The Washington Parks and Recreation Commission (State Parks) manages recreation at over 120 state parks. State Parks charges admission and camping fees for state park access. Under park passes programs, State Parks issues different park passes for specially designated groups that qualify for discounts or exemptions from park fees. One of these passes is the Disabled Veteran Lifetime Pass. The Disabled Veteran Lifetime Pass entitles any state resident who is a veteran with at least a 30 percent service-connected disability to free use of campsites within state parks, free admission to state parks, and exemption from reservation fees.
A resident of Washington who is a veteran and receives benefits from the Washington Basic Food Program (Basic Food) is entitled to receive a pass that entitles the holder to free admission to any state park. The pass is valid for five years from the date of issuance and may be renewed every five years. A veteran that has been subject to entry-level separation, bad conduct discharge, dishonorable discharge, or officer dismissal is not eligible for the pass.
State Parks must conduct a comprehensive study of the discount pass programs. The study must review and analyze the following:
State Parks must report on the results of the study to the Governor and the relevant committees of the Legislature by September 1, 2024.
The substitute bill makes the following changes to the original bill:
(In support) This bill will improve the lives of all veterans. After retirement from the military, there are many unknowns related to housing, education, work, medical needs, and family support. There are numerous studies that conclude that exposure to nature will have cognitive benefits, specifically memory, and improving mental and physical well-being. Being outdoors creates a psychological and physiological response that lowers stress levels. Visiting state parks is another tool for veterans to use for dealing with mental hardship and challenges they may have faced during their military career. This bill removes the condition that Washington veterans have a service-connected disability in order to be awarded free admission and renames the pass Veteran Lifetime Pass. This a great opportunity to reward veterans for their tireless service while giving them some relief at home.
Washington has 550,000 veterans in the state. Increasing access to state parks gives veterans a chance to get out, reconnect with peers, and increase physical fitness. Research shows that behavioral health is improved by participation in outdoor activities. State parks help veterans get outdoors while minimizing exposure to large crowds which can be a concern for veterans. The benefits from providing state parks access to veterans may outweigh the costs to the state budget.
(Opposed) This bill sets veterans aside as a special class of citizen. There are already generous benefits for veterans including medical benefits and job hiring preferences. This bill might show the state's appreciation for veterans' service, but the country already shows its appreciation. After State Parks transitioned to a self-funded system, many policies were adopted to make access to state parks more equitable, including free days, free passes for volunteers, and library passes. Veterans with a disability can get free reserved camping. There have been major challenges with this pass. A lifetime pass for all veterans would compound these problems. A vote for this bill will cut State Parks' budget.
(Other) The bill will cause a significant loss of revenue to State Parks. State parks is largely self-funded through earned revenue. The bill is well-intentioned and provides benefits to veterans and there is support for honoring their service. There have been significant issues with the existing Disabled Veteran Lifetime Pass. Free reservations cause some to make speculative reservations that they do not use. Managing a lifetime pass is also challenging; it is unclear how many passes are active and which individuals are still residents. The bill is not aligned with State Parks equity goals in which State Parks would work with the Office of Equity to review changes to the pass programs. There is interest in exploring more sustainable ways to honor veterans.