S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
7539
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
May 25, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT creating a legislative task force on outdoor environmental educa-
tion and recreation that will benefit residents of New York state by
stewardship and conservation of the environment, an appreciation of
the importance of the wise use of natural resources as well as
acknowledgment of the health benefits of time spent in nature
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative findings. (a) The legislature hereby finds that
in the last two decades, childhood has moved indoors. The average Ameri-
can boy or girl spends just four to seven minutes each day in unstruc-
tured outdoor play, and more than seven hours each day in front of an
electronic 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.
(b) The legislature further finds that visual and physical access to
basic types of open space is vital for everyone, and particularly valu-
able to children growing up in "urban hardscapes", or areas where access
to nature is limited.
(c) The legislature further finds that the development of policies
that foster stewardship of the environment, the importance of the wise
use of natural resources 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 accomplished by the creation
of a task force on outdoor environmental education and recreation.
§ 2. Objectives. A legislative task force on outdoor environmental
education and recreation is hereby established to:
(a) Promote the development of a framework that will ensure that New
York state has an aggressive outdoor environmental education and recre-
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04135-01-3
A. 7539 2
ation plan for children that focuses on creating, developing and retain-
ing opportunities for outdoor play and learning;
(b) Identify and support programs which offer safe access to open
spaces and summer camp to children from urban areas;
(c) Promote the development of policy recommendations to ensure that
New York's public and private sectors focus on creating opportunities
for underserved and at-risk children to participate in outdoor play and
educational experiences;
(d) Promote the development of strategies to ensure that K-12 educa-
tional institutions develop policies and programs that promote environ-
mental education to encourage outdoor play thereby improving public
health and take advantage of the physical, mental and spiritual benefits
of moving outdoors in nature;
(e) Promote the development of strategies to assist community based,
nonprofit organizations in furthering programs that provide for summer
camp and out of school time opportunities for outdoor recreation or
education;
(f) Evaluate laws, rules, and procedures to ensure that they facili-
tate, or at least do not hinder, the growth of outdoor play or environ-
mental education.
§ 3. a. Composition. The task force shall consist of twelve members.
The task force members will have experience and expertise in outdoor
recreation and environmental education. The task force shall consist of:
the commissioner of education or his or her designee, the commissioner
of health or his or her designee, the commissioner of environmental
conservation or his or her designee, the commissioner of the office of
parks, recreation and historic preservation or his or her designee. One
member shall be a representative from a nonprofit health and wellness
organization. One member shall be a representative from a nonprofit
environmental conservation organization. Two members shall be appointed
by the governor; one member to be appointed by the temporary president
of the senate; one member to be appointed by the minority leader of the
senate; one member to be appointed by the speaker of the assembly; and
one member to be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly. The
task force shall be appointed for a term of two years.
b. The commissioner of the office of parks, recreation and historic
preservation or his or her designee shall serve as chair of the task
force.
c. The members of the task force shall receive no compensation for
their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
incurred in the performance of their duties pursuant to this act.
§ 4. Report. The task force shall report its findings, conclusions and
recommendations to the governor, majority leader of the senate and the
speaker of the assembly by January 1, 2026. The task force may develop
and publish other documents throughout the year as it deems necessary
and/or appropriate.
§ 5. This act shall take effect immediately.