Plugged In @ Hinman Straub – January 17, 2020
What’s Inside
- Governor Announces $3.4 Million In Workforce Development Initiative Awards
- Legislature Passes Package Of Limousine Safety Bills
- Senate Passes Automatic Voter Registration Bill
- Assembly Holds Public Hearing On STAR Program
- Assembly Committee Membership Changes
- Senate Committee Membership Changes
- Senator LaValle Announces Retirement
- Senator Montgomery Announces Retirement
- Political Updates
- Updates, Reminders, and Links
- Coming Up
Governor Announces $3.4 Million In Workforce Development Initiative Awards
The Governor announced this week that an additional $3.4 million in funds from the Workforce Development Initiative have been awarded to 61 companies throughout the state. This brings the total amount awarded to $6.5 million since May 2019. Applications for funds from the program are accepted on a rolling basis. The goal of the program is to support strategic regional efforts that meet businesses’ short-term workforce needs, long-term industry needs, improve regional talent pipelines, enhance the flexibility and adaptability of local workforce entities, and expand workplace learning opportunities. Focus will be on regionally significant industries in emerging fields with growing demands for jobs, including those in clean energy, life sciences, computer science, and advanced technologies.
New York’s Regional Economic Development Councils play a key role in recommending applications for funding, based on regional economic needs and opportunities. Businesses and organizations from eight REDC regions receiving Workforce Development awards include:
Finger Lakes: Berry Global, Bonduelle Americas, Clifton Springs Hospital and Clinic, Creative Food Ingredients, Cutco Corporation, Harbec, Lifetime Assistance, Markin Tubing, McAlpin Industries, Newark-Wayne Community Hospital, O-AT-KA Milk Products Cooperative, Optimax, Orolia, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Park Ridge Nursing Home, Pfisterer Lapp, Prestolite Electric, Rochester General Hospital, Rochester General Long Term Care, Spectracom, University of Rochester Medical Center, Unity Hospital
Southern Tier: Appleridge Senior Living, BAE Systems, Buckingham Manufacturing, Coffee Mania, Dick’s Sporting Goods Distribution Center, George Industries, Hilliard Corporation, Intertek Testing Services, Stork H&E Turbo Blading
North Country: Bitters & Bones, Citizen Advocates, Green Goddess Natural Market, Grizle T’s, Harvest Hill Farm, Hunt Companies, Juniper Hill Farm, Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce & Convention & Visitors Bureau, Mountain Lake Services, Sugar House Creamery
Capital Region: AngioDynamics, Hunt Companies, Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce & Convention & Visitors Bureau
Mid-Hudson: The Council of Industry, Hudson River Museum, Hudson Valley Credit Union, Premier Brands of America
New York City: Garment District Alliance, Montefiore Medical Center, Rebuilding Together NYC, International Rescue Committee, Brookfield Place I, Brookfield Place II, 600 Third Ave in Murray Hill, and Hines Interests
Long Island: Belmont Child Care Association, Catholic Health Services, Family & Children’s Association, Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation, Suffolk County Department of Labor, United Way of Long Island, We Connect the Dots
Western New York: SoPark Corporation
Legislature Passes Package Of Limousine Safety Bills
Both houses of the legislature passed a package of limousine safety bills this week. The 10-bill package, the result of three way negotiations between the legislative leaders and the Governor, focused on new safety regulations such as: seatbelt requirements, immobilization of defective limousines, increased penalties for illegal u-turns, GPS requirements, customer service resource requirements, regular validation of vehicle and driver safety information, new commercial driver’s license requirements for limousine drivers, creation of a passenger task force and drug and alcohol testing.
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said:
“Limousines and celebrations usually go hand-in-hand, and the Senate Democratic Majority wants to keep it that way. The crashes that have taken place because of unsafe limos and lax regulations are tragedies, and we have a responsibility to address this problem. The Senate Majority stands, and grieves, with the families who lost loved ones to limo crashes and who turned that suffering into activism. These bills, which have the support of the Senate Majority, Assembly Majority, and Governor Cuomo, will help improve safety, hold companies accountable, and save lives.”
Senate Passes Automatic Voter Registration Bill
The Senate passed a series of elections bills including measures to require a polling place on college campuses, require at least one early voting polling site in the most heavily populated town or city, and to exempt elementary and secondary schools from hosting an early voting site.
The most significant bill passed by the Senate was a bill to automatically register voters who interact with certain state agencies, like the Department of Motor Vehicles or the Department of Health. Republicans in the minority objected to the bill, citing fears that the new law could result in the registration of ineligible voters. Democrats in the majority contend that if an ineligible voter wanted to register to vote illegally, nothing currently prevents them from doing so, aside from the penalty that already exists. The Assembly Speaker has suggested they too will eventually pass a similar bill, but, suggested he would like to include more state agencies that would trigger automatic registration, such as the Department of Social Services.
Assembly Holds Public Hearing On STAR Program
The Assembly Committee on Real Property Taxation held a public hearing this week to discuss recent changes to the STAR Property Tax Relief Program, most notably, changes from last year’s budget. The Committee heard testimony from the Department of Tax and Finance and from associations representing local tax assessors and school business officials. Much of the concern from Assembly members revolved around news making issues like the timeliness of checks, the new income verification process for seniors in the Enhanced STAR program, mistakes leading to the issue of a double credit, and the issue of credit checks to property owners that are delinquent on their tax bills.
The Department of Tax and Finance defended their handling of the program noting that 98% of people receiving a tax credit check, received it on time. Testimony from local assessors pleaded with Assembly members not to make any further changes to the program or, if possible, revert to the old tax exemption system. The Assembly members present seemed to also prefer to see no additional changes to the program.
Assembly Committee Membership Changes
The Assembly made a few adjustments to committee assignments this week. Changes are as follows:
Codes:
– Remove Zebrowksi
– Add Walker, Morinello, Reilly
Education:
– Remove Titus, Ra
– Add Kolb
Energy:
– Remove Walker
Environmental Conservation:
– Remove Raia
– Add Crouch
Ethics:
– Remove Titus
– Add Cruz
Health:
– Remove Raia, Ra
– Add Byrne as Ranker, Melissa Miller, Salka
Housing:
– Remove Raia
– Add Kolb
Insurance:
– Remove Walker, Raia
– Add Schmitt
Judiciary:
– Remove Titus
– Add Walker
Rules:
– Remove Titus, Raia
– Add Blankenbush, Norris
Tourism:
– Remove Schmitt
– Add Kolb
Veterans:
– Ashby as Ranker
Ways and Means:
– Add Brabanec
Senate Committee Membership Changes
The Senate also made adjustments to committee assignments this week. Changes are as follows:
Banks:
– O’Mara as Ranker
– Add Borrello
Budget & Revenue:
– Borrello as Ranker
Codes:
– Remove Boyle
Finance:
– Add Gallivan
Health:
– Add Ortt
Internet & Tech:
– Add Borrello
Labor:
– Remove Robach
Local Gov’t:
– Remove Amedore
– Add Borrello
Mental Health:
– Remove Ortt
– Add Serino
Commerce:
– Remove Akshar
– Add Borrello
Senator LaValle Announces Retirement
Senator Ken LaValle, the longest serving member of the Senate, announced this week he would not be seeking another term. LaValle, a longtime fixture as the Higher Education Committee Chair, intends to continue working on higher education issues at Stony Brook University. LaValle was first elected in 1976.
Senator Montgomery Announces Retirement
Senator Velmanette Montgomery announced this week that she plans to retire at the end of this term, declining to run for reelection. Senator Montgomery is the longest serving member of the Democratic Conference. Montgomery endorsed Assembly member Tremaine Wright to succeed her in the 25th State Senate District seat, which covers the northern Brooklyn areas of Fort Greene, Boerum Hill, Red Hook, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Sunset Park, Gowanus and Park Slope. Montgomery was first elected in 1985.
Political Updates
Senator O’Mara challenger announces bid.
Challenger to Senator May officially announces candidacy.
Assembly Democrats report $4.3 million cash on hand.
Senate Democrats raise $2.4 million.
Republicans may not field a candidate for special election to fill Senator Antonacci’s seat.
Catsimatidis considering a run for mayor.
Updates, Reminders, and Links
City & State NY’s Winners & Losers here.
City & State NY’s Political PR Power 50 here.
Coming Up
The Governor has scheduled his budget address for 1 P.M. on Tuesday, January 21 at Hart Theatre in Albany.
The Senate Committees on Housing and Investigations will hold a public hearing to review proposed legislation regarding enforcement of housing and building codes on January 23.
JCOPE will hold its next meeting on January 28.
The Legislative Commission on Rural Resources will hold a public hearing to examine the effectiveness of current flooding emergency and mitigation efforts, and to discuss the need for future assistance due to the increase in extreme weather events on January 28.
The Board of Regents will hold their next meeting on February 10th and 11th.
The Senate Racing Committee will hold a public meeting on the economic impact of the three unused downstate casino licenses on February 12.
The Assembly will hold a public hearing on incentives for community solar on February 18.