Establishes a task force on tree maintenance and safety in the city of New York to evaluate the department of parks and recreation's policies on tree maintenance, and to determine any improvements necessary to ensure public safety.
STATE OF NEW YORK
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1571
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2017
___________
Introduced by Sen. AVELLA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Cities
AN ACT to establish a task force on tree maintenance and safety in the
city of New York; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon
expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. A task force on tree maintenance and safety in the city of
2 New York is hereby established to examine, evaluate, accept public
3 comment and make recommendations concerning the adequacy of the New York
4 city department of parks and recreation's policies for tree maintenance
5 and the status and safety of trees within the city of New York. The task
6 force shall determine whether such policies are currently being prac-
7 ticed and whether such policies are sufficient to prevent accidents. The
8 task force may make such recommendations, as it deems fit, to revise and
9 alter policies for tree maintenance in the city of New York to better
10 promote safety and protect the public.
11 § 2. The task force shall consist of eleven members to be appointed as
12 follows:
13 (a) three members appointed by the New York State Arborists (Interna-
14 tional Society of Arboriculture Chapter);
15 (b) two members appointed by New Yorkers for Parks;
16 (c) two members appointed by Park Advocates;
17 (d) one member appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
18 (e) one member appointed by the speaker of the assembly; and
19 (f) two members appointed by the governor.
20 The members of the task force shall each have experience or education
21 in the various facets of tree maintenance and public safety. The gover-
22 nor shall designate the chair of the task force from among the appoint-
23 ees. Vacancies in the membership of the task force shall be filled in
24 the manner provided for original appointments.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01230-01-7
S. 1571 2
1 § 3. The members of the task force shall receive no compensation for
2 their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
3 incurred in the performance of their duties pursuant to this act.
4 § 4. To the maximum extent feasible, the task force shall be entitled
5 to request and receive, and shall utilize and be provided with such
6 facilities, resources and data of any department, division, board,
7 bureau, commission, district or agency of the state or any political
8 subdivision thereof as it may reasonably request to properly carry out
9 its powers and duties pursuant to this act.
10 § 5. The task force shall submit, within eighteen months of the effec-
11 tive date of this act, a report of its findings, conclusions and recom-
12 mendations to the governor, temporary president of the senate, speaker
13 of the assembly, minority leader of the senate and minority leader of
14 the assembly. The report shall include such legislative proposals as the
15 task force deems necessary to implement its recommendations.
16 § 6. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
17 deemed repealed 18 months after such date or on the date the report
18 required by section five of this act is submitted, whichever shall be
19 later; provided that the task force on tree maintenance and safety in
20 the city of New York shall notify the legislative bill drafting commis-
21 sion upon the submission of such report in order that the commission may
22 maintain an accurate and timely effective data base of the official text
23 of the laws of the state of New York in furtherance of effectuating the
24 provisions of section 44 of the legislative law and section 70-b of the
25 public officers law.
