NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A8445
SPONSOR: Magnarelli TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
allowing the use of unmanned aerial vehicles to track dead, wounded or
injured big game
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To'authorize the use of unmanned aerial vehicles ("UAV") in assisting
hunters to locate dead, wounded or injured big game.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Adds new section 11-0936 to the Environmental Conservation
Law authorizing the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
("DEC") to certify and regulate the use of UAVs to aid big game hunters.
Section 2: Establishes the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
The widespread adcption of UAVs is changing how a variety of tasks are
performed. Outdoor recreation is no different. Highly sophisticated UAVs
are available that can help hunters locate deer and other big game they
have killed or wounded. The practice is currently authorized using
trained hunting dogs.
This bill would authorize DEC to create and regulate a similar license
for UAVs. The intention is that a UAV would only be authorized to help a
hunter after it has wounded/killed the animal. It is not to be used as a
tracking method. Additionally, once located, it is still incumbent on
the hunter to locate, the game using the coordinates provided by the UAV
operator.
This practice is already authorized in other states and-authorizing it
in New York would create a new business opportunity for UAV operatOrs.
It would also prevent the waste and loss of wounded big game and the
unnecessary suffering of said animal.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
90 days after it becomes law. Effective immediately, the addition,
amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the
implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be
made and completed on or before such date.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8445
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
December 29, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. MAGNARELLI -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
allowing the use of unmanned aerial vehicles to track dead, wounded or
injured big game
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a
2 new section 11-0936 to read as follows:
3 § 11-0936. Unmanned aerial vehicles.
4 Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the department
5 may by regulation provide for the certification of unmanned aerial vehi-
6 cles and may authorize the use of such unmanned aerial vehicles by
7 persons licensed by the department to track and find dead, wounded or
8 injured big game, and for the certification of unmanned aerial vehicles
9 and may authorize the use of such unmanned aerial vehicles by persons
10 licensed by the department to track bear pursuant to subdivision one of
11 section 11-0521 of this article.
12 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
13 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
14 repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
15 this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
16 on or before such date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13824-01-3
