Bill Text: CA AB1972 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Amended

California Assembly Bill 1972 (Prior Session Legislation)

CA State Legislature page for AB1972

Bill Title: Veterans: state park passes.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-5)

Status: (Failed) 2016-11-30 - From Senate committee without further action. [AB1972 Detail]

Download: California-2015-AB1972-Amended.html

BILL NUMBER: AB 1972	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 27, 2016

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.  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. 
   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 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) On or before January 1, 2019, the department shall report in
its proposed budget on the revenue losses associated with the
issuance of free veterans passes under this section.  
   (b) 
    (c)  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.
   (3) "Veteran" means a former member of the Armed Forces of the
United States who was honorably discharged from service.
   SEC. 2.    If revenue losses are determined to be
significant pursuant to the report made under Section 5011.5 of the
Public Resources Code, it is the intent of the Legislature to
consider alternative sources of funding to pay for the free park
passes under Section 5011.5 of the Public Resources Code without
harming the Department of Parks and Recreation's operating budget.