1     
VETERAN ACCESS TO STATE PARKS

2     
2022 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Mike Schultz

5     
Senate Sponsor: Michael K. McKell

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill amends provisions related to veteran access to state parks.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     expands the State Parks Honor Pass Program to all veterans with any percentage of
13     disability rating from the Veterans Administration.
14     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
15          This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2023:
16          ▸     to the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs - DVMA Pass Through as an
17     ongoing appropriation:
18               •     from the General Fund, Ongoing, $315,000.
19     Other Special Clauses:
20          None
21     Utah Code Sections Affected:
22     AMENDS:
23          79-4-304, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2016, Chapter 142
24     

25     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
26          Section 1. Section 79-4-304 is amended to read:
27          79-4-304. Board rulemaking authority.
28          (1) Rules made by the board shall be made in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3,
29     Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.

30          (2) (a) The board may make rules:
31          (i) governing the use of the state park system;
32          (ii) to protect state parks and their natural and cultural resources from misuse or
33     damage, including watersheds, plants, wildlife, and park amenities; and
34          (iii) to provide for public safety and preserve the peace within state parks.
35          (b) To accomplish the purposes stated in Subsection (2)(a), the board may enact rules
36     that:
37          (i) close or partially close state parks; or
38          (ii) establish use or access restrictions within state parks.
39          (c) Rules made under Subsection (2) may not have the effect of preventing the transfer
40     of livestock along a livestock highway established in accordance with Section 72-3-112.
41          (3) The board shall adopt rules:
42          (a) governing the collection of charges under Subsection 79-4-203(8); and
43          (b) granting free admission to state parks to an honorably discharged veteran who [is]:
44          (i) is a resident of the state; and
45          (ii) has a current service-connected disability rating issued by the United States
46     Veterans Benefits Administration.
47          [(ii) at least 50% disabled, as evidenced by documentation from:]
48          [(A) the United States Department of Veterans Affairs;]
49          [(B) an active component of the United States armed forces; or]
50          [(C) a reserve component of the United States armed forces.]
51          Section 2. Appropriation.
52          The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
53     2022, and ending June 30, 2023. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for
54     fiscal year 2023. Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures
55     Act, the Legislature appropriates the following sums of money from the funds or accounts
56     indicated for the use and support of the government of the state of Utah.
57     ITEM 1

58          To Department of Veterans and Military Affairs - DVMA Pass Through
59               From General Fund
$315,000

60               Schedule of Programs:
61                    DVMA Pass Through                    $315,000
62          The Legislature intends that the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs pass
63     through the appropriation under this section to the Division of State Parks to pay for disabled
64     veterans' free annual park passes.