Assembly Action Highlights
The Week Ending January 14-18, 2008

Dan Weiller, Press Secretary

Silver Opens 2008 Legislative Session With Message Of Cooperation To Colleagues
Speaker Pledges To Address Health Care, Tax Reform And Economy In New Year

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver delivered opening remarks on the first day of the 2008 legislative session with a message to legislators to work with Gov. Eliot Spitzer in the new year to reform government and address the pressing needs of all New Yorkers, including health care, jobs, energy, property tax relief, education, day care and the Upstate economy.

"It is time to remember and honor those who have placed their trust in us, and who rely on our ability to work together. We have an immense amount of work on our plates. Working men and women and those who are most in need are being swept further and further downward by this economic avalanche. It is time, my colleagues, to accept the 'olive branch' that Governor Spitzer is extending to us," said Silver.

While urging cooperation with the executive, Silver also noted it was important for the Assembly to retain its independence, especially when Gov. Spitzer unveils his budget proposal for the 2008-09 SFY next week. "The People's House must always be independent. In a matter of days, Governor Spitzer will submit the Executive Budget. As leaders, we will scrutinize that plan. We will debate it and if necessary, we will modify it," said Silver.

Silver Offers Praise For Spitzer's Innovative Use of Assembly Initiative

Silver commended Gov. Spitzer for his historic investment in upstate New York through the planned implementation of the Restore NYs Communities Initiative as part of his Upstate revitalization program.

Silver noted that Restore NY was an Assembly initiative that came about following discussions with Buffalo city leaders. Mayor Byron Brown and his administration identified blighted communities as an impediment to economic development which had not been addressed in any of the previous economic development initiatives. The Speaker said the program was a response to concerns and needs expressed by Brown about the lack of site-ready development locations. When the program was launched, it was expanded to address communities throughout the state.

"Restore NY is a $300 million Assembly initiative that originated in Western New York, and so it is fitting that the Governor announced a second round of important projects prior to his State of the Upstate address in Buffalo on Wednesday," said Silver. "Restore NY is already providing vital support for revitalization and renaissance in communities throughout New York State, which in turn stimulates much-needed job creation and economic development."

Assembly Gives Final Passage To Roosevelt Aid Legislation

The Assembly overwhelmingly passed an initiative aimed at helping the Roosevelt school district get on firm financial footing.

The bill (A.9504), authored and initiated by Assemblywoman Earlene Hooper, will wipe out the Roosevelt School District's $8 million accumulated deficit and increase the current $6 million grant for academic improvement to $12 million, a move that finally grants Roosevelt funding parity with other school districts in Nassau County and brings per-pupil spending in the district to the county average.

Praising Hooper for her continued commitment to the children of Roosevelt, Silver said the legislation builds upon previous Hooper initiatives aimed at helping the children of Roosevelt. The Legislature created the academic improvement initiative in 2002 and fought for its continued implementation as a means of raising achievement; over time, this grant has provided a total of $36 million. Other initiatives include 98 percent reimbursement for spending on school construction. Additional Assembly initiatives garnered Roosevelt nearly $35 million in specialized school construction grants, through the RESCUE and EXCEL programs.

Speaking on the Assembly floor as the bill was being considered, Hooper expressed her "deepest thanks to Speaker Silver for his unwavering support of public education - particularly for his concern for the education of the children of Roosevelt Union Free School District. Without his stalwart leadership and the support of my community, this historic legislation would never have made it to this floor."

Assembly Passes Bill to Remove Mentally Ill Inmates From Segregated Housing Units (SHU)

Silver and Corrections Committee Chair Jeffrion Aubry (D-Queens) lauded the final passage of legislation to improve treatment for mentally ill inmates. The legislative measure requires that inmates with serious mental illness be removed from segregated housing units (SHU) and instead placed in specialized residential mental health treatment units.

The legislation (A.9342) will require the state Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) to conduct a mental health assessment of all inmates placed in SHU confinement and periodic reassessments thereafter. Inmates diagnosed with serious mental illnesses will be removed from SHU confinement and placed in residential mental health treatment units where they will receive appropriate treatment and programming. These new mental health treatment units will be operated jointly by the state Office of Mental Health (OMH) and DOCS.

"The Assembly is mindful of the detrimental effects of segregated housing units on inmates suffering from acute mental illness," said Silver. "This bill is a better alternative to the current practice and will help to create a safer environment for both inmates and staff in our state facilities."