What's happening
The bill expands the definition of "water quality improvement project" to include constructing public water mains for residents with contaminated drinking water.
Why it matters
Addresses urgent public health risks. by enabling funding for new water mains and connections in communities where drinking water is contaminated with toxic chemicals, hazardous substances, or emerging contaminants, helping to ensure safer water for affected residents.
Expands local governments’ options. for using “water quality improvement project” funds, empowering towns to directly respond to contamination crises rather than relying solely on individual mitigation measures or private solutions.
Clarifies eligibility and accountability. by tying the new water main projects specifically to contamination defined under state environmental and public health laws, reducing ambiguity about what situations qualify for funding and action.
Limits scope to remediation, not growth. by maintaining that projects under this definition cannot be used to facilitate new development, ensuring that public resources are targeted at correcting existing water quality problems rather than enabling expansion.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Expand Water Project Definition
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Signed chap.490
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.339
- Substituted for A9979A
- Referred to ways and means
- Returned to assembly
- Repassed senate
- Amended on third reading 7853a
- Vote reconsidered - restored to third reading
- Returned to senate
Show 8 earlier actions
- Recalled from assembly
- Referred to local governments
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 63–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.945
- Referred to local government
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.
Expand Water Project Definition
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Fred Thiele
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
S. 7853--A A. 9979--A Cal. No. 945
SENATE - ASSEMBLY
March 5, 2018
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first and second report, ordered to a third reading, passed by Senate and delivered to the Assembly, recalled, vote reconsidered, restored to third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Local Governments -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the town law, in relation to the definition of a water quality improvement project
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (e) of subdivision 1 of section 64-e of the town law, as added by chapter 551 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:
(e) "Water quality improvement project" means: (1) wastewater treatment improvement projects; (2) non-point source abatement and control program projects developed pursuant to section eleven-b of the soil and water conservation districts law, title 14 of article 17 of the environmental conservation law, section 1455b of the federal coastal zone management act, or article forty-two of the executive law; (3) aquatic habitat restoration projects; (4) pollution prevention projects[, and]; (5) the construction of public water mains and connections to provide drinking water to inhabitants whose drinking water supply has been contaminated by toxic chemicals as defined in section 37-0301 of the environmental conservation law, hazardous substances as defined in section 40-0105 of the environmental conservation law or emerging contaminants as defined in section eleven hundred twelve of the public health law; and (6) the operation of the Peconic Bay National Estuary Program, as designated by the United States Environmental Protection
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14806-03-8
S. 7853--A 2 A. 9979--A
Agency. Such projects shall have as their purpose the improvement of existing water quality to meet existing specific water quality standards. Projects which have as a purpose to permit or accommodate new growth shall not be included within this definition.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the town law, in relation to the defi- nition of a water quality improvement project
Purpose
Expands the definition of a water quality improvement project under Section 64-e of the Town Law.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Amends paragraph (e) of subdivision 1 of Section 64-e of the Town Law.
Section 2. Provides for an immediate effective date.
Justification
This legislation would expand the list of water quality improvement projects under Section 64-e of the Town Law to include the construction of public water mains and connections to provide a pure and wholesome source of drinking water to inhabitants whose drinking water supply has been contaminated by toxic chemicals or hazardous substances.
Legislative history
2018: New Legislation
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
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.