What's happening
This bill requires high schools to offer hunting, fishing, and outdoor education as part of physical education if requested by students.
Why it matters
Expands educational focus. By requiring that hunting, fishing, and outdoor education be included in physical education if requested by students, the bill recognizes these activities as forms of exercise and recreation, potentially reaching students who may not engage with traditional sports or PE content.
Promotes safety and legal knowledge. The curriculum must include instruction on safe and legal hunting and fishing practices, seasons, and licensing, which could reduce accidents and violations among young participants and foster a culture of responsible outdoor activity.
Highlights cultural and historical context. By mandating education on the history and benefits of hunting and fishing in New York’s development, the bill aims to connect students to the state's heritage and the role of these activities in both conservation and community life.
Responsive to student interest. The requirement is triggered by a request from at least ten students, making the program demand-driven and ensuring that resources are allocated toward genuine student interest rather than imposing a top-down mandate.
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
Add Hunting to Gym Class
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
18 Co-sponsors
History
- Held for consideration in education
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
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.
Add Outdoor Skills to PE
In Senate Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Thomas F. O'Mara
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3696
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 30, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. PALMESANO, BARCLAY, BLANKENBUSH, FINCH, GIGLIO, RAIA -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ASHBY, BRABENEC, DiPIETRO, ENGLEBRIGHT, FRIEND, B. MILLER, MORINELLO, NORRIS, WALSH -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
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
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05709-01-9
A. 3696 2
given in the study of game laws and of proper hunting and conservation 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. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.