December 2009
FROM BILL MAGNARELLI
District: 333 East Washington St., Syracuse, 13202 (315)248-9651 Albany: LOB 519, Albany, 12248 (518)455-4826
120th Assembly District
• Attorney General Andrew Cuomo visited Syracuse University's Maxwell School to announce the creation
of a not-for-profit company that will research and provide information about out-of-network health care
reimbursement rates. FAIR Health, as the company is called, will be a partnership of five upstate
universities: The University of Rochester, Syracuse, Cornell, Upstate Medical Center and SUNY Buffalo.
It is funded with settlements from major health insurance companies.
"This is a great opportunity for Syracuse University to help serve as a business incubator for
Syracuse and all of upstate New York," said Assemblyman Magnarelli. "FAIR Health will
provide much needed change and information regarding out-of-network health care reimbursement
rates."
• Students at Dr. Weeks Elementary School looked on as Time Warner Cable announced a new
program encouraging hands-on math and science learning with the Baltimore Woods Nature Center.
The program is part of "Connect A Million Minds," a five-year $100 million philanthropic
national Time Warner Cable initiative to partner schools with community organizations. Locally, the
program provides Dr. Weeks students with a year's worth of Nature in the City, a hands on science
program at Baltimore Woods.
"This is a program that will give Syracuse City School Students access to fun and entertaining
hands on learning that might not have happened otherwise due to budget restrictions," said
Assemblyman Magnarelli. "It is nice to see a local business making the effort to help schools
in need."
• Encouraging creativity in education was the topic of the recent breakfast sponsored by Partners for
Arts Education. Assemblyman Magnarelli spoke about the successes this organization had in
connecting schools with local business, organizations and foundations which provide cultural and
artistic resources. In 2007, Assemblyman Magnarelli secured $325,000 for the Partners for Arts
Education through the New York State Council of the Arts and a $20,000grant for a strategic
development director for the organization. In 2008, he secured another $10,000 grant to enhance
and expand the program.
"Arts are a vital component for a complete, well-rounded education," Assemblyman
Magnarelli said. "The key is to make sure that in these times of economic struggle, schools
and classes are made aware of opportunities to visit and use our local resources."
• Assemblyman Magnarelli and Assemblyman Al Stirpe, D-North Syracuse, participated in the
Leadership Greater Syracuse's Government Day. Leadership Greater Syracuse is an organization
dedicated to recruiting, equipping, engaging and uniting present and future leaders of all ages and
experiences committed to making a difference in their communities. The two local members of the
Assembly spoke about what led them to become legislators, what the job requires, and how they
negotiate balancing the state budget.
Assemblyman Magnarelli receives the pen Governor David Paterson used to sign the A-1 Felony
bill that he authored into law. Senator David J. Velasky sponsored the bill in the Senate.
Assemblyman Magnarelli, District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, Janice Greishaber Geddes,
founder of Jenna Foundation for Non-violence, and Senator David J. Valesky attended a news
conference about the two new laws.
• Two recently passed laws strengthen penalties class A-1 felons and drunk drivers can receive.
Assemblyman Magnarelli praised these bills as being important legislation aimed at preventing more tragedies.
Imposing Consecutive Sentences When Convicted of a Class A-1 Felony
The A-1 Felony bill, authored by Assemblyman Magnarelli and sponsored in the Senate by State Senator
David J. Velasky (D-Oneida) imposes consecutive sentences for persons convicted of Class A-1 felony
offences. It also prevents ill inmates from using previous time served as credit toward the minimum 50
percent service requirement when seeking medical parole.
"This legislation ensures that violent felons receive sentences proportional to the gravity of their
crimes," said Assemblyman Magnarelli. "It is a measure aimed at reducing recidivism and
keeping violent felons off our streets."
The new law helps prevent future serious crimes by making sure those who commit A-1 felonies are kept
safely behind bars and are not prematurely released to the streets.
A-I felonies include aggravated murder, first or second degree murder and first degree kidnapping, arson,
and criminal possession or use of a chemical or biological weapon, as well as those convicted of first
degree manslaughter and a second child sexual assault, each would be required to receive a consecutive
sentence.
Leandra's Law: Increasing the penalty for DWI with a child passenger
The other bill, referred to as Leandra's Law, drastically increases the penalty for any person who drives
intoxicated with a child passenger. The legislation makes all DWI with child passenger violations fall in
the felonies classification.
"Tragedies such as these are preventable," said Assemblyman Magnarelli. "The
legislation reinforces the severity with which we view people who drive while intoxicated, especially with
a child in the vehicle."
The legislation is named for one of those victims, Leandra Rosado, who died at age 11 in a car accident
where the other driver involved was intoxicated.
The legislation also mandates ignition devices for all DWI convictions. All offenders will be required to
install an ignition interlock device in their vehicle upon conviction of any DWI offenses, which may only
be waived upon a judicial finding that the offender has no history of alcohol abuse or dependence.
• The 2009 CNY Veterans Parade was held on Nov. 7 in Downtown Syracuse. Thousands of people
attended to pay tribute to local veterans. The lineup consisted of eight high school marching bands
(Baldwinsville, Central Square, CNS, ESM, Henninger, Jordan Elbridge, Phoenix, and Thousand Islands),
SU's Pride of the Orange, Brigadiers and the Syracuse Scottish Pipe Band. Active and reserve military
were represented by members of the 174th Fighter Wing, the 274th Air Support Operations Squadron,
27th Brigade Combat Team, Echo Company, and U.S. Coast Guard Station Oswego. More than 40
veterans organizations from across the Central New York region were represented in the parade.
About NYS Assemblyman William B. Magnarelli
Assemblyman William Magnarelli represents the 120th Assembly District, which includes the Northside,
Westside, Eastwood and Valley areas of the City of Syracuse, as well as the towns of Geddes and Van
Buren. He first won election in 1998 for an open Assembly seat and was reelected in 2000, 2002, 2004,
2006 and 2008. During his previous five terms in office, Assemblyman Magnarelli has focused his efforts
on bringing more jobs to Central New York, lowering taxes, providing our children a better education at every
level, improving our healthcare and keeping our families safe. For more information, contact Assemblyman
Magnarelli's District Office at (315) 428-9651.
