Senate Bill S1915

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S1915

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the parks, recreation and historic
preservation law, in relation to the free use of campsites

 PURPOSE :

To provide free access to state parks for semi-ambulatory members of
our state.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1 amends Section 13.19 of the Parks, Recreation and Historic
Preservation law to provide free access to state parks and recreation
areas to semi-ambulatory persons.

Section 2 provides the effective date.

 EXISTING LAW :

Article 13 of the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation law
allows the blind, non-ambulatory, amputees and certain veterans of the
wars of the United States free access to state parks.

 JUSTIFICATION :

              

Current law allows any person who is blind, non-ambulatory, or an
amputee, or is a certain type of veteran, free access to our state's
public parks. Until 2010, those who were semi-ambulatory also enjoyed
free access to our state parks. That year the category was eliminated,
requiring those who walk with a cane, crutches, walker, or other
mobility aid to pay entry fees.  Individuals receiving federal Social
Security Disability, Supplemental Security Income or Railroad
Disability were also removed from the exemption. The 2010 changes were
prompted by an internal review of the. Access Pass system, which was
conducted in response to several reports of Access Pass abuse. At
particular issue were abuses by those in the latter category of
persons receiving federal disability assistance and were receiving the
benefit of the Access Pass, yet were able to golf for free.

There were no stories, however, of Access Pass abuses by semi
ambulatory individuals. Rather, these are legitimately handicapped
people that are attempting to enjoy the benefits of our parks. These
residents should receive the free access benefit as other similarly
situated persons, and that was once afforded to them.

In 2010 the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation also
argued for the elimination of the two categories because these
categories were not contained in the statute. Despite this, Access
Passes are currently distributed, although deservedly, to categories
of individuals who are not included in the current law. Eliminating
Access Pass abuses is necessary. However, removing semi-ambulatory
individuals from the Access Pass program has prevented many deserving
individuals from accessing our park system. Free admission to our
state parks must be restored to our semi-ambulatory residents.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

2012: S.6790 Referred to Cultural Affairs.
2013-2014: S.2112 Referred to Cultural Affairs/A.2381 Referred to
Tourism.
2015-2016: S.2537 Referred to Cultural Affairs/A.1227 Referred to
Tourism.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

Fiscal impacts of this legislation would be minimal. The access pass
system was changed in 2010 to eliminate two categories of eligibility
from the access pass program:  semi-ambulatory individuals and
individuals receiving social security disability, social security
insurance, or a railroad retirement board disability. The move was
prompted by abuses by those receiving federal retirement benefits.
Restoring the semi-ambulatory category would keep with the purpose of
the program and allow the deserving disabled access to state parks.

 LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.