BILL ANALYSIS �
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 150
Author: Olsen (R), et al.
Amended: 9/3/13 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER COMMITTEE : 9-0, 6/25/13
AYES: Pavley, Cannella, Evans, Fuller, Hueso, Jackson, Lara,
Monning, Wolk
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 7-0, 8/30/13
AYES: De Le�n, Walters, Gaines, Hill, Lara, Padilla, Steinberg
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 77-0, 5/29/13 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT : State parks: armed services: fee waiver
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill authorizes the Department of Parks and
Recreation (DPR) to offer a reduced fee or free day use of any
unit of the state park, as specified, to veterans and active
duty military personnel of the United States Armed Forces or the
National Guard, on Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
ANALYSIS : Existing law establishes the California state park
system and vests DPR with control of the state park system and
responsibility for administering, protecting, developing, and
interpreting state parks for the use and enjoyment of the
public.
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AB 150
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This bill:
1.Authorizes DPR to offer a reduced fee or free day use of any
unit of the state park that is operated by the state and
accessible with a vehicle day use annual pass, as those parks
are listed on DPR's Internet Web site, to California residents
who are active duty or reserve military personnel for the U.S.
Armed Forces or the National Guard, or an honorably discharged
veteran of the Armed Services, on Memorial Day and Veterans
Day.
2.Provides that the free day use access to state parks on
Memorial Day and Veterans Day shall be provided if the veteran
or active duty or reserve military personnel can provide proof
of current military identification or proof of discharge under
conditions other than dishonorable or bad conduct.
Background
California residents are entitled to passes for use of all DPR
operated units if such residents are honorably discharged U.S.
veterans of war and establish proof of one of the following:
having a 50% or greater service-connected disability; having
been held as a prisoner of war; or having received the
Congressional Medal of Honor. DPR administers the resulting
Distinguished Veteran Pass Program. The average day use for
state park facilities is $12. Veterans and Memorial Day are the
highest revenue generating days for the state park system.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, unknown
revenue loses, potentially in the hundreds of thousands to low
millions of dollars annually, to the State Parks and Recreation
Fund (special).
SUPPORT : (Verified 8/30/13)
American Legion-Department of California
AMVETS-Department of California
California Association of County Veterans Service Officers
California State Commanders Veterans Council
California State Parks Foundation
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Environment California
National Guard Association of California
Rural County Representatives of California
Sierra Club California
VFW- Department of California
Vietnam Veterans of America- California State Council
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author:
"AB 150 will honor current military soldiers and veterans
discharged under conditions other than dishonorable or bad
conduct by our country by providing free admission to
California's state parks on both Memorial Day and Veteran's
Day."
"This is a small way to show our appreciation for their
service and sacrifice, while giving them access to enjoy
our state's beautiful natural resources."
The California State Parks Foundation states, "All
Californians deserve low-cost access to their state parks.
Providing free access for veterans and active military
personnel on dedicated days in California is a first step
toward increasing access for Californians, and recognizes
the contributions of military personnel and families."
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 77-0, 5/29/13
AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Allen, Ammiano, Atkins, Bigelow, Bloom,
Blumenfield, Bocanegra, Bonilla, Bonta, Bradford, Brown,
Buchanan, Ian Calderon, Campos, Chau, Ch�vez, Chesbro, Conway,
Cooley, Dahle, Daly, Dickinson, Donnelly, Eggman, Fong, Fox,
Frazier, Beth Gaines, Garcia, Gatto, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon,
Gorell, Gray, Grove, Hagman, Hall, Harkey, Roger Hern�ndez,
Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Levine, Logue, Lowenthal, Maienschein,
Mansoor, Medina, Melendez, Mitchell, Morrell, Mullin,
Muratsuchi, Nazarian, Nestande, Olsen, Pan, Patterson, Perea,
V. Manuel P�rez, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Rendon, Salas, Skinner,
Stone, Ting, Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wieckowski, Wilk,
Williams, Yamada, John A. P�rez
NO VOTE RECORDED: Holden, Linder, Vacancy
RM:ej 9/1/13 Senate Floor Analyses
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AB 150
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SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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