What's happening
This bill replaces vehicle window decals with identification cards for state park access, granting entry to the cardholder and vehicle occupants.
Why it matters
Switching from window decals to identification cards provides more flexibility and privacy. drivers no longer have to display a decal on their vehicle, which means access is linked to the cardholder rather than a single car, and park access isn’t broadcast on the vehicle’s window.
The identification card allows all occupants in the cardholder’s vehicle to enter a state park or recreation facility. , potentially expanding access for families and groups traveling together, rather than limiting entry benefits to the vehicle with the decal.
The new system may reduce administrative burden and waste. by eliminating the need for adhesive decals, which must be issued, replaced, and removed, and by making it easier to reissue access if someone changes vehicles.
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Who cares
Headline styles
New Park Access ID Cards
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 55
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to ways and means
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- Amended 1044a
- 1st report cal.165
- Referred to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.1090
Show 1 earlier action
- Referred to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation
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.
Switch to ID Cards
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Aileen Gunther
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1044--A Cal. No. 165
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 6, 2017
Introduced by Sens. FUNKE, HELMING -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation -- recommitted to the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first report, amended on first report, ordered to a second report and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of second report
AN ACT to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, in relation to identification badges for access to recreational facilities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 13.16 of the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, as added by chapter 89 of the laws of 1977, is amended to read as follows:
2. The pass for vehicular access shall be available at regional park headquarters and such other places as the office or such other state agency shall designate. Holders of such pass shall receive [a decal to be placed on the side window of a vehicle for purposes of identification] an identification card. Such [decal] identification shall have the emblem of the beaver thereon. The identification card shall be for the exclusive use of the cardholder and shall allow the cardholder, his or her vehicle, and all its occupants access to any state park or recreational facility for which there is a vehicular access fee.
§ 2. This act shall take effect April 2, 2019. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment, and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the timely implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made on or before such date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03758-02-8
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, in relation to identification badges for access to recreational facilities
Purpose
This bill would remove the requirement that the empire passport decal be affixed to the pass holder's vehicle
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends subdivision two of section 13.16 of the parks, recre- ation and historic preservation law to state that the empire passport shall be an identification card. The card would permit such person, his or her vehicle, and all its occupants access to any state park or recre- ational facility for which there is a vehicular access fee.
Section 2 is the effective date.
Justification
Currently, individuals who purchase an Annual Empire Passport or Multi- ple Year Empire Passport must affix a decal to their vehicle. However, for people who rent cars or use car sharing programs, this process can be burdensome. The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preserva- tion's (OPRHP) guidelines state that, like all other vehicles, leased and rented cars must also have the decal affixed each time the passhold- er wants to use it, then the pass holder must order a replacement. In order to receive a replacement decal, you must provide OPRHP with "a letter requesting replacement and explaining the circumstances of the loss; the decal, or its fragments or scrapings (whenever possible, but always for a vehicle that has been sold or a leased vehicle that has been returned); and proof of loss, sale or damage acceptable to the Office, such as a police report, insurance report, repair invoice, DMV report, bill of sale, etc. whenever possible, but always when the decal or fragments are not available."
Not only is this burdensome for people who use rented and leased cars, but it provides no flexibility to families with more than one car or people borrowing a car from a friend. In addition to the Annual and Multiple Year Empire Passports, the Office also offers a Lifetime Empire Passport. When a person chooses this option, an icon is placed on the pass holder's driver's license or non-driver ID. In providing this option, the Office has made clear that the Empire Passport follows the pass holder, not the vehicle.
Legislative history
S.7205/A.8665B of 2015-2016; Advanced to Third Reading
Fiscal implications
None to state.
Effective date
This act shall take effect April 2, 2019. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment, and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the timely implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized to be made on or before such date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.