NYS Legislature to weigh social media harm, climate change as session nears end
The New York State Capitol in Albany. The State Legislature returns next week for the final days of the legislative session. Credit: AP / Hans Pennink
ALBANY — The State Legislature plans to spend its 18 remaining legislative days debating hundreds of proposals, including bills to protect kids from addiction to social media and to limit the cost of measures to combat climate change.
Other bills jammed into the session beginning Monday and scheduled to end June 6 include better protection for children in custody battles, under a bill named for a Manhasset girl who was murdered, and the SIT (Standing is Tiring) Act, which would require many employers to provide seats to employees who stand while working.
Here are some major ones:
The proposed Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation for Kids Act, or SAFE for Kids Act, aims to make online social media safer for kids. The bill has strong support in the State Senate, Assembly and from Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James.
Supporters argue the addictive power of social media and the growth of dangerous “viral challenges” can harm some youths’ mental health and lead to anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and self-harm.
The measures would prohibit social media and online platforms such as Meta (formerly Facebook), Google (which owns YouTube) and Yahoo! from collecting and sharing personal data of users without consent. The provisions also would prohibit some practices that can be addictive by luring users from one link to another.
Specifically, the bill would ban the use of potentially addictive “algorithm-based feeds” on users under 18 years old without parental consent. Another provision would require social media platforms to send cautions to users under 18 years old who are online between midnight and 6 a.m. and provide a mechanism for parents to limit their kids’ time on the platforms.
“The average American teen will spend a staggering 30 years behind a screen” in their lifetime, said Larissa May, founder of the nonprofit activist organization #HalfTheStory, which promotes wellness in social media. “We need a seat belt for the digital world, and the first step begins with targeting one of its most harmful features: The algorithm.”
But the effort faces continued strong opposition by big technology companies and the lobbyist Tech: NYC, which represents more than 800 members, including Google, Meta, Yahoo! and Amazon.
These companies have argued mandates impinge on users’ freedom and point to their own voluntary measures to protect youths.
“We're continuing to discuss these bills with the Legislature and with Tech: NYC members for their feedback,” said Will Chalbot, spokesman for Tech: NYC. “We look forward to continuing conversations and reviewing the many implications of these bills with legislators, as well as better understanding the ways we can help families and communities navigate these issues.”
Two measures with strong support would restrict the cost of the state’s transition from a fossil fuel economy to one mostly powered by renewable energy, including solar, wind and geothermal sources.
The proposals are the New York Home Energy Affordable Transition Act, commonly called the HEAT Act, and the Climate Change Superfund Act.
The HEAT Act would limit how much energy companies could pass along the cost of the transition to ratepayers as the state scales down fossil fuel production to meet its climate change goals. The act also would end the "100-foot rule," which automatically hooks up most new buildings to nearby gas lines at a cost of more than $200 million a year to all ratepayers.
The Climate Change Superfund Act would use computer models that can identify the producers of pollutants that contribute to global warming, which scientists blame for a rise in severe storms. The measure would shift the cost of paying for disaster damage as well as resiliency measures in areas like Long Island from taxpayers to fossil fuel producers.
The HEAT Act will be pushed hard by environmental groups and opposed by National Fuel Gas Co. of Buffalo and the New York Propane Gas Association. They are joined in lobbying by the AFL-CIO labor organization, which represents workers employed by gas and oil companies and is influential in the Democratic-led legislature.
New Yorkers for Affordable Energy, a lobbyist for fossil fuel companies, says the measures would increase the costs for ratepayers, take away the choice of gas-powered homes and appliances and move New York too soon to renewable fuels, which petroleum companies argue is an unreliable source of energy.
“The state must craft and adopt a moderate, and common-sense approach that allows for gradual decarbonization of all fuels and trust in the free market that benefits all New Yorkers,” said Anthony Kownack, spokesman for New York Propane Gas Association.
Liz Moran of the Earthjustice environmental group, however, said the HEAT Act will “cut down on utility bills and make it easier to transition away from dangerous gas … the Superfund Act will make the oil and gas industries that made billions of dollars over decades lying about their role in climate change to pay up.” Both, she said, will reduce the impact on New Yorkers of severe weather blamed on global warming.
The HEAT Act twice passed the Senate, but so far has failed to pass in the Assembly. Both measures failed to gain agreement during negotiations between legislative leaders and Hochul in the state budget adopted April 20.
A bill called Kyra’s Law would require family courts to better protect children from abuse and neglect during divorce and child custody cases. The act also would prohibit courts from awarding joint custody unless “both parties consent and the court determines the parties can effectively communicate, cooperate with each other and make joint decisions concerning the child.”
The proposal is named for 2-year-old Kyra Franchetti of Manhasset. Nassau County Family Court had allowed her father to have unsupervised visits with Kyra despite reports that the father was abusive. While on an unsupervised visit in 2016, Kyra was fatally shot by her father, who then set fire to his house and died in the blaze, according to the bill.
The SIT Act would amend labor law to require employers to “provide employees who are reasonably able to perform their work sitting the option to do so.” This measure would be aimed at all workplaces, but particularly in retail and food service. Violation could result in civil action.
Local bills expected to be debated include a bipartisan proposal that could lead to a Long Island glass recycling facility. The bill would direct the state Department of Environmental Conservation to develop a regional plan with Alfred University, a leader in glass recycling technology, and municipalities on Long Island.
The current collection systems and the limited market for recycled glass has resulted in often using old glass to cover landfills or as an ingredient in asphalt and concrete, rather than becoming part of the recycling waste cycle.
“There’s going to be a huge traffic jam at the end of May in both houses because the budget was a month late,” said Blair Horner, executive director of the New York Public Interest Research Group. He noted the budget that was due April 1 was 20 days late, but then the legislature went on its scheduled two-week vacation.
Editors note -- An earlier version of this story misidentified Anthony Kownack's position. He is a spokesman for New York Propane Gas Association.
ALBANY — The State Legislature plans to spend its 18 remaining legislative days debating hundreds of proposals, including bills to protect kids from addiction to social media and to limit the cost of measures to combat climate change.
Other bills jammed into the session beginning Monday and scheduled to end June 6 include better protection for children in custody battles, under a bill named for a Manhasset girl who was murdered, and the SIT (Standing is Tiring) Act, which would require many employers to provide seats to employees who stand while working.
Here are some major ones:
Addictive social media
The proposed Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation for Kids Act, or SAFE for Kids Act, aims to make online social media safer for kids. The bill has strong support in the State Senate, Assembly and from Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James.
WHAT TO KNOW
- The State Legislature plans to spend its 18 remaining legislative days debating hundreds of proposals, including bills to protect kids from addiction to social media.
- Other bills that may be taken up in the session beginning Monday would limit the cost of measures to combat climate change and provide better protection for children in custody battles.
- Local bills expected to be debated include a bipartisan proposal that could lead to a Long Island glass recycling facility.
Supporters argue the addictive power of social media and the growth of dangerous “viral challenges” can harm some youths’ mental health and lead to anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and self-harm.
The measures would prohibit social media and online platforms such as Meta (formerly Facebook), Google (which owns YouTube) and Yahoo! from collecting and sharing personal data of users without consent. The provisions also would prohibit some practices that can be addictive by luring users from one link to another.
Specifically, the bill would ban the use of potentially addictive “algorithm-based feeds” on users under 18 years old without parental consent. Another provision would require social media platforms to send cautions to users under 18 years old who are online between midnight and 6 a.m. and provide a mechanism for parents to limit their kids’ time on the platforms.
“The average American teen will spend a staggering 30 years behind a screen” in their lifetime, said Larissa May, founder of the nonprofit activist organization #HalfTheStory, which promotes wellness in social media. “We need a seat belt for the digital world, and the first step begins with targeting one of its most harmful features: The algorithm.”
But the effort faces continued strong opposition by big technology companies and the lobbyist Tech: NYC, which represents more than 800 members, including Google, Meta, Yahoo! and Amazon.
These companies have argued mandates impinge on users’ freedom and point to their own voluntary measures to protect youths.
“We're continuing to discuss these bills with the Legislature and with Tech: NYC members for their feedback,” said Will Chalbot, spokesman for Tech: NYC. “We look forward to continuing conversations and reviewing the many implications of these bills with legislators, as well as better understanding the ways we can help families and communities navigate these issues.”
Climate change
Two measures with strong support would restrict the cost of the state’s transition from a fossil fuel economy to one mostly powered by renewable energy, including solar, wind and geothermal sources.
The proposals are the New York Home Energy Affordable Transition Act, commonly called the HEAT Act, and the Climate Change Superfund Act.
The HEAT Act would limit how much energy companies could pass along the cost of the transition to ratepayers as the state scales down fossil fuel production to meet its climate change goals. The act also would end the "100-foot rule," which automatically hooks up most new buildings to nearby gas lines at a cost of more than $200 million a year to all ratepayers.
The Climate Change Superfund Act would use computer models that can identify the producers of pollutants that contribute to global warming, which scientists blame for a rise in severe storms. The measure would shift the cost of paying for disaster damage as well as resiliency measures in areas like Long Island from taxpayers to fossil fuel producers.
The HEAT Act will be pushed hard by environmental groups and opposed by National Fuel Gas Co. of Buffalo and the New York Propane Gas Association. They are joined in lobbying by the AFL-CIO labor organization, which represents workers employed by gas and oil companies and is influential in the Democratic-led legislature.
New Yorkers for Affordable Energy, a lobbyist for fossil fuel companies, says the measures would increase the costs for ratepayers, take away the choice of gas-powered homes and appliances and move New York too soon to renewable fuels, which petroleum companies argue is an unreliable source of energy.
“The state must craft and adopt a moderate, and common-sense approach that allows for gradual decarbonization of all fuels and trust in the free market that benefits all New Yorkers,” said Anthony Kownack, spokesman for New York Propane Gas Association.
Liz Moran of the Earthjustice environmental group, however, said the HEAT Act will “cut down on utility bills and make it easier to transition away from dangerous gas … the Superfund Act will make the oil and gas industries that made billions of dollars over decades lying about their role in climate change to pay up.” Both, she said, will reduce the impact on New Yorkers of severe weather blamed on global warming.
The HEAT Act twice passed the Senate, but so far has failed to pass in the Assembly. Both measures failed to gain agreement during negotiations between legislative leaders and Hochul in the state budget adopted April 20.
Custody battles
A bill called Kyra’s Law would require family courts to better protect children from abuse and neglect during divorce and child custody cases. The act also would prohibit courts from awarding joint custody unless “both parties consent and the court determines the parties can effectively communicate, cooperate with each other and make joint decisions concerning the child.”
The proposal is named for 2-year-old Kyra Franchetti of Manhasset. Nassau County Family Court had allowed her father to have unsupervised visits with Kyra despite reports that the father was abusive. While on an unsupervised visit in 2016, Kyra was fatally shot by her father, who then set fire to his house and died in the blaze, according to the bill.
SIT Act
The SIT Act would amend labor law to require employers to “provide employees who are reasonably able to perform their work sitting the option to do so.” This measure would be aimed at all workplaces, but particularly in retail and food service. Violation could result in civil action.
Long Island glass recycling
Local bills expected to be debated include a bipartisan proposal that could lead to a Long Island glass recycling facility. The bill would direct the state Department of Environmental Conservation to develop a regional plan with Alfred University, a leader in glass recycling technology, and municipalities on Long Island.
The current collection systems and the limited market for recycled glass has resulted in often using old glass to cover landfills or as an ingredient in asphalt and concrete, rather than becoming part of the recycling waste cycle.
“There’s going to be a huge traffic jam at the end of May in both houses because the budget was a month late,” said Blair Horner, executive director of the New York Public Interest Research Group. He noted the budget that was due April 1 was 20 days late, but then the legislature went on its scheduled two-week vacation.
Editors note -- An earlier version of this story misidentified Anthony Kownack's position. He is a spokesman for New York Propane Gas Association.
Michael Gormley has worked for Newsday since 2013, covering state government, politics and issues. He has covered Albany since 2001.
