What's happening
This bill prohibits the use of ballast water to increase a vessel's wake within 600 feet of lake shores in New York.
Why it matters
Aims to protect shoreline ecosystems and reduce erosion. by limiting large wakes near lake shores, which can damage habitats, accelerate land loss, and disturb wildlife nesting areas.
Seeks to improve water safety. for swimmers, small boats, and waterfront property owners by restricting a practice that can create hazardous, unpredictable water conditions close to shore.
Addresses a loophole in watercraft regulation. by specifically targeting the use of ballast water to artificially enhance wakes, a tactic commonly used by certain recreational boats despite potential environmental and safety impacts.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Limit Boat Wakes Near Shore
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.451
- Referred to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7392
IN SENATE
January 11, 2018
Introduced by Sen. O'MARA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation
AN ACT to amend the navigation law, in relation to prohibiting the use of ballast water to increase a wake within six hundred feet from the shore of lakes located in the state
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 45 of the navigation law is amended by adding a new subdivision 1-b to read as follows:
1-b. No operator of a vessel on any lake located in the state shall use ballast water on such lake for the purpose of increasing a wake within six hundred feet of the shore.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13359-02-8
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the navigation law, in relation to prohibiting the use of ballast water to increase a wake within six hundred feet from the shore of lakes located in the state
Purpose or general idea of bill
To amend the navigation law by adding a new section 42-b.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 - Section 45 of the navigation law is amended by adding a new subdivision 1-b.
Justification
People are now surfing on the wakes artificially created by new inboard boats. Such boats are capable of holding excess water in the stern of the vessel to create additional weight and thus huge wakes. The opera- tion of these boats close to shore is eroding the beaches, creating such turbulent distress that the water is turned murky and the potential harm to wildlife is increased.
Prior legislative history
None.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.