy makers representing both states will hold a summit to develop guidelines and principles that will benefit the two states’ vaping oversight and cannabis legalization. Concerning legalized recreational marijuana, officials from both states will consider taxation, product safety and testing, product availability and advertising, roadside testing, banking and financial services, and social justice and equity considerations. Concerning vaping, officials will work to identify ways to augment New York’s and Connecticut’s imminent under-21 restrictions on the sale of vaping products and discuss expanding to Connecticut the ban on flavored vaping products.
Governor Cuomo said:
“We are serious in this state about legalizing recreational use of marijuana, but it has to be done right. At the same time the federal government has refused to step up during this vaping crisis, so it is up to the states to develop policies that will help keep people safe. Policies governing vaping products and recreational marijuana will require regional symmetry because it makes little sense for one state to do something if a neighboring state has a totally different policy – without coordination, you end up incentivizing people to drive over the border to buy a different or cheaper product. I thank Governor Lamont for working together on this issue and look forward to advancing this conversation during the upcoming summit.”
Governor Lamont said:
“It was wonderful to have Gov. Andrew Cuomo in Connecticut to discuss issues that are important to both of our states. We not only share borders, but we share economic interests, public health priorities, and a joint understanding that the more states work together on these kinds of issues, the better the policy results will be for our residents. Every day thousands of New Yorkers travel over the border to work in Connecticut, and thousands of Connecticut commuters rely on New York for their livelihood. To that end, it’s common sense for our states to be aligned in numerous policy areas. Governor Cuomo and I have the chance to be leaders together on these issues of public importance, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”
DOH Recommends Including Menthol in the E-Cig Flavor Ban
Department of Health (DOH) Commissioner Howard Zucker delivered a recommendation to Governor Cuomo urging the inclusion of menthol flavored electronic cigarette products within the larger flavor ban enacted earlier this month. Governor Cuomo announced he had received and reviewed the recommendation and directed the commissioner to convene an emergency meeting of the Public Health and Health Planning Council as soon as possible to expand emergency regulations to include menthol flavors in the ban.
Governor Cuomo said:
“It is clear that vape and e-cigarette companies are using flavors to get young people hooked on their products, and in New York we have taken several actions to put an end to this marketing tactic. In addition to the ban on flavored e-cigarettes already in place and after a thorough evaluation, Commissioner Zucker has recommended a ban on menthol flavored e-cigarettes – I am accepting his recommendation and directing him to hold an emergency meeting to adopt this additional ban at the earliest practicable date. We can’t sit back and wait for the federal government to take action while a whole new generation becomes addicted to nicotine, and this ban on the sale of menthol flavors further enhances our efforts to protect young people from forming dangerous lifelong habits.”
Governor Directs $3 Million Expansion of SUNY Apprenticeship Program
Governor Cuomo announced a $3 million investment in the State University of New York’s Apprenticeship Program, the first Consolidated Funding Application award to come from the $175 million Workforce Development Initiative. The funding will expand apprenticeship programs, coordinated by Mohawk Valley Community College and including other SUNY schools, in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and information technology as well as other growth industries. The $3 million funding expands SUNY’s Apprenticeship Program, which was launched in 2018, in partnership with the New York State Department of Labor. As part of the Workforce Development Initiative CFA process, SUNY campuses may apply for funding for customized workforce development training programs with local employers, which provide matching funds.
Chief Judge Proposes Restructuring of New York Courts
This week, Chief Judge Janet DiFiore proposed a constitutional amendment that would dramatically restructure the state’s court system. Key elements of the proposed amendment include:
• Consolidation of New York’s 11 different trial courts into a three-level structure consisting of a Supreme Court, a Municipal Court, and Justice Courts serving New York’s towns and villages.
• Abolition of the Court of Claims, the County Courts (which operate outside New York City), the Family Courts and the Surrogate’s Courts, and merger of their judges and jurisdiction into the current Supreme Court.
• Creation within the merged Supreme Court of six divisions: Family; Probate; Criminal; State Claims; Commercial; and General.
• Abolition of New York City’s Civil and Criminal Courts, Long Island’s District Courts, and the 61 City Courts outside New York City, along with merger of their judges and jurisdiction into a new Municipal Court in those jurisdictions.
• Designation of New York City’s Housing Court Judges as Municipal Court Judges, to be appointed by the Mayor to ten-year terms.
• Preservation of the current means of selection and terms of office for all judges of courts abolished and merged into Supreme Court and Municipal Court, respectively.
• Elimination of the constitutional cap (of one judge per 50,000 residents in a Judicial District) on the number of Supreme Court judgeships that can be established by the Legislature.
• Authorizing the Legislature to change the number of Appellate Division Departments once every ten years.
• Provision for a five-year phase-in period.
To take effect, the constitutional amendment would have to be passed by the Legislature during its 2020 session, passed again during either the 2021 or 2022 session, and then be approved by a majority of voters via ballot proposition during the next proceeding general election.
Updates, Reminders, and Links
City & State NY’s Winners and Losers here.
Rumors of an abbreviated legislative session pick up steam.
Governor signs bill pushing back voter registration deadline for primaries.
Coming Up
A Joint Senate and Assembly public hearing on New York’s response to Federal Government shutdowns, originally scheduled for September 24, was postponed. A new date has not yet been set.
The Senate Task Force on Opioid and Drug Abuse will hold a series of public meetings to hear from stakeholders on strategies for reducing overdoses, improving individual and community health, and addressing the harmful consequences of drug use on October 3, October 15 and October 30.
The Senate Mental Health Committee will hold a public meeting on domestic violence and its effect on the community on October 11.
The Senate Committee on Internet and Technology will hold a public hearing to hear from stakeholders within the “Gig Economy” – to identify the needs of workers and employers operating outside the traditional employee-employer dynamic and determine possible legislative avenues – including S.6538 – The Dependent Worker Act’s impact on the workforce on October 16.
The Senate Education and Budget and Revenue Committees will hold a series of public meetings around the state to hear stakeholder input regarding the components of the Foundation Aid formula in relation to student, district and community needs with a goal of greater equity in school financing on October 16, October 29, November 13, and November 19.
The PSC will hold its next meeting on Thursday, October 17.
A Joint Assembly public hearing on the delivery of veteran services and programs is scheduled for October 17.
The Senate Codes Committee will hold public hearings on policing (S3695) on October 17 and October 24.
The Senate Committee on Higher Education will hold a series of public hearings regarding the cost of public higher education. The hearings will take place on October 24, October 28, October 30, and November 1.
The Senate Codes Committee will hold its second public hearing on discovery reform implementation on October 28.
The Assembly Health Committee will hold a public hearing on youth tackle football, scheduled for October 29.
JCOPE will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, October 29.
Joint Senate Task Force on Opioids, Addiction and Overdose Prevention will hold a public hearing on strategies for reducing overdoses, improving individual and community health, and addressing the harmful consequences of drug use on November 15.
The Senate Committee on Mental Health has schedule a public hearing on OPWDD transition to managed care for December 2.
The Senate Education and Budget and Revenue Committees will hold a public hearing to examine the distribution of the Foundation Aid formula as it relates to pupil and district needs on December 3.