NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6052
SPONSOR: Kay TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
providing free lifetime licenses for New York state's honorably
discharged, disabled veterans
PURPOSE:
Eliminates sporting license fees for honorably discharged, disabled
veterans.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends subsection 1 of section 11-0702 of the Environmental
Conservation Law by granting free lifetime sporting licenses to resi-
dents of New York State who have been (a) honorably discharged from
service in the armed forces of the United States, or (h) have a qualify-
ing condition, as defined in section one of the veterans' services law,
and have received a discharge other than bad conduct discharge or
dishonorable discharge from such service, or (c) is a discharged LGBT
veteran, as defined in section one of the veterans' services law, and
has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from
such service, and is certified as having a forty percent or greater
service-connected disability.
Section 2: Sets effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Currently veterans with forty-percent or greater service connected disa-
bility who were honorably discharged are unable to receive a discounted
lifetime license for hunting and fishing, while being able to apply
yearly for a license at a discounted price.
This legislation will authorize the department of environmental conser-
vation to offer these lifetime licenses to disabled veterans free of
charge. These brave men and women risked their lives in service of our
nation and sacrificed their wellbeing for the sake of others. Granting
these veterans access to a lifetime license for hunting and fishing is
one way NYS can show gratitude and honor them for their service.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023/2024: referred to environmental conservation
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
