What's happening
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to add "cultural" resources to environmental protections and create an office of public advocate to enforce these protections in New York.
Why it matters
Expanding environmental protections to include “cultural resources”. could mean that historical sites, landmarks, and other culturally significant areas would receive the same constitutional protection as natural resources, potentially changing how development and preservation decisions are made across New York.
Creation of an office of public advocate with legal standing. gives the public a direct route to enforce these constitutional protections, empowering an independent entity to sue the state or its agencies if they fail to protect natural or cultural resources—this could lead to more robust oversight and accountability.
Constitutionalizing these provisions makes them harder to roll back. , signaling a long-term commitment to both environmental and cultural preservation and likely influencing state policy and priorities for decades to come.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Create Public Advocate Office
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- Opinion referred to judiciary
- To attorney-general for opinion
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Opinion referred to judiciary
- To attorney-general for opinion
- 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.
Create Public Advocate Office
In Senate Committee · Judiciary · Sponsor Brad Hoylman-Sigal
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
14
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 4, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. CAHILL -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COLTON, FINCH -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment to section 4 of article 14 of the constitution, in relation to environmental protection
Section 1. RESOLVED (if the Senate concur), That section 4 of article 14 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
§ 4. The policy of the state shall be to conserve and protect its natural and cultural resources and scenic beauty and encourage the development and improvement of its agricultural lands for the production of food and other agricultural products. The legislature, in implementing this policy, shall include adequate provision for the abatement of air and water pollution and of excessive and unnecessary noise, the protection of agricultural lands, wetlands and shorelines, and the development and regulation of water resources and shall establish an office of public advocate with the authority to commence civil action against the state or any of its departments, agencies or bureaus or its public authorities to protect the public's interest in the state's natural and cultural resources. The legislature shall further provide for the acquisition of lands and waters, including improvements thereon and any interest therein, outside the forest preserve counties, and the dedication of properties so acquired or now owned, which because of their natural beauty, wilderness character, or geological, ecological or historical significance, shall be preserved and administered for the use and enjoyment of the people. Properties so dedicated shall constitute the state nature and historical preserve and they shall not be taken or otherwise disposed of except by law enacted by two successive regular sessions of the legislature.
§ 2. RESOLVED (if the Senate concur), That the foregoing be referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the next
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD89026-01-7
A. 14 2
succeeding general election of members of the assembly, and, in conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.
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.