Senate Bill S1348

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S1348

SPONSOR: SERINO
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to require the department of environmental conservation to
prepare recommendations for best practices in treating residential prop-
erties for tick prevention and management

 
PURPOSE:

This bill directs the Commissioner of Environmental Conservation to
develop guidelines for best practices in treating residential properties
for tick prevention and management.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Directs the Commissioner of Environmental Conservation to
develop guidelines, in consultation with Cornell University and the Cary
Institute, for best practices in treating residential properties to
reduce exposure to ticks. The guidelines shall be reviewed and revised
              

annually with current best practices and available on the Department's
website.

Section 2: Establishes the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

According to the most recent reporting by the Center for Disease Control
(CDC), New York State has the third highest number of confirmed cases of
Lyme disease in the entire country and according to the NYS Department
of Health (DOH), while it started as an issue dominating Long Island and
the Hudson Valley, it has quickly migrated to counties across New York.

DOH also notes that since it became reportable in 1986, over 95,000
cases of Lyme have been reported to the Department.

Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria transmitted to humans by the bite
of an infected deer tick and is the most common disease carried by
ticks. Because Lyme and tick-borne diseases are considered a threat to
public health and well-being, the state has begun investigating ways to
stop their spread at the source. Unable to fly and having an affinity
for shady, moist areas close to the ground, ticks often populate bushes,
shrubs, gardens and lawns.

Homeowners need a reliable source of information to turn to when looking
for answers on how to best protect their property from ticks.  They
should be aware of the registered EPA approved pesticides that are
recommended for tick prevention and the methods they can incorporate to
better protect both people and pets from exposure to ticks on their
property.

In order to raise awareness for appropriate and effective methods and to
facilitate the delivery of valuable information, this bill directs the
Commissioner of Environmental Conservation to develop guidelines for
best practices in treating residential properties for integrated pest
management-the goal ultimately being to rid communities of ticks that
contribute to tick-borne infections.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2018: S.9054 Referred to Rules (Similar to S.2588 of 2018 Passed Senate)

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.