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History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Print number 4619a
- Amend and recommit to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S4619A
Title of bill
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to the reduction of mercury in mercury-added lamps
Purpose or general idea of bill
To reduce the health and environmental risks posed by mercury-added lamps.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends section 27-2101 of the environmental conservation law by adding new subdivisions 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34 defining terms used in the bill.
Section 2 of the bill amends section 27-2107 of the environmental conservation law by adding new subdivisions 11 and 12. Subdivision 11 prohibits producers of mercury-added lamps from selling, offering for sale, or distributing such lamps that fail to meet mercury content standards set by the department of environmental conservation, and to set forth the maximum permissible mercury content for certain mercury-added lamps. Subdivision 12 provides for exceptions for certain special purpose lamps.
Section 3 of the bill amends section 27-2111 of the environmental conservation law to authorize the department to promulgate and enforce regulations providing for mercury content standards not inconsistent with section 27-2107.
Sections 4 and 5 of the bill amend section 71-2724 of the environmental conservation law by amending subdivision 1 and adding a new subdivision 2-a to provide for penalties for violations of subdivision 11 of section 27-2107.
Section 6 of the bill sets forth the effective date.
Justification
Many lighting products, including compact fluorescent lamps and others that offer environmental benefits like longer life and greater energy efficiency, also pose a risk to the people's health and to the environment in that they contain mercury, a hazardous material, added during the manufacturing process. When a mercury-added lamp breaks during normal use or when it is discarded, it may release mercury. This legislation would minimize the amount of mercury present in lamps sold in New York. The European Union, California, and Maine have also adopted laws that set maximum mercury content limits for many types of lamps. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has also recommended mercury content limits for mercury-added lamps, and many of its member organizations have voluntarily complied.
Prior legislative history
2009-10: S.7966-A (Thompson)
Fiscal impact on the state
Minimal.
Local fiscal impact
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.