Senate Bill S6706A

Signed By Governor
2019-2020 Legislative Session

Establishes the outdoor Rx act

download bill text pdf

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status Via A8094 - Signed by Governor


  • 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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Bill Amendments

2019-S6706 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:
A8094
Law Section:
Veterans

2019-S6706 - Summary

Establishes the outdoor Rx act; requires the division of veterans' services to review issues relating to veterans' abilities to access state parks, lands and facilities; and provides for the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof.

2019-S6706 - Sponsor Memo

2019-S6706 - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6706
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                            September 11, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. BENJAMIN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
 
 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 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 profes-
 sionals  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 Adiron-
 dack and Catskill parks.  Recognizing the healing benefits  of  outdoor-
 based  therapeutic  programs  to  residents  of  the state, particularly
 veterans and individuals recovering from substance abuse or  a  physical
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD13082-02-9
              

co-Sponsors

2019-S6706A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:
A8094
Law Section:
Veterans

2019-S6706A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes the outdoor Rx act; requires the division of veterans' services to review issues relating to veterans' abilities to access state parks, lands and facilities; and provides for the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof.

2019-S6706A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2019-S6706A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  6706--A
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                            September 11, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. BENJAMIN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules  --  recommitted  to
   the  Committee  on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs in
   accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 --  committee  discharged,  bill
   amended,  ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
   tee
 
 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

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

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