88R19541 MP-D
 
  By: Leach, Garcia, et al. H.B. No. 1740
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the issuance of state parklands passports to and a
  waiver of certain state park fees for certain veterans, active duty
  armed forces members, and certain family members of a person who
  died while serving in the United States armed forces.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 13.018, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
  amended by amending Subsections (a), (c), and (e) and adding
  Subsection (f) to read as follows:
         (a)  The following people may apply to the department for a
  state parklands passport:
               (1)  a resident of this state who is 65 years old or
  over who has resided in the state for six consecutive months
  preceding the date of application for a parklands passport[, a
  member of the United States armed forces on active duty who is 65
  years old or over,] or any other individual in a category that the
  commission by rule designates as a resident of this state who is 65
  years old or over;
               (2)  an honorably discharged [a] veteran of the United
  States armed services [of the United States who, as a result of
  military service, has a service-connected disability, as defined by
  the Veterans' Administration, consisting of the loss of the use of a
  lower extremity or of a 60 percent disability rating and who is
  receiving compensation from the United States because of the
  disability]; [and]
               (3)  a member of the United States armed services on
  active duty;
               (4)  a surviving spouse, parent, child, or sibling of a
  person who died while serving in the United States armed forces; and
               (5)  an individual who has a physical or mental
  impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life
  activities of the individual.
         (c)  The holder of a state parklands passport issued on or
  before August 31, 1995, a person whose birth date is before
  September 1, 1930, or a person [veteran] described by Subsection
  (a)(2), (3), or (4) is entitled to enter any state park without
  payment of an entrance or admission fee.  When a fee is charged by
  the department for entrance of a vehicle into a state park, the
  vehicle of the holder of a state parklands passport is exempt from
  the fee when the holder is present.
         (e)  A state parklands passport issued to a person described
  by Subsection (a)(3) is valid for one year from the date of issuance
  and may be renewed in the manner prescribed by commission rule.
         (f)  The commission by rule shall establish eligibility
  requirements and privileges available to the holder of a state
  parklands passport described by Subsection (a)(5) [(a)(3)].
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.