SENATE PASSES A PACKAGE OF ANTI-TERRORISM BILLS

Governor�s Anti-terrorism; First-in-the-Nation Agri-terrorism; Cyber-terrorism

Monday, June 17, 2002

The Senate Majority today passed a package of legislation, recommended by the Senate Majority Task Force on State and Local Emergency Preparedness, designed to give New York the toughest, most comprehensive anti-terrorism laws in the nation, including bills that would fight agri-terrorism, bio-terrorism and cyber-terrorism.

"This package of legislation builds upon the efforts of the Senate Majority and the Senate Majority Task Force on State and Local Emergency Preparedness to ensure New York has the toughest and most comprehensive anti-terrorism legislation in the nation," said Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno. "We are proud to team with Governor Pataki to help prevent future terrorist activities and give law enforcement the tools they need to pursue, capture and punish terrorists, and I urge the Assembly to enact these measures immediately."

Senator Nicolas Spano (R-C, Westchester) sponsors a Governor�s Program Bill (S.7631) which would create new anti-terrorism crimes, strengthen the authority of law enforcement officials to investigate and prosecute terrorists, and severely punish the possession and use of chemical or biological weapons.

"Terrorism is a crime of unimaginable horror, and now is the time to ensure that we do everything in our power to prevent these vicious attacks. We need to enhance and protect public safety so that terrorists never again can violate the very freedoms that we as Americans hold so close to us," said Senator Spano. "I commend Governor Pataki for his continued dedication to protecting every single American, and sending the strongest message possible that New York will not tolerate terrorist activity of any kind."

Another bill sponsored by Senator Spano (S.6806) would provide that the Office of Public Security may deny access to any materials that are obtained or compiled in monitoring, investigating or preparing for suspected or potential terrorist activity.

A bill, (S.7630) sponsored by Senator Nancy Larraine Hoffmann, Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, would create a first-in-the-nation package of agri-terrorism legislation which would help protect the agricultural industry and preserve the integrity of New York State�s food production industry and food supply chain by creating the new crime of agri-terrorism.

"Having a safe, local food supply has never been a more important concern than it is now. People need to be assured their food supply is safe," said Senator Hoffmann. "This legislation will send a clear, strong message that tampering with food is a serious matter."
A bill, (S.7645) sponsored by Senator Michael A. L. Balboni (R-C, Mineola), would create the crime of cyber-terrorism, making it a class B felony to help prevent damage by launching "denial of service" attacks on local, state, and federal computer networks.

"Our society�s dependence on computers is the very thing which make them vulnerable. Cyber-attacks on computer systems that run media websites, electric utilities, banking system even our traffic signals can no longer be considered a remote fantasy. We must prepare for things that were once unthinkable and update our laws to reflect today�s threats," said Senator Balboni. "The recent �denial of service attack� on the websites of several Internet news and information sites (ABCNEWs.com, Foxnews.com and ESPN.com), believed to have originated in Asia, illustrates that foreign attacks on our computer systems remain possible."

A bill, (S.7357) sponsored by Senator Caesar Trunzo, Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, would enact provisions imposing restrictions on the employment of persons at airports, requires a criminal history records search of present and future employees while providing for confidentiality of such employee records and establishes procedures for the approval or denial of employment in certain areas of an airport.

"Although many important steps have been taken to protect the lives and safety of commercial airline passengers and the public, further protective measures are necessary," said Senator Trunzo (R, Brentwood). "This bill complements federal law by requiring criminal history background checks on certain airport employees that are not subject to such review under current federal regulations. By closing this loophole, this added protection will help to ensure that New York�s commercial passenger airports are the safest in the nation."

A bill, (S.6077) sponsored by Senate Jim Wright, Chairman of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, would exempt certain agency information relating to electric, natural gas, steam or telecommunications systems or infrastructure from public access in an effort to maintain the confidentiality of security related information and keep it out of the hands of terrorists.

"I strongly believe sensitive information relating to the energy and telecommunications industry requires additional protection to ensure the continued safety of industry employees and the general public," said Senator Jim Wright (R, C, I - Watertown).

A bill, (S.7205) sponsored by Senator Charles Fuschillo (R-C, Merrick), would create the class E felony of false personation at a transportation facility or public place with intent to gain access to that portion of a public place or transportation facility which requires proof of identity.

"September 11 has taught us that we must become much more diligent in protecting and securing our airports and public buildings from terrorist activity," said Senator Fuschillo. "This bill makes the false impersonation at a transportation facility a Class E felony, and is an important part of our comprehensive efforts to better protect the people of New York State and the entire nation from terrorist threats."

A bill, (S.6454) sponsored by Senator Fuschillo, would provide that impersonation of a pilot or member of an aviation flight or ground crew by word or false identification is a class A misdemeanor.

"Tragically, we now understand that commercial airplanes can be used as devastating terrorist weapons, and, as a result, we must take the proper measures to better secure New planes and New York airports," said Senator Fuschillo. "This bill will help prevent potentially dangerous unauthorized personnel from entering secured areas."

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