What's happening
This bill makes it a crime to fail to report the release of hazardous substances, with escalating penalties for repeat offenses.
Why it matters
Increases accountability for hazardous substance releases. by making it a criminal offense not to notify authorities, which could motivate individuals and companies to be more vigilant and transparent when accidents occur.
Escalates legal consequences for repeat offenders. first offenses are misdemeanors, but any subsequent failure to report becomes a felony, signaling the state’s intent to strongly deter repeated negligence in environmental safety.
Directly links public health and environmental protection to legal responsibility. , emphasizing that prompt reporting is not just an administrative task but a critical duty with real-world impacts on community safety and well-being.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Punish Unreported Chemical Spills
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- 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.
Criminalize Unreported Toxic Spills
In Senate Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Liz Krueger
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1457
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 15, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to notification of the release of hazardous substances
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new section 71-3705 to read as follows: § 71-3705. Failure to report release of hazardous substances.
Any person who violates any of the provisions of, or who fails to perform any duty imposed by section 37-0107 of this chapter, and who fails to notify the department of a release of a reportable quantity of a hazardous substance that is hazardous or acutely hazardous to public health, safety or the environment shall be guilty of failure to report release of a hazardous substance. Failure to report release of a hazardous substance shall be a class A misdemeanor; provided, however, that if a defendant has previously been convicted of a violation of this section, such subsequent violation shall be a class E felony.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of December next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02578-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.