By SHERRY HALBROOK

This year, for the second time in its history, PEF presented Quality Service awards to two state lawmakers for their outstanding action on legislative issues important to PEF members.

Receiving the awards in October at PEF's 21st Annual Convention in Rochester were state Sen. Richard Maziarz, a Republican, and Assembly Member Sam Hoyt, a Democrat. Both represent districts in the Buffalo area.

And they both worked with PEF to develop and sponsor bipartisan legislation to improve protection for state mental health workers after PEF member Judi Scanlon was murdered a year ago during a home visit to a mental-health client.

"Sam, if only there were more legislators like you," said PEF President Roger Benson in presenting the award to Hoyt.

"You're honoring me because I'm doing my job," Hoyt told the delegates. As state legislators, he said, "We have no greater responsibility than to protect the employees who work for us. But we failed to protect Judi.

"We do have a bill that would protect state workers," Hoyt continued. "It passed in the Assembly, and with Sen. Maziarz's help, (it will pass the Senate and) the governor will sign this bill right after he signs your contract."
Hoyt didn't stop there. He had one more word of encouragement for the union's beleaguered mental-health workers.

"I pledge Gov. George Pataki will not close Buffalo Psychiatric Center," Hoyt told the delegates. "It will remain open."

Benson reminded the delegates that PEF has many allies on both sides of the political aisle in Albany.

"Some of us have felt PEF is not bipartisan, but that is not true. Sen. Maziarz is a fine Republican lawmaker," Benson said. "He has been extremely helpful on several issues important to PEF. He cosponsored our Judith's Law legislation, but he really outdid himself by helping to protect the continuing economic viability of Lockport Memorial Hospital."

"We are going to see Judith's Law signed into law very soon," Maziarz predicted. "Giving state employees protection to be safe in the workplace is very important."
Maziarz said he plunged into the fray to save Lockport Memorial Hospital after receiving a call for help from a senior citizen in his district.

"She said her husband was taken to Lockport Memorial Hospital after he accidentally electrocuted himself. It's a small hospital, but it saved his life in the emergency room. She said it should not be allowed to close," the senator recalled.

"I was determined to work with PEF and CSEA (the Civil Service Employees Association) to keep it open," Maziarz continued.

But the ultimate key to success, he said, was in the long-term political bonds PEF had built with state legislative leaders.

"When I went to (state Senate Majority Leader) Joe Bruno and told him the hospital was just four hours away from declaring bankruptcy and laying off hundreds of employees, Bruno said he was ready to help immediately because of the good working relationship he has with PEF President Roger Benson."

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