Directs the commissioner of parks, recreation and historic preservation to establish the state parks passport program allowing visitors to state parks and historic sites to log their visits to such sites in a passport book or electronic application.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7280
SPONSOR: Kim TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, in
relation to establishing the state parks passport program
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would create a state parks passport program, through which
visitors to New York's state parks could log their visits. By encourag-
ing visitors to acquire passport stamps at every New York State Park,
this program would spur increased visitation to state parks throughout
New York State and help ease high use at our State's anchor parks.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill establishes the state parks passport program. The
passport wilt take the form or a printed book or an electronic app, and
details the funding source for the creation of the book or the app. It
also authorizes the Parks Commissioner to highlight subsets of the state
parks each year, centered around a theme. It also authorizes the Parks
Commissioner to create regulations for the passport program.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
JUSTIFICATION:
With over one hundred state parks offering a vast array of recreational
activities and scenic beauty, New York's state parks offer visitors
access to some of the most impressive and enjoyable natural areas in the
nation. A state park passport program would bring more visitors to New
York State parks by encouraging park attendees to venture around the
state to earn passport stamps. A passport program can help drive inter-
est in state parks across the state, inviting our 78 million annual park
patrons to new experiences and corners of New York.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: S.261 - Passed Senate. Died in Assembly.
2021-22: S.5031 - Veto Memo. 72
2020: S.1567: Referred to Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recre-
ation
2019: S.1567 - Referred to Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recre-
ation, Referred to Finance
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
Minimal.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7280
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 21, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. KIM -- read once and referred to the Committee on
Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development
AN ACT to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, in
relation to establishing the state parks passport program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The parks, recreation and historic preservation law is
2 amended by adding a new section 3.27 to read as follows:
3 § 3.27 State parks passport program. 1. Notwithstanding any other
4 provision of law, the commissioner shall establish a state parks pass-
5 port program.
6 2. The state parks passport program shall use a printed passport book
7 or electronic application to allow visitors to state parks and historic
8 sites to log their visits to such sites with ink stamps or electronic
9 stamps, and ink stamps or electronic stamps that identify each state
10 park or historic site by name. The costs associated with the development
11 of the state parks passport program shall be derived from the patron
12 services account of the miscellaneous special revenue fund. The commis-
13 sioner may charge purchasers of the printed passport book or electronic
14 application for the costs associated for printing or developing those
15 materials.
16 3. The commissioner may designate a subset of such sites each year to
17 highlight various regions of the state or various state park regions.
18 The commissioner may provide for the conducting of special events that
19 emphasize outdoor recreation or fitness for certain subsets of park
20 attendees including, but not limited to, children and senior citizens.
21 4. The commissioner may promulgate such regulations as may be neces-
22 sary for the operation of the state parks passport program.
23 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00470-01-5
