S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         7941
                              2009-2010 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                    April 28, 2009
                                      ___________
       Introduced by M. of A. KAVANAGH -- read once and referred to the Commit-
         tee on Environmental Conservation
       AN  ACT  to  amend  the  environmental  conservation law, in relation to
         providing biodegradable filters on cigarettes
         THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section 1. Legislative intent.  Cigarette filters do not decompose and
    2  return  to the soil.  Consequently they produce unsightly litter as well
    3  as posing a possible threat to any water system that they may be flushed
    4  into, through plumbing or natural drainage. It is  the  intent  of  this
    5  legislation  to  improve  the quality of life by removing the litter and
    6  reducing the danger of possible chemical reaction  through  the  use  of
    7  biodegradable filters.
    8    S  2.  The  environmental  conservation law is amended by adding a new
    9  section 27-0721 to read as follows:
   10  S 27-0721. FILTERS ON CIGARETTES TO BE BIODEGRADABLE.
   11    1. WITHIN TWO YEARS AFTER THE  EFFECTIVE  DATE  OF  THIS  SECTION,  NO
   12  FILTERED  CIGARETTES  SHALL  BE  SOLD  OR OFFERED FOR SALE IN THIS STATE
   13  UNLESS THE MANUFACTURER THEREOF HAS CERTIFIED IN WRITING TO THE  DEPART-
   14  MENT THAT THE FILTER IS BIODEGRADABLE.
   15    2.  A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE PUNISHABLE BY A CIVIL PENALTY
   16  NOT TO EXCEED ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR EACH VIOLATION THEREOF.
   17    S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD09755-01-9