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<div></div><div style="display:none;display:none !important;line-height:1px;max-height:0px;max-width:0px;height:0;width:0;font-size:0px">Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte on the Historic Raise the Age Legislation/Final Budget</div><div><div><div align="center"><div align="center" style="max-width:602px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto"><table width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto"><tbody><tr><td><img alt="" width="1" height="5" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/letters/images/sys/S.gif"></td><td align="center" valign="top" width="600"><table width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td align="center" valign="top"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><img src="http://img.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/shr_drw_left.png"></td><td><a href="http://s.rs6.net/t?e=pvMBX8mUU_c&c=1&r=1"><img src="http://img.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/shr_drw_fb.png" style="border:0"></a></td><td><a href="http://s.rs6.net/t?e=pvMBX8mUU_c&c=3&r=1"><img src="http://img.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/shr_drw_twit.png" style="border:0"></a></td><td><a href="http://s.rs6.net/t?e=pvMBX8mUU_c&c=4&r=1"><img src="http://img.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/shr_drw_linked.png" style="border:0"></a></td><td><img src="http://img.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/shr_drw_divider.png" style="border:0"></td><td><a href="http://s.rs6.net/t?e=pvMBX8mUU_c&c=5&r=1"><img src="http://img.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/shr_drw_more.png" style="border:0"></a></td><td><img src="http://img.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/shr_drw_right.png" style="border:0"></td><td style="padding-left:5px"><a href="http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Historic-Raise-the-Age-Legislation-and-Budget-Passes--video-below-.html?soid=1103413547828&aid=pvMBX8mUU_c#fblike"><img src="http://img.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/shr_btn_like_sm.png" style="border:0"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><img alt="" width="1" height="5" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/letters/images/sys/S.gif"></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div><img src="http://r20.rs6.net/on.jsp?a=1103413547828&r=3&c=681214d0-50f2-11e3-80e1-d4ae52a459cd&d=1127659540902&ch=6910e730-50f2-11e3-81ab-d4ae52a459cd&ca=b9d33b81-45a5-4788-b88d-d04af08a68d3&o=https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" height="1" width="1">
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<div style="display:inline !important;font-size:12pt"><b><strong><br><br>For Immediate Release:</strong>
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<div style="font-size:14pt"><b>April 10, 2017</b></div>
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<div style="font-size:14pt"><b><strong>Contact:</strong></b></div>
<div style="font-size:14pt"><b>Rona Taylor</b></div>
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</b></b><div style="font-size:24pt"><b><b>Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte: </b></b></div>
<div style="font-size:22pt"><b><b>NYS Assembly Passes a Budget that puts NY Families First and <br><span style="color:#800000">the Historic Raise the Age Legislation </span></b></b></div>
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</b></b><div><b><b><strong>(ALBANY)</strong> Saturday, April 6, 2017, the Assembly passed a <strong><span class="money">$153.1</span> billion</strong> budget (see below for appropriations) and the historic <strong>Raise the Age</strong> legislation that had been before the NYS legislature for over a decade. </b></b></div>
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</b></b><div><b><b>"Today is a historic day for families and children across the State of New York with the passage of legislation, which raised the age of criminal responsibility from 16 and 17 years of age to 18 years of age. The concessions that were made were difficult and heartbreaking when it came to negotiating the reforms to change the penal law language to protect our children," said <strong>Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte</strong>. As legislators, especially when we have a broken government it becomes challenging to pass a real progressive agenda. In the case of the <strong>Raise the Age</strong> legislation, although it's not perfect it is the right step forward in preventing 28,000 16- and 17- year olds on an annual basis from being charged and prosecuted criminally like adults. So while it has been really tough to vote for this budget as there were items I did not support like the <strong>421a tax abatement</strong>, which has no real plan for affordable housing and a<strong> fake free college tuition bill proposed by the Governor </strong>that doesn't help most families but instead increases tuition by <strong><span class="money">$200</span></strong>, I had to weigh the positives in this budget. This would include <strong><span class="money">$1</span> billion in funding for supportive housing t</strong><strong>o combat the homeless crisis</strong><strong> in New York</strong>, an <strong>increase in funding for our public schools</strong>, an<strong> increase in funds for tenant protection</strong>, <strong>free legal services for the poor </strong>and the<strong> historic criminal justice reform bill around raising the age</strong><strong> of criminal responsibility</strong>, so I decided to put my support behind this bill." </b></b></div>
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<div><b><b><span style="text-decoration:underline"><strong>Raise the Age</strong></span></b></b></div>
<div><b><b>Final negotiations around the <strong>Raise the Age</strong> legislation were not perfect. While the <strong>Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie and the Assembly</strong> fought to have all juvenile cases begin in family court, in the end it was decided that all felony cases (including for non-violent felony charges) would start in the youth part of the criminal court and be waived down to family court in the event that there was no physical harm involved, no use of a weapon, and no sexual assault. </b></b></div>
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<div><b><b>According to a recent article in the <strong>Times Union,</strong> New York City teens constitute an overwhelming majority of juvenile offenders and are mostly placed in facilities upstate. More than half of the juvenile detention admissions in 2013 were from New York City, according to the state <strong>Division of Criminal Justice Services</strong>. </b></b></div>
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<div><b><b>Instead of trying our children as adults, there are proven alternatives, which are more effective such as the <strong>Close to Home</strong> program. <strong>Close to Home</strong> was designed for youths whom Family Court judges determine do not require a secure placement and are allowed to be near their families while receiving intensive rehabilitation services. </b></b></div>
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<div><b><b>The <strong>Raise the Age</strong> legislation occurred within the context of the draconian <strong>Rockefeller Drug Laws</strong>, which were enacted in 1973, and was outdated. These laws mandated extremely harsh prison terms for the possession or sale of relatively small amounts of drugs - two sugar packets worth. In the same way that these laws were amended, these reforms around <strong>raising the age</strong> were long overdue. We had an opportunity to negotiate for stronger reforms however due to the broken nature of our State government, the Senate <strong>Independent Democratic Caucus (IDC)</strong> weakened the negotiations because they were not involved. </b></b></div>
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<div><b><b>Some other facts about <strong>Raise the Age</strong></b></b></div>
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</b></b><div><b><b><br>- Incarcerating young people 16 and 17 years old has a devastating impact on their mental health. For one, youth in adult jails and prisons do not have access to the same age-appropriate rehabilitative services that are available in juvenile facilities, and they are 36 times more likely to commit suicide. [1]</b></b></div>
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<div style="font-size:14pt"><b><b>- Incarceration also impacts their development in that it has repeatedly been proven that being placed in an adult jail increases their likelihood of committing crimes or violent acts in the future. They are also less likely to graduate high school and more likely to end up back in prison. [2] </b></b></div>
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<div><b><b>- As the cognitive skills of adolescents are developing, adolescents' behavior is often impulsive and they lack the ability to focus on the consequences of their behavior. [3] <br> <br></b></b></div><b><b>
- Because the adolescent brain is still developing, the character, personality traits and behavior of adolescents are highly receptive to change; adolescents respond well to interventions, learn to make responsible choices, and are likely to grow out of negative or delinquent behavior. [4] <br><br></b></b></div>
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</b></b><div><b><b>Under the new law, cases involving 16 and 17 year-old defendants will be adjudicated as follows:</b></b></div>
<ul><li style="color:#003366"><b><b>Civil violation charges, such as open container violations and possession of small amounts of marijuana, as well as misdemeanors under the Vehicle and Traffic Law, such as DWIs, would continue to be handled in the local court;</b></b></li><li style="color:#003366"><b><b>All misdemeanor charges under the the Penal Law would be handled in Family Court;</b></b></li><li style="color:#003366"><b><b>All felony charges would begin in a newly established Youth Part of the criminal court, presided over by a Family Court judge, where offenders would have access to additional intervention services and programming;</b></b></li><li style="color:#003366"><b><b>Non-violent felony charges would be transferred to Family Court, unless the district attorney makes a motion and demonstrates extraordinary circumstances that justify retaining the case in the Youth Part of the criminal court;</b></b></li><li style="color:#003366"><b><b>Violent felony charges would remain in the Youth Part of the criminal court and be subject to a three-part test that weighs the seriousness of the offense to determine whether the case will be eligible for presumptive removal to Family Court;</b></b></li><li style="color:#003366"><b><b>Juvenile cases not eligible for removal will be treated as adults for sentencing purposes, though the court will be directed to consider the defendant's age when imposing a sentence of incarceration.</b></b></li></ul>
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<div><b><b>Additionally, a defendant of any age who is convicted of certain non-violent offenses could apply to the court for a sealing of their record after a 10-year waiting period following the completion of their sentence.</b></b></div>
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<div><b><b>You can learn more about the Raise the Age Legislation <a style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001FjVYXlzqFGXT9F5BeuKVduSRnQsQNqmQUQ1z4AG2CMfG6qdrHMlgoLxeMB4KRlb8gDGGY75rrd_uTln7OcIeXlLMMWBaHLUJCYxbrAKbBAfrvsEpJKFEHIX5TYr5IcHC1pZbxeuxEeRPTvIWQv8sZ7ZZga24lcNtW1Y30bIg8CfDDm6RVvFlKneNljduN9ft72rayUfBEEZGj2rGKEnSXW3tMPHvxGlSeJmNYkofBn8L-qCvnd1EbyDZ4mYgQec7&c=QwEl29EUdad7koJR2JDGP4ZuVDgJsR-nlm-82znFIcwzm0xc9Ok2tQ==&ch=0YVzylM_aRXL7vWQq-a81jC9e0m90YHTBd9b8rxsRA4zcTiuUbFu0w==" shape="rect">here</a>. </b></b></div>
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<div><b><b><strong>Flow Chart created by the NYS Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie and the Assembly Program and Counsel</strong></b></b></div>
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</td></tr><tr><td style="color:#003366;font-weight:400;font-family:'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;font-style:normal;text-align:center" rowspan="1" colspan="1"><b><b><strong>Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Speaks on the Raise the Age Legislation</strong></b></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b><b> </b></b></div>
<div><b><b><span style="text-decoration:underline"><strong>421-a Tax Abatement </strong></span></b></b></div>
<div><b><b><strong>Affordable New York</strong>, the Governor's resurrected version of the <strong>421-a Tax Abatement Bill</strong> is worse than its previous iteration. Prior to this version, the <strong>421-a</strong> program and rent regulations shared an expiration date. This no longer exists. The Assembly fought for a version with better reforms, but in the end there was no agreement because the <strong>Governor and Senate Republicans</strong> wanted the tax abatement program to stay as it is. Unfortunately, this agreement greatly weakens the ability of tenant advocates' ability to fight for stronger rent laws. It also still has the 80/20 rule with minimal affordable housing that does not meet the <strong>Area Median Income (AMI)</strong> of our neighborhoods. In addition, while this program is another opportunity to expand the Governor's commitment to create economic opportunities for New Yorkers, <strong>Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises</strong> (<strong>MWBEs), and diversity workforce development</strong>, none of these things are being included as part of this program. It is still very much in place to benefit wealthy developers, with no thought of the thousands of people that it has displaced. The 42nd Assembly District has one of the highest rates of displacement.</b></b></div>
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<div><b><b><span style="text-decoration:underline"><strong>Higher Education</strong></span></b></b></div>
<div><b><b>The state budget provides funding to establish <strong>Governor Cuomo's Excelsior Scholarship</strong>, to make SUNY and CUNY schools tuition-free for of New York families who earn less than $125,000 annually. Students who attend a private college in New York and earn less than $125,000 annually would also be eligible for a scholarship award of $6,000. However, the Governor's plan is still woefully inadequate -- it is more like "<strong>free tuition light</strong>." In an analysis put forth by <strong>Assemblymember Bichotte</strong> for free community college tuition, with a scale up plan to eventually include four- year colleges, it was pointed out that in order to have this program be truly meaningful for community college students, it would require at least a <span class="money">$500</span> million budget. Her colleague <strong>Assemblymember James Skoufis</strong> shared her sentiment when he said, "[T]his is more like a college <strong>unaffordability</strong> plan that the governor has put forth today. This proposal is a lot more interested in headlines than in actually making college more affordable." In essence, the <span class="money">$163</span> million that the Governor has put forth for "free college tuition" is being subsidized by a <strong><span class="money">$200</span> tuition hike</strong> and would only help a <strong>sliver</strong> of the college student population. </b></b></div>
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<div><b><b><strong>Other aspects of the Higher Education Budget includes:</strong> </b></b></div>
<div><b><b>Helping students and their families meet the rising, non-tuition costs of college, the budget includes <span class="money">$8</span> million to help SUNY and CUNY develop online educational resources to help alleviate the high cost of textbooks for students.</b></b></div>
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<div><b><b>Ensuring community colleges can continue helping its students get ahead, the budget allocates <span class="money">$6.2</span> million to SUNY community colleges and <span class="money">$3.1</span> million to CUNY community colleges for an increase of <span class="money">$50</span> per full-time equivalent (FTE) student, for a total of <span class="money">$2,747</span> per FTE student. The budget also includes <span class="money">$3.1</span> million for a new scholarship program for part-time students attending SUNY or CUNY community colleges so students with family or other responsibilities can finish school on their own schedules.</b></b></div>
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<div><b><b>The Foster Youth College Success Initiative is funded at <span class="money">$4.5</span> million, a <span class="money">$1.5</span> million restoration and a <span class="money">$1.5</span> million increase to help foster youth attend and succeed in college.</b></b></div>
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<div><b><b>Budget restorations of <span class="money">$2.5</span> million in funding for CUNY ASAP and <span class="money">$1.5</span> million for SUNY GAP to help provide remediation to community college students. The budget also restores <span class="money">$1.1</span> million to SUNY child care centers and $902,000 to CUNY child care centers. </b></b></div>
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<div><b><b>A budget requirement for the Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) to complete a college affordability study examining student loan debt relief and student loan refinancing options as well as affordability initiatives to help find ways to reduce the cost of student textbooks, transportation and housing.<br><br></b></b></div>
<div><b><b><span style="text-decoration:underline"><strong>Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs)</strong></span></b></b></div>
<div><b><b>The MWBE program did not fare well during this process. An attempt to <strong>increase discretionary spending for New York City's MWBE program from $20k to $200k</strong>, which would have made a significant difference in helping small businesses and MWBEs did not make it into the budget. In addition, although advocated for, there was no MWBE participation goal attached to the revived <strong>421-a program</strong>. Also, the budget did not include a <strong>feasibility study</strong> which would have required State agencies to determine their ability to provide capacity building and mentoring for MWBEs, and lastly, while there was a push for a two year extension for <strong>Article 15a</strong>, which is the State's MWBE program, at most the program will only be extended until April 2018, and if the State's disparity study is completed by June 30, 2017 it will then be extended to December 2018. The disparity study's findings will dictate the future terms and utilization goal of the program.</b></b></div>
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<div><b><b><span style="text-decoration:underline"><strong>The Budget FY2017-2018</strong></span></b></b></div>
<b><b>The overall state budget for FY 2017-18 is <strong><span class="money">$153.1</span> billion</strong> and contains significant investments in public education, higher education, housing, legal support, transportation and infrastructure. These investments help to ensure that our children continue to have access to a sound and basic education, invests in existing housing stock and commits funding to 100% affordable housing, ensures that all New Yorkers have equal access to quality legal representation, protects the safety and reliability of our roadways and bridges, makes a significant commitment to ensuring every New Yorker has clean drinking water, and sound investments in public health.<br></b></b><div><b><b>
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<div><b><b><strong>Budget Highlights<br><br> <img vspace="5" border="0" hspace="5" width="611" src="http://files.constantcontact.com/4339298e001/0ddbc439-c3b5-427a-ab71-d372815fc395.jpg"> </strong></b></b></div>
<div><b><b><strong>Education</strong></b></b></div>
<ul><li style="color:#003366"><b><b><span class="money">$50</span> million increase in Community Schools Aid</b></b></li><li style="color:#003366"><b><b><span class="money">$817</span> million - Prekindergarten programs </b></b></li><li style="color:#003366"><b><b><span class="money">$35</span> million - After-school programs</b></b></li><li style="color:#003366"><b><b><span class="money">$5</span> million - Expansion of half-day and full-day prekindergarten for 3- and 4-year-olds in high-need school districts</b></b></li><li style="color:#003366"><b><b><span class="money">$15.5</span> million - Bi-lingual education</b></b></li><li style="color:#003366"><b><b><span class="money">$2</span> million - Advance Placement (AP) Test Assistance</b></b></li><li style="color:#003366"><b><b><span class="money">$2</span> million - Master Teachers Program; </b></b></li><li style="color:#003366"><b><b>$400,000 - Excellence in Teaching Awards; and</b></b></li><li style="color:#003366"><b><b>$300,000 - Cyber bullying prevention.</b></b></li></ul>
<div><b><b><strong>Higher Education</strong> </b></b></div>
<ul><li style="color:#003366"><b><b><span class="money">$35.5</span> million (<span class="money">$5.9</span> million restoration) Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) </b></b></li><li style="color:#003366"><b><b><span class="money">$32.2</span> million (<span class="money">$5.3</span> million restoration) Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)</b></b></li><li style="color:#003366"><b><b><span class="money">$28.1</span> million (<span class="money">$4.6</span> million restoration) Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge program (SEEK)</b></b></li><li style="color:#003366"><b><b><span class="money">$15.8</span> million (<span class="money">$2.6</span> million) Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP):</b></b></li></ul>
<div><b><b><strong>Homelessness</strong></b></b></div>
<ul><li><b><b><strong><span class="money">$1</span> billion - Supportive Housing Program</strong></b></b></li></ul>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><b><b><strong> <img vspace="5" border="0" hspace="5" width="611" src="http://files.constantcontact.com/4339298e001/4eacd235-8154-4723-9fa7-e3da01c26a3b.jpg"> <br>Housing</strong></b></b></div>
<ul><li><b><b><strong><span class="money">$125</span> million - Senior housing Program</strong></b></b></li><li><b><b><strong><span class="money">$4.5</span> million - Tenant Protection Unit in re-appropriated funds </strong></b></b></li><li><b><b><span class="money">$472</span> million - Multi-family new construction </b></b></li><li style="color:#003366"><b><b><span class="money">$160</span> million - Middle income Housing </b></b></li><li style="color:#003366"><b><b><span class="money">$146</span> billion - Multi-family Preservation</b></b></li><li style="color:#003366"><b><b><span class="money">$100</span> million - 100% affordable housing </b></b></li><li style="color:#003366"><b><b><span class="money">$63</span> million - Small building Programs </b></b></li><li style="color:#003366"><b><b><span class="money">$45</span> million - Community reinvestment Fund </b></b></li><li style="color:#003366"><b><b><span class="money">$41</span> million - Welcome home NY Homeownership </b></b></li><li style="color:#003366"><b><b><span class="money">$13</span> million - Manufacture home Program </b></b></li><li style="color:#003366"><b><b><span class="money">$10</span> million - Revitalize New York Mainstream Program </b></b></li></ul>
<div><b><b><strong>Indigent Legal Services</strong></b></b></div>
<ul><li style="color:#003366"><b><b><span class="money">$1.06</span> million in support for the New York State Defenders Association; </b></b></li><li style="color:#003366"><b><b>$600,000 in support for immigrant legal services; and</b></b></li><li style="color:#003366"><b><b>$500,000 for alternatives to incarceration (ATI) programming.</b></b></li></ul>
<div><b><b><strong>Transportation</strong></b></b></div>
<ul><li style="color:#003366"><b><b><span class="money">$65</span> million - Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Capital Plan to help accommodate more passengers and improve efficiency</b></b></li></ul>
<div><b><b><strong>Infrastructure</strong></b></b></div>
<ul><li style="color:#003366"><b><b><span class="money">$200</span> million - Drinking and wastewater infrastructure improvements in New York City's watershed</b></b></li></ul>
<div><b><b><strong>Protecting Medicaid and Affordable Care</strong></b></b></div>
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<ul><li style="color:#003366"><b><b>provide Medicaid coverage for donor breast milk for hospitalized, high-risk preterm infants who can't receive breast milk from their mothers.</b></b></li></ul><b><b>
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</b></b><div><b><b><br>Appropriation bills:
</b></b><ul><li><b><b><a style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001FjVYXlzqFGXT9F5BeuKVduSRnQsQNqmQUQ1z4AG2CMfG6qdrHMlgoLxeMB4KRlb8rWefq42MJqmeFlmswvrA5lpXcWz8RtFR1HybndFDtuFgRlnnQ78Tecn--V7eozHiNBEZ-zCnB3H4o71FpciVG4pahxlqo7g9NC_13NruOg-4Ax4k57smTJ9N3L_hvkYvuzQmgFUhLOdlUqgKvoHGjnHL1YFAAgo-9IPSiSQ5gbEJ2k63mIH3EfyjuxQZenh8Nrxj8BZ_YV6ldm7bGhC1JTtBSWKuF4jtFFiHFhwtwrqZ3wb26sdlwT8jhkMyqgy4-900g3oUDjpWwO832BB6HYlUI1aOHfscHPZ6kKzLptw=&c=QwEl29EUdad7koJR2JDGP4ZuVDgJsR-nlm-82znFIcwzm0xc9Ok2tQ==&ch=0YVzylM_aRXL7vWQq-a81jC9e0m90YHTBd9b8rxsRA4zcTiuUbFu0w==" shape="rect">State Operations (A3000-D / S2000-D)</a> </b></b></li><li><b><b><a style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001FjVYXlzqFGXT9F5BeuKVduSRnQsQNqmQUQ1z4AG2CMfG6qdrHMlgoLxeMB4KRlb8PLNWzCRnZ3RKEYuS-cq05WmIUfmWkKHuj5UyyLP_LokNPw90KCmhB0lTNRYCh0uoOndrOoWdJLktfDN1t4BrlK3MqWq1uBn8KesARlG8Fmm331vD516I7lzRll3z5vEeRHucmyuyfPtw1P6P19xklQtwL-cnDneFYCjFyHETxL8zDSfb7XcWSxSLhn8EwyKv0H57rvGMCjVys9GNVnOfZmbFreDZonlNhT_yihzOz96jAJaG6_8Y6scKcVl-drH_lzS8XStlk8Jq56DX33XS3UVQhyyqS_zfQq8AuQNj_U78RPUoDUDzbQ==&c=QwEl29EUdad7koJR2JDGP4ZuVDgJsR-nlm-82znFIcwzm0xc9Ok2tQ==&ch=0YVzylM_aRXL7vWQq-a81jC9e0m90YHTBd9b8rxsRA4zcTiuUbFu0w==" shape="rect">Legislature and Judiciary (A3001 / S2001) </a> </b></b></li><li><b><b><a style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001FjVYXlzqFGXT9F5BeuKVduSRnQsQNqmQUQ1z4AG2CMfG6qdrHMlgoLxeMB4KRlb8Yk9SrM92h_e3GHehvksWrAI1TscV8Avq9Q_Omup4pFS3WYtSYxt1CJpBxm3n7ipVWMbw6gbu70Erjocz7VNA_DzX-AqPYKxo7nDyjfnWuOezigdTzqQYOZEQfdmprdsNi6OdcszUE1aKK4Ai-WB4ofQYKBk03N5m7AHo_GnjYDAgvSc65-NfcspD1AM596llKQY2CaoIwlI5yDjXmkpN4Idcj08YZoMzNY3QBG1XHGr4GNhFbQJhaq4YpUnCGWWOQ2kk88KYoHDZEW21Sj5RiVyzXjy4KksV9rFZOSTXhnU=&c=QwEl29EUdad7koJR2JDGP4ZuVDgJsR-nlm-82znFIcwzm0xc9Ok2tQ==&ch=0YVzylM_aRXL7vWQq-a81jC9e0m90YHTBd9b8rxsRA4zcTiuUbFu0w==" shape="rect">Debt Service (A3002 / S2002) </a> </b></b></li><li><b><b><a style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001FjVYXlzqFGXT9F5BeuKVduSRnQsQNqmQUQ1z4AG2CMfG6qdrHMlgoLxeMB4KRlb8pyrGdmxGc3OuFyQH9viXXQehObDVhx5_YOkOo9pdrGXdaMN_I9koZGRLGOmwMj5Cg8-Oj05Zyxm3ly2UdoWubzNdLg68Om0Z7M2oW0MHt7DFsJRoU5pa_YKt6qrm6UpetvAYAeLbZgnTHaYu1yauUIvhjkmvHd64LooyIkmnBI5HbwLrgDJwgLia_bRwTaXw2QBfjdwohwJPcp_nVPK_ywxLhwkjalJIhYdbh5wEyivb5TgoXLxoil_CytPAF_POaDkjYwIF4BgbrfJkfBiol2LgTxo8mXPB3rZKfl5ZxXo=&c=QwEl29EUdad7koJR2JDGP4ZuVDgJsR-nlm-82znFIcwzm0xc9Ok2tQ==&ch=0YVzylM_aRXL7vWQq-a81jC9e0m90YHTBd9b8rxsRA4zcTiuUbFu0w==" shape="rect">Aid to Localities (A3003-D / S2003-D)</a> </b></b></li><li><b><b><a style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001FjVYXlzqFGXT9F5BeuKVduSRnQsQNqmQUQ1z4AG2CMfG6qdrHMlgoLxeMB4KRlb8-5tjRySgYl3EHgBJfHlM8wKYYDN5iE9X_83PqrXHM9B0gP_fntPufUkkG6OhPdmpW0YcdxxQt6czq_IRKs22SdfqcnRHmoHloYMBH_1LuyBzIMiEzHoLQwUj6KWogHJG2-uJxjOcdJRyr-tGzHv2n8F04C7wtVJq9yAoTaif8BYA8zwHw3zGRWc2_GBrYGzH_JVpcj_khJ5iZzjQXwmaEOZEzIcISO4bW5tsOl-1s0xEl6yKlfKDVoWNv_iF4bas27h21j5XAupmsnuSc4ILUlWkZbw-KNP4QrWkdXAVR0Q=&c=QwEl29EUdad7koJR2JDGP4ZuVDgJsR-nlm-82znFIcwzm0xc9Ok2tQ==&ch=0YVzylM_aRXL7vWQq-a81jC9e0m90YHTBd9b8rxsRA4zcTiuUbFu0w==" shape="rect">Capital Projects (A3004-D / S2004-D)</a> </b></b></li></ul><b><b><br>Article VII bills:
</b></b><ul><li><b><b><a style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001FjVYXlzqFGXT9F5BeuKVduSRnQsQNqmQUQ1z4AG2CMfG6qdrHMlgoLxeMB4KRlb8XhGjmakcA-ddW7Sj-404yZ6vI9cwNr4Nl3GPZ0s3uXjOlaNNmkoMpKqcH7OYFm39Dy72-TzQK2jx4xxXy67j4hjYlodJUx77SI8CVtnqbbAJTggYyQc4c5QLwZRpMTxOhszWaMERYe71jdO7KfELW5N8CRZJ1FpkuBtdp77bIiYuckDRFtLLeY8r5RqE_dY-ClYAjVpyVcd1QR0EFGeRjm-fWR5MHdTzXn377LOG6vKP0uq4a7Aqv4i_-X9gGa0i8rCn_Yyg_GIA2ZK9hPCmfOYe17gLWDvtwFLWkOwWNU4=&c=QwEl29EUdad7koJR2JDGP4ZuVDgJsR-nlm-82znFIcwzm0xc9Ok2tQ==&ch=0YVzylM_aRXL7vWQq-a81jC9e0m90YHTBd9b8rxsRA4zcTiuUbFu0w==" shape="rect">Public Protection and General Government (PPGG) Bill (A3005-C / S2005-C) </a> </b></b></li><li><b><b><a style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001FjVYXlzqFGXT9F5BeuKVduSRnQsQNqmQUQ1z4AG2CMfG6qdrHMlgoLxeMB4KRlb867S_tx0Pckc80aQ0WaD4aJlxd_JZm4xBlhdKtwKsb7v3dfZhFi6z4wcMGBEwp6Cv7Y3Gj8wg5Fjo8SpwPBoMHpA_oKyke4lpX-V8zuX32goPNmtjpcJATYC5j1llqAJCKTKLHE6VWC-lG_yXZw5IbQnhIKNUpBDG1deI6HPgBv8qQT72-iccX2dkvu5WKvOFxJ22Bfs2yR_NZcGmsJFwyG5nYUK6hVrlljSHdhr6S0zexdaY_dVYHgSBMVYpXCHh18YebcEGFz0_DqJsDd42NPLWBxBRgCw-Fy5Hszp8zyY=&c=QwEl29EUdad7koJR2JDGP4ZuVDgJsR-nlm-82znFIcwzm0xc9Ok2tQ==&ch=0YVzylM_aRXL7vWQq-a81jC9e0m90YHTBd9b8rxsRA4zcTiuUbFu0w==" shape="rect">Education, Labor and Family Assistance (ELFA) Bill (A3006-C / S2006-C) </a> </b></b></li><li><b><b><a style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001FjVYXlzqFGXT9F5BeuKVduSRnQsQNqmQUQ1z4AG2CMfG6qdrHMlgoLxeMB4KRlb8MTg1dqtmSUOcAQvgCbBbV1Aj62yG2VWvvAiNf8Ev-W8M_e9IxZjnyUBE3AFvxagBdNUW-p27i9z5bcrdckU8UTsNYF0BGcK3ejoXc-LAQS6UXtNp2ba4MftCbkz4kgR8pZlfJqguON_v5v4vWPdbzAVr3YeiF-JTYGFaG19Mg5P30ja0OH5HvcsdKshjN-SKTvTByCT54bBuFIABxTLbb-AHyR3YE60PpEK_3jCVNN8zofvBh8OWT4nF16hAGvmMeP97PB81pX3jITnX1oYzDOyTZIhWlItFGAdpJx58F-A=&c=QwEl29EUdad7koJR2JDGP4ZuVDgJsR-nlm-82znFIcwzm0xc9Ok2tQ==&ch=0YVzylM_aRXL7vWQq-a81jC9e0m90YHTBd9b8rxsRA4zcTiuUbFu0w==" shape="rect">Health and Mental Hygiene (HMH) Bill (A3007-B / S2007-B) </a> </b></b></li><li><b><b><a style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001FjVYXlzqFGXT9F5BeuKVduSRnQsQNqmQUQ1z4AG2CMfG6qdrHMlgoLxeMB4KRlb8osBiI4zzrcTlk3oZ6N4vymge8ougUUSx0GihwM2XA1araHke1f5ehXfZ1DYnhoje5k9URNr3E-OV4E1WDwVcW1OwIF3zBRvlWEWRu1R4ARJ3YxcyGBt1qRtKX1ioBvZvlG3PnGQLwHO5cD4jsA5uhVvcJwGtBp6J2wAIvd8BgMZYt10Oh-ucECvHiqXeOkjT6pUCkc-gWKqUxS3RyyTq927pshGVuw6TZ_WGYsLnnsFLJWKe_rn-cDutbp_quX9gfe3RTz-4apPub1megHDsMs0mXHJMRRiC0SadG4FFpF0=&c=QwEl29EUdad7koJR2JDGP4ZuVDgJsR-nlm-82znFIcwzm0xc9Ok2tQ==&ch=0YVzylM_aRXL7vWQq-a81jC9e0m90YHTBd9b8rxsRA4zcTiuUbFu0w==" shape="rect">Transportation, Economic Development and Environmental Conservation (TED) Bill (A3008-C / S2008-C) </a> </b></b></li><li><b><b><a style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001FjVYXlzqFGXT9F5BeuKVduSRnQsQNqmQUQ1z4AG2CMfG6qdrHMlgoLxeMB4KRlb8FCaCwSMUwiv39XMUFTLj-XqYMPddNzvpBH1BJRWT_JRZA0XTejrcQWhAJk4MBCRtx58wEICjBwPXviRzKR5N35iw4nebgaJBPWg2foz9yvK9J4VNYuWnsb1Fj0d5oByt32ODMbSiCxM9ufSh1MsnKepq3gjzLH4s29DaIKrxw2Sq4A-oHua_Q21e_ECmBODgl4a-1vGY0f1Jy9OXkHx26VgMyOmEic2iP_6mRbpE1frqX6hK3fFM_iM9WYlORiOIGTJVFiF9U72OuNN7W6LESsFXSWhrOaetFMvNODYBoGk=&c=QwEl29EUdad7koJR2JDGP4ZuVDgJsR-nlm-82znFIcwzm0xc9Ok2tQ==&ch=0YVzylM_aRXL7vWQq-a81jC9e0m90YHTBd9b8rxsRA4zcTiuUbFu0w==" shape="rect">Revenue (REV) Bill (A3009-C / S2009-C) </a> </b></b></li></ul></div>
<div><b><b>"I would like to thank all my colleagues in the Assembly and in the Senate for doing the hard work, and for committing the time and energy to ensure that we could pass a budget that would lay the groundwork for future progress," said <strong>Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte</strong>. "In particular I would like to thank our Speaker, Carl Heastie, for his overall leadership and for leading the charge, and our other leaders who worked closely with him such as <strong>Assemblymember Joe </strong><strong>Lentol</strong> who sponsored and carried the <strong>Raise the Age</strong> bill for <strong>twelve years</strong>, and other ambassadors of that legislation that helped negotiate this deal, such as <strong>Assemblymembers Jeffrion Aubry</strong>, <strong>Phil Ramos</strong>, and <strong>Helene Weinstein</strong> as well as<strong> Senator Velmanette Montgomery </strong>who was the lead on criminal justice reform issues on the Senate side. Additionally, I would like to acknowledge <strong>Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi</strong> for advocating for <span class="money">$1</span> billion dollars for supportive housing for those experiencing homelessness, <strong>Assemblymember Cathy Nolan</strong> for her work on undoing charter school co-location first right of refusal, <strong>Assemblymember Pat Fahy</strong> for her work on fighting for <span class="money">$250</span> million for indigent legal services, <strong>Assemblymember Michaelle Solages</strong>, for working on a life saving initiative, which makes sure that <strong>donor breast milk is covered by Medicaid for hospitalized, high-risk preterm infants who can't receive breast milk from their mothers</strong>, and <strong>Assemblymember Denny Farrell</strong> for his work as <strong>Chair of the Ways and Means Committee</strong>. Although, we accomplished a lot, there is still much more work to do and I look forward to making this a New York that works for all New Yorkers." </b></b></div>
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<div style="font-size:11pt"><b><b>[1] <a style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001FjVYXlzqFGXT9F5BeuKVduSRnQsQNqmQUQ1z4AG2CMfG6qdrHMlgoLxeMB4KRlb84spU0xt8M8FHXjq7IglCMNkXm0bPqsL0pNTThNUf-Rku-JXSntii2F0he0ZXlrpXLGELXKoAmE8NMwE6TBTiwmyZQ3Z47NzibkrAc_OnkRYZwBiOWFMkk5bXRtdjNWMZ0rDzYHmAeFTOzdOvoa7tF_0bKjVkbyYS0KJyxmGs9S94p2j4HQYzoW_8OyEHD4tMVT9QGdOd5N1QokmJL_xfZuh4WBNHwcZZUhWnFle5CIviyTe4oAhtEYEli0Pa7Z8K6LzgaxpzeQI=&c=QwEl29EUdad7koJR2JDGP4ZuVDgJsR-nlm-82znFIcwzm0xc9Ok2tQ==&ch=0YVzylM_aRXL7vWQq-a81jC9e0m90YHTBd9b8rxsRA4zcTiuUbFu0w==" shape="rect">http://raisetheageny.com/get-the-facts,</a> </b></b></div>
<div style="font-size:11pt"><b><b><em>Raise the Age Campaign Fact Sheet 2017</em>, accessed 4/9/2017 </b></b></div>
<div style="font-size:11pt"><b><b>[2] Ibid </b></b></div>
<div style="font-size:11pt"><b><b>[3] <a style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001FjVYXlzqFGXT9F5BeuKVduSRnQsQNqmQUQ1z4AG2CMfG6qdrHMlgoLxeMB4KRlb8BfKDUQ-Zoh2oUz6xVHhd1UHQB_Z29Mcpr-JZ9yMlKKCfhGrpkpsXBGaWyiMR9Lsy9BgeoyfNydnDEC9lcniV1Fj9bsTpKUEcujhO04pH7kLnAA4kVTkxitg3PHqEm3x4MhLDELAPuXBP1TLIpY5rHT_3i61Gr5b24zY7oGNefXq-haPdzrp8f4fYhhPf2GAhCGNNko6i9-7_KJFLg5ley2-EpuQnPLXy6WkN7ievIEaIgJ1rSh-9tONsfFseOjH1bdwfb8KWMJPGuU3Cjhl1sEJwU9wT4ZhK2MLrQDP2zOliddAuM8ETETYDFyO0HZEcb2AVB4E7fQW8UVfZxOkNmg==&c=QwEl29EUdad7koJR2JDGP4ZuVDgJsR-nlm-82znFIcwzm0xc9Ok2tQ==&ch=0YVzylM_aRXL7vWQq-a81jC9e0m90YHTBd9b8rxsRA4zcTiuUbFu0w==" shape="rect">http://raisetheageny.com/newitem/raise-age-ny-campaign-statement-raise-age-legislation,</a> </b></b></div>
<div style="font-size:11pt"><b><b><em>Raise the Age Campaign Statement on Raise the Age Legislation</em>, accessed 4/9/2017 </b></b></div>
<div><b><b><span style="font-size:11pt">[4] Ibid</span><br><br></b></b></div>
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<div><b><b>Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte represents the 42nd Assembly District in the New York State Assembly representing Brooklyn communities of Ditmas Park, Flatbush, East Flatbush and Midwood. She is currently the <strong>Chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs)</strong>, and serves on the following committees: <strong>Housing, Government Operations, Economic Development, Small Businesses, Banks and Social Services</strong>. She is also the <strong>Vice Chair of the NYS Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators. </strong></b></b></div>
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<div><b><b>As the current Assemblymember and District Leader, Rodneyse Bichotte has been outspoken advocate on issues concerning immigration, unemployment, education reform, health care access, senior citizen centers, affordable housing, women's and LGBTQ rights, as well as other issues affecting the quality of life in the community.</b></b></div>
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<div style="text-align:center" align="center"><b><b><strong>Learn more about </strong></b></b></div>
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<div><b><b><strong>Rodneyse Bichotte by visiting her website at <a shape="rect">www.rodneysebichotte.com</a> or <a shape="rect">http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Rodneyse-Bichotte</a> </strong></b></b></div>
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