Senate Bill S7676

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7676

SPONSOR: MANNION
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
providing for persons with a medically diagnosed developmental disabili-
ty to be eligible to receive a fishing license free of charge

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

Authorizes free recreational fishing licenses to individuals with an
intellectual or developmental disability.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

     1. Amends section 11-0715 of the environmental conservation law to
     allow for individuals with an intellectual or developmental
     disability to receive a yearly fishing license without charge

     2. Effective Date

              

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The department of environmental conservation currently offers several
types of free and reduced fee sporting licenses to individuals who are
active duty military, military veterans with a 40% or more service
related disability, individuals 15 years of age and under, seniors,
native americans of select tribes, full-time non residents students at a
New York college/university, and persons with a disability. The current
free fishing license for individuals with a disability however, only
applies to citizens who are legally blind.

This legislation expands the current free and reduced sporting licenses
to be inclusive of more individuals with a disability by including any
individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability (UDD).
Providing free fishing licenses to individuals with an I/DD will allow
these individuals to get out in their community and connect with nature
while learning new skills.

The current fee for each individual to obtain a recreational fishing
license is $25 per person, per year. For a family of four, this expense
adds up quickly. Expanding the free sporting licenses to individuals
with disabilities will foster a lifelong passion and appreciation for
the outdoors. The fishing licenses provided would be for recreational
fishing and would not allow an individual to sell caught fish.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

TBD.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
120 days after becoming law