Relates to the definition of non-ambulatory for purposes of non-ambulatory hunting permits

3 Co-sponsors

• Thomas Croci
• Patrick M. Gallivan
• James L. Seward

Title of bill

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to the definition of non-ambulatory for purposes of non-ambulatory hunting permits

Purpose or general idea of bill

To expand the current regulations concerning handicapped individuals who are eligible for a non-ambulatory hunter permit to those handicapped individuals who may be able to move about buildings with level floors with assistance other than a wheelchair or other mechanical assistance, but whose ability to ambulate is too impaired to allow them to venture afield through woods and fields without mechanical assistance.

Summary of specific provisions

Section One - amends subdivision 2 of section 11-0931 of the Environmental Conservation Law to provide that for the purposes of this subdivision, non-ambulatory shall mean unable to move about in a field, wood or other hunting arena without mechanical assistance.

Section Two - Effective date.

Justification

There are many handicapped individuals whose ability to walk is substantially impaired who are nevertheless able to get around without mechanical assistance in protected and level areas. However, their limited ability to ambulate without mechanical assistance cannot meet the challenges they face when trying to travel through fields and woods with uneven ground, hills and valleys, rocks and other obstructions. Currently, the non-ambulatory hunting license is available only to those who must at all times use mechanical assistance. This bill extends this availability to those who may just be able to get around in controlled settings without mechanical assistance, but are not able to move about under actual hunting conditions in the field.

Prior legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.