What's happening
This bill directs New York's health and environmental commissioners to develop a long-term strategy promoting outdoor environmental education and recreation for children.
Why it matters
Addresses a public health concern. By focusing on the link between reduced outdoor play and rising childhood obesity, this bill positions outdoor education as a way to improve youth health outcomes, both physically and mentally.
Targets urban equity issues. The legislation specifically recognizes the challenges faced by children in densely built "urban hardscapes," aiming to close gaps in access to nature and outdoor spaces for those who may benefit most.
Calls for a comprehensive, data-driven plan. The bill mandates a study that considers not just health, but also economic and environmental factors, with the goal of producing a detailed, actionable strategy for outdoor education and recreation statewide.
Potential for broader policy impact. By requiring recommendations and possible new laws, the bill could lead to significant changes in how schools, local governments, and communities prioritize and fund outdoor experiences for children in New York.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Study Outdoor Education Strategy
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
14 Co-sponsors
History
- Signed chap.276
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to assembly
- Passed senateVote 63–0
- 3rd reading cal.2016
- Substituted for S3019
- Referred to rules
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.80
- Rules report cal.80
- Reported
Show 3 earlier actions
- Reported referred to rules
- Reported referred to ways and means
- Referred to environmental conservation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Boost Outdoor Education for Kids
Senate Floor Calendar · Sponsor Patty Ritchie
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
735
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 9, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER, LUPARDO, ENGLEBRIGHT, RIVERA, OTIS, JAFFEE, COLTON, LIFTON, BLAKE, SKOUFIS, CROUCH, SALADINO, GIGLIO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BARCLAY, FINCH, GLICK, HAWLEY, KEARNS, McDONOUGH, ORTIZ, TITONE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
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
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature recognizes that in the last two decades, childhood has moved indoors. 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. The decline in the appreciation and prevalence of outdoor recreation opportunities profoundly impacts the wellness of our state's youth. The correlation between increasing childhood obesity rates and the decline in outdoor recreation is undeniable.
Additionally, the legislature recognizes that 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.
The legislature further finds that the development of policies that foster stewardship of the environment and recognition of the health benefits of time spent in nature are essential to the residents of New York state. The legislature concludes that this can best be accomplished by the creation of a study on outdoor environmental education and recreation.
§ 2. The commissioners of health and environmental conservation are hereby authorized and directed to study and develop a long-term strategy
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02787-01-7
A. 735 2
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. Such strategy shall be based on an analysis of the overall health of our youth including the rise in childhood obesity rates, economic trends and their impact on access to outdoor spaces as well as all other factors necessary to develop a state-level blueprint for outdoor education and recreating. Such strategy shall be developed in consultation with health and environmental conservation advisory bodies created or authorized by statute and such other organizations or persons as the commissioners shall deem appropriate. Within one year of the effective date of this act, the commissioners shall submit a report of their findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, if any, to the governor and the legislature.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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.