What's happening
This bill extends for one year the authorization for Staten Island homeowners in high-risk brush fire areas to cut and remove reeds from their property.
Why it matters
Reduces Fire Risk to Homeowners. By extending the authorization for another year, the bill allows property owners in high-risk areas to keep removing highly flammable reeds, potentially reducing the risk of devastating brush fires that can threaten homes and lives.
Balances Environmental and Safety Concerns. This ongoing extension reflects an attempt to balance environmental regulations (which might otherwise restrict reed removal) with urgent local safety needs, signaling ongoing concern about the adequacy of other fire prevention measures.
Reflects Continued Local Need. The repeated yearly extensions suggest that the underlying risk—accumulation of flammable vegetation—remains unresolved, highlighting a persistent local hazard that hasn’t yet been addressed by longer-term solutions or broader changes in city or state policy.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Staten Islanders Cut Reeds
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Substituted by A9873
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.542
- Referred to cities
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.
Extend Reed Removal Rights
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Michael Cusick
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7734
IN SENATE
February 14, 2018
Introduced by Sen. LANZA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Cities
AN ACT to amend chapter 306 of the laws of 2011, authorizing owners of residential real property in high risk brush fire areas in the borough of Staten Island to cut and remove reeds from their property, in relation to extending the expiration and repeal date thereof for an additional year
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 3 of chapter 306 of the laws of 2011, authorizing owners of residential real property in high risk brush fire areas in the borough of Staten Island to cut and remove reeds from their property, as amended by chapter 108 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed December 31, [2018] 2019.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02559-02-8
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend chapter 306 of the laws of 2011, authorizing owners of residential real property in high risk brush fire areas in the borough of Staten Island to cut and remove reeds from their property, in relation to extending the expiration and repeal date thereof for an additional year
Purpose or general idea of bill
To establish a general residential fire break permit for the borough of Staten Island, city of New York to allow the owner of residential real property to cut and remove phragmites.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. Amends Section 3 of chapter 306 of the laws of 2011 authoriz- ing owners of residential real property in high risk brush fire areas in the borough of Staten Island to cut and remove reeds from their proper- ty, as amended by chapter 108 of the laws of 2017.
Section 2. Provides for an immediate effective date.
Justification
Every year on Staten Island there are series of dangerous brushfires. Many areas on Staten Island are prone to brushfires because they are thick with an invasive, nonnative species of weed - phragmites communis. Phragmites are reeds and combustible plants that commonly grow seven feet tall and often turn into tinderboxes especially during the spring and fall seasons. They have been the proven source of numerous brush fires which often escalate and threaten surrounding properties. Accord- ing to information provided by the New York City Fire Department, in the past 15 plus years there have been over 7,400 reported brush fires on Staten Island with close to 200 of them being "all hands on" requiring all fire houses on the Island to send assistance.
This legislation extends chapter 108 of the laws of 2017 for another year. It allows a residential property owner in a high risk brush fire area in the borough of Staten Island to obtain a no-cost permit to cut down these invasive combustible reeds thereby reducing the life-threat- ening pharagmite fires that not only destroy property and homes but put our first responders at risk as they battle these blazes.
The no-cost permits can be obtained via telephone or in person through the Staten Island borough president's office. Furthermore, information regarding the availability of the residential fire break permits can be found on the Department of Environmental Conservation website.
Prior legislative history
2017: A.1189/S.1865 - Chapter 108; 2016: A.9876/S.7332 - Chapter 206; 2015: A.1460/S.2546 - Chapter 245; 2014: A.8862/S.6656 - Chapter 267; 2012: A.9046/S.6219 - Chapter 34; 2011: A.7463-A/S.4377-A - Chapter 306.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed December 31, 2019.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.