Requires a utility corporation that trims, prunes or cuts trees, bushes or other vegetation on private property in connection with the servicing or protection of the supply or delivery lines or systems of the utility to arrange for the complete removal from the private property of the debris that results from such actions.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A10059
SPONSOR: Beephan TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public service law, in relation to requiring utility
corporations to remove debris attributable to servicing or protection of
delivery lines or systems
PURPOSE:
To require utility companies to fully remove loose timber from a work-
site.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: The public:service law is amended by adding a new section
119-d to read as follows: Removal of timber. A utility corporation that
trims, prunes or cuts tress, bushes or other vegetation on private prop-
erty in connection with the servicing or protection of the supply or
delivery lines or systems of the utility shall arrange for the complete
removal from the private property of the debris that results from such
actions. Such removal shall include woodchip processing and/or hauling
downed trees or branches to be composted, recycled or sold as tree
length lumber. The cost of such removal shall be borne by the utility
corporation.
Section 2: This act shall take effect immediately.
JUSTIFICATION:
During the devastating July 2023 Hudson Valley flooding, timber that was
swept away in the rush of water caused significant damage to property
and local infrastructure. The timber had been cleared by a utility
company and under current law these entities are not required to remove
the debris. This legislation establishes a requirement for the complete
removal of downed trees to protect homeowners and public assets such as
culverts from potential incidental damage during future floods.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the state.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
10059
IN ASSEMBLY
May 2, 2024
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BEEPHAN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to requiring utility
corporations to remove debris attributable to servicing or protection
of delivery lines or systems
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The public service law is amended by adding a new section
2 119-e to read as follows:
3 § 119-e. Removal of timber. A utility corporation that trims, prunes
4 or cuts trees, bushes or other vegetation on private property in
5 connection with the servicing or protection of the supply or delivery
6 lines or systems of the utility shall arrange for the complete removal
7 from the private property of the debris that results from such actions.
8 Such removal shall include woodchip processing and/or hauling downed
9 trees or branches to be composted, recycled or sold as tree length
10 lumber. The cost of such removal shall be borne by the utility corpo-
11 ration.
12 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13040-02-3
