Bill > A03591

This bill modifies the licensing process for commercial fishing and boating permits in New York State by introducing a randomized selection method when the number of applicants exceeds available licenses. Specifically, for commercial food fish licenses, commercial crab permits, commercial whelk and conch licenses, and marine and coastal district party and charter boat licenses, the Department of Environmental Conservation will now randomly select recipients from applications received by the first business day of the license year. Applicants will receive extra entries in the selection process for each previous year they applied and were not selected, with additional extra entries for those who have completed an apprenticeship. The bill also introduces a new provision allowing temporary emergency authorization, where a current licensee can provide written permission for another person to temporarily undertake licensed activities, subject to department approval. The changes aim to create a more equitable process for distributing limited fishing and boating licenses, giving more opportunities to those who have consistently applied but not been selected in previous years. The new regulations will take effect thirty days after becoming law, with the temporary authorization provision specifically taking effect one year after enactment.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A3591