NY State Senate Bill 2025-S3560

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance 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

Please enter your contact information

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

A valid email address is required.

Home address is used to determine the senate district in which you reside. Your support or opposition to this bill is then shared immediately with the senator who represents you.

Optional services from the NY State Senate:

Create an account. An account allows you to officially support or oppose key legislation, sign petitions with a single click, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Include a custom message for your Senator? (Optional)

Enter a message to your senator. Many New Yorkers use this to share the reasoning behind their support or opposition to the bill. Others might share a personal anecdote about how the bill would affect them or people they care about.

Actions

View Actions

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 28, 2025	referred to finance

co-Sponsors

2025-S3560 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A1185
Current Committee:: Senate Finance
Law Section:: Public Authorities Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §1854, Pub Auth L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S6809, A6811

2025-S3560 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Provides that NYSERDA shall establish a program to provide rebates or new lithium-ion batteries for powered mobility devices at reduced cost or no cost to certain individuals; sets standards for lithium-ion batteries provided pursuant to the program; requires NYSERDA to submit an annual report on such program.

2025-S3560 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S3560

SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to establishing
a lithium-ion battery safety program

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this legislation is to establish a safety program to
provide new lithium-ion batteries at reduced cost or no cost to eligible
individuals.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

The first section of the bill establishes the Lithium-ion battery safety
program by adding a new subdivision 27 to section 1854 of the public
authorities law. It provides definitions for "lithium-ion battery,"
"powered mobility device," and "accredited testing laboratory."

Further, it provides that New York State Energy and Research Development

Authority (NYSERDA), in collaboration with the department of environ-
mental conservation and any other appropriate agency, shall establish a
program to provide new lithium batteries at reduced cost or no cost to
eligible individuals, which may include provision of new lithium
batteries in exchange for used lithium-ion batteries. The second section
sets forth the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have become increasingly popular over
recent years thanks to their powerful energy outputs and manageable
sizes. There are hardly any New Yorkers remaining who wouldn't be using
a LIB in their day-to-day activities. For workers who use e-bikes to
make their living, LIBs have become a staple of their lives. However,
despite their efficiency, we must work to limit the dangers associated
with LIBs. Specifically, as a result of faults in the structure of LIBs
and their chargers, we've begun seeing a trend of the batteries over-
heating and exploding into flames. Since January 2021 to early December
2022, the city's fire department attributed 202 fires, 142 injuries, and
six deaths to such batteries, including one in August 2022 that report-
edly killed a 5-year-old. To prevent any more senseless harm, this bill
would create a sustainable lithium-ion battery exchange program. This
program will create a new future of safe batteries that are more econom-
ically and widely available to all, but especially those who depend on
them for their livelihood. Delivery workers, most of whom are low-income
immigrants, rely on their e-bikes to make a living. Workers take home
just $7.09 per hour on average, excluding tips, so cheaper, second-hand
batteries are often more attractive to them. Over 65,000 of New York's
food delivery workers rely on e-bikes, most of which run on cheaper
lithium-ion batteries that have been linked to fires and injuries. The
problem is that certified-safety batteries tend to be more expensive
than uncertified ones, and many find it difficult to afford a safer
battery, which can cost $1,000 or more. But earning a living and safety
shouldn't have to be mutually exclusive for delivery employees.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2025-S3560 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   3560
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 28, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  CLEARE, PARKER, SEPULVEDA, WEBB -- read twice and
   ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee  on
   Finance
 
 AN  ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to establishing
   a lithium-ion battery safety program
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Section  1854 of the public authorities law is amended by
 adding a new subdivision 27 to read as follows:
   27. LITHIUM-ION BATTERY SAFETY  PROGRAM.  (A)  FOR  PURPOSES  OF  THIS
 SUBDIVISION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   (I)  "LITHIUM-ION  BATTERY"  MEANS A STORAGE BATTERY IN WHICH AN ELEC-
 TRICAL CURRENT IS  GENERATED  BY  LITHIUM  IONS  EMBEDDED  IN  A  CARBON
 GRAPHITE  OR  NICKEL  METAL-OXIDE  SUBSTRATE  PLACED IN A HIGH-VISCOSITY
 CARBONATE MIXTURE OR GELLED POLYMER ELECTROLYTE.
   (II) "POWERED MOBILITY DEVICE" MEANS A BICYCLE WITH ELECTRIC ASSIST AS
 DEFINED BY SECTION ONE HUNDRED TWO-C OF THE VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAW,  AN
 ELECTRIC  SCOOTER  AS  DEFINED  BY SECTION ONE HUNDRED FOURTEEN-E OF THE
 VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAW, A LIMITED USE MOTORCYCLE AS DEFINED BY  SECTION
 ONE  HUNDRED  TWENTY-ONE-B  OF  THE  VEHICLE  AND  TRAFFIC LAW, WHICH IS
 POWERED WHOLLY OR PARTIALLY BY AN ELECTRIC MOTOR, AN  ELECTRIC  PERSONAL
 ASSISTIVE  MOBILITY  DEVICE AS DEFINED IN SECTION ONE HUNDRED FOURTEEN-D
 OF THE VEHICLE  AND  TRAFFIC  LAW  OR  OTHER  PERSONAL  MOBILITY  DEVICE
 EQUIPPED  WITH A LITHIUM-ION OR OTHER STORAGE BATTERY, INCLUDING BUT NOT
 LIMITED TO, A SKATEBOARD, UNICYCLE, OR OTHER SIMILAR WHEELED DEVICE.
   (III) "ACCREDITED TESTING LABORATORY" MEANS  A  NATIONALLY  RECOGNIZED
 TESTING  LABORATORY AS RECOGNIZED BY THE FEDERAL OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND
 HEALTH ADMINISTRATION OR AN INDEPENDENT LABORATORY THAT HAS BEEN  CERTI-
 FIED BY AN ACCREDITING BODY TO ISO 17025 OR ISO 17065.
   (B)  NO  LATER THAN ONE YEAR AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBDIVI-
 SION, THE AUTHORITY, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  ENVIRON-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD02631-01-5

 S. 3560                             2
 
 MENTAL  CONSERVATION AND ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE AGENCY, SHALL DEVELOP AND
 ADMINISTER A PROGRAM TO PROVIDE REBATES OR NEW LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES FOR
 POWERED MOBILITY DEVICES AT REDUCED COST OR NO COST TO ELIGIBLE INDIVID-
 UALS.
   (C)  THE  PROGRAM  CREATED  PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL INCLUDE
 EITHER REBATES OR THE EXCHANGE OF NEW  LITHIUM-ION  BATTERIES  FOR  USED
 LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES.
   (D)  WITHIN  ONE  YEAR  OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE
 AUTHORITY SHALL IMPLEMENT  AND  ADMINISTER  THIS  SUBDIVISION  INCLUDING
 PROMULGATING  RULES  RELATING TO THE FORMS REQUIRED TO CLAIM A REBATE OR
 EXCHANGE A LITHIUM-ION BATTERY, THE REQUIRED  DOCUMENTATION  FOR  ESTAB-
 LISHING  ELIGIBILITY, PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES FOR CLAIMING A REBATE OR
 EXCHANGING A LITHIUM-ION BATTERY, AND THE COLLECTION OF ECONOMIC  IMPACT
 DATA  FROM  APPLICANTS  AND  ANY  OTHER REQUIREMENTS THE AUTHORITY DEEMS
 NECESSARY.
   (E) ALL NEW BATTERIES PROVIDED  PURSUANT  TO  SUCH  PROGRAM  SHALL  BE
 CERTIFIED  BY  AN  ACCREDITED  TESTING  LABORATORY FOR COMPLIANCE WITH A
 BATTERY STANDARD REFERENCED IN UL 2849, UL 2271, UL 2272 OR EN 15194, OR
 SUCH OTHER SAFETY STANDARD APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE  PURSUANT
 TO REGULATION. SUCH CERTIFICATION OR THE LOGO, WORDMARK, OR NAME OF SUCH
 ACCREDITED TESTING LABORATORY MUST BE DISPLAYED ON PACKAGING OR DOCUMEN-
 TATION  AT  THE  TIME OF SALE FOR THE PRODUCT OR DIRECTLY ON THE PRODUCT
 ITSELF.
   (F) NO LATER THAN APRIL FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX,  AND  ANNUALLY
 THEREAFTER,  THE  AUTHORITY  SHALL  ISSUE  A REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR, THE
 TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE,  AND  THE  SPEAKER  OF  THE  ASSEMBLY
 DETAILING THE STATUS OF THE PROGRAM CREATED UNDER THIS SUBDIVISION. SUCH
 REPORT SHALL AT A MINIMUM INCLUDE:
   (I)  THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING DEDICATED BY THE AUTHORITY FOR SUCH PROGRAM
 IN THE PRECEDING YEAR;
   (II) THE NUMBER OF REBATES AWARDED;
   (III) THE NUMBER OF EXCHANGES PROVIDED;
   (IV) THE AMOUNT AND GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF REBATES; AND
   (V) ANY OTHER INFORMATION THE AUTHORITY DEEMS NECESSARY.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

Comments

Open Legislation is a forum for New York State legislation. All comments are subject to review and community moderation is encouraged.

Comments deemed off-topic, commercial, campaign-related, self-promotional; or that contain profanity, hate or toxic speech; or that link to sites outside of the nysenate.gov domain are not permitted, and will not be published. Attempts to intimidate and silence contributors or deliberately deceive the public, including excessive or extraneous posting/posts, or coordinated activity, are prohibited and may result in the temporary or permanent banning of the user. Comment moderation is generally performed Monday through Friday. By contributing or voting you agree to the Terms of Participation and verify you are over 13.

Create an account. An account allows you to sign petitions with a single click, officially support or oppose key legislation, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Senate Bill S3560

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance Committee

co-Sponsors

2025-S3560 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S3560 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S3560 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S3560 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S3560

Share this bill

Sponsored By

Cordell Cleare

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance Committee

co-Sponsors

Patricia Fahy

Kevin S. Parker

Luis R. Sepúlveda

Lea Webb

2025-S3560 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S3560 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S3560 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S3560 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments