What's happening
This bill increases penalties for violations involving endangered species, illegal ivory, and rhinoceros horns, and mandates public awareness efforts.
Why it matters
By significantly increasing fines for violations, the bill raises the financial risks for those involved in illegal trade or harm to endangered species, ivory, or rhinoceros horn—potentially deterring would-be offenders more effectively.
The higher penalties per animal or part involved mean that large-scale traffickers or poachers could face much steeper consequences, making large operations far riskier and less profitable.
Requiring public education about endangered species protections aims to increase awareness and compliance, helping ensure that people and businesses understand both the laws and the reasons behind them, which could lead to broader cultural shifts against wildlife trafficking.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Increase Species Protection Fines
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Print number 1415a
- Amend (t) and recommit to environmental conservation
- Referred to 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.
Increase Endangered Species Fines
In Senate Committee · Rules · Sponsor Steven Englebright
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1415--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 9, 2017
Introduced by Sen. AVELLA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation -- recommitted to the Committee on Environmental Conservation in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to increasing certain penalties relating to endangered and special species, species of special concern and illegal ivory articles and rhinoceros horns
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 13 of section 71-0925 of the environmental conservation law, as amended by chapter 706 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
13. If the violation was an act prohibited by subdivision two of section 11-0535 or by section 11-0536 of this chapter, or by any lawful rule or regulation of the department promulgated pursuant thereto, not more than [two] four thousand dollars, and an additional penalty of not more than [three] seven hundred [fifty] dollars for each fish, shellfish, crustacea, wildlife or part thereof involved in the violation. If the violation was an act prohibited by any regulation of the department promulgated pursuant to subdivision three of section 11-0535 of this chapter, then such penalty shall be not more than [one] two thousand dollars, and an additional penalty of not more than [two] four hundred dollars for each fish, shellfish, crustacea, wildlife or part thereof involved in the violation.
§ 2. The commissioner of environmental conservation shall inform the public of the importance of protecting endangered and threatened species. Such commissioner shall also publicize the laws protecting such species.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01280-02-8
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to increasing certain penalties relating to endangered and special species, species of special concern and illegal ivory articles and rhinoceros horns
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this bill is to increase the penalties for violations involving endangered and threatened species.
Summary of specific provisions
This bill would:
*increase the endangered or threatened species civil penalty,
*require the Department of Environmental Conservation to:
o increase public awareness regarding the importance of protecting endangered and threatened species,
o publicize laws protecting such species.
Justification
Not only do endangered and threatened species add beauty and wonder to the natural world, but they provide diversity necessary for the mainte- nance for our ecosystems. This bill would help increase awareness of the need for protections of such species and provide additional deterrents to their harm by increasing civil penalties.
Prior legislative history
2016: S7963 (Avella) 2016: A10471 (Englebright)
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
None to the State.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.