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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to exempting residents who are at least 65 years of age |
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from paying certain parks and wildlife fees. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 13.015(a-1), Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a-1) The commission shall [may] waive the park entrance fee |
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for a person who is a resident of this state and at least 65 [70] |
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years of age. The commission may not waive the fee for use of a park |
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facility, including a hook-up fee for electricity or water. |
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SECTION 2. Section 13.018(c), Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(c) The holder of a state parklands passport issued on or |
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before August 31, 1995, a person who is a resident of this state and |
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at least 65 years of age [whose birth date is before September 1,
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1930], or a veteran described by Subsection (a)(2) is entitled to |
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enter any state park without payment of an entrance or admission |
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fee. When a fee is charged by the department for entrance of a |
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vehicle into a state park, the vehicle of the holder of a state |
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parklands passport is exempt from the fee when the holder is |
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present. |
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SECTION 3. Section 42.012(b), Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The commission may set a lower fee or waive the fee or |
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license requirement for a resident who is under 17 years of age |
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[old, 65 years old or older,] or participating in an event that is |
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sponsored or co-sponsored by the Texas Parks and Wildlife |
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Department with the approval of the executive director. The |
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commission shall waive the fee for a: |
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(1) resident who is at least 65 years of age; |
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(2) qualified disabled veteran; or |
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(3) [and for a] resident on active duty as a member of |
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the United States military forces, the Texas Army National Guard, |
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the Texas Air National Guard, or the Texas State Guard. |
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SECTION 4. Sections 46.004(b) and (c), Parks and Wildlife |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The commission may establish a lower fee or waive the |
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fee or license requirement for: |
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(1) a resident who has a general commercial |
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fisherman's license of this state; |
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(2) a resident who is blind as defined by Section |
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94.001, Human Resources Code; |
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(3) a resident or nonresident who is under 17 years of |
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age [old]; or |
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(4) a [resident or] nonresident who is at least 65 |
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years of age [old or over]. |
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(c) The commission shall waive the fee for a: |
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(1) resident who is at least 65 years of age; |
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(2) qualified disabled veteran as defined by Section |
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42.012; or |
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(3) [and for a] resident on active duty as a member of |
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the United States military forces, the Texas Army National Guard, |
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the Texas Air National Guard, or the Texas State Guard. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |