What's happening
This bill requires New York state agencies to consider the right to safe, clean, affordable, and accessible water in relevant policy decisions.
Why it matters
Prioritizes human health and household needs. by ensuring that state agencies must factor in water access for drinking, cooking, and sanitation in all relevant decision-making.
Could drive more equitable access to water resources. , potentially influencing funding, regulations, and programs to better serve underserved or marginalized communities.
May set a legal and policy precedent. for treating water as a fundamental right in New York, which could influence future court cases, legislation, and the approach of other states.
Requires cross-agency coordination. , meaning multiple departments (health, environment, public service) must align on policies impacting water, potentially leading to more comprehensive protections and less bureaucratic fragmentation.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Guarantee Clean Drinking Water
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 14
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Print number 5334a
- Amend (t) and recommit to health
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
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 Drinking Water
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Thomas Abinanti
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5334--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 26, 2019
Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health -- recommitted to the Committee on Health in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to direct certain state agencies to consider the right to potable water when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, and grant criteria that are relevant to or affect that right
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. All relevant state agencies, including the department of health, the department of environmental conservation and the department of public service shall consider the right to safe, clean, affordable, and accessible water adequate for human consumption, cooking, and sanitary purposes when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, and grant criteria that are relevant to or affect that right.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05140-04-0
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to direct certain state agencies to consider the right to potable water when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, and grant criteria that are relevant to or affect that right
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill would help ensure access to potable, affordable and accessible water.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill requires all relevant state agencies, including the departments of health, environmental conservation and public service to consider the right to safe, clean, affordable, and accessible water adequate for human consumption, cooking, and sanitary purposes when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, and grant criteria that are relevant to or affect that right.
Section 2 is the effective date.
Justification
Access by our residents to clean, adequate, and affordable water is in jeopardy. Tainted drinking water continues to be in the forefront of the news. Cash strapped municipalities nationwide, including in New York, are under pressure to privatize their water systems. The control of water by private companies, including access and cost, is a threat to the protection and management of water resources sustainability.
Clean, adequate and affordable water should be available to all resi- dents. This is threatened by privatization and the lack of sufficient guidelines and policy. This legislation will require all relevant agen- cies to consider the right to safe, clean, affordable, and accessible water adequate for human consumption, cooking and sanitary purposes when revising, adopting, or establishing polices, regulations, and grant criteria pertinent to the uses of water described in this act. This will help to protect the right to clean, adequate, and affordable water for our residents.
Prior legislative history
2017-18: A.6803 referred to health.
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.