Governor Andrew Cuomo Thursday signed the bill, which would allow those with health effects associated with a federal or state superfund site to file a personal injury suit by suspending the statute of limitations for three years after such a designation.
The bill was designed to assist residents of Hoosick Falls, where the likely carcinogenic chemical PFOA was found in water supplies.
Albany area Assemblyman John McDonald spoke about the bill after its passage in June.
“The residents of Hoosick Falls and any other community that suffers through a similar plight should have a due process to follow and there should be a reasonable period of time,” said McDonald.
A Senate version of the bill was sponsored by Kathy Marchione.