What's happening
This bill allows veterans free use of cabins and cottages in state recreation areas for up to fourteen days per year.
Why it matters
Expands existing benefits. The bill broadens current free access privileges for certain disabled individuals and qualifying veterans to include not only campsites, but also cabins and cottages in state recreation areas, providing greater accommodation options.
Recognizes veterans’ service. By extending free use to cabins and cottages, the bill acknowledges and rewards the sacrifices made by veterans, potentially improving their quality of life and access to nature-based recreation.
Includes a usage cap. The 14-day annual limit for free cabin and cottage use ensures broader, fairer access to these amenities among the veteran community, while managing state resources responsibly.
Potential for increased park engagement. The measure may encourage more veterans to utilize state parks and facilities, supporting mental health, social connection, and overall well-being.
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Who cares
Veterans eligible for federal automobile assistance
The bill would extend free use of public recreation facilities to cabins and cottages for qualifying veterans, limited to 14 days per year.
People who are blind, non-ambulatory or amputees
The bill would add cabins and cottages to the facilities covered by their existing free-use benefit, with a 14-day annual limit on cabin and cottage use.
Operators of public recreation facilities
They would have to provide covered cabin and cottage use without fees or other charges, while applying the same terms and conditions as for the general public.
Headline styles
Free Cabins for Veterans
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
9 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to veterans' affairs
- Held for consideration in veterans' affairs
- Referred to veterans' affairs
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.
Free Cabins for Veterans
In Senate Committee · Veterans, Homeland Security And Military Affairs · Sponsor Robert Ortt
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3307
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 29, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. NORRIS -- 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 veterans free use of cabins and cottages located in public places of recreation within the state
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 13.19 of the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, as amended by chapter 649 of the laws of 1977, is amended to read as follows:
§ 13.19 Free use of campsites. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, any person who is blind, non-ambulatory, or an amputee or any veteran of the wars of the United States, who has at any time been awarded by the federal government an allowance towards the purchase of an automobile or is eligible for such an award shall be permitted to use any of the public campsites, cabins, cottages, parks and other public places of recreation 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 campsites, cabins, cottages, parks and other public places of recreation. Use of cabins and cottages under this section shall be limited to fourteen days per year.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02447-01-9
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.