Grants certain first responders free use of state parks and campsites

Healthcare

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: Eddie Gibbs
Last action: 2026-04-23
Official status: In Assembly Committee
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify if active duty or current employees are eligible.

Heroes Park Pass Act

This act grants free access to state parks and campsites for certain retired first responders who are residents of New York State.

What This Bill Does

Enacts the Heroes Park Pass Act, which allows specific retired first responders to use state parks and campsites without paying fees.

Who It Names or Affects

Retired law enforcement officers who are residents of New York State.
Retired firefighters who served a fire company or department in the state and are residents of New York State.
Volunteer ambulance service members who have retired from their roles in New York and are residents of New York.

Terms To Know

First Responders: People like police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel who are first to respond during emergencies or crises.
Heroes Park Pass Act: The name given to the law that grants free access to state parks and campsites for certain retired first responders in New York State.

Limits and Unknowns

Only applies to residents of New York State who meet the criteria.
Does not specify if active duty or current employees are eligible.

Bill History

2026-04-23 Assembly
REFERRED TO TOURISM, PARKS, ARTS AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT

Official Summary Text

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

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          11036

                                  I N  A S S E M B L Y

                                     April 23, 2026
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  M.  of  A. GIBBS, DURSO -- 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 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;  A  RESIDENT  OF NEW YORK STATE WHO IS A RETIRED LAW
     9  ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PERSONS  WHO  WERE  A
    10  POLICE  OFFICER  EMPLOYED BY A COUNTY, CITY, VILLAGE, OR THE STATE, OR A
    11  CORRECTION OFFICER EMPLOYED BY A COUNTY, CITY, OR THE STATE; A  RESIDENT
    12  OF  NEW  YORK  STATE WHO IS A RETIRED PAID OR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER OF A
    13  FIRE COMPANY OR FIRE DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE STATE; OR A RESIDENT  OF  NEW
    14  YORK  STATE AND HAS RETIRED FROM BEING AN ENROLLED MEMBER OF A VOLUNTEER
    15  AMBULANCE SERVICE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE THIRTY OF THE PUBLIC  HEALTH  LAW,
    16  shall  be  permitted to use any of the public campsites, parks and other
    17  public places of recreation in this  state,  upon  the  same  terms  and
    18  conditions  as  apply  to the general public, but without the payment of
    19  any fees or other charges for the use of such campsites, parks and other
    20  public places of recreation.
    21    § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.



         EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD13661-02-6