What's happening
Writing a plain-English summary… Track this bill to get it by email.
Why it matters
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Print number 3506a
- Amend and recommit to health
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Creates the well water education act; requires public education program on the potential hazards of well water
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Ellen C. Jaffee
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law and the real property law, in relation to enacting the "well water education act"
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill requires the department of health to prepare educational materials on the importance of testing drinking water wells on a regular basis, the potential health effects of ingesting contaminated water, and has this information posted on the department website. Licensed home inspectors and real estate agents will have the responsibility of sharing this information with clients who are purchasing property whose drinking water comes from groundwater wells.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 establishes the well water education act.
Section 2 amends 206 of the Public Health Law to add a new section 26 which directs the department to create educational material to inform the public and appropriate professional disciplines of the potential health effects of consuming drinking water that does not meet state drinking water standards.
Section 3 amends section 444-g of the real property law to require home inspectors to provide the information prepared by DOH to owners, prospective buyers or other interested individuals whose potential residence is served by a well for drinking water.
Section 4 amends §466 of the real property law to require a real estate agent to provide the information prepared by DOH on the importance of having drinking water wells tested on regular basis to buyers of residences prior to the close of sale of such property.
Section 5 - this act shall take effect in 180 days.
Justification
It is estimated that over 1 million homeowners in New York State currently use private wells for their drinking water. These residents may be drinking contaminated water without knowing it as there is no current requirement for having private drinking water wells tested -- ever. Residents who receive drinking water from municipal water supplies are assured that water is safe by regular testing mandated by the State. Private drinking water wells do not share this protection. This measure will help to educate people who drink water from private drinking water wells of the importance of having their water tested on a regular basis.
Prior legislative history
Similar to A.11709 (2008)
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
180 days from the date of enactment.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.