Legislative Update: 4/11/06

With the budget finally out of the way, last week we were able to get down to the business of our legislation.

On Wed, 4/5, we received a call that the YROW bill had been amended as per our plan and the Assembly version was ready to go. Today, the amended bill, A4914B was on the agenda for the Transportation Committee meeting scheduled for 10:30. I made room on my schedule to be at the meeting, but when I got there I learned it had been cancelled at the last minute because session had been called (probably to address the Governor's vetoes re: the budget, but I wasn't able to confirm this because as soon as session ended at 1 PM, everyone left for the holiday recess).

So the Assembly Transportation Committee meeting has been rescheduled for the 25th, with the same agenda. Later I learned that the Senate had received their version of the amended bill and will have it in by the end of the week. Assuming the Assembly Transportation Committee will report the bill on the 25th, I met with the chair of Codes and was told they would report the bill ASAP. So we're looking good in the Assembly and, of course, it already passed the Senate last year, so should go again easily (famous last words).

As for the Confiscation bill A8588, we have several key Assembly Members already on the bill and are confident it will pass that house and we are now working on getting the Senate version S6229 moving. Of course, nothing is ever a given, but our position is pretty good across the board.

Now is the time for our membership to step up, everyone is urged to call their Assemblyman and ask them to vote for A4914B and A8588. Then call your Senator and do the same with S3410 and S6229. Hopefully, our legislative coordinators can make this happen. As always, we invite anyone interested (that should be all of us) to join us in Albany any Tuesday.

A4914B - S3410B - Yield the Right of Way Bill   http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A04914
A8588 - S6226 - prompt return of motorcycles seized from innocent owners due to problems with vehicle identification numbers.    http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A08588