State Relations Update - June 21, 2009

Assembly Recesses – The Assembly completed their 2009 session agenda at 2:00 am this morning passing over 200 bills in the last full day of session.  If and when they reconvene it will be at the “call of the speaker”.  However, given the outcome of the Senate’s attempt to address legislation, the Assembly could very well return later this summer to deal with issues following action by the Senate.

Senate Update – The Governor called the Senate to a special session today at 3:00 PM to take up an agenda of 55 legislative issues, none of which directly impact SUNY.  Shortly after 3:00 PM, Democrat Senator Stewart-Cousins gaveled in the session, but Republican Senator Winner also “gaveled” in  the session, as he stood in front of the podium where Senator Stewart-Cousins presided…sort of a “parallel-senate”…”The Chronicles of Albany”…..Shortly after 4:20 PM, the Senate returned to session, called a Rules Committee meeting and reported several of the 55 extraordinary session bills proposed by the Governor, none of which directly impact the University, to the floor at which time they were approved 62-0. But, there may be a wrinkle in this scenario….the Senate Republicans adjourned their session "sine die" meaning that they are officially adjourned.  Currently the Republican Senators are not present creating a question as to a  quorum being present in order to continue session.  More details tomorrow.

Assembly Resignation - Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio (D-Queens) resigned effective today.  First elected in 1978, Seminerio is under indictment and accused of extorting bribes.

Key Outstanding Issues – Several issues supported by the University remain incomplete at this time:

Optometric Clinic
A.1138 Gottfried - S.4529 Krueger
Authorizes the provision of optometric services, which are provided by certain diagnostic and treatment centers licensed under article twenty-eight of the public health law and affiliated with the college of optometry of the state university of New York, to recipients of medical assistance for the needy.
Status:  A.1138 Passed Assembly

Police Retirement
A.2344 McEneny - S.5097 Savino
Allows state university police officers to transfer to the NYSLPFRS and to be covered by the provisions of a new 25 year half pay retirement plan, with additional one-sixtieths of final average salary for each year of service in excess of twenty-five years, but not exceeding fifteen such years.

SUCF Sick Credits
A.8228 Abbate - S.5632 Savino
Implements a provision in a collective bargaining agreement between the state university construction fund and an employee organization relating to unused sick leave and retirement service credit.
Status:  A.8228 Passed Assembly; S.5632 reported to Senate Finance

Purchase Senior Housing
A.3687 Bradley – S.4134 Oppenheimer
Authorizes the lease of lands located at the state university of New York at Purchase for a senior learning community
Status:  A.3687 reported to Assembly Ways and Means

Upstate Medical Study
A.8173 Destito – A.5454 Aubertine
Directs the president of the SUNY Upstate Medical University to conduct a study concerning the need for branch campuses in the Fort Drum/Watertown and Mohawk Valley
Status:  A.8173 reported to Assembly Ways and Means

ESF Dorm Financing
A.8594 Magnarelli – S.5677 Valesky
Authorizes the dormitory authority to finance certain facilities for the ESF College Foundation, Inc., or an affiliated not-for-profit entity controlled by the ESF College Foundation, Inc.

Jim Campbell
Director of Legislative Relations
Office of University Relations
State University of New York