What's happening
This bill requires New York high schools to offer hunting, fishing, and outdoor education in physical education if requested by students.
Why it matters
Expands High School Curriculum Options. By mandating hunting, fishing, and outdoor education upon student request, the bill introduces new subject matter into physical education, potentially broadening students’ exposure to outdoor skills, wildlife management, and conservation.
Focuses on Practical Life Skills and State Heritage. The required instruction goes beyond recreation, covering how to obtain licenses, understanding seasons and species, and highlighting the historical and developmental importance of hunting and fishing in New York, connecting students to local traditions and practical regulations.
Creates a Responsive Educational Model. The bill's requirement is triggered by student demand (ten or more students), meaning resources and curriculum development are directed where there is genuine interest, which could foster greater student engagement and ensure educational relevance.
Promotes Inter-Agency Collaboration. Implementation depends on coordination between the Department of Education and the Department of Environmental Conservation, which may improve the accuracy and quality of information as well as strengthen ties between educational and environmental bodies.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Add Outdoor Skills to PE
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
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.
Add Hunting to Gym Class
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Philip Palmesano
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
941
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. O'MARA -- 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 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 given in the study of game laws and of proper hunting and conservation
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05709-01-9
S. 941 2
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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
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
Purpose
To promote instruction in physical education courses for grades nine through twelve in hunting, fishing and outdoor education.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends subdivision 1 of section 3-0201 of the environmental conservation law to disseminate information for grades nine through twelve relating to hunting, fishing and outdoor education, in consulta- tion with the commissioner of education.
§ 2. Section 809a of the education law, as amended by chapter 442 of the laws of 1977 to give instruction. in the safe use of firearms and in the game laws; hunting, fishing and outdoor education. Such courses of instruction shall be approved by both the education department and the department of environmental conservation.
A public secondary school, upon request of ten or more students enrolled in that school establish a curriculum for hunting, fishing and outdoor education that will be consistent with the courses required by the department cf environmental conservation for license applicants.
Justification
To give grades nine through twelve outdoor opportunities for recreation and exercise and to teach the history and benefits of hunting and fish- ing in this state's development.
Legislative history
2018- S.2820 2016- S.1625 2014- S.3296
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regu- lation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.