Assemblywoman Jenne: State budget includes more funding North Country farm to school program

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, D-Theresa, announced the
2018-19 state budget includes funding for the third year of a Farm to School pilot program in the North Country.

The budget includes another $300,000 to ensure students in the River District have access to healthy and local foods and aren’t shamed for being unable to pay for lunch. She had also received $300,000 allocations in each of the past two state spending plans.

“Programs like Farm to School do more than just provide our students with healthy food from locally grown farms. They help them excel in the classroom while reinvesting in our economy and strengthening New York’s agriculture industry. I’m encouraged and excited by the additional support this initiative has received in this year’s budget,” Assemblywoman Jenne said.

She said the nearly $1 million she has secured for the Farm to School program in the North Country over the past three years has benefited farmers and students around the region.

"I've been to schools and seen students choosing locally grown, healthy foods. I've heard from farmers and growers whose bottom lines have improved as a result of their ability to sell their products to local schools," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

The program supports initiatives in 19 school districts in St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties to purchase food directly from farms, with more than 150,000 pounds of food products being served in the past two years.

The Farm to School program is a partnership between local farms and schools to promote New York’s agriculture industry, she stressed.

Assemblywoman Jenne said farmers and growers in the North Country and around the state will also benefit from a $10 million allocation to expand the Drive to 25 Pilot Program, which began in the North Country, across the state. The statewide funding will lag a school year as the state gears up to implement the program. Jenne secured the third round of funding for our local program to make sure there was no break in the program for districts she represents.

The pilot program allows schools to receive an additional state funding of up to 19 cents more per lunch for schools that meet set goals for expanded usage of local food products. It will mark the first increase in the state reimbursement rate in four decades.

"We have seen schools that have the proper funding prefer to purchase locally grown healthy foods. This increased funding will benefit farmers and growers, pumping more money into our local economy. I think the benefits of the pilot program have demonstrated the need to expand the program further," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

The state budget also includes measures to prohibit meal shaming in schools to protect students from being singled out, provided a lesser meal or otherwise penalized for not having lunch money.

Assemblywoman Jenne has been an outspoken proponent of strengthening local farms and offering healthier options in school lunches.

Legislation she authored to make it easier for school districts to purchase more locally grown food products was signed into law in 2016.

Assemblywoman Jenne: State budget supports local schools, expands higher education opportunities

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, D-Theresa, announced she helped pass the 2018-19 state budget, providing critical funding needed for local school districts to provide quality programming to their students.

"Our students deserve the best shot at being successful in life. We live in an area with tremendous poverty, which sometimes makes it feel like the deck is stacked against us," she said.

"Foundation aid is the equalizer for our students and their families. That's why I focus so much on working to make sure our North Country schools get our fair share of school funding," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

"It has the ability to positively impact our youth for years to come and ensure they reach their full potential as working adults," she added.

The state budget increases Foundation Aid by $618 million for a total of $17.8 billion. Assemblywoman Jenne joined her colleagues in the state Assembly in fighting for a significant increase in Foundation Aid in the 2018-19 budget.

"I've seen the challenges many of our North Country schools are facing as they work on their budgets this year, and this additional aid was critical to maintain staff and programs necessary to best meet the needs of our students," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

The Foundation Aid increases funding for school districts in Jefferson County from 2017-18 to:

· $3,520,788 for the Alexandria Central School District, an increase of 1.92% over last year;

· $10,201,253 for the General Brown Central School District, an increase of 3.7% over last year;

· $39,050,378 for the Indian River Central School District, an increase of 3.74% over last year;

· $4,363,876 for the LaFargeville Central School District, an increase of 5.32% over last year;

· $2,535,363 for the Lyme Central School District, an increase of 4.1% over last year;

· $2,800,737 for the Sackets Harbor School District, an increase of 4.1% over last year;

· $6,502,142 for the Thousand Islands Central School District, an increase of 1.9% over last year;

· $32,880,149 for the Watertown City School District, an increase of 2.33% over last year.

In St. Lawrence County:

· $12,063,923 for the Canton Central School District, an increase of 2.64% over last year;

· $2,709,750 for the Hammond Central School District, an increase of 4.7% over last year;

· $6,095,573 for the Heuvelton Central School District, an increase of 3.96% over last year;

· $5,497,634 for the Lisbon Central School District, an increase of 4.2% over last year;

· $6,627,304 for the Madrid-Waddington Central School District, an increase of 4.14% over last year;

· $22,698,811 for the Massena Central School District, an increase of 4.76% over last year;

· $3,684,170 for the Morristown Central School District, an increase of 4.2% over last year;

· $10,605,335 for the Norwood-Norfolk Central School District, an increase of 3.8% over last year;

· $19,240,139 for the Ogdensburg City School District, an increase of 1.9% over last year; and

· $10,089,438 for the Potsdam Central School District, an increase of 3.25% over last year.

In addition, the state budget increases funding for community schools by $50 million for a total of $200 million, and increases the minimum community school funding amount from $10,000 to $75,000.

Community schools funding is used to turn schools in high-need districts into community hubs that offer critical services to at-risk students and their families.

The state budget continues the Assembly’s commitment to making higher education more affordable, allowing even more North Country students to pursue a college degree. It provides $7.6 billion in higher education funding.

The budget also allocates $118 million for the second year of the Excelsior Scholarship program, which makes SUNY schools tuition-free for New York families earning less than $110,000 this year.

The budget expands eligibility for Enhanced Tuition Awards, which provide students attending private colleges up to $6,000 to cover tuition.

“College isn't the only option for our students, but they also shouldn't have doors to a world of opportunities closed due to their financial status,” Assemblywoman Jenne said. “I’ll continue fighting to ensure that the cost of higher education doesn’t prevent New Yorkers from attending college to gain the skills they need to live the American dream.”

Assemblywoman Jenne: North Country Department Store event set for April 14 in Canton

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne has announced her annual spring Rediscovering Your Backyard event will take on a new look this year.

Assemblywoman Jenne holds a Rediscovering Your Backyard event each spring in St. Lawrence County and each fall in Jefferson County. The spring event has typically centered around a bridal expo, but it has expanded in recent years to a number of other vendors as well.

"Our goal with these events since day one has been to connect the small businesses that operate in our communities with a wider audience that attend these shows," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

"We try to make changes every year to improve our show to benefit our vendors and their prospective customers. We have switched our venue this year and are broadening the show's scope so we aren’t competing with a number of other bridal expos that are held in St. Lawrence County," she said.

This year's show will be held from 10 a.m to 3 p.m. April 14 at the SUNY Canton Roos House. The deadline for vendors seeking to be a part of next month's North Country Department Store is Friday.

Please email Judy Aldrich at jennea@assembly.gov or call her at 315-786-0284 or 315-386-2037 for more information on the registration process.

Ms. Aldrich said the North Country Department Store will feature a wide range of products ranging from children's clothing, jewelry and woodworking pieces to specialty foods, bath and beauty products and home decor items.

The show will also include vendors offering horse carriage rides, photography and video services and disc jockeys for events in the coming months.

"It's shaping up to be a nice group of vendors for one of the first shows of this type in the new year. It's an effort to showcase the many small businesses that offer unique products and services in the North Country and the larger venue will only enhance the shopping experience," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

Proceeds from the event benefit the SUNY Canton athletic teams, who will be assisting vendors at the show.

Assemblywoman Jenne supports more funding to help people live independently

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, D-Theresa, says allocating additional funding to help people to stay in their homes would translate into health care care savings for the state in the long run.

Assemblywoman Jenne joined Assemblyman James Skoufis, chair of the state Assembly's Task Force on People with Disabilities; several of her colleagues and representatives from the New York Association on Independent Living this week to call for increased funding in the state budget.

Assemblyman Skoufis noted the Assembly one-house budget calls for a $1 million increase in funding for independent living centers aftera mere $100,000 increase over the past 11 years.

It also adds $3 million to the Access to Home Program, which helps fund ramps and other retrofits necessary to allow people with disabilities to stay in their homes, as well as restores the Office for the Advocate for People with Disabilities.

Assemblywoman Jenne said her office regularly benefits from the work of the Northern Regional Center for Independent Living in Watertown and the Massena Independent Living Center in addressing constituent issues.

"They are indispensable. I get a lot of calls to my office from people trying to navigate any given system that is throwing up roadblocks for families trying to care for loved ones and for adults trying to stay in their homes and be as independent as possible," she said.

The assemblywoman praised Assemblyman Skoufis for his task force's work on behalf of people with disabilities.

"From every part of the state, we are joining with James' voice to get justice for everyone in New York State. He's standing up for all New Yorkers to support organizations that are credible, that involve peer support and that help parents struggling with a new diagnosis figure out how to ensure their child is getting the services they need," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

She reiterated she refers many constituents to the independent living centers operating in the North Country.

"They are one of the best kept secrets in town. I'm hoping with this push for additional funding they will be able to get out there and reach even more people and turn even more peoples' lives from sometimes a life of despair to a situation where everyone in the family can flourish," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

Assemblywoman Jenne: Fort Drum wind farm protection bill passes Energy Committee

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, D-Theresa, has announced legislation (A9053-A) she sponsored to prohibit the state from granting subsidies to wind energy projects that could impact the military’s training needs at Fort Drum has passed the state Assembly's Energy Committee.

The Energy Committee voted 11-4 to send the legislation to the Assembly floor for consideration.

"This is a major step forward in our effort to protect the current and future training needs at Fort Drum. I appreciate the strong support from members on both sides of the aisle at the committee meeting," Assemblywoman Jenne said. "It is clear we can protect the needs of our military without having a significant impact on our goal of reaching the state's renewable energy goals."

The legislation is co-sponsored by fellow committee members Assemblyman Michael Blake, D-Bronx; Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, D-Bronx;Assemblymember Pamela Hunter, D-Syracuse; Assemblymember Felix Ortiz, D-Brooklyn; Assemblywoman Christina Pellegrino, D-Babylon/Oyster bay/West Islip as well as Assemblymember Aravella Simotas Simotes, D-Queens; Assembylmember Monica Wallace, D-Lancaster; and Assemblymember Jaime Williams, D-Brooklyn.

Assemblywoman Jenne noted approximately 10 new wind farms have been proposed or are under construction around Fort Drum and their impact on training operations, which translates to troop readiness, cannot be ignored.

"Soldiers at Fort Drum and from all over the country depend on the training capabilities here. It's critical to our country's national defense to ensure these training opportunities continue with as little hindrance as possible. We can and will continue to lead the state in generating renewable energy in the North Country while supporting our military's needs. This legislation does just that," according to the assemblywoman.

The legislation will allow the state to continue to move toward its green energy goals and still protect the low-level flight training air space around Fort Drum, creating the opportunity for future activity and growth at the installation.

The moving blades of wind turbines already operating in Lewis County within proximity of Fort Drum have created interference with air traffic control and Doppler weather radar, according to the assemblywoman.

Assemblywoman Jenne has noted the construction of any additional wind projects in close proximity to Fort Drum would significantly degrade radar data that is used to assist pilots training in the area.

The bill approved by the Energy Committee would eliminate any state incentives for the development of wind turbines within the area that could interfere with Fort Drum's radar systems but maintain the incentives for the development of wind-generated energy outside the Fort Drum radar and training area.

The legislation would impact areas:

• within 10 miles of the Wheeler-Sack Army airfield;

• within 15 miles of the Montague Doppler Weather Radar KTYY in the town of Lowville in Lewis County, excluding the area within a 15-mile radius east of the line traveling due north and due south from the intersection of County Road 27 and County Road 28 in the town of Lowville;

• within five miles of the Wheeler-Sack Army airfield restricted airspace in St. Lawrence, Jefferson and Lewis counties;

• within five miles of the boundary of the Wheeler-Sack Army airfield class D controlled airspace with the exception of that controlled airspace in Lewis County; and

• within the enclosed area beginning at the intersection of Route 11 and Route 26, north on Route 11 to Route 56, south on Route 56 to the border of the Adirondack Park and then west along the border of the state park back to a point due east of the Route 11 and Route 26 intersection and then west to the intersection of those two highways.

The temporary ban on subsidies would give Fort Drum officials the time and space they need to fully determine which proposed projects are compatible with their training needs, Assemblywoman Jenne noted.

The legislation includes a 15-year sunset provision that would enable the military to count on the installation's viability and provide quality training to soldiers who can be rapidly deployed as needed. It also allows time for technological leaps and advancements that could allow for the co-­location of energy developments around Fort Drum in the future.

Assemblywoman Jenne again calls for STAR school tax exemptions, not tax relief checks

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, D- Theresa, has announced legislation (A.5969) she co-sponsored to to sunset the School Tax Relief (STAR) Credit Program and reopen the STAR Exemption Program to new applicants unanimously passed the state Assembly this week.

The legislation would reverse the changes made two years ago when the administration of the program was turned over to the state's Department of Taxation and Finance.

Before these changes were implemented, all eligible homeowners saw an annual reduction in their school tax bill. Now, all new homeowners – those buying their first home and those who moved to a different home after Aug.1, 2015 – have to pay their full school tax bill upfront and receive a rebate check from the state.

"We've seen some improvements in the implementation of the new program in the past year, but the change has not benefitted new homeowners, and it has not reached the level of mandate relief that was promised. The change has simply added another step to the process and added an additonal burden, albeit in the short term, for new homebuyers," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

"In many cases, our seniors rely on the assistance of the local assessor in registering and recertifying to earn the benefits of the Enhanced STAR program," she added.

The assemblywoman said her vote to sunset the STAR credit program and reopen the STAR Exemption program to new applicants was prompted by concerns she has heard from constituents and local assessors.

The STAR Exemption program, which provides an immediate reduction in property owners' tax liability, is the most convenient form of real property tax relief because it provides the relief upfront.

"This bill also passed unanimously in the state Assembly last year but died in the state Senate. I'm hoping the state Senate will take a fresh look at this legislation and do the right thing for homeowners in the North Country and around the state,' Assemblywoman Jenne said.

Assemblywoman Jenne supports legislation to protect volunteer first responders injured in line of duty

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, D-Theresa, has announced legislation (A6367) she co-sponsored to assist volunteer firefighters and rescue squad members injured in the line of duty passed the state Assembly this week with overwhelming bipartisan support (A.6367).

"Our volunteer firefighters and rescue squad members risk their lives every time they respond to an emergency. This legislation simply updates existing law to ensure our brave volunteers are not economically disadvantaged if they are injured and forced to miss work. It’s time to update the law to protect our volunteers and their families," she said.

The legislation amends the volunteer firefighters' benefit law and the volunteer ambulance workers' law to update benefits and modernize coverage for services provided in the line of duty.

"We know despite the countless hours of training required of our volunteers and technological advancements, injuries are still a part of the volunteer fire service. We know sometimes the injuries are serious enough that they can cause temporary or permanent disabilities," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

She noted the weekly benefit has not been updated in over 10 years. The legislation increases the temporary benefit to $650 per week.

The legislation, sponsored by Assemblyman William Magnarelli, now moves to the state Senate. A similar bill sent to the Senate died in committee last year.

IN THE PHOTO:

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne has long worked to support volunteer first responders in the state legislature. She is shown awarding long-time Massena Volunteer Fire Department volunteer Gary Donaldson with a citation this fall after he was named the volunteer department's Fireman of the Year.

Assemblywoman Jenne says importance of agriculture to state's economy needs to be part of budget talk

I'm back in Albany for what I expect will be the beginning of a busy couple of weeks as we work to reach an agreement on the 2018-19 spending plan by the April 1 deadline.

I, along with several of my colleagues in the state legislature from the North Country, am serving on the Joint Budget Subcommittee on the Environment, Agriculture and Housing.

Here are some of the comments I made at our first meeting last week:

As we move through this process, I would just point to the bipartisan approach of restoring agricultural programs in the budget. Agriculture is our largest economic sector. It's extremely important we take that into consideration and make restorations.

But the financial struggles of our farmers throughout the state should probably also be addressed at other tables. The support I think is necessary is beyond the scope of what this budget-area table really can accomplish. It should be addressed at more than one table.

I'm very happy to see we will be pushing the issue of having statewide programs to address water quality, specifically the algae problem we are having around the state; the need to preserve our open space and farm land for future generations; and also to have a balanced energy policy that doesn't burden one part of the state more than the other but also gets us toward our target of clean energy generation.

I think we have a lot of common ground to move from, but some things that may traditionally be found in this area of the budget may need to push into the areas, such as economic development, as well.

Assemblywoman Jenne introduces amended version of bill to protect Fort Drum from wind farm development

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, D-Theresa, said she has introduced an amended version of her legislation (A9053-A) to prohibit the state from granting subsidies to wind energy projects that could impact the military’s training needs at Fort Drum and is encouraged about the prospects of it passing.

The assemblywoman said she introduced an amended version of her initial legislation this week after consultation with state senators representing areas in the North Country that will would be impacted by the legislation.

"I've made a few tweaks to tighten this bill up so it would have the least restrictive impact possible. Even with these minor modifications, the bill will still support the mission at Fort Drum. Any further changes would really impact mission readiness at the base," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

She said the amended legislation will allow the state to continue to move toward its green energy goals and still protect the low-level flight training air space around Fort Drum, creating the opportunity for future activity and growth at the base.

"Now that we have been able to make these tweaks, I hope we can move this legislation forward. I look forward to my colleagues in the Senate introducing similar legislation" Assemblywoman Jenne noted.

She said Fort Drum is a premier training installation for the United States military and offers a training area that is unique in the state as well as anywhere east of the Mississippi River.

"Fort Drum is the only instrumented joint air-to-ground range north of Florida in the eastern United States able to execute live bomb training. It is one of only two Army installations capable of cold weather, winter training in the country. The North Country weather and unique terrain makes Fort Drum a peerless training installation," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

The moving blades of wind turbines already operating in Lewis County within proximity of Fort Drum have created interference with air traffic control and Doppler weather radar, according to the assemblywoman.

The existing turbines have reportedly created a large blind spot within the 60-mile viewshed of Fort Drum's air traffic control radar and corrupted the data of a significant portion of the Doppler radar viewshed.

Assemblywoman Jenne said the construction of any additional wind projects in close proximity to Fort Drum would significantly degrade radar data that is used to assist pilots training in the area.

She said those concerns led her to draft legislation eliminating any state incentives for the development of wind turbines within the area that could interfere with Fort Drum's radar systems while maintaining the incentives for the development of wind-generated energy outside the Fort Drum radar and training area.

The assemblywoman said the remedy is necessary due to the unique nature of the terrain around Fort Drum and the extensive interference with the radars' view sheds.

Those impacts on radar have increased as a result of the height, number and density of the wind turbine towers, many of which can be seen with the naked eye from the air traffic tower at Fort Drum's Wheeler Sack Army Airfield.

The area impacted by the legislation would include:

• within 10 miles of the Wheeler-Sack Army airfield;

• within 15 miles of the Montague Doppler Weather Radar KTYY in the town of Lowville in Lewis County, excluding the area within a 15-mile radius east of the line traveling due north and due south from the intersection of County Road 27 and County Road 28 in the town of Lowville;

• within five miles of the Wheeler-Sack Army airfield restricted airspace in St. Lawrence, Jefferson and Lewis counties;

• within five miles of the boundary of the Wheeler-Sack Army airfield class D controlled airspace with the exception of that controlled airspace in Lewis County; and

• within the enclosed area beginning at the intersection of Route 11 and Route 26, north on Route 11 to Route 56, south on Route 56 to the border of the Adirondack Park and then west along the border of the state park back to a point due east of the Route 11 and Route 26 intersection and then west to the intersection of those two highways.

Assemblywoman Jenne said the area covered by the temporary ban on state subsidies was drawn after several briefings with a variety of military officials responsible for different aspects of training and operation and state and local officials, including representatives from the Development Authority of the North Country.

The legislation is co-sponsored by several of Assemblywoman Jenne's colleagues on the state Assembly's Energy Committee.

Assemblywoman Jenne, a long-time proponent of renewable energy, said approximately 10 new wind farms have been proposed or are under construction around Fort Drum and their impact on training operations, which translates to troop readiness, cannot be ignored.

"It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to use state dollars to offer subsidies to wind energy developers that are working on projects that could have a negative impact on Fort Drum's training needs. We are using state funds to both build and prevent wind farms," she reiterated.

The legislation is aimed at providing certainty for training and operations capability in the short term and gives energy developers time to step back and review steps that could be taken to mitigate the negative impact the wind turbines have on the weather station and on the safety of military personnel using the airspace around Fort Drum, Assemblywoman Jenne said.

She said the temporary ban on subsidies would also give Fort Drum officials the time and space they need to fully determine which proposed projects are compatible with their training needs.

“The legislation is attached to funding to ensure more leverage is given to the military training readiness needs of our soldiers training at the installation," she added.

The legislation includes a 15-year sunset provision that would enable the military to count on the installation's viability and provide quality training to soldiers that can be rapidly deployed as needed.

It also allows time for technological leaps and advancements that could allow for the co-­location of energy developments around Fort Drum in the future.

Assemblywoman Jenne: Assembly budget includes third round of funding for North Country farm-to-school program

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, D-Theresa, has announced the Assembly budget proposal approved Wednesday by the New York State Assembly allocates $300,000 for the third year of a farm-to-school pilot program in the North Country.

She said 19 school districts in St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties have participated in the program administered by the Adirondack North Country Association over the past two school years.

"I have found the farm-to-school program has had a tremendous impact on our farmers and their bottom lines. While many farmers in my area were certainly not well-versed in doing business with institutional buyers when we started this pilot program a couple of years ago, they have risen to the challenge," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

She pointed out she has toured several schools participating in the farm-to-school program and seen the popularity of the program in school cafeterias firsthand.

"Our kids are literally eating it up," Assemblywoman Jenne said of the locally grown products now being served at schools participating in the pilot program. "They are now eating salads for lunch at school, and they weren't before."

She said the Drive to 25 initiative implemented by the Adirondack North County Association (ANCA) has provided the funding schools need to expand their use of local foods in their cafeterias.

A recent report from ANCA revealed the $600,000 Assemblywoman Jenne has secured for the pilot program over the past two years has benefited 19 school districts, 24,000 students and 15 local farms that are now selling directly to schools.

The report noted over 150,000 pounds of 47 different local food products have been served at breakfast and lunch in participating schools.

Assemblywoman Jenne also pointed out that Gov. Andrew Cuomo has called for doubling the state's separate investment in the farm-to-school program-from $750,000 to $1.5 million-in his executive budget proposal.

The governor's office has said, if passed, the program would serve an estimated 18 projects and 328,000 additional students, bringing the estimated total number of students served to 652,000.

"I expect the expansion of the farm-to-school program, even this mild additional investment proposed by the governor, will have such a positive ripple effect in rural economies that we will kick ourselves for not doing this earlier," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

She said the Assembly's budget plan also calls for restoring funding for a number of local initiatives that benefit agriculture research and development in New York State.

Assemblywoman Jenne said the spending plan, for example, allocates funding for the New York Farm Viability Institute, the Cornell Rabies Program, the Cornell Farm Family Assistance (FarmNet) program, the Maple Producers Association and for capital improvements at local fairgrounds.

Assemblywoman Jenne hosts JCC students in Albany

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne responds to questions from students in Dr. Ray Petersen's government class at Jefferson Community College Wednesday afternoon in Albany. The students, who were in Albany to get a first-hand look at government in action, were introduced on the floor of the state Assembly at the request of Assemblywoman Ken Blankenbush and Assemblywoman Jenne. Sarah Compo, a member of State Senator Patty Ritchie's staff, was also on hand for the question and answer session with the JCC students. State Senator Joseph Griffo also assisted in hosting the students during their visit to the state capitol.

Assemblywoman Jenne helps pass legislation protecting women’s rights

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, D-Theresa, announced she helped pass a legislative package to strengthen women’s rights, including the right to choose, accessible contraception and freedom from discrimination.

“Women deserve the right to make decisions about their bodies and health without the uninformed or misguided opinions of others or fear of retaliation from their employers,” Assemblywoman Jenne said.

“By protecting women’s right to choose and helping them access affordable contraceptive coverage, we take an important step toward full women’s equality,” she added.

Assemblywoman Jenne continues to be an outspoken advocate for women’s rights.

She co-sponsored legislation to affirm a woman’s right to terminate a pregnancy under the terms of Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling or when the pregnancy is not viable or endangers her life or health (A.1748).

The assemblywoman also co-sponsored the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act to require health insurers provide coverage of all FDA-approved contraceptives when they are prescribed by a health care provider (A.9957).

She pointed out access to affordable contraception has been shown to improve women’s health and financial security as well as lower the rates of maternal and infant mortality.

While often used to prevent pregnancy, there is also an array of other health-related reasons women are prescribed contraceptives, Assemblywoman Jenne said.

The Assembly also passed legislation prohibiting employers from discriminating against employees based on health care decisions, including reproductive health choices (A.566-A).

Additionally, the bill prevents employers from accessing medical information without an employee’s informed, written consent.

The Assembly also passed a bill amending the New York State Constitution to guarantee equal protection of the laws of New York on the basis of sex (A.7990-A).

The state’s constitution currently protects equal rights on the basis of race, color, creed or religion, but not sex. This legislation would change that to guarantee equal rights for men and women.

“While conversations over a woman’s right to make decisions in regard to her own body should have ended with Roe v. Wade, the fact of the matter is the fight is far from over. It’s time to make inequality a thing of the past,” Assemblywoman Jenne said.

Assemblywoman Jenne says assembly education budget plan will benefit local schools, colleges

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, (D-Theresa), announced the state Assembly's $170.2 billion spending plan released Monday night increases state education funding by $1.5 billion over last year.

She noted this would allow schools in the North Country to maintain existing programs.

"Our budget proposal makes a significant and necessary i increase in funding for our schools and invests in SUNY colleges and private universities," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

"We have also made an investment in the expansion of youth mental health services. This will help local school districts provide the programs and services our children need to succeed and be safe at school," she noted.

Assemblywoman Jenne said the additional funding would allow local school districts to balance their budgets while remaining within the tax cap.

"We have also proposed several changes to the governor's proposed spending plan that would have interfered with local control of our schools and their ability to work together through BOCES," she said.

The spending plan allocates $27.1 billion in school aid, which is an increase of $1.5 billion or 5.6 percent over the 2017-18 School Year (SY).

The Assembly proposes increasing Foundation Aid to $18.4 billion for SY 2018-19, an increase of $1.2 billion.

"This allocation helps fund the state's obligation for our neediest schools pursuant to the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, bringing all schools to at least 50 percent of their total Foundation Aid that is due to them," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

The Assembly proposal also includes a multi-year phase-in of Foundation Aid, ensuring all school districts will receive their full Foundation Aid allotment by SY 2021-22.

Assemblywoman Jenne said a number of school districts in St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties are currently underfunded in the Foundation Aid category. She pointed out, for example, that Norwood-Norfolk School Superintendent Jamie Cruikshank has told her his district is underfunded by $2 million in the Foundation Aid formula.

The Assembly budget also makes critical investments in community schools, which offer a holistic approach to educating students by acting as community hubs and offering wraparound services. It also funds the Supportive Schools Grant Program, which helps districts improve school climate, safety, and implements the Dignity for All Students Act. Other significant investments include funding for pre-kindergarten and student mental health services.

"I have met with Massena Central School Superintendent Patrick Brady and Community School Site Coordinator Kristin Colarusso-Martin and have seen the good work they are doing in the Massena community, the partnerships they have reached with community agencies and organizations, to better serve all the needs of their students. It's a great start, and I know other schools in the region are working to grow their community schools programs," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

Assemblywoman Jenne said the Assembly's budget plan provides critical funding streams to the SUNY colleges and universities and continues to focus on making college affordable for North Country students.

'We have pushed back against major changes proposed for how the state supports colleges and our neediest students," she stressed.

Assemblywoman Jenne said the she had repeatedly heard from college officials at SUNY Potsdam, SUNY Canton and Jefferson Community College about the need for capital dollars to make necessary improvements to aging infrastructure as well as for construction of buildings for new programs.

The Assembly's budget proposal continues the progress of the Higher Education Road to Success Initiative by making a $16 billion investment to promote college affordability in New York State.

It includes a 20 percent increase over 2017-18 levels for opportunity programs for a total investment of $23.8 million, and increases base aid at SUNY and CUNY to $2,747/Full Time Equivalent (FTE).

The proposal restores $200 million in capital support to SUNY for critical maintenance and $100 million each to CUNY and SUNY for expansion projects. 

"It is critically important to provide our SUNY colleges and universities with the funding they need to serve increasing numbers of students that are utilizing our state's college affordability initiatives," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

The Assembly plan also restores $24.6 million to fully fund Bundy Aid. St. Lawrence University currently receives approximately $175,000 in Bundy Aid, and Clarkson is the recipient of $320,000.

"This funding is critical to independent colleges and universities in the state, including Clarkson and St. Lawrence University," the assemblywoman said. "The elimination of Bundy Aid would likely make it more expensive for our students to attend independent colleges and universities.

IN THE PHOTO:

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne speaks to student government leaders Friday during a student leadership event Friday at Jefferson-Lewis BOCES.

Assemblywoman Jenne: Legislation will help protect students from school violence

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, D-Theresa, announced that she helped pass common sense legislation aimed at reducing violence at schools.

"This package of bills is simply about public safety and keeping guns out of the hands of those that shouldn't have them by providing time for background checks, a legal way to flag someone for further scrutiny if they pose a safety risk and, of course, addressing bump stocks," she said.

She said she knows schools in the North Country have implemented a number of security improvements in recent years and bolstered their partnerships with law enforcement agencies.

"But I am happy to explore additional steps we need to take to provide our schools with the resources they need to address security issues, like personnel, additional technology and building improvements," the assemblywoman noted.

"I look forward to working with our partners in state and federal government on multi-faceted pieces of legislation that can help make our schools safer," she said.

"I know schools that have had school resource officers in their buildings have found it to be beneficial, and we know there is a need to direct more funding to expand the availability of mental health services for our students. It is critical we put as much focus on providing the additional mental health services necessary to meet the needs of our students as our other measures," Assemblywoman Jenne stressed.

She said the state needs to back up that support for school safety by putting allocation in the budget to fund those programs and capital improvements.

"These new or expanded programs have to be funded with the real dollars needed to address serious concern, not just feel good legislation with an uncertain or optional revenue stream," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

The package of legislation Assemblywoman Jenne helped pass Tuesday includes a bill creating an “extreme risk protection order,” which allows a law enforcement official or family member to request that a person deemed dangerous be prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm for up to one year, at a judge’s discretion (A.8976-B).

Five other states currently have similar “red flag laws” and this will go a long way in thwarting heartbreaking situations before it’s too late, Jenne noted.

The Assembly also passed legislation to ban bump stocks and similar devices that, when added to guns, increase their capacity (A.9958). A bump stock was used by the shooter in Las Vegas last October. While New York State law already prohibits the attachment of bump stocks to rifles, the sale and possession of the devices have remained legal.

Assemblywoman Jenne also helped pass legislation that extends the length of time before a gun is delivered to a purchaser whose background check has not been completed, to allow for a more thorough investigation (A.2406).

Another measure requires out-of-state citizens who also have homes in New York to waive the confidentiality of their home state mental illness records when purchasing firearms in New York (A.9978).

"These are common sense pieces of legislation that will have no impact on the vast majority of gun owners in the North Country and around the state," Assemblywoman Jenne said. "These bills will help keep guns out of the hands of troubled individuals so we can protect our kids’ lives and innocence.

“We know there’s no simple answer to prevent gun violence. That’s why we have to look at all sides of the issue to make sure we’re closing up the loopholes that let people who shouldn’t have guns manage to get them and take other steps that can help protect our students when they are at school," Assemblywoman Jenne stressed.

Assemblywoman Jenne: Thousand Islands Region needs state to help promote region as it recovers from last year's flooding

The commissioner of the state's Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation assured Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne that all necessary repairs have been made to state parks on the St. Lawrence River impacted by flooding last spring and summer.

Commissioner Rose Harvey, speaking at a legislative budget hearing in Albany last week, said the work had been completed.

Assemblywoman Jenne noted one of the major issues that had faced St. Lawrence River communities last summer was many docks were underwater.

"I expect water levels will be higher than we considered normal forever," she asked, questioning the commissioner about whether state parks crews had taken that into consideration when they were making improvements and repairs over the last several months.

"With all of our capital improvements, we are trying to look at rising waters, climate change and whatever and think about adjusting for the future," Commissioner Harvey responded.

She had previously testified her agency had spent approximately $2 million since last year's flooding to make repairs to state parks following a question about flooding on Lake Ontario.

The commissioner said most of the funding has been spent at the Fort Niagara and Sandy Island state parks along Lake Ontario with smaller amounts spent on repairs to docks and boat launches throughout the system in the areas impacted by flooding.

She pointed out state parks are often the first line of defense when there is flooding on the lakes and rivers in the state.

"We took most of the brunt. We spent that $2 million to fix up and restore, and we will invest more. They are back in shape. We opened most of our parks last summer, and we're ready to open this summer," the commissioner added.

Commissioner Harvey said much of that money had been spent at two parks hit hard by last year's flooding.

Assemblywoman Jenne also urged the state to use tourism dollars to support the Thousand Islands Region as it works to recover from lost revenues related to the flooding.

"It would be cool if the Thousand Islands Region could get a shout out to make sure everybody knows we are open for business," she said.

"We often get the short end of the advertising dollars. While we don't have the state's population base, we certainly do host the state during the summer months. It would be good for everyone to know the Thousand Islands Region is open for business," Assemblywoman Jenne added.

Commissioner Harvey pledged to look into the issue.

"We tap mightily in to I Love New York. We should talk to them. That's a good idea," the parks commissioner said.

Assemblywoman Jenne said the state should also look at investing in the trail system on the shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence in the North Country.

The governor had announced plans for the Empire State Trail last year as part of an effort aimed at enhancing outdoor recreation, community vitality and tourism development.

The plan calls for a continuous 750-mile route spanning the state from New York City through the Adirondack to Canada and Buffalo to Albany, creating the longest multi-use state trail in the nation by 2020.

Commissioner Harvey had said a trail system network on Long Island would be included in a second phase of the Empire State Trail plan.

Assemblywoman Jenne has long noted cyclists from the provinces of Quebec and Ontario have expressed an interest in a formal trail system allowing them to travel both sides of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.

"My area hosts a lot of cyclists. It would be great if we were included in a phase II, certainly if not in phase II than in phase III, investments in the trail system. Our chambers of commerce in our area try to market our existing trail system, but that work would be enhanced if we could be included in the state's trail system," Assemblywoman Jenne stressed.

IN THE PHOTO:

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie checked out the flood damage in July at the Boldt Yacht House. 

Assemblywoman Jenne: State needs to be more aggressive in supporting struggling dairy farmers

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, (D-Theresa), says the challenging environment facing the dairy industry in the North Country and New York State means the time is right to take bold action to protect the future of dairy farming.

"The price they are getting for their milk is just crushing for them," Assemblywoman Jenne said during a discussion with New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball at a budget hearing this week in Albany.

She pointed out the low milk prices that have plagued the dairy industry for the past four years is a reflection of supply and demand around the world.

"As we are looking at the options that are on the table for supporting our dairy industry, I would remind you of my thoughts on offering a premium payment for meeting very high-quality measures," Assemblywoman Jenne added.

"When we talk about exports being down, I think one component of that is the United States has failed to adapt those higher quality measures like the European Union has," she said.

"I think offering the premium payment of up to $3 per hundredweight would help to stabilize a dairy industry on the brink. The agriculture sector is the basis of much of the economy of Upstate New York. It is time to think more boldly," Assemblywoman Jenne stressed.

She has called on the state to provide a financial incentive program to reduce the somatic cell count in fluid milk from the federally mandated 750,000/ml to 400,000/ml -–the same level used in the European Union and the highest global standard.

"New York's exports of dairy products are down. In order to compete and get our dairy products to overseas markets, we have to meet or exceed the global industry standard. Most farmers already meet this standard, but statewide adoption of this standard could help address our oversupply and resulting low payments to farmers," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

High somatic cell counts are associated with bacterial infections in cows that result in lower yields and low-quality milk. This program would operate over three years and give farmers a competitive leg up on the global dairy industry.

Assemblywoman Jenne has suggested the state Department of Agriculture and Markets should develop premium payments for farmers reaching annual targets toward the goal of reducing the statewide somatic cell count.

She has proposed establishing a quality premium that would be paid to farmers by the state when the price farmers are receiving drops more than 9 percent below the USDA's calculated average monthly cost of production.

The premium would be capped at up to $3 per hundredweight of milk and would only be paid for the five-year monthly average of milk produced by the farm.

"It's not going to make a farmer rich, but it would give them a fighting chance to get their finances in order and make strategic decisions instead of ones that will hurt them in the long run," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

She envisions the premium would be of significant assistance to dairy farmers when the price of fluid milk drops below $18 per hundredweight.

Assemblywoman Jenne also feels farmers should have the option to seek a small grant, partially to pay for professional services and partially for revamping farm operations to provide long-term financial viability.

"There is a lot of money being proposed in the Regional Economic Development Council process, but that is more for individual projects and to access existing grant programs," she said.

"No grant program exists to address these needs, and the solution doesn't fit within the current council process. We need to designate up to $100 million toward the largest sector of the state's economy, agriculture. If our farms are failing financially, so are the majority of the other local businesses in upstate communities because they aren't getting paid," the assemblywoman added.

Assemblywoman Jenne said Commissioner Ball's testimony about the challenges facing the dairy industry due to a long period of low milk prices underscores the need to develop a plan to assist struggling dairy farmers in the state.

"Our farms in the North Country have been a vibrant source of economic activity and innovation. Today, many farmers, especially those in the dairy industry, are facing low commodity prices that threaten the future of too many dairy farmers," Assemblywoman Jenne said after the hearing.

She said the success of the farm-to-school pilot program in the North Country has shown the role government can play in assisting farmers in distress.

"The pilot program has made strides in improving the financial stability of growers and livestock farmers in the region. That effort should continue with Governor Cuomo including funding in the executive budget to roll out a statewide farm-to-school program," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

She said it is now time to turn proper attention to the plight of the state's dairy farmers.

"I have been seeking support for a state level program to provide assistance to dairy farmers in New York for over a year," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

"The typical response I have received is that we are in a normal down cycle and things will get better. Well, things have not gotten better and the duration and severity of the recent down cycles require the state to stabilize this major economic sector," she stressed.

The milk price was $17.20 per hundredweight in December 2017.

Milk prices had a five-year peak of $25.70 per hundredweight in September 2014 and hit a low of $14.50 per hundred weight in May 2016. The per hundred weight climbed above $18 for just five months in 2016 and 2017.

Commissioner Ball had acknowledged the challenges facing the dairy industry during his testimony before state lawmakers at this week's budget hearing.

"Our dairy industry is really in a very precarious state today. Typically in dairy we have seen a three-year cycle of ups and downs ... We've had a prolonged rather than a stab I'd say a long scrape in the dairy industry over the past three years," he said.

The agriculture commissioner said farmers had become accustomed to the cycle and had developed strategies to work around those cycles of low milk prices.

"Originally predictions for this year looked a little better. But just in the past couple of months it is looking like it is going to be more of the same. It is very challenging," he admitted.

"This challenge isn't so much something we are doing wrong in New York State. This is not just a New York problem, not just a Northeast problem, not just a United States problem. It's a global challenges as we see exports drop," Commissioner Ball added.

He said a review of milk prices over the past three decades at the recent Agriculture and Food Business Outlook Conference at Cornell University showed whenever exports drop there is a corresponding decline in milk prices.

"Over the past four years, we have seen a 3 percent drop in exports," he noted.

Commissioner Ball said the drop in milk prices was a reflection of several different factors ranging from the value of the dollar compared to other currencies around the world;, milk production in Australia, New Zealand and the European Union and the market for milk purchases from China.

He said discussions about renegotiating NAFTA also pose another major challenge since a significant percent of dairy exports currently go to Mexico.

The commissioner said he continues to meet with stakeholders to review steps that can be taken to address the challenges facing the state's dairy industry.

"I am confident we will be okay in the long term. We still produce the best milk in the country. The North Country, in particular, is famous for the quality of its cheeses and the quality and quantity of the milk we produce," he said to a panel that included Assemblywoman Jenne, Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R-Black River) and State Sen. Patty Ritchie (R-Heuvelton).

Assemblywoman Jenne supports legislation increasing transparency of online political ads

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, D-Theresa, announced she supported the Democracy Protection Act (A.9930) to hold paid online and digital campaign advertisements to the same disclosure and attribution standards as other political communications.

“When a political ad is posted online, voters deserve to know who paid for it. Anonymous communications and misinformation threaten the integrity of our elections,” Assemblywoman Jenne said.

“This common-sense legislation will go a long way in ensuring that unscrupulous organizations and individuals who pay for dishonest digital ads are held accountable,” she added.

The Democracy Protection Act requires internet and digital political advertisements to include a “paid for by” statement with the name of the political committee financing the ad.

Additionally, the legislation requires online platforms to maintain a complete record of all paid political communications, including the target audience, number of views generated by the ad and the name, address and phone number of the person purchasing the ad, and make the information available online.

The bill also prohibits foreign nationals or government agents from registering as an independent expenditure committee for the purpose of paying for political communications in New York.

The measure, which passed the state Assembly on Wednesday, builds on Assemblywoman Jenne’s continued efforts to increase transparency and keep dark money out of New York elections.

She also strongly supports closing the LLC loophole to prevent special interests from having undue influence (A.9758-A).