Authorizes the town of Smithtown, in the county of Suffolk to make ordinances prohibiting the discharge of longbows and crossbows in areas in which such activity may be hazardous to the general public or nearby residents.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A5967
SPONSOR: Fitzpatrick TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the town law, in relation to authorizing the town of
Smithtown to make ordinances regarding longbows and crossbows
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To give the Town of Smithtown in the County of Suffolk the ability to
set their own local ordinance regarding longbows and crossbows.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends town law Section 130 to add new subdivisions 30 and 31.
Section 2 is the effective date.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
JUSTIFICATION:
The town has had a problem with longbows and crossbows being used too
close to residential properties. This bill will simply give the local
municipality the ability to set an ordinance that they feel is best for
their town.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024: A.7236 - Referred to Environmental Conservation
S.6324 - Referred to Local Governments
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5967
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 25, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. FITZPATRICK -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the town law, in relation to authorizing the town of
Smithtown to make ordinances regarding longbows and crossbows
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 130 of the town law is amended by adding two new
2 subdivisions 30 and 31 to read as follows:
3 30. Longbows. In the town of Smithtown, in the county of Suffolk
4 prohibiting the discharge of longbows in areas in which such activity
5 may be hazardous to the general public or nearby residents, and provid-
6 ing for the posting of such areas with signs giving notice of such regu-
7 lations, which ordinances, rules and regulations may be more, but not
8 less, restrictive than any other provision of law. Thirty days prior to
9 the adoption of any ordinance changing the one hundred fifty foot rule
10 established pursuant to section 11-0931 of the environmental conserva-
11 tion law, notice must be sent to the regional supervisor of fish and
12 game of the department of environmental conservation, notifying such
13 regional supervisor of such intention.
14 31. Crossbows. In the town of Smithtown, in the county of Suffolk
15 prohibiting the discharge of crossbows in areas in which such activity
16 may be hazardous to the general public or nearby residents, and provid-
17 ing for the posting of such areas with signs giving notice of such regu-
18 lations, which ordinances, rules and regulations may be more, but not
19 less, restrictive than any other provision of law. Thirty days prior to
20 the adoption of any ordinance changing the two hundred fifty foot rule
21 established pursuant to section 11-0931 of the environmental conserva-
22 tion law, notice must be sent to the regional supervisor of fish and
23 game of the department of environmental conservation, notifying such
24 regional supervisor of such intention.
25 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
26 have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09003-01-5
