Asm. Steven Otis

Assemblymember Glick clarified that the bill is limited to traveling acts and prohibits only large cats, bears, non-human primates, kangaroos and wallabies. She emphasized the bill does not limit domesticated farm animals at county fairs or other events, and is targeted at protecting the public from dangerous incidents. Glick noted that 4-H activities and county fair displays of safe animals remain unaffected.

Asm. Walsh spoke in support of the bill, explaining it was introduced in response to an Orange County incident where an elementary student reported sexual assault by another student but school officials failed to notify the parent. Walsh noted the bill requires immediate parent notification when allegations of child abuse are made in educational settings. Walsh also referenced her own bill, Jacobe's Law, addressing school bullying, and emphasized that parents must be immediately informed if their child is being sexually assaulted or bullied.

Described the bill as a good environmental and small business measure that provides financial incentives for landscapers to transition to electric equipment in response to local restrictions on gas-powered equipment in 69 communities statewide.

Described the bill as a good environmental and small business measure that provides financial incentives for landscapers in communities that have restricted gas-powered equipment to transition to electric alternatives, with NYSERDA designing and administering the program.

Utilities do not always staff up, contract, or arrange mutual aid adequately to restore service to customer satisfaction. The Legislature should provide direction to the PSC on time-based restoration goals, and the bill does not contradict existing safety protocols utilities follow.

Explained the bill provides guardrails and guidance for government use of AI tools to ensure quality and protect the public. Noted the bill broadens last year's framework, which was limited to State agency employment decisions, to cover all AI use by State and local agencies. Emphasized transparency and disclosure as key mechanisms for public quality control.

Sponsor emphasized the bill provides a bottom-up planning process respecting local variation, as comprehensive essential service proposals failed to gain agreement. The bill asks counties to convene local stakeholders to identify gaps and develop cost estimates, which will inform future legislative action.

The bill was on the consent calendar. Asm. Palmesano explained his negative vote, raising concerns that the term 'public works website' is not defined in the legislation and questioning whether utilities performing excavation work would be required to pay prevailing wage for hauling, which could increase costs passed to ratepayers.

Assemblywoman Walsh explained her support for the bill, noting that while she generally opposes state mandates on nonpublic schools, she supports this measure for two reasons: the safety importance of AEDs for school occupants and visitors, and the availability of $70 million in budget appropriations for grant money to assist nonpublic schools with AED costs. She referenced prior debate on a similar bill requiring AEDs in public schools.

Argued the bill adds a necessary time-sensitive component to emergency plans to ensure utilities mobilize adequate staffing and equipment quickly. Emphasized the bill does not change existing PSC penalty structures and that inadequate staffing is unfair to workers. Noted the bill has been introduced for five years as storms continue to cause extended outages.

Highlighted infrastructure investments including $500 million for clean water, $25 million increase for Environmental Protection Fund, and funding for affordable housing, higher education, mental health, roads and bridges.

Praised infrastructure investments including $500 million for clean water and $25 million increase to Environmental Protection Fund; noted budget made reasonable additions to school aid and addressed mental health and housing needs despite federal funding pressures.

Highlighted infrastructure investments including $500 million for clean water, $25 million increase for Environmental Protection Fund, and funding for affordable housing, higher education, mental health, roads, bridges, and mass transit.

Stated that lack of adequate charging infrastructure is the primary reason EV sales have declined nationally, and expanding charging capacity will increase consumer confidence in purchasing electric vehicles.

Mr. Otis explained that the legislation expands transparency requirements for AI used in employment decisions by State agencies. The bill requires the Office of Information Technology Services to maintain an inventory of AI tools and provide guidance to agencies. State agencies must disclose on their websites when AI is used for employment decisions, and the public will have access to the inventory. Ms. Walsh questioned whether the State had previously used tools like Indeed for recruitment and asked how the original legislation was developed. Mr. Otis noted this is the first statute in the nation requiring such transparency and that changes were made through chapter amendment negotiations with the Executive branch.