85R9144 AAF-D
By: Metcalf H.B. No. 1565
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a waiver of certain state park fees for military service
members and veterans.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 13.018(a) and (c), Parks and Wildlife
Code, are amended 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 or an active duty member of:
(A) the armed services of the United States;
(B) the Texas Army National Guard;
(C) the Texas Air National Guard; or
(D) the Texas State Guard [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) 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 veteran or active duty member of the armed
services described by Subsection (a)(2) 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.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.