Provides for free hunting, fishing and trapping licenses to residents of the state who are active duty members of the U.S. armed forces regardless of duty station

5 Co-sponsors

• Tony Avella
• John J. Bonacic
• Owen H. Johnson
• George D. Maziarz
• Michael H. Ranzenhofer

BILL NUMBER:S796

Title of bill

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to free hunting, fishing and trapping licenses to state residents who are active duty members of the United States armed services

Purpose or general idea of bill

Provides hunting, fishing and trapping licenses at no charge to active duty members of the United States armed services that are residents of New York State and are also stationed in New York.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 amends subdivision 2 of section 11-0715 of the environmental conservation law, as amended by chapter 418 of the laws of 2004, to authorize free fishing licenses, small and big game licenses and trapping licenses to active duty members of the armed services regardless of where he or she is stationed. Section 2 provides that this law shall take effect immediately.

Justification

Currently, Section 11-0715 of the environmental conservation law provides free fishing, hunting and trapping licenses to active duty members of certain branches of the armed forces to residents of New York State who are stationed outside of the State and will be staying in New York for no longer than 30 days. In other words, residents of New York State who are stationed in the State are not eligible for this benefit. This legislation seeks to correct that inconsistency and provide free hunting, fishing and trapping licenses to active duty members of the military that are residents of New York State and stationed in the State.

The 2009-10 SFY Enacted Budget amended Section 11-0715 of the environmental conservation law to allow residents of the state who are also active members of the organized militia of the state or in the reserves of any branch of the U.S. armed forces to receive hunting and trapping licenses free of charge.

However, the gap in law still exists for New York State residents who are also members of the U.S. armed forces that happen to also be stationed in New York state. They should be entitled to receive these hunting and trapping licenses free of charge in the same manner that other active members of the U.S. armed forces or reserves and New York state militia members do. This legislation corrects that oversight in law.

Prior legislative history

2009-2010: S.4676/A.7479 Referred to Environmental Conservation

Fiscal implications

Minimal to the State.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.