Governor Paterson Signs Eighteen Bills into Law
June 16, 2010
Governor David A. Paterson this week signed 18 bills into law including legislation that will enhance the availability of child day care centers, enacts the "Jury Pool Fair Representation Act" and extends the period of time in which Vietnam veterans may seek compensation for injuries caused by exposure to Agent Orange, among others. Governor Paterson vetoed one bill.
The Governor signed A.8827A/S.7742 into law, which will enhance the availability of safe, affordable and accessible child day care. This bill will also increase the child day care capacity in a group family day care home, and will improve quality, safety enforcement for all levels of child day care.
"Quality child care provides incredible benefits for children and is essential for working parents," Governor Paterson said. "I am pleased to sign this legislation which will help ensure that parents are able to find safe and affordable home day care programs."
Governor Paterson also signed A.2374A/S.2613-A, which will enact the "Jury Pool Fair Representation Act" to provide for the collection and submission of demographic data of jurors in an annual report. This law will address recent studies which have shown that minority populations in New York State are under represented in civil jury pools in certain part of New York City.
"One of the many strengths of our judicial system is the option of a trial by a jury of our peers," Governor Paterson said. "This legislation will help provide us with the information necessary to improve jury representation and help us better realize our goals of a fair and equitable court system."
Additionally, Governor Paterson signed A.9737/S.7021, which extends the period of time that a Vietnam War veteran may file a lawsuit to recover for injuries caused by exposure to Agent Orange.
"It is our responsibility, and a moral imperative, to ease the burdens of those who sacrificed so much for our nation," Governor Paterson said. "I am proud to sign this legislation which will allow many of our veterans who were exposed to and injured by Agent Orange, and would have been unable to sue for damages, to seek justice."
The following bills were also signed into law:
A.8313A/S.5838-A: Amends Executive Law 23-b to clarify that standard promulgated by the Disaster Preparedness Commission for disaster preparedness plans for nursing homes and assisted living facilities do not modify or override duly promulgated agency regulations or preclude agencies from promulgating future regulations in the area.
A.6249B/S.2269-A: Exempts Roslyn Rescue Hook and Ladder Company No.1 from State law residency requirements applicable to fire districts.
A.8525/S.7742: Allows for the appointment of election commissioners where there are no members of legislative body who are members of the political part that filed the certificate of appointment.
A.9766A/S.6702-A: Permits a Village Justice of the Village of Sag Harbor to live outside the village, so long as he or she residents either in the towns of East Hampton or Southampton.
A10556/S.7100: Clarifies protection for timber operations from unreasonably restrictive ordinances; clarifies which woodland acreage is eligible to receive such protection; and clarifies how counties may request approval of the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Markets to correct errors made in their filings with the Department.
S.2405/A.11051: Amends Criminal Procedure Law 410.91 to make clear that a person who receives a determinate prison term for a drug offense pursuant to Penal Law 70.70(3)(b) is eligible to have that term executed as a parole.
S.5486/A.8256: Makes a technical correction to an identical provision appearing in Town Law, Village Law and General City Law that contains an incorrect reference to a section of the regulations that implement environmental impact statements.
S.5843B/A.9022-A: Authorizes the Dormitory Authority to construct and finance athletic facilities of the Convent of the Sacred Heart School of New York.
S.6268/A.9231: Repeals controversial and unpopular statutory authorization for the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets to conduct surveys of beekeeper and apiary yards.
S.6720/A.10060: Extends the authorization of the City of Yonkers to market serial bonds at private sale.
S.6730/A.9817: Extends and increases the authorization for the Town of East Hampton to issue serial bonds.
S.6833/A.9941: Extends the authorization of Erie County to market serial bonds at private sale.
S.6862/A.9951: Extends the authorization of the City of Buffalo to market serial bonds at private sale.
S.7221/A.1509: Clarifies that any action of a manual audit of voting records following an election will be directed to the Supreme Court as a Special Proceeding.
A.5462A/S.2233-A: Allows a foster care agency to delay filing a petition to terminate parental rights where a parent is incarcerated or participating in a residential treatment program where the delay would be in the best interest of the child.
Governor Paterson vetoed one bill:
A.7173/S.4801: Would expand tenure protections to certain persons holding appointed positions within the State Police, after such person has held that position for three years.
