Officials seek legislation to heighten penalty from a misdemeanor to a felony for false reports of an incident at a school or other location that brings about a large police presence

In response to a rash of terrifying false reports of active shooter incidents at schools across New York State, including the Ballston Spa School District yesterday, that have led to a heavy police response and tremendous fear and anxiety among students, staff and families, Senator Jim Tedisco, Senator Mark Walczyk, Senator Dean Murray, Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo and Ballston Spa Mayor Frank Rossi, Jr. today are urging passage of legislation to make the act of “swatting” a Class E Felony.

“Swatting” references an attempt to make a false report of potential violence to bring about a large dispatch of heavily armed law enforcement to a predetermined address or location.

The legislation, S.4283, sponsored by Senator Walczyk, Senator Tedisco and Senator Murray, raises the penalty for Swatting from a current Class A. misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail) to a Class E felony (1.5 to 4 years in state prison).

“With these terror calls, it’s becoming open season on spreading fear, stress, anxiety, and depression throughout our vulnerable student bodies as well as staff and their families. These contacts threatening violence in our schools is another form of terrorism which cannot be allowed to stand,” said Senator Jim Tedisco (R,C-44^th Senate District).

Senator Tedisco to run in June 28^th Republican Primary and is the Only Republican Candidate Endorsed to run on NYS Conservative Party Line

Senator Jim Tedisco (R,C-Glenville) today announced he has filed close to 5,000 total signatures to run for the new 51^st Senate District seat on both the Republican Party line and on the Conservative Party line. Tedisco’s Team garnered signatures and volunteer support in each of the seven counties in the new 51^st Senate District.

Tedisco, who will be on the Republican ballot for the June 28^th Republican Primary, is the only Republican candidate to also have secured the coveted endorsement of the New York State Conservative Party to run on their ballot line.  Earlier this year, Senator Tedisco was honored by the state Conservative Party for having a 100 percent conservative voting record.

Senator Tedisco also has secured the Republican endorsements from the Fulton, Herkimer, Montgomery and Schenectady County Republican Committees, which is nearly 60 percent of the weighted vote.

“Thanks to the support of 175 volunteers and nearly 5,000 voters from all seven counties in the district who signed my petitions, I am on the Republican ballot for the June 28^th Republican Primary Election for the new 51^st Senate District! I’m also proud to be the only endorsed Conservative Party candidate and I will be on that line for the November election. I’m especially proud of my 100 percent conservative Republican voting record and look forward to continuing to be a strong voice for the people standing up and fighting the status quo and Albany insiders,” said Senator Jim Tedisco.

Editor’s Note: The new 51^st state Senate District includes portions of Fulton, Herkimer and Schenectady Counties and all of Chenango, Montgomery, Otsego and Schoharie Counties.

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Senator Jim Tedisco and Assemblyman Mike Lawler’s historic “TWO-STAR” legislation doubles tax relief benefits for existing basic STAR program and Enhanced STAR program for seniors and eliminates school property taxes for those age 80+ who receive Enhanced STAR

With inflation at its highest levels in four decades, gas prices through the roof, and New York State consistently ranking at the top of the highest tax burden in the nation, Senator Jim Tedisco (R,C-Glenville) and Assemblyman Mike Lawler (R,C,I,SAM-Pearl River) today announced new legislation they are sponsoring, “TWO-STAR,” to help more homeowners continue to afford to live in New York and lessen the exodus of people who are fleeing to other states with less onerous taxes.

Senator Tedisco and Assemblyman Lawler’s “TWO-STAR” legislation would double the tax relief benefits for all those who qualify for the existing basic School Tax Relief (STAR) program and Enhanced STAR program for seniors. 

In a revolutionary move, “TWO-STAR” would eliminate school property taxes for homeowners age 80 and over who currently qualify for the Enhanced STAR program.

Under Tedisco and Lawler’s “TWO-STAR” plan, which is in bill drafting, STAR program recipients would see their current average tax benefit double from $790 per year to $1580 per year on average. Enhanced STAR program recipients age 65-79 would see their average benefit climb from $1382 per year to $2764 per year on average. 

Taxes will no longer be eternal for Enhanced STAR recipients once they turn 80 as Tedisco and Lawler’s “TWO-STAR” bill eliminates the need to pay school property taxes for those who qualify for Enhanced STAR in the 80+ age bracket.  About 650,000 New Yorkers receive the Enhanced STAR program. 

“They say the only certainties in life are ‘death and taxes’ and in New York you can be certain that homeowners are buried in high taxes.  While we’ve made some progress in containing property tax increases with the property tax cap, there’s much more that needs to be done to ease New York’s highest in the nation tax burden so another 319,000 New Yorkers like last year, and over a million in the past decade, don’t pack up and leave the state. With the federal government’s help and a large state surplus, this year, we can help homeowners double their basic STAR benefits with our ‘TWO-STAR’ plan and for some seniors, end New York’s tax eternity by eliminating school property taxes for residents age 80 and over,” said Senator Jim Tedisco, the author of New York’s first Property Tax Cap bill.

“At a time when New Yorkers are experiencing record levels of inflation, sky-high gas prices, and pay some of the highest property taxes in America, we have an obligation to act and provide real and lasting relief for New York’s hardworking taxpayers and our seniors living on a fixed income.  Rather than spend billions of dollars on wasteful spending and new entitlement programs, we should help folks stay in their homes by helping reduce their property tax burden. I’m proud to introduce this legislation in the Assembly and encourage all of my colleagues to demand it’s adoption in our state budget,” said Assemblyman Mike Lawler.

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Tedisco secures nearly 60 percent of Republican weighted vote with 4-County Full Committee Endorsements and Support from Fulton County Republican Chair Sue McNeil, Herkimer County Republican Chair Sylvia Rowan, Montgomery County Republican Chair Michael McMahon and Schenectady County Republican Chair Darlene Harris

Senator Jim Tedisco (R,C-Glenville) today announced that he has won the endorsement of Fulton, Herkimer, Montgomery and Schenectady County Republican Committees – representing close to 60 percent of the weighted vote – for the new 51^st state Senate District seat.

“I’m proud and humbled to receive the strong endorsement of the Fulton, Herkimer, Montgomery and Schenectady County Committees and their chairs. As redistricting is always difficult, particularly leaving old friends who I have represented, I wanted to thank all those who have been my constituents these past few years and given me the honor of being their senator. As we move forward, I couldn’t be more excited to represent all the people of the new 51^st Senate District.  As I have always done as a representative, I will be an accessible presence in every part of the district and fight tooth and nail for all my constituents as their voice in Albany,” said Senator Jim Tedisco.

“Senator Jim Tedisco is a tenacious advocate and outspoken voice for Fulton County and all the people he represents and has never been afraid to stand up to the powerful elements in our state government who would seek to harm our quality of life in Upstate New York. During this pandemic, Senator Tedisco has led the effort to investigate and seek justice for the 15,000 people who lost their lives to the coronavirus in New York State’s nursing homes and personally sued Andrew Cuomo with the Empire Center to successfully get the real data about how many lives were lost. Jim Tedisco is a great friend to Fulton County and truly treats every constituent as a member of his family,” said Fulton County Republican Chairwoman Sue McNeil.

“When Andrew Cuomo tried to force New Yorkers to pay up to $45 for new license plates they didn’t need, Senator Jim Tedisco led the charge and worked with myself and fellow County Clerks to successfully stop the governor’s highway heist license plate money grab scheme.  Senator Tedisco also stood up to the bully Eliot Spitzer when he wanted to give driver’s licenses to those here illegally. Jim Tedisco has been a fantastic representative for Herkimer County and we look forward to having him continue to be our Senator,” said Herkimer County Clerk and Republican Chairwoman Sylvia Rowan.

“Whether it was taking on Andrew Cuomo, Eliot Spitzer and Sheldon Silver, sponsoring legislation to repeal the catch and release cash bail reform law that’s led to a revolving door of danger and disaster for our communities, authoring the first Property Tax Cap legislation, or passing Buster’s Law to protect our pets because he knew animal abuse is a bridge crime, Senator Tedisco has proven his ability to get things done. We know Senator Tedisco will be a great representative who will fight for the people of Montgomery County,” said Montgomery County Republican Chairman Michael McMahon.

“Now, more than ever, with total control of all levers of power in state government controlled by New York City Democrats, we need to keep a powerful voice for the people in Albany to be a watchdog and defend our values. It’s clear from his overwhelming margins of victory in election after election and the many times he’s been selected in reader’s polls as the top elected official in the area, that Senator Tedisco continues to be the ‘people’s choice’ as our voice and as our Senator in Albany. We are proud to strongly endorse Senator Jim Tedisco once again as our Senator for the new 51^st state Senate District!” said Schenectady County Republican Chair Darlene Harris.

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Editor’s Note: The new 51^st state Senate District includes portions of Fulton, Herkimer and Schenectady Counties and all of Chenango, Montgomery, Otsego and Schoharie Counties.

Statement from Senator Jim Tedisco (R,C-Glenville), Ranking Member of the NYS Senate’s Education Committee and a Former Special Education Teacher, Guidance Counselor, Athletic Director and High School Coach, on the Governor’s Continued School Mask Mandate

“It's better late than never that Governor Hochul lifted the mask mandate on businesses, but she should follow the science and do as many of our neighboring states have done and unmask our kids at school and not make them suffer for several more weeks with the physical impact and emotional and psychological toll of wearing the masks.  Governor Hochul: it’s time to unmask our kids now!” said Senator Jim Tedisco (R,C-Glenville), Ranking Member of the NYS Senate’s Education Committee, and a former special education teacher, guidance counselor, school athletic director and high school basketball coach.

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As schools scramble to mail ballots for this year’s school budget/board elections, Senator Tedisco asks Governor to extend absentee voting by one week until June 16^th to prevent voter disenfranchisement

Senator Jim Tedisco (R,C,I,REF-Glenville) today called Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office and asked that the Governor through Executive Order extend New York State’s local school district elections by one week, until Tuesday, June 16^th.

Due to COVID-19, this year’s school budget vote was delayed until June 9^th as an all-absentee ballot election. Many school districts are scrambling to obtain lists of eligible voters, print and mail the ballots, and give adequate time for voters to complete and return the ballots.  As of today, there are still some school districts that have yet to finalize their mailing of ballots.

“I’m getting constituent calls from all parts of the 49^th Senate District from residents who want to vote in this year’s school budget elections but still haven’t received their absentee ballots. That’s really concerning, because we are just two days away from when people could reasonably receive their ballots and mail them back in hopes they get to the school districts on time to be counted. Many people, myself included, don’t always check their mailboxes every day.  That’s why today, I’m calling on the Governor to extend the voting period for our school district elections by one week until Tuesday, June 16^th, to ensure everyone who wants to vote can vote and prevent voter disenfranchisement,” said Senator Jim Tedisco.

“As a former public school teacher, guidance counselor, athletic director and coach, I know how important it is to ensure full voter participation in our school district elections. A real concern is also for our brave service men and women who are putting their lives on the line and may be out of the area. We need to be sure they have the additional time to vote so they can fully exercise their rights that they are putting their lives on the line to defend for all of us,” said Senator Tedisco.

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300,000-member Civil Service Employees Association endorses Senator Tedisco

for his record of “defending the rights of working men and women”

Senator Jim Tedisco (R,C,I,REF-Glenville) today announced that the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) has endorsed his re-election to serve as the state Senator for New York’s 49^th Senate District.

CSEA represents 300,000 members active and retired public and private sector employees.

The 49^th Senate District includes parts of Saratoga, Schenectady and Herkimer Counties and all of Fulton and Hamilton Counties.

“Thanks to CSEA President Danny Donohue and all the hard-working CSEA members for their wonderful endorsement and public service. I am proud of my record of standing up for working people and organized labor.  I, myself, as a teacher for several years, was a proud union member.  I come from a blue-collar family: my dad spent half his life working at the GE foundry in some of the toughest conditions imaginable.  Not a day goes by that I don’t think of my father, and not a day goes by as a state Senator that I don’t stand up for the proud working men and women who make New York the Empire State,” said Senator Tedisco.

            “Now more than ever it is important to have friends and allies in the state Senate defending the rights of working men and women. Senator Jim Tedisco has been resolute in his support for CSEA and we are proud to endorse him for re-election,” said CSEA President Danny Donohue.

Legislation will help boost Upstate NY economy, create new jobs and bring the convenience of ride sharing services like Uber and Lyft to the 49^th Senate District

New York State Senator Jim Tedisco (R,C,I,REF-Glenville) and his Senate colleagues today took a major step forward in helping grow Upstate New York’s economy by passing new legislation to bring popular ride sharing services such as Uber and Lyft to the 49^th Senate District and across Upstate New York.

The measure, Senate bill S.4159, which is prime sponsored by Senator James L. Seward (R,C,I-REF-Oneonta) expands ride sharing outside of New York City and into all regions of Upstate New York.

The bill ensures the safety of passengers by requiring criminal and driver history background checks for all drivers and allows for greater accessibility for people with disabilities. 

“One of the things I’ve heard over and over again the past few months from the residents of the 49^th Senate District is people saying: ‘we want Uber and Lyft!” said Tedisco.  “Ride sharing will create new jobs in our area and be a tremendous benefit to our small businesses for commerce and business traveling and for those who need transportation to medical appointments or grocery shopping. This will be especially helpful for people with disabilities and those who need rides in our rural and suburban areas that don’t have easy access to public transportation.”