BILL NUMBER: S1044A

SPONSOR: FUNKE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, in
relation to identification badges for access to recreational facilities

 
PURPOSE:

This bill would remove the requirement that the empire passport decal be
affixed to the pass holder's vehicle

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends subdivision two of section 13.16 of the parks, recre-
ation and historic preservation law to state that the empire passport
shall be an identification card. The card would permit such person, his
or her vehicle, and all its occupants access to any state park or recre-
ational facility for which there is a vehicular access fee.

              

Section 2 is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Currently, individuals who purchase an Annual Empire Passport or Multi-
ple Year Empire Passport must affix a decal to their vehicle.  However,
for people who rent cars or use car sharing programs, this process can
be burdensome. The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preserva-
tion's (OPRHP) guidelines state that, like all other vehicles, leased
and rented cars must also have the decal affixed each time the passhold-
er wants to use it, then the pass holder must order a replacement. In
order to receive a replacement decal, you must provide OPRHP with "a
letter requesting replacement and explaining the circumstances of the
loss; the decal, or its fragments or scrapings (whenever possible, but
always for a vehicle that has been sold or a leased vehicle that has
been returned); and proof of loss, sale or damage acceptable to the
Office, such as a police report, insurance report, repair invoice, DMV
report, bill of sale, etc. whenever possible, but always when the decal
or fragments are not available."

Not only is this burdensome for people who use rented and leased cars,
but it provides no flexibility to families with more than one car or
people borrowing a car from a friend. In addition to the Annual and
Multiple Year Empire Passports, the Office also offers a Lifetime Empire
Passport. When a person chooses this option, an icon is placed on the
pass holder's driver's license or non-driver ID. In providing this
option, the Office has made clear that the Empire Passport follows the
pass holder, not the vehicle.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S.7205/A.8665B of 2015-2016; Advanced to Third Reading

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None to state.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect April 2, 2019. Effective immediately, the
addition, amendment, and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
for the timely implementation of this act on its effective date is
authorized to be made on or before such date.