Relates to annual vehicular access for active duty service members; requires annual passes be issued to active duty service members and their immediate families at state parks or recreational facilities upon presentation of a military identification card.
Summary
A03747 would require the state office or other agency that controls a state park or recreational facility and already has authority to issue annual vehicular access passes to provide those passes free of charge to eligible active duty service members and their immediate family members. The pass would be available upon presentation of a military identification card. The bill defines an active duty service member for this purpose as a New York resident who is an active member of the organized militia of the state, as defined in the military law.
The measure also directs the relevant state agency to adopt any rules and regulations needed to implement the new pass program. It would take effect 120 days after becoming law, with immediate authorization for any necessary regulatory changes before that date.
Impact
The bill would amend the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law by adding a new section creating a mandatory free annual vehicular access pass program for qualifying service members and their immediate families at state parks and recreational facilities. In practice, it would expand free access benefits at state-run outdoor and recreational sites and could reduce fee revenue collected from annual passes, while imposing an administrative duty on park agencies to verify eligibility and implement the program through regulation.
Sentiment
No committee transcript or vote record is available in the provided materials, so there is no direct evidence of debate or recorded support/opposition. Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears to be framed as a veterans- and service-member-friendly benefit, suggesting likely favorable sentiment toward providing a no-cost park access privilege to military families.
Contention
The main policy issue is the scope of eligibility: the bill applies to an "active duty service member" defined as a New York resident who is an active member of the organized militia, which may raise questions about whether the benefit is intended to cover only state militia members rather than all active-duty military personnel. Another possible point of contention is the fiscal and operational impact on park agencies, since the bill requires free issuance of passes and new implementing regulations, potentially affecting revenue and administrative workload.
Provides annual vehicular access for New York state's active volunteer firefighters and active volunteer ambulance workers and their immediate family at any state park or recreational facility.
Provides annual vehicular access for New York state's active volunteer firefighters and active volunteer ambulance workers and their immediate family at any state park or recreational facility.
Provides annual vehicular access for New York state's active volunteer firefighters and active volunteer ambulance workers and their immediate family at any state park or recreational facility.