BILL NUMBER: AB 1972	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Chau
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Alejo, Brough, Brown, Dodd, Cristina
Garcia, and Mathis)
   (Coauthors: Senators Allen, Anderson, Hertzberg, Hueso, Nguyen,
Nielsen, and Roth)

                        FEBRUARY 16, 2016

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


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1972, as introduced, Chau. Veterans: state 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 any veteran of war, as defined, in which the United
States has been, or may be, engaged, and who meets specified
criteria, such as being a resident of this state, presenting to the
department proof of a service-connected disability, being held
captive as a prisoner of war, or receiving a Congressional Medal of
Honor, and having been honorably discharged from service.
   This bill would instead require the Department of Parks and
Recreation to issue a park pass for free use of all park facilities
in the state park system to any veteran who meets the criteria set
forth above. The bill would make related conforming changes.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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) "Disability" means a veteran who has a 50 percent or greater
service-connected disability, as certified by the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs.  
   (2) "Prisoner of war" means a veteran 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.  
   (1) 
    (3)  "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.