_______________________________________________
SENATE
BILL 5243
_______________________________________________
Passed
Legislature - 1997 Regular Session
State
of Washington 55th Legislature 1997 Regular Session
By
Read
first time 01/20/97. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources & Parks.
Exempting disabled veterans from reservation fees for state parks.
AN
ACT Relating to exempting disabled veterans from reservation fees for state
parks; and amending RCW 43.51.055.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec.
1. RCW
43.51.055 and 1989 c 135 s 1 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 is valid so long as
the senior citizen meets the requirements of subsection (2)(b) of this
section. Notwithstanding, any senior citizen meeting the eligibility
requirements of this section may make a voluntary donation for the upkeep and
maintenance of state parks.
(4)
A holder of a senior citizen's pass shall surrender the pass upon request of a
commission employee when the employee has reason to believe the holder fails to
meet the criteria in subsection (2)(a), (b), or (c) of this section. The
holder shall have the pass returned upon providing proof to the satisfaction of
the director of the parks and recreation commission that the holder does meet
the eligibility criteria for obtaining the senior citizen's pass.
(5)
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 71A.10.020(2) 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.
(6)
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.
(7)
Any resident of Washington who is a veteran 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; and (c) entitle such person to an exemption
from any reservation fees.
(8)
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.
(9)
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.
(10)
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
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.
