Senate Bill S3327

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S3327

 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 THE BILL :

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 of the bill establishes that a valid New York hunting,
fishing or trapping license may be sufficient to meet appointment or
designation requirements, but that such a license is not required.

Section 2 sets forth an immediate effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :

Section 1, paragraph b of subdivision 1 of section 11-0327 of the
environmental conservation law currently states that a person
designated or appointed to the advisory board must demonstrate a
"long-standing interest, knowledge, and experience in fish and
              

wildlife management." 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
recommendations to state agencies on state government plans, policies,
and programs affecting fish and wildlife. These broad and important
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 trapping.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

New bill.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.