H-735 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL NO. 479
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C 182 L 85
State of Washington 49th Legislature 1985 Regular Session
By Representatives Appelwick, Jacobsen, Hargrove, Schoon, May and Taylor
Read first time 2/4/85 and referred to Committee on Natural Resources.
AN ACT Relating to disabled persons; and amending RCW 43.51.055 and 77.32.230.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. Section 1, chapter 330, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. as amended by section 1, chapter 131, Laws of 1979 ex. sess. and RCW 43.51.055 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) The commission shall grant to any person who meets the eligibility requirements specified in this section a senior citizen's pass which shall (a) entitle such person, and members of his camping unit, to a fifty percent reduction in the campsite rental fee prescribed by the commission, and (b) entitle such person to free admission to any state park.
(2) The commission shall grant a senior citizen's pass to any person who applies for the same and who meets the following requirements:
(a) The person is at least sixty-two years of age; and
(b) The person is a domiciliary of the state of Washington and meets reasonable residency requirements prescribed by the commission; and
(c) The person and his or her spouse have a combined income which would qualify the person for a property tax exemption pursuant to RCW 84.36.381, as now law or hereafter amended. The financial eligibility requirements of this subparagraph (c) shall apply regardless of whether the applicant for a senior citizen's pass owns taxable property or has obtained or applied for such property tax exemption.
(3) Each senior citizen's pass granted pursuant to this section shall, unless renewed, expire on January 1 of the next year following the year in which it was issued. Any application for renewal of a senior citizen's pass shall, for purposes of the financial eligibility requirements of this section, be treated as an original application.
(4) Any
resident of Washington who is disabled as defined by the social security
administration and who receives social security benefits for that disability,
or any other benefits for that disability from any other governmental or
nongovernmental source, or who is entitled to benefits for permanent disability
under RCW ((71.20.015)) 71.20.016 and 72.33.020 due to
unemployability full time at the minimum wage, or who is legally blind
or profoundly deaf, or who has been issued a card, decal, or special license
plate for a permanent disability under RCW 46.16.381 shall be entitled to
receive, regardless of age and upon making application therefor, a disability
pass at no cost to the holder. The pass shall (a) entitle such person, and
members of his camping unit, to a fifty percent reduction in the campsite
rental fee prescribed by the commission, and (b) entitle such person to free
admission to any state park.
(5) A card, decal, or special license plate issued for a permanent disability under RCW 46.16.381 may serve as a pass for the holder to entitle that person and members of the person's camping unit to a fifty percent reduction in the campsite rental fee prescribed by the commission, and to allow the holder free admission to state parks.
(6) Any resident of Washington who is a veteran, is at least sixty-two years of age and has a service-connected disability of at least thirty percent, shall be entitled to receive a lifetime veteran's disability pass at no cost to the holder. The pass shall (a) entitle such person, and members of his camping unit, to free use of any campsite within any state park, and (b) entitle such person to free admission to any state park.
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(7) All passes issued pursuant to this section shall be valid at all
parks any time during the year: PROVIDED, That the pass shall not be valid for
admission to concessionaire operated facilities.
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(8) This section shall not affect or otherwise impair the power of the
commission to continue or discontinue any other programs it has adopted for
senior citizens.
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(9) The commission shall adopt such rules and regulations as it finds
appropriate for the administration of this section. Among other things, such
rules and regulations shall prescribe a definition of "camping unit"
which will authorize a reasonable number of persons traveling with the person
having a ((senior citizen's)) pass to stay at the campsite rented by
such person, a minimum Washington residency requirement for applicants for a
senior citizen's pass and an application form to be completed by applicants for
a senior citizen's pass.
Sec. 2. Section 77.32.230, chapter 36, Laws of 1955 as last amended by section 1, chapter 280, Laws of 1983 and RCW 77.32.230 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) A person sixty-five years of age or older who is an honorably discharged veteran of the United States armed forces having a service-connected disability and who has been a resident for five years may receive upon application a state hunting and fishing license free of charge.
(2) A person seventy years of age or older who has been a resident for ten years or a blind person or a physically handicapped person confined to a wheelchair may receive upon application a fishing license free of charge.
(3) A blind person or a physically handicapped person confined to a wheelchair who has been issued a card for a permanent disability under RCW 46.16.381 may use that card in place of a fishing license unless tags, permits, stamps, or punchcards are required by this chapter.
(4) A fishing license is not required for persons under the age of sixteen.
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(5) Tags, permits, stamps, and punchcards required by this chapter shall
be purchased separately by persons receiving a free license.