What's happening
This bill requires public high schools to offer hunting, fishing, and outdoor education in physical education classes if requested by at least ten students.
Why it matters
Expands curriculum options for students interested in outdoor activities. By guaranteeing instruction in hunting, fishing, and outdoor education when requested by ten or more students, the bill ensures that these often-overlooked topics become accessible to interested youth, possibly fostering lifelong skills and interests.
Promotes awareness of wildlife conservation and legal responsibilities. The required curriculum covers not just techniques, but also game laws, safe firearm use, conservation practices, and the historical role of hunting and fishing in New York—helping students understand environmental stewardship and legal obligations.
Creates a standardized, state-developed curriculum. The bill mandates that the curriculum be developed jointly by the Departments of Education and Environmental Conservation, aligning it with existing licensing requirements and ensuring consistency and quality across schools.
May influence perceptions and participation in traditional outdoor sports. By integrating hunting and fishing education into public schools, the bill could help destigmatize these activities, encourage responsible participation, and potentially support local economies dependent on outdoor recreation.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Teach Outdoor Skills in Schools
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.1256
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.860
- 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.
Teach Hunting in High Schools
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Philip Palmesano
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2820
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 17, 2017
Introduced by Sen. O'MARA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
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 given in the study of game laws and of proper hunting and conservation
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07055-01-7
S. 2820 2
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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
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
Purpose
To promote instruction in physical education courses for grades nine through twelve in hunting, fishing and outdoor education.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends subdivision 1 of section 3-0301 of the environmental conservation law to disseminate information for grades nine through twelve relating to hunting, fishing and outdoor education, in consultation with the commissioner of education.
§ 2. Section 809a of the education law, as amended by chapter 442 of the laws of 1977 to give instruction in the safe use of firearms and in the game laws; hunting, fishing and outdoor education. Such courses of instruction shall be approved by both the education department and the department of environmental conservation.
A public secondary school, upon request of ten or more students enrolled in that school establish a curriculum for hunting, fishing and outdoor education that will be consistent with the courses required by the department of environmental conservation for license applicants.
Justification
To give grades nine through twelve outdoor opportunities for recreation and exercise and to teach the history and benefits of hunting and fishing in this state's development.
Legislative history
2016- S.1625 2014- S.3296
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
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.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.