New York A 11036: Grants certain first responders free use of state parks and campsites

Bill Text

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A11036 Summary:

BILL NOA11036A

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS S10496

&nbsp

SPONSORGibbs

&nbsp

COSPNSRDurso

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Amd §13.19, Pks & Rec L

&nbsp

Enacts the heroes park pass act to grant certain first responders free use of state parks and campsites.

Go to top A11036 Actions:

BILL NOA11036A

&nbsp

04/23/2026referred to tourism, parks, arts and sports development

05/15/2026amend and recommit to tourism, parks, arts and sports development

05/15/2026print number 11036a

05/20/2026reported referred to ways and means

Go to topA11036 Committee&nbspVotes:

Committee:TOURISM, ARTS AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT Chair:Kim 
DATE:05/20/2026AYE/NAY:20/0 Action: Favorable refer to committee Ways and Means KimAyeGrayAye

BarrettAyeTagueAye

WoernerAyeMorinelloAye

CarrollAyeAngelinoAye

BurkeAyeGallahanAye

FallAyeSimpsonAbsent

RiveraAye

ZinermanAye

GibbsAye

ShresthaAye

ShimskyAye

ValdezAye

LasherAye

CashmanAye

PowersAye

Go to topA11036 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topA11036 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 11036--A

 IN ASSEMBLY

 April 23, 2026
 ___________

 Introduced by M. of A. GIBBS, DURSO -- read once and referred to the
 Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development -- committee
 discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
 to said committee

 AN ACT to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, in
 relation to granting certain first responders free use of state parks
 and campsites

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 2 the "heroes park pass act".
 3 § 2. Subdivision 1 of section 13.19 of the parks, recreation and
 4 historic preservation law, as amended by chapter 616 of the laws of
 5 2023, is amended to read as follows:
 6 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, any person who is:
 7 blind, non-ambulatory, or an amputee [or any]; a veteran or member of a
 8 Gold Star family; or a resident of New York state who is a retired first
 9 responder that served a county, town, city, village or the state, shall
 10 be permitted to use any of the public campsites, parks and other public
 11 places of recreation in this state, upon the same terms and conditions
 12 as apply to the general public, but without the payment of any fees or
 13 other charges for the use of such campsites, parks and other public
 14 places of recreation.
 15 § 3. Subdivision 2 of section 13.19 of the parks, recreation and
 16 historic preservation law is amended by chapter 103 of the laws of 2024,
 17 is amended to read as follows
 18 2. For the purposes of this section (a) "veteran" shall mean a resi-
 19 dent of this state who is: (i) a veteran as such term is defined in
 20 section one of the veterans' services law; or (ii) a person who has
 21 served on active duty for the state as a member of the state organized
 22 militia as defined in subdivision nine of section one of the military
 23 law and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other
 24 than dishonorable; or (iii) a person who has served on active duty in
 25 the uniformed services of the United States or on active duty for the

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD13661-03-6

 A. 11036--A 2

 1 state as a member of the organized militia and has a qualifying condi-
 2 tion, as defined in section one of the veterans' services law, and has
 3 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such
 4 service, or is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of
 5 the veterans' services law, and has received a discharge other than bad
 6 conduct or dishonorable from such service; [and]
 7 (b) "member of a Gold Star family" shall mean a resident of this state
 8 who is a gold star parent as defined in section twenty-six of the veter-
 9 ans' services law, the spouse or domestic partner, or the biological,
 10 step, or legally adopted minor child of a veteran whose death qualified
 11 the parent for an annuity[.]; and
 12 (c) "first responder" shall mean a firefighter, law enfo