BILL NUMBER: AB 257	CHAPTERED  07/27/07

	CHAPTER  129
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  JULY 27, 2007
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  JULY 27, 2007
	PASSED THE SENATE  JULY 16, 2007
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  JULY 20, 2007
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 6, 2007

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Anderson
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Lieu)

                        FEBRUARY 5, 2007

   An act to amend Section 5011.5 of the Public Resources Code,
relating to parks.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 257, Anderson. Parks: veterans: park passes.
   Existing law requires that a veteran, as defined, of any war, as
defined, in which the United States has been, or may be engaged, who
is a resident of this state, upon presentation to the Department of
Parks and Recreation of proof of disability or proof of being held
captive as a prisoner of war and of an honorable discharge from
service, upon application therefor and payment of a fee of $3.50, be
issued a pass entitling the bearer to the use of all facilities,
including boat launching facilities, in units of the state park
system.
   This bill would eliminate the fee requirement for these park
passes, and would additionally make a veteran who is a recipient of a
Congressional Medal of Honor eligible for a pass.


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) "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.