Bill Text: NY J00276 | 2025-2026 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Senate Resolution 276

Introduced

Bill Title: Commending Kayla Masotto upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New York State Senate

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2025-02-04 - ADOPTED [J00276 Detail]

Download: New_York-2025-J00276-Introduced.html


Senate Resolution No. 276

BY: Senator MURRAY

        COMMENDING  Kayla Masotto upon the occasion of her
        designation as recipient of  a  Liberty  Medal,  the
        highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New
        York State Senate

  WHEREAS,  It  is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend the caring concern and  heroic  acts  of  individuals  who  take
prompt  and  appropriate  action  in emergency situations, nobly risking
their own lives in an effort to preserve the life of another; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  this  Legislative  Body  is  justly proud to
commend Kayla Masotto upon the occasion of her designation as  recipient
of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the
New York State Senate; and

  WHEREAS,  The New York State Senate Liberty Medal was established by
Resolution and is  awarded  to  individuals  who  have  merited  special
commendation  for exceptional, heroic, or humanitarian acts on behalf of
their fellow New Yorkers; and

  WHEREAS, On Thursday, December  26,  2024,  Kayla  Masotto  daringly
performed a lifesaving rescue on the icy waters of the Poospatuck Creek;
and

  WHEREAS, From the living room of her home in Mastic, New York, Kayla
Masotto spotted a man on a jet ski in the partially frozen waters of the
creek; shortly after, she noticed smoke and the jet ski sinking, casting
the watercraft operator into the frigid water; and

  WHEREAS, In an instant, Kayla Masotto sprang into action, retrieving
her still inflated paddle board from the basement of her home and ran to
the water; she was able to walk on top of the ice for most of the way to
the  individual  in  need  of help, and she then pulled the man, who was
already  experiencing  symptoms  of   hypothermia,   safely   onto   her
paddleboard; and

  WHEREAS,  Other  bystanders  at  a  nearby  marina  assisted  in the
situation by throwing a rope to Kayla Masotto and the jet ski  operator,
aiding  in  their safe return to shore as Mastic Fire and EMS responders
arrived on the scene; and

  WHEREAS, A truly brave  and  courageous  individual,  Kayla  Masotto
played  a  vital role in this extraordinary rescue effort, and should be
praised by the people of this great Empire State for her  swift  actions
in working to preserve the life of another; and

  WHEREAS,  Kayla  Masotto,  in her spontaneous and heroic act, has so
aptly demonstrated her character  and  compassion  for  the  welfare  of
others, personifying, by virtue of her action, the collective concern of
ordinary citizens across the community of New York State who voluntarily
respond  without  thought of danger or reward when others are in need of
help; now, therefore, be it


  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Kayla Masotto upon the occasion of her designation as  recipient
of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the
New York State Senate; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Kayla Masotto.