What's happening
This bill allows New York residents honorably discharged from combat or hostile fire military service to receive free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses for five years after returning to the state.
Why it matters
Recognizes the sacrifices of veterans. by offering a tangible benefit—free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses—for those who served in combat or under hostile fire, signaling public appreciation for their service.
May help with reintegration and mental health. by enabling returning veterans to access outdoor recreation, which is often cited as beneficial for well-being and community connection after military service.
Targets a specific group of veterans. those honorably discharged from combat or imminent danger postings—potentially leaving out other veterans, which may prompt further discussion about eligibility and fairness.
Provides a time-limited benefit (five years). that may encourage veterans to stay or return to New York, possibly impacting state residency patterns and supporting local economies through related outdoor activities.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Free Hunting, Fishing for Veterans
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4493
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 2, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ, ABBATE, ZEBROWSKI, BENEDETTO, SCHIMMINGER, MAGNARELLI -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COLTON, FARRELL, WRIGHT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to waiving certain fishing and hunting fees for certain members of the military serving in combat or subject to hostile fire
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 11-0715 of the environmental conservation law, as amended by section 4 of part R of chapter 58 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
2. A member of the Shinnecock tribe or the Poospatuck tribe or a member of the six nations, residing on any reservation wholly or partly within the state, is entitled to receive free of charge a fishing license, a hunting license, a muzzle-loading privilege, a trapping license, and a bowhunting privilege; a resident of the state who is a member of the United States armed forces in active service who is not stationed within the state and has not been herein longer than thirty days on leave or furlough, is entitled to receive free of charge a fishing license, a hunting license, and a trapping license; a resident of the state who is an active member of the organized militia of the state of New York as defined by section one of the military law, or the reserve components of the armed forces of the United States, and excluding members of the inactive national guard and individual ready reserve, is entitled to receive free of charge a fishing license, a hunting license, and a trapping license; a resident of the state who performed military service in combat or duty subject to hostile fire or imminent danger, as defined in 37 USC § 310 (a)(4), and was honorably discharged, is entitled, for the five years immediately succeeding his or her return to the state from such military service, to receive free of charge a
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08940-01-7
A. 4493 2
fishing license, a small and big game license, and a trapping license; and a resident who is blind is entitled to receive a fishing license free of charge. For the purposes of this subdivision a person is blind only if either: (a) his or her central visual acuity does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye with correcting lenses, or (b) his or her visual acuity is greater than 20/200 but is accompanied by a limitation of the field of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees.
A resident in the state for a period of thirty days immediately prior to the date of application who has attained the age of seventy is entitled to receive a fishing license, a trapping license, and a hunting license, at a cost of five dollars for each license.
A resident in the state for a period of thirty days immediately prior to the date of application who has attained the age of seventy is entitled to receive free of charge a bowhunting privilege and a muzzle-loading privilege.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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.