S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
S. 4658 A. 7170
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
S E N A T E - A S S E M B L Y
April 14, 2011
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IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. O'MARA -- read twice and ordered print-
ed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental
Conservation
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. PALMESANO -- 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 ASSEM-
BLY, 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 INSTRUC-
TION SHALL INCLUDE INFORMATION ON THE:
(1) VARIOUS HUNTING AND FISHING SEASONS;
(2) SPECIES THAT CAN BE SOUGHT;
(3) THE 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 DEVEL-
OPMENT;
S 2. Section 809-a of the education law, as amended by chapter 442 of
the laws of 1977, is amended to read as follows:
S 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
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09404-01-1
S. 4658 2 A. 7170
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
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 ENVI-
RONMENTAL 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 DEVEL-
OPMENT.
S 3. 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 regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effec-
tive date is authorized and directed to be made and completed on or
before such effective date.