BILL NUMBER: S6461

SPONSOR: MAY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to the
biological control of Lyme disease vectors

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To facilitate the natural predator/prey relationship between foxes and
white-footed mice in order to help suppress Lyme disease.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

This bill would add a new section 11-0525-a to the Environmental Conser-
vation Law to:

* authorize the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), in
consultation with the Department of Health to certify that the health
and welfare of the human population are in danger from Lyme disease; Law
              

to:

* require DEC to suspend the taking of foxes once such a certification
has been made; and,

* require DEC to, at a minimum, provide notice of such taking prohibi-
tion on its website.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

New York has seen dramatic increases in the number of cases of Lyme
disease. Lyme disease is caused by the bacterial pathogen Borrelia
burgidoferi. White-footed mice have been shown to be an important
contributor, or vector, in the proliferation of the disease, with deer
ticks feeding on the blood of infected mice. Foxes are important preda-
tors of mice. A number of scientific studies including "Deer, predators,
and the emergence of Lyme disease" published in Volume 109 of the
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, have demonstrated this
link and also found lower rates of the disease in areas with larger fox
populations.

This legislation, which is based on existing law related to rabies
control, would require the Department of Environmental Conservation to
suspend the taking of foxes in areas with a high prevalence of Lyme
disease.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2021-2022: A4243 (Englebright)

2019-20: A.6280 (Englebright) - Referred to En Con Committee.

2018: A.9612 (Englebright) - Referred to 3rd reading calendar.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.