Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg Reports to the People

The 2.5 million New Yorkers who are currently uninsured must often choose between putting their health at risk or acquiring monumental medical bills. This is unacceptable. Every person has the right to quality health care. As we work to make that a reality, we have passed new laws to make it more affordable and to make it easier to get health insurance – and peace of mind – in New York State.

Starting September 1, 2009, New York parents can cover unmarried children up to age 29 who aren’t eligible for Medicare or their own employer-provided coverage (Chapter 240 of 2009). Previously, coverage ended at age 19 or when the child, up to age 23, graduated from college. These young adults who were dropped from their family insurance plans account for 31 percent of uninsured New Yorkers.

Under the new law, families, rather than the employer, may have to pay the premiums, but the rates are much less than an individual plan.

Laid-off New Yorkers can continue to purchase health insurance from their former employer’s plan for 36 months – an increase from 18 months – under a new COBRA law. Without COBRA, buying insurance on the open market would cost more than twice as much (Chapter 236 of 2009).

Additionally, New Yorkers who lost their job between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009 may be eligible for a 65 percent subsidy in COBRA premiums for nine months. This is a federal change to COBRA, funded by the stimulus package.

In May, it was my pleasure to welcome Mr. Joseph Librizzi to the New York State Capitol. Mr. Librizzi, of Oceanside, was named the Senior Citizen of the Year by both Nassau County and New York State, in recognition of his outstanding volunteerism and service to the community. A retired high school teacher and World War II Navy veteran, Mr. Librizzi has dedicated countless hours to veteran groups. He launched a flag education program, created a U.S. Submarine Veteran organization, maintains Korean war veteran monuments at Eisenhower Park, serves local homeless veterans and has volunteered at South Nassau Communities Hospital since 1992.

Great News for First-Time Homebuyers

State program could save average homebuyer $1,500 each year

New York State has made a new tax credit available that will help first-time homebuyers claim a federal tax credit equal to 20 percent of their annual mortgage interest costs, potentially saving the average homebuyer about $1,500 each year. Called the New York State Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC), it is in addition to the $8,000 tax credit the federal government is offering for first-time homebuyers. Unlike the federal tax credit that expires on November 30, the state program has no expiration date.

Homeownership is a great investment that helps provide stability to families and communities. New York State created the MCC to assist first-time homebuyers and to stimulate home sales. The MCC, which is available only on fixed-rate mortgages, is expected to save qualified homebuyers thousands of dollars over the life of their loans. For more information, visit www.nyhomes.org. For information on the federal program, visit www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/2009/index.html.

2009 Weisenberg Legislation Signed into Law

A2003 Makes a technical correction to provisions designating surrogate decision-making committees as guardians of individuals with mental retardation.
A7261A Limits adjusted homestead and non-homestead adjusted base proportions in assessing real estate taxes in Nassau County. Prior state law provided that the base proportions of any class in an approved assessing unit may not exceed the adjusted base proportion for that class from the prior year by more than 5 percent. This legislation adjusted that rule, for one year only, to cap the maximum growth rate at 1 percent. By limiting the rate of growth to 1%, this law ensures that property tax liabilities are more equitably distributed between the unit’s classes of property.
A7664 Allows special assessing units besides cities to adjust their current base proportions based on such special assessing unit’s 2009 assessment roll.
A8905 Authorizes Young Israel of Hewlett to file applications for real property tax exemptions with Nassau County.

I introduced a bill this year to provide a new measure of protection from abuse for adults with developmental disabilities who live in facilities licensed by the state. The bill passed in the Assembly and the Senate and was delivered to Governor Paterson in July. Citing fiscal concerns, the Governor reluctantly vetoed the bill. I am pleased to report, however, that the Governor’s staff has been working closely with us to develop legislation that will help safeguard this vulnerable population.

Some mentally disabled adults have cognitive functioning less than that of a child, and some are nonverbal. Individuals who cannot speak for themselves or describe an incident are easier to victimize because they are unable to report the abuse. The new bill will help put an end to this unconscionable behavior. And, it will hopefully act as a deterrent.

The vast majority of people who work with adults with developmental disabilities are dedicated to providing quality care, and I have great admiration and respect for them. This new legislation will help weed out any “bad apples” and protect the vulnerable individuals placed in their care.

Assemblyman Weisenberg was an invited expert on a panel discussion on DWI issues. The panel, from left to right: Senator Charles Fuschillo; Assemblyman Weisenberg; Marge Lee, President of DEDICATEDD; Deena Cohen, President, Long Island Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD); Judge Francis Ricigliano, Nassau County District Court; Mark Bonacquist, NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services; Ellen Weisenberg; Joseph Dell’Anno, parent of DWI victim; and Saul Lerner, Director of Physical and Driver Education, Health and Athletics for the Bellmore-Merrick Central School District.

There are few things as devastating as the death of a child by a drunk driver. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2004 more than one in five deaths among children 14 and younger occurred in crashes involving alcohol. On average, 500 children are killed each year in alcohol-related traffic crashes where the adult driver was responsible for their safety.

When an adult violates their obligation to protect a child and drives while intoxicated, they are committing a crime that should be held as particularly despicable by society. For that reason, I have introduced legislation to push forward stricter laws to punish offenders as well as to discourage others from risking the lives and well-being of children. My bill (A9111) increases penalties across the board - to any impaired driver who drives with, causes serious injury to, or causes the death of a child under 16. When a child is killed, the driver will be charged with the crime of aggravated vehicular assault and the penalty will be increased from a class C felony to a class C violent felony.

To help prevent drunk drivers from getting onto the road, I introduced a bill (A7196A) to create a mandatory ignition interlock program for anyone convicted of driving while intoxicated. An ignition interlock device is a mechanism, like a breathalyzer, installed to a vehicle’s dashboard. Before the vehicle’s motor can be started, the driver first must exhale into the device. If the resultant breath-alcohol concentration is greater than the legal limit, the motor will not start. This bill, which has already been enacted and saving lives in 11 other states, will provide judges, prosecutors and law enforcement with an alternative tool to deter and monitor a potentially dangerous population by requiring the installation of an ignition interlock device.

I have been working for years to make the roads safer for all of us. To make sure that law enforcement officers and prosecutors have the legal tools to properly charge and convict drunk drivers who cause an injury or death, I established laws in 2007 creating the crimes of aggravated vehicular assault and aggravated vehicular homicide to the felony crime of driving while intoxicated. In 2005, I sponsored legislation to crack down on hit-and-run drivers. The result was new laws that increased penalties for leaving the scene of an accident at which an injury or death occurred. In 2003, I was a prime sponsor on a law that lowered the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) from .10 percent to .08 percent. The heartbreak caused by drunk drivers is incalculable. Lowering the BAC was an important step in the state’s efforts to deter this reckless behavior and save innocent lives.

It was gratifying to announce the appropriation of several grants totaling close to $2 million to benefit various entities in our region. This desperately needed state and federal funding will help ease the growing burden on local property tax payers. Two projects were funded under the Local Government Efficiency Grants program, which was created to support projects that consolidate local government services to eliminate waste and promote efficiency. Nassau BOCES will receive $1 million to streamline several administrative functions, estimated to save tax payers $41.1 million over the next ten years. Nassau County will receive $600,000 to fund the consolidation of waste water facilities in the villages of Lawrence and Cedarhurst.

An additional state grant of $225,000 was secured through the New York State Office of Children and Family Services for Nassau County’s Department of Social Services, which is in dire need of additional Child Protective Services caseworkers. Despite tough fiscal times, I will continue to fight in Albany for every dollar possible for our communities.

Long Beach City Manager Charles Theofan recently thanked Assemblyman Weisenberg for $300,000 in grants to establish splash parks in the North Park neighborhood, the West End and the East End Canal area. The Assemblyman was delighted to join Long Beach officials and four “Little Splashers” at the opening of the splash park on Georgia Avenue in the West End. A second splash park on Clark Street is already underway in the East End. Pictured at the inauguration of the Georgia Avenue Park were (left to right) Joe Febrizio, Deputy Commissioner of Public Works; Kevin Mulligan, Commissioner of Public Works; Laurie Buscemi; Assemblyman Weisenberg; and City Manager Charles Theofan.

Ellen and Harvey participated in Long Beach Medical Center’s (LBMC) recent Boardwalk Family Health Festival. Pictured with the Weisenbergs are (l-r) LBMC Board Chairman Alfred Osterland; Sharon Player, LBMC director of Public Affairs; and Charlotte Osterland.

The Weisenbergs had a wonderful time at the Point Lookout Civic Association’s Annual Children’s Day.

Because of his record of exceptional support and assistance to the volunteer fire service, Assemblyman Weisenberg has been named the 2009 recipient of the Golden Trumpet Award by the Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY).

Tom Cuff, FASNY president, noted that, “The award is given strictly to public figures who have contributed great time and dedication to matters of legislation and public perception.” He added that, “Harvey Weisenberg, in standing up for FASNY and the 130,000 volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel it represents on key issues and concerns, richly deserves this award.”

The Assemblyman is an Honorary Chief of the Inwood and Atlantic Beach Fire Departments, Honorary Captain in the Oceanside Fire Department, and an honorary member of Woodmere and Meadowmere Park Fire Departments. Since elected, the Assemblyman has secured in excess of $1 million in grant money for his local fire departments as well as toward the building of the Nassau County Fallen Firefighters’ Memorial at the Nassau County Firefighters Museum & Education Center. Working through the volunteer fire companies in his district and with FASNY, Weisenberg has continued to be an outspoken advocate for volunteer responders. He voted against the recently enacted consolidation legislation, and worked in support of the corrective legislation re-establishing the volunteer firefighter exemption from the Commercial Drivers License.

Harvey and Ellen Weisenberg enjoyed a visit to Camp Friendship, a program of the JCC of the Greater Five Towns. Camp Friendship offers quality care and fun – sports, swimming, art, drama and music – for children with autism and other developmental disabilities. A state grant from the Assemblyman will help the camp continue its mission of bringing children with special needs together with non-disabled children to socialize and learn acceptance, friendship and understanding. In the back row standing next to the Weisenbergs are Rina Shkolnik, JCC Executive Director and Dr. Kenneth Berman, JCC President.

Two summer programs at Long Beach Public Schools provided students with a rich blend of recreation, enrichment and practical learning activities. At Camp Minoaka, which means “smile” in Hawaiian, campers in grades 6-8 enjoyed swimming at Long Beach High School and many field trips. They also honed their math skills, while becoming expert bargain shoppers and chefs. Now in its second year, this summer camp was made possible through a state grant secured by Assemblyman Weisenberg. The second program, designed for students with special needs in grades 1-12, provided a fun camp environment that combined recreational and educational activities. “Both of these innovative programs have exposed our students to many enriching summer activities, while giving them a fun way to practice and maintain all the skills they learned during the school year,” said Dr. Mary Tatem, the district’s director of Special Education and Pupil Personnel Services.