Key issues as Albany session nears close

ALBANY -- As he approaches the last full week of his first legislative session, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has his high-profile items set up like bowling pins.

All he has to do is knock them down.

The first-term Democrat has tentative agreements on implementing a property-tax cap, extending rent control and strengthening financial-disclosure laws. He is pushing for legalizing same-sex marriage and raising public-college tuition, though it's not clear yet if he has the votes.

At the same time, Long Island delegates are queuing up local bills as the rush to push through hundreds of pieces of legislation in the final work days.

The session is slated to end June 20, although some lawmakers have speculated it could end a bit early -- Friday -- rather than have everyone return for a Monday. Or they could extend the session a few days longer.

But the key deadline comes earlier: On Wednesday, the New York City rent-control laws are set to expire. Here's how the major issues line up:

TAX CAP, RENT CONTROL

Cuomo has a tentative deal with Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) to limit local tax-levy hikes to a maximum 2 percent per year, with certain exceptions.

Trouble is, Cuomo and Silver want to link it to not only the renewal, but also the expansion of rent laws that cover millions of tenants. The Republican-led Senate isn't keen on an expansion and it has balked at the way the Democrats want to link the tax cap and rent laws to the same expiration date.

All sides swear the disagreement will be settled. "Don't have any doubt," Skelos has told reporters. "It's going to be done."

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

The Senate shot down legislation to allow this in 2009 by a 38-24 vote.

Cuomo and top staff have been working closely with advocates to build momentum week by week -- with endorsements from celebrities, business leaders, unions and others -- with the idea of getting the Senate to take it up this session.

Still, the governor tamped down some expectations when he said a few weeks ago he wouldn't push for a vote if he thought it would fail. Many senators are staying mum, preferring to talk about other issues.

ETHICS

Cuomo and the leaders agreed to a new law that would for the first time force lawmakers to disclose clients who do business with the state or receive state grants, and to reveal more specific information about their outside income.

Critics have pointed out flaws. For example, the bill won't compel lawmakers to disclose arrangements in which they work as consultants for a company but don't represent it before any state entity.

Also, critics have assailed the complicated voting rules of a to-be-created ethics commission; specifically, a requirement that to move any case forward against a legislator, the commission needs two votes from appointees from the party of the person under scrutiny. That could trigger a scenario in which as few as three of the 14 members of the panel could block an investigation.

SUNY

Cuomo and State University of New York officials have made a late push to advance a "SUNY 2020" plan. It would encourage SUNY's four research centers, including Stony Brook University, to pursue expansion plans that boost academics and local economic development.

It also includes a proposal to hike tuition at the research centers 8 percent annually for a five-year period; 5 percent per year at SUNY's 25 other four-year colleges.

Skelos and Silver have said they could support the concept -- but only if there's a guarantee that tuition hikes wouldn't be offset by legislative attempts to reduce SUNY operational funds. Cuomo's proposal does not include that assurance.

LONG ISLAND

Among the bills Long Island lawmakers are advocating: