BILL NUMBER: S9317
SPONSOR: MAY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
extending the authority of the department of environmental conservation
to manage deer and bear; and to amend chapter 600 of the laws of 1993,
amending the environmental conservation law relating to the management
of deer, in relation to the effectiveness of such chapter
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
extending the authority of the department of environmental conservation
to manage deer and bear; and to amend chapter 600 of the laws of 1993,
amending the environmental conservation law relating to the management
of deer, in relation to the effectiveness of such chapter
 
PURPOSE OF THE BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to extend the authority of the Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC) to manage big game (deer and bear).
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of this bill amends Section 13 of Chapter 600 of the Laws of
1993 to extend, until December 31, 2027, the expiration date applicable
to several provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Law related to the taking
of deer.
Section 2 of this bill amends Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) §
11-0903(8), (9)(a) and (10) to extend, until December 31, 2027, DEC's
authority to: 1) regulate the taking of bear and the possession and
disposition of bear parts, and the intentional and incidental feeding of
bears; 2) fix by regulation special open seasons for taking wild deer of
either sex when in its opinion deer shall become numerous enough to
cause substantial damage to property and over browsing; and 3) adopt
regulations with respect to the manner of taking of, the possession of,
and open seasons and bag limits for deer.
Section 3 of this bill amends ECL § 11-0913(1)(a) to extend until Decem-
ber 31, 2027, DEC's authority to issue Deer Management Permits.
Section 4 provides that such changes take effect immediately.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Authority to set regulations for big game provides a timely administra-
tive process which optimizes the effectiveness of harvest management
techniques. Each of the ECL provisions pertaining to management of black
bear and deer is critical. Achieving management objectives for these
species requires the ability to tailor seasons, bag limits, and other
hunting regulations to reflect changing conditions for management units
in the State. The ability to amend regulations provides the flexibility
needed to respond to these needs on a timely basis. In the absence of
these renewed authorities, DEC's deer and bear management programs would
revert to the "default" statutes, thereby instituting archaic and inef-
fective big game management regimes.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Chapter 207 of the Laws of 2021
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Section 4 provides that such changes take effect immediately.