O’Connor, an eighth-grader at Pelham Middle School, was awarded first place for proposing that the state mandate insurance coverage for basic hearing aids. Paulin plans to draft a bill to mandate insurance coverage of hearing aids in response to O’Connor’s proposal.
Paulin presented O'Connor with a citation and brought her onto the Assembly floor.
"It was a pleasure having her here today. I love the thought and care she put into her proposal and will do everything I can to see it become a law," Paulin said.
Tuckahoe seventh-graders Jack Doherty and Hayden Ehrenfeld tied for second place. Ehrenfeld proposed a ban on neonicotinoids, which are a class of pesticides attributed to the decline in bee population. Paulin will become a prime co-sponsor of legislation written by Assemblyman Steve Englebright, D-4, which would prohibit the use of the chemicals atrazine, metalaxyl and the neonicotinoids class of chemicals.
Doherty proposed legislation that would protect a student’s athletic records from tampering and alteration. Paulin will draft a bill mandating school districts to create policies pertaining to the protection of athletic records.
Pelham eighth-grader James Nespole was awarded third place for his proposal regarding the creation of a Good Samaritan Law, which would protect people who take action saving children left unattended in a hot car. Paulin will become a co-prime sponsor of legislation written by Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski, D-96, which grants immunity from civil liability for those who engage in emergency removal of a child from a motor vehicle.
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