What's happening
This bill expands the definition of "invasive species" to include infestations that threaten native plants, animals, or human health, such as those spreading Lyme disease or West Nile virus.
Why it matters
Broadens the scope of state action. By including infestations that threaten human health (like those spreading Lyme disease or West Nile virus), the bill allows New York to address more kinds of biological threats under invasive species laws, potentially leading to quicker and broader intervention.
Shifts focus to public health. The bill explicitly connects invasive species management with disease prevention, raising the priority of combating pests like ticks and mosquitoes that can harm people, not just the environment or agriculture.
May increase funding and resources. With the expanded definition, more state resources could be allocated to monitoring, controlling, or eradicating species and pests that were not previously covered, possibly leading to new programs or expanded efforts.
Encourages proactive management. Recognizing infestations as harmful before severe impacts occur (to plants, animals, or people) may promote earlier action and prevention, rather than waiting for major economic or environmental damage.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Broaden Invasive Species Definition
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
13 Co-sponsors
3 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2469
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 22, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. HUNTER, WOERNER, D'URSO, MAGNARELLI, FAHY, LUPAR- DO, GALEF, COOK, COLTON, RAIA, WILLIAMS, HYNDMAN, PALUMBO, BLAKE -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. McDONOUGH, PALMESANO, THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to invasive species
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 10 of section 9-1703 of the environmental conservation law, as added by chapter 674 of the laws of 2007, is amended to read as follows:
10. "Invasive species" means a species that is:
(a) nonnative to the ecosystem under consideration; and
(b) whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. For the purposes of this paragraph, the harm must significantly outweigh any benefits; or
(c) present in numbers that such species or pest organisms are considered an infestation and large enough to be harmful, threatening, or obnoxious to native plants, animals, or human health. These should include, but not be limited to, infestations related to the proliferation of vector-borne diseases such as Lyme and tick-borne diseases and the West Nile virus.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04963-01-9
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.