Senate cultural‑affairs committee reports six bills, including Little Yemen cultural‑district measure

Senator Jose Serrano, chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation, said the committee met March 17 and "we have a 6 bill agenda today," before the panel moved and reported six measures for further committee consideration.

The bills covered a range of cultural and public‑safety issues. The committee moved S.1057 (by Senator Serrano), an amendment to the Parks and Recreation and Historic Preservation law addressing reporting requirements for the alienation of municipal parking, and recorded it for referral. The clerk read the measure during the session.

Also moved was S.1378 (by Senator Serrano), which amends the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law to provide financial assistance to museums, zoos, botanical gardens, aquariums and other cultural institutions that are located in or serve low‑income urban, suburban or rural communities or that provide educational services to students in those communities. The committee reported S.1378 to the Finance Committee for fiscal review.

S.1388 (by Senator Serrano), concerning cleaning playground equipment after pesticide exposure and an amendment to parks and recreation and historic preservation law, was moved and reported by the committee.

The clerk read S.5400 (by Senator Scarcellus Benson), an amendment to the Navigation Law that would provide an exemption for operators of law‑enforcement and fire‑department vessels responding to emergencies on the state's natural waters; the committee moved and reported the bill, noting it had been seconded by Senator Tabisco during the session.

The committee also moved S.6487c (by Senator Fernandez), amending the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law to authorize the State Council on the Arts to designate "Little Yemen" as a cultural district. Chair Serrano said the measure was moved and seconded and the bill was reported.

Finally, the clerk read S.9301 (by Senator Martinez), an amendment to Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation law to establish a park in New York City. The committee moved and seconded S.9301 and referred it to the Civil Service Committee.

All six measures were advanced by voice votes during the session; the clerk recorded each as reported or referred to the next committee. Chair Serrano closed the meeting and adjourned the committee.

The measures will proceed to the committees to which they were referred for additional review, fiscal analysis, or scheduling for floor consideration.