Relates to protecting newly acquired state land

1 Co-sponsor

• Patrick M. Gallivan

Title of bill

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to protecting newly acquired state land

Purpose

This bill would add one new full time equivalent forest ranger position for every thirty thousand acres of land that is aquired

Summary of specific provisions

Section 3-0107 of the environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new subdivision 3

Justification

In order to ensure Forest Rangers are capable of fulfilling the responsibilities required by their position, which were expanded in 2006 when their status changed to "police officer," it is critical to create legislation which mandates the amount of Forest Rangers required, based on the number of acres within the jurisdiction of New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Over the span of 45 years the DEC has acquired approximately 1.5 million additional acres of land, for current total of 4.866 million acres, while simultaneously decreasing the number of Forest Rangers employed to protect these lands. Moving forward, requiring the addition of one new Ranger per 30,000 acres of land that comes under the jurisdiction of the department would allow these lands to be protected and preserved in a manner that is consistent with DEC and public expectations. It is the purpose of this act to ensure that the Forest Rangers are granted the appropriate resources necessary to meet their expanded responsibilities, and protect environmentally preserved land within the state's jurisdiction.

Prior legislative history

This is a new bill

Fiscal implications

TBD.

Effective date

This act shall take effect in one hundred eighty days.