General

#Albany lawmakers return to pass Juneteenth, COVID-19 liability measures

#Albany lawmakers return to pass Juneteenth, COVID-19 liability measures

July 23, 2020 | 7:45pm

ALBANY — State lawmakers made an unusual midsummer return to Albany this week, making up for time lost to the coronavirus pandemic.

Politicians normally would have shut down the legislative session for the summer in early June — a calendar adjustment already shortened from previous years — to mark 57 days, encompassing 18 weeks in the capital city.

But emergency action made in April’s state budget granted remote voting and conferencing powers for pols, allowing them to function despite COVID-19’s pressure on business as usual.

Bills considered and expected to be passed by both the state Senate and Assembly include:

  • A measure green-lighting “automatic voter registration” directing state agencies like the Department of Motor Vehicles, state Board of Elections and Department of Social Services to automatically enroll residents who fill out any paperwork. The measure passed last year, but needed an amendment to a loophole that may have allowed non-citizens to also register.
  • A bill limiting lawsuit immunity protections for hospitals and nursing home operators to only cover COVID-related diagnosis and treatment.
  • A bill that officially recognizes Juneteenth as a state holiday and designates the second Monday in July each year as Abolition Commemoration day.
  • Legislation that would allow judges to issue protective orders barring abusive partners from using webcams, home security systems and other internet-connected gizmos to spy on or harass victims.
  • A constitutional amendment changing aspects of a commission charged with setting standards for state senate and assembly redistricting that would need to be passed by two consecutive legislatures and voters in a statewide referendum.

Lawmakers have returned to Albany several times since April in limited groups to pass legislation concerning the virus as well as police reforms.

They’ve now clocked in for 41 complete session days, marking 14 weeks total.

The Majority conferences have also planned a series of hearings throughout the summer’s end, including two concerning the pandemic’s hit on the state’s nursing home population.

Politicians are also planning to return again — possibly in August — to consider a fiscal package, according to sources, but they are awaiting congressional action this week in hopes that federal aid is approved for the Empire State.

There are 63 lawmakers elected to the state Senate and 160 lawmakers elected to the state Assembly.

Both chambers fall under majority control by Democrats.

If you want to read more News articles, you can visit our General category.

if you want to watch Movies or Tv Shows go to Dizi.BuradaBiliyorum.Com for forums sites go to Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com

Source

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button
Close

Please allow ads on our site

Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker!