NY State Senate Bill 2015-S3338

Senate Bill S3338

2015-2016 Legislative Session

Relates to the use of wood in subway and railroad tracks; prohibits the use of tropical hardwood

download bill text pdf

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 06, 2016	referred to transportation
Feb 05, 2015	referred to transportation

2015-S3338 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A5570
Current Committee:: Senate Transportation
Law Section:: Public Authorities Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§1209 & 1265-a, Pub Auth L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: A10503
2011-2012: A5580
2013-2014: S7744, A2777
2017-2018: S7095, A990
2019-2020: S2310
2021-2022: S2952
2023-2024: S646

2015-S3338 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to the use of wood in subway and railroad tracks; prohibits the use of tropical hardwood.

2015-S3338 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                BILL NUMBER:S3338

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the public authorities law, in
relation to the use of wood in subway and railroad tracks

PURPOSE:

To eliminate the use of tropical hardwood for new or replacement
subway and railroad track ties.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of the bill amends section 1209 of the public authorities
law by adding a new subdivision 11-a which defines "tropical hardwood"
and prohibits the procurement of tropical hardwood for new and
replacement railroad and subway track ties.

Section 2 of the bill amends section 1265-a of the public authorities
law by adding a new subdivision 6-a, which defines "tropical hardwood"
and prohibits the procurement of tropical hardwood for new and
replacement railroad and subway track ties.

Section 3 of the bill sets forth the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:

The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) currently uses timber cut
from tropical rainforests for subway and railroad track ties because
it is strong, durable, and rot resistant. However, the use of tropical
hardwood has a detrimental effect on the environment.  According to
Rainforest Relief, "at least 50% of all species are found only in
tropical rainforests" and the "Earth's rainforests are being destroyed
at the rate of 1.5 acres per second worldwide" (Rainforest Relief,
"Avoiding Unsustainable Rainforest Wood," 2007).  New York State
legislation prohibits the government procurement of certain species of
tropical hardwoods, but entities have simply switched to wood from
species not enumerated in the law. New York City is currently one of
the largest purchasers of tropical hardwoods in the world.
LEGISLATION:

2014: S.7744 Referred to Transportation / A.2777 Passed Assembly
2012: A.05580A (Kavanagh) - Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
2011: A.05580 (Kavanagh) - Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
2010: A.10503 (Kavanagh) - Ways and Means

FISCAL IMPACT ON THE STATE:

None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have
become a law.

2015-S3338 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  3338

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            February 5, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  LANZA  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation

AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to  the  use  of
  wood in subway and railroad tracks

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Section 1209 of the public authorities law  is  amended  by
adding a new subdivision 11-a to read as follows:
  11-A.  (A)  THE AUTHORITY SHALL NOT PROCURE TROPICAL HARDWOODS FOR NEW
OR REPLACEMENT SUBWAY AND RAILROAD TRACK TIES.
  (B) FOR  PURPOSES  OF  THIS  SUBDIVISION,  "TROPICAL  HARDWOOD"  SHALL
INCLUDE  ANY  AND ALL HARDWOOD, SCIENTIFICALLY CLASSIFIED AS ANGIOSPERM,
THAT GROWS IN ANY TROPICAL MOIST OLD GROWTH/PRIMARY FOREST  BETWEEN  THE
TROPICS OF CANCER AND CAPRICORN.
  S 2. Section 1265-a of the public authorities law is amended by adding
a new subdivision 6-a to read as follows:
  6-A. (A) THE AUTHORITY SHALL NOT PROCURE TROPICAL HARDWOODS FOR NEW OR
REPLACEMENT SUBWAY AND RAILROAD TRACK TIES.
  (B)  FOR  PURPOSES  OF  THIS  SUBDIVISION,  "TROPICAL  HARDWOOD" SHALL
INCLUDE ANY AND ALL HARDWOOD, SCIENTIFICALLY CLASSIFIED  AS  ANGIOSPERM,
THAT  GROWS  IN ANY TROPICAL MOIST OLD GROWTH/PRIMARY FOREST BETWEEN THE
TROPICS OF CANCER AND CAPRICORN.
  S 3. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day  after  it  shall
have become a law.



 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD02375-01-5

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