What's happening
This bill extends the existing law on migratory game bird management from expiring in 2018 to December 31, 2021.
Why it matters
Ensures continued state authority over migratory game bird management. By extending the law’s expiration date, New York maintains its ability to regulate hunting seasons, bag limits, and conservation efforts aligned with federal guidelines.
Supports ongoing conservation and habitat management programs. The extension allows the Department of Environmental Conservation to keep running programs that protect migratory bird populations and their habitats, which could otherwise lapse if the law expired.
Provides regulatory stability for hunters and stakeholders. Hunters, landowners, and conservation groups benefit from the predictability and continuity of the legal framework, allowing them to plan activities and resources around consistent rules.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Extend Bird Hunting Rules
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Signed chap.492
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading cal.1088
- Substituted for A10861
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 59–1
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.988
Show 1 earlier action
- 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.
Extend Bird Hunting Rules
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Brian Barnwell
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7950
IN SENATE
March 13, 2018
Introduced by Sen. O'MARA -- (at request of the Department of Environmental Conservation) -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend chapter 84 of the laws of 2010, amending the environmental conservation law relating to the management of migratory game birds, in relation to extending the effectiveness thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 5 of chapter 84 of the laws of 2010, amending the environmental conservation law relating to the management of migratory game birds, as amended by chapter 208 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:
§ 5. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that the amendments made by sections one, two and three of this act shall be deemed repealed on December 31, [2018] 2021.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14434-01-8
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend chapter 84 of the laws of 2010, amend- ing the environmental conservation law relating to the management of migratory game birds, in relation to extending the effectiveness thereof
Purpose of the bill
The purpose of this bill is to amend the Fish and Wildlife Law to continue to allow the annual federal regulations to set the state's migratory game bird hunting seasons and bag limits.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill would amend section 5 of chapter 208 of the Laws of 2015 to extend, until December 31, 2021, the provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Law that allow annual federal regulations to set the State's migratory game bird hunting seasons and bag limits.
Section 2 of this bill provides that this bill shall take effect imme- diately.
Statement in support
Migratory game bird hunting regulations, including season dates, must be set in accordance with federal regulations adopted under authority of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.0 §§ 703-712). Migratory game bird population levels fluctuate annually in response to a variety of envi- ronmental factors, including weather conditions, predation, and human activities, such as land use changes and harvest. As a result, federal regulations for migratory birds are adjusted annually. The final federal regulations are not be published in the Federal Register until mid-Au- gust following a 30 day public comment period, and the annual assessment of duck population status.
The purpose of Chapter 84 of the Laws of 2010 was to eliminate the need for annual rulemaking by DEC to adjust season dates and bag limits. Federal regulations provide opportunity for public comment, and are based on information and input received from New York, including DEC and stakeholders. Season dates and bag limits are used to achieve harvest objectives and equitably distribute hunting opportunity among hunters. Regulations governing the manner of take improve the quality of recre- ational activity, provide for a variety of harvest techniques, public safety, and protection of private property, as well as afford additional protection to migratory game bird populations.
Prior to having this authority, DEC had often been forced to issue emer- gency regulations to conform State migratory game bird hunting regu- lations to the federal regulations in time for opening day. As the emer- gency rulemaking process follows the State Administrative Procedures Act, migratory game bird seasons authorized by federal regulations often began long before the start of the rulemaking process.
This bill would extend the authority provided in Chapter 84, so that the federal regulations can continue to set the seasons and bag limits in New York while continuing to provide authority for DEC to promulgate regulations if needed.
Prior legislative history
ECL § 11-0903 provisions authorizing the use of federal regulations for setting seasons and bag limits for migratory game birds were established by Chapter 84 of the Laws of 2010 and extended through October 1, 2015 by Chapter 39 of the Laws of 2013. Prior to 2011, DEC was obligated to promulgate regulations to mimic federal regulations. The law was amended so that DEC may promulgate regulations when seasons or bag limits are different from the federal regulations but is not required to simply republish federal rules when they are to be used.
Budget 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.