Michelle’s Stats for the 2009-2010 Legislative Term

Only in her second term, Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel has built a reputation for being one of the most effective and productive members of the New York State Assembly. During the 2009-2010 legislative term, Michelle sponsored 42 bills signed into New York State Law and 225 bills passed by the Assembly.

Tier V Pension Reform

Michelle sponsored Tier V Pension Reform legislation, which she witnessed the Governor sign into law at North Hempstead Town Hall. This law tackles the core problems with the pension system while providing much needed relief to taxpayers by saving the state and local governments an estimated $48.5 billion over the next 30 years.

Michelle looks on as Governor David Paterson signs Tier V pension reform legislation into law. Pictured (L to R) are Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Supervisor Jon Kaiman of the Town of North Hempstead, Governor David Paterson and Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel.

Fighting for Our Fair Share of School Aid

To help Long Island get its fair share of school funding, Michelle is sponsoring the Framework for the Future Act. This legislation (A.7209a) fixes inequities with the foundation formula, increases the state’s share of educational funding to fifty percent and allocates new funding through expense driven formulas. The bill provides a comprehensive plan to control costs and increase state financial support when the economy improves, better serving Long Island’s public schools and reducing property taxes for homeowners.

Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel attending a press conference to unveil the Framework for the Future Act. Pictured with Michelle (L to R) are Wendell Chu, President of the Suffolk County School Superintendents Association, Judith Chen and Vincent Lyons, the Co-Chairs of the Long Island Education Coalition, Assemblyman Steven Englebright, Senator Brian Foley and Gary Bixhorn, Chief Operating Officer of Eastern Suffolk BOCES.

Advocating for Sewer Upgrade Dollars

Michelle is fighting to secure state and federal funding to help finance upgrades to the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District’s sewage treatment plant located on East Shore Road. In March she joined United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in calling on the federal government to make a commitment to funding water infrastructure projects.

Michelle pictured with local elected officials, North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman, Congressman Gary Ackerman, and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand at the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District.

Imposing Tougher Penalties for Drunk Drivers

Michelle sponsored a new law considered to be the toughest DWI law in the country. Leandra’s Law creates the first-time felony of driving while intoxicated with a child passenger. This measure requires the installation of ignition interlock devices by those convicted of the new crime and other DWI-related offenses. This device is a breathalyzer tied to a car’s ignition system and prevents drivers from starting their vehicles when intoxicated.

Reducing the Cost of Delivering Care

Michelle has advocated for legislation to help decrease the exorbitant cost of medical liability insurance and to stop the delay tactics used by health insurance companies to reduce or deny payment for necessary patient care. Michelle co-sponsored Assembly bill A.4301, legislation that would permit physicians and other healthcare providers to collectively negotiate contracts with health plans under close state supervision.

Michelle meets with nursing students from Adelphi University to discuss pending healthcare legislation.

Overturning HCRA Surcharge to
Critical Medical & Outpatient Services

Michelle helped doctors lead the movement to overturn the 9.63% HCRA surcharge to radiological and outpatient surgical services. This proposal would have forced many outpatient medical practices to close, would have severely limited patients’ access to care, significantly lengthened wait times for mammograms, cancer screenings, and critical imaging, and drastically reduced potentially cost-saving ambulatory surgical procedures. Due to Michelle’s leadership, the HCRA surcharge was rejected from the final state budget.

Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel presents a citation to the Albertson Fire Department, which certifies that the new American flag she donated was flown over the State Capitol. Pictured (L to R) with Assemblywoman Schimel is Chairman of the Board Daniel Giordano and Chief Carl D’Antonio.

The Rededication of Albertson Memorial Park

Due to Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel’s efforts in securing capital funding for the revitalization of Albertson Memorial Park, the Town of North Hempstead was able to refurbish and re-landscape this important parcel of land and restore the World War II veterans’ monument located at the center of the park.

In November, Michelle and North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman were joined by members of the Albertson community at a ceremony rededicating the park, which is also known as the “Albertson Triangle.” This park was established decades ago by the community to honor Albertson’s brave service men and women who served in World War II.

The revitalization of Albertson Memorial Park was a true partnership between local government and the Albertson community. Boy Scout Nicholas Salvatore adopted Albertson Memorial Park as his Eagle Scout Project. Pictured (L to R) in front of the World Ward II Veterans Monument are North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman, Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel, the Albertson VFW Color Guard and members of Boy Scout Troop 80 (left).

Public Authorities Reform

Michelle sponsored a new law that enacts sweeping reforms to the state’s more than 700 public authorities, which largely operate without much government oversight and with limited public scrutiny. This law increases legislative oversight of these quasi-governmental agencies, establishes new rules to control their debt, and provides the State Comptroller with the power to pre-approve public authority contracts over $1 million that are not competitively bid.

Schimel Authors Bill to Protect
Local Governments from Costly Litigation

Michelle met with members of the Firemen’s Association of New York State to discuss her chapter amendments to the Empowerment Act.

Last year, Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel led the opposition at the state level against the push for the consolidation/dissolution of local governments. Despite her efforts, the New York Government Reorganization and Citizens Empowerment Act (Empowerment Act) was signed into law.

Realizing that there were significant problems with the new consolidation/dissolution process created by the Empowerment Act, Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel and Senator Craig Johnson introduced legislation (A.10432/S.7238) to fix these technical issues. Their legislation, which was drafted in collaboration with the New York Conference of Mayors (NYCOM), the Association of Towns (AOT), the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY), and the Association of Fire Districts of the State of New York (AFDSNY), will help prevent costly legal challenges to the local governments attempting to consolidate or dissolve under the new law.

Schimel Speaks to Buckley Students about Internet Smarts

Michelle recently visited the Buckley Country Day School in Roslyn to speak to students who participated in Cablevision’s Internet Smarts Program. Students who participated in this program learned about cyber bullying, how to keep personal information private, and how to act responsibly when using the internet. The students performed a variety of skits on internet smarts.

Michelle pictured with Headmaster Dr. Jean-Marc Juhel, Cablevision Vice President of Education Trent Anderson, faculty and students at Buckley Country Day School. Michelle presented the group of students with a citation for becoming certified as “Internet Smart” by participating in Cablevision’s Power to Learn Program.

Responding to concerns of constituents about the deteriorating condition of Northern Boulevard (NY Route 25A), Michelle helped pave the way for the recent repairs and road improvements made by the New York State Department of Transportation. Pictured at the intersection of Northern Boulevard and Searingtown Road are Michelle, DOT Regional Director Subimal Chakraborti, P.E, Assistant Patricia Audinot, and DOT Traffic Engineers.

Michelle was a guest judge at the New York State Forensic League’s 2010 Speech and Debate Championship Tournament, which was hosted by Chaminade High School in Mineola. Pictured with Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel are student participants and Brother John McGrory, the State Coordinator of the Forensic League and a teacher at Chaminade High School.

Pictured (L to R) are Ann Tarcher, Executive Director of the Great Neck Senior Center, and Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel surrounded by hundreds of donated coats for Coats for Kids.

Michelle pictured with Alice Chan, President of the Chinese American Association of North Hempstead, at the Town of North Hempstead’s first Annual Asian American Festival.