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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the issuance of state parklands passports to and a |
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waiver of certain state park fees for veterans, active duty armed |
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forces members, and certain family members of a person who died |
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while serving in the United States armed forces. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 13.018, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsections (a), (c), and (e) and adding |
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Subsection (f) to read as follows: |
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(a) The following people may apply to the department for a |
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state parklands passport: |
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(1) a resident of this state who is 65 years old or |
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over who has resided in the state for six consecutive months |
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preceding the date of application for a parklands passport[, a |
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member of the United States armed forces on active duty who is 65 |
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years old or over,] or any other individual in a category that the |
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commission by rule designates as a resident of this state who is 65 |
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years old or over; |
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(2) a veteran of the armed services of the United |
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States [who, as a result of military service, has a |
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service-connected disability, as defined by the Veterans' |
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Administration, consisting of the loss of the use of a lower |
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extremity or of a 60 percent disability rating and who is receiving |
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compensation from the United States because of the disability]; |
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[and] |
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(3) a member of the United States armed services on |
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active duty; |
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(4) a surviving spouse, parent, child, or sibling of a |
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person who died while serving in the United States armed forces; and |
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(5) an individual who has a physical or mental |
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impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life |
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activities of the individual. |
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(c) The holder of a state parklands passport issued on or |
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before August 31, 1995, a person whose birth date is before |
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September 1, 1930, or a person [veteran] described by Subsection |
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(a)(2), (3), or (4) is entitled to enter any state park without |
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payment of an entrance or admission fee. When a fee is charged by |
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the department for entrance of a vehicle into a state park, the |
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vehicle of the holder of a state parklands passport is exempt from |
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the fee when the holder is present. |
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(e) A state parklands passport issued to a person described |
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by Subsection (a)(3) is valid for one year from the date of issuance |
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and may be renewed in the manner prescribed by commission rule. |
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(f) The commission by rule shall establish eligibility |
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requirements and privileges available to the holder of a state |
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parklands passport described by Subsection (a)(5) [(a)(3)]. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |