BILL NUMBER: S5100
SPONSOR: GRIFFO
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
lowering the age for universal hunting licenses from fourteen years old
to twelve years old
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this bill is to lower the minimum age at which an indi-
vidual may obtain universal hunting licenses.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends subparagraph of paragraph b of subdivision 3 of section
11-0713 of the environmental conservation law. The age at which one may
obtain a muzzle-loading privilege is lowered from fourteen to twelve.
Section 2 amends paragraph b of subdivision 6 of section 11-0703 of the
environmental conservation law. The age at which one may participate in
a special muzzle-loading season is lowered from fourteen to twelve.
Section 3 amends subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 11-0929 of the environ-
mental conservation law. The clause prohibiting use of a crossbow by
those who are twelve and thirteen is eliminated. A clause is added to
include those who are twelve years old in the rules of parental super-
vision.
Section 4 amends paragraph a of subdivision 1 of section 11-0701 of the
environmental conservation law. The clause excluding those who are
twelve years of age from hunting big game is eliminated.
Section 5 amends subparagraph 3 of paragraph c of subdivision 3 of
section 11-0901 of the environmental conservation law. The age at which
one may use a crossbow is changed from fourteen to twelve.
Section 6 amends section 11-0933 of the environmental conservation law.
The age at which one may use a crossbow to take small game and birds is
changed from fourteen to twelve.
Section 7 provides that this act shall take effect immediately.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Hunting and outdoors person ship are important facets of the culture of
New York State. Many families have long traditions of hunting that
define their way of life. People across New York are eager to pass the
traditions and skills of hunting down to their children. Under current
law, parents are unduly limited in the ways they can pass down the mean-
ingful practice of hunting to their children.
This bill seeks to remove unnecessary restrictions on the types of weap-
ons that those over twelve years of age may use and the type of game
they may pursue. Removing these restrictions will allow parents to teach
their children the valuable skills and values of hunting at an early
age, and further solidify the tradition of hunting in this state for
generations to come.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24-S.2611 - Environmental Conservation Committee
2021-22 - S. 4119/A. 3216 - Environmental Conservation Committee
2019-20 - S. 2968 - Environmental Conservation Committee.
2017-18 - S. 3156 - Passed Senate/A. 477 - Environmental Conservation
Committee.
2015-16 - S. 5434 - Rules Committee/A. 8358 - Environmental Conservation
Committee.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S5100: 11-0713 environmental conservation law, 11-0713(3) environmental conservation law, 11-0901 environmental conservation law, 11-0901(3) environmental conservation law, 11-0933 environmental conservation law