Gianaris Announces Progress & New Support For Anti-Puppy Mill Legislation
Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria, Long Island City, Sunnyside, parts of Woodside, Maspeth, Ridgewood, Woodhaven) today will hold a news conference to announce new support for his anti-puppy mill legislation (S.4234-A).
The measure will prohibit the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits by retail pet shops and authorize space for adoption.
The press conference will immediately follow a meeting of the Domestic Animal Welfare committee, which will consider the legislation.
The press conference is slated for 11:45 a.m., today, Feb. 3 on the fourth floor of the Capitol Building in Albany.
Gillibrand Knocks Senate GOP For Inaction in Trump Impeachment Trial
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) on Friday decried the Senate Republican vote to block witnesses and relevant documents in the impeachment trial of President Trump.
“This is a sad day for our democracy and an ominous chapter in our nation’s history. Despite pledging to do impartial justice, Republicans conducted a sham trial from the beginning, voting to bar witnesses with first-hand knowledge of the president’s crimes, and blocking the admission of relevant documents,” said Gillibrand.
“It’s clear that Senate Republicans will vote to acquit the president, and in doing so, will excuse proven criminality for political expediency. As we head into an election year, Republicans have declared that President Trump has free rein to pressure foreign governments into investigating his political opponents, even if his actions threaten our national security and the security of our allies. This is an abject failure of congressional oversight and a betrayal of our constitutional duty,” she added.
Cuomo Announces Legislation To Further Protect Elder New Yorkers
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Friday announced legislation in the FY 2021 Executive Budget to protect elder New Yorkers from financial exploitation.
This proposal will strengthen banks’ ability to place a hold on the bank account of a vulnerable adult if there is sufficient reason to believe that the adult is a victim of actual or attempted financial exploitation by creating parameters for the holds, providing financial institutions and employees with immunity from civil liability for holding transactions, and requiring reporting of the hold to the Office of Children and Family Services.
The Department of Financial Services will also create a new certification program for banking institutions to bolster training and education in financial exploitation.
“Seniors are at a greater risk of being victims of financial exploitation, and this legislation will create new measures that will allow banks to better safeguard their hard-earned savings,” said Cuomo. “These reforms will help protect some of our most vulnerable New Yorkers from financial exploitation and will take one more step toward a stronger, fairer and more just Empire State for all.”
While current law permits a financial institution to place a hold on a bank account for suspected financial exploitation of a vulnerable person, banks, fearing potential civil liability if they institute such a hold, have hesitated to act on such a suspicion. This proposal would create parameters for the holds and provide financial institutions and employees with immunity from civil liability for holding transactions and reporting when there is a reasonable suspicion of elder financial abuse.
A 2013 study found the statewide impact of financial exploitation to be at least $1.5 billion.
To report suspected elder financial exploitation, individuals and financial institutions should contact their local APS unit. Telephone numbers for all local APS units in New York can be found by calling the statewide Adult Services Helpline at 1-844-697-3505.
