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
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to environmental conservation
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.
Requires the department of environmental conservation to review the policies of the department of parks and recreation of the city of New York regarding trees and tree maintenance
In Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Nily Rozic
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act in relation to requiring the department of environmental conservation to review the policies of the department of parks and recreation of the city of New York regarding trees and tree maintenance
Purpose
To require the Department of Environmental Conservation to review the policies of the Department of Parks and Recreation of the city of New York regarding trees and trees maintenance.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of this bill states that notwithstanding any other rule, regulation or policy to the contrary, the Department of Environmental Conservation shall review and provide oversight to the Department of Parks and Recreation of the city of New York in relation to city-owned trees, tree maintenance, care and cultivation of such trees, and any other matters the Department of Environmental Conservation deems necessary.
Section 2 of this bill states that this act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
For years there has been an increasing number of serious injuries and deaths resulting from falling trees in New York City parks. For example, in Bryant Park on September 4, 2015 a large tree branch fell on top of five people, injuring three of them seriously. In 2013, a young woman, Yingyi Li-Dikov-6 months pregnant with her first child, was killed when she was struck by a falling tree in Kissena Park in Queens. Between 2010-2013 there were at least 4 deaths that resulted from diseased or damaged trees that had fallen.
Public properties belonging to the city of New York are home to thousands of trees in varying states of health. The city is responsible for maintaining these trees so that they remain healthy and do not pose extraordinary dangers to public safety and property.
Due to widespread concerns that New York City's policies on the care and maintenance of trees is not sufficient to protect the public from unsafe trees, and to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being spent in the most efficient and effective manner, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation should be granted regulatory authority to investigate the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation's policies on tree maintenance.
This bill would authorize the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to exercise oversight of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation concerning the care and maintenance of city trees.
Legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
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.