Assembly advances SUDEP-disclosure bill, seats Edward Gibbs and clears dozens of bills

The New York State Assembly convened and, after routine opening business, advanced a slate of bills on the consent calendar, adopted a resolution seating a newly elected member and passed a measure that would require physicians to inform patients about the risk of SUDEP, a fatal complication of epilepsy.

The session opened with a moment of silence for New York City Police Department Officer Wilbert Mora, who died from injuries sustained in a shooting last Friday, and the Pledge of Allegiance. After the clerk read portions of the journal, members dispensed with further reading and the Assembly moved through housekeeping and the main calendar. The Speaker noted a quorum was present and clerks recorded several amendments as received and adopted.

Assembly member Epstein rose to explain a bill that would require physicians in New York to inform patients about SUDEP and preventive tools. "So people with epilepsy have great care many times, but, unfortunately, there's an illness called SUDEP," Epstein said, describing a constituent’s death he attributed to a lack of information. He told colleagues: "If they don't know about SUDEP before they go to their practitioner, there's a risk of infants dying from SUDEP." Epstein urged members to support the bill as a way to give families information that could prevent future losses. The Assembly then put the measure to a vote and the clerk recorded the bill as passed.

Separately, the Assembly adopted Assembly Resolution 519 to seat Edward Gibbs as a member from the 68th Assembly District. The clerk called the roll and the resolution was adopted by voice/fast roll call, and members welcomed Assembly member Gibbs to the chamber.

Throughout the day the clerk read many calendar items (multiple Assembly bill numbers were called) and the House used fast roll calls for a series of measures that were recorded as passed. Members were repeatedly reminded how to register negative votes with party leaders, and individual members were recorded in the negative where noted on specific roll calls. The Speaker also recognized a returning former member, Keith Bridal, and his guest, Felice Luciano, with members offering cordialities from the floor.

Before adjourning, a member announced that the majority conference would meet immediately following the session in Hearing Room B. A motion was made and adopted to adjourn the Assembly until Thursday, January 27, with reconvening scheduled for 2 p.m. on Monday, January 31.

Votes at a glance: the transcript records the passage of multiple bills read on the floor and several fast roll-call results; among the items specifically discussed on the floor, Assembly member Epstein's SUDEP-notification bill was explained on the floor and recorded as passed, and Assembly Resolution 519 to seat Edward Gibbs was adopted. Specific vote tallies and individual negative votes were recorded on the roll calls where noted by clerks.