BILL NUMBER: S7542

SPONSOR: MARTINEZ
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
making animal killing contests, competitions, tournaments and derbys
unlawful

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill will make it unlawful for any person to organize, sponsor,
conduct, promote or participate in any contest, competition, tournament,
or derby with the objective of taking or hunting the largest number of
small game, wild birds other than turkeys, and domestic game birds for
prizes for other inducement, or for entertainment.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section one. Subdivisions 14, 15 and 16 of section 11-0901 of the envi-
ronmental conservation law, subdivision 14 as renumbered by chapter 486
              

of the laws of 1985, are renumbered subdivisions 15, 16, and 17 and a
new subdivision 14 is added to read as follows:

Section 1. Subdivision 14. Makes it unlawful for any person to organize,
sponsor, conduct, promote or participate in any contest, competition,
tournament, or derby with the objective of taking or hunting the largest
number of small game, wild birds other than turkeys, and domestic game
birds for prizes for other inducement, or for entertainment. The
provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to special dog training
areas or field trials.

Section 2. Section 71-0921 of the environmental conservation law is
amended by adding a new subdivision 10-a to read as follows: 10-a.
Violations of subdivision fourteen of section of 11-0901 of this chapter
involving unlawful contests, competitions, tournaments and derbys to
take small game, wild birds other than-turkeys, and domestic game birds.
Each such misdemeanor shall be punished by imprisonment for not more
than one year or by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor
more than two thousand dollars, or by both such imprisonment and fine.

Section 3. This act shall take effect on the first of November next
succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Animal killing competitions can generally be described as contests where
the person or team who has killed the most animals, or the heaviest or
largest animals is crowned the winner.

In animal killing competitions, individuals compete to kill the most
animals, the heaviest animal, or the largest animal. Competition s or
contests such as these are inhumane and provide incentive to killing
animals for glory, prizes or titles. They are different from the average
hunting experience since they are often rigged with animals that cannot
escape. In many cases, these competitions are conducted in a party-like
atmosphere and are more like slaughters or massacres and are unsports-
manlike. These competitions would be considered cruel by a typical hunt-
er and promote excessive and unnecessary killing of wildlife.
This bill will ensure that it is illegal in New York State to sponsor or
participate in competitions with the objective of taking or hunting the
largest number of small game, wild birds other than turkeys, and domes-
tic game birds and that anyone in violation is guilty of a misdemeanor
punishable by imprisonment or fine, or both.  This bill does not prohib-
it. the organization of or participation in fishing derbys or field
trials.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2017-18:A.4116A
2015-16:A.3855
2013-14:A.3661
2011-12:A.3509
2009-10:A.2559
2007-08:A.2614
2005-06:A.1822
2003-04:A.7985

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
First of November after it shall have become law