SafeLawns just learned that the New York state senate passed (S. 4983), the so-called Child Safe Playing Fields Act in a 39-22 vote. The bill, which will go to the desk of Governor David Patterson for his signature after its approval by the State Assembly, bans the use of synthetic pesticides (herbicides, insecticides and fungicides) on the athletic fields and playgrounds of public and private schools and day care centers.
Passage by the Assembly is seen as an almost certainty, given that the same body passed an even stricter bill last year. The Senate had killed previous versions of the bill, but passed this compromise version that removes pesticides from playgrounds and playing fields — but still allows pestiides such as weed killers, insecticides and fungicides to be used on other school grounds.
Let Gov. Patterson know that you think this ban is a good idea: http://www.state.ny.us/governor/contact/GovernorContactForm.php
Here’s an article about the issue from the Syracuse newspaper: http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2010/04/nys_senate_bans_applying_pesti.html
April 21st, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Good start to Earth Day!
April 21st, 2010 at 11:57 pm
Thank you so much for forwarding the information about New York. It is exactly the kind of news that I needed to hear after being shut down for my concerns last night at a school district board meeting in Calabasas, California.
April 22nd, 2010 at 10:54 am
Thanks Paul…as a resident of New York state with a son about to head to public school this fall, this is very welcome news.