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• Two additional round table events, entitled “NYS Alliance
for Digital Access to Public Records” are being planned to A special thanks to our Government Relations
be held at the NYSGISA’s conference in September 2024 Committee for your continued support and dedication!
and at the NYSAPLS conference in January 2025. More
details TBA! Jason Graf, LS, Co-Chair
James Thew, LS, Co-Chair
Bill Monitoring Patricia Brooks, LS

The 2024 New York Legislative session has ended - for now! Gregory de Bruin, LS
While the legislature adjourned in early June and is not
scheduled to reconvene until January 2025, efforts to fill Mark DeLor, LS
the fiscal gap left by Governor Hochul indefinitely delaying Jacqueline Dresser, LS
congestion pricing in New York City may result in the Gerard Emborski, LS
legislature’s return before then. Duane Frymire, LS

This year was the 2nd year of the 2-year legislative session Roy Garfinkel, LS
cycle, so all bills introduced but not passed by both houses will
need to be reintroduced in January. During the 2023-2024 Daniel Hickok, LS
legislative session, approximately 17,000 bills were introduced Jason Larson, LS
while only around 800 of those were passed by both houses Dawn McCall, GISP
of the legislature. While NYSAPLS follows the status of Mary Susan Knauss, GISP (NYSGISA Liaison)
many individual bills, the majority of them may not see any
significant movement.

Following are some highlights of legislation of interest This legislation would make it unlawful to operate an unmanned
to NYSAPLS: aircraft over school grounds or critical infrastructure (chemical
Statute of Repose storage facilities, petroleum refineries, and other sensitive
(S.8213, sponsored by Senator Cooney and A.4549, by facilities) with relevant exceptions for written permissions or
Assemblymember Pretlow) drone use by government officials. This bill did not pass either
house.
This legislation would establish a ten-year statute of repose,
with a one-year grace period, for actions to recover damages Not-for-profit Corporations Providing Design Services
for injury or wrongful death against a licensed design (S.8850, sponsored by Senator Scarcella-Spanton and
professional or others in the construction industry. The bill A.10016, by Assemblymember Clark)
would also establish that the ten-year statutory period begins This legislation would allow foreign not-for-profit corporations
to run upon completion of a project. While this bill typically engaged in engineering for conservation efforts associated
passes the Senate but not the Assembly, this year it did not with tidal wetlands, freshwater wetlands, habitat restoration,
pass either house. groundwater recharge or natural infrastructure from obtaining
a certificate of authority to do business in the state of New
Access to Adjoining Property
(S.1305, sponsored by Senator Comrie and A.1321, by York as long as the work relates to conservation resources and
Assemblymember Rajkumar) are conducted by a professional engineer. This bill passed the
Senate but did not pass the Assembly.
This legislation would allow a property owner to access
adjoining property for the purposes of making improvements If you have any questions, comments or suggestions for NYSAPLS
or repairs to their own property. Adjoining property access, Government Relations committee, we encourage you to reach out
for the purpose of this law, includes preconstruction surveys to our committee directly via email, GovtRelations@nysapls.org.
to document the conditions of the adjoining property. This
bill passed the Senate but did not pass the Assembly.
Unmanned Aircrafts Over School Grounds & Critical
Infrastructure
(S.7723-B, sponsored by Senator Breslin and A.8176-B, by
Assemblymember Fahy)

EMPIRE STATE SURVEYOR / VOL. 60 • NO 4 2024 • JULY/AUGUST 19