What's happening
This bill requires the Department of Environmental Conservation to create and regulate gift cards for hunting and fishing licenses.
Why it matters
Expands Access and Flexibility. By allowing hunting and fishing licenses (and related privileges) to be purchased as gift cards, the bill makes it easier for people to give outdoor recreation opportunities as gifts, potentially introducing new participants to these activities.
Potential Revenue Increase for Conservation. Making licenses available for gifting could boost overall sales, generating more funds for the Department of Environmental Conservation, which relies on these revenues to support wildlife management and conservation programs.
Regulatory Clarity and Consumer Protection. The bill requires the Department to create clear rules and definitions for these gift cards, establishing a standardized process for issuance and redemption, which can help avoid confusion or misuse and ensure consumers know what they’re getting.
Promotes Outdoor Recreation. By lowering barriers to entry (e.g., gifting a license rather than requiring someone to apply themselves), the legislation may encourage more people—especially beginners or youth—to try hunting or fishing, supporting the broader goal of public engagement with nature.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Hunting, Fishing License Gift Cards
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Reported and committed to rules
- 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.
Hunting, Fishing License Gift Cards
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Aileen Gunther
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
754
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 4, 2017
Introduced by Sens. RITCHIE, SEWARD -- 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 directing the commissioner of environmental conservation to create gift cards for hunting and fishing licenses
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 11-0706 of the environmental conservation law, as amended by section 22 of part R of chapter 58 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows: § 11-0706. Gift cards for hunting and fishing licenses.
1. The commissioner [is authorized to establish] shall promulgate rules and regulations establishing gift cards for the licenses and bowhunting and muzzle-loading privileges set forth in section 11-0701 of this title.
2. For the purposes of this title, the term "gift card" shall mean a restricted monetary equivalent or voucher that, when redeemed by the holder, entitles such person to a valid license or bowhunting and/or muzzle-loading privilege as set forth in section 11-0701 of this title.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03782-01-7
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 directing the commissioner of environmental conservation to create gift cards for hunting and fishing licenses
Purpose
To require the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to promulgate rules and regulations establishing gift cards for hunting and fishing licenses in New York State.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends section 11-0706 to require the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation to promulgate rules and regulations establishing gift cards for New York State hunting and fishing licenses.
Section 2 provides the effective date.
Existing law
Section 11-0706 of the Environmental Conservation Law, which was part of the 2012-13 New York State Budget, Chapter 58 of the Laws of 2012, provides that the Commissioner is authorized to establish gift cards for hunting and fishing.
Justification
This legislation requires the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation to promulgate rules and regulations establishing gift cards for hunting and fishing licenses in New York State. Similar gift cards for camping and entrance into state parks already exist. Like those programs, hunting and fishing license gift cards will promote the industry and generate revenue for the state.
The current gift card programs are thriving. Gift cards for camping permits, offered by the Office of Parks, may be used for anything from golf reservations and greens fees to the purchase of firewood or boat rentals, as well as camping site reservations. These camping permit gift cards, as well as Empire Passports, which provide free entrance into state parks, are advertised for sale on the web site for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
In 2013, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) began to issue their own gift cards that can be used for camping at all New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Facilities. These gifts cards are similar to those offered by the Office of Parks, but they carry their own restrictions as imposed by the DEC and are only for use at DEC facilities.
Following the precedent set by both the Office of Parks and the DEC, this legislation seeks to expand the sale of recreational gift cards. Hunting and fishing are recreations very similar to those activities currently receiving gift cards and licenses for these activities should be made available through the purchase of gift cards. This legislation will achieve that goal and should be passed.
Legislative history
2015-2016: S3106 Passed the Senate/ A.7467- Referred to Ways and Means.
2013-2014: S.6575 - Passed the Senate / A.1627-A - Passed the Assembly.
Fiscal implications
Potential for increased revenue.
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.