Jan 5

Jan 5 2023 Year in Review By New York Assemblymember Marianne Buttenschon

Throughout 2023, I advocated for the wellbeing of my constituents and businesses in the 119th Assembly District and worked diligently to ensure that their voices were heard. My office accomplished this through tailored discussions with community members, stakeholders, elected officials, and government agencies. I had the honor of facilitating conversations that kept the 119th AD at the epicenter of my decisions in the district and in Albany.

Below I highlighted some of the accomplishments of my office this year and am very proud of the work of my office and those that partner with us. My work included the legislative responsibility of introducing and co-sponsoring over 300 quality bills, along with securing over $28,000,000 in funding.

2023 funding allocations included:

First Responders – over $1,400,000
Community/Education - over $24,000,000
Community Upgrades – over $3,600,000

I supported funding for our schools, libraries, veterans’ organizations, hospitals, local governments, non-profit agencies, and, most importantly, public safety through legislative and executive funding. This year, I successfully passed legislation aimed at benefiting our community in various ways. The enacted measures include the creation of a veterans' internship program within the NYS Assembly, updates to regulations concerning the upkeep of abandoned cemeteries, and revisions to the utilization and allocation of waste tire management funds. Additionally, I championed several local bills to directly address the needs of our community through the legislative process.

During this session, I also co-sponsored important legislation. This included relief measures for employees at Vernon Downs Casino and Hotel, initiatives to streamline direct payments from insurance companies to ambulance service providers (easing the burden on patients), and bills focused on ensuring the safety of our youth.

Other co-sponsored legislation authorizes pharmacists to administer US FDA-approved medications for the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders. Furthermore, there are measures in place to mandate operators of children's non-regulated camps to check whether employees/volunteers are listed on the national sex offender registry.

I endorsed a temporary pause in the required state background checks for the purchase of firearms and ammunition. This pause is necessary until various issues with the software and processing of these background checks are adequately resolved. Implementing this legislation successfully will require significant effort and attention."

I also introduced new bills relating to public safety, addressing the influx of asylum seekers in our state, and our youth in crisis. I will continue to advocate for these crucial areas of interest and will work with my colleagues to make it clear that the passage of these bills is imperative for the wellbeing of our state.

Throughout the year, my office has also hosted many discussions and events on a variety of topics. Earlier this year, I hosted a youth in crisis round table discussion in Albany, where I had members and chairs of the legislature, representatives from Office of Mental Health, Office of People With Developmental Disabilities, Office Children Family Services, and other local and state stakeholders come together to discuss ways we can effectively and efficiently care for our youth in crisis. We heard testimonials from hospital staff and physicians that showcased the urgency that is needed in creating solutions for these unacceptable situations. In addition, I hosted numerous follow-up meetings within district. I also hosted the Oneida County Farm Tour, where members of the legislature from across the state gathered in Oneida County to see all that our local farms have to offer. We discussed the importance of whole milk in schools, buying and eating local, and keeping our local farmers centrally integrated in our legislative conversations.

Additionally, my office hosted a non-profit seminar, in which nonprofit organizations from our district were encouraged to join us for an informational session about “Grants Gateway”, and how to become well-versed on the interface to keep up with current funding and grant opportunities. I continued to work with local schools by having children make Veterans Day cards and sponsored a hat and mitten drive to support our local youth.

Finally, I was able to secure funding for many organizations over this past year. From the long-awaited repair of the Val Bialis Ski Center, to funding for many of our local fire departments, non- profits, and a historic investment into SUNY Poly’s campus, I am eager to see what improvements will be made with these monies. In total, through programming and capital funding, I was able to secure over $45 million for our district.

As an Assemblymember, I am honored to represent the 119th AD and all that it has to offer. I will continue to work hand in hand with my constituents and business owners to ensure that your voices are at the forefront of all conversations. I look forward to the 2024 session and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and a healthy holiday season.

Assemblyperson Marianne Buttenschon represents New York’s 119th District

Special thanks to The Genesis Group for contributing this article. The Genesis Group is a civic organization that unites Business and Community Leaders working to advance regional Economic, Social and Cultural interests, and to foster unity and cooperation in the Mohawk Valley region of Upstate New York.