Assembly Bill A9794

2017-2018 Legislative Session

Establishes an outdoor Rx program

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Assembly Committee


  • Introduced
    • In Committee Assembly
    • In Committee Senate
    • On Floor Calendar Assembly
    • On Floor Calendar Senate
    • Passed Assembly
    • Passed Senate
  • Delivered to Governor
  • Signed By Governor

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2017-A9794 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:
Assembly Tourism, Parks, Arts And Sports Development
Law Section:
Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law
Laws Affected:
Add Art 18 §§18.01 - 18.11, Pks & Rec L; add §99-bb, St Fin L
Versions Introduced in 2019-2020 Legislative Session:
A6024

2017-A9794 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes an outdoor Rx program to benefit residents of the state, particularly veterans and individuals recovering from substance abuse or a physical or mental trauma by establishing outdoor environmental, ecological, agricultural, or other natural resource based therapy programs.

2017-A9794 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9794
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 9, 2018
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. BARRETT -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development
 
 AN ACT to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law,  in
   relation  to  establishing  an outdoor Rx program for outdoor environ-
   mental, ecological, agricultural,  or  other  natural  resource  based
   therapy  programs;  and to amend the state finance law, in relation to
   establishing the outdoor Rx program fund
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "outdoor Rx
 act".
   §  2. Legislative intent. Studies have shown that time outdoors can be
 a valuable adjunct therapy in addition to more traditional health  care,
 while also reducing reliance on prescription medication. The therapeutic
 benefits  of  time  spent  outdoors is clinically proven and is known to
 help reduce stress, improve concentration, and promote overall  well-be-
 ing,  both  physical  and  mental.  Outdoor-based  therapeutic programs,
 including adventure therapy, wilderness therapy, horticultural  therapy,
 walk-and-talk therapy, and other nature-oriented programs, are currently
 being used by mental health professionals and are shown to have benefits
 including reduction of stress, restoration of attention, and an improved
 sense  of  well-being.  Such outdoor programs aim to connect people with
 nature thereby proving to  be  particularly  beneficial  to  individuals
 undergoing a recovery process. Recognizing the healing benefits of outd-
 oor-based  therapeutic  programs to residents of the state, particularly
 veterans and individuals recovering from substance abuse or  a  physical
 or  mental  trauma,  the  legislature  supports  the establishment of an
 outdoor Rx program.
   § 3. The parks, recreation and historic preservation law is amended by
 adding a new article 18 to read as follows:
                                ARTICLE 18
                            OUTDOOR RX PROGRAM
 SECTION 18.01 OUTDOOR RX PROGRAM.
         18.03 OUTDOOR RX PROGRAM FUND.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
              

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