Legislature sets public hearing and amends draft local law on 12‑ and 13‑year‑old hunters to mirror state pilot sunset

SULLIVAN COUNTY — The Sullivan County Legislature voted to set a public hearing on a proposed local law concerning hunting by 12‑ and 13‑year‑olds and amended the draft to tie the local law’s expiration to the sunset of the state pilot program.

During discussion, legislators raised questions about whether home-rule authority could extend privileges to youth hunters if state law governs the subject. County legislative counsel Jen Nigro and other county attorneys advised that because the relevant state provision is a pilot program under the Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) and contains its own sunset provision, the county cannot adopt an indefinite local law that conflicts with state law. They recommended aligning the local law’s expiration with the ECL pilot’s sunset.

Legislator Bernardo proposed and the chamber later accepted an amendment deleting the earlier expiration date and replacing it with language that ties the local law’s expiration to the expiration of Section 11‑0935 of the New York State Environmental Conservation Law. The legislature approved the amendment and then voted to set a public hearing for the proposal; meeting materials and the public notice will reflect the amended language as presented by counsel.

County counsel explained the drafting choice is intended to keep local wording compatible with state law: if the state pilot is extended, the local law’s authorization would continue under the amended language; if the state program sunsets, the local law will expire consistent with state action. The legislature recorded no final local law adoption at the meeting; it only scheduled the public hearing and approved the amendment to the draft language.