S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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    S. 4658                                                  A. 7170

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                      S E N A T E - A S S E M B L Y

                             April 14, 2011
                               ___________

IN  SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. O'MARA -- read twice and ordered print-
  ed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental
  Conservation

IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by  M.  of  A.  PALMESANO  --  read  once  and
  referred to the Committee on Education

AN  ACT  to  amend  the environmental conservation law and the education
  law, in relation to hunting, fishing and  outdoor  education  in  high
  school physical education courses

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

  Section 1. Subdivision  1  of  section  3-0301  of  the  environmental
conservation  law  is  amended  by  adding a new paragraph aa to read as
follows:
  AA. DISSEMINATE INFORMATION RELATING TO HUNTING, FISHING  AND  OUTDOOR
EDUCATION,  IN  CONSULTATION  WITH  THE  COMMISSIONER  OF  EDUCATION, TO
PROMOTE INSTRUCTION  IN  PHYSICAL  EDUCATION  COURSES  FOR  GRADES  NINE
THROUGH  TWELVE IN HUNTING, FISHING AND OUTDOOR EDUCATION. SUCH INSTRUC-
TION SHALL INCLUDE INFORMATION ON THE:
  (1) VARIOUS HUNTING AND FISHING SEASONS;
  (2) SPECIES THAT CAN BE SOUGHT;
  (3)  THE  NECESSARY  MATERIALS  FOR  OBTAINING  HUNTING  AND   FISHING
LICENSES;
  (4) OUTDOOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECREATION AND EXERCISE PURPOSES; AND
  (5) HISTORY AND BENEFITS OF HUNTING AND FISHING IN THIS STATE'S DEVEL-
OPMENT;
  S  2. Section 809-a of the education law, as amended by chapter 442 of
the laws of 1977, is amended to read as follows:
  S 809-a. Instruction in the safe use of firearms and in the game laws;
HUNTING, FISHING AND OUTDOOR EDUCATION.  1.    The  officer,  board,  or
commission  authorized  or required to prescribe courses of instructions

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD09404-01-1
              

S. 4658                             2                            A. 7170

in any school under state control,  may  authorize  instructions  to  be
given  in  the safe and proper use of firearms allowed by law to be used
in the taking of wild game, and may also authorize  instructions  to  be
given  in  the study of game laws and of proper hunting and conservation
practices.  Such courses of instruction shall be approved  by  both  the
education department and the department of environmental conservation.
  2.    NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY  OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, A PUBLIC SECONDARY
SCHOOL SHALL, UPON THE REQUEST OF TEN OR MORE STUDENTS ENROLLED IN  SUCH
SCHOOL,  PROVIDE,  AS  A  COMPONENT  OF SUCH SCHOOL'S PHYSICAL EDUCATION
COURSE, INSTRUCTION IN HUNTING, FISHING  AND  OUTDOOR  EDUCATION,  WHICH
SHALL BE CONSISTENT WITH THE COURSES REQUIRED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVI-
RONMENTAL  CONSERVATION  FOR  LICENSE  APPLICANTS.  THE COMMISSIONER, IN
CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSERVATION,  SHALL ESTABLISH A CURRICULUM FOR THE HUNTING, FISHING AND
OUTDOOR EDUCATION COURSE, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT  BE  LIMITED  TO,
INSTRUCTION ON:
  (A) VARIOUS HUNTING AND FISHING SEASONS;
  (B) SPECIES THAT CAN BE SOUGHT;
  (C)   THE  NECESSARY  MATERIALS  FOR  OBTAINING  HUNTING  AND  FISHING
LICENSES;
  (D) OUTDOOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECREATION AND EXERCISE PURPOSES; AND
  (E) HISTORY AND BENEFITS OF HUNTING AND FISHING IN THIS STATE'S DEVEL-
OPMENT.
  S 3. This act shall take effect on the first of July  next  succeeding
the  date  on  which 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 effec-
tive date is authorized and directed to be  made  and  completed  on  or
before such effective date.