BILL NUMBER: S4378
SPONSOR: WALCZYK
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, in
relation to annual vehicular access for active duty service members
 
PURPOSE:
This bill would ensure that all active duty service members and their
immediate family have vehicular access to any state park or recreational
facility upon presentation of their military identification card.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Amends the parks, recreation and historic preservation law by
adding a new section 13.22 that provides that any active duty service
member and his or her immediate family must have an annual vehicular
access pass to any state or recreational park, upon the presentation of
such service member's military identification card.
Section 1 part (A) defines an "active duty service member" as any resi-
dent of the state who is an active member of the organized militia of
the New York.
Section 2. of the bill lists the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The current law states that any member of the NYS Militia or any branch
of the NYS National guard or military reserves, who is currently serving
on active duty, is eligible for one free Empire Passport for use by his
or her immediate family during deployment and for his or her own use
when returning home.
Each active member must fill out an "Empire Passport" application annu-
ally. Once the application has been approved, the service member or
immediate family will receive a free Empire Passport in the mail. This
process can be cumbersome because some military members are only on
leave for a short time and will be back on duty when the Empire Passport
arrives.
This legislation would streamline the process by allowing any active
duty service members and their immediate family to utilize state and
recreational parks in New York by providing their military ID upon
entry.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-2022: S.1919 Referred to Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and
Registration
2020 - S.337: Referred to Veterans, Homeland Security and Military
Affairs
2019 - S.337: Referred to Veterans, Homeland Security and Military
Affairs
2018 - S.3571: Passed Senate
2017 - S.3571: Passed Senate
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it
shall have become a law.