What's happening
This bill creates a State Parks Passport program allowing visitors to log park visits with stamps, using print or electronic options.
Why it matters
Creates a new incentive for visiting state parks and historic sites. by allowing visitors to collect physical or digital stamps, potentially increasing engagement and tourism across New York’s park system.
Allows for annual thematic highlights. the commissioner can spotlight different regions or types of parks each year, which could drive economic activity to lesser-known areas and encourage repeat visitation.
Enables targeted programming and special events. for specific groups (such as children and seniors), supporting broader public health, education, and inclusivity goals through outdoor recreation.
Is funded through existing revenue streams and optional user fees. the program’s costs come from the patron services account, and visitors may pay for the passport books or apps, meaning it’s designed to be financially sustainable and not require new taxpayer funding.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Create State Parks Passport
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation
- Referred to finance
- Referred to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1567
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 15, 2019
Introduced by Sen. FUNKE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation
AN ACT to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, in relation to establishing the state parks passport program
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 3.27 to read as follows:
§ 3.27 State parks passport program. 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the commissioner shall establish a state parks passport program.
2. The state parks passport program shall use a printed passport book or electronic application to allow visitors to state parks and historic sites to log their visits to such sites with ink stamps or electronic stamps, and ink stamps or electronic stamps that identify each state park or historic site by name. The costs associated with the development of the state parks passport program shall be derived from the patron services account of the miscellaneous special revenue fund. The commissioner may charge purchasers of the printed passport book or electronic application for the costs associated for printing or developing those materials.
3. The commissioner may designate a subset of such sites each year to highlight various regions of the state or various state park regions. The commissioner may provide for the conducting of special events that emphasize outdoor recreation or fitness for certain subsets of park attendees including, but not limited to, children and senior citizens.
4. The commissioner may promulgate such regulations as may be necessary for the operation of the state parks passport program.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07181-01-9
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 establishing the state parks passport program
Purpose
This bill would create a state parks passport program, through which visitors to New York's state parks could log their visits. By encourag- ing visitors to acquire passport stamps at every New York state park, this program would spur increased visitation to state parks throughout New York State.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill establishes the state parks passport program. The passport will take the form or a printed book or an electronic app, and details the funding source for the creation of the book or the app. It also authorizes the Parks Commissioner to highlight subsets of the state parks in each year, centered around a theme. It also authorizes the Parks Commissioner to create regulations for the passport program.
Existing law
Current law does not provide for a state parks passport program.
Justification
With over one hundred state parks offering a vast array of recreational activities and scenic beauty, New York's state parks offer visitors access to some of the most impressive and enjoyable natural areas in the nation. A state park passport program would bring more visitors to New York's state parks by encouraging park attendees to venture around the state to earn passport stamps. A passport program can increase attend- ance at the state parks across the state, and drive economic activity for the businesses surrounding the state parks. A passport program would showcase the full array of state parks across the state and increase nature tourism across the state.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
The costs associated with the program are to be derived from the patron services account of the miscellaneous special revenue fund, but the Parks Commissioner may charge purchasers of the passport for the costs associated with production of the passport materials.
Local fiscal implications
None.
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.