Establishes the New York state climate change task force

2 Co-sponsors

• Tony Avella
• Liz Krueger

BILL NUMBER:S3742A

Title of bill

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to establishing the New York state climate change task force

Purpose

The purpose of this bill is to create a Task Force to research the projected impacts of Climate Change to the State of New York and to create a comprehensive Climate Action Plan.

Summary of provisions

This bill amends Article 19 of the environmental conservation law by adding a new title 13 which would create an interagency Climate Change Task Force within the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) which would develop recommendations for actions that can be taken to mitigate the impact of climate change on New York and minimize disruption to the States economy, infrastructure and environment due to climate change. The task force would be required to incorporate its recommendations into an overall climate change action plan for the State. The task force would be required to submit a draft within one year and hold public hearings throughout the State on the draft plan. Within sixty days of the final hearing, the task force would be required to release a final plan with updates every two years.

Justification

Science has shown that there has been a warming of the Earth's atmosphere. This warming will cause changes that will impact New York State in the coming years. This legislation will explore the impacts of these changes on tourism, agriculture, coastal communities, infrastructure, and the environment as well as other areas, and prepare a plan recommending actions that should be taken to both reduce the severity of climate change impacts and to better position New York State and its citizens to live with changes associated with climate change.

Legislative history

2013 - S. 3742 - Referred to Environmental Conservation.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

90 days after it becomes law.