Senate Bill S7951A

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Establishes the native/pollinator planting fund, the pollinator highway program and creates a distinctive license plate relating thereto

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance 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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Actions

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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Nov 07, 2025	print number 7951a
Nov 07, 2025	amend (t) and recommit to finance
May 14, 2025	referred to finance

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

2025-S7951 - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Finance
Law Section:: State Finance Law
Laws Affected:: Add §99-tt, St Fin L; add §67, Hway L; add §404-ff, V & T L

2025-S7951 - Summary

Establishes the native/pollinator planting fund, the pollinator highway program and creates a distinctive native plant and pollinator license plate with the goal of promoting the cultivation and maintenance of native flowering plants, grasses and shrubs on land bordering state highways and on other public lands.

2025-S7951 - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7951

SPONSOR: MAYER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the state finance law and the highway law, in relation
to establishing the native/pollinator planting fund and the pollinator
highway program

 
PURPOSE OF BILL::

To establish and provide for funding of a program to promote the culti-
vation and maintenance of native flowering plants, grasses, and shrubs
on land bordering state highways and other public lands.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS::

Section 1 amends the state finance law by adding a new section 99-ss
which establishes a native/pollinator planting fund in the joint custody
of the commissioner of taxation and finance and the state comptroller.
The fund shall consist of revenue from appropriations, interest earned,
state and federal grants for green infrastructure projects, and revenue

generated from the sale of a dedicated vanity license plate featuring
native plant or pollinator imagery. Money from the fund shall support
the establishment of the pollinator highway program.

Section 2 amends the highway law by adding a new section 67 establishing
the pollinator highway program to promote the cultivation and mainte-
nance of native flowering plants, grasses and shrubs on land bordering
state highways and on other public lands.  Objectives for the program
shall include: incorporating native plants into green infrastructure
solutions, establishing and enhancing pollinator habitats, and utilizing
native vegetation to improve soil health, sequester carbon, and reduce
the need for emissions-intensive maintenance activities. The Department
of Transportation shall consult with other state agencies including the
Department of Agriculture and Markets and the Department of Environ-
mental Conservation and with environmental organizations to identify
suitable locations for planting, develop standards for plant selection,
encourage use of innovative stormwater management techniques integrating
native vegetation, and shall coordinate with municipalities and regional
agencies and environmental groups to implement pilot projects and commu-
nity-based initiatives. The Department of Transportation shall support
implementation of the program by establishing grants to municipalities
and public-private partnerships to enhance outreach, and shall work with
the Department of Motor Vehicles to establish a vanity license plant
featuring native plant or pollinator imagery with the proceeds support-
ing the program's activities and grants.

 
JUSTIFICATION::

The New York State Pollinator Task Force, formed in 2015, was charged
with developing a plan for New York to conserve and grow its pollinator
population. The New York State Pollinator Protection Plan, issued in
2016, was updated in 2022.1 The New York state efforts were preceded on
the federal level by the release of Presidential Memorandum - Creating a
Federal Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollina-
tors.2


As noted by the Office of General Services, "New York State agencies and
authorities own or lease a significant percentage of the 31,106,541
acres in New York State. In a natural condition, the environment
performs critical, life-supporting functions, such as cleaning the air
and water, controlling floodwater, moderating temperature and wind, and
providing wildlife habitat.... New York State is home  
TO more than 450
wild pollinator species, including bees, birds and other insects, that
support not only pollination needs for commercial crops, but also the
biodiversity in our environment. With insect populations on the decline
all over the world, it is crucial to protect our pollinators."3

According to the state's Pollinator Protection Plan, the Department of
Transportation, which is responsible for providing safe and efficient
transportation systems, has the ability to also provide suitable habitat
and landscape connectivity for pollinators while maintaining rights of
way. DOT owns 15,000 miles of highway outside New York City and 140
miles within New York City and since October 2012 has encouraged polli-
nator-friendly planting along rights of way.4

This bill recognizes the importance of supporting pollinator health and
diversity by expanding native plant habitats along highway rights of way
and on other public lands. The bill creates a dedicated funding mech-
anism through the native/pollinator planting fund which will include
revenues generated through the sale of a dedicated vanity license plate
featuring native plant or pollinator imagery.

The native/pollinator planting fund will enable the department of trans-
portation to establish the pollinator highway program and expand upon
existing efforts and partnerships with other state agencies, munici-
palities, and environmental organizations to create pollinator-friendly
wildlife habitats along rights of way throughout the state.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY::

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS::

To be determined

 
EFFECTIVE DATE::

This bill shall take effect immediately.

1 NYS Office of General Services, Pollinator Protectors,
https://ogs.ny.goy/pollinator-protectors

2 Presidential Memorandum -- Creating a Federal Strategy to Promote the
Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators (June 20, 2014),
https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/06/20/
presidential-memorandum-creating-federal-strategy-promote-health-
honey-b

3 Office of General Services, Conserving Natural Resources,
https://ogs.ny.gov/greenny/conservingnatural-resources

4 NYS Department of Environmental Conservation & Agriculture and
Markets, New York State Pollinator Protection Plan (June 24, 2016),
https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_
pdf/nyspollinatorplan.pdf at 12, 16, 17; NYS Agriculture and Markets,
Pollinator Protection Plan Update (June 23, 2022),
https://agriculture.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2023/06/newyorkstate
pollinatorprotectionplanupdate2023.pdf

2025-S7951 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7951
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 14, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  MAYER  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
 
 AN ACT to amend the state finance law and the highway law,  in  relation
   to establishing the native/pollinator planting fund and the pollinator
   highway program

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The state finance law is amended by adding  a  new  section
 99-tt to read as follows:
   §  99-TT.  NATIVE/POLLINATOR  PLANTING FUND. 1. THERE IS HEREBY ESTAB-
 LISHED IN THE JOINT CUSTODY OF THE COMMISSIONER OF TAXATION AND  FINANCE
 AND   THE   STATE  COMPTROLLER  A  SPECIAL  FUND  TO  BE  KNOWN  AS  THE
 NATIVE/POLLINATOR PLANTING FUND. IT SHALL CONSIST OF AMOUNTS CREDITED TO
 THE FUND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION.
   2. THE FUND SHALL CONSIST OF: (A) REVENUE FROM APPROPRIATIONS OR OTHER
 MONEY AUTHORIZED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED TO
 BE CREDITED TO THE FUND; (B) INTEREST EARNED ON MONEY IN THE  FUND;  (C)
 STATE  AND  FEDERAL  GRANTS  FOR  GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS; AND (D)
 REVENUE GENERATED FROM THE SALE OF  A  DEDICATED  VANITY  LICENSE  PLATE
 FEATURING  NATIVE  PLANT  OR POLLINATOR IMAGERY. AMOUNTS CREDITED TO THE
 FUND SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO FURTHER APPROPRIATION AND ANY MONEY REMAIN-
 ING IN THE FUND AT THE END OF A FISCAL YEAR  SHALL  NOT  REVERT  TO  THE
 GENERAL FUND.
   3.  MONEY  IN  THE FUND SHALL BE EXPENDED TO SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHMENT
 AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM ESTABLISHED UNDER SECTION  SIXTY-SEVEN
 OF  THE HIGHWAY LAW, INCLUDING GRANTS TO MUNICIPALITIES AND PARTNERSHIPS
 WITH ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS. PRIORITY FUNDING  SHALL  BE  GIVEN  TO
 PROJECTS DEMONSTRATING SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS.
   4.  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  TRANSPORTATION SHALL ANNUALLY, NOT LATER THAN
 DECEMBER THIRTY-FIRST, REPORT ON THE ACTIVITY OF THE FUND  TO:  (A)  THE
 CHAIRS OF THE SENATE AND THE ASSEMBLY ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION COMMIT-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD11939-02-5

 S. 7951                             2
 
 TEES;  (B)  THE  CHAIRS  OF  THE  SENATE AND THE ASSEMBLY TRANSPORTATION
 COMMITTEES; AND (C) THE CHAIRS OF THE SENATE FINANCE  AND  THE  ASSEMBLY
 WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEES.
   §  2. The highway law is amended by adding a new section 67 to read as
 follows:
   § 67. POLLINATOR HIGHWAY PROGRAM. 1. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTABLISH  A
 PROGRAM  TO  PROMOTE THE CULTIVATION AND MAINTENANCE OF NATIVE FLOWERING
 PLANTS, GRASSES AND SHRUBS ON LAND BORDERING STATE HIGHWAYS AND ON OTHER
 PUBLIC LANDS. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTABLISH OBJECTIVES FOR THE  PROGRAM
 INCLUDING:  (A) INCORPORATING NATIVE PLANTINGS INTO GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
 SOLUTIONS, SUCH AS RAIN GARDENS, BIO-SWALES AND PERMEABLE LANDSCAPES  TO
 REDUCE  RUNOFF,  FILTER POLLUTANTS AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY; (B) ESTAB-
 LISHING AND ENHANCING HABITATS FOR POLLINATORS, INCLUDING BEES, BUTTERF-
 LIES AND OTHER BENEFICIAL INSECTS BY PRIORITIZING PLANT  SPECIES  NATIVE
 TO  THE  REGION;  AND  (C)  UTILIZING  NATIVE VEGETATION TO IMPROVE SOIL
 HEALTH, SEQUESTER CARBON AND REDUCE  THE  NEED  FOR  EMISSIONS-INTENSIVE
 MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS MOWING AND PESTICIDE APPLICATIONS.
   2.  THE DEPARTMENT, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 AND MARKETS, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION  AND  RELEVANT
 ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, SHALL: (A) IDENTIFY AND PRIORITIZE SUITABLE
 LOCATIONS  AND AREAS THAT WOULD BENEFIT FROM IMPROVED STORMWATER MANAGE-
 MENT, REDUCED MAINTENANCE OR ENHANCED BIODIVERSITY; (B)  DEVELOP  STAND-
 ARDS FOR SELECTING AND MAINTAINING PLANT SPECIES TO ENSURE THEIR ECOLOG-
 ICAL   SUITABILITY,   RESILIENCE  AND  EFFECTIVENESS  IN  ACHIEVING  THE
 PROGRAM'S GOALS; (C) ENCOURAGE THE USE OF INNOVATIVE STORMWATER  MANAGE-
 MENT  TECHNIQUES  THAT  INTEGRATE  NATIVE VEGETATION; AND (D) COORDINATE
 WITH MUNICIPALITIES, REGIONAL PLANNING AGENCIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS
 TO IMPLEMENT PILOT PROJECTS AND COMMUNITY-BASED INITIATIVES.
   3. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SUPPORT THE PROGRAM'S IMPLEMENTATION BY ESTAB-
 LISHING: (A) GRANTS TO MUNICIPALITIES FOR DESIGNING AND INSTALLING GREEN
 INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS UTILIZING  NATIVE  PLANTINGS;  (B)  PARTNERSHIPS
 WITH LOCAL NURSERIES AND LANDSCAPERS TO SUPPLY NATIVE PLANTS AND SUPPORT
 JOB  CREATION;  (C)  PUBLIC-PRIVATE  PARTNERSHIPS  TO  REDUCE  COSTS AND
 ENHANCE THE PROGRAM'S OUTREACH; AND (D) IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPART-
 MENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES, A VANITY LICENSE PLATE FEATURING NATIVE PLANT OR
 POLLINATOR IMAGERY, WITH THE PROCEEDS SUPPORTING  THE  PROGRAM'S  ACTIV-
 ITIES AND GRANTS TO MUNICIPALITIES.
   4. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROMOTE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION BY:
 (A)  DEVELOPING  AND DISSEMINATING EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS ABOUT THE ENVI-
 RONMENTAL, ECONOMIC AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF NATIVE PLANTINGS AND STORMWA-
 TER MANAGEMENT; (B) ENCOURAGING CITIZEN  INVOLVEMENT  THROUGH  VOLUNTEER
 PROGRAMS,  LOCAL  WORKSHOPS  AND MONITORING INITIATIVES; AND (C) COLLAB-
 ORATING WITH SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL
 STEWARDSHIP AND AWARENESS.
   5. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTABLISH  MEASURABLE  GOALS  AND  METRICS  TO
 ASSESS  THE  PROGRAM'S  EFFECTIVENESS,  INCLUDING:  (A) THE REDUCTION IN
 STORMWATER RUNOFF AND IMPROVEMENT IN WATER  QUALITY;  (B)  INCREASES  IN
 POLLINATOR POPULATIONS AND BIODIVERSITY; (C) COST SAVINGS IN MAINTENANCE
 AND  OPERATIONS;  AND (D) ANNUAL REPORTING TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND THE
 LEGISLATURE ON THE PROGRAM'S PROGRESS.
   6. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS TO CARRY  OUT
 THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION WITHIN ONE YEAR OF ITS EFFECTIVE DATE.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

2025-S7951A (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Finance
Law Section:: State Finance Law
Laws Affected:: Add §99-tt, St Fin L; add §67, Hway L; add §404-ff, V & T L

2025-S7951A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S7951A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7951A

SPONSOR: MAYER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the state finance law, the highway law and the vehicle
and traffic law, in relation to establishing the native/pollinator
planting fund, the pollinator highway program and creating distinctive
native plant or pollinator license plates

 
PURPOSE OF BILL:

To establish and provide for funding of a program to promote the culti-
vation and maintenance of native flowering plants, grasses, and shrubs
on land bordering state highways and other public lands.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends the state finance law by adding a new section 99-tt
which establishes a native/pollinator planting fund in the joint custody
of the commissioner of taxation and finance and the state comptroller.
The fund shall consist of revenue from appropriations, interest earned,

state and federal grants for green infrastructure projects, and revenue
generated from the sale of a dedicated distinctive license plate featur-
ing native plant or pollinator imagery. Money from the fund shall
support the establishment of the pollinator highway program.

Section 2 amends the highway law by adding a new section 67 establishing
the' pollinator highway program to promote the cultivation and mainte-
nance of native flowering plants, grasses and shrubs on land bordering
state highways and on other public lands.  Objectives for the program
shall include: incorporating native plants into green infrastructure
solutions, establishing and enhancing pollinator habitats, and utilizing
native vegetation to improve soil health, sequester carbon, and reduce
the need for emissions-intensive maintenance activities. The Department
of Transportation shall consult with other state agencies including the
Department of Agriculture and Markets and the Department of Environ-
mental Conservation and with environmental organizations to identify
suitable locations for planting, develop standards for plant selection,
encourage use of innovative stormwater management techniques integrating
native vegetation, and shall coordinate with municipalities and regional
agencies and environmental groups to implement pilot projects and commu-
nity-based initiatives. The Department of Transportation shall support
implementation of the program by establishing grants to municipalities
and public-private partnerships to enhance outreach, and shall work with
the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Environmental
Conservation to design and establish a distinctive license plant featur-
ing native plant or pollinator imagery with the proceeds supporting the
program's activities and grants.

Section 3 adds a new section 404-ff to the vehicle and traffic law to
direct the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue distinctive native
plant or pollinator license plates upon request, for payment of an annu-
al service charge of twenty-five dollars in addition to the regular
registration fee. Monies received as annual service charges under this
section shall be deposited to the credit of the native/pollinator plant-
ing fund.


Section 4 provides that the distinctive license plates provided for in
section 3 shall be designed, produced, and issued by the Department of
Motor Vehicles only upon the issuance of a surety bond to the Department
in the amount of six thousand dollars, unless the Department receives,
prior to plate design, production, and issuance, at least two hundred
orders for such distinctive plates.

Section 5 provides the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The New York State Pollinator Task Force, formed in 2015, was charged
with developing a plan for New York to conserve and grow its pollinator
population. The New York State Pollinator Protection Plan, issued in
2016, was updated in 2022.1 The New York state efforts were preceded on
the federal level by the release of Presidential Memorandum - Creating a
Federal Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollina-
tors.2

As noted by the Office of General Services, "New York State agencies and
authorities own or lease a significant percentage of the 31,106,541
acres in New York State. In a natural condition, the environment
performs critical, life-supporting functions, such as presidential-
memorandum-creating-fcdral-strategy-promot-hcalth-honey-b cleaning the
air and water, controlling floodwater, moderating temperature and wind,
and providing wildlife habitat.... New York State is home  
TO more than
450 wild pollinator species, including bees, birds and other insects,
that support not only pollination needs for commercial crops, but also
the biodiversity in our environment. With insect populations on the
decline all over the world, it is crucial to protect our pollinators."3

According to the state's Pollinator Protection Plan, the Department of
Transportation, which is responsible for providing safe and efficient
transportation systems, has the ability to also provide suitable habitat
and landscape connectivity for pollinators while maintaining rights of
way. DOT owns 15,000 miles of highway outside New York City and 140
miles within New York City and since October 2012 has encouraged polli-
nator-friendly planting along rights of way.'

This bill recognizes the importance of supporting pollinator health and
diversity by expanding native plant habitats along highway rights of way
and on other public lands. The bill creates a dedicated funding mech-
anism through the native/pollinator planting fund which will include
revenues generated through the sale of a dedicated vanity license plate
featuring native plant or pollinator imagery.

The native/pollinator planting fund will enable the Department of Trans-
portation to establish the pollinator highway program and expand upon
existing efforts and partnerships with other state agencies, munici-
palities, and environmental organizations to create pollinator-friendly
wildlife habitats along rights of way throughout the state.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
1 NYS Office of General Services, Pollinator Protectors,
https://ogs.ny.gov/pollinator-protectors
2 Presidential Memorandum -- Creating a Federal Strategy to Promote the
Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators (June 20, 2014),
https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/06
3 Office of General Services, Conserving Natural Resources,
https://ocrs.nv.gov/greennv/conserving-natural-resource$:
4 NYS Department of Environmental Conservation & Agriculture and
Markets, New York State Pollinator Protection Plan (June 24, 2016),
https://extapps.dec.ny.qov/docs/administration pdf/nvspollinatorpian.,
at 12, 16, 17; NYS Agriculture and Markets, Pollinator Protection Plan
Update (June 23, 2022),
https://agriculture.ny.gov/system/files/docume/2023/06/ncwyc kstatepoii
torprotectionplanupdate2023.pcif
 
EFFECITIVE DATE:
This bill shall take effect immediately.

2025-S7951A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  7951--A
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 14, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  MAYER  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to  the  Committee  on  Finance  --  committee
   discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
   to said committee
 
 AN  ACT  to amend the state finance law, the highway law and the vehicle
   and traffic law, in relation  to  establishing  the  native/pollinator
   planting fund, the pollinator highway program and creating distinctive
   native plant or pollinator license plates
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The state finance law is amended by adding  a  new  section
 99-tt to read as follows:
   §  99-TT.  NATIVE/POLLINATOR  PLANTING FUND. 1. THERE IS HEREBY ESTAB-
 LISHED IN THE JOINT CUSTODY OF THE COMMISSIONER OF TAXATION AND  FINANCE
 AND   THE   STATE  COMPTROLLER  A  SPECIAL  FUND  TO  BE  KNOWN  AS  THE
 NATIVE/POLLINATOR PLANTING FUND. IT SHALL CONSIST OF AMOUNTS CREDITED TO
 THE FUND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION.
   2. THE FUND SHALL CONSIST OF: (A) REVENUE FROM APPROPRIATIONS OR OTHER
 MONEY AUTHORIZED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED TO
 BE CREDITED TO THE FUND; (B) INTEREST EARNED ON MONEY IN THE  FUND;  (C)
 STATE  AND  FEDERAL  GRANTS  FOR  GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS; AND (D)
 REVENUE GENERATED FROM THE SALE OF A DEDICATED DISTINCTIVE LICENSE PLATE
 FEATURING NATIVE PLANT OR POLLINATOR IMAGERY. AMOUNTS  CREDITED  TO  THE
 FUND SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO FURTHER APPROPRIATION AND ANY MONEY REMAIN-
 ING  IN  THE  FUND  AT  THE END OF A FISCAL YEAR SHALL NOT REVERT TO THE
 GENERAL FUND.
   3. MONEY IN THE FUND SHALL BE EXPENDED TO  SUPPORT  THE  ESTABLISHMENT
 AND  IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM ESTABLISHED UNDER SECTION SIXTY-SEVEN
 OF THE HIGHWAY LAW, INCLUDING GRANTS TO MUNICIPALITIES AND  PARTNERSHIPS
 WITH  ENVIRONMENTAL  ORGANIZATIONS.  PRIORITY  FUNDING SHALL BE GIVEN TO
 PROJECTS DEMONSTRATING SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD11939-04-5

 S. 7951--A                          2
 
   4. THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SHALL  ANNUALLY,  NOT  LATER  THAN
 DECEMBER  THIRTY-FIRST,  REPORT  ON THE ACTIVITY OF THE FUND TO: (A) THE
 CHAIRS OF THE SENATE AND THE ASSEMBLY ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION COMMIT-
 TEES; (B) THE CHAIRS OF  THE  SENATE  AND  THE  ASSEMBLY  TRANSPORTATION
 COMMITTEES;  AND  (C)  THE CHAIRS OF THE SENATE FINANCE AND THE ASSEMBLY
 WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEES.
   § 2. The highway law is amended by adding a new section 67 to read  as
 follows:
   §  67. POLLINATOR HIGHWAY PROGRAM. 1. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTABLISH A
 PROGRAM TO PROMOTE THE CULTIVATION AND MAINTENANCE OF  NATIVE  FLOWERING
 PLANTS, GRASSES AND SHRUBS ON LAND BORDERING STATE HIGHWAYS AND ON OTHER
 PUBLIC  LANDS. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTABLISH OBJECTIVES FOR THE PROGRAM
 INCLUDING: (A) INCORPORATING NATIVE PLANTINGS INTO GREEN  INFRASTRUCTURE
 SOLUTIONS,  SUCH AS RAIN GARDENS, BIO-SWALES AND PERMEABLE LANDSCAPES TO
 REDUCE RUNOFF, FILTER POLLUTANTS AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY;  (B)  ESTAB-
 LISHING AND ENHANCING HABITATS FOR POLLINATORS, INCLUDING BEES, BUTTERF-
 LIES  AND  OTHER BENEFICIAL INSECTS BY PRIORITIZING PLANT SPECIES NATIVE
 TO THE REGION; AND (C)  UTILIZING  NATIVE  VEGETATION  TO  IMPROVE  SOIL
 HEALTH,  SEQUESTER  CARBON  AND  REDUCE THE NEED FOR EMISSIONS-INTENSIVE
 MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS MOWING AND PESTICIDE APPLICATIONS.
   2. THE DEPARTMENT, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF  AGRICULTURE
 AND  MARKETS,  THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND RELEVANT
 ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, SHALL: (A) IDENTIFY AND PRIORITIZE SUITABLE
 LOCATIONS AND AREAS THAT WOULD BENEFIT FROM IMPROVED STORMWATER  MANAGE-
 MENT,  REDUCED  MAINTENANCE OR ENHANCED BIODIVERSITY; (B) DEVELOP STAND-
 ARDS FOR SELECTING AND MAINTAINING PLANT SPECIES TO ENSURE THEIR ECOLOG-
 ICAL  SUITABILITY,  RESILIENCE  AND  EFFECTIVENESS  IN   ACHIEVING   THE
 PROGRAM'S  GOALS; (C) ENCOURAGE THE USE OF INNOVATIVE STORMWATER MANAGE-
 MENT TECHNIQUES THAT INTEGRATE NATIVE  VEGETATION;  AND  (D)  COORDINATE
 WITH MUNICIPALITIES, REGIONAL PLANNING AGENCIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS
 TO IMPLEMENT PILOT PROJECTS AND COMMUNITY-BASED INITIATIVES.
   3. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SUPPORT THE PROGRAM'S IMPLEMENTATION BY ESTAB-
 LISHING: (A) GRANTS TO MUNICIPALITIES FOR DESIGNING AND INSTALLING GREEN
 INFRASTRUCTURE  PROJECTS  UTILIZING  NATIVE  PLANTINGS; (B) PARTNERSHIPS
 WITH LOCAL NURSERIES AND LANDSCAPERS TO SUPPLY NATIVE PLANTS AND SUPPORT
 JOB CREATION;  (C)  PUBLIC-PRIVATE  PARTNERSHIPS  TO  REDUCE  COSTS  AND
 ENHANCE THE PROGRAM'S OUTREACH; AND (D) IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPART-
 MENT  OF  MOTOR  VEHICLES,  A DISTINCTIVE LICENSE PLATE FEATURING NATIVE
 PLANT OR POLLINATOR IMAGERY, WITH THE PROCEEDS SUPPORTING THE  PROGRAM'S
 ACTIVITIES AND GRANTS TO MUNICIPALITIES.
   4. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROMOTE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION BY:
 (A)  DEVELOPING  AND DISSEMINATING EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS ABOUT THE ENVI-
 RONMENTAL, ECONOMIC AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF NATIVE PLANTINGS AND STORMWA-
 TER MANAGEMENT; (B) ENCOURAGING CITIZEN  INVOLVEMENT  THROUGH  VOLUNTEER
 PROGRAMS,  LOCAL  WORKSHOPS  AND MONITORING INITIATIVES; AND (C) COLLAB-
 ORATING WITH SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL
 STEWARDSHIP AND AWARENESS.
   5. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTABLISH  MEASURABLE  GOALS  AND  METRICS  TO
 ASSESS  THE  PROGRAM'S  EFFECTIVENESS,  INCLUDING:  (A) THE REDUCTION IN
 STORMWATER RUNOFF AND IMPROVEMENT IN WATER  QUALITY;  (B)  INCREASES  IN
 POLLINATOR POPULATIONS AND BIODIVERSITY; (C) COST SAVINGS IN MAINTENANCE
 AND  OPERATIONS;  AND (D) ANNUAL REPORTING TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND THE
 LEGISLATURE ON THE PROGRAM'S PROGRESS.
   6. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS TO CARRY  OUT
 THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION WITHIN ONE YEAR OF ITS EFFECTIVE DATE.
 S. 7951--A                          3
 
   §  3.  The  vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section
 404-ff to read as follows:
    §  404-FF.  DISTINCTIVE NATIVE PLANT OR POLLINATOR LICENSE PLATES. 1.
 ANY PERSON RESIDING IN THIS STATE  SHALL,  UPON  REQUEST,  BE  ISSUED  A
 DISTINCTIVE  NATIVE  PLANT  OR  POLLINATOR  LICENSE  PLATE  OF  A DESIGN
 APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER, AFTER CONSULTATION WITH  THE  COMMISSIONER
 OF  ENVIRONMENTAL  CONSERVATION  AND THE COMMISSIONER OF TRANSPORTATION.
 APPLICATION FOR SUCH LICENSE PLATE SHALL BE FILED WITH THE  COMMISSIONER
 IN SUCH FORM AND DETAIL AS THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PRESCRIBE.
   2.  A  DISTINCTIVE NATIVE PLANT OR POLLINATOR PLATE ISSUED PURSUANT TO
 THIS SECTION SHALL BE ISSUED IN THE SAME MANNER AS OTHER  NUMBER  PLATES
 UPON  THE PAYMENT OF THE REGULAR REGISTRATION FEES PRESCRIBED BY SECTION
 FOUR HUNDRED ONE OF THIS ARTICLE; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT AN  ADDITIONAL
 ANNUAL  SERVICE  CHARGE OF TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS SHALL BE CHARGED FOR SUCH
 PLATE. ALL MONIES RECEIVED AS ANNUAL SERVICE CHARGES UNDER THIS  SECTION
 SHALL  BE DEPOSITED TO THE CREDIT OF THE NATIVE/POLLINATOR PLANTING FUND
 ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION NINETY-NINE-TT OF THE STATE FINANCE LAW;
 AND SHALL BE USED TO SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
 POLLINATOR HIGHWAY PROGRAM ESTABLISHED UNDER SECTION SIXTY-SEVEN OF  THE
 HIGHWAY LAW.
   §  4. 1. A distinctive plate established pursuant to section 404-ff of
 the vehicle and traffic law as added by section three of this act  shall
 only  be  designed, produced and issued upon the delivery to the depart-
 ment of motor vehicles of a surety bond in the amount of  $6,000,  which
 shall  be  executed  by a surety company authorized by the department of
 financial services to transact business in this state. Provided,  howev-
 er, that if the commissioner of motor vehicles shall have received prior
 to plate design, production and issuance at least two hundred orders for
 such  distinctive  plate  together  with  the  additional annual service
 charge applicable to each such order, which shall be non-refundable,  no
 such  surety  bond  shall  be  required.  Any additional service charges
 collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited  pursuant  to  the
 provisions of section ninety-nine-tt of the state finance law.
   2.  If, upon the expiration of two years following the date upon which
 distinctive plates in the series are first available  for  sale  200  or
 more  sets  of  such  plates are sold, a bond delivered pursuant to this
 section shall be discontinued. If fewer than 200 sets of such plates are
 sold by such time, the department of motor vehicles shall be entitled to
 recover against the bond in an amount proportionate to such shortfall.
   § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Sponsored By

Shelley B. Mayer

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance Committee

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