The New York State Senate

                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  1027

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                             January 8, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER, ROBINSON, LUPARDO, ENGLEBRIGHT, ROBERTS,
  RIVERA,  OTIS, JAFFEE, COLTON, CROUCH, SALADINO, GIGLIO -- Multi-Spon-
  sored by -- M. of A.   BARCLAY, FINCH, GLICK,  HAWLEY,  KEARNS,  McDO-
  NOUGH,  ORTIZ,  TITONE  --  read once and referred to the Committee on
  Environmental Conservation

AN ACT to authorize and direct the commissioners of health and  environ-
  mental  conservation  to  study  and  develop  a long-term strategy to
  encourage and promote outdoor environmental education and recreational
  opportunities in New York state

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1.  Legislative  findings. The legislature recognizes that in
the last two decades, childhood has moved indoors. The average  American
boy  or  girl spends just four to seven minutes each day in unstructured
outdoor play, and more than seven hours each day in front  of  an  elec-
tronic screen. The decline in the appreciation and prevalence of outdoor
recreation  opportunities profoundly impacts the wellness of our state's
youth. The correlation between increasing childhood  obesity  rates  and
the decline in outdoor recreation is undeniable.
  Additionally,  the  legislature  recognizes  that  visual and physical
access to basic types of open space is vital for everyone,  and  partic-
ularly  valuable  to children growing up in "urban hardscapes", or areas
where access to nature is limited.
  The legislature further finds that the development  of  policies  that
foster  stewardship  of  the  environment  and recognition of the health
benefits of time spent in nature are essential to the residents  of  New
York  state.    The  legislature  concludes that this can best be accom-
plished by the creation of a study on  outdoor  environmental  education
and recreation.
  S  2.  The  commissioners of health and environmental conservation are
hereby authorized and directed to study and develop a long-term strategy

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD00989-01-5

A. 1027                             2

for integrating an aggressive outdoor environmental education and recre-
ation plan for children that focuses on creating, developing and retain-
ing opportunities for outdoor play and learning in New York state.  Such
strategy  shall  be  based  on  an analysis of the overall health of our
youth including the rise in childhood obesity rates, economic trends and
their impact on access to outdoor spaces as well as  all  other  factors
necessary  to  develop a state-level blueprint for outdoor education and
recreating. Such strategy shall be developed in consultation with health
and environmental conservation advisory bodies created or authorized  by
statute  and  such  other  organizations or persons as the commissioners
shall deem appropriate. Within one year of the effective  date  of  this
act,  the  commissioners  shall  submit  a  report of their findings and
recommendations, including proposed legislation, if any, to the governor
and the legislature.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.