BILL NUMBER: S7309

SPONSOR: CANZONERI-FITZPATRICK
 
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:

Provides that veterans who hold either a federal Golden Access Passport
or 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 histor-
ic preservation law, to provide that any veteran who holds a federal
Golden Access Passport or federal Access Pass issued upon a determi-
nation of permanent disability, will enjoy free use of campsites, parks
              

and other public places of recreation, upon the same terms and condi-
tions 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 disabil-
ity, 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 Pass-
port 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 Although no longer available (as they have been replaced
by Access Passes) Golden Access Passports are valid for a lifetime and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.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2014:A.9982 - referred to veterans' affairs

2015-2016: A.6146 - referred to veterans' affairs

2017-2018: A.6689 - referred to veterans' affairs

2019-2020: A.4904 - referred to veterans' affairs

2021-2022: A.10015 - referred to veterans' affairs

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Minimal

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.