S552-2011 Actions

• Jan 4, 2012: REFERRED TO COMMERCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL BUSINESS
• Jan 5, 2011: REFERRED TO COMMERCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL BUSINESS

S552-2011 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S552

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the economic development law, in relation to creating the Empire
State Fishing Trail program

PURPOSE:
This legislation would create the Empire State Fishing Trail Program
in order to recognize the importance of New York's growing reputation
as a top bass fishing destination and its economic impact on tourism
in the state.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1- adds a new article 5-F to the economic development law to
establish the Empire State Fishing Trail Program and to provide for
the legislative intent, definitions and general functions, powers and
duties of the commissioner.

Section 2- Effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:
New York State is rated number on for bass fishing by FLW Outdoors.
As such, we have a unique opportunity to reach out to more than 28
million anglers with an annual economic impact of $21.3 billion.
Three of the top five small mouth bass fisheries, as named by FLW
Outdoors, are all located in New York State. Lake Champlain, Lake
Erie and Lake Ontario have each earned the reputation as world-class
bass fisheries welcoming premier bass fishing tournaments and the
industry's best anglers.

The Empire State Fishing Trail Program recognizes the importance of
New York's growing reputation as a top bass fishing destination and
its economic impact. The trail will help New York keep top-level
tournaments each year, circulating the tours through Lake Champlain,
Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. The FLW Outdoors has three top rated
tournaments (the FLW Tour, The Stren, and the FLW Series and each
location would be guaranteed one top-level tournament each summer.
The trail program would also give New York State the benefit of lower
hosting fees through negotiation of multi-year contracts. Furthermore,
the trail program will help each location secure additional fishing
tournaments while promoting the entire state as a top destination for
both professional and recreational anglers.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2008: S.6450-A, Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business
Committee; A.10036-A DelMonte Economic Development Committee
2009-10: Finance; A.3270 DelMonte

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
This program could attract more tourists and therefore an influx of
capital into the economy.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

S552-2011 Text

 S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 
 
                                          552
 2011-2012 Regular Sessions
 I N  SENATE
 (PREFILED)
 January 5, 2011
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  LITTLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Commerce, Economic  Devel
 opment and Small Business
 AN  ACT  to  amend the economic development law, in relation to creating
 the Empire State Fishing Trail program
 THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

Section  1.  The  economic  development law is amended by adding a new
 article 5-F to read as follows:

 ARTICLE 5-F
 EMPIRE STATE FISHING TRAIL PROGRAM
 SECTION 181-F. LEGISLATIVE INTENT.
 181-G. DEFINITION.
 181-H. GENERAL FUNCTIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSIONER.
 

S 181-F. LEGISLATIVE INTENT.  NEW YORK STATE IS  HOME  TO  MANY  WATER
 RESOURCES  INCLUDING HUNDREDS OF MILES OF ATLANTIC OCEAN COASTLINE, TENS
 OF THOUSANDS OF MILES OF RIVERS AND  STREAMS,  THOUSANDS  OF  LAKES  AND
 PONDS,  AND MILLIONS OF ACRES OF WETLANDS. THE FISHING OPPORTUNITIES ARE
 VAST AND UNIQUE RANGING FROM SALT WATER TO FRESH WATER.  THE  STATE  HAS
 CONSISTENTLY  BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR ITS OUTSTANDING FISHERIES AND HAS BEEN
 RATED NUMBER ONE FOR BASS FISHING IN THE COUNTRY. ACCORDING TO THE AMER
 ICAN SPORTFISHING ASSOCIATION,  ANGLERS  SPEND  MORE  THAN  1.1  BILLION
 DOLLARS  ON  FISHING  TRIPS,  EQUIPMENT  AND  LICENSES, WHICH SUPPORT IN
 EXCESS OF SEVENTEEN THOUSAND JOBS THROUGHOUT NEW YORK.  FISHING  TOURNA
 MENTS  HAVE  RISEN  IN  POPULARITY AND THIS STATE HAS REGULARLY BEEN THE
 HOST TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL  TOURNAMENTS  WHICH  BRING  WORLDWIDE
 ATTENTION.  AS  SUCH,  THE STATE HAS AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO ATTRACT
 MORE FISHING TOURNAMENTS, ANGLERS, VISITORS AND  FISHING  RELATED  BUSI
 NESSES.
 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD00141-01-1
 
       S. 552                              2
 

S  181-G.  DEFINITION.  AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE, "FISHING TRAIL" SHALL
 MEAN A SERIES OF FISHERIES IN THE STATE IDENTIFIED BY THE  COMMISSIONER,
 WHICH MAY BE LINKED BY GEOGRAPHY, QUALITY AND/OR EVENTS.
 

S 181-H. GENERAL FUNCTIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSIONER. THE
 COMMISSIONER,  IN  COOPERATION  WITH  THE  COMMISSIONER OF ENVIRONMENTAL
 CONSERVATION, THE COMMISSIONER OF PARKS, RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESER
 VATION, AND ANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL OR ENTITY, SHALL  EXPAND  UPON
 THE  EXISTING  FISHING  PROMOTION  PROGRAM  BY  DEVELOPING A COORDINATED
 EFFORT TO PROMOTE THE STATE'S  FISHING  OPPORTUNITIES,  IMPROVE  FISHING
 FACILITIES,  WATER  QUALITY AND ATTRACT PROFESSIONAL FISHING TOURNAMENTS
 AT LOCATIONS ALONG THE TRAIL, AND ENSURE THAT TOP-LEVEL FISHING  TOURNA
 MENTS ARE SECURED AT FISHERIES ALONG THE FISHING TRAIL.
 

S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

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