Relates to fishing license fees in the county of Onondaga

Title of bill

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to fishing license fees in the county of Onondaga

Purpose or general idea of bill

This bill will dedicate twenty percent of money collected from fishing licenses sold in Onondaga County to offset costs of the Carpenter's Brook fish hatchery.

Summary of provisions

Section one amends subdivision 4 of section 11-0702 of the environmental conservation law that relates to moneys collected from fishing licenses and deposited in the state fish and game trust account by allowing twenty percent of such monies to be used to offset costs of Carpenter's Brook fish hatchery.

Section two amends subdivision 6 of section 11-0715 of the environmental conservation law by adding a new paragraph allowing twenty percent of the proceeds coming from the sale of fishing licenses paid by Onondaga county residents to be retained by Carpenter's Brook fish hatchery.

Justification

Since 1983, Onondaga County has operated Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery based solely on local tax dollars. During its 72 year existence, the hatchery has stocked more than 5 million yearling and two-year old Brook, Brown and Rainbow trout in local waterways throughout the country. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation provides assistance to Carpenter's Brook in the form of fingerling trout and testing for fish health certification but does not stock any local streams, rivers, or ponds in Onondaga County on an annual basis-despite collecting more than $750,000 annually in license fees. Onondaga County and the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsman Club is requesting this legislation to offset a significant portion of the operational costs for Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery.

Prior legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

Immediately.