BILL NUMBER: S10071
SPONSOR: BOTTCHER
 
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 whelk and conch
 
PURPOSE OF THE BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to extend the authority of the Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC) to manage whelk and conch.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of this bill amends ECL 13-0330(6) to extend, until December
31, 2029, the authority of DEC to fix by regulation measures for the
management of whelk and conch.
Section 2 of this bill provides that the bill shall take effect imme-
diately.  
JUSTIFICATION:
Section 1 of this bill amends Environmental Conservation Law (ECL)
§13-0330(6) to extend, until December 31, 2029, DEC's authority to fix
by regulation measures for the management of Whelk and conch. Extending
DEC's authority to regulate whelk and conch is essential to maintaining
the population and ensuring robust future harvests. DEC needs the
continued ability to adopt management regulations, such as minimum size
limits and harvest limits. Failure to extend the existing regulatory
authority by December 31, 2026 will result in the loss of regulatory
protection for whelk and conch.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
DEC's authority was last extended by Chapter 320 of the Laws of 2023.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S10071: 13-0330 environmental conservation law, 13-0330(6) environmental conservation law