BILL NUMBER: S8737
SPONSOR: OBERACKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
establishing a hunting mentorship program
 
PURPOSE:
Creates a hunting mentorship program to allow qualified hunters to
introduce prospective hunters to the tradition of safe and responsible
hunting.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Amends the Environmental Conservation Law to define a "quali-
fied hunting mentor" as a person who is twenty-one years of age or older
and holds both a valid certificate of completion of a hunters' education
course and a current valid hunting license. States that a mentor must be
a parent or guardian of the apprentice unless the apprentice is a person
who is at least twenty-one years of age or older. Defines a person who
would be able to be an apprentice as being at least ten years of age
without a hunting license or hunters' education course certification.
Allows an apprentice to possess or control a firearm, bow, or crossbow
if the qualified hunting mentor is within arms' reach of the apprentice.
States that an apprentice may only possess one firearm, bow, or crossbow
jointly with their mentor while hunting. Specifies that a qualified
hunting mentor may only hunt with one apprentice on any hunting trip.
Section 2. Provides the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
As the number of hunters in New York has significantly declined, we must
find new ways of connecting interested people with experienced hunters.
Apprenticeship programs can be an effective way to teach new hunters
safe, ethical, and responsible hunting practices. Many other states have
successful apprenticeship programs for hunting that help maintain a
culture of safety and respect for the environment. New York should
follow these states to help create the next generation of hunters.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined
 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.