What's happening
This bill requires public high schools to offer hunting, fishing, and outdoor education in physical education if requested by at least ten students.
Why it matters
Promotes awareness of outdoor activities and conservation. By mandating instruction in hunting, fishing, and outdoor education, the bill aims to increase students’ knowledge of New York’s natural resources, wildlife management, and the historical significance of these activities to the state’s development.
Potentially boosts student engagement and physical activity. Offering these courses in physical education provides nontraditional options that may appeal to students less interested in conventional sports, potentially increasing student participation and fostering lifelong recreational habits.
Aligns education with state licensing requirements. The curriculum will match the standards set by the Department of Environmental Conservation for hunting and fishing licenses, ensuring that students who complete the course are better prepared to meet legal and safety requirements for these activities.
Reflects and responds to student interest. By requiring a minimum of ten student requests for the course to be offered, the bill empowers students to have a direct say in shaping their educational experience, while ensuring that resources are allocated where there is demonstrated demand.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Teach Hunting in High Schools
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
12 Co-sponsors
History
- Held for consideration in education
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Teach Outdoor Skills in Schools
In Senate Committee · Rules · Sponsor Thomas F. O'Mara
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3655
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 30, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. PALMESANO, BARCLAY, BLANKENBUSH, CASTORINA, DiPIETRO, FINCH, FRIEND, GIGLIO, RAIA, WALTER -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT, LOPEZ, McLAUGHLIN, B. MILLER, OAKS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law and the education law, in relation to hunting, fishing and outdoor education in high school physical education courses
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 3-0301 of the environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new paragraph aa to read as follows:
aa. Disseminate information relating to hunting, fishing and outdoor education, in consultation with the commissioner of education, to promote instruction in physical education courses for grades nine through twelve in hunting, fishing and outdoor education. Such instruction shall include information on the:
(1) various hunting and fishing seasons;
(2) species that can be sought;
(3) necessary materials for obtaining hunting and fishing licenses;
(4) outdoor opportunities for recreation and exercise purposes; and
(5) history and benefits of hunting and fishing in this state's development;
§ 2. Section 809-a of the education law, as amended by chapter 442 of the laws of 1977, is amended to read as follows:
§ 809-a. Instruction in the safe use of firearms and in the game laws; hunting, fishing and outdoor education. 1. The officer, board, or commission authorized or required to prescribe courses of instructions in any school under state control, may authorize instructions to be given in the safe and proper use of firearms allowed by law to be used in the taking of wild game, and may also authorize instructions to be
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07055-01-7
A. 3655 2
given in the study of game laws and of proper hunting and conservation practices. Such courses of instruction shall be approved by both the education department and the department of environmental conservation.
2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a public secondary school shall, upon the request of ten or more students enrolled in such school, provide, as a component of such school's physical education course, instruction in hunting, fishing and outdoor education, which shall be consistent with the courses required by the department of environmental conservation for license applicants. The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of the department of environmental conservation, shall establish a curriculum for the hunting, fishing and outdoor education course, which shall include, but not be limited to, instruction on:
(a) various hunting and fishing seasons;
(b) species that can be sought;
(c) the necessary materials for obtaining hunting and fishing licenses;
(d) outdoor opportunities for recreation and exercise purposes; and
(e) history and benefits of hunting and fishing in this state's development.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.