The state Senate today passed a bill sponsored by Senator Michael Balboni (R-East Williston) that creates the crime of "agri-terrorism" and establishes stiff penalties for terrorist attacks on our state's food supply.

"Our current anti-terrorism laws don't address the deliberate destruction and desecration of the state's food supply," Balboni said. "Making agri-terrorism a crime will allow better detection and prevention of these crimes, and if they happen, prosecution of the terrorists responsible for them."

Under Balboni's bill, agri-terrorism occurs when someone intentionally contaminates the food supply with the intent to coerce a civilian population, affect the conduct of a unit of government or influence the policy of government.

"An attack on the state's food supply could potentially spread disease to people throughout the state and beyond, leaving millions sick and killing thousands more," Balboni said. Such an attack would devastate New York's economy as well, since our agricultural industry is valued at approximately $13 billion a year.

Specifically, agri-terrorism is the intentional defiling, corruption or altering of a food or farm product with the intent to cause injury or death to farm animals or the humans who consume them. It can also involve intentionally introducing disease-causing agents or chemicals into a food or farm product.

Balboni's bill is the product of a 2003 public hearing on agri-terrorism and the safety of New York's food supply. The same bill passed the Senate in 2004, but the Assembly failed to act on it.

"Making this into law this year is a high priority for me," Balboni said.

The bill was sent to the Assembly.

The state Senate passed a bill that extends the time that active-duty military personnel have between the date they get a marriage license and the time they get married.

Under current law, marriage licenses are effective up to 60 days after they are issued by a county clerk. But the law kept a Westchester serviceman who was called up in December from being able to get married when he arrived home for a weekend the following May. He arrived too late on a Friday to get a license and was unable to get married the next day.

"Service people often don't know where they'll be deployed or how long they'll be there," Balboni said. "We should be making it easier for them to have personal lives, not more difficult."

According to Balboni, the bill makes sense today since many military personnel are enduring longer activations than ever before.

Balboni is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs.

The state Senate passed legislation by Senator Michael Balboni (R-East Williston) that would allow a Vietnam veteran who was unable to get a high school diploma to be awarded one based on knowledge and experience gained in the service.

"Many young men and women left high school in the 1960s and early 1970s to serve their country," Balboni said. "Although these veterans might not have met the requirements they needed to graduate, they have life experience that no classroom can duplicate."

The bill expands the provisions of "Operation Recognition" to Vietnam veterans. Operation Recognition became law in 2000 and allowed any veteran who served in World War II and who was unable to complete a secondary education for any reason to receive a high school diploma. The law was amended in 2001 to include Korean War veterans, as well.

Operation Recognition allows local high schools to issue diplomas to eligible veterans for no charge. There is no additional requirement beyond having attended a New York State school and having served in the armed forces during World War II, Korea or Vietnam.

Attendance must be verified by the veteran's individual school or its successor, and school districts are responsible for issuing diplomas to eligible veterans who apply. To qualify, a veteran must present a Defense Department discharge form (DD214), an honorable discharge certificate, or a special discharge from the Coast Guard for Merchant Marines. School districts should refer veterans who lack these documents to the local office of veterans' affairs.

"The legislation is a small way we can thank Vietnam veterans for their service," said Balboni.