BILL NUMBER: S6621
SPONSOR: HARCKHAM
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
prohibiting the breeding, sale, trade, purchase, importation, and expor-
tation of red-eared slider turtles
 
PURPOSE:
To end New York State's participation in the global trade of red-eared
slider turtles.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one provides the legislative intent.
Section two amends the environmental conservation law by adding a new
section 11-0541.
Section three establishes the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Turtles may seem to be low-maintenance pets, but in fact turtles require
a lot of care and have long lifespan. Red-eared slider are the most
common and inexpensive breed of turtle sold in pet stores, but with
proper care, these animals can grow quickly and live up to 40 years in
captivity. This commitment is often larger than new pet owners antic-
ipate and as a result, red-eared sliders are commonly released, albeit
illegally, into the wild where they wreak havoc on local ecosystems.
Red-eared sliders are highly adaptable but are considered an invasive
species: they are listed as one of the world's 100 worst invasive
species by the International Union for Conservation. Not only do they
compete with native turtle species for food, they are known to spread
disease to other species and their high fertility rates have resulted in
overpopulation.
These environmental harms are fueled by the pet trade, which has led
other states to impose restrictions on the sale of these turtles. This
legislation would prohibit the breeding, sale, trade, purchase, importa-
tion and exportation of red-eared slider turtles in New York State, with
exceptions for zoos and aquariums, sanctuaries, wildlife rehabilitators
and other specialists.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the State.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
60 days