What's happening
This bill expands the definition of "invasive species" to include infestations harmful to health, such as those spreading Lyme disease or West Nile virus.
Why it matters
Broadens the scope of what New York State agencies can regulate as "invasive species,". allowing them to address not only nonnative plants and animals, but also outbreaks of pests and organisms (like ticks and mosquitoes) that threaten human health—even if they aren’t new to the area.
Targets public health threats in addition to environmental and economic impacts,. explicitly including infestations that contribute to the spread of diseases such as Lyme disease and West Nile virus, potentially leading to more aggressive management and prevention strategies.
Empowers environmental and health authorities to take action earlier and more comprehensively,. even against organisms whose harm is primarily to people rather than agriculture or native ecosystems, which could result in faster responses to emerging public health risks.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Expand Invasive Species Definition
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
16 Co-sponsors
3 Multi-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.
Relates to invasive species
In Senate Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Susan Serino
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8366
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
June 12, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. HUNTER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to invasive species
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 10 of section 9-1703 of the environmental conservation law, as added by chapter 674 of the laws of 2007, is amended to read as follows:
10. "Invasive species" means a species that is:
(a) nonnative to the ecosystem under consideration; and
(b) whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. For the purposes of this paragraph, the harm must significantly outweigh any benefits; or
(c) present in numbers that such species or pest organisms are considered an infestation and large enough to be harmful, threatening, or obnoxious to native plants, animals, or human health. These should include, but not be limited to, infestations related to the proliferation of vector-borne diseases such as Lyme and tick-borne diseases and the West Nile virus.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11582-01-7
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.