BILL NUMBER: S1919
SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
providing free lifetime licenses for New York state's honorably
discharged, disabled veterans
 
PURPOSE:
Eliminates sporting license fees for honorably discharged, disabled
Veterans.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends subsection 1 of section 11-0702 of the environmental
conservation law by granting free lifetime licenses to residents of New
York State who has been (a) honorably discharged from service in the
armed forces of the United States, or (b) has a qualifying condition as
defined in section one of the veterans' services law, and has received a
discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or
(c) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the
veterans' services law, and has received a discharge other than bad
conduct or dishonorable from such service, and is certified as having a
forty percent or greater service-connected disability.
Section 2: Sets effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Currently, veterans with forty percent or more significant service-con-
nected disability who were honorably discharged cannot receive a
discounted lifetime license for hunting and fishing while being able to
apply yearly for a license at a discounted price. This legislation will
authorize the Department of Environmental Conservation to offer these
lifetime licenses to disabled veterans free of charge. These brave men
and women risked their lives in service to our nation and sacrificed
their well-being for the sake of others. Granting these veterans access
to a lifetime license for hunting and fishing is one way NYS can show
gratitude and honor them for their service.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Senate
2021: N/A
2022: S9190, Referred to Environmental Conservation
2023: S3351, Advanced to Third Reading
2024: S3351, Passed Senate
Assembly
2021: N/A
2022: No Assembly Same-As
2023: A5805, Referred to Environmental Conservation
2024: A5805, Referred to Environmental Conservation
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S1919: 11-0702 environmental conservation law, 11-0702(1) environmental conservation law