BILL NUMBER: S2455

SPONSOR: COMRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act in relation to requiring the office of parks, recreation and
historic preservation to review the policies of the department of parks
and recreation of the city of New York regarding trees and tree mainte-
nance

 
PURPOSE:

To require the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to
review the policies of the Department of Parks and Recreation of the
city of New York regarding trees and trees maintenance.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section I of this bill states that notwithstanding any other rule, regu-
lation or policy to the contrary, the Office of Parks, Recreation and
Historic Preservation (OPRHP) shall review and provide oversight to the
Department of Parks and Recreation of the city of New York in relation
              

to city-owned trees, tree maintenance, care and cultivation of such
trees, and any other matters the OPRHP deems necessary.

Section II sets forth the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

For years there has been an increasing number of serious injuries and
deaths resulting from falling trees in New York City parks. For example,
in Bryant Park on September 4, 2015 a large tree branch fell on top of
five people, injuring three of them seriously. In 2013, a young woman,
Yingyi Li-Dikov 6 months pregnant with her first child, was killed when
she was struck by a falling tree in Kissena Park in Queens. Between 2010
and2013 there were at least 4 deaths that resulted from diseased or
damaged trees that had fallen.

Public properties belonging to the city of New York are home to thou-
sands of trees in varying states of health. The city is responsible for
maintaining these trees so that they remain healthy and do not pose
extraordinary dangers to public safety and property.  Due to widespread
concerns that New York City's policies on the care and maintenance of
trees is not sufficient to protect the public from unsafe trees, and to
ensure that taxpayer dollars are being spent in the most efficient and
effective manner, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and
Historic Preservation should be granted regulatory authority to investi-
gate the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation's policies on
tree maintenance.

This bill would authorize The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation
and Historic Preservation to exercise oversight of the New York City
Department of Parks and Recreation concerning the care and maintenance
of city trees.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2022: S5738

2018: A001335 (Rozic) - Environmental Conserve ion

2016: A105897 (Rozic) - Environmental Conservation

 
FISCAL IMPACT ON THE STATE:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.