Posts by Albany Update
Partial Marriage License Fee Waiver for Active Duty Servicemembers (S.3756-Mayer/A.55-Buchwald)
This bill would waive the state’s portion of the marriage license fee for members of the United States Armed Forces that are on active duty. In addition, the bill would allow cities and towns to waive their marriage license fees for active-duty members of the Armed Forces. On June 5, 2019, the State Senate passed…
Read MoreIn re: Paid Surrogacy Agreements and Assisted Reproduction (S.2071-A-Hoylman/A.1071-B-Paulin)
Bill S.2071-A-Hoylman/A.1071-B-Paulin is an ill-advised piece of legislation that does nothing to promote the important policy goal of security and stability in parent-child relationships. The sponsors of the bill propose to legalize compensated surrogate parenting contracts and to create a confusing and deeply problematic legal framework for assisted reproduction. For the convenience of individuals and…
Read MoreVeterans’ Benefits for Servicemembers Discharged Due to Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity (S.45-A – Hoylman; A.54-A – Buchwald)
Bill S.45-A-Hoylman and Bill A.54-A-Buchwald, both of which are known as the New York State Restoration of Honor Act, relate to military veterans who received less-than-honorable discharges for making statements about their sexuality or gender identity, for engaging in consensual same-sex activity, or for engaging in transgendered behavior. The bills would make such veterans eligible…
Read MoreA New York-based conservative group blasted Katko, Reed and Stefanik for supporting the Equality Act.
Jason McGuire, executive director of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, labeled the trio the “Compromised Three.” and claimed the legislation would “enshrine religious bigotry in America.” “When these individuals come calling for conservative support next year, voters should remember how quickly New York’s ‘Compromised Three’ caved to politically correct special interests,” he said.
Read MoreIn re: Pregnancy Center Disclosures (Bill S.2264-Hoylman/A.2352-Glick)
Bill S.2264-Hoylman/A.2352-Glick would compel crisis pregnancy centers to make certain disclosures to prospective clients. Specifically, the bill would require crisis pregnancy centers—“upon first communication or first contact” with prospective clients—to disclose that they do not provide abortion or birth control services or make referrals for such services. The legislation would allow anyone who believes that…
Read MoreIn re: Legalization of Prostitution
Multiple Members of the New York State Legislature have stated their support for the legalization of prostitution. Because prostitution objectifies and commodifies women, this proposal should be rejected.
Read MoreIssue Briefing: Legalization and Commercialization of Recreational Marijuana
The proposed legalization and commercialization of recreational marijuana is an issue of intense public controversy in New York in 2019. This issue briefing will outline the current legal status of marijuana in New York and will discuss various potential impacts of recreational marijuana legalization.
Read MoreThe Reproductive Health Act: Fact vs. Fiction
The Reproductive Health Act was signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on January 22, 2019. Unfortunately, many misconceptions exist regarding the RHA. This flyer is designed to dispel those misconceptions so that readers may gain an accurate understanding of the law’s provisions.
Read MoreIn re: Legalization of Physician-Assisted Suicide (S.3947-Savino/A.2694-Paulin)
Bill S.3947-Savino/A.2694-Paulin would reverse New York’s long-standing ban on assisted suicide, and would allow physicians to prescribe lethal drugs to certain terminally ill adults that formally request such drugs. Physician-assisted suicide represents a complete abdication of our moral responsibility to persons suffering from terminal illnesses. Rather than caring for such persons with the utmost sensitivity…
Read MoreIn re: In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Insurance Mandate (S.719-Savino/A.2817-Simotas)
Bill S.719-Savino/A.2817-Simotas would require large group insurance policies that cover hospital, surgical, or medical care to include coverage for in vitro fertilization. This legislation is flawed and unnecessary, and displays disregard for human life.
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