What's happening
This bill prohibits nonemergency pesticide use in municipal and state park lands and requires public notice before any application.
Why it matters
Significantly limits pesticide exposure. By prohibiting nonemergency pesticide use in parks, the bill reduces the public’s exposure—especially for children, pets, and wildlife—to chemicals linked to health and environmental risks.
Promotes transparency and public awareness. The required 72-hour public notice before any pesticide application ensures park users and nearby residents are informed and can take precautions or voice concerns.
Encourages safer pest control alternatives. The bill carves out exceptions for low-risk, EPA-registered microbial and biochemical pesticides, nudging municipalities toward nontoxic or less harmful pest management strategies.
Empowers regulatory oversight. By granting the state parks office authority to create implementing rules, the bill allows for adaptation and enforcement mechanisms to address unique or evolving environmental and public health needs.
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Who cares
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Ban Pesticides in Public Parks
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
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.
Ban Pesticides in Public Parks
In Senate Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor José M. Serrano
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4906
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 6, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to prohibiting the nonemergency application of pesticide or lawn care pesticide within any municipal park lands and lands under the jurisdiction of the state office of parks, recreation and historic preservation and requiring notice of pesticide application
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new section 37-0115 to read as follows: § 37-0115. Prohibition of nonemergency application of pesticide or lawn
care pesticide.
1. No person, firm, partnership, association, limited liability company, corporation, municipality or government entity shall allow or implement the nonemergency application of pesticide or lawn care pesticide in any municipal park lands and lands under the jurisdiction of the state office of parks, recreation and historic preservation.
2. Prior to any application of pesticide or lawn care pesticide, the office shall provide public notice at least seventy-two hours prior to such application. Such public notice shall remain posted on the premise and on any internet web site operated by the office for seventy-two hours.
3. For the purposes of this section:
(a) "pesticide" means a fungicide used on plants, an insecticide, a herbicide or a rodenticide, but does not mean a sanitizer, disinfectant, antimicrobial agent or pesticide bait in a tamper resistant container;
(b) "lawn care pesticide" means a pesticide registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and labeled pursuant to the federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act for use in lawn, garden and ornamental sites or areas, but shall not include any:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05151-01-7
A. 4906 2
(1) microbial pesticide or biochemical pesticide that is registered with the United States Environmental Protection Agency; or
(2) a pesticide classified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as an exempt material under 40 CFR 152.25;
(c) "microbial pesticide" means a pesticide that consists of a microorganism as the active ingredient; and
(d) "biochemical pesticide" means a naturally occurring substance that controls pests by nontoxic mechanisms.
4. The office is authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations as it shall deem necessary to implement the provisions of this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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.