1
2
3
4
5
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill expands veteran access to state parks.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 ▸ renumbers a provision that expands the State Parks Honor Pass Program to all
13 veterans with any percentage of disability rating from the Veterans Administration;
14 and
15 ▸ creates a one-year pilot program that expands free access to state parks on a limited
16 basis to veterans who have an Interagency Military-Lifetime Pass for national parks
17 and are a resident of the state.
18 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
19 This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2025:
20 ▸ to Department of Veterans and Military Affairs - DVMA Pass Through - DVMA
21 Pass Through as a one-time appropriation:
22 • from the General Fund, One-time, $200,000
23 Other Special Clauses:
24 None
25 Utah Code Sections Affected:
26 AMENDS:
27 63I-2-279, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapters 33, 139 and 221
28 ENACTS:
29 79-4-1002, Utah Code Annotated 1953
30
31 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
32 Section 1. Section 63I-2-279 is amended to read:
33 63I-2-279. Repeal dates: Title 79.
34 (1) Section 79-2-206, Transition, is repealed July 1, 2024.
35 (2) Section 79-2-407, which directs the Department of Natural Resources to study
36 funding for water infrastructure costs, is repealed July 1, 2025.
37 (3) Subsection 79-4-1002(2), which creates a pilot program for veteran free admission
38 to state parks, is repealed July 1, 2025.
39 [
40 Section 2. Section 79-4-1002 is enacted to read:
41 79-4-1002. Veteran access to state parks.
42 (1) The division shall make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
43 Administrative Rulemaking Act, to grant free admission to state parks to an honorably
44 discharged veteran who:
45 (a) is a resident of the state; and
46 (b) has a current service-connected disability rating issued by the United States
47 Veterans Benefits Administration.
48 (2) (a) Beginning on July 1, 2024, and ending on June 30, 2025, the division shall offer
49 a pilot program that grants free admission to state parks to a veteran who:
50 (i) is a resident of the state; and
51 (ii) has an Interagency Military-Lifetime Pass for national parks and federal
52 recreational lands.
53 (b) The division may make rules to establish the pilot program described in Subsection
54 (2)(a).
55 Section 3. FY 2025 Appropriation.
56 The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
57 2024, and ending June 30, 2025. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for
58 fiscal year 2025.
59 Subsection 3(a). Operating and Capital Budgets.
60 Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, the
61 Legislature appropriates the following sums of money from the funds or accounts indicated for
62 the use and support of the government of the state of Utah.
63
ITEM 1
To Department of Veterans and Military Affairs - DVMA Pass Through| 64 | From General Fund, One-time | $200,000 | |||
| 65 | Schedule of Programs: | ||||
| 66 | DVMA Pass Through | $200,000 | |||
68 appropriation under this section to the Division of State Parks to pay for free veteran admission
69 to state parks in accordance with Subsection 79-4-1002(2).
70 Section 4. Effective date.
71 This bill takes effect on May 1, 2024.