S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                   7749
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               April 8, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. KIM -- read once and referred to the Committee on
   Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development
 
 AN  ACT to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, in
   relation to establishing standards for trail closures  on  the  Empire
   state trail

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The parks, recreation  and  historic  preservation  law  is
 amended by adding a new section 3.27 to read as follows:
   §  3.27  EMPIRE  STATE TRAIL. 1. DEFINITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS
 SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   (A) "EMPIRE STATE TRAIL" SHALL MEAN THE EMPIRE  STATE  TRAIL  NETWORK,
 INCLUDING  THE  HUDSON  RIVER  VALLEY GREENWAY, ERIE CANALWAY TRAIL, AND
 CHAMPLAIN VALLEY TRAIL,  MARKED  WITH  SIGNAGE  AND  IDENTIFIED  ON  THE
 OFFICE'S  WEBSITE, AS WELL AS ANY FUTURE CORRIDORS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE
 EMPIRE STATE TRAIL NETWORK; AND
   (B) "MULTI-USE TRAIL" SHALL  MEAN  A  TRAIL  ESTABLISHED  PURSUANT  TO
 SECTION  11-0329 OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION LAW BY THE DEPARTMENT
 OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION OR ESTABLISHED BY AN AFFILIATE OR  SUBSID-
 IARY  OF  THE  DEPARTMENT,  OR A COUNTY, CITY, TOWN, VILLAGE, OR PRIVATE
 ENTITY FOR RECREATION AND TRANSPORTATION USE BY PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLISTS,
 AND/OR OTHERS UTILIZING NON-MOTORIZED TRANSPORT.
   2. TRAIL CLOSURES. (A) THE  OWNER  OF  ANY  SEGMENT  OF  NON-MOTORIZED
 MULTI-USE  TRAIL DESIGNATED AS A PORTION OF THE EMPIRE STATE TRAIL SHALL
 ENSURE THAT SUCH SEGMENT OF TRAIL REMAINS OPEN WHEN PRACTICABLE FOR  USE
 BY  PEDESTRIANS,  PERSONS  OPERATING  A  BICYCLE,  SKATING OR GLIDING ON
 IN-LINE SKATES, OR OTHER TRAIL USERS AS ALLOWED BY STATE, LOCAL LAW,  OR
 REGULATION.
   (B)  IF  ANY SEGMENT OF THE EMPIRE STATE TRAIL REQUIRES CLOSURE DUE TO
 CONSTRUCTION OR TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY, IT SHALL BE THE  RESPONSIBILITY
 OF  THE  PUBLIC  OR  PRIVATE LANDOWNER TO NOTIFY THE COMMISSIONER OR THE
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04455-01-5
              

 A. 7749                             2
 
 COMMISSIONER'S DESIGNEE OF SUCH CLOSURE. THE COMMISSIONER OR THE COMMIS-
 SIONER'S DESIGNEE SHALL, UPON RECEIVING NOTICE PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION,
 COORDINATE WITH THE OWNER TO PLAN A DETOUR ROUTE AND TO PROMINENTLY POST
 SIGNAGE ALONG SUCH ROUTE FOR THE DURATION OF THE CLOSURE. THE DEPARTMENT
 SHALL PROVIDE ALL NECESSARY SIGNAGE.
   (C)  THE  COMMISSIONER  OR THEIR DESIGNEE SHALL, UPON RECEIVING NOTICE
 PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, ENSURE SUCH TRAIL CLOSURE AND  PLANNED  DETOUR
 ROUTE IS POSTED ON THE OFFICE'S WEBSITE.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it shall have become a law.