S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4697
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
February 11, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. CLEARE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism,
Parks and Recreation
AN ACT to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, in
relation to creating the "Checkout NY" pass, a comprehensive pass that
allows for free or discounted use of state parks, historic sites and
recreational facilities, and provides one such pass to each consol-
idated, federated and cooperative public library system within the
state free of charge for circulation
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The parks, recreation and historic preservation law is
amended by adding a new section 13.32 to read as follows:
§ 13.32 CHECKOUT NY PASS. 1. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF
LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE OFFICE AND ALL OTHER STATE AGENCIES HAVING
JURISDICTION OF A STATE PARK OR RECREATIONAL FACILITY SHALL ESTABLISH A
CHECKOUT NY PASS WHICH SHALL RUN FROM APRIL FIRST OF EACH YEAR TO MARCH
THIRTY-FIRST OF THE FOLLOWING YEAR, ENTITLING THE HOLDER THEREOF TO
ADMISSION WITHOUT ADDITIONAL FEE TO ANY STATE PARK, HISTORICAL SITE OR
RECREATIONAL FACILITY OPERATED BY THE OFFICE OR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVI-
RONMENTAL CONSERVATION OR PROVIDES FOR DISCOUNTS OFFERED IN COMPARISON
TO OTHER ADMISSION PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THE OFFICE. THE ANNUAL FEE FOR
SUCH PASS SHALL BE CONSISTENT WITH THE FEE SCHEDULE FOR EACH PARTICULAR
YEAR ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION 13.15 OF THIS ARTICLE AND SHALL BE
APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUDGET.
2. THE OFFICE SHALL PROVIDE ONE SUCH PASS TO EACH LIBRARY WHICH IS
PART OF A CONSOLIDATED, FEDERATED AND COOPERATIVE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM
WITHIN THE STATE FREE OF CHARGE FOR CIRCULATION THROUGH A DISTRIBUTION
PROCESS MANAGED BY THE NEW YORK STATE LIBRARY SYSTEM. THE OFFICE SHALL
PROVIDE FOR A CONSOLIDATED, FEDERATED, AND COOPERATIVE LIBRARY SYSTEM,
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09164-01-5
S. 4697 2
OR THE NEW YORK STATE LIBRARY SYSTEM TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL PASSES FOR
CIRCULATION.
3. THE OFFICE OR OTHER STATE AGENCY HAVING JURISDICTION OVER A STATE
PARK, HISTORICAL SITE OR RECREATIONAL FACILITY SHALL PROMULGATE SUCH
RULES AND REGULATIONS AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE PROVISIONS OF
THIS SECTION.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.