What's happening
This bill extends for one year the authorization for Staten Island property owners in high-risk brush fire areas to cut and remove reeds.
Why it matters
Extending this authorization allows homeowners in Staten Island’s high-risk brush fire zones to continue vital fire prevention measures for another year, helping to reduce the risk of property damage and personal injury from wildfires.
The ability to cut and remove reeds is especially important in these neighborhoods because reeds are highly flammable and can accelerate the spread of brush fires, so the extension supports ongoing community safety.
Without this extension, property owners might face legal obstacles to maintaining their land against fire threats, potentially increasing the vulnerability of both private properties and surrounding areas.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Extend Reed-Cutting Rights
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by A7006
- Ordered to third reading cal.1212
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to cities
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.
Extend Reed Removal Rights
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Michael Cusick
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2388
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 24, 2019
Introduced by Sen. LANZA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Cities
AN ACT to amend chapter 306 of the laws of 2011, authorizing owners of residential real property in high risk brush fire areas in the borough of Staten Island to cut and remove reeds from their property, in relation to extending the expiration and repeal date thereof for an additional year
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 3 of chapter 306 of the laws of 2011, authorizing owners of residential real property in high risk brush fire areas in the borough of Staten Island to cut and remove reeds from their property, as amended by chapter 144 of the laws of 2018, is amended to read as follows:
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed December 31, [2019] 2020.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00293-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend chapter 306 of the laws of 2011, authorizing owners of residential real property in high risk brush fire areas in the borough of Staten Island to cut and remove reeds from their property, in relation to extending the expiration and repeal date thereof for an additional year
Purpose or general idea of bill
To establish a general residential fire.break permit for the borough of Staten Island, city of New York to allow the owner of residential real property to cut and remove phragmites.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. Amends Section 3 of chapter 306 of the laws of 2011 authoriz- ing owners of residential real property in high risk brush fire areas in the borough of Staten Island to cut and remove reeds from their proper- ty, as amended by chapter 108 of the laws of 2017.
Section 2. Provides for an immediate effective date.
Justification
Every year on Staten Island there are series of dangerous brushfires. Many areas on Staten Island are prone to brushfires because they are thick with an invasive, nonnative species of weed - phragmites communis. Phragmites are reeds and combustible plants that commonly grow seven feet tall and often turn into tinderboxes especially during the spring and fall seasons. They have been the proven source of numerous brush fires which often escalate and threaten surrounding properties. Accord- ing to information provided by the New York City Fire Department, in the past 15 plus years there have been over 7,400 reported brush fires on Staten Island with close to 200 of them being "all hands on" requiring all fire houses on the Island to send assistance.
This legislation extends chapter 108 of the laws of 2017 for another year. It allows a residential property owner in a high risk brush fire area in the borough of Staten Island to obtain a no-cost permit to cut down these invasive combustible reeds thereby reducing the life-threat- ening phragmite fires that not only destroy property and homes but put our first responders at risk as they battle these blazes.
The no-cost permits can be obtained via telephone or in person through the Staten Island borough president's office. Furthermore, information regarding the availability of the residential fire break permits can be found on the Department of Environmental Conservation website.
Prior legislative history
2018: A.9873/S.7734 - Chapter 144; 2017: A.1189/S.1865 - Chapter 108; 2016: A.9876/S.7332 - Chapter 206; 2015: A.1460/S.2546 - Chapter 245; 2014: A.8862/S.6656 - Chapter 267; 2012: A.9046/S.6219 - Chapter 34; 2011: A.7463-A/S.4377-A - Chapter 306.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed December 31, 2019.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.