What's happening
This bill creates a pilot program for a New York State parks passport booklet and fund to promote park education and tourism.
Why it matters
Encourages park visitation and education. By offering a passport booklet with stamps for each state park, the program incentivizes individuals—especially families and children—to visit multiple parks and learn about their significance, potentially fostering a lifelong appreciation for public lands and conservation.
Directs new funding to park maintenance and improvements. Proceeds from the sale of the booklet are placed into a dedicated fund, ensuring that money raised through the program is reinvested in the upkeep and development of state parks, recreation areas, and historic sites.
Promotes tourism and local economies. The initiative is likely to increase foot traffic to parks across New York, supporting local businesses and communities that rely on tourism, while also drawing attention to lesser-known parks and historic sites.
Pilot program with sunset clause. As a pilot, the program will be evaluated over a five-year period, allowing lawmakers to assess its effectiveness and impact before deciding whether to make it permanent or expand it.
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Who cares
State parks officials
The bill would require the parks commissioner to establish a passport pilot program promoting park education, environmental awareness and tourism.
Park visitors
Visitors could buy booklets describing each state park and collect stickers, cancellations or stamps at parks across the state.
Retail stores at state parks, recreational facilities and historic sites
These stores would be sales outlets for passport booklets, with proceeds directed to a dedicated state fund.
- Likely support
Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and state comptroller
They would jointly oversee a new fund whose money could support development and maintenance of state parks, parkways, recreation facilities and historic sites under the office’s control.
Headline styles
Create State Park Passport
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7074
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2020
Introduced by Sen. MARTINEZ -- 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 and the state finance law, in relation to establishing the New York state passport to the parks pilot program; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
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. New York state passport to the parks pilot program. 1. The commissioner shall establish a pilot program to educate individuals on the various parks within the state and the importance of maintaining such parks, to promote environmental awareness with respect to such parks and to promote tourism of such parks. Passport stamp booklets shall be made available to all individuals under such pilot program and shall include a description of each state park along with space for individuals to collect stamps from each park.
2. Passport stickers, cancellations or stamps shall be made available to individuals at each park located within the state.
3. Passport stamp booklets shall be made available for sale to individuals at retail stores located in state parks, recreational facilities, historic sites and online. Proceeds from such pilot program shall go to the New York state passport to the parks fund as established pursuant to section ninety-nine-hh of the state finance law.
4. The commissioner shall be authorized and directed to promulgate any rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this article.
§ 2. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 99-hh to read as follows:
§ 99-hh. New York state passport to the parks fund. 1. There is hereby established in the joint custody of the commissioner of parks, recre-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13518-01-9
S. 7074 2
ation and historic preservation and the comptroller a special fund to be known as the "New York state passport to the parks fund".
2. Monies within the New York state passport to the parks fund shall be made available to the commissioner for payment of any and all costs and expenditures incurred in performing any of the work required in developing and maintaining a system of state parks, parkways, recreation facilities and historic sites under the custody and control of the office of parks, recreation and historic preservation, including costs and expenses incidental and appurtenant thereto.
3. The New York state passport to the parks fund shall consist of all revenues received pursuant to the provisions of section 3.27 of the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, and all other monies appropriated, credited, or transferred thereto from any other fund or source pursuant to law.
§ 3. This act shall take effect December 31, 2020 and shall expire and be deemed repealed 5 years after such date. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment, and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
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 and the state finance law, in relation to establishing the New York state passport to the parks pilot program; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
Purpose
Creation of the NYS Passport to Parks program
Summary of provisions
Section 1. 1. Creation of the passport to the parks program including stamp booklets and descriptions of each park. 2. Requires parks passport materials to be available at each park in the state 3. Allows for booklets to be made available for sale and requires proceeds to be used for park maintenance 4. Allows the commissioner to make any rules necessary to implement the program Section 2. Creation of a state finance fund Section 3. Effective Date
Justification
Long Island is home to over 20 state parks alone. New York State as a whole has over 100 state parks, yet few are known to the average New Yorker.
Several other states such as North Carolina, Maine, Florida, Minnesota, Nevada, and the National Parks service, all have passport programs to promote their parks. Such a passport program inspires and challenges individuals to visit lesser known parks and travel across the great state of New York to see all the state has to offer. Furthermore, the passport program will allow individuals to commemorate each visit to New York state parks as well as show off their many visits to their friends, families and colleagues.
The proceeds of the passport program will go to the maintenance and development of state parks. New York's natural beauty has been eclipsed by more well-known national parks. This pilot program will provide an opportunity to highlight the great natural beauty and uniqueness of the over 100 state parks in New York.
Prior legislative history
None.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
The act shall take effect Dec 31, 2020 and shall expire in 5 years.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.