What's happening
This bill grants free access to New York state parks for veterans and surviving spouses or partners of those killed in combat.
Why it matters
Expands recognition and tangible benefits for veterans and their families by eliminating state park entry fees, acknowledging their service and sacrifice beyond symbolic gestures.
Extends eligibility not only to veterans but also to surviving spouses or domestic partners of those killed in combat or hostile duty, broadening support to families directly affected by military loss.
May increase park visitation among veterans and surviving families, potentially improving their quality of life, access to recreation, and mental health through nature and community engagement.
Shifts some of the operational funding burden for state parks from veterans and affected families to the general public or state resources, which could have implications for park revenue and budgeting.
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Who cares
New York wartime veterans
Residents who served in the U.S. armed forces during a legally defined time of war would be able to use state parks without paying fees or other charges.
Surviving military spouses and domestic partners
Those whose partners were killed in combat or duty subject to hostile fire or imminent danger would qualify for free state park use under the bill’s residency requirement.
State park administrators
They would need to provide eligible visitors fee-free use while applying the same other terms and conditions that apply to the general public.
Headline styles
Free Park Access for Veterans
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to veterans' affairs
- Referred to veterans' affairs
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7047
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 29, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. TITONE, HOOPER, PERRY -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. McDONOUGH, SIMANOWITZ -- read once and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
AN ACT to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, in relation to providing free use of state parks for veterans and surviving spouses or domestic partners of those killed in combat
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The parks, recreation and historic preservation law is amended by adding a new section 13.22 to read as follows:
§ 13.22 Free use of state parks. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, any person who is a resident of New York state, who served in the armed forces of the United States during a time of war, as defined in paragraph (c) of subdivision one of section eighty-five of the civil service law or the surviving spouse or domestic partner of deceased military personnel who were killed in combat or duty subject to hostile fire or imminent danger, as defined in 37 USC § 310(a)(4), shall be permitted to use any of the state parks in this 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 state parks.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that 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 and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09191-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.