Directs the department of environmental conservation and the office of parks, recreation and historic preservation to establish a three year hiking trail safety pilot program.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A5173
SPONSOR: Tague TITLE OF BILL:
An act to direct the department of environmental conservation and the
office of parks, recreation and historic preservation to establish a
hiking trail safety pilot program; and providing for the repeal of such
provisions upon expiration thereof
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Establishes a three-year safety pilot program and directs NYSDEC and
NYSOPRHP to develop safety markers and increase warnings at hiking
trails throughout the State.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one of this legislation authorizes and directs NYSDEC and
NYSOPRHP to establish a hiking trail safety pilot program that will
increase.warnings about the potential hazards of hiking and trail use,
increase warnings at scenic overlooks that may present a risk of
personal injury, offer clearer guidance to hikers regarding proper prep-
aration for conditions in the wild, and develop safety signage in
support of such efforts.
Section two provides for an immediate effective date and expiration
after three years.
JUSTIFICATION:
As more people take advantage of New York's immense hiking opportu-
nities, it has tragically led to an increased number of severe injuries
and deaths on our State trails. It has become clear that more can be
done to ensure that those attempting these hikes have a better sense of
the relative difficulty of the climb and can determine for themselves if
they are prepared for such.
This trail safety pilot program would provide better trail markings and
warnings, like the color and shape rating system used for skiing that
indicates the difficulty of the run and the level of experience recom-
mended to safely get down the slope. A set of uniform safety standards,
with clear and posted markers at trail heads, would give hikers a clear-
er sense of the associated physical demands and risks involved with
their trek and will hopefully discourage inexperienced hikers from
attempting a climb that could lead to injury or loss of life.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024: A.3134 referred to Environmental Conservation
2023: A.3134 referred to Environmental Conservation
2022: A.4805 held for consideration in Environmental Conservation
2021: A.4805 referred to Environmental Conservation
2020: A.4698 referred to Environmental Conservation
2019: A.4698 referred to Environmental Conservation
2018: A.10805 referred to Environmental Conservation
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
NYSDEC and NYSOPRHP would be responsible for administering the program
using existing appropriations to cover the cost of developing trail
markers/signage and safety guidelines. In this regard, the scale of the
pilot's implementation will be left to the discretion of the leading
agencies.
It is the hope of the sponsor that the NYSDEC, State Police, and other
State and local emergency services, realize a reduced demand for
responding to future events and would therefore see a substantial cost-
savings.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire three years
after such date when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be
deemed repealed.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5173
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 12, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. TAGUE, SMULLEN -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to direct the department of environmental conservation and the
office of parks, recreation and historic preservation to establish a
hiking trail safety pilot program; and providing for the repeal of
such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The department of environmental conservation and the office
2 of parks, recreation and historic preservation are hereby authorized and
3 directed to establish a hiking trail safety pilot program. Such program
4 shall:
5 a. increase warnings about the potential hazards of hiking and trail
6 use (i) at trailheads throughout the pilot program area, and (ii) on any
7 new trail maps subject to such pilot program;
8 b. increase warnings at scenic overlooks throughout the pilot program
9 area that may present a risk of a fall;
10 c. develop better information for hikers regarding wildlife encounters
11 and proper preparation for hiking, including, but not limited to, proper
12 footwear and attire, how much water to bring, requisite navigation
13 skills and leave no trace principles;
14 d. develop safety markers and a notification system similar to those
15 used at ski resorts within the state; and
16 e. be implemented by June 1, 2026.
17 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire three
18 years after such date when upon such date the provisions of this act
19 shall be deemed repealed.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08612-01-5
