NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A851
SPONSOR: Rosenthal TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in
relation to enacting the "monk parakeet protection act"
PURPOSE:
To protect the wild Monk Parakeet (a/k/a Quaker parakeet), the parrot
species Myiopsitta Monachus, living in a wild state in various parts of
the state of New York. Less than 1,000 wild monk parakeets reside in New
York state. This act shall provide humane methods of relocation or
removal, especially where threat to human life, private or public prop-
erty, or agricultural concerns, are imminent.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 defines legislative intent of bill. A new title, number 27, is
amended within Article 11 of the Environmental Conservation law.
EXISTING LAW:
"Currently recognized as a non-native, non-invasive species, according
to and within New York Invasive Species council's report,"the 2010 Regu-
latory system for Non-native Species.
JUSTIFICATION:
Reports of "poaching" (illegal hunting, killing or capturing of animals)
and less than humane regard for wild Myiopsitta Monachus parrots (Monk
parakeet) nesting sites have led to legislative need for formal
protection of this species.
Quaker parakeets are not harmful to the environment, nor displaced or
been a threat to any native species, and have not been proven to cause
damage to any public utilities. Although they are considered pests by
some because of the nature of their nest building, they are trapped and
euthanized as pests by exterminators which will be addressed should this
legislation become law.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A.8526 of 2011-2012
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall become
law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
851
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY(Prefiled)
January 9, 2013
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
enacting the "monk parakeet protection act"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature finds that the monk
2 parakeet has been existing in a wild, undomesticated state in New York
3 since the late 1960s. The ancestors of the current flocks are believed
4 to have been imported legally into the United States from their native
5 land in Argentina. Since then, monk parakeets have established colonies
6 in parts of New York city and lower Westchester county. Their colonies
7 are small, and the population of monk parakeets seems to be rather
8 stabilized over the past 20 years. It is estimated that there are less
9 than 1,000 wild monk parakeets in the state of New York. Reports of
10 poaching and less than humane regard for nesting sites have led to the
11 need for formal protection of this species, which is recognized as non-
12 native, but not currently categorized as invasive, according to the
13 report Regulatory System for Non-native Species (New York Invasive
14 Species Council, 2010). The purpose of this act is to protect the wild
15 monk parakeet (a/k/a Quaker parakeet), the parrot species Myiopsitta
16 monachus, living in a wild state in various parts of the state of New
17 York. This act shall also provide humane methods of relocation or
18 removal, especially where threat to human life, private or public prop-
19 erty, or agricultural concerns, are imminent.
20 § 2. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "monk parakeet
21 protection act."
22 § 3. Article 11 of the environmental conservation law is amended by
23 adding a new title 27 to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04968-01-3
A. 851 2
1 TITLE 27
2 MONK PARAKEET PROTECTION ACT
3 Section 11-2701. Definitions.
4 11-2703. Monk parakeets; protection.
5 § 11-2701. Definitions.
6 For purposes of this title, the following terms shall have the follow-
7 ing meanings:
8 1. "qualified individual" shall mean a person or persons with either a
9 degree in earth, biological or natural sciences, including geology,
10 environmental science, biology, zoology, or a specialization in orni-
11 thology;
12 2. "wild monk parakeet" shall mean a monk parakeet that was born in a
13 natural environment without human aid or intervention, and raised by its
14 own parents. The provisions of this title shall not apply to any monk
15 parakeet that is banded by a breeder and previously existed in a domes-
16 tic situation as a pet;
17 3. "qualified designated agent or authority" shall mean either a state
18 agency with qualified individuals, or an organization with members who
19 have a minimum of five years experience in the rescue and rehabilitation
20 of parrots or wild birds, and have at least two qualified individuals as
21 defined in subdivision one of this section. The qualified designated
22 agent or authority shall be affiliated with one or more avian veterina-
23 rians; and
24 4. "breeding season" shall mean the period of time beginning April
25 first and ending October first of a calendar year.
26 § 11-2703. Monk parakeets; protection.
27 1. No person shall capture or harm a monk parakeet chick, fledgling,
28 or adult, or take or sell its eggs, to any retail or private establish-
29 ment or concern.
30 2. No person shall remove the nest of a monk parakeet, unless there is
31 a documented and immediate threat to human life or public and private
32 property.
33 3. The collection of eggs, chicks, fledglings, or adult monk parakeets
34 shall be done only under the supervision of a designated and qualified
35 individual or expert.
36 4. The removal of the nest of a monk parakeet, if necessary, shall
37 occur outside of breeding season, unless there is a documented and imme-
38 diate threat to human life or public and private property.
39 5. The state or a qualified designated agent or authority shall be
40 notified at least five days in advance of any proposal to remove the
41 nest of a monk parakeet. The designated agent or authority shall propose
42 alternative actions, and shall supervise any nest removals if an alter-
43 native plan is not possible.
44 6. Private companies and organizations, utility companies, and govern-
45 mental agencies, shall make every effort to supply and erect alternative
46 nesting platforms where reasonably possible, if current monk parakeet
47 nesting sites have been demonstrated to be a threat to human life,
48 private or public property, or agricultural concerns. Example plans and
49 drawings for nesting platforms shall be made available to the public on
50 the official webpage of the department.
51 7. If an effort to provide monk parakeets with alternative nesting
52 platforms fails or proves to be unsuccessful, an entity may employ
53 humane means to remove and euthanize monk parakeets, only as a last
54 resort. All other methods to provide alternative nesting options shall
55 be first exhausted. Such entity shall demonstrate in writing and
56 documentation that all efforts to provide alternatives have failed, and
A. 851 3
1 shall outline the method by which euthanasia shall be applied. Such
2 entity shall also demonstrate that there is a documented and immediate
3 threat to human life or public and private property.
4 8. For purposes of this title:
5 a. the use of carbon monoxide or any other gas or vapor as a method of
6 euthanasia is prohibited;
7 b. the only acceptable form of euthanasia shall be by injection of an
8 anesthetic or anesthetic mixture which causes immediate and painless
9 cessation of pulmonary and coronary function; and
10 c. administration and supervision of the euthanasia procedure shall be
11 done by a licensed veterinarian, veterinary assistant or veterinary
12 technician.
13 9. The department may designate a qualified organization to carry out
14 the general administration of the provisions of this title.
15 10. A qualified organization designated pursuant to subdivision nine
16 of this section shall be entitled to reasonable reimbursement for
17 expenses in association with nest removal, from any entity so requesting
18 the services of such qualified organization. The requesting entity shall
19 provide, and operate, all necessary heavy equipment, including bucket
20 lifts or trucks. In addition, all expenses and costs associated with the
21 use of veterinary services for euthanasia shall be immediately reim-
22 bursed to the attending veterinarian by the requesting entity.
23 11. Any violation of the provisions of this title shall be a misdemea-
24 nor.
25 § 4. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
26 have become a law.
