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History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Makes contests and competitions to take wildlife unlawful
In Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Deborah Glick
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to making contests and competitions to take wildlife unlawful
Purpose
To prohibit any contests or competitions where the objective of such contest or competition is to take the greatest number of wildlife.
Summary of provisions
This law would prohibit any person to organize, conduct, promote or participate in any contest or competition where the objective is to take the greatest number of wildlife. This law would not affect "big buck" competitions or fishing tournaments. Violations involving unlawful contests and competitions shall be a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year or by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than two thousand dollars, or by both such imprisonment and fine.
Justification
New York is one of many states with growing numbers of human/wildlife conflicts resulting from the loss of rural land to suburban sprawl. Haphazard and indiscriminate actions in response to this phenomenon, however, are not the solution. Some have taken it upon themselves to provide a remedy by sponsoring competitions for the most birds killed in a particular time frame. Such mass killings, instigated by individuals rather than wildlife professionals, however, can result in a number of unintended consequences, including the disruption of overall wildlife patterns and the accompanying habitat degradation, as well as the redistribution of certain species into nearby communities.
Wildlife management requires well thought-out policies by biologists and other professionals. Unregulated mass hunts interfere with and run counter to the development and implementation of sound policy, and amount to mere bounty killing - a practice long ago recognized as ultimately detrimental to the environment. By prohibiting private competitions of this sort, this bill would help maintain prudent wildlife policy and protect habitat through the State.
Legislative history
S.1561 of 2007-2008 S.633 of 2005-2006 S.4174 of 2004
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date on which is shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.