BILL NUMBER: S494
SPONSOR: FERNANDEZ
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to the
preservation of honey bee colonies
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To preserve and protect honey bee swarms and colonies from human
threats.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 adds a new article 15-B to the Agriculture and Markets Law,
which requires any person in the State to contact the Plant Industry
Division of the Department of Agriculture and Markets at least 48 hours
in advance of exterminating honey bee colonies and/or hanging swarms to
receive assistance in trying to relocate such honey bees, provides an
exemption for swarms that pose an imminent danger to any person.
Section 2 sets forth the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
As pollinators, honey bees play a critical role in sustaining our
ecosystem and food systems. For New York State, a leading fruit and
vegetable producer, honey bees are especially vital to our economic well
being. Many of New York's largest crops, including apples, cabbage,
berries, and pumpkins, rely significantly on insect pollination, includ-
ing by honeybees.
However, honeybee populations have been declining for decades, including
in New York State. Between 2018-2019, beekeepers in New York State lost
almost 30% of their colonies. While bee colony loss is driven by a
number of factors, it is clear that the trend poses a risk to agricul-
ture and the future health of New York ecosystems. Unwanted bee swarms
and colonies that pop up around homes and businesses can pose risks both
to humans and native bee populations. Honey bees are not native to New
York and swarms have a low survival rate in the wild. According to
Cornell entomologist Tom Seeley, only about 20% of swarms survive. More-
over, honeybees often harbor diseases, some of which they can spread to
native bees, who are also an important pollination source in the state.
This legislation will complement existing state efforts and other
proposals to protect honeybee populations in New York. This bill,
provides that a person must contact the Plant Industry
Division of the Department of Agriculture and Markets at least 48 hours
in advance of exterminating honey bee colonies and/or hanging swarms to
receive assistance 'in trying to relocate such honey bees. The law
provides exemptions for cases where nuisance honeybees pose an imminent
risk to humans, for instance, a swarm near someone with a severe aller-
gy. By facilitating the relocation of swarms, rather than their extermi-
nation, New York can protect existing bee populations. Relocated bees
can then be used for hobby beekeeping, honey production, or pollination.
The bill is based on a similar law passed in New Jersey.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024: S4053 / A6329
2021-2022: S407 / A6622
2020: S6763
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
TBD
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:;
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have
become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
on or before such effective date.