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Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation: Jan 19, 2012, Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation: Feb 1, 2011

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Active List: Jan 30, 2012 , Active List: Feb 28, 2011 , Floor Calendar: Jan 23, 2012 , Floor Calendar: Jan 24, 2012 , Floor Calendar: Jan 30, 2012 , Floor Calendar: Feb 7, 2011 , Floor Calendar: Feb 8, 2011 , Floor Calendar: Feb 14, 2011 , Floor Calendar: Feb 15, 2011 , Floor Calendar: Feb 28, 2011

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Memo

BILL NUMBER:S554

TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, in relation to authorizing persons under the age of fourteen to participate in special events involving snowmobiles

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: This bill would amend the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (PRHP) by allowing a person who is less than fourteen years of age to operate a snowmobile as a participant in a special event (as defined in Section 21.05 of PRHP Law) provided that: the special event is held in accordance with any relevant statutes, rules and regulations; the PRHP Commissioner authorized the event; he/she obtains written consent of his or her parent or legal guardian; and the PRHP Commissioner adopts rules and regulations relating to such participants. The PRHP Commissioner must review and consider those rules and regulations published by internal organizations that promote such events, including but not limited to, the International Series of Champions and the International Snowmobile Racing Association.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: This act would permit youngsters who are less than 14 years of age to participate in special events for snowmobiles.

JUSTIFICATION: This bill is to bring New York's Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation law up to date with current practices for persons who are under 14 years of age to participate in special events for snowmobiles (known as snocross). The two international organizations that create the rules for snocross permit youngsters as young as four to participate in the programs. Eligibility requirements for special events would have rules established by the OPRHP Commissioner and would be conducted in accordance with those rules and permit requirements. The international groups operate programs to teach youngsters what is involved in a weekend of racing, sportsmanship, and proper snowmobile operations and safety. The program eligibility would be similar to those already in practice for motocross, including age requirements.

By changing the age eligibility, snocross would have similar age requirements as motocross, ATVs and motorcycles. The governing body for each sport has determined the age requirements for participation to ensure learning and training, and appropriate appreciation for the sport. A snocross event can generate in excess of $150,000 for the area that hosts the event.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 2010: S.7430 Finance; A.10015 Tourism, Arts and Sports Development

IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS: Provides economic opportunities for the communities where events are held.

 EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately.

Text

STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________

554

2011-2012 Regular Sessions

IN SENATE

(PREFILED)

January 5, 2011
___________

Introduced by Sens. LITTLE, RANZENHOFER -- read twice and ordered print-
  ed,  and  when  printed  to  be committed to the Committee on Cultural
  Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation

AN ACT to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law,  in
  relation  to  authorizing persons under the age of fourteen to partic-
  ipate in special events involving snowmobiles

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 25.19 of the parks, recreation and
historic  preservation  law  is amended by adding a new paragraph (d) to
read as follows:
  (D) A PERSON LESS THAN FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE MAY OPERATE A  SNOWMOBILE
AS  A  PARTICIPANT IN A SPECIAL EVENT, DEFINED BY SUBDIVISION SIXTEEN OF
SECTION 21.05 OF THIS TITLE, PROVIDED THAT:
  (1) THE SPECIAL EVENT IS HELD IN ACCORDANCE WITH  ANY  RELEVANT  STAT-
UTES, RULES, OR REGULATIONS;
  (2)  THE  SPECIAL EVENT IS AUTHORIZED BY THE COMMISSIONER, AS PROVIDED
FOR IN SECTION 25.11 OF THIS ARTICLE;
  (3) SUCH PERSON OBTAINS THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF HIS OR  HER  PARENT  OR
LEGAL GUARDIAN; AND
  (4)  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL  ADOPT RULES AND REGULATIONS RELATING TO
SUCH PARTICIPANTS AND IN DOING SO SHALL REVIEW AND CONSIDER FOR ADOPTION
THOSE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN  PUBLISHED  BY  THE  INTERNA-
TIONAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROMOTE SUCH EVENTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
TO,  THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES OF CHAMPIONS AND THE INTERNATIONAL SNOWMO-
BILE RACING ASSOCIATION.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD02055-01-1