Requires the department of environmental conservation to issue documentation of hunter safety course completion

BILL NUMBER:S91A

Title of bill

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to requiring the department of environmental conservation to issue documentation of hunter safety course completion

Purpose

The purpose of this bill is to allow sportsmen and women who have previ- ously completed the approved NYS DEC hunter safety course the ability to get a replacement certificate if it has been lost or destroyed without having to retake the hunter safety course. In order to get a hunting license in New York, an individual must produce a valid hunter safety course certificate or a previous hunting license. The NYS DEC does not maintain records prior to 1980 which would provide a record of the indi- vidual's satisfactorily completing hunter safety course prior to 1980 should one be lost or destroyed. This bill would allow the NYS DEC to issue a replacement Hunter Safety Course Certificate based upon the individual possessing a current or expired NYS DEC issued hunting license.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 amends subdivision 4 of section 11-0713 of the environmental conservation law to allow a person who holds a license or privilege authorizing the holder to hunt, fish, or trap and who has lost or acci- dentally destroyed documentation demonstrating completion of a New York hunter safety course to apply for replacement education certificates for a fee of one dollar to the issuing agent.

Section 2 amends subdivision 3 of section 11-0713 of the environmental conservation law.

Section 3 states that this act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.

Justification

The primary reason for this bill is to assist those sportsmen and women who have been hunting accident-free since their original date of hunter safety course completion to obtain a replacement safety certificate without having to retake the hunter safety course. There have been a number of instances where a hunter has applied to another state for a hunting license and one will not be issued without proof that a hunter safety course certificate was issued. If the hunter has lost the certif- icate, a current hunting license will not suffice for proof of the safe- ty course. This bill would allow people who lost their certificate to obtain a replacement without having to retake the course based on the presumption that the safety course was completed due to their possession of a NYS hunting license. This bill is limited in scope to those who acquired the Hunter Safety Course Certificate prior to 1980 and allows a

remedy for those who already possess a hunting license but who cannot produce a hunter safety course certificate.

Legislative history

2011-12: S.6729/A.9628 Passed Senate/Referred to Environmental Conserva- tion

Fiscal implications

Minimal

Effective date

This act shall take effect 180 days after it becomes law.