Directs the Commissioner of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to provide Empire Passports to the families of reservists and members of the National Guard, whose qualified service commenced on or after September eleventh, two thousand one.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A4508
SPONSOR: Miller TITLE OF BILL:
An act in relation to directing the Commissioner of the Office of Parks,
Recreation and Historic Preservation to provide Empire Passports to the
families of reservists and members of the National Guard, whose quali-
fied service commenced on or after September eleventh, two thousand one
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To honor reservists and members of the National Guard who have fought,
and continue to fight, against terrorism, by providing them with an
Empire Passport to enjoy the State's parks, beaches, and other natural
resources free of charge.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 is new legislation. Section 2 contains the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
The Empire Passport Program allowed reservists and their families to
apply for one free Empire Passport allowing free admission to all state
parks and beaches. On March 25, 2011, a change was enacted to the
program on the qualification. Now, the benefit is only available during
the time in which a service member is deployed to active duty. A copy
of the orders calling the soldier to active duty is required for
submission of the application. The Passport can then be used by the
soldier once he returns home or by his or her immediate family.
Executive Order 125, issued May 22, 1989, which was expanded by Governor
Pataki on March 24, 2003, directing State Officials to ensure that the
Appropriate Protections and Benefits are extended to Members of the
Reserve Armed Forces of the United States and the Organized Militia of
New York State, was continued under Executive Order 2 of Governor Andrew
M. Cuomo.
According to the. Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation,
the reasoning behind the requirement change was to update the policy to
more accurately reflect the Executive Order governing the program.
This interpretation more closely reflects our states' economic condi-
tion, than the original intent, of the order: to provide Empire Pass-
ports to the families of reservists and members of the National Guard to
allow the families of our military personnel to enjoy the State's parks,
beaches and other natural resources free of charge, because these brave
men and women have been, and will continue to be, called to active duty
to fight the ongoing war on terrorism and the armed conflict with Iraq.
This legislation would restore the previous qualification standard of
eligibility for the Empire Passport Program, in reflection of the Execu-
tive Order created to extend the Patriot Plan Benefits to those of
service to our nation after 9/11.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2020 referred to tourism, parks, arts and sports development 2020 held
for consideration in tourism, parks, arts and sports development
2021 referred to tourism, parks, arts and sports development
2022: A4815; referred to tourism, parks, arts and sports development
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
Undetermined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4508
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 16, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. MILLER -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development
AN ACT in relation to directing the Commissioner of the Office of Parks,
Recreation and Historic Preservation to provide Empire Passports to
the families of reservists and members of the National Guard, whose
qualified service commenced on or after September eleventh, two thou-
sand one
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The Commissioner of the Office of Parks, Recreation and
2 Historic Preservation shall promulgate rules and regulations to provide
3 Empire Passports to the families of reservists and members of the
4 National Guard, whose qualified service commenced on or after September
5 eleventh, two thousand one, to allow the families of our military
6 personnel to enjoy the State's parks, beaches and other natural
7 resources free of charge.
8 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05858-01-3
