Bill Text: TX SB777 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the issuance of state parklands passports to and a waiver of certain state park fees for veterans, active duty armed forces members, and certain family members of a person who died while serving in the United States armed forces.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-04-17 - Co-author authorized [SB777 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-SB777-Introduced.html

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88R7520 MP-D
By: Hancock S.B. No. 777

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the issuance of state parklands passports to and a
waiver of certain state park fees for veterans, active duty armed
forces members, and certain family members of a person who died
while serving in the United States armed forces.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 13.018, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
amended by amending Subsections (a), (c), and (e) and adding
Subsection (f) to read as follows:
(a) The following people may apply to the department for a
state parklands passport:
(1) a resident of this state who is 65 years old or
over who has resided in the state for six consecutive months
preceding the date of application for a parklands passport[, a
member of the United States armed forces on active duty who is 65
years old or over,] or any other individual in a category that the
commission by rule designates as a resident of this state who is 65
years old or over;
(2) a veteran of the armed services of the United
States [who, as a result of military service, has a
service-connected disability, as defined by the Veterans'
Administration, consisting of the loss of the use of a lower
extremity or of a 60 percent disability rating and who is receiving
compensation from the United States because of the disability];
[and]
(3) a member of the United States armed services on
active duty;
(4) a surviving spouse, parent, child, or sibling of a
person who died while serving in the United States armed forces; and
(5) an individual who has a physical or mental
impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life
activities of the individual.
(c) The holder of a state parklands passport issued on or
before August 31, 1995, a person whose birth date is before
September 1, 1930, or a person [veteran] described by Subsection
(a)(2), (3), or (4) is entitled to enter any state park without
payment of an entrance or admission fee. When a fee is charged by
the department for entrance of a vehicle into a state park, the
vehicle of the holder of a state parklands passport is exempt from
the fee when the holder is present.
(e) A state parklands passport issued to a person described
by Subsection (a)(3) is valid for one year from the date of issuance
and may be renewed in the manner prescribed by commission rule.
(f) The commission by rule shall establish eligibility
requirements and privileges available to the holder of a state
parklands passport described by Subsection (a)(5) [(a)(3)].
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.