What's happening
This bill adds docks as eligible for flood recovery grants under the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence Seaway flood recovery program.
Why it matters
Expanding grant eligibility to docks directly supports both homeowners and small businesses. (such as marinas and tourism operators) that rely on water access for their livelihoods, potentially reducing financial hardship from flood damage.
Recognizing docks as vital infrastructure. underscores their importance to community connectivity, recreational opportunities, and property values along the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence Seaway, not just as private amenities but as assets that support local economies.
Providing access to state grants for dock repairs. helps close gaps left by federal or insurance programs, which often exclude such structures, ensuring more comprehensive recovery for affected residents and seasonal property owners.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Add Docks to Flood Aid
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to local governments
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–1
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.568
- Referred to local government
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7274
IN SENATE
January 5, 2018
Introduced by Sen. RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government
AN ACT to amend chapter 85 of the laws of 2017 relating to creating the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence Seaway flood recovery and International Joint Commission Plan 2014 mitigation grant program, in relation to including docks as an approved storm-related repair for primary and income qualified seasonal residences
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 3 of section 1 of part A of chapter 85 of the laws of 2017, relating to creating the Lake Ontario- St. Lawrence Seaway flood recovery and International Joint Commission Plan 2014 mitigation grant program, as amended by section 2 of part J of chapter 61 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:
(b) Such grant shall be in an amount of no more than $50,000 and shall be used for flood-related repairs and restoration to structures, docks, equipment, and for other flood-related costs, all of which were not covered by any other federal, state or local recovery program or any third-party payors.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11864-06-8
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend chapter 85 of the laws of 2017 relat- ing to creating the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence Seaway flood recovery and International Joint Commission Plan 2014 mitigation grant program, in relation to including docks as an approved storm-related repair for primary and income qualified seasonal residences
Purpose
This act will allow owners of primary and income-qualified seasonal residences access to grant funding for flood-related dock repairs under the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence Seaway flood recovery and International Joint Commission Plan 2014 mitigation grant program.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends chapter 85 of the laws of 2017 where it relates to the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence Seaway flood recovery and International Joint Commission Plan 2014 mitigation grant program to include repair and restoration of docks among the acceptable uses of up to $50,000 in grant funding per eligible primary residence and income-qualified seasonal residence.
Section 2 provides the effective date.
Justification
In 2017, New York State experienced an historic year of precipitation, which devastated communities along the shores of Lake Ontario and the Saint Lawrence River. Following the significant damage the flooding caused, the communities along the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence Seaway require significant assistance to recover and protect from threat of future damage caused by high lake levels and powerful waves.
While providing access to our waterways, docks can also provide addi- tional shelter for shorelines against powerful waves, which cause significant erosion and damage shoreline property. This act will allow owners of primary residences and income-qualified seasonal residences access to Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence Seaway flood recovery and Interna- tional Joint Commission Plan 2014 mitigation grant funding for repair and restoration of docks damaged by flooding between January 1, 2017 and June 30, 2017, along with the current repairs and restorations allowed under the grant program. In addition to restoring damaged docks, access- ing these grant funds for docks will help property owners on the shores of Lake Ontario and the Saint Lawrence River better protect their shore- lines against future wave and flood devastation.
Legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
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.