S136

The State Senate passed an election law amendment sponsored by Sen. Krueger on a 47-14 vote. The bill, Calendar Number 901 (Senate Print 136), was brought to the floor and proceeded directly to a roll call vote after the final section was read. Fourteen senators voted in opposition: Ashby, Borrello, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Stec, Tedisco, Weber and Weik. The measure takes effect immediately upon passage.

The New York State Senate passed legislation to increase compensation for election inspectors, with the bill winning approval 48-13 on a roll call vote. Senate Print 136, sponsored by Sen. Krueger, establishes a fixed compensation rate for New York City inspectors while setting a $300 daily minimum for inspectors in the rest of the state, allowing counties to set higher rates if desired. The measure addresses recruitment challenges in New York City, where poll workers face 16-to-18 hour days beginning at 5 a.m. and ending at 10 p.m. Sen. Krueger said the city has struggled to find enough workers willing to take the demanding positions. The bill is projected to cost approximately $17 million annually, though that figure could rise to $34 million if split-shift assignments become common. During floor debate, Sen. Rhoads raised concerns about whether workers assigned to split shifts would receive full daily compensation and questioned whether the state would provide funding to counties to cover the increased costs. Sen. Krueger indicated the language could be clarified through a revised bill early in the session and committed to working with colleagues on budget appropriations to fund the election reforms. Thirteen senators, all Republicans, voted against the measure.