BILL NUMBER:  S4158

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to establish a moratorium on the adoption or implementation of
any local law, ordinance, rule or regulation relating to charging a
fee for carryout merchandise bags or a fee of similar effect; and
providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof

 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :

This bill would establish a moratorium on the adoption and/or
implementation of any local law related to charging a fee for carryout
bags.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

This bill would establish a moratorium on the adoption and/or
implementation of any local law or ordinance, or any rule or
regulation, by a city with a population of one million or more,
related to charging a fee for carryout bags. Such moratorium would
remain in effect until two hundred and seventy days after the adoption
of a local law which re-authorizes, modifies or repeals New York City
Local Law 63 of 2016 as amended by New York City Local Law 81 of 2016
for the charging of a fee on customers for carryout bags.  The
re-authorization, modification, or repeal would be required to be
              

passed by the Council of the City of New York for the term commencing
January 1, 2018 and terminating December 31, 2021, or any term
commencing thereafter.

 JUSTIFICATION :

Concerns have been expressed relating to a local law passed by the
City of New York that requires the charging of a fee for single-use
paper and plastic carryout bags. A more thorough examination of the
current situation is needed in order to investigate all potential
impacts and possible alternative approaches and to allow for public
input. Such a review shall afford the state and its residents the
opportunity to analyze the most effective methods of decreasing the
use of and increasing recycling of single use paper and plastic
carryout bags to effectively manage the waste stream and assist in
environmental protection and management.

Additional time after the adoption of a local law relating to charging
a fee for carryout bags by the Council for the City of New York would
allow for education of such local law for all stakeholders.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

This is a new bill.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS :

None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act would take effect immediately and be deemed to be in full
force and effect on February 15, 2017 and shall expire two hundred and
seventy days after the adoption of a local law which re-authorizes,
modifies or repeals local law number 63 of the city of New York, as
amended by local law number 81 of the city of New York for the year
2016, for the charging of a fee for carryout bags passed by the
Council of the City of New York for the term commencing January 1,
2018 and terminating December 31, 2021, or any term commencing
thereafter.