Bill Text: WV HB2181 | 2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to provide special outdoor recreational opportunities for eligible veterans
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 11-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-01-21 - To House Agriculture and Natural Resources [HB2181 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2015-HB2181-Introduced.html
H. B. 2181
(By Delegates Householder, Cooper, Cadle, Upson, Moffatt, Howell,
Folk, Frich, Arvon, Espinosa and Foster)
[Introduced January 21, 2015; referred to the
Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources then Finance.]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §20-3-3a, relating to providing special outdoor recreational opportunities for eligible veterans and members of the Armed Forces; limiting access to the recreational area; and authorizing rule-making.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §20-3-3a, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 3. FORESTS AND WILDLIFE AREAS
§20-3-3a. Providing special outdoor recreational opportunities for eligible veterans and members of the Armed Forces.
(a) The Division of Natural Resources shall designate one or more areas of state wildlife management areas as a “Wounded Warrior Special Hunt Area” to honor wounded veterans and members of the Armed Forces. The purpose of such designated areas is to provide special outdoor recreational opportunities for eligible veterans and members of the Armed Forces.
(b) Guest admittance to such designated areas shall be limited to any person who:
(1) Is an active duty member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces and has a combat-related injury as determined by his or her branch of the United States Armed Forces; or
(2) Is an honorably discharged veteran of the United States Armed Forces and:
(A) Has a service-connected disability as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; or
(B) Was discharged or released from military service because of a disability acquired or aggravated while serving on active duty.
(c) The division may grant admittance to such designated areas to a person who is not an eligible veteran or member of the Armed Forces for purposes of accompanying an eligible veteran or member of the Armed Forces who requires the person’s assistance to use such designated areas.
(d) The director shall propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to implement this section.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to designate one or more areas of state wildlife management areas as a "Wounded Warrior Special Hunt Area" to provide special outdoor recreational opportunities for eligible veterans and members of the Armed Forces who have certain service related injuries or disabilities. The bill limits access to the recreational area. The bill authorizes rule-making.
This section is new; therefore, it has been completely underscored.