AB 240, as introduced, Wilk. Department of Parks and Recreation: 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 a veteran of war in which the United States has been, or may be, engaged, who is a resident of this state, who presents to the department proof of a disability, proof of being held captive as a prisoner of war, or proof of being a recipient of a Congressional Medal of Honor, as provided.
This bill would additionally require the department to issue a park pass to a person who has been issued specialized license plates by the Department of Motor Vehicles under the Pearl Harbor Survivor, Legion of Valor, former prisoner-of-war, Congressional Medal of Honor, Purple Heart Veteran, or Gold Star Family license plate programs, with the pass to be valid for the period of time coinciding with the validity of the vehicle registration associated with the license plates.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 5011.5 of the Public Resources Code is
2amended to read:
(a) A veteran of a war in which the United States has
4been, or may be engaged, who is a resident of this state, upon
5presentation to the department of proof of disability, proof of being
6held captive as a prisoner of war, or proof of being a recipient of
7a Congressional Medal of Honor, and proof of an honorable
8discharge from service, upon application therefor, shall be issued
9a pass entitling the bearer to the use of all facilities, including boat
10launching facilities, in units of the state park system.
11(b) In addition to the persons described in subdivision (a), a
12person who has been issued license plates by the Department of
13Motor Vehicles
pursuant to Section 5101.3, 5101.4, 5101.5, 5101.6,
145101.8, or subdivision (d) of Section 5156 of the Vehicle Code,
15upon presentation to the department of evidence of currently valid
16vehicle registration associated with any one of those license plate
17programs and upon application therefor, shall be issued a pass
18entitling the bearer to the use of all facilities, including boat
19launching facilities, in units of the state park system for a period
20of time coinciding with the validity of the vehicle registration.
21(b)
end delete22begin insert(c)end insert As used in this section:
23(1) “Veteran” means a former member of the
Armed Forces of
24the United States who has a 50 percent or greater service-connected
25disability, or who was held as a prisoner of war by forces hostile
26to the United States, as certified by the United States Department
27of Veterans Affairs, and who was honorably discharged from
28service.
29(2) “War” means that period of time commencing when
30Congress declares war or when the Armed Forces of the United
31States are engaged in active military operations against a foreign
32power, whether or not war has been formally declared, and ending
33upon the termination of hostilities as proclaimed by the President
34of the United States.
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