Senate Bill S7186

                                BILL NUMBER:S7186

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
in relation
to directing the Commissioner of the Office of Parks, Recreation and
Historic Preservation to provide Empire Passports to the families of
reservists and members of the National Guard, whose qualified service
commenced on or after September eleventh, two thousand one

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To honor reservists and members of
the National Guard who have fought, and continue to fight, against
terrorism, by providing them with an Empire Passport to enjoy the
State's parks, beaches, and other natural resources free of charge.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 is new legislation.

Section 2 contains the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:
The Empire Passport Program allowed reservists and their families to
apply for one free Empire Passport allowing free admission to all
state parks and beaches. On March 25, 2011, a change was enacted to
the program on the qualification. Now, the benefit is only available
              

during the time in which a service member is deployed to active duty.
A copy of the orders calling the soldier to active duty is required
for submission of the application.
The Passport can then be used by the soldier once he returns home or
by his or her immediate family.

Executive Order 125, issued May 22, 1989, which was expanded by
Governor Pataki on March 24, 2003, directing State Officials to
ensure that the Appropriate Protections and Benefits are extended to
Members of the Reserve Armed Forces of the United States and the
Organized Militia of New York State, was continued under Executive
Order 2 of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo.

According to the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic
Preservation, the reasoning behind the requirement change was to
update the policy to more accurately reflect the Executive Order
governing the program.

This interpretation more closely reflects our states' economic
condition, than the original intent of the order: to provide Empire
Passports to the
families of reservists and members of the National Guard to allow the
families of our military personnel to enjoy the State's parks,
beaches and other natural resources free of charge, because these
brave men and women have been, and will continue to be, called to
active duty to fight the ongoing war on terrorism and the armed
conflict with Iraq.

This legislation would restore the previous qualification standard of
eligibility for the Empire Passport Program, in reflection of the


Executive Order created to extend the Patriot Plan Benefits to those
of service to our nation after 9/11.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
Undetermined.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.