Bill > A03370

This bill establishes a county of Nassau deer management pilot program that allows the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to issue special deer cull permits to nuisance wildlife specialists in Nassau County under specific conditions. The bill defines a nuisance wildlife specialist as a government employee or contractor responsible for wildlife management, who must meet certain qualifications including marksmanship skills, liability insurance, permit documentation, and reporting requirements. To obtain a permit, Nassau County must submit an application demonstrating that deer have become a nuisance, destructive to property, or a threat to public health. The permit will authorize specialists to take deer in designated areas, but the DEC is not obligated to issue a permit if it does not believe the action will effectively address the deer problem. The bill requires the DEC to prepare a report within 30 months evaluating the pilot program's effectiveness in managing deer overpopulation, including the number of permits issued, deer taken, and recommendations for future improvements. The pilot program and associated provisions will expire three years after the law takes effect, providing a time-limited opportunity to test this deer management approach in Nassau County.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A3370