S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    735
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              January 9, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  GUNTHER, LUPARDO, ENGLEBRIGHT, RIVERA, OTIS,
   JAFFEE, COLTON, LIFTON, BLAKE, SKOUFIS, CROUCH,  SALADINO,  GIGLIO  --
   Multi-Sponsored  by -- M. of A. BARCLAY, FINCH, GLICK, HAWLEY, KEARNS,
   McDONOUGH, ORTIZ, TITONE -- read once and referred to the Committee on
   Environmental Conservation

 AN ACT to authorize and direct the commissioners of health and  environ-
   mental  conservation  to  study  and  develop  a long-term strategy to
   encourage and promote outdoor environmental education and recreational
   opportunities in New York state
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Legislative  findings. The legislature recognizes that in
 the last two decades, childhood has moved indoors. The average  American
 boy  or  girl spends just four to seven minutes each day in unstructured
 outdoor play, and more than seven hours each day in front  of  an  elec-
 tronic screen. The decline in the appreciation and prevalence of outdoor
 recreation  opportunities profoundly impacts the wellness of our state's
 youth. The correlation between increasing childhood  obesity  rates  and
 the decline in outdoor recreation is undeniable.
   Additionally,  the  legislature  recognizes  that  visual and physical
 access to basic types of open space is vital for everyone,  and  partic-
 ularly  valuable  to children growing up in "urban hardscapes", or areas
 where access to nature is limited.
   The legislature further finds that the development  of  policies  that
 foster  stewardship  of  the  environment  and recognition of the health
 benefits of time spent in nature are essential to the residents  of  New
 York  state.    The  legislature  concludes that this can best be accom-
 plished by the creation of a study on  outdoor  environmental  education
 and recreation.
   §  2.  The  commissioners of health and environmental conservation are
 hereby authorized and directed to study and develop a long-term strategy

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD02787-01-7

 A. 735                              2
 
 for integrating an aggressive outdoor environmental education and recre-
 ation plan for children that focuses on creating, developing and retain-
 ing opportunities for outdoor play and learning in New York state.  Such
 strategy  shall  be  based  on  an analysis of the overall health of our
 youth including the rise in childhood obesity rates, economic trends and
 their impact on access to outdoor spaces as well as  all  other  factors
 necessary  to  develop a state-level blueprint for outdoor education and
 recreating. Such strategy shall be developed in consultation with health
 and environmental conservation advisory bodies created or authorized  by
 statute  and  such  other  organizations or persons as the commissioners
 shall deem appropriate. Within one year of the effective  date  of  this
 act,  the  commissioners  shall  submit  a  report of their findings and
 recommendations, including proposed legislation, if any, to the governor
 and the legislature.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.