What's happening
This bill amends qualifications for the Conservation Fund Advisory Board, allowing broader evidence of fish and wildlife management experience.
Why it matters
Expands eligibility for the Conservation Fund Advisory Board beyond just those who have continuously held NY hunting, fishing, or trapping licenses for three years. meaning experienced conservationists without recent licenses can now be considered.
Enables the appointment of individuals with broader backgrounds in fish and wildlife management. , such as academic researchers, environmental advocates, or those with professional conservation experience, rather than limiting membership to active hunters or fishers.
May bring more diverse perspectives and expertise to the Advisory Board. , potentially influencing how conservation funds are allocated and how policies are shaped regarding fish and wildlife management in New York State.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Update Board Member Requirements
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3327
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 20, 2017
Introduced by Sen. AVELLA -- 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, in relation to qualifications for individuals designated or appointed to the conservation fund advisory board
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 11-0327 of the environmental conservation law, as added by chapter 308 of the laws of 1994, is amended to read as follows:
(b) Persons designated or appointed to the advisory board, excluding ex officio members, shall have demonstrated a long-standing interest, knowledge and experience in fish and wildlife management, including hunting or fishing, [as] which may be evidenced [in part] by the holding of a valid New York state hunting, fishing or trapping license at the time they are designated or appointed to such board and for each of the three years immediately preceding their designation or appointment to such board. One member, who may not be an ex officio member, shall be elected chairman of the advisory board by a majority vote of the members of such board, excluding ex officio members.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06808-01-7
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 qualifications for individuals designated or appointed to the conservation fund advisory board
Purpose or general idea of the bill
To make optional the requirement that all members of the Conservation Fund Advisory Board possess a valid hunting, trapping, or fishing license.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill establishes that a valid New York hunting, fishing or trapping license may be sufficient to meet appointment or designation requirements, but that such a license is not required.
Section 2 sets forth an immediate effective date.
Justification
Section 1, paragraph b of subdivision 1 of section 11-0327 of the environmental conservation law currently states that a person designated or appointed to the advisory board must demonstrate a "long-standing interest, knowledge, and experience in fish and wildlife management." As the law is written, the appointee or designee can only satisfy these requirements if they have a valid New York hunting, fishing, or trapping license.
While such a hunting, fishing, or trapping license may indicate long-standing interest, knowledge, and experience in fish and wildlife management, the law excludes from appointment or designation a wide variety of individuals with ample experience in wildlife management who, simply because they lack such a license, may not sit on the board.
The purpose of the conservation fund advisory board is to make recommendations to state agencies on state government plans, policies, and programs affecting fish and wildlife. These broad and important goals can be more adequately met by making the mandatory hunting, fishing, or trapping license requirement discretionary, thereby diversifying the board with appointees and designees of equally substantial interest, knowledge, and experience beyond the scope of hunting, fishing, or trapping.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None
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.