A1628

The New York State Senate passed A1628, an act to amend the Public Buildings Law, by a vote of 53-8 after rejecting a proposed amendment addressing local control and protection of vulnerable shelter residents. The amendment, offered by Sen. Lanza on behalf of Sens. Weber and Rolison, would have clarified that local emergency declarations supersede state orders and would have protected individuals in motels and shelters from displacement when migrants are relocated. Acting President Bailey ruled the amendment nongermane under Senate rules; an appeal of that ruling failed on a show of hands vote of 21 ayes. Sen. Rolison cited a recent incident at the Crossgates Motel in Newburgh where veterans were displaced without warning when migrants arrived from New York City, arguing the amendment was necessary to prevent such humanitarian crises. The bill was subsequently restored to the noncontroversial calendar and passed. Eight senators voted against the measure: Ashby, Borrello, Felder, Oberacker, O'Mara, Stec, Tedisco, and Walczyk.