Bill Text: NY S05086 | 2011-2012 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Relates to the regulation of commercial fishing licenses.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2011-08-03 - SIGNED CHAP.383 [S05086 Detail]

Download: New_York-2011-S05086-Introduced.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         5086
                              2011-2012 Regular Sessions
                                   I N  S E N A T E
                                      May 3, 2011
                                      ___________
       Introduced by Sens. JOHNSON, GRISANTI -- read twice and ordered printed,
         and  when  printed  to  be committed to the Committee on Environmental
         Conservation
       AN ACT to amend the  environmental  conservation  law,  in  relation  to
         commercial fishing licenses
         THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section 1.  Section 13-0328 of the environmental conservation law,  as
    2  amended  by  chapter  366  of  the  laws  of 2007, is amended to read as
    3  follows:
    4  S 13-0328. Commercial licenses; limited entry.
    5    1. Commercial  food  fish  licenses.  Commercial  food  fish  licenses
    6  provided  for  by  section  13-0335  of  this  title  shall be issued as
    7  follows:
    8    a. [for the period beginning July first, nineteen hundred  ninety-nine
    9  and  ending  December  thirty-first,  nineteen  hundred ninety-nine, the
   10  following persons shall be eligible to be issued a commercial food  fish
   11  license:
   12    (i)  persons who held a valid commercial food fish license in nineteen
   13  hundred ninety-eight;
   14    (ii) persons who held a valid commercial food fish license in nineteen
   15  hundred ninety-six but not in nineteen hundred ninety-seven; and
   16    (iii) persons who submitted applications to the department during  the
   17  period commencing January first, nineteen hundred ninety-nine and ending
   18  on  the  effective date of this section and who were eligible to receive
   19  such license but had not been issued such license during such period.
   20    b.] for the period beginning January first, two thousand [four] TWELVE
   21  through December thirty-first, two thousand [eleven] FIFTEEN, the number
   22  of [residential] RESIDENT commercial food fish licenses and  the  number
   23  of  [non-residential]  NON-RESIDENT  commercial food fish licenses shall
   24  not exceed the following annual limits:
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD11226-01-1
       S. 5086                             2
    1    (i) [for two thousand four, the number of licenses shall be limited to
    2  the greater of the number of licenses issued in two thousand two or  the
    3  number of licenses issued in two thousand three;
    4    (ii) for two thousand five, the number of licenses shall be limited to
    5  the  number  of licenses issued in two thousand four, plus fifty percent
    6  of any difference between the number of licenses issued in two  thousand
    7  four and the limit established in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph;
    8    (iii) for two thousand six, the number of licenses shall be limited to
    9  the  number  of licenses issued in two thousand five, plus fifty percent
   10  of any difference between the number of licenses issued in two  thousand
   11  five and the limit established in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph;
   12    (iv)  for  two thousand seven, the number of licenses shall be limited
   13  to the number of licenses issued in two thousand six, plus fifty percent
   14  of any difference between the number of licenses issued in two  thousand
   15  six and the limit established in subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph;
   16    (v)]  for two thousand [eight] TWELVE, the number of licenses shall be
   17  limited to the number of licenses issued in two thousand [seven] ELEVEN,
   18  plus fifty percent of any difference  between  the  number  of  licenses
   19  issued  in  two  thousand  [seven]  ELEVEN and [the limit established in
   20  subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph] ONE THOUSAND FIFTY-THREE;
   21    [(vi)] (II) for two thousand [nine] THIRTEEN, the number  of  licenses
   22  shall  be  limited  to  the  number  of  licenses issued in two thousand
   23  [eight] TWELVE, plus fifty percent of any difference between the  number
   24  of  licenses  issued in two thousand [eight] TWELVE and the limit estab-
   25  lished in subparagraph [(v)] (I) of this paragraph;
   26    [(vii)] (III) for two thousand [ten] FOURTEEN, the number of  licenses
   27  shall be limited to the number of licenses issued in two thousand [nine]
   28  THIRTEEN,  plus  fifty  percent  of any difference between the number of
   29  licenses issued in two thousand [nine] THIRTEEN  and  the  limit  estab-
   30  lished in subparagraph [(vi)] (II) of this paragraph;
   31    [(viii)]  (IV)  for  two  thousand  [eleven]  FIFTEEN,  the  number of
   32  licenses shall be limited to the number of licenses issued in two  thou-
   33  sand  [ten]  FOURTEEN,  plus fifty percent of any difference between the
   34  number of licenses issued in two thousand [ten] FOURTEEN and  the  limit
   35  established in subparagraph [(vii)] (III) of this paragraph.
   36    [c.]  B.  for  the period beginning January first, two thousand TWELVE
   37  through December thirty-first, two thousand  [eleven]  FIFTEEN,  persons
   38  who  were  issued  a  commercial  food fish license in the previous year
   39  shall be eligible to be issued such license.
   40    [d.] C. for the period beginning January first,  two  thousand  [four]
   41  TWELVE through December thirty-first, two thousand [eleven] FIFTEEN, the
   42  department shall issue commercial food fish licenses to persons who were
   43  not  issued  such  license  in the previous year provided that the total
   44  number of such licenses issued to  such  persons  does  not  exceed  the
   45  difference between the number of licenses established in paragraph [b] A
   46  of  this  subdivision and the number of such licenses issued pursuant to
   47  paragraph [c] B of this subdivision, subject to the following:
   48    (i) licenses shall be issued in the order in  which  the  applications
   49  were  received,  except that where multiple applications are received by
   50  the department on the same day, applicants for whom the  department  has
   51  received  notice  of successful completion of an apprenticeship pursuant
   52  to subdivision seven of this section shall be considered by the  depart-
   53  ment prior to other applicants;
   54    (ii) licenses may be issued to individuals only;
   55    (iii)  licenses shall be issued to applicants who are sixteen years of
   56  age or older at the time of the application; and
       S. 5086                             3
    1    (iv) licenses shall be issued only to persons  who  demonstrate  in  a
    2  manner  acceptable to the department that they received an average of at
    3  least fifteen thousand dollars of income over  three  consecutive  years
    4  from  commercial  fishing  or  fishing,  or  who successfully complete a
    5  commercial  food  fish  apprenticeship  pursuant to subdivision seven of
    6  this section. As used in this subparagraph, "commercial  fishing"  means
    7  the taking and sale of marine resources including fish, shellfish, crus-
    8  tacea  or  other marine biota and "fishing" means commercial fishing and
    9  carrying fishing passengers for hire. Individuals who  wish  to  qualify
   10  based  on  income  from  "fishing"  must hold a valid marine and coastal
   11  district party and charter boat license. No more than ten percent of the
   12  licenses issued each year based on income eligibility pursuant  to  this
   13  paragraph  shall  be  issued to applicants who qualify based solely upon
   14  income derived from operation of or employment by  a  party  or  charter
   15  boat.
   16    2. Commercial lobster permits. Commercial lobster permits provided for
   17  by section 13-0329 of this title shall be issued as follows:
   18    [a.  for the period beginning July first, nineteen hundred ninety-nine
   19  and ending December  thirty-first,  nineteen  hundred  ninety-nine,  the
   20  following  persons  shall  be eligible to be issued a commercial lobster
   21  permit:
   22    (i) persons who held a valid commercial  lobster  permit  in  nineteen
   23  hundred ninety-eight;
   24    (ii)  persons  who  held a valid commercial lobster permit in nineteen
   25  hundred ninety-six but not in nineteen hundred ninety-seven; and
   26    (iii) persons who submitted applications to the department during  the
   27  period commencing January first, nineteen hundred ninety-nine and ending
   28  on  the  effective date of this section and who were eligible to receive
   29  such permit but had not been issued such permit during such period.
   30    b.] for the period  beginning  January  first,  two  thousand  TWELVE,
   31  through  December  thirty-first,  two  thousand  [eleven]  FIFTEEN, only
   32  persons who were issued a commercial lobster permit in the previous year
   33  shall be eligible to be issued such permit.
   34    3. Commercial crab permits. Commercial crab permits  provided  for  by
   35  section 13-0331 of this title shall be issued as follows:
   36    a.  [for the period beginning July first, nineteen hundred ninety-nine
   37  and ending December  thirty-first,  nineteen  hundred  ninety-nine,  the
   38  following  persons  shall  be  eligible  to  be issued a commercial crab
   39  permit:
   40    (i) persons who held  a  valid  commercial  crab  permit  in  nineteen
   41  hundred ninety-eight;
   42    (ii)  persons  who  held  a  valid  commercial crab permit in nineteen
   43  hundred ninety-six but not in nineteen hundred ninety-seven; and
   44    (iii) persons who submitted applications to the department during  the
   45  period commencing January first, nineteen hundred ninety-nine and ending
   46  on  the  effective date of this section and who were eligible to receive
   47  such permit but had not been issued such permit during such period.
   48    b.] for the period beginning January first, two thousand [four] TWELVE
   49  through December thirty-first, two thousand [eleven] FIFTEEN, the number
   50  of [residential] RESIDENT commercial crab  permits  and  the  number  of
   51  [non-residential]  NON-RESIDENT commercial crab permits shall not exceed
   52  the following annual limits:
   53    (i) [for two thousand four, the number of permits shall be limited  to
   54  the  greater  of the number of permits issued in two thousand two or the
   55  number of permits issued in two thousand three;
       S. 5086                             4
    1    (ii) for two thousand five, the number of permits shall be limited  to
    2  the number of permits issued in two thousand four, plus fifty percent of
    3  any difference between the number of permits issued in two thousand four
    4  and the limit established in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph;
    5    (iii)  for two thousand six, the number of permits shall be limited to
    6  the number of permits issued in two thousand five, plus fifty percent of
    7  any difference between the number of permits issued in two thousand five
    8  and the limit established in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph;
    9    (iv) for two thousand seven, the number of licenses shall  be  limited
   10  to  the number of permits issued in two thousand six, plus fifty percent
   11  of any difference between the number of permits issued in  two  thousand
   12  six and the limit established in subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph;
   13    (v)]  for  two thousand [eight] TWELVE, the number of permits shall be
   14  limited to the number of permits issued in two thousand [seven]  ELEVEN,
   15  plus  fifty  percent  of  any  difference  between the number of permits
   16  issued in two thousand [seven] ELEVEN  and  [the  limit  established  in
   17  subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph] SIX HUNDRED SIXTEEN;
   18    [(vi)]  (II)  for  two thousand [nine] THIRTEEN, the number of permits
   19  shall be limited to the number of permits issued in two thousand [eight]
   20  TWELVE, plus fifty percent of  any  difference  between  the  number  of
   21  permits  issued in two thousand [eight] TWELVE and the limit established
   22  in subparagraph [(v)] (I) of this paragraph;
   23    [(vii)] (III) for two thousand [ten] FOURTEEN, the number  of  permits
   24  shall  be limited to the number of permits issued in two thousand [nine]
   25  THIRTEEN, plus fifty percent of any difference  between  the  number  of
   26  permits issued in two thousand [nine] THIRTEEN and the limit established
   27  in subparagraph [(vi)] (II) of this paragraph;
   28    [(viii)] (IV) for two thousand [eleven] FIFTEEN, the number of permits
   29  shall  be  limited to the number of permits issued in two thousand [ten]
   30  FOURTEEN, plus fifty percent of any difference  between  the  number  of
   31  permits  issued in two thousand [ten] FOURTEEN and the limit established
   32  in subparagraph [(vii)] (III) of this paragraph.
   33    [c.] B. for the period beginning January first,  two  thousand  TWELVE
   34  through  December  thirty-first,  two thousand [eleven] FIFTEEN, persons
   35  who were issued a commercial crab permit in the previous year  shall  be
   36  eligible to be issued such permit.
   37    [d.]  C.  for  the period beginning January first, two thousand [four]
   38  TWELVE through December thirty-first, two thousand [eleven] FIFTEEN, the
   39  department shall issue commercial crab permits to persons who  were  not
   40  issued  such  permit in the previous year provided that the total number
   41  of such permits issued to such persons does not  exceed  the  difference
   42  between  the  number  of  permits established in paragraph [b] A of this
   43  subdivision and the number of such permits issued pursuant to  paragraph
   44  [c] B of this subdivision, subject to the following:
   45    (i)  permits  shall  be  issued in the order in which the applications
   46  were received, except that where multiple applications are  received  by
   47  the  department  on the same day, applicants for whom the department has
   48  received notice of successful completion of an  apprenticeship  pursuant
   49  to  subdivision seven of this section shall be considered by the depart-
   50  ment prior to other applicants;
   51    (ii) permits may be issued to individuals only;
   52    (iii) permits shall be issued to applicants who are sixteen  years  of
   53  age or older at the time of the application; and
   54    (iv)  permits  shall  be  issued  only to persons who demonstrate in a
   55  manner acceptable to the department that they received an average of  at
   56  least  fifteen  thousand  dollars of income over three consecutive years
       S. 5086                             5
    1  from commercial fishing or fishing,  or  who  successfully  complete  an
    2  apprenticeship pursuant to subdivision seven of this section. As used in
    3  this  subparagraph,  "commercial  fishing"  means the taking and sale of
    4  marine  resources  including  fish, shellfish, crustacea or other marine
    5  biota and  "fishing"  means  commercial  fishing  and  carrying  fishing
    6  passengers  for  hire.  Individuals  who wish to qualify based on income
    7  from "fishing" must hold a valid marine and coastal district  party  and
    8  charter  boat  license.  No  more than ten percent of the permits issued
    9  each year based on income eligibility pursuant to this  paragraph  shall
   10  be issued to applicants who qualify based upon income derived from oper-
   11  ation of or employment by a party or charter boat.
   12    4.  Commercial  whelk  or  conch  licenses.  Commercial whelk or conch
   13  licenses provided for by section 13-0330 of this title shall  be  issued
   14  as follows:
   15    a.  for the period beginning January first, two thousand [four] TWELVE
   16  through December thirty-first, two thousand [eleven] FIFTEEN, the number
   17  of [residential] RESIDENT commercial whelk or  conch  licenses  and  the
   18  number  of  [non-residential]  NON-RESIDENT  commercial  whelk  or conch
   19  licenses shall not exceed the following annual limits:
   20    (i) [for two thousand four, the number of licenses shall be limited to
   21  three hundred or the number of licenses issued in  two  thousand  three,
   22  whichever is greater;
   23    (ii) for two thousand five, the number of licenses shall be limited to
   24  the  number  of licenses issued in two thousand four, plus fifty percent
   25  of any difference between the number of licenses issued in two  thousand
   26  four and the limit established in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph;
   27    (iii) for two thousand six, the number of licenses shall be limited to
   28  the  number  of licenses issued in two thousand five, plus fifty percent
   29  of any difference between the number of licenses issued in two  thousand
   30  five and the limit established in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph;
   31    (iv)  for  two thousand seven, the number of licenses shall be limited
   32  to the number of licenses issued in two thousand six, plus fifty percent
   33  of any difference between the number of licenses issued in two  thousand
   34  six and the limit established in subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph;
   35    (v)]  for two thousand [eight] TWELVE, the number of licenses shall be
   36  limited to the number of licenses issued in two thousand [seven] ELEVEN,
   37  plus fifty percent of any difference  between  the  number  of  licenses
   38  issued  in  two  thousand  [seven]  ELEVEN and [the limit established in
   39  subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph] TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY-ONE;
   40    [(vi)] (II) for two thousand [nine] THIRTEEN, the number  of  licenses
   41  shall  be  limited  to  the  number  of  licenses issued in two thousand
   42  [eight] TWELVE, plus fifty percent of any difference between the  number
   43  of  licenses  issued in two thousand [eight] TWELVE and the limit estab-
   44  lished in subparagraph [(v)] (I) of this paragraph;
   45    [(vii)] (III) for two thousand [ten] FOURTEEN, the number of  licenses
   46  shall be limited to the number of licenses issued in two thousand [nine]
   47  THIRTEEN,  plus  fifty  percent  of any difference between the number of
   48  licenses issued in two thousand [nine] THIRTEEN  and  the  limit  estab-
   49  lished in subparagraph [(vi)] (II) of this paragraph;
   50    [(viii)]  (IV)  for  two  thousand  [eleven]  FIFTEEN,  the  number of
   51  licenses shall be limited to the number of licenses issued in two  thou-
   52  sand  [ten]  FOURTEEN,  plus fifty percent of any difference between the
   53  number of licenses issued in two thousand [ten] FOURTEEN and  the  limit
   54  established in subparagraph [(vii)] (III) of this paragraph.
   55    b.  for the period beginning January first, two thousand [four] TWELVE
   56  through December thirty-first, two thousand  [eleven]  FIFTEEN,  persons
       S. 5086                             6
    1  who were issued a commercial whelk or conch license in the previous year
    2  shall be eligible to be issued such license.
    3    c.  for the period beginning January first, two thousand [four] TWELVE
    4  through December thirty-first, two thousand  [eleven]  FIFTEEN,  persons
    5  who  were not issued a commercial whelk or conch license in the previous
    6  year shall be eligible to be issued such license provided that the total
    7  number of such licenses issued to such  persons  shall  not  exceed  the
    8  difference  between the number of licenses established in paragraph a of
    9  this subdivision and the number of  such  licenses  issued  pursuant  to
   10  paragraph b of this subdivision, subject to the following:
   11    (i)  licenses  shall  be issued in the order in which the applications
   12  were received, except that where multiple applications are  received  by
   13  the  department  on the same day, applicants for whom the department has
   14  received notice of successful completion of an  apprenticeship  pursuant
   15  to  subdivision seven of this section shall be considered by the depart-
   16  ment prior to other applicants;
   17    (ii) licenses may be issued to individuals only;
   18    (iii) licenses shall be issued to applicants who are sixteen years  of
   19  age or older at the time of the application; and
   20    (iv)  licenses  shall  be  issued only to persons who demonstrate in a
   21  manner acceptable to the department that they received an average of  at
   22  least  fifteen  thousand  dollars of income over three consecutive years
   23  from commercial fishing or fishing,  or  who  successfully  complete  an
   24  apprenticeship pursuant to subdivision seven of this section. As used in
   25  this  subparagraph,  "commercial  fishing"  means the taking and sale of
   26  marine resources including fish, shellfish, crustacea  or  other  marine
   27  biota  and  "fishing"  means  commercial  fishing  and  carrying fishing
   28  passengers for hire. Individuals who wish to  qualify  based  on  income
   29  from  "fishing"  must hold a valid marine and coastal district party and
   30  charter boat license. No more than ten percent of  the  licenses  issued
   31  each  year  pursuant to this paragraph shall be issued to applicants who
   32  qualify based upon income derived from operation of or employment  by  a
   33  party or charter boat.
   34    5. Marine and coastal district party and charter boat licenses. Marine
   35  and  coastal  district  party  and charter boat licenses provided for by
   36  section 13-0336 of this title shall be issued as  follows,  except  that
   37  this  subdivision  shall  not  apply to the owner or operator of a party
   38  boat or charter boat whose vessel is classified  by  the  United  States
   39  Coast  Guard  as  an Inspected Passenger Vessel and which is licensed to
   40  carry more than six passengers:
   41    a. [for the years two thousand eight through two thousand eleven, the]
   42  THE annual number of marine and coastal district party and charter  boat
   43  licenses  issued  shall  not  exceed  [the number issued in two thousand
   44  seven by more than one hundred licenses] FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTEEN.
   45    b. [for the years two thousand  eight  through  two  thousand  eleven,
   46  persons] PERSONS who were issued a marine and coastal district party and
   47  charter boat license in the previous year shall be eligible to be issued
   48  such license.
   49    c. [for the years two thousand eight through two thousand eleven, the]
   50  THE department shall issue marine and coastal district party and charter
   51  boat  licenses to persons who were not issued such license in the previ-
   52  ous year, provided that the total number of [such] licenses  issued  [to
   53  such  persons]  does not exceed [the difference between the annual limit
   54  established in paragraph a of this subdivision and the  number  of  such
   55  licenses  issued  in  the  previous year pursuant to paragraph b of this
   56  subdivision] FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTEEN, subject to the following:
       S. 5086                             7
    1    (i) licenses shall be issued in the order in  which  the  applications
    2  were received;
    3    (ii)  licenses shall be issued only to persons who hold an Uninspected
    4  Passenger Vessel license issued by the United States Coast Guard.
    5    6. License or permit reissuance.
    6    a. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions one, two, three  and
    7  four  of this section, the department may permit reissuance of a license
    8  or permit to a member of the immediate family of  the  prior  holder  of
    9  such license or permit; provided that the individual to whom the license
   10  or  permit  is  being  reissued  is  at  least sixteen years of age. The
   11  department may permit a license or permit holder to designate in writing
   12  a member of his or her immediate family to whom the  license  or  permit
   13  shall  be  reissued  in the event that the license or permit holder dies
   14  prior to surrendering his or her license or permit to the department.
   15    b. In the event that a designated immediate  family  member  does  not
   16  wish  to  engage in the commercial fishing activities authorized by such
   17  license or permit, the department may permit such person to identify  an
   18  alternate  person  to  whom the license or permit shall be reissued. The
   19  department is authorized to adopt regulations concerning the  reissuance
   20  of licenses or permits pursuant to this subdivision.
   21    [b.] C. The holder of a reissued license or permit shall engage in the
   22  activity  authorized  by the license or permit within three years of the
   23  reissuance date. If the license or permit holder fails to engage in such
   24  activity during the three years following  reissuance,  the  license  or
   25  permit  shall lapse at the end of the three year period and shall not be
   26  renewed unless the department, in its discretion,  determines  that  the
   27  license or permit holder's inactivity was justified by significant hard-
   28  ship or unavoidable circumstances.
   29    7.  Commercial  license  apprenticeship  program.  The  department  is
   30  authorized to adopt regulations establishing an  apprenticeship  program
   31  for  persons  who  wish  to  obtain a commercial crab permit pursuant to
   32  section 13-0331 of this title, a commercial food fish  license  pursuant
   33  to  section  13-0335 of this title or a commercial whelk (conch) license
   34  pursuant to section 13-0330 of this title. Upon successful completion of
   35  the apprenticeship program, a person shall become eligible to receive  a
   36  commercial  crab  permit,  commercial  food fish license or a commercial
   37  whelk (conch) license, as applicable, subject to the provisions of para-
   38  graph [d] C of subdivision one, paragraph [d] C  of  subdivision  three,
   39  and paragraph c of subdivision four of this section, respectively.
   40    S 2. This act shall take effect December 31, 2011.
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