SENATOR SCARCELLA-SPANTON’S EMERGENCY RESPONSE BILL PASSES COMMITTEE
STATEN ISLAND AND BROOKLYN, NY– Senator Scarcella-Spanton’s bill to create an act to amend the navigation law, in relation to providing an exemption from certain laws for operators of law enforcement and fire department vessels responding to emergencies on the navigable waters of the state, passed in the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation.
While New York State Navigation Law does not exempt bona fide law enforcement agencies and fire departments from deviating from the State Law when responding to emergencies or in pursuit of law enforcement activities, these exemptions currently exist in the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law concerning police and emergency vehicles. This oversight would be rectified by Senator Scarcella-Spanton’s legislation.
“Our first responders need to be able to get to an emergency as efficiently and swiftly as possible. The fact that our current law does not account for first responders traveling via waterways has been an oversight for far too long, and I’m proud to be introducing legislation that will protect our first responders commanding fire and law enforcement vessels” said Senator Scarcella-Spanton.
In addition to being a member of the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation, Senator Scarcella-Spanton was appointed as Chair of the New York State Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs, and is a member of the Committees on Civil Service and Pensions, Disabilities, Insurance, Labor, and Women’s Issues.
The following bills also passed committee:
- An act to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, in relation to requiring the state commissioner of parks, recreation and historic preservation to consult with the state board for historic preservation prior to entering into a resident curator lease for any at risk structure, including those eligible for listing on the state and national registers of historic places, and to adopt a plan identifying at risk structures within state parks and historic sites. (Senate Bill 722- sponsored by Senator Serrano)
- An act creating a legislative task force on outdoor environmental education and recreation that will benefit residents of New York state by stewardship and conservation of the environment, an appreciation of the importance of the wise use of natural resources as well as acknowledgment of the health benefits of time spent in nature. (Senate Bill 1458- sponsored by Senator Serrano)
- An act to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law and the general municipal law, in relation to farmers’ markets in state and local parks. (Senate Bill 1608- sponsored by Senator Serrano)
- An act to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, in relation to the historic business preservation registry. (Senate Bill 5345- sponsored by Senator Hinchey)
