The New York State Assembly unanimously passed a tough new drunk driving bill Tuesday night as part of an ongoing special session.

The measure called Leandra's Law is named for Leandra Rosado, 11, who was killed last month when the car she was riding in crashed on the Henry Hudson Parkway.

It would make it a felony to drive with a blood alcohol content of .08 while a passenger 15 years old or younger is in the car.

"it's gonna save many children's lives, whether in the car or outside the car. That's the goal I knew my daughter was pushing me to stay strong. As much as I miss her so much," said Leandra's father, Lenny Rosado.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver had been holding out to make it a felony only if drivers had a blood alcohol content of .18 – more than twice the legal limit. But in a statement, Silver said, “The Assembly has heard the concerns of the family of Leandra Rosado, Mothers Against Drunk Driving [and] law enforcement... as well as New Yorkers who demand the vast array of protections and punishments that this comprehensive bill offers."

The bill also will require anyone convicted of DWI to equip their cars with an ignition interlock, which keeps drunk drivers from starting their cars.

Silver says the measure will be the strongest DWI law in the country. The state Senate has a similar bill but it is not known whether it will be brought to the floor for vote.

The driver of the car Leandra Rosado was riding in, Carmen Huertas, has been indicted on charges of manslaughter and drunk driving.

The bill now heads to the senate, where lawmakers continue to negotiate a series of hurdles in an attempt to close a $3.2 billion budget deficit.

Legislative leaders emerged from a meeting with the governor late Tuesday evening and were optimistic that a deal is close in regards to healthcare and education.

"Negotiations and discussions are going to continue throughout the evening, and hopefully we can get there by tomorrow," said Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos.

"We're talking about real things, we're not talking about one-shots," Silver said.

Governor David Paterson, however, did not share in the high hopes of a final agreement.

"I don't know why people walking around here saying we're very very close to a deal, I don't know why people think we're leaving here and I don't know why it is so difficult to understand that we have a conditionary responsibility to the people of New York," Paterson said. "We have obligations that have to be met in December, and the only way to reduce this deficit is real and recurring cuts, not gimmicks or phony estimates of revenues that don't exist."

The governor also says lawmakers need to stop making plans because he intends on keeping them in Albany until a deal is reached.