What's happening
This bill prohibits New York state and local agencies from purchasing most single-use plastic products, with limited exceptions.
Why it matters
Targets a wide range of single-use plastics. The bill covers not only plastic bags and bottles, but also items like cling film, straws, plates, cutlery, stirrers, packaging rings, and styrofoam containers. This broad scope means a significant change in purchasing practices for state and local agencies.
Empowers state agencies to expand the ban. The Office of General Services, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Conservation, can add more products to the prohibited list in the future, allowing the law to adapt as new single-use plastics emerge.
Allows for specific, limited exceptions. Exemptions are provided for individuals needing plastic straws for medical reasons, for plastic bags used in garbage collection, and for single-use plastic medical equipment, balancing environmental goals with practical needs.
Introduces oversight and accountability. The Attorney General is tasked with investigating violations and reporting to state leadership, which could drive compliance and highlight areas where enforcement or further legislative action is needed.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban State Single-Use Plastics
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to finance
- Referred to rules
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.
Ban State Single-Use Plastics
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Operations · Sponsor Patricia Fahy
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6749
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
September 25, 2019
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the state finance law, in relation to enacting the "environmentally conscious purchasing act"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "environmentally conscious purchasing act".
§ 2. Section 165 of the state finance law is amended by adding a new subdivision 2-a to read as follows:
2-a. Prohibition on the purchase of single-use plastic products.
a. For the purposes of this subdivision, "single-use plastic products" shall include:
(i) plastic bags;
(ii) cling film plastic food packaging;
(iii) non-recyclable plastic bottles;
(iv) plastic straws;
(v) plastic plates, non-reusable plastic containers, plastic cups, plastic lids, and plastic stirrers;
(vi) plastic cutlery;
(vii) plastic rings used in packaging;
(viii) styrofoam plates, styrofoam take-away containers and styrofoam trays; and
(ix) any other single-use plastic products determined to be included by the office of general services, in consultation with the department of environmental conservation.
b. Except as provided in this subdivision, the state and any governmental agency or political subdivision or public benefit corporation of the state shall not purchase or obtain for any purpose any single-use plastic product.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13841-02-9
S. 6749 2
c. The provisions of paragraph b of this subdivision shall not apply to:
(i) the purchase of plastic straws for a person requiring such straws due to a medical condition;
(ii) the purchase of single-use plastic bags for garbage collection; and
(iii) single-use plastic medical equipment.
d. The attorney general shall investigate any violation of this subdivision and provide a report to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, and the speaker of the assembly.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the state finance law, in relation to enacting the "environmentally conscious purchasing act"
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS::
Section 1 - Establishes the "Environmentally Conscious Purchasing Act"
Section 2 - Amends the state finance law to ban all agencies and depart- ments, which receive full or partial state funding to purchase certain single-use plastic products.
Section 3 - Contains the effective date.
Justification
This legislation is being proposed to ensure that New York State's taxpayer dollars are not being put towards environmentally irresponsible products. There are a plethora of negative effects of these single-use plastic products. Almost half of all plastics ever produced, have been made in the last fifteen years. Moreover, about 8 million tons of plas- tic waste ends up in the ocean.
In addition, the fact that these products in most cases cannot be recy- cled means that they will pollute our lands and water, negatively affect marine life, and contribute to the growing issue of micro-plastics. That is why there is a dire need for our state to action by the power of its purse and not buy any new single-use plastics.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY::
New legislation.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS::
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE::
This act shall take effect immediately after it has become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.