Senator Joe Griffo came to Morrisville on the third day of Boys’ State. He congratulated the citizens on having the honor of being selected to represent their Legion Post. He told us the importance and value that each of us and our voices hold.

Griffo told the citizens that it is crucial for us to be politically aware and active. After doing voice surveys of topics that are relevant to teenagers like e-cigarettes, safer driving, and the recent phone ban bill, it became apparent that all these citizens have opinions that they want to be heard. He reminded us that the Boys’ State is the youths’ chance for their opinions to be heard. He reminded us that if the Boys’ State writes and votes on certain legislation, it can be introduced to the state assembly: the citizens of Boys’ State have the chance to directly influence and propose laws to our New York State government.

Griffo is most proud of working on laws and initiatives to improve New York State. He worked on laws to protect adolescents from sexual predators, make clean energy more affordable, and other laws to improve public safety. Fittingly, Griffo has been a long time upstander for the youth of New York State. He supported the expansion and funding of the Positive Parenting Program to combat substance use, prevent juvenile offending, promote better social behavior, and support mental health. He co-sponsored a proposed bill called Jacobe’s Law, which would hold school administrators accountable to contact parents when their child is involved in bullying or harassment. Furthermore, he is the primary sponsor of the School Speed Zone Camera Demonstration Program Bill, which would install speeding cameras in school zones within his county of Oneida.