What's happening
This bill expands eligibility for free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses to Native American tribal members regardless of reservation residency.
Why it matters
Expanding eligibility for free licenses to all Native American tribal members, not just those living on reservations, addresses historical and ongoing barriers to access for off-reservation tribal members. This recognizes tribal identity and connection to traditional lands regardless of current residency.
The change could improve equitable access to outdoor resources, cultural practices, and subsistence activities for Native Americans living in urban or non-reservation areas. This may strengthen cultural connections and support food sovereignty for Native communities.
By removing the residency limitation, the bill acknowledges the mobility and diverse living situations of Native Americans in New York State, potentially setting a precedent for more inclusive state policies elsewhere.
This amendment may also increase Native American participation in state conservation and wildlife management programs, fostering better relationships and cooperation between tribes and state agencies.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Expand Free Outdoor Licenses
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to ways and means
- Reported referred to ways and means
- Referred to environmental conservation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7577
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 2, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to residency requirements for free hunting, fishing and trapping licenses
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; 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.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09063-02-7
A. 7577 2
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 January 1, 2018.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
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