S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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11036--A
I N A S S E M B L Y
April 23, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GIBBS, DURSO -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development -- committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to said committee
AN ACT to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, in
relation to granting certain first responders free use of state parks
and campsites
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
the "heroes park pass act".
§ 2. Subdivision 1 of section 13.19 of the parks, recreation and
historic preservation law, as amended by chapter 616 of the laws of
2023, is amended to read as follows:
1. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, any person who is:
blind, non-ambulatory, or an amputee [or any]; A veteran or member of a
Gold Star family; OR A RESIDENT OF NEW YORK STATE WHO IS A RETIRED FIRST
RESPONDER THAT SERVED A COUNTY, TOWN, CITY, VILLAGE OR THE STATE, shall
be permitted to use any of the public campsites, parks and other public
places of recreation in this state, upon the same terms and conditions
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.
§ 3. Subdivision 2 of section 13.19 of the parks, recreation and
historic preservation law is amended by chapter 103 of the laws of 2024,
is amended to read as follows
2. For the purposes of this section (a) "veteran" shall mean a resi-
dent of this state who is: (i) a veteran as such term is defined in
section one of the veterans' services law; or (ii) a person who has
served on active duty for the state as a member of the state organized
militia as defined in subdivision nine of section one of the military
law and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other
than dishonorable; or (iii) a person who has served on active duty in
the uniformed services of the United States or on active duty for the
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13661-03-6
A. 11036--A 2
state as a member of the organized militia and has a qualifying condi-
tion, as defined in section one of the veterans' services law, and has
received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such
service, or is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of
the veterans' services law, and has received a discharge other than bad
conduct or dishonorable from such service; [and]
(b) "member of a Gold Star family" shall mean a resident of this state
who is a gold star parent as defined in section twenty-six of the veter-
ans' services law, the spouse or domestic partner, or the biological,
step, or legally adopted minor child of a veteran whose death qualified
the parent for an annuity[.]; AND
(C) "FIRST RESPONDER" SHALL MEAN A FIREFIGHTER, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFI-
CER, PARAMEDIC, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN, EMERGENCY SERVICES
DISPATCHER, OR OTHER INDIVIDUAL, WHETHER COMPENSATED OR NOT WHO, IN THE
COURSE OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL OR VOLUNTEER DUTIES, RESPONDS TO FIRE,
MEDICAL, HAZARDOUS MATERIAL, OR OTHER SIMILAR EMERGENCIES.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.