What's happening
This bill requires the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to review and oversee New York City's policies on city-owned trees and their maintenance.
Why it matters
State-level review introduces an external check. on how New York City manages its trees, meaning city policies will be scrutinized for effectiveness, safety, and compliance with broader environmental standards.
Oversight covers not just maintenance but also liability. , which could impact how the city addresses tree-related injuries or property damage—potentially affecting insurance, legal claims, and resident safety.
Gives the Department of Environmental Conservation broad discretion. to examine any related issues it deems necessary, allowing for a flexible and potentially far-reaching review process that could uncover systemic problems or inefficiencies.
May set a precedent for state intervention in other local environmental practices. , signaling to other municipalities that their policies could also come under state scrutiny if public safety or environmental standards are at stake.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Review NYC Tree Policies
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 25
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- 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.
Review NYC Tree Policies
In Senate Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Tony Avella
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1335
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 11, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ROZIC -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
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
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. 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, liability in case of personal or property injury by such trees, and any other matters the department of environmental conservation deems necessary.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01224-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.