ALBANY, NY (08/15/2010)(readMedia)-- Governor David A. Paterson today announced that he has acted on 137 bills, including issuing 34 vetoes. Of those, 24 include either unfunded mandates to State agencies and local governments, unfunded grants, an unfunded mandate to energy providers that would be passed on to ratepayers, and a pension sweetener. For those bills that had specific cost estimates, the total amount of increased and unfunded spending was $22.9 million. Additionally, many of the bills that impose substantial cost have technical faults, lack a clear objective or will be difficult to implement, making it impossible to estimate savings.

"As I have said from my first day in office, these difficult economic times call for difficult decisions. The Legislature must take notice; after three years, I have been forced to veto more than one billion dollars in spending that they have delivered to my desk," Governor Paterson said. "This year, all of these bills were passed before the budget was complete, and yet there were few negotiations to include any funding for these programs. The Legislature must stop passing legislation that spends money that we can no longer afford. Enough is enough."

"State government simply can no longer operate with our heads in the sand," Governor Paterson added. "While I have signed hundreds of bills into law that will help improve the lives of all New Yorkers, I have an obligation and responsibility to reduce taxpayer costs beyond what our State can afford. Many of the bills I have vetoed are worthy projects with laudable goals, but in the face of this current fiscal crisis, we must adjust our budget priorities to reflect our economic reality."

During his time in office, Governor Paterson has vetoed more than $1.2 billion in spending, which includes approximately $570 million in line item vetoes this year alone. In 2008, Governor Paterson vetoed more than 170 bills, saving taxpayers approximately $580 million over two years. In 2009, Governor Paterson vetoed dozens of bills worth more than $50 million.

Governor Paterson also signed into law a package of four bills that would bring significant reform to New York's outdated divorce laws. In particular, the Governor signed into law A.9753A/S.3890, which would make New York the last State of the fifty to adopt no-fault divorce. The bill would end the requirement that a party seeking a divorce had to claim one of a limited set of reasons as the basis for doing so, a rule that forced parties to invent false justifications, and that prolonged and aggravated the painful divorce process.

The reform package also included legislation that would revise the process for setting awards of temporary maintenance while a divorce is pending, by creating a formula and list of factors that would presumptively govern such awards (A.10984/S.8390 and A11576/S.8391). This would allow for speedy resolution of the maintenance issue, and prevent less well-off parties to divorce proceedings from falling into poverty during litigation, because they lack the resources to obtain a temporary maintenance order. Another bill (A7569-A/S4532-A) would create a presumption that a less monied spouse in a divorce case is entitled to payment of attorneys' fees. Under current law, a party that cannot afford to secure representation in a divorce proceeding must make an application for fees at the end of the process, which can force a poor individual to proceed without a lawyer, or to surrender on important issues due to lack of means. These bills received strong support from women's groups, advocates for victims of domestic violence and legal aid organizations.

"Finally, New York has brought its divorce laws into the twenty-first century," Governor Paterson said. "These bills fix a broken process that produced extended and contentious litigation, poisoned feelings between the parties and harmed the interests of those persons – too often women – who did not have sufficient financial wherewithal to protect their legal rights. I commend the sponsors on providing a real and effective legislative solution to a problem that has for too long bedeviled ordinary New Yorkers."

Governor Paterson vetoed the following bills today:

A356/S2293-B: Creates the technology employment community hub (TECH) centers program to award grants to community colleges for skills training

A520/S5926: Requires counties to maintain a registry of people of all ages with disabilities for the purpose of evacuating and sheltering such persons during disasters

A779A/S2993-B: Directs the department of environmental conservation to periodically update the model environmental impact assessment form

A1135/S7976: Establishes program for familial dysautonomia and Tay-Sachs disease screening; authorizes department of health to provide grants

A1459/S2276: Provides for home cooling needs assistance through the low-income home energy assistance program

A2132/S4743: Provides that an offender who fails to register or verify as a sex offender shall have the length of such failure to register or verify added to the duration of registration

A2548/S7567: Includes assisted living residences within the definition of long term care facilities for certain purposes

A2692A/S5113: Provides reimbursement to fire companies for costs associated with responding to spills of hazardous materials

A2769A/S7657: Creates New York City parks, tree and urban forestry fund

A3419/S5689: Requires state agencies to report on greenhouse gas emissions as a result of their operations

A3421/S4958: Includes provisions where it is the duty of the department of environmental conservation to establish a method for individuals and businesses to calculate their greenhouse gas emissions

A3514A/S7852: Provides for furnishing transcript of trial of a defendant convicted of a homicide offense to a family member of the victim at no cost to the family member

A4671A/S3573-A: Relates to requiring utility companies to include a notice of public hearings concerning rate increases

A5220B/S2056-B: Creates the missing vulnerable adults clearinghouse

A5602/S8202: Authorizes and directs the department of health to conduct a study on drugs prescribed for school-age children with ADD and ADHD

A7153A/S7701: Authorizes and directs the department of transportation to prepare a report on noise abatement procedures at certain heliports and airports in the county of Suffolk

A7253A/S7551: Allows for a gift to the love your library fund on corporate and personal income tax return forms

A7885A/S7389: Authorizes appointment of local government historians

A779A/S2993-B: Amends the environmental law, in relation to updates of the model environmental impact assessment form

A8012/ S4687: Relates to the manner in which certain provisions of the correction law are enforced

A8296A/S7112: Establishes the New York State interagency coordinating council for service-disabled veterans, defines the powers and duties of the council, requires an annual report

A8489A/S1330: Identifies the criteria the commissioner of environmental conservation should consider in publishing a list of high local environmental impact zones

A9018A/S6000-A: Prohibits employers from discriminating against victims of domestic violence.

A9020A/S5999-A: Relates to preventing discrimination against victims of domestic violence from housing discrimination

A9757/S7800: Provides that programs or activities relating to housing which receives federal financial assistance shall comply with Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973

A9774/S5202: Grants a waiver of the civil service examination fee to persons who have completed the displaced homemakers program or job training program

A9924A/S6827-A: Authorizes the dormitory authority of the state of New York to sell certain land in the county of Queens to the Indian Cultural and Community Center, Inc.

A10180/S7379: Establishes an address confidentiality program in the office of the secretary of state for domestic violence victims who need to maintain secrecy of their location

A10212A/S4211-B: Legalizes actions of the Oyster Bay - East Norwich central school district with respect to certain building aid contracts

A10689A/S7613-A: Relates to rental discrimination based on income

A11330A/S8022: Relates to a report on the capacity and staffing of the state prison system

S1736B/A1249-C: Relates to qualifications for certain appointed positions with the board of trustees for the state university and CUNY

S7410B/A6036-B: Prohibits a producer or refiner from selling, transferring, or assigning interest in a retail outlet leased to a motor fuel dealer

S8225/A1142-A: Provides alternate retirement benefits for employees of the power authority of the state of New York, who are employed at the Charles Poletti Power Project

Additionally, Governor Paterson signed 102 bills into law, including:

A619/S5108: Relates to uninterrupted payment of disability benefits

A2257B/S1606-B: Expands when a person is guilty of criminal trespass in the second degree

A2876/S4090: Grants the court of claims jurisdiction to hear and determine claims against the state for retaliatory personnel actions

A2900A/S946-A: Authorizes Bethel A.M.E. Church to file applications for a real property tax exemption with the city of Schenectady

A3103A/S4018-A: Adds registered nurse and licensed practical nurse to assault of emergency medical professionals and provides for class C and D felonies for physical injury to them

A3397/S4981: Requires model zoning and planning guidelines that foster age-integrated communities to provide for mixed-use development for senior residential housing

A3467B/S7820-A: Relates to the humane treatment of animals and rights of students relative to dissection

A3762/S3475: Relates to the transportation and possession of a slot machine under certain circumstances

A4916/S4651: Establishes that insurers providing rental vehicle reimbursement coverage shall not require an insured to utilize a particular rental vehicle company

A5707A/S5029-A: Requires owners of buildings receiving state benefits to make available rooms for voting and registration which are accessible to the handicapped

A5823/S1901: Requires commercial pesticide applicators to provide notice to residents of multiple family dwellings prior to the application of pesticide on such premises

A6195A/S2972-A: Authorizes family court in family offense proceedings to extend an order of protection upon showing of good cause or consent

A6241C/S6694-B: Authorizes Gibson Meeting Halls, Inc. to apply for real property tax exemptions on certain parcels in the county of Nassau

A6509B/S5615-A: Relates to providing unlisted numbers for domestic violence victims

A7203C/S285-C: Requires veterinarians and veterinary technicians to complete continuing education

A7569A/S4532-A: Provides for the payment of all counsel and expert fees in matrimonial actions by the more monied party to such action

A7593B/S4208-B: Relates to utility service call centers

A7617/S4498: Relates to a patient's right to palliative care information

A7670/S4429: Relates to motions to vacate judgment against victims of sex trafficking for certain prostitution offenses

A7917D/S5292-C: Relates to the requirement of exercising due care in the operation of a motor vehicle to avoid colliding with any bicyclist, pedestrian or domestic animal

A7923/S3644: Relates to requiring at least one employee at a child day care facility or family day care home to be trained and certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid

A7924A/S5342-A: Authorizes the filing of an application for real property tax exemption by Congregation Mesifta Beth Shraga

A7987B/S4303-B: Relates to farm waste net energy metering

A8076A/S4194-A: Authorizes certain police officers employed by the village of Lyons to join the twenty year retirement plan

A8199B/S1260-B: Authorizes New Creation in Christ Ministries, Inc. to file applications for a real property tax exemption with the city of Schenectady

A8220/S4199: Relates to the board of trustees of the higher education services corporation

A8392C/S7299-A: Makes technical corrections to provisions establishing powers of attorney for financial estate planning

A8393A/S5696-A: Provides that orders of protection shall not be denied solely on the basis that the events alleged are not contemporaneous with the application therefore

A8504/S4388: Relates to trial discharges of youth in foster care and voluntary re-placements of older adolescents in foster care

A8524/S3868-A: Authorizes the family court, in certain situations, to restore a birth parent's parental rights after they have been terminated

A8839A/S6034: Provides for enhanced consumer protection measures and enforcement of the do-not-call registry

A9186B/S6079-B: Criminalizes assault on a sanitation enforcement agent

A9550A/S7723: Relates to admission to adult care facilities

A9746/S7045: Authorizes the Community Outreach Center to file an application for a real property tax exemption

A9838/S7647: Relates to eligibility under the naturally occurring retirement community supportive service program

A9857C/S8GV056: Provides for the interpretation of trust and will clauses relating to federal estate taxes and generation-skipping transfer taxes when the decedent dies during 2010

A9944/S6858: Makes technical corrections to provisions of law relating to rates of payment for residential health care facilities

A9979/S6976: Authorizes the Greater Utica Community Food Resources, Inc. to file an application for a real property tax exemption

A10025A/S6975-A: Authorizes the Long Island Progressive Missionary Baptist Churches General Association to file an application for a real property tax exemption

A10050A/S7202-A: Authorizes assessor of county of Nassau to accept an application for exemption from real property taxes from S.N. Services Corporation

A10094B/S6993-B: Relates to information and access to breast reconstructive surgery

A10164/S7037: Makes the mayor the administrative head and executive secretary of the Schenectady urban renewal agency

A10213/S7074: Extends the period of time the Brookville library funding district may be established

A10219A/S7408-A: Relates to insurance coverage for drugs used in cancer treatment

A10226/S7139: Requires the required notice of foreclosure to tenants to include a notice of the rights of rent-regulated tenants

A10507A/S7584: Authorizes use of lever voting machines for school elections

A10512A/S7386-A: Authorizes the assessor of the town of Babylon to accept an application for exemption from real property taxes for certain parcels of land located in North Amityville

A10741/S7456: Increases the composition of the September 11th worker protection task force and extends the expiration of such chapter

A10779/S8031: Allows county of Putnam to retroactively apply for a tax exemption on property in the town of Carmel

A10851A/S8013: Grants chief administrator of the courts authority to allow referees to determine certain applications to a family court for an order of protection

A10857A/S7378-A: Relates to revocation of a liquor license for cause

A10869/S7677: Relates to making real property tax receipts available online

A10875/S7730: Extends from January 1, 2011 until January 1, 2015, the expiration of provisions of law relating to tax exemptions for solar, wind, or farm waste energy systems

A10878A/S7811-A: Prohibits the implementation of electronic billing and/or payment of rent without the tenant's consent

A10908B/S7118-A: Authorizes limited licenses to self-service storage companies for the sale of insurance on personal property stored at the facility

A10939/S7755: Repeals title 37 of article 15-B of the general municipal law relating to the establishment of the Port Chester community development agency

A10982/S7757: Repeals title 20 of article 7 of the public authorities law relating to the creation of the Port Chester parking authority

A10984B/S8390: Establishes the provision of temporary maintenance in matrimonial actions, and directs the law revision commission to study the effects of divorce and maintenance

A11097/S8272: Relates to extending provisions of law relating to the underground facilities safety training account

A11289/S8087: Extends the effectiveness of the home based primary care for the elderly demonstration project through January 1, 2016

A11343/S7826: Extends the provisions of chapter 545 of the laws of 2003 relating to the assisted living program

A11351/S8060: Relates to providing for the construction of capital facilities for Broad Channel Volunteers, Inc.

A11364/S8045: Amends chapter 183 of the laws of 2003, authorizing Westchester County to lease certain parklands, to make technical changes

A11391/S8228: Expands eligibility for the shock incarceration program

A11566/S8376: Relates to paperwork reduction

A11568/S8378: Relates to fraud enforcement

A11612/S8424: Relates to rape crisis centers for services to rape victims and programs to prevent rape

S1180A/A231-A: Provides that the village of Rye Brook in the county of Westchester may impose an occupancy tax on rooms for hire

S2087B/A432-B: Relates to unlawful dissection, procurement and sale of human body tissue, organs and body parts

S2769A/A5895-A: Extends provisions of the volunteer firefighters' benefit law relating to claims for benefits when a firefighter suffers heart related death or disability until 2015

S3890A/A9753-A: Provides that spouses may be granted a judgment of divorce in a timely fashion provided they meet certain conditions

S3903A/A6154-B: Relates to cooperative bidding by libraries and library systems

S4601A/ A 8565-A: Relates to bond anticipation notes issued during calendar year 2004 or 2005

S4647B/A 5292-B: Enacts the "Ambrose-Searles move over act"

S4658B/A 2693-B: Requires all first-term members of boards of education to attend training sessions within six months of taking office

S5110/A 9471: Authorizes municipal reciprocal insurers to offer full faith and credit surety bonds for public officers

S5182A/A 8656-A: Relates to a license to manufacture and sell alcoholic beverages in a premises commonly known as a restaurant-brewer

S5746/A 8707: Validates, ratifies, and confirms expenditures made by the William Floyd union free school district

S5868/A 8934: Authorizes taxing authorities in a certain county to grant a real property tax exemption to volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers

S5953A/A 8978-A: Relates to providing a tax exemption for property owned by Our Lady of Mount Carmel Society of Rosebank

S6129A/A 9103-A: Authorizes the town board of the town of Hyde Park, in the county of Dutchess, to diminish the area of the Greenfields water district

S6139A/A 10316-A: Provides that Lighthouse Mission, Inc. may file an application for exemption from real property taxes for the 2008-2009 assessment roll

S6231C/A 9227-B: Relates to alcoholic beverage liquidator's permits and temporary retail permits

S6237A/A 9733-A: Designating a portion of state highway 812 in Ogdensburg as "Trooper Shawn W. Snow Street"

S6263C/A 9243-B: Enacts Ian's Law, which provides enhanced consumer protections in the event of an insurer's discontinuance of coverage

S6279A/ A 9501-A: Relates to preferences to veterans for rentals and selection of tenants by certain housing companies

S6419A/A 9484-A: Provides for the elimination of certain properties of the Westerlo Water District No. 1 inadvertently included within such district

S6455/A 9535: Extends provisions of chapter 105 of the laws of 2009 enabling the county of Albany to impose and collect taxes on occupancy of hotel or motel rooms in Albany county

S6671A/A 9804-A: Relates to an exchange of ownership and maintenance responsibility between the village of Medina and the state of New York regarding roads in such village

S6766/A 9827: Authorizes the city of Schenectady to accept an application for real property tax exemption from the Tabernacle of New Hope

S6948/A 10178-A: Enacts provisions relating to reciprocal insurers having a corporate attorney-in-fact wholly owned by subscribers at the reciprocal insurers

S6987A/A 10161-A: Relates to criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation and strangulation

S7327A/A 11041: Extends the city's energy cost savings program and lower Manhattan energy program

S7420/A 11238: Increases the bond and note authorization of the New York state housing finance agency

S7480A/A 10673-A: Relates to the sale of wine and beer for consumption upon the premises at the New York State Fair

S7485A/A 10617-A: Relates to the suspension of driving privileges

S7512A/A 9841-A: Allows consideration of in-kind support when determining grantees of the naturally occurring retirement communities supportive service program

S7815A/A 10957-A: Legalizes, validates, ratifies and confirms the establishment and funding of water district no. 7 in the town of Brutus, county of Cayuga

S7864/A 10611: Relates to significant programmatic accomplishments for limited credit time allowances for inmates

S7897/A 10993: Relates to vehicles passing bicycles

S8114/A 11396: Relates to an application for exemption from real property taxes by the House of Refuge Apostolic Church

S8391/A 11576: Chapter amends S. 4532-A and A. 7569-A, relating to counsel and expert fees in matrimonial actions, to change the effective date to 60 days after enactment

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Posted Sunday August 15, 2010 at 12:01 pm by New York State Office of the Governor