Directs the commissioner of environmental conservation to create gift cards for hunting and fishing licenses

1 Co-sponsor

• James L. Seward

BILL NUMBER:S3106

Title of bill

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to directing the commissioner of environmental conservation to create gift cards for hunting and fishing licenses

Purpose

To require the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to promulgate rules and regulations establishing gift cards for hunting and fishing licenses in New York State.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 amends section 11-0706 to require the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation to promulgate rules and regulations establishing gift cards for New York State hunting and fishing licenses.

Section 2 provides the effective date.

Existing law

Section 11-0706 of the Environmental Conservation Law, which was part of the 2012-13 New York State Budget, Chapter 58 of the Laws of 2012, provides that the Commissioner is authorized to establish gift cards for hunting and fishing.

Justification

This legislation requires the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation to promulgate rules and regulations establishing gift cards for hunting and fishing licenses in New York State. Similar gift cards for camping and entrance into state parks already exist. Like those programs, hunting and fishing license gift cards will promote the industry and generate revenue for the state.

The current gift card programs are thriving. Gift cards for camping permits, offered by the Office of Parks, may be used for anything from golf reservations and greens fees to the purchase of firewood or boat rentals, as well as camping site reservations. These camping permit gift cards, as well as Empire Passports, which provide free entrance into state parks, are advertised for sale on the web site for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

In 2013, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) began to issue their own gift cards that can be used for camping at all New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Facilities. These gifts cards are similar to those offered by the Office of Parks, but they carry their own restrictions as imposed by the DEC and are only for use at DEC facilities.

Following the precedent set by both the Office of Parks and the DEC, this legislation seeks to expand the sale of recreational gift cards. Hunting and fishing are recreations very similar to those activities currently receiving gift cards and licenses for these activities

should be made available through the purchase of gift cards. This legislation will achieve that goal and should be passed

Legislative history

2013-2014: S.6575 - passed both houses / A.1627-A - passed both houses

Fiscal implications

Potential for increased revenue.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.