As New Yorkers prepare to “spring” their clocks forward this weekend as daylight saving time begins, New York State Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-C-Rome, is pushing his legislation (S.3380) that that would end the practice of changing clocks twice a year in New York.
Following the enactment of the federal Uniform Time Act in 1966, most Americans advance their clocks by an hour in the warmer months so that it gets dark later and move their clocks back an hour in the fall. All states except for Hawaii and Arizona, as well as several U.S. territories, follow daylight saving time.
For the last several years, Sen. Griffo and Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara have introduced legislation that establishes daylight saving time as the year-round standard time of New York State and New York City. Studies show that the transition out of daylight saving time leads to an increase in car accidents, causes more on-site work incidents and disrupts the health of all who are subject to the time change.
The federal government must pass legislation allowing states to adopt daylight saving time as the permanent standard measure of time. Since the introduction of Sen. Griffo and Assemblyman Santabarbara’s bill, the legislators have continued to communicate, collaborate and coordinate with their legislative colleagues in others states to develop a compact in support of the federal government taking such action.
“It’s time to stop ‘falling back’ or ‘springing forward’ each year,” Sen. Griffo said. “I believe that making daylight saving time permanent will benefit our communities, state and geographic region. Studies and research have indicated that are many benefits to permanent daylight saving time, including improving health, enhancing public safety, reducing accidents and providing a needed boost for our economy.”
