What's happening
This bill creates a program and grant funding to help New York lake associations improve and maintain water quality.
Why it matters
Direct support for lake associations. means local groups will have access to state expertise to both identify and solve water quality problems, giving them practical help rather than leaving them to navigate issues alone.
Grant funding for remedial action. creates a new, dedicated resource for projects that can actually clean up or prevent pollution in lakes, potentially speeding up improvements and allowing for larger-scale interventions.
State oversight and best practices. ensure that lake associations are following scientifically sound methods, which can lead to more consistent and effective environmental results across New York’s many lakes.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Help Lakes Stay Clean
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
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.
Help Lakes Stay Clean
In Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Steven Otis
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7545
IN SENATE
January 24, 2020
Introduced by Sen. HARCKHAM -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to creating a program to assist lake associations with water quality improvement
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 15-0519 to read as follows: § 15-0519. Water quality improvement; lake associations.
1. Subject to an appropriation for such purpose, the department shall, in consultation with the environmental facilities corporation, create a program to assist lake associations with water quality improvement. The program shall, at the request of a lake association:
a. identify any water quality concerns at a water body managed by a lake association;
b. determine the most effective way to remediate any water quality concerns; and
c. assist with determining best practices to improve and maintain water quality at lake associations.
2. The department shall establish a grant program to assist with remedial actions to address the water quality at lake associations.
3. The department is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to implement this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment, and/or repeal of any rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be completed on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14921-01-0
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to creating a program to assist lake associations with water quality improvement
Purpose
To create a program to assist lake associations with water quality improvement
Summary of provisions
Section 1 establishes a program to assist lake associations with water quality improvement subject to an appropriation for such purpose. The program shall assist in identifying water quality concerns at a water body managed by a lake association as well as determining the most effective means of remediation for these concerns and deciding practices to improve and maintain water quality. This section additionally estab- lishes a grant program to assist with remedial actions to address water quality at lake associations. Lastly, it authorizes the department to declare rules and regulations to implement this section.
Section 2 sets the effective date.
Justification
There are many resources available to aid municipalities in improving water quality. However, many small lake associations neither have the capitol to afford a consultant to identify what the contaminant is and its source, nor are they able to qualify to apply for grant programs that are accessible to municipalities.
Without access to resources necessary to remedy poor water quality, potential pollution to nearby wells and surrounding groundwater will continue.This legislation will open up avenues for lake associations to receive much needed aid. Water quality issues will be addressed by providing for a consultant to help them identify which contaminants are compromising the water quality of their lake, the source, and what reme- diation action is necessary.
Legislative history
This is a new bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment, and/or repeal of any rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be completed on or before such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.