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Sponsors
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History
- Substituted by A10269B
- Ordered to third reading cal.1364
- Referred to rules
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.
Establishes seagrass protection act
Vetoed · Sponsor Robert Sweeney
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S8343
Title of bill
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to establishing the seagrass protection act
Purpose
The bill authorizes the Department of Environmental Conservation to adopt rules and regulations to regulate coastal and marine activities that threaten seagrass.
Summary of provisions
The DEC shall have authority to:
* Restrict the types of mechanically powered fishing gear in seagrass areas that could be harmful to the grass.
* Identify harmful pesticides and chemicals to seagrass and make recommendations in regards to restricting their use in seagrass areas.
* Make this information available on the DEC website.
* Prohibits a person in a coastal community from applying fertilizer containing phosphorus after November first and before April List.
* Develop and adopt, after consultation with stakeholders, a seagrass management plan for designated seagrass management areas to protect seagrass beds and preserve traditional recreational activities.
Justification
New York seagrass beds are a vital habitat and nursery grounds for numerous commercially, recreationally and ecologically important fish and shellfish species. Seagrass beds used to be much larger-some estimates reaching as large as 200,000 acres in 1930. Today only 21,803 acres remain. Seagrass is such a vital part of 011r underwater environment. The DEC should have authority to protect it. The substance of this legislation was recommended by the NYS Seagrass Taskforce.
Legislative history
None.
Fiscal impact on the state
Minimal.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred fiftieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.