BILL NUMBER: S9321
SPONSOR: HARCKHAM
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend chapter 122 of the laws of 2000 amending the environ-
mental conservation law relating to authorizing sweepstakes with respect
to subscriptions to "The Conservationist", in relation to the effective-
ness thereof
 
PURPOSE OF THE BILL:
To extend for three years the Department of Environmental Conservation's
(DEC) authority to conduct sweepstakes to increase the number of Conser-
vationist magazine subscribers.  
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of this bill amends Chapter 122 of the Laws of 2000 to extend
through August 1, 2024 provisions applicable to Environmental Conserva-
tion Law (ECL) § 3-0301(2)(y), which authorizes DEC to engage in sweeps-
takes or contests intended to stabilize, improve or otherwise increase
the subscriber base of the Conservationist magazine.
Section 2 of this bill provides for an immediate effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
DEC issues the Conservationist, a New York State-focused magazine that
contains informative and entertaining articles, photography and artwork.
Articles cover a broad range of environmental and natural history
related topics, including fishing, hiking, outdoor recreation, travel,
hunting, and nature study.
Published six times a year, the Conservationist has been published
continuously since 1946 and has approximately 80,000 paid subscribers
and an equal number of secondary readers in schools, libraries and homes
throughout the state.
Marketing research on magazine promotion demonstrates that sweepstakes
are the most effective strategy to increase renewal and new subscriber
response rates. DEC has conducted sweepstakes on several occasions in
the past to generate sales and to increase renewal rates. Each year at
the New York State Fair, we offer a significant prize (e.g. a canoe, a
lifetime fishing license, or its equivalent) to generate interest in the
magazine, to increase subscription sales at the booth and to improve
renewal rates of existing subscribers.
In order for DEC to sustain its high-quality magazine product in a cost-
effective manner there needs to be sufficient subscribers to create
economies of scale for printing contract costs. DEC dedicates all
subscription revenues to a Special Revenue Other fund to support maga-
zine production costs. To maintain that fund and produce a quality prod-
uct for current and potential subscribers, DEC needs continued authority
to conduct sweepstakes with respect to the Conservationist.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Chapter 162 of the Laws of 2021extended this authority until August 24,
2024.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
In addition to increasing the renewal rates of current subscribers, DEC
projects that holding a sweepstakes could result in an increase of
approximately 5,000 new Conservationist subscribers, and a concomitant
increase in revenue of $50,000 to the Conservation Fund.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.