S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6696--B
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 30, 2015
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Introduced by M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development -- committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to said committee -- recommitted to the Committee on Consumer Affairs
and Protection in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to said committee
AN ACT to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law and
the general municipal law, in relation to authorizing an adopt-a-park
program
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 4 of section 3.09 of the parks, recreation and
historic preservation law is amended to read as follows:
4. Cooperate in the planning, organization, development and operation
of municipal and private park, recreational and historic preservation
projects and programs. THE COMMISSIONER MAY PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSIST-
ANCE TO MUNICIPALITIES FOR THE PLANNING, ORGANIZATION, DEVELOPMENT AND
OPERATION OF ADOPT-A-PARK PROGRAMS UNDERTAKEN PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO
HUNDRED SEVENTY-SEVEN OF THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW INCLUDING, BUT NOT
LIMITED TO, THE DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF AN INFORMATIONAL GUIDE
FOR PARTICIPANTS IN SUCH PROGRAMS.
S 2. Section 277 of the general municipal law, as added by chapter 626
of the laws of 1991, is amended to read as follows:
S 277. Adopt-a-municipal park, shoreline or roadway programs. 1. The
governing body of any county, city, town or village is hereby authorized
and empowered to authorize and direct such of its officers or agencies
as it shall designate to enter into adopt-a-park, shoreline or roadway
program agreements with volunteers or groups in an effort to reduce and
remove litter from parks, shorelines, roadways and other public lands.
Such agreements shall include but not be limited to:
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06346-07-6
A. 6696--B 2
a. providing and coordinating services by volunteers or groups to
reduce the amount of litter including providing trash bags and trash bag
pick up and in designated areas where volunteers may be in close proxim-
ity to moving vehicles providing safety briefings and reflective safety
gear; and
b. providing and installing signs identifying those volunteers or
groups adopting particular parks, shorelines, roadways or other sections
of public land.
2. WITH RESPECT TO ADOPT-A-PARK PROGRAMS, A PROGRAM AGREEMENT MAY ALSO
BE ENTERED INTO FOR THE PROVISION OF SERVICES BY VOLUNTEERS OR GROUPS TO
PRESERVE, MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE MUNICIPALLY-OWNED PARKS. SUCH PROGRAMS
MAY INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, REMEDIATING VANDALISM, PRESERVING
WETLANDS, CLEANING AND MAINTAINING PARK PROPERTY, ESTABLISHING AND MAIN-
TAINING ACCESS TO NATURE TRAILS, ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING DOG RUNS,
PLANTING AND MAINTAINING FLOWER BEDS OR OTHER VEGETATION, OR OTHERWISE
IMPROVING AND MAINTAINING THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF SUCH PARKS.
3. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, the county,
city, town or village and its employees shall not be liable for damages
suffered by any persons resulting from the REASONABLE actions or activ-
ities of such volunteers or groups PROVIDED SUCH ACTIONS OR ACTIVITIES
WERE PERFORMED IN GOOD FAITH.
4. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF LAW, RULE OR REGULATION TO THE
CONTRARY, NO ADOPT-A-PARK PROGRAM SHALL RESULT IN THE DISPLACEMENT OF
ANY CURRENTLY EMPLOYED WORKER OR THE LOSS OF POSITION, INCLUDING THE
PARTIAL DISPLACEMENT SUCH AS REDUCTION IN THE HOURS OF NON-OVERTIME,
WAGES, OR EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, OR RESULT IN THE IMPAIRMENT OF EXISTING
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS.
S 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law.