BILL NUMBER: S7864

SPONSOR: BYNOE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend chapter 366 of the laws of 2011 amending the environ-
mental conservation law relating to youth pheasant hunting days on Long
Island, in relation to the effectiveness thereof

 
PURPOSE OF THE BILL:

The purpose of this bill is to extend the authority of the Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC) to fix annually by regulation the open
seasons and bag limits for pheasants on Long Island for those who hold a
junior license.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of this bill amends section 3 of Chapter 366 of the Laws of
2011, as amended by Chapter 300 of the Laws of 2022, to extend Environ-
mental Conservation Law (ECL) § 11-0903(2)(c-1) until December 31, 2028,
which authorizes DEC to hold a youth hunt pursuant to regulations which
              

establish open season and bag limits for pheasants on Long Island.

Section 2 of this bill provides that the bill shall take effect imme-
diately.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

DEC has successfully provided junior hunters (ages 12-15 years old) the
opportunity to hunt pheasants for seven consecutive years in upstate New
York, and the Northern and Southern hunting zones. In 2011, the Legisla-
ture authorized DEC to establish a youth pheasant hunt on Long Island.
Since that time, DEC has established successful and popular youth pheas-
ant hunting opportunities on Long Island.  Authorizing DEC to extend the
authority to hold annual youth hunting opportunities on Long Island
would provide interested youth hunters ample hunting opportunities and
act as a valuable and critical recruitment tool for new hunters.

DEC's authority to hold youth pheasant hunts on Long Island will sunset
on December 31, 2025 without legislative action. Given the success of
the hunts authorized under this law, this bill proposes to extend this
authority to ensure that youth hunters on Long Island will continue to
be able to have a special hunting opportunity.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

ECL § 11-0903 was last amended to provide DEC with authority to set
seasons and bag limits for pheasants on Long Island by Chapter 300 of
the laws of 2022.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.