NY State Senate Bill 2019-S7599

Senate Bill S7599

2019-2020 Legislative Session

Relates to prohibiting the use of gas-powered leaf and lawn blowers during certain months

download bill text pdf

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Health Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 29, 2020	referred to health

2019-S7599 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Health
Law Section:: Public Health Law
Laws Affected:: Add §1300-d, Pub Health L
Versions Introduced in 2019-2020 Legislative Session:: S7599

2019-S7599 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Prohibits the use of gas-powered leaf and lawn blowers between May 1st and September 30th.

2019-S7599 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S7599

SPONSOR: LIU
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to prohibiting the
use of gas-powered leaf and lawn blowers during certain months

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To prohibit the use of gas-powered leaf and lawn blowers from May first
and September thirtieth.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Gas-powered leaf blowers pollute the environment in 3 ways: exhaust
emissions, noise, and particulates/dust blown into the air.

Per the Department of Environmental Conservation website:  "Emissions
from gas powered leaf blowers are substantial. The amount of CO (carbon
monoxide) emitted from a typical backpack leaf blower for just 1 hour is

equal to CO coming from the tailpipe of a current year automobile oper-
ating for over 8 hours. For the other pollutants, the amounts are even
greater."

"Leaf blowers push 300 to 700 cubic feet of air per minute at 150 to 280
MPH. The resulting dust can contain PM2.5 and PM10 particles including
pollen and mold, animal feces, heavy metals, and chemicals from herbi-
cides and pesticides."

"While more modern leaf blowers are available with ratings of 65 dB or
lower at 50 feet, many that are on the market still exceed 70 dB at 50
ft. A leaf blower rated at 70 dB at 50 feet may generate noise levels
over 105 dB at the operator's ears."

Much of the work done by gas powered leaf and lawn blowers is often
unnecessary, and can be done by more environmentally friendly tools,
such as a mulching mower.

This bill aims to cut down on the careless usage of leaf blowers by
restricting its usage as a landscaping tool in the non-fall months.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2019-S7599 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7599
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 29, 2020
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  LIU  --  read  twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
 
 AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation  to  prohibiting  the
   use of gas-powered leaf and lawn blowers during certain months
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding  a  new  section
 1300-d to read as follows:
   § 1300-D. GAS-POWERED LEAF AND LAWN BLOWERS. NO PERSON SHALL OPERATE A
 GAS-POWERED  LEAF  AND LAWN BLOWER FOR ANY PURPOSE BETWEEN MAY FIRST AND
 SEPTEMBER THIRTIETH. ANY PERSON WHO  VIOLATES  THE  PROVISIONS  OF  THIS
 SECTION  SHALL  BE  SUBJECT TO A CIVIL FINE OF NOT MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED
 DOLLARS.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day  after  it  shall
 have become a law.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD14867-01-0

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