S4636

The Senate passed S4636, sponsored by Senator May, which amends the General Municipal Law. The bill received overwhelming support in a roll call vote, with 55 senators voting in favor and only Senator Palumbo voting in opposition. The measure will take effect 60 days after becoming law. No floor debate was recorded on the legislation.

The New York State Senate passed legislation expanding the Adopt-A-Park program to include lakes, with the bill winning approval 60-1 on a roll call vote. Senate Print 4636, sponsored by Sen. May, amends the General Municipal Law to allow volunteers and community groups to conduct cleanup activities on lakes in addition to existing park and roadway programs. Sen. May argued the expansion would harness community enthusiasm for waterway protection, particularly in her district which includes four Finger Lakes and part of Lake Ontario. She emphasized that volunteers would receive safety instruction and sign liability waivers, and noted that the existing Adopt-A-Roadway program—which covers far more dangerous environments—has had very few reported injuries. Sen. Murray, who previously carried the bill in the Assembly, praised the sponsor for advancing legislation he said was long overdue. The sole dissenting vote came from Sen. Palumbo, who expressed concern that the bill's liability waiver absolves municipalities of responsibility for volunteer injuries on water. Palumbo questioned whether the legislation adequately mandates safety equipment like life jackets and argued that lakes present inherently greater dangers than land-based parks, suggesting volunteers could be asked to venture beyond shorelines to retrieve floating debris. Despite these concerns, the bill advanced with overwhelming support.