In Albany last week: Votes cast by local state lawmakers on abortion, birth control, DREAM act and teacher evaluations

Below are the bills that passed in both chambers of the State Legislature last week (Jan. 21-25) and how our local lawmakers — State Senator Ken LaValle (R-Port Jefferson), Assembly Member Fred Thiele (I-Sag Harbor) and Assembly Member Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk) — voted on them.

A21 / S240: Enacts the reproductive health act; revises provisions of law relating to abortion.
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to enacting the reproductive health act and revising existing provisions of law regarding abortion; to amend the penal law, the criminal procedure law, the county law and the judiciary law, in relation to abortion; to repeal certain provisions of the public health law relating to abortion; to repeal certain provisions of the education law relating to the sale of contraceptives; and to repeal certain provisions of the penal law relating to abortion.  [See story: North Fork Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo on bill that codifies Roe v. Wade in New York state law, Jan. 23]

Palumbo: No
Thiele: Yes (co-sponsored)
LaValle: No

A584 / S660:Relates to the prohibition of discrimination based on an individual’s or a dependent’s reproductive health decision making.
To prohibit employers from discriminating against employees based on the employees’ or dependent’s reproductive health decisions, and to provide remedies for such violations.

Palumbo: yes
Thiele: Yes (cosponsored)
LaValle: Yes

A585 / S659A:Enacts the “comprehensive contraception coverage act” to provide insurance coverage for FDA-approved contraceptive drugs, devices and products.
An act to amend the insurance law and the social services law, in relation to requiring health insurance policies to include coverage of all FDA-approved contraceptive drugs, devices, and products, as well as voluntary sterilization procedures, contraceptive education and counseling, and related follow up services and prohibiting a health insurance policy from imposing any cost-sharing requirements or other restrictions or delays with respect to this coverage.

Palumbo: No
Thiele: Yes
LaValle: Yes

A782 / S01250: Enacts the New York state DREAM Act by creating the New York DREAM fund commission and amends eligibility requirements and conditions governing certain awards.
This bill would create the Jose Peralta New York State DREAM Act, create a DREAM fund commission and a DREAM fund in order to advance the educational opportunities of the children of immigrants by providing scholarships to college bound students. It would also eliminate potential financial obstacles to obtain- ing State financial aid and extend the opportunities for undocumented students to attend higher education institutions in this State by providing a benefit consistent with U.S. citizens and nationals. Finally this bill would eliminate barriers for immigrant aliens to save for their families higher education expenses by allowing such individuals to open a New York State 529 family tuition account under the New York State College Tuition Savings Program and/or be a designated beneficiary on an account if they have a taxpayer identification number.

Palumbo: Absent/Excused
Thiele: Yes
LaValle: No

A783 / S1262 Relates to state assessments and teacher evaluations; makes certain provisions permanent.
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to state assessments and teacher evaluations; and to amend chapter 56 of the laws of 2014, amending the education law relating to providing that standardized test scores shall not be included on a student’s permanent record, in relation to making certain provisions permanent. [See story: Bill unlinking student performance on standardized tests and teacher evaluations called ‘a good first step’, Jan. 24]

Palumbo:Absent/Excused
Thiele: Yes
LaValle: Yes

Editor’s Note: Bill summaries are those provided by the State Legislature.