What's happening
This bill lowers the age threshold for lifetime fishing license fees and allows US veterans to fish without a license, except for bait fish by net or trap.
Why it matters
Lowering the age for discounted lifetime fishing licenses from 70 to 65 increases affordability and access for more older adults, potentially boosting recreation and tourism among retirees.
Allowing U.S. veterans to fish without a license (except for bait fish by net or trap) serves as a recognition of their service, removing a financial and administrative barrier to outdoor recreation for veterans.
The changes could lead to increased participation in fishing by both seniors and veterans, which may have positive effects on physical and mental health, as well as local economies tied to fishing activities.
Exempting bait fish collection by net or trap for veterans maintains important conservation and regulatory controls, balancing expanded access with ecological considerations.
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Who cares
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Free Fishing for Veterans
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Reported and committed to finance
- 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.
Free Fishing for Veterans
In Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Patrick Burke
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3016
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 31, 2019
Introduced by Sen. KENNEDY -- 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 lifetime fishing licenses and certain license exemptions for United States veterans
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 11-0702 of the environmental conservation law, as amended by section 16 of part R of chapter 58 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
1. There are hereby created the following lifetime hunting, fishing, trapping, archery and muzzle-loading privileges and fees therefor subject to the same privileges and obligations of a comparable short term license:
Licenses Fees
a. Lifetime license including a
hunting license, fishing license
and turkey permit. If purchased,
for a child four years
of age or younger $380.00
for a child age five through
eleven years of age $535.00
for a person age twelve through
sixty-nine years of age $765.00
for a person age seventy
and over. $65.00
b. Lifetime hunting license. $535.00
c. Lifetime fishing
license for a person age
[sixty-nine] sixty-four or younger. $460.00
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04194-01-9
S. 3016 2
d. Lifetime fishing license
for a person age [seventy] sixty-five
and over. $ 65.00
e. Lifetime trapping
license. $395.00
f. Lifetime archery privilege. $235.00
g. Lifetime muzzle-loading privilege. $235.00
h. For transfer to a person pursuant
to section 11-0704 of this title $50.00
The holder of a lifetime hunting license or lifetime fishing license may, at any time, convert such license to a lifetime license pursuant to paragraph a of this subdivision for an additional fee equal to the difference between the current fee for the new license and the fee originally paid for the license.
§ 2. Subdivisions 3 and 4 of section 11-0707 of the environmental conservation law are renumbered subdivisions 4 and 5, subdivisions 7, 8 and 9 of such section of such law are renumbered subdivisions 6, 7 and 8 and a new subdivision 3 is added to read as follows:
3. Any United States veteran, as defined in subdivision 3 of section 350 of the executive law, with identification that designates them as such, may take fish and frogs as if they held fishing licenses, except that they may not take bait fish by net or trap.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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 life- time fishing licenses and certain license exemptions for United States veterans
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this bill is to lower the age of a lifetime fishing license from 70 to 65, and to list veterans as exempt from the require- ment of fishing licenses.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 amends section 702 of article 11 of the environmental conser- vation law by changing the age categories of lifetime fishing licenses from a person age sixty-nine and younger/seventy and older to sixty-five and younger/sixty five and older.
Section 2 amends section 707 of article 11 of the environmental conser- vation law by adding veterans as a classification of people exempt from the requirement of fishing licenses.
Justification
Fishing is a popular pastime that is associated with multiple proven health benefits. To allow more people to access said benefits, this legislation would change the age required to qualify for a reduced life- time fishing license rate from 70 years of age to 65 years of age. This legislation would exempt veterans from needing a license to fish, as thanks for their service to the state and country.
Prior legislative history
2017-18: S.7750 Referred to Environmental Conservation
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This legislation shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.