California Assembly Bill AB1972 Introduced / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 1972INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Chau (Coauthors: Assembly Members Alejo, Brough, Brown, Dodd, Cristina Garcia, and Mathis) (Coauthors: Senators Allen, Anderson, Hertzberg, Hueso, Nguyen, Nielsen, and Roth) FEBRUARY 16, 2016 An act to amend Section 5011.5 of the Public Resources Code, relating to veterans. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1972, as introduced, Chau. Veterans: state park passes. Existing law requires the Department of Parks and Recreation to issue a park pass for free use of all park facilities in the state park system to any veteran of war, as defined, in which the United States has been, or may be, engaged, and who meets specified criteria, such as being a resident of this state, presenting to the department proof of a service-connected disability, being held captive as a prisoner of war, or receiving a Congressional Medal of Honor, and having been honorably discharged from service. This bill would instead require the Department of Parks and Recreation to issue a park pass for free use of all park facilities in the state park system to any veteran who meets the criteria set forth above. The bill would make related conforming changes. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 5011.5 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read: 5011.5. (a) A veteran  of a war in which the United States has been, or may be engaged,  who is a resident of this state, upon presentation to the department of proof of disability, proof of being held captive as a prisoner of war, or proof of being a recipient of a Congressional Medal of Honor, and proof of an honorable discharge from service, upon application therefor, shall be issued a pass entitling the bearer to the use of all facilities, including boat launching facilities, in units of the state park system. (b) As used in this section:  (1) "Disability" means a veteran who has a 50 percent or greater service-connected disability, as certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.   (2) "Prisoner of war" means a veteran who was held as a prisoner of war by forces hostile to the United States, as certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.   (1)   (3)  "Veteran" means a former member of the Armed Forces of the United States who  has a 50 percent or greater service-connected disability, or who was held as a prisoner of war by forces hostile to the United States, as certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and who  was honorably discharged from service.  (2) "War" means that period of time commencing when Congress declares war or when the Armed Forces of the United States are engaged in active military operations against a foreign power, whether or not war has been formally declared, and ending upon the termination of hostilities as proclaimed by the President of the United States.