Bill > A03591

This bill modifies the process for issuing certain commercial fishing and boating licenses and permits by the department of environmental conservation. Specifically, if the number of applications from individuals who did not receive a license or permit in the previous year exceeds the available number, the department will now randomly select recipients from applications received by the first business day of the license year, rather than issuing them on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants will receive an extra entry into the random selection for each previous year they applied and were not chosen, and those who completed an apprenticeship will also receive an extra entry. This change applies to commercial food fish licenses, commercial crab permits, commercial whelk and conch licenses, and marine and coastal district party and charter boat licenses, and will take effect for licenses and permits issued on or after January 1, 2027, with extra entries only counting for applications made on or after January 1, 2018.