BILL ANALYSIS �
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| SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER |
| Senator Fran Pavley, Chair |
| 2013-2014 Regular Session |
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BILL NO: AB 315 HEARING DATE: June 25, 2013
AUTHOR: Committee on Veterans AffairsURGENCY: No
VERSION: As introduced CONSULTANT: Leonardo Scherer
Alves
DUAL REFERRAL: No FISCAL: Yes
SUBJECT: State parks: veteran of war: Purple Heart recipient.
BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW
Under current law (Public Resources Code (PRC �5011.5), a war
veteran who meets specified criteria can apply for and be issued
a pass (the "Distinguished Veterans" pass) to use all facilities
of the state park system. These criteria include:
California residency
Proof of disability, being held captive as a prisoner of
war, or being a recipient of a Congressional Medal of
Honor,
Proof of an honorable discharge from service, and
Qualification as a "veteran"
A veteran, as currently defined, must be an honorably-discharged
former member of the Armed Forces of the United States and has a
50 percent or greater service-connected disability or was a
prisoner of war to take advantage of these benefits.
A Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President to those
who, while serving with one of the U.S. Armed Services on or
after April 5, 1917, have been wounded or killed in action
against an enemy of the United States, or as a result of an act
of any such enemy or opposing armed forces.
PROPOSED LAW
This bill would extend those eligible to participate in the
Distinguished Veterans pass program to recipients of the Purple
Heart.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT
According to the author, "this measure is a way to show
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gratitude to all veterans who have been wounded in combat."
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION
None received.
COMMENTS
Unknown soldiers . Many recipients of the Purple Heart are
already eligible for the Distinguished Pass program through
meeting the other eligibility criteria, such as disability. It
is unclear how many additional veterans will become eligible
through adding this new criterion, or how this will impact
revenue at the already financially-challenged state parks.
The Distinguished Veterans pass . This pass allows the bearer to
use all basic facilities, including day use and camping, in the
units of the California state park system operated by the state
at no charge. It is not valid where units are operated by local
government, private agencies or concessionaires. It is also not
valid for group use or sites, special events, commercial use, or
for supplemental fees, and cannot be used in conjunction with
any other pass and/or discount.
Discounted passes are not unusual. In addition to veterans,
state parks operated by the state offer discounted access passes
to the disabled, those receiving qualifying aid and seniors.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife also offers reduced or no
fee fishing and hunting licenses to recovering military
personnel, disabled veterans and other qualified persons.
Related Legislation
AB 150 (Olsen, 2013) would allow free access to state parks by
certain active and former military personnel on Memorial and
Veterans Day, as specified. (before the Senate Natural Resources
and Water Committee)
SB 1287 and SB 1288 (Harman, 2012) reduced fees on fishing and
hunting licenses, respectively, to active military personnel who
are recovering service members (c. 409 and c. 410, Statutes of
2012).
AB 257 (Anderson, c. 129, Statutes of 2007) eliminated the
reduced $3.50 fee requirement for state park passes for veterans
and extended eligibility to veterans who received the
Congressional Medal of Honor.
AB 1651 (Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs, c. 499,
Statutes of 2000) decreased from 70 percent to the current level
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of 50 percent disability eligibility requirement for the
Distinguished Veterans pass.
SUPPORT
AMVETS-Department of California
California Association of County Veterans Service Officers
California State Commanders Veterans Council
Rural County Representatives of California
VFW-Department of California
Vietnam Veterans of America-California State Council
OPPOSITION
None Received
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