Mail this story to a friend.          
Releases: Senate, Assembly will still require masks for those few people allowed inside the Capitol building, which remains closed to the general public.
NYSNYS News
CONTACT: Kerri Biché
(518) 455-3888
bichek@nyassembly.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 19, 2021



Speaker Heastie Statement on Updated Guidance and Capacity Limits in the Assembly Chamber

Effective immediately, and consistent with updated guidance, capacity limits in the Assembly Chamber have been eliminated. In order to ensure everyone’s safety, members, employees and visitors will continue to be required to wear face masks in all Assembly workplaces, including the Assembly Chamber during legislative session, and to observe social distancing guidelines whenever possible. These requirements are being implemented per Rule I of the Assembly, which allows the speaker to control the use of the Assembly Chamber, lobbies, rooms and property and to preserve order and decorum in the chamber. The Assembly will continue to operate under existing rules, and remote session will still be available to all members. We have made great progress in combating this pandemic, and we will continue to evaluate our policies as we move forward with the goal of fully reopening when safe and appropriate.

****

For Immediate Release: May 19, 2021
Contact: Jonathan Heppner | heppner@nysenate.gov | 518-455-2415


Statement From Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins on Chamber Operations and COVID Protocols

“While we are pleased progress is being made against this awful pandemic, we must continue to be smart and cautious. Even during the Covid-19 crisis, the Senate accomplished amazing things, including passing two budgets, groundbreaking police accountability reforms, historic affordable housing assistance, and many more unprecedented achievements, all while avoiding a major outbreak. We will increase capacity limits in the Senate chamber, but we will ask all members and staff to continue to wear masks in and around the chamber. We will continue to review guidelines in the coming days and weeks.”

-30-