What's happening
This bill requires SUNY campuses to plant a new tree for every tree removed to ensure environmental stability.
Why it matters
Mandates environmental accountability. By requiring a one-to-one tree replacement policy, the bill ensures that SUNY campuses actively maintain or improve their green spaces, preventing gradual loss of tree cover over time.
Promotes campus sustainability. The policy pushes SUNY to integrate environmental stewardship into its operational decisions, potentially influencing other institutions and reinforcing New York’s leadership in sustainability practices.
May impact planning and costs. Colleges will need to consider the financial and logistical implications of replacing every removed tree, which could affect campus development, construction projects, and landscape management strategies.
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Who cares
SUNY trustees
They would have to adopt a uniform policy requiring a replacement tree on the same campus whenever a tree is removed.
SUNY campus grounds managers
They would need to account for replacement planting when removing trees from campus grounds.
Campus environmental advocates
The bill would require tree replacement to promote environmental stability, consistent with its stated intent to safeguard natural habitats around SUNY campuses.
Headline styles
Replace Trees on SUNY Campuses
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3858
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 27, 2017
Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the removal and planting of trees on college campuses of the state university of New York
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature hereby finds and declares that as a public university, the state university of New York shall be stewards of the environment and shall take every possible precaution to safeguard natural habitats surrounding all 64 college campuses in the SUNY system.
§ 2. Paragraph c of subdivision 2 of section 355 of the education law, as amended by chapter 552 of the laws of 1985, is amended to read as follows:
c. To provide for the care, custody and management of the lands, grounds, structures, buildings, equipment and facilities of the state university and the institutions therein. Provided that, with respect to campus grounds, the trustees shall adopt a uniform policy for the removal and planting of trees that shall specifically require that when a tree is removed from a campus, another is planted on that campus in order to ensure environmental stability.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03360-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to the removal and planting of trees on college campuses of the state university of New York
Purpose
To require the State University Board of Trustees to develop a uniform policy relating to the removal and planting of trees on SUNY campuses.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Provides the Legislative intent of the bill.
Section 2. Amends the education law to require the State University Board of Trustees to develop a uniform policy relating to the removal and planting of trees on SUNY campuses.
Justification
This bill directs the State University Trustees to create a uniform policy that requires when a tree is removed from a SUNY campus, another is planted on such campus. The SUNY system is comprised of 64 individual campuses throughout New York State. The campuses are located in a wide variety of areas and contribute greatly to each of the communities in which they reside.
As a public university, SUNY has a responsibility to those communities to take environmental considerations into account when making structural campus changes that can negatively impact their natural surroundings.
Therefore, this bill would ensure environmental stability by simply requiring that natural habitats are preserved.
Legislative history
2015-16 S.524/A.2472; 2013-14 S.2885/A.7423
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.