Amended in Assembly May 27, 2016

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 1972


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 amended, 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.begin insert The bill would require the department to report in its proposed budget, on or before January 1, 2019, on revenue losses with regard to the issuance of free veterans passes under these provisions.end insert

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

P2    1

SECTION 1.  

Section 5011.5 of the Public Resources Code is
2amended to read:

3

5011.5.  

(a) A veteran who is a resident of this state, upon
4presentation to the department of proof of disability, proof of being
5held captive as a prisoner of war, or proof of being a recipient of
6a Congressional Medal of Honor, and proof of an honorable
7discharge from service, upon application therefor, shall be issued
8a pass entitling the bearer to the use of all facilities, including boat
9launching facilities, in units of the state park system.

begin insert

10
(b) On or before January 1, 2019, the department shall report
11in its proposed budget on the revenue losses associated with the
12issuance of free veterans passes under this section.

end insert
begin delete

13(b)

end delete

14begin insert(c)end insert As used in this section:

15(1) “Disability” means a veteran who has a 50 percent or greater
16service-connected disability, as certified by the United States
17Department of Veterans Affairs.

18(2) “Prisoner of war” means a veteran who was held as a
19prisoner of war by forces hostile to the United States, as certified
20by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

21(3) “Veteran” means a former member of the Armed Forces of
22the United States who was honorably discharged from service.

23begin insert

begin insertSEC. 2.end insert  

end insert

begin insertIf revenue losses are determined to be significant
24pursuant to the report made under Section 5011.5 of the Public
25Resources Code, it is the intent of the Legislature to consider
26alternative sources of funding to pay for the free park passes under
27Section 5011.5 of the Public Resources Code without harming the
28Department of Parks and Recreation’s operating budget.end insert



O

    98