BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1229

By: Anderson, Rodney

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under current law, veterans with service-connected disabilities are eligible to apply for a state parklands passport entitling them to free access to state parks. Interested parties contend that the sacrifice made by all veterans should be recognized in this manner. H.B. 1229 seeks to address this issue.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1229 amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to remove the qualification that a veteran of the U.S. military applying to the Parks and Wildlife Department for a state parklands passport have a service-connected disability consisting of the loss of the use of a lower extremity or of a 60 percent disability rating and be receiving compensation from the United States because of the disability.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.