S 4528: Provides that veterans who are NY residents may use state parks, recreation facilities and historic sites without fees.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 4528 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE February 6, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. SCARCELLA-SPANTON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Home- land Security and Military Affairs AN ACT to amend the veterans' services law, in relation to free use of state parks, recreation facilities and historic sites by veterans The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The veterans' services law is amended by adding a new 2 section 29-c to read as follows: 3 § 29-c. Free use of state parks, recreation facilities and historic 4 sites by veterans. 1. Veterans, who are residents of this state, shall 5 be entitled to the use of any park, recreation facility and historic 6 site under the jurisdiction of the office of parks, recreation and 7 historic preservation or the department of environmental conservation 8 upon the same terms as the public, but without the payment of any fee or 9 other charges for use, including but not limited to parking fees, camp- 10 ing fees and entrance fees. 11 2. The office of parks, recreation and historic preservation and the 12 department of environmental conservation shall, in consultation with the 13 department, develop a program to promote and provide information 14 pertaining to the benefits provided under this section, which at a mini- 15 mum shall include providing information on the websites of the depart- 16 ment, the office of parks, recreation and historic preservation and the 17 department of environmental conservation as to how veterans, who are 18 residents of this state, may access and use the parks, recreation facil- 19 ities and historic sites described in subdivision one of this section 20 free of charge. 21 3. The office of parks, recreation and historic preservation and the 22 department of environmental conservation shall, in consultation with the 23 department, promulgate rules and regulations to administer the benefits 24 provided for under this section. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD08331-01-5 
 S. 4528 2 1 4. For purposes of this section the term "veteran" shall have the same 2 meaning as such term is defined in section one of this article and shall 3 also include any veteran who has a qualifying condition as defined in 4 section one of this article and has received a discharge other than bad 5 conduct or dishonorable or is a discharged LGBT veteran as defined in 6 section one of this article, and has received a discharge other than bad 7 conduct or dishonorable. 8 § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding 9 the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the 10 addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary 11 for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized 12 to be made and completed on or before such effective date.