BILL NUMBER: S2787
SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general construction law and the administrative code
of the city of New York, in relation to observing Atlantic time
 
PURPOSE:
To move New York state to Atlantic Standard Time, which would mean later
sunsets in the winter.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Directs the secretary of state to develop and submit an
application to the federal government requesting that New York observe
Atlantic Standard Time. This section of the law would only take effect
if Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania pass similar legislation
regarding a switch to Atlantic Standard Time.
Section 2: Makes technical changes to Section 52 of the General
Construction Law to bring it into compliance with existing federal law.
Section 3: Makes technical changes to Section 2-106 of the Administra-
tive Code of the City of New York to bring it into compliance with
existing federal law.
Section 4: Sets effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The seasonal switch back and forth from daylight saving time causes
productivity losses and leads to an increased risk of car accidents,
health complications, and other damaging consequences. This switch is
compounded by New York's position in the Eastern Standard Time Zone. If
the state switched to Atlantic Standard Time, sunsets would be an hour
later each day, a change would be especially helpful in the winter, when
the sun would no longer set before 5pm. Unlike a shift to permanent
daylight saving time, which must be approved by an act of Congress, a
shift to a different time zone can be approved through a regulatory
process by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Senate
2020 - S7080, Referred to Judiciary
2021 - 2022 - S1876, Referred to Judiciary
Assembly
2020 - No Assembly Same-As
2021-2022 - A7258, Referred to governmental operations
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Minimal.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately, except that section one will
only take effect upon the enactment into law by the states of Connecti-
cut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania of legislation having an identical
effect with this act and sections two and three will only take effect if
the federal government approves the application to switch to Atlantic
Standard Time referenced in section one.

Statutes affected:
S2787: 52 general construction law