BILL NUMBER:S7617A

TITLE  OF  BILL:    An act to amend the parks, recreation and historic
preservation law, in relation to free use of campsites, park and other
public places of recreation by veterans  who  hold  a  federal  Golden
Access Passport or a federal Access Pass

PURPOSE:    To  provide that veterans who hold either a federal Golden
Access Passport or a federal Access  Pass  shall  be  granted  use  of
public  campsites, parks and other public places of recreation free of
charge.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:  This bill would amend  section  13.19  of  the
parks,  recreation  and historic preservation law, to provide that any
veteran who holds a federal Golden Access Passport or  federal  Access
Pass  issued  upon a determination of permanent disability, will enjoy
free use of campsites, parks and other public  places  of  recreation,
upon  the  same terms and conditions that apply to the general public,
but without the payment of any fees or other charges for such use.

JUSTIFICATION:  Presently, the federal government has  established  an
Access Pass program for disabled individuals.

This  Access  Pass  program  provides  a  free, lifetime pass, to U.S.
citizens or permanent residents of the United States, that  have  been
medically  determined  to  have  a permanent disability, that severely
              

limits one or more major life activities (such as caring for  oneself,
performing   manual   tasks,   walking,   seeing,  hearing,  speaking,
breathing,  learning,  or  working).  Such  pass  provides  access  to
recreation  areas  managed by five Federal agencies (The National Park
Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the
Fish & Wildlife Service, or the USDA Forest Service).

In 2007, the Access Pass program replaced a similar program  to  allow
free  access  to  these  recreation  areas, known as the Golden Access
Passport Program. Although no longer  available  (as  they  have  been
replaced  by  Access  Passes)  Golden Access Passports are valid for a
lifetime and are still honored in these national recreation areas.

This bill would allow veteran holders of these federal  Golden  Access
Passports  or  the  Access  Pass  to  also  be  able  to  access state
recreational facilities free of charge.

Currently, pursuant to section 13.19  of  the  parks,  recreation  and
historic preservation law, any person who is:

*  blind;
*  non-ambulatory;
*  an amputee; or
*    a  veteran  of the wars of the United States, who has at any time
been awarded by  the  federal  government  an  allowance  towards  the
purchase of an automobile or is eligible for such an award;

is  permitted  to  use  any  of  the public campsites, parks and other
public places of recreation in New York State, upon the same terms and
conditions as apply to the general public, but without the payment  of


any  fees  or  other  charges for the use of such campsites, parks and
other public places of recreation.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:  This is a new bill

FISCAL  IMPLICATIONS:    Minimal  but  determined on the usage of this
benefit.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  This act would take effect immediately.