What's happening
This bill prohibits the intentional outdoor release of balloons in New York, with exceptions, and imposes fines or imprisonment for violations.
Why it matters
Addresses environmental concerns. by targeting a major source of litter and wildlife harm—balloons released outdoors, which often end up polluting waterways and habitats after they fall back to earth.
Defines “balloon” broadly. to include various materials and gases, ensuring that most common party and decorative balloons are covered, leaving little ambiguity about what is prohibited.
Provides targeted exemptions. for scientific and meteorological research as well as manned hot air balloons, balancing environmental goals with the needs of research and aviation activities.
Imposes meaningful penalties (up to $1,000 fine or 15 days in jail). , signaling that New York is taking this issue seriously and aiming for deterrence beyond just a symbolic or educational campaign.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Outdoor Balloon Releases
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
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
8831
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
November 25, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. LAVINE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to prohibiting the release of balloons
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 11-0331 to read as follows: § 11-0331. Release of balloons prohibited.
1. No person shall knowingly or intentionally cause any balloon to be released outdoors. For purposes of this section, "balloon" shall refer to a flexible, nonporous bag made of materials such as rubber, latex, polychloroprene or nylon fabric that contains helium, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, oxygen, air or water.
2. This section shall not apply to:
(a) balloons which are used for the purpose of carrying scientific instrumentation during the performance of an experiment or test or by a person on behalf of a governmental agency or pursuant to a governmental contract for scientific or meteorological purposes; or
(b) manned hot air balloons.
§ 2. Section 71-0923 of the environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new subdivision 13 to read as follows:
13. A violation of section 11-0331 of this chapter is punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars, or imprisonment for fifteen days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13738-01-9
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.