BILL NUMBER:  S1927

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act establishing a moratorium on the prohibition
of feeding white-tailed deer in Sullivan county

 PURPOSE :

To establish a moratorium on the prohibition of feeding white-tailed
deer in Sullivan County.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISION :

This bill amends environmental conservation law to impose a moratorium
on the prohibition of feeding white-tailed deer. The moratorium shall
continue in existence until January 1, 2024 or until the legislature
determines, through legislative action, that the white-tailed deer
population in Sullivan County has increased in such an amount as to
warrant the removal of such moratorium prior to January 1, 2024.

 EXISTING LAW :

Under existing law, section 11-0325 of the environmental conservation
law, allows the Department of Environmental Conservation and the
Department of Health or the Department of Agriculture and Markets to
adopt measures or regulations it may deem necessary to prevent the
spread of disease.
              

 JUSTIFICATION :

The white-tailed deer population in Sullivan County has been decimated
by the recent severe winters, lack of sustenance and predatory animals
such as the coyote and mountain lions. The feeding ban was imposed in
New York without a clear and imminent threat to our deer population.
Citizens are being ticketed and pulled into court for feeding other
animals or birds which can attract deer to feed as well. Given the
lack of a clear and imminent threat and the impossibility of
controlling deer feeding or nesting patterns, the prohibition on
feeding white-tailed deer only serves to reduce the already decimated
deer population in Sullivan County.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

2015-2016:A.802 referred to Environmental Conservation
2013-2014:A.1717 referred to Environmental Conservation
2011-2012:A.645 referred to Environmental Conservation
2009-2010:A.7103 referred to Environmental Conservation

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.