NY State Senate Bill 2017-S7095

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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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 03, 2018	referred to transportation

2017-S7095 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Transportation
Law Section:: Public Authorities Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§1209 & 1265-a, Pub Auth L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2013-2014: S7744
2015-2016: S3338
2019-2020: S2310
2021-2022: S2952
2023-2024: S646

2017-S7095 (ACTIVE) - Summary

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

2017-S7095 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S7095

SPONSOR: KAVANAGH
 
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 replace-

ment railroad and subway track ties.

Section 3 of the bill sets forth the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The Metropolitan Transit Authority currently uses timber cut from trop-
ical rainforests for subway and railroad track ties because it is
strong, durable, and rot resistant. However, the use of tropical hard-
wood has a detrimental effect on the environment. According to Rainfor-
est Relief, "at least 50% of all species are found only in tropical
rainforests," yet the earth's rainforests are being destroyed at a rapid
rate. New York State legislation prohibits the government procurement of
certain species of tropical hardwoods, but entities, such as the MTA,
have simply switched to wood from species not enumerated in the current
law.

 
FISCAL IMPACT ON THE STATE:

None.

 
FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCALITIES:

None.

 
IMPACT ON REGULATION OF BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS:

None.

 
IMPACT ON FINES, IMPRISONMENT, FORFEITURE OF RIGHTS, OR OTHER PENAL
SANCTIONS:

None.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2016: A05570(Kavanagh)-Rules
2015: A05570(Kavanagh)-On the Floor
2014: A02777(Kavanagh)-Passed Assembly
2013: A02777(Kavanagh)-Rules
2012: A05580A(Kavanagh)- Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
2011: A05580(Kavanagh)-Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
2010: A10503(Kavanagh)-Ways and Means

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

2017-S7095 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7095
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 3, 2018
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. KAVANAGH -- 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.
   § 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.
   § 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.
                                                            LBD01448-01-7

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Senate Bill S7095

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

2017-S7095 (ACTIVE) - Details

2017-S7095 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2017-S7095 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2017-S7095 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S7095

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Sponsored By

Brian Kavanagh

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

2017-S7095 (ACTIVE) - Details

2017-S7095 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2017-S7095 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2017-S7095 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments