DEC Proposes Regulations on Paper Sports Licenses and Tags – Oneida Dispatch

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NEW YORK – State Department of Environmental Protection Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar announced proposed legislation that would allow agents and licensing officers to charge a nominal printing fee to recover costs associated with printing and mailing paper sports licenses and other items sold through the DEC System automatic licensing . The offer does not include any additional fees if the license purchaser prints the license himself.

DEC is interested in license holders’ perspectives and encourages public comment on this proposal. Comments will be accepted through August 12, 2024, and may be submitted by email to [email protected] with the subject line “Paper License Transaction Fee” or by mail to Division of Fish and Wildlife, Bureau of Wildlife, 625 Broadway , Albany, New York 12233-4754.

“Our partner licensing agents play a critical role in supporting DEC’s statewide wildlife conservation and management programs,” Mahar said in a news release. “The proposal published today aims to ease the transition to paper licenses and tags this fall to ensure LIAs can continue to provide services. DEC encourages New Yorkers to provide public comments as the implementation process continues later this year.

Beginning this August, all hunting, fishing and trapping licenses and associated tags will be printed on plain paper rather than plastic paper. Because LIAs will provide their own paper, printers, and ink, DEC is proposing to change the policy to provide LIAs with the ability to charge a $1 fee to cover the cost of materials.

Additionally, this proposal would allow a DEC license provider to charge a $2 fee for licenses purchased online or by telephone where the purchaser requests that the license be printed and mailed. All license purchasers who purchase online, by phone, through the DEC mobile app, or in person at LIA will have the opportunity to avoid the fee by electing to receive licenses and tags via email for free at-home printing.

Additional information about the transition to paper licenses and tags can be found on the DEC website. The full text of the proposed changes is available at https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/regulations/proposed-emergency-recently-adopted-regulations.