What's happening
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to guarantee every New Yorker the right to clean air, water, and a healthful environment.
Why it matters
Establishes an explicit constitutional right. for every New Yorker to clean air, water, and a healthful environment, elevating environmental protection to the highest level of state law and making it a fundamental right on par with other civil liberties.
Strengthens legal standing for individuals and communities. to challenge government actions or policies that may harm the environment, potentially leading to more robust enforcement and accountability regarding environmental regulations.
Could influence future legislation, permitting, and policy decisions. by requiring lawmakers and regulators to prioritize environmental health and safety when making decisions, possibly resulting in stricter standards or new safeguards across sectors that impact air, water, and public health.
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Who cares
New York residents
The proposed constitutional amendment would give each person a right to clean air and water and a healthful environment.
Environmental advocates
The proposal would place environmental rights in the state Constitution rather than establish specific pollution limits or cleanup requirements.
State legislators
The resolution would refer the proposed amendment to the first regular legislative session after the next Assembly general election for further consideration.
Headline styles
Guarantee Clean Air and Water
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
46 Co-sponsors
- Richard Gottfried
- Angelo Santabarbara
- Felix Ortiz
- Jeffrey Dinowitz
- William Colton
- Barbara Lifton
- Deborah Glick
- Patricia Fahy
- Thomas Abinanti
- Steven Otis
- Kimberly Jean-Pierre
- Charles Lavine
- Walter T. Mosley
- Jo Anne Simon
- Sandy Galef
- Ellen C. Jaffee
- Vivian Cook
- Jose Rivera
- Anthony D'Urso
- Pamela J. Hunter
- Phil Steck
- Crystal Peoples-Stokes
- Jaime R. Williams
- Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn
- Philip Ramos
- David Weprin
- Michele Titus
- Alicia Hyndman
- Rebecca Seawright
- Donna Lupardo
- Linda Rosenthal
- Charles Barron
- Latrice Walker
- Robert C. Carroll
- Didi Barrett
- Carmen De La Rosa
- Kevin Cahill
- Fred Thiele
- Karines Reyes
- Aileen Gunther
- Maritza Davila
- Harvey Epstein
- Jeffrion Aubry
- Catalina Cruz
- Judy Griffin
- Harry B. Bronson
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Substituted by S2072
- Advanced to third reading cal.181
- Reported
- Opinion referred to judiciary
- Reported referred to judiciary
- To attorney-general for opinion
- 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.
Guarantee Clean Air and Water
In Senate Committee · Judiciary · Sponsor David Carlucci
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2064
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 22, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT, GOTTFRIED, SANTABARBARA, ORTIZ, DINOWITZ, COLTON, LIFTON, GLICK, FAHY, ABINANTI, OTIS, JEAN-PIERRE, LAVINE, MOSLEY, SIMON, GALEF, JAFFEE, COOK, RIVERA, D'URSO, HUNTER, STECK, PEOPLES-STOKES, WILLIAMS, BICHOTTE, RAMOS, WEPRIN, TITUS, HYND- MAN, SEAWRIGHT, LUPARDO, L. ROSENTHAL, BARRON, WALKER, CARROLL, BARRETT, DE LA ROSA, CAHILL, THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment to article 1 of the constitution, in relation to the right to clean air and water and a healthful environment
Section 1. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That article 1 of the constitution be amended by adding a new section 19 to read as follows:
§ 19. Environmental rights. Each person shall have a right to clean air and water, and a healthful environment.
§ 2. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That the foregoing amendment be referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the next succeeding general election of members of the assembly, and, in conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD89064-01-9
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.