Saturday, February 2, 2019

Dear Friend:

As I mentioned last week, the legislature continues to deliver on promises made by passing legislation that had stalled for far too long. 

On Monday, January 28th, I was proud to vote for the Child Victims Act. S.2440 extends the criminal statute of limitations for child sexual abuse crimes and clears a path for survivors to pursue a civil remedy. I commend the many survivors who spoke publicly about their abuse for their tremendous courage. They had to wait too long for this day, but the bill finally passed both chambers of the legislature. Read more about the Child Victims Act in the section below.

On Tuesday, January 29th, the State Senate and Assembly passed laws that build on the path-breaking SAFE Act to protect our families from the scourge of gun violence. I am especially proud of a bill I sponsored, S.2449, which establishes uniform statewide practices for gun buyback programs and creates a fund to assist municipalities with the cost of the program. Read more about each of the bills in the section below.

On Friday, February 8th, I am pleased to co-host a NYS Budget Forum with the Westchester State Senate Delegation at the Greenburgh Public Library from 3:00 - 5:00 PM. Thank you to the more than 100 people who have already signed-up to attend. RSVP is requested but not required. Click here to RSVP.

As always, if we can help you with an issue, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office at 914-934-5250 or smayer@nysenate.gov.
 
Warm regards,
 
Shelley B. Mayer
New York State Senator
37th District

In This Issue
CONTACT ME

37th STATE SENATE DISTRICT

District Office
222 Grace Church Street
Suite 300
Port Chester, NY 10573
914-934-5250
smayer@nysenate.gov
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The 37th State Senate District includes the Cities of Yonkers, White Plains, Rye and New Rochelle; the Towns of Bedford, Eastchester, Harrison, North Castle, Mamaroneck, and Rye; the Villages of Bronxville, Larchmont, Harrison, Mamaroneck, Port Chester, Rye Brook, and Tuckahoe; and the unincorporated places of Katonah, Bedford Hills, and Armonk.

JUSTICE DELAYED, AT LAST DELIVERED
The Child Victims Act (S.2440, Hoylman) reforms New York's outdated statute of limitations for child sexual abuse. The bill raises the criminal statute of limitations for child sexual abuse crimes by five years, and it raises the civil statute of limitations for child sexual abuse to the age of 55. It also adds a one year window for civil claims that may have been previously barred.

Health care professionals have long recognized the devastating effects of childhood sexual abuse and the difficulty survivors have in speaking up about their abuse. Outdated New York State laws required survivors to pursue civil or criminal charges well before most survivors have come to terms with their abuse. These restrictive laws left many survivors unable to file charges against abusers who continue to remain hidden and a threat to public safety.

We have cleared a path to justice by passing the Child Victims Act. Survivors were made to wait too long for this day. I hope the bill gives survivors the means to receive the treatment, peace of mind, and closure they deserve.

PROTECTING NEW YORKERS FROM THE
SCOURGE OF GUN VIOLENCE

GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION MEASURES PASSED ON JANUARY 22ND

Extreme Risk Protection Orders
Allows law enforcement officials, family and household members and certain school officials to seek a court order requiring a person likely to harm themselves or others to relinquish any firearms in their possession ( S. 2451, Kavanagh).

Effective Background Check Act
Establishes an extension of time up to thirty calendar days for national in-state background checks to ensure completion of checks when questions have been raised regarding past criminal records ( S.2374, Gianaris).

Bump Stock Ban
Prohibits the possession of a device that accelerates the rate of fire of a firearm as was used in the Las Vegas massacre ( S.2448, Sepulveda).

Preventing School Districts from Allowing Teachers to be Armed
Prevents K-12 schools from authorizing anyone other than a security officer, school resource officer, or law enforcement officer to carry a firearm on school grounds ( S.101A, Kaminsky).

Out of State Mental Health Records
Requires out-of-state applicants for gun permits to allow New York permitting authorities to review out-of-state mental health records ( S.2438, Kaplan).

Gun Buy Back
Directs the state police to devise uniform regulations for gun buyback programs so that all programs across the state are operated consistently with uniform best practices and establishes a fund for these programs ( S.2449, Mayer).

Thank you to the many advocates throughout the state, especially Moms Demand Action, for your tenacity and determination in ensuring we took the proper and prudent steps to prevent gun violence. I am especially proud that a bill I sponsored,  S.2449 , was a part of this package. The bill is modeled after the City of Yonkers' successful Gun Tips Hotline which has removed hundreds of guns off of the streets of the city. Thank you also to James Nolan, Jr. and the Nolan family for turning your deep grief over the tragic loss of Michael Nolan into extraordinary advocacy to limit gun violence.

NEWS & UPDATES


On Friday, February 8th, I am pleased to co-host a NYS Budget Forum with the Westchester State Senate Delegation. RSVP is requested but not required.  Click here to RSVP. We welcome anyone's opinion as written or oral testimony. Each speaker will have up to four minutes to speak. Click here for the flyer for the event to share with interested parties. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call my office at 914-934-5250.

If you or someone you know would like to submit testimony ahead of or after the event, it can be submitted to scousins@nysenate.gov, harckham@nysenate.gov, carlucci@nysenate.gov, smayer@nysenate.gov, bailey@nysenate.gov and biaggi@nysenate.gov.
Ms. Leidy Cuzon and State Senator Shelley Mayer reading "Duck! Rabbit!" to Ms. Cuzon's 2nd Grade Class.

On Friday, February 1st, I was delighted to participate in World Read Aloud Day by reading to Ms. Leidy Cuzon's 2nd Grade Class at the John F. Kennedy Magnet School in Port Chester. We read "Duck! Rabbit!" and "Red: A Crayon's Story." 

This past week, I was glad to appear on NewsBreakers with Andrew Whitman to discuss the details of school funding in this year's state budget. I am committed to working with my colleagues to secure the necessary resources & policies for our school districts.   Click here  to watch the full interview.


LED lighting saves taxpayer dollars, reduces energy use, and decreases a municipality's impact on the environment. The NY Power Authority has made available $7 million in grants for municipalities seeking to convert aged street lights to energy-efficient LEDs. To find out more about the program, click here . Municipalities interested in applying for a grant can submit the Smart Street Lighting NY Interest Form available here .
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