What's happening
This bill requires New York to hire one new forest ranger for every 30,000 acres of newly acquired state land.
Why it matters
Improves Safety and Oversight. By requiring the hiring of more forest rangers as the state acquires additional land, the bill aims to ensure that new areas have adequate patrols for public safety, fire prevention, and emergency response.
Supports Conservation Efforts. More rangers mean better enforcement of environmental regulations, which can help protect sensitive habitats and wildlife on newly acquired lands.
Ensures Timely Staffing. The requirement to fill ranger positions before management plans are implemented helps guarantee that new lands are managed and monitored from the outset, reducing risks of neglect or misuse.
May Impact State Budget and Hiring Practices. The mandate could require increased funding for ranger salaries and training, potentially influencing budget allocations and the speed at which the state can acquire and open new lands to public use.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Add Rangers for New Land
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 55
History
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Reported and committed to finance
- 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.
Add Rangers for State Land
In Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Addie Jenne
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3987
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 31, 2017
Introduced by Sens. FUNKE, GALLIVAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to protecting newly acquired state land
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 3-0107 of the environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
3. The commissioner shall add one new full time equivalent forest ranger position for every thirty thousand acres of land that is acquired by the state and placed under the jurisdiction of the department. Each position shall be filled prior to the implementation of the property's unit management plan or resource management plan.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02542-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to protecting newly acquired state land
Purpose
This bill would add one new full time equivalent forest ranger position for every thirty thousand acres of land that is acquired
Summary of specific provisions
Section 3-0107 of the environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new subdivision 3
Justification
In order to ensure Forest Rangers are capable of fulfilling the responsibilities required by their position, which were expanded in 2006 when their status changed to "police officer," it is critical to create legislation which mandates the amount of Forest Rangers required, based on the number of acres within the jurisdiction of New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Over the span of 45 years the DEC has acquired approximately 1.5 million additional acres of land, for current total of 4.866 million acres, while simultaneously decreasing the number of Forest Rangers employed to protect these lands. Moving forward, requiring the addition of one new Ranger per 30,000 acres of land that comes under the jurisdiction of the department would allow these lands to be protected and preserved in a manner that is consistent with DEC and public expectations. It is the purpose of this act to ensure that the Forest Rangers are granted the appropriate resources necessary to meet their expanded responsibilities, and protect environmentally preserved land within the state's jurisdiction.
Prior legislative history
S7185 of 2016; passed the Senate
Fiscal implications
TBD.
Effective date
This act shall take effect in one hundred eighty days.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.