WRGB: Governor Hochul vetoes Grieving Families Act just before deadline

By: WRGB Staff

Gov. Kathy Hochul has vetoed the Grieving Families Act bill, just before the deadline.

The bill, which "Provides for the types of damages that may be awarded to the persons for whose benefit an action for wrongful death is brought," was passed with bipartisan support in both chambers of the state Legislature.

The Reform Lawsuit Alliance of New York Executive Director Thomas Stebbins released a statement Friday encouraging the governor's veto of S-74A, saying families, governments and the health care system are already strained and can't afford another cost hike.

In an op-ed published in the New York Daily News on Monday, Hochul wrote that the bill was approved in committee and voted on by the both the Assembly and Senate on the very same day.

She also draws concerns of a lack of evaluation on the impact of the bill to the "economy, small businesses, individuals, and the state's complex health care system."

Kevin Cushing and his wife, Sue, had been pushing for the passage of S-74A, or the Grieving Families ACT bill. Kevin's son Patrick was one of the 19 people tragically killed in the Schoharie limousine accident.

"We were received very well by the legislators," Cushing said. "They recognized the need for change, and it passed in June of this past year. Over 90%, over 92% of the Senate voted for it, over 98% of the Assembly voted for it, which basically means they represent the entire state of New York and they voted to basically update those laws in a way that would level the playing field regardless of your sex age or color."