Relates to prohibiting the release of certain balloons; prohibits a person from knowingly or intentionally releasing outdoors any balloons constructed of electrically conductive material filled with helium or a gas lighter than air; provides exceptions.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A1101
SPONSOR: Glick TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
prohibiting the release of certain balloons
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to reduce the negative environmental impact
of helium balloons by prohibiting the mass release of helium balloons
outdoors.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill amends the environmental conservation law by
adding new section 11-0331 which prohibits the outdoor release of twen-
ty-five or more balloons constructed of electrically conductive material
and filled with helium or a gas lighter than air. This section does not
apply to balloons which are used for the purpose of carrying scientific
instrumentation for scientific or meteorological purposes or manned hot
air balloons.
Section two sets forth the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
While the release of balloons outdoors may seem like a harmless activ-
ity, the litter caused by these balloons have a significant impact on
the environment. Balloons released outdoors infiltrate ecosystems and
can pose hazards for marine life, birds, and other animals. In addition,
these balloons can also become entangled in power lines and result in
power outages. This bill, based in part on a California law, would serve
to protect the environment and wildlife by reasonably limiting outdoor
balloon release.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: A.4006 - Environmental Conservation Committee
2021-22: A.3021 - Environmental Conservation Committee
2019-20: A.4754 - Environmental Conservation Committee
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect January 1st following enactment.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1101
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 9, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GLICK -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
prohibiting the release of certain balloons
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a
2 new section 11-0331 to read as follows:
3 § 11-0331. Release of certain balloons prohibited.
4 1. No person shall knowingly release or intentionally cause to be
5 released outdoors any balloon constructed of electrically conductive
6 material and filled with helium or a gas lighter than air.
7 2. No person shall knowingly release or intentionally cause to be
8 released outdoors, within a twenty-four hour period, twenty-five or more
9 balloons constructed of non-electrically conductive material and filled
10 with helium or a gas lighter than air.
11 3. This section shall not apply to:
12 (a) balloons which are used for the purpose of carrying scientific
13 instrumentation during the performance of an experiment or test or by a
14 person on behalf of a governmental agency or pursuant to a governmental
15 contract for scientific or meteorological purposes; or
16 (b) manned hot air balloons.
17 § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
18 ing the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00076-01-5
