BILL NUMBER: S3163
SPONSOR: HOYLMAN-SIGAL
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
enacting the monarch preservation plan
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 adds 541 to title 5 article 11 of the environmental conserva-
tion law by declaring the threats to monarchs and pollinator popu-
lations; directs the department to take feasible actions to conserve
monarch butterflies and the unique habitats they depend upon for
successful migrations
Section 2 establishes the Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Rescue
Program to provide grants for the restoration or enhancement of appro-
priate breeding and migration habitats for monarch butterflies and
pollinators on private and public lands. The Commissioner shall annually
prepare a report detailing the progress of the monarch butterfly and
pollinator rescue program.
Section 3 is the effective date; this act shall take effect immediately.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Over the past several decades, the number of monarch butterflies in
North America has steeply declined. From 1996 to 2020, the eastern
monarch populations plummeted, from an estimated 383 million to under 45
million, 88 percent. Major threats to monarchs include habitat loss and
fragmentation, changes in climate and extreme weather, pesticides,
herbicides, genetically modified crops, invasive species, disease and
natural predators. Actively restoring native milkweed and nectar plants,
monarch overwintering habitat, and other pollinator habitat, and ensur-
ing that key habitats are protected from destruction, are critical to
ensuring the survival of monarch butterflies and can also help facili-
tate conservation of other essential pollinators. Enhancing pollinator
populations can result in improved pollination services for neighboring
land, including agriculture and wildlife ecosystems.
This legislation would direct the department to conserve monarch
butterflies and their habitats and create the Monarch Butterfly and
Pollinator Rescue Program to provide grant funding to Monarch conserva-
tion projects.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
S.1857 of 2023-2024 (Hoylman-Sigal): Died in Environmental Conservation
A.7017 of 2023-2024 (Simon): Passed Assembly
S.9295 of 2021-2022 (Hoylman): Died in Environmental Conservation
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Subject to appropriations
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.