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S7806Senate2015-2016 SessionSame asA1027

Directs the commissioners of health and environmental conservation to study and develop a long term strategy to encourage outdoor environmental education and recreation

Sponsor Patty RitchieSD-48Affects Finance
Status
In Assembly Committee
Ways And Means
Impact
Pending
Passage
Pending

Bill progress

Step 5 of 7

In Assembly · Ways And Means

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Who cares

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Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Patty Ritchie

Senator · Senate District 48

Chair, Agriculture

No co-sponsors yet.

History

  1. Referred to ways and means
  2. Delivered to assembly
  3. Passed senateVote 62–0
  4. Ordered to third reading cal.1875
  5. Committee discharged and committed to rules
  6. Referred to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation

Companion bill

Full text

The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.

Sponsor's memo

Title of bill

An act to authorize and direct the commissioners of health and environmental conservation to study and develop a long-term strategy to encourage and promote outdoor environmental education and recreational opportunities in New York state

Purpose

To promote and encourage outdoor environmental education and recreational opportunities in New York State.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 provides the Legislative findings.

Section 2 authorizes and directs the commissioners of health and environmental conservation to study and develop a long term strategy for integrating an aggressive outdoor environmental education and recreation plan for children that focuses on creating, developing and retaining opportunities for outdoor play and learning in New York State.

Section 3 is the effective date.

Justification

The average American boy or girl spends just four to seven minutes each day in unstructured outdoor play, and more than seven hours each day in front of an electronic screen

Visual and physical access to basic types of open space is vital for everyone, and particularly valuable to children growing up in "urban hardscapes" or areas where access to nature is limited.

Outdoor play has been shown to increase fitness levels, raise levels of Vitamin D, improve distance vision and lower nearsightedness, decrease symptoms of ADHD, improve test scores and increase academic performance.

The development of policies that foster stewardship of the environment, an appreciation of the importance of the wise use of natural resources and recognition of the health benefits of time spent in nature are essential to the residents of New York State.

Legislative history

2013-14: A1104 Passed Assembly/S3921 Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation 2011-12: A8013 Ways and Means/S5207 Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation

Fiscal implications

None to State.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.

Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.