What's happening
This bill requires New York's Department of Environmental Conservation to review and oversee New York City's tree policies and maintenance.
Why it matters
Expands state-level oversight. By involving the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the bill introduces a higher level of scrutiny and potential standardization to how New York City manages its public trees, which could influence citywide practices and decision-making.
Addresses liability and safety. The DEC’s review will include policies related to injuries or property damage caused by city-owned trees, potentially leading to better risk management and clearer accountability for incidents involving urban trees.
Potential for improved tree health and urban environment. Oversight by the DEC may encourage more rigorous or scientifically-informed tree maintenance and care, which can improve the overall health of the city’s urban forest and deliver environmental benefits like cleaner air and reduced heat.
May impact local autonomy. The bill could shift some decision-making power away from New York City’s Department of Parks and Recreation, possibly leading to changes in how local priorities are balanced with state-level environmental goals.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Review NYC Tree Policies
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Reported and committed to rules
- 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 Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Nily Rozic
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1419
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 9, 2017
Introduced by Sen. AVELLA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed 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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
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
Purpose
To require 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 trees maintenance.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of this bill states that 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, and any other matters the Department of Environmental Conservation deems necessary.
Section 2 of this bill states that this act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
For years there has been an increasing number of serious injuries and deaths resulting from falling trees in New York City parks. For example, in Bryant Park on September 4, 2015 a large tree branch fell on top of five people, injuring three of them seriously. In 2013, a young woman, Yingyi Li-Dikov, 6 months pregnant with her first child, was killed when she was struck by a falling tree in Kissena Park in Queens. Between 2010-2013 there were at least 4 deaths that resulted from diseased or damaged trees that had fallen.
Public properties belonging to the city of New York are home to thousands of trees in varying states of health. The city is responsible for maintaining these trees so that they remain healthy and do not pose extraordinary dangers to public safety and property.
Due to widespread concerns that New York City's policies on the care and maintenance of trees is not sufficient to protect the public from unsafe trees, and to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being spent in the most efficient and effective manner, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation should be granted regulatory authority to investigate the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation's policies on tree maintenance.
This bill would authorize the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to exercise oversight of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation concerning the care and maintenance of city trees.
Legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.