NEW YORK STATE

ETATSKROYNEWATETSEHTOFETATS2020

MAKING PROGRESS HAPPEN2020 State of the StateGovernor Andrew M. Cuomo

The Constitution of New York State requires theGovernor to deliver an annual message to theLegislature regarding the state of the state. Since takingoffice, Governor Cuomo has used this opportunity toupdate New Yorkers on the progress of the State, whilelaying out a series of priorities for the year. The State ofthe State proposals are the first step in defining theGovernor's agenda in 2020. Additional policies andfunding details will be included in the upcomingGovernor's Executive Budget.1

Contents1. Combatting Climate Change . 14Part 1. Pass the 3 Billion Restore Mother NatureBond Act. 17Proposal. Protect High-Traffic Public Lands for FutureGenerations . 21Proposal. Fight Flooding and Support SustainedResiliency on Lake Ontario and the St. LawrenceRiver. 22Part 2. Combat Climate Change & Grow New York’sGreen Economy: A Win-Win . 23Proposal. Expand the Electric Vehicle Industry in NewYork . 25Proposal. Green Economy Tax Credits . 29Proposal. Retrofit Homes and Businesses to LowerCarbon Emissions . 30Proposal. Strengthen New York’s Position as the Hubof the U.S. Offshore Wind Industry . 30Part 3. Expand Renewable Energy Power in NewYork to Meet Zero-Carbon Emissions by 2040 . 32Proposal. Increase Solar, Onshore Wind and StorageCapacity by More Than 1,000 Megawatts . 33Proposal. Prepare the Electric Grid for New,Renewable Generation . 34Proposal. Provide Assistance to Communities to SpurRedevelopment During Clean Energy Transition . 35Part 4. Reduce Waste in Our Communities . 36Proposal. Ban Single-Use and Packaging StyrofoamProducts . 372

Proposal. Create a Recycling Program for Mattressesand Carpeting . 38Proposal. Expand Glass Reuse through the Creation ofa Center of Glass Innovation . 382. Continue Unprecedented Economic Growth . 40Part 1: Keep Taxes Low for All New Yorkers . 41Proposal. Cutting Taxes for Small Businesses. 42Proposal. Cut Middle Class Taxes . 44Proposal. Promote Access to the Earned IncomeCredit for Qualifying Taxpayers. 45Proposal. Help Taxpayers Meet Their FilingObligations . 45Proposal. Fight for the Full Deductibility of State andLocal Taxes . 46Part 2: Invest in Economic Development and SmallBusinesses in Every Region . 47Proposal. Invest in Round 10 of the SuccessfulRegional Economic Development Councils . 47Proposal. Invest in the Fifth Round of the DowntownRevitalization Initiative . 48Proposal. Grow the Upstate Tech Economy . 49Proposal. Streamline MWBE Certification Process andCreate Statewide Integrated Application Portal . 52Part 3: Grow Recreation and Tourism . 54Proposal. 300 Million Reimagine the Erie CanalProgram . 56Proposal. Growing New York State’s World Class ParkSystem with New, Expanded, and Upgraded StateParks . 623

Proposal. Rebuild the Recently Destroyed Mid-StationLodge at Whiteface Mountain . 64Part 4: Supporting New York’s AgricultureIndustry . 65Proposal. Support the Growth of New York Farmswith New Produce Traceability Support . 66Proposal. Increase Diversity in New York’sAgricultural Industry . 68Proposal. Expand the Use of Locally Produced Food inSchool Meals . 69Part 5. Supporting New York’s Craft BeverageIndustry . 70Proposal. Permit the Sale of Alcohol in MovieTheaters . 71Proposal. Remove Antiquated Prohibition EraBarriers to Investment in New York State forAlcoholic Beverage Businesses . 72Proposal. Create the Craft Beverage Workforce of theFuture with a New Alcoholic Beverage License forEducational Institutions. 743. Rebuilding a New N.Y. 76Part 1. Invest in the MTA’s Capital Plan to ProvideMore Reliable and Accessible Public TransportationDownstate . 77Proposal. Expand Penn Station Southward and Createthe Empire Station District . 85Part 2: Continued Infrastructure Investment Acrossthe State . 87Proposal. Upstate Airport Economic Developmentand Revitalization Competition Round 2 . 874

Proposal. Develop an Innovative Strategy to BuildHigh Speed Rail in New York . 90Proposal. Make the “New York Buy American” ActPermanent . 91Proposal. Ensure Cellular Coverage across New YorkState . 93Proposal. Reimagine the Buffalo Skyway and ImproveAccess to Buffalo's Waterfront . 964. Opportunity Agenda . 98Part 1: Supporting New York Workers . 99Proposal. Guarantee Paid Sick Leave for WorkingNew Yorkers . 99Proposal. Protecting Workers in the Gig Economy .101Proposal. Enact Comprehensive E-Bike Legislationand Introduce Safe and Environmentally Friendly EScooter Legislation.102Proposal. Enact Stronger Wage Lien Laws .102Part 2: Bringing New Yorkers Out of Poverty. 103Proposal. Fight Childhood Poverty .103Proposal. Continue Historic Investments inAffordable Housing .105Proposal. Expand Access to Safe and AffordableBanking Services, Credit, and Financial Education .107Part 3: Expanding New York’s 175 MillionWorkforce Development Initiative to MeetEmerging Job Demand . 111Proposal. Launch the First-in-the-Nation Future ofWork Centers .111Proposal. Invest 14 Million in ApprenticeshipExpansion across New York State.1135

Proposal: Train Workers for the Green Economy .114Proposal. Creating the State’s First ComprehensiveEducation and Training Center .117Part 4. Protecting Consumers . 119Proposal. Stopping Nuisance Robocalls .120Proposal. Ensure the Strongest Net NeutralityProtections for All New Yorkers .123Proposal. License and Regulate Debt CollectionCompanies .125Proposal. Fighting Elder Financial Fraud .128Proposal. Protecting New York Consumers fromUnfair and Abusive Practices by Strengthening NewYork’s Consumer Protection Laws .1295. Social Justice . 134Part 1: Enacting a Comprehensive Plan to LegalizeAdult-Use Cannabis. 134Proposal. Authorizing Adult-Use Cannabis .135Proposal. Create the SUNY Global Cannabis Center forScience, Research and Education .138Part 2: Women’s Agenda . 140Proposal. Pass First-in-the-Nation Inclusive EqualRights Amendment .141ECONOMIC EQUITY .143Proposal. Create a Women’s Corporate LeadershipAcademy .143Proposal. Investing in Women Entrepreneurs .145Proposal. Improve Representation for Women onCorporate Boards .146Proposal. Prohibit Gender-Based PricingDiscrimination or Banning the “Pink Tax” .1486

Proposal. Address the Student Loan Debt Crisis’Impact on Women of Color .150Proposal. Ensure Pay Equity at State and LocalAuthorities.152Proposal. Require Sexual Harassment Data Disclosurefrom State Contractors .154WOMEN’S HEALTH .155Proposal. Protect and Maintain Stable Access toFamily Planning and Reproductive Health Services inNew York State .155Proposal. Create a New Women’s ResearchConsortium.157Proposal. Comprehensive Plan to Address MaternalMortality.160Proposal. Expanding Access to Fertility Services .163ENDING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE .164Proposal. Require Uniform, High-Quality CareStandards for all Sexual Assault Survivors .164Proposal. Support Safe and Healthy Nightlife onCampuses .165Proposal. Prevent Teen Dating Violence .167Proposal. Modernize Support to Domestic ViolenceVictims .168Proposal. Strengthen Protections for DomesticViolence Victims Seeking a Divorce .170Proposal. Expansion of Access to Civil Orders ofProtection in Family Courts .172Proposal. Protect Domestic Violence Victims fromGun Violence .173Proposal. Stop Reproductive Coercion .1767

Part 3: Protecting the LBGTQ Community . 177Proposal. Legalize Gestational Surrogacy in New YorkState .178Proposal. LGBTQ-Affirming Addiction Services .180Proposal. Protecting Access to Transgender HealthCare Coverage .182Proposal. Transgender Cultural Competency Trainingfor New York State Employees.183Proposal. Extend Data Privacy Protections to LGBTQDating Apps .184Part 4: Protecting Vulnerable Children . 186Proposal. Reducing Overrepresentation of MinorityChildren in Foster Care .186Proposal. Establish the NYS Foster Care SuccessProgram .188Proposal. Keep Kids Out of Foster Care with a KinFirst Firewall .190Part 5: Supporting New Americans . 192Proposal. Removing Unnecessary Barriers toObtaining Occupational Licensing .193Proposal. Ensure Accessibility to Public Services NoMatter Your English Proficiency.194Part 6: Honor the 75th Anniversary of New York’sHuman Rights Law . 1966. Keeping New Yorkers Safe . 200Part 1: Combat Rising Hate and Division . 201Proposal. Pass the “New York Hate Crime AntiTerrorism Act” .202Proposal. Battery Park City to develop a plan toexpand the Museum of Jewish Heritage .2058

Part 2: Ensuring the Safety and Security for All . 206Proposal. Close the Rape Intoxication Loophole.206Proposal. Prevent Sexual Predators from Using SocialMedia, Dating Apps and Video Games to ExploitChildren .208Proposal. Ban Repeat and High-Risk Sexual Offendersfrom MTA Transit Systems .210Proposal. Permit State Police to Issue AdministrativeSubpoenas for Certain Online Sexual Offenses AgainstChildren .212Proposal. Ensure that Individuals Who CommitSerious Crimes in Other State Cannot Own a Gun inNew York .215Proposal. Preventing the Manufacture andDissemination of Ghost Guns .221Proposal. Strengthening State Police TechnologyCapabilities to Protect New Yorkers .223Proposal. Continuing Efforts to Combat MS-13 andGang Activity .225Proposal. Strengthen Safety Measures for Occupantsof Stretch Limousines and Other For-HireCommercial Vehicles .226Proposal: Strengthen the Relationship between LocalPolice and the Communities they Serve .228Part 3: Supporting Veterans and Law EnforcementOfficers . 229Proposal. Expanding Affordable Housing and WrapAround Support Services to Address VeteranHomelessness.230Proposal. Invest in a Suicide Prevention and AntiStigma Efforts for Veterans, Law Enforcement,Correction Officers, and First Responders .2329

Proposal. Provide Free College Courses to New YorkStudents, Especially for Veterans and Active DutyStudents.234Proposal. Establish New York State’s First Veteran’sCemetery .2357. A Quality Education for All . 238Part 1: Ensure a Strong Start for Every New YorkStudent . 240Proposal. Ensure Districts Distribute State Aid in aMore Equitable Manner .240Proposal. Expand Universal Pre-Kindergarten .241Proposal. Support After School Programs in HighNeed Communities .242Proposal. Expand We Teach NY to Train MoreBilingual Educators.244Proposal. Free AP Tests for DisadvantagedStudents.245Proposal. Expand Access to College Courses in HighSchool .246Proposal. Expand the Master Teachers ProfessionalDevelopment Program .248Proposal. Improve Student Mental Health Support byCreating Trauma Informed Educators .249Proposal. STEM Entrepreneur in Residence.250Part 2: Make College More Affordable . 252Proposal. Expanding Free College Tuition to MoreMiddle Class Families and Support OpportunityPrograms.252Proposal. Require Transparency and Accountabilityfor For-Profit Colleges .25410

Proposal. Stop Unscrupulous Schools that DrainVeterans of the Education Benefits .256Proposal. Expand College Student Enrollment inSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)Benefits .257Proposal. Stop Abusive and Deceptive Practices fromStudent Loan Debt Relief Companies .2588. Healthier New York . 260Part 1: Ensuring Access to Affordable HealthCare . 260Proposal. Lowering Prescription Drug Prices for AllNew Yorkers .262Proposal. Provide Medical Cost Transparency toEmpower Patients .266Proposal. Expanding Protections from SurpriseMedical Bills.267Part 2: Combating the Opioid Epidemic . 271Proposal. Banning Fentanyl Analogs to FurtherCombat the Opioid Epidemic .273Proposal. Expanding Access to Medication-AssistedTreatment in Hard to Reach Communities.275Part 3: Improving Public Health . 279Proposal. Crackdown on Illegal Cigarettes Sales .280Proposal. Stop Vaping Products from Getting into theHands of Youth .282Proposal. Enhancing Physician Integrity andAccountability .286Proposal. Preserving the Effectiveness ofAntibiotics .2889. Safeguarding Our Democracy . 29211

Proposal. Require Automatic Manual Recounts inClose Elections .293Proposal. Implement a System of Automatic VoterRegistration .

The Constitution of New York State requires the Governor to deliver an annual message to the Legislature regarding the state of the state. Since taking office, Governor Cuomo has used this opportunity to update New Yorkers on the progress of the State, while laying out a series of priorities for the year. The State of