What's happening
This bill expands eligibility for free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses to all active military, organized militia, certain veterans, and reserve members.
Why it matters
Significantly broadens who qualifies for free licenses. The bill expands eligibility beyond just New York residents and those stationed in-state, now including all active-duty military, organized militia, and reserve members—regardless of their current station or residency status—removing previous restrictions that limited access based on location or leave status.
Recognizes long-serving veterans. Veterans with ten or more years of honorable service (active or reserve, including organized militia, but not inactive guard or individual ready reserve) are now eligible for free licenses, acknowledging their extended service and providing a tangible benefit even after discharge.
Reduces administrative barriers. By eliminating requirements such as being stationed in New York or being on leave within the state, the process becomes simpler and more accessible, likely increasing participation among service members and veterans.
Enhances support for military families and morale. The expanded eligibility can serve as a form of appreciation for military service, potentially strengthening ties between the military community and the state, and offering recreational opportunities that can aid in well-being and community integration.
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Free Licenses for Military
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Held for consideration in environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
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.
Free Licenses for Service Members
In Senate Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Patrick M. Gallivan
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6219
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 28, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. DiPIETRO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to free hunting, fishing and trapping licenses to persons who are active or reserve duty members of the Unites States armed services or of the organized militia, and to certain veterans thereof
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] regardless of where he or she is 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 a force 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 person, having ten or more years of military service, who has been honorably discharged from active or reserve service in the United States armed forces, or from a force of the organized militia as defined in section one of the military law, excluding the inactive national guard and individual ready reserve, is entitled to receive free of charge a
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09860-01-7
A. 6219 2
fishing license, a hunting 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.