BILL NUMBER:S4095

TITLE OF BILL:

An  act to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, in
relation to free use of campsites,  park  and  other  public  places  of
recreation  by  veterans  who hold a federal Golden Access Passport or a
federal Access Pass

PURPOSE:

To provide that veterans who hold either a federal Golden  Access  Pass-
port  or a federal Access Pass shall be granted use of public campsites,
parks and other public places of recreation free of charge.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

This bill would amend section 13.19 of the parks, recreation and histor-
ic preservation law, to provide that any veteran  who  holds  a  federal
Golden  Access  Passport  or  federal Access Pass issued upon a determi-
nation of permanent disability, will enjoy free use of campsites,  parks
and  other  public  places of recreation, upon the same terms and condi-
tions that apply to the general public, but without the payment  of  any
fees or other charges for such use.

JUSTIFICATION:
              

Presently, the federal government has established an Access Pass program
for disabled individuals.

This  Access Pass program provides a free, lifetime pass, to U.S.  citi-
zens or permanent  residents  of  the  United  States,  that  have  been
medically  determined  to  have  a  permanent  disability, that severely
limits one or more major life activities (such as  caring  for  oneself,
performing  manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing,
learning, or working). Such pass provides  access  to  recreation  areas
managed  by five Federal agencies (The National Park Service, the Bureau
of Land Management, the Bureau  of  Reclamation,  the  Fish  &  Wildlife
Service, or the USDA Forest Service).

In  2007,  the  Access  Pass program replaced a similar program to allow
free access to these recreation areas, known as the Golden Access  Pass-
port  Program.  Although no longer available (as they have been replaced
by Access Passes) Golden Access Passports are valid for a  lifetime  and
are  still  honored in these national recreation areas.  This bill would
allow veteran holders of these federal Golden Access  Passports  or  the
Access Pass to also be able to access state recreational facilities free
of charge.

Currently,  pursuant  to  section  13.19  of  the  parks, recreation and
historic preservation law, any person who is:

* blind;

* non-ambulatory;

* an amputee; or

*  a  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;

is  permitted to use any of the public campsites, parks and other public
places of recreation in New York State, upon the same terms  and  condi-
tions  as  apply  to  the general public, but without the payment of any
fees or other charges for the use of such  campsites,  parks  and  other
public places of recreation.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2014 S.7617-A Passed Senate

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Minimal but determined on the usage of this benefit.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act would take effect immediately.