S 9473: Prohibits game taken by a firearm using lead ammunition from being donated for human consumption.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 9473  IN SENATE March 16, 2026 ___________ Introduced by Sen. HARCKHAM -- 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 and the agriculture and markets law, in relation to enacting the "lead-free game donation act" The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as 2 the "lead-free game donation act". 3 § 2. Legislative findings. The legislature finds that: 4 1. Lead is a potent neurotoxin; no level of exposure is considered 5 safe for humans. Children and pregnant people are most at risk. 6 2. Scientific studies and public health reviews have demonstrated that 7 game taken with lead-based ammunition contains small, widely dispersed 8 lead fragments. 9 3. Recipients of charitable food donations, often the neediest New 10 Yorkers, should not bear the risk of lead contamination in donated game. 11 4. Chapter 358 of the laws of 2025 expanded lawful participation in 12 archery seasons, including through the use of crossbows. 13 5. Encouraging the continuing growth of the use of non-lead ammunition 14 is consistent with existing department of environmental conservation 15 outreach programs, and aligns with New York's broader wildlife and 16 public health goals. 17 § 3. Paragraph d of subdivision 9 of section 11-0917 of the environ- 18 mental conservation law, as amended by chapter 468 of the laws of 2011, 19 is amended to read as follows: 20 d. Game legally taken may be donated to, and possessed, prepared and 21 distributed by a charitable or not-for-profit organization which serves 22 or distributes food without cost to the poor or needy. Game or packages 23 of game donated pursuant to this paragraph shall, notwithstanding the 24 requirements for tagging and labelling of game contained in paragraph b 25 of subdivision [5] five of section 11-0911 of this title, be tagged, 26 labelled or marked "not for sale" and such tag, label or marking shall 27 identify the type of meat, the method used to take the game and the EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD14603-02-6 
 S. 9473 2 1 category of ammunition if so used, the license number of the taker, the 2 name and address of the professional processor of the game and the date 3 of processing. The department shall make available instructions for the 4 safe and sanitary preparation of game, a list of professional processors 5 where potential donors may take their game for preparation and packaging 6 and a list of charitable or not-for-profit organizations which accept 7 donations of game. Professional processors, charitable and not-for-pro- 8 fit organizations may notify the department of their intention to 9 participate in such distribution, and the department shall include them 10 in its lists unless good cause otherwise exists. 11 § 4. Section 11-0917 of the environmental conservation law is amended 12 by adding a new subdivision 11 to read as follows: 13 11. a. For purposes of this subdivision, "lead ammunition" shall mean 14 any ammunition that contains one or more percent of lead by weight. 15 b. Game taken by firearm using lead ammunition shall be ineligible for 16 donation, distribution, or service for human consumption in New York 17 state. 18 c. The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of health, 19 may develop, update, and make public on the department's website, a list 20 of ammunition that is recognized as non-lead ammunition. 21 d. Nothing in this subdivision shall prohibit game taken by archery, 22 or by firearm using non-lead ammunition, from being eligible for 23 donation, distribution, or service. 24 § 5. Section 71-z of the agriculture and markets law is amended by 25 adding a new subdivision 4 to read as follows: 26 4. Subdivision one of this section shall not apply to donations or 27 distributions of game or wild game taken by firearm with lead ammuni- 28 tion, as defined by subdivision eleven of section 11-0917 of the envi- 29 ronmental conservation law. Provided, however, that nothing in this 30 subdivision shall prevent subdivision one of this section from applying 31 to donations or distributions of game or wild game taken by archery, or 32 by firearm with non-lead ammunition. 33 § 6. This act shall take effect two years after it shall have become a 34 law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any 35 rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its 36 effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such 37 effective date.