Bill Text: NY A01673 | 2013-2014 | General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Directs the legislature to create office of public advocate with authority to bring civil action against the state or any of its agencies, bureaus or public authorities to protect public interest in state's natural and cultural resources.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-10 - to attorney-general for opinion [A01673 Detail]

Download: New_York-2013-A01673-Introduced.html

---

                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         1673
                              2013-2014 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                      (PREFILED)
                                    January 9, 2013
                                      ___________
       Introduced by M. of A. CAHILL, COLTON, FINCH -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M.
         of  A.  SWEENEY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environ-
         mental Conservation
                   CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY
       proposing an amendment to section 4 of article 14 of  the  constitution,
         in relation to environmental protection
    1    Section  1. RESOLVED (if the Senate concur), That section 4 of article
    2  14 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
    3    S 4. The policy of the state shall be  to  conserve  and  protect  its
    4  natural  AND  CULTURAL  resources  and  scenic  beauty and encourage the
    5  development and improvement of its agricultural lands for the production
    6  of food and other agricultural products. The legislature, in  implement-
    7  ing  this  policy, shall include adequate provision for the abatement of
    8  air and water pollution and of  excessive  and  unnecessary  noise,  the
    9  protection  of  agricultural  lands,  wetlands  and  shorelines, and the
   10  development and regulation of water resources  AND  SHALL  ESTABLISH  AN
   11  OFFICE  OF  PUBLIC  ADVOCATE WITH THE AUTHORITY TO COMMENCE CIVIL ACTION
   12  AGAINST THE STATE OR ANY OF ITS DEPARTMENTS, AGENCIES OR BUREAUS OR  ITS
   13  PUBLIC  AUTHORITIES  TO  PROTECT  THE  PUBLIC'S  INTEREST IN THE STATE'S
   14  NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES.  The legislature shall  further  provide
   15  for  the acquisition of lands and waters, including improvements thereon
   16  and any interest therein, outside the forest preserve counties, and  the
   17  dedication  of  properties  so  acquired  or now owned, which because of
   18  their natural beauty, wilderness character, or geological, ecological or
   19  historical significance, shall be preserved and administered for the use
   20  and enjoyment of the people. Properties so  dedicated  shall  constitute
   21  the  state nature and historical preserve and they shall not be taken or
   22  otherwise disposed of except by law enacted by  two  successive  regular
   23  sessions of the legislature.
   24    S  2.  RESOLVED (if the Senate concur), That the foregoing be referred
   25  to the first  regular  legislative  session  convening  after  the  next
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD89043-01-3
       A. 1673                             2
    1  succeeding general election of members of the assembly, and, in conform-
    2  ity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be published for 3
    3  months previous to the time of such election.