The New York State Senate

 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  8094--A
                                                         Cal. No. 311
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               May 31, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M. of A. BARRETT, WALLACE, D'URSO, BLAKE, CUSICK, ASHBY,
   SANTABARBARA, GRIFFIN -- read once and referred to  the  Committee  on
   Veterans'  Affairs  -- ordered to a third reading, amended and ordered
   reprinted, retaining its place on the order of third reading

 AN ACT requiring the division of veterans'  services  to  review  issues
   relating  to  veterans'  abilities  to  access  state parks, lands and
   facilities; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expi-
   ration thereof
 
   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 findings and intent. The legislature hereby finds and
 declares  that  protecting the physical, mental and behavioral health of
 veterans is critical to ensure successful re-entry into  civilian  life.
 Studies  have shown that time outdoors can be a valuable adjunct therapy
 in addition to more traditional health care, while also  reducing  reli-
 ance  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-being, both physical and
 mental.  Outdoor-based  therapeutic programs hold particular promise for
 people suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress  Disorder,  Military  Sexual
 Trauma,  Traumatic  Brain  Injury,  and Substance Use Disorders. Outdoor
 programs including adventure therapy, wilderness therapy,  horticultural
 therapy,  walk-and-talk  therapy,  and  other nature-based 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. New York state is home  to  natural
 beauty from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, and has a significant
 amount  of  open  space,  including  the  Adirondack and Catskill parks.
 Recognizing the healing benefits of outdoor-based  therapeutic  programs
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD13082-05-9

 A. 8094--A                          2
 
 to  residents of the state, particularly veterans and individuals recov-
 ering from substance abuse or a physical or mental trauma, the  legisla-
 ture supports the establishment of an outdoor Rx act.
   §  3.  1. The director of the division of veterans' services shall, in
 consultation with the office of parks, recreation and historic preserva-
 tion, the department of environmental conservation,  the  department  of
 health, and the office of mental health, review:
   a.  barriers  that  exist to provide veterans with increased access to
 state lands and opportunities for  medical  treatment  and  nature-based
 therapy  and programming, including barriers to transportation, handicap
 accessibility, cultural barriers, mental health stigmas,  public  aware-
 ness of state outdoor resources, lack of experience in the outdoors, and
 funding for public and private programs;
   b.  current  state  policies  regarding  free and discounted access to
 state parks, lands, and recreational facilities  by  veterans,  service-
 connected disabled veterans, gold star families, and other military-con-
 nected individuals;
   c.  opportunities  to  formalize  coordination between the division of
 veterans' services, other  state  agencies,  and  partner  organizations
 regarding  the use of public lands or other outdoor spaces to facilitate
 access, medical treatment and nature-based therapy for veterans;
   d. state lands, based on veterans'  demographics  including,  but  not
 limited  to,  service-connected disabled veterans, that should be prior-
 itized for access;
   e. recommendations, following consultation with appropriate  veterans'
 outdoor  recreation groups, to reduce barriers and better facilitate the
 use of state owned and managed  lands  for  access,  preventative  care,
 medical treatment, and nature-based therapy; and
   f.  estimated costs of implementing such recommendations and expanding
 access/benefits, as well as potential funding sources,  including  state
 funding and public-private partnership opportunities.
   2.  Following  such review, which shall be completed no later than six
 months from the effective date of this act, the  division  of  veterans'
 services  shall submit findings to the governor, the temporary president
 of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the minority leader  of  the
 senate,  the  minority leader of the assembly, the chair of the assembly
 committee on veterans' affairs, and the chair of the senate committee on
 veterans, homeland security, and military affairs.    Information  shall
 also be posted in a timely manner on the division of veterans' services'
 website  and  a  link  to  such  document shall also be available on the
 websites of the office of parks, recreation  and  historic  preservation
 and the department of environmental conservation.
   §  4.  This  act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
 deemed repealed December 31, 2022.