Stung by critics, amendments made to proposed NYS beekeeping bill

Following criticism from commercial and recreational beekeepers in upstate New York, the New York Senate Agriculture Committee plans to amend a proposed beekeeper registry bill.  After the committee voted 11-0 earlier this week in favor of mandatory state registration of beekeepers and their hives, industry members criticized the bill, citing a lack of public awareness of the proposal prior to the vote.  On Thursday, Sen. Patty Ritchie (R-Heuvelton) said the committee would amend the legislation before reintroducing it to the full Senate floor, proposing a "free, voluntary" registration instead. Ritchie defended the bill's intent but said she sympathized with public hesitation about government involvement in the beekeeping industry. "The bill is not about regulation and never was," Ritchie said. "This is only about getting information out."  Despite planned changes to the bill, some upstate beekeepers said they still aren't convinced.