DISTRICT OFFICE: Governor Clinton Building, 1 Albany Avenue, Suite G-4, Kingston, NY 12401 • 845-338-9610ALBANY OFFICE: Room 716, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248 • 518-455-4436EMAIL: cahillk@nyassembly.gov • WEBSITE: www.nyassembly.gov/mem/Kevin-A-Cahill/

Dear Friends and Constituents, It has been a busy season for Assemblymember Cahill’s Kingston District Office with a number of ongoing projects to serve the needs of our local communities. Here are updates on some of those activities. As usual, you can check out more details on our website, or by following us on Facebook and Instagram.

Summer Reading and Exercise Challenge 2019

Congratulations to every student who completed this year’s New York State Assembly Summer Reading and Exercise Challenge. Participation was higher than usual this year. To qualify, children were encouraged to read for at least fifteen minutes and exercise for thirty minutes a day during the summer. The annual challenge concluded with a celebration at the Kingston Library where kids were rewarded with a puppeteer performance, refreshments, a bag full of goodies from area businesses and organizations including exploration vouchers to local attractions, a specially selected book, and of course, an Assembly “Excellence in Reading” certificate.

This year, the school with the most participants was George Washington Elementary, with a total of twelve students. The longest participating youngsters were Jordan Finlay from Kingston, Sophie Lacelle from Wallkill, and Kiera Wight also from Wallkill, each of whom celebrated their sixth year of the challenge. The oldest student was La’Myah Parker, an 8th grader at Onteora Middle School and our youngest, Amelia Schmalberger, a pre-kindergarten student at Kerhonkson Elementary School.

In partnership with New York State libraries and our local schools, Assemblymember Cahill’s Summer Reading and Exercise Challenge ensures that any child can find a wide selection of great books to enjoy. While visiting the library, families could also take advantage of the wide variety of enrichment programs that they have to offer. With over eighty participants completing the program this year, it was without a doubt a success.

Local News and Constituent Services

Assemblymember

Kevin A. CahillAssembly District 103

Providing Budgetary Support to Municipalities and Local Organizations

Safeguarding our water supply is imperative. Local governments in the 103rd District, including the City of Kingston and Town of Esopus in Ulster County and the Villages

Housing ForumAfter receiving inquiries from numerous constituents and municipal leaders regarding the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (Ch. 36 of 2019), Assemblymember Cahill hosted a public forum to discuss the measures potential implications for tenants and municipalities.

The informational forum presented a valuable opportunity for these leaders to join other stakeholders and discuss how upstate communities can combat the housing crisis with new tools granted by recent statutory changes. As the author of the legislation to expand the geographic range of the Emergency Tenant Protection Act of 1974, these reforms will offer tremendous benefits to municipalities, should they choose to opt-in. Our office is available to work with residents and local leaders throughout the implementation process.

of Tivoli and Rhinebeck in Dutchess County, were awarded a combined amount totaling over $10 million to upgrade the structural integrity of the systems and the treatment of wastewater, in turn investing in job creation and providing for safe, clean drinking water.

For the 2019 Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) Cycle, Assemblymember Cahill’s office provided support letters for local organizations including Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild, Kaatsbaan Center for Dance, ARC Mid-Hudson and Hudson River Maritime Museum, as well as municipalities including the City of Kingston, Town of Gardiner, Village of Rhinebeck, and Town of Esopus to name a few. Award announcements for the 2019 CFA cycle will be released in the coming month, so stay tuned!

Engineering Innovation HubSUNY New Paltz University hosted proud alumni and long-time supporter Assemblymember Cahill, to attend the opening of the new Engineering Innovation Hub with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, September 17th.

This modern, two-story, 19,500 square-foot academic building will support and diversify New Paltz’s rapidly growing field-related programs. The Engineering Innovation Hub demonstrates the immense benefits that investing in academia can provide, further fostering partnerships of business and industry resulting in job creation for next generation New Yorkers.

Assemblymember Cahill has been instrumental in securing over $200 million in support for SUNY New Paltz. With new academic and technical buildings, modern dormitories and a renovated library and Student Center, Assemblymember Cahill is helping make SUNY New Paltz a 21st Century center of excellence for higher education.

‘D.O.’ Day with Assemblymember CahillMembers of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby Mid-Hudson Valley Chapter were welcomed by Assemblymember Cahill during a typical ‘District Office Day’ to discuss state and federal carbon tax legislation. As the prime sponsor of legislation to make carbon polluters pay their fair share, (Assembly Bill A.39), Assemblymember Cahill understands the necessity in eliminating carbon-based fuels and investing in renewable energy. Though there is without doubt much work to be done for the bill to pass, we are enthusiastic for the future of it.

Happy Christmas FundMembers of Assemblymember Kevin Cahill’s staff joined WGHQ Kingston Community Radio on Thursday, November 7th during the 1:30 live broadcast segment to help fundraise for the 2019 Happy Christmas Fund hosted at Boices Milk House in mid-town Kingston.

The WGHQ Happy Christmas Fund is non-sectarian and helps children and senior citizens regardless of religious denomination. No cash is given to its recipients, just gift cards for children’s clothes, toys, and food. All money received is spent in the immediate communities. Administrative expenses are covered by a private donor allowing 100% of all donations to go to the needy. Assemblymember Cahill has been a part of this worthy program for over two decades.

Constituents of the 103rd Assembly District were aided in issues related to STAR tax rebates, tuition assistance, housing, utilities, EZ Pass billing, medical transport problems, insurance coverage, professional licensing process, veteran, and elder care services to mention a few.

Early VotingOne of the first major acts of the 2019 Legislative Session established a nine-day early voting period before every election, requiring polling locations be open for at least eight hours on weekdays and five hours on weekends (Ch. 6 of 2019). This change ensures accessibility, equity, and efficiency. Additionally, hardworking New Yorkers who are unable to vote during non-work hours are allowed up to three paid hours of time off to do so. Further, to help counties implement these changes, Assemblymember Cahill fought for $10 million in the state budget to help offset the cost of the additional poll hours and $14.7 million for new electronic poll books and ballot printers. According to the NYS Board of Elections, over 256,000 people participated in early voting before Election Day, statewide between October 26th and November 3rd.

Star ReliefSchool taxes can account for as much as 60% of New York residents’ overall property tax bill, in some instances, even more. For years, the School Tax Relief (STAR) program has offered homeowners much-needed savings on their property tax bills. Without the STAR program, the 2.6 million homeowners who rely on it would be left in a lurch, scrambling to afford hundreds more in taxes or getting priced out of their homes and communities. The State budget for this fiscal year provided vital funding necessary to maintain the STAR program. Assemblymember Cahill will continue to fight to ensure New Yorkers can keep more of their hard-earned money and stay in the communities they’ve come to call home.

Local News and Constituent Services (continued)

Statewide News

Public Hearing to Examine Municipal Health Insurance Alternatives

As chair of the New York State Assembly Insur-ance Committee, Mem-ber Cahill was joined by Assemblymember Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I-Suffolk), Chair of the Committee on Local Government, to conduct a hearing to discuss affordable health insurance options for localities throughout New York State. Also present was Assemblymember Phillip Steck (D-Capital District), who requested the committees to examine the subject.

The panel took extensive testimony from various stakeholders, including regulators, elected representatives, insurers, and other experts. The witnesses discussed alternatives for local government and school districts to obtain affordable employee health insurance. There was a focus on municipal co-operative insurance plans, such as the Greater Tompkins County Municipal Health Insurance Consortium, allowing local governments to band together and offer comprehensive coverage to their employees.

The Committees will use the results to inform future legislation and interaction with the regulatory agencies involved in supervising health insurance coverage.

The EnvironmentFor the third year in a row, Assemblymember Cahill achieved a perfect score in the respected EPL/Environmental Advocates of New York annual score card. The survey ranks legislators on their efforts to advance green policy initiatives, while pushing back against legislation deemed harmful to the environment.

The Hudson Valley Community Preservation Act (HVCPA) allows communities to raise funds for preserving open spaces, unique ecological areas, agricultural lands, and historic places. Recognizing its utility in places like Red Hook, New York and teaming up with Senator Jen Metzger, Assemblymember Cahill was able to expand the HVCPA to localities in Ulster County. By providing the necessary tools to ensure residents a prosperous future, the measure offers an effective way to conserve productive farmland, create new parks, enhance water quality, and revitalize historic structures.

Numerous other environmental bills saw action, notably the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act which created guidelines for the State to significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and become carbon neutral by 2040, among other important benchmarks. Offshore drilling of fossil fuels was banned in our State and the process to amend the New York State Constitution was started to ensure our beautiful surroundings can be enjoyed by all for generations to come. As a long-time champion of the environment, Assemblymember Cahill was central to this debate and a proud sponsor of the successful measures.

Common Sense Firearm LawsAs we continue to reel from gun violence affecting our country, the Legislature passed bills to prevent someone determined by a court to be an active danger from possessing or buying a firearm and to establish a waiting period of up to thirty days before a firearm may be delivered to a person. New laws subject people moving in from out of state to the same standards as all New Yorkers. Taking a common-sense approach to firearms legislation, Assemblymember Cahill co-sponsored these measures, along with laws to ban “bump stocks” and other rapid-fire modifications.

Legislative Accomplishments

Addressing Health Care CostsRecently signed into law was legislation authored and sponsored by Assemblymember Cahill which expands protections to patients faced with exorbitant charges and takes effect immediately. The measure subjects out-of-network emergency room charges along with any costs associated with inpatient stays immediately following a hospital visit to a process known as Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR). Established in 2014 as a mechanism to fight “surprise” medical billing, IDR has been used effectively to resolve pricing disagreements between healthcare providers and health insurance plans in the event of an out-of-network physician visit. The third-party negotiation removes consumers from the proceedings, precluding them from excessive provider charges, keeping premiums down for everybody.

Though hidden in the shadows of health insurance, it is becoming increasingly recognized that Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) are a major contributing factor for the rise in prescription drug prices due to the secrecy of their practices and sheer market influence. The Assembly Insurance Committee, under the leadership of Chair Kevin Cahill worked closely with Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried to craft legislation that opens the “black box” within which these corporations operate. The bill would require accountability, transparency and fair dealing with patients, pharmacists, and health plans. If signed into law, this measure will usher the most comprehensive Pharmacy Benefit Management regulation in the United States and has the potential to become a standard upon which other jurisdictions will determine how to legislate the practices of PBMs.

Adult-Use Marijuana DecriminalizationMarijuana prohibition laws have had a devastating impact on generations of New Yorkers, particularly among communities of color where enforcement has been disproportionately high. Thousands of otherwise law-abiding people have been forced to live with criminal records, making it more difficult to secure employment or housing. While the legislature did not take up the matter of commercialization of adult-use marijuana, as has been done in other states, there was significant progress on the issue. Decriminalizing marijuana, paired with retroactively expunging and sealing records for low-level offenses, will begin to reverse decades of injustice and misuse of our criminal justice resources.

Standing Up for AllThe “Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act” grants farm workers overtime, a day of rest, disability insurance, unemployment benefits and additional labor protections already available to other workers. The “Green Light” bill which restores driver license privileges to residents of New York State, regardless of immigration status, was approved. Assemblymember Cahill took an active role in advocating for these measures and was successful in bringing the business community on board with the “Green Light” law. The Jose Peralta “DREAM” Act will ensure students have access to financial aid based upon their willingness to focus on their education and without regard to their immigration or citizenship paperwork.

Voting ReformsA series of voter and ballot access reforms included no-excuse absentee ballots, a consolidation of the state and federal primary election dates, the closure of the “LLC campaign finance loophole” and the establishment of early voting. Assemblymember Cahill was the author and prime sponsor of key parts of the package.

Another bill created by the Assemblymember found itself in the center of a significant race in another part of the state. Assembly bill A.1320-A would require Boards of Elections to accept affidavit and absentee ballots that are in substantial compliance with the law instead of depriving citizens of their votes based on technicalities. While the law was not in force for the primary in question, all sides agree that it represents a significant step forward in assuring every person’s right to participate in our electoral process at the most fundamental level.

Criminal Justice ReformsThe “Child Victims Act” allows people who were sexually assaulted when they were children to seek justice in our courts as adults by extending the statute of limitations. Changes were also made to criminal discovery procedures, speedy trial rules and cash bail for those charged with non-violent misdemeanors during the budget negotiations. As a co-sponsor of this measure, Assemblymember Cahill will continue to assist victims in understanding and navigating the new law.

Family PlanningThe “Reproductive Health Act” and the “Comprehensive Contraceptive Coverage Act,” which was authored and sponsored by Assemblymember Cahill, and the expansion of fertility preservation and in-vitro fertilization to over a million New Yorkers, brought clarity to these sensitive areas of the law and aligned state statutes to federal regulation and court decisions. The “Boss Act” prohibits employers from discriminating against employees and prospective employees based upon family planning decisions. In the face of threats from the national government, these measures together reaffirm that our state recognizes that health care decisions are private and should be between patients and their health care professionals.

Community District Office Hours Representatives from the office of Assemblymember Cahill will be available during the coming weeks and months to meet with folks from all over the 103rd Assembly District without requiring constituents to trek to our Kingston or Albany offices.

“Setting up office hours in our local libraries and other convenient places offers an opportunity for constituents who may not live near the District Office to meet our staff and ask any questions they may have so that we can offer support and assistance,” said Mr. Cahill. “It is my hope that residents take advantage of these events. We welcome your voices and invite you to stop by, even just to say hello and introduce yourself. As always, the District Office in Kingston will remain open from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. These additional locations are just a way to expand our reach.”

For further information or if you have suggestions on places where we might hold future community hours, please contact the Kingston District Office at (845) 338-9610.

Automatic Voter RegistrationAutomatic Voter Registration is of the fastest growing reforms in the country with 15 states and DC having adopted a form of AVR since 2015. Many New Yorkers who would like to participate in elections choose to do so after the voter registration deadline, facing long waiting periods for court orders that are not guaranteed or risking their vote not being counted in the affidavit process. AVR will increase accuracy of voter rolls and keep voters from falling into inactive status and possibly being expunged. Thus, eliminating affidavit ballots, extra mailings as well as court orders and ultimately save boards of elections and taxpayers money. Assemblymember Cahill is hopeful that the measure will be prioritized for passage this coming year.

Mobile District Office Day Schedule

A Look Ahead

Reports to the PeopleEnd of Year 2019

New York State Assembly • Albany, New York 12248

Assemblymember

PRSRT STD.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDAlbany, New York

Permit No. 75

Criminal Justice ReformsAs one of the co-sponsors of the legislation that set up the state authorization of the medicinal marijuana market in New York (A.06357E of 2014) and of the measure recently signed into law that reformed state sanctions against marijuana use, possession and distribution (Ch. 31 of 2019), Assemblymember Cahill anticipates further progress on this vital area in the coming session.

Numerous bills regarding Criminal Justice Reform passed the Assembly last session. Assemblymember Cahill voted in favor of limiting solitary confinement (A.2500) and supported legislation that would establish an Office of Special Investigation in the State Attorney General to investigate deaths while in police custody or during an encounter with law enforcement (A.1601). Though none of the mentioned legislation made it through the Senate chamber in 2019, those issues, together with any necessary technical changes to reforms already enacted will surely be considered.

Wednesday, December 18, 2019Tivoli Free Library

86 Broadway, Tivoli 12583 / (845) 757-37712:00–4:00 p.m.

Tuesday, January 7, 2020Rosendale Public Library

264 Main Street, Rosendale 12472 / (845) 658-90132:00–4:00 p.m.

Thursday, January 16, 2020Gardiner Library

133 Farmer’s Turnpike, Gardiner 12525 / (845) 255-12552:00–4:00 p.m.

Wednesday, January 22, 2020Town of Ulster Library

860 Ulster Avenue, Kingston 12401 / (845) 338-788110:00–12:00 p.m.

Wednesday, January 29, 2020Town of Esopus Library

128 Canal Street, Port Ewen 12466 / (845) 338-558010:30–12:30 p.m.