BILL NUMBER: S7238A
SPONSOR: BASKIN
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law and the public health
law, in relation to the criteria for financing certain lead service line
and pipe replacements
 
PURPOSE:
To revise and enhance the criteria used to allocate funding for lead
service line replacement projects, ensuring that resources are directed
to communities facing the highest cost burdens and health risks due to
lead contamination in their water systems.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the Environmental Conservation Law by adding Section
56-0203, requiring the Environmental Facilities Corporation to update
its project approval criteria for lead service line replacements. The
revised criteria will consider the cost burden of the replacement per
service line, the financial strain on water systems, the prevalence of
childhood lead poisoning, and a water system's commitment to fully fund-
ing lead service line replacements.
Section 2 amends Public Health Law Section 1114 to align the lead
service line replacement grant program with the updated funding crite-
ria, ensuring funds are equitably distributed based on financial and
public health considerations.
Section 3 adds Public Health Law Section 1170, reinforcing the revised
project approval process and outlining key factors for funding eligibil-
ity, including the age of housing stock and the water system's financial
commitment to full lead service line replacements.
Section 4 establishes that the act shall take effect immediately.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Lead exposure poses a severe public health risk, particularly to chil-
dren, and remains a significant issue in older housing and water infras-
tructure systems. This bill ensures that state funding for lead service
line replacements is distributed based on the communities' most pressing
needs. New York has an estimated 500,000 lead service lines that must be
replaced by 2037, requiring at least $500 million annually over the next
decade. While federal funding is available, it expires in 2026, leaving
many homeowners unable to afford replacements, which cost on average
$10,000 or more per line. Currently, lead service line funding is
combined with other water infrastructure projects in the budget, with no
dedicated allocation. A standalone $500 million budget line is necessary
to ensure transparency, accelerate replacements, and protect public
health by providing safe drinking water statewide.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
The costs of this bill would need lead service line replacement across
our State to be increased to $500,000,000. It is estimated that there
are 500,000 service lines in New York that contain lead and will cost $5
billion to replace every single line
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

Statutes affected:
S7238: 1114 public health law
S7238A: 1114 public health law