Directs department of environmental conservation to establish a program to permit purchase of fishing licenses through the internet.

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S2367-2011 Actions

• Mar 8, 2011: RECOMMIT, ENACTING CLAUSE STRICKEN
• Jan 19, 2011: REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

S2367-2011 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S2367

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to the purchase
of fishing licenses via the internet

PURPOSE:
To allow New York State and out of state residents to
purchase their first fishing licenses through an online service
provided by the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Requires the New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation to develop a new way to sell fishing
licenses via the internet to New York State and out of state
residents purchasing fishing licenses for the first time.

EXISTING LAW:
The New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation (DEC) does not permit New York State or out of state
residents to purchase fishing licenses online if they have not
previously purchased New York State fishing licenses through the
DEC's Automated Licensing System (DECALS).

JUSTIFICATION:
Tourists and local anglers are unable to secure
first-time fishing licenses at key weekend times and off-hours. For
example, tourists visiting a destination resort or campground that
offers significant fishing opportunities for a weekend may not have
an opportunity to purchase fishing licenses over the DEC telephone
service before the operators leave. The operators are available
Monday through Friday. 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. If prospective anglers
want to purchase fishing licenses after 5:00 p.m. or before 8:00
a.m. the following day, they must find the local municipal clerk who
sells fishing licenses or travel to the nearest super store in the
area. Tourists are not familiar with the area they are visiting and
may have difficulty locating the local agency or nearest super store
to purchase fishing licenses. or the vendors may be closed. While the
current DEC online service allows consumers who have previously
purchased New York State fishing licenses and are consequently in the
DEC's system to purchase fishing licenses 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Many first time buyers and out of state residents must endure a
battling process of obtaining a fishing license that could easily be
avoided if residents and nonresidents
were permitted to purchase fishing licenses for the first time
through the DECs web site.

The sponsor did not move the legislation in the previous session
because the DEC was working to establish an online opportunity for
first time fishermen. but the change has not materialized and
fishing/tourist season will soon be at its peak.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
S.3722 of 2009-10; S.6710 of 2008.


FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None for the general fund. Additional revenue
is anticipated for the conservation fund as more out of state anglers
take the opportunity to purchase fishing licenses.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred
eightieth day after it shall have become a law,
provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition,
amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the
implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized and
directed to be made and completed on or bet ore such effective date.

S2367-2011 Text

                      S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
  ________________________________________________________________________

                                    2367

                         2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                              I N  SENATE

                              January 19, 2011
                                 ___________

  Introduced  by  Sens.  SEWARD,  BONACIC,  DeFRANCISCO,  HANNON,  LARKIN,
    O'MARA, RANZENHOFER, SALAND -- read twice  and  ordered  printed,  and
    when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conser-
    vation

  AN  ACT  to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to the
    purchase of fishing licenses via the internet

    THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
  BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


    Section  1.  Section  11-0713 of the environmental conservation law is
  amended by adding a new subdivision 7 to read as follows:

    7. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH A PROGRAM TO ALLOW THE PURCHASE OF
  FISHING LICENSES VIA THE INTERNET. INCLUDED WITHIN SUCH PROGRAM SHALL BE
  THE ABILITY FOR RESIDENT OR NONRESIDENT APPLICANTS WHO HAVE  NOT  PREVI-
  OUSLY  PURCHASED A SPORTING LICENSE TO PURCHASE FISHING LICENSES VIA THE
  INTERNET.
    S 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
  it shall have become a law, provided, however, that effective immediate-
  ly, the addition, amendment and/or repeal  of  any  rule  or  regulation
  necessary  for  the  implementation of this act on its effective date is
  authorized and directed to be made  and  completed  on  or  before  such
  effective date.




   EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                        [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                             LBD05833-01-1