NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A4853
SPONSOR: Ramos TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, in
relation to prohibiting the mandated use of credit cards as a means of
payment to use certain facilities at a state park, recreational facility
or historic site
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that all residents have
access to our state parks, recreational facilities or historic sites.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends Paragraph (a) of Subdivision 5 of Section 13.15 of
the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, which authorizes
the office to accept credit cards, by prohibiting the mandated use of
credit cards as means of payment.
Section 2: Provides for an immediate effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
recently announced a new policy eliminating the acceptance of cash at
certain State Park operated golf courses. Many senior-citizens, lower-
income individuals, minors and others exclusively utilize cash. Not all
individuals have access to a credit card or debit card. Adopting a cash-
less policy will make the golf courses at State Parks inaccessible for
large segments of our population.
This measure will ensure that all residents, regardless of their ability
or desire to utilize a 'credit card, Will continue to have full access
to all parks, recreational 'facilities and historic sites operated by
the office.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A.10039A of 2022 amend and recommit to tourism, parks and sports devel-
opment
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
No cost to the state.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4853
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 23, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. RAMOS -- 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 prohibiting the mandated use of credit cards as a means of
payment to use certain facilities at a state park, recreational facil-
ity or historic site
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 5 of section 13.15 of the
2 parks, recreation and historic preservation law, as added by chapter 296
3 of the laws of 1991, is amended to read as follows:
4 (a) The office or other state agency having jurisdiction of any state
5 park, parkway, recreational facility or historic site may enter into
6 agreements with one or more financing agencies to provide for the
7 acceptance by such office or other state agency of credit cards as a
8 means of payment of fees for the use of its facilities or for the
9 furnishing of special services with respect thereto. Any such agreement
10 shall govern the terms and conditions upon which a credit card proferred
11 as a means of payment of such fees shall be accepted or declined and the
12 manner in and conditions upon which the financing agency shall pay to
13 the office or other state agency the amount of such fees paid by means
14 of a credit card pursuant to such agreement. Any such agreement may
15 provide for the deduction by such financing agency of any fees for the
16 services provided by such financing agency from fees collected by it.
17 The office or other state agency having jurisdiction of any state park,
18 recreational facility or historic site must accept cash payment from
19 patrons, and is prohibited from requiring that any patron utilize a
20 credit card as a means of payment of fees for the use of its facilities
21 or for the furnishing of special services at any state park, recreation-
22 al facility or historic site.
23 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08296-01-3
