Title: An act relating to park passes.

Brief Description: Allowing the parks and recreation commission to deny or revoke the issuance of a park pass in certain circumstances.

Sponsors: Representatives B. Sullivan, Buck and Upthegrove; by request of Parks and Recreation Commission.

Brief History:

Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks: 1/24/06, 1/27/06 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, ECOLOGY & PARKS

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 11 members: Representatives B. Sullivan, Chair; Upthegrove, Vice Chair; Buck, Ranking Minority Member; Kretz, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Blake, Chandler, Dickerson, Eickmeyer, Hunt, Kagi and Orcutt.

Staff: Amy Van Horn (786-7168).

Background:

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Commission) cares for and supervises the state parks system, including charging fees for using facilities and enforcing park rules. The Commission grants reduced fees or free admission to parks and campsites for several types of citizens. The Commission grants a senior citizen's pass, a disabled citizen's pass, and a disabled veteran's pass. Each pass has specific eligibility criteria which passholders must meet, and they all require residence in Washington.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

Revoking Passes for Cause

The Commission may deny or revoke any park pass for cause. Cause includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:

• residency outside the state;
• a violation of park rules or state laws resulting in eviction from a park;
• intimidating, obstructing, or assaulting a park employee or park volunteer who is performing official duties;
• fraudulent use of a pass;
• providing false information or documentation in an application for a state park's pass;
• refusing to display or show the pass when requested by a park employee; or
• failing to provide current eligibility information upon request by the agency, or when eligibility ceases or changes.

Reciprocity Passes

The Commission may enter into reciprocal or discounted pass programs with other outdoor recreation agencies.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill provides that a pass may be revoked for intimidating, obstructing, or assaulting a park volunteer, as well as a park employee.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: There have been 12 cases of violence by pass holders over the last three years. The stakeholders support the bill.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Fred Romero and Pamela McConkey, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.