What's happening
This bill requires New York state roads to use pollinator-friendly maintenance techniques, such as planting native plants and minimizing pesticides.
Why it matters
Could help boost local pollinator populations. (like bees and butterflies), which are essential for agriculture and ecosystem health, by making roadsides more hospitable habitats.
May reduce maintenance costs over time. by shifting towards low-mow or no-mow grasses and wildflowers, decreasing labor and fuel needs associated with frequent mowing.
Limits the use of pesticides and promotes integrated vegetation management. , which could reduce chemical runoff, benefit water quality, and lessen risks to human and animal health near roadways.
Sets an example for environmentally responsible land management. in public infrastructure, potentially encouraging similar pollinator-friendly practices beyond state roads (such as municipal or private lands).
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Pollinator-Friendly Road Upkeep
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7047
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2020
Introduced by Sen. METZGER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the transportation law, in relation to utilizing pollinator friendly road maintenance techniques
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 14-a of the transportation law, as amended by chapter 661 of the laws of 1972, is amended to read as follows:
§ 14-a. Preservation of agricultural lands, public park and recreational lands, wildlife and waterfowl refuges and historical sites. (a) The commissioner of transportation shall cooperate and consult with the commissioners of agriculture and markets, parks and recreation, environmental conservation and health in developing transportation plans and programs so that such programs include measures to maintain or enhance the desirable natural characteristics of the land traversed. Such cooperation and consultation shall be effected and implemented by memoranda of understanding which shall be entered into between the commissioner of transportation and each of such commissioners. Such memoranda of understanding shall provide for review of proposed transportation projects by such commissioners at all stages of progress, including preliminary and final planning and during construction, and for the cooperation by the department of transportation necessary to facilitate such review. Such memoranda of understanding shall also provide that the commissioner of transportation shall implement any suggestion or recommendation made by any of such commissioners which he deems feasible in connection with the preservation of agricultural lands, lands of public parks and recreational areas, wildlife and waterfowl refuges and historical sites.
(b) Roads, medians and right-of-ways under the jurisdiction of the state shall utilize pollinator friendly maintenance techniques. Such techniques shall include, but not be limited to, planting and seeding native, locally appropriate low-mow or no mow grasses and wildflowers, implementing mowing strategies that limit disturbances during periods of highest use by pollinators, minimizing the use of pesticides, implementing the application of integrated vegetation management, and any other technique deemed appropriate for pollinator friendly maintenance.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14351-02-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the transportation law, in relation to utilizing polli- nator friendly road maintenance techniques
Purpose
This legislation directs the Department of Transportation to utilize pollinator friendly maintenance techniques
Summary of provisions
Section 1 - Amends section 14-a of the transportation law to require the department of transportation in consultation with the appropriate agen- cies to utilize pollinator friendly maintenance techniques on roads, medians, and right of ways under its jurisdiction. Such techniques include planting locally appropriate low-mow or no mow grasses and wild- flowers. Additionally, implementing mowing strategies that limit disturbances during periods of highest use by pollinators and minimizing the use of pesticides. Techniques should use integrated vegetation management when possible.
Section 2 - Effective Date - Immediately.
Existing law
Under the existing law, the state's transportation plan must maintain or enhance the natural characteristics of the land including the preserva- tion of agricultural lands, public parks, recreational areas, wildlife, waterfowl refuges, and historical sites.
Justification
In recent years, the number of bees and other pollinators have declined. Pollinators are essential to the agricultural economy and the natural environment. In an effort to maintain pollinator friendly spaces, several states including Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and others have developed pollinator friendly road plans.
In 2016, the Department of Environmental Conservation in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, released a comprehensive Pollinator Protection Plan. It is time to take many of these recommendations regarding roads and codify them to enact lasting statutory projections for pollinators.
Legislative history
This is a new bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.