BILL NUMBER:  S754

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
directing the commissioner of environmental conservation to create
gift cards for hunting and fishing licenses

 PURPOSE :

To require the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental
Conservation (DEC) to promulgate rules and regulations establishing
gift cards for hunting and fishing licenses in New York State.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1 amends section 11-0706 to require the Commissioner of the
Department of Environmental Conservation to promulgate rules and
regulations establishing gift cards for New York State hunting and
fishing licenses.

Section 2 provides the effective date.

 EXISTING LAW :

Section 11-0706 of the Environmental Conservation Law, which was part
              

of the 2012-13 New York State Budget, Chapter 58 of the Laws of 2012,
provides that the Commissioner is authorized to establish gift cards
for hunting and fishing.

 JUSTIFICATION :

This legislation requires the Commissioner of the Department of
Environmental Conservation to promulgate rules and regulations
establishing gift cards for hunting and fishing licenses in New York
State. Similar gift cards for camping and entrance into state parks
already exist. Like those programs, hunting and fishing license gift
cards will promote the industry and generate revenue for the state.

The current gift card programs are thriving. Gift cards for camping
permits, offered by the Office of Parks, may be used for anything from
golf reservations and greens fees to the purchase of firewood or boat
rentals, as well as camping site reservations. These camping permit
gift cards, as well as Empire Passports, which provide free entrance
into state parks, are advertised for sale on the web site for the New
York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

In 2013, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
(DEC) began to issue their own gift cards that can be used for camping
at all New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Facilities. These gifts cards are similar to those offered by the
Office of Parks, but they carry their own restrictions as imposed by
the DEC and are only for use at DEC facilities.

Following the precedent set by both the Office of Parks and the DEC,
this legislation seeks to expand the sale of recreational gift cards.
Hunting and fishing are recreations very similar to those activities
currently receiving gift cards and licenses for these activities
should be made available through the purchase of gift cards. This
legislation will achieve that goal and should be passed.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

2015-2016: S3106 Passed the Senate/ A.7467- Referred to Ways and
Means.

2013-2014: S.6575 - Passed the Senate / A.1627-A - Passed the
Assembly.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

Potential for increased revenue.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.