Relates to management of wildlife resources

BILL NUMBER:S3102

Title of bill

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to management of wildlife resources

Purpose

To amend several sections of the Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) to simplify, clarify and eliminate inconsistencies, relating to management of pheasants and quail.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 amends subdivision 3 of section 11-0507 of the environmental conservation law to provide the provisions of willful liberation does not apply to the release of ring-necked pheasant or quail during the period of August 16th to April 15th.

Section 2 amends paragraph b of subdivision 1 of section 11-0925 of the environmental conservation law to provide that a permit from the department is not required for the release of ring-necked pheasant or quail during the period of August 16th to April 15th.

Section 3 amends paragraph b of subdivision 2 of section 11-0927 of the environmental conservation law to provide that the provision requiring a permit for liberation of any wildlife does not apply to the release of ring-necked pheasant or quail during the period of August 16th to April 15th.

Section 4 amends paragraphs c and c-1 and the closing paragraph of subdivision 2 of section 110903 of the environmental conservation law related to pheasants.

Section 5 amends paragraphs d and e of subdivision 2 of section 11-0905 of the environmental conservation law related to ring-neck pheasants and quail.

Section 6 provides the effective date.

Justification

Season bag limits for pheasant and quail are still specified for certain portions of the State. This law is difficult to enforce and not needed given the widespread understanding and satisfaction with statewide daily bag limits.

At the present time, an immediate release permit is required to purchase and release ring-neck pheasants without holding them in captivity. This is a common activity for many individuals and clubs and the permit serves no value except to create an additional, unneeded step in the process for legitimate sportsmen. It is often a low priority for the ECOs to issue this permit and at times can result in needless delay.

This legislation would allow the Department to set the open season and bag limits for the taking of pheasants and quail on Long Island annually by regulation, as it currently does for those species in the

rest of the State. Under current law the open season and bag limits for pheasants and quail on Long Island are set in statute. In addition, this legislation eliminates the need to obtain an immediate release permit for the liberation of ring-neck pheasants between August 16 and April 15. The August 16 to April 15 period provided in this bill is consistent with the period in which dogs may be taken afield for training on wild game.

Prior legislative history

2013-14: A.1361 Referred to Environmental Conservation/ S.287 Passed Senate 2011-12: A.1749A Referred to Environmental Conservation/S.2650A Referred to Environmental Conservation 2009-10: A.823 Referred to Environmental Conservation/S.842 Referred to Environmental Conservation 2007-08: A.2449 Referred to Environmental Conservation/S.1559 Passed Senate 2005-06: A.1631A Referred to Environmental Conservation/S.632A Passed Senate 2003-04: A.1096 Referred to Environmental Conservation/ S.879 Passed Senate 2001-02: A.2154 Referred to Environmental Conservation/ S.806 Passed Senate 1999-00: A.8794 Referred to Environmental Conservation/ S.4134A Passed Senate

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This bill shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.