S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  3270

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            January 23, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced  by M. of A. DelMONTE, GUNTHER, GABRYSZAK, SCHROEDER, FIELDS,
  ZEBROWSKI, LUPARDO, GORDON, ESPAILLAT, TITONE, SAYWARD --  Multi-Spon-
  sored  by  -- M.   of A. AMEDORE, BOYLAND, CHRISTENSEN, DESTITO, JOHN,
  KOON, MAGEE, MARKEY, MAYERSOHN, McENENY, REILLY, SWEENEY -- read  once
  and  referred  to the Committee on Economic Development, Job Creation,
  Commerce and Industry

AN ACT to amend the economic development law, in  relation  to  creating
  the Empire State Fishing Trail program

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. The economic development law is amended  by  adding  a  new
article 5-F to read as follows:
                                ARTICLE 5-F
                   EMPIRE STATE FISHING TRAIL PROGRAM
SECTION 181-F. LEGISLATIVE INTENT.
        181-G. DEFINITION.
        181-H. GENERAL FUNCTIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSIONER.
  S  181-F.  LEGISLATIVE  INTENT.   NEW YORK STATE IS HOME TO MANY WATER
RESOURCES INCLUDING HUNDREDS OF MILES OF ATLANTIC OCEAN COASTLINE,  TENS
OF  THOUSANDS  OF  MILES  OF  RIVERS AND STREAMS, THOUSANDS OF LAKES AND
PONDS, AND MILLIONS OF ACRES OF WETLANDS. THE FISHING OPPORTUNITIES  ARE
VAST  AND  UNIQUE  RANGING FROM SALT WATER TO FRESH WATER. THE STATE HAS
CONSISTENTLY BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR ITS OUTSTANDING FISHERIES AND HAS  BEEN
RATED NUMBER ONE FOR BASS FISHING IN THE COUNTRY. ACCORDING TO THE AMER-
ICAN  SPORTFISHING  ASSOCIATION,  ANGLERS  SPEND  MORE  THAN 1.1 BILLION
DOLLARS ON FISHING TRIPS,  EQUIPMENT  AND  LICENSES,  WHICH  SUPPORT  IN
EXCESS  OF  SEVENTEEN THOUSAND JOBS THROUGHOUT NEW YORK. FISHING TOURNA-
MENTS HAVE RISEN IN POPULARITY AND THIS STATE  HAS  REGULARLY  BEEN  THE
HOST  TO  NATIONAL  AND  INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS WHICH BRING WORLDWIDE
ATTENTION. AS SUCH, THE STATE HAS AN EXCELLENT  OPPORTUNITY  TO  ATTRACT

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
A                                                          LBD00848-01-9

              

A. 3270                             2

MORE  FISHING  TOURNAMENTS,  ANGLERS, VISITORS AND FISHING RELATED BUSI-
NESSES.
  S  181-G.  DEFINITION.  AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE, "FISHING TRAIL" SHALL
MEAN A SERIES OF FISHERIES IN THE STATE IDENTIFIED BY THE  COMMISSIONER,
WHICH MAY BE LINKED BY GEOGRAPHY, QUALITY AND/OR EVENTS.
  S 181-H. GENERAL FUNCTIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSIONER. THE
COMMISSIONER,  IN  COOPERATION  WITH  THE  COMMISSIONER OF ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSERVATION, THE COMMISSIONER OF PARKS, RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESER-
VATION, AND ANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL OR ENTITY, SHALL  EXPAND  UPON
THE  EXISTING  FISHING  PROMOTION  PROGRAM  BY  DEVELOPING A COORDINATED
EFFORT TO PROMOTE THE STATE'S  FISHING  OPPORTUNITIES,  IMPROVE  FISHING
FACILITIES,  WATER  QUALITY AND ATTRACT PROFESSIONAL FISHING TOURNAMENTS
AT LOCATIONS ALONG THE TRAIL, AND ENSURE THAT TOP-LEVEL FISHING  TOURNA-
MENTS ARE SECURED AT FISHERIES ALONG THE FISHING TRAIL.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.