Establishes distinctive "I love NYS parks" license plates and "New York state park revolving fund"

3 Co-sponsors

• Mark Grisanti
• Thomas F. O'Mara
• James L. Seward

BILL NUMBER:S2925A

Title of bill

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to establishing distinctive "I love NYS parks" license plates; and to amend the state finance law, in relation to establishing the New York state parks revolving fund

Purpose

To create a distinctive plate that reads "I" Love NYS PARKS" in order to create another source of funding for New York State Parks.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 - Amends the vehicle and traffic law to create a distinctive "I" Love NYS PARKS" license plate. An additional service fee of $25 shall be charged for such plates and funds collected shall be used for state parks; provided that one year after the effective date of this section $5,000 (or so much thereof as may be available) shall be allotted to offset the cost of such plates.

Section 2 - Establishes the New York State Parks Revolving Fund under joint custody of the Commissioner of Taxation and Finance and the comptroller. Also mandates the money collected be used only for state parks.

Justification

Recreational activities in parks are vitally important to residents of New York State, especially in this difficult economy. People cannot afford vacations and choose to stay locally visiting our State Parks. Additionally, parks provided 52 million New Yorkers with important and irreplaceable recreational opportunities in 2008. New York's State Parks offer hiking and jogging trails, fishing, swimming, boating, kayaking, cross country skiing, hunting, photography, soccer, cricket, softball, baseball, windsurfing, model airplane flying, bird watching, horseback riding, cultural events, historical appreciation, environmental education, camping and more. Instead of closing our parks we should be thinking of creative ways to keep them open. This legislation will establish a method for those concerned about keeping our State Parks open by contributing to a fund where distinctive license plates can be purchased stating "I" Love NYS PARKS." The funds collected will be used solely to fund New York State parks.

Legislative history

2009-2010: S.7055/A.10064

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized to be made on or before such effective date.