What Sandy Galef Has Accomplished

Sandy Galef is well known as a force for change in the Assembly. Although she opposes pork barrel "member earmarks", she has nevertheless managed to secure much needed funding for her district.

It was Galef's idea to form a commission on property tax relief. The Governor liked it so well, he formed a Blue Ribbon Commission, headed by Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi.

Galef is the author of the circuit breaker tax relief bill, designed to give tax relief to property owners, based on their household income and total tax bill.

Galef sponsored and successfully passed a law to require that sources of all New York State candidates' campaign contributions be posted on the internet at elections.state.ny.us

Since arriving in Albany, Sandy Galef has pressed for on time budgets. In fact, this year, with the prospect of a late budget looming, Sandy Galef led a delegation to the governor's office to jump start the stalled budget process.

Never a "yes woman", Galef has been one of the leaders in the fight to make the budgeting process more open.

Galef secured $400,000 in state grants for road improvements throughout the 90th Assembly District

Galef secured state grants for the Ossining Public Library, the Desmond Fish Library, the Paramount Center in Peekskill, the Cold Spring Railroad station and the Ossining Railroad Station waterfront. She is working on grants for the Putnam Valley Town Hall, the Kent Senior Center, Aaron Copeland House, Hudson Valley Hospital Center and Phelps Memorial Hospital Center.

Galef secured a new state child tax credit of $330 per qualifying child.

Galef wrote the law that gives volunteer firefighters a state income tax credit.

Galef led the successful effort to select optical scanner voting machines that produce a paper trail to prevent voter fraud.

Galef pushed legislation to improve nutritional standards in the schools.

Galef on the Environment

Sandy Galef has long been a strong, committed advocate for the environment.

Galef co-authored the Hudson Valley Community Preservation Law to allow communities, through referendum, to protect open spaces.

Sandy Galef secured a $100,000 capital grant from NYS to underwrite an innovative geothermal system for the Ossining Library's heating and cooling, eliminating the need for heating oil.

Sandy Galef has sponsored Energy Fairs that feature vendors who provide energy-efficient materials.

Sandy Galef has voted for a number of environmental laws, including:

• funding for the Environmental Protection Fund
• the Hudson Valley Community Preservation Act
• Auto global warming labels
• Restrictions on the use of hazardous creosote
• Creation of the Sea Level Rise Task Force.

Assemblywoman Sandy Galef's
2010 LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS

Real property tax receipts will now be available online (A10869/S7677).

Municipalities have, in increasing numbers, allowed their residents to pay taxes electronically. Unfortunately due to a technicality in the law, municipal personnel had been unable to provide taxpayers with on-line receipts as proof of payment. With the passage of this new law, more and more taxpayers will feel confident paying taxes on-line because they will have an official receipt. Providing both taxpayers and municipal tax office staffers with the means of an electronic transaction will save time and money for all involved.

The absentee ballot process has been simplified through the removal of extraneous questions on the absentee ballot application form (A5276B/S2868B Signed by Governor Chapter 63).

Up until now, potential voters were forced to answer a lengthy questionnaire to obtain an absentee ballot. This new law removes the irrelevant questions, thereby decreasing the amount of paperwork for board of elections staff while eliminating a bureaucratic hurdle in the absentee ballot application process.

Voters can now apply for absentee ballots by fax and other ways in writing (A7347B/S4960B Signed by Governor Chapter 97).

Currently, potential voters must apply for an absentee ballot application form by mail or in person. Both ways incur time and costs for potential voters and board of elections employees. This new law will allow potential voters to request an absentee ballot by fax or another written instrument, making it easier to vote by absentee ballot.

Other Bills Which Have Passed the Legislature in 2010

Help with Property Taxes

Sweeping education reforms are signed into law, better positioning New York to receive federal Race-to-the-Top funds (A.11310/S.7990-Chapter 101, A.11309/S.7989-Chapter 103, A.11171/S.7991-Chapter 100–All signed by Governor). These measures make necessary reforms to our education system as well as increase our chances of receiving $700 million in aid, through the federal Race-to-the-Top program. Both transparency and accountability will be strengthened by giving the state comptroller auditing power over charter schools, while making sure that schools can maintain their ability to enroll and serve students with special needs. These laws will also increase the charter school cap by creating 260 new charter schools over a four year period ensuring that no for-profit organizations can operate or manage any new charter schools. This legislation will also call for financial support for a state longitudinal data system to measure long-term student achievement. An annual professional performance review of classroom teachers and building principals based on student achievement will also be created to better enhance the statewide evaluation system as well as teaching and leadership standards.

Early Retirement Incentive for Public Workforce (A.11144/S.7909 Signed by Governor Chapter 105) + New Tier 5 Pension Plan.

In an effort to reduce the number of public employees and cut state spending, the legislature approved an early retirement plan to allow state employees one of two options. This new law offers state employees the opportunity, to retire early through one of two plans. Part A provides one additional month of pension service credit for each year of public service up to three years. Part B allows eligible state employees to retire at the age of 55, if they have served for at least 25 years, with no reduction in retirement benefits. Normally, if employees retire between the age of 55 and 62, they are subject to a penalty on their pension benefits. These opportunities for no reduction were available for 30 to 90 days only, during which time eligible employees had to decide whether or not to accept this one-time incentive. The plans were only available to those who qualified for Tier 2, Tier 3 or Tier 4 retirement benefits. Another cost cutting measure the legislature passed this fiscal year was a new Tier 5 pension plan for state employees. As of January 1, 2010 all newly hired state employees are placed in the new tier. Under this new pension plan, employees and school teachers are required to have 10 years of service before they are eligible for a state pension. Also, they must contribute three percent of their salary annually to their pension, for their entire career. These much-needed reforms are intended to help New York overcome its budget woes.

Expanded aid helps offset MTA payroll tax (A.11587/S.8404).

As part of the final state budget, the Assembly included $60 million to reimburse public school districts for costs related to the payment of the MTA Mobility Tax. In addition, the Assembly passed legislation that would provide for $6 million in reimbursements for non-public schools. This will ensure that these schools aren't forced to cut essential programs to make up for these costs. These pieces of legislation will help both public and non-public school districts, and in doing so help children directly, as well as help offset potential property tax increases. This bill has not yet passed the Senate.

State education department may now receive and accept important information, statistics and data electronically, reducing the use of paper (A.11566/S.8376).

This creates a much more efficient and cost effective way of submitting school reports. This bill will also give the education commissioner authority to examine the impact of regional transportation systems through transportation pilots. The results will allow for more cost-effective transportation systems for school districts and the state.

Libraries can save money through cooperative competitive bidding (A.6154B/S.3903A).

The public library system has taken a hard hit in these difficult economic times as funding continues to be cut but demand for library services has only increased. Prior to the passage of this bill, public libraries in NYS were not allowed to join together and bid for services or supplies as a group, and therefore needed to pay a premium. Since libraries needed to place bids for supplies and services individually, their ability to get discounted bulk pricing was reduced. However, this new bill will allow libraries to join together and bid to receive a lower price when purchasing books, office supplies, equipment, and other services. This will save money for the library system, and bring in higher quality supplies, resulting in better experiences for all library patrons.

Health Insurance for Those Who Need it Most

Insurance coverage for autism guaranteed (A.10372A/S.7000B).

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a rapidly growing disease that is now more prevalent than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes, and pediatric AIDS combined. The current ASD insurance coverage requirements are unclear and flawed, leaving parents uncertain whether or not their insurance provider would cover the medical needs of their child. This bill requires accident and health insurance policies to provide lifetime coverage for screening, diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder. The legislation will also identify minimum coverage levels required for evidence-based, peer-reviewed and clinically proven treatment and therapy options.

Environmentally Friendly and Renewable Energy Legislation

Clarifies and improves the obligations of waste haulers when dealing with recyclable materials (A.1319/S.7130)

Prohibits both private and municipal waste haulers from delivering any recyclable materials to landfills or incinerators. The legislation will improve recycling efforts and establish a cleaner air and water supply. This bill has not yet passed the Senate.

Utilizing renewable energy through net-metering to both save money and encourage the creation of green jobs (A.11413A/S.7229B).

Offered by utility companies, net metering gives residential homeowners, non-residential sites, small businesses, schools, municipalities and farms the opportunity to install renewable energy systems to generate their own energy and offset the energy provided by the utility. By allowing customers to establish energy operators they can optimize energy use, as well as reduce the stress on New York's electric grid.

Limits and potentially eliminates the dangerous pollutant, Styrofoam (A.428/S.2832).

Improving Public Safety

Makes the statewide ban on using portable electronic devices (PEDS) while driving a primary offense (A.10063/S.6992).

In response to my January newsletter constituent questionnaire in which 97% of respondents favored stronger penalties for texting while driving, I think you will be pleased to know that the Assembly has passed this major piece of legislation which will make New York's roadways safer by strengthening the ban on texting while driving. By making the ban on using PEDs while driving a primary offense instead of a secondary one, this bill will improve and increase highway safety, and look after the best interests of New York residents. This bill has not yet passed the Senate.

Authorizes Emergency Personnel and Certified Nurses to draw blood at the scene of a DWI accident (A.8601B/S46B Signed by Governor Chapter 169).

This new law makes it easier to prosecute drunk drivers after a collision by removing the requirement that a physician must supervise the withdrawal of blood from a suspected intoxicated driver.

Tougher Penalties Approved for the Crime of Strangulation (A.10161/S.6987)

The New York State Legislature passed a bill that will turn strangulation into a serious crime unto itself. Before the passage of this bill, there was no specific crime known as strangulation. Those who committed it were charged with a wide variety of crimes. For more serious offenses it was charged as assault and attempted murder but for lesser crimes it could be charged as either attempted assault or harassment. Now for a less serious offense, one will be charged with a misdemeanor known as Criminal Obstruction of Breathing or Blood Circulation. For more violent crimes, a perpetrator can be charged with either Strangulation in the First Degree, a class C violent felony offense, or Strangulation in the Second Degree. This bill will turn a crime that has long gone ignored into a more punishable offense

No Fault Divorce Approved for New York (A.9753A/S.3890A, A.10984B/S.8390, A.7569A/S.4532A).

The Assembly and Senate approved a multi-bill package of divorce reforms which will finally make New York State's laws similar to the rest of the nation's. New York State was the only state that did not have a no-fault divorce provision. Under this legislation divorce will be granted to either party without an alleged fault. Guidelines will be created to maintain consistency and equitability in determining spousal maintenance payments. This will help alleviate the costly burdens of divorce. These reforms will also assist financially disadvantaged spouses in their ability to carry on and defend their actions on a fair and just level by authorizing the court to order expert fees to be paid from one party to another.

Improved Road Safety for Bicyclists (A.10993/S.7897)

In an effort to reduce accidents caused by automobiles attempting to unsafely pass bicyclists, I supported what has come to be known as Merrill's Law. Merrill Cassell was a Hartsdale resident who was killed after being sideswiped by a Bee-Line Bus on Route 119. This new legislation, recently passed by both houses, would help prevent further accidents of this kind by ensuring that when automobiles pass bicyclists they do so "at a safe distance" or a minimum of 3 feet, with provisions that change this distance when weather conditions such as wind and rain might make 3 feet unsafe for passing. This legislation takes a big step toward making sure that bicyclists and automobiles are respectful of each other's safety and right to the road.

State Agency Mergers & Consolidations

As you know, I have been focusing on how we can save money by consolidating and sharing on the local level. You should also know that we have been busy focusing on this issue at the state level as well. Agency mergers and consolidations will not only enhance productivity and efficiency but will also save the state government an estimated $9 million annually. Following are some specific consolidations and mergers we passed this session, and their estimated savings.

• Consolidating the Office of Homeland Security, the State Emergency Management Office, the State 911 Board, the Office of Cyber Security and Critical Infrastructure Coordination and the Office of Fire Prevention and Control into the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services will save $1.5 million annually
• Eliminating the Crime Victims Board and merging services with the newly created Office of Victims Services will increase productivity and save $300,000
• Merging the Office of Real Property Services into the Department of Taxation and Finance will save $2 million annually
• Consolidating state and federal agencies such as the State Employment Relations Board into the Public Employment Relations Board will result in annual savings of $1.3 million
• Merging the Division of Probation and Correctional Alternatives into the Division of Criminal Justice Services will save $100,000
• Consolidating NYHomes and the Division of Housing and Community renewal under the same management system will save $3.5 million annually
• Consolidating services provided by the Office of Welfare Inspector General and the Office of Medicaid Inspector General will increase efficiency and productivity

Donate Life Registry

Modifying the Donate Life Registry for People to Consent to Organ Donation Online (A10664/A4999-Signed by Governor Chapter 161).

Currently, New York ranks 47th out of the 50 states for its rate of organ and tissue donations. Legislation has now been signed into law by the governor which will simplify the process in which one can register for organ donation. With this new legislation, a person can consent to donate with the NYS Donate Life registry over the internet. This makes it easier for people to register and will hopefully increase the amount of New Yorkers registering to be an organ donor. One person's consent can save multiple lives in the future. Thousands of New Yorkers will potentially benefit from this simplified process, those who are in great need of new organs. For more information, please visit the NYS Donate Life Registry's website at www.nyhealth.gov/donate life or call 1-866-693-6667.