What's happening
This bill amends qualifications for the Conservation Fund Advisory Board, allowing broader evidence of experience beyond just holding licenses.
Why it matters
Expands Eligibility for Board Membership. By allowing experience and interest in fish and wildlife management to be shown through means other than just holding hunting, fishing, or trapping licenses, this change can bring in members with a broader range of conservation expertise, such as educators, researchers, or advocates.
Potential for More Diverse Perspectives. The board may benefit from including individuals who have contributed to conservation in non-traditional ways, potentially leading to more creative and inclusive policy recommendations.
Reduces Barriers for Participation. People who are knowledgeable and passionate about conservation but have not held a license for the required years—such as those who support wildlife preservation in other ways—can now participate, making the board more accessible and representative of the wider public.
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Who cares
Prospective Conservation Fund Advisory Board members
The bill would make holding a current New York hunting, fishing or trapping license and having held one for the preceding three years optional evidence of qualifications rather than a requirement.
Officials designating or appointing board members
They could consider candidates without that license history, but candidates would still need demonstrated long-standing interest, knowledge and experience in fish and wildlife management, including hunting or fishing.
New York hunters, anglers and trappers
Their license history could still serve as evidence of qualifications for the board, but would no longer be required of non-ex officio members.
Headline styles
Update Board Member Criteria
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- 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.
Broaden Advisory Board Qualifications
In Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Sandy Galef
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4576
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 15, 2019
Introduced by Sens. MARTINEZ, MAYER -- 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.
LBD08329-01-9
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 bill
The purpose of this legislation is 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. 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, which may be evidenced by the holding of a valid NYS hunting, fishing or trapping license.
Section 2. Establishes the effective date.
Difference between original and amended version (if applicable)
This portion of this memorandum is not applicable at this time.
Justification
The Environmental Conservation Law currently states that a person desig- nated or appointed to the advisory board must demonstrate a "long-stand- ing." 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 recommen- dations to state agencies on state government plans, policies, and programs affecting fish and wildlife. These broad and importance 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 trap- ping.
Prior legislative history
A. 6519 and S. 3327 of 2017/2018
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
There are no fiscal implications associated with the passage of this legislation.
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.